Chapter 64

“Terms? What kind of bullshit are you trying to spout now?”

“Bullshit? That’s harsh. After everything, didn’t we at least share some memories together?”

Lin Winterbell shuddered like she’d gotten goosebumps from my words.

“Memories? You crazy bastard! Just because you have a mouth doesn’t mean you should use it like that! Don’t you remember how we almost died just for following you? Damn it. Just thinking about that time pisses me off…”

This time, I was the one at a loss for words. The one who threw a fit about wanting to come along was none other than Lin Winterbell herself. She’d been thrilled at the thought of fighting powerful opponents, and now she was acting like it was all my fault?

“Hah… No wonder I can’t see you in a good light no matter how hard I try. Alright, enough. I guess it’s about time I put you in your place.”

“In my place? You insane bastard… Are you saying that to me right now?”

I looked at her and chuckled.

“Yeah. I’m saying it to you.”

“You? Did you just say you…”

Before the furious Lin Winterbell could yell something, I cut her off and spoke.

“Enough. Let’s fight. No stupid conditions like last time—no restrictions on aura or any of that crap. Let’s just go all out. That’s what you wanted too, isn’t it? But this time, the loser doesn’t get to talk back. No excuses, no bullshit. The loser becomes the winner’s subordinate. A slave, for life.”

“…Are you serious right now?”

I grinned and nodded.

“Of course I’m serious. Do I look like the kind of guy who’d joke about something like this? What, you scared? The great Lin Winterbell’s actually scared?”

Lin Winterbell’s expression hardened coldly. There was a thick murderous intent in her eyes as she looked at me. Normally, she might have brushed it off, but this time, she didn’t.

I just…

Didn’t feel like letting it slide.

“You really have a death wish, don’t you?”

When I heard that, I let out a laugh in disbelief. I knew Lin Winterbell was talented. She carried the Winterbell blood, so that was only natural. Even accounting for that, she’d definitely become an exceptional swordswoman.

But so what?

What was I supposed to do with that?

The only time she had a chance to beat me…

Was when I hadn’t yet remembered that I was Van Descartes. Now that I’d regained my memories from my past life—and even grown stronger—could she really beat me? No. Even if I wanted to lose, I couldn’t. If I couldn’t defeat her here, then my entire plan going forward would practically fall apart.

Yeah.

Now that things were already like this—

“Might as well do it like this.”

“?”

“Lin Winterbell.”

“…You little shit, dropping honorifics all of a sudden? Want me to slice that useless tongue off for you?”

“I challenge you to a hierarchy duel.”

Lin Winterbell looked at me with a face that said she couldn’t understand what she just heard. It looked like her brain needed a bit of time to process something that shocking.

“…Wha-what? What did you just say?”

“I said I’m challenging you to a hierarchy duel. You dumb bitch. Are your ears not working now too?”

She looked like she was about to charge at me any second, but somehow managed to hold back and continued speaking.

“…A hierarchy duel, huh. So you're saying you’re going to come at me seriously? Fine, fine. That’s how you should be if you’re going to challenge me. Good. This is better, actually. Like you said, let’s end our twisted relationship here. And regardless of the hierarchy duel—whoever loses becomes the winner’s slave for life. In other words, they give up their claim to the position of Patriarch. Can you handle that?”

“Of course. If I lose the hierarchy duel, I’ll give up the Patriarch position and devote everything I have to making sure you become the Patriarch.”

“Alright. Good.”

Lin Winterbell brushed past me.

---

My annex.

Cecil was glaring at me.

“Master. Is it true?”

I nodded.

“Yeah. It’s true.”

I was a little wary of her reaction, but I had no intention of lying. Cecil glared at me with a deeply upset expression. Then she let out a sigh and spoke.

“What were you thinking? I know you're strong, but challenging Lin Winterbell to a hierarchy duel is far too impulsive. There's still plenty of time. Did it have to be now? You could’ve waited until you'd built up more support…”

“…”

“…Haah. You're so damn stubborn.”

Her face looked just like Lin’s. She was probably remembering the old me. Back then, Lin used to say all the time, “Ran’s stubbornness is second to none.”

“What’s done is done, so you have to win the hierarchy duel, no matter what. You can’t take back what’s already spilled, so use this duel as your opportunity. You understand what I’m saying, don’t you, Master?”

“Yeah. I understand.”

“If you want to achieve your goals, you have to become the Patriarch. That’s why this hierarchy duel is so important. The current Patriarch will ultimately choose the one who accomplishes results—not just someone with talent or someone who puts in effort. Whatever it is, you have to prove it. Prove your worth.”

“…Of course. Don’t worry, Cecil.”

Cecil’s eyes curved like a crescent moon.

“After worrying us all half to death, saying something like that now… That’s just like you, Master.”

“Haha. At least know I didn’t do it on purpose.”

“I know. But still, next time something like this happens, please tell me beforehand.”

“Alright. I promise I’ll do that from now on.”

