The Heir's Farewell

The indoor training hall of the Kaisar Count's house.

Whoosh! Whooosh!

A fierce wind whipped through the air. Despite the doors being firmly shut, the wind ran wild, tearing the training hall apart as if it were playing games with the space.

But not every corner of the hall had become the wind's playground.

In the one place that remained perfectly still, a boy stood.

It was a strange sight. The storm raging through the training hall grew calm only around him, leaving his corner looking as though nothing was happening at all. Instead, every time he swung his sword, the surrounding winds churned and swelled, growing fiercer still.

It was as if the boy commanded the wind itself.

How much time had passed?

At last, the boy lowered his sword, and the rampaging winds scattered, returning the training hall to silence.

"Whew."

The boy, Luden Kaisar, let out a light breath.

"As expected, it doesn't climb as fast as when I'm fighting monsters."

The Storm Sword's proficiency had now passed the halfway mark of its target. But even reaching this point had demanded a considerable amount of effort from Luden.

There was a limit to how much proficiency he could raise through sword swings alone, and repeating the same motions meant little if the Storm Sword's actual skill and understanding didn't improve alongside them.

Simply put, he lacked the talent for it.

"Well. Nothing I can do about it."

Luden wasn't particularly disappointed. He'd known all along that he had no talent — what was the point of being upset about it now?

Besides, while this front showed no progress, everything else had advanced considerably.

"Status Window."

Two years on, the Status Window had changed dramatically. It was the result of consistently completing quests.

He'd expected as much, but at this level, the difference from his previous life wouldn't be all that great. And factoring in his skills and the items received as rewards, the present him was naturally the stronger.

"I wanted to finish the Storm Sword quest too. A shame, but this is where I stop."

Luden sensed that the time had come.

"Right. I was wondering why it hadn't shown up yet."

He had returned to the past, and now, at fifteen, the time to leave the family was approaching once more.

"Father. It's Luden."

"Come in."

Despite the sudden visit, the Count of Kaisar welcomed him just as he always did. Only two years had ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠passed, yet his face closely resembled the image from Luden's final memories.

"Were you busy?"

"Hah. It's the usual work. I was about to take a short break anyway — come, let's have some tea."

"Yes, sir."

Tea poured by his father.

Come to think of it, wasn't this a first?

Well, this is a novel experience.

He waited with that thought, and before long the Count handed him a cup and took his seat.

It was an herbal tea, surprisingly well steeped.

"So. You coming to see me first — that's something new."

"Maybe I should have visited more often?"

"As if you ever would."

The Count chuckled and took a sip of his tea. His expression, his whole atmosphere as he looked at Luden, had grown far softer than before.

"You're fifteen now, aren't you."

The Count murmured it as if struck by fresh emotion.

In a noble house, fifteen was the age when one could gradually be named the official heir. If anything, considering the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠state of Kaisar County, the decision was already late — and the reason lay entirely in Luden's untrustworthy conduct.

But now, the decision would have to be made soon.

"So, what brings you here?"

"Yes. Actually, there's something important I need to tell you."

Luden realized, in that moment, that he was nervous. It was only natural — he was about to convey a decision he had made to his father.

But this was something already settled, so he steeled his resolve and spoke.

"I want to leave the county and gain broader experience."

"I see."

"You're not surprised?"

The reaction was flatter than he'd expected. So calm that the tension drained right out of him — it was Luden, the one who'd brought it up, who ended up puzzled.

"Somehow, I had a feeling you would, sooner or later."

"What?"

"You think a father can't read his own son's heart?"

Some things pass between people without a word needing to be spoken. That is what parents and children are.

"I had a feeling you'd leave someday. You were never one to sit still, even back then."

"You're not going to ask why?"

"You'll come back, won't you?"

"Well, yes, but—"

At the Count's expression — then there's nothing to ask — Luden found himself at a loss for words.

In his father's gaze as he looked at him, Luden felt an unshakable trust. It made all his agonizing over how to broach the subject feel foolish.

"I think Kevin should be made the heir. Unlike me, he's decisive and diligent."

"I was thinking the same thing, even before you said it."

"Really, you knew everything."

"Hmph. You think I'd lack even that much sense? I didn't sit in the lord's seat for nothing."

So that's what it means to be a father, huh.

No arguing with that.

Shaking his head as if conceding defeat, Luden erased the words he'd prepared and offered the Count a bow instead.

"I'll be off, then."

"Send word now and then. Ah — before you go, have a talk with Kevin too. As you know, the boy seems to have hit adolescence lately."

"I don't think that's adolescence, actually. Well, I was planning to anyway. I will."

"……Take care of yourself."

At the Count's small, quiet parting words, Luden blinked in surprise, then nodded.

It was late at night when Luden went to find Kevin.

Contrary to his expectation that the boy would be in his room, Kevin was in the training hall, swinging his sword.

At it again.

The reason Luden had guessed Kevin would be here was simple. Call it a habit.

Ever since they were young, whenever something troubled him or went wrong, Kevin would head straight for the sword. Same as now.

He held a blade, but the motion hardly looked like training. Sweat poured off him like rain, and his face was twisted into a scowl.

"Damn it."

Whoops.

The sword flew from Kevin's hand, and Luden sighed before revealing himself.

"Nice going. Keep that up ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠and you'll wake the whole household."

"……What do you want? Why are you here?"

The voice was frosty. Even his gaze carried a note of rejection.

Luden deliberately played dumb.

