LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 12
Chapter 12: Day 30, Growth (1)
To get straight to the point, Harang couldn’t bring the Sacred Sword Terandal.
There were two main reasons for this.
The first was:
-You’re still too weak!
Though he was qualified, he was weak. That was the primary reason.
-If you were to wield me now, your life force would be drained, and you would die. Tsk tsk.
The Sacred Sword Terandal was a weapon tempered by absorbing the blood of countless monsters, black dragons, and demigods it had slain. The immense power within it made it impossible for anyone other than those who grew up with Terandal, like the Kaladans, to even hold the sword. In fact, Harang himself couldn’t hold the sacred sword for even two seconds before having to let go.
Terandal slipped back into its original place, and then Kalel explained the second reason.
‘The Sacred Sword Terandal is a family treasure and symbol. If you wish to possess it, you must prove your worth by achieving merits on the battlefield and demonstrating your rightful qualifications.’
The Kaladan treasure vault, Kaladelia, was filled with legendary armaments, and anyone in the family who achieved merits could claim them. The Sacred Sword Terandal was no exception. It was just that no one had met the two qualifications to claim it so far.
‘What a shame.’
He thought he could obtain a cheat weapon from the start.
Creak!
As he was lost in thought, the door opened, and ten boys, girls, women, and young men entered and took their seats in order around the large dining table.
Zing! He felt Charen’s sharp gaze from a distance, but he didn’t bother looking that way. Meeting eyes with the little brat would only be annoying.
The last to appear was Hiron Paul Kaladan, the eldest grandson, who had achieved 7-stars in his late twenties and had made a name for himself on the battlefield. After staring at Harang for a moment, Hiron sat down, and the other direct blood relatives also glanced at Harang. They couldn’t possibly see Harang, who had suddenly appeared and taken the position of a named disciple and heir, in a favorable light.
Harang didn’t feel comfortable under their gaze either. Now, Harang understood why they fought so desperately.
‘The Stigmata Curse.’
It was a condition that only appeared in direct descendants of the Kaladan family, turning their entire body silver and leading to death. The only way to overcome it was to achieve greatness as a Kaladan. Ordinary methods would never suffice. Even with outstanding talent, without heavenly fortune, reaching the realm of 10-stars was impossible.
‘They’re all aiming for the same goal.’
The ‘Shrine of All Gods,’ which only the head of the Kaladan family was allowed to enter. It was said to be the resting place of the spirits of the ancestral heroes of the Kaladan family, where one could learn lost ultimate techniques and obtain the supreme elixirs of nature. Moreover, it was rumored that just entering it could erase the Stigmata Curse. Therefore, no direct descendant of Kaladan could avoid the challenge. No matter how much they wielded their swords, they couldn’t escape the curse that turned their bodies silver and killed them.
‘Can’t they just let everyone in?’
Of course, that would be too convenient. Only one person was allowed to enter the Shrine of All Gods. No sibling would welcome a competitor who suddenly intruded while they were struggling to break free from the curse.
“Everyone is gathered.”
Thud!
At the sound of the heavy door closing, Harang turned his head.
Duke Kalel Paul Kaladan walked slowly with his hands behind his back, and his secretary pulled out his chair for him. He took his seat and looked slowly at the four children who had earned the opportunity for ‘ascension,’ finally focusing on the youngest boy.
Harang Paul Kaladan.
The boy who had aroused the long-dormant interest of Kalel Paul Kaladan.
“The reason for this gathering, as you all know, is to introduce you all to each other as a family under the name ‘Polden’.”
It was lunchtime. Although they had gathered for a meal, no food had been served yet. The meal was not the primary purpose.
‘Being an heir might not be as good as it seems. I understand why there’s a sense of responsibility as a pureblood.’
