This Bastard is Too Competent

[Are you ready now?]

The voice was dry. But the voice was coming from a wisp of smoke that could not be seen with the naked eye.

It was the unidentified power hidden beneath the Garcia family residence.

[Once you're ready, call me.]

This was something Ian had never experienced before.

Its name was <Faith>.

Of course, Ian heard the name when he got out of the basement. 

When strange texts showed up from the underground passage and he drew out some blood from his palm with a dagger as if possessed by something.

As soon as blood dripped onto the pattern, Ian heard a voice.

[I am one of the Seven Virtues who followed the great emperor of Kaistein.]

[Faith.]

[Are you the one who woke me up?]

But Ian couldn't answer.

With those words, a dazzling light burst out and the ceiling collapsed. The next moment he opened his eyes, he had already returned to his room.

The voice, which exuded overwhelming pressure, had disappeared without a trace. 

‘Instead, it left a mark.’

A strange pattern remained on the floor. It looked like a flame mark. 

And on Ian's palm, the same pattern as the splendidly embroidered pattern on the floor was branded. It was like a mark made of blood.

That was why Ian thought he had gained that power. 

But.

[You who woke me up, call me now.]

As soon as he returned to the room, the smoke that came out of his body fluctuated violently. 

No, he would probably stay in this state if he didn’t return to his room any sooner.

‘It's a good thing I told Galon or the servants not to come in before.’

Watching the fierce mana of the smoke, Ian scrunched his forehead.

For some reason, he felt anxious. No, Ian didn't know much about this power in the first place. 

‘Give me a clue at least.’

But soon, Ian looked at his palm.

On the palm of his hand, a pattern he had seen earlier in the basement was engraved.

And as if testing something, Ian stepped on the floor. To be precise, atop the pattern engraved on the floor.

Then something incredible happened.

The moment Ian grimaced, feeling a sting in his palm.

Red liquid oozed out of the pattern branded on his hand and seeped into the pattern on the floor.

At the same time, a huge beam of light poured out of the pattern.

Flash!

Ian hurriedly raised his hand and covered his face from the blinding flash of light. After covering his eyes for some time.

As soon as he opened his eyes, Ian couldn't help but be amazed.

‘This…’

The light emanating from the pattern had transformed the room into another space.

It was a pure white space, and the stuff in the room was nowhere to be seen.

And there was a man standing in the center. 

A man of strong build with a reticent face.

He was wearing thick, massive armor that fitted his size.

He certainly didn't look like a human.

‘It's like a creature made of light.’

His whole body was so blinding to the point that Ian couldn't even see his face properly.

It was like looking at the paladins of a distant country, the Holy Kingdom.

Ian couldn't stand it and asked the man.

"Who are you?"

Of course, he had some guesses since that man had given a hint with his own mouth.

But Ian asked just to be sure. 

Was it really the power that Karan had gained, and would it be a power that Ian can use for himself?

Then the man replied, [I’m Faith. One of the Seven Virtues.]

"Faith?"

As expected, it was a name in Ian's memory.

Faith was mentioned in the legend of the first emperor of Kaistein who once conquered two continents. Although Kaistein had now been relegated to a kingdom and he was called the First King, that man was definitely one of his seven followers.

So, Ian asked.

"If you are Faith, you must be the man called the sword of the First Emperor."

[…]

The man didn't say anything.

He only said a word to Ian.

[State your name.]

Ian answered calmly without being surprised. 

“The Seventh Prince of Kaistein Kingdom, Ian Kaistein.”

[Hmm. You are not my descendant.]

As Ian’s eyes gradually became accustomed to the light, the man's face caught his eye.

Ian stopped breathing for a moment.

‘The Duke?’

He looked exactly the same as the Duke in his youth.

In the past, Ian came to know of his youth’s appearance from a portrait in the Duke's office, so he could recognize it at a glance.

‘Is it possible that descendants refer to Duke Garcia?’

Ian was in shock for a moment. 

One of the seven followers of the First King, who had only been told in legend, was the ancestor of the Duke.

It was something he had never heard from the Duke.

At the same time, Ian was convinced.

‘That's why Karan was able to gain this power.’

Ian was sure that that man was Garcia's ancestor. 

However, after realizing that fact, Ian became anxious.

‘Then, is this a power that I can’t have?’

But it was then. 

[Well, it doesn't matter if you are not my descendant. Rather, you, who have proved your blood, are more qualified than my descendants.]

“My blood?”

The man seemed to have no intention of answering Ian's question. 

Instead, he raised a sword of light high from the waist. There was no intention to attack.

He just shouted with the sword in his hand.

[I will grant you qualifications according to the contract with the Seven Virtues.]

At last, the sword began to shower Ian with light. It looked as if it would be absorbed into his body.

However, Ian felt a bit of pain.

‘My body feels hot.’

But then, <Faith> said.

[Your bowl is still young and weak, so I can't give you all my strength.]

“!”

[However, it will empower you every time your faith becomes stronger and more diverse.]

Faith’s eyes gleamed.

[I will give you the power that is worthy of the faith you have now.]

And in the next moment.

Flash!

A certain power seeped into Ian's body.

Ian felt dizzy from the sudden rush of power and had no choice but to crouch slightly.

It was then.

– “Now, what is my cute little brother going to do?”

“!”

It was a familiar voice. However, it was a voice that was never supposed to be heard here.

‘This voice…'

Ian was sure of it.

It was the voice of the Second Prince. 

‘He must be somewhere in the Duke's castle now.’

