Genius of the Count's Family Chapter 12

Chapter 12

What would you think if someone who couldn’t even block one of my eyes stood there as if they were a grand curtain blocking out the sun?

Just… ridiculous.

That’s what Ralph was to me right now.

“Oh, yeah. Long time no see.”

Maybe my lukewarm reaction annoyed him.

Ralph smirked as much as he could.

“Right? You’re hardly ever seen. Sure, our family’s big, but still… geez. We’re a knightly family, for crying out loud. You’d think you’d come out into the world sometimes, wouldn’t you?”

Picking a fight when he already knows the answer, huh?

I remember him not being such a bad guy when we were very young.

But at some point, his nature started twisting.

He began to see me as his prey, picking at me over every little thing.

Even now—look at that twitch at the corner of his mouth.

It says everything.

He’s planning to tease me.

But… does he think things are the same as back then?

After all the battles and storms I’ve been through, his words don’t even make a dent in me anymore.

With an indifferent expression, I replied to Ralph,

“You didn’t see me because I didn’t come out. Why ask again when you already know?”

“What?”

“Quiet. Sit down.”

“Wh-what did you say?!”

Caught completely off guard, Ralph’s face flushed red.

Just as he was about to say something more, I pointed past him.

“Our teacher is here. You still planning to stand there like that?”

“You…!”

Ralph cut himself off and sat down.

Even he couldn’t act recklessly here at Solemio. The ones who taught here were all senior members of the Pador family.

Once Ralph sat, everyone quieted down and looked toward the man on a stone like ours, though his was slightly larger and flatter.

He was the one who had come to teach today.

On such an occasion, only those who could serve as role models for young boys were invited.

That’s why all the children here looked at him with genuine respect.

A middle-aged knight stood there, wearing a well-groomed beard.

It was Janitz, the captain of the Blue Knights, the one who had once shown me a sword technique just for my sake.

Well, Janitz certainly deserved to be here.

Even in the Pador family—famed for its abundance of knights—he was one of only ten high-ranking knights, and he led the Blue Knights, one of the family’s military divisions.

Janitz scanned the group before speaking.

“Greetings to you all.”

“Ye—s, sir!”

The children’s loud, unified reply brought a warm, gentle smile to Janitz’s face.

“I like the energy. Good, good.”

That’s why I liked Janitz. Kind to everyone, yet undeniably skilled.

If the perfect honor student grew up, they’d turn into someone exactly like Janitz.

A man who served as everyone’s role model, Janitz, smiled and said,

“I have come to you as this session’s Solemio to share my experiences and wisdom.”

At that, all the children abruptly rose and bowed their heads.

“I will accept it without the slightest doubt!”

…Wait, was this a thing?

I almost stayed seated like an idiot.

Thankfully, my reflexes kicked in at superhuman speed—otherwise, I would’ve been humiliated.

But beside me, Ralph caught it and curled the corner of his mouth upward ever so slightly.

That bastard—provoking me with just his expression.

By the time Ralph and I were glancing at each other, Janitz lowered his hand at an angle.

“Thank you. Please, everyone, sit.”

At that single gesture, the children sat back down in perfect unison, like well-trained soldiers.

I guess that’s what happens when you’re about to receive the teachings of someone admired by all—everyone moves quickly.

Janitz leisurely stroked his beard, waiting for the children to settle. Once he confirmed they were ready, he announced the start of the Solemio session.

“Then… let us begin. Today, I plan to teach you something very basic.”

From there, Janitz began lecturing—drawing from his own experiences—on what a sword truly is, and, going further, on the mindset one should have when facing an enemy.

The lesson was good.

Though to me, it felt overly by-the-book.

Still, nothing he said was wrong. It was the proper way—the most proper way—and that was fine.

Far better than those martial men who, despite their skill, have rotten hearts.

People often get this wrong—Skill and character can sometimes be inversely proportional.

Why wouldn’t they be?

Humans have an innate desire to feel superior when they stand above others.

The righteous sects hide that impulse under a façade, while the unorthodox display it openly.

And me?

