The Failure Marquis Is A Genius [EN]: Chapter 9

Marquis’s Family’s Failure is a Genius – Episode 9 (9/200)

Chapter 1: Possession: A Working Failure

“What? You can talk?”

Bingo!

My hunch was right.

It was this black Ego Sword.

-In a thousand years, I’ve never seen a crazy bastard like you. I’ll spare you, so drop the sword and get lost while you can.

“Alright. I’ll drop the sword and leave.”

-Not there! You son of a bitch!

I toyed with the Ego Sword, pretending to drop it in the toilet.

After messing around a few times, I found it quite amusing.

There are people like that sometimes.

People whose reactions are so good when you tease them that you just want to keep messing with them.

I don’t know who the soul trapped in the Ego Sword is, but it was fun to tease.

-I’m going to kill you! I’m going to kill you!

“How are you going to kill me when you’re trapped in a sword?”

-Do you know who I am? A nobody like you wouldn’t even be able to meet my eyes in the street!

“You don’t have eyes, so you can’t meet them even if you wanted to.”

-How did I end up in this state…

You should have answered me sooner.

I begged, pleaded, sang, and praised, doing everything I could, but you didn’t respond until I was about to fall into the toilet. Isn’t that a bit much?

In conclusion, it’s the Ego Sword’s fault for making me act like this.

“Now that you’re talking, let me reintroduce myself. I am Henon Triss, son of Marquis Gordon Lloyd of the Elden Kingdom.”

-……

“If you don’t answer, I’ll assume you like it here.”

-Argh! I won’t tell my name to the likes of you. Just call me Heavenly Demon.”

The moment I heard the sword’s words, I was stunned.

Heavenly Demon?

Is it the Heavenly Demon I know?

In martial arts novels, the leader of the Heavenly Demon Sect, or the Demonic Cult, is often called the Heavenly Demon [a powerful and often villainous figure in martial arts stories].

A being with immense power who commands the Central Plains [a region often depicted as the center of civilization and martial arts in East Asian-inspired fantasy].

“Are you perhaps the leader of the Heavenly Demon Sect?”

-…How do you know that?

That’s right. It’s true.

I guess the Easter egg the game developers mentioned was that the Ego Sword appearing in Sionlike was actually the Heavenly Demon Sword.

But usually, Heavenly Demons call themselves ‘This Seat’ or something, don’t they? Shouldn’t they make it obvious?

I wonder if he’s adapted to the local customs after being trapped in a sword for a thousand years.

Anyway, the Heavenly Demon seemed very surprised that I knew his identity and suddenly started talking non-stop.

-How do you know that? Are you perhaps a member of the Divine Cult?

“If I were, would I be here right now? I’d be kneeling down and shouting slogans like ‘Divine Cult rules the world, Heavenly Demon’s blessings!'”

-!!! You certainly know the culture of the Central Plains. How can a foreigner like you…

The Heavenly Demon trailed off, then seemed to realize something and roared in his usual voice.

-You…now that I look at you, your body and soul are separate. Heh heh heh. You’re an interesting one.

I guess the Heavenly Demon is indeed a Heavenly Demon.

He figured out my condition in an instant.

-Good! I was going to pass on you because you’re a man, but someone as unique as you is different. I’ll make you my special companion.

Wait a minute?

You’re saying you were going to pass on me because I’m a man?

Then, the reason Sion helped me as soon as she grabbed the sword, but you didn’t respond to me until I was about to fall into the toilet is…

“Heavenly Demon, is the reason you avoided answering me all this time because I’m a man?”

-Isn’t it obvious? A woman’s hand is much better than a smelly man’s hand. It’s been a long time since I’ve held a woman after becoming a sword. I need to feel some warmth, even if it’s just that way.

He’s a womanizer.

A complete and utter womanizer.

The image of the Heavenly Demon in my head changed from a solemn and martial artist devoted to martial arts to an old man with wine and women by his side, grinning foolishly.

-Consider it an honor for your family. There were few in the Central Plains who could converse so freely with This Seat.

Anyway, I’ve achieved my primary goal of communicating with the Ego Sword.

However, it seems difficult to get help in this state.

To be precise, I thought I should take the initiative because it would be tiring to have him act like he’s doing me a favor every time I ask for help.

“It’s alright. I don’t need it.”

