Reincarnated with the King’s Power

Chapter 13

Awakening . A word that made a warrior's heart pound.

It was an experience that any warrior whose growth had stagnated would risk their life for.

“Killian has awakened?”

“That is correct.”

Escardo recounted the incident where Killian swallowed the secret medicine while the family head was in secluded training.

“To awaken after swallowing a secret medicine… and a Great Awakening at that.”

Simon reacted with interest.

“Did he form a Mana Heart?”

“Is that all? I heard he's been frequently visiting the Head Apothecary's laboratory recently.”

“The Head Apothecary?”

The Head Apothecary, Loen Favre.

She had a personality that made her reluctant to speak with anyone in the family, except for Simon, Escardo, and a few elders.

Among the young masters, she was known to communicate with Demian, but even that was limited to simple greetings. She had, in effect, blocked all access from the young masters.

And yet, she had reportedly allowed someone into her laboratory not just once, but several times.

‘There’s something going on.’

Escardo, who had been observing Simon's reaction, continued to speak.

“Family Head, isn't it time to give him a chance?”

“So you had another motive as well?”

The corners of Simon’s mouth lifted.

He thought Escardo was hiding something from him.

“Is a chance something that can be simply given? The opportunities he has been given as a young master of Eurasia until now were not few. He was the one who kicked them away.”

“His environment was different from the other young masters from the very beginning. It was not a fair chance.”

“For you, who has always remained neutral, to go this far, it makes me curious about the reason.”

“Isn't a knight supposed to show with their sword rather than their words?”

It meant he would show with actions, not words.

It was also something the family head often said like a habit.

“Then and now, you are probably the only one who considers that child a member of the family.”

“I too was lacking in many ways in the past, but I intend to fulfill my duty as a godfather now.”

“……”

A woman came to Simon's mind.

Soon, he nodded his head.

Escardo had the right to say so.

“Test him, but not to the extent that it lowers the morale of the family's knights.”

He emphasized the word ‘test’ instead of ‘chance’ until the end.

“I understand.”

Escardo replied with a bitter smile.

For now, this level of response was enough.

“What about the preparations for the subjugation?”

“They are proceeding steadily.”

Simon and Escardo exchanged a peculiar glance.

The subjugation site was the Kurt Mountain Range.

The monster reigning as king there was a being identified as huntable only by at least a Superhuman.

“It seems we still need more information about the ruler of the mountain range… but I will try to hasten the preparations as much as possible.”

“I'm counting on you.”

Having finished his report, Escardo rose to his feet.

It was about time for the Head Apothecary to arrive.

“Escardo.”

At the late call, the Commander of the Knights, who was about to leave the family head’s office, turned around.

“Is there anything else you wish to say?”

“After this subjugation is over, let’s drink Baekhapmyeongju together.”

“……!!”

Escardo’s eyes, which were as cold as a lake, wavered.

Baekhapmyeongju was a liquor made by aging white clams, which were supplied only to the Imperial Family of the Empire, for at least 100 years.

A famed liquor rumored to boost one's vigor by drinking just half a bottle, and to turn even a eunuch into a man of monstrous strength by drinking a whole bottle.

‘It hasn’t been long since he brought out the Cheonghwamyeongju… Why is he suddenly acting like this?’

“The one that was 100 years old has now become 110 years old.”

Gulp.

Separate from his curiosity about the family head's inner thoughts, he swallowed dryly.

Red mana, which he couldn't control, leaked from his eyes.

“I'll be looking forward to this subjugation.”

“Please leave it to me.”

Escardo, after giving an exaggerated sword salute, left the reception room with light steps.

Left alone, Simon quietly lifted his teacup.

“……”

Just from lifting the teacup, his hand trembled.

It was because the power he was controlling had reacted to the aura Escardo revealed just a moment ago. His body was not yet complete enough to handle the power of an 8-star.

“A Great Awakening…”

Since Escardo was so certain, there was no need to doubt its truth.

