The training ground of the Reinharber family was as spacious as one would expect from a prestigious martial family.
The floor, made of a special stone-like material designed to absorb shock, contained a hexagonal sparring area, and behind it was a large warehouse where various weapons were stored and maintained.
Inside it, rows of storage units were lined up, with swords occupying the majority of the space, as expected.
There was no real need to explain. The essence of the Reinharber family lay in one thing: the sword.
While there were several excellent descriptions of the family, the most famous one was undoubtedly "The House of Blade and Darkness."
This referred to the family's swordsmanship that imbued dark magic into the sword, allowing the wielder to cut down their enemies with great destructive power.
Originating from the heirloom sword known as the "Black Sword of Domination," commonly referred to as the "Sword of Hegemony," the blade itself was passed down only to the next head of the family, who would carry on the lineage. From there, the dark swordsmanship formed.
"I remember that the initial three forms were taught to the clan's children, but they don't really matter in the long run. Instead of sticking to those, it's better to learn different swordsmanship techniques."
Of course, it didn't mean that the first three forms of the early-stage style were insignificant...
Well, it was the truth.
Naturally, a second-level swordsman that has mastered both form and technique up to the later stages is superior to a first-level swordsman that hasn't properly mastered their technique's basics.
Moreover...
There were many other things one could acquire within the family besides swordsmanship.
For example, money... or money...
Money, indeed.
"As expected, money is the best."
The Reinharber family is undoubtedly one of the most renowned families in the world. Naturally, they are incredibly wealthy, to the point of extravagance.
With their wealth, they could easily provide a hefty allowance to even the youngest and most useless son in the family.
Perhaps even Nox's father, Theo, wouldn't bat an eye even if he spent money recklessly. After all, Nox was never meant to be a responsible character. Quite the opposite, in fact.
He was the youngest and most useless son of the family. Who his character was supposed to be was quite clear.
"Putting that aside, there's an issue with this..."
Nox sighed as he looked at the wooden sword in his hand.
His wrist was still sore from the effect of "Wrist Sprain Level 1."
On top of that, probably because Nox's body was weakened, even the wooden sword felt quite heavy. Momentarily, an inexplicable admiration surged within him toward the people in this world who wielded such weapons.
Damn it. Despite being filled with curses up to his throat, he barely held it in and continued to swing the sword in his hand.
Swish!
The sound of the wind being split could be heard.
But Nox knew he looked like shit, his posture was terrible, and his breathing is garbage. He wasn't one to brag, but he was an athlete before he was dragged into this game.
The thought of being completely screwed weighed heavily on him.
'I'll survive this, right?'
After swinging the sword several dozen times, he casually threw the sword to the ground before leaving.
He decided not to bother putting things back where they belonged. After all, he's the useless son of the Reinharber family now. The servants would sort it out.
With that, he moved on, holding his still-aching wrist.
However, as he began to leave, out of the corner of his eye, a middle-aged man with a low, strong voice approached him.
"Greetings, Young Master Nox."
The man had slicked-back silver hair and a trimmed beard, with sunken cheeks and a peculiar atmosphere. He was a person Nox was very familiar with, having come face to face with him countless times in Inner Lunatic.
"Lordwell, why is the head butler who should be taking care of the mansion here of all places?" I calmly remarked.
...Well, pretended to be calm.
Lordwell d'Erenroc.
He was the true powerhouse behind the scenes in the Reinharber family and not someone Nox, a useless person, could afford to deal with as he pleased.
He was the steward who served as the right hand of Nox's father, Theo von Reinharber, the head of the family.
That was none other than Lordwell.
"It seems a troublesome figure has emerged right from the beginning."
However, Nox also had his own weapons to use.
First, the fact that he was the son of the man Lordwell serves, Theo von Reinhaver.
[Character Trait (Positive): Genius in Acting is active.]
The second weapon was the character trait he added along with the two genius traits, called "Master of Deception."
This trait, as the name suggests, enhances the character's acting talent. Simply put, it was an attribute optimized for deceiving and manipulating others. It was the perfect trait to make him even more shameless.
Truly, it was a skill set befitting the useless Nox.
While he was lost in his own thoughts, Lordwell suddenly responded.
"I have come to deliver a message on behalf of the head of the family."
"A message?"
"Yes. The Lord insists that you must attend tonight's dinner."
Attend a peaceful dinner, sitting together, when Nox has no idea about anything and already struggling as it is?
Unfortunately, he can't be such an agreeable person. After all, he is a black sheep...
Unless it's something beneficial, there's no need for him to attend.
"...Tell him I won't be joining tonight."
Lordwell's brow furrowed briefly in response to Nox's answer, and he added another piece of information.
