When the Council of Elders was mentioned, something came to mind.
"Young Master Luan, they say that you..." Kayan hesitated, his voice trailing off.
"What about me?"
"After you ruined the church's plan in the mountains and single-handedly defeated the Jewel Beast, the elders demanded an explanation about what happened. You said..."
I felt uneasy for some reason. "What did I say?"
"You said, 'I can take down all of the Council of Elders by myself,'" Kayan replied, his tone cautious.
I murmured blankly, "I think it has been exaggerated by at least tenfold?"
"As expected, that is what happened." Kayan sighed. "Nevertheless, most of the Badnikers believe that nonsense."
"Let them," I said with a shrug. "My reputation is already at rock bottom anyway. It can't get any worse."
"Even worse than after you sold the sword?" Kayan countered.
"That's different," I admitted.
They said there was a bottom below the bottom. It would be serious if my reputation had sunk even lower since then.
"So what? Will the elders come to discipline me themselves?"
"That isn't the case. Perhaps, a member of the Iron-Blooded or Fang Knights will deal with you." Kayan glanced at me and cleared his throat. "Young Master Luan, the knights' skill levels vary greatly."
"I'm aware," I said flatly.
"Even within the same division, the gap between a recruit and a knight with over a decade of experience is like heaven and earth," Kayan informed.
"I know."
"The key is that the Council of Elders will choose your opponent," Kayan added, his voice lowering.
I started to grasp Kayan's point.
"There is absolutely no need to rush, Young Master Luan," he said earnestly. "Given your talent, in two years—no, even one—you'll catch up."
"So you are saying I shouldn't fight now?" I asked.
He'd been circling the point, but this was the crux.
Kayan closed his mouth, then nodded. "Yes."
I studied him with fresh eyes. I'd heard my mother owed him much, but I didn't fully trust Kayan. Someone who suddenly acted so warmly seemed suspicious.
Hadn't he been the one to sever my tendons in my past life? Yet here he was, offering advice that cut to the core.
Telling someone, "If you fight, you'll only humiliate yourself, so endure it," wasn't an easy thing for a subordinate to say.
"It will be fine," I said.
Despite knowing the situation, my answer remained unchanged. I wasn't underestimating the knights. I was well aware that some of them were as monstrous as the Iron-Blooded Lord's children. If anything, this was my moment to fight.
"I understand."
Fortunately, Kayan backed off without pushing further.
Just then, Arjan spoke up, as if struck by a sudden thought. "Ah, there is something I need to tell you about the Goodspring family's third daughter."
Seren?
"What is it?"
"First, let me explain what happened three days ago. Miss Seren returned to the banquet with news that you were in danger."
I nodded. I regretted saying anything, but with Seren's personality, it was inevitable.
Arjan continued, "Kayan and I set out to search immediately, but Sir Assad intercepted us."
"Assad?" I echoed.
The Archmage had intervened? Had the Iron-Blooded Lord requested it?
Kayan and Arjan were talented, but they were no match for Assad.
Arjan explained further, "As I was trying to find another way, you returned, Young Master Luan. The real problem arose the next day. It is rumored that Miss Seren spent the entire night searching for you."
I was surprised and curious about Seren's behavior. "Why? Didn't you inform her that I returned safely?"
"The Council of Elders didn't confirm your whereabouts, Young Master Luan. Even though I assured her of your safety, she didn't seem to believe me."
"Then you could have shown her directly—" I stopped myself.
Seren was still a Goodspring. While I had grown confident in her true nature, Kayan and Arjan were in a different position. Revealing my unconscious state to a Goodspring would have been unwise.
The situation was complicated.
At that moment, my stomach growled, reminding me I hadn't eaten in three days.
Arjan quickly said, "I will prepare a meal right away. Please wait a moment."
I nodded at her words.
***
After I finished eating, washing up, and changing clothes, my mother came to see me.
"Are you feeling alright?" she asked, her voice tinged with concern.
"Yes. I'm fine now."
"Good. You must've been exhausted," she said.
Surprisingly, my mother didn't seem overly concerned, even though I'd been asleep for three days and nights. According to Kayan, those who received a blessing often experienced such side effects.
No way, me too?
Was my three-day sleep not due to accumulated fatigue but part of accepting the blessing?
I wasn't sure. Nothing seemed different from before I'd fallen asleep. I still didn't know what my blessing was.
