------------------
HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Pot]
[Proofreader - Kawaii]
Join our Discord for release updates!
https://discord.com/invite/dbdMDhzWa2
------------------
Chapter 81: No Matter How You Look at It, He’s Not Normal
“Allenvert has already entered the barrier?”
“Yes, Young Master.”
Karl Grunewald was focusing his attention on news of his youngest brother, who had recently become his biggest concern.
“…On just the first day.”
It was an unbelievably fast pace.
Of course, it had to be taken into account that Allenvert had been assigned a swordsmanship instructor and examiner, and had begun preparations for a successful coming-of-age ceremony at the age of 17, later than himself.
‘Of course, his physical abilities would be much more advantageous than mine at that time.’
But if you only consider the time of entering martial arts, Allenvert was showing a speed akin to finishing a race when others were just learning to walk.
‘There’s a reason why scions of prestigious Clans enter martial arts at a young age.’
Starting when their blood vessels are flexible and their minds are malleable shows overwhelming efficiency.
How many tears of frustration had geniuses who often appeared in the underworld shed, for the sole reason that they had entered too late?
However, Allenvert was developing at a truly astonishing speed, as if he were receiving compensation all at once for the seven years he had spent in vain.
“……”
Karl, who had tried to bring him to his side and gain strength in the heir succession, was now becoming tense at the emergence of a new competitor.
This was a matter of concern not only for Karl, but also for his mother Isabella and the elders of his mother’s side.
‘Father.’
Karl wanted to ask.
‘Why did you call Allenvert for a private audience and assign him a swordsmanship instructor?’
The meaning was by no means light.
‘If Allenvert successfully completes his coming-of-age ceremony in a year.’
With what heart should he then face another competitor he would have to contend with for the throne?
“……Allenvert.”
Karl changed into the Knighthood’s uniform and personally fastened the buttons. He wore a brilliantly shining treasure sword at his waist, compressed the blazing red aura of the Solar Flare Heart Style like a bead, and grasped it in his hand.
Whoosh!
Flames also rose in Karl’s eyes as he looked at the ultra-high temperature fire orb that even distorted the air.
“And Ulbhild.”
Why did you reject your own brother born from the same womb and show such favor to Allenvert?
“Was I that untrustworthy?”
Was Verdzig that frightening?
Was Allenvert that much more extraordinary?
…Much more than your brother.
“Talent, talent, talent! Is talent such a great thing?”
He was born a prodigy not ashamed of the Grunewald name and had worked fiercely hard.
However, the existence of his talented younger brothers, who made him an ordinary person, became an unquenchable fire that burned Karl’s heart black.
If he had to give a name to the color of that fire, its name would probably be jealousy. And perhaps it should rightly be called hatred.
‘Little brother, I don’t want to become a shameful older brother.’
Karl wanted to become Verdzig’s opponent, at least to remain an honorable man. That is why he did not easily draw the sword of scheming.
However…
Whoosh!
Karl, who extinguished the fire orb by grasping it with his hand, closed his eyes.
‘I’m thinking too far ahead.’
No matter how good Allenvert’s momentum is, his flame is still weak.
‘From the start, that test will not be easy to pass.’
Even he, who had jumped in with thorough preparations, had struggled so much.
Even with a swordsmanship learned for the first time today?
In his common sense, it was an impossible feat even if Verdzig or Ulbhild were to attempt it.
“…Showing off too much talent is not a good idea.”
That was also advice from a brother, not as the First Young Master of Grunewald.
“Aren’t you a terminally ill person anyway?”
It would be most comfortable to simply wither and die on your own, why bother…
No, let’s stop here. Karl shook his head at the malice rising in his heart.
***
The inside of the barrier was a hellish landscape, dark as if a volcano had erupted, with lava flowing in places.
“Wow, it’s really hot. I’m sweating profusely.”
Allenvert clicked his tongue.
“It feels like I’ve come to a foreign land. Just what level of power does a mage have to be to create something like this?”
“Someone who can easily be counted among the archmages.”
Venion replied, taking out a handkerchief and wiping his forehead.
“It seems you still have time for idle chatter, Lord.”
Allenvert turned his head forward.
Kyaooo!
Kiiiik!
Dozens of ferocious monsters, as if hating the living, screamed and clung to the transparent wall, clamoring.
Among them were traditional monsters like orcs and lizardmen—
And various mutated beasts were dripping yellow saliva, from wolves with tusks like ivory, horned pigs, bipedal horses with protrusions on their hooves, to lions with manes as sharp as blades.
Even flowers and trees with thorny stalks flickering like tentacles could be seen.
“What is that? Ugh, how disgusting.”
Allenvert grimaced.
‘My specialty is different from mercenaries or hunters who make a living by subjugating monsters. I don’t like cutting disgusting things.’
What particularly shocked Allenvert was a giant octopus with about 20 legs.
“What are you asking me to catch such terrifying things? The ones over there are rather better.”
Allenvert pointed to the left.
Humanoid summoned creatures holding weapons were calmly glaring at him.
“Hahahaha!”
Then Venion burst into laughter.
“Are you saying that humans are easier to cut than monsters?”
“Monsters are disgusting.”
…At that twisted answer, Venion quietly shook his head. There are no normal people in this Clan after all.
“If that’s the case, I’ll have you fight the humanoid summoned creatures first, and then have you catch the monsters as the second gate. Once the excitement of battle takes over your mind, you’ll feel less disgust.”
“That’s very kind of you.”
“For your information, monsters and demonic beasts are distinctly different.”
“Hmm?”
