Episode 73

The orphanage operated for various reasons, but primarily because it fulfilled the goal my father envisioned.

Children embodying the virtues of a knight.

Among them, it takes just one child displaying the talent of a Sword Master.

My father sought a talented child, and then Ethan Cesar arrived.

Why did my father desire a child with the talent of a Sword Master?

Was it merely because that made running the orphanage worthwhile?

No.

“It’s to raise Noir.”

Regardless of what Ethan thinks, my father’s intention in nurturing orphaned children, including Ethan, as apprentice knights was solely for Noir’s development.

For example.

“Ethan Cesar, defeated!”

“Ha ha ha!”

“Ugh…!”

As observed on the training grounds now, they serve as sparring partners for Noir.

“What a pity! Phew, damn. It would have been over if it were just a bit deeper.”

Noir, soaked in sweat and coated in dirt, extends his hand toward Ethan.

“You, if you get a bit stronger, will you try to stab me? Eh?”

“……Don’t cry when you get stabbed.”

Ethan retorted with sarcasm.

His fists clenched, trembling from releasing the sword, and something that could be sweat or tears shone around his eyes.

“Ha ha ha! What’s the point of saying such things after losing?”

“The one-year gap will narrow as we grow older.”

“Even as adults, you won’t stand a chance against me.”

“I will definitely win. Definitely.”

Though it appeared they were arguing-

“Oh well. If I’m to guard my brother, I suppose I need to be able to win at least once in a hundred tries.”

“…Tch.”

As Noir extended his hand and Ethan rose, it seemed they were on amicable terms-

“As human beings, it’s a bit hard to say they get along well, but as knights, they recognize each other’s worth.”

It’s moderately good.

“Just you watch, Lord Noir Gibraltar. You have three years.”

Ethan viewed Noir as a barrier he must surpass.

“Three years? Ha. Even after 30 years, you won’t surpass me. No matter how much you run, I will always be ahead!”

Noir saw Ethan as an inferior yet recognized him as a competitor who could always catch up and surpass him from behind.

“As a knight of Gibraltar, I am always the strongest! Yes, indeed!”

Noir, leading the way.

“Ethan Cesar! If you want to become the guardian knight of my sister, you need to become stronger than you are now! Ha ha!”

Ethan, following behind.

“And the same goes for you guys, you lot!”

And the line of orphaned knight candidates following behind.

“You guys started training earlier than Ethan. What will you do if you’re overtaken already? Huh?!”

Noir began to scold the candidates.

‘That’s not good.’

Comparing and belittling someone was a technique that should only be used when elevating the other side yielded greater benefits.

‘That’s just criticism and vilification.’

Nothing but gossip that harmed people’s feelings without any benefit, just allowing Noir to take care of his pride. Unfortunately, they shouldn’t just be insulted like that.

‘What if they are betrayed and stabbed in the back later.’

Sometimes, that thought crosses my mind.

The knights who brought the woman who had attempted to poison Noir.

Did none of them know what she intended to do to Noir?

Even if they didn’t know the method, did really no one sense she harbored ill intentions?

‘Even if they knew, they would pretend not to.’

Knowing but ignoring.

Or pretending to be ignorant.

If there were truly loyal retainers, they would have stopped her before she entered Noir’s bedroom, whatever it took—

‘No. Perhaps they let her in precisely because they knew.’

The future Noir and the current Noir overlap somewhere.

Treating his subordinates this way, it’s as if the subordinates have committed a betrayal that’s not quite a betrayal.

‘Is father just going to watch?’

Just like I’m watching from the training ground, father is also silently observing.

‘Is he trying to see how Noir will handle it?’

Father’s disposition wasn’t one to boost his self-esteem by belittling others.

But even so-

“Ah.”

“What’s the matter, Grey?”

“Are you trying to see how I handle it?”

“…….”

Father didn’t answer.

He just nodded briefly, signaling me to go ahead as if urging me on.

“This is something.”

Was there no other way?

“I will wield the whip, then let Father provide the carrot.”

Considering efficient personnel selection, my approach was more definite.

“Then….”

From a distance where the training ground was visible, I leisurely walked towards the entrance of the training ground.

Clap, clap, clap.

Slowly clapping my hands as I entered.

At the sound of the applause, everyone in the training ground turns to look at me-

“Br, brother…?”

Noir, who was giving a long speech while pounding on his chest, froze upon seeing me.

“Uh, um, what! Why did you suddenly come to the training ground!”

Then, standing in front of the orphans behind him, he puffed up his chest and yelled at me.

“Did brother come to train too? Huh?”

“It’s a good thing.”

Not sarcastically, but sincerely.

“For someone who carries the blood of Gibraltar, to only bully the weak one-on-one.”

“What…?”

