The Strongest Villain Sets Out: Reincarnated into a Merit-Based Clan, I Become the World's Strongest Swordsman - Chapter 4: Serves You Right

I had returned from the basement where Lilith was sealed, and on my way to my room, I encountered one of my brothers, Kamren Salvatore. He wore a vulgar smile and approached me in a condescending manner.

“Oh, if it isn’t Luca. What’s wrong? Are you heading back to your room?”

“Kamren-nii-san.”

Honestly, I disliked Kamren. This guy possessed the kind of shitty personality typical of The Salvatore ducal family, full of abnormal people.

He was a scum who mainly enjoyed bullying me, his weaker younger brother.

While sighing inwardly, I answered Kamren’s question.

“That’s right. What about you, Nii-san? Finished your training?”

“Yeah. So this is perfect timing. I’ll dote on you.”

“Don’t you mean ‘bully’?”

“Don’t say such cruel things. It’s just brotherly bonding.”

How rich. I hadn’t forgotten that he had been using violence against me almost one-sidedly, taking advantage of the fact that I couldn’t beat him.

Until now, I could only endure it, but the weak me of the past was gone.

I raised the corners of my mouth in a grin and concentrated the small amount of aura I had refined into my right hand. I put strength into my right foot and delivered a palm strike to Kamren’s chest.

Then, receiving an unexpected attack, Kamren fell backward.

“Wh-what the hell are you doing!”

“Sorry, sorry. My hand slipped a little. Are you okay? It would be terrible if you got injured.”

I deliberately provoked my brother Kamren. Given Kamren’s personality, he would probably take the bait immediately if I provoked him.

“Hah? As if I’d get injured from being hit by you!”

There, easily.

So I responded like this.

“Really? You seemed to fall quite dramatically though…”

“Tch.”

Kamren’s face turned red with anger.

Being mocked by his younger brother who was two years younger and whom he always looked down on—your strong pride couldn’t stand it, could it?

Against my smirking face, Kamren returned the expected reaction.

“Shut up! Don’t make fun of me!”

He stood up, raised his voice, and clenched his fist. He threw a full-power right straight.

However, just as I was about to wrap myself in aura and counter Kamren’s attack—a low, cold voice echoed from the depths of the corridor.

“——What are you two doing?”

“”Tch””

Both Kamren and I stopped moving simultaneously. We glanced toward the direction of the voice.

At the end of our gaze stood a man boasting a physique of nearly two meters. The scars carved into his face proved he was a veteran warrior.

At the same time, both Kamren and I knew this man well.

None other than Lucius Salvatore.

——The current Duke Salvatore himself.

“F-Father.”

Kamren withdrew his arm. His expression turned slightly pale.

This was proof that he feared his father. Even without using aura, the commanding presence that Lucius Salvatore exuded was special.

An ordinary person couldn’t even make proper eye contact with him. However, I deliberately gazed boldly at the head of the family. The head also looked at my face in return.

“I ask once more. What were you two doing here?”

“Th-that is…”

Kamren had been about to use violence against me. The father who had called out understood this as well.

Then why was he asking?

He wasn’t particularly angry. In the meritocratic Salvatore Duke family, bullying and violence were daily occurrences. Nothing to reproach.

So I answered.

“Kamren-nii-san picked a fight with me. I was about to buy into it.”

“What?!”

“Ho.”

Kamren was surprised, while father narrowed his eyes with interest. I had caught the head’s interest. That alone gave great meaning to beating up Kamren.

“You, still only five years old, will defeat Kamren?”

“Yes. I am a member of The Salvatore ducal family. To prove that I am right, that I am the strongest—do I need anything other than victory?”

The Salvatore family was a clan of constant victory. They considered anything but winning to be trash.

The relationship with Kamren, the bullying—I could overturn it all by winning. That was the correct way for a duke’s family, wasn’t it? You abnormal bastard.

I disparaged father Lucius inwardly. On the other hand, the head curved his mouth like a bow.

“Exactly right. The Salvatore ducal family has no need for losers. Deflect all unreasonableness with victory as your shield. I will acknowledge it. Your duel.”

“A-a duel?! Between me and Luca?”

“Of course. When the youngest son is showing motivation, will you, his older brother, cower? A member of the Salvatore family?”

“Tch! I-I understand… I’ll do it. I just have to do it, right!”

Grinding his back teeth, Kamren glared at me.

Things had become somewhat serious, but this was rather an opportunity for me.

Using Kamren as a stepping stone, I would make the entire clan aware. Of my talent. Of my existence!

☆

Moving locations to the training ground. Several servants, Lucius, and even the second wife Muriel had appeared, surrounding me and Kamren.

Everyone was watching the duel between me and Kamren.

“Hehe. I was surprised at first, but who would have thought you’d prepare a stage for me to shine.”

“Hmm? Do you really think I’m just going to lose?”

“Of course. Do you think you, who’s always been weak, can beat me? That’s more laughable.”

