The Welton familys training room was very spacious.

And the floor was made with a special type of metal which was designed to withstand the power of a Sword Master, like Count Welton.

Come to think of it, I have never been here.

When he was younger than now, Count Welton could bring him here a few times. But it wasnt for training, just to walk around with little Jamie.

Perhaps because of that, the training hall seemed rather unfamiliar to him.

Even though he had been in this house for 7 years, not once did he come here by himself.

Jamie entered the training hall and found the back of a man.

Count Welton.

He was wearing his training attire but the air around him was different.

Here?

The Count said without looking back.

At his level, knowing who came wouldnt be that difficult.

Yes.

Coming here means that you are determined to prove yourself.

I told you I am sincere.

Right. Sincere. That's a good thing.

The Count picked up a wooden sword.

I will deal with you with this one. You can use everything to get this sword out.

It was just a sword, but if the person holding it was Count Welton, that changed everything.

Jamie gulped.

The pressure he felt from the Count wasnt violent, but it was a refined terrifying feel.

Same level as Sable. No, maybe higher.

He couldnt be sure as he never saw the Count give his all, but there was no way his father was inferior to Sable.

Was he this strong?

As a Sword Master, he knew his father was strong and maybe on a higher level than Beryl.

I wont use aura.

If a Sword master used an aura, then even a wooden sword would be a deadly weapon.

And how could Jamie who had never even touched a sword handle the Aura Blade?

It could be a brutal cut which would be deadly.

Although the Count wouldnt take the chance with his son.

are you saying it is fine to use magic?

Jamie knew too, but asked just in case to check.

Whether it is magic or sword, anything is fine. If you can block my sword by any means, I will teach it to you.

The Count meant to say that blocking his sword wouldnt be easy.

Even once.

Block a wooden sword without aura.

But the one holding it was a Sword Master.

I need to destroy that sword.

Not difficult.

If there was no aura, then a wooden sword is just a piece of wood.

Are you ready?

Raising the mana around, Jamie answered.

Even Black was summoned to assist him.

Yes.

The Count turned at Jamies answer.

Expression extremely serious, and so unfamiliar as it was Jamies first time seeing that face.

The Count took a step ahead.

Here I come.

The signal to start.

That was the last consideration Count Welton could show.

And Jamie once again felt that terrifying feeling take over his body, red alarms ringing inside.

Just one sword.

However-

Are you really going to kill your child?!

Jamie was startled to see his father approaching him straight with the wooden sword.

Was this what it meant to show his determination?

Jamie clenched his teeth despite the cold sweat running down his body.

No. I am going to show you my determination. Black!

Kik!

Black controlled the flow of mana.

Destroy the wooden sword.

Furthermore, inflict damage to Count Welton.

That was what the Count wanted.

Jamie concentrated mana on his fingertips. A magic already memorized.

Destroy!

[Death Forefinger]

He didnt take his eyes off the wooden sword.

Jamie thrust the index finger condensed with mana at the wooden sword.

Just before the collision, the two forces intertwined creating a gust of wind.

He couldnt understand how his father was channeling power into a wooden sword despite not using aura.

Ill break it!!

The index finger touched the wooden sword.

If he breaks it, it would his victory-

Told you I wouldnt use aura.

The Count said softly.

The wooden sword looked bizarre.

Jamies eyes widened at the moment which seemed to violate the laws of physics.

Swords aren't so simple.

The sword which has been wielded tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands and millions of times continues to evolve and transcend everything else.

It will hurt.

The illusion of time passing.

Jamie smiled.

I told you I was sincere too.

[Left hand of Ruin.]

A darkened left hand pointed towards the wooden sword which flew.

A magic which blends with dark magic.

However, this wasnt black magic, yet it showed the same power of destruction.

And this time the Counts expression changed.

Crack!

A pleasant sound.

And the Counts eyes widened.

The wooden sword!

Broke.

It was a brief moment of panic at the unexpected but Jamies attack didnt end there.

As if breaking the sword wasnt enough, Jamie stretched out his left hand for Count.

Reckless behaviour.

But the Count liked his son.

However, that didnt mean he would lose the dignity of the head of this family.

Grab!

He grabbed his sons wrist with ease.

Jamies expression turned bewildered. It seemed like he had the chance to attack.

Did you think that could happen?

