It was strange.
Just as the sight of the boy named Kevin reminded Roman of the Mad Demon, Chris brought to mind another figure from his memories.
‘He resembles the Blood Demon.’
The Blood Demon and the Mad Demon.
They were the most loyal subordinates of Roman.
If the Mad Demon was a lunatic who would throw himself into a pit of fire at Roman’s command, earning him the title of Mad Demon, then the Blood Demon was a master who had dominated the martial world even before becoming Roman’s subordinate.
The leader of the Blood Demon Sect.
It was inevitable that they would clash over the power of demonic arts, and on a vast plain, the Heavenly Demon and the Blood Demon once fought fiercely.
The battle was intense.
With every step, the earth overturned, and with every swing of the sword, the heavens split.
That day, the Blood Demon was defeated.
Though he was a historical figure who had unified the Blood Demon Sect, the martial prowess of the Heavenly Demon, Baek Joong-hyuk, was on a completely different level.
The Demon God.
The Blood Demon knelt.
Spitting blood, he looked up at the Heavenly Demon and said, “... In all my life, I’ve never seen anyone as strong as you. I admit my defeat. From now on, the Blood Demon Sect will follow the demonic sect of the Heavenly Demon, Baek Joong-hyuk. But tell me, how can I become as strong as you? Since I’ll be following you from now on, it’s better for both of us if I grow stronger, isn’t it?”
He was an arrogant yet unique individual.
Even with death looming over him, the Blood Demon set aside his pride and asked how to become stronger.
At first, Roman didn’t like the Blood Demon’s approach, but the Blood Demon was not one to speak empty words.
From that day on, he blindly followed the Heavenly Demon, setting aside his pride as the leader of the Blood Demon Sect and sincerely striving to become stronger.
Thanks to him, the demonic sect’s conquest of the martial world became much smoother.
The head of the Namgung family, one of the three great masters of the orthodox sects, had his head severed by the Blood Demon’s sword, not even by the Heavenly Demon himself.
Chris and the Blood Demon.
They were similar.
Their flushed faces couldn’t hide their wounded pride, but their desire to grow stronger suppressed it.
‘Revealing one’s desires is the most human thing to do.’
Roman liked that.
He had always preferred honest people.
Rather than those who claimed to want nothing while secretly pulling strings, he kept by his side those who openly demanded what they desired.
The purpose of their desires didn’t matter.
If they sought wealth, he would grant them wealth.
If they wanted to grow stronger, he would make them stronger.
The stronger their desires, the less likely they were to betray him.
Why?
Because they knew the consequences of betrayal.
Those with strong desires were quick to face reality, and Roman was a mountain they dared not cross.
‘What should I do with this guy?’
Interest stirred within him.
It was obvious that Chris disliked him.
There was likely some bad history between them, but what mattered to Roman was not the past but Chris’s desire to grow stronger.
And.
‘His talent isn’t bad.’
Chris’s foundation was solid.
If he had diligently trained in martial arts under Roman’s guidance, he would have already reached a level beyond first-rate.
However, he was wasting his talent with a garbage method.
As Roman carefully observed Chris, he smiled and spoke.
“I can’t give you the answer.”
“... Then what am I supposed to do?”
“I told you. Don’t blindly follow the methods passed down by others. Even if I could give you the answer, it wouldn’t be any different from the life you’ve lived so far. So if you want the answer, stay by my side from now on. In six months, I’ll be heading to the battlefield. Watch closely how I grow stronger and how I defeat my enemies. If you’re still by my side ten years from now...”
Chris’s eyes wavered.
Roman looked directly at him.
And then, he said firmly.
“You will definitely find your answer.”
The training was over.
Left alone in the spot where Roman had been, Chris looked up at the blue sky and let out a deep sigh.
“Haah.”
War.
It was something he would have to experience someday.
He knew it was the fate of a knight, but he had never imagined he would follow that fool Dmitry to the battlefield.
If it had been the second son, it would have been fine.
He would have felt pride following someone who had already made a name for himself in the capital, but the current situation was unbearable.
‘My own way.’
Roman’s advice.
It was something he had never heard before.
Despite being called a genius for mastering what had been passed down through generations, Roman’s words had stirred something within him.
At first, he tried to ignore it.
He dismissed it as nonsense, feeling as though his years of effort were being invalidated, but the more he listened to Roman, the faster his heart raced.
It wasn’t wrong.
The knowledge passed down through generations ultimately came from the same humans.
Becoming stronger as a swordsman wasn’t a single path, so why had he been so fixated on their methods?
If he had pondered and experimented a bit, wouldn’t there have been a path more suited to him?
His thoughts became tangled.
If.
If Roman had been all talk.
Chris wouldn’t have been so tormented.
But even in the brief time he had experienced Roman’s strength firsthand, it was clear that Roman was not the fool Dmitry was known to be.
‘The young master’s talent was real.
I don’t know how he became so strong in such a short time, but two years ago, he had the strength of an ordinary person.
Now, his swordsmanship and aura are solid.
If he hadn’t been hiding his strength since childhood, then he must have found his own way.’
The first possibility.
It didn’t make sense.
