Ch.132EP.32 – The Knight is Enhancing (5)

‘This has better expandability than I thought?’

The concentration of power I imitated after watching that guy, Max or whatever.

The framework lies in the sword resonance, but the way it’s utilized can create countless variations depending on individual capability.

Drawing out lightning or threads, or even-

‘-Capturing starlight.’

Ihan found it somewhat amusing that the technique he imitated from that person wasn’t bad at all.

In any case…

‘I could probably do more diverse things with this?’

Because it seems like he could create plenty of interesting techniques going forward.

Well…

…Sigh…

Though it doesn’t seem possible right now.

“Hmm, it’s tricky to maintain since I’m not used to it. Blackie, how do you maintain something this difficult? Is this also a matter of talent?”

“…I’d prefer if you just insulted me directly.”

“Why?”

“Your pretense of ignorance is quite infuriating.”

Roen was dumbfounded.

If someone created an on-the-spot technique that was clearly an upgraded version of his own sword energy, yet claimed to lack talent, what would that make him?

‘Now I understand why others curse at me when they see me…’

Roen engaged in self-reflection as he realized why his allies and enemies alike glared at him during battles.

He wondered if his past self had not only been a terrible commander but also a failure as a human being.

It was nothing short of excellent mirror therapy.

* * *

Despite various incidents, the sparring session lasted over 80 minutes.

It might have seemed too long for a sparring match, but they weren’t just mindlessly swinging swords and axes at each other, which contributed to the extended duration.

What do they call it, “sword discourse”?

Ihan and Roen weren’t just competing physically but also through language and communication, exchanging insights about swordsmanship.

They sought new directions by pointing out each other’s shortcomings and weaknesses.

“If you charge with a swift sword, I’ll block like this and immediately bring my axe down on your head.”

“I’ll deflect it and thrust straight for your throat.”

“…Hmm, shall we try it for real?”

“…Is this really sword discourse?”

“It’s practical sword discourse, of course.”

“…Just calling it discourse doesn’t make it so.”

Engaging in such intense exchanges and repeating their clashes just short of lethal force, time flew by quickly.

And naturally, after the sparring:

“The physical drain from sword energy seems to be a problem of indiscriminately wasting power. If you could manipulate sword energy with the same finesse as when you use aura, Instructor, the duration would be much longer. Actually, if you were learning ki techniques, you’d find it easier to grasp the knack, but you haven’t learned ki techniques, have you? Hmm, if you wish, would you like to learn the basics of ki techniques now? Someone like you, Instructor, might grasp the essentials in a short time…”

“Stop it. Learning such things now would leave me neither here nor there.”

“…That’s true.”

Review.

They reviewed their sparring session while exchanging appropriate advice for each other.

“You don’t have any weaknesses. You’re already a master swordsman, and your movements and judgment are top-tier. If there’s any issue, it’s your limited focus? To put it positively, you concentrate well on your opponent, but it also means you don’t look around once you’re immersed. Well, in one-on-one situations, even that weakness becomes a strength.”

“Are you telling me to fix it or leave it be?”

“I’m saying you should clearly distinguish between on and off states. If you can do that, you hardly have any weaknesses… Oh, actually there is one. The problem is that you’re ‘too perfect.'”

“…Are you playing with words?”

“No, I’m serious. You’re trying to be too perfect, and that’s the problem.”

“Trying to be perfect is a problem?”

“Being perfect also means you’re living by the book. In other words, you’re following the path others have walked, which can lead to a lack of creativity and unpredictability. And it’s quite easy to exploit someone who lacks unpredictability.”

“……”

“Maybe it wouldn’t matter if you became a monster who could split the sea with a single sword strike, but otherwise, the issue I pointed out will trip you up someday.”

“…I’ll keep that in mind.”

Some might take such words as an insult, but the guy seriously took his advice to heart.

As if something resonated with him.

And that resonating point was:

“Indeed, if I were to fight someone like you, Instructor, I would likely be caught off guard and lose.”

“Me?”

“There’s no one else with your unique unpredictability and creativity.”

“I’m quite ordinary though?”

“…I hope you don’t say such things in public.”

“?”

Thus, they spent a meaningful time together, and as the veil of night began to surround them, they finally put down their blades.

“It’s late, want to stay over?”

“No, I don’t want to be tactless.”

“Acting tactful doesn’t suit you…”

“…What exactly do you think of me?”

“Are you confident you won’t be hurt if I tell you?”

