Chapter 1
"…Membership?"
Seeing the two characters appear on the crystal, I couldn't help tilting my head.
No matter how many times I looked, they were the same.
Membership
Today, I turned fifteen.
In the Kingdom of Sahar, when you turn fifteen, you undergo the Ceremony of Bestowal at a temple.
Of course, not everyone receives a Skill.
Only a select few are able to receive one.
And for me—Valdis Allen—today was a special day.
The Valdis family was a prestigious house that had produced knights for generations.
As its eldest son, I'd been raised to inherit the family one day.
That's why we had such high hopes for what Skill I would receive.
Both my father and I had high expectations.
And yet—
Membership
was what I received.
"Priest-sama."
My father, standing behind me, spoke up.
"What kind of Skill is it?"
"Please wait a moment."
The priest opened a thick book that had been left beside the altar.
He turned page after page.
But…
At last, his hand stopped.
"…I'm afraid it isn't here."
"It isn't?"
"No. There are no records of a Skill called Membership in this temple."
My father's brow furrowed.
"The word 'member' isn't particularly unusual, is it?"
"Of course not. People who belong to merchants' associations and various guilds are called members. However…"
The priest stared at the crystal.
"I don't know why that would be the name of a Skill."
I couldn't help asking,
"Then what am I a member of?"
"…I'm afraid I don't know."
"…………"
The murmuring spread faintly beneath the temple's high ceiling.
In the space of a few seconds, the air of anticipation for a blessing turned into the air of people staring at a strange failure.
No one actually laughed.
But there was a silence far more painful than being laughed at.
Gradually, the voices around me grew clearer.
"Membership?"
"What kind of member?"
"Is it some kind of guild-related Skill?"
"I've never heard of a Skill like that."
I stared at the crystal.
"Membership."
I said it once more.
Nothing happened.
I didn't feel any stronger.
Nor had my mana increased.
"Allen."
I heard my father's voice.
"Yes."
"…Step back."
I could tell from his voice alone.
He was disappointed.
"Next. Valdis Kyle."
"Yes."
My twin brother, Kyle, stepped forward.
I had been born just a little earlier than him.
That was why I'd always been considered the eldest son who would inherit the Valdis family.
Swordsmanship.
Horsemanship.
Academics.
Etiquette.
Estate management.
I did everything my father expected of me.
I was especially confident in my swordsmanship.
Kyle and I had crossed swords countless times, but I had never lost.
As he passed me, Kyle said in a low voice,
"Too bad, big brother."
"We don't even know what it does yet."
"That's true."
Kyle smiled.
"I hope it's an amazing Skill."
It was the same smile of his I'd known for as long as I could remember.
And yet, for some reason, something about it bothered me.
Kyle placed his hand on the crystal.
The next instant…
The crystal shone brilliantly.
"Wha…!"
The priest gasped.
The entire temple fell silent.
Letters appeared within the light.
Sword Saint
"…………"
For a moment…
Not a single person made a sound.
And then…
"Sword Saint?!"
"No way!"
"How many years has it been since the Kingdom of Sahar last had one?!"
The temple erupted into an uproar.
Even the priest couldn't hide his excitement.
"Magnificent… In all my years as a priest, this is the first time I've witnessed the birth of a Sword Saint."
Of course, I knew what it meant.
Sword Saint.
The highest-class unique Skill, one every swordsman longed to possess.
Sword Saints throughout history had become commanders of the Royal Guard or generals, leaving their names in the history of the Kingdom of Sahar.
They were, quite literally, chosen by the sword.
"Kyle!"
My father rushed over.
"Father."
"Well done!"
My father grabbed Kyle by the shoulders.
"A Sword Saint! The future of the Valdis family is secure!"
"Thank you."
Kyle smiled happily.
And then…
He looked at me.
"Big brother."
"…What?"
"From now on, I'll protect the Valdis family."
"What are you—"
"I mean…"
Kyle smiled.
"I'm a Sword Saint, you know?"
"…………"
Looking at his face, I finally understood.
Kyle was happy.
Not just because he'd received the Sword Saint Skill.
He was happy because he'd surpassed me.
◇
That evening…
Kyle and I stood facing each other in the training yard at the estate.
We each held one of the wooden swords we always used for practice.
Our father stood a short distance away.
This had happened as soon as we returned from the temple.
"Father."
Kyle spoke up.
"Before you decide who'll be the next head of the family, let my brother and me fight."
"Fight?"
"Yes."
Kyle looked at me.