Seeing that there was no answer, it meant that the son was sincere.

The Count felt absurd, but on the other hand he felt proud of his son.

Where did you learn such magic?

I made them myself.

Hu-

Did he reach a level where he could create such powerful magic?

Although magic was unfamiliar to the Count, he knew that developing a new one was tough.

Again, it was amazing talent.

No, this was no longer to be called talent. His son was an accomplished magician.

And you still want to learn the sword?

It may sound cocky to my father, but I am not trying to learn the sword by acting like something. And I never saw swords as something easy.

Both in the past and now, he had witnessed the power of swordsmen.

And it wasnt something which could be simply dismissed.

Despite not using aura, didnt Count Welton still manage to pressure Jamie?

Sure, Jamie still thought that magic is better.

I am trying to learn because I need it for the future.

Future?

Yes. The future.

What future are you talking about?

This time. I have been through a lot. I have a talent for magic. And I know that better than anyone. But that alone isn't enough. We are going to have a tough fight. Father.

Jamie.

Father surely must have guessed that to some extent.

His young looking son was already thinking of the distant future.

Maybe not distant, but it was a problem for adults to solve.

7 year old Jamie had nothing to worry about.

And the Count was going to say that.

I am young, but I am not young. Even my father knows it.

The Count was speechless.

What Jamie had said just broke his heart.

His son was different from his peers and he realized that early on, but still, he treated his son like a child because he desired him to be a child.

And Jamie was telling him not to do that anymore.

The Count looked at Jamie.

Jamies face was exactly like his firm resolve.

It will be difficult.

I am prepared.

Lets start tomorrow. Come here by six in the morning.

Yes!

Jamie replied with a bright face at those words.

The Count smiled as he looked at that.

Lets go.

A man with the impression resembling a hawk put his two daughters in his carriage.

The girl who climbed into the carriage with bold steps and a girl with graceful gestures got on.

The two girls with opposite personalities were Rebecca and Ash, the daughters of Viscount Balle.

The Viscount smiled as he looked at the children.

Both excited?

Its been a while since we were out!

Ash jumped inside the carriage and shouted.

And Rebecca nodded shyly.

They come from the same belly but are so different that it is amazing.

Viscount Balle shook his head looking at the different characters of the sisters.

Then lets go.

At the signal, the carriage moved.

Ash, who was looking out the window, turned to her father and asked.

Haiss must be huge right?

Probably one of the biggest in the east.

I am so excited!

By the way, wasnt Ash close to the son of Welton?

Hm

At her fathers question, Ash rubbed her lower lip and pondered.

She first met him at the Eastern Nobles banquet. And talked for some time but never contacted each other.

She tried to send a letter, but she couldnt get herself to do it.

Maybe I should have sent it?

Maybe then this situation would have been better.

When Ash didnt answer, the Viscount titled his head and she shook her head.

Ash?

Ah? Ah, ah, we are close. Probably we are friends?

What is that supposed to mean? Are you close or not?

Anyway!

Ash shouted and turned her head to the window.

The child wasnt at puberty yet.

Watching his daughter act like this, Viscount Balle turned depressed. Although it didnt suit him because of his hawk-like appearance.

The Viscount asked Rebecca, the eldest with a smile on his face.

Did our eldest daughter meet the young master?

Yes? Uh

Like Ash, Rebecca pondered.

The Viscount sincerely pondered what the two daughters were thinking about the Counts son.

No way.

Although he had a good relationship with Count Welton, he wasnt sure about the kids.

Still, as if something happened, both of them were showing weird faces. But on the way home from the Eastern nobles banquet they seemed happy.

Maybe it was because they havent met in a while.

The Viscount came to the conclusion and smiled.

We are going to get to know each other again and you can do it. And you dont have to force yourselves to be like him and be friends, if you dont like it, you dont have to.

At that, Rebecca tilted her head.

It isnt that.

Hmm.

Maybe because we are friendly, or maybe another reason.

Rebecca put her hands on her chest.

Heart beating fast.

Ever since she met Jamie Welton in the woods five months back, this kept happening each time she thought of him.

Rebecca, who had never experienced it before, couldn't figure out why.

Want to see him again.

And then she could figure out why her heart was beating faster.

Seeing his eldest daughter act like that, Viscount Balle sighed.

He really didnt understand how his daughters were feeling.