“Shame on you, Noir Gibraltar.”

Noir froze.

“If I were you, I would have fought against those 13 at once, trying to win 13:1.”

“Br, brother what…!”

“I’m not you.”

People didn’t know.

That I was far stronger than the current Noir, already at the level of a junior knight.

“If I were you, I would have strived to become stronger than now.”

“Gr, grr…!”

Therefore, to others listening, the conversation now-

“Why would you come to the training ground to say such things!”

“Guess. You would know better, wouldn’t you?”

It only looked like an elder brother who’s less skilled in swordsmanship had come to pick a fight with his younger, more talented brother.

“Why? Are you going to tell on me to Father?”

Father was there, hidden from everyone’s sight.

“Will you tell him that your brother, who can’t even wield a sword properly, has come to the training ground to spout nonsense?”

“Uh, ugh…!”

“It doesn’t matter whether you tell him or not, but I wish you wouldn’t speak carelessly to those who will become my knights.”

The orphans all made odd faces.

If their expressions could be translated, it would be-

‘What the hell is this guy talking about, calling us his knights?’

“Hm.”

That’s the reaction I was hoping for.

‘That way, you’ll realize even more that you belong to Noir.’

When faced with the worst and the lesser evil, people naturally gravitated towards the lesser evil, even if it was still terrible.

Choosing the worst only happened when following the worst eventually benefited oneself or in situations like-

“What are you staring at, Ethan Cesar?”

“Ah, that, well…”

Just like with Ethan Cesar.

“You want to become my knight? You seem to lack the skills for that.”

An unnecessarily sharp intuition, noticing it’s an act.

When the worst wasn’t actually the worst.

“…….”

“That’s right, that’s all you need to do.”

Ethan remained silent and followed Noir, and I clapped my hands for him again.

“Noir Gibraltar.”

Now that the atmosphere was somewhat ripe, I shifted the focus.

“In the past, it was said that Lord Cardian Gibraltar created an aura at the age of 10.”

“…….”

“You’re 10 now. How about it, can you create an aura?”

“…Can you, brother, create an aura?”

Of course, I could.

But not now.

“I’m not 10, and I asked you.”

“Ha, you’re not confident, are you?”

This was real.

Even knowing it’s an act, he seemed genuinely annoyed by the constant provocation.

“I might not have learned swordsmanship from father, but you, having learned father’s swordsmanship since you were 7, can’t create an aura?”

“Grr…!”

“If I had been born in your body, by the age of 10, not only would I have created an aura, but I would also have become as strong as a junior knight.”

“…….”

Noir clenched his fists and trembled.

The orphans behind him looked at Noir with pity, while I casually snapped my fingers and placed my hands behind my back.

“What’s going on here?”

A low voice came from behind.

“Grey Gibraltar.”

“Father.”

“What brings you to the training ground?”

Father’s voice was ice-cold.

“I would have assigned you a different task.”

As if I had come to a place I shouldn’t have, Father spoke to me with a stiff voice.

“I just came to cheer on my adorable younger brother who’s diligently practicing his swordsmanship.”

“Cheering?”

“Yes. With just two months left until he turns 10, he still hasn’t created an aura… Haha.”

I twisted the corner of my mouth with a smirk, just like Noir in my previous life.

“This is disappointing. I thought you had talent surpassing even Lord Cardian. What a letdown.”

“!!”

“Grey.”

Father calls me to stop, as if telling me to go easy on the teasing.

“Yes, understood. Then, I will take my leave.”

Our eyes met momentarily.

He looked expressionless, but it seemed like he was saying, ‘Did you really have to go that far?’

‘You’ll see.’

I knew what kind of person Noir was.

‘His pride is disgustingly strong.’

He desired recognition in front of others, and at the same time, hated being belittled in front of them.

‘That pride becomes his strength.’

Even if Noir was 10 now, his nature remained the same.

‘I was just following someone from before my regression. Father.’

What I said was merely repeating someone else’s words.

“…Noir.”

“Yes, Father.”

“Watch carefully.”

As I walked away from the training ground, far enough that it’s out of sight.

“This is what an aura is.”

“……!!”

Father demonstrated his aura in front of Noir and the apprentice knights.

“Ugh.”

A chill ran down my spine spontaneously.

‘You should consider yourself blessed.’

How many times had I been hit, cut, and beaten with that aura-infused sword?

‘Things have gotten so much better. Back in my day, ugh.’

Though my body bore no scars, the mere memory alone triggered a phantom pain throughout my body.

‘There’s no kinder brother in the world.’

After returning to the orphanage,

“My word, the Margrave himself showed Lord Noir the aura sword?”

When I told Robert, who had just returned from his leave, about what happened at the training ground—

“Damn!”