Just that.

“It’s too late.”

From the moment he finished his seclusion, the war of Eurasia had already begun.

The subjugation of the mountain range would be the first step.

“The children who fall behind can only become fertilizer for the rising family.”

Ashen mana flickered from Simon’s body as he emptied the cup.

***

As Killian drank the decoction Haman had brewed, his vitality recovered quickly.

“You’ve improved a lot, haven't you?”

This was a level sufficient to be called a low-rank apothecary, and a skilled one at that.

“An apothecary directly under the Head Apothecary has been giving me some advice.”

“Directly under the Head Apothecary?”

“Well… the Head Apothecary told them to take good care of me, but also told them not to tell you, Young Master…”

Haman rambled on, as if his conscience was pricked by the fact that he had broken a promise.

If they were directly under the Head Apothecary, they were at least a high-rank apothecary. To tell such a person to take special care of him.

‘She must have taken quite a liking to me.’

The thought of her giving the order with a blunt face made me smile.

“What has the Head Apothecary been up to these days?”

It was Loen, who had made something equivalent to a high-grade spiritual medicine for me before and then disappeared without a word.

“I hear she doesn’t leave her room unless it’s to see the Family Head.”

“Looks like it’s going well.”

“Pardon? What is?”

“There’s something.”

Killian ignored the tilting head of Haman and pointed at the bundle he had brought.

“What’s that?”

“This is from Sephiroth. They told me to prepare a vitality enhancer for you, Young Master.”

Haman hesitantly took out medicinal herbs from the bundle and placed them on the table.

They weren’t high-grade, but they were quite useful mid-to-low-grade herbs.

‘There’s no way the puppet Julian moved on his own… Did the Matriarch send it?’

Emma Eurasia has been openly showing her favor since that minor incident.

An act like this was also likely intended to show the public that Killian was Julian's man.

“Return it.”

“All of it? This is too precious…”

“What if there’s poison inside?”

“Surely they wouldn’t go that far… I understand.”

Contrary to his words, Haman packed the herbs with a regretful look on his face.

Killian, having finished the recovery potion, stood up from his seat.

“What you need is to expel impurities and build basic stamina. Get ready.”

“Oh, today as well?”

“The subjugation schedule is approaching. I have to meet that foolish brother of mine in the afternoon, so hurry up.”

“My muscle aches haven’t even gone away yet…”

Haman mumbled but still hesitantly took off his shirt.

“If you’re going to take something off, the pants would be better.”

“Pardon…?”

“Today is lower body day.”

“……!!”

A moment later.

The Chamberlain's scream was heard from the bedroom, but due to the Fourth Young Master's strict orders, none of the royal guards entered.

***

After finishing the physical training with Haman, the place I headed to was Julian's private reception room.

Unlike the previous summons, today I came of my own accord.

Guided by a royal guard, I arrived to find a panting Julian.

From the looks of him holding a wooden sword, it seemed he had been warming up alone in the reception room.

“It has been a while. Have you been well?”

“You… What are you doing here without a word?”

His attitude was different from before.

Not only was there anxiety in his eyes, but he couldn’t hide his wavering gaze.

‘Damn it, how did I end up with a guy like this…’

Julian bit his lip.

At first, he had dismissed it as a simple mistake, an accidental incident.

That was until he heard from Rhodos what his mother had done.

‘If Sir Zodiac was also defeated, it’s not a coincidence.’

The Stern Family was a sword family that, as an allied family of Eurasia, had managed to maintain its lineage in the frontiers.

Zodiac was the heir to such a family, a knight specially invited by Emma Eurasia to personally tutor Julian in swordsmanship.

The Carpe he witnessed while being tutored was a level beyond admiration, and he had heard that Zodiac was even offered the position of a Decurion in the Red Knight Order.

All the more reason.

It was difficult to accept the fact that the Killian before his eyes had defeated Zodiac.

