Episode 8. Swallowed Everything
The brightest star in the winter night sky is called Sirius.
Sirius means the wolf of the sky, and ancient people thought Sirius had greedy and cruel characteristics like a wolf.
Sirius was considered a star implying war, and there were many legends related to Sirius in the martial world.
Baekmuran’s Cheonlang Divine Art was named after Sirius.
If not mastered properly, one could be dominated by the vicious nature of Sirius and face destruction. But if mastered, one could defeat all enemies and reign at the pinnacle of the martial world.
Due to its unconventional and aggressive martial arts, Baekdo was sometimes suspected to be demonic rather than martial.
“But it’s quite peculiar.”
According to Sirius’ memories… Sirius was originally a star.
The brightest star in the constellation Canis Major is called Sirius.
But when compared to Baekmuran’s memories, Sirius was a star like Sirius.
“I, who was called Cheonlang Mujeh… inhabited a man with the same name as the star Sirius.”
Is this really a coincidence?
What significance does it hold?
No matter how much he pondered, it was something he couldn’t understand.
“…”
After finishing the postprandial exercise, Sirius slowly opened his eyes.
The Cheonlang Divine Art was currently in the first stage, ‘Solemnity’.
Although it was the first stage, Solemnity was a very powerful force.
It allowed him to fight multiple enemies for a long time on his own.
“If my prediction is correct, the power of Solemnity should also apply to magic.”
Sirius’ body was still frail, and his inner strength was not that great yet.
To fight against the Yuterus family, one must harness the power of the Northern Star properly.
With no other allies present, one must defeat the enemies alone.
However… There had been a commotion outside for a while now.
“Sir, Sirius!”
Suddenly, a maid knocked on the door, raising her voice.
“The security guards have come looking for you, Sir Sirius!”
“….”
Security guards.
In other words, Cardine’s subordinates.
“They’ve finally arrived.”
As discussed with Yustia, just because Cardine suffered, it didn’t mean the Yuterus family would immediately attack the Regel family.
Lord Nael Yuterus would likely use this opportunity to formally absorb the Regel family.
But what about Cardine’s subordinates who were lingering around here?
If they were well-educated, they would wait until orders were issued from their superiors, but if not, they might show emotional reactions.
Sirius was waiting to determine which side they were on.
“The atmosphere is unsettling. What should we do?”
“Tell them to wait in the reception room.”
Sirius got up and straightened his clothes.
“I will handle them.”
He already knew who they were dealing with.
So, it was time to make a move.
***
Inside the reception room, two men were standing.
One was burly, the other lean.
The commonality between the two was that they both had swords at their waists.
“Valleon, Catus.”
Calling out the names he heard from the maids, Sirius entered the reception room.
“Sorry for the poor reception. If the reception room wasn’t in this state, I would have at least offered a cup of tea.”
“….”
The reception room was a mess due to Cardine’s fire magic.
Even the sofa was charred from the flames.
Nevertheless, Sirius sat down without a care.
“So, what brings you here?”
“Hmm…”
Valleon let out a deep sigh.
Beside him, Catus shook his head slightly.
“Hey, you idiot son-in-law.”
Idiot son-in-law.
With just that title, one could understand how the Yuterus family viewed Sirius.
“They say you ambushed Lord Cardine and turned him into ashes.”
“……”
“The guy who was dying did something like that.”
Balleon said, glaring at Sirius.
“Well, Lord Cardain must have been careless. He couldn’t have expected the son-in-law of the Rigel family to raise a sword. That’s why he got stabbed by you.”
“……”
“Lord Cardain was quickly transported back to the main house. Even with treatment… it will take quite some time for him to return as a wizard.”
Saying that, Balleon sighed again.
“How are you going to take responsibility for this?”
“Responsibility?”
“Are you going to take responsibility with your life?”
“Why should I?”
“……”
Balleon’s expression twisted.
“So you really want to die.”
Balleon drew the sword hanging at his waist.
However, right at that moment.
“Ugh…!”
Clang!
Balleon grabbed his wrist and dropped the sword.
Sirius had swiftly drawn his own sword and intercepted Balleon’s sword in the middle.
Cautious eyes of Catus, who was watching from the side, widened.
“Balleon, this guy….”
“T-This kid….”
Balleon hastily picked up the sword and took a step back.
He glared at Sirius, who was just standing there silently, and raised his voice.
“Have you learned swordsmanship!?”
“Lord Cardain must have explained it in detail.”
If Cardain had explained how Sirius had subdued him, Balleon wouldn’t have recklessly attacked like this.
“You little brat…!”
