Chapter 53
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 53
Chapter Title: Noisy Training and the Impostor
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The day after the grand party wrapped up.
Without a moment's rest, I headed straight back to Lactea Mountain to train. I couldn't waste even a single day.
Especially if I wanted to keep enjoying things as comfortably as yesterday.
To check my progress so far, I fired off flying daggers from my hand.
The target was a thick log.
Thud thud thud—the daggers embedded themselves in it.
All twelve of them.
And that meant a lot.
It wasn't just any twelve throws. Perfect control of strength and speed, all uniform.
In simple terms, only when I could manipulate all twelve as if they were one body could I say I'd reached Minor Completion in the Dark Spirit Flying Dagger Technique.
Now at Minor Completion.
Great Completion meant Twelve Stars, so I still had a long way to go.
I also checked my progress in the Tang clan's finger techniques, leg techniques, retreat methods, palm strikes, and more.
They were further along than the Dark Spirit Flying Dagger Technique, sure.
But would I ever settle for this level of achievement?
I needed to advance faster. I'd thought that before because of Ian, but after encountering Nemeth, those thoughts had only grown more frequent.
Nemeth was undoubtedly a powerhouse with no equal on the continent. If I hadn't mastered the Ten Thousand Poisons Heavenly King Divine Art, wouldn't I have been killed right there?
So I had to get stronger, even if it meant pushing myself to the limit.
Plus, I couldn't rule out the chance that multiple powerhouses like Nemeth might gang up on me. Those guys weren't the fair-and-square type.
"Evil Society… just how massive are they…?"
The Evil Society had toyed with the empire's princess and even the duke who wouldn't hurt a fly.
They were clearly huge players. Fortunately, I had my past life's experience… and confidence I could grow even faster than I had as the Dark Venerable.
Alright, time to keep training…
"One hundred forty-six!"
…training…
"One hundred forty-seven!"
…keep…
"One hundred forty-eight…!"
…Ugh, who the hell is that?
Is this why they say pick your neighbors wisely?
The noise was killing my focus.
Looking around, there was Jayvolg bellowing out his shouts. Even though I was right nearby, he hadn't noticed me at all and kept going.
"One hundred forty-nine!"
His roars were so loud my ears were ringing.
Did he want the whole mountain to know he was training?
Everyone has their own style, but Jayvolg… sigh, he was the total opposite of me. No wonder we hadn't clicked before.
Time to give my noisy neighbor a heads-up.
I called out to him as he stayed locked in concentration.
"Quiet down, Jayvolg."
Jayvolg froze mid-swing as he was about to bring his wooden sword down again.
He gave an awkward grin and replied.
"Oh?! You heard that?"
Jayvolg scratched his head.
Maybe because of all the iron bars strapped to his wooden sword?
Sweat beaded on his forehead. Ah… I couldn't just tell a guy training that hard to knock it off…
Sigh, better not say anything.
I decided to toss him another compliment instead, even if he didn't deserve it.
"Never mind. Looks like your training's going well."
"Yes! It's going great, young master. Want to borrow some of these iron bars?"
Jayvolg tried to hand over the iron sacks tied to his wooden sword like sandbags.
"You keep them."
"Aw, too bad. Dang."
"Then I'll get back to it!"
"Yeah, go ahead."
Jayvolg reset his stance and let out another shout.
"Huumph!!"
Still so damn loud…
And now he was yelling stuff like "Uwaaah! Hup! Sword! Best thing ever!"—totally grating.
Even in my first life, I'd thought Jayvolg was weird, but the more I got to know him, the stranger he got.
If this were the martial world, he'd probably have nicknames like "Righteous Weirdo" or "Mad Guest."
His methods weren't wrong, though.
Jayvolg was improving day by day.
He'd sworn loyalty to me anyway, so him getting stronger was good for me too.
Honestly, I was the abnormal one here.
Any other knight would be impressed by Jayvolg's skills.
Well, thanks to me steering him right whenever he tried something bizarre… A teacher loses motivation without students who improve.
In that sense, Jayvolg was a rewarding pupil.
There were various reasons I helped him like this, but lately, one thought stood out.
Ian was using Closs to expand his influence in the family and plant deep roots.
If he could do it,
why couldn't I?
Jayvolg was my Closs.
The stronger he got, the more my position grew.
In a great house like this, being strong alone meant nothing. Not unless you could overwhelm everyone.
The more voices on your side, the better…
"The sword is the best!!"
Jayvolg was finally forming full sentences with his shouts.
"…"
I couldn't just stand by anymore.
Even if you had a lot of mouths to speak for you, sometimes you needed to shut up.
I flung a needle to seal his pressure points. Jayvolg froze mid downward strike.
"Much better."
I let him stew in silence for a bit, then resumed my own training—tossing hidden weapons, striking one midair with another, and so on—before finally releasing him.
"Young master!"
Jayvolg rolled his eyes like he was wronged.
"Sorry, but you were too loud. Can't we show each other a little consideration?"
