This Bastard is Too Competent Chapter 247 - That's Your Faith

 

  

“If you think everything will go your way… that’s nothing but Pride, Leon.”

 

Ian smiled confidently, though his eyes shone brighter than ever. He slowly raised his sword.

 

“Things will never go your way.”

 

It was the Royal Sword.

 

Leon also raised his sword—but paused, his head tilting in confusion.

 

“How… how do you have that sword?”

 

The weapon Ian held was identical to Leon’s. Two Royal Swords, both the same.

 

‘Even the Royal Sword is a symbol of the next successor. How could a lowborn illegitimate child like him possess it?’

 

There should never have been another. It was unthinkable—even as he saw it with his own eyes. But Leon quickly curled his lips into a smirk.

 

“I see Duke Garcia went to great lengths. Forging a fake Royal Sword for a lowborn bastard.”

 

Duke Garcia, however, shook his head. He had done no such thing. But there was no need for further words between Ian and Leon.

 

“Leon!”

 

“Ian!”

 

The two charged—and the clash of steel rang out.

 

Clang!

 

It was simply the sound of two swords colliding. Yet, the shockwave it produced was unimaginable. Duke Garcia, standing nearby, was thrown backward by the force. Leon’s eyes widened in disbelief.

 

“Oh? You withstood my blade? That’s a fine sword you’ve got.”

 

The Royal Sword was famed not only for its power, but for the crushing weight it imposed on the unworthy. And yet… Ian’s sword emanated the same overwhelming aura.

 

‘Could it be… a real Royal Sword? One I never knew existed?’

 

Leon quickly pushed the thought aside. Even if it was genuine—it didn’t matter. He twisted his lips in contempt.

 

“No matter how fine a sword may be, it’s the wielder’s skill that decides the outcome. And a lowborn like you will never defeat me.”

 

With that, Leon stepped back and began to display his swordsmanship. A dazzling dance of blades burst forth, surrounding him in shadows of steel. The knights following Ian gasped in astonishment.

 

“Th-that sword style!”

 

“Count Lavaltor’s technique?”

 

“That’s not all. The slashing pattern all around—it’s Bahara’s sword technique.”

 

“There! A Cantum technique—it looks like a dragon ascending!”

 

It was a flawless fusion of many sword styles. But what they didn’t realize was that Leon’s defense was rooted in the holy sword techniques of the Holy Empire’s paladins—an impenetrable style. Near-invincible.

 

‘All those sword styles… I was the one who helped him obtain them. I poured a fortune into it.’

 

Duke Garcia watched with a bitter expression. His youngest son, Karan—the only child he had ever truly loved. And now, the swordsmanship he had painstakingly provided had been turned against him, wielded by the very man who took Karan’s life. 

 

‘It wasn’t just the techniques. I gathered experts in swordsmanship and helped him master it completely.’

 

It was almost as if he had aided Leon in murder. Garcia’s expression darkened as he turned to Ian.

 

‘He doesn’t stand a chance.’

 

He knew Ian well—trained only in useless ceremonial swordsmanship at the palace. Legends claimed that mastering ceremonial swordsmanship could dominate the continent, but…

 

‘That’s nothing but a delusion. Even Duke Lavaltor said that ceremonial swordsmanship was worthless.’

 

There was no way Ian could defeat Leon. It was obvious. Everyone around them believed the same.

 

“How can one person master so many sword styles… and execute them so flawlessly?”

 

“Even if Duke Lavaltor returned from the grave, he wouldn’t stand a chance…”

 

“No, no one—absolutely no one—could beat him.”

 

And yet, Ian’s eyes remained calm and steady.

 

‘I’ve already faced this swordsmanship once before.’

 

Having defeated Leon in a previous life, he was familiar with it. That’s precisely why he could see all its weaknesses. Ian raised his sword to meet Leon’s oncoming strikes. Slowly, he brought it down.

 

Clang!

 

The swords clashed and rebounded from each other. Ian stood firm, his expression composed. But Leon was stunned.

 

“W-What? You blocked it?”

 

No one had ever managed to stop him before. Even those who trained him couldn’t—not without losing their lives in the process.

 

“A mere bastard like you—how dare you block my sword!”

 

Still shaken, Leon unleashed his swordsmanship again.

 

Clang!

 

But the outcome didn’t change.

 

No matter what technique Leon used, Ian’s single, deliberate strike cut through it. Not only did Ian repel the attacks—he shattered Leon’s guard and struck back.

 

“Huh?”

 

Leon stared at his torn sleeve, laughing in disbelief. His gaze snapped toward Duke Garcia.

 

“Was this your doing?! Did you teach that lowborn bastard a style even I’ve never seen?!”

 

“That’s impossible,” Duke Garcia said. “As you well know, you were the one who ordered Prince Ian—no, Ian—to be taught only ceremonial swordsmanship.”

 

“Then how… how is he using a sword technique I’ve never encountered?”

 

“That’s…”

 

Ian cut in at that moment.

 

“It’s a style you know too.”