“Heh. Then I’ll hit you without holding back, okay? Be prepared for a few broken bones.”

“Hah?! Break them if you can!”

The butler serving as referee announced the start of the match. Simultaneously, Kamren kicked off the ground.

Like a member of the Salvatore family, Kamren also had naturally high physical abilities. He quickly closed the distance between us and swung the wooden sword in his right hand.

If it hit directly, bones would definitely break. Therefore, I turned my body sideways and avoided Kamren’s attack.

“Tch!”

Kamren was slightly shaken but immediately readjusted his stance and connected into a series of attacks. Sharp attacks came from left, right, and diagonal angles.

I concentrated aura into my right hand and deflected them.

“What?!”

This time he was strongly shaken. He created distance and stepped back.

“H-how could you deflect my attacks—”

“How, you ask?”

That’s right. Thinking normally, I couldn’t match the arm strength of someone two years older. Deflecting all of a continuous attack series rather than just once would be unbelievable.

I would reveal that secret. I refined my aura further. Just the amount I could barely control.

“Hmm? This reaction is… could it be aura?”

Father Lucius was the first to notice my secret. I grinned and answered.

“Yes, I have acquired aura.”

“Impossible?! That’s impossible!”

Kamren’s scream-like voice reached me.

“Even I haven’t acquired aura yet, so there’s no way a five-year-old like you could have acquired it!!”

“Even if you say that. In fact, there’s aura in my hand. Nii-san, are you doubting the master’s words?”

“Ugh?!”

Using the Heavenly Sword, the symbol of the Salvatore family, as a shield, I chipped away at Kamren’s heart.

Watching him panic and suffer was exceptional.

[Luca is like a devil.]

Lilith said something unnecessary from behind me. Who’s a devil, who?

“How did you acquire aura?”

Ignoring the speechless Kamren, head Lucius continued his questions. What an uncouth question in the middle of a duel.

“I found myself able to use it before I knew it. I haven’t practiced yet.”

“That’s a lie?! Are you saying you were born harboring aura?!”

Murmurs arose among the servants.

The head still maintained a calm expression, but the butler and maids, who were veteran knights, were surprised enough to change their complexions.

It was understandable. Originally, aura was an ability that men and women awakened at an average age of around fifteen. No one other than me had manifested it at age five.

Though it was thanks to Lilith, if I told them that, it would be over. I would make maximum use of it.

“I see… so you had talent.”

“I don’t know about that yet. However—”

I pointed the tip of my wooden sword sharply at Kamren. I grinned wickedly.

“I suppose I have more than Kamren-nii-san over there. Hehe.”

“Y-you!”

Even though the conversation with father wasn’t finished, Kamren ran with his face bright red. He came straight toward me.

He foolishly swung down his wooden sword.

“Good grief.”

As a member of The Salvatore ducal family, don’t lose yourself to anger. There was no way such a monotonous sword would hit the current me.

I nimbly dodged Kamren’s slash and swung my wooden sword with my aura-wrapped right hand. Coincidentally, it was exactly the same series of attacks that Kamren had shown at the beginning.

Multiple impacts coursed through Kamren’s body. Hit in a total of five places, Kamren fell to the ground.

“Gah…?!”

I had broken his bones. Kamren couldn’t stand anymore.

Holding his arm while dropping his wooden sword, he rolled on the ground pathetically, drooling and crying. Looking down at this scene, I suddenly thought:

——If I killed this guy here, it would be advantageous for my plans later.

I gripped my wooden sword tightly. Even though I was about to kill a person—my own brother at that—strangely, my heart was calm.

I felt no melancholy. No fear. No sadness. I simply held my wooden sword in an overhead stance, thinking it would benefit me.

——However.

“That’s enough, Master Luca.”

One of the butlers who had been watching the duel moved behind me. He grabbed my arm and interrupted my attack.

“Why are you interfering with me? Was there a problem with killing the loser?”

“Tch. No… but having deaths from duel disputes would be troublesome.”

“I recall there have been deaths in the past?”

“That was…”

I glared at the butler. However, father’s voice was heard and my killing intent was dispelled.

“Enough. Forgive him, Luca.”

“Master… I understand. I’ll specially forgive your foolish actions, Kamren-nii-san.”

I emphasized the “specially” part and looked down at Kamren, who was still in pain.

Kamren’s head contained only intense pain and fear. He didn’t seem to hear my words or the master’s voice. I had lost interest in this guy too.

I confirmed that the butler had released my hand before turning on my heel. From behind, Lucius called out to me.

“Luca.”

“Yes.”

“Well done. I am pleased with your talent.”

“I am grateful for your words.”

I stopped, turned around, and bowed my head. I couldn’t stop grinning inwardly.

I loved being praised by someone. My need for approval was high. I had no particular interest in the position of head of The Salvatore ducal family, but I would gladly accept praise from the strong.

It would be wonderful if I could eventually defeat even that head. This time I truly left the training ground.