I Became the Martial God's Youngest Disciple

I moved to the training ground together with my siblings. Not all of them went, however. Naturally, Dolber the scholar and Lina the mage weren’t particularly interested in sparring. Even Aquata backed out despite previously lingering annoyingly around me. She claimed that she needed to take care of her skin.

In the end, most of those left were the martial arts-focused members of the Badniker siblings, but Raizen joined in because he thought it would be fun. It wasn’t really surprising, considering that he was a merchant with a strong sense of hedonism.

Raizen came to me and asked in a low voice, ”Do you know that collector?”

I thought he had pretty sharp eyes. I asked in admiration, ”Why are you asking such a question?”

”Never mind. Forget it. I just felt that your attitude was somewhat meaningful.”

”I don’t think it was very meaningful.”

”Really? Then just call it my hunch.”

I didn’t say anything else, so Raizen didn’t dig further. We made our way to a training ground without saying anything.

The outdoor training ground of the Badnikers wasn’t dark even in the middle of the night, thanks to the floodlights they’d installed for use in night training.

I asked Hector, ”This looks like the place we sparred before, right?”

”Really? I don’t know,” Hector replied innocently.

I chuckled and looked at the training grounds. To be honest, I didn’t know who would have a clear advantage between the two opponents.

If they fought openly, Heero would likely have the upper hand. I wasn’t entirely sure, but Ludwig’s main fighting style didn’t seem to be head-on combat. However, it was hard to predict how he would fight.

”Huh?”

”Uh...”

A somewhat unexpected development occurred. Ludwig wasn’t holding anything in his hands as he slowly took a stance. In other words, he was bare-handed.

”Did he train in unarmed martial arts?” Hector muttered to himself. I could feel him staring at me. It was probably because I was the best expert at unarmed combat that he knew.

My interest was also piqued as I entered the training grounds. I recalled more or less what Jane had said when I sparred with Hector in the past and said, ”There aren’t any strict rules, but since this is a sparring match, let’s avoid outright killing techniques. Both of you should know how to do it, right? If things become too heated, I will step in. Keep that in mind.”

”I understand,” Ludwig replied, while Heero merely nodded.

”Start,” I declared with a nod. However, the announcement was a bit anti-climactic.

The first one to narrow the distance was Ludwig. He seemed to have learned some special footwork, as his body seemed to blur like a heat haze. In an instant, he was within striking distance of Heero.

Heero didn’t flinch. Rather, he waited until Ludwig approached him and only reacted after the opponent threw a punch. He extended his sword out in a straight line that coincided with the path of the incoming fist.

There was a heavy thud and Ludwig was pushed back. On the other hand, Heero remained fixed in place. The difference in skill was made clear at that moment.

It’s because this is a head-on fight.

I knew since I had experienced Strong Sword Heero’s blade personally. It was a sword that was difficult to confront head-on. The strong sword had been honed to the limit, condensed into pure destructive power. It could smash shields, crush armor, and even destroy the concentrated energy around the user’s body. Once exposed, even the most rigorously trained muscles were just fragile flesh in front of the strong sword.

Thus, the standard strategy when dealing with Heero was to dodge. The only exception was if one had an exceptional defense technique. The question was how Ludwig would respond.

Ludwig charged forward once more, and Heero stretched out his sword again. The same scene as before was replayed until Ludwig’s movements became a bit strange. He repeatedly made a strange motion of clenching his hands like he was kneading invisible dough.

The two combatants got close to each other again. Suddenly, something resembling a dark cloth unfurled from Ludwig’s hands. Heero was a bit surprised, but it was too late for him to take back the outstretched sword. The wide cloth wrapped around the sword.

The energy contained in Heero’s sword was heavy rather than sharp. That meant it wasn’t suitable for tearing something apart. Of course, it would be enough to tear a normal piece of cloth, but how could something taken out at this moment be ordinary? The black cloth that Ludwig had either created or pulled out had an unusual aura.

