The Failure Marquis Is A Genius [EN]: Chapter 6

1. Proving the Scoundrel

“Ivan, I challenge you to a duel.”

Everyone in the training ground was stunned into silence.

Until now, Henon had been known as the Scoundrel of the Marquisate.

But that was only among commoners; he always groveled before knights and nobles, the upper class.

Like a textbook example of the weak being preyed upon.

Even if he had changed recently, they thought he would eventually back down and shrink away if they ganged up on him.

That’s what they thought as they provoked him.

But Henon, in turn, threw down his glove and challenged them to a duel.

As if they hadn’t even imagined such a turn of events, the knight named Ivan stood blankly for a long time, even after the glove that had struck his face fell to the ground, before finally exploding in anger.

“This scoundrel bastard has finally gone mad! Fine! I accept your duel! But don’t blame me if you lose an arm!”

Ivan strode forward.

The confused knights subtly glanced at Phillip.

Since this whole situation was a play orchestrated by Phillip, they were subtly asking for his intentions.

Phillip, too, raised his eyebrows at the unexpected situation.

The Henon he knew wouldn’t even dare to resist him.

What threat could a madman suffering from auditory hallucinations pose to the Marquisate?

So he deliberately left him alone, and even shielded him from his mother’s disapproval from time to time, to maintain his reputation.

‘He’s become a little more sensible after nearly dying. But he’s still a scoundrel. A little pressure will make him wither away on his own.’

He came here thinking lightly of it, but Henon was acting recklessly.

He crossed his arms and pondered what to do, then smiled.

‘It’s better this way. It’s not a bad idea to make him feel the high wall of reality and instill despair in him.’

He was a little concerned that Ivan was the youngest and most inexperienced of the Marquisate’s free knights.

But his opponent was a scoundrel who had recently taken up swordsmanship. Moreover, he was self-taught without a master.

He thought Ivan would be more than enough to handle such a guy.

Having finished his calculations, Phillip opened his mouth.

“There’s nothing I can do. What can I do when my brother has been insulted? Honor is important, so let’s settle the matter through a duel.”

As soon as Phillip’s approval was given, the knights surrounded Henon and Ivan in a circle and began to watch the duel.

Since the most interesting sights to see are fires and fights.

Although the outcome of the match was obvious, the knights, who were born fighters, watched the progress of the duel with great interest.

* * *

‘Can I do it? No, I have to.’

Facing off against Ivan.

I gripped my sword tightly.

I replayed my sparring sessions with Sion in my mind.

At least physically, I was confident I wouldn’t be pushed back.

Ivan looked weak and was short.

He was still young, his muscles weren’t fully developed, and his face was still boyish.

Has he been a free knight for a year?

Two years at most?

He’s never experienced a territory war, so he’s practically a trainee.

On the other hand, thanks to Henon’s blessed genes, I’m in my late 180s in height [likely a typo, meaning late teens, around 18 or 19 years old].

And I’ve worked hard to build my weight up to 90kg [approximately 198 pounds], mostly muscle.

Ivan didn’t seem to be technically superior to Sion, so I was confident.

“You’re just unnecessarily big.”

Ivan must have been bothered by my size, as he spat out the words.

But he didn’t seem intimidated.

In this world, no matter how good your physique is, if you lack skill and mana [magical energy], you can lose to a child.

“Did you come to the wrong place?”

“What do you mean?”

“Looking at your pale face, it seems like you should go home and suckle more milk instead of competing with swords here.”

“Puhuh!”

One of the knights watching couldn’t hold back his laughter at the Scoundrel’s joke but quickly covered his mouth.

Naturally, Ivan was furious and charged at me.

“You crazy bastard! I’ll kill you!”

The first part of my plan to provoke the opponent and disrupt his composure was successful.

The attacks of the enraged guy became simple and linear.

The problem was whether he would use mana…

‘Unfortunately, he’s a mana user. Well, it would be funny if someone couldn’t even use mana and tried to become a knight.’

The moment he uses mana, his movements become completely different from those of ordinary people.

As Ivan’s figure rapidly approached, I put strength into my whole body and blocked his attack.

Clang!!

The impact swept through my body with a loud noise.

Before I knew it, I had retreated three steps.

I had been pushed back in a head-on confrontation.

Even though Ivan’s mana usage was clumsy and his strength was weak.

If he had been a proper opponent, I would have already dropped my sword and fallen over.

But I could still withstand it.

That was important.

If I could just hold out, I could look for an opportunity.

Until then, I had to make Ivan not use his skills and only make simple attacks.

“What? Are you even a knight? How are you only as good as me, who’s been learning for a few months?”

“Tell me the truth. Are you the weakest knight here?”

“Did you bribe your way into the knight position with money to the lord? I think it’s worth suspecting at this point?”

“Uaaaaaa!!!!”

Ivan, who had lost his reason, rushed in madly with bloodshot eyes.

I crouched down completely, not even dreaming of attacking, and focused only on blocking and dodging his attacks.

Has about fifty exchanges passed?

Ivan’s attacks noticeably weakened and slowed down.

His breathing became rough.

Moreover, mana is not infinite.

Ivan’s face, who had used up his meager mana like water, was pale.

Phillip, sensing that the situation was flowing strangely, shouted urgently.

“Ivan! Calm down! Don’t fall for his provocation. He’s waiting for you to get tired!”

Only then did Ivan come to his senses and try to correct his posture.

