Genius Gamer Reborn into a Family of Heroes

Chapter 70

A Harmonious Family Meal

‘W-What is this? Are you telling me that the Sky Sword is an actual sword technique?’

Kyle had been kicked in the solar plexus by Harang and slammed into the wall, but the pain was overshadowed by the sheer terror of realizing something had gone terribly wrong.

This fear was further intensified when he noticed the expressions on his brothers’ faces.

“…Stupid bastard.”

Not all of the third-generation direct descendants were present at this gathering. Some of the brothers were away on official missions or handling external affairs, and thus did not attend.

Among those present, excluding the two, there were six brothers, all of whom were older than Kyle.

And all of them.

Not Harang.

But directed their contemptuous gazes toward Kyle.

‘What the hell is Sky Sword?’

Kyle had every right to feel aggrieved.

Duke Kalel had been officially active on the battlefield over 20 years ago, and the Sky Sword technique had been developed after that time, making it something almost no one inside the palace knew about.

In fact, wasn’t Duke Kalel more famous for Extinguish Disaster rather than Sky Sword?

It was only by working as a Polden Knight for several years and digging deeply into the family and Duke Kalel that one could finally learn about the existence of Sky Sword.

In other words, Kyle, who started his career as a Polden Knight around the same time as Harang, had little chance of knowing about the Sky Sword.

Harang had known this and deliberately set a trap.

‘Even so, I didn’t expect him to fall for it so easily.’

Although he wasn’t particularly angry, Harang deliberately darkened his gaze and grabbed the knife on the table, then flung it.

Thunk!

“…!!”

The knife lodged itself precisely into the wall next to Kyle’s neck.

“Pick that up. Since you didn’t bring a sword, you’ll have to use a knife.”

“W-Wait! Calm down, little brother!”

“No, Harang!”

Unable to watch any longer, Arihil intervened and held Harang back.

“What do you think will happen if Grandfather arrives? If you start a knife fight in the sacred Grand Hall, you’ll be in big trouble too!”

“Kyle, you should apologize. This is your fault.”

When Arihil was joined by Eriol, the second granddaughter, who was a year older than her, Kyle’s expression became increasingly grim.

It was already infuriating to have been beaten up by his cheeky younger brother, who was five years younger than him, but now they were even telling him to apologize!

“Hurry up!”

Eriol urged Kyle, even blowing out her nose in frustration. It was obvious to her.

The only way for Kyle to get out of this situation alive was to apologize to Harang before Grandfather arrived!

“Put away that useless pride and listen to me! I’m trying to save you, so hurry up!”

“N-No! Who do you think you are, interfering like this, sister? I must teach that arrogant little brother of mine a lesson!”

However, Kyle was just as stubborn. He had already suffered a blow to his pride after losing a duel to Harang before, and now, being humiliated like this—how could he possibly apologize?

“Pfft, this is ridiculous…”

“…Pathetic.”

Watching this scene, Naridel and Garain shook their heads in disbelief. Just as the frustrated Eriol was about to slap Kyle to force him into apologizing, they were interrupted.

“The dining hall is quite noisy.”

Thud…!!

The moment that voice was heard, it was as if a massive wave had swept through the room, freezing everyone in place.

‘T-This is…’

Harang broke out in a cold sweat, unable to even turn his head. It was as though his entire body was bound, preventing even the smallest movement.

“Speak, Naridel. You are the eldest here, correct?”

She knelt before Duke Kalel and spoke.

“Kyle insulted Harang, and in a fit of anger, Harang was the first to resort to violence.”

Although one might consider this a biased account, Naridel naturally took the side of her brother, Kyle, who had been born from the same mother.

No matter how flawed her younger brother might be, he was still better than that adopted brat who had rolled into the family.

‘What nonsense!’

Arihil felt a surge of anger, but she wasn’t given the opportunity to speak.

“Kyle. Is this true?”

“Yes, yes! Grandfather! He hit me first. I’m the elder brother, but he showed no respect… Hmph!”

“Enough.”

Kyle was forced to shut his mouth before he could finish his sentence.

Then, Duke Kalel’s gaze shifted to Harang. He asked, with a slightly displeased expression, “My youngest grandchild, no matter how much your brother insulted you, did you really have to resort to violence during a meal where all the siblings were gathered?”

Only then did Arihil realize Harang’s true intentions, and her eyes sparkled with understanding.

‘That’s it! He deliberately provoked Kyle to disregard Grandfather’s Sky Sword so he could hit him and claim self-defense!’

Now realizing this, she glanced over at Garain.

‘Huh.’

He had an expression that showed he had known this all along. The others appeared to be in the same boat, seemingly bracing themselves for the inevitable headache-inducing situation that was about to unfold.

‘…Am I the only one who didn’t see this coming? Am I really that foolish?’

Arihil looked at Harang with teary eyes. It was now time for him to reveal to Grandfather what Kyle had done.

Come on, youngest! Arihil silently cheered him on.

“…I’m sorry.”

‘Huh?’

Harang, for some reason, lowered his head with a thoroughly dejected expression.

‘W-Wait a minute. If you do that, it really looks like you were the one at fault!’

