Chapter 2 : Chapter 2
Chapter 2
When I regained consciousness, a pure white ceiling greeted me.
"...My head."
An unfamiliar soft blanket, and a spotless white room arranged with neat precision.
Tracing back through the memories of my previous life, I inferred where this place was.
"...I definitely remember that after I failed to accept the dragon’s mana and became a cripple, rescue came a week later. The Imperial Knights Order... In that case, this must be..."
‘The quarters of the Imperial Knights Order, or somewhere on that level.’
I swallowed the rest of the thought and slowly gathered my aching mind.
"At least a week, maybe more, has passed? Damn it. Ever since I regressed, every time I open my eyes, I’m somewhere else. They won’t even give me time to adjust."
I rubbed my eyelids, cleared my blurred vision, and pushed myself upright.
When I stepped outside the room, I came face to face with a woman who appeared to be a maid.
"Oh my, you’re awake?"
Her respectful manner and the etiquette ingrained into her every movement.
‘Someone of fairly high standing must be here.’
After quickly taking in what I could from the maid, I nodded.
"Please wait just a moment. I’ll call someone right away."
***
"I am Kurost of the Imperial Knights Order. With this, even the last test subject has finally awakened."
The man who appeared with someone who seemed to be an attendant at his side introduced himself.
"......"
Perhaps my silent nod displeased him, because the attendant frowned.
Noticing that, Kurost stopped him.
"It is fine. The child has undergone biological experimentation for a long time, so it is only natural for his mind to be in ruins. A speech impairment would hardly be strange. Expecting manners even from a child like this would be laughable. Bring paper and a pen."
"......"
‘I don’t have a speech impairment.’
Still, I did not want to put Kurost in an awkward position, so I decided to act as though I did.
"Now then. First, you must be wondering what happened. We received information about an organization abducting street orphans and carrying out inhuman biological experiments on them. We succeeded in rescuing you, and for now you are under the temporary protection of the Order."
‘As expected, no one knows that the emperor himself stands at the very top of that organization.’
But if I revealed that fact now, I would be arrested on the spot for insulting the imperial house.
Knowing that all too well, I nodded once more.
"Unfortunately, they covered their tracks too thoroughly. Other than the fact that they were conducting biological experiments to adapt monster mana to human bodies, nothing else has been uncovered. Every remaining document had been burned or destroyed, all the guards were dead, and even the unknown mage who served as the key administrator appears to have fled after cleaning up the records. If you understood all that, nod your head."
‘Of course they did. The mage had secretly branded even the guards.’
That was the end awaiting those idiot guards who believed they were safe.
As long as the system of brands existed, not only we but even the guards were never truly free of that place.
When I nodded, the knight continued.
"That brings us to the problem of what to do with all of you... In truth, that is the greatest problem of all. The others can be dealt with somehow... but you are the biggest issue."
I was the biggest issue?
What did he mean? As I stared at him quietly, Kurost scratched the back of his head and spoke as though he had a headache.
"Do not be alarmed by what I am about to say. When we examined your mana in order to erase the brand and check your condition, we detected the mana of House Nordiar, the Grand Ducal House of the North. Your body was filled with foreign mana, yes, but your own mana was unmistakably that of House Nordiar."
It was not shocking to me in the slightest, but I judged it would be best to pretend otherwise, so I widened my eyes.
"When we inquired with House Nordiar, they denied it at first, but in the end they seem to have admitted it. An illegitimate child of House Nordiar, a family that has always lived by rules as rigid as iron. Even I can scarcely believe it. Their reputation has taken a hit because of it, of course, with people saying they abandoned a bastard child to the streets. In any case, you will be transferred to House Nordiar and await their decision there."
I took the pen and wrote on the paper.
-What about the disposition of the other children?
"The others will be enrolled in an Academy run by the Imperial Household so they can learn the knowledge necessary for life. But why do you ask?"
-I would like to take in one of them.
"Take one in, hm."
Perhaps my manner of speaking had sounded slightly odd for a child.
