Reincarnated as the Adopted Son of a Prestigious Swordsmanship Family

Chapter 34: The Grand Council Hall

How many of Janya’s forces were in the 3rd Sword Order?

Once, he had had such a thought.

‘A useless thought.’

It was a suspicion formed before heading out on the mission, and by the time the mission ended, it had quickly subsided.

An expert in stopgap measures. That was how Simurtr evaluated Janya.

Dull and foolish. On par with an incompetent commander who deserved to be the first to die in a war.

‘Just one official swordsman.’

What Janya trusted was not the 3rd Sword Order.

The knights of Jabad, the Knight Captain, or the young Degrate. Janya had trusted them.

At the banquet, Simurtr had gained certainty about that.

‘Come to think of it, there’s no way the old man would be that sloppy. Even if it’s Mectera, he’s been playing the role of a duke for decades.’

Medeoban was different from Orde, who had reluctantly inherited the position of Sword Master, or the current direct descendants who grew up under the rule prohibiting fratricide.

He was born in a generation where fratricide was a given.

He didn't know about now, but in the past, the succession contest of Mectera was extremely barbaric. It was a fight for the position of Sword Master with the sword alone.

Medeoban, born as the sole heir, was a monster who had triumphed against ten adopted sons who had been raised with the same treatment.

‘Janya’s forces must have been eliminated long ago.’

Arnea’s forces would likely be no different.

In the first place, she had said she hadn't been that diligent in her recruitment activities.

Medeoban had done a thorough cleaning job. It was just that some dust remained.

‘And that’s Juyce.’

The knights of Jabad serve as proof of that.

If Janya had more people in the 3rd Sword Order, she would have surely mobilized them.

‘Or she would have waited a little longer.’

Mectera's first mission. It was a position with a lot of attention.

Nevertheless, Janya went ahead.

‘She must not have had the luxury. She must have known about Arnea's return. And she didn’t have the power to control the 3rd Sword Order.’

She would have wanted to get rid of the nuisance before that.

To focus on her original goal, she would get rid of the trivial things first.

‘This is a bit unpleasant.’

The idea was similar. Hadn’t he tried to solve the main family’s problems first in order to focus on outside matters?

Did I have the same thought as Janya? Simurtr crumpled his face.

‘Janya must have been smart.’

Intelligence and personality are different. Simurtr decided to let it go at that.

“The core forces of the 3rd Sword Order were deployed back to the mission area, right?”

“Yes. They are near the Great Forest right now.”

Deban chimed in from the side.

“If there had been a recruited swordsman, they would have stopped by for a moment. To make sure I was dead. It’s a distance you can reach by taking the magic gate twice.”

“That’s right. That makes sense. No need to conspicuously mobilize knights. And there’s a magic gate near the station anyway.”

“But the only one who attacked me was that bastard Juyce, right? So, I don’t think the entire 3rd Sword Order was involved.”

Deban nodded his head repeatedly.

“But honestly, I’m not sure about the 3rd Head of the Sword, Saana. She was the one who selected the mission, right?”

“That’s right.”

“What if the 3rd Head of the Sword was recruited? Then my grandfather would be really sad. Oh, and Aran too.”

“That would be true. The 6th Head of the Sword was our 3rd Head of the Sword’s instructor back in the day, wasn’t he?”

“Right. Tears would be streaming down their faces. If the student they trusted so much was the same kind as the former 3rd Head of the Sword.”

The heart of the 3rd Sword Order.

There, Simurtr looked at the 3rd Head of the Sword, Saana, who was biting her lip tightly.

“That’s terrible.”

“Right? But can you handle it? I feel like I’m going to die if I go.”

The tightly bitten lip was trembling, but it wasn't due to fear. Her hair fluttered in the murderous mana. Saana was glaring at Deban as if to pierce him.

If the one questioning her wasn't Simurtr, Deban would have been thrown out of the office half-dead.

“I believe in you, Sir Simurtr.”

Because I’m going to the 6th Sword Order.

Deban shifted his body slightly. He placed Simurtr in the middle, narrowing Saana's field of vision.

“You’re still in the 3rd Sword Order. I’m an adopted son.”

“And the adopted son is higher in rank.”

Simurtr clicked his tongue lightly.

He told him to make a good impression on the mission, and here he was already flattering him. And his direct superior was the opponent, no less.

‘It’s good for me, though.’

It was a pleasing phenomenon. It meant he was that desperate. Between himself and Deban, it was obvious the latter was the more eager one.

