Chapter 111
Chapter 111
The training ground was dyed in silence.
The once noisy spectator stands had also fallen still.
The only thing that could be heard was my heavily exhausted breathing.
“Haah……. Haah…….”
As the bloodlust that had filled my entire body subsided, the vision that had been dyed red slowly returned to normal.
It wasn’t only Lin Winterbell who had been consumed by madness.
‘I fought to my heart’s content. Just how long has it been…….’
Within me flowed both the blood of the Halla Clan, a race of warriors, and the blood of Winterbell, the strongest in the North and one of the most powerful families on the continent.
Because of that, during my spar with Lin Winterbell, I had felt an intense killing intent. If I had immersed myself just a little more, I might not have been able to stop my sword and could have torn my sister’s heart apart.
“…….”
Damn, that was exhausting.
Perhaps because of the condition that I couldn’t use mana, each exchange had consumed an enormous amount of stamina and mental strength.
Even though I had several advantages, it still ended up like this…….
Once again, I found myself in awe of Lin Winterbell’s growth and her inherent potential.
‘The blood of Winterbell isn’t something to be underestimated.’
If only a little more time were given to Winterbell…….
If the children could survive the bloody struggle for succession…… I felt that it wouldn’t be long before the Winterbell Family would truly reign at the pinnacle.
Me as well.
Lin Winterbell too.
Ron Winterbell as well.
And all the other siblings—every one of us possessed tremendous potential.
Even now, we were clearly showing fragments of it, but we were still nothing more than buds that had yet to bloom.
If those buds were to fully blossom, then at that moment, Winterbell would have nothing to fear.
Clap! Clap! Clap!
Applause rang out.
I lifted my head and looked at the owner of the applause.
It was Izumi Winterbell.
“The best! Ran Winterbell! The young wolf of Winterbell!”
She smiled brightly as if satisfied and continued clapping. Soon after, my master and Elder Councilor, Darkin Winterbell, also began to clap.
“Hahahaha! You’ve become quite useful!”
Seeing him clapping with a face even happier than mine naturally lifted my mood. Before I knew it, the entire training ground was filled with applause and cheers.
Emotions are contagious.
The most primal emotion, fear, goes without saying, but emotions like exhilaration, excitement, and joy also spread quickly. This was precisely why a commander’s capability was considered the top priority in large-scale battles.
Because the morale of soldiers rises and falls depending on the commander’s emotions.
The same applied here.
The spectators, infected with joy and thrill, erupted into cheers.
They were all praising me.
“Crazy! That was the best! You showed us the greatest match! Ran Winterbell! Amazing! The youngest young master of Winterbell!”
“They said he was half-crippled! How could someone who was half-crippled display such martial prowess! The next 20 years will undoubtedly belong to Winterbell!”
“As a fellow martial artist, I pay my respects to Ran Winterbell and Lin Winterbell for showing a match that sent chills down my spine!”
“That was amazing! Truly amazing!”
“They say the blood of Winterbell is made of ice……. But watching them swing their swords at even their own blood relatives without hesitation makes me rethink everything I believed until now.”
“We should all reflect. To become a warrior, one must grow like that.”
Rayven Helios, the head of the Helios Family, and the Chancellor of the Empire also applauded.
“A splendid match. Young wolf of Winterbell.”
“Hahahaha! Well now! The future of both the Empire and its families is dazzlingly bright. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that all the talents who will lead the next generation of the Empire are gathered here.”
I felt good.
However, my gaze wasn’t directed at them, but at Arkan Winterbell.
Love and hatred.
Even as I resented him, a part of me still wanted his acknowledgment.
As a father, he was the worst—but as a swordsman, he was a man worthy of being called the strongest.
And that very man was looking at me.
“…….”
The perfection of beauty.
An appearance so dazzling it felt like looking at a sculpture crafted by a god.
Yet it was utterly rigid.
Within his cold, chilling gaze……
“It was quite decent.”
I found it.
A trace of ‘expectation.’
He had expectations for me.
That iron-blooded man.
A being without blood or tears.
The great ruler of Winterbell, who had even cut down his own kin with his own hands to become the Patriarch, was looking at me.
I smiled and bowed my head toward him.
“Thank you, Patriarch.”
Arkan Winterbell rose from his seat. Then, in a deep and resounding voice filled with immense mana, he declared:
“I will announce the result of the match between Lin Winterbell and Ran Winterbell. The victor is Ran Winterbell.”
A thunderous roar of cheers filled the arena.
I approached Lin Winterbell, who was kneeling on the ground, cursing under her breath.
“Sister. Are you alright?”
“Hmph! Of course. You think I’d be discouraged just because I lost both my arms? If I don’t have hands to hold a sword, I’ll just use my mouth!”
“Hahahaha! That’s just like you, Sister.”
“You’re laughing? Is this funny to you? This situation?”
