TSMRG 15

Chapter 15

Reincarnated as the Greatest Sword Genius of a Swordsmanship Family

After North Sword Duke Damon left.

[What on earth were you thinking, planning to hand me over like that?]

Ruin closed his eyes and sighed at the endless nagging from the Sword Spirit.

“Ah, I told you already. That side wasn’t going to agree to the conditions anyway.”

[And if they had agreed, what then!?]

‘Well, then there’s nothing to be done.’

In truth, Ruin, having just acquired a new sword spirit, didn’t feel any sense of loyalty or sentimentality. If there was a chance to restore his father, Kabel, to his rightful position, he was willing to use him as a pawn.

Of course, that was a secret desire he didn’t reveal to anyone.

“Ha, think whatever you want.”

Ruin shook his head at the sword spirit’s restless outburst. Then he recalled the expression on North Sword Duke Damon’s face when he had requested to have his father reinstated to the family.

‘Seems like that’s going to be difficult.’

Damon had smiled faintly while shaking his head. Why he had come late at night to ask Ruin to give up the sword, Ruin didn’t know.

‘It’s probably going to be quite difficult to bring my father back into the family.’

Seeing the reactions within Reinhardt and even Damon’s rejection, it didn’t seem like just a trivial incident caused by youthful love.

And…

‘That gaze… he looked completely unprepared.’

For Ruin, who had lived much of his life in the shadows, Damon’s momentary falter in his otherwise steadfast eyes was impossible to miss.

‘He must have been a little flustered.’

After all, who would dare set conditions or make proposals to someone who had lived as the absolute power under the Northern sky his entire life?

‘Of course, it was only possible because I was a child.’

If an adult had tried such conditions, Damon might have severely punished them. Only because Ruin had acted as a devoted grandson who loved and cared for his parents, Damon had responded with a faint smile.

“Phew, pretending not to notice forever isn’t easy.”

As he muttered softly, the sword spirit reacted again.

[Ungrateful as always… huh? What are you muttering about all of a sudden?]

“No, it’s nothing.”

Ruin quickly brushed it off, turning his thoughts to the modest goals he had set.

‘My parents’ happiness and safety.’

Of course, his ultimate goal remained singular.

‘I will definitely kill South Sword Duke Ruben Paterion.’

The path he had to walk was one of a warrior, the path of a marauder. Along that path, countless enemies would appear, and they would launch every possible attack against him. Not just him, but those around him too.

And…

‘Family will always be the top priority targets.’

Although both his father and mother had immense backgrounds—Reinhardt and Kaftalen—they were currently outside the reach of that influence.

‘Currently, they are free from that influence.’

Ruin, having firsthand experience from 1872, knew the difference between individuals and organizations better than anyone. Therefore…

‘The safest way is to somehow restore them to their original positions.’

Even if Ruin accumulated numerous grudges, few would be bold enough to interfere with the direct lineage of Reinhardt and Kaftalen. So one of Ruin’s small current goals was to restore his parents to their family positions.

“Well, the atmosphere wasn’t bad anyway.”

Even if his proposal had been rejected, he felt that Damon’s gaze upon him had grown warmer than before.

‘Is this… some kind of grandfather-grandson bond?’

Considering his orphaned past life, feeling this kind of family sentiment was both new and intriguing. Perhaps Damon was somewhat moved by the sight of a grandson who prioritized family over personal gain.

‘But there’s no need to have excessive expectations.’

The expression Damon had shown was merely warm favor toward his grandson. As the head of a great family, he wasn’t the type to make decisions based on a fleeting sentiment.

[Why are you muttering to yourself again? You’re not some old man… why are you so frustrating as a kid?]

Seeing the sword spirit still talking to itself, Ruin quietly closed his mouth.

“…….”

[Hmph, showing an expression not befitting your age again. Fine. I’ll personally teach you swordsmanship. Consider it an honor. No one except Bellion so far…]

‘What on earth is this sword?’

Apart from its name and its connection to the first head of the family, the sword’s true nature remained unknown. And now that North Sword Duke had come personally and asked him to give it up…

‘There must be some hidden secret.’

Ruin, still gazing at his sword with a questioning look, shook his head and lay down on his bed.

[Hey, hey, are you going to keep ignoring me?]

Of course, still ignoring the sword spirit’s shouting.

.
.
.

The next day, a large banquet was held at Reinhardt Castle [Banapen] to celebrate the sword presentation ceremony.

Naturally, many nobles and staff attended, and the servants had been busy preparing since morning. The protagonists of the banquet were the children who had participated in the ceremony.

