Somehow...
Deruth could not keep up with the lovely Cale attack. He was so used to the twins acting mighty and trashy—yeah, plain trashy—that he could not understand it. However, the attack on the lovely and adorable Cale was even more difficult to comprehend.
"I was bracing myself for all of their shenanigans, but..."
They're pretty tamed. Or is this their true nature?
Thinking like that, it's cute. He'll love this version more than the ones who keep pushing him away.
Rok's still as lazy as ever, but he spent his days learning something from Ron and the great library. Cale's going around the county, learning the ways of becoming a patriarch.
Somehow, they thought of Cale as the brawn one and Rok as the brainy one.
But they were too damn wrong. That's why we should never judge a book by its cover.
The twins have a talent of their own.
Cale has the ability to use an aura, and Rok has ancient powers.
In terms of wits and mind games, their minds are equal. However, Cale was more of a politician, while Rok was more of a military person.
Their bodies compensated for each other's shortcomings. Cale is in good health and Rok is in poor health.
Rok looks good in his fashionable clothes, acting as his brother's right-hand man.
Cale, on the other hand, appeared too dignified and noble.
It shook the entire family to the core.
The hard shell older brother and the lying beast younger brother
The good-for-nothing, trouble-induced, illegitimate children are prodigies in their respective fields. Deruth kept an eye on them. He sat in on their conversations for a while. They are attempting to plant people on their own. Deruth never expected the twins to use the Imperial Prince and Rowoon's First Prince.
Cale will become the shield for their goal, while Rok gathers the people for their goal. It's like they're preparing for an amazing banquet where only chosen people are welcomed.
Their only flaw is that their title is illegitimate.
"Hah," he said, leaning against the pillars, feeling terrible. His children are preoccupied with their activities and have neglected their father.
"What are you doing?" Rok inquired.
Cale rushes up to him and wraps his arms around his waist. Deruth suddenly thought that this little attack was difficult to comprehend but—Oh my god! I love this! My lovely baby!
Their lives were filled with shame and embarrassment, but they did not allow it to control them.
There was discontent all around him, but he did not care. He did not waste any time listening to their nonsense, at the very least. And who could blame an innocent child?
Except for a few direct lines, none of the Collaterals or Vassals are missing. Henituse is truly a wealthy family among noble families.
The twins moved next to their father. Deruth's voice echoed.
"What are you up to right now, hm?"
"What kind of crazy stunt are you planning now?" Ron asked.
They frowned but smiled mischievously. The twins smiled and said, "We will stay sane for a change."
That somehow gave them the chills. Sane was never in the Twins dictionary at all!
It's Chaos, Destruction, Insanity!
Vicross, who had just come wearing another fashion outfit with the twins, shook his head.
"As usual."
The twins frowned and adorably pouted at Vicross. The older man just shook his head and decided to ignore them.
Well, it's understandable considering the Henituse Senate would come and test their abilities. They have to be prepared at all times; that's why Cale plans on trying to wield aura or magic.
Ancient powers are powers that are not highly looked upon by people.
However, Magic and Manaswords are not the same.
For once, the afternoon went relatively smoothly. The twins stared at each other when it was just Cale and Rok.
"I guess the Senate will do everything it can to bring you down," Rok predicted. He flipped over their massive table, revealing a detailed map of the western and eastern continents.
It had distinct lines that spoke of territorial boundaries.
"Whipper Kingdom's Civil War. Breck Kingdom's Archduke's Usurpation. Mogoru Empire's eerie silence. Even if we solve the problems of these kingdoms, we won't be able to impress the Senate." Cale said, "We need something innate that will make them look at us. Attention and impression are the most important."
"Hm. I agree. Henituse County was originally a Martial Arts Family. Even though we have powerful knights, it would be different if the head of the house became—" Rok spoke. "If the county is a martial arts family, then it needs a swordsman to lead it, brother."
Rok remained silent. Soon his smile turned someone devilish.
"If I need a teacher, that teacher should not be of noble status nor merely a commoner."
It has to be a teacher that no one can control and no one can exercise authority over.
Rok was already grinning as he placed a sword flag at the location of Harris Village.
Cale stared at it and frowned the moment he realized what his brother had just done.
"You wouldn't..."
"They say your enemies before could be your best friends forever!"
.
.
So it's like this.
The twins ended up at Harris Village with their grandfather. Reuben Henituse. They were accompanied by the current head of the Henituse Household. Rok and Cale had not expected him to accompany them. He was already in his seventies, but he is still alive and well, and he is stronger than most knights. However, none of his sons rose to the level of knighthood that he did.
The decline of the family bloodline was even more noticeable, which is why he changed his ways and amassed wealth to maintain the balance of the Rowoon Kingdom's regions.
Although this man keeps training both of them with the swords, the direct lines are pushing their rights of succession to the side. They went so far as to suppress their every movement and force them to go with other grandchildren as well.
