Genius Gamer Reborn into a Family of Heroes

Chapter 10: Kaladan Proving Ceremony (3)

Facing the Black-and-White Knight wielding a pure white sword, Harang had no fear. He had already perfectly image-trained himself by understanding all the attack trajectories when other blood relatives faced it earlier.

Of course, he had to acknowledge that something was different now that the knight had fully formed, unlike when his cousins faced it.

‘Still, since it didn’t attack the challengers…’

Swish! Clang!!

Startled, Harang quickly parried the knight’s sudden sword thrust.

‘Attacking first? How sneaky.’

There had never been such an instance before.

Clang! Clang!

From above to below, suddenly rotating to slash horizontally, then diagonally.

These were all basic Kaladan techniques, so blocking them wasn’t difficult.

‘Hmm, even its strength is lacking?’

As Harang aimed his sword again, the Black-and-White Knight slightly distanced itself and took a stance.

– Oh, what is that strength…?

Knowing the knight would attack, Harang felt no different.

In fact, fighting like this was more fun for Harang. Beating an opponent who only defended was boring, wasn’t it?

Moreover, his duel with Taron had been a great help, where he practiced Kaladan techniques simultaneously while matching moves.

‘I simulated that duel hundreds of times.’

The imaginary Taron had become several times stronger than the real Taron, having absorbed even the techniques Harang used.

Clang!!

When their swords clashed, the knight flinched and stepped back.

The clone had the strength of an average adolescent 1-star swordsman, but it was being pushed back by the strength of a 7-year-old boy!

It was impossible, yet Terandal couldn’t imbue more power into the knight.

Summoning a clone stronger than the challenger was against the will of the Hero Kaladan who slept in the past.

But it didn’t matter. Even at the level of a 1-star, Terandal was getting excited.

– Haha, this is fun! This feeling, it’s been so long. My blood is boiling! Though I have no blood!

Harang was not being pushed back by the Black-and-White Knight; he was pushing forward. Occasionally, the knight countered sharply, making Harang’s heart race, but it didn’t manage to wound him.

The knight couldn’t keep up with Harang’s agile and swift movements!

Moreover, using blessings at critical moments to induce fatal attacks left Terandal baffled.

– This is insane. You, are you a rejuvenated old man? It feels like fighting a swordsman who has spent decades on the battlefield!

Thump!!

At Harang’s strike, the knight stepped back, entering a brief lull.

During this timing, swordsmen would usually change their stance and attack patterns, but Harang remained in the 1st stance since he had nothing else to rely on.

However, the Black-and-White Knight was different.

Though it couldn’t use the 2nd stance against a child, it had many techniques.

“That stance is…!”

“The Sacred Sword Terandal is using Kaladan swordsmanship.”

It was a familiar stance.

Kaladan swordsmanship, 1st form.

The preparatory stance of the Speed Butterfly Sword.

“……”

Realizing the opponent was serious, Harang also took his stance.

Similarly, the preparatory stance for the Speed Butterfly Sword, 1st form.

‘I have grasped his strength and speed. It would be troubling if they increased, but seeing that they haven’t, he likely won’t.’

If the speed could increase further, the knight wouldn’t have assumed the sword stance.

In other words, Terandal was consistently testing Harang with the same strength.

‘I’ve never been tested by a mouse before; this could be fun.’

As Harang grinned and stepped forward, the Black-and-White Knight immediately charged.

Clang!!

Stronger and faster than before, their swords clashed!

As their swords intertwined, everyone in the hall clenched their fists.

It was a breathtaking duel, unthinkable for a fight between 7-year-old swordsmen!

Thunk-!!

The flow of the forms became even faster, and as it reached the middle stages, the warriors couldn’t even blink, staring intently.

They knew the Kaladan swordsmanship well enough to anticipate.

The climax of the 1st form of Kaladan swordsmanship was nearing.

Whoosh…!! Flash!

As anticipated, a brilliant white light surged from the knight’s sword, unleashing a powerful vertical slash at Harang.

Had the Sacred Sword’s clone ever wielded sword energy? Probably not.

Everyone gasped.

No matter how exceptional the boy was, facing sword energy was too much!

As everyone lamented, thinking there was no chance for the boy, Harang executed the second ultimate technique he had honed through hundreds and thousands of repetitions and synchronization.

[Kaladan Swordsmanship 1st Form]

[Speed Butterfly Sword]

‘One Sword, Two Halves.’

[Full Moon Slash]

Thunk…!

It seemed like Harang’s sword extended, creating an illusion.

The body of the Black-and-White Knight slowly crumbled.