“Aren’t you going to ask… with what face I’ve come to see you…”

At Julian's attitude, as if he were spitting out his words, Killian gave a faint smile.

“The subjugation is less than two months away.”

“So what.”

Julian asked back in a cold voice.

It was because he was already practicing his swordsmanship, bothered by the upcoming subjugation.

“I heard the Blue Knight Order still doesn't have a 5-star knight?”

By the family head's order, knights of 3-star or higher were forbidden from joining the knight orders of the three young masters.

This was the family head's will to test their individual capabilities by limiting help from their maternal families, and to prevent excessive power from being concentrated in the young masters.

“What do you want to say.”

“You must have heard something about me from the Matriarch.”

“……”

Killian Eurasia was a 5-star knight certified by Zodiac Stern.

The Blue Knight Order could aim for a significant increase in its combat power just by recruiting Killian.

But if the subordinate was more skilled than the leader, and especially if that subordinate was a half-brother he used to look down on, the story changes.

Grip.

The force in Julian's grip on the sword increased.

The humiliation, along with the memory of that day, came flooding back.

“Is it right for the Knight Commander to be afraid of me?”

“You…”

“I look forward to working with you, Commander.”

Thud.

Killian placed his right fist on his left chest. It was how knights who were not wearing their swords paid their respects.

Unable to hold back any longer, Julian infused mana into his sword.

“This bastard…!!”

“The two brothers who are called geniuses, especially brother Demian, are said to remind people of the Family Head's younger days. Compared to them, you, brother…”

A sneer appeared on Killian's lips.

“How dare you!! Did you come here to insult me!!”

Hwaaaak.

Julian's mana, which had been shimmering like a heat haze, revealed a menacing aura.

A 2-star Master. An aura that would have been burdensome just a few months ago, but.

Hwaaaak.

Blue mana surged from Killian's body, who stood facing him.

The surging mana scattered in all directions without delay.

It was a Carpe comparable to Zodiac's from before.

“Baring one's fangs so clumsily is what brats do. That’s what your great Matriarch said a while ago.”

“Keuheuk…”

Julian hurriedly cloaked himself in mana, but the gap was already too large to be filled by that much.

Thud.

His face contorted as he knelt under the crushing pressure.

It was because his once high self-esteem was being completely trampled.

“Haak… Keub…”

As he struggled to lift his head, a cold gaze was looking down at him.

Just meeting that gaze felt as if the blood in his entire body was freezing.

“Disappointing.”

The ambiguous formal speech had changed to completely informal speech.

“To be only at this level even with the support of the merchant guild. It's a waste to even call you pathetic.”

“Sh… ut up…!!”

Malice filled the eyes of the shouting Julian.

“You… I, the merchant guild, will not let you go…!!”

Even while panting from the spatial dominance, he did not stop screaming out of spite.

‘His pride alone has already surpassed 3-stars.’

Ssssk.

As I withdrew my mana, Julian coughed and groaned.

This show of force is enough.

“Julian Eurasia. I will help you.”

“Cough… What trick is this. What kind of bulls…”

“It’s not bullshit. I will lend you my strength so you can stand shoulder to shoulder with our brothers in the upcoming subjugation.”

Killian walked past Julian and sat down in a seat prepared in the reception room.

“Sit down. It won't be too late to judge after you've heard me out.”

“……”

Julian, who had been breathing heavily, quietly composed his breathing.

Having already suffered two defeats because he couldn't control his emotions, he was bound to have an epiphany.

After throwing down the sword he couldn't even swing, he sat down opposite Killian and glared at him.

“Go on… let’s hear you talk.”

“Ahem. Please listen without misunderstanding.”

The informal speech changed back to formal.

It was the moment Julian tried hard to compose his emotions at the unfamiliar way of speaking.

“First.”

Killian met the eyes of Julian, who had grown gaunt in a short time.

And he told him the truth that everyone had been ignoring.

“Brother, you have no talent for swordsmanship.”