Chapter 1037 – 1037. The Plum Blossom Swordsman Reincarnated Into The Count’S Family
The succession ceremony and the engagement ceremony were held right there.
There was some opposition from a few vassals, but it wasn’t enough to make Ention retract his words. The Prukerus Count family had a structure where power was concentrated in the head of the family. Therefore, within the Prukerus territory, the head of the family was essentially the king.
I sat in the seat where Ention had been, and Yuria sat next to me. Although we weren’t officially married yet, it also meant that I already treated Yuria as my wife.
‘Looking around from this seat… it’s quite a new feeling.’
The head of the family’s chair was in the highest place in the Great Hall. Naturally, I looked down on everyone, and everyone looked up at me.
‘In the original story, Kyle got to this position quite easily.’
In the original story, I didn’t exist. Kyle easily dealt with Gent. If I hadn’t been here, I probably would have become the head of the family a few years earlier.
I glared at some of the vassals. Those who had opposed my becoming the head of the family. And those who had clashed with me a few times. Most of them quickly lowered their eyes to the floor. However, a few, as if they had some conviction, did not avoid my gaze and resisted to the end.
‘Those bastards are sentenced to death. I’ll find a reason to kill them. If there’s no reason, I’ll make one. If that doesn’t work, I’ll assassinate them.’
They’re useless.
And there needs to be an example. An example to show that I’m not easy to deal with.
“I can’t accept this!!”
Gent shouted. Everyone’s attention focused on one place. It wasn’t far from me. Gent was causing a commotion towards Ention.
“Father! The war isn’t over yet! I can achieve more merits than Eugene!!”
Gent didn’t care about the gathering gazes. I have to give him credit for his thick skin.
“Gent. Don’t be stubborn. The difference in ability between you and Eugene has already been revealed. Only Kyle could have opposed Eugene.”
“If I had the time and money, things would have been different!!”
“Time flows equally for everyone. …No. You, as the eldest son, had more time. As for money, I didn’t support anyone. Eugene earned money without anyone’s help and fought the war with his own money.”
“…Ugh. Father! I’m not asking for much! Please keep your initial promise! Postpone the succession ceremony until the war is over!”
“No matter what you say, the succession ceremony is already over. I have handed the family seal to Eugene. Gent, serve the new head of the Prukerus family. Eugene is your brother.”
“I can’t accept this!!”
Gent’s stubbornness was on full display. Ention let out a deep sigh.
“Gent. I thought you had grown through the war. But now I see you’re still in the same place. Gent. Don’t ignore reality. The difference in ability between you and Eugene has been revealed, and no one can deny it. When you captured one castle, Eugene captured three. When you struggled in the south, Eugene pacified the north. On top of that, Eugene even gained Kyle’s support. You couldn’t even gain the support of your younger siblings.”
“……!!”
Gent’s face contorted. He clenched his fists tightly. He clenched his fists so hard that his nails dug into his palms, and blood dripped down.
“Father. I am the eldest son of the Prukerus family. The position of head of the family was originally mine…!”
“Only those with ability can become the head of the Prukerus family.”
“…That ability. I will prove it…!”
Gent ignored Ention and strode towards me. He took off the glove he was wearing and threw it at me.
I snatched the glove before it touched my face. Throwing a glove at someone was an act of challenging them to a duel.
“Eugene Prukerus! I challenge you to a duel! If I win, hand over the position of head of the Prukerus family to me! It’s not a position that suits you!”
“Okay. I accept your duel challenge.”
I got up from my seat.
At the same time, I felt something was off.
No matter how cornered he was, he wouldn’t have forgotten that I was an Aura Master.
There are two possibilities in this case. Either he was just saying whatever came to mind due to his emotions, or there was something else. Considering that there was no change in his expression even though I accepted the duel, it was probably the latter.
“You’re finally causing trouble.”
Ention’s voice, filled with lament, was heard. Maybe it was because he had stepped down from the position of head of the family, but he felt much older. I pretended not to hear and approached Gent.
People immediately made space for the rare spectacle. An open space was created in the center of the Great Hall. Gent and I ordered servants to bring swords.
Ention was the one to oversee the duel.
“This is a time of war. And you are brothers by blood. Make sure you don’t take each other’s lives.”
Ention said, emphasizing each word. I could feel his strong will that he wouldn’t stand by if one killed the other.
“I had no intention of killing my brother either.”
Gent said. It was a lie that came out as naturally as breathing. If he had no intention of killing, he wouldn’t have sent assassins.
“Me neither.”
Killing is too easy. I will take everything from Gent.
‘I won’t kill him. But he dared to challenge me, so he has to be punished. I’ll cut off one of his arms.’
Gent and Kyle. The two brothers will both be crippled in one arm, and that will be a sight to see. People will be amazed at how close the brothers are, with only one arm each, and will say they are truly affectionate brothers.
I, holding the sword, first thought of suppressing Gent’s spirit and raised an aura blade. The clear blue aura blade caused exclamations from the surroundings. Especially the knights’ gazes were intense.
“Brother. It’s not too late. Give up.”
I said words I didn’t mean. It was a matter of honor. I knew Gent wouldn’t accept it, so I said it anyway.
“There’s no such thing as giving up. I will win this duel… and find my place.”
