Chapter 1037

〈 Chapter 1037 〉 1037. The Plum Swordmaster Reincarnated Into the Viscount Family

The succession ceremony and engagement party proceeded right there on the spot.

Though a few retainers opposed it, that paltry resistance wasn’t enough to make Enteon take back his words. The Frucase Viscount family had a structure where power was concentrated in the head of the house. Thus, within the Frucase territory, the head of the house *was* the king.

I sat in the seat where Enteon had been sitting, with Yuria by my side. Though we weren’t officially married yet, it also symbolized that I already regarded her as my wife.

‘Looking around from this position… It feels so different.’

The head of the house’s throne was at the highest point in the Great Hall. Naturally, I could look down upon everyone, and everyone had to look up at me.

‘Kail from the original story climbed to this position pretty easily.’

In the original story, I didn’t exist. Kail could handle someone like Zent easily. If Kail hadn’t existed, I would’ve probably ascended to the head of the house several years earlier.

I glared at a few retainers who opposed my rise to the position. And those who I clashed with a couple of times. Most of them quickly averted their eyes to the floor. However, a minority continued to defy me without averting their gaze, as if they held some sort of conviction.

‘First off, these brats are definitely getting executed. I need to find an excuse to kill them. If there’s no excuse, I’ll make one. If all else fails, I’ll assassinate them.’

They’re useless anyway.

And I need to set an example. An example that shows I’m not someone to be trifled with.

“I cannot accept this!!”

Zent shouted. Everyone’s attention turned toward him. He wasn’t too far from me. Zent was causing a commotion toward Enteon.

“Father! The war isn’t over yet! I can achieve more merits than Eugene!”

Zent didn’t care about the gathering stares. I have to admit, he’s got some guts.

“Zent. Stop forcing the issue. The gap in abilities between you and Eugene has already been revealed. The only one who could rival Eugene was Kail.”

“If I had time and money, things would’ve been different!”

“Time flows equally for everyone… No, actually, more time flowed for you as the eldest son. As for money, I didn’t support anyone. Eugene made money on his own and funded the war with his own resources.”

“…Grrr. Father! I won’t ask for much! Just keep your original promise! Postpone the succession ceremony until the war ends!”

“No matter what you say, the succession ceremony is already done. I’ve already handed the family insignia to Eugene. Zent, serve the new head of the Frucase family. Eugene is your brother.”

“I cannot accept this!!”

Zent’s stubbornness kicked into full gear. Enteon let out a deep sigh.

“Zent. I thought you’d grown after going through the war. But looking at you now, you haven’t moved an inch. Zent, don’t turn away from reality. The gap in abilities between you and Eugene is clear, and no one can deny it. While you were struggling to capture one castle, Eugene captured three. While you were barely holding on in the south, Eugene pacified the north. Not to mention, Eugene gained Kail’s support. You couldn’t even earn the support of your younger siblings.”

“……!!”

Zent’s face twisted in anger. He gritted his teeth and clenched his fists tightly. His nails dug so deeply into his palms that blood dripped down.

“Father. I…”


“I am the eldest son of the Frucus family. The head of the household was originally mine…”

“Only those with ability can ascend to become the master of the Frucus family.”

“…That ability. I shall demonstrate it to you!”

Gent ignored Enzion and strode confidently toward me. He removed the glove from his hand and threw it at me.

I caught the glove before it could touch my face. Throwing a glove was an act of challenging someone to a duel.

“Euvin Frucus! I challenge thee to a duel! If I win, you will relinquish your position as head of the Frucus family to me! This seat does not befit you!”

“Very well. I accept your challenge.”

I stood up from my seat.

Yet, something felt off in my mind.

No matter how dire the situation, I wouldn’t have forgotten that I am an Aura Master.

There are two possibilities here. Either he’s spouting words recklessly driven by emotion, or there’s something else at play. Given that my expression hasn’t changed even after accepting the duel, it seems to be the latter.

“You’ve finally gone and done it.”

A sigh-laden voice from Enzion reached my ears. Perhaps due to stepping down from his position as head, he feels much older. I pretended not to hear and approached Gent.

The crowd quickly formed a circle, eager for the rare spectacle. A vacant space appeared in the center of the Great Hall. We ordered a servant to bring us swords.

Enzion is the one overseeing this duel.

“We are currently at peace. And you two are blood brothers. Do not take each other’s lives.”

Enzion spoke with emphasis on his words, clearly implying he won’t tolerate any killing.

“I never intended to kill my younger brother.”

Gent said this with such natural ease that it was obviously a lie. If he hadn’t intended to kill, he wouldn’t have sent assassins.

“I feel the same.”

Killing him would be far too easy. I’ll take everything away from Gent.

‘I won’t kill him. But since he dared defy me, punishment is necessary. At least one arm must be severed.’

Both Gent and Kyle, the two brothers, becoming armless wonders side by side will surely be a sight to behold. People might even commend them as truly affectionate brothers who both only have one arm each.

With my sword in hand, I decided to first crush Gent’s spirit by manifesting an Aura Blade. As the vivid blue Aura Blade appeared, gasps of admiration erupted from the crowd. Especially the knights were looking on with burning passion.

“Brother. It’s not too late. Give up.”

An empty-hearted suggestion. Matters of honor are at stake, so naturally Gent wouldn’t accept it.

“There’s no giving up. I will triumph in this duel… and reclaim what is rightfully mine.”

