I Regressed to My Ruined Family – 61

 #I returned, and my family was ruined (62)

Ethan looked at the knights gathered at the training ground.

Knights from four families.

They had several things in common.

First.

Their way of thinking was already that of a knight.

And second.

they longed for the former duke’s family.

He knew why they belonged to the 10th branch of the family.

The 10th branch.

One of the abuses they committed was stealing the duke’s knight trainees.

The duke’s family attracted talented applicants due to its great reputation.

The side branches did not hide their greed for talent.

That was why they divided among themselves the most promising trainees who had passed the family trials. Some quit their knighthood in anger, but others accepted reality and became knights under the side branches.

Most of the people here were of that type.

“That’s not wrong.”

Even if they were collateral branches, they were still knights belonging to the duke’s domain.

Ethan spoke.

“Do you know why the Ardan Duke’s family became the best swordsmanship family in the Western Continent?”

“……”

“It’s simple. They accepted their strengths and discarded their weaknesses. For example, the duke’s advanced sword techniques incorporate the techniques used by the barbarians.”

“……!”

Barbarians.

They were a race that had waged war against the kingdom about a hundred years ago.

Who would have thought that such a secret was hidden in the duke’s advanced sword techniques!

It was astonishing.

The barbarian tribes were a cruel race that all citizens of the kingdom despised.

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“Technique itself is neither good nor evil. It is the ideology of those who use the technique that determines whether it is good or evil. That is why the Duke’s family accepted even the techniques of the barbarian tribes. We were confident that we could maintain the right balance.”

The knights swallowed hard.

No one could refute the Grand Duke’s words. Hadn’t they seen it with their own eyes during the Dragon War fifteen years ago?

Just as they had learned tricks from the barbarians long ago.

It was the same this time.

They had created a sword technique that killed dragons by adopting only the strengths of dragons. I thought it was truly befitting of the Duke.

Meanwhile, Ethan continued.

“It’s not just the sword technique that was created. There is also a breathing technique that was created by combining the techniques of the dragon tribe. It gathers fast and powerful energy. It is a breathing technique that only accepts the advantages that must be accepted.”

“…Not only a new sword technique, but also a breathing technique?”

Not only transforming techniques, but also combining the advantages of each technique.

If it were easy, there would already be countless advanced techniques in the world.

The knights gathered at the training ground realized this moment with certainty.

The Grand Prince’s talent was so high that it could be said to have been bestowed by the heavens.

“The sword techniques and breathing techniques I have just created will be the techniques that the knights of the Ardan family will learn in the future.”

Thump!

The knights’ hearts raced at the words “knight of Ardanaga.”

It was something they had longed for since long ago.

It was to become a knight of the Duke of Ardanaga.

The dream they had been forced to forget was gradually becoming a reality.

“The name of the newly formed knight order will be the Dragon Slayer Corps.”

Dragon Slayer!

It was a word that perfectly expressed the identity of the duke’s family.

No other name seemed more fitting for the knight order.

“Those who belong to the Dragon Slayer Corps will learn the most outstanding sword techniques and breathing methods in the world.”

Ethan said with a smile.

“They may even receive advice on swordsmanship from the world’s greatest swordsmen. Those who wish to join, raise your hands.”

At that moment,

all the knights in the training ground raised their hands. Whether they were 4-star, 5-star, or 6-star knights,

it didn’t matter.

Ethan looked at Nerian.

He was the captain of the Duke of Dekun’s knights and also the highest-ranking knight here.

“You will be the captain of the knights.”

“…Yes!”

“The founding ceremony is over. Everyone is to gather at the training ground tomorrow.”

Soon, numerous dishes were brought to the training ground.

The knights, with their hearts filled with excitement, began to reach for the food.

* *

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After the founding ceremony.

Ethan returned to his office.

“The foundation has been laid.”

The Yongsal Corps.

These were the ones who would become the swords of the Duke’s family.

With the disappearance of most of the knights of the family fifteen years ago, it was essential to establish a new order of knights.

Rapid growth would require the wisdom of the dragon clan, but balanced growth would require the wisdom of the family.

At that moment.

Light shone through the crystal ball in the office. It was the crystal ball that Polton had given him a few days ago.

It was connected directly to Viscount Bloten, the head of the Viscount Besos family.

He placed the mana stone on it.

The marquis’s face appeared.

“How have you been?”

“It’s been a long time, Grand Duke. The results from the royal palace are in.”

“Poporen.”

It was news about him.

“What happened?”

“William was demoted. He was stripped of two ranks. The Kingdom’s Seven opposed any further punishment, so it ended there, but…”

That meant the position of royal blacksmith was now vacant.

―It was the best possible outcome for us. The kingdom reviewed the case and decided to appoint Popolens as the royal blacksmith. However, it is only a temporary position for one year.

“You mean you will keep an eye on him.”

―It’s understandable, considering how badly Williams was hurt. Still, as long as Popolens doesn’t make any major mistakes, he should be able to keep his position.

It was the best possible outcome.

Popolens had been accepted into the kingdom’s ruling class.