My reputation in the martial world wasn’t bad, but… There was one thing people believed for sure:

—If you’re tied to me by some karmic fate, bow with both hands clasped. But if your sleeve so much as brushes mine by mistake, spend that day eating and drinking to your heart’s content, then take your own life. Because if you don’t, you’ll wish for death and still be forced to live in eternal suffering.

That was the rumor about me, spread throughout the martial world.

…Wait a second.

That’s unfair, isn’t it?

Someone who kills over a brushed sleeve is a madman, not a person.

The people I dealt with had wronged me first—and they deserved that treatment.

I might have gone a little overboard in settling grudges, sure…

But do you know which people I took down…?

Peng Mu-wol of the Hebei Peng Clan.

Nam Gu-hyeon of the Wudang Sect.

Bang Ga-hyeop, Master of Ho Wang Stronghold.

Gu Yong-ho, the Demon Sword.

…

One after another, the faces of those I’d beaten flashed in my mind.

And beyond them, there were countless others whose names I didn’t even know—about as many as there are fish in Dongjeong Lake… okay, maybe not that many.

Ahem…!

Anyway, it was still a lot.

But who cares? It was a hundred times better to be the one dishing it out than the one taking it.

Just as I was lost in my own thoughts… Janitz turned to us with a question.

“Now then, let’s try a question. What should you do if your opponent is stronger than you?”

That was probably meant to be a test—to pick out the hidden gem among the stones…

Who answered last time?

I remember it being a decent answer, but for the life of me, I couldn’t recall the name.

At the time, I was too focused on getting out of here as quickly as possible.

But then, Ralph quietly raised his hand.

…You?

So I actually thought the answer this guy once gave was decent? My ears really must’ve been rotting back then.

Ralph, however, turned to look at me with a strange glint in his eyes.

“Wouldn’t Deyan be the one best suited to answer that question?”

“……”

What the hell is he talking about?

I was certain—this was payback for that little spat we had before Janitz came in.

Petty bastard.

Not that it’s surprising… in fact, he’s acting exactly his age.

The other kids’ gazes fell on me. A few of them were downright irritating.

They had that look—

Go on, let’s see you try, sickly boy.

After all, it was an open secret that I couldn’t even handle a sword properly.

Fine… In that case, maybe I could take this chance, as the adult here, to give these kids a different kind of lesson.

“I think Ralph just doesn’t want to answer himself, so… mind if I give it a try?”

“When did I—?!”

I ignored Ralph’s retort and looked straight at Janitz.

For a moment, Janitz’s expression hardened, as if he’d understood Ralph’s little scheme, but then he sighed.

There was no refusing me here.

If he stopped me from answering out of consideration, this could blow up into something even bigger.

I was, after all, the legitimate heir of the Pador family.

How would it look if I couldn’t even answer one simple question?

Janitz nodded at me.

“Alright, go ahead.”

“Yes, the answer is simple. You run.”

“…?”

For a moment, silence fell around us, as if a sudden downpour had drenched the place.

Was my answer that shocking?

A child of a knightly family—and not just any child, but the direct heir—saying something like that?

Realization seemed to hit Ralph and the other kids a beat later, and then… chuckles began leaking out, one by one.

Loud enough for me to hear every single one.

“Why are you laughing?”

I turned my head, scanning each and every face to burn them into memory.

Especially that one kid with a long face like a corn cob—I saw your teeth, kid, don’t think I didn’t notice.

“This is the correct answer. Or do you actually believe that nonsense about winning if you have the will, or that courage alone will carry the day?”

These brats… must’ve only ever read storybooks.

In my entire life, I’d seen fewer than ten such cases actually work out.

Most of the time, it ends in a pointless death.

That’s reality.

Ralph was still smirking, clearly amused by my answer.

Time to hit him with some reality.

“Let me turn the question back on you. Alright, Ralph, I’ll ask you—can you beat Sir Janitz over there?”

“What…?”

Ralph blinked, as if I’d just spoken utter nonsense.

Of course, he couldn’t.

A guy like him? No way.

I pressed Ralph even harder when he failed to answer.

“Since you can’t answer, I’ll do it for you—you can’t win. Even if you trained your whole life, I doubt you could.”

“How would you know that?!”

“That’s not the point—and it’s not just you.”

I spread my left arm and swept my gaze across the whole group.

