Chapter 39

Chapter 39
## Chapter 39

The core of a nobleman’s authority is rooted in the purity of his blood.

The more prestigious the ancestry, the greater the number of privileges one can assert. This reality was particularly pronounced for the House of Valdek, a family whose lineage was inextricably woven with that of the Imperial royalty.

‘To begin with, I possess a legitimate claim to the crown. Of course, my opportunity would only arise if the entire primary Imperial branch were to be extinguished.’

Looking at it from another perspective, it meant he held the potential to demand the throne should circumstances demand it. In times of stability, such a declaration would be mocked as a delusional fantasy, but in an era of upheaval, it became a different matter entirely.

The prerogatives bestowed by the Valdek blood were that substantial. It was no hyperbole to suggest that the most potent weapon Lucian held was the status granted to him by his birth.

Furthermore, even if they currently lacked physical dominion, his mother’s side of the family carried the ancient blood of the Northern Royal Family.

‘Provided I possess the personal strength and a justifiable reason, I have the foundation to rule as a rightful sovereign whenever I choose.’

Lucian let out a short laugh, thinking back to his recent interaction with Jordi.

Take nothing for yourself? If I can’t lead the family, we should both fall?

It was truly pathetic.

“I can’t agree to that, brother. Why would I turn away from a smooth, velvet path when it is laid out directly before my feet?”

He was well aware of the source of Jordi’s desperation. In contrast to Lucian, Jordi’s maternal lineage was a mere merchant house only three generations removed from commonality. If Jordi failed in the struggle for succession, he would lose his standing on this elite stage forever.

Jordi had clearly been rattled to see Lucian—someone he previously viewed as an equal in weakness—suddenly showing the talent to stand independent of him.

Regardless, Lucian saw no reason to follow Jordi’s lead.

“I utilize the advantages I have, and you utilize yours. That is simply how the world functions. It is inherently biased and devoid of logic.”

In his previous life, Lucian had been destroyed by that very lack of logic. Conversely, Jordi had thrived at the peak of that unfair system while competing with his siblings. Even though their roles were now reversed, Lucian felt no sympathy for the man.

—

For a period of two months, Lucian dedicated himself entirely to physical conditioning. Because he was preparing to enter a zone of active conflict, he felt that no amount of preparation was truly sufficient.

Fortunately, since he had opted to prioritize raw destructive impact over intricate technique, his regimen was direct, and the advancements were heartening.

*Snap!*

“Phew!”

Lucian grinned with a sense of achievement at the sound of the air being displaced. While it was still a far cry from the power Eisen had demonstrated, the sheer force was remarkable. He felt certain he could overwhelm his former self in a single clash.

‘Unless I face a knight of great renown, the duel will be decided the moment our steel meets. That is, assuming my blade doesn’t fail under the pressure.’

Lucian’s expression soured slightly as he thought of the sword that had recently broken. It had been a decent weapon, so the loss was irritating. Since he had acquired it under the guise of needing equipment for his task, he wondered if he could get something of equal worth if he asked for another.

‘Wait. Come to think of it, I am heading off to a war, am I not?’

If he played it correctly, couldn’t he use the upcoming campaign as a reason to demand a superior sword? Since the stakes were much higher now, he might be able to secure something even better.

‘There is no harm in trying, so I might as well make the request.’

“Young Master! His Grace the Grand Duke is here!”

“What? My father?”

Caught off guard by Hans’s shout, Lucian snapped his head around. He attempted to straighten his disheveled attire, but Grand Duke Sigmund walked in before he could finish.

“Father, please excuse my unkempt state…”

“There is no need for such formalities in a private setting. I am pleased to see you training with such dedication.”

The Grand Duke observed the sweating Lucian with a look of approval and then struck his palms together twice.

At that signal, attendants entered the area, carrying several items.

“As it happens, a gift for you has arrived, and I decided to bring it to you myself.”

“A gift… Is it a set of armor and a blade?”

“Does it meet your approval?”

Lucian nodded without thinking. Even a quick glance told him the sword was a work of art. Smiling at Lucian’s wide-eyed expression, the Grand Duke extended the weapon to him.

“Unsheathe it.”

“Is that permitted?”

“A warrior must personally confirm the quality of the edge he intends to carry into battle.”

Bowing his head in respect, Lucian pulled the sword from its scabbard. The steel slid out with a whisper-quiet grace. Lucian was amazed by the perfect balance and the terrifying sharpness of the metal.

“This is an incredible weapon. It clearly wasn’t forged from standard steel.”

“It has been reinforced with a calculated amount of Adamantium. The quantity isn’t massive, but it will not shatter, regardless of how much force you put behind your strikes.”

Lucian’s eyes widened at the mention of Adamantium. It was the sovereign of metals, renowned as the most durable substance in existence. He knew that even a trace amount added to gear would elevate its resilience to an entirely different level. Due to its staggering cost, he had only ever seen such items from a distance in his previous life.

“Look at you. You have the expression of a frightened rabbit.”

“Anyone would be shocked to learn a blade contained Adamantium. Is it truly alright for me to have this?”

“Certainly. It would be a stain on my reputation if you, acting as my representative, were endangered because of inferior steel. And furthermore…”

The Grand Duke trailed off and gave a signal. The attendants placed down a suit of armor on its display rack. It was a striking set, featuring a sophisticated color scheme of white and azure.

“On a battlefield, survival is more vital than offense. I am giving you this alongside the blade.”

“It is a beautiful piece of work, but I only see the chest plate.”

