Chapter 2
Chapter 2
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 2
Chapter Title: Chapter 1: A Chance Given Anew (1)
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Whoosh!
Thick raindrops poured relentlessly from the pitch-black sky shrouded in storm clouds.
Yet the people gathered before the tombstone showed no sign of moving. They all stood with stern expressions, staring into the coffin.
No, more precisely, they were watching the reaction of the person closest to the coffin.
The funeral rites were being led by a young man.
The youth, whose face still held traces of boyishness, had deep black hair and piercing black eyes. His features were sharp and refined, from his straight nose to his overall lines. Anyone would call him handsome without hesitation.
But his pale skin betrayed that he was ill.
Martin Adalbert.
A member of the Altheria Empire's three great noble houses, the Adalbert family.
The family's sole direct descendant couldn't tear his eyes away from the coffin.
*To think I've even returned to the past.*
He had fiercely battled betrayers led by Kallain Gustin.
In the end, he succeeded in killing Kallain, the ringleader.
So he had accepted death with a peaceful heart, only to wake up seven years in the past—at age eighteen.
Something utterly impossible by any common sense.
But reality had forced Martin to accept it.
At the same time, there was regret.
*Of all days, why send me back to this one?*
If fate was going to reverse time, couldn't it have picked a better moment?
But reality was cruel. It allowed him to turn back the clock but dumped him at the most miserable and sorrowful point in his life.
Swoosh.
Martin lowered his gaze.
There lay a large coffin, with a middle-aged man inside, eyes closed.
The body had already grown cold.
*Father.*
Daniel von Adalbert.
The 31st head of the Adalbert family.
One of the noblest bloodlines in the Altheria Empire.
Yet he was also the man who became the starting point of the Adalbert family's downfall. As family head, he should have wielded immense power, but he had failed.
Even so, he remained Martin's dear father.
*It's been seven years since I last saw you. I'm sorry it took so long.*
After this day, Martin never once visited this place where his father and ancestors were buried.
It began with the Adalbert family being stripped of its place among the empire's three great noble houses, and from there, the path to ruin.
Even as the sole direct descendant, he never ascended to headship. Naturally, he couldn't inherit the title.
He even lost his noble status entirely, falling to commoner.
"Great god Kalesian, let your servant rest peacefully in this tomb. Free his soul from the chains of all sins, mercifully accept it, and grant it eternal light."
The priest's blessing echoed, but Martin paid it no mind. No need to focus on something he'd heard once before.
Right now, he had to convey what he'd always kept buried in his heart but never spoken aloud.
*You were always worried, Father—that our line might end with my generation. You did everything to prevent it, but in the end, things unfolded just as you feared.*
There existed something called a Unique Ability.
A special power said to manifest only in the chosen, wieldable only by those who had opened the Mana Core in their brain.
This power was innate, inherited through bloodline in most cases.
So rare and extraordinary was it that on the Crasian continent, only those with a Unique Ability were recognized as true nobles—regardless of gender, age, or nationality.
The problem was that the Adalbert direct bloodline's power had been steadily weakening.
As a result, Daniel was the first Adalbert head to never reach the Absolute Realm.
With the head lacking commensurate strength, the family's prestige declined.
Naturally, internal chaos followed.
But Daniel's time had managed to hold things together, more or less.
The real issue was his son, Martin.
He hadn't manifested a Unique Ability at all, driving the final nail into the chaos.
*I worked insanely hard to overcome fate. And I succeeded in manifesting one. Too late, though.*
Unique Abilities were innate, but late manifestations weren't unheard of.
Pushing martial arts or magic to the limit could form a Mana Core in the brain, sometimes awakening a Unique Ability in the process. The ability was random, but becoming an ability user was guaranteed.
Those who manifested this way could become nobles regardless of prior status.
In practice, it served as a real ladder for commoners.
After being exiled from the family, Martin's two years were a nightmare.
The Egrid family—one of the five branch houses—helped him, so survival wasn't hard, but that was it.
Days so horrific he felt suicidal impulses multiple times a day.
Then, by fate's twist, at twenty, he succeeded in manifesting a Unique Ability.
Thanks to that, he reclaimed the Adalbert name and even founded his own house.
The moment he regained eligibility, Martin declared:
He would restore the family's place among the three great noble houses.
Branch houses and betrayers who sought to replace them attacked him.
The Adalbert civil war began.
It raged for five years, but with aid from the Egrid and Gustin families, Martin emerged victorious.
*I thought it was over. What a delusion.*
The instant he won the civil war, the imperial family and the other two great houses suddenly declared:
The Adalberts had committed treason.
They ordered the Gustin family—who had tipped them off—to subjugate him. Thus, the civil war's victor became Kallain Gustin and House Gustin.
Martin managed to block Kallain from enjoying his "success," but he himself had failed.
"Almighty Kalesian, the flesh that came from dust returns to dust as you call it home. Warmly receive your servant returning to your side, and allow it to come again to this earth."
The priest finished the burial prayer after sprinkling holy water on the coffin and body.
"Young master."
"Yes."
At the knights' words, Martin nodded.
With permission given, two knights carefully closed the coffin's lid and began covering it with earth.