The knight stroked his chin and sank into thought.
"...That is not something we can decide on our own. It should be left to the child in question. Even if you do carry the blood of House Nordiar."
-I have no intention of forcing anyone.
He was a talent who had grasped the method of controlling mana early on, calming the foreign mana of monsters within him.
He was someone who would be of help to House Nordiar later, but I had no intention of forcing along someone who did not wish to come.
***
-Is this all of them?
"...Regrettably so."
Two boys. One girl.
Four, including myself.
The survival rate among the test subjects was abysmal.
‘Strange. In my previous life, I remember quite a few more surviving. Well, I can roughly guess why.’
It was probably because I had succeeded in accepting the dragon’s mana, which led them to alter variable after variable and carry out experiment after experiment.
As a result, the survival rate must have plummeted.
‘Then these children must not have gone through the dragon experiment.’
There was no one but me who could accept dragon mana, so I was certain.
One of the surviving boys stepped forward.
"I heard they found you in the room next door. Strange guy."
‘Nine? No, wait.’
The moment I heard his voice, I knew instinctively.
But even more surprising than that,
‘...This guy was him? He was one of the same test subjects?’
In my previous life, there had been a suicide corps formed to face the emperor, made up only of the elite among elites.
And even among them, there had sometimes been truly exceptional people.
For example, someone of such high standing that he was effectively on the level of the vice commander of the Imperial Mages Corps.
Even though I had never seen his face because of the stone wall between us, and even though his features were far younger now than they had been then, I could still be sure.
‘The vice commander of the Imperial Mages Corps.’
Nine was that man.
"You said you wouldn’t die... Then you went silent for an entire week, so I thought you really had died, you idiot! And why can’t you talk now?"
‘Was he always this chatty?’
I had to use what little strength I had to pry away the hands shaking me by the shoulders, but perhaps because we had endured the same experiments together, I was still more glad to see him than anything else.
"...Good to see you. You look well too."
Perhaps because it was the first time I had spoken in over a week, my voice came out a little awkwardly, but it was still my voice.
Maybe because he had believed I had a speech impairment, Kurost looked at me in surprise when I spoke.
"...So you can speak."
"I had been unconscious for over a week. Please forgive me."
"In any case, that is not what matters. Number Nineteen, listen carefully and do not be alarmed. You have been given the opportunity to enter the service of the illegitimate son of House Nordiar. If you do not wish to, then say so plainly."
"...House Nordiar? The greatest Grand Ducal House in the North? No way! Your life’s turned around, strange guy!"
"......"
Nine made a huge fuss, while the other two glanced around uncertainly at the sudden turn of events.
I spoke to Nine.
"You know how to control mana, and you taught yourself. You are, in your own way, a proven talent. I can at least promise you decent treatment."
Nine flinched at my words.
Seeing that he was hesitating, I spoke to him sincerely.
"...To be honest, talent is only secondary. You are a comrade who endured hell with me, so I intend to keep my word."
Was it because a sense of comradeship had formed between us after sharing the hell of those experiments?
Practical gain—such as helping stop the emperor—mattered less to me than emotion did.
Perhaps my sincerity had reached him.
The words that came from Nine’s mouth were exactly the words I most wanted to hear.
"I’ll go. It’s a chance to become a knight of the Northern Grand Duke. And rather than get stuck at some Academy in the imperial capital, I’d rather go north and see a wider world."
"Thank you for coming with me."
In this life, as long as I could reach out my hand, I would make you into the greatest mage.
***
A few days later.
"Whoaaa... So this is what it means to be called the best."
Nine stood overwhelmed by the grandeur and solemn majesty of the mansion.
The enormous estate could be seen from far away, and even at a distance its scale was already impossible to miss.
‘The frightening part is that they are not even indulgent. If a mansion turns out like this without extravagance, I cannot even imagine the amount of support behind it.’
House Nordiar.
The greatest Grand Ducal House, defending the North from foreign enemies on a barren land.