Among the gathered, those untrained in swordsmanship couldn’t comprehend what had happened at first, then they realized belatedly.

“Is that boy’s sword… glowing?”

“Is he really just a 1-star?”

“Wait a minute.”

“That technique, could it be…!”

The situation was over.

The knight’s sword missed Harang, cutting through the air, while Harang’s sword, gleaming with sword energy, precisely split the knight’s waist in half.

A clean, two-part division.

“That’s… Lord!”

Recognizing the sword technique Harang had just displayed, Charen Paul Kaladan, the second son of Duke Kalel, stared at his father in shock.

“It’s the New Moon (Sakwol) of the Speed Butterfly Sword, my lord!”

“Sakwol is an ultimate technique of the direct Kaladan line. How did an unqualified branch family member…?”

“……”

The atmosphere instantly turned silent.

No, it became cold.

The pureblood Kaladan members simply stared at Harang, while the vassal families and branch swordsmen, recognizing the technique, looked bewildered.

Harang, who hadn’t even entered the White Night Castle yet, using an ultimate technique meant someone had broken the family rules and taught it to a branch member.

“A branch family member using an ultimate technique reserved for the direct line…”

The situation had become serious.

If someone had taught Harang a direct line’s ultimate technique, they would be stripped of the Kaladan name, their limbs severed, and expelled from the family, a fate that would apply to Harang as well.

‘What? No applause?’

Used to applause following his achievements, Harang realized the atmosphere was tense, scratched his head, and shed a tear.

‘Damn, my arms are going to be useless for days again.’

The critical downside of One Sword, Two Halves.

It drained all the strength and mana from both arms, leaving them completely wrecked.

Murmurs spread.

Some spoke with pale faces among themselves, while others, realizing Harang’s fate, looked pleased.

Thump…!!

However, as Kalel struck the ground with his scabbard, silence returned instantly.

Duke Kalel Paul Kaladan stood for the first time since the ceremony began and slowly walked toward Harang.

‘Gulp!’

Thud… Feeling a tremendous gravity as if being crushed, Harang almost knelt. Realizing it was a familiar level of gravity, he straightened up confidently.

Thud… Thud… The gravity intensified, but Harang stood firm, refusing to kneel.

“Speak.”

“…What should I say?”

“The technique you used is a direct line ultimate technique. How can a branch family member use it?”

Ah, so that was it.

Realizing why the hall was in chaos, Harang felt slightly bewildered.

‘Is that really important?’

For him, the applause was what mattered.

“Will you not answer?”

Thud…!! The gravity increased further, almost unbearable for Harang’s slight strength.

‘To exert this much gravity with just a presence…’

Despite witnessing such overwhelming strength, Harang didn’t show fear, meeting Kalel’s gaze directly.

Then, he answered truthfully.

“I taught myself.”

“Hmm!”

“Ugh!”

The gravity became denser, making it impossible to stand. It wasn’t damaging, but Harang eventually knelt on one knee.

But.

He still looked up firmly at Duke Kalel with wide-open eyes.

Thud… Thud… Thud!!!

The gravity became so intense that even the surrounding nobles were affected, struggling to breathe.

A long silence.

The nobles undoubtedly expected Harang to die here. At that moment, Duke Kalel Paul Kaladan, who had remained silent for a long time, finally lifted the tension.

“Ha ha ha ha ha!!”

Suddenly, he burst into laughter.

Harang, who almost collapsed to the side due to the sudden disappearance of the pressure, managed to maintain his posture through superhuman concentration.

“Uh…?”

“What, what.”

People wore puzzled expressions. How many years had it been since the Duke last laughed?

Or perhaps he was so enraged that he burst into laughter instead?

“Yes, self-taught, self-taught!”

Duke Kalel, having stopped laughing, grinned and lowered his stance toward Harang.

From the beginning, Duke Kalel hadn’t doubted Harang.

The 1st form of the ‘Sakwol’ technique Harang displayed was so rarely used that only a few direct descendants had learned it. The suspects could be counted on one hand.

If someone had taught it to an outsider, they would have been severely punished. Who would take such a risk for an illegitimate child from a collateral line?

Moreover, Harang’s ‘Sakwol’ was completely different from the original Kaladan style.

The Kaladan family’s Sakwol was a swift and concise technique, like a crescent moon, meant to cut down the enemy instantly.

But how was Harang’s Sakwol?

‘That wasn’t Sakwol. Rather, it was closer to a full moon.’

