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Chapter 5
“Young master, no getting revenge later just because you lose!”
Noel was already convinced that he would win. After all, no one in the knight order had ever defeated him in a spar.
“…Hah.”
Noah let out a sigh as he looked at Noel. It was pathetic how Noel had already let his guard down. That was exactly why Noah intended to teach him properly—
What happens when you get careless in front of your opponent.
Jintelu First Form.
Noah decided to demonstrate the Jintelu swordsmanship he had used countless times in his previous life. Among the many techniques he knew, there was only one reason he chose this one:
Because it was his favorite—and the one he understood better than anyone else.
‘Besides, I now have two aura hearts.’
Of course, he had no intention of using aura in this spar. Even with wooden swords, Noel could be seriously injured.
But still—
‘I should at least show them what swordsmanship really is.’
Even these fools with no basics would get a taste of a Sword Master’s skill.
Whoosh!
Noah charged at Noel, gripping the wooden sword with both hands.
Then—
—Whoom!
He thrust straight toward Noel’s throat.
It was an extremely simple movement—so simple it was almost dull.
“Hah.”
Noel scoffed. He was confident he could block such an obvious attack.
“This much…!”
Instead of dodging, he decided to take it head-on, block it, and counterattack by striking Noah’s head.
But—
Tap.
“…?”
By the time Noel formed that thought—
Noah’s wooden sword was already pressed against his throat.
Noel only realized it when he felt the blunt touch against his skin.
“Huh?”
“What?”
“Noel lost?”
It happened in the blink of an eye. Noel couldn’t even process his defeat. He stared blankly at Noah’s sword with a bewildered expression.
“You lost.”
Noah spoke indifferently, then lightly tapped Noel’s waist with the wooden sword.
“If you let your guard down again… it won’t end like this.”
Even without aura, he was still one of the empire’s finest Sword Masters. Someone like Noel was more than manageable.
“I… I will remember that.”
Faced with Noah’s chilling tone and fierce gaze, Noel nodded unconsciously.
“Good.”
Noah smiled in satisfaction, then glanced at the other knights watching him. His gaze was subtle—but predatory, like a hawk eyeing its prey.
“…”
The knights, now his next targets, suddenly recalled a nightmare—
The time Noah had first led their training runs.
‘That was too easy.’
The spar ended in Noah’s victory.
He hadn’t faced even a moment of danger. The knights, meanwhile, were left in despair after losing to him.
“Still, looks like it motivated them.”
Even after training had ended, they remained in the training ground. From his room, Noah watched them with a pleased smile.
“One!”
“Two!”
They practiced the basic stances Noah had taught them—the standard techniques used in the Empire.
‘Not bad at all.’
He didn’t particularly like teaching imperial swordsmanship, but it was the simplest and most efficient system. Noah planned to continue teaching it to them.
“Grow stronger.”
He gazed at them quietly and made a vow—
To raise these knights and eventually destroy the Empire.
If it couldn’t be done, he would make it possible.
The next day.
Baron Veratan summoned Noah to his office and looked at him with warm eyes.
“Come with me to patrol the territory.”
“…?”
Noah tilted his head, confused as to why he was being given such a task.
The baron explained:
“It’s been seven years since you last showed yourself in the territory. We need to show everyone that our family is still doing well—and calm their fears.”
“Fears?”
“Yes. Recently, there’s been growing anxiety that monsters from the Forest of Demons might come out and attack.”
Noah stiffened slightly.
‘Back then, I went there to obtain the Fruit of Death…’
Even at the peak of his previous life, the Forest of Demons was not a place to enter alone.
“…That dangerous place is near our territory?”
“Yes. But it’s smaller than other such forests, and more importantly, the Bismarck family has been guarding it. So it hasn’t been a major threat—until now.”
“Why ‘until now’?”
The baron sighed.
“Recently, monsters have been appearing more frequently. It likely means the Bismarck family isn’t properly maintaining the defense.”
“Then shouldn’t we step in?”
“We tried. But they refused, saying they would handle it—and that we should just pay the defense fee.”
The baron frowned.
Noah organized the information in his head.
‘They guard the forest near our territory and charge us for it.’
That part was fine.
‘But they take money—and monsters still come out?’
In other words, they weren’t doing their job.
“Shouldn’t we protest?”
“The Bismarck family… is far more powerful than ours. Their influence in the kingdom is great. Complaining would change nothing—if anything, they might use it as an excuse to raise the fee.”
Noah clicked his tongue.
It was no different from street gangs extorting merchants.
‘And they probably wouldn’t protect us properly if something serious happened.’
They take money but don’t provide real protection—the ones who suffer are those paying.
“I understand the situation.”
Noah nodded.
And silently vowed—
‘I’ll break this rotten cycle.’
That was the only way for the family to survive.
After all—
He needed this family to kill Kalshepl.
“Move out!”
Twenty knights mounted their horses for the patrol. Baron Veratan and Noah rode in a carriage.
Clatter, clatter—
With twenty heavily armed knights leading and about fifty soldiers following behind, it made for an impressive sight.
Though—
Their equipment was far worse than even the Empire’s patrol units.
“Normally, we wouldn’t make such a large display.”
Noah blinked.
By any standard, this wasn’t large.
‘But for this family’s finances… it probably is.’
Hiring proper knights was already difficult.
The carriage began to move.
“…Still, since you’re coming after seven years, I wanted to make it look presentable.”
The baron sighed.
He knew well—this procession was beneath even that of a viscount.
“You don’t need to worry.”
Noah spoke calmly.
“I’ll rebuild this family with my own hands. When that time comes, we’ll even have mages accompanying us.”
“…I hope that day comes.”
The baron smiled bitterly.
Mages were expensive—and too proud to come to such a remote place.
‘Let’s see what it’s really like.’
This was Noah’s first time seeing the territory since his reincarnation.
Yet, he felt no excitement.
He could already guess what it would be like.
Clunk!
After about fifteen minutes, the carriage stopped.
Noel dismounted and opened the door.
“We’ve arrived!”
The baron stepped out first, followed by Noah.
The townspeople began murmuring.
“Who is that?”
“I’ve never seen him before.”
They didn’t recognize Noah—seven years had passed, and his appearance had completely changed.
“Noah, let’s take a look around.”
The baron deliberately emphasized his name.
The murmurs grew louder.
“Yes.”
Noah responded elegantly and surveyed the area.
‘Better than I expected.’
There were no starving people or beggars. The baron kept taxes low.
‘So that’s the Forest of Demons.’
Beyond a wooden fence, the forest loomed. Even from afar, it emitted an unpleasant aura.
“…Hm?”
At that moment—
The trees in the forest began to shake.
A bad feeling crept over Noah.
‘Don’t tell me…’
If the trees were moving, it meant the monsters inside were active.
And if so—
‘There’s only one place they’d come.’
The perfect place to raid.
“Prepare for battle. Monsters are coming.”
“Monsters?”
“Yes.”
The baron was startled and about to question him further—
—Screeeech!
Monsters burst out from the Forest of Demons.
