Chapter- 15 Outlandish Entrance

"I killed it," Eugene boasted proudly. 

Cyan didn't know how to react. He knew that Eugene's words were meant to rile him up, but after seeing something like that occur right before his eyes, he just couldn't muster up any outrage. 

Cyan was sure that he definitely wasn't able to do what Eugene had just done. 

But what if... what if he had been able to use sword-light? I

If that had been the case, he was sure that he could have killed the minotaur. However, he still wouldn't have been able to accomplish it as easily as Eugene had. 

Cyan was beginning to feel an unfamiliar emotion whenever his thoughts turned to center on this country bumpkin. It was similar to fear, but it brought with it an excitement in his chest that made it feel different from fear. 

The thirteen-year-old Cyan had yet to understand that this emotion was

 'awe.' 

"...Oh," Eugene released a small sigh of surprise as he looked down at his own body. 

The bloody smell had disappeared in an instant. 

The minotaur's corpse that was lying right next to him, as well as the walls and the ceilings that had enclosed them from all sides, also started to disappear. 

His damp hair was dried back to a fluffy state as if it had never been wet in the first place, and the sword and the shield he was holding in his hands faded and then vanished into thin air. 

The Bloodline Continuation Ceremony was over

****

Both Gilead and Lovellian were left speechless. Everything up to the point where Dezra and Cyan had been defeated was something that they had predicted. 

In the first place, they had known that it wouldn't be an easy challenge for children to hunt the minotaur. 

Wasn't that why Gilead had told them in advance that in this year's Bloodline Continuation Ceremony, he wouldn't just be considering their individual performance, but their abilities to quickly make situational judgments and their cooperative spirit as well? 

He had wanted to see if they would retain the will to fight despite numerous setbacks. If the children had agreed to work together, they could defeat the monster. And once they'd caught the minotaur's attention, it was also possible to slowly draw it out of the magic circle's range. 

As long as the children didn't rush in impulsively, they could have tried out a few different methods until they finally succeeded, or at least... that was the way they had intended for the minotaur to be defeated. 

"...Hahaha!" 

Although his plans had been completely overturned, Gilead didn't feel any frustration. Instead, he burst out laughing with a broad smile on his face. 

"He reminds me of Edward, is that not amazing?" Gilead commented as he pointed to Eugene. "That kid, he's just a collateral descendant who hasn't even trained his mana, but he has the skill to be on par with Edward's, he was able to defeat the minotaur through sheer 

overwhelming skill.

"...That...seems to be the case," Lovellian slowly picked up his jaw off the ground before replying. 

Everything in that labyrinth had been created by Lovellian, both the traps and the monsters. 

He hadn't made them too difficult so that they could match the children's levels... but that child named Eugene had broken through the labyrinth with much more ease than Lovellian had expected. 

Lovellian felt the need to ask, 

"...Those children …Just what on earth are they"

"I don't know either, talent is something from birth—but it seems the Lionheart's golden generation has arrived " Gilead shook his head, still laughing.

 "That child Eugene's father is apparently named Gerhard Lionheart, from the Gidol Province. He's from a collateral line that's been separated from the main line for around two hundred years now, but, as far as I know, not a single member of that family has ever drawn any attention until now. 

"But how could such an exceptional child come from such… 

"Who knows. He says that he wasn't taught by his father or any other knight, but Gilead burst out laughing before he could finish the sentence.

 "But his potential is indescribable. They say that that child, Eugene since he has first arrived at the main estate, has gone to the gymnasium every day to repeat the same harsh training daily.

 I've also sent a man to Gidol, and he reports that Eugene's extreme training is about as well-known as Edwards throughout the whole estate. 

Eugene was a child who had defeated his son in a duel, so Gilead couldn't help but have an interest in him. That was why he had sent a knight to the Lionheart family estate in Gidol to ask about Eugene.

 The man had reported that Eugene had first started going to the gymnasium every day when he turned five and when he turned seven, he started swinging a wooden sword with an iron core that had been steadily increasing in weight over time. 

