Chapter 29

Chapter  29

I froze on the spot at the shocking words.

…What?

Don’t tell me he figured out my identity. But how? Where did I go wrong?

‘Was it because of Attica?’

If he found out that I was Van Descartes, the man in front of me might not hesitate to cut me down.

No.

He would cut me down.

Because he’d believe that Van Descartes, humanity’s nemesis and a ghost of the past, defiled the bloodline of Winterbell. As the Patriarch of a noble house, that was something he could never forgive.

‘Do I need to fight?’

There was no way I could take on the man known as the continent’s strongest. Not even with Makina.

After all, he was a Deus too.

He would likely be able to wield Makina far better than I could.

“Did I strike a nerve?”

“…….”

“Just joking.”

Amidst the awkward atmosphere, I barely managed to open my mouth.

“I didn’t know the Patriarch could joke.”

“I’m not serious about everything.”

Was it really a joke?

“Why did you make a joke like that?”

“I heard you pacified the Mad Dragon sealed in the Bakal Mountains.”

“…That’s correct.”

“The one who sealed that rampaging dragon was the previous Patriarch.”

Only then did I understand what he meant by bringing that up. If it was the former Patriarch who sealed Attica, then it was highly likely that the Winterbell Patriarchs already knew about Attica’s connection to the Hero’s party.

Of course, that would include the current Patriarch, Arkan.

“You’ve got guts. Playing the role of humanity’s nemesis in front of a dragon.”

“…Leviathan gave me a hint.”

“Of course. That White Whale would have known about the relationship between the dragon and Van Descartes.”

At those words, some of the tension eased.

Still wary that he might be testing me, I glanced sideways at Arkan’s face, but I couldn’t read a single expression from him.

“…At the time, I thought it was the best choice.”

“Well done.”

…Well done?

Did I really just hear Arkan say well done?

I blinked silently, unable to respond.

I never thought I’d hear praise from him.

The life I’d lived—not as Van Descartes, but as Ran Winterbell—had been worlds apart from the Winterbell way.

I had even given up on the Succession War. My siblings looked at me like garbage, and even the house servants ignored me.

I was the one who had been exiled to that isolated place called the Annex. Now, even though the exterior was the same, the person inside had changed, and I was walking a completely different path. But even so, I never imagined it would be enough for Arkan.

And yet…

…Well done?

Just hearing those words made an indescribable sense of elation rise through my entire body.

If the real Ran Winterbell had heard this… how happy would he have been?

“Is there anything you desire?”

I had been staring blankly at Arkan, but I finally opened my mouth.

What I wanted…

“…I’m thinking of forming a knight order.”

“A knight order?”

“Yes. There are a few people I’ve had my eye on. If you give your permission, I’d like to bring them to the Annex and personally train them.”

“…….”

“Do you understand what it is you're saying?”

“Yes. I want to have an independent force of my own.”

“Those without the qualifications cannot become knights of the Winterbell family.”

So it wasn’t going to work after all.

Honestly, I’d thought this request was pushing it. This wasn’t just any place—it was the Winterbell family.

Even if it was the Annex, I’d essentially be bringing them into the household, so from the Patriarch’s perspective, my proposal probably sounded absurd.

“But… if you prove yourself, that would be different.”

How many times was I going to be surprised today?

“Prove… myself?”

“I’ll give you six months. Within that time, make your knight order strong enough to defeat the house knights. If you succeed, I’ll allow them to be accepted into the family.”

So, if the Harlan Mercenaries became strong enough to beat the family knights, he’d accept them as official knights. It was a conditional approval, but the fact that he gave it at all was already more than enough.

“Thank you!”

“What do you plan to do about the Mad Dragon?”

“She already recognizes me as her father. If it’s alright with you, I’d like to raise her myself.”

After a moment of thought, Arkan gave a nod.

“Very well. But remember this. The moment I judge that she poses even the slightest threat to the family, I’ll be the one to take off her head.”

“…Understood.”

Since we were on the topic, I considered asking about the fake Bestia, but after some thought, I realized I didn’t need permission just to take on a single attendant.

‘Though if it’s Arkan, he probably already knows everything anyway.’

With this, I had pretty much gotten everything I wanted.

If the Harlan Mercenaries were officially accepted as knights, my position within the family would grow even stronger, and it would no doubt be a massive advantage in the Succession War.

And now that Attica was with me, my combat power had risen beyond comparison. She wasn’t in her true form yet, but she was still a dragon born with the name of the Red Dragon King.

Once Attica reached her full strength, I was certain she would become the most dependable power I had.

All that remained now was to master the use of Makina and reclaim the realm of my past life.

“Ran Winterbell.”

“Yes, Patriarch.”

“Do you truly intend to become the Patriarch?”

“…….”

I wondered what he was thinking, asking a question like that, but decided it was best to answer honestly now.

“Yes, I do.”

A brief silence passed.

“The way you used to be… you were trash who feared even the idea of conflict. It was hard to believe you shared my blood—you were that much of a coward.”

“…….”

“But lately, your actions… there’s more than one thing I don’t understand. It’s like you turned into someone else overnight.”