‘It’s also fun.’

It was better than him quietly doing as he was told. A group runs smoothly when someone like this is mixed in.

“The fist is closer than the law. I’m in the west annex, and you’re in the same 3rd Sword Order as the 3rd Head of the Sword, Saana.”

Simurtr turned his body slightly. At that, Saana's and Deban's gazes intertwined in mid-air.

Saana's killing intent exploded for a moment.

“I’d like an answer first. We can deal with him later.”

“You won’t stop me later, right?”

“How could I stop you? A Head of the Sword is going to beat up their own swordsman.”

“Sir Simurtr?”

“…So what is it that you want?”

At Saana's words, Simurtr grinned.

“Nothing much. Deban. I’m just taking this kid to the 6th Sword Order.”

Although he had been saying that all this time, Simurtr knew that Saana had not been recruited. To be precise, he trusted Aran more than Saana.

‘Aran was her instructor. She can’t be that stupid.’

He would have chosen someone with outstanding abilities, and the Saana before him certainly looked that way.

‘There’s no need to be hostile.’

He had a justification to hold over her.

Saana had failed to properly manage Juyce.

“This is good news for you too. I have no intention of holding Juyce’s crime against you.”

But it was futile. What could he gain from that? Simurtr had no reason to take control of the 3rd Sword Order.

“……”

“It’s just one official swordsman, isn’t it?”

At Simurtr’s words, Saana nodded.

It was a matter that could have resulted in punishment for the entire Sword Order. One official swordsman as the price for getting it dismissed was a real bargain.

But… it was a waste. Saana had been the vice-captain of the 3rd Sword Order. This meant she was in a position to follow the Head of the Sword’s orders and directly command the swordsmen.

That's why she knew his value. Deban was called an all-rounder in the 3rd Sword Order.

There was often talk that he might become a Head of the Sword if one were to discuss the future.

“Aran has already given his permission.”

“…I understand.”

But at the following words, Saana lowered her head. There was no way to stop this.

That 6th Head of the Sword had given his permission. And it seemed Deban wanted to go too.

“Should I leave Deban behind? It’ll take a while for the transfer order to come through.”

“I would be grateful if you did.”

Saana’s face, which had been downcast, brightened considerably.

“Sir Simurtr?”

Slam.

The door closed.

***

“What is it.”

Naor came rushing in. It was behavior unbecoming of the vice-captain he knew.

Seeing that, Aran sensed that the topic Simurtr had brought up the previous night had arrived.

“The Grand Council Hall has been convened.”

“Hm?”

The Grand Council Hall was a place where important matters of the main castle were discussed.

“The attendance list?”

Aran felt a fighting spirit rise within him without realizing it.

“From the 1st Head of the Sword to the 6th Head of the Sword.”

“The host?”

“It was convened by the Sword Master. It is a joint hosting with the Head of the Senate of Elders.”

Life stirred within him like oiling a rusted sword. The oldest Head of the Sword. He was sometimes evaluated as being old and crafty, but in the end, his essence was that of a sword-freak.

“Should I go now?”

“Yes.”

“Is the vice-captain to accompany me?”

“No.”

A meeting attended only by the Heads of the Sword.

Simurtr has caused some major trouble. Aran was certain.

***

“The other Heads of the Sword will be participating remotely through the provided communication devices.”

“It must be an urgent matter.”

“It seems so.”

The face of the 3rd Head of the Sword, Saana, who affirmed, was stiff.

Although the process of becoming a Head of the Sword this time had been eventful, it was her first time at the Grand Council Hall.

As far as she knew, the Grand Council Hall was convened in two cases.

‘To discuss war.’

Or to discuss the next Sword Master.

This matter was definitely the former.

The current generation had not even had their coming-of-age ceremony, let alone issued a challenge.

‘Against whom, exactly?’

It was an era of peace.

Blood was still being wasted in various parts of the continent, and five Sword Orders were on missions, but none of those bloody incidents could be called a war.

What was certain was that it wasn't within the empire.

Although their relationship with the other Hero Families couldn't be called good, there were no separate conflicts. For the past 20 years. Mectera has maintained such a distance from Bahab and Basor.

Other nobles were even less likely. Who would dare to challenge a Hero Family?

‘The main castle has been attacked…’

The Great Sword. The Barrier.

These were the words the world used to describe Mectera. Among them, the Barrier was a name given to Mectera in the distant past for defending the borders of Melken.

