Chapter 17
Chapter 17
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 17
Chapter Title: Boyhood ~Taking Care of the Attendant~
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"Come."
Thud—!
I channeled aura throughout my body and kicked off the ground.
Father simply stood there, sword dangling loosely at his side.
His stance was riddled with openings from every angle.
But I didn't let my guard down.
"Hmph."
"Urgh!"
In the next instant, Father's sword vanished, leaving only an afterimage.
Sensing danger on instinct, I twisted my body, and the blade grazed past, slicing the tips of my hair.
His attacks were still impossible to predict.
'But I dodged it!'
I immediately wrapped aura around my legs and closed the distance at blinding speed.
Boom—!
The sound of an explosion rang out as Father's sword clashed with my fist.
"…!"
"Hah!"
After several exchanges, Father's sword suddenly split into multiple strands.
It was the Yeon Clan's secret technique, Phantom Sword.
⚡ SKILL ACTIVATED ⚡ Arts Skill Iron Block Aura hardens to steel-like resilience
As the tangible blades shot toward me from all directions, I enveloped my body in aura and transformed its properties.
The aura, now akin to steel, took on a black hue and wrapped around me.
My suddenly reinforced body pierced straight through the Phantom Sword, advancing forward.
"Ridiculous."
I vaguely heard such a voice, but I had no time to pay it any mind.
Father's sword could slice through steel with ease, so if I relaxed even slightly, it would surely shatter even Iron Block.
⚡ SKILL ACTIVATED ⚡ Arts Skill Mountain Tiger Tiger manifestation enhances striking power
Breaking through the Phantom Sword at the same time, I raised one leg high.
In that moment, a tiger's form flickered, and navy-blue aura swirled around my elevated foot.
The foot, brimming with ferocious momentum, aimed for Father's head. He positioned his sword at his centerline and unleashed sky-blue aura from his body.
The aura exploded outward, surging into his sword in an instant. As it turned blue, Father spoke.
"Secret technique."
⚡ SKILL ACTIVATED ⚡ Arts Skill Martial Heaven Ultimate sword art unleashes devastating power
────!!
The navy-blue foot collided with the blue sword—
"Guh…!?"
The victor was the blue sword.
💥 CRITICAL HIT! 💥 Deep leg wound inflicted
Training hall damaged; barrier struck
It sliced halfway through my leg, carving a deep gash into the ground. It didn't stop there, cleaving through the training hall until it slammed into the barrier, finally halting its momentum.
The crumbling training hall roared with a thunderous crash, and immediately after, the activated restoration magic caused the scattered debris to float up on its own.
Gazing at the surroundings restoring themselves, the Yeon Clan Head looked down at his son.
"Your skills have improved tremendously."
"Still a long way to go. I couldn't even block a single secret technique……."
"That sword is the culmination of my life's work. To think of breaking it already—your ambition knows no bounds."
Secret techniques weren't called as such for nothing.
They were absolute killing moves, honed over decades.
Even with reduced power, having it broken so soon would be a loss of face for him as both a father and a martial artist.
'But his growth rate is truly frightening.'
Four years since he began training.
Now, the only one capable of a proper spar with his son was himself.
Not only the numerous instructors, but even the clan's renowned elders had been utterly defeated, their every technique exposed.
There was no suitable instructor left to teach him.
Yet, he couldn't just leave his son to train alone.
So now, they continued his education with the son leading his own proactive training, supplemented by occasional spars with him.
'But even this won't last much longer.'
And the Yeon Clan Head realized that even he was starting to struggle to keep up, letting out a low groan.
"If I had my way, I'd find him a new teacher……."
But where on earth could he find one?
What martial artist in the empire could teach a child who even gave the Martial Emperor trouble?
In this reality where money couldn't buy the right person, the Yeon Clan Head sighed once more today.
"What a shame. I thought I could block it this time."
Meanwhile, Yeon Je-seong, treating his mangled leg and rising to his feet, tilted his head at his sighing father.
"What's wrong?"
"It's nothing. That's enough sparring for today."
Staring silently at his question, Father soon turned and left the training hall.
"Young Master."
"Ah, thanks."
Yeon Je-seong took the towel from Seon-hwa, who entered as if taking over from Father, and let out a weary sigh.
She gazed at him with her usual expressionless face, then tilted her head at the gaze fixed on her hair.
"…Is something wrong?"
"No, just… your hair's gotten really long."
Back when they first met, it was short enough to be mistaken for a boy's, but after four years, anyone could see she was a girl.
