Genius Gamer Reborn into a Family of Heroes

Chapter 44

Kaladan Bloodline Judgment

As they watched the magic circle freely moving along Harang’s wrist, several of the direct blood relatives stiffened their expressions.

“Magic… magic, you say…?”

It wasn’t uncommon for knights to learn magic as a supplementary skill.

However, there were hardly any who learned it for combat purposes. Most only studied it to aid in tasks like tracking or creating light. It was considered far more efficient to spend that time swinging a sword to become stronger.

‘I don’t know what misconceptions they might have, but it’s true that my magic isn’t particularly outstanding when it comes to combat.’

Although Harang had learned quite a few spells through the [Acquisition] feature, his lack of practical experience meant his magic casting speed was much slower and less efficient than that of other magicians. The power of his spells was also much weaker compared to the 4-star Silver Heart.

Naturally, if he were to face a 3-star magician, even Harang would be inevitably defeated.

To an ordinary magician, Harang’s skills would appear laughably insignificant!

But… to others, it couldn’t help but appear differently.

“He’s already reached the 4-star level in swordsmanship at the age of fourteen, and now you’re telling me he’s a 3-star in magic too…?”

Some of the blood relatives gaped, their mouths hanging open in disbelief. Harang’s accomplishments were beyond what was conceivable, even within Kaladan, the world’s greatest family of swordsmanship.

“Where did you learn magic?”

When Kalel motioned with his chin to ask, Harang hesitated briefly before answering honestly.

“I taught myself magic and referenced Instructor Lauren Chaygan’s manual for combat techniques.”

“Self-taught…?!”

A few of the blood relatives, who had some experience with magic, nervously touched their noses or covered their mouths.

It was challenging enough to learn swordsmanship without a teacher, but magic? Learning magic without a mentor was nearly impossible.

While the basics of swordsmanship begin with physical training and practicing with a sword, magic starts with understanding complex mathematical processes and mana.

Even if one were naturally gifted and could understand mana from the beginning, and even if they somehow managed to study the complex formulas on their own, the process of creating their first magic circle was impossible without a mentor’s guidance. Drawing out complex runes and formulas to manifest magical phenomena was something no young aspiring magician could accomplish alone.

Instances of individuals learning magic entirely on their own were extremely rare in history.

There were only a few, including the first magician who spread magic to the world, who could be counted on one hand.

“…He must be lying. He probably doesn’t want to get his teacher in trouble by revealing their identity to the Lord.”

When one of the elders spoke up, the others quickly joined in.

“But if Duke Kalel puts his mind to it, he can find the teacher in no time. This kid doesn’t seem foolish enough to not realize that…”

“Indeed. Besides, Semi Polden Harang lived alone, confined to a corner of the palace until he was seven, and since completing the Proving Ceremony, he’s lived exclusively in White Night Castle.”

“We have eyes and ears in every corner of White Night Castle. If there were a magic teacher, there’s no way we wouldn’t know.”

As the four members of the Council of Elders each added their reasoning, they began leaning towards the conclusion that Harang was telling the truth.

Where in White Night Castle could he have possibly learned magic?

Lauren Chaygan?

“If that man values his neck, he wouldn’t teach magic to a trainee, especially not to a blood relative.”

“Self-taught… that means you haven’t received an imprint from a mentor.”

“Yes, I didn’t feel the need.”

Typically, a magician would receive an imprint from their mentor, inheriting the unique magic of that mentor, and only then would they truly step into the world of magic. However, Harang had no such process.

Despite that, he was already able to wield magic freely.

“Then that’s settled. It’s sufficient to know that a trainee from White Night Castle doesn’t have a mentor outside Kaladan.”

With that, the judgment came to an end.

Since it was revealed that Harang hadn’t relied on anyone else to complete his graduation task, there was no reason to continue the bloodline judgment.

“Magic is also a power of our youngest grandchild, and using it does not violate any regulations. Is there any objection to this?”

At Duke Kalel’s words, all the blood relatives remained silent.

It was commonly known that developing combat magic and swordsmanship simultaneously was nearly impossible.