“…I think I’ll just not listen.”

“Haha!”

There’s a certain pleasure in teasing him in a different way.

On the surface, he seems like an ice sculpture, but he’s strangely human.

‘He’s not a bad guy.’

He’s somewhat human, makes mistakes, and has his clumsy sides.

Also:

“Next time, I’d like to see ‘that’ too. The one growling inside you.”

“!!!!”

And he has unnecessarily kind aspects too.

He opened his eyes wide in surprise.

As if wondering how I knew.

“I just knew it intuitively.”

“Just by intuition?”

“My intuition has become more sensitive lately.”

Whether he sensed it during their fight, or whether his senses had become more acute as his level increased, Ihan detected a ‘very large beast’ sleeping inside Blackie.

A black beast slightly smaller than the Grand Duke’s beast he saw at the Academy before…

But with power that absolutely couldn’t be ignored.

“…That’s mystical-level intuition.”

“I find it strange too. Anyway, it responds to your emotional state, right? If I’m not mistaken, it seems quite disobedient… You’re raising a dangerous one.”

“…If you were to suggest buying some medicine right now, I might fall for it.”

“Fortunately, I’m not a medicine peddler.”

Ihan smiled teasingly at him, while the guy’s expression grew more serious.

He seemed perplexed that his secret had been revealed.

But for himself:

“I won’t tell anyone, so don’t worry.”

Fortunately, he didn’t have a habit of spreading secrets others wanted to keep.

“Besides, what would I gain by blackmailing you?”

“I’m quite wealthy, so money could resolve this.”

“You’re calling yourself wealthy? …Forget it, why would I want your pocket change?”

“I’m willing to offer this much.”

“What an insolent guy…!”

Ihan glared at Blackie, who was holding up five fingers, calling him insolent.

How dare this guy try to buy someone with money…!

“For reference, I mean 50,000 gold coins.”

“……”

“With 50,000 gold coins, you could probably buy a small fief with a vineyard and decent tax revenue.”

“…So you really are wealthy.”

…He couldn’t deny it was a tempting amount.

-To conclude, Ihan rejected his offer.

While it would be a lie to say he wasn’t tempted by such a large sum, he felt like accepting it would mean putting on another collar.

‘I’m already struggling with one collar around my neck, I don’t want another one.’

So Ihan made what he considered a wise decision.

‘…Maybe I should have taken just 500 coins?’

Still, he couldn’t deny feeling some regret.

[Grrrr!]

“…A fierce cat.”

While dwelling on his regrets, he heard the roar of the ‘beast’ threatening him.

Blackie had said it normally couldn’t be heard, but strangely, to his ears:

‘The Dark King, was it?’

Its presence and sound were distinctly audible.

The mystery preserved by Lionel.

A mystery originating from the Lion King, equal in power to Galahad’s demon sword and the kingdom’s aura users.

‘There can’t be two such beasts in the North, right? If there were, they would have declared independence long ago… So is this perhaps a [Regression Bonus]?’

Ihan judged that while the Dark King originated from the North, it wasn’t ‘of the present.’

If such power existed in multiple instances, it would be stranger that the North hadn’t declared independence yet.

Therefore, he considered it highly likely that this was a ‘fragment of the future,’ not the present.

One of the most common regression novel clichés is bringing back one powerful ability as a bonus when traveling back in time, and this might be just that.

‘Hmm, is the reason for its weakening some kind of penalty?’

However, the power presumed to be from the future wasn’t particularly impressive.

‘It’s weak compared to what the Grand Duke has.’

Though it was just a fleeting impression, the Dark King that had formed a natural unity with the Grand Duke was overwhelmingly powerful.

Even Maximus couldn’t move against it, and even Ihan, who merely sensed its presence, felt chilled to the bone.

But compared to that, the beast inside Blackie seemed fierce but significantly weaker.

Compared to the Grand Duke, the difference was like that between a cat and a lion.

…Well, even if it’s weak:

“Fighting that thing would probably be life-threatening. Hmm, I wondered why our first sparring ended so anticlimactically, but now I see it was to prevent that fierce one from going berserk? Kid, you’re more considerate than you look.”

“…I ask again, what exactly do you think of me normally?”

“A common noble young master?”

“……”

…What exactly does “noble” mean to this person?

Roen could only feel bewildered at the casual noble-hatred that flowed so naturally.

* * *

Sizzle!!

After the sparring, a late dinner began.