Uncharacteristically, he cursed and genuinely got angry.

“I should have been there behind the young lord!”

“Why?”

“Because, of course, the Margrave’s aura isn’t something you can see just anytime!”

Not because of me, but because of Father’s aura.

“Except for when he’s practicing swordsmanship alone at dawn, he doesn’t show his aura lightly in front of others! Gah, even just seeing how the Margrave generates his aura…!”

“Sir. Trying to steal the secrets of Gibraltar?”

“No, how could that be?! I just wanted to see how efficiently the Margrave constructs mana…!”

“Just kidding. If you feel like you’ve done something wrong, have a Somnus cookie.”

I handed Robert a cookie topped with Somnus petals.

“Have one too, Master.”

“…….”

Dame Mente stood silently, holding a real sword, not a wooden one.

“Um, my lord. I know it’s not my place to say this now, but…”

“If someone gets distracted by others talking, they don’t deserve to be a master.”

“No, my lord. You shouldn’t say such things lightly!”

“It’s okay.”

The path to becoming a master was long and arduous.

‘It was originally meant to help Noir, but it seems to have inadvertently been of greater help to Dame Mente.’

If Dame Mente became a master…

Even if she didn’t become a master now, if seeing Father generate an aura helped to break down her barriers.

‘To infuse mana into the sword, maintain its form continuously, and perfectly construct the form of the sword. That is the realm of the master.’

It was not just mana dispersing around the sword like mist but achieving a perfect blade form with substance.

‘It’s worth belittling Noir.’

Certainly, it’s a valuable act.

Even if it damaged my external reputation or image among the orphans.

“If Noir can infuse mana into his sword, if he can attain the qualifications of a junior knight, it would be a celebration for Gibraltar.”

“A celebration indeed, but are you alright, my lord? Even if it’s just you…”

“Sir. Remember, I’m the fool who can’t even properly infuse mana into his sword, let alone generate an aura.”

“Sigh…”

Robert sighed deeper than ever before.

“Really, what’s the point of hiding your skills like that?”

“Who knows. Maybe it’ll come in handy for assassinating someone.”

I made a stabbing gesture with my right hand towards Robert.

“Who knows. Maybe it’ll be used to approach someone who sees me as a fool for losing my heir position to my brother and then stab that person’s heart.”

“No matter what, to think of you, my lord, as…”

“It doesn’t matter how they see me. In fact, I welcome being seen as a fool.”

If that’s the case.

It meant the plan was proceeding successfully.

“Being stabbed without warning is always more thrilling than a forewarned attack.”

“Why do you speak so seriously? As if you’re really planning to do just that.”

“Because I’m actually hiding my power for that reason?”

Hiding strength and stabbing an unsuspecting enemy.

“Even if it’s just one person, if that leads to success, that’s all that matters.”

The next day.

A small festival within Gibraltar was decided to be held.

Subtitle of the festival:

“Noir, at 10, infuses mana into his sword.”

The second coming of the Cardian legend.

“It didn’t even take a day.”

“Did you stay up all night until now, receiving guidance from the Margrave without sleep?”

“Jealous, Sir?”

“Ah, um… Yes, quite jealous.”

Thanks to being taught one-on-one by Father from evening through dawn, the entire Margrave’s mansion was able to start preparations right from the morning.

“Then, shall we prepare something interesting?”

“What, what are you planning to do now…?”

“It’s like a light trial run, but we’re holding a festival cum tournament.”

I gave Robert a thumbs up.

“Gibraltar Knights’ rank organization.”

“Uh…”

“For the winner… Yes, that would be good.”

Gold had no value.

“Obviously, the prize is important, right?”

Armor or a famous horse could be bought with one’s own money.

But.

“One hour of personalized training with the continent’s strongest Sword Master.”

An experience no one can buy.

“The opportunity to freely attack Father for 10 minutes in a sparring session.”

“Whoa…”

“And.”

Something no knight could resist.

“Stories of the moment when the ancestors of Gibraltar became masters.”

“That, that is…!”

“It’s fine since it’s not about contemporary issues.”

The path to becoming a Sword Master.

“Who knows? After attending a special lecture from Father and studying the method discovered by an ancestor of Gibraltar, another master could emerge in 5, 10 years.”

Human resources and accumulated know-how were the strongest commodities our Gibraltar family possessed.

“If we say we’ll reveal the secret formula to definitely make someone a Sword Master, even the imperial crown prince would come begging on his knees to learn it, right?”

It would sell for a high price.

“How has Gibraltar produced Sword Masters generation after generation? Everyone’s curious about the secret.”

“Um, can I hear it too?”

“Yes. I can tell Sir.”

But.

After the purchase.

‘It turns out to be a matter of mentality.’

There were no refunds.

“If you do it, it happens.”