Damn Family

Willard Stephan.

He felt great pride in his father being a knight.

After succeeding multiple times in monster extermination and being selected by Crown Prince Albert during the imperial unification era, his name spread across the empire.

Thanks to this, the name of Knight Carlton Stephan became well-known not only in the streets but also within the knight order and even among nobles.

Just being the son of such an outstanding man was reason enough for immense pride.

This became a significant turning point for Willard.

“Want to become a knight?”

“Yes!”

To grasp the sword.

To become a knight.

To make that determination.

“Why do you want to become a knight?”

“I want to be a great person like my father!”

Carlton stroked Willard’s head and gladly agreed.

With that resolve, Willard began receiving training directly from Carlton.

The training to hold a sword started.

Countless times he swung the sword, forming blisters on his hands.

He fell many times after being hit by wooden swords, injuries appearing.

Yet,

For Willard, the path to becoming a knight was joyful.

Even as he clashed swords and sweated, all he aimed for was to follow his sturdy father’s back.

One day,

While Willard kept up with the harsh training without complaint, Carlton said:

“There are virtues of a knight.”

“Yes.”

Virtues to learn while treading the path of a knight.

It wasn’t merely about swinging a sword and getting hurt.

The sword should carry nothing but one’s body and spirit.

Do not get carried away by fanciful things; fill it with your own values and beliefs.

And then,

“The knight’s sword must always carry respect.”

The virtues of a knight that Carlton spoke of were like that.

To young Willard, it was too difficult to understand.

So perplexing that he couldn’t even tell how to interpret it.

Still, Willard decided to remember the virtues of a knight that Carlton mentioned.

He said they were qualities a proud knight must uphold.

Being a great knight meant never overlooking these virtues.

Believing that he would gradually understand their meaning by becoming a bit more like his admirable father, he had no doubt.

However,

His belief was shattered before his eyes.

“I have lost.”

Just once.

By bowing his head after clashing swords just once.

As he grew older, Willard understood the virtues of a knight that Carlton talked about.

It was about training both the body and spirit together.

It was about enhancing values and beliefs rather than coveting wealth and possessions.

And…

Always face the opponent with respect and give it your best.

But…

Even though they only sparred once,

How could he surrender so easily?

Isn’t declaring a forfeit in a duel where knights’ honor is at stake a betrayal of the virtues of a knight?

He couldn’t understand it.

Maybe his condition was poor.

Or perhaps his equipment wasn’t in good shape, so he postponed it.

No, there might be other reasons too.

Yet, Willard’s expectations were shattered time and again.

“I have lost, Princess.”

“I will forfeit, Princess.”

“My immature sword cannot reach Her Highness.”

Carlton would suddenly declare a forfeit whenever he met someone.

Even in martial arts tournaments.

Unable to bear it any longer, Willard clenched his teeth and went to ask his father.

“Why do you forfeit, Father?!”

“…Willard.”

“I don’t understand. Father, you keep forfeiting every time you meet someone.”

“…”

“Tell me! Why do you forfeit?!”

When Willard pressed him like that, Carlton closed his eyes tightly.

“Because I can’t win against the princess, Willard.”

“Father!”

“I’m old, aren’t I? And so is she. Understand this.”

Carlton only forfeited against one person.

None other than Princess Arina Bargrand, the first daughter of the House of Bargrand.

Certainly, she was strong.

She consistently ranked high in tournaments, known as a well-rounded heir to the Bargrand household.

But if she was so strong, did it mean Carlton was that weak?

To the point where he had to forfeit without even competing?

To the point where he could be knocked out in just one round?

‘That can’t be!’

Willard had been taught by his father for decades.

So he was even more confident.

He believed that even if he faced Arina, he could have a good match.

If he gave it his all, he could push her or corner her.

Yet, whenever he faced this person, he forfeited.

This made him recall the virtues of a knight his father had mentioned in the past.

“Is it because of… Princess Arina?”

“Willard.”

“How can it be justified that you can’t even aim your sword at her because she’s the head of the Bargrand house?!”

Willard shouted loudly.

