CRASH—!
The impact sent Choki hurtling through the air.
He slammed into the wall marking the end of the back alley.
“COUGH!”
A mouthful of blood poured from his lips.
Step, step.
Choki’s gaze followed the sound of approaching footsteps.
The disgrace of the North.
The man called the Grand Duke’s only mistake.
Pietro Fenrir was walking toward him.
“How’s it feel getting the shit beaten out of you?”
“Thrilling!”
Choki’s hand moved as his gaze sharpened.
A smile appeared on Pietro’s lips.
“Uncreative bastard.”
CLANG—!
A single slash sent three throwing knives clattering to the ground.
Choki’s eyes widened.
Their timing and targets had all been different!
“What’s next?”
Pietro tapped his sword against his shoulder.
He wore an indifferent expression, as though he might yawn at any moment.
“Is that all?”
Choki rose on trembling legs.
“Kya-hahahaha!”
Mad laughter rang out.
Pietro furrowed his brow.
“If I’d known you were such an exciting man, I would’ve come looking for you sooner.”
His voice was feverish, his eyes curved with delight.
His ecstatic gaze swept Pietro from head to toe.
Choki drew mana from his heart.
“I’ll make sure we have plenty of fun from now on.”
His blood-caked sword drew a crimson arc.
CLANG—!
Weight and vibration traveled through Pietro’s sword.
‘About a three-Star Mana Heart?’
Pietro measured his opponent’s strength through their locked blades.
“Not bad for a back-alley assassin.”
“Keep your praise!”
Choki shoved Pietro’s sword away.
“Do you know something? Young masters like you have all died to my blade. They swaggered around with their half-baked swordsmanship until I killed them. I wonder how different you’ll be?”
“Save your concern.”
CRACKLE.
Pietro hid half his face behind his sword as mana sparked along its blade.
He smiled wickedly.
“Shall we have some fun dying?”
Pietro vanished.
Choki’s pupils dilated.
He could not read Pietro’s path.
At least, that was how it appeared to Choki.
Even with his mana-enhanced senses, he could not track Pietro’s movements.
CLANG—!
“Peekaboo.”
His hands trembled.
His heart pounded.
Sweat trickled down his skin.
‘Is this bastard testing me?’
Choki tightened his grip on his sword without realizing it.
He had to react faster…….
“Here.”
His body could not keep up with his thoughts.
The most he could manage was barely raising his sword.
“I said I’m here?”
“Too slow.”
“Try moving a little faster.”
Vibrations shook his hands.
The ringing of metal battered his ears.
His heartbeat quickened.
Fear and rage surged together.
‘This bastard is playing with me!’
Overcome by an indescribable humiliation, Choki roared and raised his sword.
At that moment,
his chest was slashed,
his side was stabbed,
and the top of his foot was struck.
He failed to block any of it.
He could not follow Pietro with his eyes or ears.
He could only offer up his body like a wooden training dummy.
“This side next.”
Had Pietro not deliberately warned him, Choki would already have been dead.
It was humiliating.
He was alive only because his opponent was mocking him.
“GRAAAAGH!”
Choki, who had fancied himself a hunter, became the prey.
No.
He did not even qualify as prey.
He was a toy.
“You fucking bastard! Stop running around and face me!”
“Running?”
“Yes! Face me head-on like a man!”
“Like a man? You should’ve faced the maid head-on. You stabbed her from behind, and now you’re talking about fighting fair?”
Pietro let out a hollow laugh and stopped in front of Choki.
Choki swallowed dryly.
He had only one chance.
“Die!”
Naturally, the attack missed.
The Third Young Master did not make any grand movement.
He avoided it by merely taking a single step.
That was exactly what Choki wanted.
He would throw a knife into Pietro’s neck…….
“Huh?”
Pietro vanished from sight.
“Running away again?”
“No.”
“……?!”
Pietro’s voice rang out directly behind him.
SQUELCH.
Pietro’s sword pierced through Choki’s stomach.
Crimson blood sprayed across the ground.
“GRAAAAGH!”
Choki thrashed wildly.
He struggled to pull out the sword, but it only intensified the pain.
Pietro leaned close to Choki’s ear.
“Now it’s time for a conversation. Answer well, and we can say a pleasant goodbye. If you don’t……you know, right?”
Pietro’s gaze was chilling.
Choki’s face filled with terror.
“Who was it? Which bastard ordered you to kill Mother?”
“Ghk, I can’t say!”
“No. That isn’t the right answer.”
“GRAAAAGH!”
Smoke rose from Choki’s stomach.
The stab wound was closing.
“You formed your Mana Heart properly. I can tell from how it reacts to mana.”
“Wh-what are you doing?”
“What else? I’m healing your wound so we can have our conversation.”
Choki saw madness in Pietro’s eyes.
“I want to finish this quickly, you know? Think carefully. If you pass out, I’ll wake you up and continue.”
Tension filled the sword that had rested loosely inside him.
“Who ordered you?”