…He really seemed to know something.

“I have no excuse.”

“I won’t ask what happened to you any further. But here and now, there’s one thing we need to make clear. Ran Winterbell. Is your ultimate goal aligned with the revival of our family?”

Aligned, huh…

If he was being this direct, it was only right that I answered in kind.

“If I become the Patriarch…”

Yes.

If I became the Patriarch—

“I will make the Winterbell family not just the king of the North, but the ruler of the entire continent.”

Since I had already resolved to become the Patriarch, there was no way I’d be satisfied with this barren northern land alone. Shouldn’t a man dream big?

If I held power on that level, I could even wipe away all the disgrace tied to Van Descartes.

And I’d be able to reveal the truth about Bestia and Saladin—and exact my revenge.

“…Ruler of the continent? Khahaha!”

Arkan was really showing all sorts of sides today. Who would’ve imagined that he was someone who could laugh this heartily?

The iron-blooded man who looked like his very blood had frozen over was now laughing freely and boldly, just for this moment.

“Do you even know what that means? You’re saying you’ll do what even the First Patriarch—hailed as the strongest in our history—couldn’t accomplish?”

“That’s right. Once I’ve started, I intend to see it through to the end.”

“True. If you’ve started, you must finish. I’ll be watching—whether you’re all talk, or a wolf pup capable of surpassing even this father of yours.”

“Yes. I’ll show you.”

This time, I looked Arkan directly in the eye. No matter what he was thinking, I intended to make these words come true.

“Hmph. Is that so? You speak with such confidence it’s starting to pique my curiosity.”

“……”

What was he about to say now?

“Let’s make a bet.”

“A bet…? May I ask what it’s about first?”

Arkan shook his head.

“If I tell you that, what’s the point? Decide with your instincts—yes or no.”

Instincts, huh…

There was only one answer.

“I’ll do it.”

“Good. In six months, guests from the Helios family and the Imperial House will be coming.”

“To this place?”

Arkan nodded.

“It’s for the friendly exchange that takes place once every ten years. Each time, a different host takes charge, and this time it’s our turn.”

“No way…”

“They call it a friendly exchange, but in truth, it’s a stage for testing each other’s strength. You understand what that means, don’t you? The direct bloodlines and Patriarch candidates from each house will be attending. Ran Winterbell, you must not lose to anyone. You must prove that Winterbell is the strongest. If you defeat all the fledglings from the Helios family and the Imperial House, then you win the bet. If you lose, then I win.”

Six months…

If they were direct heirs from the Helios family and the Imperial line, they would be among the most talented individuals on the continent. Most of them were probably older than me too.

But—

“I accept. I’ll prove it to you. That Winterbell truly is the strongest on the continent.”

I was a reincarnator.

Genius? I’d already heard that kind of praise countless times in my past life.

As a reincarnator, I had my pride. If I lost to a bunch of green little fledglings, I'd rather bite my tongue and die than even dream of becoming Patriarch.

“I’ll be watching. That’s all. You may leave.”

I rose from my seat, bowed respectfully, and exited the reception room.

‘There’s a mountain of things to do in six months.’

---

Time passed quickly, and before I knew it, a month had gone by.

During that time, I had trained diligently and had already reached the level of 7-stars. Perhaps because I had walked this path once before, my growth rate was absurd.

I also made sure to train with Makina whenever I could. In the past, even brief use had made it feel like my head would split open, but now I could handle it for over ten minutes without issue.

Besides that, I cooked and consumed various herbs and small amounts of elixirs every day—gathered by Cecil from who-knows-where—and used Basilie’s knowledge to build up resistance to poisons.

After all, the reason my legs had become crippled in the first place was poison. To prevent something like that from happening again, it was a task I had to complete.

‘Even if I’m not completely immune to all poisons, I’ve at least reached the level of being immune to a thousand.’

At last, this cursed body had grown strong enough that I could proudly declare it worthy of Winterbell blood.

The half-crippled youngest son, who couldn’t even move without a wheelchair, no longer existed.

“Good morning, young master!”

“Good morning, big bro!”

“Hey, you bastard. Don’t call him big bro—call him young master!”

Thanks to Camille’s persuasion, the entire Harlan Mercenary Corps had come under my command, and they were now training with me every day.

“Have you woken, Lord Ran?”

“Ah, good morning, Legion.”

Currently, Ron Winterbell was under disciplinary action, so I’d persuaded his close friend, Legion, to join the mercenary corps as their drill instructor.

Attica was growing up rapidly under the care of many, and Betia—her original name was too irritating, so I had it changed—was gradually adapting in her new role as an attendant.

“Daddy! Let’s eat! Food!”

“Attica… We have to tie your hair first…”

After watching her for a month, I hadn’t noticed anything suspicious, so I was starting to think it was time to dig for information.

‘She keeps repeating that she doesn’t remember anything… It might not be a bad idea to bring in a mage who specializes in mental manipulation magic.’

At that moment, from far away, I heard the voice of Lin Winterbell.

“Hey! You dumb-looking bastard over there! Today’s the day I crack your skull open!”