“Well then, should I be shedding tears here instead? As you said, just a few months ago, I was a half-crippled younger brother who couldn’t even move my own body properly. Now I’ve achieved something like this—of course I should be happy.”
Lin Winterbell smiled, then nodded. The madness that had once consumed her face had now completely disappeared.
“Yeah. Go ahead and laugh all you want, you bastard! Damn it. Honestly, I really don’t want to admit it so fiercely, you know? But what can I do? I’m sitting here like a cripple, and you’re standing there just fine, looking down at me. That makes you the real winner. I don’t know what the hell you did, but you got stronger. I admit it. You were stronger than me.”
I was left speechless by the unexpected response.
Did she only come to her senses after losing her arms?
Is it really true that whether it’s a person or a beast, they only listen after getting beaten?
“Damn it. Why are you just standing there blankly! You won! You’re the victor, you bastard! Like you said, just be purely happy about it! You beat me—Lin Winterbell, of all people! But don’t go grinning like an idiot either! If we fight again next time, I’m obviously going to win. You know it too—the true power of Winterbell’s sword comes out when using aura!”
“……You’re right. In a way, you could say I was fortunate to win against you. You’ve also grown strong enough, and you proved it. I hope that through this match, we can put our past grudges behind us and face each other more comfortably next time.”
“……Cut the cringey crap and get lost already! I’m sick of that annoying face of yours!”
“Hahaha! Yes, Sister. Please take care of your health.”
“Fuck off!”
With that, I turned and walked down from the training ground. The aftermath of using such great power came crashing in late. Fatigue and pain surged like waves.
Yet, my body felt incomparably refreshed.
Was it because I had taken another step toward becoming the Patriarch of Winterbell?
Or because I had earned the acknowledgment of Arkan, the Patriarch?
Whatever the reason, it didn’t matter.
As long as I felt good, that was enough.
As I came down the stairs, Cecil, who had been waiting, approached and supported me.
“You’ve worked hard, Young Master.”
“How was it?”
“……It was magnificent. Enough to make me fall for you all over again.”
“Ahem.”
Cecil reached out and carefully wiped the blood from my face.
“Does it smell a lot like blood?”
“How many times do you think I’ve smelled blood?”
“Hahaha. True.”
If I included my previous life, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say I had lived while smelling blood almost every single day.
---
That night.
A small banquet was held at the Annex to celebrate my victory. I hadn’t won the tournament yet, but since I had defeated the formidable Lin Winterbell, everyone affiliated with the Annex was in high spirits.
The atmosphere was as if a festival had opened.
Not wanting to ruin the mood, I ordered everyone—servants and mercenaries alike—to relax and enjoy themselves. Of course, food and alcohol were provided without limit.
I was the one paying for everything, after all.
Although Cecil managed the finances of the Annex, the ownership naturally belonged to me. Recently, I had earned a considerable amount of money through various missions, and as a result, I had also received substantial support from the family.
On top of that, the profits gained from this tournament were enormous.
The family awarded 1,000 platinum coins to all those who advanced to the quarterfinals, and I had also won quite a bit from gambling.
In other words, I was in the most financially comfortable state I’d ever been in.
The training ground in the Annex was usually filled with the smell of sweat and blood, but today, the scent of golden, well-cooked food filled the area instead.
Drunken mercenaries sang songs, while nearby, the servants chatted quietly among themselves.
I watched the scene with satisfaction, sipping on a 42-year-old bottle of Martuien wine.
“You look like you’re in a good mood.”
“I am.”
Cecil and I clinked our glasses.
Gulp. Gulp.
A fragrant grape aroma wrapped around my nose.
The sight of a direct descendant of the Patriarch sitting side by side with a servant, clinking glasses, was something unimaginable within Winterbell—but what did it matter?
This was my Annex.
And Cecil wasn’t just a mere servant.
Cecil, her face flushed red, also watched the people with a pleased expression. Seeing their happy faces seemed to warm her heart as well, and it didn’t feel bad at all.
“It reminds me of the old days.”
By “old days,” she must have meant our previous life.
As we wandered the world to defeat the Demon King, we would sometimes gather with our companions and drink together.
Of course, it wasn’t expensive or rare alcohol like now, but back then, it tasted sweeter than anything else.
“…I miss our companions.”
I nodded.
Because I knew the companions she spoke of excluded those two damned bastards.
“Me too.”
“……Do you think they might still be alive?”
“Maybe. They could be alive—or perhaps they were reincarnated like us.”
“…….”
“Once this friendly match ends, let’s start properly tracking down the rest of our companions.”
“Yes.”
“There’s still a mountain of things we need to do.”
“……Don’t worry. Young Master, you will achieve everything. Winterbell, your revenge…….”
Cecil suddenly fell silent.
I stared at her, waiting for her to finish. She looked back at me and gave a faint smile.
The corners of her eyes curved, and her lips parted slightly.
What was she about to say?
Regardless of my will, my heart began to pound.
Thump. Thump.
“Love as well.”