The swordsmanship passed down from generation to generation, and the uniqueness of the mana etched into their bloodline, were things everyone longed for.
Not only were their lands vast, but the support they received from the Imperial Household was also immense.
Even so, to the public they were seen as battle-crazed warriors who did nothing but fight upon a cold and barren land.
No matter how great the foremost Grand Ducal House of the North might be, if one told people to send their children to such a desolate place, many would surely shake their heads.
The driver handed the letter to the guard, and we passed through the main gate.
"This is as far as I go. I wish you good fortune, young masters."
With that final farewell from the driver, we followed a guide into the mansion.
Overwhelmed by the dazzling interior, Nine looked around in every direction and let out one admiring gasp after another.
"Good heavens. It shines no matter where you look."
‘...Of course he would find it amazing. After spending almost his entire life as a test subject, the first place he ever encounters is the residence of a Grand Ducal House.’
To me, however, the mansion was endlessly familiar.
"You, on the other hand, look awfully used to it. Even though this mansion is this impressive."
"Who knows."
I gave Nine only a short answer.
The guide stopped before what appeared to be a reception room and knocked on the door.
"Your Grace, the people you arranged to receive in advance have arrived."
After observing proper etiquette, the guide opened the door.
Inside the spacious reception room stood an antique table, chairs, and a chandelier, and seated along the length of the long table were three young siblings.
At the seat of highest honor sat Grand Duke Atlin Nordiar, staring at us with sharp eyes.
The Emperor’s First Sword, who defended the North.
A Sword Grand Master whose name would remain in history.
A genius of the sword, born and unmatched.
He dismissed the guide with a wave of his hand.
Before the Grand Duke could even speak, I pulled out an empty chair and sat down on my own.
"Well, it was obvious you were going to tell me to sit, so I took the liberty of sitting first."
"......"
The air in the reception room froze at my attitude.
The Grand Duke’s gaze darkened, and the third child leapt to his feet and shouted.
"You ill-mannered wretch! At once—"
"Wait, Cannon."
The second child, Ashili Nordiar, quietly stopped the third.
Leaning back in my chair, I looked at the Grand Duke while recalling the old memories.
‘This is the attitude I must show him. If I bow my head from the beginning, he will devour me whole.’
The Grand Duke looked straight at me and slowly opened his mouth.
"A thing like you... is supposed to be the bastard of House Nordiar?"
"So it would seem. I was rolling around the streets, and by sheer luck, here I am."
At the sight of me shrugging as though it were of no importance, Cannon ground his teeth.
"You dare...! In front of Father, with that attitude—!"
"Well, I am a little nervous. It is my first time standing before my father, after all."
"Father?!"
Cannon’s furious voice rang through the reception room.
The Grand Duke raised a hand to stop the third child and fixed his eyes on me.
"Are you playing games right now?"
"Do I look as though I am joking? The mana of House Nordiar flows through my body. If you are not my father, then what exactly am I supposed to call you?"
Killing intent flared in the Grand Duke’s eyes.
Truly, he deserved to be called the Empire’s finest sword.
It became hard to breathe beneath that pressure, but outwardly I acted as though nothing were wrong and kept the same sly expression on my face.
Nine, however, seemed less unaffected, and jabbed me in the side under the strain.
"Hey, are you insane? Please, just—!"
I brushed Nine’s hand aside lightly and looked at the Grand Duke again.
"By the way, Father, where is my mother? Surely she would want to see my face at least once."
"......"
For a brief instant, a look impossible to describe passed through his eyes, but what followed was unmistakable anger.
The teacup in the Grand Duke’s hand creaked as though it might shatter.
Older sister Ashili quietly spoke.
"Father, please maintain your dignity. If you do not recognize that child as your son, then he is an outsider. And I was taught that House Nordiar does not treat outsiders harshly."
If he would not acknowledge me as his son, then he should treat me courteously as an outsider.
The Grand Duke frowned at her logic.
‘Older sister Ashili always acted as though she did not care, yet she helped me a great deal.’
