The Old Man Tells You The Strategy

Chapter 7

The Lineage Ceremony.

It was a trial to be acknowledged as a member of the prestigious Pablo family, a renowned military house tied to the royal Lavold dynasty.

In the entire continent, only the Pablo family referred to their trial as the Lineage Ceremony.

‘So if he’s going there…’

This meant that Killian, too, was a blood relative of the Pablo family.

And this revelation shocked Jun-hyuk deeply. The Pablo family played an incredibly important role in the world of Endless Saga in more ways than one.

‘Then how could I not know about this guy?’

Through his many experiences, Jun-hyuk had studied the Pablo family extensively.

He knew their history, their bloodlines—everything. There shouldn’t have been any unknown relatives.

But looking at the situation, Killian had no reason to lie about something like this.

A guy who found even speaking a hassle wouldn’t go out of his way to hide his background, would he?

‘This changes everything.’

The more Jun-hyuk thought about it, the more curious he became about Killian.

A talent recognized by the King of the Underworld, a member of the Pablo family, and yet, someone Jun-hyuk had never encountered before.

For the first time in ages, Jun-hyuk felt a genuine spark of interest.

‘Maybe this is a blessing in disguise? If the Lineage Ceremony forces this lazy bum to move, then…’

Now that the pieces of the puzzle were coming together, Killian’s situation began to make more sense.

If Killian’s meeting with the Underworld King had been arranged by his mother, Leah—specifically, to ensure Killian met the King, learned one of his techniques, and awakened his mana—then Leah’s planning made perfect sense.

‘You can’t pass the first trial of the Lineage Ceremony without mana.’

This explained the situation perfectly.

‘She set up all of this to prevent this lazy bum from being dragged off to the Maelstrom.’

The Lineage Ceremony was a rite to prove oneself as a true member of the Pablo family. Failing to pass it meant losing any recognition of Pablo blood.

And those who couldn’t prove their bloodline were conscripted straight to the battlefield of the Maelstrom, a cursed, war-ravaged land.

Without mana, passing the Lineage Ceremony was impossible. The very first trial tested the challenger’s ability to wield mana.

‘Ah, I see.’

That’s why Leah’s pendant had arranged for Killian to meet the Underworld King and obtain a mana cultivation technique. Without it, Killian would have been dragged to the Maelstrom.

「You almost got yourself in deep trouble.」

“Huh? What are you talking about?”

「You were about to be conscripted to the Maelstrom.」

“Hmm…?”

But now that Jun-hyuk had pieced all of this together, a deeper mystery emerged.

Why, in almost every timeline where Jun-hyuk hadn’t met Killian, had Leah’s pendant been found in the Maelstrom? With Killian’s talent, he should have found the pendant on his own and obtained at least the Annihilation Flame technique. Failing the Lineage Ceremony didn’t seem likely.

So, had this lazy bum gone to the Maelstrom on purpose?

‘What could’ve happened?’

Before Jun-hyuk could delve deeper into his thoughts, Killian spoke again, this time with confusion in his voice.

“The Maelstrom? Why would I get sent there?”

Jun-hyuk was taken aback.

「You didn’t have any mana until just now.」

“And?”

「Which means you couldn’t even participate in the Lineage Ceremony.」

To Jun-hyuk’s shock, Killian didn’t know something he should’ve known.

“What are you talking about?”

「What do you mean, what?」

“Why would I be conscripted to the Maelstrom? Are you even talking about the same thing?”

「…?」

Killian didn’t even know about the consequences of failing the Lineage Ceremony.

Jun-hyuk rechecked everything in his mind, but his knowledge wasn’t wrong.

「If you fail the Lineage Ceremony, you’re conscripted to the Maelstrom. What part of that is confusing?」

To his surprise, Killian just scoffed.

“What? That makes no sense.”

Jun-hyuk began to feel a deep sense of unease.

‘How can he not know this?’

Something felt wrong, suspicious even.

「Listen carefully, Killian.」

Jun-hyuk decided to check something important.

「You’ve received the invitation to the Lineage Ceremony, right?」

“Of course. I got it last month.”

「You didn’t just skim over the letter out of laziness, did you?」

“As lazy as I am, I did read that one properly. It’s an important letter.”