But now, their daring fourteen-year-old youngest grandchild had shattered that conventional wisdom, leaving them speechless. What more could they say?

Ding!

The bell of the judgment hall rang out, making an announcement.

“Harang Paul Kaladan, not guilty.”

When Judge Jerry planted the sword of judgment into the ground and stepped back, the blood relatives turned their attention to Duke Kalel.

He slowly scanned the room.

A few of the blood relatives who met his gaze hurriedly bowed their heads, while others, feeling the pressure, slightly furrowed their brows but stood firm.

“All blood relatives present here are forbidden from discussing our youngest grandchild’s magic outside this room for the time being.”

To summarize, the meaning was: “You may speak of it among close acquaintances, but if you spread it far and wide, you’ll face consequences.”

The reason he didn’t entirely prohibit speaking about it was because, in a few years, rumors about Harang using magic would inevitably spread.

In that case, wouldn’t it be better to reveal his exceptional abilities to the world after they had been used in a much more ‘valuable and effective manner’?

“And… I hereby formally appoint our youngest grandchild, Harang Paul Kaladan, who successfully completed his graduation task, as a ‘Polden Knight.’”

To be knighted as a Polden Knight during a bloodline judgment—there could hardly be anything more disgraceful, yet no one in that room considered it to be a dishonor.

After all, it was Duke Kalel Paul Kaladan himself who drew his sword to personally knight him.

While the knighting ceremony for a direct blood relative was usually conducted with much more grandeur, there was nothing more honorable for a pureblood than to be knighted personally by Duke Kalel in the presence of fifty blood relatives.

After placing his sword on Harang’s shoulders, Duke Kalel sheathed it and spoke.

“Polden Knight Harang, it is true that you have broken a minor rule. For this, you will face a separate punishment.”

After finishing his remarks, Duke Kalel motioned with his chin, prompting the judge to step forward.

“With this, the bloodline judgment is concluded. All blood relatives are to return to their respective positions.”

As soon as the judge finished speaking, the blood relatives rose from their seats and began to exit through the doors they had entered.

Most of their expressions were not pleasant.

And it was only natural that they were in a bad mood.

They had taken time out of their busy schedules to return to the palace just to judge an arrogant adoptee, only for it to turn into an event that glorified that very child.

“Interesting, very interesting…”

“Interesting? This is ridiculous!”

“Hmph…”

The four elders of the council also left the judgment hall, each deep in their own thoughts, leaving only three people remaining.

Kalel Duke, Judge Jerry, and Harang.

“Come closer, my youngest grandchild.”

At Kalel’s call, Harang approached and knelt before him.

Even though only three of them remained, it was still a formal occasion, and Harang had to maintain proper etiquette.

“Raise your head.”

“…”

Harang began to sweat slightly.

‘What’s going on?’

Even though he had proven himself in every way, Duke Kalel’s voice hadn’t softened in the slightest.

If anything, it felt as if there was a hint of anger. Harang subtly lifted his head to meet his gaze, and indeed, he saw what he feared.

For some reason, Duke Kalel was angry.

‘I thought everything went well…’

Was that not the case at all?

“Magic could have been your secret weapon, something you could have used strategically. Don’t you think you revealed it too quickly?”

It was a reasonable question, one that Harang himself had often considered.

He turned his gaze to Judge Jerry. With a nod from Duke Kalel, the judge stepped back, leaving only the two of them in the room.

Harang slowly stood up and extended his left hand into the air.

Then, he began to chant.

“…Ignite.”

Fwoosh!!

In an instant, a white flame ignited on his left hand. There was a shadowy tint mixed into the flame, a black hue, which Duke Kalel recognized all too well.

“The Black Flame’s Incantation…”

“Yes. I thought that if this was discovered, it could cause serious trouble, so I decided to learn magic to cover it up. I figured that if I used magic as an excuse, it would be enough to justify using the ‘Dragon Sword.’”

The Dragon Sword.

Upon hearing that word, Duke Kalel paused in thought for a moment before nodding.

