Knock. Knock. Knock.
Late at night. Ren woke up to an unexpected knocking sound and opened the door with a sigh.
“The guy who participates in the induction ceremony is so peaceful.”
The person who came to Ren was Lian Arjen.
“What are you doing at this hour?”
“Come out for a moment. “Because I have something to talk about.”
Ren, barely dressed, walked after him. After moving for a while, we arrived at the Tomb of the Sword, where the family’s knights were buried.
The guardian knight guarding the place bowed his head to Lian’s command and opened the door.
A graveyard where only direct descendants of the family and knights of the family who have proven themselves in the sword initiation ceremony can enter.
Among them, if you go deep inside, you will see a cemetery where past Argen family heads are buried.
From Noble mtl dot com
Except for a few graves of the early Argen family heads, all the family heads are buried here.
If Decane had not been created through an agreement between the Varan Empire, Rosaria, and the Holy Spirit, Havenberg Arzen’s body would have been buried here.
Lian walked slowly among their graves.
“Why did you call me?”
“you… “Do you have any intention of becoming the head of the family?”
“… … “Why are you suddenly asking that?”
“Look at the names of the matriarchs.”
Following Lian’s gaze, Ren checked the headstones of the family heads.
Dozens of past Argen family heads.
All of them were knights who could misunderstand the continent.
“how is it? “As you go up to the beginning, the achievements become fainter and their names become less common in your mind, right?”
As he said, a significant portion of past records have been erased and most of them are made up of the imagination and specious speculations of continental people.
The older the family head, the more their achievements were dismissed as trivial or considered a mixture of exaggeration and lies.
“I used to think that most of the records of the past could be lies, decorated to suit the tastes of the winners. But now my thoughts have completely changed.”
“What are you talking about?”
“A monster called Tyrant that appeared in the north. Until then, no one would have thought that something like a monster could produce master-level power. A devil appeared in the Brillant Kingdom, and the Holy Kingdom was on the verge of destruction after its holy relics were taken away by the devil.”
“… … .”
“Before such incidents occurred, most people did not believe in the existence of master-level monsters or the existence of demons. “If you look at past records, it was clearly written down.”
“you’re right.”
Ren was inwardly impressed as he looked at Lian Argen.
He was already going back to the past based on past events. It’s easy to say, but it was very difficult to break the existing stereotypes.
“So I looked for it. What kind of place was Arjen in the past? Everything related to it, from editorials to rumors. And here’s what I found out.”
“What is it?”
“Arjen in the past was incomparably stronger and more powerful than he is now.”
Lian’s expression became more serious again.
“Ren, why do you think the current Arjen is called the best on the continent?”
“… … “It must be because of the matriarch.”
“right. My father is stronger than the previous and previous matriarchs. “He became a symbol that showed that Arjen, which was gradually declining, was alive and well.”
This was something that even Ren acknowledged. Arjen was still the best swordsman on the continent, but his position was by no means unchanging like in the past.
When people started saying that they should give up the title of the best swordsman on the continent, Fletcher Arzen just made those words come true.
“If this continues, there is a high probability that Brother Eden will inherit the position of head of the family. “Brother Eden is of course outstanding, but I don’t think he has the talent to surpass my father’s shadow.”
“… … “The reason you called me here is-.”
“I have no intention of becoming the head of the family. “I know my vessel well.”
Lian continued speaking without any hesitation.
“Of course, if I become the head of the family, I am confident that I will lead the family well. However, the family head must be unique. Even if you are a fool who only knows how to swing a sword, Arjen’s root is the sword.”
“… … .”
“Prove your sword at this sword initiation ceremony. “Then I will support you.”
It was such an unexpected comment. When he heard that Brother Lian, whom he had not paid any attention to during his lifetime, suddenly supported him, Ren could not erase his doubts about him.
“I just made an extremely reasonable choice. If you have doubts, it can’t be helped. I will help you until your doubts are erased. However, it is only when I feel that you may be able to surpass your father’s talents during the Sword Initiation Ceremony.”
“I haven’t said I want to become the head of the family yet.”
Lian Argen snorts at those words.
He says, looking at Ren with dumbfounded eyes.
“I’m not stupid. So you’re not going to do it?”
Even though he didn’t say a few words, Ren let out a laugh as it seemed like his true feelings were revealed to Lian.
“… … I’m thinking of doing it. house owner.”
Lian nodded calmly, as if she knew that of course.
“Then, from now on, I guess I’ll have to make the family members on your side.”
“… … “I intend to do so.”
“If I may add one thing, please choose Arhan during this sword initiation ceremony.”
“You mean Arhaan?”
“okay. That guy is a guy from a family that I recognized as having a talent that is almost comparable to that of Brother Eden. “The problem is that we live lazy and dissolute lives.”
“If I want to get someone like that on my side, don’t I have to satisfy his lifestyle?”
“Maybe so. But, that’s just something that catches his interest for a moment. “You have to make sure that he has no choice but to follow you wholeheartedly.”
“… … “Is that possible?”
“okay. All you have to do is point to Arhaan and fight like always.”
“I’ll think about it.”
I wasn’t at the stage where I could trust Rian yet. He said he would support it, but that was just words.
“okay. I just give advice. “The choice is yours.”