“Every single one of you here could charge at Sir Janitz together and still not handle him. So now I ask again—”

I looked at the boys whose eyes were darting around without rest.

“Would you still not run? Anyone with a brain should be able to figure this out—it’s better to retreat one step now and plan for the future. That’s not shameful, it’s wise.”

I lifted my index finger and made a light motion across my neck.

“If you can’t restrain your recklessness, the only head that will fall is your own.”

Then I drew a slow circle in the air with my finger while looking deliberately at those who had mocked me earlier.

“But if you quietly endure the filth poured over you, the head that will eventually roll is your opponent’s.”

It was the first of the Seven Lifesaving Sayings—the family motto of the Sacheondangmun.

A truth as old as the clan itself.

Some kids shuddered and covered their necks, but others just muttered, “Ugh, cringe,” under their breath.

The ones who understood were different from the ones who didn’t.

Fools.

This was a martial philosophy that countless people in the jianghu listened to without missing a single word, yet they dismissed it as nonsense?

Naturally, Ralph was the poster child for that crowd.

“Anyone listening would think you’re some kind of Knight King.”

“Still better than you.”

“You little—!”

Ralph clenched his fist, then loosened it again.

He knew perfectly well who would get in trouble if he threw a punch here.

Janitz had been silently watching, but now he finally spoke.

“Then let me ask again—would you run in any situation?”

His eyes were no longer gentle.

He wanted to hear my conviction—not as a child, but as a knight.

“No, not in every case. If the enemy threatened my family, of course, I would stand and fight. If he betrayed human morality, then his head would have to be cut off. What I meant was—if the danger can be avoided, then avoidance is the best course. That’s my personal opinion.”

“I see… That makes sense.”

Janitz gave a small nod.

“A good answer. I wouldn’t tell you all to charge in every situation either. Deyan, I see you in a new light.”

He smiled broadly, clearly satisfied.

“That will be all for today’s lesson. In fact, what Deyan just said is far more valuable than all the words I’ve spoken so far—so think it over.”

With that, Janitz left the Solemio hall.

As soon as he was gone, the children gathered in small groups to talk.

Most seemed unwilling to agree with me, some accepted it, and a rare few looked genuinely deep in thought.

So they’re not all idiots—there are a few good stones among the rubble.

I was still taking in their faces when—

“Hahahahaha!”

Ralph started mimicking my earlier words with exaggerated mouth movements, looking quite pleased with himself.

“Running away, huh? I really enjoyed that, Deyan!”

“Sure you did. Though I’m not sure you actually understood it.”

“Hah? Picking up speechcraft lessons lately? Yeah, you’d better—because you need it.”

He reached out to pat my shoulder, but I twisted slightly so his hand swiped the air.

“Looks like you haven’t been training much yourself—getting dodged by a weakling like me.”

“Y-y-you…!”

Ralph clenched both fists so tightly it looked like he might crush my skull—then suddenly snickered.

“What’s the point of doing anything here? Everyone heard it. The heir of the Pador family saying he’d run away—who’s going to follow someone like that? Be ashamed, Deyan.”

The little punk was really laying it on thick.

I said nothing, just looked at him. He, being the kid he was, stared right back, unwilling to back down.

What are you glaring at?

Ah, forget it. What’s the point in locking horns with someone like him? As the adult here, I should be the bigger person.

“Mhm… Alright, Ralph. Good point.”

I extended my hand for a handshake. Ralph tilted his head in surprise, then smirked.

“You’ve been listening to this big brother after all. That’s it, Deyan!”

Sure, sure.

A man of my broad magnanimity can endure this.

I’m the adult, after all.

When he clasped my hand, I smiled faintly, and Ralph chuckled drunkenly, as if basking in victory.

“Stick close from now on, Deyan! We’re cousins after all—come to me if you need advice!”

“Yeah. Thanks.”

As I watched Ralph walk away, a smile tugged at my lips.

What would be the point of fighting with that kid? In the past, maybe… but not now.

I had no intention of wasting my time on petty squabbles.

Still, Tangmen never forgets a grudge—

—No. I mean, I’ll simply make sure this failing student doesn’t stray down the wrong path.

That much, at least, I can do… as an adult.

---The End Of The Chapter---

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