Chapter 15
Chapter 15
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 15
Chapter Title: Episode 004 (3)
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‘The second son of a fallen family, they said?’
Even in his training uniform, his speech and demeanor exuded refinement and poise. He carried an air of nobility far surpassing those two idiots from before.
Kuhn murmured the boy’s name once more, softly.
‘Taylor Rosetta.’
He knew a fair bit about Taylor Rosetta, the second son of the Rosetta family.
Among the trainees still numbering over a hundred in the three dens, he was one of the top sword talents.
They said his gift might even reach Swordmaster level.
Swordmaster—the realm reserved for the ultra-elite among sword wielders, those who transcended humanity and were called superhumans.
In truth, even among the hundreds of thousands of swordsmen, only a tiny fraction ever attained mastery.
‘Of course, even among masters, there are vast gaps in power...’
Disparities could be overwhelming between masters. Still, reaching that height alone marked extraordinary talent.
And Kuhn hadn’t committed Taylor’s name to memory just for his sword skill.
Talent and fully realizing it were worlds apart. That was why so many childhood prodigies burned out fast.
‘They don’t put in the work.’
Without knowing how to smash through walls, even small hurdles led to despair. But unlike those half-baked geniuses, Taylor’s gifts extended beyond the blade.
“What I propose is...”
Taylor’s voice continued.
He wanted to sync up this time to gauge Kuhn’s strength firsthand—
The Rosetta family had declined but still ran a trading company, so they had resources. Sponsoring them wouldn’t be a bad move.
On their own, the proposals weren’t much different from the Silver brothers’—maybe even weaker.
‘It had to be that way.’
Unlike the Silvers, who still held sway, the Rosettas were on the decline.
No comparison.
Mentioning them as one sponsor among many was likely for that reason.
The difference? Taylor’s pitch was more detailed and balanced between profit and utility, unlike the rawer Silver siblings’ offer.
Yet it felt better than theirs—probably his demeanor.
‘Polite, but not overbearing.’
Never servile.
‘Not just sword talent—better merchant instincts than his brother running the family...’
Rumors among trainees weren’t baseless.
‘Solid proposal.’
More feasible than the unbacked Silver brothers.
But...
Moments later, Taylor’s eyes widened as he asked back.
“Pardon?”
3.
A bit after Kuhn left, Taylor, lost in thought alone, let out a low groan.
‘Hrm.’
He frowned, puzzled, replaying their conversation in his head.
‘Refusal? Refusal?’
Against one of the Lion’s Den instructors, no less.
Even if they held back, it was beyond current trainee levels—naturally tough.
‘And he wants to do it solo.’
He’d even wondered if he misheard. Otherwise...
‘Raising his price.’
Ethan—Kuhn’s alias—had eyes on him beyond Taylor and the Silvers.
They didn’t know he’d crushed Barison’s crew, but many watched his rapid rise.
Smart growth—play it right, and value soared.
Kuhn’s move seemed wise.
‘But...’
Taylor trailed off, shaking his head slowly.
‘Those eyes weren’t bluffing.’
Kuhn’s final gaze lingered—no arrogance, pure belief he could snatch the button alone.
‘Does he really think it’s possible?’
He furrowed his brow again, then sighed heavily, shaking his head.
“Hoo.”
No hidden ace came to mind—he couldn’t see a way through.
“Ha.”
A sigh escaped unwittingly.
Inevitable. He’d deemed his talent solid, his Lion’s Den efforts ample.
Yet someone in the third den outshone him.
Not set in stone, but defeat crept in anyway. Shoulders slumping briefly, he scratched his head sheepishly.
‘Wait—am I the one being overtaken?’
The frail Ethan from the Den’s start flashed in mind.
To keep pace... he’d need more effort.
Two months later.
An ominous hum echoed from Kuhn’s heart.
Woooong—.
Mana surged, leagues beyond months prior.
Gazing at his heart, Kuhn spoke.
‘Preparations complete.’
His eyes gleamed fiercely in the dark.
The moment he finished prepping for the first gate.
4.
“Hooo...”
Kuhn steadied his ragged breath, lowering his wooden sword.
His soaked uniform bore the marks of grueling training.
Around him, trainees scattered, each pursuing their drills.
Squeak, squeaaak—!
Three months weren’t endless; kids trained relentlessly for the first trial.
Sweeping his gaze, even more wielded swords.
Some swordplay, footwork, fisticuffs, joint techniques.
Unlike three months back, it resembled unstructured self-training, rules gone.
Naturally, instructors permitted it.
They’d slashed fixed sessions, expanding free time vastly.
Of course...
‘Using it meaningfully? Separate issue.’
Some pushed through breaks; others slacked, eyeing instructors slyly.
Instructors glanced away dimly, unconcerned.
Kuhn shrugged lightly.
‘Expected.’
They’d already shirked—limits set.
No need to babysit.
‘The three-month window itself another test?’
Test of character and nature via time use.
Exploit it well, leap ranks past limits.
‘Botch it, get culled anytime...’
Then—
“All assemble!”
“—Assemble!”
Regular instructors rushed, gathering kids.
As planned, the senior instructor spoke tonelessly upon assembly.
“As scheduled, we commence the Lion’s Trial.”
“As scheduled, we commence the Lion’s Trial.”
Exactly three months since announcement.
Regulars below the podium stepped forward in unison.
Click-click—.
More instructors than usual—must’ve pulled from other dens.
‘Twenty?’
Kuhn tallied, estimating the Den’s scale.
‘Roughly ten regulars per den, some borrowed...’
Four or five dens total.
Remaining trainees: 400-500 at least.
The senior instructor, explanation done, addressed them.
“That covers it. Questions? Any group eager first?”
A few trainees, eyeing each other, raised hands post-call.
Trials proceeded by raise order.
First group sparred an instructor while others watched.
‘Watching spars counts as training?’
The prepared first group charged.
“Let’s go!”
“—Attack!”
As passes and fails traded joys and sorrows, Kuhn tallied passers sidelong.
‘About thirty percent.’
At this rate, even with the next exam in two months, passers wouldn’t top half.
Standout: Taylor Rosetta’s trio, naturally.
Silver hair, violet eyes.
With the Silver siblings—max talent to blitz the trial.
Pababat!
Taylor and the bearish Silver brother distracted; the eldest daughter darted for the button.
Classic, effective.
Without Taylor’s skill holding the front—failure.
The senior instructor eyed Taylor intrigued, murmuring.
‘A bit green in combat, but first-rate knocking...’
True to rumors.
Pure skill: unmatched in third den.
Paired with strong Silvers...
‘Next...’
Evaluation done, he called softly.
“Next: Ethan. Ethan and his group, step forward.”
At his clear call, Kuhn rose casually.
And—
It didn’t take long for instructors and trainees to stiffen, sensing the oddity.
‘He can’t mean—’
‘...Solo trial?’