Episode 2. The duke’s incompetent son (1)
March 1, 985, according to the Genesis calendar.
Currently 10 years old.
I went back exactly 27 years to the point where I was struck by the knife of betrayal.
First of all, we assumed that we had returned to the past, but it is still infinitely difficult.
I went back in time… … .
I have never heard of magic like this in my life, nor have I ever thought it was possible.
In other novels, this is called regression… … .
No, to put it bluntly, I could be a psychopath with vain delusions, right?
First of all, it seems necessary to check a few things to make the current situation more certain.
While I was chewing the meat, I unconsciously picked up the vase on the table.
… … heavy.
Even though I held it with both hands, my hands were shaking.
Without needing to look any further, I can clearly see that my ten-year-old body was weak.
This time, I took a flower out of the bottle.
I aimed the meat-cutting knife at the flower petal and struck it in the air.
-Knock knock knock
Six petals falling without any error.
Just like when I received the sculpture earlier, the senses such as concentration and agility seemed to largely remain.
This was definitely a feeling that 10-year-old me didn’t have.
“… … “Hey Emily?”
“Why, master?”
Emily, who was making tea for dessert, answered with a dull expression.
“What do I think about in this house?”
“What? “You are incompetent and can’t do anything.”
That indifferent answer without even a second of thought.
Still, thanks to that, I was more than 99% confident.
I returned to the past with all the memories and sensations of my previous life.
You might be wondering what kind of confidence you can get with the words ‘incompetent person who can’t do anything’, but it’s not at all unreasonable to conclude my current situation.
The son of an incompetent duke who had no power, no ability, and was not even able to get angry while being openly ignored by his immediate maid.
This was the same ten-year-old Sian Werth I knew.
I returned to the most miserable time in my life, when I did not receive anyone’s attention or expectations.
How is this really possible?
It was impossible for even a transcendent level wizard to go against the law of nature, such as returning to time, and it was something that could not be explained at all.
Was the god of time playing a trick?
“I thought you wouldn’t be able to eat even half, but you already ate it all, master?”
Emily, who was serving tea, looked at the empty plate and said.
“Why did you eat everything?”
“No, that’s right, today’s sword sparring is an event that Duke Berthe will also be attending. Just yesterday, you lamented that you wish today would never come… … .”
At that moment, a memory from 30 years ago passed through my mind.
At the beginning of every month, sword fighting takes place at the estate.
Among them, today is March 1st, exactly one year before I entered the Royal Academy, and it was a very important event attended by Duke Berthe, the owner of the estate.
Sword sparring and work… … .
Those were the two things I avoided the most at the time.
* * *
A white sparring field spread out below with the blue sky in the background.
It was already full of soldiers from the territory.
In terms of size, this is a company-level or higher-level force.
Of course, it was not only made up of soldiers, but also included servants of the mansion and officials of the Duke of Berthe.
There is only one reason why they gathered here.
It was for a sword sparring between the duke’s children.
Hmm, what can I say? It’s such a strange feeling.
Would you say it’s like a vague feeling you get when you return to your hometown?
It was definitely a place I would hate to come to than to die at the time, but now it looks like nothing more than an indifferent stone floor.
“I guess you’re not nervous? “You’re calmer than I thought?”
Emily asked questioningly as my face looked calm, unlike usual.
“Well, I don’t think there’s any reason to be nervous… … .”
I could feel how unfamiliar she was from the way she tilted her head.
Well, it’s not unreasonable.
As she said earlier, in the past, in this family, I was an incompetent child who couldn’t do anything.
Even when I got on the sparring field, instead of swinging my sword, I just kept shaking and giving up my head.
Because of that, no one had any expectations or interest in me… …
A meritocracy where only the strong and capable can be treated well.
That was the ideology of the Duke of Berthe, whose mission was to protect the continent.
“The Duke is coming!”
With the knight’s loud shout, all those who were busy moving took their seats.
A while later, Duke Berthe appeared at the entrance to the sparring hall, and the high-ranking knights performed a sword ceremony.
“… … .”
——————
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The duke walked leisurely between them with a gentle smile.
The Duchess and the Duke’s fourth son, Kranz Wert, followed behind them.
-chuck
The duke lifted his cloak with an elegant gesture and sat down in his seat.
He was showing off a sturdy physique and appearance that belied his age of nearly 50.
“Let’s get started right away.”
Wasteful things like pre-dinner events were unnecessary.
Following the duke’s instructions, the yellow-haired boy who followed him headed to the center of the sparring hall.
The Duke’s 4th son, Kranz Wert, is the same age as me.
Of course, my mother is another half-brother.
As Krantz came out, I also stood up.
“A sword, master.”
As I was about to move forward, Emily handed me the sword.
It was a thin rapier studded with blue gems.
All children of the Berthe family receive a sword as a gift from the Duke on their 7th birthday.
It was given to him to help him develop the strength to protect himself and the world, starting with that sword.
However, unfortunately, I have never used this sword properly before.
“Why don’t you just surrender and come?”
She must be a very grateful maid who, instead of cheering, throws harsh words at her.