"Miss Elysia Stelliner from the Stelliner family has visited. She came to receive knight training. If the young lord does not attend, the head of the family will likely be displeased."
A sinister aura seemed to emanate from Lordwell's eerie, pumpkin-colored eyes.
...That guy looks terrifying.
If he originated from a horror movie, Nox would believe it...
"Sigh."
As if accepting the unavoidable, he wiped away sweat with a towel handed to him by a servant. Nox didn't provide a direct response, but it implied that he would comply with his father's words.
And so, as Nox passed Lordwell and made his way towards the family's mansion, the latter suddenly spoke without looking at him.
"You seem rather strange today, Young Master."
"What do you mean?"
Suddenly, he could feel his heart pounding in his chest.
Lordwell's words clearly contained suspicion directed at him.
"You've never shown much interest in wielding a sword before... Yet today, you seem to be heading to the training grounds. May I ask the reason behind it?"
Nox felt Lordwell's eyes bore into him. His breath became shallow, and his hands began to sweat.
It was a dangerous situation, but Nox decided to trust in the special ability bestowed upon him. As calmly as possible, he met Lordwell's gaze with his lavender eyes, filled with an unknown aura.
Lordwell, taken aback by it, seemed momentarily flustered.
"Never dare to crawl your way into matters of the household as a mere servant. Whatever I have done or whatever my intentions may be, it is of no importance to you. What I do is for me to decide."
"...I understand," Lordwell replied.
"If I witness such behavior from you again... it won't end with words alone."
Lordwell remained silent as Nox walked past him, emphasizing the warning that his actions would have consequences if he showed such behavior again.
Though Nox's heart continued to scream within him, he couldn't help but feel relieved that his "Genius in Acting" ability had effectively deceived Lordwell.
Sigh... he didn't expect to be swept up in such events right after entering this game world.
Nox could sense subtle glances from the nearby servants directed at the back of my head, but he didn't show any signs of noticing. Revealing any hint of suspicion here would undermine the performance he had just put on.
Now, he needed to calm himself as much as possible. It's important to remember that his abilities would only enhance his skills, they won't make him perfect.
However...
As he regained his composure and continued walking, Nox couldn't help but lose his poker face and become visibly disturbed.
There was someone whose presence worried me more than Lordwell.
What was the heiress of the Stelliner Family doing here?
Why would she suddenly appear?
* * *
The dining hall of the Reinhaver mansion was as luxurious as expected.
The long, rectangular table adorned with white tablecloths could easily accommodate thirty people, accompanied by chairs neatly arranged beneath it. The wall was adorned with paintings and there wasn't a single item that didn't scream extravagance.
Even the silverware exuded exquisite craftsmanship, reflecting Nox's face as if it were a mirror.
'There might be even more money to be squeezed out than I initially thought...'
With such thoughts in mind, as he sat at the dining table, the faces that had arrived earlier began to come into view.
First and foremost, the ones that caught my eye were the third and fourth siblings.
The twins Hartz and Allen. They were among the main culprits in tormenting Nox within the family and represented a significant obstacle he had to overcome on his path to the Eldin Academy.
There will come a time when he has the opportunity to face them. It will probably be in the near future. Nox was in a situation where he must strengthen himself to face them in due time.
"Hey, isn't that the incompetent fool over there? Bringing down the quality of the dining experience. Can't believe that guy, still lingering around in the family."
"Yeah, seriously. I didn't expect him to have the audacity to show his face here... He's shameless enough to pierce through the sky. Didn't he even lay his hands on the maid and butler? He's just a hopeless, pathetic bastard."
As Nox waited for a brief moment, he overheard the brothers openly disregarding him. It was unfair to be cursed at for something he hadn't technically done, even infuriating, but he managed to contain his anger with superhuman patience.
'Sigh... Nox, you bastard.'
"We're all here."
As he continued his thoughts, a familiar voice finally echoed gently throughout the dining hall.
Immediately, Nox turned his gaze toward the source of the voice and stood up from his seat. There, he saw a familiar face.
Theo von Reinhaver.
Standing at the head of the table like a giant was the head of the Reinhaver family, and Nox's father. Behind him, accompanied by a girl of around Nox's age.
"This is Talia von Steeliner from the Steeliner family. She's here temporarily to receive knight training. Please welcome her," introduced Theo von Reinharber.
"Hello, I'm Talia von Steeliner. It's nice to meet you all."
"You as well."
"Of course!"
Hartz and Allen, the twin brothers, responded with enthusiasm.
It seemed they were taken by Talia's appearance. After all, she was one of the top contenders for the heroine within Inner Lunatic, popular among the hearts of teenage boys. It was natural for their hearts to race.