As the conversation continued, Jun-hyuk’s suspicions grew stronger.

「And yet you don’t know anything about the Maelstrom?」

“I don’t.”

「I’m pretty sure the letter mentioned it.」

“…What?”

Jun-hyuk had encountered many members of the Pablo family across different timelines.

He had seen their invitations to the Lineage Ceremony multiple times, and the contents of the letter never changed.

So it was impossible for Killian’s letter not to mention the Maelstrom.

「Are you seriously telling me there wasn’t a single word about the Maelstrom in that letter?」

At this point, even Killian’s previously casual demeanor started to shift. Jun-hyuk had proven his knowledge too many times to ignore now, and the fact that he knew about the Lineage Ceremony invitation without Killian mentioning it only added weight to his words.

“Damn it.”

Killian thought to himself that he’d need to dig out that letter once he returned to the estate.

Something was definitely off, and he couldn’t ignore the growing sense of dread creeping up on him.

—

Killian arrived at the entrance to his estate about an hour later.

And what greeted him was…

“…What the hell?”

The moment he arrived, his expression twisted in confusion.

“Lord Killian?”

“The lord has returned!”

His people, looking exhausted and sleep-deprived, were gathered at the entrance, holding torches. Several of them flinched upon seeing the kobold blood splattered across his clothes.

“Kyaaaaah!”

“Why is there so much blood on his clothes?!”

“Lord Killian… are you alright?”

Killian waved his hand to calm the crowd.

“This? It’s not my blood.”

“Then whose…?”

“Never mind that.”

What was in front of Killian was far more perplexing than their concerns.

“…What is everyone doing here?”

“We were looking for you, my lord!”

The crowd’s response was filled with relief and a sense of release.

“You were looking for me? Why?”

“On the orders of Sir Stubborn—”

Clank, clank, clank!

Before the person could finish explaining, the sound of armor clashing against the ground echoed from beyond the crowd.

“…Sigh.”

Killian let out an involuntary sigh. After all, there was only one person in this town who walked around wearing full armor.

「Who’s this guy you’re so annoyed with?」

‘…Someone who rubs me the wrong way.’

「Why?」

‘Everything he says grates on my nerves.’

As Killian looked for a way to slip past the crowd and head home,

“Everyone, return to your homes,” a powerful voice called out from beyond the gathering.

—

A towering figure, over seven feet tall with a massive frame, appeared.

The old man, clad in heavy armor and armed with a sword at his waist, looked like he was ready for battle at any moment.

It was Sir Stubborn, the only knight in Solmer. As soon as he appeared, the townspeople scattered, heading back to their homes.

Now, Killian’s and Sir Stubborn’s gazes met in the air.

“Lord Killian,” came the gruff voice, echoing in Killian’s ears, causing his expression to stiffen slightly.

“Speak, Sir Stubborn,” Killian responded.

Jun-hyuk immediately sensed the tension in Killian’s minimal expression, realizing just how much irritation was hidden behind it.

「You’re the lord, and you’re this bothered by a knight?」

‘…’

But Killian remained silent, allowing a brief but awkward silence to hang between them.

Sir Stubborn was the first to break it.

“Did something happen, my lord? Your clothes are covered in blood.”

Though his words seemed polite, the tone felt more like a formality than genuine concern. Killian responded just as flatly.

“Don’t worry, it’s not my blood.”

At Killian’s response, Sir Stubborn massaged his temples as if he had a headache.

“Sigh… My lord, you are the head of Solmer now. Are you aware of your responsibilities?”

“…”

“It doesn’t seem like it. Not when you’re out wandering around bloodied, causing search parties to be sent out.”

Killian remained expressionless, but Jun-hyuk could sense his growing annoyance.

「Yeah, he’s definitely provoking him.」

Jun-hyuk found the situation increasingly intriguing. Now that his perception of Killian had changed, every piece of information related to him became vital.

“As Lady Leah’s sworn knight and the only knight in Solmer, I’ve done my best to guide you down the right path… but my patience is reaching its limit.”

Jun-hyuk quickly understood the situation.

Even though Sir Stubborn had a grating personality, it wouldn’t be easy to dismiss him.

