010. Red Fox, Velvet
Every three years, on the day the family was founded, the Bascon family offered monsters. Five out of the seven siblings were scheduled to attend this ritual. The reason was simple: the tradition applied only to those in their teens.
Of course, siblings operating outside Plentel Castle had the option to skip it. Bin glanced around and thought,
'It's much lighter this time around.'
Before his regression, he'd been missing one arm. Back then, every visit here had filled him with hesitation—the oppressive gaze of his father's eyes squeezing his chest, the way his six siblings looked at him like a bug. Even the knights who'd come as mercenaries had whispered about him.
But now? He was the legitimate scion of a prestigious noble house, a promising talent who wielded sword winds at just ten years old. Through this, Bin realized something: people's attitudes could flip 180 degrees based on one's abilities.
Unlike before, he confirmed his own changes. The black arm, the Bow Sword visible at his waist, and...
"My lord! Good morning."
The familiar voice belonged to a creature whose loyalty could make even a dog weep. It was Codic, the skull with only a head left.
Bin bowed his head slightly and muttered in a low voice,
"Quiet."
"Yes, my lord..."
At Bin's words, Codic's voice obediently shrank without protest. The grotesque thing followed orders impeccably.
Bin reflected on how things had come to this.
* * *
Inside Danel's residence in Plentel Castle, Bin pondered briefly.
"How am I supposed to carry all this..."
The Bow Sword, Shabest, blacksmith hammer, odds and ends... There was just too much to lug around.
"Can't just leave them lying around; might need them..."
Bin rubbed his chin with one hand as he paced the residence. That's when Codic came rushing in from somewhere, shouting,
"I sense my lord's discomfort!"
Codic's body, completed with yeti bones, was the size of an adult man. The noisy approach was dizzying.
Irritated by Codic's appearance, Bin yelled,
"I told you Mother would be startled! Stay hidden like a mouse or a bird!"
Codic bowed low at Bin's words.
"My apologies. I felt your discomfort even from the warehouse and couldn't help myself..."
Bin let out a frustrated sigh despite himself.
"Hoo..."
Codic eyed him cautiously before speaking up.
"That aside, what troubles you, my lord? If there's someone irking your nerves, I shall sever their head and present it to you this instant. My. Lord."
Bin opened his mouth blankly at Codic's earnest expression.
"Forget it."
But Codic wasn't one to back down easily.
"My lord, is it worldly worries like money?"
At that moment, Codic's head began to expand. With a unique sound, it spat out a fist-sized crystal from its mouth.
Pop!
It sounded just like uncorking a beer bottle.
Bin couldn't help but chuckle dryly at Codic's peculiar trick.
"What's that parlor trick? I don't need crystals. It's not about money."
As Bin turned and stepped away, something flashed in his mind.
"...!"
His eyes widening, Bin asked Codic,
"Can you make your head smaller too?"
"Yes, my lord. Of course... but why...?"
Bin just curled his lips into a grin. Seeing his lord smile, Codic bared his teeth in a matching grin, clueless as to the reason.
* * *
The result? They'd decided to hang Codic from his waist. The adjustable size and exceptional storage capacity made it practical.
Currently, Codic's head held Shabest, crystals, yeti bones, and more.
For emergencies, Bin kept the Bow Sword at his waist. He smirked at Codic, who looked immensely satisfied.
It was due to Codic's uncontainable joy. A mere head dangling from someone's belt might seem humiliating to some. But this one wore the proudest expression imaginable.
"Pretty convenient. No need to carry stuff around."
With Codic, crafting had become far freer—no location constraints, able to make things anywhere.
Bin walked leisurely toward the family head's quarters, content with his current life compared to before.
'Who knew returning to the past would make such a huge difference...'
Now, wielding the Bow Sword, Bin had reached 6th-class knight level. And hadn't he recently slain a yeti, a 5th-grade monster? All at just ten years old.
Impossible in his previous life.
'A life spent hearing others' rumors... Now my own rumors are spreading like this...'
It felt like a dream. A completely different life. With prior experience, he could make the best choices.
But Bin's expression hardened soon after.
'Still a long way to go.'
He thought of Helden Grander. Compared to that monster, he was still insignificant.
As Bin sank into thought, something flew at him.
Swoosh—
Bin eyed it closely. A red-tipped arrow from somewhere. It slammed into a stone pillar with force.
Thud!