He would be useful in the future.

That was when it happened.

―There is one more reason why I contacted you.

“What is it?”

―I heard from Sir Fulton. He said you established a knight order?

“That’s right.”

―He said it was shocking how well you combined the techniques of the dragon clan and your family. I was very surprised to hear that.

“What do you mean?”

―Not only did you accept the dragon clan’s technology without hesitation, but you also blended it very well. Both of those things.

“The world is changing. If you don’t follow the changes, you will eventually be eliminated.”

―That’s not wrong. Even if you hate the dragon clan, there’s no reason to reject their good technology. So, may I ask you a favor?

“I’ll listen.”

―Huh. Good. Actually, our family has also collected some of the dragon clan’s techniques. We’ve been collecting them since the dragon clan war began, so we have quite a lot.

The marquis looked at Ethan and continued.

“However… we haven’t been able to utilize them because we couldn’t find a way to eliminate the side effects. Each of their technologies has a serious side effect. It was beyond our capabilities to eliminate them. Perhaps the Seven Families of the Kingdom could have done it…”

“Are you thinking of entrusting me with modifying the technologies?”

“If you agree, I would like to. In return, I will hand over all the dragon clan’s technology we have gathered so far. Someone like you should be able to make good use of it.”

It was not a bad deal.

The dragon slayer sword that Ethan created was a sword technique he devised after observing the sword techniques used by Nerian and other knights at the Dekun House.

In other words, it only utilized 10% of the dragon clan’s techniques.

“That’s good.”

The more he understood their techniques and the secrets behind them, the more he would be able to create advanced sword techniques that could defeat them.

The dragon slayer sword he had just created was a combination of his family’s intermediate sword techniques and the techniques used by the destructive dragon.

“If only I could learn more of the dragon clan’s techniques.”

He could combine them with his family’s advanced sword techniques to create something new. There was no reason to refuse.

“Alright. I will make it for you. Should I combine it with the sword techniques of the Vessos family?”

―That’s fine. Hmm! To be honest, it’s a bit rude to say this, but… the sword techniques of the duke’s family would be even better.

The Vessos duke said with a slightly embarrassed expression.

The duke’s family was a merchant family.

In terms of swordsmanship, he couldn’t even compare to the Duke of Ardan.

Personally, he wanted to obtain the Duke’s swordsmanship.

That would strengthen his military power.

Of course, in order to do so, he would need the permission of the Grand Duke standing before him. That was why he made the suggestion.

Ethan nodded at the marquis.

“All right. I’ll give it to you.”

―…Really? So easily?

“To be honest, I don’t think our family’s techniques are that important anymore.”

―…Huh?

“As you probably know, our family’s breathing techniques and all our other techniques have been leaked.”

―……I know. Of course I know.

“Even the seven major families of the kingdom and the ten collateral families have stolen our techniques. It’s possible that our techniques have even been passed on to other kingdoms. In this situation, what is there to hide? So I will tell you.”

It would be better to share our techniques with our allies than to let only thieves use them.

‘It’s not like it’s secret sword techniques that are only passed down to direct descendants anyway.

There was no need to back out now. Rather, it would be beneficial to solidify the alliance with the House of Besos.

Bloten was so moved that he was speechless for a moment.

But only for a moment.

“…Thank you. The Grand Duke truly has the demeanor of a great man.”

“If you are grateful, just continue to treat me well. Isn’t this a world where we help each other?”

“I will remember what you have done.”

If the marquis was so decisive, he would surely repay him in some way in the future.

That was enough.

“Are you going to send the knights separately?”

―Just let Sir Fulton know.

“Yes, sir.”

Fulton was Elena’s bodyguard and a six-star knight. In Ethan’s eyes, he was one of the talented ones.

He would probably become the next leader of the marquis’s family.

That was the moment the conversation ended.

―Young master. May I come in?

He heard a voice.

It was Sylvia.

“Come in.”

She entered the office and bowed her head respectfully.

“I have news from Hans. Your youngest brother has unleashed his black flame.”

“It has begun.”

Ethan thought it was perfect timing. He looked at Sylvia.

“What is Cheiman’s response?”

“It’s positive. Of course, he hasn’t completely dispelled his suspicions.”

That was enough for now.

“Not bad.”

“I have one more piece of news. A meeting of the elders has been scheduled.”

“When?”

“In two weeks. The meeting will be held at the estate of Viscount Liman.”

Viscount Leeman.

He was a nobleman belonging to Cheiman’s faction. Ethan nodded and smiled slightly.

From now on, he planned to stir up conflict between the two factions and induce a full-scale factional battle so that they would gradually collapse one by one.

“Good work. I’ll check on things.”

“Yes.”

Silvia left the office.

Ethan took out the crystal balls he had collected so far.

Crystal balls collected from each domain.

These were connected to Cheiman and Irdan.

He inserted the mana stones into the crystal balls connected to the two barons.

A moment later.

The two barons appeared between the crystal balls.

“Long time no see, both of you.”

―……!

The two counts, now facing the face of the Crown Prince, widened their eyes in shock.