Spitting out curses, Balleon widened his eyes.
Right then, a bluish light started to emanate from Balleon’s blade.
It was… similar to sword energy.
“A magic sword.”
In this world, there is no martial arts, but there exists a technique similar to sword energy.
Enhancing the blade with magic to increase its power, the ‘magic sword’ has a simpler activation compared to regular attack magic, making it easy to learn even for those lacking magical talent.
A wizard who specializes in using the magic sword is called a ‘magic swordsman.’
“Yeah, a guy like you is useless even if you die and come back!”
While the magic sword can be used even with limited magical talent, those completely devoid of talent cannot wield it.
In front of Sirius, known as the ‘0 Circle’ unable to use magic, Valéon brandished his magic sword as if showing off.
“Haap…!”
Thud!
This time, the situation was reversed from before.
Sirius blocked Valéon’s sword, but Sirius’s sword was knocked away.
“…”
Sirius’s sword flew to a corner of the reception room.
However, Sirius showed no change in expression.
Slowly nodding his head, he muttered to himself.
“I see. Not only sharpening the blade, but also lifting the impact when the blade clashes.”
“What are you mumbling about!”
In front of Sirius analyzing the effect of the magic sword, Valéon raised his voice triumphantly.
“You foolish child! You might have learned some swordsmanship somewhere, but it won’t work on a magic swordsman!”
Just like before, when a regular sword clashed with a magic sword, the regular sword would be knocked away.
Sometimes the sword would even break.
That’s why a swordsman unable to use magic could not be a match for a magic swordsman.
“Why are you getting so angry! You’re just a powerless son-in-law!”
“…”
“Do you think it will end with just your life? The Regal family will completely collapse because of this incident! It’s all your fault!”
Outside, the maids were peeking into the reception room, trembling.
As if wanting to make it clear to them, Valéon shouted loudly.
“Yes, even your wife…!”
“What did you just say?”
Right at that moment.
A cold voice flowed from Sirius’s mouth.
“What are you going to do to my wife?”
“What…?”
“It seems the Yuterus family continues to covet my wife.”
“…!”
The maids watching gasped.
“Don’t worry, everyone.”
Sirius addressed them.
With a voice devoid of sincerity but overflowing with seriousness.
“I will protect Yustia. Even if I have to face off against the Yuterus family.”
“…!”
In the martial world, stealing another’s wife was considered more heinous than killing someone.
Killing fifty people might not make a name for oneself in the gang, but stealing fifty wives would earn the title of a lecher and become notorious in the martial world.
The same applied here.
Just trying to kill Sirius from the Yuterus family was not enough justification.
But trying to kill Sirius and take Yustia?
People in this world would point fingers at the Yuterus family and curse them as ‘a cheap family even in ruins.’
Even if Sirius ruthlessly exterminated the Yuterus family, people would understand it as retribution against those who tried to take his wife.
The aristocrats in this world value legitimacy just like the noble factions of the Murim.
To secure that legitimacy, Sirius intended to act as an avenger against those who coveted his wife.
“Sirius…!”
The maids sighed in admiration, sending fervent gazes towards Sirius.
Witnessing this scene, Valleon’s face contorted.
“Valleon, wait…”
“This brat…!”
Despite Cautus’s restraint, Valleon rushed towards Sirius.
Raising his magic sword as if to kill Sirius in one blow.
However, Sirius remained composed.
He had already grasped what the magic sword was.
Therefore, there was no need to indulge any further.
Sirius extended his right arm.
A dark aura was already emanating from his hand.
“…!?”
Thud!
An impact shook the reception room as Sirius caught Valleon’s magic sword with his hand.
“He caught a magic sword barehanded…!?”
Valleon exclaimed in confusion and swung the sword again.
But it was futile.
Valleon’s blade was once again held by Sirius’s hand.
No, it was being drawn into Sirius’s hand.
Because this was the true power of the first stage of the Celestial Wolf Art, ‘Northern Grasp.’
“How… is this possible…?”
Northern Grasp refers to the common northern sea.
Like the Northern Sea that swallows everything… Northern Grasp possesses a gravitational force that pulls and holds onto other things.
This doesn’t simply mean pulling objects towards oneself.
“My… magic power is being drawn in…”
Suddenly, Valleon released the sword from his hand and took a step back.
Desperately trying to use another spell, but it was already too late.
The power of Northern Grasp was already penetrating Valleon’s chest.
“Gah…!”
As his chest shattered, magic poured out, and the common aura swallowed everything.
It was the moment when the true power of the Celestial Wolf Art, Northern Grasp, which absorbs the opponent’s energy, was demonstrated.