The Bastard’s Way of Life of the Returning Swordsman

Episode 29

Moonlight Sword (4)

The front gate of the central government building was crowded with many people.

“It doesn’t come every day. As for this stuff… … !”

“A talisman to pray for success for just 10 gold… … !”

“My son, fighting! Do it as usual, okay?”

“As I was taught. Just do what you’ve been taught! You can do it!”

A merchant who has been selling stalls since dawn,

Parents wishing their children success

Fifteen boys and girls entering with swords in their hands,

A pickpocket trying to rob among the crowd,

Even the legal prosecutors assigned for public order.

Each of them had different goals and faces.

There was only one reason they came together.

flowering ceremony.

A large-scale ceremony in which Ragnar and 15 sons of noble families in the north gather together to take a test.

Of course, the attention of many people was bound to be focused.

More than anything.

It is known that this flowering ceremony will gather many outstanding geniuses to the point of being called the best ever.

People were busy examining the face of the candidates passing through the main gate.

There was also a lively discussion about who would take the top spot.

– At this opening ceremony, who will take the top spot?

-Yeah. There are too many candidates.

-That’s right, since everyone hasn’t unlocked their magic, wouldn’t it be better for someone who’s tall and strong?

-Then, Mr. Holkus from the Ranke family?

– No bullshit! Two or three years ago, have you forgotten that Holcus-nim was defeated by Ray-nim? Of course, our Ray is the chief!

-Well, then, Holcus-sama’s twin sister, Erika-sama, is also there, right?

-But there are only rumors about him, so little is known about him yet… … .

– Shouldn’t Wellington of the Narcio family be missing? Although they are already called lions.

– Eh, stupid stuff. When did Ragnar ever miss a senior at a blooming ceremony? Of course, it should be from Ragnar. As for our Axion-sama… … !

Most of the people mentioned in the discussion were the 4th rank in the northern part, or those with a reputation comparable to that.

That was then.

“Holkers! It’s Holcus Ranke!”

At the sound of someone shouting, the crowd stopped talking and turned their eyes to one side.

thump, thump… … !

Splitting the crowd, Holcus Ranke was walking.

He was a head or two taller than normal people, so he could be seen clearly even from a distance.

– Ohhh!

– Look at those arms. It’s thicker than my calf?

-wow… … I heard rumors that he grew up, but I never thought he would be like that.

-Are you really fifteen? How big do you want to be when you become an adult later?

– The nickname “bear” really suits you.

‘Whoop whoop… … ! yes. this is it I’m training swordsman for this taste.’

Holcus Ranke smirked inwardly as he felt the numerous gazes pouring on him.

He was, in fact, very fond of receiving the attention and attention of others.

That was the reason why I had fun practicing swordsmanship since childhood.

The more you show an outstanding figure, the more applause the people around you give.

So he intended to monopolize the applause this time as well.

I’m trying to pass through the front door confidently like that.

-By the way, the chief candidate. Shouldn’t ‘Sumho’ also fall out?

Hearing a voice from somewhere, Holcus stopped walking.

-Ah, come to think of it, a few days ago, Seom-ho met Heuk-woong… … !

– Hey, hey! Watch your mouth!

The two men who were talking about Seomho hurriedly shut their mouths.

It was because Holchus’ terrifying gaze fell upon them.

But the gaze did not fall.

Hiccup!

The time when they became contemplative and even hiccuped from surprise.

-It’s the carriage of Suseon Palace!

-Sulbing Sword! Ray Ragnar is here!

– After all, you are as beautiful as what I have heard in rumors.

The carriage door, which was decorated with a beautiful daffodil-like pattern, opened and Ray slowly walked down.

Cold and haughty as if made of ice, people’s gazes followed her every step she took.

All attention was suddenly taken away, but Holcus’s impression was distorted.

But the procession of wagons did not stop there.

Kirik-

-It’s Axion!

-I heard that you moved to the Rose Palace, but you still use the Dongbaek Palace carriage.

– You are dignified. Your eyes are like that of a beast.

Axion smiled lightly as he met Ray’s eyes as he got off the carriage.

“… … .”

“Why but? Anything to say to me?”

Ray silently glared at Axion, then jerked to the front door.

Axion shrugged slightly and followed.

– There’s already a war of nerves going on.

People were busy talking about whether the clash between the northern 4th class was fun or not.

Holcus was annoyed.

Because of those two people, people no longer pay attention to him, so he was angry for no reason.

I hated Ray too.

If you’re going to have a war of nerves, you’ll be seen by your rival, yourself, why are you being seen by Axion?

How can I get my attention back?

While thinking about it for a while, another wagon arrived.

-Was there a wagon like that in Winterer? Are you so pretty?