"Y-Yeah, you're right."
Jayvolg drooped his wooden sword like he was reflecting.
"Alright, then. Shall we head back?"
I was about to return to the mansion, but Jayvolg lingered, shuffling in place.
"What's up?"
"Young master, I'm really sorry, but could you cut me some slack just this once?"
"Slack for what?"
"I haven't finished my set. Forgive the noise for a bit longer."
Jayvolg was training-obsessed, but he'd always stop when I said to go…
Had he reached some enlightenment?
Curious, I nodded.
"Fine, go for it."
Jayvolg took a breath and reset into his downward strike.
Hm? Just the basic form?
Not bad. Finding insight in the basics was the right way.
But then his shout made me grab my head.
"One hundred fifty!! Done!"
He just wanted to shout his goal number?
Jayvolg grinned like a weight had lifted.
"Haha! Let's go, young master."
"You and your antics."
I give up.
Next time… I need to scout a new training spot.
Shortly after the commotion with Jayvolg died down, as I descended Lactea Mountain,
"Young master, you need to come quick!"
Bator came sprinting up, gasping for breath.
What now?
Feeling uneasy, I asked him.
"What's wrong, Bator?"
"W-Well…"
Bator looked pale, as if the news he had to deliver was unimaginable.
"Poison was found in your meal, young master! But Lord Ian and the knights caught the culprit!"
Ian did?
Chopping off the tail again, huh.
Not surprising. Same trick he'd used before. No learning curve.
"Alright, let's go see that rat."
Hurrying back to the mansion, what I saw was a man on his knees, surrounded by people. And Ian standing there like an executioner.
I was curious myself.
Who could've poisoned my food?
Looking closer…
"Ah."
I got it. Jax, the supply officer in charge of the Pador family warehouse?
He was one of the mid-level veterans—I knew his face, but no strong good or bad memories.
What a shame…
More pity than anger.
The poisoner could've been caught right away in a new life anyway.
There was clear evidence, and anything poison-related, I'd spot instantly.
But I'd let him slide on purpose.
I figured he'd be key evidence to hit Ian with when I struck at him in the family.
So yeah, disappointing. Though I'd half-expected this.
Ian had gotten a hint from me, so I figured he'd do some showy cleanup.
Let's see.
Ian raised his sword to Jax.
"Jax, why'd you do it?"
Jax glared back with a vulgar tone.
"Ptoo! Like I'd tell you that. Just kill me already!"
Putting on that big an act?
I eyed Ian's sword carefully. Actually, to save Jax. He could be a witness. I'd pry his mouth open.
He'd resist for sure.
But I was confident.
The Tang clan's interrogation methods made even demonic cultists tremble—endless varieties.
That guy would end up spilling everything wide open.
Just as I was ready to step in, Ian sneered coldly.
"You bastard, what did you do with the supply officer?"
Supply Officer Jax was right there.
What was he talking about?
Not just me—everyone focused on Ian's words.
Anyone else, I'd ignore, but it was Ian.
No idle talk from him.
Yet Jax looked baffled.
"I'm right here—where would I find Jax? Looking for a second one? Want me to go fetch him?"
Even as Jax sneered, Ian didn't twitch an eyebrow.
"Your acting's too sloppy."
"Acting?"
"Jax was always curt. Never wasted a word. If you're faking it, at least make it convincing."
Ian swung his sword through the air.
The sword pressure sliced Jax's face. His skin peeled back, revealing a completely different face underneath.
A young man, nothing like Jax, who looked up with a creepy grin.
"Whoa, how'd you know?"
"If a family executioner doesn't know his own kin, who'd respect him?"
"Fair point. Ah, thought it was perfect."
The young man twisted his head in an eerie way.
Ian pressed his sword to the man's throat to stop any funny business.
"What did you do with Jax?"
"What else?"
The man giggled.
"If there's a real one, the fake takes over, right? Killed him to become the real deal."
The man's aura shifted. He surged to his feet in an instant.
A powerful energy—sinister, vicious demonic qi.
No doubt about it: demonic energy.
As the man showed his true colors, some knights stepped forward to surround him, while others shielded the servants and backed away.
Ian silently watched him rise, then muttered one line.
"Evil Society—that's your group's name."
"…?"
The man's face stiffened. So did mine.
Evil Society?
Those guys who hid in total darkness—even Ian was one of them.
And he'd just named his own group out loud.
Ian and the man faced off.
To anyone watching, Ian looked like an enemy of the Evil Society.
"You bastard, how'd you know that?"
The man's head was now half-twisted as he glared at Ian. Demonic qi poured from his body like smoke.
Ian slowly raised his sword.
"You poisoned my nephew and stirred up trouble in Trial Valley on top of that."
The man nodded, no more excuses.
"Yeah, that was us. Didn't expect the young master here to detox it, though."
His eyes turned to me, crinkling at the corners.
"Nice to meet you, third young master of the Pador family?"
The situation now?
A clear Evil Society minion infiltrated in the family.
Couldn't help but laugh.