In a remote area like this, a knight was invaluable, making him someone Killian couldn’t easily get rid of.

“Sigh… I’ve said this dozens of times already, but here we are again. Regardless, my lord, you disappeared without a word, and now—”

Before Sir Stubborn could finish his sentence, his nose twitched, and his eyes widened.

“This stench… Is that kobold blood on your clothes?”

Killian remained silent, only giving a small nod. However, there was a subtle change in his gaze—something Jun-hyuk, who had shared the experience in the mines, quickly noticed. But Sir Stubborn, who had known Killian for much longer, didn’t seem to catch it.

“There shouldn’t be any monsters in this area… Where exactly did you go?”

“I was at Palmer Mine, retrieving my mother’s keepsake.”

Killian cut him off abruptly.

Flinch—

At those words, Sir Stubborn’s brow twitched.

“A keepsake left by Lady Leah? What exactly was this keepsake?”

His tone sounded more like an interrogation than genuine curiosity.

“That’s enough.”

Killian’s voice turned colder than before.

“Is this really the time for those kinds of questions?”

“…What?”

“Knowing that I returned in this state, covered in kobold blood—”

Killian stepped closer to Sir Stubborn.

“—is that really the only question you have?”

Sir Stubborn hesitated, momentarily speechless. The man who had always been a thorn in his side now exuded an unfamiliar sense of authority.

“If I were you, I’d be more concerned about the monsters and the safety of the region. Shall I tell you where they are? The kobolds have taken over the mine and formed a colony.”

Killian gestured to the bloodstained sleeve of his tunic for emphasis.

“So, Sir Stubborn, what exactly have you been doing all this time?”

“…”

“If I were in your position, I’d be organizing a kobold extermination force, not prying into keepsakes.”

“…I will assemble the force immediately.”

Killian remained silent, simply staring at Sir Stubborn, his gaze a clear sign that he didn’t want to be detained any longer.

“I think I’ve placed too much trust in you, Sir Stubborn.”

「Trust? You didn’t bother because you’re too lazy to deal with it.」

Jun-hyuk’s opinion was, of course, ignored.

Grit

Sir Stubborn unconsciously ground his teeth at Killian’s thinly veiled mockery, but he couldn’t retort.

After all, Killian’s words were irrefutable.

“…Understood, my lord. I will organize the extermination force immediately.”

“Before that.”

“Yes, my lord?”

“I want you to bring me the invitation to the Lineage Ceremony.”

For a moment, Sir Stubborn considered telling Killian to retrieve it himself, but he swallowed his words. He couldn’t refuse the request of his lord without a legitimate reason.

“…Understood.”

Clank, clank, clank.

With the sound of his heavy armor clattering, Sir Stubborn headed back toward the village.

“Phew…”

Killian let out a deep breath of relief. The imposing aura he had shown earlier faded as quickly as it had come.

‘That old man will be busy for a while, rummaging through the abandoned mines and dealing with the kobolds.’

That meant no more nagging from Sir Stubborn, at least until the Lineage Ceremony arrived. The thought brought a satisfied smile to Killian’s face.

「Wait a minute…」

Jun-hyuk’s voice was filled with disbelief at the sudden shift in Killian’s demeanor.

「…You got that angry just because you didn’t want to be nagged?」

‘Well, he needed to be reprimanded, didn’t he? The village’s sole knight was neglecting his duty, letting monsters run rampant.’

Casually chatting with Jun-hyuk, Killian slowly made his way back home. Shortly after he arrived…

Clank, clank.

Sir Stubborn returned, holding the letter in his hand, gold-embossed with the official seal.

“Here it is.”

With an unimpressed look, Sir Stubborn handed Killian the letter, then walked away.

“Alright, let’s see…”

Now alone at the estate’s entrance, Killian started reading the letter meticulously, as if his eyes were trying to burn holes through the paper.

But no matter how hard he looked, there was no mention of the Maelstrom anywhere.

Feeling triumphant, Killian spoke to Jun-hyuk with a smug tone.

“See? I told you there’s no way I misread it.”

The Maelstrom? That horrifying story was clearly nothing more than nonsense. But Killian’s relief didn’t last long.

