I Became the Martial God's Youngest Disciple

Immediately afterward, I wondered, Was it a mistake to smile? If Hatem Goodspring is perceptive, he may notice that this is a tactic.

As soon as the thought crossed my mind, I softened my gaze and bit my lower lip slightly. Wouldn't this make it look like a desperate smile?

In that state, I turned my attention back to the Jewel Mountains.

The model was completely three-dimensional, so I needed a moment to align it with the map in my memory. I had traveled through the Jewel Mountains, fought the traitor Osel, and met Carzakh while being chased by Hadenaihar's assassins. Then I faced the Sapphire Snake.

Those days felt distant, yet in truth, only half a year had passed.

Time flies so quickly. This was no surprise. A lot had happened in a short span since my regression.

I said, "I appreciate your consideration, but there is a saying in the Badnikers. Those who retreat out of fear of loss will never gain much."

"I've never heard that one before," Hatem remarked.

I was caught.

Hatem added, "Even if it means someone else loses their lives?"

"I trust my family. The Iron-Blooded Knights are all skilled warriors, carefully selected by my father, including Commander Luke. They have the ability and experience to handle situations beyond my expectations," I replied.

Hatem's expression changed subtly, and his eyes narrowed.

Is he disappointed? The fleeting emotion puzzled me. It vanished even faster than it appeared.

"Very well, Luan Badniker. You may choose the area you wish to claim first," Hatem said.

"I can pick first?"

He nodded. "Yes."

I studied the model, my expression tense. Choosing first seemed like a disadvantage, but a closer look suggested otherwise. The chance of selecting a favorable area among the seventeen was 1:17. Even if there were a few good spots, the odds were still low. He had likely calculated this before offering me the choice. If I chose first, he could infer the advantageous areas from my selection.

That fits Hatem Goodspring. He struck me as a man who was relentlessly thorough when dealing with his enemies.

Hatem wasn't wrong, at least under normal circumstances. The only thing he couldn't have predicted was that I was the source of this information. It looked like a minor omission but sometimes even trivial factors could change the situation completely.

I remained silent.

Then Hatem asked, "What is it? Are you unable to easily choose? However, it is too late to back out."

"Who said I'm backing out?" I replied, my tone slightly sharp as I put on what I hoped was the most pathetic expression possible. I was surprisingly good at this kind of acting.

I just had to remember what I had been like in the past.

"Still, this alone isn't enough." I paused. "Please let me choose at least three places first."

"Three places?" Hatem's tone turned thoughtful.

Did I go too far? I couldn't overplay it, so perhaps I had crossed the line a bit. Nevertheless, I couldn't take back my words. I could only continue shamelessly.

"Yes. I will pick three places at once. Even if it is a Forbidden Zone, it is just a mountain range. I can clearly see which parts are rugged and which are accessible."

I deliberately made remarks that belittled an imperial Forbidden Zone, but Hatem's eyes remained sharp.

Eventually, he said in a low voice, "Still, three places are too much. Let's make it two."

He's meticulous as ever. This will have to do. If I push further, I may lose what I just gained.

I dropped the pathetic Luan mask and said, "A4. Is this how it is meant to be read? In any case, the Badnikers will take this area."

Hatem said nothing. He was expressionless, but his posture was stiff.

"Next, I will also take the D1 area," I declared.

I struck consecutive blows. How will he react? It will be pretty amusing if he shouts something like, "This doesn't count! It doesn't count!"

Hatem offered no such reaction. He just stared intently at the Jewel Mountains model that he had created. From time to time, his cold gaze shifted to me, and each glance sent a pleasant shiver down my spine. If the Iron-Blooded Lord's glare burned like a fierce fire, then Hatem's eyes resembled glass beads set in a doll's face.

Perhaps that was why I couldn't shake the sense that this inorganic, doll-like quality defined him at his core.

Hatem continued to study the model for quite a while. Just as fatigue began to set in, he suddenly laughed.

"I see."

What was that supposed to mean?

Before I could express my doubts, Hatem said, "Very well. Since you have taken the two best areas, I trust I can handle the rest as I see fit?"

"Wait a minute."

I examined the model one more time, but no other location stood out beyond the two I had already chosen.

"Yes, go ahead. Is there anything else you need to discuss with me?" I asked.

"There is the matter of replenishing supplies, conducting advance scouting, and reporting to the imperial court. I will handle those as well."

Most of it was tedious cleanup work, so I nodded.

Hatem smiled again and rose to his feet. "It was an unexpected meeting, but I am very impressed, Luan Badniker. I have a feeling that we will meet again sooner or later."

"Um, yes... If we do, I'll be sure to offer my greetings."

Hatem nodded. "Okay."

***

In the carriage leaving the Badnikers, Hatem closed his eyes and sank into thought.

