Chapter 25
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 25
“Sir Eisen!”
Lucian, flustered, tried to help Eisen up.
Of all people, the Sword Saint was kneeling!
However, Eisen remained as immovable as a boulder and continued to speak.
“In my youth, I was arrogant. When I was a mere fledgling, I at least made an effort to appear humble, but after gaining the hollow title of Sword Saint, I became intoxicated by my own renown.”
“Hollow title! Who would dare call the name of the Sword Saint hollow?”
“No, it is hollow. As a result of clinging to that name, I failed to produce a single proper disciple.”
A self-deprecating laugh escaped Eisen’s lips as he began to recount the past. His tone was like that of a man offering a confession before a priest.
“I was always searching for a genius. I believed that no one less than an unparalleled prodigy was worthy of being my disciple. I didn't even spare a glance for the talented who relied on hard work.”
It wasn't because only a genius could inherit the Sword Saint’s techniques. It was because he believed his disciple had to be a genius for the name of the Sword Saint to shine brighter rather than be tarnished.
Having reached the pinnacle of the sword himself, he didn't want to leave a single flaw even in the raising of a successor. He wanted to be remembered by history as a master who left behind a perfect disciple.
“Blinded by greed, I kicked away opportunities that presented themselves time and again. I rejected, ignored, and drove away young people with both talent and character, claiming they didn't meet my standards. And as a result...”
Eisen paused, looking down at his wrinkled hands, and muttered, “I have grown too old to raise any disciple into a proper swordsman now.”
“....”
“It is no longer a matter of talent. The absolute amount of time required to raise a disciple to stand on their own cannot be shortened, and I simply do not have that much time left. Isn't it pathetic?”
He had wanted to leave his name in history as a Sword Saint without a single blemish even in his final years. The result was a pristine, empty void.
Too late, Eisen clawed at his chest with agonizing regret. Even if it meant leaving a flaw, he should have put a finishing touch on his life’s work. Surely, the gods had given him several chances.
He realized it far too late, and the opportunities that had passed would never return.
“‘Sword Saint Eisen died in his old age having accomplished nothing.’ That was to be the final record of this miserable old man. But...”
Eisen looked toward Lucian and pressed his forehead against the ground.
“The Third Young Master has changed that fate.”
“....”
“I thank you from the bottom of my heart, Third Young Master. Thanks to you, this old man will be able to place the final period on his life before he departs.”
His forehead remained pressed against the ground for a long time. Everyone fell into a heavy silence at the sight of the greatest respect a Sword Saint could offer.
After a moment, Eisen rose carefully and looked at Felicia. She wore a confused expression, as if she still hadn't fully grasped the situation.
“What is your name?”
“It’s... Felicia.”
“Do you have no surname?”
“....”
“I am not asking to judge your status. It is because the procedures I must follow differ depending on your origin. If you are a commoner, I intend to adopt you as my daughter.”
Felicia’s eyes widened until they looked as if they might tear.
One of the few ways a commoner could become a noble was to be adopted into a noble family. While the procedure was the simplest and easiest, it was a method almost no one chose. This was because many nobles considered the mixing of commoner blood to be a disgrace.
‘Even if they had children of their own blood, if they were the children of concubines or illegitimate, they would often just adopt a distant relative to be the heir. Claiming the blood was pure.’
Lucian smiled bitterly, recalling things he had witnessed in his past life.
No matter how much commoner blood was mixed in, they were still one’s own children. It was human nature to want to pass everything down to one’s own seed, yet they found it better to pass it to a relative they had barely seen. It was a logic Lucian could never understand.
“Speak. Do you have no surname?”
“My mother had no surname. My father’s surname... I was not permitted to take it.”
“Who is your father?”
“He is the current head of the House of Roglan.”
“Mmm.”
An uncomfortable groan escaped Eisen’s lips. Lucian, listening from the side, couldn't help but frown as well. Now, he could see at least a glimpse of the hardships Felicia had endured.
‘I knew the treatment of illegitimate children varied wildly, but this is severe.’
For the child of a concubine or an illegitimate child, everything depended on the father’s attitude. Since their status was ambiguous, they might be formally adopted as nobles if the father felt affection for them. In the worst-case scenarios, they were murdered as soon as they were born to erase their very existence.
Usually, they were given special treatment among the servants while a clear line was drawn between them and the legitimate heirs. However, even without checking, it was clear that Felicia’s situation wasn't 'usual'; it was only slightly better than the 'worst.'
She had been made to accompany them on dirty business like selling drugs, and the person she had to serve was her half-sibling—the most uncomfortable person possible. Anyone could see that this assignment was laced with malice.
‘He must be the type who considers an illegitimate child a mark of shame.’
“What a pathetic fellow.”
A curse filled with contempt tumbled from the lips of Grand Duke Sigmund, who had been quiet until now. He didn't specify a subject, but it was obvious who he was talking about.
Eisen nodded slightly as if in agreement and spoke.
“From now on, your name is Felicia Brightner.”
“...!”
“There will be much to learn, so be prepared. Between learning swordsmanship and noble etiquette, you won't have a moment to breathe for a while.”
“Th-thank you...!”
Her voice choked up, and Felicia, kneeling, couldn't even offer a proper word of thanks.
When it seemed no more words were coming, Grand Duke Sigmund stepped forward, clapping his hands.
“Congratulations, Sir Eisen. You have finally found a successor.”