 

Leon narrowed his eyes. “What nonsense are you spouting?”

 

“The Royal Ceremonial Swordsmanship. That’s the technique I’m using.”

 

“Don’t be ridiculous! I know ceremonial swordsmanship. That… that surpasses what I know… could it be?”

 

Leon’s face went pale. He, too, knew the legend.

 

‘The ceremonial swordsmanship passed down by the first king. They say those who master it gain unimaginable power…’

 

But he refused to believe it.

 

“A filthy half-blood like you should never have been able to master something like that!”

 

Leon shouted angrily, but his cry was cut short.

 

“Y-You…?”

 

Ian was already closing in, sword raised, aiming straight for his neck. Leon barely managed to raise his blade in time.

 

“Kugh!”

 

Clang! Clang! Clang!

 

Dozens of strikes were exchanged in an instant—and Leon was being driven back.

 

“H-How can a worthless bastard like you—!”

 

“I’m not a worthless bastard.”

 

“What…?”

 

“My name is Ian Kaistein. The final prince who won the war of succession. The rightful heir to the throne.”

 

“!”

 

Ian’s sword pierced through Leon’s defense and then—

 

Slash!

 

His blade sliced across Leon’s chest, blood gushing out like a fountain.

 

“Argh!”

 

Leon collapsed helplessly, caught off guard by Ian’s unexpectedly powerful swordsmanship. Ian’s sword naturally came to rest just beneath his throat.

 

“This is the end, Leon.”

 

“…”

 

Leon couldn’t move—frozen in disbelief.

 

“I… I really lost… to a worthless bastard like you?”

 

He simply couldn’t accept it. Just moments ago, he had the chance to kill Ian—but he’d hesitated. And now this.

 

“I should’ve killed you then. My carelessness brought this upon me.”

 

“You’re only realizing that now? What a shame.”

 

“You bastard!”

 

Leon’s eyes burned with rage. Though stunned by Ian’s sudden reversal, he still had one move left.

 

“Come forth, Seven Sins! I accept you!”

 

A surge of black energy erupted from Leon’s body. The shockwave formed by that energy devastated the surroundings, pushing Ian’s body backwards. Spectators who had been watching the battle cried out in alarm.

 

“What… what is that!?”

 

“Get back! Prince Ian, please retreat!”

 

Even the onlookers could sense the danger. The darkness pouring from Leon was corrupting everything around him, staining it pitch black. Even for Ian, this was perilous. But Ian didn’t retreat.

 

“Taking your time, huh? I was starting to get bored.”

 

Ian simply raised his sword. As the last word left his lips, Leon emerged from the darkness—grotesque, monstrous.

 

A lion’s face and a serpent’s head jutted from his shoulders. A gaping maw filled with fangs opened from his stomach. Poisonous vines writhed from his legs and torso. His entire body had turned pitch black—a physical manifestation of the Seven Sins.

 

[You… dare make me unleash this power on someone like you… I’ll never forgive you.]

 

At the same time, Leon’s expression twisted in pain. He had recklessly accepted the Seven Sins’ power into his body—and lost control.

 

[GRAAAAAH!]

 

The energy he released tore everything apart. Those nearby were reduced to dust. Those farther away screamed in terror and fled.

 

“R-Run!”

 

“If we stay here, we’ll die!”

 

“P-Prince! Please, escape!”

 

But Ian didn’t budge. A wave of energy grazed his cheek, drawing a thin line of blood. Calmly, he wiped it away.

 

Seeing that, Leon flew into a frenzy.

 

[I’ll never forgive you… for making me into this!]

 

He knew—he was no longer human. All his dreams of ruling both continents had collapsed. And thus, their battle began.

 

“Kugh…”

 

Ian was pushed back. Leon’s monstrous attacks were deadly. Even a casual swing from his massive arms tore through the battlefield like a typhoon. And yet, Ian remained nearly untouched.

 

His advanced ceremonial swordsmanship was the reason. Once dismissed as a mere formal style, it now moved with unmatched grace and precision. Like calming a storm with a slender stick. Like handling a raging bull in a bullfight.

 

Petals bloomed from Ian’s blade as he deflected every attack. Even flying debris was gently guided to the ground by his blade.

 

[You…!]

 

Furious, Leon raised both arms and slammed them into the ground.

 

Boom!

 

A massive shockwave rippled outward. Even the finest ceremonial swordsmanship couldn’t block it—because it was pure force of power.

 

Thud!

 

Ian’s body was flung into a wall.

 

“Kugh!”

 

Blood spurted from his mouth. Pain radiated from his back. It was the first real hit he’d taken. Yet, he smiled through the pain and spoke calmly.

 

“That’s it? Just a big, clumsy brute. Honestly, even a kid could’ve done better.”

 

[You dare mock me, you worthless bastard!]

 

Leon’s massive arms dug into the ground, his body tensing as he prepared to charge at Ian with everything he had.

 

No matter how skilled Ian’s swordsmanship was, it wouldn’t matter against overwhelming brute force. Leon was finally beginning to take Ian seriously. And then—

 

[You’ll die at this rate.]