-What?

“You’re just a Heavenly Demon, aren’t you?”

-What did you say? Just a Heavenly Demon?

“I thought you were a dragon or something. Never mind. I’ll drop the sword here and leave. Who knows? I might find a new connection in the toilet. Goodbye.”

As I was about to really throw it away, I heard a desperate voice in my head.

-You dare! How dare you ignore This Seat? I unified the Central Plains and became the strongest person in the world! I was above all others!

“Then what? You’re trapped in a sword here. You must have lost to someone to end up like this. So you’re not the strongest person in the world.”

I subtly scratched his pride, and I could feel him foaming at the mouth.

-Alright! How can I show you? If I make you a master, will you acknowledge my greatness?

“What difference would it make if you taught me, Heavenly Demon? You’re not even a person, just a sword.”

-Foolish talk! This Seat’s martial arts are different from those practiced by the uncivilized martial artists of this continent. I guarantee you’ll become an incredible master.

In Sionlike, Sion is said to become strong quickly in a short amount of time with the help of the Ego Sword.

To survive in this world, the Heavenly Demon’s help is essential anyway.

“I don’t really believe it, but I’ll trust you for now. If it’s not good after I learn it…you know?”

-You son of a bitch!

When I get closer to him later, I’ll have to ask him who taught him those vulgar swear words.

* * *

At the dim dawn before sunrise.

When the blue light dyed the surroundings, I took the Heavenly Demon Sword from my waist and headed to the training grounds.

The employees of the Marquisate were diligent.

Even in the early morning, they were bustling around, and when they saw me going to train, they were startled and ran away.

Then, they whispered loudly behind my back as if wanting someone to hear.

“Did you hear? That failure defeated Young Master Phillip in a one-on-one duel.”

“I don’t believe it. He must have used some cowardly trick.”

“There are more than one or two witnesses. Most of the knights saw it, and the Marquis himself attended.”

“Then is the heir battle starting in earnest?”

“What battle? Can he even compete? A bloodbath will soon sweep through the Marquisate. We just need to do our jobs quietly.”

If you’re going to say it so loudly that everyone can hear, why bother putting your hand to your ear and whispering?

Anyway, the maids were right.

The atmosphere in the inner castle has been like walking on thin ice lately.

It’s all my doing.

The Heavenly Demon chuckled beside me.

-I heard you’re a bastard. I can see what your reputation is like here. Well, it’s no surprise that someone with the mindset to throw a sword into the toilet isn’t normal.

“I woke up this morning with a slight stomach ache. Should I go back to that toilet?”

-……

With just one word, I silenced the Heavenly Demon.

When I arrived at the training ground, Sion was waiting.

Her purple hair tied up in a ponytail looked fresh and beautiful.

Is she really the protagonist?

She was holding a wooden sword in one hand, so I told her.

“From today, I will stop punishing your rudeness.”

“Is that so?”

“I’m going to train alone without being disturbed. So, you must prevent anyone from coming here. That includes your father, the head butler.”

“Understood.”

Sion seemed strangely disappointed when I said I was changing my training method.

Even if I don’t know for sure, I think sparring with me was a small pleasure for her.

“Don’t misunderstand. I’m trying to gain some enlightenment and do some special training. I’ll punish you again soon, so be prepared.”

“Yes!”

Her face brightened again.

She seems to have some kind of disposition.

I can’t say what kind of disposition it is.

As soon as I arrived at the training ground, I took off my shirt and swung my sword.

Everything I knew, everything I had realized, I poured it all into the air without discrimination.

The Heavenly Demon Sword silently matched my rhythm until the end of my sword dance.

And as soon as I shook off the sweat with the final overhead strike, he immediately opened his mouth.

-You. You’re a genius.

As expected of the Heavenly Demon.

He immediately recognized this body’s crazy genes.

“I know.”

-But what good is being a genius? The swordsmanship you use has no fundamentals. Even a street thug from the continent I lived on would use more formal swordsmanship than you.

“Is it that bad?”

-Bad? That’s a word you can use when you’re at a certain level. You don’t know anything about swords at all. Well, how many people on this continent can properly wield a sword anyway?

“What about my father?”

I suddenly became curious about Marquis Gordon Lloyd’s martial prowess.

Still, the Heavenly Demon Sword has been in the Marquis’s secret vault for a long time, so he must have some idea of his level.