Two white horses were pulling a chariot so white that it reminded us of northern winter.

From the patterns and decorations seen here and there, it was gorgeous and not burdensome, so it was a wagon that naturally caught the eye.

Even aristocrats who are quite confident in their eyes can admire it.

But.

The figure who got off the wide open wagon door drew more attention.

-wow… … !

He had such a beautiful appearance that everyone burst into admiration.

A slim but solid body that never looks weak,

The white uniform that lives well in shape,

Bright crimson eyes shining like rubies,

Long black hair reminiscent of the night sky,

Even with a modest gait.

It reminded me of a prince in a fairy tale or a statue in a legend that was so vivid that God made it come alive.

It is by far the most eye-catching figure among the applicants who have appeared so far.

Not only Holcus, but also Ray, Axion, and other test takers all stopped and looked there.

-Sumho! It’s a island!

– That person beat the northern 4th… … ?

-her! Were you that handsome?

– It seems to have grown a little taller. The facial features have also become more distinct.

-I heard that the mother was once one of the most beautiful women in the North, and so are her children.

-When you become an adult, many women will make you cry.

It was Theo.

* * *

‘Has Well not arrived yet?’

Theo looked around and tilted his head.

It was because he had been thinking that Wellington had been avoiding him lately.

I hadn’t seen her face for the past five days, and this time I also rejected the offer to go with me to the central office.

I wondered if he was doing this to clear his troubled mind ahead of the opening ceremony.

It was a bit surprising that he hadn’t shown up yet.

Wellington, he knew, always arrived before anyone else when he got an appointment.

You can say hello later after the flowering ceremony begins.

I’m trying to move on with that thought…

‘… … There are too many people.’

Theo belatedly realized that the crowd and even the candidates were all watching him.

It was easy to see that it was all because of his own behavior.

Because I wanted to be able to decorate myself like this.

But what can I do?

It’s hard to resist Cecilia’s urging that her son should shine the most.

It will probably happen more often when there is a big event in the future.

Then, thinking that I needed to get used to it myself, I decided to accept it calmly.

So it really made me feel more at ease.

I could feel the sharp gaze looking at this side.

Ray, who has been watching himself from afar for the past few days.

Holcus looks at himself with a puzzled expression.

And

‘Axion.’

There was still Axion in the form of a mischievous boy with a smile on his lips.

However, there was a murderous intent in the corner of the curved guy’s eyes.

‘It’s still the same.’

Oddly enough, Theo didn’t seem too threatening.

I don’t know if it’s because I’ve already lost against Hangryong, or because I’ve competed with my father.

Axion, who had felt like such a huge wall in his previous life, now felt effortless.

Rather, I felt a sense of triumph.

– Himself and Axion. Now, which of the two is stronger?

Even in his previous life, Axion boasted the most outstanding skills among the 4 northern ranks.

If so, I suddenly wondered how different he would be from himself, who had achieved rapid growth in the past few months.

So Theo smiled lightly at him and passed through the front door.

Was it because he wanted to show fear?

I saw Axion’s face slightly distorted, but I ignored it.

“Hey.”

“… … .”

“Hey!”

A sudden shout from behind.

Since it wasn’t Axion’s voice, Theo thought he wasn’t calling him.

Suddenly, someone tapped his shoulder from behind.

where you turned your head.

Holcus was looking down at him with a strange expression.

‘This guy… … How can I have this strength in such a body?’

At this moment, Holcus was in great shock.

Like Ray, Theo passed himself and started a war of nerves with Axion, so he reached out to help Theo, while throwing him away.

It felt as if I had touched a hard rock.

“Why?”

“Uh, huh? that, that… … !”

“Are you trying to get revenge last time?”

Holkus, who was sober, frowned.

“What is revenge! hey! Aren’t I so petty? The last time was Dalian, and he knows how to accept victory or defeat. If you want to take revenge, just prove your skills at the Flowering Ceremony!”

Theo had an unexpected look on his face.

Holcus, who I had felt so far, was a matcher who hated defeat more than anyone else.

“then?”

“… … Give me.”

“what?”

“… … Teach me.”

“… … ?”

It was very strange to see him hesitantly, not befitting of his large size.

“Tell me right.”

“that is… … !”

“If you don’t tell me, I’ll just go.”

Soon, Holcus’s face turned red like a carrot.

“Go, go, teach me! Now, how to be handsome… … !”

“… … .”

“Oh, can’t you?”

Holkes was ashamed to the bone, but somehow endured it.

If I could somehow find out Theo’s secret, I’d be able to buy people’s attention and interest.

Meanwhile, Theo laughed.

I thought it was going to be a retraining or a question about how to train, but what are you talking about?