Arihil wasn’t the only one taken aback; Garain also slightly shrugged his shoulders, and the other siblings showed similar reactions.

“What did you do wrong?”

“No matter how weak he may be compared to me, I still assaulted my elder brother…”

At that, Kyle gritted his teeth in anger, but no one paid him any attention.

“I ruined the meal where I, the youngest, was supposed to dine with my elder siblings and Grandfather. I also disrupted the sanctity of the Grand Hall…”

Duke Kalel’s eyebrows twitched slightly. Harang’s response was clearly not what he had expected.

“Very well, my youngest grandchild. It’s good that you realize your actions were wrong. However… as far as I know, you’re not someone who acts without thinking. Today’s incident is quite disappointing.”

“I’m sorry. I can endure being looked down upon… but I couldn’t overlook my brother denying the fact that I was taught by you, Grandfather.”

“…Explain yourself calmly.”

Harang glanced briefly at Kyle.

“I’m aware that my older brothers have been learning secret sword techniques from our father or other siblings. Kyle boasted about this to me, mocking me for not having learned anything. But that’s not true.”

Duke Kalel, who had his hands behind his back, started to fidget with his fingers. The butler, Taran Aradela, who had followed Duke Kalel into the room, nearly burst out laughing when he realized what Harang was doing.

“I haven’t been left without learning anything! Four years ago, Grandfather surely taught me the Sky Sword!”

“……”

Harang’s declaration was like a jab to Duke Kalel’s heart.

While it was true that he had introduced Harang to the Sky Sword, it was merely a brief demonstration rather than a formal teaching, as Kyle had pointed out. In reality, Duke Kalel had never properly instructed Harang.

There were several reasons for this.

He believed that, at such a young age, it was more effective for Harang to focus on basic swordsmanship rather than learning secret techniques. Additionally, he was concerned that if he paid too much attention to Harang, the Council of Seven Swords might start to see him as a threat and move to restrict him.

There were also other reasons, such as a lack of time. However, there was one crucial fact:

‘…My youngest grandchild is still in his mid-teens. No matter how mature he may appear, he is still a child.’

Harang, who had lost his parents at a young age and had grown up alone, had been offered a hand for the first time—whether by adoption or not—by Duke Kalel, making him the first person Harang could consider family.

In his desire to find a connection with Duke Kalel, Harang had clung to the Sky Sword, the technique his grandfather had briefly shown him.

While the others had been learning secret sword techniques from their family members, Harang had never once complained. Instead, he had cherished that single glimpse of the Sky Sword that his grandfather had shown him four years ago, holding it close to his heart.

Harang, like his other siblings, must have wanted to learn a secret sword technique as well, but he had patiently endured without complaining!

However, today, when the family had finally gathered for a rare meal together, Kyle had belittled the Sky Sword. How could Harang not have been infuriated by this?

Duke Kalel concluded that this was the reason Harang had lashed out at Kyle and then seemed so deflated afterward.

‘Ha, I see. I was mistaken.’

Kalel had initially thought that Harang had cunningly orchestrated this situation. He had judged Harang to be a shrewd child, believing that Harang had intentionally provoked Kyle into dismissing the Sky Sword just before Kalel entered the room, and then used violence to damage Kyle’s reputation while claiming self-defense… It was a scheme that everyone, including Kalel, had expected.

‘So that wasn’t it.’

Kalel now believed that Harang hadn’t calculated this situation out of cunning; rather, he was genuinely angry and hurt that the Sky Sword—something he had learned from his grandfather—had been dismissed.

Kalel concluded that Harang’s reaction stemmed from sincere emotions rather than any calculated strategy. But in reality, this was exactly what Harang, whose mental maturity far exceeded his years, had intended.

“The youngest grandchild is really tugging at His Grace’s heartstrings.”

Even Taran Kal Aradela, the chief butler and chancellor of the Kaladan family, who could never have imagined that a mere 14-year-old would employ such a tactic, was completely fooled.

“…Enough, you may leave.”

“I’ll prepare the tea first.”

Taran withdrew with a smile, clearly pleased for the first time in a long while.

‘Whew.’

Kalel almost sighed, feeling a twinge of guilt for not having provided his youngest grandchild with any proper instruction until now.

At that moment, Kalel remained unaware of one crucial detail: he had never before felt so troubled by the thought that he hadn’t been able to teach one of his children.

“My youngest grandchild, no matter how much resentment and frustration you may feel, the act of resorting to violence at a family meal that I personally arranged is unforgivable. As punishment, I hereby sentence you to the Gladiator’s Blood Duel. Do you have anything else to say?”

“…!!”

The eyes of all the blood relatives widened at Kalel’s pronouncement.

This punishment, inspired by the legend of one of Kaladan’s great ancestors who was said to have fought and defeated 100 monstrous lions in a gladiator’s coliseum, was typically reserved for blood relatives who were at least 6-star level and had committed a grave offense. For Harang, who was only a 4-star, it was an excessively severe punishment!

“Yes. If I can atone for disrupting the sacred family meal through this punishment, I will accept it willingly.”

