How a Two-Life Scoundrel Lives

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【Chapter 22】

The opinions of the House Sigmund members waiting for Carlisle were divided.

“Sister, do you think Brother Carlisle will be able to come out with an Inheritance Sword…?”

“You know the chances are slim.”

“Ah.”

Frey hung his head at Selena’s response.

Selena’s words weren’t wrong.

Not being chosen by any Inheritance Sword.

And thus coming out empty-handed.

That was the accepted truth.

Since Inheritance Swords were weapons imbued with the souls of ancestors, they thoroughly rejected those unworthy of becoming members of House Sigmund.

Historically, there had been those who weren’t chosen by any Inheritance Sword, and they were all denied recognition as family members.

“Still, you never know.”

Selena was placing hope in the fact that Carlisle had recently stopped indulging in debauchery and causing trouble.

Of course, he had recently beaten a Knight and broken his ribs, and was still engaging in destructive behavior like smashing objects…

“I wish Brother Carlisle would return to how he used to be.”

Frey spoke with regret.

“It’s better not to expect it.”

Selena shook her head firmly.

“The Carlisle we knew as children is gone now. He’s already changed.”

“But…”

“He might improve a little, but he can never return to how he was before.”

“…”

“We can only hope that he comes to his senses, even if late, and stops being a burden to the family.”

Selena’s expression as she spoke was equally regretful.

Meanwhile, Grand Duke Guntram sat on his throne, quietly gazing at the portal without moving a muscle.

“Your Grace, you need not be anxious.”

When Maranello spoke with a face full of smiles, Grand Duke Guntram frowned as if the suggestion was absurd.

“Anxious? What do you mean by that, Sir Maranello? I’m not anxious at all.”

“Hehe.”

Maranello laughed.

“Are you truly not anxious?”

“That’s right.”

“Then why are you tapping the armrest with your finger?”

“Hmm?”

“Don’t you have a habit of tapping the armrest with your finger whenever your mind is troubled, Your Grace?”

“I was… doing that?”

“Didn’t you know?”

Maranello smiled broadly.

“I can assure you that there’s no need to worry. This old man guarantees it.”

“How can you be so certain?”

“Your son has changed greatly. Though he’s still lacking in many ways, I’m confident that the souls of our ancestors won’t turn away from him.”

“Since it’s the opinion of you who has watched him most closely, I’ll listen carefully.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

Maranello bowed his head toward Grand Duke Guntram.

‘Your Grace. Your second son is far more remarkable than you think. He’s simply acting like a scoundrel due to unavoidable circumstances.’

It wasn’t easy for Maranello to resist the urge to speak up.

From what Maranello had observed over the past few weeks, Carlisle was a genius.

During training, Carlisle displayed terrifying concentration and maximized his efficiency, and his skills were improving rapidly as a result.

Moreover, through some kind of magic, his strength and endurance had also increased tremendously in a short period.

If he continued to grow at this rate, just imagining what kind of monster would be born made his heart race.

‘Someday Your Grace will also come to know it. Young Master Carlisle’s true worth.’

Meanwhile, the majority of House Sigmund members were certain of Carlisle’s failure.

“He won’t receive any choice, so it’s just a waste of time…”

“Wasn’t the last person to come out empty-handed 100 years ago?”

“The ancestors must be wailing. Hehe.”

Considering the track record Carlisle had shown, this was a perfectly natural reaction.

“There’s no way that boy Carlisle would be chosen by the ancestors.”

Carlisle’s aunt Medea also had no doubt about his failure.

“Don’t you think so, dear?”

“Of course.”

Carlisle’s uncle Rebesk completely agreed with his wife Medea’s opinion.

“This time it will be made official.”

“What will?”

“That the boy is a defective product of our family.”

Medea smiled with her eyes as she looked at the portal leading to the Cradle of Swords.

“Even those who held onto a thread of hope will turn their backs after today’s events. A Sigmund who isn’t chosen by an Inheritance Sword is considered a disgrace to the family.”

“That’s certainly true, but…”

“Then it’s only a matter of time before the boy is expelled from our family. Before that…”

Medea made a derisive expression.

“It would be fortunate if he doesn’t die on the battlefield.”

* * *

Meanwhile, Carlisle had defeated hundreds of swords and now faced the jet-black sword that had approached him.

‘What exactly are you?’

Carlisle was extremely curious about the identity of the jet-black sword.

The Inheritance Swords stored here in the Sword Graveyard were all worthy of being called famous swords without exception.

