Genius Gamer Reborn into a Family of Heroes

Chapter 32

The Honorary Sword Meeting

The Honorary Sword Meeting is said to have started decades ago when the three major swordsmanship families—Kaladan, Emblitz, and Makris—began exchanging ideas to gauge their progress and promote camaraderie.

However, the reality was different.

At that time, the Kaladan family was slowly declining from its position as the top swordsmanship family, while the Emblitz and Makris families were rapidly advancing and gaining prominence.

Emblitz and Makris thought that they were now on par with Kaladan, but the world still regarded Kaladan as the strongest.

How could they bring Kaladan down to their level?

War would be the most certain method, but due to the ‘Astera Central Continent Peace Alliance,’ starting a war would invite condemnation from other nations.

The best way to compare swords with Kaladan without actual fighting was through a competition!

Thus, the Honorary Sword Meeting began to be held in the ‘Triangle Dome’ of the neutral city of Cantaine, which maintained friendly relations with all three families.

For decades, the three families were considered equal, and this tradition continued for many years.

Three years ago, however, the balance was shattered by the appearance of a young girl.

“Did you see the girl from the Grand Duke Emblitz family three years ago?”

“I couldn’t come back then, but I was determined to see her this year.”

“She was eight years old back then. I wonder how much she has improved over the past three years.”

This year’s Honorary Sword Meeting had twice as many spectators as three years ago. Considering the significant turnout of warriors back then due to rumors about Chorien, the crowd this year could be described as a sea of martial artists.

Moreover, the interest was not only in Chorien from the Emblitz family.

Three years ago, a piece of unbelievable news had spread from the Kaladan Duke’s household and was featured in news outlets worldwide:

‘A seven-year-old boy from a branch family achieved the first rank and was adopted into the main family.’

At that time, the name ‘Harang Paul Kaladan’ was featured in all the news, but with no published photos and no official statement from the Kaladan Duke’s household, it remained a mere rumor.

But now, three years later, if the boy truly existed, he would surely participate in the Honorary Sword Meeting.

This sparked the interest of famous martial artists from around the world, who canceled their schedules to secure a spot and witness the possible confrontation between the genius girl Chorien from Emblitz and the genius boy Harang from Kaladan.

“Look over there. Isn’t that the White Lion Fortress’s White Star?”

“They said he had entered closed-door training.”

“He’s the type who can’t resist such an exciting event.”

“Look over there. Even the Fairy Star from the Heavenly Palace is here.”

“She is still as beautiful as ever…”

“I last saw her thirty years ago, and she hasn’t aged a bit.”

“The Sea Star of the Blue Sea Fleet is here too…”

Seeing three martial artists, each of whom had reached the tenth rank, gather in one place was a rare sight in itself.

Moreover, these were not just any tenth-ranked martial artists but those revered as the ‘Ten Greatest Stars under Heaven,’ the most powerful superhumans in the world. How could this not be thrilling?

The martial artists who had gathered to watch were filled with enthusiasm.

What could excite a martial artist more than meeting the world’s greatest?

However, they were not there to see the stars.

They had come to see the budding talents.

“Everyone, please be silent.”

As the small-framed host on the podium spoke forcefully, the crowd fell silent.

The host turned his gaze to the east. The Triangle Dome had three large iron gates, each bearing different symbols.

The host’s gaze was first drawn to the gate with the symbol of a silver dragon coiled around itself, holding its tail in its mouth with a sword piercing through the middle.

“The Sword King’s Throne, His Grace Kalel Paul Kaladan, enters.”

Creeeak…!

A silver dragon and a sword.

The symbol of the swordsmanship family Kaladan.

As the iron gate opened and Kalel was the first to enter, heading to the highest seat in the dome, his blood relatives followed and took seats slightly lower.

The crowd hurried to find a boy around ten years old among the blood relatives.

“Is it that child over there?”

“No, that’s Dailid, who turned thirteen this year.”

“It’s not the boy following behind either. I’ve seen him before.”

“Then who is ‘Harang’?”

Everyone searched for a boy named ‘Harang,’ but there was no child around ten years old.

However, one mysterious child at the very back caught their attention.

“Isn’t it that kid at the very back?”

“He’s supposed to be a boy, so probably not. The figure is too small…”

“He doesn’t look like someone who has trained with a sword.”

“On a closer look, it seems to be a boy?”

People were puzzled by Harang’s appearance. It was hard to believe that a boy who had achieved the first rank at seven years old would have such a small frame.

“Entering next is the Phantom Stream Star (환류성좌), His Grace Aelsob Emblitz.”

Next, the door with a symbol resembling a dreamcatcher, a mystical decagon, opened, and the Emblitz family entered.

