The Genius Son-in-law of the Swordmaster Household—Blessed by Authority Chapter 66

Spider Web (3)

"Young master Ian. That greatsword you're holding. May I borrow it for a moment?"

"...?"

At Aris's words, Ian blinked his eyes and looked up at her.

"... Why my sword?"

As Aris unfastened the long sword at her waist, she replied,

"With my own sword, I won't be able to bring down Sir Jonathan in a single exchange."

That was certainly true.

No matter how excellent and superb Aris's sword was, Jonathan, the vice-captain of the Heavenly Sword Knights, was too powerful for Aris to defeat in a single strike.

Jonathan at the realm of fully accomplished grandmaster.

In contrast, Aris had only just reached the entry-stage of grandmasterhood less than a year ago.

She was at a disadvantage in terms of aura class from the start.

Moreover, the martial art Jonathan had mastered was at the highest level, rivaling the Heavenly Sword technique itself.

But—

If Aris used Vladiark...?

'That certainly would allow her to overcome every single disadvantage.'

Vladiark would devour the opponent's aura until death unless their mana circuits were completely severed.

'No matter how strong Jonathan is, at a minimum, he's not getting away without major injuries.'

Unless Jonathan had already prepared countermeasures against Vladiark's magic power absorption, if he got bitten by Vladiark unawares, he would have to tear out a large portion of his own mana circuits just to survive.

No matter how skilled Jonathan was, he could not avoid being brought down, at the very least.

'If that happens, Aris wins this duel.'

The outcome of this duel would be decided on whether Jonathan could withstand Aris's blow intact.

'So, if Aris uses Vladiark...'

The outcome was inevitable: Aris would win.

Vladiark was a vicious weapon that even Yuria, who was nearly demigod-level in his previous life, struggled against.

No matter how seasoned a grandmaster Jonathan was, he could not withstand it unscathed.

'At minimum, his mana circuit would be ruptured, and in the worst case, death.'

Whatever the result, Jonathan would at least be brought down or collapse.

'The issue is...'

Ian was still puzzled.

And for good reason.

Among the many famed swords scattered around, why would Aris specifically ask to borrow Ian's Vladiark, as if...

She already knew about Vladiark's abilities.

'That doesn't make sense...'

He had never properly shown Vladiark's abilities to Aris, nor told her about them.

'And yet.'

She looked as if she was certain she could bring Jonathan down with a single blow if he just let her use Vladiark.

The certainty in Aris's eyes was...

'No way...'

Could it be that the Heavenly Sword Lord had told Aris about Vladiark?

While turning over such complicated thoughts in his mind and looking at Aris, she drew close with a mischievous smile.

"...!"

Without realizing it, Ian stepped back, but Aris was faster.

In an instant, her lips were so close they nearly brushed his ear.

"You look like you've just been exposed for hiding something, don't you?"

"... Ugh."

At Aris's whisper, Ian swallowed dryly.

What was this crazy monster planning to say up close like this?

"I know everything. I saw it all."

"...?"

She saw? Since when? What, exactly?

"Ever since you arrived in Morbeng village. Every last bit."

"...!"

Ian's pupils shook violently.

She had been watching him ever since he entered Morbeng village?

He never sensed a thing.

Creeeep. Goosebumps rose across his body.

Eyeing him as if finding his reaction adorable, Aris continued with an aura message.

[I even saw Sir Javier borrowing your greatsword. Saw how it swallowed the Barbarians' aura and turned them into mummies.]

"...."

Cold sweat beaded at Ian's temples.

Never did he expect Aris had kept an eye on things all the way to Morbeng village.

No, wait, did that mean—did she also witness his fight with Dellen...!

While Ian was briefly distracted by such thoughts—

—Swish!

"... Ah."

It happened in an instant.

With a deft motion, Vladiark slipped smoothly from Ian's grasp and into Aris's hand.

To bystanders, it may have looked like he'd handed it over naturally, but it was in fact snatched away.

"... Wh-What!"

Ian quickly reached out for Vladiark again, but, as if expecting it, Aris pulled the blade back.

"There's nothing to worry about."

And with her other hand, she softly placed it on Ian's shoulder.

"I'll bring it right back to you."

With her white fingers, she gently brushed over his shoulder, then turned away.

"W-Wait!"

Ian urgently grabbed for the hem of Aris's clothes as she tried to turn away.

"...?"

Aris just turned her head, looking back at Ian.

"There are still... some things you don't know about that sword."

No matter how confusing things were right now,

So long as Aris brought down Jonathan and saved Yuria, Ian had no reason not to lend her Vladiark.

But.

Vladiark was a monster that devoured aura without distinction between friend or foe.

Its hunger spared only its master.

If Aris recklessly poured aura into Vladiark and ended up losing the duel, Yuria would fall under Jonathan's control in a complete disaster.

"That sword is—"

"It's all right."

The moment Ian tried to warn Aris about Vladiark,

Aris gently closed her hand over his and flashed a small smile.

[I saw how it's used, so I know.]

Then she placed her hand atop Ian's head and softly stroked it.

[This greatsword grows the more aura it consumes, right? Today, I'll gift you a grandmaster's aura. Look forward to it.]

"..."

Her tone was gentle, but Ian's body stiffened and goosebumps broke out all over.

To outsiders, it might have looked like a kind older sister reassuring a boy, but for Ian, who knew her true cruel and hypocritical nature, it was as if a giant venomous spider had perched on his head.

—Pff.

Aris let out a pff at his reaction, then fully turned away.

In the middle of the open space between the two opposing factions.

Jonathan had already finished his preparations for the duel, standing at one end of the clearing and adjusting his helmet.

"Hmm..."

