Chapter 9 - My Own (3)
"Yes. Probably."
"Probably?! This is the realm of perfect Union Sword! And at an even higher level... Phew."
The Inspector sighed and shook his head.
"Perfect connection, and even the keen edge surrounding the blade. It's astonishing. It's been a long time since I've seen Union Sword of this caliber. The last time was in that training ground six years ago..."
"Are you referring to my father?"
"Yes. It's almost identical to what your late father demonstrated then. Did Young Master reach this stage even before being kidnapped?"
"No."
I shook my head, stating the truth.
"In terms of swordsmanship, I had just reached the 5th Stage. However, even that isn't precise. My brother, who helped me train, simply said so."
"Your brother... You mean Young Master Rajiks. But 5th Stage, that's certainly impressive for your age, but... Ahem."
The Inspector cleared his throat and erased his surprised expression.
"Then you're saying you reached the realm of Union Sword at that moment of absolute desperation?"
"That's right."
"At the very moment the minions swarmed to kill you... Indeed, it seems blood is different. Like father, like son... Oh, my apologies. My words slipped out."
"No. It's fine, don't worry about it."
"Honestly, I'm truly surprised. As Young Master knows, Union Sword is the seventh stage of swordsmanship defined by the Sword King family. And even calling it the 7th Stage is an understatement... I myself am still at the 6th Stage. Most renowned swordsmen are in a similar situation to me. So, this is truly remarkable."
I understood why the Inspector was making such a fuss.
My brother had said the exact same thing before.
"In fact, there aren't many people in the entire Sword King family who have reached the 7th Stage. And even those who have attained it, hardly anyone can wield it perfectly."
That's why my father gained such immense renown during his lifetime.
While there were people who surpassed Union Sword, hardly anyone could wield Union Sword as perfectly as my father.
In any case, just maintaining this technique significantly drains concentration.
I immediately released the union and placed the sword on the table.
"Thank you for lending me your sword, Inspector."
"Don't mention it. Thanks to it, I'm completely convinced. Union Sword, indeed. It's a realm that the Poison King family's minions couldn't possibly handle. No matter how bad your physical condition was, even if you couldn't wield Aura."
"Yes. I cannot wield Aura."
"Oh, I apologize. I wasn't particularly trying to emphasize that."
The Inspector gave an awkward laugh and shook his head.
"I merely wanted to say that the Granvelle family is indeed different. Disobeying the superior's order was the correct choice. Losing Young Master would have been a great loss for the entire Sword King family."
"You flatter me. But what do you mean by 'disobeying the superior's order'?"
"Survivor rescue was not the top priority. That was to be handled by the follow-up units."
"Then..."
"The search party's priority was site preservation and investigation. I simply gave the order on my own initiative when I discovered Young Master."
"Wouldn't that cause a lot of trouble?"
"Not a lot of trouble. I merely received a slight pay cut and a suspension. Haha..."
"You suffered because of me, Inspector."
"This is nothing."
The Inspector simply smiled.
"I owe the Granvelle family a great debt. If your late father hadn't guided me, I wouldn't have reached this position. Pay cut and suspension? This is getting off easy."
"If it weren't for you, Inspector, I would already be dead. Thank you once again for saving me."
I bowed my head.
The Inspector also bowed his head.
"No, I thank you for being alive, Young Master Ray."
"Inspector."
"Your late father cherished and took great care of me. He even, at one point, suggested I join the family as an adopted son."
"Adopted son?"
"You haven't heard?"
"I haven't. So, I might have gained another older brother."
"He would have been a much older elder brother. Haha... But I declined that offer."
"Why?"
"The Granvelle family already had many excellent children. If someone like me had just intervened and caused friction, it would have been repaying kindness with enmity... No, no. I spoke out of turn."
Pale wore a bitter expression.
I shook my head, recalling the brothers he just mentioned, Brother Rajiks and Sister Lily.
"No. Brother and Sister would have liked you too, Inspector."
It's common for the eight main Sword King family branches, or the ten auxiliary Sword King branches, to adopt sons.
Pale smiled awkwardly and rubbed the back of his head.
"I don't know how to respond to such words. But I must ask one more question."
"Yes. Please ask."
"No trace of any poisonous substance was detected in Young Master's body."
The Inspector raised a finger, emphasizing his point.
"Literally not a single trace was found. Even after performing every kind of test since your arrival here. Not only the five types of poisons primarily handled by the Poison King family, but also the unknown poison samples taken from the poison cave were not detected.
We even compared it with the unidentified poison extracted from your deceased father's body, and that too was not detected."