“Is this the path of training both body and spirit?! A sword that doesn’t covet wealth and instead carries one’s own values and beliefs?! And…!”

“Grrk.”

“Is this the pride of a knight who respects the opponent?!”

Is it because she’s a princess?

Because she has a higher position and status?

Could it be that lowly that he had to forfeit just to respect the opponent’s position?

‘There’s no way!’

It’s a fight between knights.

A battle where swords carry not just physical strength but also each other’s spirits and souls.

A clash where they bet their pride as knights beyond titles and ranks!

In response to this question, Carlton didn’t answer.

“The sword holds no value.”

All he left behind was an incomprehensible phrase.

Afterwards, Carlton didn’t participate in any tournaments.

He didn’t appear in any matches, whether inside or outside the knight order.

He just stayed within the knight order, teaching new recruits.

It seemed like he abandoned all virtues of a knight, choosing defeat after meeting Arina, and then put down his sword.

Willard couldn’t understand why his father would give up just because the opponent was Princess Arina.

So, despite his lack of skill, he entered martial arts tournaments to find out why.

One day,

Willard attended a martial arts tournament as usual.

And he saw his father’s figure again.

“-Pfft!”

‘What? Just now…!’

Not from anyone else but Carsein.

***

Since then,

Willard never forgot the name Carsein.

Time passed,

An opportunity arose.

Through some means, he met Carsein and could hear his determination clearly this time.

He hoped Carsein would face him properly this time.

Even if he won, he hoped Carsein wouldn’t show the scene of defeat.

He wanted to reclaim the virtues his father had lost.

But,

“I will forfeit.”

Once again, Carsein chose defeat.

He couldn’t understand the reason.

It felt like his father’s beliefs were shattered twice.

Moreover, it felt like the value of those beliefs was crumbling.

Disappointment couldn’t be concealed.

So, he came here and asked Carsein.

“Can you explain why you forfeited in the final round?”

He had clearly said earlier,

“I will win.” As if telling him to watch.

It was natural to feel angry since that promise was broken.

But Willard held back his disappointment.

Amidst the overwhelming disappointment, a surge of anger rose.

“It’s because there’s no value in fighting Arina.”

Seeing Carsein repeat his father Carlton’s words, Willard’s eyes widened.

There’s no value.

Was there hidden meaning in those words?

Wasn’t it that his father hadn’t abandoned the virtues of a knight without reason?

“What do you mean?”

Then, he wanted to hear it.

The true intention of his father.

Carsein smiled bitterly and replied,

“Arina harbors inferiority complex towards me.”

“Inferiority complex? Towards you?”

“Yes. Not long ago, rumors circulated that I might be a candidate for the next head of the Bargrand house. That alone made Arina uncomfortable. So, I forfeited without even clashing swords.”

He raised his sword.

“A worthless sword tainted by petty inferiority complex isn’t worth facing.”

Hearing Carsein’s reply, Willard recalled his father’s voice he couldn’t understand.

“Princess Arina, why don’t you load the virtues of a knight onto that sword?”

At night, alone, holding the sword, Carlton had muttered to himself.

Like lamenting while looking at the sky.

“I’m not driven by ugly jealousy and inferiority. I didn’t pick up this sword to determine superiority or victory.”

Clack.

“I picked up this sword to protect myself, to stand on my own with my own strength.”

His eyes flashed.

A tiny light spread in his pitch-black mind.

Along with the goosebumps running through his body, Willard slightly opened his mouth.

“You were Carlton’s child, Willard.”

“Yes.”

“Was Carlton’s sword teaching you something like that?”

Certainly, it wasn’t like that.

“I see… Father didn’t abandon the virtues of a knight.”

Arina Bargrand.

He didn’t face her because there was no value in it.

He knew what kind of belief the sword carried.

He knew how foolishly the opponent held the sword.

So, he didn’t face her.

Because there was no value.

Because the sword of a disrespectful opponent wasn’t worth facing.

Now, Willard could laugh with a relieved heart.

“No, absolutely not!”

The path of the sword his father taught him wasn’t wrong.

***

“Thank you, brother!”

