I Became the Teacher of the Imperial Family’s Bastard

008. Revenge (2)

The choice of words was not elegant, but Yuren’s words conveyed his meaning quite directly.

The way he raised one corner of his mouth amplified the implied meaning several times over.

In short, he was provocatively saying, “My sword is better than yours.”

Kallios let out a hollow laugh.

“Are you serious? You, teaching me swordsmanship? You?”

There was only one reason to ask again.

Kallios van Orteer.

He was said to be a man born to rule, proficient in almost every field.

But just as a person’s abilities cannot be uniformly excellent in all areas, there are always some fields in which one excels or falls short.

For Kallios, that field was swordsmanship.

He was a man born with a level of swordsmanship that could be called the reincarnation of the first emperor.

There was an anecdote that blatantly showcased his swordsmanship.

It was the story of how Kallios became an expert at the age of 14, causing a stir in the capital.

He reached a level that knights with exceptional talent, who received systematic training from a young age, would reach between the ages of 25 and 30, all while struggling through adolescence.

The fastest in the history of the royal bloodline.

No, even in the entire history of the Orteer Empire, he was among the top three.

It wasn’t that the fact was unknown.

Although the exact level of his martial prowess was not revealed, it was a well-known fact throughout the empire that he was an expert.

But how could Yuren’s words not be absurd?

Kallios examined Yuren’s body.

‘It’s not that mana isn’t in his body…’

If one were a noble’s child, it was common to carry all sorts of elixirs from a young age.

In Yuren’s case, it seemed he had a bit more than other noble children.

But that was it.

‘…The level of physical training is lacking.’

There is more flesh than muscle.

Also, there are parts that are bent or crooked in his posture.

A swordsman should not be like that.

There is no vigor, no spirit.

Kallios made his judgment.

‘A body that has never held a sword. Even if it had, it would be at a cultured level.’

It was an accurate diagnosis.

If the opponent were not Yuren, who had returned from time.

“I will give you a chance to retract.”

Kallios said softly.

He didn’t know what confidence he had to say such things, but he guessed that it wasn’t just simple arrogance.

Having escaped his maddened state with his help, he thought he should at least treat him with the respect he deserved.

However, Yuren gave an unexpected answer to Kallios.

“In a gambling den…”

“…?”

“The one who’s losing talks a lot.”

Kallios’s body froze.

The smile on his lips was clearly forced.

“…What are you trying to say?”

“Hmm, you should know.”

Yuren said, fiddling with his nails in a slanted posture.

That composure, that attitude, somehow seemed to be saying those words.

-Scared?

One thing he learned from hanging out with Rebecca.

Kallios had become quite knowledgeable about the culture and language of commoners.

He understood the meaning of that attitude well.

Something passionate surged in his mind in an instant.

“Ha, haha, hahaha!!!”

Bang! Bang! Bang!

As if it was really funny, Kallios slapped his thigh hard enough to make a bang sound and laughed with his gums showing.

But the bloodshot eyes were speaking.

It was a proper scratch.

Kallios felt as if Yuren’s words had turned his blood upside down.

This was not an ordinary matter of pride.

It was about swordsmanship.

His swordsmanship, which was like his identity, had been belittled.

In vulgar words, he had been told, ‘You’re just a piece of trash’…!

“Interesting! Very interesting! Erilda!”

“Oh, you startled me!”

“You said a demonstration was needed! To whom should I prove my qualifications!”

Erilda’s face went blank at Kallios’s excited voice.

Yet, she answered sincerely.

“The, the head of the royal knights… right? He’s the one teaching His Highness swordsmanship now.”

It was commendable that she used honorifics in front of an outsider, but Kallios was too agitated to notice such things.

“Did you hear that! The head of the knights is teaching now! The only person superior enough to teach me is a Sword Master!”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Is it alright?! I find it interesting to be taught by someone as confident as you! But for that to happen! You must prove in front of the head of the knights that you are superior to me! We must duel!!! Wouldn’t it be embarrassing if you failed?!?!”

It had now become a half-shouting situation.

This reaction was an aspect of Kallios that even he was unaware of.

It was natural.

Who in the world would dare to evaluate the swordsmanship of the crown prince and say, ‘Even I am better than you’?