Choki’s entire body trembled.
Pain, madness, fear.
The unfamiliar emotions threw his thoughts into chaos.
“No answer?”
“Th-the Duchess! The Duchess ordered it!”
“There’s more than one duchess.”
“Ghh! L-Lilian de Kareid! Th-that bitch!”
Pietro’s sword stopped twisting through Choki’s stomach.
As the pain diminished, Choki looked at him.
The corners of Pietro’s lips rose.
SLASH—!
Pain and bewilderment filled Choki’s face.
Blood sprayed everywhere.
“Wh-why? I told you everything!”
“That’s why I’m ending it quickly.”
“You crazy…….”
“Give Selly my regards.”
Choki’s head fell.
“Lilian de Kareid.”
Pietro ground his molars together.
***
Once news of the assassination attempt spread, Fenrir Castle was thrown into chaos.
Even if he was an illegitimate child, he was still the lord’s son.
He had proven his abilities before the head of the family.
According to House Fenrir’s tradition that the strongest became the next head, he could even aim for the position of successor.
Someone had attempted to assassinate such a person.
“Thoroughly investigate everyone within the territory at once!”
Father’s fury was razor-sharp.
The atmosphere throughout the territory turned cold in an instant.
No one dared open their mouth, afraid that even the slightest action might draw suspicion.
Thanks to that, Mother and I were able to move into Fenrir Castle.
Anyone who opposed it risked being accused of involvement in the assassination.
“Son, are you certain nothing hurts?”
“Yes. I’m perfectly healthy.”
Mother checked my condition several times a day.
It could not be helped.
When she first heard about the attack, she had literally fainted.
Even after waking, she trembled like aspen leaves.
It had taken considerable effort to calm her.
Knock, knock.
Alfred came to visit.
“Greetings, Young Master.”
“What is it?”
“His Grace the Grand Duke summons you.”
“Why?”
“I merely convey His Grace’s will…….”
“Whew. Let’s go.”
Someone tugged at my sleeve.
“Mother?”
“Pietro. It has not been long since that……incident. Will you truly be all right?”
Her gaze was filled with concern.
I answered with a smile.
Mother’s fingers tightened around my sleeve.
Was it truly safe to let me go?
Would I really be all right?
Her worry was unmistakable.
“I’m truly fine.”
Mother released me.
“Very well. Be careful, and do not get hurt.”
“Yes. I’ll be back.”
If only to keep her from worrying any further.
***
Father stood in the training ground with a solemn expression.
“You came quickly.”
“Of course. I came as soon as the Head Butler told me to come here, so naturally I was quick.”
“At least your mouth is alive and well.”
I pushed my lips out into an exaggerated pout.
Judging by the way Father’s brow furrowed, it seemed to be the perfect amount of charm.
“Thank you for arranging a residence for us in Fenrir Castle.”
“……There was a threat against your life. It was only natural. Prepare to spar.”
There were not many types of swords in the training ground.
I picked up an ordinary longsword.
After swinging it several times, I found it reasonably well balanced.
“I’ll use this, then?”
As for the object Father was holding……why was that thing here?
It was far too large to call a sword.
No.
It could not be called a sword at all.
It was unbelievably large, thick, heavy, and crude.
But.
“Isn’t using your personal weapon cheating?”
“When did I tell you not to use yours? A warrior’s weapon is no different from his own limbs. What fool removes his arms and legs before a spar?”
He had summoned me without warning.
How was that fair?
He should have at least given me time to prepare my own weapon.
Besides, the monstrosity he was holding was not even a sword.
“Does this look so strange to you? More importantly, when did I ever say that I used a sword?”
CLANK, CLANK.
A massive chain.
A gigantic iron ball and an axe hung from either end.
Father gripped his personal weapon, Gleipnir, and told me with his eyes to prepare myself.
I had assumed this would be a light spar, but now it seemed I would have to risk my life.
“Pietro, what do you know of Northern swordsmanship?”
“One of the Five Great Sword Arts of the Empire. A heavy sword art that emphasizes weight. I know that much.”
“As you should. Tsk.”
He could have simply praised me.
“The Heavy Sword Art is House Fenrir itself. When trained alongside the family’s mana cultivation method, it greatly increases physical strength.”
“I know.”
I had swung a sword until I was sick of it in the army.
All swordsmanship within the Empire was derived from the Five Great Sword Arts.
The Heavy Sword Art had its own offshoots as well.
Rick, whom I had fought recently, was a perfect example.
There were also quite a few people who imitated Father.
“Why are you smiling so deviously? What are you trying to say?”
“Well, you know…… I heard the Grand Duke of the South gets angry and tells you to stop copying their swordsmanship.”
“What nonsense!”
THUD—!
A massive hole appeared in the ground.
That iron ball truly was large and heavy.
“Who says we copied them?! We cannot even be compared to those weaklings in the South!”
His reaction was far greater than I had expected.
I had only meant to provoke him a little, but if I said any more, there would not be enough of my bones left to gather.
