Episode 56
Sanghyeolgong’s laughter, which started out as a weak line, grew louder.
For the first time, I realized that this blunt and cold person could laugh this much.
As the laughter grew louder, the gloominess also grew, and I also thought that it was a laugh worthy of the matriarch of Badknicker.
“Luan Badnicker.”
Sanghyeolgong still called my name with a voice mixed with laughter.
And without continuing to speak, he walks to the table and sits down again.
“You are right. The swordsmanship I just showed you is still unfinished. “It means there are still a lot of things to fix.”
“okay.”
“It’s a strange thing. “I showed this sword technique to three people, but only you realized it.”
Iron Blood Lord crossed his legs and looked at Heiro and Nero.
“Hey, Nero.”
“yes.”
“… yes.”
“I don’t think you two have any less insight than Luan. But only Luan pointed out exactly what you didn’t realize. “What do you think is the reason?”
The two thought deeply and shook their heads.
“I do not know.”
“me too.”
“Because you deify me too much.”
“… … .”
Iron Blood Prince continued speaking with a smile that had already disappeared from his face.
“I’ve said it several times. There are times when I am wrong, and there are times when I think wrong. There may be some inadequacies in the swordsmanship I invented, and you may discover them. But you two watched my swordsmanship without that possibility at all. “I arbitrarily decided that since it was my swordsmanship, it would be perfect.”
“… … .”
“In fact, not only you two, but most of the people within the Badniker fence look at me this way. This is also the reason why I do not stay at home and train like Hatem in Good Spring… … .”
And Sanghyeolgong’s eyes fell on me again.
“Luan, on the other hand. You looked directly at my swordsmanship with transparent eyes. At least it seems clear that he doesn’t think of me as the strongest. Have you ever met someone who is similar to me or stronger than me?”
“… … .”
The moment I heard Sanghyeolgong’s question, I got goosebumps.
As expected, this man was not just strong.
Not only did he have a deep mind, but he also had the ability to infer the psychological state of others based on their trivial reactions.
At least among the people I know, there is probably no one more annoying than this.
Is the fact that this man is my biological father lucky or unlucky for me?
“… well.”
Of course, that doesn’t mean we can reveal what happened in Yeongsan directly.
Sanghyeolgong stared blankly for a moment and then spoke again.
“There is no textbook when it comes to fighting the devil and church members. This means that you can’t establish a standardized strategy like when dealing with beasts or monsters, and that’s because they have nothing in common, from priests to bastards. “You can just guess your personality based on which faction you belong to.”
Sanghyeolgong continued his explanation in a calm voice.
For example, the minions of Hadenaihar, the Demon King of the Blood Moon, are secretive.
The minions of the green-tongued demon king Tangtangta enjoy scheming.
The minions of King Garodtooth, the golden-horned demon king, are violent and impulsive.
I naturally asked a question, thinking that the right moment had come unexpectedly.
“What about the colorless demon lord?”
“I understand he has no minions. “He’s an unusual type for a demon lord.”
“ah… … .”
“The colorless demon king is a particularly alien being among demon kings. “It appeared relatively recently, and its influence has not penetrated deep into the empire.”
“Then why are you classified as a demon lord?”
“He alone destroyed a country 100 years ago, so he is fully qualified to be called the Demon King.”
“… … .”
I was shocked by these words and kept my mouth shut.
Among the Master’s disciples, the Great Brother had a tendency to be particularly reluctant to kill.
Not only when eating food, but even after killing the monsters that inhabited the mountain, he always repented.
What reason would such a person have to destroy a country?
Going crazy is impossible.
The Taegeuk First Strike that the Great Master mastered is a martial art that can only be used while maintaining composure.
If he had gone out of his mind, his strength would have disappeared as well.
then… The ambassador type may be quite rationally crazy.
‘What does this mean?’
I thought, but there is no such bullshit.
“The swordsmanship I just showed you has no name. I have no intention of finishing it. “I want to leave that part to you.”
“That means… … .”
“Reference this sword technique to perfect your own martial arts.”
“… … .”
“The deadline is one year, and it doesn’t necessarily have to be based on my swordsmanship. You can just refer to it. “What I wanted to show was the mindset you should have when fighting the devil.”
“yes.”
“… All right.”
Heero and Nero nodded at the same time.
Sanghyeolgong looked at them blankly and said.
“You two can leave now.”
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“Oh, you mean just the two of us?”
“okay. “I still have something to talk about with my youngest.”
At those words, Nero looked dissatisfied, and Hiiro looked at me with his unique eyes.
“All right. “Then, father, I’ll just go.”
“Please take care of yourself.”
Badniker’s eldest son and second daughter step down.
Only Sanghyeolgong and I were left standing.
For me, this is not a particularly welcome development, and I feel uneasy.
It was my second time dealing with Sanghyeolgong alone like this, but somehow I felt more uncomfortable than before.
I had no idea what he was going to say.
“I heard that you are participating in a retreat at the main family.”
“yes.”
“What is the reason?”
“To become a hero.”
“Do you want to join [Heros]?”
“That could be true.”
“It means that the ultimate goal is different.”
I saw Sanghyeolgong for a moment.
And, as if I was throwing a stone into a lake, I secretly put my goal into words.
“I would like to try to defeat one demon lord.”
Sanghyeolgong looked at me with his eyes without any light and said.
“You mean the colorless demon lord?”
“That’s right.”
I answered without being particularly surprised.
Somehow, I thought that an iron-blooded craftsman would have been able to infer enough from the conversation just now.
