Chapter 35
A vast, open training ground.
It was one of many practice fields within Linegrime’s main fortress, [Banapen], and the largest of them all.
The dueling ground, a massive square, was surrounded by tall walls and rows of trees so that the inside could not be seen from outside.
And gathered in the center of it were the children.
“Ha, so it really begins now?”
“Sigh… I prayed this day would never come….”
Some were groaning already.
“When training starts properly, you’re all dead. I’ll knock everyone down and shoot straight to the top ranks.”
“Ha! Why don’t you act like that normally? Just the other day you—”
“Shut up!”
Others showed excitement and anticipation for the training ahead.
But for most, rather than fearing the hellish training, the thrill of reuniting with familiar faces after a long while held their attention.
“Hey, isn’t that Seron?”
“Yeah, that’s him.”
“Damn, look at those eyes. He seems even stronger now. How much higher does he plan to climb?”
“They don’t call him a genius for nothing.”
The murmuring about the boy with light-brown hair and sharp blue eyes soon shifted.
“Look over there. Selena Marquess.”
A beautiful girl with snow-white skin and hair the color of blue droplets.
“Wow, Selena. She practically radiates light.”
“Yeah, no doubt she’s the candidate for the North’s most beautiful.”
“Her aura’s completely different now. She’s not losing to Seron at all.”
“I heard she’s already mastered the Seven Star Sword Forms.”
“What? The Seven Stars?”
“Wait, Seron only just managed to complete the Refining Pattern a short while ago. You’re saying she’s already mastered all seven?”
“It’s true! My sword instructor told me himself.”
“Bah, stop with the nonsense.”
“Forget it—let’s just admire Lady Selena’s beauty in silence!”
Everyone muttered their own piece, unable to take their eyes off Selena, completely lost in praising her beauty.
“Tch, seriously. Boys….”
Shaking her head, Maylin, the blonde-haired girl, clicked her tongue.
Then her eyes turned toward Selena, filled with unexplainable hostility.
“What’s so pretty about that pretentious twig? She looks like she’d snap if you poked her. North’s most beautiful? Please. I’m way— Wait. What’s with that face?”
She stopped mid-sentence and glared at Ruin.
“What?”
“Your expression, your eyes—they’re pissing me off. Be honest. What were you just thinking?”
Her tone had a hint of picking a fight. Ruin only shrugged, answering nonchalantly.
“Nothing much.”
“Look me in the eyes and say it, Ruin. What were you really thinking?”
“Well….”
Ruin trailed off, then the corners of his mouth tugged up as he replied.
“It’s better you don’t say things like that out loud anywhere.”
“What?”
“I mean, you shouldn’t throw those words around carelessly.”
His firm tone left Maylin dumbstruck.
“Ha… excuse me? Are you serious, Ruin!”
She puffed her cheeks in frustration and snapped:
“Fine, just say it straight. Compared to that pretentious twig, what am I lacking?”
Without hesitation, Ruin replied:
“Height.”
“What?”
“She’s taller than you.”
“Y-you—”
“And skin.”
“Huh?”
“Since ancient times, white skin has been considered a basic quality of beauty.”
“…….”
Maylin’s mouth snapped shut at the blunt truth.
It was indeed true—Selena stood a hand’s length taller, and while Selena’s skin was like polished ivory, Maylin’s carried a healthy bronze glow.
“Tch. Who doesn’t know that already? But did you really have to say it so rudely?”
“You asked.”
“Shut it!”
She barked back sharply, but her expression had visibly dimmed, much less spirited than before.
Just then—
“Hey, isn’t that Maylin over there?”
“Oh, it is! Maylin!”
A group spotted the blonde girl and called out warmly, waving their hands.
Maylin, still deflated, forced a smile and waved back.
Though the reaction wasn’t as dramatic as it was for Seron or Selena, there were many more who greeted Maylin in a friendly, affectionate way.
“Maylin, long time no see! What’ve you been up to?”
“When are you going to spar with me?”
“Did you try that new dessert shop yet? Their cake is amazing—”
Soon she drifted from Ruin’s side into the lively chatter of her friends.
And as she talked, her mood gradually brightened again.
Watching her, Ruin smirked inwardly.
‘She’s nothing like Seron or Selena, so why’s she jealous?’
[Indeed. That tomboyish girl seems well-liked and cherished by everyone.]
Even the Sword Spirit agreed.
While Seron and Selena were admired like distant stars—isolated and untouchable—Maylin’s charm lay in her warmth.
She was approachable, easy to befriend, like a friend to all.
“Man, this year’s group is insane. Seron, Selena, Maylin…”
“And not just them. There’s Andrei too. And I heard two recruits were called from outside.”
“From outside?”
“Yeah. Dad said the summons included two outsiders this time. Very unusual.”
Normally, Linegrime’s summons only included those within their territory—bloodline, vassals, or talents of note.
Occasionally, descendants of those who left, or others with ties, also received one.
Ruin was one such case.
‘Wait… so besides me, there’s another outsider here?’
Counting the gathered children, Ruin noted:
‘Way more than I expected.’
There had been sixteen at the Sword Ceremony.
Now, over a hundred were gathered.
But then again, not all could join the ceremony—it was limited to direct bloodline or rare talents.
Training, however, was open to anyone over thirteen.
So this turnout wasn’t strange.
“Isn’t that him?”
“Yeah. The kid from the family that expelled their youngest?”
