The Hidden Ending Strategy of a Veteran in a Dead Game

Chapter 20: Each Person's Decision

The declaration of victory in the official duel carried a straightforward meaning.

The winner and loser were now conclusively determined, and no objections would be accepted.

Furthermore, the process and outcome of this duel would be preserved permanently, as long as the family existed.

That wasn’t all.

“At the very least, no one can challenge me to an official duel for the next two years.”

Growth requires time.

If official duels occurred haphazardly, their significance would diminish.

In other words—

“Hey, my defeated little brother. You did well for a little sibling.”

“What the hell, man! Who’s the one that kept getting beaten up by me until now?!”

“Tsk, tsk! Watch your tone when you’re talking to your older brother!”

For the next two years, Gaiden would carry the stigma of being the one who lost to me.

Has he won until now? So what?

I was the one who won in the end.

And since the family head officially sanctioned this duel, there was no room for argument.

Absolutely none.

“Grrr!”

Gaiden’s face twisted in frustration.

Until now, he might have been fine.

Even though he lost, his achievements during the duel had been significant enough to earn high praise rather than criticism.

But my teasing was an entirely separate matter.

Despite his injuries, he trembled with anger, clenching his fists.

It might be fun to keep provoking him, but—

“Stand up. You’re not someone who should be lying down like this.”

I extended a hand toward him.

His gaze screamed, What kind of trick is this? But perhaps finding it too awkward to remain still, he accepted my hand.

“What’s with the sudden act of kindness?”

“I’ve always been kind. It’s sad you don’t recognize your brother’s goodwill, little bro.”

“Yeah, sure, that’s not it.”

Gaiden grumbled, but I ignored it easily.

After a fierce battle, it was only proper to show mutual respect.

That was the essence of sportsmanship, wasn’t it?

Of course, if it had been a life-or-death fight or a real battlefield, things would have been different.

But a duel was just a duel.

‘I also need to clean up the things I said.’

Clearing my throat, I adopted a serious, thoughtful tone.

“Having witnessed it firsthand, I must say, the nobility and determination of a mage are as great as those of a knight!”

“Oh, uh… yeah.”

Perhaps unprepared for my sudden change of attitude, Gaiden looked at me awkwardly.

I turned toward the mages of the White Tower seated on the platform and bowed my head.

“I also apologize to the members of the White Tower. I had no intention of looking down on you. After experiencing the wonders and miracles of magic myself, I’ve come to understand its greatness. I feel enlightened. Gaiden’s achievements owe much to the support of the White Tower. As a fellow member of the Bayerle family, I express my gratitude.”

I offered my apology to the White Tower mages, whom I had taunted before the duel.

The onlookers, who had been unsure how to react, nodded politely.

Given that mages already had less influence within the family compared to knights, a bit of praise was bound to please them.

“Hmm. We are honored by your words, young master.”

“As members of the family, we harbor no ill feelings. You may lift your head.”

They tried to act as if it was no big deal, but their twitching lips betrayed them.

Knock someone down a peg, then acknowledge them afterward—it worked wonders.

It was a tactic I’d seen often in the military.

You’d scold your subordinates harshly, only to back them up later, and suddenly they’d pledge their loyalty to you.

The key was to make sure they knew you had their back.

Sure, it was a bit blatant, but who cared? Everyone benefited in the end.

‘I need to establish ties with the White Tower.’

Martial mages were a fusion of physical combatants and mages.

Up until now, I’d only been using the basics of a physical combatant.

To advance, I needed to learn magic.

It was better to learn from the White Tower within the family than to go outside.

While they weren’t comparable to the Magic Towers, they were still highly skilled.

Especially the leader of the White Tower, a 7th-rank mage.

Even outside the family, meeting someone of that caliber wasn’t easy.

“Duel participants, please step to the center.”

Perhaps the warm conclusion to the duel had softened the referee, as his tone was notably gentle.

“It was a splendid match.”

“Seeing mutual recognition between you two is truly admirable.”

“As expected of the Bayerle family. A beautiful sight.”

The audience shared similar sentiments.

With satisfied expressions, they clapped and even whistled.

Basking in their applause, I stood at the center of the arena.

The family head, seated in the highest position, looked down at us and spoke.

“May glory befit the victor. This duel will be officially recorded, and no objections will be entertained.”

“Of course.”

“We will abide by the family head’s every decision.”

The family head’s decree was absolute.

Both Gaiden and I bowed our heads in acknowledgment.

“According to the family’s laws, the victor may claim one thing from the loser, and the loser must show the victor proper respect.”

It was fitting for a family of conquerors to let the winner claim spoils from the defeated.

The family head’s gaze swept over the gathered crowd before a faint smile appeared.

“This duel has been a delight to watch. I shall bestow separate rewards upon both of you.”

“Thank you!”

“I will strive harder!”

With that, the family head raised his hand.

Step. Step.

That motion was the signal for everyone to bow their heads.

The sound of the family head’s footsteps grew distant.

Only when those steps had completely faded did we straighten our backs.

The official duel was over.

Now we could celebrate openly, without reservation.

“Woooo! Victory is mine!”

“Tch. Just wait two years.”

“Sure, it’ll be the same in two years.”

“You bastard! Let’s go!”

Still fuming, Gaiden led his followers and hurried off.

As tough as he tried to act, he was still injured.

He had managed to endure up until now, but even walking must have been painful.

“Long live the second son!”

“Master, I will visit you during dinner.”