 

[Accept our power.]

 

[You seem like a decent guy… but don’t you want to kill him? Leave it to me.]

 

[Let’s devour him. He looks delicious.]

 

[Forget those idiots. Take my hand—let’s rip that monster’s mouth apart.]

 

Whispers from the Seven Sins echoed in Ian’s ears—seductive, tempting, like devils preying on doubt, trying to shatter his resolve. But Ian only smirked.

 

“Oh? Now you finally speak, after all this time?”

 

[We only remained silent out of respect for your will—]

 

“Don’t make me laugh. Your intentions are obvious. You were just buying time to turn me into that. You didn’t expect me to hold out this long, did you?”

 

[!]

 

Sting.

 

The Seven Sins were genuinely shocked. They had been patiently waiting to corrupt Ian. As the embodiment of negative thoughts and emotions, their power grew stronger the more his resolve weakened.

 

[You knew all along?]

 

[Then why—?]

 

[Without our power, you’ll die.]

 

[That monster is using our strength. No one knows it better than we do.]

 

[You can’t win.]

 

But Ian lifted his sword with unwavering resolve.

 

“In my previous life, maybe I would’ve accepted your offer. But not this time.”

 

He had come to understand what he hadn’t known in his previous life.

 

‘Even Duke Garcia, who betrayed me, was betrayed by someone else.’

 

But that wasn’t what truly mattered anymore. Revenge against the Garcia of his past life was no longer his goal.

 

‘I didn’t live such a meaningless life after all.’

 

He had once believed he was just a puppet dancing on Duke Garcia’s strings. But he had been wrong—he simply hadn’t known the truth.

 

‘So many people believed in me.’

 

People had risked their lives for him. Even Galon—whom Ian had thought to be just a cold, dutiful knight—had sacrificed everything for him, even betraying the master he had once loyally served. Now, Ian could fight with his head held high.

 

“Live or die, I’ll remain human—by my own will. I will never be anyone’s puppet again!”

 

With those words, Ian charged at Leon once more. And at that moment—something stirred inside him.

 

Woong!

 

The Seven Virtues, long dormant, finally awakened. The first was Patience.

 

[If you want others to be kind to you, crush their skulls first!]

 

Patience wasn’t always about enduring. Sometimes, true patience was forcing your enemy to endure your strength.

 

At that moment, a massive hammer of light emerged from the royal sword. Without hesitation, he swung it down.

 

Bang!

 

[Aaaaargh!]

 

Leon’s head burst open, blood spraying in every direction. Then came Humility.

 

[Be humble. Let all things fall silent before me.]

 

To show respect was a basic courtesy. But if your opponent refuses to reciprocate, you make them. This Humility, much like Patience, was forceful. 

 

Ian stood tall, straightening his posture. A crushing gravity emanated from him, pressing Leon into the ground.

 

[Ughhhh!]

 

His monstrous body sank deep into the ground. The pressure was so immense that even lifting his head was impossible.

 

Next came Compassion.

 

[Compassion is the act of mercy toward others. It combines kindness with consideration.]

 

Returning a monster to his former self. Allowing someone to die as a human was also a form of mercy. Ian slowly approached Leon, who lay pinned to the ground. Then, he drove the royal sword into the monster’s body.

 

Whoosh!

 

[Guahhh!]

 

Leon’s head rolled to the ground. The final enemy who had tormented Ian in his past life had now fallen. 

 

At that moment, Duke Garcia rushed over.

 

“I didn’t expect it to end like this… but I always believed you would win.”

 

He smiled at Ian—gratitude in his eyes for avenging his son.

 

But in that very instant—

 

Slash!

 

Ian’s blade severed Garcia’s neck. The stunned duke collapsed, the look of disbelief frozen on his face.

 

“With this, I’ve erased all the regrets and anxiety lingering in my heart.”

 

But then, his vision shifted. Standing before him was—

 

“Ugh… gugh…”

 

Leon, collapsed and wounded, was still alive but pierced by Ian’s sword. The truth hit Ian: he hadn’t returned to the past. Instead, he had been consumed by the darkest, foulest emotions within him—drawn out by the power of the Seven Sins.

 

Swoosh.

 

Ian looked around. Everyone else was caught in the same darkness, tormented by their own inner demons. Leon’s final act had unleashed a wave of corruption that exposed the most painful emotions in every heart.

 

Ian slowly raised his sword.

 

“I will no longer be bound by the past. I will move forward.”

 

[Yes. That is your faith.]

 

At last, the voice of the Seven Virtues—no, the other side of the Seven Sins’ Pride, known as Faith—answered.

 

The hammer of light vanished from the royal sword, and in its place, a brilliant radiance began to shine from the blade.

 

Woong!

 

A dazzling radiance enveloped the royal sword. It was truly a beautiful, radiant light.

 

Flash!

 

In that moment, the radiance swept across the battlefield, banishing the darkness and flooding the world with light.