But it was already too late.

At the point where his mana was exhausted, it was now a fight between beginners, not mana users.

From this point on, the guy with the good physique has an overwhelming advantage.

[Skill Persistent Life Force is activated.]

[Recovery, stamina, endurance, and fortitude are increased.]

In addition, perhaps because of the passive skill I gained from the Druid Awakening, I felt refreshed inside, unlike my sweat-soaked appearance.

“Is it my turn now?”

I kicked off and charged at him.

Ivan hastily swung his sword when I, who had only been defending until now, suddenly rushed at him.

He seemed flustered, and his defense was not sharp at all.

Easily knocking away his sword, his defenseless upper body was completely exposed.

I thrust my shoulder forward and charged into his chest.

Crack!!

It landed perfectly.

Ivan floated up and fell to the ground with a thud.

Once he was down, he fainted.

It was clear who the winner was.

“N, no way!”

“Ivan lost?”

“He got lucky.”

“Is that something that can happen with luck?”

The knights were buzzing about the unexpected result.

Phillip chewed his lips, displeased.

I went to Phillip and said, as if to show off.

“Brother, as you can see, my swordsmanship is at the level of defeating the family’s knights. It’s not child’s play. So, if you want to use the small training ground, get permission from the Marquis or come alone.”

Phillip’s face went back and forth between red and blue, showing what colors a person’s face can change into.

“Henon, you’ve become arrogant after beating a careless brat.”

“Isn’t that brat the Marquisate’s free knight?”

“He won’t be anymore as of today.”

Oh, my.

He’s trying to kick a knight out of the territory for losing a duel.

It seems my half-brother’s pride has been hurt a lot.

“Anyway, I’ve said everything I wanted to say. I’ll go in now.”

I teased him as much as I could and headed to the bedroom with Sion to pack my things.

I sweated a lot, so I should take a cool bath and get some sleep.

As I hummed and moved my feet,

“Ah! Young Master! Be careful!”

Wondering what it was, I turned around and saw Phillip, unable to contain his anger, drawing his sword and launching a surprise attack!

He’s the ultimate in pettiness and patheticness.

No matter how much you hate your brother, how can you stab him in the back in front of everyone?

I was flustered because I didn’t know Phillip would go this far.

I tried to draw my sword and respond in a hurry, but it was already too late. The sword was being thrust accurately towards my heart.

“No!!”

Sion, who was next to me, tried to react urgently, but she seemed to have been a step late as she hadn’t expected Phillip’s sudden outburst.

The approaching blade slowed down for a moment, and the film of my life unfolded.

So this is what a dying man’s memories are like.

I closed my eyes, accepting my fate, but I didn’t feel the expected pain.

When I opened my eyes slightly, there was an unexpected person in front of me.

“Sebastian?”

That’s right.

The butler, Sebastian, suddenly popped out from somewhere and was holding Phillip’s sword.

Phillip had no idea what level Sebastian’s skill was, as he had easily dealt with the attack he had put all his strength into with just his index and middle fingers.

“The family is doing well.”

And a familiar low voice echoed in the small training ground.

The owner of the Marquisate, leaning on a cane in one hand and limping, looked back and forth between me and Phillip with a heavy gaze.

“Ah, Father!”

“Marquis!”

Everyone in the hall who saw Marquis Gordon Lloyd knelt on one knee and paid their respects.

“I heard there was a commotion in the inner castle and came to investigate. But is what I’m seeing right now? The scene of the older brother grabbing his younger brother from behind and stabbing him with a real sword.”

“I, I’m sorry. I really didn’t intend to kill him, but he’s been acting so mischievous lately that I just wanted to scare him a little…”

“Shut up!”

The Marquis, cutting off Phillip’s excuses as he sweated and rambled, pressed his shoulder with his cane and opened his mouth.

“Phillip, I’ve heard the story roughly. But… are you the Lloyd Marquis?”

“Ah, no.”

“I haven’t decided on an heir yet. You’re just the closest to being the heir, but you’re not the heir. But is it okay to act like an heir already?”

“I’m sorry! Please forgive me!”

The Marquis, after giving Phillip a lecture, this time pressed my shoulder with his cane.

Ugh! I couldn’t help but make a sound.

I don’t know what the principle is, but a tingling pain flowed through my whole body from my shoulder.

“And you, Henon.”

“Yes, Marquis.”

“How badly have you been behaving that your brother stabbed you in the back?”

“I’m sorry.”

“You know your reputation well. Behave yourself. I let it go this time, but there won’t be a next time.”

“I will keep that in mind.”

As the cane that was pressing on my shoulder was removed, my breathing became much easier.

Marquis Lloyd, who was walking between us, said as if announcing a public notice.

“Everyone here, including my children, listen carefully. Don’t think that I will necessarily pass on the Marquisate to my bloodline. If I judge that you are not qualified, I will adopt an outsider as my heir.”

“Yes! Marquis!”

Having heard the answer, the Marquis tried to leave the training ground, limping.

It was an implicit order to dismiss.

Nevertheless, the knights and I and Phillip continued to kneel on one knee to pay our respects to the Marquis.

At this time, I thought to myself.

The Marquis showed his face directly for the first time in a long time.

Can’t I use this situation?

If I do well, it might be possible.

“Marquis, I have something to say.”

So I decided to do what Phillip did.

A sudden outburst.

“What is it?”