Lucian, captivated by the craftsmanship of the surface, spoke his confusion aloud. The Grand Duke gave a small, silent smile and assisted Lucian in putting on the armor. Once Lucian was standing there, looking a bit confused in just the breastplate, the Grand Duke spoke.

“Now, attempt to flow your mana.”

“Right here?”

“You don’t need a full cycle. Just direct your mana into the center of the chest piece.”

To be asked to channel mana after putting on a lone breastplate was strange—Lucian tilted his head but did as he was told.

*Sh-sh-sh-shing!*

“…!?”

The second a specific threshold of mana hit the chest plate, the armor expanded, racing to cover his entire form. It moved over his limbs, between his fingers, and shielded his head. Incredibly, the metal didn’t catch on his skin or hair during the deployment.

In under ten seconds, the single plate had become a suit of full-body plate armor.

“Magic Armor…!”

Lucian was speechless as he realized what he was wearing. This was the peak of military technology, something that required the sovereign’s decree and the work of the Court Mages to produce. In his previous life, he had only seen it once, worn by the Captain of the Guard during a visit to the capital city.

To think he was actually wearing Magic Armor.

“This set was given to the second Head of our House by the Late Emperor of that time. It is undeniably a treasure, but because it was an early model, its capabilities are considered the lowest of its class. As time passed and we acquired more advanced sets, this one fell out of use. It is only fitting that you take it.”

“But still, this is Magic Armor, isn’t it? Even if it’s an older model, it must still be among the finest gear in the world.”

Lucian was stunned by the Grand Duke’s casual tone. A house like Valdek would certainly receive such rewards from the throne, but they were typically reserved for massive events like the naming of a new Family Head. No matter how many they had in storage, it wasn’t something to be handed out lightly.

It was obvious the Grand Duke was downplaying the value to make Lucian feel less burdened.

“You look shocked. Why? Are you not pleased?”

“I am very pleased. But isn’t this excessive? It is just a mission to stop a rebellion, yet you are giving me Adamantium and Magic Armor.”

“Yes, it is. To be honest, I feel the same way.”

The warmth left the Grand Duke’s face as he agreed. A strange sense of tension and discomfort took its place.

“Even if Krepelt is the most powerful of the vassal states, it is nothing compared to the might of the Empire. A revolt there should be a minor nuisance. Yet, for some reason, this feeling of dread won’t go away.”

“Do you have a specific suspicion?”

“None. It is purely an instinct. Some would laugh and call it a groundless worry, but I have always had this sensation before a major disaster. Moreover…”

The Grand Duke stopped and looked Lucian in the eye.

“Your insistence on having total authority also unsettled me. It didn’t look like you were just hunting for glory; it looked as if you were already bracing yourself for a catastrophe and were simply looking for the legal power to handle it.”

“…I cannot see the future, so how could that be possible?”

Lucian acted as if he didn’t understand, though he felt a sharp prick of guilt. He knew Grand Duke Sigmund was a man of high caliber, but did he really have a form of hidden foresight?

Luckily, the Grand Duke only studied Lucian for a moment before giving a slow nod.

“That is true. However, there is no downside to being over-prepared for war. Take these items and use them well. I will say it again: this is a gift, not a loan. You are under no obligation to return them.”

“Thank you. I will never forget this kindness, Father.”

“There is no need to talk of kindness between a father and son. It is enough if you come home in one piece. And do not take unnecessary risks. Even if you win massive renown, it is worthless if you aren’t alive to see it.”

“I will remember that.”

Having said his piece, Grand Duke Sigmund departed the training grounds with his retinue. Even as he walked away, he kept looking back at Lucian as if a weight was still pressing on his mind.

Hans, who had been watching from a distance, ran up with glowing eyes only after the Grand Duke was gone.

“Incredible! Young Master, when did you gain such favor from His Grace? An Adamantium blade and Magic Armor! Even Master Tristan hasn’t been given such things!”

“I’m not sure. Should I call it favor, or just a very keen set of instincts?”

“Excuse me? What do you mean by that?”

“I mean that there are truly remarkable people in this world. My father happens to be one of them.”

“…?”

Leaving the confused Hans behind, Lucian focused his mana on his chest once more. The Magic Armor responded, folding back into its compact breastplate form.

Running his hand over the metal and the sword, Lucian felt a pang of regret.

‘I’m sorry. You went to the trouble of giving me these treasures, but I’m afraid I’m still going to have to do something dangerous.’

However, there was one promise he could keep.

He would return alive.

As the Grand Duke had said, even the greatest fame would be useless if he wasn’t there to witness it.

As he quietly checked his new equipment, a new concern entered Lucian’s mind.

‘…By the way, won’t my brothers have a lot to say about me getting these gifts?’

—

As Lucian had predicted, the fallout from the extravagant gifts was immediate.

As soon as the word spread that he had been granted an Adamantium sword and Magic Armor, the three brothers hurried to the Grand Duke’s office together.

“Father, this has gone too far. I can understand the sword, but Magic Armor?”

“That is the very armor given to the second Head of our House by the Late Emperor! It isn’t just gear; it is a historical treasure of the family!”

“Does he really require such things just to put down a revolt in a vassal territory? It would be much better to give Brother Tristan more soldiers instead!”

Amidst the wall of complaints, the Grand Duke looked at his sons and spoke with a cool voice.

“If you find this so unacceptable, one of you may take the third son’s place and lead the suppression of the rebellion. If you do, I will reclaim what I gave him and split it among you.”

“…”

“…”

At Grand Duke Sigmund’s single ultimatum, the three brothers fell into an immediate silence.