If it had been an ordinary ascension, he wouldn’t have had to worry about getting caught up in rank fights and possibly being killed. However, there was one fortunate thing: there was an age limit for rank battles. Blood relatives active as Polden Knights could not harm children under 14 politically or physically. If caught, they would immediately have their arms cut off and eyes gouged out, then be expelled from Kaladan.
In other words, it meant he could be caught up in rank battles when he turned 14. If he didn’t establish a solid foundation before then, his neck might really fly.
As Harang slowly looked around at his now-brotherly blood relatives, Arihil, sitting at the far end, smiled brightly and waved. Despite the possibility of a life-or-death struggle, that cheerful expression was something.
“To those who have ascended and earned the qualification of Polden, a reward is due. Charen, youngest granddaughter, what do you desire?”
Charen stood up politely and slowly opened her mouth.
“I desire the Sword of Asirule.”
Those who passed the qualification ceremony were given a reward, but there was a rule. They had to name a weapon from the Kaladan treasure vault, ‘Kaladelia,’ and it had to be appropriate for their level. Therefore, parents usually informed their children in advance about which weapon to claim. Charen and the other four collateral children must have been informed by their parents as well. However…
‘I don’t know what’s there.’
It couldn’t be helped. Harang’s father had died years ago, and no one had taught him the family’s rules. Because the Melize family hadn’t produced an ascendant for so long, he didn’t know what exactly was left, what was good, or what was appropriate for his level.
Kaladelia was said to be full of legendary and mythical weapons, but picking randomly without knowing anything was a waste.
“Next, youngest grandson.”
After Charen and the other four collateral children chose their weapons, it was Harang’s turn. The term ‘youngest grandson’ felt awkward, but he decided to get used to it.
“Is there anything you desire?”
After a moment of contemplation, Harang spoke.
“Can I go and choose myself?”
“……”
“……”
Clink.
Someone dropped their fork on an empty plate.
* * *
People in this world were surprised by trivial things. Was it so strange to say he wanted to choose himself? No, perhaps only Kaladan was strange.
To conclude, his request was rejected. Kalel didn’t seem particularly displeased. He smiled slightly, showing his teeth, and said this.
“Kr-huh-huh, youngest grandson. Only the head of the household can enter Kaladelia. If you really want to go, become the head and then try.”
That was something he hadn’t known.
If they had told him earlier, he wouldn’t have made such a request.
‘They could at least give me a Kaladan manual.’
Why were there so many things he couldn’t do?
‘Still, I received something amazing.’
When he uncovered the cloth wrapping the sword, a scabbard decorated with red patterns appeared.
A silver dragon was engraved on it, and the handle of the sword had a dark black hue.
For Harang’s small frame, it was excessively long, but anyone could tell it was a renowned sword.
The renowned sword, Cheongwolheun.
Meaning “Blue Scar on the Full Moon,” it was a legendary sword used by a swordsman who, according to legend, had once cut the moon.
Kalel realized that Harang didn’t know what was inside Kaladelia, so he said,
“I will personally choose a sword for you.”
It was natural for both the collateral and direct bloodlines to be astonished.
Duke Kalel had never personally chosen a sword for anyone before.
But when Duke Kalel directly stated that he would bestow the renowned sword ‘Cheongwolheun’ to Harang, everyone reacted predictably with resistance.
Cheongwolheun was too excellent a sword for a mere 7-year-old to handle.
“If you show achievements like his, you might receive even better arms. The reason I haven’t done so until now is that your achievements have fallen short of my expectations.”
Duke Kalel’s words silenced his grandchildren and promised appropriate rewards to everyone.
‘If anyone wants to receive weapons like the youngest grandson, show your strength.’
Harang quietly wrapped the sword in the cloth again. The weight, the length, and the aura it exuded were all different.
He thought that if he used it right away, his mana might be absorbed and it would be dangerous.
“The given time is one month.”
Those who had proven their qualifications at the demonstration ceremony, both direct and collateral, were given a one-month grace period to return to their respective castles.
Once they entered White Night Castle, they might not come out for over ten years, so this was the last time to spend with their parents.