Even if someone is truly stronger than the Crown Prince, there is a certain etiquette towards the royal family.

There is no one else in the world who would speak to the Crown Prince like Yuren does.

Anyway,

“Hmm, I see.”

“Yes, you should reconsider…”

“I didn’t think of that. But still, His Highness the Crown Prince, being hit in front of others would damage his prestige…”

Crack-

The Crown Prince’s reason snapped.

“…Erilda. Does the Knight Commander have any other schedule today?”

“Uh… No, I think he’s training in the barracks…”

“You, follow me.”

“Now?”

“What, are you scared?”

“Oh dear, Your Highness. Mind your language…”

“Follow me!”

Thump thump, Kallios left the reception room with excited steps.

Yuren got up belatedly and followed him.

Because of that arrangement, Kallios didn’t see what only Erilda saw.

Yuren was smiling.

Very happily, or perhaps very unsettlingly.

* * *

The Imperial Knight Commander, Drenor Chevar, received such a message during his duties.

“Hmm? Are you saying His Highness wants to appoint me as a notary?”

“Yes, that…”

“Ah, I see. Is it about the young lord of Pharos?”

The lieutenant nodded.

It was a story that anyone in Callios’s faction would know.

Callios, who had given up on love affairs, was trying to bring the young lord of Pharos into his inner circle.

There is only one way to bring Pharos into the inner circle.

It is to accept him as a master.

However, since Callios already had separate masters in all fields, he needed the permission of the predecessor to create a position for him.

It would be right to call it a qualification test.

“Hmm.”

Drenor, who had watched Callios since childhood and believed that he would not do anything foolish, found this story unexpected.

‘He must be looking for an excuse to bring him in as a master. But why swordsmanship, of all things?’

It was an easily deducible cause and effect.

Given the context, if he had to stand as a notary, it would be for swordsmanship, and the only method would be a duel.

That was the question.

If he wanted him, why choose the hardest path?

Drenor stroked his splendidly grown brown beard and thought.

‘Is there anyone of the same age who can defeat His Highness?’

No, even if they brought seasoned knights instead of young ones, most of them wouldn’t be able to touch a hair on Kallios.

It didn’t matter that his level was mid-expert.

It was simply because his swordsmanship was so outstanding that he could instantly grasp the opponent’s sword style.

But that’s not all.

The imperial swordsmanship is an all-purpose secret technique passed down only to the heirs of the royal family.

As long as one masters it, they can gain an advantage in all existing swordsmanship to some extent.

In other words, considering what he had, the young lord of Pharos couldn’t defeat him.

Therefore, the duel was nothing more than a public execution of him.

“Hmm…”

What to do, if Kallios was planning a bad prank, I wanted to stop him.

But as his master, Drenor had also heard something.

-There’s something. The young lord of Pharos has a secret we don’t know about.

A few days ago, Kallios, who had come to his senses, said that with conviction.

It was a statement that aroused curiosity.

Because those eyes were not the eyes of someone planning a bad prank.

‘If that’s the case…’

Is there any method as certain as seeing with one’s own eyes?

Drenor made his decision and nodded.

“Let’s go. When did His Highness plan the duel?”

“Now.”

“`

“?”

That was the moment.

Knock, knock!

The sound of someone knocking on the door.

Then, a voice followed.

-Commander! His Highness has arrived at the training ground. He requests your presence as soon as possible…

Is it something urgent?

Even though Drenor couldn’t fully grasp the situation, he moved towards the training ground.

And then he saw it.

“Greetings, Your Highness.”

“Ah, thank you for coming.”

Kallios, who seemed somewhat excited.

“Greetings, Commander. I am Yuren, the young lord of Pharos.”

“Ah…”

Yuren Pharos, with a relaxed demeanor.

His ashen hair was disheveled, and the eyes beneath it had a rebellious look that highlighted his irritable nature.

At first glance, he seemed like a typical rogue.

But, upon closer inspection, there was something different.

Drenor’s eyebrow slightly raised.

“`

‘Hmm, the prayer is clean.’

Physical training is quite lacking, but the flow of mana is abundant.

Do they enjoy meditation?

If so, there was something certain.

‘Is it as His Highness said?’

The rumor of being a scoundrel might be false.

If not, it could be the author’s intention.

