This Bastard is Too Competent

What Ian chose was none other than…

[Cloak]

He had one reason for choosing it.

‘The self-portrait of the First King I saw is always accompanied by this cloak.’

Of course, it wasn't without other items. However, this cloak appeared the most frequently and was always worn.

So, Ian concluded that it must have some special ability compared to the other things.

As soon as Ian picked up the cloak, he wrapped it around his body.

Shhh…

The cloak shone and wrapped itself around Ian's body. It didn’t end with just that.

Originally, Ian had to drag it on the floor because it didn't fit, but it shrank to fit perfectly with Ian’s child body.

And it wasn't just about adjusting the size.

Shaaa!

Warm air flowed into the cloak. This was obviously the effect of the warming spell.

In addition, although it looked like an ordinary cloth, there was no scratch even when a sword slashed it. It was clear that a defense function was also imbued in it. 

‘It’s definitely worth wearing all the time.’

But there was something regrettable about it.

‘I wish I could take all the rest.’

Ian wanted to put the whole armoire in the small subspace ring.

But he couldn't.

Just as Ian had expected.

Crackle!

The armoire refused Ian's touch. It didn't even go into the [Small Subspace Ring].

The capacity also mattered, and the magical power contained in the armoire itself was strong as well. 

But there was no time to delay.

Bang!!!

"Ugh!"

It was because the entrance he came from had been crushed and the three-headed hound had entered.

The monster was obviously enraged at the fact that Ian had lured it with some food.

Sure enough, the three-headed hound that followed Ian stormed with a ferocious roar. 

ROOARR!

Ian promptly readied his sword.

‘Damn it.'

The problem was his position. A flight of stairs extended behind the three-headed hound.

He had to get past that monster somehow to get out of here. 

Ian pulled out the sword he had prepared for this moment. If the situation called for it, he would steel his resolve to smash its maw with the sword’s weight.

Kiieeekk!!

The three-headed hound bared its fangs at Ian, who had his sword pointed up. 

But right then.

Flinch.

The monster that was running as if to tear Ian to death came to a halt.

It stopped growling and even took a step back.

Seeing that, Ian smirked inwardly.

‘I knew it.’

Ian stuck out his sword with a confident face. 

And every time he did, the monster became more frenzied as if it hated it.

But it never came close. 

‘I am glad that my prediction was correct.’

That monster was afraid of Ian's sword.

The reason it was so afraid was because of the material that made this sword. 

The star stone.

An ancient, extremely hard mineral that never bent and was said to be effective against monsters.

The mineral was difficult to obtain now, but all the precious swords of the royal family from ancient times were made of that mineral.

‘Thank god what I saw in the book helps.’

Although it was a gamble with his life on the line, he thought that this sword was the only chance he had when he found out that the gatekeeper protecting this place was a monster that had been around since ancient times.

When the monster stared at Ian, he also raised his sword with a glare in his eyes.

‘I will get out of here.’

He swung his sword as if aiming a torch at a wild animal.

Gradually.

Little by little. 

Ian began to change positions.

As if the monster had noticed it, it let out a deadly howl.

Rooaar!

However, Ian's sword quite frightened it. It couldn't approach and just glare at Ian.

For a long while, they repeatedly approached and backed down, aiming for each other's gaps.

Gradually, the monster was pushed to the vicinity of the armoire where the rest of the relics remained.

At the same time, Ian's body was almost at the exit.

Boom!

“!”

As if it wouldn’t let go, the monster stretched out its tail and smashed the stairs.

‘Shit!'

Ian could only click his tongue.

He couldn’t believe his only way out was gone just like that. 

The distance to the way up was impossible to climb simply by running up without a ladder.

The monster triumphantly charged at Ian as if it had caught its prey.

It still seemed to hate the sword, but it aimed for Ian's gap with its tail.

"Oh no!"

Ian hurriedly swung the sword. 

Clank!

He managed to slash the monster's tail and even stab the blade into the monster's tail.

But.

“Ugh!”

Its power was on a whole nother level than that of humans. The sword bounced off and flew away.

To the location of the relics on the other side.

