Chapter 4
Chapter 4
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 4
Chapter Title: Talent (2)
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During the day, I was always under the watchful eyes of Hazel and the other adults.
But at bedtime like this, no one was around to monitor me.
Of course, there were guards standing watch outside... but they wouldn't notice if I moved quietly inside my room.
'Father doesn't seem interested in teaching me mana cultivation methods...'
Right now, a haze-like energy was rippling through my body.
It was the mana I'd accumulated over twelve years.
'I already mastered mana cultivation in my previous life. I've been gathering mana since I was a newborn.'
Even without Kurt or Hazel teaching me something like the Holy Heaven Eight Emperors Method, I could condense mana on my own.
A proper circle was already nestled in my chest.
'And...'
I raised the small hand of a twelve-year-old child and focused my mind.
Flash.
What appeared was a pitch-black, rippling formless sword.
It was the true form of the Demon Sword Igzard—something that would surely make Kurt freak out and scream, "My son is using evil power!"
And now, it was in my hand.
'If the Holy Knights found out, my head would roll.'
The Demon Sword Igzard was designated by the Holy Spirit Church as "an evil symbol that must be eradicated from this world."
That's why I had to keep my possession of Igzard a strict secret.
'Still...'
I moved without a sound.
Using my fairly spacious room to my advantage, I began to unleash proper swordsmanship.
Not the twelve-year-old level I'd shown in front of Hazel... but the swordsmanship of Archbishop Hausel, once hailed as the strongest in the Dialogue Church.
[You've gotten used to moving in a child's body, I see.]
As it watched my movements surpass the limits of a twelve-year-old, Igzard spoke.
[I want to get out there and do some real activity too. It'd be great if you could snag a proper "shell" soon.]
A shell.
To obtain that, I needed to start making my move.
* * *
"Hazel."
"Yes, Young Master Sion."
Hazel was watching Sion practice swordsmanship in the backyard, as usual.
"My wooden sword broke."
"Pardon? The wooden sword?"
When he examined the wooden sword Sion held out, it really was broken.
"It has. That's unusual..."
This wasn't an ordinary wooden sword.
It was a custom Aleyas family wooden sword, made through a traditional method passed down through generations.
Not just any hunk of wood whittled down.
"Isn't this a defective product?"
"No way."
The craftsman who made it was a longtime acquaintance of the Aleyas family.
He was highly skilled and wouldn't supply faulty goods.
"Young Master must have put too much strength into it. I'll have to contact him for a new one."
The mansion had other wooden swords, but they were adult-sized and too long for Sion.
"Hazel, could I meet the craftsman who makes them in person, by any chance?"
"You, Young Master?"
"I want to tell him directly what kind of wooden sword I want."
"Hmm..."
Hazel pondered for a moment before nodding.
"Very well. I'll summon him soon."
"Thank you."
This shouldn't cause any issues.
With that judgment, Hazel contacted the weaponsmith.
* * *
"It's a pleasure to meet you in person."
Three days later, the weaponsmith Hazel had summoned arrived at the mansion.
"You're quite the handsome young man. Do you take after your father, or your mother who's recovering far away?"
"I must have cherry-picked the best traits from both parents."
"Oh my, and such a smooth talker!"
The weaponsmith seemed taken with Sion.
Well, even Hazel could see he had a refined appearance. The kind that won anyone over.
"But Young Master, I heard your wooden sword broke. Is that true?"
"Yes, it is."
"That's strange. Those are made to last for generations."
"But it broke."
"Hmm..."
"Hazel, show him the broken wooden sword."
At Sion's words, Hazel handed the craftsman the broken sword she'd set aside.
"Huh? Why did it break like this?"
"Is it unusual?"
"Young Master, did you do something weird with the wooden sword?"
"Of course not."
"How did it break, then?"
"Well..."
Casting a glance at the bundles the craftsman had brought, Sion said cautiously.
"You have another wooden sword there. Could I borrow it for a moment?"
"That's for adults..."
"It's fine."
"Alright, then..."
Sion took the wooden sword the craftsman offered with both hands.