"A clash of swords will show us which of us is more suited to inherit the Valdis family, won't it?"
"Kyle, are you serious?"
"Are you scared, big brother?"
"Of course not."
I'd never lost to him before.
Even if Kyle had received the Sword Saint Skill, I couldn't believe the gap we'd built up over the years could be overturned in just a few hours.
Father thought for a moment.
"…Very well."
"Father?"
"I want to see for myself how powerful the Sword Saint is."
Father looked at us.
"The fight ends when one of you surrenders, or when I decide who the winner is."
"Understood."
Kyle smiled.
And now…
We stood facing each other.
"Begin!"
Father's voice rang out.
I raised my wooden sword.
Kyle did the same.
It was the stance of the younger brother I'd watched hundreds of times.
Nothing about it was different.
"Here I come."
I lunged first.
I swung my wooden sword at his shoulder.
At that instant…
"Too slow."
"What?"
Kyle's figure blurred.
The next instant…
Thud!
"Ugh!"
His wooden sword slammed into my side.
The breath was knocked out of me.
My body was sent flying sideways.
"Guh…!"
I rolled across the ground.
What had just happened?
I got back to my feet at once.
"Kyle…?"
"What's wrong, big brother?"
Kyle was smiling.
He wasn't even out of breath.
I tightened my grip on the wooden sword.
It was a fluke.
I told myself that.
"Hah!"
I lunged straight at him again.
Clang!
"Ugh!"
He knocked my wooden sword away with a single strike.
My arm went numb.
He was strong.
This was nothing like the Kyle I'd known.
"Too slow."
His wooden sword closed in.
My shoulder.
"Guh!"
Then my stomach.
"Urgh…!"
The breath caught in my throat.
I dropped to one knee.
I looked at Father.
He showed no sign of stopping us.
His eyes weren't on me. They were fixed solely on Kyle, the new Sword Saint.
Those were the eyes that had watched me wield a sword for fifteen years.
But now, they weren't looking at a son.
All they saw was the dazzling emblem of the Valdis family's future.
"Damn it!"
I swung my sword with all my strength.
It cut through empty air.
Thud!
"Ugh!"
This time, he struck me in the chest.
I fell backward onto the ground.
"…………"
I couldn't breathe.
My chest hurt.
My arm was numb, too.
Even so, I used the wooden sword to support myself as I stood.
"Not yet…"
"You still want to keep going?"
Kyle gave a bemused smile.
"Of course I do!"
I kicked off the ground.
But…
My sword never reached Kyle.
"Guh!"
I couldn't block him.
"Ugh!"
I couldn't dodge.
"Gaah…!"
I couldn't even counterattack.
I used to be stronger than him.
I'd never lost, not even once.
And yet…
Why?
Why was I being beaten so one-sidedly—?!
"Ugh!"
His final strike landed in my stomach.
The wooden sword slipped from my hand.
I dropped to my knees on the spot.
"…That's enough."
I heard Father's voice.
I looked up.
Kyle wasn't even out of breath.
"You see now, don't you, Father?"
"Yes."
"Which of us is suited to be the next head of the family."
Father looked at me.
"Allen."
"…………"
"As of today, Kyle will be the next head of the Valdis family."
"…Yes."
That was all I could say.
For fifteen years…
I'd swung a sword.
I'd studied so I could inherit the family, too.
I'd worked hard.
And yet, a single Skill had overturned everything.
"Father."
Kyle spoke.
"What is it?"
"There's one more thing I'd like to ask."
I had a bad feeling about this.
Kyle looked at me.
"I'd like my brother to leave this house."
"…What?"
"Now that I'm the next head of the family, it's a problem if my brother stays."
"Kyle!"
"For fifteen years, my brother was raised to be the next head. There are knights and servants who look up to him, too."
"I have no intention of fighting you for the inheritance!"
"It doesn't matter what you think, big brother."
Kyle smiled.
"Someone might try to put you forward."
Then he placed a hand on his chest.
"I'm a Sword Saint."
He looked at me.
"You're Membership."
"…………"
"I'm above you now."
I looked at Father.
"Father."
Father remained silent for a while.
At last…
"…Kyle has a point."
"Father!"
"Even if you have no intention of opposing him, someone might put you forward to challenge Kyle, and the family could split apart."
"So you're kicking me out?"
"Yes."
His answer was without hesitation.
"Leave the estate by the end of today."
"…………"
The places where Kyle had struck me during the duel were aching.
But…
Those words from my father hurt far more.
