Genius Gamer Reborn into a Family of Heroes

Chapter 77

Deep-Rooted Tree

Looking back, from beginning to end, Kyle had been dragged around by Harang.

“Naridel of the Polden Knights. For interfering in the rank duel between blood relatives, I hereby sentence you.”

Equipment, swordsmanship, strength, speed.

Though Kyle excelled in all these areas, he inevitably lost due to his lack of battle sense, strategy, and bold decisiveness.

“I command Naridel Paul Kaladan to follow the orders of the commander and hunt demons at ‘The Wall of the World’ for one year.”

No matter how fast one’s reflexes were, seeing the earth crumble and walls collapse from a single 6-star strike could easily paralyze anyone with fear. Yet Harang was different.

His resilient mind did not falter in the face of any threat.

Harang dodged with precision, using his keen anticipation and concentration to evade strikes so fast they were nearly invisible. At the same time, he displayed an impressive ability to predict his opponent’s movements and devise strategies accordingly!

“During this period, you are prohibited from receiving any help from blood relatives, and the title of ‘Polden Knight’ will be revoked for one year. You will not be allowed to exercise any rights associated with that title.”

Clench! Naridel gripped her fist tightly. She clenched so hard that her nails dug into her palms, and blood began to drip.

Despite having invested so much, she had ultimately failed, now facing the Bloodline Judgment.

“This concludes the judgment for Naridel Paul Kaladan. Make preparations to head to the Wall of the World immediately. Next, Kyle Paul Kaladan. Step forward.”

Kyle, who was also being subjected to the Bloodline Judgment for secretly borrowing equipment during the rank duel, staggered to the judgment platform with a haggard appearance.

Despite all the resources that had been poured into him, he had lost in the end. Worse, he had been ready to kill his opponent, yet his opponent had spared his life.

It would have been less shameful to die than to live through this humiliation.

No matter what Kyle would achieve in the future—no matter how great his accomplishments were or how renowned his name became in history—today’s disgrace would remain forever etched in memory, never to be forgotten.

“Sigh…”

Leaving the judgment hall, Naridel didn’t have a shred of concern for Kyle. No matter how much dishonor he was shouldering, she was far more preoccupied with what she felt was the unfairness of her own situation.

She felt like she was dying inside.

Not only was her honor utterly shattered, but Kyle’s defeat had become her own as well.

She was in her late twenties, nearing thirty next year.

The age gap between her and Harang was too significant to engage in a direct rank duel.

Thus, even if rumors spread that she had incited her younger sibling to attack Harang, going as far as to lend him equipment out of jealousy and fear of someone half her age, she would have no defense.

How humiliating could this be?

To make matters worse, this duel had confirmed what many had suspected about Harang’s talent.

While the rumors hadn’t spread widely, those in the know were fully aware that Harang was a 3-star magic user.

Had he used magic in the duel, victory would have come even more easily.

People couldn’t help but misunderstand.

Had he used magic, he could have won the duel faster and more decisively. But they believed he wanted to settle the ranking purely through swordsmanship.

That’s how they came to think!

Of course, the real reason Harang hadn’t used magic was that his skill wasn’t good enough yet to use it in combat while simultaneously wielding a sword. However… there was no way people would know that.

“Nuna. You’re finally out.”

“…”

As she was walking out, guarded and escorted by knights from the tribunal, a boy waiting in the opposite hallway approached.

It was Harang Paul Kaladan.

“…Do you need something?”

Naridel asked with a venomous expression, and Harang shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly.

“Actually, I was waiting for Brother Kyle. But, I couldn’t just avoid you as you passed by. I should at least greet you.”

“Hah… So, you plan to mock me to the end, huh.”

“Mock you to the end? What do you mean? I think this is the first time I’ve had a proper conversation with you, Nuna.”

Even as he said this, Harang knew. He knew exactly what was making Naridel so upset.