“What about surrender? It just means you win, right?”
“Please come without getting hurt…” … .”
I smiled softly at her, who was showing her own concerns.
After finishing preparations, I went to the center of the sparring hall and faced Kranz.
The moment they reached a distance of three paces, the Dalian officials instructed them to bow to each other.
While I was lowering my head without difficulty, I heard an annoying sound.
“You didn’t manage to run away?”
I raised my eyes and looked into Kranz’s face.
A mean-spirited mockery that belittles the opponent.
It was a smile filled with malice, saying that people like you were just there to lift me up.
When I see that smile, many thoughts come to mind.
The son of a mistress and an illegitimate child whose mother he does not know.
In fact, the comparison is already over from here.
He had received tremendous support from his maternal side since birth, and even the quality of the food he had been eating was on a different level.
I didn’t think that was particularly enviable.
I just thought it was completely natural.
I realized too late how foolish it was… … .
Although it is nothing more than ten-year-old boys clashing swords, the meaning of sword sparring is very important, at least to the Bert family.
A year later, 10-year-old boys leave their homes and head to the Royal Academy.
This sword sparring is the test of the head of the family for those who have reached that critical point.
In other words, if you don’t show a good performance in Dalian today, you can be seen as completely losing the Duke’s attention.
There was no child of the Bert family who did not know what it meant.
In my past life, I lost this important sparring.
To be more precise, we were defeated miserably.
It was broken so miserably that it could hardly be called a sparring match.
But that didn’t change anything.
No one thought I would win in the first place.
To be honest, I didn’t even think that Sian Werth, the incompetent child of the family, would be able to overpower Krantz, who had completed all his professional training.
Isn’t it obvious?
In the first place, it is impossible for an incompetent child who has neither ability nor effort to defeat a talented child.
Since my defeat was completely natural, no one was surprised.
However, after sparring, my father called me and said these words to me.
“Do nothing.”
What does it mean?
Since it was out of my sight, it meant you didn’t have to make any more effort.
I wonder how parents could make such a statement as if they were giving up on their children, but this is the Duke of Berthe’s family.
The dignity of nobility, the warmth of parents, etc. are just superficial rituals here.
It is a place where only strong children who carry out the ideology of the Bert family survive.
I slowly raised my head and looked around the entire sparring hall.
More than 100 visitors are all out and staring at Krantz.
None of them would expect me to win.
“… … .”
The moment I suddenly looked away, I made eye contact with the Duke for a moment.
I turned my head in a hurry, but I was able to catch it clearly even in that short moment.
anticipation.
Even while everyone was expecting my defeat, the duke had expectations that I would have something to show.
In my past life, I completely destroyed those expectations.
But what happens today?
An unknown smile appeared on his lips.
-Dang dang dang!
With the sound of drums announcing the start of the sparring, Kranz pulled out his sword and pointed it at me.
I also calmly drew my sword.
The sword was reflecting sunlight and emitting blue light.
Unlike the past, when it felt heavy, it feels infinitely light.
-fault
Without any time to search, Krantz rushed to his feet.
I don’t even need to look at the liver, what does that mean?
I just looked at him in silence as he closed the distance in an instant.
He smiles at my defenseless appearance.
Still, I made a move to strike away the sword in my hand.
The trajectory of the sword is clearly drawn.
Using the momentum from his run, he swung out the sword in his hand.
I thought for a moment.
Do snails move?
There was no need to block, I took a step back and dodged his blow.
“… … !”
I met Kranz’s momentarily perplexed gaze.
Kranz, who lost his target, lost his balance and stumbled, and I did not miss the opportunity.
I immediately raised my sword and struck the guy’s sword.
-Kang!
Kranz’s sword plummeted to the floor.
The guy looked at the sword on the floor as if he was lost.
-puck
“Ahh!”
I kicked the guy in the shin and made him sit down.
Kranz, who naturally fell to his knees, was holding his ankle in pain without any intention of picking it up.
The sparring was already over at this point.
If I point my sword at Kranz’s neck, I will win.
“… … .”
But why don’t you want to do that?
An empty feeling blooms in a corner of my heart.
lack of.
I feel like something is lacking to end it like this.
This is not enough to subdue him and reveal my presence.
The desire to subdue him a little more and rule over him is welling up in my heart.
The desire soon turned into reality.
-puck
The right foot thrust forward hit Kranz in the head.
Just make up for the lack of power with accuracy.
The tip of my toe hit the guy’s temple exactly, and Kranz, unable to withstand the impact, fell over.
-dump
The unconscious guy had various secretions pouring out of his mouth.
The promising leader of the dukedom who collapsed so miserably that he could no longer hold his own.
On top of that, I, Sian Bert, who had been criticized as the incompetent child of my family, stood firmly.
I didn’t care and aimed the sword at his neck.
“… … .”
Silence flows.
Did something that no one expected stop working?
Before long, Dalian Pavilion shouted in a loud voice along with the rough sound of drums.
“Sparring is over! Winner Sian Wert!”
(Continued in the next part)
