Reincarnated as the Adopted Son of a Prestigious Swordsmanship Family

Chapter 45: Nagging

It felt familiar.

I couldn't confirm it right away, but the imprint of the Star-Breaking Style existed in my soul.

It was the reason why Simurtr, who had inherited the constitution of being unable to perceive mana from his past life, could use magic power.

‘Like having three arms.’

It would be more than just having a new arm grow.

The dragon, a friend of my master, had said so when imprinting the Star-Breaking Style.

For a young person, it might be different, but imprinting a channel into an already complete and solidified mental image would cause a severe sense of incongruity.

‘It was awkward.’

A memory, if you could call it that. Recalling it, Simurtr smiled.

The process of perceiving mana and internalizing it as magic power was instantaneous, but as the dragon had said, the process was certainly incongruous and unpleasant.

‘But, well. It’s always like that at the beginning.’

In the end, you get used to everything. That’s what humans and living beings are.

Even if it feels completely unnatural, you eventually come to accept it.

‘At this point, it would be strange not to be used to it.’

The awkward Star-Breaking Style? Now it felt like a part of my body. If I missed a day of operating it, my body would tremble.

There was nothing as incongruous and unnatural as reincarnation. The name Simurtr had become as familiar as Exa.

Even this incredibly uncomfortable body now felt familiar. Though it was closer to a love-hate relationship, it was proof that I had finally adapted.

‘No matter how many arms I have, they’re all my arms anyway.’

Forced, unnatural things were more familiar. That was my life and my body. It had become that way. I had grown dull to incongruity.

Just because another arm called Phantasmal Ability was attached didn’t change anything.

Now of all times? If I felt uncomfortable with something like this, I would have denied my reincarnation and committed suicide long ago.

“Like this?”

“…Yes.”

A white energy slowly rose from Simurtr’s sword. The point of manifestation was no longer the shadow.

Shadows were familiar to Degrate. Simurtr changed the starting point to what was most familiar to him.

“Would you like to try this too?”

Simurtr perfectly mimicked the phantasm Jiaren demonstrated. All of them were easy processes, not difficult at all.

“Once you get used to materialization, it’s all about application. It depends on the materializer’s capability. The materializer’s imagination becomes the main focus. Whether you can materialize what you imagine into reality exactly as it is, or not……”

The key was the heart.

To be precise, the trajectory of the imprinted Asha.

The heart’s energy rotates through the body’s circuits. Star-Breaking Style, an essential process to manifest magic power.

When the rotation ends, the amplified magic power flows back to the heart. Only by following

Asha’s trajectory can it be reborn as a phantasm.

“You’re doing well……”

There were now two Semenus. Next to her, Jiaren’s form was created. It was a phantasm materialized by Simurtr.

It was quite clumsy. The forms were certainly theirs, but they were pure white. They were connected to the sword, which was hinted at as the medium.

“This is quite difficult.”

Jiaren opened her mouth, but in Simurtr’s eyes, it was pathetic. His standards had become too high due to the time spent with Semenu.

The Semenu and Jiaren created by the phantasm were of very low quality. Only the form was the same; he couldn’t materialize the colors.

It was proof that his Phantasmal Ability was still lacking. The connection line to the sword should also not be there.

“It’s a matter of proficiency. Time will solve it.”

Jiaren couldn’t understand why Simurtr was not satisfied. He had imprinted Asha yesterday.

Today was the first time he was handling Phantasmal Ability.

‘Why is he so greedy.’

The first day? Jiaren recalled her younger self. She had woken up five days after consuming Asha.

It took her four days after waking up to materialize something that could be called a phantasm.

Just for that, she had started to be called the next Phantasm. But Simurtr? Jiaren let out a hollow laugh. The Asha imprinting process took one day. The first phantasm he materialized was a phantom body.

‘Mine was just a single doll.’

If Simurtr had been a Degrate, Jiaren would have designated him as the Phantasm after Semenu. That was the level of his talent and potential.

‘Do you have to be that good to be a hero?’

Her admiration was short-lived. Soon, Jiaren’s face hardened. Her position was such that she couldn't just be amazed by someone else’s talent.

‘Did this really work?’

Before imprinting Asha yesterday, Jiaren had thought Simurtr would die in the process. But he had succeeded.

When Simurtr woke up in just one day, she thought he still wouldn't be able to handle Phantasmal Ability.

‘Imprinting aside. Can he handle Phantasmal Ability even without elven blood?’

Jiaren was a Phantasm. The master of Degrate, with the duty to protect its reason for existence.

But she had lost that reason for existence right before her eyes. Jiaren began to contemplate Degrate’s reason for existence.

No matter how much Asha was the crystallization of Degrate, the fact that Phantasmal Ability was unfolding in the hands of an outsider was a huge problem.

‘I shouldn’t have tried. Even if Semenu asked, I should have somehow said it was impossible.’

There were no cases of an outsider consuming Asha. This meant they didn’t know if Asha worked on those who were not of Degrate’s bloodline.