Ian urgently moved at the sight of the sword flying.

But the monster was faster.

Hwaarrrrr!

“!!”

Instead of running, the three-headed hound spewed fire. In the unexpected blaze of intense flames, Ian closed his eyes, covering himself with the cloak.

‘Damn it! This fire is dangerous…!'

Ian had no choice but to let himself get beaten. He regretted that he should have chosen a shield or armor.

But…

Hwarrrrr!!

“!” 

The fire that melted even the surrounding rocks had no effect on Ian.

It looked as if the fire could not reach the part covered with the cloak.

Ian's eyes widened. 

‘Maybe the cloak has a magic defense effect!’

The monster also seemed perplexed. 

Right then.

Woong!

Ian was surprised.

The sword that flew and stuck in the armoire began to emit light.

That's a phenomenon he had never seen before.

But what was more surprising was what happened next.

Paats!

As if responding to the light of the sword, the relics of the First King nearby were glowing.

The armor shone especially the brightest and rattled.

Shhhhhhh!

Chains of light sprang out.

The chains quickly seized the monster's body. It wasn't just that. Other relics began to help, or rather, amplify the power toward the light of the armor.

Screeech!!

The monster struggled to escape the chains of light. 

But it was to no avail.

Rattle!

The more it struggled, the stronger the chains of light bound him.

Taking advantage of that brief moment, Ian quickly retrieved the sword. Then, he looked back.

The monster was clawing its sharp paws with all its might to catch Ian, the main culprit of everything.

‘It’s tied up, but if I get too close, I will get hit.’

Instead of dealing with the monster, Ian tried to find something to use for escape.

But there was no suitable item. 

In the end, as Ian debated whether he should ride on the monster’s back even if it was risky. 

‘!’

A gust of wind surged from the cloak he was wearing.

Whoosh!

The cloak fluttered as if it were alive.

‘No way?’

Ian kicked his foot as if he was entranced. Then something surprising happened.

His body began to float in the air.

‘Don’t tell me… Is floating magic also cast on it?’

That wasn't the only thing. The cloak moved as if it read Ian's will.

Ian didn't stop this momentum and went out of the hole.

Roooaarr!!

Seeing this, the monster let out a violent cry.

It was a cry of resentment that its prey escaped while it was literally struggling.

Anyway, it was a successful escape for Ian. 

Of course, he couldn't take his eyes off the relics of the First King as if it was regrettable. 

The remaining four relics…

‘They surely reacted with the sword. I think a little more will change something.’

He, who was its true owner in the past, might uncover a secret he never knew before.

But Ian gave up the idea right away.

‘It's a shame, but I can't help it.’

It was natural.

The chamberlain said that the greedy never returned. 

If Ian had touched other objects, he would not have been able to come out and be trapped here just like the other dropouts.

But for some reason…

‘I'm sure I'll have another chance to get them.’

Ian definitely felt that way. He didn’t know why, but the moment he put on the cloak, he felt like it was connected to those objects.

As he flew and was about to land at the entrance of the Pandemonium.

Bang!

A tremendous roar erupted from behind his back. It sounded as if the monster had broken the chain that bound it.

It wasn't just that. 

Gulp!

It smashed the armoire and even devoured the relics of the First King that shot the chains as if the obstruction was bothering him.

‘Shit, you eat them??'

At the sight, Ian quickly flew to the entrance before everything went any more wrong. 

‘All right. As soon as I get out of that door—'

But then. 

A shadow loomed over his head.

Ian froze the moment he realized that the shadow was the monster.

The monster was flying over Ian's head. As if that was not enough, it blocked the only entrance.

It was a very difficult situation for Ian.

‘Damn it! The exit is blocked.’

The monster even looked thrilled, eager to kill Ian by any means.

It was no longer afraid of the sword Ian had with him. No, its hatred was greater than its fear.

‘I don't think I can get out easily.’

Breaking into a cold sweat, Ian raised the sword.

Although he was not yet familiar with how to use it, he quietly pulled the energy of <Faith> from his heart.

[My steps never stop.]

