Genius Gamer Reborn into a Family of Heroes

Chapter 37

Graduation Assignment

The news that Harang had received his graduation mission and was about to leave White Night Castle spread quickly.

“Young Master. As expected, you are the first among us to leave.”

“With your skills, no matter what mission you receive, you will complete it swiftly and leave White Night Castle in no time…”

“We’ll miss you a lot, Young Master.”

“How will we train without you, Young Master…”

The disciples who had completed the 97th cohort alongside him had barely advanced to the 2nd group, even though they had moved up from the 3rd group. Although they joined at different times, the 97th cohort had a particularly strong bond, centering around Harang, who was unaware of this but was the focal point of their unity.

Harang didn’t feel a significant distance from them either. Even though they hadn’t talked much, they had shared sweat and swords together.

Though not a deep friendship, they greeted each other warmly and shared drinks when they met.

“But, you know.”

Harang tilted his head while looking at the disciples seeing him off.

“Why are you acting as if you’ll never see me again? When I lead a knight order in the future, we could meet again.”

He said this without much thought, recognizing their considerable talents and familiarity, but…

Boom!!

His words struck a chord with the disciples.

‘Young Master cares about us!’

‘Does he acknowledge our talents?!’

‘Not just anyone, but the greatest genius in Kaladan’s history, Young Master Harang…’

The disciples were deeply moved, their eyes welling up with tears.

As trainees of the Black Horse Raw Stone Training Squadron, their careers were assured.

Kaladan had countless military bases, fortresses, and renowned knight orders!

Black Horse and Blue Horse Knights of White Night Castle!

The Northern Fortress of Silence, Muksal Corps, and Iron Wall Knights, and the Eastern Forward Base of Roaring Red Beast Knights!

The Kaladan family had established military fortresses all over the world, including the Herrael Empire and the Kaladan Principality, each hosting famous knight orders.

Being elite trainees of White Night Castle, these weren’t distant dreams.

But the highest career path was…

Being a Gate Knight under the Pureblood Polden Knight of Kaladan!

An order wielding greater influence and power than any other large knight order!

Pureblood Poldens typically inherited or founded their own knight orders after leaving White Night Castle, becoming famous knight orders representing the family.

What about Harang?

He had already proven his talent in front of countless martial artists, even being mentioned as a potential future head of Kaladan. Just being associated with him was a great honor.

A Gate Knight under the Pureblood Polden? Impressive, but the greatest path was…

‘Direct Knight of the Kaladan Head!’

Harang had a high chance of becoming the head. The disciples didn’t know the details, but his talent was unrivaled.

So, it wasn’t surprising that the disciples were moved to tears by Harang’s words.

‘Why are they acting like this together?’

Though he didn’t understand, their response wasn’t bad. He felt a lump in his throat. Maybe it was the seven years they spent together.

“See you next time.”

As Harang left with those words, the disciples bowed deeply and stayed until he was completely out of sight.

“How sickening, fawning over an adopted brat.”

Not everyone viewed this scene positively.

Kyle Paul Kaladan, who had been defeated by Harang in the 3rd Raw Stone Training Squadron’s Rank Duel four years ago.

He clicked his tongue while reigning over his faction of collateral relatives.

‘He’s going on a mission already…’

Kyle, also a 5-star, was supposed to go on a mission soon. But he stayed because his 5th technique was still immature, and he hadn’t learned all the master’s ultimate techniques.

“Young Master, isn’t it dangerous for that adopted brat to go on a mission already?”

“Going on a mission first isn’t necessarily better. I’m delayed because I’m learning ultimate techniques from my parents and master. That brat has nothing to learn. Grandpa abandoned him.”

“Ah, I see.”

“Despite being a Kaladan, he hasn’t learned any ultimate techniques or secrets. From the 6th technique onward, there’s no one to teach him. We’ll learn them soon.”

As some collateral relatives understood, Kyle smirked.

‘Hmph. He might seem impressive now…’

Eventually, an adopted brat without ultimate techniques or secrets would fall behind.

Charen, watching with arms crossed, looked dumbfounded.

“Hah, they’ll wake up to reality when that brat’s true colors are revealed. Right, Charen?”

“…I guess.”

Charen shrugged and looked at Harang.

“Harang mastered up to the 5th technique two years ago. Even if he had learned ultimate techniques or secrets, he would have already left White Night Castle by now.”

