Chapter 56
That smirk on the Lord of Blood and Iron’s face soon turned into laughter.
It was the first time I’d ever seen the cold and emotionless man laugh like that.
A sense of wrongness also grew alongside his laughter, and I found myself thinking that his laughter was befitting of the family head of House Bednicker.
With laughter still in his voice, the Lord of Blood and Iron called my name.
“Luan Bednicker.”
He took a moment to return to the table and sat down before he continued.
“What you say is right. The swordsmanship technique I just showed you is incomplete. Many parts require more work.”
“I see.”
“It’s interesting. I showed this technique to three people, but only you were able to notice that fact.”
The Lord of Blood and Iron crossed his legs as he looked at Hero and Nero.
“Hero, Nero.”
“Yes.”
“...Yes.”
“I do not believe that you are less perceptive than Luan. However, Luan was able to correctly identify a truth that you two were unable to notice. Why do you think that is?”
The two contemplated for a while before shaking their heads.
“I don’t know.”
“Nor do I.”
“It’s because you two deify me too much.”
The Lord of Blood and Iron’s smile fell from his face.
He calmly said, “How many times have I told you? There are moments when I am wrong and make poor decisions. A swordsmanship I have created can have its own awkwardness, and you should discover it yourself. However, the two of you completely abandoned that possibility and observed my swordsmanship through your own bias. You assumed, for no real reason, that a technique I created would be perfect.”
“...”
“In truth, it’s not just you two; most within the bounds of House Bednicker see me in such a light. There is a reason I do not train in the main house like Hatehm of Goodspring...”
The Lord of Blood and Iron’s gaze turned back to me.
“But Luan, you looked at my sword with clear eyes. I can at least sense that you do not believe me to be the strongest being. Have you perhaps met someone similar to... or even stronger than me?”
“...”
I felt a chill go down my spine.
Of course. This man wasn’t just strong. He was intelligent and could deduce someone’s thoughts by observing minute changes in their reactions.
At least from what I knew, there was no one more uneasy to talk to than someone like this.
Was having a man like this as my father a blessing or a curse?
“...Who knows.”
Of course, that didn’t mean I was just going to reveal everything about Spirit Mountain.
The Lord of Blood and Iron looked at me for a little longer before he continued, “There are no textbooks that explain how to fight demons and cultists. There isn’t a set strategy you can use, unlike when fighting beasts and monsters. In addition, from their high priests to their lackeys, each of them is unique. At most, they may share some general tendencies depending on which sect they are from.”
In a calm voice, the Lord of Blood and Iron explained a few traits.
The pawns of Hadenaihar, the Demon Lord of the Blood-Lit Moon, were covert.
The pawns of Tangtata, the Demon Lord of the Green Tongue, enjoyed plotting and scheming.
And the pawns of Kingarodtus, the Demon Lord of the Golden Horn, were violent and impulsive.
I felt that an unexpected opportunity had arrived as I naturally asked, “What about the Demon Lord of Black and White?”
“From what I know, he doesn’t seem to have any pawns. He is an interesting one among the demon lords.”
“Ah...”
“The Demon Lord of Black and White is particularly unique. He appeared quite recently, and his influence isn’t deep in The Empire.”
“Then why is he categorized as a demon lord?”
“He ended an entire nation by himself 100 years ago, so he has the qualifications to be called a demon lord.”
My mouth snapped shut in shock.
My eldest senior brother tended to avoid killing others, even more so than any of my master’s other disciples.
Even when he ate food, even when he killed the monsters who lived on Spirit Mountain, he always repented for his actions.
How could someone like that destroy an entire nation?
And “he went mad” couldn’t be the answer.
The Great Yin-Yang Technique that my eldest senior had learned required that he maintain his composure.
If he’d gone mad, he would’ve lost that power.
Meaning... Eldest Senior Brother had to have gone mad in a very rational way.
What the hell does that mean?
Even though I was the one who’d thought it, it sounded like nonsense.
“The swordsmanship I just showed you does not have a name. I have no intention of completing it. Instead, I want you to complete it.”
“By that, you mean...”
“Use what I showed you as a baseline to create your own martial art.”
“...”
“I will give you one year to complete it. You don’t need to follow every single stroke of my sword, just use it as a reference. What I wished to show you is the mindset you must have when fighting against demons.”
Hero and Nero both nodded.
“Okay.”
“...Understood.”
The Lord of Blood and Iron looked at the two of them.
“You two may leave now.”
“Ah, just the two of us?”
“Yes. I have something I wish to speak with the youngest about.”
At that, Nero looked dissatisfied, and Hero seemed to be intrigued as he looked at me.
“Understood. Then, I will leave for now, Father.”
“Please stay safe.”
The eldest son and second daughter of Bednicker left, leaving only the Lord of Blood and Iron and myself.
I wasn’t particularly fond of what was happening.
Although this was the second time I was having a one-on-one conversation with the Lord of Blood and Iron, I felt even more uneasy than last time.
I couldn’t at all predict what he was going to say.
“I heard that you will attend the training camp at the main house.”
“Yes.”
“What is your reason?”
“I wish to become a hero.”
“Do you want to join Heroes?”
“That’s an option.”
“So your final goal is something else.”
I looked at him for a moment.
I felt like I was throwing a rock into a pond as I spoke my goal aloud.
“I’m thinking of defeating one of the demon lords.”
The Lord of Blood and Iron looked at me with his lightless eyes before saying, “The Demon Lord of Black and White.”
I wasn’t too surprised as I answered, “Yes.”
For some reason, I felt like the Lord of Blood and Iron could’ve deduced that through the conversation we’d just had.