It was all theater.
"Your Pador family and this whole continent—our Evil Society will tear it all down. Look forward to it. It'll be one hell of a fireworks show, like this!"
A glow emanated from the man's body.
Not holy—dark, ominous mana swelled into black smoke.
Anyone could tell: explosion spell.
And sure enough.
The knights formed a defensive line against the blast, Ian swinging his sword.
The outcome?
Predictable.
The man exploded on the spot.
Ian's sword absorbed the black glow like a sponge. He whipped up a sword wind and launched it skyward.
Everyone was stunned by the sudden event. Only a scorch mark remained where the man had been.
In front of everyone, Ian had slain an Evil Society grunt.
Ian sheathed his sword and addressed the family members.
"Listen up."
"Yes!"
"The Evil Society—they're targeting our house. They weakened Deyan with poison and sullied the Pador name in Trial Valley."
"!!"
I'd heard it before, but hearing it from Ian shocked the knights more—their eyes darted wildly.
Ian continued.
"And ridiculously, I was clueless until recently. My mistake. But my nephew Deyan here broke free of the poison on his own and tipped me off about this shadow force. Isn't that right?"
Passing the buck to me like that?
All eyes turned to me. Some knights couldn't hold back.
"Is that true, Deyan?!"
"Tell us!"
If it came to this, I'd have to clear Ian from suspicion with my own words…
He was doing exactly what I'd done.
Of course. You'd never be you if you let your tail get stepped on so easily.
Ian had prepared his escape hatch, as expected.
But his move went beyond what I'd predicted.
He got me good.
Openly declaring enmity with the Evil Society.
He'd exposed them to everyone while branding himself their foe.
What cunning. Truly cunning.
If I'd used the White Light name to deceive him, he'd deceived the family by pretending to crush the Evil Society.
Deceive and be deceived…?
That's why you're such a pain.
Not just some sword-swinging idiot.
Turning crisis into opportunity.
I couldn't help sneering at how he never just took it lying down.
He'd asked me, so now it was my turn to answer.
I looked at Ian.
"Yes. They're the Evil Society—vermin that needs exterminating from this world."
Said for Ian to hear.
But who was Ian?
A man who'd fooled me and the Pador family his whole life. Without batting an eye, he swept his gaze over the crowd.
"Send messengers to every Pador knight. The Evil Society—our new archenemies have appeared."
He looked utterly majestic, impossible to imagine as an Evil Society member. Ian smoothly wrapped up the scene.
The people praised his handling, oblivious to an Evil Society exec right there.
Pat.
He clapped my shoulder with a smile.
"Let's crush the Evil Society together."
With that nauseating act to the end, he walked off.
Confirming he'd left, I muttered.
"Impressive. Truly impressive."
A sneer at Ian.
"Isn't he amazing? Right?"
Nellin had snuck up, full of energy.
I gave her a half-hearted look as she waited for my reply.
"Yeah, impressive. Very impressive."
Not just her—most reacted the same.
Ian was great, did the Evil Society really exist, so that's why I'd been sick…
Chatter poured out.
This confirmed it.
I didn't think I'd lose to him, but Ian was the type to slip through any crack he spotted.
Ian wasn't a pushover. So what now?
Eliminate every possibility he could win.
First up: track down Bernard Sherman.
He'd be a big shot in the future—sure to help me big time.
Still hearing Ian's praises, I turned to the two girls.
"Marian, Nellin."
"Yes, young master."
"Let's change the mood with a trip."
"A trip?"
"South, to Ehalin. That's where we're going."
In Deyan's mansion of the Pador family, the grunt who'd exploded grumbled.
He'd just finished his self-destruct act and was seething.
"Argh, those White Light bastards—wasted a perfectly good clone for nothing!"
Jolran frowned at the waning full moon tattoo on his hand.
He'd lost a clone to that explosion moments ago.
Making another would take time. This was too much!
Clones had rights too!
Jolran ground his teeth.
"Seriously, just set up the real Jax or whatever. Why make me the puppet?"
Ian.
Because he'd insisted on sparing the real Supply Officer Jax, this farce had been necessary!
—Jax did nothing wrong. I can't just kill him. A subordinate who entrusted his life to me is my responsibility.
Ian's words.
Mr. Hero arrives! Hero!
Let the real Jax live cushy? No way!
Jolran kicked the man at his feet.
"Right?! I died once, so you die too! Oh, wait—you don't have clones?"
The already-dead man was the real Supply Officer Jax, the one Ian had tried to save.
Jolran planted hands on hips and yelled.
"This is your fault, Ian. Treat me nice normally, huh?! I'd have spared you! Equivalent exchange—equivalent exchange. Ugh, annoying!"
Ian annoyed him, Pador knights annoyed him, and that Pador youngest, Deyan, annoyed him.
What was with that guy?
It was a clone, but he'd almost reacted to the kid's eyes.
"Something feels off… real off…!"
Jolran stomped the dead Jax's corpse and danced under the moonlight.