Harang, having no parents and no close people, didn’t need this time, but he had a way to use it effectively.
[Quest Great Success!]
[The location where the final mana cultivation method left by Hero Kaladan is hidden is marked on the map.]
The Hero Kaladan’s quests didn’t provide items or goods out of thin air like in games.
When a location was marked, he had to go there and retrieve the items himself.
It was a bit inconvenient, but there was no choice.
‘Having received such an amazing reward, I can’t complain.’
Following the marked location on the map, he arrived at a large, unnamed lake through a deserted forest path from Kalambren’s palace.
“Phew, I’ve arrived. Is there really something in a lake like this?”
The lake was so vast that the far end was not visible, but it was peaceful and quiet.
“Shall I go?”
Harang put down the pouch hanging from his waist and took off his outer clothes before diving lightly into the lake.
Splash! In an instant, darkness surrounded him, but he didn’t feel suffocated.
Those with at least 1-core mana could convert mana into oxygen energy. Although the efficiency wasn’t good, and 1-core should barely last a few minutes, Harang demonstrated extraordinary efficiency by subtly adjusting his body’s strength through blessings.
While the average 1-core could last about 5 minutes, Harang swam for a full 30 minutes, steadily advancing.
After swimming through the depths of the lake, he entered a cave-like place and finally arrived at a temple-like area that emitted its own light.
Despite being located deep underwater, the temple was covered by an air bubble.
Harang shook his wet hair and walked into the temple.
The temple gave off a feeling reminiscent of an ancient Greek temple, with pictures of deer depicted everywhere, suggesting it worshiped deer.
After walking for quite a while inside the unexpectedly large temple, a sudden gust of wind blew.
Whiiiooo…!!
“Ugh.”
Lowering his stance and shielding his face with his arm, he endured until a bright blue light burst forth from inside the temple, illuminating the surroundings.
“This is…!”
Only then could he identify what lay dormant inside the temple.
A deer the size of a hut lay in the center of the temple.
Though it seemed dead, its massive antlers were glowing blue, so bright that the dark lake seemed like broad daylight.
“That… could it be, Tangakhyang, the so-called spirit of the lake?”
It was a well-known guardian even Harang was aware of.
The spirit of the lake and a guardian of the human world who fought against demons—a sacred being. When it took human form, its beauty reportedly ignited the hearts of many humans during its lifetime.
Harang slowly approached the corpse of Tangakhyang.
‘It really is dead, just as they said it disappeared long ago.’
Though it seemed long dead, Tangakhyang’s antlers emitted a radiant blue light. Within the antlers, a highly concentrated mana was dormant, which people commonly referred to as the ‘inner core of a divine beast.’
“It seems I’ve received something even better than the original reward…”
Since Harang was the only one who knew about this place, the legendary inner core of the divine beast was essentially his alone.
‘Receiving the mana cultivation method as a reward and using the divine beast’s inner core to master it, is that the idea?’
Harang ventured further into the temple. In a corner, he found a stone door, which he quickly approached and opened, revealing a small, ancient room.
Inside stood a massive bookshelf, but there was only one book.
Pulling the book out to inspect it, he realized it wasn’t written in human language.
‘The language of dragons?’
Thanks to being a contractor of Kalantatis, the letters transformed themselves, making reading it no problem.
“Kaladan’s mana cultivation method…”
Silver Dragon Divine Qi Technique.
As he absentmindedly read the title on the magic book’s cover…
[Would you like to learn the skill ‘Silver Dragon Divine Qi Technique’?]
Harang almost screamed at the message floating in the air.
“What, wait… this is possible?”
Not expecting even this to be implemented, Harang brought his trembling hand to the [Yes] button.
At that moment.
Harang’s body was enveloped in a silver-white stream, and light began to cover all around.
“Uh, uahhh!!”
In the depths of the unfrequented lake, a boy’s scream echoed, but no one heard it.