"I have a job in the Swamp. I need a skilled guide and mage, but with my connections and resources, finding one has been challenging," Heero replied.
The Iron-Blooded Lord said, "I will speak to the Heroes organization about the guide. Would a mage at the level of a Director suffice?"
"That is enough," Heero answered.
A mage at the Director level was just below a Master. Such a senior mage could establish a Magic Tower in the city, provided certain conditions were met. Hiring someone of this caliber wasn't simply a matter of money, yet the Iron-Blooded Lord spoke of it as though it were trivial.
"Is there anything else you need?" the Iron-Blooded Lord asked.
"Nothing," Heero replied.
The Iron-Blooded Lord nodded, then turned to Nero. "Nero."
"Yes," she responded.
"You completed a B-grade mission alone in Heroes. I also heard that the organization's evaluation is very good," he remarked.
"That's right," she acknowledged.
"Do you have any requests?"
Nero hesitated briefly before speaking. "Lately, I feel as though I've hit a wall and am struggling to progress. Could you spare some time to guide me when you're available?"
The Iron-Blooded Lord nodded. "I'll make time soon."
"Thank you," Nero said.
The Iron-Blooded Lord continued, "On another note, I've heard you've been studying the ancient swordsmanship of the old fairy."
"Yes, that's true," Nero confirmed.
"Ancient swordsmanship typically demands significant mana. While your reserves are greater than most of your peers, they still fall short. I will provide you with an elixir soon. Take it."
A satisfied smile spread across Nero's face. "Thank you."
Though the conversation was brief, the rewards the Iron-Blooded Lord offered were far from insignificant. How many families in the empire could bestow such gifts without any fuss?
The Iron-Blooded Lord then turned his gaze toward me. "Luan."
"Yes."
"You've developed a martial art comparable to our family's hereditary swordsmanship," he stated.
This was a topic we had discussed before, following my victory over Hariba in the Badnikers' forbidden area. Why was he bringing it up again?
I felt the weight of Heero and Nero's eyes on me as I answered, "Since I've never learned the family's hereditary swordsmanship, I can't make a direct comparison."
I chose my words carefully, but the Iron-Blooded Lord understood my implication. "Are you suggesting that what you've created might surpass it?"
I didn't respond.
Fortunately, he didn't press further and changed the subject. "In the mountains, you eliminated Hadenaihar's assassins and defeated the Jewel Beast. At the main house, you dealt with the infiltrators personally. Later, you proved yourself by shaking off the Council of Elders' restraints and securing a decisive victory against Hector."
"Yes," I acknowledged.
"Impressive."
At his words, Heero and Nero's attention fixed on me.
I wasn't entirely sure what was happening, but I had a rough idea. Evidently, the Iron-Blooded Lord was a man who rarely gave praise.
He kept the events at the main house vague, which wasn't strange. Perhaps even Heero and Nero were unaware of Ludwig's undercover activities.
"Is there anything you wish for?" he asked.
I hadn't expected the opportunity to arise so quickly. Without hesitation, I replied, "I would like to enter the family's underground library."
"The underground library?" he repeated.
"Yes."
He paused, furrowing his brow in a rare display of contemplation.
What is it? I wondered.
My request didn't seem extraordinary compared to what the two before me had asked for. Why this reaction? Anxiety crept in.
"I can't do that," he said.
I fell silent.
"It isn't enough," he added.
"What do you mean, it isn't enough?" I asked, confused.
"I don't know about anything else, but catching Hadenaihar's tail is a remarkable feat. Simply granting you access to the underground library wouldn't do it justice," the Iron-Blooded Lord replied.
Ah, so that was his reasoning.
"What else do you wish for?" he pressed.
What did I need right now?
I considered my options.
The family's hereditary martial arts? Mastering the White Sun Eclipse and Galaxy Sword was already enough. I believed in quality over quantity.
Since I wasn't facing any particular difficulties in my progress, I didn't need guidance like Nero had requested. That left only one choice.
"I want an elixir too."
"An elixir?" he echoed.
"Yes. If possible, it should be something with Infernal Solar Mana."
His brow furrowed again. After a moment, he said, "There is a Spirit Jade in the family's treasure house. I will give it to you, so take it."
What was a Spirit Jade? I wasn't sure, but if it came from him, it had to be superior to an ordinary elixir.
I nodded coolly. "Yes."
