The Old Man Tells You The Strategy

Chapter 10

As Killian passed through the gates, the first feeling that struck him was confusion.

‘…Why are there so many buildings?’

「Well, even though Ironblood Fortress belongs to the Count of Pablo, it’s not exclusively for them.」

Knights, servants, and even residents selling goods for daily life all lived within the fortress walls.
In essence, it was more like a small town.

‘Makes sense…’

Killian curiously surveyed the inside of the fortress.

The buildings were all similar in appearance, and he could tell it’d be easy to get lost if he wandered aimlessly.

‘Where am I even supposed to go?’

「Just wait a little longer, someone will come to get you.」

As Jun-hyuk predicted, a tall knight soon approached and spoke to him.

“Are you Killian Pablo?”

“Yes, that’s me.”

“I’ve been ordered by the captain to escort you to the Sanctuary of the Bloodline.”

“…Ah, that place.”

Killian nodded, feeling a sense of familiarity with the term. He had heard about it from Jun-hyuk before.

‘That’s the separate building made solely for the Bloodline Ritual, right?’

「It’s also where you’ll be staying for the next two months.」

Sigh…

Killian let out a deep sigh, but the reason was simple.

‘So I won’t be able to go home for two months…’

Step, step

Grumbling inwardly, Killian followed the knight. A few minutes later, they arrived at a massive building with the words “Sanctuary of the Bloodline” written above the entrance.

Unlike the other buildings, which were rather plain, this one stood out with the crest of the Count of Pablo engraved on its walls.

“Whoa…”

Killian couldn’t help but be impressed. He had expected the building to be similar in size to his own home, but it was several times larger and far more imposing.

“The rest of the bloodline is gathered in the first-floor hall, awaiting the start of the ritual. You won’t need any further directions.”

With that, the knight wished him good luck and left. Killian placed his hand on the large door.

Creeeak…

As the door smoothly opened, Killian stepped into the grand hall.

It was far larger than any mansion, with a simple dais and display cases filled with various weapons.

The walls and ceiling were stark and monochrome, giving the room an imposing atmosphere.

But the most overwhelming sight was the hundreds of youths, his peers, seated across the room.

Goddess, please watch over me…

Hey, do you see that guy over there?

Isn’t that Liss? Shouldn’t they just pass him already?*

Killian was taken aback by the sheer number of people present.

Dozens of participants had been dragged to the Demon Sea, yet the room was still packed.

‘Why are there so many people here?’

「Because anyone with even a trace of mana in their bloodline can participate in this trial.

Also, the last day is usually the one with the most failures.」

‘Ah, that makes sense…’

As Killian nodded, he suddenly felt a sharp wave of attention.

Who does he think he is, showing up so late? We’ve been waiting forever!

Huh…? Does anyone know who that is?

No idea. Never seen him before.

Hundreds of eyes turned to focus on Killian.

‘Why are they all whispering? This is making my ears itch.’

「Because you’re the last one to arrive, obviously.」

‘They’re glaring at me just for that?’

「Well, you did delay the start of the ritual.」

The Bloodline Ritual could only begin once all participants had arrived at the Sanctuary of the Bloodline. Since Killian was the last to pass the Door of Trials, his lateness had indeed delayed the ceremony.

But that wasn’t the only reason for the stares he was receiving.

「Plus, the ones who arrive late are often seen as easy targets.」

‘Oh, really?’

「The further someone lives from Ironblood Fortress, the more likely they are from a lesser noble family. And since you arrived late, it’s assumed you’re from a lower-status family.」

In this context, the less-known participants were often from insignificant or remote families. And the fact that no one recognized Killian added to that assumption.

‘So they all know each other, huh?’

「Of course. Those talented enough to pass the Door of Trials usually have some familiarity with each other.」

‘…But I’m someone they’ve never even heard of.’

As if to confirm his thoughts, the eyes fixed on him were filled with mixed emotions.

Look at his clothes. He’s probably some lowborn brat who got lucky and passed.

There was a subtle but clear disdain.

Where’s he from?

I thought all the promising ones had already arrived. Great, another competitor.

And some viewed him with wariness, as they sized him up as an unknown opponent. Then, from the front rows, a loud, arrogant voice rang out.

“…Killian?”

“Hm?”

Killian turned his gaze in that direction and saw a massive figure with red hair.

Even among the heavily built, well-trained boys who didn’t look like minors, this guy stood a full head taller than the rest.

His body was so large it occupied two seats, making him impossible to ignore.

“Move aside. I’ve got something to talk about with him.”

Thud! Thud!

The giant made his way through the rows, shoving people aside with ease until he stood directly in front of Killian, his brow furrowed as if in disbelief.

“Those pitiful eyes… Yeah, I wasn’t seeing things. How did a bastard born of a maid manage to make it to the Sanctuary of the Bloodline?”

The venom in his words stirred the crowd into a murmur.

A maid’s son?

How did someone like that pass the Door of Trials?

Unless the door was broken… That makes no sense.