The way it embedded itself confirmed it wasn't amateur work. Bin froze in surprise.
"...!"
Startled alongside him, Codic muttered,
"Who dares aim at my lord..."
As Codic geared up to rage, Bin shot him a warning glance.
A swift arrow—not just fast, but packing devastating power. Fearing another might come, Bin scanned the surroundings and inferred the shooter.
Who had the guts to fire an arrow at the Bascon family head's residence? Not someone from the castle, he thought. Assassin? Or maybe tied to the Grander family?
Then, seeing the red arrowhead, a suspect came to mind.
'...Red-tipped arrow.'
Just as certainty dawned, another arrow flew at him. This time, Bin swiftly drew the Bow Sword with his left hand and deflected it.
Clang!
Even batting it away, a misstep could have twisted his wrist from the force. The wayward arrow buried into an innocent wall.
Crack.
The wall fissured like ice smashed by a rock. Fortunately, it wasn't a killing shot. But a hit would've punched a hole through him.
'...Impressive as ever.'
Admiration fading, Bin called out sharply to the red arrow's owner.
"You wanna go right now? Velvet sis."
Irritated footsteps approached at his annoyed tone.
Click-clack.
Red heels, a red bird on her shoulder—a tall, slender woman emerged. Her uniform blended red and black perfectly. The form-fitting attire accentuated her voluptuous figure. Fiery red hair and a beauty mark under her lips added to her sexiness: Velvet.
She leaned forward with a sly expression, flashing cleavage through her uniform at Bin.
"Go? Our little bro’s grown up. Saying stuff like that—you're getting naughty."
Bin furrowed his brow at her wordplay. Seeing his expression, Codic rattled his head and gnashed his teeth.
'This vixen dares bare her flesh to threaten my lord...'
From Codic's perspective as a monster, he couldn't grasp Velvet's intent. Suddenly flaunting skin—it was like a bird puffing up its feathers to look bigger.
The first word that came to Bin's mind upon seeing her: Pervert...
Velvet Bascon. Nicknamed the Red Fox. Daughter of Moden's first wife and third of the Bascon seven siblings.
Nineteen years old, 4th-class knight. Her main weapon: the red crossbow Sharnel.
She'd started with a bow but switched to a crossbow, rumor had it, due to her ample chest.
Bin replied dryly to her joke, face unchanging.
"Not funny."
"Even your angry face is so cute, little bro."
Velvet had closed in unnoticed and pinched his cheek, finding his prickliness adorable.
But Bin glared at her sullenly. He had reasons for his hostility.
The Bascon seven siblings.
Not from the same womb, sibling bonds were nonexistent—they were busy tearing at each other.
Especially in his past life, Velvet had treated him indifferently, like a stone. So why the sudden familiarity now? Because he'd slain the Erymanthian Boar, a 6th-grade monster, at ten? Or was she testing him? He couldn't tell.
Still, her attitude toward him had shifted from before. Mischief lighting her face, Velvet changed her expression and said,
"You've gotten unbelievably strong. Slaying a 6th-grade monster isn't a lie, huh? And at just ten, batting away my arrow."
She seemed to be probing, but Bin showed no intimidation.
"So what're you getting at?"
Flustered by his demeanor, Velvet burst into laughter.
"...Hahaha. Yeah, that confidence is pure Bascon—I like it. But watch yourself in that room. Everyone's gunning for you."
She nodded toward the massive door of family head Moden's quarters. Soon, the Bascon siblings would gather. Some already plotted to ensnare him.
But Bin had foreseen it all. No fear in his eyes—only brimming confidence.
"If that's why you came, we're done. They're mountains I have to climb anyway."
Velvet was speechless.
"... "
Confidence radiating. Eyes saying he could take any sibling. Meanwhile, Codic beamed proudly.
'My lord, unbowed even by such a wench. Magnificent.'
Bin chuckled lightly at her stunned face and strode boldly toward Moden's room.
Velvet blinked in bewilderment at this utterly transformed Bin.
'What the hell happened to our little bro...'
Last she'd seen, he could barely move his one good arm. Yet now, he moved with 6th-class combat prowess and mid-grade swordsmanship.
As Velvet watched his retreating figure,
"...!"
Her eyes widened. In the noble stride of Bin, sword at his side, she saw someone else's image.
One of Gana Continent's strongest: Moden in his battlefield glory.
"Why... Father's image..."
Velvet stood dazed, staring at Bin's back for a long while.