As for me, I simply nodded with an indifferent expression. It may not be the most suitable attitude to display in front of the head of the family, but well, I was just a misfit, after all. No one would bother to reprimand me for having a slightly bad attitude.
"It's a rare occasion for you to be here, Nox."
As Nox's father called his son, his voice was excessively cold. His gaze, as frigid as the winter breeze, landed on him.
Nox deliberately ignored it and took his seat once again.
The formal meal began.
* * *
About an hour passed.
I quietly ate the roasted turkey and caviar-topped crepes, listening to their banal conversations. In the midst of that, I suddenly felt a piercing gaze on me.
It was from Allen and Hartz, the two brothers.
"Father, I think it's about time we make a decision. We need to select the next person from our family who will be admitted to Eldin Academy."
Eldin. An intriguing topic came up.
In order for Nox to access the main storyline, it was necessary for him to enroll in the Eldin Academy. It came a little earlier than expected.
However, ever since he made up his mind to clear the game from the beginning, he had already anticipated this development.
Theo stroked his beard and spoke.
"Yes... It does seem like the right time for that."
The Eldin Academy.
It is the central hub of Inner Lunatic.
Being a work that depicts the adventures of students who face various unexpected situations and battle demons within the academy, it perfectly embodies the essence of Inner Lunatic's setting. Furthermore, Nox had to gather his own allies within this world without disrupting its official history.
...But before any of that, his priority would be to somehow obtain the admission ticket to the Eldin Academy.
Theo's voice continued, pondering the matter.
"Hartz, Allen, Nox. You are all aware of this, but the Ellidain Academy only allocates a total of three admission tickets per family. We have already used one ticket each for the first and second son, which means that the Reinhaver family now has only one admission ticket left."
The reason for limiting the admission tickets to the academy was simple: to prevent the influence of noble families from becoming too dominant, as mandated by the central government.
Commoners were only granted one admission ticket.
For some reason, Nox felt like he knew what Theo's next words would be. The head of the Reinhaver family that he knew all too well. If it's Theo, then...
"So, we will select the incoming student according to our family's tradition."
"You mean we should have the siblings duel each other and the winner takes the spot," I said.
Not expecting Nox to speak up first, Theo seemed momentarily surprised but he quickly returned to his usual self and replied.
"That's right. The date is set for one month from now. We will determine the incoming student through a duel in the training grounds."
"Understood."
Nox could sense the others at the table becoming unsettled by his straightforward response. Anxious glances swept over him.
But for Nox, there was no other choice.
To enter the main story, he had to be admitted to the academy, and that fact remained unchanged.
"Little brother, I'll teach you a lesson, so take good care of your physical well-being until then. If you have any thoughts of giving up before that, speak up."
"Yeah, giving up wouldn't be such a bad idea. There's no way a weakling like you could beat us."
Their tone carried a mixture of jest and sharp provocation. Nox smiled wryly and replied.
"Isn't that something you should say after winning the fight?"
"Do you really think someone like you can defeat us?"
In response to Allen and Hartz's retorts accompanied by obnoxious snickering, I crossed my arms and demonstrated the composure of an adult.
"Of course."
A moment of silence fell upon the dining hallv, creating a brief stillness.
What on earth did they hear just now?
Everyone's expressions were filled with curiosity and anticipation.
Well, for Nox, if he couldn't even pass this trial, he wouldn't even be a part of the main story. He had nothing to lose no matter how he talked.
"I will."
A momentary silence hung in the air as Nox's icy gaze met the stunned expressions of the two brothers.
Continuing with his momentum, he spoke again.
"I will enter Eldin Academy."
He could sense a subtle lift in the corner of Theo's mouth.
'Good. You took the bait.'
At that moment, Nox suddenly felt a piercing gaze fixed upon him, like a shining light. A shiver ran down his spine.
The reason was simple.
The owner of the gaze was Talia von Steeliner, the second daughter of the Steeliner family and one of the heroines directly involved in the main story of Inner Lunatic.
Under the persistent gaze, their eyes finally met. Caught, Nox exchanged glances with the girl who possessed great charm and talent.
"It seems that the youngest master is quite confident, isn't he?"
As she said that and smiled brightly, he once again felt his heart skip a beat.
She was a presence that made him more nervous than Lordwell. That was because she was Talia.
Talia von Steeliner.
She played the role of a protagonist who defeated the antagonist Nox in the final scene of Part 1.
To put it simply...
She was a character who would stab a sword into Nox's heart in the future.
This... seems like it will be tough from the beginning.
With that thought in mind, he pushed the tough turkey meat into his mouth.
From the duel with the twins to death, there was still one month left, and twelve months until the end.