It didn't matter, though. My focus remained on mastering the First Fire Technique and White Sun Eclipse. Even if I'd received a powerful blessing, I planned to use it as a tool rather than make it my primary skill.
"Don't speak during the hearing," my mother instructed firmly.
She echoed Kayan's earlier advice. Even their expressions were oddly similar.
"I heard that one guardian can attend. I'll do the talking, so leave it to me," she added.
"Are you sure?" I asked hesitantly.
She pursed her lips, retorting, "Of course. Who do you think I am?"
I nodded.
Indeed, her family had weakened considerably, but she was still a noblewoman from Coland. Her political skills probably surpassed mine.
"Of course, I know that the Council of Elders isn't easy to deal with, but that doesn't mean I don't have a plan," she assured me.
"Alright. I understand for now," I said.
"For now...?" she repeated, laughing as if my response amused her, but she didn't press further. Perhaps she felt we didn't have time to argue.
Kayan checked his pocket watch and announced briskly, "The time has come. Please head out."
I rose from my seat and followed Kayan. As we walked through the unusually quiet mansion hallways, I muttered, "Now that I think about it, no wonder it is so quiet. The annoying guests must've left now that the blessing ceremony is over."
"Not all of them," Kayan corrected. "Those who want to follow the Badnikers' curriculum have stayed. There are quite a few."
"Really? Are they here now?" I asked.
"Not at the main house," he explained. "They've been moved to a separate building further away."
"I see."
The Badnikers' curriculum was notoriously rigorous—education in name only. In reality, it was a grueling training process that pushed participants to the brink, often at the risk of their lives. The completion period was jokingly called the Six Weeks of Despair.
But if one completes it, their skills will undoubtedly improve.
Being taught by so many heroes was rare. Anyone ambitious would jump at the opportunity.
I wished Seren were here to clear up the misunderstandings, though the chance was slim. It wasn't about her personality—the Goodsprings offered education on par with the Badnikers. She had no reason to endure another family's training.
Perhaps sensing the heavy atmosphere, Kayan joked, "Young Master Luan, you must be the first to visit the Trial Room twice in less than a week."
I chuckled, recalling the previous scene in the Trial Room.
Would the Iron-Blooded Lord be there today? More importantly, had he truly not done nothing when the Council of Elders summoned and questioned me?
It was highly likely. Aside from his curiosity about me, he wasn't the type to offer warm assistance, even to his child in a crisis.
"We've arrived," Kayan announced.
The Trial Room's large, distinctive door came into view.
This time, however, two figures stood in front of it. I recognized them instantly by their attire—collectors. Both appeared highly capable.
Kayan, who was walking ahead, hesitated briefly but said nothing to them.
The man on the left, handsome with a gentle impression, glanced at us and greeted us with a natural smile. "What brings you to the Trial Room?"
"I heard there's a hearing for my son in the afternoon," my mother replied.
Then the man's gaze turned to me. "Are you Young Master Luan?"
"That's right."
"I've confirmed it. You may proceed," he said.
As my mother nodded and approached me, the two men stepped forward, closing the gap between them. It almost seemed as though they were blocking her path.
"What's the meaning of this?" she asked, her voice tinged with confusion.
"My apologies, Madam Lucia," the man on the left said with an awkward smile. "Only Young Master Luan is permitted to enter today."
"But a guardian is usually allowed to attend hearings before the Council of Elders," my mother protested.
"Generally, yes." the man conceded. "However, this is a special case."
"Your vagueness is hardly clarifying."
As the man on the left smiled awkwardly, the man on the right interjected, "Naturally, the Badnikers' laws are strict and must be upheld at all times."
He was far more blunt.
"Except for one person," he added.
My mother was startled. There was only one such person in the Badniker family.
Is this the Iron-Blooded Lord's doing? I wondered.
It wasn't entirely surprising, yet it felt off. As I had thought earlier, the Iron-Blooded Lord wouldn't help me, but he also had no reason to hinder my mother's participation.
"Young Master Luan, please enter," the collectors urged.
Time seemed to be running short. I glanced at my mother and said, "I'll just go alone."
"Are you sure?" she asked, concern evident in her voice.
"Of course," I reassured her.
In fact, this would work to my advantage.
As I approached, the collectors stepped aside, even opening the door for me.
I stepped into the Trial Room once more.