At Yeon Je-seong's words, Seon-hwa touched the hair covering her neck and replied tonelessly.
"Does it look strange?"
"No, it suits you well."
"I see."
'How is it still awkward after four years together?'
Sensing the awkward silence filling the training hall, Yeon Je-seong let out an obvious cough.
"Ahem! By the way, we're heading to the capital soon, right?"
"Yes. There's a banquet to celebrate His Highness the Crown Prince's academy enrollment. Invitations have gone out to all the surrounding vassal lords, so we must depart immediately."
"The academy, huh. Even the Crown Prince is heading to Academy City."
"It's the gathering place of the continent's talents, perfect for building foundations. Even without that, with royals from every nation, it's ideal for forging connections."
"True. Considering the average enrollment age, he's actually on the late side."
Academy City spanned from elementary to university levels, so age wasn't strictly enforced.
But most nobles entered at the middle school level, and knocking on its doors for high school was standard. For the Crown Prince to enroll in high school was quite late.
'The Crown Prince decides first, then nobles of allied factions follow. Most royals enter middle school.'
Lost in thought with his head bowed, he heard Seon-hwa's voice from beside him.
"His late enrollment is probably because he's the Crown Prince."
"Because he's the Crown Prince?"
"Yes. Unlike other royals, he's the one who will shoulder the empire's future, so he's making thorough preparations before entering."
"So it's different from regular royals……."
Come to think of it, this banquet was essentially a pre-celebration of next year's enrollment.
By announcing it grandly to the vassal lords, it also signaled them to decide on enrollment early.
In short, while celebrating the Crown Prince's enrollment, it served to notify allied nobles in advance.
'Royals get special recommendations, while nobles take the formal entrance exam next year.'
Realizing the banquet's purpose, I nodded.
It made sense to hold it early.
"…Hm?"
Then I noticed a scratch on the back of Seon-hwa's hand.
Snagged on a branch, maybe?
Even on the verge of bleeding, she seemed oblivious to it.
"Seon-hwa, hold on a sec."
"Yes?"
I ignored her puzzled look and rummaged in my pocket for a small bandage.
It was from the advanced-medical Hywhite Kingdom.
Brought along for frequent training injuries, but now for this.
I carefully peeled off the pink heart-patterned bandage and took hold of Seon-hwa's hand.
"Young Master?"
"Stay still a moment."
"…Ah."
I applied it to the scratch, and Seon-hwa, who had looked flustered, let out a dazed voice.
"Such pretty hands need care. What if it gets infected?"
"…Thank you. I just remembered something urgent, so I'll take my leave."
"Huh? Oh, uh, sure. Be careful… whoa…?!"
Watching her vanish in an instant, I wondered if she'd secretly learned some special movement technique, then shook my head and resumed my stretches.
───
Leaving the training hall, Seon-hwa ignored the nagging itch on her hand's bandage and hurried home.
"I'm back."
"Welcome home?"
"Yes, Mother."
"Good. Was the Young Master well today as usual?"
"…He's always in good health."
"That's right. You must always think of the Young Master and strive endlessly. Staying by his side to the end is our family's duty."
The same tiresome spiel.
Always like this.
Her parents placed great stock in being a branch family of the Yeon Clan, but to her, it was laughable.
"Father will be home early today, so at least show your face."
"Father?"
It had been days since they last met.
"…Perfect timing. I finished early today too, so maybe we can have dinner together after so long……."
"Really? The Young Master must have let you off early. How kind-hearted he is. But you can't do that. As an attendant, you must always be by the Young Master's side, unseen."
"…But."
I want to be with Mother and Father more than that.
"Tch! No throwing tantrums. As a branch family of the Yeon Clan, you must always serve the direct line impeccably."
That damn branch family.
That damn branch family!
That damn branch family!!
What's so great about being branch? What's so special about direct line!
I want to play! Rest! Be with family!
"You'll understand someday. The Young Master is still young and needs much help."
"…Mother."
"Yes, Seon-hwa?"
Her mother looked at her with a kind smile.
After opening and closing her mouth several times, she finally shook her head and said calmly.
"No, it's nothing."
"Alright, I'll prepare some snacks for you to share with the Young Master later."
"…Yes."
She watched her mother bustle about preparing snacks.
Did Mother even know?
That the "young" Young Master she treated like a child was the same age as her.
'Probably not.'
After all, it had always been this way since she was little.
If it was going to be like this, she wished she'd never been born into the Yeon Clan branch.