Perlcus

Eurolan returned to the Perlcus family estate. Located at the northernmost tip of the continent, he immediately changed into winter clothes at the portal station. Shivering in the biting north wind, he rode in a carriage for several more hours before finally reaching his destination.

The city owned by the Perlcus family was clean and well-maintained, with noticeable defensive facilities in place for combat. The continent had been soaked in peace since its unification, but the reality of the North was different. It was a place where a battle could break out at any time.

Monsters, other races, and contractors of the Demon King driven to the edge of the continent often appeared, so soldiers could be seen patrolling busily at any time.

The Perlcus family’s mansion in the center of the city was close to the size of a small palace. It couldn’t compare to the Prax family, the overlords of the North, but it was impressive enough to be considered the second-in-command. However, the people of the Perlcus family were subtly aware that they were still far from closing the gap with the former.

Eurolan, receiving greetings from passing maids and servants, headed straight to the family head’s office. He knocked on the door with the family’s unique knock, and the door opened immediately as if they had been waiting for him.

With the stern demeanor of a noble who would not allow a single speck of dust, the family head was sitting at his desk, reading a book. He slightly raised his head, exchanged glances with Eurolan, and silently turned the page. The quick-witted Eurolan quietly closed the door and headed to the guest table, silently waiting for the family head.

Raellan, the older brother of Lykan and the head of the Perlcus family, had a cold and sharp gaze since childhood, befitting his position as the family head. His thin, long eyes, always wary of something, and his snake-like smile made his subordinates feel an unknown fear.

As if he had finished his reading, Raellan deliberately slammed the book shut. Eurolan stood up from his seat and sat down in the chair opposite Raellan.

,I performed the procedure on that disciple as Lykan requested.,

Eurolan, who had been itching to speak, immediately got to the point.

,The procedure was successful. But something incredible… no, something indescribable happened. We may have discovered a new form of intangible potential.,

He didn’t intend to make a fuss, but Eurolan couldn’t help but let his emotions seep into his voice.

Hearing those words, Raellan stretched his lips into a long smile and laughed silently. He looked at Eurolan, his dark brown eyes shining like a snake’s.

It was the same fearful gaze as always, but Eurolan, who had experienced the primal fear he had seen in Lykan’s disciple, was no longer afraid of it.

Realizing this, Raellan said with a pleasant smile.

,Let’s talk over dinner. This sounds like it’ll be an interesting story.,

***

,That’s not it!,

At Lykan’s roar, I reflexively flinched. I was training with Lykan again today, but he didn’t like the Intangible I was showing at all. Thanks to that, a sigh came out on its own.

As I nervously pulled out the Spear of Destruction stuck in the training scarecrow, Lykan strode over and shouted.

,Try using it like you did before! Like the day you first learned it!,

At Lykan’s frustrated words, I scratched my head with a dumbfounded expression. I was clearly using and breathing my magic as I had learned according to Lykan’s instructions, but Lykan kept shaking his head, saying it was wrong.

Lykan sighed and said in an unusually serious voice.

,Listen carefully. The Intangible you showed that day had a primal intensity, as if it was exploding something that had been suppressed all along. But the Intangible you’re using now is just a simple brat’s breathing. I don’t feel any of that intensity from back then in your breath.,

At Lykan’s words, I groaned and frowned. I wasn’t upset. I was just trying to recall the memory of that day. What’s the difference between then and now?

Before long, I realized the crucial difference between my current magic usage and the magic usage I had back then. It suddenly felt a little bitter that I had noticed it so quickly, as if it was just this.

That day, Eurolan stuck needles into my body to disrupt the flow of magic within me. Even now, when I recall the pain I felt back then, my back is soaked with cold sweat.

When the flow of magic I was using was blocked, it tore through my blood vessels and burst my organs. In the midst of the excruciating pain that felt like scraping the flesh off my entire body, I instinctively used Magic Amplification to break through the constraints that Eurolan had hammered in.

It was a simple thought that amplified magic might break through the needles blocking the flow. It worked, and I learned Intangible.

In the end, the only difference from that day that Lykan is pointing out is Magic Amplification.

If my guess is correct, the Intangible Breathing is affected by Magic Amplification. When I think about it, I’ve already combined abilities in a similar way before.

Just like how I combined Berserker and Indomitable Courage, Intangible and Magic Amplification are combined to create synergy.

Intangible is a breathing technique that absorbs mana from nature into the body, and Magic Amplification explosively amplifies magic itself. If the effects of both are applied together, the efficiency of Intangible can be explosively amplified.

Until now, I had only focused on simply using Intangible as Lykan had requested during training, so I hadn’t thought about using Magic Amplification. Even if my guess is wrong, there’s no harm in trying.

I calmed my rapid breathing and immediately used magic. The moment I used Magic Amplification and inhaled, I felt what Lykan was talking about. An intense sensation that felt like this was it struck my mind like lightning.

Power is wriggling. For a moment, I feel a reverse sensation as if the world is slowing down. I felt this way when I used Dimensional Leap, but the essence is different.

Dimensional Leap feels like a fleeting moment becomes eternal, but this is falling into the realm of super-senses, making the world appear to slow down.