“Whether she can truly become a successor depends on the girl herself.”
“Don't say things you don't mean. Is she not a child who has been able to see mana since she was a fledgling, and who is more adept at improvisation than most veteran soldiers? If she receives proper instruction, she will absorb it in an instant.”
Eisen merely offered a silent smile at the Grand Duke’s words.
Lucian, listening to the two of them, chewed over the information he hadn't known in his past life.
Eyes that see mana.
If one could observe where an opponent was concentrating their mana, it was essentially an ability to read attacks in advance.
‘No wonder she showed such god-like swordsmanship. She knew exactly how they would move and reacted accordingly.’
That wasn't all. Being able to see the mana within the body meant she could perceive the techniques her master taught in their rawest form. Even without arduous explanations, as long as the master demonstrated before her, she could grasp the principles and acquire the skill instantly.
Combined with Felicia’s personal combat sense, she would grow at a speed incomparable to others.
‘She will likely reach a level where she can carry the name of the next Sword Saint before Sir Eisen passes.’
Lucian felt he understood why Eisen had shown him such profound respect earlier. Although Eisen dismissed it as arrogance, he must have still harbored a lingering desire for the genius disciple he had sought in his youth. Lucian had not only given him the chance to leave a successor to the Sword Saint but had also resolved his final regret.
“Congratulations once again. Since I’ve witnessed such a historic scene, it’s about time I took my leave. You will be busy with the adoption and her education for a while.”
“Indeed. Once the urgent matters are settled, I will visit you with my daughter.”
Grand Duke Sigmund gestured toward Lucian’s group. It was a sign to give the two of them space to talk.
It was just as Lucian nodded and prepared to head outside with the others.
“My Lord!”
Felicia shouted, dropping heavily onto one knee.
But before she could say another word, Eisen grabbed her by the shoulder.
“Stop.”
“Pardon?”
“You are not a knight. You have only just become the daughter of a nobleman. It is absurd to swear loyalty to someone when you do not even hold a title yourself.”
“...!”
“Serving a lord requires qualifications. Swear your oath of loyalty only after you have become a proper knight.”
Felicia’s eyes wavered at the unexpected words. Lucian looked at her and gave a short, dry laugh.
“I shall wait.”
As if that one sentence was enough, Felicia bowed her head with a firm gaze. She did not rise from her knee until Lucian had left the room.
The upheaval Lucian caused shook the Lord’s Manor.
Defeating Jordi and Joshua once each could be seen, at best, as a demonstration of his potential. But this time, he had achieved a blatant merit outside the family. It was no longer a matter of 'potential' or 'caliber'; it was as good as taking a step closer to becoming the next family head.
“At this point, it’s long past the stage where we can call it a coincidence.”
“There’s a possibility the Grand Duke pushed the credit onto him.”
“Foolishness! Do you still not know what kind of person His Grace is?”
“Look at reality. The Third Young Master is already a legitimate candidate for the succession.”
“This incident has completely overturned the succession structure. Things are going to be noisy for a while.”
Until now, Lucian had been at a clear disadvantage, and it was doubtful whether a competition even existed. However, with this event, Lucian’s status had risen to a level equal to Joshua’s. In terms of pure individual ability, excluding the power of maternal families, he was clearly superior.
He had become a competitor who didn't pale in comparison to his other brothers.
Just as the family was in an uproar over this...
—Sir Eisen has taken a successor!
News like a storm buried everything else.
Not only the knights but everyone associated with Valdek was stunned. This was the Sword Saint who had never taken a disciple in his entire life. And now, with so little time left to live, he finally had a successor.
“Dammit, what the hell is going on?”
“How should I know? If you’re so curious, why don't you go ask Sir Eisen yourself?”
“Are you crazy?! How could I show such rudeness to the Sword Saint!”
“By the way, what happens to the succession race now?”
“Wait, why are you bringing up the succession race out of nowhere?”
The knights glared at the colleague who brought up the strange topic. However, the man explained with a grim expression that it wasn't something to be taken lightly.
“Sir Eisen may have been neutral, but there’s no rule saying his disciple must be neutral as well.”
“Furthermore, she is a successor he took in his old age. I heard he even formally adopted her, so his affection for her must be considerable.”
“If Sir Eisen continues to maintain neutrality, that’s one thing, but if the successor throws her weight behind one side...”
“You madman! Shut your mouth this instant! How can you say such dangerous things!”
They hurried to silence him, but the words already leaked out couldn't be helped. If the Sword Saint truly broke his neutrality, the competition itself could become meaningless. Even those who trusted Eisen’s character couldn't shake the 'what if' thoughts, so the others were even worse.
The unsettling rumors spread slowly beneath the surface, and just as they began to emerge and become the talk of the town...
—The next family head is decided by His Grace, the master of this house, not by me! Do not waste your energy on useless things and fulfill your duties as a knight! Or quit being a knight and go into politics!
The Sword Saint’s roar shook the entire inner castle. It was the result of some foolish knight mentioning the rumors in front of him.
It was a brief episode, but after that day, the unsettling rumors subsided. It was as good as a declaration that he would not touch politics, just as he always had.
It was just as people were sighing in relief and returning to their daily lives following the Sword Saint’s declaration.
—Everyone, gather. Let us have a family meal together for the first time in a long while.
Grand Duke Sigmund summoned all his children remaining in the house at once.