Willard ran over with a flushed face.

It was strange.

Thinking about Willard and Carlton, and recalling the behind-the-scenes story while progressing through this episode.

I naturally thought of my junior and their sensei.

The one who always forfeited to the firstborn.

That person was also a sensei at a dojo. Simultaneously, he was still a player competing in tournaments with a long, muscular build.

Thus, even though I was unaware of the plot involving this Dead Flag, I could correctly choose the answer.

“Are you satisfied now?”

Turning around, a knight appeared from hiding.

Of course, this knight was a familiar figure.

“Yes, Young Master.”

Carlton laughed relievedly.

He looked so much like that sensei when he smiled like that.

Carlton glanced briefly at the direction Willard ran off, then explained the story behind this situation.

Forcing himself to forfeit to Arina.

The path of the sword he taught leading to a rift with Willard.

And finally, Carsein making the same choice as him.

There were parts he empathized with.

“TING!”

“Willard and Carlton’s father-son relationship successfully recovered!”

“The hidden backstory is revealed!”

“Haha… This was really dangerous.”

So, that commotion was because Willard went dark.

The scene where Carlton suddenly drew his sword against Arina before the bad ending was included for that reason.

…Now, I understand why the Dead Flag was woven in like this.

“A bit forward, but are you really not interested in the position of head of the family, Young Master?”

“Yes.”

“Understood. I’ll need to be careful not to go against your wishes.”

When he said that, there was no hesitation.

But…

Maybe it’s just my feeling,

But there seemed to be a hint of regret in Carlton’s eyes.

“Young Master, you must have plans, right?”

“But.”

“Wouldn’t you include me in your plan?”

When Carlton lowered his head, a status window appeared.

This is…

“I can become your sword, Young Master.”

“TING!”

“All conditions met. Emergency event cleared at Perfect grade!”

“Affinity with Carlton exceeded 80%!”

“High-ranking nobles and influential networks connected to Carlton are favorably inclined!”

“Noblesse Points increased!”

[Current Value: -77]

I gained a huge benefit from an unexpected place.

We chatted a bit more.

From Carlton’s mouth, names of nobles who could be quite helpful for my business poured out.

I already knew Carlton was a notable figure,

But it turned out he was well-known not just within the knight order but also outside.

Thanks to this, he introduced quite a few nobles. He was more of a social butterfly than I thought.

“Though I’m a bit old now, hah. In my prime, I used to hunt monsters alongside His Highness the Crown Prince.”

A major player who participated in hunting monsters alongside the Crown Prince.

I hadn’t expected such a big name.

“…So that’s why Carlton’s training suited my body so well.”

Indeed, when training in the knight order, following Carlton’s curriculum led to particularly high stat increases.

Dong.

The sound signaling the start of the after-party.

“It’s about time to start the after-party.”

“Oh, I’ve taken up too much of your time with my son. I apologize.”

“No, there’s no need to apologize.”

Judging by the Noblesse Points alone, it was a tremendous help.

It’s time for the episode to begin.

I told Carlton I’d go ahead, then exited the field to move to another map.

Then, the status window rang again.

“TING!”

“Episode V: After-party of the Martial Arts Tournament is ongoing.”

“Conditions unlocked due to clearing the emergency event.”

“The number of trade targets fitting Another Plan significantly increased in the after-party venue!”

“Unexpected benefits outside the planned scope are very good.”

It was a great opportunity to make a lot of money.

***

“Let go! You suddenly barged in here, what is the meaning of this…!”

“Silence, Marquis.”

“Grrk?!”

“Clank!”

Treating him like a criminal, the guards put on magic handcuffs.

“What, what is this? Handcuffs?”

“The criminal who sought to bring a great backlash to the empire! Take him to the royal underground prison!”

“Criminal? Nonsense! What crime have I committed to be treated like this…”

The marquis raised his veins and shouted.

“Has anyone said I committed a crime? Show me their faces!”

“There are witnesses here.”

“W-What…!”

Flowing purple hair.

A strikingly beautiful face among the empire.

Perfect etiquette without a single flaw.

The owner of that voice was Harnier.

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