“The Demon King’s whereabouts are shrouded in mystery. “There is speculation that they don’t normally stay in the same world as us in the first place.”
“Does this mean that you are stuck in this subspace?”
“That could be true, or there could be a separate world where only demons live.”
Sanghyeolgong said.
“I know the whereabouts of the Colorless Demon King.”
“… … !”
I looked at Sanghyeolgong in surprise, but this man said something even more shocking in a grave tone.
“I even fought directly.”
I can’t believe that the Sanghyeolgong and the Great Master had a fight.
I couldn’t easily predict victory or defeat.
This is because the strength of both cannot be measured through my capabilities.
“How was it?”
“I’m not an opponent who can be on your level right now.”
I know better.
Perhaps Iron Blood Ball is just talking around.
Even if I ask about the material here, he has no intention of teaching me.
“The devil’s whereabouts are not constant. The same goes for the Colorless Demon King. Although we have been staying in the location we have identified for quite some time, there is no guarantee that will be the case forever. Therefore, [the Great Family], as well as [Heros], are preparing an alliance comprised of the powerful members of the empire.”
“Union.”
“The expedition team will be formed soon.”
I paused and said.
“… “Isn’t this confidential?”
“okay.”
“Why are you telling me this?”
“Depending on your efforts, we may let you join the expedition team.”
“… … .”
I thought for a moment and then asked.
“When is the expedition?”
“I do not know. “It may be a month from now, or it may not start even after 10 years.”
“What should I do?”
“Only official heroes, especially Grade A or higher, are accepted to participate in the expedition. But if it were me, I could add one or two regardless of grade.”
“If you want to become a hero as quickly as possible… … .”
“If you want, we can provide you with a position as an apprentice at Heros, but I recommend that you participate in the retreat instead.”
The word retreat came up again.
This is even a situation where Sanghyeolgong personally recommends it.
At this point, I no longer had any reason to refuse the offer.
I finished thinking and opened my mouth.
“I will participate. “Can I hear about the expedition again after I complete the course?”
Sanghyeolgong nodded and said.
“Luan.”
“yes.”
“If you graduate, aim for first place.”
“… … .”
I met Sanghyeolgong’s gaze for a moment and then nodded.
“I’ll try my best.”
* * *
After my private meeting with Iron Blood Duke, I returned to my family’s mansion.
I went back to my room and rested, and after a while, Keian came to me.
“You’re here.”
“huh.”
“I’m glad that nothing bad happened to you.”
I neither confirmed nor denied what Kayan said.
It is true that nothing special happened, but the content of the conversation itself was very bloody.
“Master, I just heard from the great master that if you want to participate in the retreat, you have to move your residence sometime this week.”
“Where?”
“It is a building on the north side of the forest, outside the fence of the main house. “It was once used as a training center for the Knights Templar, but now it has become a lodging and training center for the leaders participating in the retreat.”
“aha.”
“I heard that most of the leaders, except for you, have moved in advance.
It is a reasonable measure since almost all of them are from different families.
Even if the retreat has not started yet, it is not a good idea to keep them staying at their home.
This is because Badniker has a particularly closed tendency among the great families.
“Then I guess I’ll have to move on soon.”
“There is still some time, so there is no need to rush.”
“good. “Then I’ll go out for a bit.”
Keian tilted his head.
“Where are you going at this hour?”
“Underground library.”
Actually, there is no need to go in such a hurry, but I have some questions for my father, so I’m going to go now.
Keian said with a surprised face.
“Have you received permission from the head of the family?”
“huh. I don’t know if the librarian has already received it, but he won’t kick me out if I sell the matriarch’s name. Come to think of it, do you know anything about the librarian at the underground library?”
“I’m sorry, but I have never been in the underground library.”
“Right.”
“Why did you ask that?”
“The head of the family said so. “Be careful of the librarian in the underground library.”
Kean’s expression hardened a little at these words.
“The Iron Blood Lord does not give warnings without warning.”
“know. So I’m a bit reluctant.”
Even more is expected than that.
Kayan said as I was about to leave the room.
“Shall I accompany you too?”
“no. Besides, I’m the only one with access.”
“That’s true.”
“I’ll go and come back on my own.”
“yes. “Be careful.”
After leaving the room, I was going to head straight to the underground library.
Suddenly I realized that I had missed one important fact.
I didn’t even know the entrance to the underground library.
I had no choice but to walk down the hallway, stop by the maid and ask her a question.
“Where should I go to the underground library?”
“The underground library? I do not know.”
Anyway, I am a user of the main house, so does it make sense for me not to know this?
‘Is it an apprenticeship?’
For that matter, you look a bit old.
Anyway, I ignored it and kept asking other users… … .
“I don’t know.”
“This is my first time hearing about it… … ?”
“S-sorry. I do not know.”
After that, only similar answers came back.
“What is this?”
I stood in the hallway for a moment and gathered my thoughts.
Unless the owners of the main house have collectively lost their minds, this situation is definitely strange.
After thinking for a moment, I grabbed an older maid this time.
From what I remember, she was the head maid.
Probably a veteran with over 10 years of experience working at the home company.
This maid reacted differently than the previous ones.
“I can’t tell you.”
“what do you mean?”
“I have nothing more to say. but… … .”
The head maid said with an expressionless face.
“Be careful.”
“… … .”
I felt a clear sense of discomfort at the words of the head maid.
Without bothering to catch the head maid leaving, I looked around the first floor of the spacious mansion.
And after a few minutes, I realized it.
To begin with, there were no stairs leading to the basement in this mansion.
fantasy,