North Sword Duke Damon sent them invitations with conditions attached: each was to attend the banquet with the sword they had chosen and been tested on during the ceremony.

But…

“What? You gave up the sword?”
“No, I thought North Sword Duke himself would come and teach me…”
“This foolish boy. Did you really believe that?! This won’t do. Bring the cane! Today I shall properly educate this fool.”
“Ah, Father? Wait… ughhh!”

Cries of panic and wails echoed everywhere. And the cause of all this…

“Hmm, preparations seem to be going well.”
“Over half replied they cannot attend today.”
“I see. The other half will still attend.”
“The first banquet for those not attending will be postponed considerably.”
“Well, that’s their responsibility, isn’t it?”
“…….”

North Sword Duke Damon shrugged nonchalantly, and his secretary Joel silently shook his head. Damon, sharp-eyed, immediately glared at him.

“What’s that expression?”
“Eh? What do you mean?”
“No, your expression just now…”

Before Damon could scold him, Joel smoothly changed the topic.

“By the way, who did you choose as Ruin’s guardian for this banquet?”

Joel asked casually, making Damon momentarily lose his train of thought.

“Of course, Selamda—kht. Now your deflection skills are truly impressive.”

Caught off guard, Damon glared sharply, muttering to himself.

“Haha, deflecting? I asked only in case of unforeseen circumstances.”

With a sly expression, Joel continued.

“Anyway, if it’s Freon, he should be able to fulfill the role properly and honorably.”

Joel nodded respectfully regarding Selamda Master Freon, but Damon slightly shook his head.

“Hmm, too clean a stream isn’t always good. Life couldn’t survive there.”

The guardian in question was meant to accompany the children during the official family banquet, providing support and status. Usually, the guardian was a parent, sibling, or close adult like a teacher or mentor.

In Ruin’s case, neither parent could attend, nor was there a suitable adult. So the only feasible choice was Selamda Master Freon Zirkajin. This meant Freon would act as Ruin’s support as a member of the Reinhardt family. Of course, Freon’s personal will wasn’t relevant here.

“……”

Freon quietly stood by Ruin, who was beside him.

‘So it’s come to this.’

Freon had quickly recognized Ruin’s uniqueness when bringing him per Damon’s orders, reported it to his master, and had been watching over Ruin’s progress. Eventually…

‘I never imagined I’d become someone’s guardian…’

As Damon’s subordinate, he couldn’t refuse the request. Thus, Selamda Master Freon decided to become the guardian of the child he had brought.

“Are preparations complete?”
“Yes, Master.”

Ruin nodded and smiled in response.

“No need to be nervous. Just smile.”
“I’ll remember.”
“……”

Freon had never expected to act as a caretaker, so he was cold and indifferent toward Ruin.

‘…Taking care of a child isn’t my forte.’

Selamda Master Freon Zirkajin, within the Reinhardt family, had a nickname: “Mad Pure Sword” (Gwangcheong Geom). It sounded beautiful but reflected his obsessive, perfectionist nature.

He maintained strict separation of work and personal life, never forming close relationships, serving only North Sword Duke Damon, and obeying orders with unwavering loyalty. Freon’s free time was devoted entirely to training, which earned him his nickname. His subordinates often suffered under his strictness, and Selamda was infamous even within the Reinhardt family.

“……”

Ruin kept a faint smile while looking at Freon.

‘Selamda Master Freon Zirkajin, one of the Eleven Wall Tigers and a prodigy from Reinhardt orphanage.’

Ruin already knew him, or rather, the knowledge lay dormant in his memories from 1872. Freon, orphaned from birth, grew up in a Reinhardt-supported orphanage, wished to become a warrior from a young age, joined as a soldier, and stood out due to his talent.

‘In a way, perfect conditions for becoming a shadow.’

Freon’s fortune changed when he met the previous Selamda Master Palam Zirkajin, who took him as an adopted son. Years later, Freon inherited all from his foster father and became one of the Eleven Wall Tigers, a trusted subordinate of North Sword Duke Damon.

‘Quite a romantic life story, in a sense.’

Ruin had learned this while gathering information in his previous life.

“Hmm.”

Freon, momentarily confused, seemed to hesitate before speaking.

“If anyone causes trouble during the banquet, or if anything happens…”
“Don’t worry. I know everything.”
“Tell me immediately… what?”
“No matter what happens, I promise not to cause a fuss or trouble.”

Ruin smiled faintly at the bewildered Freon, then muttered under his breath with a meaningful smile.

“…Though I can’t be entirely certain, of course.”

Unfortunately, Freon didn’t hear the last part.