Curiosity was piqued.

Drenor suppressed it and asked Callios.

“Do you truly intend to take the young lord as a swordsmanship master?”

“If he is qualified. Qualified.”

Drenor couldn’t understand why the word ‘qualified’ was repeated.

But it was clear that he was not rational, just by looking at Erilda’s expression as she rubbed her forehead.

‘Has he been provoked?’

Does a person just snap like that?

No, was the crown prince weak to provocation?

‘…I wouldn’t know, never tried it.’

Perhaps he had found one of Callios’ weaknesses.

If it was Yuren Faros who found it, it was worth acknowledging.

But, there was something that couldn’t be done with just that.

‘He is a swordsmanship master. Then he has no choice but to prove it with a sword.’

There was only one reason why Drenor, the captain of the royal knights, was in charge of Kallios’ education.

He was the only sword master in the empire, and the only person in the royal castle who had an understanding of swordsmanship comparable to Kallios.

Regardless of personal matters, the prince’s swordsmanship master was a public office.

In other words, Yuren had to be able to enhance Kallios’ swordsmanship skills.

Drenor intended to judge Yuren from a strictly rational perspective, regardless of what Kallios desired.

It was then.

“Captain, can we start the sparring right away? We both have wooden swords in our hands.”

Kallios urged.

Drenor gauged Yuren’s intentions.

He swung the wooden sword a couple of times in the air, then nodded and said.

“Yes, I think we can start right away.”

There was quite a crowd.

Erilda, himself, and the knights of the royal knight order.

‘His Highness should be careful with his hands.’

It was at that moment of worry.

“Ah.”

Yuren suddenly said.

“Your Highness, may I ask for a promise first?”

“What is it?”

“I hope there will be no hard feelings as a result of the duel.”

Crunch-

The sound of grinding teeth echoed menacingly.

Drenor was certain.

‘The king is weak to provocation.’

This should be noted for future training.

The fact that he had this thought meant that Drenor was still confident in Yuren’s defeat.

“Very well. Let it be so. Absolutely no hard feelings!”

Had Kallios ever smiled so menacingly?

It became increasingly clear that Yuren would not return unscathed.

Thus, the duel began.

“Shall we?”

Boom!

At the same time as Drenor’s words, Kallios unleashed his mana.

He seemed to have no intention of holding back.

No, more than that, he seemed determined to crush Yuren.

‘Storm Style?’

The representative swordsmanship of the Empire, the ferocious sword style.

This was a sword style that even knights of the same expert level could not withstand without getting injured.

Drenor’s hand moved towards the sword.

It was to prevent any unforeseen mishaps.

“I shall go!”

Bang!

Kallios struck.

The knights cheered.

But that atmosphere did not last even a moment.

At Yuren’s casually raised sword,

Thud-

The storm style was shattered.

“Huh…?”

Kallios’s eyes widened as if they would tear apart.

A sound of bewilderment escaped.

The knights, the servants, and even Erilda fell into a distant silence.

No one understood the situation.

Except for one person, Drenor.

He held his breath.

Shock, confusion, those emotions dominated his mind.

The final emotion he felt was none other than ‘wonder’.

‘What is this?’

A distant shock struck Drenor’s mind.

It was like the shock of someone who had believed the darkness of the cave was the entire world, seeing the outside world for the first time.

Drenor tried to understand.

‘It’s not a counterattack with mana.’

What Drenor saw was only Yuren’s indifferent gaze examining Kallios’s body and the subsequent act of ‘raising his sword’.

He did not feel any great force that neutralized Kallios’s mana.

Yet, the storm-like attack was blocked.

‘How?’

Even as a Sword Master, Drenor could not understand Yuren’s move.

He only felt it.

That it was some kind of profound technique that had shed its form.

Thus, Drenor unknowingly thought to himself.

‘That is…’

A swordsmanship that must be seen.

A swordsmanship that must be reviewed.

But, unfortunately, there was nothing to be discovered from it.

The swordsmanship displayed by Yuren.

It was a concept that had not yet appeared in the world, one that the Crown Prince would realize and establish after ten years of profound meditation.

In the midst of such shock.

“If you’re done, I’ll take my leave.”

Yuren withdrew his sword.

End

ⓒ papapa.

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