Lian shook his shoulders as if it didn’t matter.
“And which school will you choose?”
The Arzen family’s swordsmanship is basically divided into three schools.
A heavy martial arts style that uses heavy and strong swordsmanship.
Bihoryu uses a defensive sword.
A type of sword that uses a fast and sharp sword.
Power within the family was divided according to these three schools. In the sword initiation ceremony, you must choose one of these three schools.
“I am… … .”
Lian’s expression hardened after hearing Ren’s choice.
* * *
After Lian passed away, I, who remained in the Sword Tomb, saw the ghosts of the family heads that I had tried to ignore.
There were ghosts that had woken up, and there were ghosts that were not.
‘This is how we see past family heads.’
Each person had a different atmosphere and feeling.
I spoke to them all.
– … Do you see me?
– Huh, a Huin with the eyes to see Arjen’s ghost appears… … .
– Such idiots! Go tell it right now! How far are you going to ruin the family?!
The cries of householders came from all directions.
And then system windows started pouring out in front of my eyes.
[Subquest – Fall of Jungmuryu]
[Subquest – The true meaning of Bihoryu swordsmanship]
[Subquest – Elimination of the leader of the Saebi-ryu]
[…] … .]
I could feel the resentment of the family heads to the point where my head was dizzy.
“Calm down.”
– Do you look serious? I’ve said that over and over again, but how do you make swordsmanship like this!!
Arnold Arzen, the 12th head of the Argen family.
When he scolded the 13th generation head and said something, the 13th head of the family started cursing and harassing the head of the family below him.
– You idiot. The family started to falter from you guys, right? I didn’t mean to make you the head of the family.
– sorry… do.
It was only after the war had descended to Jeonjeondae Gaju that it ended.
The former and the former head of the family kept their heads down the entire time, unable to open their mouths, as if they had nothing to say.
“Why are you doing that?”
– It’s my fault. The reason the family got to this point,
“no. To be honest, it only broke out here because things started going wrong in the older generation.”
– what?
The family heads who heard what I said glared at me with vicious faces.
Is it because I see my ancestors every day?
Even though the countless heads of Argen were glaring at me, I wasn’t scared or scared at all.
He just seems like a foolish person who blames others for his own mistakes.
Sreung-!
Rather than open my mouth to answer their questions, I took out my sword.
They seemed to like this method of taking out the sword, and a positive response flowed from them.
-Are you trying to point out our mistakes with the sword?
The 12th head of the family said in a bewildered voice.
“I may not be good enough compared to the matriarchs, but… … .”
Ugh-
He slowly releases his fighting spirit and sends gray sword energy over Chohon.
“At least I didn’t get lost.”
Although all of these people received the envy and praise of all prosecutors on the continent, they also clearly had a goal.
Havenberg Arzen.
The greatest swordsman of all time and history that no other swordsman in Argen has surpassed.
Even though he left behind a swordsmanship book containing all of his true intentions, the Havenberg swordsmanship, he had no choice but to give up.
– 1st secret technique
The swordsmanship that seemed to have disappeared completely and could never be recovered.
– Heavy pressure
Now it has unfolded before my eyes.
Whoa!!
A powerful force that instantly envelopes the atmosphere.
The gray sword energy spreads like fog, swirling around in all directions and pulling in everything around it.
– This technology… … !
– Heavy pressure? now… , Did you apply heavy pressure?
Several household heads noticed the heavy pressure and looked shocked with astonishment on their faces.
Other family heads who did not recognize Havenberg’s swordsmanship simply gaped at the profound mystery behind the heavy pressure.
– this… … .
“Whoa… … .”
I took a deep breath and moved my energy.
I haven’t been able to unfold it perfectly yet. I just followed the heavy pressure exerted by my powerful ancestor in the last fight with Doukas.
But this alone seems to be enough to move the hearts of the family heads.
“I plan to become the head of this family.”
I happened to declare this to Lian first, but from the beginning, I was planning to say this to the family head first, before the family members.
– Hmm… … .
– This guy is enough… … .
– I think it’s better than the current head of the family.
The eyes of the head of the household, who had been staring at him in disapproval just a moment ago, changed completely.
All of them, not even a single matriarch.
“I will make it right. So, please help me.”
I knelt down towards them and bowed my head.
– Stand up. The man who will become the head of the family should not bow his head carelessly.
I raised my head when I suddenly heard a low voice.
The second generation head of the family, who had not been seen until then, was standing in front of me, looking at me intently.
– How did you learn your father’s swordsmanship?
A man with long gray hair. The second generation head of the Arzen family, succeeding Havenberg Arzen.
Vandrik Arzen.
He asked quietly with eyes full of longing.
“I learned it firsthand. To our ancestors.”
– Right. Are you in Decane?
“yes.”
– I will help you. anything. Everyone here.
A low, monotonous voice. However, the heavy and majestic power contained within immediately captured everyone in the tomb.
– But there is something you should know. Please know that just because you can use the Havenberg sword, those who follow you cannot either.
“I know.”
– I recognize your legitimacy. However, in order to maintain the family, the original system must be restored.
“I was already thinking of doing that.”
The second generation head of the family, Vandrik, smiles with satisfaction.
At the same time, a new quest appeared before my eyes.