Chapter 30: Father and Son Reunited
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Chapter 30: Father and Son Reunited.
“Where are the other intruders?”
“They’ve been dealt with. That’s why we were delayed a bit.”
Seeing Heinkel’s sword smeared with thick blood, Ian nodded as well.
The knights had already headed outside the estate to recover the bodies and handle the aftermath.
The only ones left in the training ground were me, Heinkel, and Ian.
If I included Rudel, who was undead, that made four.
“Father. How are you….”
As Heinkel trailed off, unable to continue, I added an explanation.
“He was bound to the family mausoleum because he couldn’t release his regrets in the living world. If time had passed like that, he would have turned into a wraith.”
“A wraith…?”
“Yes.”
After answering Heinkel’s question, I stepped forward.
“It’s true that I dirtied the grave of your ancestor with my own hands. I’ll accept whatever punishment you deem fit.”
Given the gravity of the matter, I made no predictions or calculations.
I simply spoke the truth as it was and stated my convictions.
That was the courtesy owed to the bereaved family of the soul entrusted to me, and to the dead themselves.
“However, as one who deals with souls, I couldn’t just stand by and watch your ancestor’s soul become a wraith.”
Just as swordsmen had honor, Necromancers had responsibility.
Heinkel clenched his fist as he listened to me.
‘He must be confused. His preconceptions are probably being shattered completely.’
The necromancy engraved in Heinkel’s mind and the necromancy I used followed entirely different paths.
Unlike half-soul sorcery that subjugated souls and made them into thralls, the necromancy I primarily used was soul pacification.
It was the power of a shepherd who bore the regrets carried by souls, soothed them, and guided them onward.
“So it’s not the necromancy the Empire researches, but the kind used by forgotten ancient priests.”
Ian nodded as he heard my explanation.
When he mentioned the ancient priests, I unconsciously drew in a hollow breath.
‘He knows about that?’
Even the Empire, which researched necromancy on a national scale, had scarce information about the ancient priests.
Knowing such things meant his breadth of knowledge was considerable.
‘So he wasn’t just wasting time while running from the Empire.’
As I thought that to myself, Heinkel let out a sigh after hearing Ian’s words.
“I understand why you committed such an act. But….”
“I know it’s not something you can easily accept.”
Seeing Heinkel still unable to choose his words, I spoke again.
“A Necromancer who contracts with the dead must resolve that soul’s grudge.”
At the same time as my words, Rudel stepped forward.
He bore the appearance of a Death Knight, but I hadn’t erased his soul or mana resonance.
A swordsman of Heinkel’s caliber would be able to tell.
“And the request of the dead I contracted with was to meet you.”
At that, Heinkel flinched and looked at Rudel, now a Death Knight.
-There’s no need for all this pointless formality. I just wanted to see your face after a long time.
As Rudel shook his head and spoke, Heinkel’s composure collapsed in an instant.
The most flamboyant sword.
His fellow knights called it the lightest sword.
A voice full of mischief that suited that nickname perfectly.
It was likely exactly how Rudel existed in Heinkel’s memories.
-I’ve got mountains of things I want to say, but the time given to us is so short.
Looking at his middle-aged son, Rudel shrugged.
-Draw it, Heinkel.
“……!”
The shadow sword formed in his hand pointed at Heinkel.
“Let’s test just how strong today’s Leinrant is.”
Kakakakang-!
Two different swords clashed five times in a single instant.
The founder of the Meteor Sword and the founder of the Phantom Sword.
Heinkel Leinrant, called the ‘fastest sword,’ and Rudel Leinrant, called the ‘most flamboyant sword.’
A father in the prime of his youth and an aged son were exchanging blows.
“His mana reserves are at the level of an ordinary knight, but that really is Father’s swordsmanship.”
Ian said so as he watched the two fight as if trying to kill each other.
Considering that Rudel had manifested in the living world as a Death Knight, Heinkel was likewise limiting his own mana.
Even so, true to a northern swordsman specialized in prolonged battles, their duel continued without end.
-Impressive.
