The Old Man Tells You The Strategy

Chapter 15

「…You’re telling me that the Death King wrote that book? That’s ridiculous.」

‘You really don’t see it? Look here.’

Killian, slightly frustrated, opened the book and pointed to a passage.

[The one who steps with the speed of a single foot accelerates the cycle. Even the clouds in the sky can be grasped by this technique, which I name Flowing Cloud Steps.]

「…Isn’t it even stranger that you can recognize something like that?」

‘Ugh, you’re hopeless.’

Killian scratched the back of his neck irritably, then lifted his finger and began to walk with a peculiar rhythm, quite different from his usual stride.

‘This Flowing Cloud Steps thing—it accelerates the cycle of force for a brief moment when you step, right?’

Tap— Whoosh!

In sync with the rhythm of his steps, his previously slow-moving finger suddenly sped up.

‘It means I can make my Death King’s Sword even faster and stronger.’

「There’s a connection, but it’s still a stretch to claim the Death King wrote this based on that alone…」

‘You need to know how to shift your center of gravity to use this technique. That’s proof enough.’

After finishing his explanation, Killian grumbled to himself.

‘Why didn’t he teach me this? He said there wasn’t enough time, but still…’

Despite his complaints, a grin tugged at the corners of Killian’s mouth.

Incorporating the footwork into his sword technique made his movements feel much more fluid and natural.

‘…It really does seem like the Death King wrote this.’

Jun-hyuk, observing Killian’s reaction, began to believe it. When Killian first learned the Death King’s Sword, a rare spark of clarity shone in him, something almost impossible to see otherwise. That same spark was now visible again.

And with that realization came a new sense of surprise for Jun-hyuk.

‘How many times have I been in this place?’

He could recall at least a hundred occasions, and during those visits, he had read every book in the Iron-Blood Library. Yet, he had never realized that one of those books was written by the Death King.

‘I had a treasure in front of me and didn’t even recognize it…’

As this thought crossed his mind, another idea struck him.

「Now that I think about it, there were similar-looking books on the second and third floors.」

‘Really?’

Killian’s eyes lit up, clearly pleased by the thought of discovering two more interesting books.

‘If I read the other two, maybe I’ll be able to fully master that grumpy old man’s sword style.’

For the first time in a while, Killian smiled in a way that was fitting for his age, amused by the possibilities.

Jun-hyuk, on the other hand, let out a more contemplative hum.

‘What’s on your mind?’

「It’s just… something feels off.」

‘What do you mean?’

「Why is a book written by the Death King in the Iron-Blood Library?」

Killian gestured at the rows of books packed into the library’s shelves.

‘There are a ton of books here. It’s not weird that one ended up here.’

「The Death King was a knight of the Empire. For one of his works to be here, in a kingdom’s library, is already strange. And if they knew what it was, they wouldn’t be treating it like this.」

‘Maybe they got it by chance and didn’t realize what it was?’

「The Pablo Count has personally reviewed all of these books. There’s no way they wouldn’t have noticed something this significant.」

But there the Death King’s book was, in the library, unnoticed by anyone.

Jun-hyuk could only think of two possible explanations: either the book had magically appeared on the shelf, or someone had placed it there secretly, without the Pablo family’s knowledge.

Both seemed impossible, but the latter felt more plausible.

In that case, who would have brought the book here?

Jun-hyuk, almost absentmindedly, spoke his thoughts aloud.

「I think… your mother might have put it here.」

‘What? Why are you suddenly bringing up my mother?’

「Your pendant, which led you to this book, was left behind by your mother, right?」

Moreover, that pendant wasn’t just any keepsake—it was an artifact capable of summoning the spirit of the Death King.

「It’s too much of a coincidence to ignore.」

Killian looked at the pendant around his neck with suspicion before responding cautiously.

‘Isn’t that a bit of a stretch? My mother was just an ordinary—’

Jun-hyuk interrupted him immediately.

「Come on, even you think something’s off, don’t you?」

‘…’

Killian fell silent, unable to deny it. His mother had left behind a necklace with the spirit of the Death King inside and had hidden it in the dangerous Palmer Mines, a kobold-infested pit. There were certainly a lot of things that didn’t add up.

“Hm.”

Jun-hyuk’s theory made more sense than Killian cared to admit. And if it was true, then regardless of how his mother had come into possession of the Death King’s belongings, why had she passed them to him in such a secretive manner?

As if she was trying to avoid someone’s watchful eye…

Though countless questions swirled in his mind, none of them brought him any closer to a clear answer.

‘You don’t know anything else, do you?’

「…」

‘Didn’t you say you knew everything?’

While Killian had never openly admitted it, he had been pondering this situation for a while.

But up until now, he hadn’t been sure how much he could trust Jun-hyuk, so he had kept quiet about his suspicions.

However, it seemed like the time had come to reevaluate that trust.