“Do you know how surprised everyone was when they heard what you did? It’s not just me—the entire Winterbell family is in chaos right now.”

“…Overreacting, all of them.”

As if to prove her point, the door opened and a maid spoke.

“Lord Ron Winterbell has arrived.”

“Tell him I’m busy.”

“He insisted that he must see you right away…”

I let out a sigh and stood up, annoyed.

“Haah… Where is he?”

“He’s at the training ground.”

So he was at the training ground. I guess after hearing the news, his body must be itching for action too.

‘Perfect. I should loosen up a bit before the real thing.’

I headed straight for the training ground. As soon as Ron Winterbell spotted me from a distance, he shouted loudly.

“Ran! Is it true? Did you really challenge our sister to a hierarchy duel? Is that really true?”

“Yeah, it’s true. But can you ask more quietly? My ears are going to fall off. What’s the big deal that you’re making such a fuss over it?”

“…How can you say it’s not a big deal? I can’t believe a person could change this much… Did you really challenge her because you think you can beat her?”

“Come on. Do you really think I would’ve challenged her to a hierarchy duel if I thought I’d lose?”

Hearing that, Ron Winterbell hesitated. He looked like he wanted something but couldn’t bring himself to say it.

But I already knew.

I knew exactly what he wanted.

“You want to spar with me, don’t you?”

“!”

“You should’ve just said it straight. Why are you hesitating like a dog that needs to poop?”

“I’ve recently made some remarkable progress. That’s why I’ve wanted to test myself against you. But… you’ve got a hierarchy duel coming up. You should be preparing in peak condition. If you got hurt during our spar…”

“Pfft.”

“…Why are you laughing?”

“I mean, isn’t it funny? Who says I’d be the one getting hurt? You? You think you can injure me? That’s one hell of a delusion. Come on, draw your sword. I’ll show you just how ridiculous that idea is.”

At my words, a flash of competitive spirit burned on Ron Winterbell’s face. Naturally—what I’d said was pure provocation.

“…You won’t regret this?”

“Regret, my ass. Even if I die right here, I won’t complain, so stop talking and just come at me already.”

“Fine. In that case…”

Swaaaash!

Before he even finished speaking, Ron Winterbell swung his sword. But I avoided his strike with a single step. He probably meant it as a surprise attack, but to me, it was so obvious it was almost boring.

“That’s all you’ve got?”

I quickly closed the distance and, instead of swinging my sword, extended my right leg and kicked him square in the chest.

“Ugh!”

Ron tumbled across the ground but quickly sprang back up and took his stance again. A blue aura began to rise from his body, gradually wrapping around him.

“Yeah, yeah. Use aura or whatever you want. Come at me like you mean to kill me. Seriously, kill me if you can. Like I said earlier, I won’t hold a grudge even if I die sparring with you, so don’t hold back.”

“…You’re full of confidence.”

Babababababam!

Ron Winterbell used the family footwork technique, White Wolf Steps, to close the gap quickly and swung his sword at my lower body. But it was a feint—the real target was my midsection.

“Not bad.”

I twisted my waist to dodge the sword rushing toward my chest. Then, gripping Behemoth, I slashed at his side. I had aimed for a deep cut, but thanks to Ron’s quick reflexes, it ended with just a shallow graze.

“You’ve gotten stronger.”

“You think I’ve just been slacking off?”

“…I’ll go all out.”

As Ron Winterbell released his aura, a chill swept across the surrounding area. I watched the scene with curious eyes. He said he had gotten stronger, but so far, I hadn’t really felt any major difference. Which only made me more curious.

‘What exactly is he trying to show me, dragging it out like this?’

But something felt off.

I’d been letting him buy time on purpose, but even considering that, he was taking far too long without doing anything. There was no way he’d try to use a technique in real combat that took this long to prepare.

‘What is he planning?’

In the end, I lost my patience. I decided there was no point in waiting any longer and charged straight at him.

‘Midsection. A light thrust, not a slash.’

Fwoooooosh!!!

And at that moment—

“!”

---

Ron Winterbell deflected my thrust with incredible speed and, like flowing water, targeted my chest. The speed far exceeded my expectations, and before I knew it, I rolled to the right.

Had I not rolled away—had my reaction been even a little slower—his sword would have pierced straight through my chest. Only then did I finally understand the situation.

“…Impressive.”

Why he had been waiting.

Why he hadn’t made any move at all.

What he had been preparing—

Was none other than:

“You learned a counter technique, huh?”

“You could tell?”

“Of course.”

A counter technique.

Honestly, countering isn’t some grand or mystical art. At its core, it’s just recognizing an incoming attack and responding with a quick counter.

But techniques that earn the title of counter show applications worthy of the name. Like just now—allowing the user to respond with a strike faster than their conscious perception. The principle is simple.

Practice, and more practice.

Sharpen your senses to the point where you can instantly deflect an opponent’s sword. Then formalize that motion into a distinct technique.

“Interesting.”