Episode 314
The owner of this somewhat unfamiliar face was Aerts Badniker. I hadn't seen him in a long time, so I didn't recognize him at first. In truth, however, our relationship wasn't so insignificant that I could forget him easily. In my previous life, aside from Hector, he was one of the siblings who had given me the hardest time.
Aerts shared many traits with Hector: a fanatical devotion to the Iron-Blooded Lord, the arrogance typical of nobles, and a bad attitude. If there was a difference, it would be that Aerts came across as more vulgar.
Hector carried a noble elegance in everything he did, but Aerts lacked that refinement. Unlike Hector, who built his own faction through ties with the capital's nobility and even the imperial family, Aerts' actions had always been passive. In short, he was an inferior version of Hector.
It was a strange feeling. In my previous life, the mere thought of him made me want to beat him to death. Now, seeing him again, the first thing that struck me wasn't anger, but how pathetic he seemed. It felt like throwing a punch would lower my status.
Aerts panicked for a moment, then immediately coughed and spoke again. "Is that the end of the greetings?"
"How could that be? How have you been, brothers?"
At this point, I had little connection with Aerts or the sixth son, Dolber, so I greeted them together rather than addressing them individually.
Perhaps that annoyed Aerts because his eyebrows twitched.
Meanwhile, Dolber looked at me and said, "It has been a while, Luan."
Unexpectedly, Dolber spoke in a favorable tone. In terms of the sibling hierarchy, he was the brother right above me, yet we had no real acquaintance. We neither shared a personal friendship nor a conflict. Even before I was branded as someone without a blessing and deemed incompetent, we had never spent time together.
Dolber's personality differed from that of a typical Badniker. He was quiet, simple, and frugal. Perhaps due to that, even his black hair carried a grayish hue. Now for some reason, this brother of mine regarded me with interest.
"I heard from Professor Alec. It seems that he has a very good impression of you," Dolber said.
"Professor Alec? Ah."
It turned out that Dolber was an outstanding scholar. He had no talent for martial arts, but he was the youngest genius ever appointed as a professor at the academy. In the near future, every archaeological paper he published would cause a major stir in the academic world. From his words, it seemed he had heard Professor Alec speak about me and had formed a favorable impression.
Professor Alec's subject was historical geography, a discipline closely tied to archaeology. Since he had already secured a position at the academy, it was no surprise that he knew the professor.
"Also, Dean Alderson. No, the former dean—"
"Hey, do you think we're here to chat?" Aerts interjected stiffly. "Luan Badniker, if you're the youngest, then act like it. You only greeted your brothers? Do you think your sisters are sacks of barley?"
"True." He wasn't wrong.
I saw five women seated nearby. They were looking at me with a mixture of interest and curiosity, but I recognized none of them except Nero.
Still, I felt like I should greet them, as Aerts had pointed out. I was about to do so when a knock interrupted me.
"Excuse me for a moment."
The door opened, and several people in black suits entered. From their movements, their bearing, and their well-trained muscles that even their suits couldn't conceal, I could easily guess their identities. They were the Badnikers' collectors.
The man at their center spoke with an expressionless face, "It is an honor to see all the children of the Badnikers gathered in one place. I am Benga Organ, a servant of the family."
Those around me showed slight surprise, and I felt the same.
Aerts muttered in an empty voice, "The strongest collector..."
It was true. Among the collectors, Benga Organ, known as the Badnikers' Hound, was said to be the strongest.
This was my first time seeing him in person. The others were likely the same. After all, one rarely met a collector unless one had committed an offense against the family.
Still, among those who arrived with Benga, another individual caught my attention. He was a young man with a constant, unsettling grin. I had definitely never seen him before, but I believed I knew who he was.
Hector said, "Sir Organ, it's a shame that our first meeting comes under such circumstances."
"I agree."
"Then how is Father? Is he still in a critical state?" Hector asked.
"He hasn't improved."
The reply came from the one who represented the Badnikers' will, confirming that the Iron-Blooded Lord was on the verge of death.
A heavy silence settled over the room.
Then Heero asked, "Can't he be healed with the divine power of a high-ranking priest? This matter concerns Father, so a Bishop of the Seventy-Two Churches would come. No, it wouldn't be strange for the Pope to come in person."
"If it were something that could be resolved with divine power, we would have already taken the family head to the capital, Young Master Heero. The miasma that has eroded his heart can't be purified even by His Holiness.
"The miasma is... like a suction cup with countless small hooks. It's firmly embedded in the heart and has taken root. If the conflicting divine power is used, it will either run rampant or burrow even deeper. Removing it isn't difficult, but doing so would cause irreparable damage to the heart.
"If he were a normal person, it wouldn't be strange for him to have died long ago. The only reason the family head is still alive is his innate strength and vitality."
