Strange, the most prestigious swordsmanship family and the hegemon of the continent.
The war between the eldest and second sons within it has ended.
It didn't take long for the news to spread across the continent.
How could people not know when two such powerful forces had vanished?
Publicly, it was rumored that a fight had broken out over the position of the next head of the family. Of course, very few within the family knew the exact truth, so to others, it might have seemed that way.
Only Lois and Valentine truly knew Hysteria's real purpose.
'No, that's not right.'
Including me, that makes three.
Anyway, the Emperor was also on edge after hearing about their deaths.
It was natural; if the balance of power supporting the continent was disrupted, the Imperial Army would be the most troubled.
If the scale, which Strange and Glazier balanced, tipped to one side, it could lead to rebellion.
A priest made the sign of the cross and began to pray.
"In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit..."
Whoosh.
The coffins containing Gunter and Hysteria were set alight.
As the funeral commenced, knights sent the coffins down the rushing river while performing a ceremonial salute with their swords.
Clink!
The end for one born and died as a knight was colder than the frost of midwinter. From the start of the funeral to its end, no one displayed any emotion.
Only stern faces and silence.
Lois, standing at the very back of the crowd, threw his two sons' swords into the river.
Splash!
Even as he sent his sons away, his expression did not change.
Perhaps because he was conscious of others' gazes, or perhaps because the emotions that once surged in his chest in his youth had long since died.
He maintained the same demeanor throughout the entire funeral.
Whoosh.
The priest waved his white staff over his head.
"Death is not the end of life but the beginning of eternal life. We all hold the hope of meeting again."
Whoosh.
"Now let us pray together for the departed Count Gunter de Strange and Count Hysteria de Strange."
Everyone bowed their heads in silence.
After finishing his prayer, the priest waved his staff once more.
Whoosh.
Chief Guardian Knight Bess raised her sword in a salute.
Clink!
With that, Lois turned and walked away. After he left, the third sibling, Valentine, gave orders to the remaining knights.
"The remaining Golden Tiger Knights will guard this place for 100 days. The rest, return to your posts."
The knights responded in unison with low, powerful voices.
- Yes!
Thus, the core members of the Strange family departed. I watched the coffins of Gunter and Hysteria float away, offering a brief prayer.
Gunter, Hysteria.
I never hated you.
Your deaths were merely the fate that those who bear the Strange bloodline must carry.
As I silently watched the river for a while, Siegfried cautiously spoke to me.
"Why do you make such a face now? Do you feel sorry for them?"
"No."
"Then?"
"Just because they are my brothers."
"Brothers?"
"Yes, have you heard this saying?"
"What?"
"Flowers bloom without sound. Birds cry without tears. Love burns without smoke."
"..."
"Not just me, but everyone at today's funeral must
have felt the same way."
It's a phrase I heard from an Eastern knight in my past life while climbing the tower. He said that knights, living on the border between life and death, should not be swayed by emotions.
Siegfried nodded his head in satisfaction.
"That's a good saying."
The cat, Brunhilde, lightly brushed my cheek with her paw.
"So, are you a flower that blooms without a sound?"
"I'm a bird that cries without tears."
"Did love burn?"
"I haven't felt love. Thanks to that, there's no smoke either. I'm just here to see my brothers off because they are my family."
I petted the cat's head. Brunhilde snuggled closer to my neck and continued speaking.
"Is that what our Verdin said?"
"Am I a baby to you?"
"That's how I see it."
Well, after living for over a thousand years, I could see how she might think that.
I stayed until the coffins of the two brothers sank into the river.
After all the knights had dispersed, Valentine and I were left alone to talk.
"Dean."
"Yes, sister."
"Thank you for surviving."
Valentine had said the same words in my past life. At the time, I didn't understand the meaning behind her words. But now I do.
'I'm the one who should be thankful, sister.'
Thank you for considering me as the next head of the Strange family.
* * *
The deaths of Gunter and Hysteria altered the balance of power on the continent. Overnight, the scale tipped towards Glazier.
With the power behind them, the mages became fearless and unruly.
Adventurers aiming to become the strongest knights lost their direction, and the Imperial Army, which had been guiding them, fell silent.
'It couldn't be helped.'
The Strange family, which had been a breakwater against the massive wave that was Glazier, had decided to refrain from intervening in state affairs for the time being.
But it didn't matter to me.
Even if the hegemony changed, as long as I remained in the eye of the storm that is the Strange castle, I was safe.
Two years passed, and the brothers Tony, Johnny, and Lonnie, who had been in a rivalry with me, entered the academy.
"Verdin, we'll go ahead and see you next year."
"Yeah! There are no parents or Valentine sister at the academy, so be on your toes."
"Train your swordsmanship as if you're going to die. We won't go easy on you there."
I saw them off with a smile.
"Yes, brothers."
After they left for the academy, the castle became quiet.