Gent summoned his Aura. The roaring Aura began to concentrate on the blade.

Aura Blade.

“What?! Lord Gent is an Aura Master too? All three brothers of the Frucus family are Aura Masters?!”

“Are your eyes crossed? Look closely. Lord Gent’s Aura Blade is unstable. It’s merely a temporary gathering of Aura to form a blade. It wouldn’t last long against a real Aura Blade.”

“I thought this would be a one-sided duel… but this is turning out to be quite entertaining.”

Gent was at the top tier of Aura Experts.

I remember he wasn’t originally at this level.

‘So he did manage to grow somewhat during this war.’

But Gent couldn’t break through the wall. In my case, I had a stroke of luck, but Gent didn’t.

Zzzzttt.

A bolt of blue lightning flickered across the blue Aura Blade. Ignoring the spectators’ astonishment, I charged towards Gent.

Clang!

The clash of swords resounded loudly throughout the hall.

I remained calm, but Gent’s expression twisted. He must have felt the disparity in strength from just that single strike.

Raising my sword high, I swung it down with all my might. Lightning followed the trajectory of my blade.

Krrraaashh!

“Guhhhhhh!”

Though Gent managed to somehow block my attack, he was forced back due to the following electric shock. His shoulder slumped, and his legs trembled uncontrollably.

‘Totally defenseless against lightning.’

It’s because he forcibly manifested the Aura Blade. Normally, smoothly circulating mana should protect against electrical currents…


Ah, I should prepare for electrical attacks.

“Hmm? Is it because he hasn’t fought someone like me before? Quite disappointing compared to what I expected. No secret techniques left?”

Jent launches a counterattack. I lower my body as much as possible while running. Jent approaches from my right and aims for my left leg—his intention is to steal my mobility. However, my eyes have already perfectly locked onto him. I’ve never missed.

One step back, one step to the side.

Jent’s sword narrowly grazes past my thigh. Time for a counter! Using my left foot as an axis, I unleash a devastating roundhouse kick with my right. BOOM! My kick lands squarely on Jent’s face!

He tumbles backward but quickly leaps back up. Blood streams down his face as his nose collapses and his mouth bursts open. Yet his eyes still burn fiercely. His fighting spirit remains unbroken.

After that, I exchanged about ten blows with Jent. It didn’t hold much meaning. I just toyed with him since ending it too quickly would’ve been a waste. Plus, I wanted to give the audience some entertainment while mocking Jent and showing off my skills.

KAANG! KANG! BOOM!

Jent’s forcibly created Aura Blade is on the verge of breaking.

“Should I finish this? Cail lost his left arm but was still useful… You, however, will lose your right arm!”

I knock his sword away. Jent’s arm spreads wide—an excellent opportunity to sever his right arm. As I take a step forward to swing my blade, I notice the corner of his lips curling into a smirk.

“A fleeting moment…”

A faint light glimmers around Jent’s shoes, and the brooch pinned to his chest shines brightly.

“So you came prepared with two artifacts. You were counting on these, huh? Does the shoe provide automatic movement? You’re retreating involuntarily… And the brooch’s effect is…?”

Jent’s muscles swell, and his unstable Aura Blade instantly stabilizes. Thanks to the Body Enhancement effect, he forcibly alters the trajectory of his sword, now aiming for my shoulder.

“Not bad…”

But it was meaningless.

Before his sword could reach my shoulder, my blade had already cleanly severed his right arm.

SCHLICK!

Jent couldn’t even react properly due to the accelerated strike. His right arm holding the sword hit the ground and rolled away.

“AAAAAAHHHHH!”

A scream echoes as crimson blood stains the floor.

“The duel is over! Eugene wins! Use your prepared potions! Mages! Healers! Quickly treat Jent’s wound!”

Antion shouts to those around him. A healer rushes to pick up Jent’s severed arm and attempts to reattach it. I stop them by grabbing their shoulder.

“Father. The victor decides. Allow me to exercise the rights of the winner. Do not reattach Jent’s arm.”

“But… Jent is your brother.”

“I am aware. However, Jent challenged the authority of the house head. I shall forgive his crime with the loss of one arm.”

Antion hesitates before responding.

“…Very well. The house head’s decision shall be respected.”

I quietly watch as Jent is carried away.

Afterward, I held a feast. The celebration lasted late into the night but ended after only one day due to the wartime situation.

Though I prepared for a purge, I didn’t execute it immediately. Given the current state of war, discretion was necessary, and there were still quite a few questionable individuals among us.

However, Jent’s “limbs” had to be cut off—not literally, but metaphorically. Using the assassination squad Jent sent against me as justification, I executed 11 of his loyal retainers.

The remaining followers of Jent trembled in fear. Some fled to other kingdoms, while others betrayed him by offering me bribes.

Those who ran, I eliminated through assassins. Those who paid me bribes, I spared temporarily—following Yuria’s advice to appear merciful so others might be easier to control. Of course, they’ll all be dealt with eventually.

Having stepped down as head of the family, Antion didn’t retire but returned to the military. He seems determined to spend the rest of his life on the battlefield—a boon for me, as it gives me another card to play alongside Cail.

“If you keep trying to act superior, I’ll kill you.”

I am the true master of Prukas.

Sitting comfortably in my new position as head of the house, I smile contentedly and return to reality.

[Ending recreation.]