“The true locations of the demon lords are very mysterious. There is a hypothesis that they do not exist on the same plane of existence as us in the first place.”
“Does that mean they could be in demiplanes like this one?”
“That could be the case. Alternatively, there could be a separate world where demons and spirits live.” The Lord of Blood and Iron continued, “I know where the Demon Lord of Black and White is.”
I looked at him in shock, but in that same calm tone, the man continued and said something even more shocking.
“I personally fought him.”
* * * * *
* * * * *
The Lord of Blood and Iron had fought my eldest senior brother.
I couldn’t easily conclude who had won that exchange.
At my current level, I couldn’t fathom either of their levels.
“How was it?”
“He’s not someone that you can underestimate at your current level.”
I knew that even better than him.
Maybe the Lord of Blood and Iron was telling me in a roundabout way that he had no intention of telling me the whereabouts of the demon lord.
“The demon lords do not remain in one place. That is true for the Demon Lord of Black and White as well. Although he has remained in the place I detected for a long time, there is no guarantee that he will continue to do so. For that reason, the Great Houses, Heroes, and the powerful individuals of The Empire are preparing to create an alliance.”
“An alliance.”
“An expedition force will soon be formed.” I flinched for a moment.
“...Isn’t it a very secret endeavor?”
“It is.”
“Then the reason you’re telling me this...”
“Depending on your effort, you could join the expedition force.”
I thought for a moment before asking, “When will the expedition be held?”
“I don’t know. It could be a month from now, or it might not have begun even after 10 years.”
“What do I need to do?”
“Only formal heroes and those A-rank and above can join the expedition force. However, I can add one or two members without their ranks being questioned.”
“And for me to become a hero as soon as possible...”
“If you wish, I can create a position for you as a probatory member of Heroes, but I suggest that you attend the training camp instead.”
The training camp came up again. But this time, the Lord of Blood and Iron was personally recommending it.
At this point, I didn’t even have a reason to decline.
I thought it over, then said, “I will attend it. Could I hear more about the expedition after I complete the training camp?”
The Lord of Blood and Iron nodded.
“Luan.”
“Yes.”
“If you’re going to complete the camp, aim for first place.”
“...”
I locked eyes with his and nodded.
“I’ll try my best.”
***
After my private chat with the Lord of Blood and Iron ended, I returned to the main house.
Some time after I returned to my room to rest, Kayan visited me.
“You’ve returned.”
“Yeah.”
“I am relieved that nothing serious seems to have happened.”
I neither affirmed nor denied Kayan’s words.
It was true that nothing serious had happened to me, but the contents of the conversation had been pretty serious.
“Master, I heard from the grand master just now. If you wish to attend the training camp, then you must move your lodgings by the end of this week.”
“Where to?”
“A building north of the forest beyond the fencing of the main house. It was used as a training ground for the knight order of old, but now it’s become the lodgings and educational center for the young heroes who attend the training camp.”
“Ah.”
“I heard that the other young heroes have already moved there.”
Since everyone was from a different house, that was the right call. It wouldn’t be right to have them continue to stay in the main house just because the training camp hadn’t started.
Even among the Great Houses, House Bednicker was especially exclusive.
“Then I should move there as well.”
“There is still some time left, so you don’t need to move too quickly.”
“All right. Then I’ll go out for a moment.”
Kayan tilted his head.
“Where are you going at this time?”
“The underground library.”
I didn’t need to go there immediately, but since I also had a few questions for Father, I intended to go there now.
Kayan looked surprised.
“You received permission from the family head?”
“Yeah. I don’t know if the librarian has gotten the memo, but I doubt they’ll send me back when I say the family head gave me permission. Now that I think about it, do you know anything about the underground library’s librarian?”
“My apologies, but I have never entered the underground library.”
“I see.”
“Why do you ask?”
“The family head told me to be careful of the librarian.”
At that, Kayan’s expression hardened slightly.
“The Lord of Blood and Iron does not give out unnecessary warnings.”
“I know. That’s why I’m a little spooked.”
But I was looking forward to it even more so.
As I went to step out, Kayan spoke.
“Should I come with you?”
“Nah. I’m the one who got permission.”
“That is true.”
“I’ll come back soon.”
“Yes. Please be careful.”
After leaving the room, I headed straight for the underground library.
But I suddenly realized that I had forgotten one crucial detail: I didn’t know where the entrance to the underground library was.
In the end, I couldn’t help but walk down the corridors for a bit before speaking to a maid I met.
“Where do I need to go to go to the underground library?”
“The underground library? My apologies, but I don’t know either.”
She was a servant of the house, how could she not know?
Is she an apprentice?
But she seemed a little old for that.
In any case, I continued on and asked a few more servants...
“I don’t know.”
“I don’t think I’ve heard of that before...?”
“I-I’m sorry. I don’t know.”
But I kept receiving the same answer.
“What the hell?”
I stood in the middle of the corridors and thought for a second.
Unless all the servants of the main house had become stupid, this situation was definitely weird.
After thinking for a while, I spoke to a maid who seemed a little older.
From what I remembered, she seemed to be the head maid.
A veteran who probably had over 10 years of experience in the main house.
Her reaction was different.
“I cannot tell you.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“There is nothing more to say. However...” the head maid said with an expressionless face, “Please be careful.”
“...”
When I heard that, I felt the incongruency I’d felt before taking shape again.
I didn’t try to keep the head maid as she left. Instead, I looked through the entirety of the first floor of this massive mansion.
After dozens of minutes had passed, I realized something.
There was not a single staircase in this entire mansion that led underground.
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