Genius Gamer Reborn into a Family of Heroes

Chapter 4: Growth Period

In the world, including swordsmen, all warriors and magicians have a scale of stages that represent their abilities from 1-star to 10-star.

A 1-star warrior, who has just begun to handle mana, can react fast enough to see and dodge a stone shot from a slingshot and can leap to the height of the second floor with ease, displaying enhanced overall physical power.

Their durability is also remarkable. They can easily recover from most injuries, standing up again swiftly. Their skin becomes slightly tougher, and their bones harden, making them less prone to injuries compared to ordinary humans.

From 4-stars, they officially enter the ranks of masters and are given the title of ‘Low-Rank Knight.’

These warriors can leap to high places with ease, dodge incoming arrows, and freely release sword aura from their blades. Additionally, for a brief moment, they can use sword energy to cut through magic.

From 7-stars onward, they enter the realm of superhumans, known as ‘Sword Masters.’

They become so perceptive that they can catch an arrow flying from behind and can sense their surroundings without seeing them.

Moreover, they can constantly surround their swords with sword aura, splitting the ground with a single strike and causing the air to vibrate. From this point, they are truly in the realm of superhumans.

What about Phillion, the old knight of the Kaladan family?

He was a 6-star mid-rank knight and a ‘Subordinate Knight’ who had inherited swordsmanship from Kaladan. It was said that he once made a name for himself on the battlefield.

Being at the doorstep of the Sword Master realm, a dream for all swordsmen, many sought his guidance.

Phillion, respected by trainee knights, was horrified today, witnessing Harang’s outrageous actions, forgetting even his own dignity.

Crash!

“Is this enough?”

It was already the third one. Harang had shattered another ‘Cheongmok Fossil’ with a single strike.

It wasn’t just any ordinary log, but a Cheongmok Fossil.

Cheongmok Fossil, a wood as hard as a rock, primarily used by the Kaladan family for training.

‘Even those called geniuses take at least a year, and most trainees cannot break even one Cheongmok Fossil for over three years, failing to enter the formal training process.’

It was a harsh condition for young children, but it was somewhat understandable. Aspiring to learn the great Kaladan swordsmanship, they couldn’t do it if they couldn’t even accomplish this.

‘But to succeed in one attempt?’

Three months had passed since the main family visited. Harang had turned seven and officially started basic swordsmanship training.

Of course, they had no intention of teaching him the Kaladan swordsmanship immediately.

Equal opportunity for all.

Harang, too, had to completely break a Cheongmok Fossil to receive the Kaladan swordsmanship training. As soon as the basic training started, he shattered a Cheongmok Fossil.

At first, they thought something was wrong.

They considered that he might have broken a Cheongmok Fossil already cracked by other trainees.

So, they prepared a new Cheongmok Fossil and placed it in front of him.

Crash!

Three, no, now it was already four Cheongmok Fossils shattered by Harang’s hand.

“St-stop. That’s enough.”

Since Cheongmok Fossils were expensive, Phillion hurriedly stopped Harang.

“Uh, is it enough?”

“Yes, it is sufficient. Young Master Harang is more than capable of learning the Kaladan swordsmanship.”

“……!”

The ones who jumped with joy were not Harang, but the other siblings who were listening from behind.

“That’s impossible!”

The first to shout was Taron, a collateral blood relative of Kaladan training at the 7th training ground, a ten-year-old boy three years older than Harang.

“That’s impossible! That brat is only seven years old! They said I was a genius too! They said it was amazing how quickly I broke the Cheongmok Fossil, even at Kaladan! Did you give him a weak one?!”

Taron cried out in an aggrieved voice.

In reality, he had managed to break the Cheongmok Fossil wooden dummy in just two years, which was an extraordinarily rare talent.

But Harang had done it in just one day.

Breaking the Cheongmok Fossil a day after turning seven… It was unthinkable.

“Brother, endure it. When that brat starts learning the sword, you can crush him in a duel then.”

When his second brother whispered this to him, Taron clenched his teeth but kept silent.

Displaying remarkable patience for his age, Taron turned his head sharply and returned to his place.

However, they did not know.

Today, just this one day.

That the moment when Harang had yet to receive basic swordsmanship training was the only day…

…that Taron had even a slim chance of victory.

* * *

Before learning the Kaladan swordsmanship, Harang had to master the basic swordsmanship first.

It was quite absurd.

Originally, the sequence was to learn basic swordsmanship and, through repeated daily practice, finally break the Cheongmok Fossil.

“This is the Mankeul Swordsmanship, the foundation of Kaladan.”

Mankeul Swordsmanship, meaning ten thousand swords connected as one. It included the downward strike, upper, and lower slashes that Harang already knew, but these were slightly more advanced and incorporated different movements.

Especially the fierce thrusts that came in between were very much to Harang’s liking.

In games, Harang frequently and effectively used thrusting.

He often employed a strategy of quickly closing the distance with the enemy using unique footwork. In such cases, simple slashes were too large in motion and did not carry the speed’s force to the sword, so he had no choice but to use thrusts often.

During his active professional career, Harang, with his stats maxed out and using speed-increasing items perfectly farmed, would run faster than the wind and deliver thrusts that no one could dodge. These were called ‘unblockable attacks.’

Whoosh! As he casually swung the wooden sword, the instructor wore a perplexed expression.

‘What? Did he learn from somewhere?’

