TSMRG 14

TSMRG

Posted by Aashi, Released on September 4, 2025

Chapter 14

Reborn as the Greatest Swordmaster of the Lineage

“Greetings, Northern Sword Lord.”

The moment Luin leapt off the bed and bowed deeply, Damon shook his head and approached him.

“Today, I come not as the head of the family but as your grandfather, so there’s no need for formalities.”

With a gentle tone, he grasped Luin’s arm and helped him stand.

‘What… is this power…?’

Luin felt an intense yet warm energy surge through his arm in an instant, leaving him no choice but to surrender himself unconsciously. Or rather, it would be more accurate to say he dared not resist at all.

At that moment, a voice echoed in his mind.

[Is this the current head of the Linehart family?]

[You’ve achieved more than expected. Truly a descendant of Belion.]

Even the Sword Spirit, seemingly familiar with the first head of the family, expressed admiration. Damon, the Northern Sword Lord, exuded overwhelming strength and presence that could astonish anyone.

Why had this man come secretly to visit him late at night?

“What are you pondering so deeply?”

“I was thinking about why you came to see me, Grandfather.”

“And have you found the answer?”

Luin’s mind raced. Naturally, if it was something that warranted Damon, the master of the north and head of the Linehart family, to intervene personally, there could only be one reason.

Turning his gaze to the Sword Spirit, Luin spoke again.

“Is it because of the sword I drew in today’s Sword Tomb Ceremony?”

“Hahaha, why would you think that?”

Earlier, during the morning audience, Damon had radiated an unapproachable charisma. But now, before him, the man emanated a far more relaxed atmosphere.

Luin, stunned by this completely different side of Damon, eventually spoke.

“I just thought the only reason Grandfather would visit his grandson for the first time at this hour would be because of that.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes, exactly.”

Despite Damon’s invitation to relax, Luin maintained strict etiquette. He had once admired and revered this martial artist and absolute figure. Moreover, he was the only person who could offer a path for Luin’s revenge.

‘Somehow, I feel I must act this way in front of him.’

“I’ve already told you that formalities aren’t necessary. You must have received rather strict training, it seems.”

Luin, recalling his parents at that instant, quietly stayed silent. He remembered his mother always praising him and his father boasting about his hunting achievements, both of whom had instilled rigorous etiquette in him.

‘Hmm… better stay quiet.’

“You’re not that chaotic Kabel, are you? Daisy… is that the child?”

Luin tilted his head at Damon’s surprisingly familiar use of his mother’s name.

‘Could it be that Northern Sword Lord doesn’t dislike my father and mother?’

The subtleties of parent-child relationships were hard to classify simply. Luin could not determine exactly what Damon felt toward Kabel and Daisy, but one thing was clear:

‘No hostility. On the contrary, almost benevolent.’

While harboring that thought, Damon looked at him with a gentle gaze and spoke again.

“You are not afraid of me, are you?”

“Huh? Hic!”

Startled by Damon’s sudden question, Luin hiccuped without realizing it.

“Children your age, grandchildren of similar age, usually fear being alone with me. Even my own children do. Yet in your eyes, I see curiosity rather than fear.”

‘Damn, should I have pretended?’

As he considered avoiding Damon’s gaze, Damon muttered with a distant, reminiscent tone.

“…You really resemble Kabel a lot.”

“Huh?”

Caught off guard by Damon’s nostalgic remark, Luin missed his chance to look away. Damon, as if noticing Luin’s thoughts, smiled faintly and then turned his gaze to the Sword Spirit beside the bed.

“You’re right. The reason I came to see you today is indeed because of that sword.”

Speaking calmly, he then called Luin’s name.

“Luin.”

“Yes, Grandfather.”

“I’m going to make you an offer.”

“An offer?”

The suddenness of Damon’s words left Luin staring blankly.

‘An offer from the Northern Sword Lord to a mere child?’

Damon continued in a low voice with a faint smile.

“No need for that expression. This is simply an ‘offer.’”

“….”

Seeing no response, Damon asked again.

“Would you consider giving up that sword?”

“Eh?”

Caught off guard, Luin replied instinctively. Damon’s eyes remained unwavering as he murmured once more.

“Give me the sword you have obtained, Luin.”

‘What? Give up the sword?’

At the same time, the Sword Spirit’s deep voice echoed, awakening Luin’s confused mind.