“Ah, sir… … If you don’t want to teach me, say no… … !”

“I don’t know either.”

“… … what?”

“I don’t know either.”

“… … .”

“I was just born like this, so what can I say?”

‘Ah, no luck!’

Holcus forcibly suppressed the disgust that was about to come out of his mouth.

Does this mean that ‘You’re ugly is a sin you were born that way, and there’s no way to make up for it’?

“Five minutes until the front door closes. I hope all the remaining test takers head to the Central Office-!”

I heard the guide’s declaration of termination.

Theo checked the time on the clock tower and turned around.

“If you don’t have any more questions, I’ll go first.”

Theo and other test takers said their last goodbyes to their families and moved to the front gate.

“Oh, sir, this isn’t it. oh i don’t know I’ll have to ask you all next time!”

Holcus followed him, tearing his hair out.

bang… … !

With the front door firmly shut and the law enforcement officers strictly monitoring the surroundings.

Theo and all the test takers arrived at the huge empty lot in front of the government building.

The gongteo boasted an unusual appearance.

At the center end, there is a platform with dozens and hundreds of swords randomly inserted.

There were spectator seats to the left and right to observe the contestants.

Those who sat in the audience were usually high-ranking prosecutors with strong energy.

Except for those who went on missions, all the 9 dragons, as well as various combat units, heads and executives of each agency, and even retired elders and elders.

And.

A middle-aged man was sitting leisurely in the center.

All the test takers who saw him swallowed dry saliva in a tense state.

The head of household, Kyle, was smiling while examining the faces of dozens of test takers.

Especially when he saw Theo, he even waved lightly.

The test takers and even the high-ranking prosecutors in the audience looked at Theo with surprised eyes at the appearance of the family head, which is not often seen.

Theo slightly bowed his head in gratitude, but his eyes were fixed on the side of the head seat.

– A woman who is yawning with a sad face.

Did I have to catch up a lot to be in my 30s?

The woman with long black hair, symbolizing Ragnar, did not feel much momentum compared to the other swordsmen.

A feeling of presence or non-existence.

But Theo’s eyes were deeply sunken.

‘As expected, he came this time as well as in his previous life.’

The reason why Theo must take the top spot at this flowering ceremony.

There were several prosecutors, including the family head, who were keeping an eye on him, but the biggest purpose was to catch the eye of that woman.

She had a lot of history, just like the family head.

The head of the former squadron, Hilda Ragnar.

A demi-god that is said to be strong enough to be counted on three fingers among the successive household heads raised by Ragnar.

The monster that was already over one hundred and fifty years old was her true identity.

“Then, let’s start the flowering ceremony from now on!”

ridge! Doo-woong!

The sound of war as if announcing the start of war.

At the judge’s cry, Theo’s gaze returned to the central podium.

‘I was quite surprised when he said that he was in charge of managing the flowering ceremony after breaking his long seclusion. Did he appear because of Hilda-sama?’

The judge was also one of the elder masters with a legendary status just as great as Hilda.

“The first opening ceremony is to pull out one of the iron swords placed on the podium and make a scratch on the iron wall over there.”

Then, someone raised their hand.

The judge nodded.

“Let me speak.”

“thank you. I am Leton of the Hanabi family. That iron wall seems to have been mixed with snow white ingots, while the iron sword inserted into the platform appears to be a steel sword made by smelting ordinary steel. It seems like it would be hard to make even a small scratch, but how do you ask for a scratch… … ?”

“The test taker is right. So from now on, I will distribute the elixir to unlock magic. Give it to all examiners.”

The examiners who had been waiting for the judge’s words began to hand out small advantages to the test takers one by one.

The hands of the test takers who received it trembled.

It was because of the round pill the size of a fingernail, contained inside a transparent lid.

– Soma.

An elixir that says you can gain more than 10 years of magical energy by swallowing just one pill.

For those who had not been able to unlock their magic for the past 15 years, the moment they had only dreamed of had arrived.

“The main key will be how deep the sword can be slashed on the iron wall of Snow White with that power by swallowing the soma and opening the aura hole in the dantian.”

The ability to cope with sudden magical powers,

The talent of the aura hall opened,

understanding of the sword,

The 1st Flowering Ceremony was the first test where complex evaluation contents were harmonized up to the level of swordsmanship.

If he didn’t score solid points from here, the senior could have gone over the water.

“Then, from now on, the candidates whose names are being called should come up to the podium with the soma.”

The judge’s gaze turned to one side.

“The first candidate, Theo Ragnar of Camellia Palace! from now on!”

All eyes hurriedly turned to Theo.

thump, thump-

Theo started to move towards the podium as if it were natural.

“… … .”

“… … .”

gulp!

A dry feeling of tension filled the exam hall.