The way it looked like a full moon rising in the night sky, not cutting softly but as if aiming to explosively crush the enemy, deeply impressed even the world-renowned Kalel Paul Kaladan…

How could a 1-star swordsman create even a small ripple before a 10-star swordsman?

‘These wretched fools couldn’t even recognize that.’

Kalel knew everything but was curious.

How far could Harang’s courage and talent go? Did he have the fortitude to support his skills and potential?

So, he tested him, and Harang passed the test brilliantly.

“The legendary Hero Kaladan created all his techniques and styles on his own. I also created my own technique for the first time at your age. So, it wouldn’t be strange if you created the same technique as Hero Kaladan, would it?”

Creating the same technique as the legendary Hero Kaladan.

A normal person would have been ecstatic hearing this. Walking the same path as the strongest swordsman in history was an honor.

However.

Harang seemed slightly disappointed and asked again.

“…Are you saying someone already created my technique before me?”

“Ha!”

Kalel showed a very intrigued expression.

Despite being compared to the hero and legend Kaladan, Harang was disappointed that his technique was not original.

“Why are you disappointed that your technique was created by the greatest hero?”

“It doesn’t matter who it is. It just means my technique is merely a copy of theirs.”

At that moment, a shout erupted from the back.

“You!! How dare you insult Hero Kaladan!”

Kalel’s second son, Charen Paul Kaladan, couldn’t tolerate the illegitimate child’s remark and sprang to his feet.

But in less than a second, he knelt and collapsed back into his seat.

‘W-Why…?’

He was a 9-star knight, revered by all, yet he was so easily subdued.

Kalel, without even looking back, muttered in a cold voice.

“My son, I am conversing with a ‘Semi Polden.’ Do you wish for me to silence you by beheading you?”

“But…!”

The term ‘Semi Polden’ made everyone gasp and cover their mouths in shock.

‘Polden’ was a title given only to the honorable knights of the main family and the purebloods who ascended from collateral branches. It implied that Harang was being accepted into White Night Castle.

In other words, Harang’s ‘ascension’ was confirmed.

To accept an illegitimate child, especially the child of Melize, left people in shock.

“Now that my son is quiet, let’s continue. There’s a misunderstanding. Your ‘Sakwol’ is not the same as that of our ancestor Kaladan.”

“Is it because mine is inferior?”

“No.”

Duke Kalel smiled faintly and uttered something shocking to everyone.

“Your technique surpasses that of Hero Kaladan.”

“…!!”

Amidst the astonishment and shock, no one dared to object. When the world’s strongest swordsman, who had reached the 10-star level and earned the title of ‘Constellation,’ said so, who could oppose him?

“I’m curious. How did you come to master that technique?”

“Well…”

Harang hesitated for a moment, wondering if he should choose his words carefully, but soon realized there was no point.

‘Don’t be scared. So what? It’s not like they’re really going to kill me.’

Harang decided to speak honestly.

“While mastering the Kaladan swordsmanship, I felt some movements were unnatural. The flaws kept bothering me, so I trained alone, and the technique naturally developed.”

“…Oh.”

Even the purebloods and all the Kaladan family members doubted their ears.

To claim that he felt ‘unnaturalness’ in the Kaladan swordsmanship? They wanted to shut his mouth immediately, but Kalel found it fascinating.

“Interesting. How many movements have you mastered like that?”

“…About two. I have thought of more, but I haven’t used them yet. And, to be honest, I’m disappointed in myself.”

“Why?”

“Because of the other form of the Speed Butterfly Sword…”

Thinking of the tiger movement that Charen had shown, Harang spoke.

“I couldn’t come up with that on my own.”

Kalel smiled.

“Of course. I created that technique to match my granddaughter’s ‘special ability.’”

“…!”

Hearing that, Harang’s eyes sparkled.

“I’m impressed that you could do that.”

Impressed? It was Kalel who wanted to express his admiration.

Up until now, with nine direct descendants in the second generation and thirteen in the third generation.

Not a single child had met Kalel’s expectations.

None of them.

Not one.

None had noticed the subtle, inexplicable discord in the Kaladan swordsmanship.

Duke Kalel Paul Kaladan had first noticed it at the age of eight and created his own technique.

Yet his children failed to follow his talent, leaving him consistently disappointed.

But now…

‘Finally.’

A child who could sense the discord in the Kaladan swordsmanship and had the talent to fill that void.

“It seems… I need to cancel my plans to ascend you.”

Hearing that, Harang almost widened his eyes in shock.

“I will name you my official disciple and successor, granting you the title of ‘Paul’ and adding you to the direct lineage.”

What followed was an even bigger bombshell.