The assassins who aimed for my neck every night ceased their attempts, and Emma, Tony's family's supporter and my nanny, stopped poisoning my food.
Thanks to that, I could focus on my training.
A year later, I displayed an aura on par with Chief Guardian Knight Bess.
"...Amazing, young master."
There was no need to mention my swordsmanship.
Without relying on my innate talent, I practiced the basics every day. Without missing a single day, I swung my sword a hundred, a thousand, ten thousand times.
The more sweat I shed, the more complete my swordsmanship became.
Another year passed, and the day came when I was also of age to enter the academy.
"I'm sorry, but I will not be attending the academy."
I informed Bess that I would not be entering the academy.
With just that one sentence, the castle was turned upside down.
Chief Guardian Knight Bess was so shocked that she immediately reported to my father.
'Master Verdin has refused to enter the academy.'
My father descended from the tower that very day. He came to the castle and talked with me in person.
"What I need now is not the academy, but an adventure where I can experience real combat."
"Going on an adventure alone at your age is dangerous. There are many people on this continent sharpening their blades to kill you."
"Since the day I was born, there hasn't been a single day that wasn't dangerous for me."
"...."
"Father, you know it too. The assassins under Gunter's command. The things Hysteria tried to do."
My father, intrigued, rested his chin on his hand.
"So, you knew everything those guys were doing?"
"If I hadn't known, I wouldn't be here now."
"Why didn't you tell me even though you knew?"
"Because I'm a Strange."
My one sentence made my father's stern expression break into a smile.
- Hahaha!
"Because you're a Strange?"
"Yes, if I am truly worthy of inheriting the Strange bloodline, I would have solved it by my own power, not with your help."
I tapped the sword at my waist as I continued.
"No, it's not that I 'would have solved it,' but I already did, so I've shown you the answer to your question."
Lois couldn't help but be surprised by Verdin's answer. No one had ever shown such confidence before him.
"Father, as I said, I have nothing to learn from the academy right now."
"Explain. Why do you think there's nothing to learn at the academy?"
"The purpose of going to the academy is to gain the skills needed to obtain a knight's certification. I believe I've already surpassed that level."
For an eight-year-old, it was an extremely arrogant statement. However, my father respected my opinion.
After explaining my reasons step by step, he permitted my adventure.
"If you truly feel that way, you don't need to go to the knight academy. But as a Strange, you must obtain a knight's certification."
"I will take the knight's examination in the Empire."
"That's a good choice. If you need help, contact Bess."
"I understand."
The conversation was brief.
My father only discussed the necessary topics and then rose from his seat. As soon as he stood up, two knights attached to him handed him his cloak and sword.
Lois, donning his gear, looked back at me.
"Verdin."
"Yes?"
"If you're not going to the academy, where do you plan to go?"
"I plan to head to the capital."
"The capital?"
"Yes, I intend to gain experience by taking on tasks from the Imperial Army there."
My father smiled slightly and patted my head.
"Are you planning to climb the tower?"
He immediately saw through my intentions.
"Yes, that's right."
"The tower is dangerous. The experiences you've had so far will pale in comparison."
"I'm prepared. As someone born a knight, I'm not afraid of death."
"Alright, I understand."
That was the end of our conversation.
My father left the castle immediately.
I prepared to leave shortly after him.
* * *
In a small carriage heading to the capital.
Two men stared blankly at the wall.
The one who broke the silence was the youngest member of the Strange family, Verdin.
"Have you gotten close to Behu-Ling?"
The one answering was Rox, a half-demon who had decided to climb the tower with me. He pointed to the floating clown above his head.
"He doesn't always listen, but he's kinder than you."
"The skills I told you to learn?"
"I've learned them all. Including all the techniques your brother Hysteria used."
"Already?"
"Yes."
Indeed, a vessel containing divine blood is different. Learning in a few years what took Hysteria a lifetime.
"Well done."
"What's this? A compliment from you? The sun must be rising in the west today."
"The sun rises in the east."
"...Can't say anything to you."
"Then be quiet. We can't rest once we arrive, so get some sleep while you can."
"We can't rest when we arrive? Why?"
"There's a lot to do. The capital is a place where you need to stay alert."
"Stay alert... What does that mean?"
Verdin swiftly drew a dagger and brought it close to Rox's nose.
Shing.
"Want me to show you?"
"N-No."
"Then keep quiet. Rest until we arrive."
"...Okay."
Clatter!
The carriage shook violently.
I thought it was due to uneven ground.
"We've arrived, young master!"
We had reached our destination.
Shhh!
The curtain of the carriage opened.
As I stepped out, a deafening cheer erupted.
"Greetings to Master Verdin!"
Rox, taken aback by the atmosphere, trembled slightly.
"W-What's this?"
In front of a mansion with a golden roof symbolizing Strange, hundreds of knights of the family stood, saluting with their swords.
Step, step, step.
'...I'm back.'
The tower awaits.