Delac C. Badniker's sudden absence, the atmosphere within the family, the exchange with his guide, and his conversation with Luan Badniker weighed on him. He wondered whether he had overlooked anything, no matter how small, and reviewed everything he had seen and felt during his visit.

"Did you have a good talk?"

The carriage driver's voice pulled him from his thoughts. Hatem half-opened his eyes. "It didn't go well or poorly."

"Really? That's surprising."

"Karen, do you know?" he asked.

"Know what?" Karen asked.

"Delac is the busiest man in the empire."

"Yes."

"Is that why? Once he makes a promise, he never breaks it. At least, not as far as I know," Hatem said.

The carriage driver prompted him further. "Did something happen to the Iron-Blooded Lord?"

"It's only speculation for now," Hatem answered.

"Still, wasn't the atmosphere of the Badnikers the same as usual?"

"They are the most closed-off family in the empire. Even someone who appears to be a mere maid or gardener must undergo harsh training and scrutiny before taking the role. If I were to capture and torture one of them, they still wouldn't reveal the truth. Hiding their emotions is the least difficult thing for them," Hatem explained. "Of course, this is all speculation, as I said. For all we know, Delac may truly be busy."

Though dressed as a driver, Karen was actually one of Hatem's subordinates. He considered this in silence. Hatem may have added that final remark, but he clearly believes that something has happened to the Iron-Blooded Lord.

"The future family head... What did you think of Golden Fairy Luan?" Karen asked.

"He is quite impressive, but he doesn't look like he comes from Delac's bloodline. There is something different about him now."

He said now, but only half a year had passed. Back then, Luan Badniker had been known as the stain of the family and the Iron-Blooded Lord's only failure. For some reason, Karen felt like it was a long time ago.

"Do we need to monitor him?" Karen asked.

"Don't be hasty. He is a fierce beast who will become a monster in the future. Among the Youngbloods, he will have no equal," Hatem remarked.

"To that extent?" Karen exclaimed.

Hatem nodded. "In terms of talent, only Coralis, the Blue Archmage's disciple, might compare. If you factor in actual combat experience, even she falls short."

Karen felt a flicker of surprise. Hatem had never given such a generous evaluation before, not even when Barter, the eldest son of the Goodsprings, achieved remarkable results.

No.There is only one. The Iron-Blooded Lord was the man Hatem hated the most, yet he was also the one person in the empire that Hatem recognized and valued above all others.

"Shall we return to the main estate?" Karen asked.

"Yes. Ah, also..." Hatem recalled a name buried in his memory and asked, "Where is Seren Goodspring now?"

***

I sighed with relief once Hatem departed and I was alone. At the same time, the relief did little to ease the headache that followed.

The body would inevitably rebel when pushed beyond its habits. That perfectly described my condition. It had been a battle of wits for our own interest, and I had forced myself into tactics I rarely used.

The experience only confirmed once again that the position of the family head didn't suit me. I enjoyed direct confrontations and the sharp exchange of words, but political games that required me to hide my true intentions went completely against my nature. I had gained an advantage, but the strain left me irritated and drained.

I was nervously drinking water when Assad entered.

"Thank you for your efforts. How did it go?" he asked.

I wiped the corner of my mouth and replied, "It seems to have been resolved without any issues."

I gave him a brief account of my conversation with Hatem. Assad hadn't expected much, so his expression shifted to growing astonishment as I spoke.

"If you had told me from the start that the joint operation would take place in the Jewel Mountains, the discussion would have gone more smoothly."

"Was it you who brought the map of the Jewel Mountains?" he asked.

"I explained it in front of the elders at the time. Didn't you know?" I shot back.

"I am an honorary elder. I hold most of the privileges, but I can't truly be called one."

That arrangement seemed very convenient.

"Perhaps the reason you managed to land such a decisive blow on Hatem is that you showed that flustered look at the start," Assad reasoned.

"How so?"

"Consider this. If you had known from the beginning that the mission site was the Jewel Mountains and tried to guide the discussion there, Hatem would have reacted differently. He is skilled at reading people," Assad explained.

"I see."

I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't met him. Now that I had, I understood. Hatem was exactly that kind of man, someone born with a silver tongue.

"What else did you discuss?" Assad asked.

"What else? He said he would handle the distribution of supplies, the advance scouting, and reporting to the imperial court," I replied. "Why do you look like that?"

"As expected, he isn't an easy man to deal with." Assad clicked his tongue and looked at me. "It may not seem like much, but reporting to the imperial family is crucial. At the very least, the empire will believe that the Goodsprings, not the Badnikers, led the joint operation. He will also control how details of the mission are presented."

Only then did I realize my mistake. He truly was a man who had devoured numerous cunning snakes. He had feigned pessimism, as if everything had been lost, but that hadn't been his true position at all.

"There is no need to be discouraged. The opponent was Hatem Goodspring. Even Delac has suffered many losses against him. Turning a profit at all is an achievement. The Council of Elders will view you more favorably."

"Thank you very much," I said curtly.