The glances that once carried subtle disdain had now transformed into blatant scorn, yet Killian merely looked at the giant before him in silence. His gaze was filled with confusion and mild frustration.

Why had this guy suddenly decided to pick a fight?

‘And… Why does he seem so familiar? Where have I seen him before?’

Given that this person knew about his background, it was clear they had met somewhere before. However, Killian couldn’t quite place him.

Then, Jun-hyuk’s surprised voice cut through Killian’s thoughts.

「Wait, are you friends with Merlan?」

“…Ah!”

Killian let out a sound of recognition, the pieces finally falling into place.

Thanks to Jun-hyuk’s comment, he remembered exactly who the hulking figure before him was.

‘Merlan Pablo.’

Years ago, during his brief stay at the Pablo estate for swordsmanship and etiquette training, Merlan—one of the count’s sons—had persistently followed him around, hurling insults.

Back then, Merlan was much smaller, and that was probably why Killian didn’t recognize him at first.

Now, Merlan’s figure had grown dramatically. Killian glanced at him up and down, taking in his size.

‘Wow… He’s really bulked up since then.’

Noticing Killian’s scrutinizing gaze, Merlan’s face flushed red with anger.

Creak-

At that moment, the previously closed front doors opened, revealing two knights carrying large bundles and none other than Bastian himself.

– It’s Bastian!
– I guess it’s about to start…

The other participants turned their attention to Bastian, their tension palpable.

“Tsk…”

Even Merlan, it seemed, couldn’t ignore Bastian’s presence. With an irritated expression, he begrudgingly stepped back to his seat.

Sigh…

Relieved that the confrontation had ended before it could escalate, Killian let out a quiet sigh and took a random seat.

Clang, clang!

Bastian, meanwhile, made his way to the dais and pulled out a small cube.

Hummm…!

As Bastian channeled his mana into the cube, it began to emit a powerful electrical crackle, and a glowing blue oval shimmered into existence above it. The sight of the object left several participants in awe.

– Is that… a portal?
– I’ve only heard of it, but seeing it in person… Why is he opening a portal now?

The portal—an elite magical construct that enabled instantaneous teleportation to a set location—had suddenly appeared, naturally shocking the crowd.

Bastian, noticing their reactions, nodded in satisfaction before addressing them.

“This portal leads to a labyrinth we created: the Labyrinth of Beginnings. Inside, you will encounter all manner of monsters and traps.”

After a brief cough, Bastian continued, his voice steady and authoritative.

“The objective is simple. You must escape the Labyrinth of Beginnings within ten days. This is the first trial of the Bloodline Ritual.”

He finished by emphasizing that participants were only allowed to use the weapons provided on the display racks, ensuring fairness for all. Then, he paused, letting his words sink in.

Gulp

Some of the participants audibly swallowed in nervousness. No one had expected the first trial to be so grueling, even though it was supposed to be the easiest part of the Bloodline Ritual.

“Distribute them.”

At Bastian’s command, the two knights by his side opened the bundles, revealing bracelets adorned with dark red gems. They began handing them out to the participants.

“These bracelets are artifacts that will monitor your physical condition. Should the bracelet determine that you can no longer continue, it will emit a red light, and the supervisors will come to rescue you.”

He added that if anyone was rescued or failed to escape the labyrinth within ten days, they would be disqualified from the Bloodline Ritual. He advised caution, making it clear that failure was not an option.

– *…*

An uneasy silence settled over the room as Bastian tried to lighten the mood with a warm smile.

“I know the explanation may sound daunting, but I believe that all of you, having passed the Door of Trials, will be more than capable of succeeding.”

Despite his encouraging words, the tension in the room remained thick. It wasn’t until Bastian added a final, enticing detail that the atmosphere shifted.

“And for those who display exceptional talent during this trial, I promise a fitting reward.”

His words were intended to boost morale, and they worked.

– A reward?
– If it’s special enough for him to mention…

Greed began to flicker in the eyes of many of the children, except for one.

‘…Isn’t this explanation a bit too long?’

Killian, who had already heard everything from Jun-hyuk and had no interest in the rewards, felt utterly uninterested.

「…You’re right.」

Jun-hyuk shared his sentiments. There was no need to coax Killian into competing for rewards, as they had already agreed on acquiring the one item that truly mattered. Anything else was unnecessary.

‘No point in going after some random reward.’

At that moment, Bastian’s voice rang out louder than before.

“Now, let the first trial begin. Enter the labyrinth.”

Dash!

At his words, the participants sprang to life, rushing to choose their weapons and scrambling to be the first to enter the portal.

The once-serene hall descended into chaos as the children frantically fought to save precious time and increase their chances of claiming the top prize.

Except for one person—Killian.

‘They sure live hard lives.’

Amid the frenzy, Killian strolled leisurely toward the weapons rack, his expression completely relaxed.

As he casually reached for a sword, he muttered something that made Jun-hyuk sigh.

‘So, I just have to sit around for ten days, right?’