Chapter 19
Chapter 19
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 19
Chapter Title: How to Seize the Initiative (1)
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Two days had passed since Martin mastered the Space Sword.
During that time, he had holed up in his room without showing his face.
Officially, it was for rest, but in truth, it was to fully assimilate what he had gained from the Overlord's Chamber.
He also needed to hide his elevated realm from the elders.
As such, no one—not even the elders—had seen Martin for those two days.
Officially, Martin was a patient suffering from the Dragon's Curse.
When such a person claimed he needed rest due to illness, even the elders couldn't push back easily.
*They must have been laughing their asses off.*
The elders had been subtly looking down on Martin.
Elder Aren was the only one who didn't show it outwardly, but both he and Martin knew it wasn't genuine.
So he'd enjoyed watching them squirm, but that pleasure was short-lived.
"Sien! My beloved daughter!"
A booming voice echoed thunderously, shaking the Adalbert estate.
"Haa."
Sien Igrit, standing in front of the main family's portal, let out a quiet sigh.
Her face flushed bright red with embarrassment.
No matter how many times it happened, the shame was unavoidable.
"Please maintain some dignity, Family Head!"
"Hey now. Isn't it too stiff to act like that with your father after half a year apart? Call me 'Dad' comfortably."
"No, Family Head!"
Sien glared at him.
He was a man nearly two meters tall with shoulders as broad as the sea.
He wore metal armor, but his exposed limbs revealed steel-like muscles.
With no excess fat, his massive frame still gave a sleek impression.
Vincent von Igrit.
He was the head of the Igrit family, one of the five branch families of Adalbert, and a viscount of the Altria Empire.
Impressive as that was, what truly elevated his fame was something else.
His epithet.
Wave Sword.
Vincent had enjoyed dueling swordsmen since his youth, traveling the entire continent in pursuit.
He defeated countless opponents, and upon returning to the empire, he achieved a final record of 100 consecutive victories.
The emperor of the Altria Empire rejoiced and personally bestowed the epithet.
In truth, he was an 8th Circle powerhouse with both his swordsmanship and unique ability at the 4th Circle.
"Not 'Family Head,' but 'Father.' If you don't change how you address me, I won't budge an inch from here."
"Hoo. Can't you see everyone getting embarrassed?"
"Your father is meeting his daughter— who could possibly be embarrassed by that? You lot?"
Whoosh!
Vincent twisted around to glare at the knights who had accompanied him.
The knights paled and forced smiles.
"W-Who would be?"
"We're happy for this long-awaited father-daughter reunion too!"
Only then did Vincent smile again and look at Sien.
"See? They're all fine with it. I'll stand here until you call me 'Father.' I think that's even more embarrassing."
"......Is that something you should say?"
"I'm just saying what my heart tells me."
"Fine. Calling you 'Father' is all it takes, right?"
Sien sighed again.
A powerhouse acknowledged by the empire's emperor, reduced to a doting father— she wanted to die of shame.
"Kuh. That's the warmth I crave."
"Enough nonsense. Hurry up and follow. Martin is waiting."
"Hm? What're you talking about all of a sudden? I rushed here purely to see you quickly."
"I told you the day before yesterday. Martin wants to talk with you alone."
"I half-heard it in my sleep...... But really? The Young Master— no, the Heir— summoned me? Not Mateus?"
Vincent looked puzzled.
Sien was close to Martin, but lately, Martin had been relying deeply on Kalain.
Though a branch family, the Gustin family was undoubtedly the strongest among them. They kept some distance from the three branches openly showing betrayal.
So he'd assumed Martin would speak with the Gustins first, but his prediction was off.
"It's you, Father."
"Curious. Guess I'll have to hear the details."
"I'll lead the way."
Sien finished answering and moved to take the lead, but Vincent strode forward to stand beside his daughter.
The Igrit family knights followed behind, and they walked in silence for a while.
"Aren't you curious, Father?"
"About what?"
"About Martin. Everyone else was too busy asking what happened in the dungeon."
"What does the process matter? The key fact is that the Heir manifested Space Domination, even if late. Unless there's something specific I need to know?"
"Well, it'll be faster for you to see for yourself than hear from me."
"So there is something."
"You'll notice right away, Father."
Sien fell silent after that.
Vincent's eyes took on a strange glint.
*She's not one to spout nonsense.*
His daughter was always serious; she wouldn't say something odd without reason.
Clearly, Martin had something the others didn't know about.
But Vincent didn't voice his doubts.
He'd find out upon meeting him anyway.
Knock knock.
They soon arrived at Martin's office, and Sien knocked on the door.
"Martin. Father is here."
"Come right in, Sien."
Sien opened the door at the voice from inside.
* * *
"......Impossible!"
