LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 27
Chapter 27
The Vision of the Sword King’s Throne
Kalel Paul Kaladan, the Duke, quietly closed his eyes. At moments like this, he recalled Harang during their duel.
A small boy, brandishing his sword with black and white flames in his eyes…
“Aran.”
At Kalel’s call, a man who had been walking without a sound from behind revealed himself.
Commonly known as ‘Aran Paradell of the South.’
Among the family’s ‘High Masters,’ he was practically Kalel’s right-hand man.
“What do you think?”
“I believe the youngest grandson’s talent is truly remarkable.”
“No, that’s not what I mean.”
He had known about the talent for three years. Today, he came to see how much and in what way that talent had blossomed…
But he discovered something even more surprising.
“Did you see the light in that child’s eyes?”
“……”
Aran lowered his head.
As a swordsman of the Ninth Star, it was impossible for Aran not to notice.
“……Yes, I saw it. Those eyes that shone brilliantly in black and white.”
“Indeed, it wasn’t my imagination.”
A swordsman of the Tenth Star, a level beyond human, couldn’t make a mistake.
Nevertheless, Kalel wanted to confirm it through someone else.
‘The black and white flame in the eyes. It’s just like the legendary Hero Kaladan from the distant past.’
Countless historical records described Kaladan’s characteristics uniformly.
His sword emitted a silver and black flame mixed with lightning, and his eyes always shone with black flames like the sun.
When Hero Kaladan wielded his sword, black and white flames ignited, black and white lightning struck the world, and the entire land froze with black and white frost.
Sword energy infused with fire and lightning wasn’t that uncommon. Some families often enveloped their weapons in ice or fire.
But for hundreds of years until now…
No warrior or descendant of Kaladan had ever manifested the ‘Black Flame Sword Energy’…
Thus, it was considered uniquely the characteristic of Hero Kaladan.
‘It’s just that his eyes resembled it.’
There was no need to harbor unnecessary expectations. Harang’s sword energy was plainly white. Despite knowing this, Kalel couldn’t help but think of Harang’s silver eyes.
The oldest legend of the Kaladan family.
‘Just like Hero Kaladan, if a descendant appears with black and white light, the Dragon King of the Moon, Kalantatis, will awaken again.’
The Kaladan family was once the greatest and strongest family. The reason they were now called the ‘Three Great Sword Families’ was simple.
Many guardians of the world had made long-standing contracts with other noble families to check the Kaladan family’s power, protecting them.
A guardian’s contractor could use special abilities, and although they rarely appeared on the battlefield, their power served to deter anyone from starting a power struggle.
Currently, the Kaladan family also had long-standing contracts with five guardians, somewhat compensating for the absence of Kalantatis, but it was not enough.
‘Kalantatis was deeply wounded and lost all his power, falling into slumber.’
This was one of the facts only the head of the Kaladan family knew.
‘He can regain his strength by contracting with the Hero again…’
Only when the Dragon King of the Moon, Kalantatis, fully reappeared would the Kaladan family reclaim their former glory and stand at the pinnacle of the world.
“Your Grace, I felt a peculiar sensation when observing the youngest master.”
“Speak.”
“He was certainly doing his best, but not desperate at all.”
As if he knew he would win, as if he could afford to be relaxed.
“Yes… it was.”
Kalel also noticed this. Harang hadn’t used his ultimate techniques or sword energy. Anyone could say he wasn’t desperate.
But what the two swordsmen observed was different. The depth of that composure was extraordinary.
As if hiding some secret from the world.
“I suspect he might have learned magic, but it’s impossible to master both swordsmanship and magic at such a young age.”
“No. He has already learned magic.”
“…Did I hear that wrong?”
“I felt the resonance unique to a mage.”
That didn’t matter. What Harang was hiding was far greater than mere magic.
Something larger and deeper.
Most likely, Harang wouldn’t reveal it himself.
‘That child is wise.’
Kalel still remembered the conversation with his youngest grandson during the proving ceremony. Meeting his gaze directly and conveying his intentions, the child felt like an immortal from Immortal Valley.
“Shall I extract information?”
“There’s no need. Any investigation into the youngest grandson is forbidden.”
If that child truly harbored an immense secret, it would reveal itself eventually. Kalel couldn’t shake off a sense of indignation.
A secret so great that even he couldn’t uncover it?
‘…Interesting.’
He had no intention of forcing the child to reveal the secret, but hiding a part of his abilities at the age of just ten…
That fact alone was intriguing enough.
“I have a good idea, Aran.”
“I’m listening.”
“The youngest grandson has qualified to participate in the Honor Sword Meeting. He’s too exceptional to mingle with his peers. Wouldn’t it be boring to send him in the usual way?”
“I share your thoughts, Your Grace.”
“Then how about this.”
After a while.
Hearing the Duke’s plan, Aran couldn’t hide his shock.
“Are you really going to do that…?”
Unintentionally, Aran asked again, but the Duke never repeated himself.
“…If that is your wish.”
The Duke never joked. Knowing this better than anyone, Aran was unable to shake off his astonishment.
“I will carry it out.”
In the end, he accepted it.
“Ah, right. I should see my youngest grandson soon.”
“Are you planning to reward him just because he performed well in basic training?”
“There is no such thing as ‘just’. Wherever it is, if he showed performance beyond expectations, he deserves an appropriate reward.”
“Surely, you don’t intend to pass on the ‘Heavenly Sword’ already…”
“No, of course not.”
Kalel closed his eyes quietly.
“However, it’s necessary to teach him the basics to master the Heavenly Sword.”
The youngest grandson had sufficiently proven his talent and worth to learn it.