A divine relic? I thought. I didn’t know if it was an original or a replica, but it still seemed like a pretty powerful relic.

It wasn’t strange. Even when I met him before, Ludwig had shown a deep knowledge about divine relics. He no doubt had several methods to protect himself. This was a life-saving move, a trump card that could surely protect his life in moments of crisis.

As expected, he knows Heero well, I thought. Ludwig had likely chosen this relic knowing that Heero’s sword lacked sharpness.

In any case, the mysterious power contained in the cloth suppressed the mana contained in the strong sword. Then, Ludwig slammed his foot down on Heero’s sword.

Thump!

The weight of the strong sword cracked the stone slabs of the training ground. Ludwig stomped on it with one foot. Then he spun around and delivered a back kick like he was doing a stunt.

At this moment, Heero cried out and forcibly raised the blade. Perhaps the cloth also added weight, as Heero’s eyes were bloodshot due to the intense effort of just lifting his sword.

Then there was a thud and the sword was freed. Ludwig’s kick was thrown off-course due to the raised sword shifting his center of gravity, and he couldn’t hit Heero. His blow only grazed Heero’s earlobe.

Now.

For a brief moment, Ludwig was completely exposed. Heero swung his sword like a club and struck Ludwig.

Baaaaang!

There was a loud roar like a huge rock crashing into a building. Ludwig raised an arm just in time to block the blow, but he was still sent flying backward.

”Hm...” Ludwig was puzzled as he looked at his trembling arms.

He had blocked it, but it couldn’t be said that his defense was successful. The arm he’d raise in front of him happened to be his right arm, and it was swollen to the point of being grotesque. It was at least fractured.

”Stop.” I made my judgment and declared the match’s end. ”It is Brother Heero’s victory.”

Clap clap clap!

I applauded in a gesture of congratulations. Hector, Raizen, and Aerts joined in.

Then I looked at Ludwig and asked, ”You aren’t planning to fight any further with that arm, are you? It is a sparring match, not a real fight.”

”Of course not. I admit my defeat,” Ludwig said. It was a surprisingly cool admission.

Something made Heero look uncomfortable. He glared at Ludwig and said, ”You have a gun holstered at your waist. Judging by the folds of your shirt, it looks like you are hiding several daggers. I also saw things like smoke bombs and poison on your belt. Why didn’t you use them?”

Ludwig replied with an embarrassed expression, ”The young family head said it before. This isn’t real combat.”

Heero’s expression didn’t improve as if he wasn’t satisfied with the answer.

I figured our eldest brother’s sharp senses meant he would’ve noticed it. Ludwig hadn’t used all his methods during the fight. He hadn’t held back entirely, but it couldn’t be said that he had done his best.

Heero murmured, ”It is a bit unsatisfying but it is still a win. Now show me your face.”

”Alright,” Ludwig replied.

I wondered if he was going to obediently reveal his face. I had set up this whole thing but I couldn’t help feeling a bit worried.

I was about to intervene when Ludwig brushed a hand over his face and his features changed.

Heero’s eyes widened in surprise. I could see that even those further away couldn’t help flinching. The revealed face belonged to a young man with horrific burns.

Ludwig said, ”This is my real face, which is why I dislike showing it. I hope it hasn’t unsettled you, Young Master.”

”Mm.”

”Is this okay?”

”It is enough.”

The moment Heero nodded, Ludwig brushed his hand in the other direction and his original cheerful expression returned. He bowed slightly and said, ”It was an honor to experience the famous Strong Sword firsthand. Now I have some work to attend to.”

Ludwig left the training ground without waiting for a response. I watched him for a moment before quietly following.

***

Ludwig stopped in the backyard of the Small Iron Hall.

I watched him as he arrived at a place where people didn’t often visit and asked, ”Did you get those burns since we last met?”

”Of course not,” Ludwig replied in a somewhat playful tone before turning to look at me. He brushed his hand over his face again and the familiar face I knew came into view. ”It is a double trick. If I prepare another fake face under the first and pretend to reveal my true face when my identity is discovered, most people will be deceived.”

