My Mind Sword’s Cooldown Is Too Long

Though there were some issues, recruiting Libra into the family was successful.
I’ll need to discuss the detailed contract terms with her again, but I can accommodate her conditions as much as possible.
What I want is for her to remain with the family even after she completes her revenge on the Belmagor Order.
This is something we’ll need to work out together.
However, due to staying awake until dawn, fatigue is considerable right now.
First, a light bath.
The dawn air was quite chilly, so my body is cold.
When I headed to the bathroom, warm water had already been prepared.
I immediately immersed myself in the bath.
The fatigue throughout my body gradually melts away in the warm water.
I’d like to close my eyes and sleep soundly like this, but I can’t.
Time has already passed, and the sun is rising.
As the next family head and with the sword succession ceremony ahead, I can’t show a lazy appearance to others in the family.
As soon as I finish bathing, I plan to go to the training ground.
However, no one will complain if I take a slightly longer bath, so I should enjoy this moment as much as possible.
…Greymore would sneer if he saw me, but I can just ignore that.
‘Libra… must be sleeping.’
Libra is currently resting in a guest room provided by butler Alfred.
Having walked for over three hours in a quite tired state, she should be sleeping from exhaustion by now.
I’ll let her rest for now and visit her after morning training.
After a satisfying bath, I immediately headed to the Calderon family’s sword training ground.
Breakfast comes after training. This was the routine of the original Cain Calderon before I became him.
Since there seemed no need to break it, I’ve also maintained it for three years.
‘Though it seems meaningless… I can’t not do it.’
After obtaining Cain’s body, I tried every means and method, but it was impossible to use mana as I wished.
Only [Mind Sword] and [Mind’s Eye] that are used through the status window.
Only these two could be used.
Swordsmanship was the same.
No matter how much I trained with the sword, I couldn’t use the Calderon family’s swordsmanship that manifests by infusing magical power.
Still, thanks to Cain Calderon’s remaining memories, I could at least follow the postures.
Therefore, for the past three years, I’ve only done basic training without using mana.
If others saw, they might find it strange that I don’t use the Calderon family’s swordsmanship…
But so far, using the sword succession ceremony as an excuse would be somewhat acceptable.
Since the succession ceremony prohibits the use of mana, training in preparation for it was a suitable excuse.
‘The problem is after the succession ceremony.’
It’s unlikely someone outside the family would ask about such things.
But within the elder council or family, talk could easily spread.
Therefore, I need to sort out internal matters within the family to some extent before the succession ceremony.
If that’s impossible, I’ll need to show action on the day of the succession ceremony.
Perhaps due to the intense memory of almost dying as soon as I opened my eyes in Cain’s body.
I am thinking about too many things, perhaps excessively.
But there’s no harm in being careful.
Creak-
Opening the door to the sword training ground, well-arranged wooden training swords greet me.
I picked one of them and slowly assumed a stance.
Although I can’t use swordsmanship infused with magical power.
The act of swinging a sword itself builds basic physical strength.
I didn’t want to do it at first, but thanks to making it a habit for three years, it’s quite enjoyable now.
Swish- Swish-
I began swinging the sword with an emptied mind.
The sound of the wooden sword cutting through the air filled the training ground.
While training, morning time had already passed, and it became lunchtime.
This happened because I started today’s morning training late due to bringing Libra.
After quickly washing my sweat-soaked body, I headed to the room where Libra was staying.
I thought about knocking, but since she would be awake anyway, I just opened it.
Due to the wounds inflicted by Archbishop Marquizares and the evil god worshippers, she can only sleep about 1 hour a day.
“…”
Opening the door to the guest room, I saw Libra lying still on the bed with her purple hair spread out.
Her completely motionless appearance is quite unnatural.
Is she pretending to sleep?
“It’s lunchtime. Get up.”
“…”
“You must be tired. Then rest well.”
“…Family head. I have something to say.”
“What is it?”
“Are you planning to starve me to death?”
Libra slowly opened her eyes.
“What do you mean?”
“It’s all about survival. Need to give food.”
“That’s why I came to invite you.”
“…Lunch?”
“Yes.”
“…Breakfast?”
“Haven’t you checked the time? It’s lunchtime now.”
“…Family head won’t be popular with women. Never gives in once.”
“Next family head. Thanks for the compliment.”
“That was criticism.”
Libra sighed and got up from the bed.
“Since it’s late, I’ll eat double.”
“Do as you wish.”
I took Libra and headed to the dining room.
Since I roughly explained to Alfred, her portion should be served as well.
“You’ve come.”
When I opened the door to the dining room, an unexpected person was there.
Gin Calderon. The head of the Calderon family and Cain’s father.
“Father, you were here.”
“I heard there’s a guest.”