“Enough pointless chatter!”
CRASH—!
Father was already descending from above my head.
I rolled across the ground.
KABOOOOOM—!
Had I not, my skull would have burst.
“If you do not wish to die, fight with everything you have!”
Father seized the chain and began spinning it around and around.
WHOOOOOSH, WHOOOOOSH.
The fierce wind brushed my cheeks.
“I’m already fighting with everything I have!”
“No.”
Father’s voice became grave.
“Use mana.”
“……Pardon?”
“I examined the corpse of the man you killed. Those wounds could not have been made by someone who had never learned mana.”
“……You knew?”
“Fight with everything you have. If you refuse, that is fine as well. But you should prepare yourself.”
An ominous feeling crawled up from my tailbone.
“I shall deal with you myself before your brothers kill you!”
Crazy bastard.
He was serious.
If I did not use mana, he truly intended to kill me.
Senile old man.
“The North has no need for one who refuses to use his full strength!”
WHOOSH! WHOOSH! WHOOSH! WHOOSH! WHOOSH!
“Die!”
BOOM—!
Condensed mana swept across my face through the exploding air.
A tingling sensation began at my neck.
My senses ran wild along the flow of mana.
Time……is gradually……slowing.
“I’m going all out.”
CRASH—!
No sooner had I finished speaking than the old man swung the iron ball at my head.
“Did it crush you to death?!”
“Of course not.”
Father’s iron ball destroyed the place where I had been standing, but I was already gone.
I raised my sword and charged toward him.
“I need only pull the chain!”
CRASH—!
Father’s iron ball tore through nothing but my afterimage.
“You are as quick as a rat.”
The muscles in Father’s arm swelled.
The massive chain made a savage noise as it twisted direction.
The iron ball cutting through the air abruptly changed course.
CRASH—! CRASH—! CRASH—!
I raced all across the training ground, avoiding the iron ball pursuing me.
“This isn’t easy.”
My stamina was already approaching its limit.
My body was not yet capable of maintaining the Mana Chain for long.
One brief burst.
I had to wait for an opening.
“How long do you intend to keep running?!”
He was practically singing at me to die.
The movements of the iron ball and axe were vicious as they swept across the floor, shattered walls, and hunted for my life.
But my opponent was still human.
He had been swinging that gigantic monstrosity without pause, each strike carrying the same force.
Now!
The smallest of openings.
I kicked off the ground.
My body shot forward like an arrow.
BANG—! B-B-BANG—!
Time slowed once more.
The drifting dust was vivid before my eyes.
So was the shape of every falling bead of sweat.
The sound of my heartbeat stabbed into my eardrums.
Father’s eyes.
His irises.
His black pupils.
They widened.
Reflected within them, I thrust out my sword.
The sharp blade glittered beneath the sunlight.
‘He won’t die from this, right?!’
The sword strike descended toward his neck.
But then.
The Grand Duke’s eyes shifted toward me.
‘Huh?’
The Grand Duke’s massive hand shattered the wall of time.
“Not bad!”
He grabbed me by the collar.
CRASH—!
My back informed me that the ground was cold.
“I’m dying.”
“You are not dead. Stop exaggerating and stand.”
His senses were pointlessly sharp.
“How did you know?”
Of course, the Grand Duke had reached the realm of a Sword Master.
It was only natural that he could react to my speed.
Still, that had been a strike delivered with everything I had…….
“Close your eyes and feel the mana.”
I did as instructed.
A dark world appeared.
Then bright light awakened my senses and revealed a thin membrane of mana spread throughout the training ground.
“What is this?”
“It is called a Mana Field. It allows you to sense everything within its range. Learn it. One day, it will save your life.”
I had never known such a thing existed.
If I expanded its range, it would be no different from carrying an extra life.
It was an incredible power.
Still, he could have explained it with words.
Why did he have to beat me around first?
Even so, he had taught me something.
“Thank you for the lesson.”
“Good.”
The Grand Duke rested the weapon against his shoulder and stared silently at me.
“Pietro.”
“Yes?”
“Where did you learn it?”
“Learn what?”
“That strange swordsmanship and the mana cultivation method I have never seen or heard of. It resembles the fast sword art used by the Imperial Family, yet it is entirely different.”
“…….”
“What exactly are you trying to accomplish?”
‘What am I trying to accomplish?’
I had to prevent the Empire’s destruction.
I had to eliminate the black mage organization, stop the ritual that summoned the Hellgates, and prevent the demons’ invasion.
To accomplish that, I needed to complete the swordsmanship left behind by the Sword Saint.
I needed to free the Third Imperial Princess from the Imperial Capital.
I needed to gather my comrades from my previous life and the talented people I had regretted losing.
There was so much to do.
If I explained any of it, he would clearly look at me as though I were insane.
“I need to become stronger.”
If only so that Mother would no longer have to worry about me.
“Then do your best.”
That was encouragement in a way only Father could give.