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Chapter 24
I Reincarnated as a Genius Swordmaster of a Prestigious Family
“Thank you very much for the meal.”
At the polite bow from Lord Seolamdae, Preon, Father Kavel shook his head in reply.
“It’s nothing. It’s only natural, since you’ve been taking care of my son.”
“That’s only natural. I am Luin’s guardian now, after all.”
“Haha, if you come again next time, I’ll treat you again.”
“Just the words are thanks enough. Then, I’ll visit again three years from now…”
Preon, answering politely, hesitated for a moment with a thoughtful look, then, as if resolved, muttered solemnly.
“Kavel young master.”
“No, you don’t need to call me that.”
“Regardless, you are one who carries the blood of Laingraim. It is only proper to call you young master.”
“But I’m already out of the family…”
Just as a minor dispute was about to break out between the two—
“Well, thanks for the food, Daisy. I’ll ask you again next time.”
“Next time, my foot! Get lost already, Pigon. If I see you again, seriously, then—!”
The sudden bickering of the siblings of the Kapthalen family completely buried the small quarrel.
Ignoring Daisy, Pigon turned only to Kavel.
“Bwahaha! Brother-in-law, you’ll invite me again next time, won’t you?”
“Of course, brother-in-law!”
Kavel nodded with a faint smile.
“Good! Let’s drink until our noses fall off then. Hey, nephew, I’ll see you again.”
“Yes, travel safe, uncle. And you too, Palton.”
“Uh, yeah… sure…”
Palton Everon, still unable to recover from the shock, replied vaguely to Luin with a blank look.
Thwack!
“Hey, when your younger brother greets you, answer him properly! Sorry about this, Luin. I’ll make sure to teach him some manners.”
With that, Pigon smacked Palton on the head.
Finally, the noisy members of the Laingraim and Kapthalen families all departed, leaving only the family behind.
“Finally, it’s over.”
Squeeze.
Daisy suddenly hugged Luin tightly from behind.
“Luuuuiiin.”
“You worked hard, honey. You too, Luin.”
Seeing that, Kavel also spoke their names softly and embraced them.
“Mom… Dad…”
Nestled between the parents he had missed, Luin simply smiled warmly, savoring their warmth.
[Ugh, enough already. Gross!]
Of course, the sword soul, ever ruining the mood, butted in as well.
Just when the family seemed to settle into a heartwarming ending, Daisy’s light yet sharp voice cut in.
“Well then, shall we hear the full story, Luin?”
“Huh?”
“Start from what happened at the Sword Assembly, all the way to your duel with Palton. Don’t hide a thing. First of all, who told you to join the duel? Don’t tell me… your father?”
As she spoke, her eyes slid over toward Kavel, who flailed his hands and shouted, flustered.
“What? What are you talking about? It wasn’t me! You saw it yourself—I’m innocent here!”
“Burrrp! Man, it feels good to finally get a proper meal again. Don’t you agree?”
Pigon let out a long belch, looking very satisfied, and addressed his subordinates.
The mages of the Myunghwan faction chuckled in response.
“Kekeke, that was a meal? Captain?”
“Wasn’t that basically looting by force?”
“Pretty much the same thing.”
Unlike their joking responses—
“…”
Palton stayed quiet, head lowered, lost in thought.
“Hey, son.”
“Yes, sir.”
“‘Sir’? Just call me father.”
“…Yes, father.”
“What’s going on in that head of yours? Not even reacting to what I say. Are you really that upset about losing to that little brat?”
“N-no, father. My apologies.”
Hastily responding, Palton lowered his head and absently rubbed the pocket at his side.
“I didn’t ask to hear apologies. Stop with useless words. So—how do you feel?”
“…What?”
“How do you feel, getting utterly beaten by your younger cousin the very first time you meet?”
Pigon laughed mockingly.
“Now, now, Captain. Isn’t that a bit harsh?”
“Yeah, you’re pushing too far.”
“Kids can lose to each other sometimes. Why dig into it?”
“Right, right. And it wasn’t even a fair loss. He just got unlucky.”
“Oi, someone once said luck is also a skill, didn’t they? Hahaha.”
As the other mages teased, Pigon barked louder.
“Quiet! Honestly, aren’t you all curious too? That arrogant brat finally got crushed by someone younger—it was hilarious! Kekekeke.”
He roared with laughter, making fun of Palton’s loss again.
“Come on, don’t say that. You’re still our pride, Palton.”
“Yeah, don’t let him stir up trouble again.”