A generous amount of pork was placed on an iron grill over quality charcoal obtained from an acquaintance.

The prepared meat weighed 15kg.

For reference, 10kg of this was Ihan’s portion alone.

Sizzle…!

The pork fat met the hot charcoal, emitting a delicious aroma.

As his acquaintance had said, it was indeed good quality pork without any unpleasant smell.

‘They’ve developed surprisingly well in certain areas.’

The kingdom had surprisingly advanced animal husbandry, and with its vast land, meat was relatively inexpensive.

Beef was considered a luxury food item that only appeared on nobles’ tables, as cows often turned into magical beasts while being raised. Hence, commoners consumed pork more frequently than expensive beef.

Well, considering that most people typically made bacon, ham, or sausages, Ihan’s way of grilling raw meat was indeed unfamiliar even in the kingdom.

“This is Barbarian-style grilling. I’ve heard that Barbarians grill raw meat like this. I believe it’s for replenishing strength and nutrition. It’s unexpected that you’re interested in other cultures.”

“…Not particularly.”

Ihan felt awkward about suddenly being perceived as an intellectual who even embraced mysterious race cultures.

He had simply received quality meat as a gift from a butcher who said it was acorn-fed, and was eating it this way partly to reminisce, but it seemed he had created a strange misunderstanding.

“Oh, I see. I thought there might be someone else from another world besides me, but I was mistaken…”

“……”

…Why doesn’t she realize that the person from another world is right in front of her?

Unfortunately, despite giving an obvious hint about being a fellow otherworlder, the little mage chick just nodded to herself in understanding.

‘When will she ever notice?’

At this point, he was curious.

How long would she continue like this?

“Eat plenty. Here, wrap it in these vegetables.”

“Wow, there’s a wrap culture here too?”

“I don’t know either.”

“Amazing! Then this is a method you discovered, Instructor?! You’re a genius…!”

“…Does that deserve such high praise?”

“Yes, tremendously!”

“……”

…He began to suspect she might be doing this deliberately.

How could she not know despite being given such obvious hints?

‘Is this some kind of romance fantasy novel curse?’

Romance fantasy heroines often act oblivious, and he cautiously wondered if this was something similar.

“Wow! Delicious! This radish thing is amazing too!”

“…Well, I’m glad you like it.”

Yes, what does it matter if the child is a bit slow?

As long as she’s kind and eats well, that’s all that matters.

Ihan shook his head and silently continued grilling meat, thinking this would have been an even more heartwarming scene if she weren’t a spellcaster.

“……”

“What’s wrong? Doesn’t it suit your taste?”

“…No. It’s delicious.”

“But your expression seems a bit strange.”

“…It’s just unfamiliar. The act of sharing such a peaceful meal with someone…”

“……”

This was an awkward point to respond to, and Ihan simply:

“Here, eat more meat, and have some vegetables and pickles too, they’re tasty.”

“Yes, it’s delicious.”

“You too, Plain.”

“To think someone would care for me, today seems full of luck!”

“…Why are all my disciples such pitiful kids?”

He couldn’t help but sigh, feeling like he was stepping on landmines every time he tried to take care of them.

Still:

“Master, this is really delicious!”

“…Good, eat plenty.”

“M-Master, don’t just grill, eat some too. Sh-should I feed you?”

“No, I’m eating bit by bit, so you just eat plenty.”

“…Yes.”

It is satisfying to see the kids eating well.

Is this what parental feelings are like?

“Wouldn’t it be more like a cook’s feelings?”

“…Miss Maid, please stop reading my mind.”

“Hehe, I can’t do that. More importantly, aah.”

“……”

“Aah.”

“…Ah.”

Somehow feeling he couldn’t refuse, Ihan accepted Leira’s gesture.

…It’s delicious.

Strangely, it seemed twice as tasty as what he had grilled himself, and just as he was thinking this:

“-Instructor.”

“Yes?”

Blackie, who had been eating well, brought up an unexpected topic.

As if paying for his meal:

“This might seem sudden, but my purpose in visiting today wasn’t just to share information.”

“?”

“You might soon find yourself entangled in quite a troublesome matter.”

“…I’m already entangled in some trouble.”

“This is different from that. The reason being-.”

“……”

…Through what followed, Ihan understood why the guy had specifically used the phrase ‘troublesome matter.’

Indeed:

“The Grand Temple, or rather, the ‘Inquisitors,’ are likely keeping an eye on you.”

…Religious solicitation is certainly troublesome.