"Young Master Sion, even if it's a wooden sword, swinging it recklessly indoors is..."
"I won't swing it, so it's okay."
Hearing that, Hazel relaxed.
Unleashing advanced swordsmanship here could spread rumors outside.
'Still, Young Master might act impulsively... If he tries any techniques, I need to stop him right away.'
With that in mind, Hazel observed Sion closely.
But Sion really just held the sword with both hands.
"You want to know how it broke?"
"Yes, Young Master."
"Like this."
Crackle!
Suddenly, sparks flashed from the wooden sword.
No, to be precise, these weren't ordinary sparks.
This was something even apprentice knights or Grade 2 knights wouldn't dare attempt—something only a Grade 1 Knight could challenge.
"S-Sword Aura?!"
As the craftsman cried out in shock, the wooden sword split with a sharp crack.
Even a special-made wooden sword was still wood. It couldn't withstand sword aura.
"Isn't this a defective product?"
"Th-That's impossible. How could you... sword aura..."
The craftsman slumped to the floor, muttering in disbelief.
Hazel was equally stunned.
A mere twelve-year-old using sword aura?
"Y-Young Master, what in the world... just..."
"Is there a problem?"
Sion tilted his head, looking genuinely puzzled.
"I didn't swing it, just like I said."
* * *
"Hazel..."
"I'm sorry, Lord Kurt."
As Hazel bowed her head, Kurt Aleyas clutched his hair.
"You've... kept him quiet?"
"Yes, I gave him strict instructions, but..."
"I suppose it won't matter."
Once rumors start, they spread no matter what.
"But Lord Kurt, he won't spread it openly."
"I know. He won't let it reach my siblings' ears."
"Yes, probably..."
"But he'll report it to Father."
The weaponsmith would discreetly pass the information only to Kurt's father.
To Ianus Aleyas, head of the Aleyas family and leader of the Holy Knight Order.
"Lord Kurt, you don't need to worry that much. The Leader might just hear it with one ear and let it out the other. A twelve-year-old using sword aura? It doesn't make sense."
"True, it could be... but..."
Logically, that's the natural response.
It's too unrealistic.
Truth be told, Kurt could hardly believe it himself.
He'd never taught the Holy Heaven Eight Emperors Method, so how had he condensed mana to unleash sword aura?
Was he truly a once-in-a-generation genius?
"Hazel, you know about the meeting in a fortnight."
"Oh..."
"He might want confirmation and demand I bring him along."
A heavy silence filled the room.
The talent of their once-well-hidden only son might soon be revealed to the world.
* * *
A few days passed.
"Sion."
"Yes, Father."
Kurt entered my room.
His face was etched with worry, so I set down the scripture I'd been pretending to read and tilted my head.
"Is something the matter?"
"The Family Head has summoned you."
"The Family Head?"
"Your grandfather."
With that, Kurt handed me a letter.
"It's a formal invitation."
"An invitation...?"
"You've heard of it. The family gathering."
The family gathering.
It was the Aleyas family's year-end event where all members convened.
Centered around Family Head Ianus Aleyas to strengthen family bonds, but I'd heard it was really a battlefield of power struggles and mind games.
"Children aren't required to attend until they're sixteen... but Grandfather specifically requested you this time."
"What an honor."
"Honor... oh, my head."
I took the letter from Kurt, who was gripping his head against a headache.
It was undoubtedly from Ianus Aleyas.
[It's going according to plan.]
Igzard's voice echoed in my mind.
[Now you can attend the family gathering as you wished.]
Exactly.
This was all my doing.
I'd long known the wooden sword craftsman was Ianus's confidant.
Showing sword aura would make him rush to Ianus with the news—it was predictable.
Ianus had likely ordered him not to spread it, so the rumors wouldn't go further.
'The intel I gathered during my Archbishop Hausel days is proving useful.'
Information obtained through Dialogue Church spies.
With that, steering events my way wasn't hard.
'Then... shall I pay Ianus a visit after all these years.'
I smiled secretly, out of Father's sight.