"…Understood."
I used the wooden sword to help myself up.
◇
I didn't have much luggage.
A change of clothes.
Enough money for a few days.
And the old sword I'd bought with my own money for the first time.
My whole body hurt.
Even so, I slung my things over my shoulder and used my sword as a cane as I left the estate.
Kyle was waiting in front of the gate.
"Big brother."
"…What?"
"Don't come back."
"…………"
I didn't answer. I just walked past him.
The great gate closed behind me.
It was the home where I'd lived for fifteen years.
It was no longer…
a place I could return to.
◇
"Hah… hah…"
How far had I walked?
Every step sent pain through my whole body.
Using my sword as a cane, I somehow managed to keep moving along the road.
"Guh…"
My foot caught.
I fell to one knee.
I tried to get back up.
"Ugh…!"
A sharp pain shot through my side.
I couldn't muster any strength.
I collapsed onto the ground.
"Hah… hah…"
Cold dirt touched my cheek.
The road at dusk was colder than I'd expected.
The shoes I'd polished at a noble's estate and the sword I'd held through countless training sessions were useless here.
Dirt was just dirt, and stones were just stones. It didn't matter that the person lying in the road was the eldest son; they showed no mercy.
"Damn it…"
I grabbed at the dirt.
Until this morning, I'd never imagined I'd be lying somewhere like this.
I was the next head of the Valdis family.
I'd never lost to Kyle with a sword.
I had a home to return to.
I had a family.
And now, I'd lost it all in a single day.
"In a place like… this…"
I tried to get up.
My arms trembled.
I couldn't lift my body.
"Is this where it ends…?!"
I was furious.
The moment Kyle received the Sword Saint Skill, I couldn't lay a finger on him.
Father had driven me out of the family home.
And now I couldn't even stand up by the side of the road.
"Damn it…!"
I slammed my fist into the ground.
Then…
It came to mind.
Membership
The Skill I'd received today.
"…What the hell is this?"
The words escaped my lips.
"What the hell is Membership?!"
I didn't even know what I was a member of.
I didn't know what it could do, either.
It was a Skill granted by God, wasn't it?
Then…
"Can't you do anything…?!"
I shouted.
"Membership!"
At that moment…
Letters appeared in front of me.
"…Huh?"
【Your membership registration is complete】
"Registration…?"
What did that mean?
More letters appeared.
【Your membership rank: Bronze】
【First-time registration bonus: 100P】
【Your points: 100P】
"…One hundred?"
There was an unfamiliar symbol after the number.
"What is this… P?"
I didn't understand.
Even so, the display continued.
【Bronze membership benefits are available】
【Strength Enhancement: 30P】
【Endurance Enhancement: 30P】
【Agility Enhancement: 30P】
【Recovery: 50P】
"…………"
There was that same symbol again.
Strength Enhancement.
Endurance Enhancement.
Agility Enhancement.
And…
"Recovery…"
I stared at the word.
【Use Recovery?】
【Required: 50P】
【Your points: 100P】
I didn't know what P meant.
But…
It seemed like I had to use fifty of the hundred.
I could at least understand that much.
I had only one choice right now.
"Use it…"
I exhaled.
"Use Recovery…!"
【You used 50P】
【Your points: 50P】
Immediately…
"—?!"
My body grew hot.
Something warm coursed through my entire body.
"W-what is this…?"
The pain began to fade.
My side…
My shoulder…
Even my swollen arm…
All the pain tormenting my body disappeared.
"…………"
I slowly sat up.
I could stand.
Even when I took a deep breath, my chest didn't hurt.
"I'm… completely healed."
I stared blankly at my body.
The letters were still floating in front of me.
【Your membership rank: Bronze】
【Your points: 50P】
【Strength Enhancement: 30P】
【Endurance Enhancement: 30P】
【Agility Enhancement: 30P】
【Recovery: 50P】
"…………"
Father hadn't thought much of Membership.
Kyle had laughed at it, too.
Even I hadn't known what use it could be.
But just by using fifty of these mysterious P…
My body, which hadn't even been able to stand, had completely healed.
"So this is… Membership?"
I still had fifty left.
And…
Strength Enhancement.
Endurance Enhancement.
Agility Enhancement.
There were still powers I hadn't tried.
I picked up the sword lying on the ground.
A little while ago…
I really thought this was where it would all end.
But…
"…It's not over."
I gripped the hilt tightly.
"I'm not done yet."
Once more…
I started walking down the road on my own two feet.