At the same time, the three-headed hound rushed in.

Ian clenched his teeth.

"Come!"

Ian raised his sword over his head. This was one of the royal swordsmanship postures he practiced the hardest. And he struck it right away.

It was a movement that had been ingrained in the body.

And.

Bang!

Ian and the monster collided.

And at that moment.

[I am a sword that slays demons. That's my mission.]

A sentence appeared on Ian's sword.

***

"That's strange. Why isn't he coming out? I think it's time for him to come out."

"He didn't bring the invisibility cloak."

“A subspace ring. Carrying such a useless thing. Tsk.”

The nobles were buzzing at the ceremony hall.

It was only natural for them to think so.

The entrance through the Seal of Trials had a different conception of time than the outside. One hour inside was equal to one minute outside.

Now it should be time for Ian to come back.

"Is he dead?"

"I can't believe there's another death in the royal family following the First Prince, the crown prince."

The speculation about Ian's death slowly broke out of the mouths of the nobles. Of course, it was the same for the royal family.

"I thought he'd stand a chance because he had knocked down our brother. I guess it was my misunderstanding."

"I know, right? He brought a sword, so I thought he was like Third Brother. I guess it was just pure arrogance.”

“As expected, he should have brought the invisibility cloak. It's what our father gave away. His courage is commendable, but he shouldn't have been so ambitious."

Although nobody expressed it, they were in fact laughing at Ian.

But only the Third Prince Louis was different.

‘He won't die so easily.’

He was the one who ordered the knights to attack even though he knew who he was. And also the conversation in the carriage.

Ian definitely had courage and pride as well as skills.

But that kind of guy died in vain just like this?

‘Could it be that something happened to him like Eldest Brother?’

It was clear that something had happened inside. As the Third Prince's worries deepened.

The chamberlain whispered to the king.

"Your Majesty, it's time to close the entrance to the trial."

According to the royal law, it was time to end the trial.

However, King Eloin was silent.

"Hm…"

"Your Majesty?”

King Eloin eventually sighed. 

In order to open the trial, the [Sword of Dawn] must be charged with power continuously.

No matter how strong the king might be, he had his limits. If this kept going on, it could affect the body.

“The legitimation ceremony ends here.”

The king sheathed the [Sword of Dawn] back into the scabbard.

Rumble…

As the light disappeared from the [Sword of Dawn], the entrance to the trial began to shake. A person was still inside, but there was no need to wait any longer. The gate was about to close.

Duke Garcia was about to say something at the sight.

But the king never broke his will. 

He would only anger the king if he spoke for no reason.

‘Right, it's still too early to say that.’

Should he find another successor?

Garcia's eyes started to get complicated.

Right at that moment.

Groooo!

A tremendous quake hit the hall.

The shock wave was so strong that the nobles, as well as King Eloin, stumbled.

Everyone was surprised and looked at one spot.

"Th-the entrance to the trial!"

The epicenter of the quake was that place! 

And then.

Bang!

Someone bounced off the door with a huge bang.

It was Ian.

Everyone's eyes widened.

"What? He came back alive? Without the invisibility cloak?”

Of course, he was not in a good state. 

Blood was dripping from his mouth as if he just had a battle with something. The sword he was holding was stained with blood.

“Woahh! The prince is out!”

"What is it? What did he bring?"

In particular, the royal family opened their eyes wide to the item Ian brought. They looked eager to find out if he might have brought something that would satisfy the king.

However, the royal family soon shook their heads.

"No. That can't be true. There's no way he can bring a high-grade item without the invisibility cloak!”

"He must have only searched around the entrance…"

However, the Third Prince was different.

"He brought it. It’s something good.”

"What did you say?"

Everyone turned to look at the Third Prince's mysterious smile in bewilderment.

The chamberlain ran hurriedly to Ian.

"Your Highness, are you okay? Did you bring the item…”

However, Ian quickly interrupted him and raised his voice.

"Get out of the way! It's coming!"

"Pardon? It's coming… What do you m—"

And right at that moment.

BOOM!!!

The three-headed hound that was chasing Ian stuck its head out of the gate.