Assad seemed lost in thought, so I spoke first. "What is going on with Father?"

I hoped for a miracle, that his memory had returned, but Assad firmly shook his head. "He's still the same. I've explained the situation for now, but it'll take some time for him to accept everything."

It was natural. From the Iron-Blooded Lord's perspective, it was as if he had closed his eyes and then opened them decades later. No matter how formidable he was, anyone would struggle to process all this information. It would be even harder for his younger self.

"So what happens now?" I asked.

"First, I am going to hold a meeting with the Council of Elders tonight. We'll determine our countermeasures there."

I remained silent.

Assad continued, "One thing is certain. Everyone in the family, myself included, will spare no effort to restore Delac. However, we have to be prepared for one possibility."

"An unexpected one?" I asked.

"Yes. He has regained consciousness. His life isn't in danger, and his body shows no side effects. Even now..."

I said nothing.

Assad glanced at me, then shook his head. "No. We'll discuss this later."

I didn't respond.

"Well, that's all."

At last, I asked, "Where is Father now?"

***

I was on my way to the Iron-Blooded Lord's room when the door burst open and Hector stepped out.

"Brother Hector?"

Hector saw me but brushed past without a word, his face flushed. His jaw was clenched so tightly that it looked painful. I had never seen Hector like that. I was genuinely taken aback.

"What's wrong with him?" I muttered.

I considered following him to ask, but it didn't feel like the right moment, so I went inside instead.

The Iron-Blooded Lord... No, Delac sat on the bed. His gaze was unfocused, his expression distant. He looked at me as if through a haze.

The air turned awkward again.

Well, it would have been awkward even if he were completely himself, but now the awkwardness was more difficult to ignore.

I had already formed my own conclusions about this man. Then as if to mock them, Delac withdrew again.

"Luan Badniker."

I said nothing.

"Right?"

Unsure how to respond, I just nodded.

Then Delac smiled slightly. "You're easy to recognize. You are the only one with a different hair color. I heard that you are the youngest. Strangely, I don't feel that way when I see you. If anything, I feel you seem more mature than the other two I met."

My own expression was probably stiff. My fists clenched without my noticing. I could now understand why Hector had rushed out.

This was definitely difficult to endure.

I had faced his past self at the academy, read the true feelings in his letter, and witnessed his expression on the cliff. Of all people, I probably understood the Iron-Blooded Lord best. Even so, I could not hold back a sigh. It had to be difficult for Hector to accept this state, given how deeply he revered him.

"Father."

"Yes?"

I called out, but I didn't know what to say.

Perhaps he felt my hesitation, because Delac spoke again. "I heard the entire situation from Sir... No, from Assad."

I said nothing.

"First of all, you don't need to worry. Sooner or later, everything will return to normal," he said.

"Does that mean you can regain your memories?" I asked.

Delac slowly shook his head. "I don't know about that."

"Then?"

"Whether I regain my memories or not, my abilities will recover soon. I heard that this is a critical time for the Badnikers. It isn't the time for me to remain confined on my sickbed."

As I spoke with him, an indescribable unease settled over me.

How could I explain it? My mind was shrouded in fog, my throat tightened as if lined with thorns, and a heavy weight pressed against my chest. Perhaps it was all of this at once. I didn't know. I couldn't fully grasp it, but one thing was certain. The present Iron-Blooded Lord, Delac Badniker, wasn't skilled at hiding himself.

"Isn't that a lie?" I remarked.

"Huh?"

"Or maybe you are hiding something," I added.

"What are you saying all of a sudden?" Delac asked, clearly puzzled.

I didn't consider this feeling as baseless intuition or a guess. It came from a simple observation. Delac didn't look me in the eye.

At that moment, a certain possibility crossed my mind. Don't tell me?

I sounded absurd, yet I spoke anyway. "Father."

"Yes?"

"I'm actually not your son."

"What?"

Did he dismiss it as a joke? Confusion flickered across Delac's face. Then his gaze sharpened as he studied my features.

He stared in silence, as if weighing the truth of my words.

At the sight of it, my strength drained away.

Delac couldn't easily dismiss my claim as nonsense. The difference between us was too stark. The contrast was clear, especially next to Hector. After all, everyone in the family had dark hair except me.

My point was simple. Delac would have used his blessing in a moment like this.

Perhaps since he didn't experience his blessing ceremony, he doesn't know what blessings he possesses? That shouldn't be the case. My blessing is unusual, but most people can accurately gauge the effects of a blessing just by possessing it.

Yet Delac didn't use the simplest blessing, the Blessing of Truth and Falsehood, to determine my claim. Due to his blessing, I had to choose my words carefully around him, and even more so within the Badniker family.

"Father."

Silence ensued.

"Have your blessings disappeared?"

Delac remained silent, but his silence was answer enough.

At last, I couldn't bear it any longer and let out a sigh from the depths of my heart.

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