“What? I also mastered the 5th technique…”

“Moreover, isn’t the pure skill as a swordsman more important than ultimate techniques or secrets? Didn’t you feel it when you were beaten up four years ago?”

“…”

Kyle couldn’t respond, his face turning red as he clenched his fists.

Indeed, Harang had defeated Kyle without using any techniques, relying solely on basic swordsmanship.

“What’s important is swordsmanship, mindset, and physical strength.”

Harang trained until he passed out from exhaustion, challenged senior trainees until he could no longer swing his sword, and was beaten senseless.

Despite the fear of defeat, he constantly challenged the senior trainees, and what was the result?

He won the most crucial Rank Duel!

Despite being the youngest and having the most outstanding talent, he worked harder than anyone else. If that didn’t move their hearts, they didn’t deserve to be strong.

In that sense…

‘Kyle, you don’t seem deserving of becoming stronger.’

She locked eyes with Harang, who was leaving White Night Castle.

No grand farewell. A simple nod was enough.

‘I want to venture out into the world too… but I must keep an eye on things.’

Kaladan Bloodline Ranking Battle, Rule 1.

‘Never hire others to kill a bloodline member.’

Kaladan Bloodline Ranking Battle, Rule 2.

‘No life-and-death duels with bloodline members more than ten years older.’

No assassination requests, no ambushes, and no Poldens with a significant age gap targeting Harang’s life.

Thus, the most likely person to target Harang’s life as he ventured into the world for the first time was Kyle Paul Kaladan.

He was the most likely candidate.

‘I must keep an eye on him for a while to prevent any strange actions.’

She didn’t want Harang to be hindered by such a fool.

He needed to aim higher and run further.

* * *

Royal Capital of Herrael Empire, Garandel.

The grand royal castle, Randalgates, located in the north of the city, and the southern fortress, White Night Castle, created an artistic masterpiece, making Garandel one of the top ten most luxurious and beautiful cities in the world.

“Amazing.”

Since entering White Night Castle, Harang had never been out in the city. He looked around in awe, like a country bumpkin.

Tall buildings resembling a mix of Renaissance design and 21st-century modern structures stood out, and airships flew in the sky.

The market streets were bustling with people, some running busily, others smiling happily as if meeting lovers or family.

Amidst this crowd, Harang had to find the ‘heretic.’

‘They said the heretic appears at night and mainly targets women and children.’

When he heard the mission, Harang felt unpleasant. It wasn’t a sense of justice, but a disgust for criminals who preyed on the weak.

* * *

[Sub Quest]

First Duty as a Hero

Details: Heard rumors of a heretic lurking in the city. A true hero seeks no reward but only justice.

Objective: Capture or kill the heretic.

Reward: Ancient Dimensional Artifact

* * *

Having received his first mission and graduation assignment, a quest appeared.

‘Heroes seek no reward, but they still give one, huh.’

The irony amused him, but he didn’t mind getting something.

As he walked through the market streets, Harang found the ‘Splash Restaurant.’

This small restaurant, decorated like a bistro, was a famous eatery frequented by middle-class commoners. However, he wasn’t there to leisurely eat.

Unfortunately, this mission couldn’t be carried out alone. It was to eliminate a heretic who had fled from the Holy Country of Benedis.

Upon entering the restaurant and glancing around, Harang felt many eyes on him. Diners, staff, and passersby were all sneaking looks at him.

‘What’s going on? My eyes should be covered.’

Kaladan’s silver eyes stood out too much. It wasn’t good for stealth missions, so he used magical glasses or lenses to cover his eye color during missions.

Currently, Harang wore special earrings that turned his eyes black.

‘Is it broken?’

While touching his neck, a waitress approached and cautiously asked.

“Excuse me, young customer. Are your parents not with you?”

“…”

Harang sighed deeply.

Was it the Silver Heart causing the problem, or had something gone wrong during training?

He looked no older than 12 or 13, instead of 14. Moreover, his lack of visible muscles made it hard for anyone to believe he was a trainee swordsman.

In reality, his strength far exceeded that of an average adult male.

“I have an appointment. They told me to show this.”

When Harang handed over a small badge, the waitress, startled, returned with an older man.

“This way, please.”

The man treated Harang as a guest, not a child. Following the middle-aged

staff, Harang entered a peculiar space with hardly any customers.