It was likely that Naridel thought Harang had partially summoned his Summon Mail just to mock her.

‘You secretly supported Kyle by giving him the Summon Mail to beat me, but I won without even using it.’

Harang didn’t reveal the truth.

He continued to feign ignorance until the end.

Was it to hide his full strength? Well, that was part of it.

Just a tiny part.

About 1%, maybe.

The other 99%? It was simple and clear.

‘Because it would make her even more furious.’

A rare smile appeared on Harang’s face.

He rarely smiled sincerely, and there was only one thing in the world that could make him bloom into such a grin.

‘When I completely crushed someone who had underestimated me.’

That’s right.

Saying he wasn’t there to see Naridel? A lie.

Claiming he didn’t know what she meant by “mocking”? Another lie. It was all lies, but at the same time, it was Harang’s ultimate form of ceremony.

Harang, who was notoriously bad at expressing emotions, had a faint, indistinct personality as a professional gamer.

Other players would go all out with signature celebrations after a single win, but even after victory, Harang’s best response was an occasional faint smile.

Yet, perhaps it was because every other player was showing off with their flashy signatures and ceremonies…

Harang’s subtle smile, which silently imprinted “defeat” onto his opponent, became one of his most distinctive characteristics.

It was clear just by looking at Naridel’s face. She was far more enraged by Harang’s subtle victory celebration than she would have been by some loud, boisterous display.

“Shall we go?”

As Harang and Naridel exchanged sharp glares, someone urged Naridel to move along.

Once Naridel had completely disappeared, Harang ran his hand through his hair and leaned against the wall.

“…Harang!”

Just then, Kyle came out of the Bloodline Judgment Tribunal after receiving his sentence.

“You bastard… Were you waiting for me?”

Harang responded the same way he always did.

“No. I was waiting for Sister Naridel, but maybe I’m late?”

Feigning innocence, he smiled.

Out of the 365 days of the year, today was one of those rare occasions when Harang’s emotions were at their most expressive.

* * *

“Victory is sweet, and defeat is bitter.”

Harang felt this pain differently.

No, it would be more accurate to say he felt it with far more intensity than others.

“Victory is pleasure, and defeat is agony.”

He absolutely hated losing.

Losing was a profound pain, so unbearable that he felt it was better to be beaten with a club.

“I don’t want to lose.”

It wasn’t so much the desire for victory, but rather the desperate longing not to lose that had never caused Harang to stop his relentless drive.

Returning to the training grounds of the Green White Palace, Harang recalled the previous duel.

“They misunderstand, thinking I didn’t use magic.”

Most of them, including Naridel and the knights, believed Harang had won without using magic.

But that wasn’t true.

“In that duel, I used enough magic. In fact, more than enough.”

For Harang, magic was just one of many tactical elements.

Even without actively using it, he could employ it strategically whenever necessary.

Although he hadn’t used magic directly in the life-or-death duel, the mere fact that he was a “3-star magic user” meant that his opponent had to account for it.

From that point onward, Harang had a slight psychological and tactical advantage.

Just because magic didn’t deal direct damage didn’t mean it hadn’t played its role.

His opponent was aware of Harang’s magic and had planned accordingly.

Even in this case.

Had Kyle been unaware of Harang’s magical ability, would he have shown such a large opening?

Certainly not.

Because Kyle knew about Harang’s magic, he exposed a vulnerability.

As a result, Harang was able to strike Kyle with the Wind Wolf Hundred Sword Art.

“The fact that I can do so many things is crucial.”

Even if Kyle had known about the Wind Wolf Hundred Sword Art, Harang would have prepared yet another sword technique.

And even if Kyle somehow devised a countermeasure, Harang could always go to the final option of using the “Dragon Word,” meaning that if he was determined to win, he would surely find a way to do so.

“The more tactical options, the better.”

He remembered how threatening it had been during his professional gamer days when a player could wield a wide range of champions, proving that possessing as many strategic weapons as possible was Harang’s version of “strength.”