“…I see, so that was your plan. Very impressive.”

Was he praising Harang’s ability to wield the Dragon Sword?

No, he was commending the young boy’s perfect conduct, which was far beyond his years. Most children Harang’s age would be eager to boast about their achievements or new skills, yet he demonstrated remarkable patience, social awareness, and judgment.

“When did you start learning magic?”

“On the day of the Proving Ceremony, seven years ago… when I held the Sacred Sword Terandal and learned about the Dragon Sword. Since then, I obtained a magic book and studied whenever I had time, reaching the level of 1-star at the age of ten.”

“That’s late.”

“…?”

What did he mean by that? Harang didn’t immediately grasp the meaning of Kalel’s words.

With his hands clasped behind his back, Duke Kalel displayed a displeased expression.

It was only then that Harang realized what he meant by ‘late.’

‘Achieving 1-star proficiency in magic by age ten would be considered average at best in a magical family like Ainglass…’

Even for those who focus solely on magic, reaching 1-star at the age of ten is no easy feat.

However, Duke Kalel never concerned himself with ordinary standards, nor did he consider Harang’s slower progress in magic, given his focus on swordsmanship, as an excuse.

“If you are to master something, you must reach the pinnacle. When you ascend to the throne one day, the world will use any of your shortcomings against you.”

If you hadn’t learned it at all, that would be one thing. But once you’ve started, you must reach the peak.

That was Duke Kalel’s belief.

“I’m sorry. It’s just that… I thought of magic as merely a supplementary tool…”

At Harang’s attempt at an excuse, Duke Kalel’s lips curled slightly.

“You’re lying.”

Harang’s heart sank. Duke Kalel’s piercing gaze seemed to see right through him.

“Didn’t you enjoy using magic?”

Harang bowed his head, as if in shame.

“…Yes, I did.”

“Then that’s all that matters. Since you’ve started learning magic, you must become the best in that field as well. That is your first punishment.”

“…”

Becoming the best in swordsmanship alone was already a daunting task, and now he was expected to master magic as well?

It was indeed a form of additional punishment, yet Harang somehow felt that this was the first time Duke Kalel had truly acknowledged him.

With his heart inexplicably racing, Harang cautiously looked up at him.

“I thought… I would be scolded for learning magic.”

“Why would there be any reason to scold you? Magic is a part of your combat strength. There is no royal road to becoming strong.”

Fwoosh! Fwoosh!

“…!!”

As Duke Kalel subtly released his mana, flames began to ignite in the braziers that were mounted like ornaments on dozens of pillars.

“When you reach the end, whether it’s magic or swordsmanship, it doesn’t matter.”

“Ah…”

When a martial artist of high skill level wields a sword engulfed in flames or uses a spear that resembles a lightning bolt, it’s not particularly surprising.

But to create fire and stir the wind while standing still in an empty space… can that still be called ‘martial arts’?

‘When you reach the level of 10-stars… can such things become possible? No, this is beyond that level…’

Harang looked at Duke Kalel with eyes filled with awe. Seven years ago, when he first saw him, he had thought of him as a towering mountain.

Now, he had risen even higher. Harang had thought he was gradually catching up, but he realized that he was not the only one growing.

Duke Kalel had somehow moved even closer to the legendary level known as the “Great Celestial Star Realm,” which only the Hero Kaladan had ever reached.

“Now, it’s time to deliver your second punishment. For the next three months, you will set aside your sword and enter a period of reflection.”

“…”

To call setting aside the sword and taking a break a punishment—what a profoundly twisted family this was.

Harang lifted his head. He had a feeling he understood why Duke Kalel was giving him this three-month period.

“If I am to reflect, I would like to rest quietly in a place where the air is fresh, the river flows, and the scent of grass fills the air.”

How many blood relatives would dare to make such a bold counteroffer to Duke Kalel while receiving punishment?

Undoubtedly, none.

Duke Kalel, seemingly not displeased by his youngest grandchild’s audacity, raised the corners of his mouth and said,

“Very well, I have just the right place for you.”