It was clear that these enclosed rooms were for quiet meetings.

“This way.”

The middle-aged staff knocked on a tightly closed room door. After hearing a response, he opened the door.

“I’ve brought the guest.”

Bowing, he disappeared.

As Harang stepped into the enclosed room, he felt magic piercing his body.

‘A barrier?’

Instantly, [Eyes of the Star] activated, analyzing and interpreting the magic.

[Interpreting and analyzing magic with Eyes of the Star.]

[Barrier Magic ‘Curtain of Krachan’]

[Blocks sound, absorbs external impacts, and alerts the caster of intruders.]

‘Oh… this is convenient.’

The Eyes of the Silver Dragon, which he gained as a reward for winning the Honorary Sword Meeting three years ago, analyzed everything around him, including magic, showing it to Harang.

Hero Kaladan might have used these eyes merely to grasp magic, but Harang was different.

He had even learned magic, making these eyes more useful.

For example,

[Curtain of Krachan’s Flaw]

Gathering his hands and chanting briefly, a blue, translucent veil covered Harang’s body. Entering the room, a priest in a white battle robe jumped up in surprise.

“H-How…?”

Harang’s presence, without triggering the barrier’s alarm, shocked the priest.

“You installed an alarm. Isn’t that a bit rude?”

The room contained three men in white battle robes and a young man in a golden uniform.

“Th-that… apologies.”

The priests, recognizing Harang as the knight from Kaladan who would join their mission, stiffened.

Ignoring them, Harang deactivated the magic on his lenses, revealing his silver eyes, and offered a handshake.

“Nice to meet you. I am Semi Polden of White Night Castle, Harang Paul Kaladan.”

“…Makris Inquisitor Raizen Holtz, a 5-star Paladin.”

The central priest, recovering his senses, accepted the handshake, though he looked uneasy.

The priests on either side appeared to be seething with anger.

Harang understood why.

Makris Inquisitors of the Holy Country of Benedis had the authority to freely operate anywhere, drawing swords against heretics anytime, anywhere.

But the Herrael Empire was an exception.

The Herrael Empire, a superpower, boasted the world’s greatest military institution, White Night Castle, and the strongest royal knight order.

No matter what incident occurred, they claimed to handle it themselves, making even Makris hesitate to draw their swords recklessly.

So when a heretic infiltrated the Herrael Empire’s capital, they had to request cooperation from White Night Castle.

The response:

* * *

‘The Kaladan Dukedom will send a knight to judge the heretic instead of an Inquisitor.’

‘The Herrael Royal Family will send a knight to judge the heretic instead of an Inquisitor.’

They expected a Gate Knight or Semi Polden, a powerful knight, but instead, they got this child?

“Harang Paul Kaladan… is it true that he caused a stir at the Honorary Sword Meeting four years ago?”

A boy with golden hair and an exquisite appearance in a golden uniform stood up, smiling meaningfully, and extended his hand.

“Nice to meet you. My name is Castia Asadin Maurus Herrael.”

‘What a long name.’ That was Harang’s first impression, but he hid it and shook hands.

‘Castia, huh. I heard he was the 2nd prince.’

The Eyes of the Silver Dragon activated on Castia as well.

The strange smell of blood from his body made Harang feel uneasy.

“Harang, if you’re Harang… I see.”

“Oh, I’ve heard of you too.”

“Indeed, rumors don’t capture it all. Despite your young age, you supposedly wield a greatsword with one hand…”

Knowing the boy in front of them was Harang didn’t change their view. They had heard he was a 3-star swordsman, but that wasn’t enough for this mission.

At least someone like Prince Castia, a 4-star, was needed to face the heretic.

Raizen shook his head.

‘They must want to test the talent of this exceptional kid. But this is a mistake. It’s uncharacteristic of Kaladan…’

However, since Kaladan had assigned the mission, the Inquisitors couldn’t do anything.

If Harang died to the heretic, the main family would have to reconsider sending such a young bloodline member. They could then formally protest the unsuitable assignment.

‘Needless blood will be shed.’

Receiving their distrustful stares, Harang quietly sipped his tea, but couldn’t hide his smirk.

The presence of a rival looking down on him.

The distrust and disdain of those around him.

‘This is incredibly invigorating.’

Harang loved this situation.