‘I shouldn’t have found out.’

The proof of its effectiveness was right before her eyes. Jiaren realized she had crossed a point of no return.

Simurtr, Exa, was certainly a unique individual, but this opened up a possibility.

Now, Asha was not a treasure limited to Degrate. It had expanded to be anyone’s treasure.

‘Magic Tower, Black Land.’

If this fact became known to the outside, they would now openly target Degrate. They were groups that had been drooling over elven blood for a very long time.

“Don’t worry. I have no intention of telling anyone. I’ll shut Aran’s mouth too.”

Simurtr, who had dispelled the phantom body, said after looking at Jiaren’s face.

“We can write a contract if you want.”

“…I doubt you would lie. I’ll trust you.”

She had another weakness now.

“That’s right. You can trust the Captain.”

“This older sister thinks so too.”

The fall of Degrate. A new possibility had opened up, but Jiaren smiled brightly.

‘Even if not a groom, maybe there’s a way to get involved?’ Thɪs chapter is updated by NoveI-Fire.ɴet

Now, Jiaren had to recruit Simurtr.

***

Of the ten days I had vowed before the imprinting, 7 days had already passed.

“Tell me more.”

“There’s nothing left to tell you.”

“There’s that thing. The one where you jump into the shadows.”

“Captain, that’s also a form of stealth.”

“Is it?”

“Yes. Something the Captain doesn’t need.”

As Phantasmal Ability was a divine power where imagination was key, Degrate held a great deal of know-how.

Six days, excluding the day Asha was imprinted. Simurtr had seen and heard many things from Semenu. Now, all that was left was to increase his proficiency.

Jiaren had said that developing and improving imagination was an important process, but he hadn't felt the need for it yet.

Unlike the versatile Degrate, the things Simurtr could do with Phantasmal Ability were limited.

“The Captain is fast.”

Semenu suddenly said. It was the moment Simurtr’s sword slash split into five.

Four were phantasms, but Semenu couldn't easily distinguish them.

“What is?”

“Just everything. The imprinting of Asha. Adapting to the Phantasmal Ability.”

“It’s all magic power. You Degrates start your initiation with Asha, right?”

“They said initiation is a bit faster.”

“Exactly. You can’t compare me to them. Unlike them, I’m already familiar with magic power.”

His heart had already become one with Asha. He had inherited Jiaren’s phantasm. The imprint on his heart began to be maintained by Simurtr’s phantasm.

“…Dying too.”

Semenu mentioned reincarnation.

That was all there was, in the first place. The traces of his past life that could be seen in Simurtr were only the Star-Breaking Style and his speech.

“Are we talking now?”

“Chatting is for after work is done.”

“You still follow that?”

Simurtr’s eyes widened.

Everything is for after the work is done. One of the principles of the Baperr unit.

It was a war where survival was the highest virtue. Exa did not want anyone to die because of unnecessary distractions.

“It was the Captain’s order.”

“But was there anything to call work?”

“We were learning Phantasmal Ability.”

“You’re more important than that.”

“Still. I didn’t want to disturb you.”

“There’s no need for that anymore.”

Simurtr let out a chuckle.

It was a thing of the past. Of course, he was dreaming of revenge and had even met Semenu, but still. He didn't want to bring up past connections anymore.

‘Except for that bastard.’

There was only one guy from Baperr he wanted to bring up. The second-in-command from his past life. The traitor who became a hero.

“But I thought you would be alive.”

“So you went around looking for me? Even forming an alliance with Mectera?”

“Yes. Aran Lubeil was also looking for the Captain. I thought it would be better than being alone.”

“No way, does Aran also think I’m alive?”

“…No. Aran Lubeil said the Captain was likely dead.”

Simurtr nodded.

That was a relief. It seemed Aran was looking for his body and the traces he had left behind in life.

“So it would be best to keep it a secret from Aran Lubeil. He might not believe you.”

“Right. Who would believe in reincarnation? Especially an imperial citizen.”

The Empire of Melken had the Ruo Holy See as its state religion.

To the Empire, which had Ruo on its side, reincarnation was a heretical concept that should not exist.

“That’s right. You might be purged.”

“That would be troublesome. Don’t worry. I had no intention of telling him anyway.”

“Yes. Never tell him. Aran Lubeil won’t believe you anyway. Because he thinks the Captain is dead.”

Semenu emphasized.

“You should have done the same.”

What Simurtr spat out next was a sort of complaint.

No matter how curious and eager I was to see them, I had tried so hard not to look for them.

“Who told you to go looking for me.”

Dying so suddenly and not being able to leave a will had become a regret. No, it would have been better if I had known earlier.

If only I hadn't agreed to the exile with an indifferent heart, but had held on and gathered information on Semenu from the main house.

“…….”

“It’s been 20 years. No matter how long you live, time doesn’t pass quickly, does it?”

If only I had looked into Degrate as soon as I entered the house, instead of Mectera’s betrayal. If I had found out the reason for the alliance.

