Aizen's explanation did not end there.
"It isn't just that your potential is outstanding. Even at the same realm, the purity of the body differs between the Third Young Master and other knights, and that difference will greatly amplify the strengthening effect of mana. You will be able to wield a greater quantity of mana, and of far higher purity.""Does that mean that even among knights of the same realm, I could hold the advantage?""At first, it would amount to no more than a slight edge. But gradually, you would grow to the point where you could face two opponents of the same realm at once. Eventually, you may even be able to contend on equal footing with someone of a higher realm."
At words he had never even imagined, Lucian swallowed dryly.When he first set out to learn the Lionheart Sword, he hadn't desired so much.If he could simply step into the domain of true strength he had failed to reach in his previous life, that would have been enough.Even that alone would earn him more than enough recognition from the world.
There was also the practical reality that one couldn't prepare for the future by focusing solely on swordsmanship.And yet—this wasn't merely the realm of the strong, but the possibility of aiming for Sword Saint, and even beyond.
I want to see it.
Before ambition, as a swordsman, it would be a lie to say his heart wasn't pounding.At the same time, however, Aizen's words from just a moment ago weighed on his mind.
"Then what exactly did you mean when you told me to give up the position of next family head? Can sword training and heir education truly not be pursued in parallel?""Hmm, that is…"
Aizen trailed off and hesitated for quite some time.When Lucian waited in silence, a deep sigh finally escaped Aizen's lips.
"Third Young Master, look at me.""…Pardon?"
"Look at this face. What do you see?"
The old knight spoke as he ran a hand over his face.At the sudden question, Lucian examined him with an uneasy expression.What did he see? Other than wrinkles, there was nothing in particular.
"Ah."
"It seems you understand now."
Aizen gave a bitter smile toward Lucian, who had realized something.
"I am old, Third Young Master. Thanks to a body purified through circulation, I've lived in good health for my age, but… these days, I can feel that I don't have much time left."
That made sense.In his previous life, Sword Saint Aizen had died eight years later.By age, he had lived more than three years past a hundred, and without suffering from illness—by any measure, a most fortunate passing.
"But eight years is far too short a time to raise a successor to a Sword Saint."
The higher the steps, the longer it took to climb them.At the level of a Sword Saint, there would be mountains of knowledge to impart to a disciple.Even if he devoted every waking moment over the remaining eight years to teaching sword forms, it was uncertain whether everything could be fully absorbed.And when one factored in the time a disciple would inevitably spend struggling and getting stuck along the way, it would feel even shorter.
"If I am to pass everything on while I still live, even the time I have left will not be enough. And if, on top of that, you must compete with the other young masters, it goes without saying."
"I believe I understand what you mean."
Lucian closed his eyes for a moment, lost in thought.The successor to a Sword Saint…It was undeniably an alluring option.If the world were to remain peaceful forever, he would have cast aside the position of next family head without hesitation and devoted himself wholly to swordsmanship.Rather than bickering with rivals for over a decade, it would be far better to become the one and only heir of a Sword Saint.
The problem is that a time of chaos is approaching.
Lucian had seen the world turned upside down with his own eyes.The emperor's authority became nominal, and powerholders everywhere began calling themselves kings.Many factions rose up relying on strength alone, without legitimate authority—like Hugo.Most of them, however, were cursed as usurpers and constantly beset by challenges.The reason was simple.Their authority lacked any justification.
Even the same act of killing was worlds apart when done to avenge one's parents versus killing without reason.The usurpers, ignorant of that fact, reveled in their power only to soon pay the price.Power gained without justification could be stripped away without justification as well, leaving no stain on the taker.
Rebellion and assassination became everyday occurrences. Power balances overturned again and again.
Only a handful of rulers with justification and legitimacy managed to govern their domains in relative stability.It was then that Lucian understood just how crucial justification truly was.Even if one could dominate the world, without justification, it would not last.Securing various forms of justification in advance was an essential step in preparing for the coming chaos.
And now he was being asked to officially relinquish the position of next head of the ValdecK family—a house whose bloodline was even mixed with that of the imperial family—for the sake of the sword?
A justification-generating machine that could freely leverage everything connected to ValdecK, even the name of the imperial family?
Absolutely not.
The position of Sword Saint was certainly tempting, but what he would have to give up was far too great.Regretful as it was, Lucian had no choice but to refuse Aizen's offer.
"I'm sorry. I wish to remain ValdecK, above all else."
"Ah…"
A groan escaped the old knight's lips at the carefully worded refusal.The deep regret of having missed even this final chance was painfully clear.
"If that is your will, Third Young Master, then it cannot be helped. It seems this old man's greed went too far.""I'm sorry to disappoint you after you went out of your way to make the offer.""No, not at all. In truth, even without me, the Third Young Master could likely aim for the seat of Sword Saint several decades from now. And yet, forcing you to choose was simply my own selfish desire—to leave something behind with my own hands."
"How unbecoming of me. In my youth I was one way, and now in my old age I'm like this. Even without my interference, a sprout will grow into a great tree in time. Hah hah hah."
That powerless laughter burrowed into Lucian's ears.Despite the words, it was clear the shock of briefly grasping hope only to have it dashed was no small thing.After a moment of thought, Lucian looked back at Aizen.
