Gara’s appointment as heir had come far too suddenly. Many of the qualifications required of an heir had yet to be fulfilled.

At first, Gara believed that since his position was only temporary, he didn’t need to meet those requirements right away.

Karon, Ramun, and even the Duke had assured him they would handle the vassals and silence any objections. They would explain that Gara would only begin his official border duties after graduating from the academy.

But after hearing the negative comments directed at him firsthand, Gara realized something.

No matter how much the Duke tried to suppress those discussions, behind closed doors, people would still talk.

It wouldn’t be strange if the druids learned the truth either. They would quickly realize that Gara’s appointment as heir was merely a facade meant to protect him.

That was why Gara felt he needed to prove himself.

Even if he couldn’t fulfill every requirement yet, showing his strength would convince them that one day, he truly would.

Gara stared at Johan, his gaze steady as he waited for his cousin’s response.

Johan hadn’t expected Gara to challenge him outright. His ego burned.

There was no way he could lose to a boy raised by maid in a rural village.

He clenched his teeth, then nodded. "Don’t cry when you get hurt."

Gara didn’t reply. He simply turned around and walked away, startling Johan all over again.

"Where are you going?" Johan demanded.

Johan’s shock deepened when Gara approached Karon and Ramun, who were chatting with other nobles.

"Johan! Show everyone how amazing you are!" Rowan cheered excitedly, completely unaware of the anxiety creeping into his brother’s chest.

Johan wasn’t afraid of losing.

He was afraid of being caught for insulting the heir. That kind of offense could earn him severe punishment.

Like Johan, Gara’s three younger cousins were also anxious. To them, Johan had always been strong.

Tasha tightly gripped Brielle’s hand, her eyes glassy with unshed tears. Elyon looked ready to punch Johan himself in Gara’s place, only to be restrained by Brielle.

After finishing his conversation with the adults, Gara turned to the children who had rushed over, their faces full of worry.

"As your older brother," Gara said softly, smiling as he patted each of their heads, "I won’t lose."

The three children relaxed slightly, though they still followed him closely, protective as ever.

Ramun led everyone behind the ballroom, where the knights’ training grounds were located. Various training tools were set up there.

Gara and Johan wouldn’t be fighting directly.

This would be a test of strength.

They would face training equipment shaped into bull dummies made of earth, formed through Talent.

The dummies moved across the field, charging forward, retreating, and shifting side to side like real, agile bulls.

The winner would be the one who brought down the most bulls with the greatest damage. Strength and accuracy would both be tested.

Johan finally relaxed when he realized Karon, who was usually smiling but merciless toward wrongdoing, remained silent.

In an instant, the heir’s appointment ceremony transformed into a public trial of strength within House Eshaan.

The guests, mostly vassals of Duke Eshaan, were thrilled. They eagerly wanted to see what the new heir was capable of.

Still, some worried.

If the heir who looked so fragile lost on the very day of his formal appointment, it would be a humiliation.

Syeila was among those worried. It wasn’t that she believed Gara was weak. She simply knew that everyone had different strengths.

Gara was exceptional at alchemy. It would be natural if combat wasn’t his forte.

She nudged her son, but Langga, Gara’s main advisor, only watched calmly. Her anxiety grew.

Tristan, on the other hand, was eagerly anticipating the outcome.

People outside believed Gara always chose non-combat in Class S Duels. But Tristan knew better. Gara had taken combat duels.

Four times over the past year, he had stayed in Class S, which meant he had defeated opponents who were undeniably strong to keep his place.

Compared to that, Johan was merely a newly awakened youth.

Even with House Eshaan’s special training techniques, he wasn’t on Gara’s level.

No one else seemed to realize this. Not the Duke, Karon or Ramun. That was why they were all so worried.

Still, when Gara had requested this with unwavering confidence, they couldn’t refuse. House Eshaan were soldiers. They wouldn’t deny someone who was resolved to fight.

At the training ground, Gara and Johan stood on opposite sides of the field, which had been divided by a net.

Johan moved toward the center of his side, while Gara remained near the edge.

Seeing Gara unmoving, Johan sneered.

He was convinced that soon, he would be recognized as someone superior to the heir, the strongest of their generation.

The audience gathered along the edges, benches prepared for them. A cushioned high chair had been set aside for the Duke.

The Duke watched his newly found grandson with deep concern.

In the past, he had favored youths who excelled in battle. But after Gavin’s death, all he wished for was that his descendants would live healthy, peaceful lives.

Beside him, Karon frowned deeply.

Meanwhile, Ramun blamed himself for not training Gara sooner. He had plans, but they were meant to begin after the appointment. Gara had simply been too busy. Everything was meant to be done step by step.

Pushing those thoughts aside, Ramun stepped forward as referee.

He looked at Gara and Johan. Both nodded.

"Begin!" he shouted.

The bull dummies sprang into motion.

Johan summoned his Talent, a water spear, and began striking the bulls one by one. Standing at the center gave him easy reach.

His spear didn’t merely pierce.

For generations, House Eshaan has possessed water-type Talents. They developed a specialized technique known as the Water Bomb.

When their water struck a target, it exploded.

BAM! A loud detonation echoed as the bull dummy suffered massive damage.

Johan grinned widely. Within ten minutes, he had already taken down five bulls.

His spear could not only stab targets within reach, but also be thrown to strike distant ones.

He then hurled his spear forward.

Suddenly, the field fell eerily silent. The murmurs of the audience vanished. Johan couldn’t hear a single sound from Gara’s side either.

For reasons he couldn’t explain, dread crept into his chest.

BAAM! The spear hit a distant bull, blasting a hole straight through its body.

Yet Johan felt no satisfaction.

He turned his head toward Gara. His eyes widened.

On Gara’s side, there were no bulls left standing. Only Gara remained.

And scattered across the ground were nothing but shattered chunks of earth.

...