「…Hold on a second.」

Jun-hyuk, who had been carefully inspecting the seal on the bottom of the letter, spoke up in a serious voice.

「This is a forged letter.」

—

Fifteen days later.

Clop, clop, clop!

Killian was on horseback, galloping through a desolate wasteland, heading toward the Ironblood Castle, the capital of the Earldom and the location of the Lineage Ceremony.

“*Sigh…*”

With every mile his horse covered, Killian’s sighs increased. Of course, part of it was because of the upcoming, bothersome trial of the Lineage Ceremony.

“…I can’t believe it was really a forged letter.”

The fact that the letter he’d relied on was a fake still felt unbelievable.

He recalled the words of the appraiser, who had examined the document while sweating profusely.

— In all my 30 years as an appraiser, I’ve never seen such a precise forgery. Without Lord Killian’s suggestion, I’m not sure I would have been able to detect it…

The appraiser had spoken with admiration, looking at Killian as if he were some genius. In truth, the man should’ve been looking at Killian’s ring.

Killian had only relayed what Jun-hyuk had said to him.

「You should’ve just trusted me. You didn’t need to waste time and money going to an appraiser.」

“How could I just believe you when you suddenly said it was a fake?”

「Suddenly? I explained in detail why it was forged, remember?」

Jun-hyuk, incredulous, repeated the same detailed explanation he had given two weeks ago.

It had been a highly technical breakdown of the unique seal used by the Pablo family, but Killian hadn’t bothered to listen closely at the time.

“Yeah, yeah, you’re so smart.”

Killian didn’t have much else to say. There was no point in arguing about the letter now that it had already been proven a forgery. What bothered Killian now was something else entirely.

He had no clue who had forged the letter in the first place.

‘Who could’ve done this?’

If it had been orchestrated by a high-ranking noble, it would be nearly impossible to trace the culprit. And adding to Killian’s frustration was the fact that he had learned nothing about his mother from the incident.

“Sigh… This is such a headache.”

His once peaceful life had suddenly spiraled out of control. Or perhaps it had always been tangled, and he had just been oblivious to it.

Grumbling under his breath, Killian eventually pushed his thoughts aside. Stressing over things that couldn’t be changed wasn’t his style.

‘Well, whatever happens, happens.’

「…」

As he relaxed into his seat in the carriage, the vast blue sky caught his eye. Another hour passed.

Soon, a grand scene unfolded before Killian’s eyes.

“Oh…”

A flawless white fortress stood in the distance, its towering presence overwhelming. Four imposing spires pierced the sky, and the angular architecture of the castle exuded an intimidating aura.

But what stood out most was the flag.

Flutter, flutter…

Flying high atop the spires was a white flag, emblazoned with a crimson shield stained with the blood of monsters, flanked by two long swords. It was the symbol of the Pablo family, known as the Shield of the Royal House.

「We’ve arrived. That’s Ironblood Castle.」

‘…That’s it?’

Killian blinked, still in disbelief. Jun-hyuk understood how he felt.

The castle’s appearance and sheer size were truly breathtaking, comparable to few others.

‘So, I’ve really come here…’

「You’ll need to get used to it. You might be visiting often.」

‘I’d rather not, but I’m glad I came at least once. I didn’t expect it to be this huge.’

「This place used to be the kingdom’s border. Ironblood Castle was the first line of defense against the Maelstrom, so it’s no surprise it’s so massive.」

Feeling a bit excited, Jun-hyuk continued his explanation.

「The castle’s never been breached in all its years, and thanks to it, the kingdom was able to push back the Maelstrom and expand its territory—」

‘But did they really need to make it so flashy? Seems like a waste of effort.’

「…I’m not even going to respond to that.」

Clop, clop, clop.

Even as their conversation trailed off, the horse continued its steady pace, carrying Killian closer to the castle walls.

‘Phew… Finally here.’

Killian barely had time to feel relieved when a distressed voice echoed through the air.

“Wait!!! Please, just give me a little more time! I can break through this gate—”

“Marci has been excommunicated in accordance with the principles of the Lineage Ceremony.”

Killian felt a chill run down his spine as he witnessed the scene unfolding before him.

‘Excommunicated…?’

Excommunication meant the complete loss of everything Killian had worked for—his title, lands, and status.