The Barrier. Saana, who had become a Head of the Sword and was recently granted access to Mectera's secret techniques, sympathized with such an expression.

It was an expression that was still valid today, even though it had faded due to the other Hero Families. It was truly sturdy, but the number of times it had displayed its power first could be counted on one hand.

‘Where is there an external force with such guts?’

Saana looked outside the empire.

The major powers that could start a war, that would dare to strike Mectera first.

The most likely force was, by far, the Black Land.

That world at the southern end, where Doom Species worshippers and black magicians still ran rampant.

‘If that were the case, they would have called Harkinwagen too.’

The southern Margraviate of Harkinwagen was a spear aimed at the Black Land. They maintained a close relationship with the 6th Head of the Sword, Aran Lubeil.

If it were a matter related to the Black Land, they would have given Harkinwagen a heads-up.

‘The Black Land is out.’

Then where was left?

Saana thought as she followed behind Aran.

She saw that the entrance to the Grand Council Hall, which had always been firmly shut, was wide open, but she felt no particular emotion as her mind was racing.

There weren't many seats in the Grand Council Hall. At most, there were just over ten seats.

It was a place for the Sword Master, the Senate of Elders, and the six Heads of the Sword.

“It’s Degrate.”

Medeoban, who was already seated, said.

It was not the head seat. The head seat of the Grand Council Hall belonged to the Sword Master.

Medeoban still disapproved of Orde, but he thoroughly maintained his position. An elder could not dare to sit above the Sword Master.

“Huh.”

Saana, who had just sat down in the 3rd Head of the Sword's seat, unconsciously opened her mouth at the unexpected identity of the enemy.

***

The massive wall facing the seats split into four sections. Familiar faces appeared on each screen. They were the Heads of the Sword not present in the Grand Council Hall.

“The adopted son of the main family was attacked. A Mectera who has finished the Selection Ceremony.”

At Medeoban's words, the faces on the screen all stiffened. It was the same for Aran and Saana.

For an adopted son to finish the Selection Ceremony meant that bloodline had become meaningless.

Simurtr was now a Mectera. And such a Mectera had been attacked.

-…….

The Heads of the Sword on the screen kept their mouths shut. Displeasure was evident in their furrowed brows.

“……”

The faces on the screen were frightening, but the most frightening was the silence of the 6th Head of the Sword, Aran Lubeil. Saana unconsciously hunched her shoulders.

-Hah.

A sudden, dry laugh escaped.

The vanguard of Mectera. The 1st Head of the Sword.

He couldn't easily comprehend the current situation.

It was surprising enough that the Grand Council Hall was convened. But they were attacked? Mectera?

-Where is it. ʀᴇᴀᴅ ʟᴀᴛᴇsᴛ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀᴛ noveⅼfire.net

His voice boiled over.

The 1st Head of the Sword found no reason to hide his anger. Saana hunched her shoulders again at the killing intent that was clear even through the screen.

“Degrate.”

At Medeoban's words, the gazes of the Heads of the Sword gathered as one. Saana, sitting next to him, tilted her head.

The whereabouts of Exa Mectera. Aran Lubeil had pushed for the establishment of a new Sword Order for him. The justifications were more than enough. Exa was a hero of Mectera.

In the process, he had recruited Semenu Degrate, who had been a member of Exa's unit.

The relationship with Degrate. The formation of that alliance was purely due to Aran's influence.

CRASH!

Suddenly, mana exploded. Saana reflexively contained it. Thanks to that, it ended with just the desk being destroyed.

“…I am ashamed.”

Considering the deep favor Semenu Degrate had shown, it was an incomprehensible fact…

but it had already happened, hadn't it?

“This Head of the Sword will take responsibility. I will erase Degrate.”

Because of the Degrate he had brought in, Simurtr was attacked. Aran's momentum shimmered menacingly. His anger was directed entirely at Degrate.

“Not yet. We cannot make a hasty judgment.”

Thud. Medeoban placed something on the table.

A fist-sized crystal orb. Saana, who was well-versed in magic tools, immediately recognized it as something used to store videos.

“The companion performed a commendable task. This was brought by Deban, an official swordsman of the 3rd Sword Order.”

Eventually, Medeoban played the crystal orb.

***

The video began with him coughing up blood.

“No. Fuck.”

Suddenly, a boy popped out from the ceiling.

“Not you.”

Before the dagger could even reach Simurtr's face, a flurry of fingers pierced the boy's face.