When Aris took her place on the opposite side, Jonathan slightly tilted his head, eyeing Vladiark.

'That's... not Aris's sword.'

He knew whose sword that was.

'That's Ian Greysel's greatsword.'

The sword was so large and conspicuous; it left an impression impossible to forget.

'But why would she borrow Ian's sword instead of using her own?'

Wait a minute.

Something was off.

From the start—

'From the start, why is Ian Greysel even here?'

Jonathan glanced at Ian's group standing off to the side.

Javier and the Investigation Division knights were sworn to the Heavenly Sword Lord, so it was natural for them to be here protecting the direct line.

But Ian was merely a guest.

And not just any guest—he was a 14-year-old boy with no official duties at the Heavenly Sword Palace.

And yet.

Why was that child involved in the dirty depths of this tangled, politically fraught family affair?

"..."

Jonathan stared intently at Ian, thinking for a moment before shaking his head.

'There's no way to know right now.'

But—

'The thing I've been overlooking may be that kid.'

Jonathan had kept his doubts to himself but had been pondering this all along.

How did Javier and the Investigation Division knights track down Yuria and find her?

That had always been a mystery.

'All of this was painstakingly planned and flawlessly executed over a long period.'

After kidnapping Yuria, they eradicated all traces that could be clues for pursuit, and arranged strict guards all around.

So how did Javier and the others manage to find and even rescue the deeply hidden Yuria?

'At first, I suspected there was a traitor among us.'

He thought there was someone leaking insider information to Javier.

His top suspects were the five Barbarians who had been missing since about a day ago—the Crimson Yaksha and his Yaksha troop.

'But there were still parts that didn't add up if they had betrayed Young Master Theo.'

After all, the Yaksha troop had no reason to betray them.

The rewards they stood to gain this time were prized even among grandmaster-level warriors, and their families were under Young Master Theo's influence.

Not only did they have no reason to betray, but if they even wanted to, they couldn't. Betraying Young Master Theo would bring immediate retribution upon their families.

'But.'

What if the one aiding Javier's investigation was not the Yaksha troop, but Ian?

'That would explain quite a lot.'

Ian Greysel.

That boy must have something.

This world is filled with all sorts of singularities and powers.

'Ian Greysel. That boy must possess a special ability, too.'

Perhaps that was the reason the Heavenly Sword Lord was so affectionate to Ian Greysel, keeping him as a guest.

'Interesting.'

Though he couldn't say for certain what ability Ian had, if Javier managed to rescue Yuria with the boy's help, then Ian's ability must be specialized toward tracking or information gathering.

'A very useful talent.'

If he could put that boy's ability to work for Young Master Theo...

—Shake shake.

Jonathan shook his head to clear away these distracting thoughts.

'This is something to consider later.'

He'd look into Ian after this duel was over.

For now, he must focus on the fight with Aris.

He needed to bring Aris down here, secure Yuria, and return her to that unsettling puppet master, Rudeus, as ordered by Young Master Theo.

'Still, I'd better be cautious about that greatsword.'

The black greatsword Aris borrowed from Ian.

There must be a reason she set aside her own superb sword for that heavy blade.

'If she abandoned her familiar sword for a heavy greatsword, it must be to try and decide the match in a single, overwhelming blow.'

She would try to smash Jonathan's balance by bringing down that weight with all her might.

'Not really a wise idea.'

Jonathan was a swordsman whose specialty was strength rather than speed.

If Aris abandoned her advantage in speed to try brute force, he'd actually have an easier time.

'Still, that greatsword is absurdly huge.'

Jonathan calmly eyed Vladiark resting on Aris's shoulder.

'And to think that's a 14-year-old brat's sword.'

Currently, Vladiark had devoured three Barbarian masters and was greatly swollen.

Its form was not fully restored yet, but the blade that was once snapped in two had grown so thick that it now looked more like a tombstone than a sword.

'It must weigh several hundred kilograms at the very least.'

Depending on the material, it could be over a thousand kilograms.

Even with aura control, wielding something that heavy wouldn't be easy.

At the User level, just lifting it would be the best one could do.

Even Experts might collapse after swinging it only a couple times.

'Wait. Now that I think about it, at first...'

Ian's greatsword was not this massive from the start.

During the sword ceremony, it was nothing but a broken hunk of scrap metal.

He remembered vividly, given how many people laughed at Ian back then.

'And even during the entrance examination.'

Back then, that black greatsword still looked like nothing but a blunt, broken piece of junk.

'Did he get it repaired somewhere?'

Now, the scrap-like state was almost entirely gone.

However—

'It looks like the repair was left unfinished.'

The edge wasn't properly sharpened, and the tip was still broken off.

'How bizarre.'

If he'd taken it to a forge for repairs, they wouldn't have left it so half-done.

'It still looks like junk—just bigger and heavier.'

Another question gnawed at Jonathan's mind.

How did Ian, a mere 14-year-old boy, manage to carry that ridiculously heavy sword all this way?

He'd heard that Ian was given the Heavenly Blood Pill by the Heavenly Sword Lord, but even so...

'Yeah. Must've enchanted it with a weight reduction spell. Otherwise, it'd be impossible.'

At this point, Jonathan brushed off his idle thoughts.

'If the only special thing about it is its weight, it shouldn't be too hard to block.'

The sword looked unbelievably heavy, but if weight was all it had going for it, it meant nothing to Jonathan.

He was a grandmaster who could stop a landslide with bare hands.

Even if Aris poured all her aura into that rock-like greatsword, he was confident he could withstand it for one exchange, at least.

'Let's see what you got, then.'

He would put Aris in her place in this duel and fulfill Young Master Theo's order to turn Yuria into a mindless doll.

-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=

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