“Still, I heard he got to join the Sword Ceremony because he’s direct lineage.”
“Unbelievable. Some get invited just by being born, while others train their whole lives and never get called. So unfair.”
“So he’s one of the outsiders then.”
They whispered while staring at Ruin.
Most talk was negative—about his expelled father.
“But doesn’t he look ridiculously weak for a direct heir?”
“Ha, yeah. He looks like he’d snap from a single hit.”
“Typical. Bloodline brats always like that.”
Their gossip grew nastier.
From the other side, someone snickered.
“Hey, want to rough him up before training starts?”
“What, him?”
“Yeah. His dad isn’t part of the clan anymore. Nobody’ll protect him.”
“Heh, true.”
Fools, mocking him like a puppy barking at a tiger.
[Heheheh. They really are underestimating you, boy.]
‘They’re just kids.’
[So you’ll let them keep running their mouths?]
“……”
Ruin said nothing, only studying their faces.
‘Hmm. They look familiar….’
Then he realized.
“Wait, isn’t it a bit much for us alone?”
“What, scared?”
“No. Just… he’s still direct lineage. Could get messy.”
“Then why not ask Lord Andrei?”
“Andrei…?”
At that name, Ruin remembered.
‘Ah. Them.’
They were the same brats who’d tagged along with Andrei during the Sword Ceremony and tried to humiliate him.
Back then, Ruin had given them a harsh lesson.
Yet—
‘Still haven’t learned, huh?’
Shaking his head, he fixed his cold gaze on them.
“Wait, he’s looking at us. Did he hear?”
“So what if he did?”
“Look at those eyes. He’s all pride and no clue.”
“Should we go now?”
“No, let’s tell Lord Andrei. That punk needs proper discipline.”
Their arrogant chatter continued.
Ruin smirked faintly and was about to step forward—
When suddenly.
“Move.”
A cold voice cut in.
The boys turned, startled.
“S-Seron?”
The boy with light-brown hair and piercing blue eyes stood before them, expression hard.
“Stop wagging your filthy tongues and move.”
“Y-yeah! Sorry!”
They scrambled aside instantly.
Without another glance, Seron strode forward.
His steps echoed as he approached Ruin.
“Ruin.”
His voice was ice.
“Been a while. How’ve you been?”
Though his tone was neutral, his eyes were deep and unreadable.
Ruin smiled faintly.
“Can’t complain.”
“I see.”
The onlookers whispered, confused.
“Wait, I thought those two hated each other? Didn’t they fight last time?”
“Yeah… so why are they greeting each other?”
“Did they… make up? Become friends?”
“Shh! Don’t get Seron’s attention or we’re screwed.”
Seron, hearing their murmurs, smirked faintly.
“Still the same.”
“…?”
Ruin tilted his head.
Seron’s gaze turned cold again.
“You shouldn’t have come here, Ruin.”
“What?”
“But I suppose a glory-seeker like you could never resist. You crave the spotlight too much.”
“What the hell are you babbling about?”
Seron didn’t answer. He only muttered:
“I’ll be waiting, Ruin.”
“For what, you lunatic?”
“You’ll see soon enough. You’ll realize how pathetic your choice was—chasing hollow glory.”
With that cryptic remark, Seron shook his head and turned.
“See you later.”
“Hey, Seron!”
Ruin scowled, ready to retort—
Creeeak, BOOM!
The gate to the training ground opened.
“……!”
All eyes snapped to the entrance.
Several figures strode in, radiating heavy pressure.
Thud, thud.
The entire space fell silent.
Then one man climbed onto the platform at the center.
His scarred face and sharp eyes made the children instinctively hold their breath.
“Th-that’s Harken.”
“The infamous demon instructor?”
“Damn, it’s starting for real.”
While the kids whispered in fear, the man on the platform spoke.
“I am Harken Benwer, head instructor for this training.”
Then he barked, his tone fierce:
“What are you waiting for? Run!”
“Eh?”
“Run?”
Confused, they hesitated.
“ALL OF YOU, RUN!”
“Move, unless you want to die!”
Other instructors roared from the sides, their voices savage.
At that instant—
Thud!
Someone bolted forward without hesitation.
All heads turned.
“Seron?”
The boy who had just been speaking to Ruin was already sprinting ahead at breakneck speed.
Almost immediately—
“Damn, missed the start!”
“…….”
Tap. Tap.
Maylin and Selena darted after him.
“Hup!”
“I’m going too!”
A few sharp kids caught on and ran as well.
Seeing this, the rest scrambled to follow.
“What are you waiting for? Run!”
“Forget it, just go!”
Soon nearly everyone was running, the ground thunderous beneath their feet.
“Huff… they’re so fast!”
“I can’t catch up!”
The order of departure had already split them into groups.
Those who started late had no chance of reaching the leaders.
“Damn it, too slow! I’ll never catch the front!”
“This must be a test! The first-day assessment!”
“What? A test?”
“Crap, I should’ve started earlier!”
“Just focus on staying in the rankings. Don’t drop too far back!”
As they strained themselves for better positions, Harken looked down from the platform, muttering with a crooked smile:
“Rankings, eh… Sure, they matter. But here? Not the way they think.”
His lips curled sinisterly.
Then his gaze fixed on one spot.
“…What is that brat doing?”
There, moving at a near walking pace, was Ruin—barely jogging at all.