*After this funeral ends, the grand assembly convenes. There, the elders Father appointed will oppose my succession. Three of the five branch heads will side with them. Of the other two, one pretends neutrality while hiding dark ambitions.*
The assembly decides on 100 days of training for him.
Even temporarily, it means exile from the family.
Power shifts from the direct line to branch heads and retainers.
It also marks the point where the Adalbert family begins its downfall.
*But don't worry this time, Father. I'll forge a different future from the past.*
Before, no effort would have succeeded.
Not from lack of trying—it was simply impossible from the start.
But now it's different. His greatest weakness, the curse fate inflicted, is resolved.
*I promise you here, Father. All betrayers will meet miserable ends. The outside forces who abetted them will share their fate. Watch from above. Witness the new future I'll carve for Adalbert.*
Adalbert's glory will endure far longer.
Martin vowed silently before the completed tomb.
* * *
"...I'm truly sorry, Young Master."
A plump, kindly old man bowed his head. Thick teardrops welled in his eyes, threatening to burst forth.
"By rights, you should ascend as the next head... But because I failed to support you properly..."
"Oh, come on. Why apologize to me, Elder Aren? My failure to become head is entirely my own fault. Isn't it written in the imperial code? Those without a Unique Ability cannot be recognized as nobles."
It wasn't just the Altheria Empire.
The same law held in other Crasian nations.
No matter how skilled in swordsmanship or magic, the ability-less weren't nobles. Thus, headship was impossible.
Grab.
Martin reached out with both hands and clasped those of Aren Cruise, one of the main house elders.
His gaze toward the man brimmed with goodwill, a soft smile on his lips.
"Actually, I wanted to thank you, Elder. Didn't you raise your voice? Insisting I deserved a chance. That's how I got these 100 days."
"But... you know as well as I, Young Master. Postnatal manifestations of Unique Abilities are exceedingly rare."
"True, but they do happen. Just in the last century, a few cases emerged. The lord of the free city of Akella is a perfect example. No law says I can't be one."
"A positive attitude is admirable... Sigh. I have just one thing to say. Training hard is fine, but don't overdo it. If illness strikes, the late head would grieve."
Elder Aren turned his head after speaking.
Beside Martin stood a woman with golden bobbed hair that brushed her shoulders.
Sapphire-blue eyes, cheeks tinged rose, glossy lips—she was undeniably a beauty. But her confident gaze overshadowed her looks.
Her name was Sien Egrid.
Heir to the Egrid family, one of Adalbert's five branches.
Five years Martin's senior, but childhood friends, close as could be.
Despite main and branch differences, they conversed casually when together.
"Your role is crucial, Sien Egrid. Remember—the Young Master's health comes first."
"Don't worry, Elder. I'll take good care of him."
"Good. Then, Young Master, safe travels."
"See you in 100 days, Elder Aren. Farewell."
With that, Martin entered the waiting luxury carriage. Sien followed.
"We'll depart, Young Master."
As they settled in the seats, the driver spoke cautiously. Martin nodded lightly.
Confirming this, the driver closed the partition between front and back seats. No words from the rear would reach him now.
At last, the carriage headed toward its destination.
That moment.
"Damn that old fart. Everyone knows he pushed for the 100-day training just to polish his image, but he acts like such a saint."
Sien Egrid spat curses in a cold voice.
"He kept his mouth shut the whole assembly, only piping up at the end with a few words, yet pretends to be the loyal retainer. If he was really worried, he should've talked properly these past two days. Right, Martin?"
Sien's eyes turned to Martin.
But he didn't reply. He just gazed at her calmly.
*...I've really come back to the past.*
The memory was vivid.
Just last month, she had blocked the path during Kallain's all-out assault to let him escape.
How agonizing it had been to flee, leaving her behind.
Seeing her again two days ago had filled him with such joy his chest nearly burst.
*She's suffered so much because of me.*
Under the guise of guard duty, Sien had supported him since childhood.
Even after falling to commoner, the Egrids sheltered him, buying time to regain strength.
When he vowed to reclaim the house, she joined immediately and fought by his side. Yet they got slapped with the absurd treason charge.
He was truly sorry for that.
It also steeled his resolve.
He would never repeat past mistakes.
*...What's wrong, Martin? Your face looks strange all of a sudden. You're not hurting anywhere, are you?*
"No, Sien. I'm in better shape than ever, so don't worry."
"Good."
Sien sighed in relief at his answer.
But only briefly. She let out a quiet sigh.
She knew full well the situation around Martin wasn't favorable.
"You need solid results from training... to claim headship. Fail, and the betrayers will oust you. One way or another."
"Probably."
Elders like Aren had revealed desires to found their own houses.
Three of the five branch heads showed ambitions to supplant Adalbert.
To fulfill their greed, Martin had to go first. Only then could they officially inherit.
"But no need to worry, Sien. Things won't go their way."
"Huh? What do you mean all of a sudden?"
"You'll see soon enough."
A bright smile bloomed on Martin's lips.
The betrayers knew nothing.
They hadn't noticed his current state. Nor what opportunity he sought in the dungeon.
*If they knew what I'd bring back from the dungeon, they never would've sent me.*
So he was certain.
On the day he returned to the family, the betrayers would weep blood in regret.
He truly looked forward to it.