The fact that it had overpowered such stellar famous swords through force was proof of just how powerful the jet-black sword was.

Ding!

[Notification: 【Jet-Black Sword Grimgand】 has chosen you.]

‘Grimgand, if it’s Grimgand… Ah!’

Carlisle realized what sword had chosen him.

Grimgand.

Among the Inheritance Swords possessed by House Sigmund, it was considered the most mysterious, powerful, and unpredictable existence, like an incomprehensible supernatural force.

Grimgand, fundamentally a Magic Sword imbued with dark attributes, was an Inheritance Sword said to have been created by the 3rd family head and the most powerful Sigmund in history, [Chaos King Cain].

‘Is it okay to take this?’

Carlisle couldn’t rashly reach out to grasp Grimgand’s hilt.

Chaos King Cain was the most famous traitor in Nurburg Kingdom’s history, having once led a rebellion against the royal family.

Although he had pledged loyalty to the royal family after the failed rebellion…

‘It’s like a Poisoned Chalice.’

There was no doubt that Grimgand was an unparalleled famous sword.

However, the moment he became Grimgand’s owner, he would draw the Royal Family’s attention, and then House Sigmund might be put in danger.

No matter how much the Royal Family was nothing but a puppet that had lost its prophetic ability, their tremendous intelligence network and military power built up over hundreds of years were not to be taken lightly.

It was too early a time to go against the Royal Family’s wishes.

So for Carlisle, becoming Grimgand’s owner was bound to be burdensome.

“I guess you won’t do after all…”

At that moment.

Swoooosh…

Grimgand changed from a magic sword with a jet-black blade into the form of an old sword that was rusted and chipped in places.

Though the blade’s color was somewhat dark, it looked like scrap metal that no swordsman would even glance at.

“What’s this.”

Carlisle chuckled.

It felt as if Grimgand had understood Carlisle’s inner thoughts and moved accordingly.

“Are you saying it’s okay to choose you?”

Naturally, the sword didn’t answer.

It only thrust its hilt toward Carlisle as if urging him to choose it quickly.

‘Chaos King Cain’s sword…’

Under the premise that it wouldn’t be discovered, Grimgand was the best choice.

Since it had disguised itself as a rusted iron sword, it wouldn’t draw the Royal Family’s attention, so Carlisle had no reason to refuse.

Moreover, it wouldn’t draw attention from the Sigmund Family members either, so it was killing two birds with one stone.

If he carelessly went out carrying a well-known famous sword, it would attract his family’s attention, and then he’d become the target of unnecessary curiosity and expectations, getting dragged into all sorts of troublesome affairs.

Rather than that, carrying Grimgand disguised as scrap metal would definitely be more convenient in many ways.

“Well, there’s no need to refuse it.”

The moment Carlisle’s hand touched Grimgand’s hilt.

“…!”

The scenery before his eyes changed.

* * *

He was one who resisted fate, one who sought to break the wheel of destiny.

“Dekaron will no longer dance in the Royal Family’s palm.”

He was one who carved out his own destiny, and one who had the power to do so.

Therefore, he raised an army and rebelled against the Royal Family.

He pointed his sword at the Royal Family, who wielded truly omnipotent authority that manipulated reality based on powerful prophetic power.

However, the Royal Family’s reserves were a towering wall that even his military might couldn’t overcome.

In the end, the rebellion failed, and House Sigmund surrendered to the Royal Family.

On the day he knelt on one knee before the king and swore loyalty.

House Sigmund became completely subordinate to the Royal Dynasty, and in exchange, they shouldered the duty to eternally fend off barbarian invasions as long as the dynasty continued.

‘A shameful history.’

Carlisle knew what consequences this event had brought about.

Now, about 300 years after Cain’s rebellion.

The blood that House Sigmund had shed during that time was beyond imagination.

Hundreds of Sigmunds had died in wars against the barbarians, and the family’s power was always stagnant.

Whenever their strength was about to grow, they had no choice but to give their all to fend off barbarian invasions, so it was no exaggeration to say that House Sigmund’s history was years of struggle for survival.

Was it because he knew this?

‘To put my unfinished legacy and atonement for my descendants into this sword…’

Just before his death, Cain created the Inheritance Sword, Grimgand, and poured all his thoughts into it.

Hoping that someday in the distant future, a descendant who inherited Grimgand would escape from the history of subordination in his place…

And so Cain’s memory ended.