‘Isn’t this actually good for you? You were whining earlier about it being unfair.’

The Sword Spirit explained sternly:

[That’s one thing; this is another. I want you to give it up yourself. I cannot stand seeing you give up due to coercion or persuasion.]

‘Why?’

[Regardless, you are the one I’ve chosen.]

Luin, silently amused, did not voice his thoughts.

Then Damon’s voice rang out again.

“Luin?”

“Oh, sorry… that was sudden…”

Damon continued.

“This is not an order, merely a proposal. Should you give up the sword, I will ensure you receive a suitable reward.”

“A reward?”

“Yes, a reward.”

Luin’s eyes sank deeper at Damon’s resolute tone.

[Ignore the old man. There is nothing better than this for a swordsman.]

The Sword Spirit’s confidence, entirely different from earlier, almost made Luin laugh.

“If you wish, I could personally teach you swordsmanship.”

“…?!”

Damon Linehart, Northern Sword Lord, had laid down his ultimate card: personally instructing Luin in swordsmanship.

‘Why all of a sudden?’

Even direct descendants rarely received Damon’s personal instruction. And yet, he offered to teach a descendant of someone ousted from the family.

Luin looked at the Sword Spirit briefly, then fixed his gaze on his grandfather.

“Grandfather…”

“Yes, speak freely. Will you give up the sword?”

A faint smile appeared in Damon’s eyes, as if he anticipated a child’s response.

“No, I’m sorry. I do not intend to do that—for now.”

“What?”

Damon froze at Luin’s firm reply. Perhaps the boy was too young to grasp the weight of this proposal.

“Think carefully. This opportunity will not come again.”

Luin’s expression darkened as he pondered deeply. Then:

“…Very well. I will give up the sword.”

[Hey, you little…!]

Nodding solemnly, Luin’s answer made Damon laugh heartily.

“Haha, very well. Then give me the sword…”

“On one condition.”

“A condition?”

Luin, boldly stating a condition, made Damon pause.

“Isn’t the condition already satisfied by my teaching you?”

“No. I wish for something other than your instruction.”

“What?”

Damon’s face hardened slightly at Luin’s refusal.

‘What could he want, to reject the teaching of the northern ruler himself?’

If it were foolish or displeasing, Damon would not allow it easily. A cold air began to emanate from his previously gentle expression.

“Very well. Then what is it that you desire instead of my teaching?”

Luin spoke cautiously.

“That… is related to my father.”

“What, Kabel?”

Unexpectedly, Luin spoke quietly:

“If I give up this sword, could you allow my father to return here?”

“….”

For Damon, who had weathered countless battles and would remain unmoved even if the continent were destroyed tomorrow, this was the first time he felt true surprise.

Clink!

In his private office deep within the family mansion, Damon heard a familiar voice.

“Hmm? You seem in particularly good spirits today.”

He shook his head and murmured lightly.

“No, same as usual.”

“Hmm, it doesn’t seem so…”

Joel, his secretary, stepped closer.

“Were the sword collections successful?”

Damon lightly gestured behind him.

“See for yourself.”

Joel’s eyes fell on the neatly arranged swords.

“Quite a haul, indeed.”

Sixteen children participated in the ceremony, yet eight swords lay there—half had succumbed to Damon’s influence.

“Who could refuse the Northern Sword Lord’s teachings?”

“Half refused, though,” Joel noted, chuckling.

Damon sipped his wine, shrugging.

“You missed the big fish and caught only minnows. Not much satisfaction.”

Joel examined the collected swords and nodded. None were particularly attention-grabbing.

“Always the same, I suppose.”

Every Sword Tomb Ceremony, the head of the Linehart family tests the children. Many succumb to temptation or return their chosen swords out of greed, only to face difficult training thereafter.

Damon always honored his word, though his training was notoriously harsh.

‘Ten thousand swings a day, for instance…’

Damon set down his glass.

“Should have caught a Huacheong or Black Dragon Sword…”

Joel, long accustomed to serving him, sensed Damon’s elevated mood.

“Is there some secret behind this joy?”

Damon’s voice continued:

“Joel, have I ever commanded something that seemed wrong to you?”

“Am I about to be fired?”

“No, just curious.”

Damon smiled faintly.

“Every lord I served took responsibility for their orders. So there’s nothing to regret, is there?”