…Which was entirely contrary to Duke Kalel and Hero Kaladan’s pursuit of “pure human ability.”

Therefore,

Harang intended to learn.

Was strengthening pure power really a better path than accumulating more techniques, as he sought to do?

At present, it was clear that Duke Kalel and Hero Kaladan had achieved far more remarkable accomplishments than he had.

There was no shame in learning from those who had gone ahead of him, which was why Harang had requested another meeting with the Sacred Sword Terandal.

“I feel like I’ll gain some kind of enlightenment when I meet him again…”

Current time, 1 p.m.

Normally, after finishing his lunch, Harang would begin his afternoon training. Since he wasn’t officially part of the military yet, he typically used this time for personal training, but today was a special day.

“Young master, I will escort you inside.”

The place where the Sacred Sword Terandal lay dormant, the Chamber of the Spirit Sword.

It had been about seven years since Harang last visited this place. Upon entering, he couldn’t help but feel slightly surprised. The procedures for challenging Terandal had become meticulously elaborate.

This meant that countless knights were always awaiting the bloodline who would come to the Chamber to challenge the Sacred Sword… yet the fact that Harang had no idea about this meant there hadn’t been any challengers in a long time.

“How long has it been since the last challenger came?” he asked.

“According to official records, young master, you are the first challenger in 68 years. The last one was His Grace, the Duke.”

Just as he had expected.

“According to legend, when a descendant of Kaladan achieves a high state, they can challenge the Sacred Sword and either learn a new sword technique or gain enlightenment. That’s why, when our ancestors hit a wall in their growth, they would often seek out the Sacred Sword Terandal.”

“Why have there been no challengers recently?”

The knight didn’t know, but when Harang arrived at the Chamber, he could guess why.

Throughout the Chamber, high-ranking knights were stationed, observing and recording everything that happened here.

In other words, if someone challenged the Sacred Sword and lost, their defeat would be recorded for all to see.

It might seem like a trivial matter, but during Duke Kalel’s reign, many were too preoccupied with maintaining their image. Harang could understand that.

Of course, those who cared only about their image were all cut down by Duke Kalel and ultimately failed to claim Kaladan for themselves.

“True growth comes from overcoming the fear of defeat.”

Naturally, Harang had no intention of losing today.

Clang…!!

The massive iron doors of the Chamber of the Spirit Sword opened, and Harang stepped inside.

—Ho, it’s been a while, young successor of Kaladan! You’ve grown quite a bit… though, not as much as I’d hoped. You remind me of the young Kaladan.

In the center of the Chamber stood the Sacred Sword, the treasured blade of the Kaladan family, welcoming him.

Of course, only Harang could hear its voice.

“…”

Harang did not respond.

No one here knew that Harang could hear the voice of the Sacred Sword.

Duke Kalel had never made this fact public. Harang, too, had no intention of revealing it, so he silently drew his sword and pointed it at the Sacred Sword.

—You’re quite different from Kaladan. That guy had a variety of facial expressions and was so expressive that watching him was entertaining. But you, you’re so stoic and unreadable.

It almost felt as if the Sacred Sword Terandal was laughing.

—Ever since that terrifying descendant of Kaladan rose to power, no one has dared challenge me. I’ve been bored, only sparring with children… but this is good! You’ve come to challenge me, haven’t you?

Harang gave a slight nod, barely perceptible to the knights watching.

That was all the answer the Sacred Sword needed. A bright white light swirled around Terandal, and a knight clad in shining white armor materialized, pointing his sword at Harang.

—Very well! Let’s see how much you’ve grown, young heir of Kaladan!

Harang, now raising his Cheongwolheun toward the Sacred Sword, took a deep breath, closing and reopening his eyes.

Flash!

His eyes shone with a brilliant silver as he locked gazes with Terandal.

“…I will learn from you.”