Harang’s movements were too perfect.

Having wielded a sword every day in his past life and now blessed by the system, basic movements were not difficult for him, but they did not know this.

“Uh, um….”

“Why?”

“Young Master’s progress is quite… fast. Originally, it would take about a month to master the Mankeul Swordsmanship, but it seems we can move forward a bit sooner.”

No trainee objected to the instructor’s words.

Some older trainees were jealous of Harang’s exceptionally fast progress, but what could they say since he was a blood relative?

“Hmm….”

Watching from the side, Phillion couldn’t shake off a strange feeling.

‘Even three months ago, and now too, Young Master Harang already has a solid foundation.’

As if he had been training in swordsmanship for a long time.

However, where and from whom could he have learned?

Phillion did not particularly like Harang either.

The reason was simple.

It was because he was the child of Melize, who had given up the sword despite being a Kaladan.

The philosophy of despising the weak was not unique to Phillion; it was a belief held by everyone in the Kaladan family.

So, no one would ever think of teaching Harang how to wield a sword.

‘Then self-taught? No, that’s impossible. His stance was strong and solid.’

Phillion recalled Harang from three months ago. Despite holding a real sword for the first time, he perfectly swung it and cleanly split a thin log in one stroke.

Yes, if someone had a solid foundation from the beginning without being taught, there was only one conclusion.

‘A genius…….’

Even though the knights saw that Harang had already sufficiently learned basic swordsmanship, he continued to wield the sword as if something was still lacking.

At first, the instructor thought he was pushing himself too hard on the first day and tried to stop him, but Harang, sweating profusely, replied.

“I haven’t finished my goal yet.”

It was only the first day, so no one knew what goal he had set, but after that, no one tried to stop him.

He wielded the wooden sword without resting, even as his arms and legs trembled, and he did not stop until the sun was setting and the training ended.

“Young master, the regular training time is over.”

He briefly put down his wooden sword, drank some water, and stared at the instructor.

“Do I have to stop training just because regular training time is over?”

“……No, that’s not necessary.”

However, most children found the regular training exhausting to the point of fainting, so no one stayed beyond that.

“Then I’ll swing a little more before I go.”

“Aren’t you overexerting yourself……?”

“I haven’t met my goal yet.”

Again with the goal. No one knew what goal he was trying to achieve, but they wondered how long his persistence would last. Could he really handle the exhausting daily schedule and still stay late at night to practice with the wooden sword alone?

‘Is he desperate to stand out because he’s an illegitimate child? That’s unlikely. If he lasts three days, it’ll be a miracle.’

It would be a relief if he didn’t collapse and wail in pain before three days had passed.

So, even after everyone had left.

Harang continued to wield the wooden sword for hours. His mention of having a “goal” was partly a lie.

There was no specific goal set, but it was true that he had a purpose.

For several more days.

Harang persisted in staying behind to wield his sword even after finishing the regular training time.

At first, Instructor Hans thought Harang was merely being stubborn, but he changed his mind after Harang’s first week of training.

After all the regular training had ended, late in the evening. Hans had briefly returned to the training ground to retrieve some equipment he had left behind and was startled by what he saw.

‘Oh, really……?’

Over four hours had passed since the training ended.

Even without anyone watching, Harang was still wielding the wooden sword. His palms were torn, with blood and sweat dripping down, yet he continued swinging the sword like a machine, seemingly oblivious to the pain.

‘How can he do that?’

Hans was genuinely afraid.

He had heard of many who showed exceptional talent at a young age.

But most of them fell quickly, indulging in their own talent and neglecting effort.

However…… if someone with talent put in several times more effort than others, what would they become when they finally spread their wings?

Swish! Thud-!!

“Gasp!”

The wooden sword slipped from Harang’s hands, striking a nearby scarecrow and falling to the ground.

As Harang collapsed, panting, Instructor Hans instinctively ran to him.

“A-Are you okay?!”

“……Ah, Instructor Hans.”

Despite looking half-conscious, Harang smiled faintly. It was the first smile Hans had seen in the week he had known him.

“Why are you pushing yourself so hard…… Surely you’re not planning to swing more?”

“No, I’ve achieved my goal.”

“Goal……? You were still thinking about that?”

Harang gently raised his head and looked into the air.

[You have acquired the trait ‘Unyielding Challenger’.]

[The rate of stat growth increases by 200%, with the efficiency slightly decreasing as the stats rise.]

This was it. One of the traits Harang had wanted so badly from the game.

And the effect of the trait he obtained was beyond his imagination.

It showed more than twice the efficiency of the trait in the game, which only had a 100% increase!

‘……With this, I don’t have to worry about physical training at all.’

He got up weakly, picked up the wooden sword he had dropped, and staggered back to his quarters. Hans felt a chill run down his spine as he watched Harang’s retreating figure.

What could have awakened such determination in this small child?

Was it the anger at being born an illegitimate child?

A desire for revenge against those who pointed fingers at his father?

Or, perhaps.

A pure desire to become stronger as a Kaladan, as a swordsman?

Whatever the reason.

‘He’s too precious to be nurtured in such a secluded training ground.’

He needed to be taught in a place with better opportunities and greater challenges.

For example, the Raw Gem Training Center of White Night Castle, where only the chosen bloodline could enter……

Hans thought this as he closed the training ground’s door. Normally, he would have firmly locked it, but he chose not to. At least, not until Harang left this place.