The blood relatives were left speechless as Harang, instead of begging for forgiveness, readily accepted the punishment.

“Alright, everyone, take your seats,” Kalel said with a casual nod.

The blood relatives, unable to say anything, had no choice but to comply and took their seats. As they waited while sipping their tea, Harang was soon presented with an extravagant meal, something he could hardly imagine on an ordinary day.

The meal included a variety of luxurious dishes: a soup made with clams and shrimp, sandwiches with flatbread filled with bacon, sausages smeared with garlic sauce, and tender lamb seasoned with aromatic herbs and spices like coriander and pepper.

‘The menu is quite international.’

Was it because Kaladan had active cultural exchanges, or perhaps this was simply the kind of cuisine nobles of this era enjoyed?

Even Harang, who wasn’t particularly fond of strong spices, found the meal delicious and satisfying.

During the meal, Duke Kalel asked each of the older siblings, in order of age, about their recent missions and the experiences they had encountered.

The siblings had been dispatched to various missions, with some, like Naridel, having ventured into remote regions Harang had never even heard of. Naridel spoke of the hardships she faced dealing with non-human tribes, which piqued Harang’s interest.

She mentioned that she had “struggled with the magic of the non-humans,” making Harang curious about the specifics of that magic.

When it was Kyle’s turn, he struggled to embellish his relatively minor C-rank mission, but no one offered him a single word of praise. After all, everyone at the table had already completed C-rank missions at his age, with some even achieving B-rank missions.

Kyle’s story was brushed off with a polite, “Well, we’ve heard it,” leaving him looking dejected, though he couldn’t argue. It simply wasn’t a significant mission.

Arihil then recounted her most recent mission, which had been brief but intense. She mentioned meeting a Guardian’s contractor and sustaining a severe abdominal injury. Despite the injury and the ensuing battle, she proudly declared that she had emerged victorious. However, Duke Kalel cautioned her.

“A Guardian’s contractor may not possess overwhelmingly powerful abilities, but they are effectively like someone wielding a weapon in each hand.”

“Hmm, isn’t dual-wielding usually inefficient?”

“It is if both weapons are swords. But what if they were a sword and a shield?”

“Ugh, that’s tough to deal with.”

“Exactly. That’s what a contractor is like.”

“Hmm…”

“The contractor you faced was weaker than you, but if you ever encounter one of equal skill, they would be much more challenging to defeat. Keep that in mind.”

“I will be careful.”

Arihil nodded, then reached into her robes and pulled out an object wrapped in cloth.

“What is that?”

“A trophy I obtained after dealing with the contractor.”

“You may keep the trophy.”

Kalel’s words carried an implied meaning: “Explain why you’re reporting this to me if you’re allowed to keep it.”
“Well… it seems to be something unusual, so I’d like to report it to you separately later, Grandfather.”

“Hmm, if you feel that way, it must be a significant issue. Very well.”

When Duke Kalel handed the box of trophies to the back, a knight emerged from the shadows, took it, and quietly disappeared.

“Next, my youngest grandchild.”

“Yes, Grandfather.”

When it was finally Harang’s turn, the blood relatives fell silent. They all wondered what kind of trouble this adopted youngest had stirred up this time, as he always seemed to bring storms with him.

“Before I hear your story, we can’t ignore the matter of your recent spoils.”

“…”

He was probably referring to the magic books. Harang was pleased that the information had reached the higher-ups so quickly. He had hoped to discuss it directly with Duke Kalel when they met.

“Do you have any idea of the value of the items you brought back?”

“I have some idea.”

“Hahaha!”

Duke Kalel suddenly burst into laughter. Harang, not understanding the reason for this reaction, widened his eyes in confusion.

“It seems our clever youngest grandchild still has much to learn. Even after passing through your hands, there are things you can’t predict.”

“I don’t quite understand, Grandfather.”

“I heard from your administrator. He told me to prepare for the arrival of an inspector to assess the value of the magic books.”

Harang had suspected that the value of the magic books might be higher than he initially thought.

‘So I was right.’

But now wasn’t the time to let this go to his head. He needed to show some humility.

“…Could it be that the items aren’t as valuable as I thought?”

“No, you’re wrong!”

Duke Kalel, clearly in high spirits, set aside the pre-poured wine and instead grabbed a large barrel of liquor beside him, drinking deeply from it.

Thud! He slammed the empty barrel down on the table and, with a broad grin, said, “The magic books you brought back are said to be historical artifacts that could shake the foundations of the entire Magic Association.”

But, of course, Duke Kalel wasn’t just pleased with that.

He went on to explain, laughing heartily, that magicians from the Magic Association, the Grand Magic Tower, and the five great magical families were already arriving at the embassy.

Indeed.

For Duke Kalel, the sight of those old magicians, rivals of the great swordsmanship families, coming to bow their heads in person was a source of immense satisfaction!

“My youngest grandchild, there is something they are more desperate to know than even the value of the magic books. Do you know what that is?”

“Yes, I believe I do.”

Of course, Harang knew.

‘Where on earth did these long-lost magic books come from?’

It was the question on everyone’s mind.