Gent raised his aura. The blazing aura began to gather on the sword’s blade.
Aura Blade.
“How can this be! Is Gent also an Aura Master? All three brothers of the Prukerus family are Aura Masters!”
“Are you blind? Look closely. Gent’s aura blade is unstable. He’s only temporarily gathering aura to create an aura blade. It won’t last long if it clashes with a real aura blade.”
“I thought it would be a one-sided duel… but it’s getting quite interesting.”
Gent was a top-tier Aura Expert.
I remember he wasn’t this level originally.
‘It seems he didn’t completely fail to grow through this war.’
However, Gent couldn’t break through the wall. I had a lucky encounter, but Gent didn’t.
Crackle.
Blue lightning flashed on the blue aura blade. Ignoring the surprised onlookers, I rushed towards Gent.
Clang!
The clash of swords created a loud noise that echoed everywhere.
I was relaxed, but Gent’s expression was distorted. He must have felt the difference in level with just one sword strike.
I lifted my sword high and swung it down with all my might. Lightning followed the trajectory of the sword.
Rumble!
“Ugh!”
Gent somehow managed to block my sword strike, but he was electrocuted by the following lightning and had no choice but to retreat. Gent’s shoulders slumped, and his legs trembled.
‘He can’t handle the lightning at all.’
That’s because he forced the aura blade. Originally, you should be able to freely control mana and prevent electrocution by blocking the current flowing through your body.
‘Is it because he hasn’t faced someone like me much? He’s more disappointing than I thought. Did he not have any trump cards?’
Gent counterattacked. He ran, lowering his body as much as possible. Gent, who approached my right side, aimed for my left leg. His goal was to take away my mobility. However, my eyes had already perfectly captured him. I hadn’t missed him.
One step back, one step to the side.
Gent’s sword barely grazed my thigh. It was time to counterattack. Using my left foot in front as a pivot, I spun and kicked with my right foot. Thwack! The spinning kick landed squarely on Gent’s face.
Gent, who had been knocked back, quickly got up. His nose was broken, and his mouth was bleeding. His eyes were still blazing. Gent’s fighting spirit hadn’t disappeared.
After that, I exchanged about ten blows with Gent. It didn’t mean much. It would be a shame if it ended too easily, so I played with him a bit. I also wanted to provide a spectacle for the people around and show off my skills while toying with Gent.
Clang! Clang! Bang!
Gent’s forcibly created aura blade was already on the verge of breaking.
‘Should I end it? Kyle was useful, so I cut off his left arm… but not you. I’ll cut off your right arm!’
I knocked away Gent’s sword. Gent’s arm was wide open. It was the perfect opportunity to cut off his right arm. I took a step forward and was about to swing my sword. I saw Gent’s lips twisting upwards.
‘A moment.’
A faint light settled on Gent’s shoes, and the brooch on his chest shone.
‘He brought two artifacts. He was relying on these. Is the effect of the shoes automatic movement? He’s automatically moving backward. The effect of the brooch is…’
Gent’s muscles swelled, and his unstable aura blade instantly stabilized. With the effect of physical enhancement, he forcibly twisted the trajectory of his sword and aimed for my shoulder.
‘He came quite prepared.’
But it was meaningless.
Because my sword cut off his right arm before Gent’s sword reached my shoulder.
Swoosh!
Gent didn’t even properly react to the strike accelerated by the moment. His right arm, holding the sword, was cut off and rolled on the floor.
“Aaaaaaaah!”
A scream and red blood stained the floor.
“The duel is over! Eugene wins! Use the prepared potions! Mages! Healers! Quickly treat Gent’s wounds!”
Ention shouted to the surroundings. A healer quickly picked up Gent’s arm and tried to attach it to his shoulder. I grabbed the healer’s shoulder and stopped him.
“Father. I am the winner of the duel. I will exercise the rights of the winner. Don’t reattach Gent’s arm.”
“…Gent is your brother.”
“I know. But Gent was the challenger. He challenged the authority of the head of the family. I will forgive his sin with just one right arm.”
Ention hesitated and then said.
“…I will follow the will of the head of the family.”
I quietly watched Gent’s back as he was carried out.
After that, I held a banquet. The banquet, which lasted until late at night, ended after only one day due to the war situation.
I had prepared for a purge, but I didn’t carry it out immediately. It was a bit awkward because of the war situation, and there were still quite a few who were unsure.
However, Gent’s arms and legs had to be cut off. Not literally, but figuratively. I executed 11 of Gent’s supporting vassals under the pretext of the assassination squad Gent sent to me.
Gent’s vassals trembled at the merciless executions. Some even defected to other kingdoms, and others betrayed Gent by offering their wealth to me.
I had all the defectors killed by assassins. I kept the ones who bribed me alive for now. It was to follow Yuria’s advice that it was easier to manage the others if I pretended to be merciful. Well, I’ll deal with them later anyway.
Ention, who had stepped down from the position of head of the family, did not retire and returned to the military. It seemed he had decided to live on the battlefield until the end. It was good for me. It meant that I had another card to use, along with Kyle.
‘If he keeps trying to act like an old man, I’ll kill him.’
I am the master of Prukerus.
Sitting in the position of head of the family, I smiled contentedly and returned to reality.
[The game is over.]