It didn’t mean Killian was ready to trust Jun-hyuk completely, but he was beginning to acknowledge that Jun-hyuk was one of the few—if not the only—beings who could help him navigate these mysteries.

Killian paused for a moment, taking in the significance of what he was about to say. It was a moment of vulnerability for him, one that marked a shift in his typically indifferent demeanor.

‘Actually, there’s someone who might know more about my mother.’

「Who? Why are you only mentioning this now?」

‘Pablo Count.’

「What?!」

‘My father… If anyone knows something about her, it would be him.’

「You’re saying… Your father is Temus Pablo? The Pablo Count?」

‘Yeah, that’s what I’ve been told.’

Jun-hyuk was completely taken aback. This revelation shocked him even more than learning that Killian was of Pablo’s bloodline.

Temus Pablo, the current head of the Pablo family, had fewer than twenty direct descendants. If Killian was truly his son, it raised countless questions.

「Why the hell…」

Jun-hyuk was bursting with questions, but he held back. There had to be a reason why Killian, despite being the son of such a powerful figure, had been sent away to the countryside.

And from what he could gather, Killian’s mother had been a mere maid. It would be dangerous to push too hard and potentially wound Killian emotionally.

Before Jun-hyuk could say anything more, Killian spoke again.

‘But would he even agree to see me?’

Killian’s voice was calm, almost resigned, but it struck a chord with Jun-hyuk.

「Hmm… Honestly, it won’t be easy.」

‘Right?’

「Temus Pablo isn’t known for caring much about his bloodline.」

‘Exactly. He probably knows I exist, but doesn’t even know whether I’m a boy or a girl.’

「It’s not just you. From what I know, he doesn’t even care much about the children living with him at the estate.」

The Pablo family, known as the “Shield of the Kingdom,” was a martial powerhouse, and its leader, Temus Pablo, was an extraordinarily busy man.

With countless matters to oversee every day, there was no time for him to take a personal interest in his children, legitimate or otherwise.

‘That’s why I’ve never brought it up until now.’

「I see.」

‘But the reason I’m mentioning it now is…’

「Why?」

‘You seem to know a lot about the Pablo family. You might know a way to make it happen.’

「A way to meet Temus Pablo?」

‘Exactly.’

Jun-hyuk paused, searching his memory for any possible solutions. After a moment, something came to mind.

「There is… one way.」

—

After the Iron-Blood Library closed, the participants were given a week of free time.

Ostensibly, it was to allow them to recover and prepare for the second trial in peak condition.

But the bloodline participants knew better. This free time was meant for them to practice and internalize the martial techniques they had studied in the library. Otherwise, why give them such a long break?

Especially since the schedule had already been delayed thanks to Killian’s ten-day trial period.

Thus, the atmosphere at the Temple of Bloodline became sharply divided.

– If I’d known it would be like this, I wouldn’t have worked so hard to prepare for the bloodline ceremony…

– Honestly, it feels more comfortable here than at home.

The higher-ranked participants, confident that they wouldn’t be eliminated, spent their days relaxing.

– Hup! Haah!

– Please, one more lesson, Sir Knight!

Meanwhile, the lower-ranked participants gathered in the training grounds, fiercely honing their skills in hopes of improving their standing.

The air around them was tense, their determination fueled by the fear of being sent to the Demon Realm.

‘…The smell of sweat and desperation. This place really isn’t for me.’

Killian shook his head as he watched the scene and began walking toward the exit of the training grounds.

「Wait, where are you going?」

‘Back to my room.’

「…What?」

Jun-hyuk’s voice was filled with disbelief. Killian had spent the past hour wandering around the training grounds with that peculiar footwork of his, not breaking a sweat. While this was typical Killian behavior, today felt different. He had a reason to work harder now.

After all, he had given Jun-hyuk his word.

—

[You need to rank in the top 10 in the bloodline ceremony. That’s the only way to meet Temus.]

[What?]

[The top 10 participants are granted a private audience with the head of the family. It’s a Pablo tradition.]

Jun-hyuk had explained that the top ten participants in the bloodline ceremony were given the privilege of a private meeting with the head of the Pablo family. Killian had agreed to try his best, despite starting at the bottom of the rankings.

[Well, starting in last place doesn’t make it likely, but I’ll give it a shot.]

Yet here he was, seemingly giving up after just one day.

「You said you’d try to make the top 10. You can’t just give up after taking a stroll.」

‘Stroll? I’ve been preparing hard for the trial, thank you very much.’

「Are you seriously saying that after watching all these people sweating it out in the training yard?」

As usual, Killian paid no mind to Jun-hyuk’s scolding, waving him off like an annoying fly.

But just as Killian was about to leave the training grounds…

Whoosh—!

“Ahh—!”

A sharp scream pierced the air, stopping Killian in his tracks.