Benga's expression and voice were calm and emotionless. He recited the family head's condition as if he felt nothing. Strangely, that indifference made his words even more convincing.
The atmosphere of the room grew heavier.
This time, Raizen broke the silence. "If it's something like a tonic or elixir that benefits the body, I could probably get my hands on it. However, even that probably wouldn't be effective in driving out the miasma, right?"
Benga nodded. "That's right."
Raizen pressed, "So there really is no way now?"
"Of course, we will try everything. However, even if the family head passes away, the Badnikers should never be shaken. That is why I have come today. It is to discuss the succession."
At those words, Hector shot up from his seat and glared at Benga. "Are you already treating my father as a dead man? You, a servant of the Badnikers?"
Benga shrugged off Hector's anger. The gap in their abilities was evident, but it didn't seem to be the only reason. "You are right, Young Master Hector. As a servant, I have no right to speak about the family's affairs. I apologize, but my earlier words reflect the will of the elders."
Shock appeared on Hector's face. "What?"
The Council of Elders included Hector's grandfather. That meant that the Anatos family, one of the mighty Badnikers' core powers, was already preparing for the Iron-Blooded Lord's death.
Benga continued, "Once the family head passes away or is no longer able to fulfill his duties, the usual protocol is for the future family head to succeed him. However, the family head has never publicly announced his successor. This means that, aside from a select few within the family, no one even knows the successor exists."
"Wait. Those words carry weight, don't they? Does it mean that the family head has already appointed a successor?" Aerts cut in.
"That's right," Benga replied flatly.
Most of those who didn't know what was happening looked at Heero, but the eldest son remained expressionless and showed no reaction.
"Now that you mention it, I sensed people inside the Small Iron Hall when I passed it during the day."
"Ah, I saw it too."
"Has the family head finally recognized Brother Heero?"
Benga waited until the murmurs died down. Then our eyes met. When I saw the emptiness in his gaze, I couldn't tell whether he was feigning ignorance about the future family head's identity or genuinely didn't know.
At that moment, Heero spoke up. "Wait, Sir Organ. I understand the elders' intention, but my father is still alive. His condition may be poor, and the chance of death exceeds 90%, but he is still alive. I also don't want to speak about his death. It won't change, no matter how much the elders insist."
Benga nodded. "I understand. It's a sensitive subject. So that will be all for today, but please keep one thing in mind. Everyone here must be prepared to assume the worst."
"Can we see Father?" Hector asked cautiously.
Benga replied as if expecting the question, "We're trying to avoid contact with outsiders as much as possible. This is especially important for martial artists who have undergone rigorous physical training and store mana. The subtle aura they emit could have unpredictable effects."
Then Benga spread his fingers. "Three."
"Three?" Hector echoed.
"Yes. I apologize, but only three of the family members here may pay their respects to the family head. If you wish to do so, please stand."
At his words, most of the siblings stood. All of the men rose except Dolber. On the female side, Aquata and Everan, the unusually quiet fifth daughter, remained seated.
I stood since I had business with the family head, but Aerts glared at me. He seemed to be asking, "Who do you think you are to stand?"
I ignored him and turned to someone else who had surprisingly risen as well. "Brother Raizen, I didn't expect you to stand."
"Aren't you treating me too harshly?"
It was a bit different. The Iron-Blooded Lord had almost killed Raizen at the last auction. He was Raizen's father, but I doubted he genuinely wanted to pay respects to someone who had nearly taken his life.
Benga scanned our faces before speaking again. "Unfortunately, not everyone here can pay their respects to the family head."
"Then?"
"We have to be selective. Fortunately, this is the Badnikers. At any time, and under any circumstances, there are set priorities when competing with limited qualifications." Benga continued, "Skill and performance. I will make the selection based on these two criteria."
"It can't be helped," the others muttered.
Deciding who could visit the sick based on performance would seem like madness to other families, but every Badniker accepted it. If the Iron-Blooded Lord had been conscious, he would have given the same instructions.
"First of all, ability. Based on the Hero Society's standards, only those ranked B or higher qualify. If in the imperial family, only elite knights. If from the mage towers, only those of Chief rank or above. If anyone belongs to an organization I don't recognize but holds an equivalent position, please inform me," Benga said.
Raizen raised his hand. "I have a question."
"Please go ahead."
"I was recognized by the beastfolk tribes of the Eastern Grasslands and bear their primal markings on my skin. Would that qualify?" Raizen asked.
"May I see the markings for verification?"
"Of course." Raizen removed his shirt, revealing his well-trained body. Numerous scars covered his skin, which came as no surprise.
Since leaving home, Raizen had been wandering among the gangs in the west. He had likely fought fierce battles in the east to earn the tribes' recognition.