There was no reason to hide his strength, nor any reason to reveal it now.
Roman had become strong in a short time.
Looking into his eyes, Chris felt an indescribable trust.
That day.
Chris fell into deep thought.
The sun set, and the sun rose again.
Having not eaten, his face grew haggard, and he finally made a decision and set off somewhere.
‘I want to become stronger.’
The goal of his life.
His desire lay in martial strength.
He went to his master, Knight Commander Jonathan, and honestly told him that he would follow Roman to the battlefield.
Then.
“... Something must have happened.”
Jonathan.
He looked at Chris with a calm expression.
On the battlefield, where corpses lay scattered, Jonathan had first seen a young boy clinging to his mother’s body, crying.
That boy was Chris.
He was a talented child, and his desire to grow stronger was so intense that he grew rapidly.
And he had followed Jonathan like a father.
For Chris to leave his side and follow Roman, there must have been a special reason.
Their mutual trust.
They believed in each other.
Even without Chris explaining, Jonathan nodded.
“If you say so, there must be a special reason. From now on, you are no longer part of the Dmitry Knight Order. As Roman’s guard, stay by his side no matter what and achieve your desired goal.”
“... Thank you.”
Jonathan chuckled.
The boy who had once been so young and dark-skinned had grown up and was now leaving his side.
It was a bittersweet feeling.
“Thanks to you, I’ve learned one thing. If the Chris I’ve known all these years is willing to follow him, then Roman is no longer the fool people say he is. From tomorrow, I’ll make time. To survive on the battlefield, you’ll need a secret weapon or two.”
“Master!”
Chris’s eyes widened.
He didn’t know what the future held, but Jonathan would always be the master Chris followed with his heart.
Six months later.
Roman would leave Dmitry, even if it was against his will.
While other nobles would weep and wail, Roman’s heart already raced at the thought.
‘I’m not someone who can grow like a flower in a greenhouse.
I must experience many things and ultimately live a life of dominance to be satisfied.
So, for the future six months from now, I need to prepare myself.’
There is no such thing as perfect preparation in this world.
Variables are unpredictable.
But preparing oneself was a different matter.
If he laid the foundation to overcome any adversity, he was confident he would achieve his goals after enduring hardships.
After parting with Chris.
Roman went to the estate’s library.
And he read various books.
<...
The 6-star realm signifies transcending human limits.
The aura emitted through the sword reaches over ten meters, and attacks condensed with mana can wipe out dozens of soldiers in an instant.
There are twelve known 6-star knights on the continent.
They are called the Twelve Swords of the Continent and are treated as honored guests in any nation.>
The Twelve Swords of the Continent.
Just from the written information, they were strong individuals.
If they could emit an aura of over ten meters with inefficient qi emission, they had undoubtedly reached the pinnacle of martial strength in this world.
Whether that was the standard in the martial world or not, at Roman’s current level, they were not opponents he could face recklessly.
And.
<From the 7th Circle onwards, we call them Grand Magicians.
They are half-human, half-god, walking calamities.
A single spell can overturn the earth and bring down the heavens.
In situations where they face multiple opponents, they are even more fearsome than 6-star knights.>
Magic.
It was a power that didn’t exist in the martial world.
As he carefully read the information about this new world, Roman became clear on what he needed to do.
‘I don’t know when these people mentioned in the books will become my enemies.
The chances of such trials befalling a country bumpkin like Dmitry are slim, but variables are unpredictable and dangerous.
At my current level, I can’t perfectly handle variables.
Therefore, I must move forward whenever the opportunity arises.’
Thud.
He closed the book.
There were things he needed to do from now on.
Roman summoned Hans.
No matter when or where, Hans always appeared as if he had been waiting for Roman’s call.
“You called, young master.”
“I have a request for you.”
“Please speak.”
Hans’s attitude was respectful.
Blood Fang.
It had been the catalyst for Roman’s change.
Moved by Roman’s acknowledgment of him, a mere servant, Hans vowed to give his life for Roman.
Some might laugh at Hans.
A single word.
A worthless life that stakes everything on a single word.
But everyone’s values are different, and to Hans, Roman had become a special existence.
“I need a place to train. It doesn’t have to be large, but it must be completely isolated from the outside. Soundproofing is especially important. Being interrupted during training is the worst.”
“Understood.”
Hans bowed.
He didn’t ask questions.
What kind of training?
Why such a space was needed?
A person might have many questions, but Hans always simply accepted Roman’s orders.
“And do you know the whereabouts of that boy Kevin we met before?”
“Yes. Thinking you might look for him, I’ve already prepared a residence for Kevin.”
“Good.”
A smile spread across Roman’s face.
Anticipating his master’s wishes and acting in advance.
Hans was someone who deserved to be treated well.
“Tell me Kevin’s location. Back then, I made a promise to that boy. I said I would properly resolve the problems he faced through the right process. Since I’ve already eliminated the root cause, Blood Fang, I should go and deliver the good news in person. And while I’m at it, I have a purpose for Kevin as well.”
Kevin.
The boy who resembled the Mad Demon.
Perhaps because of the aftermath with Chris, Roman wanted to see him again.