The moment he entered and saw Martin, Vincent shouted.
His eyes bulged wide with shock.
After the previous Family Head's sudden death, he'd thought nothing could surprise him.
Yet that conviction shattered in an instant.
After a long silence, Vincent spoke.
"......What in the world happened, Heir?"
Vincent's gaze was intensely fierce.
But Martin met it steadily without flinching.
Seeing that, Vincent nodded slightly and continued.
"No matter how I think about it, it doesn't make sense. Why has the Heir, who should be at the 5th Circle, reached the 7th? Even mastering Adalbert swordsmanship and consuming an elixir in the Overlord's Chamber doesn't explain it."
"I attained enlightenment. Swordsmanship using Space Domination is completely different from what I knew. It sparked endless insights, and I made them my own."
"Could your body handle that much power?"
"I chose Dragon's Bile as my elixir in the Overlord's Chamber."
"......Dragon's Bile? You were dead set on dying, then."
Vincent wore an incredulous expression.
But Martin ignored it.
He paid more attention to Sien beside him.
Tremble.
Sien began shaking with rage.
Martin had confessed to facing death multiple times.
She'd thought it metaphorical, but Dragon's Bile?
Wasn't that closer to poison than elixir?
Moreover, dungeon Dragon's Bile was far more dangerous than the drake bile Martin had used.
Grit.
Sien clenched her teeth to suppress her fury.
This was a meeting between the main family's sole direct descendant and a branch family head.
Not her place to interject.
*I'm in for a scolding later.*
Martin smiled bitterly to himself.
"I'm alive now, aren't I? As a bonus, my body strengthened and my lifespan extended. That's enough."
"......I have no right to criticize your actions. So, why did you summon me specifically? Honestly, I thought you'd call Mateus first."
"I'm curious why you thought that, Lord Vincent."
A smile played on Martin's lips.
Vincent let out a hollow chuckle at the unexpected remark.
*Well, now.*
He was polite, but treating him like a subordinate, wasn't he?
Acting as if he were already Family Head.
*No wonder he sat boldly in the White Dragon Seat. Guts of steel.*
But it didn't feel arrogant.
On the contrary, it was a positive change.
The Adalbert family, along with the Altria Empire's three great noble houses, held prestige rivaling kingdoms.
To lead such a house required a strong presence—even if deemed arrogant.
It was far better than constantly glancing around for others' approval.
"The Rustal, Pezeks, and Vitenfeld families are essentially opposing your ascension to Family Head. You can tell from how loudly they're calling for the grand assembly."
"True."
"In contrast, our Igrit family supports you. The remaining Gustins under Mateus are taking a lukewarm stance. In other words, he's the only one you could potentially sway. Right?"
"Exactly. Plus, the Gustins are the strongest branch family. Their official support would boost my influence."
"Indeed. Yet you sought me first. I'd like to know why."
"Simple. I don't want to deal with those openly bargaining for higher stakes."
His smiling expression belied a cold tone.
Flinch.
Sien shuddered.
She hadn't expected such chill toward the Gustins, despite Kalain's closeness.
Meanwhile, Vincent, who had asked, grinned amusedly.
"Late as it was, I manifested Space Domination. That's justification for becoming Family Head. And I gained power. Not quite enough to rival the heads of the three great noble houses, but sufficient to establish authority as Family Head."
"Having perfectly proven your worth as heir, you don't need neutral forces on your side."
"Yes. No need for ambiguously neutral factions."
"You're fine with that? If the Gustins turn to the opposition, it'll be a headache."
"Just more trash to sweep away. Nothing more, nothing less."
"Hahaha!"
Vincent burst into hearty laughter.
He nodded vigorously.
"Refreshing! I understand your intent to distance the Gustins. But even so, did you really need to meet me first? I've already pledged loyalty to you, and alone, I can't stop the grand assembly."
"Come on. Isn't your loyalty to the late Family Head? Supporting me is just honoring that bond."
Martin struck the core, and Vincent's expression blanked.
But Martin continued undeterred.
"......You said no half-hearted mindsets or ambiguous stances are needed. That applies to me too, huh."
"Precisely. I will become the Adalbert Family Head. What I want is your true loyalty to me."
Vincent gave Martin an odd look before replying.
"The Igrit family will never betray the Adalbert family, no matter what. Isn't that enough?"
"No."
"Then let me ask: What can you offer in exchange for my loyalty?"
"I can give you joy, Lord Vincent."
"Huh?"
Martin shrugged lightly.
The utterly unexpected answer left Vincent dumbfounded.
Sien, watching silently, was equally flustered.
"I'd like to know what you mean by 'joy.'"
"I'll give you the chance to spar freely with the strongest swordsman in Altria Empire history— within five years."
The smile on Martin's lips deepened.