I was planning to visit and explain about Libra later, but it seems Alfred has already informed him.
It seems he waited for me despite being busy.
I sat beside Gin Calderon.
Following me, Libra also pulled out the chair next to mine and sat down.
“What is your name?”
“…Libra. A mediocre fortune-teller.”
“A fortune-teller…”
Gin Calderon’s eyes narrowed.
A brief silence flowed as if to discern the truth in her statement.
She has considerable spirit for someone claiming to be a fortune-teller.
And the fishy smell of blood emanating from her couldn’t be erased either.
She came too far to pay attention to such aspects.
The uncomfortable silence continues.
I’d like to read Gin Calderon’s thoughts, but it’s the second day since I used Mind’s Eye on him, so that’s not possible either.
Since Mind’s Eye has a 30-day cooldown per same target, it would only repeat previously read content.
Occasionally, successfully recruited individuals are suspected by other family members and driven out.
This happens when one’s position within the family isn’t firmly established.
However, since Gin Calderon’s favorability was 85, I can only trust in that aspect.
“It’s just a small connection. Our intentions aligned, so I invited her to the family.”
“Where did you meet?”
“In the Forest of Corpses in the Empire’s south.”
“Quite a distance.”
After thinking for a moment, Gin Calderon now addressed Libra.
“You seem to have injured your leg.”
“…First aid is complete.”
“Who is chasing you?”
“…”
Libra instinctively closed her mouth.
I nodded to her, conveying that it was okay.
“…Evil god worshippers. The Belmagor Order.”
“Evil gods… I see.”
With those words, Gin Calderon remained silent for a long time.
He seems suspicious, but we narrowly passed.
This was also possible because of high favorability.
However, for Libra, who is unaware of these circumstances, it was undoubtedly an uncomfortable situation.
I’m a bit sorry internally, but it couldn’t be helped.
I didn’t expect Gin Calderon to be here.
Just then, a maid served lunch.
A menu where evenly grilled steak harmonizes with a rich wine sauce.
It’s a menu that makes one’s mouth water at a glance, but Libra seemed to have lost her appetite.
Her dream of eating two portions cleanly disappeared in front of the wall named Gin Calderon.
After the meal, I headed to my room to write a letter to Merchen about this matter.
Libra followed behind me diligently.
“Why are you following me? You should have your own room.”
“Family head. I was sorry.”
“What now?”
“I didn’t know you’d mobilize such a monster to torment me.”
“That’s my father. Watch your words.”
“…Now that I hear it, you do look alike.”
Libra’s eyes widened as if she had just realized it.
She surely heard me call him father when we first met in the dining room.
Gin Calderon and Libra.
They must not have heard it because they were engaged in a nerve war beneath the surface after sensing each other’s existence.
The result must have been Libra’s crushing defeat.
Though if she awakened her unique characteristic, it might be different.
But that’s a story for the latter part.
Libra seemed still uncomfortable within the family.
Well, for her, places with many people would be full of things that make her nervous.
Since it can’t be helped today, should I just leave it?
I ignored Libra, who was looking around my room, and wrote a letter to Merchen.
I first wrote about the hut in the Forest of Corpses and the story about the evil god worshippers.
Then I included brief personal information about the two of the Eight Great Villains and Archbishop Marquizares.
Though the hut was burned, it would take time for the magical traces inside to disappear.
There’s enough time left for Merchen to investigate, so there’s no worry about this part.
However, I included content about some of the imperial family’s retainers being involved in this matter, and that although the evil god worshipping Archbishop Marquizares died, I suspect he has been resurrected.
It might be troublesome if she asks how I knew about the resurrection, but she won’t dig into it.
Even if she does, I’ll just say I saw it in an ancient book.
Once Merchen begins to move, it’s the beginning of a tedious war of annihilation afterward.
Until Merchen, who has caught physical evidence of evil god worshippers, grabs the tail within the imperial family, the main task is dealing with the remnants of evil god worshippers.
Since Libra will do this alone, I just need to take her to the points where the remnants of evil god worshippers gather.
“Next family head. Who is Merchen? Perhaps a love letter?”
“Go play elsewhere.”
“As I thought, bashful as expected. If you want, this big sister will teach you.”
“You’re not making sense.”
I waved my hand to dismiss Libra.
When I didn’t respond, she seemed to lose interest and continued with pointless words.
After all, she’s someone who doesn’t care about much besides revenge.
I finished the letter and called Libra again.
“Then let’s talk about the real business.”
“…Business?”
“The Belmagor Order. A plan will be needed to clear them out.”
Upon hearing my words, Libra’s expression turned cold.
I’m putting a leash on her now.
The real start is after pushing away the Belmagor Order, and I can’t let her go so soon.