”Aha.” Even I, who knew Ludwig’s real face, had been a bit taken aback. I said, ”Besides, it is hard to stare outright due to the burns. So people will subconsciously want to avoid the sight of that face, right?”

”That’s right.”

”I wasn’t fooled.”

”Kukuk. Weren’t you the only one, though?”

”Huh?”

”By the way, you’ve become a big shot since I last saw you. I knew you were great, but you actually became the future family head.”

”Various things happened.”

”What is going on?”

”It would take too long to explain it all.”

”Aha.”

Ludwig nodded before taking out a bottle. Based on the color, it was a potion. He took off the cap and swallowed it down. Then the unsightly swelling of his right arm gradually subsided. He remarked, ”Groan... Heero was very rough. As expected of an A-class hero.”

Strangely, it wasn’t awkward to hear him saying just Heero without any honorifics.

I watched him for a moment before asking, ”Did you see Father?”

”I saw him.”

”How is he?”

Ludwig was uncharacteristically silent. Then he casually leaned against the rough wall and looked up at the sky. I thought that such behavior was something that only Ludwig, among all my siblings, could show.

He said, ”To be honest, I don’t want my other siblings to see him like this.”

I wondered, ”Is it that bad?”

”That isn’t the problem. It just feels a bit unreal.”

I said nothing, and he continued.

”It is a bit hard to say. Even if I say it, you will go to see him with your own eyes, right?”

”Yes.”

”Then you’ll find out when you see it for yourself.” Ludwig looked at me and suggested, ”Or do you want to go and see him now?”

”Huh?”

”I’m talking about our father. This time is just right.”

I remained silent.

***

Collector Gilbert was another identity of Ludwig’s. The only collector to know his identity was Benga.

I wondered, ”Does a mere collector have the right to allow me to pay respects to Father?”

Ludwig replied, ”Of course not. It is okay because you are the future family head. Sir Benga also gave permission.”

”Assad said it would be tomorrow.”

”Just take only half of what the elders say seriously. In the first place, why would a child need permission to visit their father?”

”You just said it was fine because I am the future family head.”

”Is that so?” Ludwig tilted his head. Then he asked again, ”Do you want to wait until tomorrow? However, if you visit tomorrow then there will be surveillance next to you. The collectors, elders, and even Sir Assad will be watching. It means that right now is the only time to be alone with Father. What will you do?”

”Mm.”

That would be a problem. I needed to check the exact condition of the Iron-Blooded Lord’s body. My identity could be discovered if there were too many eyes around.

I replied, ”Let’s just go now.”

”I thought so.”

The Iron-Blooded Lord was said to be staying on the fourth floor of the main building. It was a place that only a very limited number of family members could enter normally. Even I, as the future family head, had only set foot there once due to my visit to the trial room.

We walked alone through the dark mansion, and I couldn’t help recalling the blood-stained scenes of the Otherworld at the academy. As expected of the Badniker residence, this place exuded an atmosphere that was as sinister as the school that had been eroded by the demon king.

”This is the room,” Ludwig told me. ”You can’t stay long, only ten minutes. Is that okay?”

”That is enough.” I nodded and opened the door.

I could see a spacious room through the open door. In addition to the scent of medicine, there was a hazy mist in the room. It seemed to come from a device designed to help healing. There was a bed in the center of the room; it was a canopy bed with four posts and a roof so large that it spoiled the aesthetics of even such a large room.

I walked toward the bed. The soft carpet wrapped around my feet like a swamp. My steps were strangely heavy. Even the simple act of drawing back the bed curtains was difficult. My body felt like it had turned into a lump of lead.

Then through the curtain, I saw the face of a boy lying there as if dead.

”Ah.”

He was the Iron-Blooded Lord, Delac C. Badniker. It wasn’t until I saw him lying on the bed that I understood the meaning of Ludwig’s words.