"Hundred-Year Poison."
"Yes?"
"It's the poison used to subdue my father. I heard the enemies talking about it."
"Hundred-Year Poison, you say... So that was its name. It seems to be a newly developed poison by the enemies."
The Inspector nodded and continued.
"Anyway, Young Master's body is pure as itself now. Of course, that's a good thing, but... I don't understand it. Shouldn't you have been poisoned given the circumstances? Does Young Master know anything about this?"
How would I know that?
I didn't actually say that.
I merely remained silent with an expression of incomprehension.
Of course, I knew the reason.
At the moment my brother, sister, and Tiber left me, they gathered all the other poisons that were eating away at my body and left with them.
But this was a secret.
If I revealed the truth here, my future would flow in a completely different direction.
So I altered the facts with another plausible story.
"Ah, now that I think about it, I vomited blood before I collapsed at the end."
"Yes?"
"It was black blood. It smelled terrible too. I couldn't see it clearly because it was dark... I vomited an immense amount, to the point where I wondered if anything would be left in my body, then lost consciousness."
"Hmm. In that case, it seems you expelled the poison then."
The Inspector nodded with a surprised expression.
"Some people reportedly expel large amounts of accumulated poison from their bodies. It's a unique constitution. I've certainly heard of such cases before."
Yes.
I'd heard of it too.
To be precise, I didn't just hear it; I read it.
It was recorded in the history books in the mansion's library.
"Indeed... So that's what happened. Understood. Then, that concludes my questions. Thank you for your cooperation, despite your difficult circumstances."
"Not at all. It's only what I should do."
"In that case, the higher-ups won't suddenly intervene either. The research department's request will likely be dismissed for now... Anyway, it's fortunate I proceeded with this earlier."
"What do you mean by that?"
"Hmm. From now on, I have something separate to tell you."
The Inspector picked up some documents, wrote something, and sighed.
"Phew... First, I regret having to tell Young Master, who has endured such a terrible ordeal, this. But it's an issue of utmost importance to the Sword King family... and something Young Master absolutely must know, so I will be direct."
"Yes. What is it?"
No matter what it was, it didn't matter.
It would be nothing compared to all the events I had already experienced anyway.
"Due to the death of Roah Granvelle, the head of the Granvelle family, it has been tentatively decided that Ray Granvelle, the sole remaining blood relative, will succeed him as head of the Granvelle family."
"Tentatively?"
"Yes. Tentative, not confirmed. Young Master must prove your qualification as head of the family according to the regulations of the Sword King family's Succession Management Office. Of course, there are sufficient extenuating circumstances now to buy time..."
The Inspector continued to write on the documents, a wry smile on his face.
"I will somehow buy us time. We can hold out for at least two years."
"Two years?"
"That's right. For the next two years, Young Master can serve as the interim head of the Granvelle family."
"Then what do I need to do by the end of those two years?"
"There are various things. Rebuilding the family's main base, satisfying the conditions required by the Succession Management Office... Of course, there's a more urgent matter right now."
"What's that?"
"Academy enrollment."
The Inspector emphasized his last statement with a serious expression.
"Academy enrollment. This is the most important thing."
"Why?"
"Because it is the minimum condition to become the head of one of the eight main branches of the Sword King family."
It was also the minimum condition that led to the future of revenge.
I frowned, looking baffled.
This wasn't an act.
I genuinely didn't understand.
Most of the process in the future I saw was blurry or omitted.
What on earth happens in between that prevents any path to revenge without enrolling in the academy?
"The academy only accepts enrollment once in a lifetime, at the age of 15. There are no exceptions. And as I mentioned, without a record of attending the academy, one's qualification as the head of a main branch is not recognized."
"This is the first I'm hearing of such a thing. Is it an unwritten rule?"
"No. It's a formalized law of the Sword King family. Isn't it only natural for a family successor to enroll in the academy? That's why it's not usually mentioned."
"But an exception has occurred here."
"There are no exceptions. Therefore, Young Master must first enroll in the academy."
"But I..."
I shook my head, recalling my sad past.
"I was rejected from academy enrollment. Because I have no leyline affinity, because I can't wield Aura."
"I know. I've checked the records of your academy test a few months ago. But..."
The Inspector suddenly picked up the water glass on the adjacent table. I waved my hand lightly and said,
"It's fine. I'm not thirsty."
"This isn't drinking water."
The Inspector shook his head and placed the water glass in front of me.
"This is a toxicity response test. It's not the official one, but a simple test."
"...Yes?"
"The method is simple. Please put your finger in the water glass."