In this Grand Ducal House, stricter than anyone when it came to rules, she had been the only person I could lean on.
At Ashili’s words, the Grand Duke let out a slow breath and smoothed over his expression.
"Who is the one beside you? I was informed beforehand that he was your friend."
"Ah, a friend? No. I took him in."
At the expression “took him in,” the Grand Duke—who had only just barely seemed to suppress his anger—glared at me once more.
"You have not even been acknowledged as a member of the bloodline of the North, and yet you say you have taken someone in? By whose authority? Do you think that makes any sense?"
"I object as well! This bastard! By whose authority are you saying you took someone in?!"
The third child, Cannon, slammed the table and exploded in rage.
I crossed my legs comfortably and answered.
"By whose authority? Mine, of course. Even the Imperial Knights Order gave its permission, so what exactly is the problem?"
"You insolent brat...! Do you think the Grand Ducal House is something to be taken lightly?!"
"Insolent, you say? Well, I grew up on the streets, so I do not know much about etiquette. But the way you fly into a rage first like this makes you look no different from someone like me, a gutter-born stray, than like a child of the Northern Grand Ducal House, brother."
I deliberately smiled in a provoking manner and attached the form of address “brother.”
"You dare—!"
"You keep saying ‘how dare,’ but if the blood of House Nordiar runs through me as well, then even if we have different mothers, are we not still brothers?"
"Silence!"
The Grand Duke raised a hand to stop the third child.
Then he looked straight at me and spoke coldly.
"What is it that you want? Wealth? Status? If there is something you desire, then say it. Then take it and get out."
"Me?"
I fell silent for a moment.
‘I wanted to be acknowledged.’
Memories from my previous life flashed through my mind.
I had devoted half my life to winning your acknowledgement.
Even the comrades who used to call me a scoundrel had patted my shoulder and acknowledged me in the end.
At times like that, what had you thought of me?
Had you ever once thought of me as a son to be proud of?
‘No, you hadn’t.’
And then I gave up on everything and became a scoundrel.
I drowned it all in drink.
I lived however I pleased, doing whatever I wanted.
I ruined myself.
‘And yet, why did you protect me in the end?’
And what were the final words you spoke?
But I could not show any of that now.
I put on a light smile again and said,
"Who knows. I do not really know what I want either. It is just that seeing the family that abandoned me on the streets living grandly as the Northern Grand Ducal House leaves a rather bitter taste in my mouth. So I thought I would at least come and see my great father’s face once."
"......"
The Grand Duke’s gaze turned colder still.
"You do not know what you want? Then leave at once. This is no place for you."
"Leave? That would be a little difficult."
I answered with the same smile still on my face.
"The blood of House Nordiar runs through me too. If you cast me out so easily, that would not do much for your dignity, would it? Or what is it? Are you really planning to throw me out onto the streets? Again?"
"...It was a mistake to let you grow up at all. To think you would become a scoundrel so incapable of knowing his place."
"You let me grow up? I raised myself on the streets."
As he watched me continue to provoke them through sheer verbal sparring, the first child, Philion, spoke for the first time.
The eldest brother—who always crossed his arms and observed incidents from a neutral standpoint whenever anything happened.
"Interesting."
His voice was so flat it was almost hollow.
"The bloodline of the North is special. I agree that it makes little sense for some stone that rolled in from outside to suddenly claim it, but neither can we deny the fact that the same mana flows through that child as through us."
"You have something in mind?"
The Grand Duke asked in a level voice.
"Let us test him. Whether he possesses the qualification to claim he shares our bloodline."
Elder brother Philion looked straight at me.
"If you dare put the name of House Nordiar in your mouth, then you must prove you are worthy of it. Is that not so?"
I rose from my chair and answered slowly.
"A test? Fine. I was bored anyway, so this should be entertaining."
At the sight of me answering with that arrogant smile, a different emotion flickered through the Grand Duke’s eyes for the first time.
It was neither anger nor bewilderment, but a peculiar interest.