"There is one thing I'd like to ask. If not me, but if there were another disciple with the potential to reach greatness—what would you do then?"
"…?"
At the unexpected suggestion, the Sword Saint's eyes blinked in surprise.
…
****
Lucian's proposal was simple.Within the next two years, he would find and bring someone whose talent far surpassed his own.
—It may take time, but I will bring you someone so exceptional that they more than make up for those two years. A disciple worthy of leaving Sword Saint Aizen's mark even centuries from now.—Just hearing you say that is enough. Thank you.—I mean it sincerely. I will find them, without fail.—If that is the case, I shall wait. Still, I feel sorry that this old man seems to have burdened the Third Young Master with such concern.
Aizen let out a hearty laugh and brushed off Lucian's words lightly.How easily could such a talent be found in this world?Even Lucian himself was a once-in-several-centuries prodigy, if that—someone even more gifted than him sounded implausible.He took it as little more than words offered to console him.
But unlike Aizen, Lucian was entirely serious.
I'm sure the Sword Fiend wasn't far from Kelheim.
Felix the Sword Fiend.
The same age as Lucian, and someone he had briefly crossed paths with in the past, when Felix was working as a mercenary.With delicate features and a refined appearance, the handsome youth had often been mocked here and there because of his looks.But that mockery never lasted long.On the battlefield, Felix's swordsmanship—rampaging alone—was nothing short of monstrous.
Even renowned knights couldn't withstand more than a few exchanges against Felix's blade.
What was even more astonishing was that Felix's sword forms were of a similarly low tier to Lucian's.Despite the opponent being several times more efficient in mana reinforcement, Felix overwhelmed them through sheer technique alone.He had even, on occasion, instantly copied and used parts of an opponent's sword form that couldn't be discerned by sight alone.
Even those who had initially been jealous eventually fell silent in awe.
If Lucian possessed a body bestowed by the gods, then Felix possessed a god-given sense for combat itself.For Lucian, who had returned to the past, Felix was the number-one talent that had to be secured before his name became widely known.The problem was that Felix's whereabouts before becoming a mercenary were unclear.All Lucian knew was that the following winter, Felix would begin his first mercenary work in the small city of Vindeln.Before that, his location was unknown, making it impossible to bring him over even if Lucian wanted to.
I feel bad for Sir Aizen, who'll have to wait over a year, but it can't be helped.
"Still, thank you. It doesn't feel bad to know that the Third Young Master cares about me this much."
Fortunately, Aizen seemed to be in better spirits and smiled.Even if it was nothing more than consolation, he appeared genuinely grateful for Lucian's concern.
"Now then, let us end this old man's rambling here. No matter what choice you make, Third Young Master, my duty is to teach the sword."
At Aizen's newly serious gaze, Lucian nodded and straightened his posture.The start of proper training.
"What? The third brother has been selected as a new candidate for family head?""Yes, Young Master."
Joshua frowned at the servant's report.He had already entered the competition late due to his age.And now—even the third brother, who had remained quiet until now, was joining the fray.
"Damn it. What kind of change of heart could someone who's been quiet all this time possibly have had?"
The other two brothers wouldn't take it too seriously.They already had well-established factions, and they were confident that Lucian's abilities fell far short of their own.But for Joshua, who had yet to fully solidify his base, this was a critical blow.It meant that knights who hadn't been taken in by the other two brothers now had another option.It was obvious they would be weighing Lucian against Joshua and agonizing over their choice.
"Damn it all. He's been useless from start to finish. Would it really hurt him to just stay buried where he is and lend his little brother a hand?""There's no need to worry so much, is there? Even if the Third Young Master joins the competition this late, after making no effort until now—""Who said I was afraid of that half-penny brother? The problem is that the people I've barely gathered are starting to waver!""I–I'm sorry!"
Seeing his aide fail to grasp the point made Joshua's words turn harsher.After calming the boiling frustration inside him, Joshua assessed the situation more coolly.
If he'd kept showing nothing but incompetence, it wouldn't matter. The problem is that recent incident with Jordi…
From Joshua's perspective, it had been nothing more than a thoughtless action that happened to line up favorably by chance.When Lucian—who had never been known to lose his temper—went berserk, he must have panicked and made a fool of himself.The trouble was that to everyone else, the entire sequence looked like the product of Lucian's meticulous planning.In the worst case, capable talents might be fooled by baseless rumors and choose to align themselves with Lucian instead of Joshua.
That's why I need to strip away Lucian's gilding as soon as possible.
Once Lucian's shallow nature was exposed, everyone would come to their senses.All that nonsense about him having hidden his claws all this time would vanish.The dilemma was how to peel off that gilding.Now that Lucian had officially entered the competition for family head, causing him direct harm was strictly forbidden.
"Wait—come to think of it, you said my third brother is currently…?""H–He is learning the Lionheart Sword from Sir Aizen at the training grounds. Just as you once did, Young Master."
A thought flashed through Joshua's mind like lightning, and he sprang to his feet with a shout.
"I need to head to the training grounds. Bring two good swords.""Pardon? You don't mean real blades, do you?"
"Yes. Real swords—ones used in actual combat, not wooden practice swords."
Joshua grinned broadly as he looked in the direction of the training grounds.
"As an older brother who learned first, I should help my younger brother with his training—at least a little."