“You should have rested. You went through so much. If you wanted to wander around outside, you should have gone on a trip instead of looking for me.”

If I hadn't prioritized revenge.

“Why did you do it. If you thought I was alive, you should have just waited. You should have thought, he’ll find his way to me eventually. If he didn't come in the end, you should have thought, he must be dead. Foolishly. Why, for 20 years.”

Not investigating, deliberately ignoring it, had instead become a poison. I had been so hell-bent on revenge that I had neglected it.

“If I was dead, I was dead. After reincarnating, I wasn’t even curious about what you guys were doing. I just thought, well, they’ll be living fine on their own. I didn't even think about meeting again. The war was over.”

“Really?”

“Really.”

“It doesn’t matter. I’m not the Captain.”

Semenu smiled. She didn't care what Simurtr said.

“None of that matters to me. The Captain can think that way. All I need is the Captain.”

“…That makes me feel like the bad guy.”

“The Captain is allowed to be.”

“I don’t want to.”

Simurtr roughly wiped his face.

“I’m sorry.”

A pointless, useless complaint.

It was already in the past, and in the first place, he should be blaming his indifferent self, not Semenu.

“For what?”

Semenu tilted her head.

“I should have looked into it. Sooner. Then you wouldn't have suffered so much. Or wasted your time.”

“No. It was a meaningful time.”

Semenu said with a strange look in her eyes.

20 years. Semenu had not spent that time in vain.

Neither had Aran Lubeil, nor the other squad members. Not at all.

“What about the others? Don’t tell me they were doing the same thing as you?”

“…….”

“They weren’t, right?”

Simurtr’s pupils, asking again, trembled greatly.

He was so blatantly hoping for a negative answer.

“…No.”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

“Then what are they doing.”

“…I don’t know.”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

“Right. You weren’t that close to them anyway. Weren’t you lonely?”

“A little.”

“What were those bastards doing. If I wasn't there, they should have played with you on their own.”

“They don’t have to play with me.”

“You too. That’s your problem. You’re one of the few comrades you have. I told you repeatedly to be friendly.”

“I don’t want to.”

“No. What’s not to like. They’re all good kids.”

“They’re not good. They’re weird.”

It was quite, no, a very nostalgic nagging.

***

A week.

The 6th Sword Order, thanks to the absence of Simurtr, the main subject of their sparring, entered the house three days earlier than expected.

“You’ve returned early.”

When they reached the main house’s gate, it was Medeoban who came to greet the 6th Sword Order’s flag.

“What is the matter?”

Aran blinked.

He understood Sword Master Orde being next to him. He was a man with a lot of affection, who cared for the Sword Order like his own family.

“Why is the Head of the Senate of Elders here.”

But, not Medeoban.

It might be different during a departure, but Medeoban was not the type to welcome returning allies.

Moreover, this trip to Degrate was an expedition where Medeoban had entrusted the beginning and end to Aran Lubeil.

“Where is Simurtr?”

An unexpected action. As expected, Medeoban did not praise the 6th Sword Order. Instead, he scanned the area widely, looking for Simurtr first.

“Where is Simurtr?”

Even if he wasn't the type to come to the gate to welcome returning allies.

Medeoban did not treat his allies neglectfully. Especially if they were the target of his direct orders. Even more so.

Yet that priority. Waiting for the 6th Sword Order at the gate and looking for Simurtr first, that behavior, the deepened wrinkles on his face.

“Did something happen?”

Aran Lubeil had a premonition.

Something had happened at the main house.

“Janya Jabad and Beden have disappeared.”

“Pardon?”

“From the main house. Someone intervened and helped them escape.”

“Wasn’t Elder Kelken with Lord Beden?”

“Kelken was attacked.”

Phantasmal Ability.

The Phantasmal Ability user from Huit came to Aran’s mind. Another Phantasmal Ability user Simurtr had reported, a degraded version of the phantasm.

The fact that Elder Kelken was attacked meant that the enemy’s military power was not limited to the Phantasmal Ability user.

“Where is Simurtr?”

Medeoban was urgent. While talking to Aran, his gaze was constantly scanning the 6th Sword Order.

“…He stayed behind in Degrate for a while.”

“Alone? Why?”

Aran quickly realized the seriousness of the situation.

Why the Head of the Senate of Elders himself had come out to the gate to greet them.

“Are you suggesting they are targeting the Young Master?”

“They took away what could be a concern, and even took the child, just in case. We have no choice but to assume so.”

They are trying to erase the traces. The beast is doing so.

Then what remains is the one who directly eliminated the beast and gained merit.

Now that Janya and possibly Beden have been taken, the only one with a clue is Simurtr.

“Is there a way to contact him?”

“No. We must make contact with a Degrate crow.”

“Hurry. We must also send a messenger in case they cross paths.”

Inadvertently, Aran looked at Sword Master Orde.

He was looking for Simurtr with a deathly pale face.