Ian wondered if it was some kind of eavesdropping magic or if the Second Prince was making a loud noise, but it didn't seem to be the case.

It felt like Ian's hearing had improved.

Actually, his guess was right.

Ian's ears were so sensitive now that he could even hear ants crawling on the floor.

His body was even brimming with energy.

‘Is this part of Karan’s power?’

<Faith> appeared before his eyes and nodded solemnly.

[It's still very weak, but it will be of great help to you.]

Faith then turned into light and was gradually absorbed into Ian's body, about to disappear. Ian urgently shouted.

"Wait! I still have something to ask—"

But he had disappeared.

All that remained was the energy of Faith left in Ian's body. But for a moment, Ian heard it clearly.

[No one can defeat those who have <Faith>.]

***

Trickle.

The Second Prince received the wine in a glass from an attendant.

He was looking out from the terrace of the most scenic room in the castle that the Duke had assigned to him.

Seeing that, a Lavaltor knight, who had followed the Second Prince, asked with a frown.

"Will it be okay, Your Highness? Regardless of the Seventh Prince's origin, you shouldn’t get drunk…”

However, the Second Prince answered calmly.

“What’s the big deal to teach an inexperienced little boy?”

"But…"

“He’s a kid who hasn’t even received proper swordsmanship training. Do you think I'm going to lose to a guy like that?"

"Of course, it's not like that."

Contrary to the knight’s concern, the Second Prince was overflowing with confidence.

According to the information given to him by the third son of the Duke, at least.

“He learned royal swordsmanship. He is now being trained by a knight, but it is not at a level that can be used in battle yet.”

“According to Sir Nathan, he is training hard to erase the traces of the royal swordsmanship remaining on his body.”

Recalling the information, the Second Prince raised the corners of his lips.

“He’s being taught swordsmanship by a knight, but instead of the technique, he only gets physical training, right? He was even said to have collapsed due to his weak physical strength.”

It was rather a waste to worry about this much of an opponent.

"So, don't worry, Sir Knight, and just wait. I'll take care of him."

"But…"

The knight looked worried until the end.

He had no choice but to do so.

"Didn't you tell the knights not to accompany you? That applies not only to the Seventh Prince but also to Your Highness.”

In other words, both of them would be defenseless.

The knight was concerned about it.

‘A sword has no eyes. It is carelessness that takes knights’ lives at the hands of soldiers on the battlefield.’

It was Lavaltor's creed to do their very best no matter how weak the opponent was.

Of course, the knight never thought that the Second Prince would lose to Ian, but he couldn’t help it nonetheless.

"Please don't let your guard down, Your Highness."

"Rest assured, I have that, too.”

“!”

The Second Prince smiled contentedly as he looked at the object in the corner of the room.

It was a sword oozing with ominous energy.

The dark black-and-red blade was crystal clear. 

It was an item he specially chose after he heard that Ian was coming to the royal castle.

The Second Prince smiled cruelly.

‘You dare use me, so I'll play with you.’

Crack!

The glass in the prince's hand shattered. Red wine trickled down his hand.

Like the blood about to spill from Ian who had dared use him.

***

The next morning.

"Our youngest is so rude. He makes me wait again."

The Second Prince had been waiting for Ian since morning at the training hall.

A knight warned him.

“I will only tell you one thing, Your Highness.”

He was unexpectedly Garcia's knight, not Lavaltor's.

“Please do not forget the Duke’s words.”

The Second Prince chuckled at the knight’s words who seemed to have been sent by the Duke just in case.

"Don't worry. I don't want to kill either. Well, neither I nor anyone else will be held responsible for whatever happens in the middle of the match."

“…”

The knight's face grew heavy. He knew the true intentions of the Second Prince.

‘Don't tell me… you're going to cripple your half brother.’

But all Duke Garcia could do was nod his head.

It meant for the knights to stick to the Duke's order to keep the surroundings under control and never mind whatever happened.

Meanwhile, Ian arrived.

The Second Prince welcomed Ian with a bright expression.

"All right, Brother. I've prepared a special training session for you before attending the legitimation ceremony."

"What kind of training is it?"

"Before that, the blade that you have is too shabby for you."

“!”

The Second Prince pointed to the dagger strapped to Ian's waist.

And he beckoned a knight to hand over the prepared item.

"Use it. It's a gift for my brother."

Ian was surprised to see the sword brought before him.

‘Isn’t that sword…’

That sword was undoubtedly the royal family's treasured sword, and it was well-known that only the true successor of Kaistein could wield it.

Of course, there was no way that the Second Prince would take him seriously and give him something like that with goodwill. 

In fact, the Second Prince was laughing inside.

‘Yes, that’s a sacred sword, but no one in the royal family can wield it properly.’

It didn't matter when it was sheathed, but the moment it was pulled out of the scabbard, the blade would instantly become as heavy as a lump of rock as if it were stuck to the ground.

Soon the Second Prince unsheathed his sword and walked over.

"Listen carefully. Legitimation ceremony is a gathering place for all nobles. You must be able to handle and withstand any shrouded intent, any attack."

At the same time, the moment the sword landed on Ian's hand, the Second Prince raised his voice.

“So, take this blow first!”

The Second Prince made a move with a maddened smile.

He must have believed that Ian would be defeated without even being able to properly hold the sword.

But it was actually a really good thing.

"Good. Then I'll show you what I've learned so far."

There was a reason for it.

That black sword was the sword that Ian used in his previous life.

Grip.

Ian clasped his hand on the sword hilt.