A brief lull created as their swords were knocked aside.
Seeing how much Heinkel had grown, Rudel relaxed his expression in satisfaction.
The child who used to whine about how he couldn’t break blue stone as he wished has become a swordsman capable of suppressing my blade.
“I’ve lived longer than you now. If I couldn’t manage even this much, I’d have to give up the ducal title.”
Heinkel said after catching his breath.
“It’s only at this age that I’ve finally been able to follow after you.”
“…….”
At those words, Ian, who had been watching the spar, furrowed his brow.
As if he had noticed my questioning glance, he spoke.
“Too much brilliance to be called ordinary, yet not enough to be called a genius.”
A brief sigh hung on Ian’s face as he said that.
“It was the assessment given by the instructor who tested me and that kid in turn.”
My talent lay in reproducing every technique I witnessed.
Delain’s talent lay in boundless mana and an unyielding body.
Compared to Delain and me, the talent placed in Heinkel’s hands was only one thing.
Effort.
“And yet that kid defeated countless geniuses of his generation and became the strongest knight of the Empire.”
Kaang-!
As Ian spoke, Rudel closed the distance in an instant and pressed Heinkel.
It was pressure on an entirely different level, as if to say that everything until now had merely been a warm-up.
-There’s no way this is your full strength. Show me everything, Heinkel!
Rudel’s Phantom Sword suppressed four directions at once.
Yet Heinkel’s high-speed blade swiftly knocked it away and carved out a new path for his sword.
Kiririk?!
With their swords locked and faces close, Rudel spoke.
-The sword you’ve built until now, your life, all of it!
“……!”
Now Heinkel’s face was completely distorted.
The longer the spar continued, the more it felt as though the dam within his heart was breaking, letting everything inside spill out.
“Kgh-!”
Kang-! Kaang-!
At first, Heinkel’s sword, which had been passive, gradually began to drive Rudel back.
Beyond high speed—approaching light speed.
Rudel, who had been pressing Heinkel just moments ago, was now steadily being pushed backward.
And when the spar reached its final stage.
Chwarreuk!
Heinkel charged straight in, twisted his body mid-motion, and seized Rudel’s back.
Hahaha!
A speed so fast that even my eyes couldn’t follow it in that instant.
After Heinkel’s figure appeared behind Rudel, only then did a thunderous boom fill the training ground.
Kwaaaaang-!
Overwhelming propulsion focused into a single point, and the mana control that restrained it.
Not an inborn talent, but the product of effort honed through hundreds and thousands of repetitions.
“Hrraaaah!”
Heinkel’s sword came crashing down from the front.
The moment Rudel raised his blade in response, something bizarre occurred.
“Look. If you’re going to throw a feint, you start by deceiving the eyes.”
The sword that had been facing forward just a moment ago swung sideways at Rudel.
Kaang-!
He managed to block it in haste, but the defense came a beat too late.
Rudel’s sword, formed of shadow, was blown into the air and vanished after embedding itself into the floor of the training ground.
-You’ve won.
The result of the spar was Heinkel’s victory.
The gray uncut gem that had stood on the boundary between mediocrity and genius had defeated the greatest genius of the age.
“This is my life. And this is my limit.”
Yet the expression on his face was not that of a victor.
“I’ve always thought about it.”
As if his speech had finally broken free, Heinkel’s inner thoughts spilled out.
“When you look at me now, what would you think. Is this path I walk, bearing the family… truly the right one.”
Regret, remorse, self-reproach, resignation.
Heinkel’s heart, worn down by the tempests of time, was laid bare before Rudel.
“I couldn’t save the family, nor my blood relatives, nor even the woman who loved me.”
Heinkel lowered his head, then his eyes turned toward me.
Me, the second son, and Duchess Claire, my mother.
Our eyes met briefly, then Heinkel turned his head away, avoiding my gaze.
“Even so, am I qualified to bear the name of Leinrant?”
The doubt weighing down on his shoulders spilled forth.
“Am I qualified to lead them, when all I’ve done my entire life is repeat failure?”
