The morning air within the Castle Arena was crisp and invigorating. A chill breeze brushed across the stone grounds, refreshing and layered with a strange energy that stirred the blood. As I took in a deep breath, feeling the cold settle into my chest like a promise of strength, I heard rapid footsteps approaching.
"Brother! I can't do this! He's a monster, brother!" Alex came sprinting towards me, his face pale and filled with terror. Behind him, the imposing figure of our instructor, Sir Niko, followed with a calm and indifferent pace.
"You still have ten laps left, then your exercises," Niko said, voice devoid of sympathy. "Complete them before you run away."
Alex's expression twisted into a cry-face before he was unceremoniously dragged back by Niko. I couldn't help but laugh. Just a day after the auction, my little brother had started joining me in training. He had grown fascinated after buying a few flashy items from the auction house—he even got a training set fit for a knight-in-the-making. For three days now, he'd endured the grueling schedule.
On the first day, he begged Niko to teach him the sword. Niko had refused, saying, "First, build your stamina and body. Only then are you worthy of wielding a weapon."
Alex ran straight to our mother to complain. Her response? "When your big brother isn't complaining, why should you?" That shut him up fast. Since then, he ran fifteen laps daily around the massive arena. In this world, bodies were different. Even without using mana, Even I could easily run more than twenty laps. Compared to my previous life—which was a literal hell—this was a breeze.
As I watched Alex complete his laps, Niko approached. "Looks like your body is ready for weapon training," he said. My heart leapt with excitement.
He continued, "So, what weapon—"
Before he finished, I summoned my sword from the storage ring. Yama. The blade shimmered in the morning light, obsidian and crimson etchings swirling along its body like a sleeping dragon. Niko leaned forward, examining the blade. Though I couldn't see his face—always hidden beneath that damn hood—I sensed a shift in his energy.
"So this is the sword worth 500 million G," he murmured.
I scratched the back of my head. "Yeah… Father went wild when I said I wanted it."
Niko lifted the sword, holding it gently, reverently. "Good. Very good. This... this was made by a craftsman not of this world. The balance is perfect. The material—I can't even identify it. But what a waste… This sword isn't meant for mana users. It's built for aura manipulation." He paused. "Someone's fought with this before. Judging by the wear, it must have been an SS-Rank warrior."
SS-Rank? I blinked. I'd read nothing of such a weapon in the novel's chapters—at least, none I could recall. My memories were broken, and I hadn't even read all the volumes. Maybe it appears later?
Still, his words raised a question. "Why not fuse your aura with the blade, sir?"
He sighed, returning the weapon. "I haven't mastered aura yet. And at my age, finding a proper teacher is more trouble than it's worth."
He then summoned a short sword from his own ring. "Use this instead. Yours is too long for you."
I exchanged the swords. He tossed the short blade my way, and I caught it smoothly. Then came his challenge:
"Attack me like you're trying to kill me. Kill me first, or die trying."
What the hell? He hadn't even taught me a single move. Still, I moved in. Sloppy swings at first—random, instinctual attacks—but he countered them all with minimal effort, bringing me down in one move. Show-off.
I stood up, dusted myself off, and stepped toward him again.
---
Niko's POV
What… what is this pressure?
The moment he stepped forward again, something shifted. His grip, his stance—it wasn't the movement of someone untrained. He swung at my chest. I deflected it. Then he struck low, aiming for my ankle. A quick sidestep, then he came for my neck, then my wrist. Precision. Purpose.
This isn't a child flailing randomly.
His Majesty himself might've taught him. But Liam had only awakened a month ago… Could he really be this much of a genius?
But he has no mana. That cursed fate.
Still, genius or not, fate can be cruel.
After a few exchanges, I ended the bout.
"That was good, Liam, but you look uncomfortable using the sword."
He shrugged. "Yeah… it was my first real fight. I only ever watched how knights moved in the arena."
So he's mimicking what he saw? That's... incredible.
"And those attacks on my vitals? You studied human anatomy?" I asked.
He only laughed.
From behind, I heard panting. The little prince had returned, half-dead from training.
I dismissed them. Watching the Lime taking his Little brother Alex in his shoulder really care for one another, one wouldn't guess they weren't related by blood.
As I turned to leave, Jakes Tully approached, a cloaked figure at his side. I couldn't see the face.
Tully spoke. "Does the Commander of the Shadows have a moment for me?"
---
Liam's POV
Training ended, and I carried my exhausted brother on my back. A few maids and butlers offered to help, but I waved them off.
As we passed the corridor, I saw our parents deep in discussion. Upon noticing us, they smiled and walked over.
"Niko is pushing our children too hard," Mother said, worried.
"It's okay, Mother. His training is helping us grow stronger."
Father added warmly, "If your heart says it's good, then it is. But if your heart tells you it's wrong, don't ignore it. Speak out. Even if Niko is harsh."
"Understood, Father," I replied.
Mother reached to carry Alex, but I stopped her. "It's my job to look after him. He's my little brother."
Her eyes welled with tears. Father smiled. "Our son has grown mature, Luna."
"Yes, Karl," she replied with pride.
"Where are you two going?" I asked.
"Preparations," they said. "Foundation Day is coming. There's so much to do."
Oh yeah… Even empires celebrate their founding. Vineta was unique, though—some believed in different dates. To avoid conflict, my family made a rotating calendar: Foundation Day changed every year.
I wished them good luck and walked Alex to his room, then retreated to mine.
"Rex," I called. "Can you get me a milkshake?"
"Yes, young master."
I flopped on my bed, thinking about what Father had said. Follow your heart. If that's the case… should I kill Niko and Jakes? No. No. This isn't my old world.Even if tried I can't.
Even so, I was frustrated. I couldn't even make Niko flinch. He didn't take my swordsmanship seriously.
If I were the main character of this novel, I'd already—
No. Forget it.
"Liam, you are just a…
EXTRAAA!"
I shouted dramatically, floating above my bed like an overworked anime protagonist.
After my retirement, I found solace in the quiet corners of the library. It was there, amidst the scent of old books and the rustle of turning pages, that I began watching anime—not out of passion at first, but simply to pass the time.
That's when I noticed Rex had returned, milkshake in hand.
"Sorry, young master. I forgot to knock."
I took the milkshake with a tired smile.
"Oh… don't worry about knocking, Rex. My heart just loves surprise attacks."