Benga nodded. "I have confirmed it. These markings seem to be from a ritual performed by the Bone Lion Tribe. Is that correct?"
Raizen was caught off guard. "Ah, that's right."
Benga inclined his head. "I've heard that this tribe only performs the ritual on proud warriors they truly acknowledge. The standards are even higher for outsiders. That is sufficient."
Another raised a hand. It was Olivia, the fourth daughter of the family, who had never spoken a word before.
"Is being an A-class mercenary sufficient?" she asked.
I was surprised. I hadn't expected another mercenary in the Badnikers besides myself. However, I soon understood why I had been unaware. Olivia was one of my siblings who had died just before reaching adulthood in my previous life.
"That is somewhat ambiguous. Do you have records of completing A-class missions?" Benga asked.
"I've completed five," she replied.
After a brief pause, Benga nodded. "I acknowledge it."
So, the males standing were Heero, Hector, Raizen, and me. The females were Nero, Lina, and Olivia.
At that moment, Aerts interjected sharply, "Hey, Sir Organ, shouldn't you verify things properly?"
His voice carried clear hostility, but Benga remained composed. "Young Master Aerts, is there something I missed?"
"Of course. There is still someone who doesn't qualify."
At Aerts' words, Benga tilted his head in confusion for the first time. He slowly scanned the room before speaking again. "Apologies. Young Master Aerts, but I really don't understand what you mean."
"So! There is one person standing who doesn't meet any of the conditions you mentioned," Aerts claimed.
"Please identify who it is."
"It is him! That guy!" Aerts finally lost his temper and pointed at me. "Luan Badniker is still shamelessly standing!"
Benga glanced at me. "I don't understand your claim. Young Master Luan is already fully qualified."
"What?"
"Young Master Luan is a B-class hero," Benga pointed out.
A slight commotion broke out around me. The reaction surprised me. It wasn't that I was being vain. However, more people had started to recognize me recently. Then again, that mostly happened when I encountered heroes in the north. No matter how active I had been recently, I was only a B-class hero.
Generally, heroes known to the public tended to be A-class or above. Below that, a few were famous, but they weren't known to celebrities in the capital or other regions. This was especially true for someone like Aerts, who had little interest in the Hero Society.
"D-did he become a B-class hero due to the incident in the capital?" Aerts probed.
Apparently, stopping Hadenaihar's conspiracy in the capital was widely known. It was only natural, since I had even met the emperor in person. Even so, no matter the achievement, no one became a B-class hero overnight. From the way he spoke, he clearly didn't know anything about the Hero Society's rules.
"That is a different matter. He went to the Hero Society and took the test," Benga replied.
"No way... You passed the Origin?" Aerts asked me.
"That is the entrance test. Based on his training camp grades, he qualified as an apprentice and competed for promotion immediately," Benga answered on my behalf.
"That's a lie," Aerts muttered, disbelief written across his face.
Benga ignored the stunned Aerts and continued, "Next is the performance. This year or last year, anyone who has achieved practical results through direct engagement with the church should remain standing."
Raizen shrugged and sat down. The others clicked their tongues and followed.
From this, it was clear that encounters with the church rarely happened by chance. Now, only Heero, Hector, Nero, and I remained.
Hector had encountered Hadenaihar at the academy last year, so he probably qualified through that. Heero and Nero were both heroes in the Hero Society, so they frequently fought against the church.
At that moment, Aerts spoke up again. "Wasn't it Brother Hector the one active in the academy? Luan just gained some of the benefits after it was over, yet he is qualified?"
"Ugh." He was disrupting the flow again. Aerts wasn't worth beating up, but his constant interruptions were annoying.
My right hand had just started to twitch when Hector spoke. "Aerts, shut up."
"B-Brother Hector?"
"Yes. Close your mouth. Luan passed the promotion test and achieved heroic results in the north. Meanwhile, you were pathetically running errands in the capital," Heero added.
Raizen absentmindedly picked at his ears and muttered, "Why does that feel directed at me?"
"Alright. That completes the screening. The visit to the family head is tomorrow. I will send someone beforehand, so please rest today," Benga said.
"Wait." This time, it wasn't Aerts. It was Lina, the third daughter, who had just sat down. "Didn't you say only three people can go? Aren't there four now?"
"Ah." Benga paused. "I forgot that the future family head isn't included in that number. That's my oversight."
At these words, all eyes turned to Heero. "The future family head..."
This time, Heero said calmly, "By the way, I'm not the future family head."
"Huh?"
"Wait. That means..."
Naturally, everyone looked at Hector next.
"It isn't me either." He shook his head. Nero did the same.
At last, my siblings turned their eyes to me.
I raised my hand and said, "Uh, it is me again."