* * *
Astera Continent, northernmost of the Herrael Empire.
‘Fortress of Silence’.
On a sharply carved cliff stood a solitary gray, cold fortress. Its appearance was more eerie than beautiful, but it was never meant to be an aesthetic structure.
This fortress, Fortress of Silence, was the last stronghold that blocked the monstrous waves from the extreme north.
Of course, that was about a hundred years ago. Now, even monsters feared Kaladan and the Fortress of Silence too much to attack. The fortress walls had long become a mere border.
One unique feature of the Fortress of Silence was that once a year, the traditional powerhouses of the Kaladan family gathered there.
Regardless of pureblood or branch family, the Kaladan Council of Elders, comprised of twelve swordsmen who achieved the great level of Nine Stars, would convene.
“Kalel, that guy broke the tradition.”
The Council of Elders was anything but friendly.
There was no beautiful reunion with long-lost family members.
The old men seated around the round table were too entrenched in worldly concerns, busy protecting their own interests, and those in front of him were just political opponents to be wary of.
However, an event that united them had occurred.
Kalel Paul Kaladan, as the family head, had adopted a branch family member as a named disciple and successor!
Moreover, news had reached the Council that he had personally visited this adopted member, breaking another tradition of not interfering with the growth of the White Night Castle’s bloodline as the family head.
“He named a branch family member as the successor.”
“I heard that child is extraordinary. He supposedly has silver eyes even more intense than those of purebloods.”
“This defies tradition. Kalel has denied everything our ancestors upheld. He should step down as the family head.”
“Hmph, you want to put your grandson in his place if Kalel steps down? Even if Kalel is disliked, there’s no one better. Your grandson isn’t capable of reaching Ten Stars.”
“What did you say!”
“And do you think you can make Kalel step down? You’d be lucky if your neck stays intact.”
“Isn’t it enough if the twelve elders’ opinions are unanimous?”
“I disagree. I don’t like your opinion.”
“You bastard…!”
“And to hell with tradition. Can’t you see that many talented branch family members who could have achieved greatness were suppressed by that useless tradition?”
“Fool! Kaladan’s tradition boasts the most ancient history on the Astera Continent. Do you think our standing as the strongest family in the world is a joke?”
“I don’t think it’s thanks to that damn tradition.”
“You insolent…!”
“Enough.”
The twelfth elder, Chendi, raised his palm, unable to watch the elders fight any longer. Why were these old men so eager to tear each other apart?
“I have a question for you all. How do we determine who has inherited Kaladan’s blood most strongly?”
“Of course, it would be the direct descendants who inherited the blood most strongly.”
“Well, I think ‘eyes’ and ‘strength’ are more accurate criteria. It’s also proof of inheriting Hero Kaladan’s power.”
No one opposed his words. In reality, the more intense the silver eyes were, the more beautiful and powerful the individual was.
“Until now, we always assumed that purebloods had the most intense silver eyes, hence inheriting the blood most strongly.”
The old men, who had lived far longer than Chendi, were now watching him in silence, which was quite burdensome.
“However… there is an exception now. A branch family member has appeared with even more intense silver eyes. As I said earlier, the eyes are proof of strongly inheriting the blood.”
“It’s strange. How can a branch family member’s eyes be more intense than those of a pureblood?”
Chendi looked around the room.
“Have you heard of the term ‘skip generation inheritance’?”
A term that signifies genetic traits appearing after several generations.
It was a common concept in this world. In other families, it often happened that those who didn’t inherit the full bloodline showed more distinct strength and talent than the direct line.
But this rarely occurred in Kaladan. Due to Hero Kaladan’s blessing and curse, those who separated from the direct line gradually lost their silver eyes.
Even in the past centuries, there had never been a case where a branch family member who separated from Kaladan had silver eyes.
“Just because it hasn’t happened before doesn’t mean it won’t happen in the future. That boy might be the first case. A branch family member who inherited Hero Kaladan’s blood more strongly than the direct line… It’s not impossible.”
The elders, who had opposed his words, had no choice but to stay silent. He had based his arguments on Kaladan’s tradition from start to finish, so there was no fault in his words.
“Moreover… Duke Kalel has bestowed the ‘Cheongwolheun’ upon him. Do you understand what that means?”
“Cheongwolheun?! No way!”
One elder stood up in surprise. The significance of bestowing Cheongwolheun was not to be taken lightly.
“It seems Duke Kalel sincerely intends to pass the position of family head to that boy.”
Cheongwolheun was not just any sword.
Although it was a remarkable sword in itself, its true value lay in its history.
‘Cheongwolheun, the sword of the benefactor who saved the family from the brink of destruction.’
The twelve elders fell silent. Chendi stroked his mustache as he observed them. By now, they must be feeling a chill down their spines.
“Duke Kalel is sending us a warning. Not to lay a hand on his youngest grandson recklessly…”
With those words, the Council of Elders fell completely silent, and Chendi wiped the cold sweat from his brow, finally able to lean back in his chair.
Had those old men started a sword fight, it wouldn’t just be Kaladan; the world could have been turned upside down. He had barely managed to calm them.
However, Chendi was not necessarily on the side of ‘Harang,’ the name of that youngest grandson.
He had not yet seen the boy’s qualifications with his own eyes.
‘We will find out in time. Whether he truly deserves Cheongwolheun. Whether he acts as a true Kaladan with those silver eyes.’
A ten-year-old boy who attracted the attention of the entire Council of Elders.
When had such a case ever occurred before?
‘Time will tell.’
If the boy truly was a gem like the moonlight, he would prove it by shining on his own.