The figure standing before Rudel was not the Duke of Leinrant.
He was merely a wounded, anguished, aging father.
-You’ve experienced many failures. And you’ve been hurt many times.
“…….”
When Rudel responded to Heinkel’s words like that, his expression twisted even further.
-But was everything you experienced nothing but failure?
At those next words, Heinkel lifted his head and looked at Rudel.
-Look behind you, Heinkel.
With a clear voice, he admonished his now middle-aged son.
-The knights who follow you, the family you’ve protected, the seeds you’ve nurtured.
“……!”
-Were all of those things you protected and built failures? Were they your faults?
It didn’t take long for Heinkel’s answer to come.
“No. They were not.”
-That’s right.
After nodding at his reply, Rudel continued.
-If you regret your failures while turning your eyes away from the successes hidden behind them, that itself is true failure.
After saying that, Rudel lightly patted Heinkel on the shoulder.
-So, as the former Duke of Leinrant, I leave you these words.
As he said that, a smile appeared on Rudel’s face.
-You grew up well. Duke of Leinrant.
At those words, Heinkel’s shoulders, which had been stiff with tension, finally relaxed.
A single sentence of acknowledgment from the former duke—his father.
It was the greatest praise that could be given to Heinkel, whose heart had been filled with doubt.
Srrrrr….
As the sun hanging at its zenith tilted toward the glow of dusk, his body too began to incline and fade.
The time has come.
The resentment of the dead had been resolved, and the spiritual body binding him was dispersing.
“Father…!”
Seeing Rudel fading away, Heinkel hurriedly called out to him.
-Busy managing the territory, I don’t recall ever properly playing the role of a father, except perhaps with Ian.
Smiling at Ian, who muttered snidely, ‘You didn’t do much for me either,’ Rudel continued.
-Especially you, Heinkel. Being the youngest, it was even more so.
Rudel, in the form of his youth, gently patted the head of Heinkel, who gazed at him with the eyes of old age.
-I was glad to see you all on my final path.
To a parent, a child remains a child no matter how old they grow.
-Ian, Heinkel.
With a gentle smile, as if soothing young sons, Rudel looked at Heinkel and spoke.
-You were always my pride, and my honor.
“……!”
At those words, Heinkel clenched his fist.
The strongest knight of the Empire.
The Duke of Leinrant.
Before his father, all those titles lost their power.
The thick layers of years surrounding him peeled away, and the image of a pure child was revealed.
-I wanted to say this to you, even just once….
Upon hearing Rudel’s words, Heinkel closed his eyes.
“Ugh, that’s some cringeworthy stuff.”
Ian spoke curtly, yet he too was turned away, sitting with his back to us so I couldn’t see his face.
“Uncle.”
When I called Ian in a low voice, his reply came immediately.
“Be quiet. Something just got in my eye.”
‘…You can’t even see.’
Burying that final thought inside, I stepped forward and formed a hand seal toward Rudel.
Pasesssss…!
The black armor surrounding his soul fell away, and the dark energy forming the knight’s body scattered.
[The contractor, Klein Leinrant, addresses the dead, Rudel Leinrant.]
With Heinkel and Ian present, I used an alias.
Rudel himself didn’t seem to mind.
[As all terms of the contract have been fulfilled, the contract is hereby terminated.]
Dead one, Rudel Leinrant. I thank you for accepting my guidance.
At the same time the approval of the dead was granted, the contract rune engraved on the back of my hand vanished.
Rudel’s soul, now completely free of shadow, took the form of a shining sphere.
Having regained his original state, he blinked as if satisfied.
[Now, as your guide, I return your soul. I pray for the rest and peace of the dead.]
Rudel’s eyes, ears, and mouth had all been mediated through me, the Necromancer.
Now that the connection between us was severed, he could neither hear, nor see, nor speak.
Yet his soul shone brightly in response to my words, then vanished in accordance with the guidance of the contract.
A return carried out before the eyes of his two sons.
Thus, Rudel Leinrant, the sixth duke of the Leinrant ducal house, met his death.
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