Aelsob, with his gray hair fluttering and his hands clasped behind his back, entered confidently, followed by his blood relatives.

Again, the spectators focused on the gray-haired girl, Chorien, entering at the back. She was easy to recognize, having been seen three years ago.

“That girl is actually taller than that boy.”

“Well, girls grow faster at that age.”

“Height isn’t important. I’m curious about how much her swordsmanship has improved.”

As Chorien, who drew attention, took her seat, the host immediately called the next family.

“Entering next is the Sage Star (선륜성좌), Her Grace Cardinal Brille Makris.”

Creeeak…!

The iron gate with the symbol of three circular wings and scales representing sanctity opened, and a woman with silver hair entered first.

With a youthful appearance in her thirties, she walked in with her hands clasped politely, a slight smile on her face, followed by her followers.

Unlike the other pure knight families, Makris was a family of holy knights who protected the church of the Holy Empire, Benedice.

“A family of holy knights?”

Harang, sitting among the Kaladan blood relatives, took an interest in the Makris family. It was unique that they followed the rules of blood succession while being a church family.

“Do they use holy swords or something?”

Not necessarily. Simultaneously wielding holy power and mana was extremely difficult. Occasionally, holy knights who could use holy prayers appeared, but their increased healing abilities were the most they could achieve.

Of course… Brille, considered the head of Makris, was known for the impossible feat of simultaneously wielding holy power and aura, so people no longer said “absolutely impossible.”

With the entrance ceremonies of the three major swordsmanship families completed, the Honorary Sword Meeting officially began.

Although not of the three major families, notable families from around the world came to compete and spar.

The first matches were for swordsmen in their early teens, the third group. Charen participated and won three matches in a row, confidently returning to her seat.

Naturally, people took notice of her, but the highlight had yet to come.

“Next, the second group swordsmen’s matches will begin.”

“Hmm? Those two haven’t appeared yet?”

“Are they not participating this year?”

“I came all the way here to see them…”

As the third group matches ended, spectators were puzzled, but their curiosity was soon satisfied.

“Second group swordsman, Chorien Emblitz. Please come to the stage.”

As her name was called, the martial artists began to murmur.

“She’s so young, but she’s competing in the second group?”

“Wow, the Emblitz family is making a bold challenge.”

“This is going to be interesting.”

It was unprecedented for an eleven-year-old girl to compete in the second group, where the average age was fourteen to sixteen, but people were more intrigued than skeptical.

Those who had seen her incredible talent three years ago began to feel excited!

With a calm expression, Chorien, her gray hair tied back, stepped onto the stage and removed the cloth from her sword.

Despite her young age, her outstanding beauty and inexplicable charm captivated the boys of her age, making them blush and unable to look at her directly.

When she tied her hair into a ponytail, some boy swordsmen nearly had a fit.

‘Kids…’

Harang, unable to understand the psychology of these youngsters, shook his head.

‘So that’s Chorien.’

He remembered Lauren Chaygan’s warning about her, saying that Chorien would compete in the Honorary Sword Meeting and that he should never lose to her.

‘Hmm, I guess I won’t have to fight her.’

She was in the second group, and Harang was in the first group, so they wouldn’t face each other this year.

“Why, are you interested in her too?”

Turning to the side, he saw Charen glaring at him incredulously.

“Pathetic.”

“…”

Harang suppressed a laugh. The twelve-year-old trying to act mature was quite adorable.

“The match begins.”

Shortly after, a fifteen-year-old boy came out as Chorien’s opponent, and the match began. Harang focused on her sword.

The Emblitz family’s specialty was illusionary swordsmanship based on swift swords.

Like flowing water, it appeared slow but was actually as fast as lightning. The illusionary swordsmanship of Emblitz confused the opponent, leaving

them defeated before they even realized what had happened.

‘She uses a one-handed sword.’

Chorien’s sword was neither too heavy nor too long.

It might appear trivial, but in an actual match, it would be anything but.

Emblitz Swordsmanship.

Blooming Red Lotus.

As Harang quietly observed Chorien’s swordsmanship, his eyes widened. Like a red lotus in full bloom, pink sword energy scattered in all directions, attacking the opponent with a dazzling display.

‘Is it possible to do that with swordsmanship?’

Unlike the Kaladan swordsmanship, it was difficult to grasp how it unfolded.

It was as if dozens of blades, resembling lotus petals, were swarming. The boy facing her could barely defend and was quickly driven back.

But that wasn’t the end.

Bloom.

As the red lotus seemed to soar into the sky, her sword slashed upward, splitting the boy’s protective gear and bringing him to his knees.

“Ugh…”

With that, the match ended.

The boy, who was considered a prodigy, was defeated by an eleven-year-old girl without even swinging his sword properly.