-That stuffy and boring one-legged guy? He was somewhat useful. If this were the Central Plains, I would have kept him under my command.

Does one have to be a Sword Master who saved the continent from the Demon King to be considered useful?

I was once again reminded that the Heavenly Demon’s standards are high.

-Anyway, you should prepare to die from today. I’m going to completely overhaul you from beginning to end.

“I look forward to working with you.”

I continued training, sweating profusely under the Heavenly Demon’s guidance.

How long has it been?

I hadn’t even swung it a few times, but the sun was already peeking out from between the mountain ridges.

Sion came in from the entrance.

“Young Master.”

“What is it? I told you I didn’t want to be disturbed.”

“It’s important.”

“Speak.”

“The Marquis has called you to breakfast. You’ll be late if you don’t wash up quickly.”

Breakfast.

Until now, the Marquisate’s family members had always gathered together for breakfast, even in the midst of their busy schedules.

It can be seen as a place for family harmony.

In the meantime, I, despite being the Marquis’s son, did not attend breakfast.

There was also pressure from the other side, knowingly or unknowingly.

In short, I was family, but I wasn’t treated like family.

Marquis Lloyd called me, who had been drifting like that, to the meal first.

Already, the upheaval in the Marquisate was quietly but surely taking place from beneath the surface.

* * *

The breakfast hall.

A long, rectangular table is covered with a pure white tablecloth.

Luxurious candlesticks and a splendid chandelier hanging from the ceiling, expensive portraits hanging on the walls.

When Sion and I appeared in the noble’s banquet hall, everyone’s attention, including the family and servants, was focused on us.

“You’ve come. Sit down.”

There wasn’t much laid out compared to the size of the table.

It’s not a culture where you eat like 9-course or 12-course meals like in Korea.

A small amount of soup and bread was placed in front of me, and I had to eat it all.

If you don’t have enough, you can tell the waiter waiting behind you what you want, and they will bring you food prepared in advance in the kitchen.

So, each family member had a dedicated servant or maid standing behind them like a telephone pole.

The person standing behind me was, of course, Sion.

“I don’t know how long it’s been since we’ve all gathered like this. Let’s eat.”

“Yes, Marquis.”

Clatter clatter

A silent atmosphere.

The sound of forks and knives playing was the only thing that relieved the awkward silence.

I dipped the bread in the soup, took a bite, and examined the expression of my half-brother Phillip.

Phillip, who had been looking grim since I appeared in the dining hall, buried his nose in his plate and didn’t raise his head.

And stepmother Rosalyn…

‘She’s not even trying to hide her hostility.’

She’s not eating, she’s just glaring at me openly.

Her face said, ‘How dare a bastard try to eat at the same table?’

For ordinary people, just those eyes would make it impossible to swallow their food and they would choke.

However, whether it was because the failure’s disposition had rubbed off on me, or because I had become accustomed to such gazes since possessing Henon’s body, I calmly ate all the bread and soup and even asked Sion for a steak.

Of course, Rosalyn’s eyes became even more triangular at the sight of me acting like I was in my own home.

“Rosalyn, please eat something. The bread and soup are still there.”

“…I’m not feeling well.”

“Haha, take a good rest today.”

“I don’t think it’s a disease that will get better with rest.”

Seeing her taking a rebellious stance even to the Marquis’s words, she clearly showed that she didn’t like the Marquis’s actions of inviting me.

The Marquis must have expected this kind of atmosphere, so he put the last piece of bread in his mouth to finish his meal and opened his mouth.

“Henon.”

“Yes, Marquis.”

“There’s a reason I called you here today.”

“What is it?”

“I’m thinking of entrusting you with a small task.”

“!!!”

Phillip raised his head sharply, and Rosalyn reacted immediately from the side.

“You!”

“Listen to the end.”

After quieting the surroundings, he continued.

“Henon, you were born in the Marquisate and have never been far away.”

“That’s right.”

“If a person is always in the same place, they tend to become narrow-minded and petty. With that in mind, I’ll give you a business trip.”

Listening to the Marquis’s words, I could roughly guess what kind of mission he would give me.

“The harvest season is over and the time to collect taxes from the Marquisate is approaching. I’ll assign you someone, so inspect the territory and collect taxes.”