I firmly engraved that sensation in my mind so I wouldn’t forget it, and at the same time as exhaling, I thrust the spear towards the training scarecrow.

Kwaaaang―!

Unlike before, the training scarecrow exploded with a roar, so unrecognizable that it was as if I had stabbed it using the power of Destruction.

Before I could even smile with joy at the sight, I couldn’t continue the next breath, and I lost all the strength in my body due to the belated feeling of exhaustion along with the excruciating pain that felt like my internal organs were twisted.

,Keueueueuk…!,

I didn’t even have the strength to support my body. As if the aftereffects of doping had come, my vision was shaking and I didn’t have the strength to move a single finger.

Lykan, watching me fall to the ground and groan, said in a pleasant voice.

,Well done. It’s a shame, but it seems that one breath is the maximum for now.,

As he said, I couldn’t continue the Intangible Breathing. Something was blocking my throat, and I couldn’t continue breathing. My lungs were being squeezed, and my heart was being crushed.

It wasn’t an exaggeration, it was actually happening. I felt the burden on my body as much as I used the power.

When the pain subsided to some extent, I turned my body and leaned my back against the training ground floor. Still, I feel a small sense of accomplishment that I have fulfilled Lykan’s request.

,Don’t worry. You can train by increasing the number of breaths. If you show that much power even once, it will be your hidden ultimate move.,

Ultimate move.

I felt a strange feeling at the resonance of that word. I felt like my heart was beating a little.

I already have one ultimate move. An ultimate move that killed the Green Magic Tower Master Tarantula and the executives of the Order. Professor Dwin too.

Dimensional Leap.

If I use Intangible on that Dimensional Leap, what kind of destructive power will it show? Just imagining it made me feel like I had taken a few steps closer to Roel.

***

There were all kinds of feasts on the table, but Eurolan focused more on the explanation than the meal.

,…In the end, that bastard destroyed the Mana Absorption Stone.,

Eurolan said that, harboring a kind of expectation. He was a little excited about what kind of reaction would come back to his words.

,Hoo, the Mana Absorption Stone….,

Raellan’s eyes widened slightly and he muttered as if he was interested, but since Raellan didn’t usually show his emotions, Eurolan was satisfied and twitched his lips. However, since the reaction was a little disappointing, he glanced at the Perlcus family’s heir, who was sitting next to the family head.

Eurolan moistened his lips with saliva in anticipation at the expression of disbelief in his words and the eyes shaking with the thought of “no way.”

Hurry, ask me!

,N-no way. How could he destroy the Mana Absorption Stone with just a branch family’s breathing technique, and on the first day too! That’s a lie, isn’t it? That can’t be!,

As expected, Eurolan couldn’t hide his joy at the good reaction and groaned. He smiled slyly and said to the girl who was making a desperate expression.

,It’s true. I was suspicious too, so I questioned Lykan. I asked if he had taught him the main family’s breathing technique. But that doesn’t make sense. If he had learned it in the first place, he wouldn’t have asked me for the procedure. Lykan also knows that the procedure is tantamount to suicide in the state of having learned Intangible Breathing.,

At Eurolan’s explanation, the girl bit her lip as if she was upset. Eurolan was looking at her with a sinister expectation in his eyes as she frowned and looked like she was looking for something to refute. Raellan opened his mouth.

,To show that level of ability with just a branch family’s breathing technique, how interesting.,

Raellan, who was smiling with his lips stretched out, turned his head and asked his daughter.

,You’re in the same academy combat department, so don’t you have any connection?,

The girl, Navier, realized that there was an underlying meaning to explain if she knew anything about Ross, and said what she knew about Ross.

How he became the top of the combat department with some crazy act, and how he became the second-in-command of the first year in an instant with his tremendous skills in the duel.

Also, as rumors circulating in the academy, he has tremendous strategy and power similar to his second-year top brother. And she said that unlike her brother, he was a monster with cruelty. Burning an island for grades cannot be seen as normal.

Navier thought that the rumors were probably not wrong, as she couldn’t confirm whether the rumors were true because she wasn’t close enough to exchange greetings… but if she looked at his expressionless face and gloomy impression, she would stare at others as if to kill them.

Raellan, who heard Navier’s explanation, put his arm on the table with an interesting expression and rested his chin.

,A commoner, the top of the combat department, and the second-in-command of the first year. On top of that, he destroyed the Mana Absorption Stone with a branch family’s breathing technique… he’s a very attractive guy.,

Navier tried to turn her gaze to the steak in front of her at Raellan’s sinister smile, but Raellan’s voice was faster.

,It’s about time for you to start looking for a marriage partner.,

,Yes…?,

When Navier answered stupidly in embarrassment, Raellan narrowed his eyes and glared at her.

,Ah, no, I heard he has a girlfriend.,

,Dating and marriage are different. I’ll arrange a meeting if you want.,

It was a word of encouragement, but Navier knew very well that there was no option to refuse. Even if he was her blood-related father, Raellan was that kind of person.

,I, I understand.,

Navier answered in a voice that sounded like she was about to cry.