“Just ignore him. A win is a win, a loss is a loss. What matters is laughing last.”
Though they tried to console him, their smirks betrayed that they too found it amusing.
“…”
Palton remained silent. He knew from experience that reacting here would only give them more to feed on.
Instead, he quietly recalled—
Luin Laingraim.
The boy’s innocent face and eyes that seemed to pierce through everything.
How he sensed the barrier Palton had cast, how he displayed talent for manipulating mana.
And then—
At the start of the duel, he’d looked clumsy, even foolish. But midway through…
Death. That’s the only word that came to mind.
The memory of that suffocating fear was vivid.
But why…?
It must’ve been my imagination.
After all, Luin had shown completely different sides of himself.
The terror Palton felt must have been nothing more than his own overreaction at an unexpected situation.
Besides—
No child could exude such killing intent.
Even the most gifted prodigy could never release such an aura. That only came from countless battles and accumulated bloodshed.
Even if by miracle Luin had obtained great power, there was no way he could mimic that aura.
But—
What if… by one in a billion chance… it was real?
Chill!
A cold shiver ran up his spine, and Palton shook his head violently.
No, impossible. Absolutely impossible.
He muttered to himself slowly.
“He’s not an ordinary child. Yes… he was remarkable.”
“What? Remarkable? Hah! So you’re admitting there’s a new genius who beat you? But he kept fumbling around.”
Pigon sneered, but Palton replied quietly.
“Fumbles, coincidence, whatever it was. The fact remains: I lost, and he won. I’m only giving an honest evaluation.”
“Oh? Is that so?”
“Yes.”
“So that’s why you two whispered together with such shining eyes, huh?”
“…?!”
Palton froze at Pigon’s gaze, feeling an unsettling pressure.
Did he overhear everything?
It was as if Pigon knew the whole conversation between him and Luin.
“Someone who never shows interest in anyone, suddenly chatting so intently? What did you two talk about that left you so shaken?”
“It… it was nothing much. I simply noticed his talent for magic, and advised him to pursue that path.”
“Advice, huh?”
“Yes. Didn’t you hear me say it then?”
“True, I did.”
Pigon nodded firmly.
Palton unconsciously rubbed his pocket again.
The winged serpent, Corterus… must remain secret. No one can know.
For vengeance, for his true revenge, he had done everything. And the truth he’d learned—
I can trust no one.
Not even Pigon, who had once saved his life and raised him.
So he swiftly changed the topic.
“Luin, that boy… shouldn’t we bring him into the family?”
“What?”
“With that potential, he could compete—”
“Forget it.”
“What?”
“If I tried to bring him in, you think Daisy would allow it?”
“Ah…”
“I couldn’t handle that wrath. I’d sooner storm the Black Serpent Cult’s main hall.”
At the mention of the Black Serpent Cult, one of the most dreaded forces, Palton could only nod silently.
Among the Four Heavens and Nine Provinces, the thirteen great powers were divided into two broad alignments: white and black.
The white faction included Laingraim, Paterion, Elation, Kapthalen, and the Serion Tower.
The black faction included Kapalan, the Black Serpent Cult, the Blood Alliance, and Zephon Tower.
Though most avoided direct conflict, the Black Serpent Cult’s fanatical violence had caused endless strife.
“So you’ll just let Laingraim have him?”
“Hm?”
“The sword he used to beat me—he got it at the Laingraim Sword Assembly, didn’t he?”
At Palton’s subtle provocation, Pigon shrugged.
“Well, that’s his choice. All we can do is offer him another path later, so he won’t regret not having options. That’s all.”
Then he slung an arm around Palton’s shoulders.
“You were called a genius once, so you know. Your cousin’s no ordinary brat either. Stay close to him. After all, he beat you.”
“That’s…”
Palton trailed off. His feelings toward Luin were conflicted.
If he could duel him again… if only he didn’t underestimate him this time…
I can win… right?
Though his mind said yes, unease still lingered.
No, it was just luck. Pure luck. That’s all.
Grit.
Palton clenched his teeth.
Next time, I’ll win. No matter what.
At that moment, Pigon’s voice came again.
“Who knows, maybe he’ll even help with what you desire most.”
“…What?”
As if reading Palton’s heart, Pigon smirked faintly, then turned to his men and shouted.
“The same goes for you! Treat my sister and brother-in-law like family. Don’t do anything you’ll regret later.”
“…”
Palton remained silent, only staring at his foster father with a complex mix of emotions in his eyes.