"I was passing by and it was loud, so I came to look. More importantly, what are you doing?"

"Whatever I'm doing is none of your business. Get lost."

Things between him and Kevin hadn't been bad since the goblin shaman incident. He couldn't call them close, but the cold front Kevin used to put up had disappeared.

They'd exchanged words several times, and occasionally even sparred.

But recently, something had happened, and Kevin had reverted to his old self.

No — he'd grown even colder than before.

Now he seemed to avoid even meeting Luden's eyes.

So it really is because of that.

He had a pretty good guess.

Having finished the thought, Luden spoke.

"Good timing, actually. I had something to tell you."

"What?"

"It's a bit sudden, but — I'm leaving the county."

"What?!"

When Luden relayed what he'd told the Count, Kevin's eyes went wide with shock. Luden hadn't said a word about it before, so the surprise was only natural.

"There's something I have to do. I don't know how long it'll take, so I wanted to say goodbye before I went."

"……You're joking, right?"

"I'm not joking. I've already talked it over with Father."

"Don't make me laugh! You can't just decide that on your own!"

The panic was plain on his face.

If Kevin hated Luden, the reaction made no sense. Considering the position Kevin was in, he should have been grateful that Luden was walking out on his own two feet.

And yet Kevin refused to accept it.

"What about the county? What about the family?"

"That's exactly why I came. Kevin — I'm leaving the county to you."

"What?"

"You're the heir. Succeed Father and lead this county."

Kevin's face went slack with shock, but on this point, Luden was entirely sincere.

The heir to succeed Kaisar County was Kevin, then and now.

Me becoming lord at this point would be a joke anyway.

By talent, Kevin was far better suited, and above all, Luden had no right to it. He had endangered the county, and when the collapse came, he hadn't even been there.

Compared to Kevin, who never gave up on the county to the very end, Luden was pathetic.

Not that it matters — I have my own work to do.

Ten years. No — eight years now remained until the Great Famine.

Within that time, securing the strength to protect the family somehow was Luden's goal.

"Ghhk! Spew your crap in moderation! You think anyone's happy when you dump it all on them and walk away like that?"

"What's the problem? Isn't this a good thing, at least for you?"

"What did you say?"

His voice rose. But Luden didn't stop.

"To House Viscount Felix, I'm nothing but an obstacle in the way, anyway."

"You — how do you know that?"

"Did you ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠think I wouldn't?"

House Felix was Kevin's maternal line. The current Viscount Felix was Kevin's maternal grandfather — a merchant of remarkable cunning who had risen to nobility in a short time by running a trading house.

Naturally, a man like that was greedy.

It was he who had married his daughter into the Kaisars in exchange for lending the county money.

What that man wants is legitimacy and standing as nobility.

He harbored ambitions of swallowing Kaisar County whole through Kevin. A man with a scheming heart from the very start.

"Whew. Fine, then. I was only going to say goodbye, but seeing the state you're in, I can't leave with an easy mind."

Luden drew out a practice sword from somewhere. He'd clearly been holding nothing — and suddenly, there it was.

"Pick up your sword. Before I go, we're starting with an attitude adjustment."

"What?"

Before Kevin could even retort, he flinched and scrambled backward.

Luden's sword was buried in the spot where he'd been standing.

"Hey! Are you insane?"

"Take it seriously, Kevin Kaisar. Otherwise, this won't end with a few days in bed."

At the sudden shift in atmosphere, Kevin gritted his teeth and picked up the sword he'd thrown down.

But he still had no idea what Luden was thinking.

CLANG!

The two blades met, and a thunderous ring of steel reverberated through the training hall.

Even having blocked the attack, Kevin felt the heavy impact drive through him, and his eyes went wide.

"Come to think of it, I did beat you last time."

"What is going through your head?"

"I told you. Attitude adjustment. First, I'm going to tear that rotten grit of yours apart and rebuild it."

With that, Luden pressed in on Kevin fiercely.

This was no joke. Every strike carried real force, and the relentless chain of attacks showed not the slightest hint of going easy.

In the end, Kevin too launched a counterattack, and the fight turned ferocious. Sparks flew every time their swords collided.

"Forgot already? You've never beaten me. Not once."

"Really. What's with the old history all of a sudden?"

Objectively speaking, Kevin's skill was outstanding. He had inherited the Count's talent outright, and from childhood he had never once skipped a swordsmanship lesson.

Luden had also reached the same 3-Star realm upon mastering the third form of the Storm Sword, but honestly, he couldn't outmatch Kevin in talent or effort.

And yet.

"Ghhk."

Kevin's eyes wavered with confusion. They kept clashing blades, yet he could feel himself being pushed back, little by little.

Well, he's still young, I suppose.

Luden had the experience accumulated since before his regression. And the various abilities gained through quests more than bridged the gap with Kevin.

"Hyaa!"

Storm Sword

1st Form — Razor Wind

As Kevin unleashed the family's swordsmanship, Luden answered with the very same form.

Sharp winds crashed together and canceled out, and a savage gale whipped wildly around them.

Before he knew it, a vortex of air currents had formed around the two of them.

Kevin gritted his teeth.

He had never imagined Luden could be this strong. He had always won. He had believed Luden could never be his match.

"Damn it!"

Kevin's stance shifted.

Luden read which form it was and moved to answer in kind — but he was one step too late.

Storm Sword

2nd Form — Whirlwind.

The blade, drawing in even the ambient currents of air around them, came rushing in.