“If they can be classified by species like ogres or orcs, they are monsters. If they are mutated by mana accumulating in the bodies of animals and plants, they are demonic beasts. There are no rules to their mutations.”
“Ah, I see.”
It was a story he already knew, but Allenvert nodded as if he were hearing it for the first time.
“Now then, let’s begin. Fight well.”
Venion prepared to snap his fingers.
“If you feel like you’re going to die fighting, raise your hand. I’ll save you.”
“Understood.”
“Ah, before that, I should give you a sword.”
Allenvert shook his head.
“I don’t need it.”
“Excuse me?”
Allenvert infused mana into his bracelet and summoned a thin, sharp sword.
Clang!
Venion was startled to see a sword emerge with a clear metallic sound.
‘When did he acquire such an item…?’
Allenvert grinned like a mischievous child.
“Looks like you didn’t know about this.”
“I didn’t investigate everything about you. I just heard the general story.”
“That’s comforting.”
Allenvert retorted.
“Now then.”
Venion snapped his fingers.
“Let’s begin.”
Then the humanoid summoned creatures simultaneously drew their weapons—
“Haiyaaaat!”
Allenvert, suddenly shouting and running forward, drew out blue aura and scattered powerful slashes into the center of the summoned creatures.
‘No, he’s emitting sword energy?’
Venion was shocked to realize that Allenvert had already reached the 4th-tier. But what was more surprising was yet to come.
Kwaaaang!
The summoned creatures with emotionless faces like wax dolls skillfully layered their sword energy to block the attack…
Puwak!
As if anticipating that reaction, Allenvert, lowering his body and charging in, instantly cut down the summoned creatures’ ankles as if he were mowing with a scythe.
“Heh heh heh! You should have been careful of what’s right under your nose!”
As more than a dozen summoned creatures fell, losing their ankles and legs, Allenvert, as if he had been waiting, entered through the collapsed formation and began to freely roam through the enemy lines, stabbing, cutting, and slaughtering.
“No……”
Venion was momentarily speechless.
Allenvert did not use any of the defensive stances of the Azure Sea Moon Shadow Swordsmanship.
He was only pouring out attacks, attacks, and more attacks, collapsing an enemy force the size of a platoon.
“Huh!”
What was even more surprising was that he was dodging attacks flying from blind spots as if he had eyes on his back.
‘That’s evasion using mana sense.’
That was Ulbhild’s specialty. He had only received Ulbhild’s teachings for one night, but had he reached that level in the meantime?
“……”
His use of mana was also extremely skillful. Allenvert’s fighting style, where he appropriately supported his body with each movement, increased the output of his movements, and added power to crush skulls with a single punch—
Venion, who was watching this, crossed his arms.
‘There’s probably not much to teach him about mana cultivation.’
He seemed to have learned properly from Ulbhild.
But for Allenvert to have already reached the 4th-tier… When did he have the time?
‘Am I getting old?’
He had naturally assumed he was around the late 3rd-tier, and he almost laughed at his own complacency. He should have stretched out his mana beforehand, even if it was difficult, to check.
‘His use of stances is also subtly different.’
Venion, who was watching Allenvert’s battle,’s eyes gleamed. The thrusts he unleashed were lighter yet sharper.
When he slashed a wrist, it was more concise; when he severed a waist, it was more powerful.
He put strength into what was harder and thicker, and he didn’t waste any unnecessary energy on what could be cut more easily.
Just like a butcher who had slaughtered cattle and pigs his whole life.
‘Absurd. That fair, beautiful young nobleman is actually as familiar with stabbing and cutting as a human butcher?’
But there’s no way he could be familiar with it. If so, that even this is an innate talent.
‘A heavenly killer star.’
What Allenvert was born with might not be the disposition of a sword master, but rather the disposition of a sword demon. However.
‘Even so, he accurately understands the mysteries of the Azure Sea Moon Shadow Swordsmanship.’
Doesn’t it seem like a killer from the underworld has met and evolved with the swordsmanship of a prestigious clan?
…Venion was surprised that he was having such absurd fantasies, but he stared intently at Allenvert, observing everything.
‘Recently, the word “genius” tends to be overused—’
To the point that no other word came to mind, Allenvert was exploding with his skills and madness, rampaging.
‘It’s as if he’s releasing everything that’s been suppressed at once.’
But even so, the precision of his handiwork and the moment-by-moment judgment to distinguish when to retreat and when to advance were extremely cold. There was a battle-hardened warrior there.
“Hmm.”
Venion, who found another peculiarity, wrote something on the mental paper in his mind.
‘He knows how to use his body too well. Strangely….’
That was a different dimension from simply being well-versed in the Scarlet Cloud Ghost Path. There was a master’s aspect in Allenvert’s fighting that only a veteran who had rolled around on the battlefield for decades could show.
“Haha.”
Venion laughed. The more he looked, the more he felt he knew why Duke Georg had attached him to Allenvert. To this 17-year-old boy who would soon come of age, who had already missed his prime.
‘I can’t just leave such a raw gem alone.’
Meanwhile, Allenvert, who had slaughtered all the humanoid summoned creatures, brushed his blood-soaked blond hair back and muttered.
“Ah, crap, do I have to fight those guys next? They still look like they’ll appear in my dreams. They’re damn disgusting.”
Is that what’s important in this situation? Venion chuckled.
‘No matter how you look at it, his mental state is not normal.’
But geniuses are always those who dance precariously on the edge of madness.
Venion’s eyes gleamed.
------------------
HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Pot]
[Proofreader - Kawaii]
Join our Discord for release updates!
https://discord.com/invite/dbdMDhzWa2
------------------