“If you were going to come, you should have come together from the start.”

Phantasmal Ability. It was indeed a Phantasmal Ability.

The Heads of the Sword in the screen were certain.

However, they were surprised for a different reason.

“Really?”

Because on the hand of a mere 16-year-old adopted son, there was condensed sword qi.

“He’s dead?”

The video ended.

The last voice was unfamiliar but close, so they knew it belonged to Deban, who had secretly filmed the video.

-Sword Aura, you say.

-Didn’t they say he was 16?

-That’s what this one heard as well.

-Unbelievable.

Originally, Medeoban had wanted to hide Simurtr's achievement. But since the situation had turned out like this.

To explain that he had subdued a Degrate, he had to first explain the means.

One cannot overcome a Phantasmal Ability with mere sword ki.

Without revealing Simurtr's achievement, there was no way to explain that he had killed a Degrate.

-I hope the next companion mission is with our 5th Sword Order.

-Wouldn't it be right to do it in order?

-Hey. We already did it with the 3rd Sword Order first. We have to start from there.

-Going in reverse order would be good too.

The attention of the Heads of the Sword was focused on Simurtr.

Even though the video had ended long ago, they were still looking at the crystal orb.

Medeoban deliberately ignored those uncomfortable gazes and said.

“Green mana. An incomprehensible phenomenon. There is no room for doubt. It is the Phantasmal Ability of a Degrate.”

The Heads of the Sword nodded. Saana did as well. After confirming it with her own two eyes like this. She might as well die if she didn't recognize it.

It was a phenomenon that could not be imitated even with magic, something only the illusions of the elves could create.

“However, it is weak. And awkward. It is an act that cannot be called that of an assassin. It is a quality that a true Degrate should not show.”

The masters of assassination.

The excuse of being young and inexperienced does not work. Degrate only allows their bloodline into the world when they are complete.

“Therefore, I plan to go and confirm it myself. It will not be too late to start the war after that.”

Aran nodded.

He sensed that he would be taking on that role.

The Heads of the Sword on the screen had also expected it. Only the 1st Head of the Sword's lips twitched. If he hadn't been on deployment, he would have volunteered himself.

“Um… have you made a request? The main house of Degrate is not a place one can easily go to.”

Suddenly, the 3rd Head of the Sword, Saana, asked.

As she sat still, everyone was being too aggressive.

The verification was not yet complete. But looking at those faces, didn't it seem like they were certain of starting a war?

“Request?”

Medeoban's eyebrow twitched.

-Why should the main family?

However, it was the 1st Head of the Sword who retorted.

-3rd Head of the Sword. You were acknowledged for your ability and became a Head of the Sword. However, you still seem unfamiliar. Do not forget that this family is Mectera.

Although they have lost some prestige now, they are still Mectera.

A ducal house that has shared its history with the thousand-year empire of Melken.

-We were struck first. Is there a need for more words?

The other Heads of the Sword nodded as if it were obvious.

They were struck, so now it was their turn to strike back.

If Degrate did not open its gates, the Sword Order would draw its swords.

“That’s right. If they have nothing to hide, wouldn't they open it themselves.”

Aran had regained his composure at some point.

It was because he remembered what Simurtr had said the night before. The dispatch of the 6th Sword Order, which was on break. Simurtr had anticipated it. He had wanted to accompany that dispatch.

“I wish for Young Master Simurtr to participate in the 6th Sword Order’s dispatch.”

“Hm?”

The first to react was Medeoban.

He unconsciously cleaned his ear. Because he thought he had misheard.

-Young Master?

-6th Head of the Sword, did you just say Young Master?

-Really?

-You must have misheard.

The Heads of the Sword on the screen each spoke out.

In their surprise, the 1st Head of the Sword was convinced he had misheard.

“Is there a problem.”

-Does it look like there isn't?

At Aran's words, the Heads of the Sword faced reality.

As far as they knew, the only person Aran called Young Master was the hero, Exa Mectera.

“He is the Young Master of the main family, so he is the Young Master. What else would I call him.”

The meticulous Aran Lubeil, bound by the past, had called the new adopted son Young Master. And he didn't deny it.

At that shocking fact, the Heads of the Sword were speechless for a moment.

-…First Young Master Jahar.

Suddenly, the 1st Head of the Sword asked.

“What?”

“Try saying it.”

“I don’t want to. The 1st Head of the Sword has grown up a lot. To think that little kid would give an order.”