"Take this too," he said, handing me a ring. It was a simple silver band, devoid of patterns or jewels.
"What is this?" I asked.
"It is a magic tool. If you inject mana into it, you can come to this place at any time."
"I see."
"It is disposable, so use it at the appropriate time."
This must be a subspace , I thought.
"Lastly, if you visit the underground library, be cautious of the librarian," he warned.
"There is a librarian?"
"Yes."
Who could this librarian be that even someone as formidable as the Iron-Blooded Lord felt the need to warn me?
I wanted to ask more, but he suddenly stood, and I missed my chance.
"It has been a long time since I've had such a satisfying day," he said. "To aid your growth, I will show you something, too."
At these words, Heero and Nero's expressions changed. They looked like children on the verge of receiving a gift.
What is he going to show us? I wondered.
My doubts were resolved in the next moment.
The Iron-Blooded Lord rose to his feet and drew his sword, likely intending to demonstrate his swordsmanship.
At last, I understood the excitement of the other two. This was no less than the Iron-Blooded Lord declaring he would personally instruct us. Any martial artist in the empire—nay, any child of the Iron-Blooded Lord—would yearn for such an opportunity.
Though swordsmanship was not my primary focus, I couldn't help but feel anticipation. This was, after all, the Iron-Blooded Lord's legendary swordsmanship. Surely, there was something to be gleaned simply by observing.
As he strode past us, sword in hand, the ground beneath him surged and writhed like malleable clay. Within moments, it took the shape of monstrous figures.
Just as I braced myself for the strange sight, the Iron-Blooded Lord, calm and unhurried, swung his blade.
In an instant, the five foremost monsters were reduced to blood.
It wasn't merely a single strike. Within a fraction of a second, his sword had cleaved through each monster at least five times. The most astonishing part was that each attack felt deliberate and distinct, as though five swordsmen had struck simultaneously rather than one.
The Iron-Blooded Lord, typically reserved and composed, transformed into a beast in battle. He neither gasped nor roared, indifferent to the blood of his foes splattering his body.
It was a reflection of his approach to combat. He cared nothing for the mess of flesh and blood, only for efficiency. He was the kind of man who could lie in wait beneath a corpse for three days and nights to eliminate his target.
When his sword dance ended, he turned to us without bothering to wipe away the dripping blood.
"Did you watch closely?" he asked.
We nodded without saying anything as if we were in sync.
"How was it?"
Heero was the first to respond. "It's fierce and relentless. Above all, it has no fixed form—it's the freest swordsmanship I've ever seen. In other words, it seems more effective against multiple opponents than in a one-on-one fight."
The Iron-Blooded Lord nodded.
Next, Nero shared her thoughts. "It doesn't appear designed for individual combat. The attacks continue even after delivering what would be fatal wounds to an ordinary opponent. It seems tailored for battling the undead or demons."
The Iron-Blooded Lord nodded again, then turned his gaze to me.
Somehow, I felt obligated to speak, so I offered something vague. "I agree with my brother and sister."
"Is that all?"
"Yes."
In truth, I had more to say but chose to hold my tongue. I had no desire to invite unnecessary trouble.
At my reply, Heero, Nero, and the Iron-Blooded Lord frowned but pressed no further.
Heero broke the silence. "Father, will you teach us the swordsmanship you just demonstrated?"
"That's right."
"You are teaching the swordsmanship you created yourself..." Heero's voice brimmed with excitement.
Nero didn't show it, but I could tell she felt the same.
Yet, the word "teach" left me feeling as though a weight had been dropped on me.
The Iron-Blooded Lord noticed my expression and asked, "Why do you look like that?"
I tried hard to mask my flustered expression as I answered, "Family head."
"What is it?"
"I don't need this swordsmanship."
"Why?" he asked.
"There are two reasons. First, swordsmanship isn't my main skill," I answered.
"I know that you have trained in unarmed martial arts. Kayan informed me. You also relied on your fists when you defeated Hector." The Iron-Blooded Lord rarely spoke at length, but he pressed, "What's the other reason?"
I recalled the martial art he had just demonstrated and said, "I'm still developing my own martial art. As Kayan must have told you, it's incomplete."
The Iron-Blooded Lord nodded. "I am aware."
"Then you should understand," I said with a nod. "Learning multiple incomplete martial arts is beyond my current ability."
The corner of his mouth curled up.