“She handles the ultimate technique perfectly.”

“How is that possible?”

Spectators who came to see her improved skills were left speechless, seeing how much she had grown.

It was astonishing that she had reached the second rank at eleven years old, and even more so that she perfectly executed the profound secrets of the illusionary sword.

Considering that even the blood relatives of Emblitz, who practiced the illusionary sword, spent decades trying to master the lotus petals, it was almost disheartening to wield a sword.

Moreover, it seemed there was still more to be amazed by.

She faced a second opponent, a third-rank swordsman, and here she demonstrated the ‘ultimate technique,’ said to be used only by the purebloods of Emblitz after reaching adulthood.

Emblitz Swordsmanship Ultimate Technique.

Scattering Red Lotus.

Full Bloom.

The sword energy spread like a massive red lotus in full bloom, breaking the third-rank swordsman’s sword.

Clang!

“I concede.”

A second-rank swordsman defeated a third-rank swordsman. Moreover, she used the ultimate technique of Emblitz, known for its extreme difficulty!

While everyone was speechless, Chorien, exhausted, gave a sword salute.

No matter how much of a genius she was, facing a third-rank swordsman was challenging, and her body was covered with cuts and scratches, her breathing rough.

‘She is indeed remarkable, as the rumors say. The illusionary sword…’

Harang mentally replayed Chorien’s swordsmanship.

He couldn’t understand the principle of how such swordsmanship was performed, but finding the single sharp, genuine sword within it wasn’t difficult.

In his previous life, even virtual reality had techniques like that, so finding the real one wasn’t hard, but the problem was that the ‘illusions’ also contained sharp intent.

‘An illusion that isn’t just an illusion.’

Harang then focused on the third-rank swordsman who had faced Chorien. Although he lost, he was considered a talented martial artist, having met an unfortunate match.

Harang didn’t think so.

‘Compared to the 95th group of third-rank trainees in Kaladan…’

Honestly, he was lacking.

Kaladan trainees displayed a heavy and sharp swordsmanship compared to their peers.

If a third-rank trainee from Kaladan had faced Chorien, they would have won after a great match.

‘Hmm, if I encounter such a mediocre opponent in the first group, I might just win.’

Harang thought, quietly waiting for the next match.

As the second group’s matches progressed, people became increasingly curious.

Chorien competed in the second group, but the genius boy Harang from Kaladan had yet to appear.

“With this, we conclude the second group matches and begin the first group matches.”

As the second group matches ended without Harang participating, the spectators felt slightly disappointed.

They had hoped to see the unprecedented genius’s match, but as Harang did not appear, they concluded that the news of a genius boy in Kaladan was just a rumor.

“So the rumors weren’t true.”

“Although it was plastered all over the news, the Kaladan Duke’s household never officially commented on it.”

“With the news spreading like that and no official statement, I thought it was true, but it’s disappointing.”

As the martial artists expressed their disappointment, the host, reading the first group’s match list, hesitated and then was taken aback.

“The first group participant… um?”

He blinked and reread it. Wondering if it was real, his expression clearly showed his confusion, but he soon regained his composure and called out the name.

“The first group participant… Harang Paul Kaladan.”

As soon as his name was called, Harang stood up and confidently walked to one side of the stage, filling the Triangle Dome with murmurs.

“Harang? Did he say Harang?”

“What? It’s the first group match?”

“Why is such a small child…”

“Could it be that this is the genius boy from Kaladan?”

“He looks too frail to even hold a sword.”

“I can’t believe it.”

“Is Kaladan pushing themselves too hard due to Emblitz’s recent rise?”

The first group matches were for seventeen to nineteen-year-old swordsmen, with skill levels ranging from third-rank masters to fourth-rank novices. A child who didn’t look ten was an unexpected sight, eliciting disbelief.

“The first group participant, Ryuchen Emblitz.”

Then, a mature young man with gray hair landed on the opposite side, and the murmuring intensified.

“Wait a minute! Ryuchen Emblitz? The one who reached the fourth rank this year…”

“This doesn’t make sense! A match between second and fourth rank is impossible. It’s like a fight between a dwarf and a giant… no, an ant and a beast.”

“Aren’t they going to stop the match?”

But the match proceeded without interruption. Ryuchen, aware that his opponent was just a ten-year-old child, looked particularly displeased.

“Disgusting, truly.”

Ryuchen drew his sword and, gritting his teeth, reluctantly took a stance.

“Don’t expect me to go easy on you. Your Kaladan family is annoying and disgusting.”

“…”

Harang did not respond.

Whether his opponent was in a bad mood or just had bad luck with the match-up, it didn’t matter.

Since they were to duel, Harang intended to take it seriously.

“I will learn from you.”