"You're looking for a knight, but you came to the wrong place." Reuben frowned. He was expecting that these children would do something fun but they ended up in such a remote place where only artisans are.
[NOTE: Harris Village will not be attacked in this fic. Why? The ancient powers are with Rok and Cale.]
However, there was one thing that the rest of the Henituse family overlooked. The people in Harris Village weren't just ordinary artisans. Cale realized this late in his previous life. The knives and sharp tools sold in this place were of high quality.
Rok: hm.
Cale: I know, right?
Rok: Such a good village was ravaged by a bastard, huh?
Cale: Let's have this place, Hyung-nim.
It was clearly a blacksmith village.
The ores and minerals in this place were from the Forest of Darkness. Mana surged powerfully from the forest and there was no way they had any knowledge of their work.
They were thinking of business and had been taking into account everything, and how to turn this remote place into the best place.
[REUBEN HENITUSE'S POV]
Rok Henituse.
Cale Henituse.
He initially regarded them as leeches attempting to infiltrate the family. However, reports that the twins kept his naive son at a distance while trying to gain people to protect them made him want to keep an eye on them a little longer.
Dirty Illegitimate children. Deruth did everything in his power to keep that rumor from spreading. After all, a mother's standing is the standing of her children. Everything is blamed on their mother for raising them as illegitimate children.
Yet, they're brilliantly embracing that title while making changes.
He was blind to the fact that the twins were interfering with the direct family.
But looking at them, desperately grasping their goals while going through all this trouble to get them, made him smile.
They were even better than the direct bloodline. No, the best.
He did not pursue them after noticing they were gathering information. Sharp eyes that take everything into account. They have a clear conscience that allows them to think positively.
On the top of a tree in the middle of Harris Village, looking around at the children dressed in everyday clothes.
He was standing on a thin branch that could support a small bird.
He watched the twins with his deep brown eyes as they examined the high-quality beef placed in front of the stall. Even without doing anything, their natural way of conversing with people, regardless of their rank, allowed them to blend in like a sock.
"You know what you like and do not like because you were not a father, but merely a bystander, even to your grandchildren."
"... ... ."
Reuben gazed down at the butler who came with the twins. It is just the butler, but he is not what you would call normal. Even the chef who was standing behind him had a cold voice.
"A bystander like that has no right to approach those children," Ron said.
"It didn't happen because the Lord wanted it, didn't it?" Vicross asked.
"I wanted it; I wanted to be strong, and that is what happened; all I remember is my son's indifference and their children's competition."
Reuben's voice bloomed late and was lonely, like a flower alone in the cold wind.
"Then why do not you fill that time from now on?"
"Young man."
"Yes?"
"What would happen if you sprinkled the feathers in the sack here?"
"It will fly."
"Right. Rather, it spreads in all directions, making it impossible to catch. The same goes for my words and actions. What has already been done cannot be picked up." Reuben said.
"Um, isn't it?"
Even if he has taken a liking to these children, he can only watch them behind the rest of the family's eyes and guide them to where their little feet will take them.
Small steps, but sure and without hesitation, will take them beyond the corners of Henituse County.
Change has come. No...
The sapling has already budged and will continue to grow until it is strong and unfazed.
"Butler."
"Yes, Lord?"
"Those kids are going to make a name for themselves."
They are destined to make history.
[TWIN'S POV]
They stood atop the Harris Village walls. This time, only Vicross will accompany them.
"Ugh, why are we here?"
"To train."
The twins agreed that only one of them would be able to use the Ancient Powers. Because the ancient power they possess has its own ego, it didn't very much work with Cale's aura.
Cale's brother was unsurprised when he showed Rok his crimson aura. They did share the same thoughts, feelings, and everything, so Rok had to have known from the start.
However, it is insufficient. Cale's aura is weaker when compared to other swordsmen who use aura.
Despite the fact that it has been stated that Rok has a talent for swords while Cale does not. It was the polar opposite.
The twins were well aware that Rok was not the type to lead the charge. Rok was more of a command centre, a mind manipulator, and the mastermind behind grand battles.
But Cale, the underappreciated younger twin, was a swordmaster before dying under the rubble after being defeated by the enemy.
Cale chose to accept the blood of those he had killed and been killed by other people's swords despite his hatred for the sword.
Rok swooned over his baby brother because the short swords on Cale's waist seemed so dignified! He is so cool! As if you were a true protagonist!
Rok merely possessed daggers, the same thing he used to wield in his world.
His role is to protect both Vicross and Cale while they become stronger.
The silver shield will do the deed.
"Well, let's find my dear teacher while going to get stronger."
Rok couldn't find any trace of the previously cowardly and trashy Cale.
He's like a feral beast lying in wait.
If Cale is the feral bea—no— If Cale is the Feral Golden Turtle in waiting.
He smiled and jumped down, following two hotblooded bastards.
I'll become his strongest shell to keep his fangs hidden until it's time!
TBC