“I’m Feller from the Printing Guild. I’d like to send you a small gift to commemorate your victory!”

Before the duel, no one had cared about me.

Until now, Nohr was the only one who supported me.

Neither inside nor outside the family had anyone paid me any attention.

People only aligned themselves with capable leaders, and the former Kellen lacked any ability or achievements.

The people cheering for me now were either impressed by my performance—

‘Or opportunists.’

It was one of two things.

Even now, only a handful of people openly expressed interest in me.

The rest simply applauded calmly.

Some even cast disdainful glances at those who were shamelessly trying to curry favor with me.

“How uncouth some of these uneducated people are.”

“Wagging their tails like that, how shameless.”

“Leave them be. It’s the only way for them to catch anyone’s attention.”

“Even so, is the second son worth it? At Aiselon, he…”

“Shh. Watch your mouth. This isn’t the place for that kind of talk.”

Most of those people were from relatively weak or small factions.

They didn’t care enough about my bad reputation—or infamy, rather—to avoid me.

I waved at them lightly, just enough to acknowledge their presence, until—

“Woo-hoo! Long live Young Master Kellen! I always believed in your victory! I, Jahal, and the entire Jahal Mercenary Corps hereby declare our support for you!”

A booming voice echoed through the space.

It was so loud that even those who had been cheering earlier winced.

If nothing else, it was an attention-grabber.

This wasn’t just a declaration of support—it was a blatant announcement of allegiance.

But was that really necessary after just one duel?

‘Who is this lunatic?’

I turned to locate the source of the voice.

It was a man of average height, but his thick build made him look bigger.

“Huh? What’s he doing here?”

I recognized him.

Jahal Argon, leader of the Jahal Mercenary Corps.

He was the protagonist of an event that rewarded an item necessary for creating the essential Harmony of the Five Elements skill for martial mages.

* * *

Even after Kellen, Gaiden, and their supporters left the arena, many spectators remained.

Some stayed simply out of curiosity, but many others lingered with a purpose—to stake a claim in the inheritance battle.

If the person they supported ascended to the position of family head, the benefits could be immense.

For them, it was an opportunity, and for the contenders, a chance to secure reliable backers.

Of course, the majority of those present had come intending to align with Gaiden, not Kellen.

“This is unexpected.”

“We only considered Lord Gaiden, but now things have become complicated.”

It was widely accepted that the Bayerle family’s succession battle was a contest between Zarhil, the eldest son, and Gaiden, the third son.

The youngest, Eltz, was deemed too young, and the second son, Kellen, was regarded as a recluse who never did anything.

Zarhil still had an overwhelming advantage, but nothing in life was certain.

Many had seen Gaiden’s potential and wanted to invest early, but now an unexpected variable had emerged.

“Doesn’t this make Lord Kellen officially second in the hierarchy?”

“Technically, as the second son, Lord Kellen’s claim to succession is stronger.”

“It’s hard to know where to align ourselves.”

“He’s been quiet all this time, so it’s impossible to predict his next move.”

“For now, we should send a gift to congratulate him. A gesture of goodwill is the least we can do, even if we later choose a different side.”

Kellen’s reappearance after lying low had sparked the beginning of a three-way battle.

But that wasn’t all.

“The youngest lady will also be eligible to participate in the hierarchy battle next year.”

“Tch. I had planned to wait until then before deciding.”

“If her elder siblings are at this level, Lady Eltz is likely no less formidable. Things are getting complicated.”

Eltz von Bayerle, the youngest, would soon be part of the succession race.

Although little was known about her due to her lack of public activity, there were discreet rumors.

One rumor suggested that Gaiden relied heavily on Eltz.

If that was true, it was essentially a Gaiden-Eltz alliance, and looking even further ahead—

‘The youngest might end up wielding real power.’

It was a possibility worth considering.

Aside from them, others were also observing the arena closely.

“As expected of the direct line!”

“There’s no telling how the Grand Competition will unfold now.”

“We, of the collateral branches, once prided ourselves as being on par with the direct line, but the gap is undeniable.”

“Watch closely. These are the ones you’ll have to surpass.”

These spectators were members of the Bayerle family’s collateral branches, here to prepare for next spring’s Grand Competition.

Unlike other families, the collateral branches of the Bayerle family included not only those who had branched off from the main line but also families that had been defeated in conquest wars and sworn allegiance.

Collateral families also encompassed those absorbed through marriage alliances.

This was a unique aspect of the Bayerle family’s culture as a conquering lineage.

“Don’t forget, Leshel. The only way for us to gain independence from the Bayerle family is to prove our excellence.”

“Yes, Father.”

Excelling in the Grand Competition or accumulating notable achievements could allow collateral families to gain independence from the Bayerle family.

The now-forgotten Megron family was one such example.

One of the Megron descendants, Leshel von Bayerle, was considered a beacon of hope.

She possessed extraordinary talent and a constitution perfectly suited to mastering the Megron family’s martial arts techniques.

“You are our hope.”

She was the only child with a real chance of winning the Grand Competition.

“Don’t worry. I can beat them easily.”

Her confident response earned her father’s warm smile as he gently stroked her head.

Her fiery red hair, the symbol of the extinguished Megron family, shone brightly.

His assessment might very well be accurate.

In the game’s story, Leshel would later earn the title of Demon Slayer with Crimson Hair.

“I’ll do my best until the Grand Competition.”

No one knew who would claim victory in next year’s Grand Competition.