"That boy was born to be a warrior, and he also has an innate hard-working character that is worthy of such a physique. Even if it was just by unearthing such a jewel in the rough... this year's Bloodline Continuation Ceremony will prove to be of great significance to the Lionheart lineage" 

"But aren't you even the slightest bit displeased?" Lovellian asked in genuine curiosity: "My apologies if I cause any offense, but that child. Has outshone al– I mean most of your children, Lord Gilead. If there's already such a difference between them, once that child begins training his mana... And if he also happens to have an equally great talent for handling mana... 

"If that happens to be the case, isn't that something to celebrate?" Gilead replied with a grin. 

"After all, doesn't that child's name happen to be Lionheart? That means the more extraordinary it is to have more than one monster… that boy is, the more he makes the name of Lionheart shine brightly." 

But what if that child reveals any ambitions for usurping the direct line?" Lovellion asked bluntly, after being unable to think of a way to soften the blow. 

However, Gilead didn't feel at all offended by such a question.

"That isn't something for me to be concerned about," Gilead answered sincerely. "Only the very best among the Lionhearts has the right to become the Lionheart Patriarch, If Cyan & Ciel fail to keep the position of Patriarch, that would just mean that they were too weak to keep a hold of their birthright. If that was all the strength that they had to offer, they wouldn't deserve to be the Lionheart Patriarch in the first place." 

"Hm..." Lovellian pondered.

"Of course, before I am the Patriarch, I am also their father, and as their father, I will guide my children to become the best that they can be. If that is still not enough then it can't be helped Gilead shrugged in defeat. 

"As an outsider, my apologies for bringing up something that wasn't my place to address." Lovellian nodded slowly in understanding and waved his hands as the labyrinth started to disappear. "However, Lord Gilead, as an old acquaintance, I feel that I must advise you. If at all possible, you must adopt that child." 

"Adoption?" Gilead asked in confusion. 

"Yes. A collateral descendant has finally overturned the main family in a Bloodline Continuation Ceremony. That alone would make many of the Lionheart's collateral lines look down on the main family. If that happens, some of those dissatisfied with the current system may start to join forces." 

""Gilead was silent for a moment. The Lionheart name had been passed down for over three hundred years. A multitude of collateral lines had been born due to their inheritance practices. 

Each collateral family was founded by someone born with the bloodline of the direct line but had lost the competition to become the Patriarch. There were definitely a few among these collateral lines who harbored dissatisfaction against the main family. 

"The Guardians are responsible for enforcing the family's laws," Gilead muttered with a bitter smile. 

While thoroughly forbidding any dynastic disputes, the Lionheart Guardians also suppressed any rebellious individuals. 

"I thank you for your advice. As for an adoption... I think it's an attractive proposition," Gilead finished. 

To be honest, the boy was so outstanding that Gilead had wished Eugene was his own son. Also, it seemed like being adopted would be better for the child's future as well. 

If Eugene just returned to Gidol like this... the seditious families who plotted to rebel against the main family might try to contact him. And if that happened, that young child with a brilliant talent might even be kidnapped because of his gifts. 

If I keep the boy by my side... He could also be a great motivator for my children. Especially for Edward who struggles with his mental illness, it might help him find new-found motivation. 

The more he thought about it, the more appealing the idea was. And wouldn't it make for an incredible sight to watch those two children's full potential to fully blossom 

When the child's potential was allowed to fully bloom in the still-distant future? At that time, if Eugene still proved to be overwhelmingly superior to the children of the main family, then... 

Not only would his adoption be good for the main family, but it would also be a happy event for the Lionhearts as a whole. 

"Well, before that, the celebrations have to come first" Gilead mumbled as he turned his head. 

Both the labyrinth and the cave leading to it had disappeared. 

The children were looking at their surroundings with surprised expressions, having yet to understand their situation. 

"Haaagh!" Gargith, who had been lying on the floor, jumped to his feet with a gasp. 

Following his battle with the troll, he had started heading towards the center, but he had used up the last of his strength on the way there and had collapsed into slumber. However, as the magic dissipated, all of his injuries also disappeared.