Ch.14EP.4 – Ihan Has Been Demoted

Knowing my skill level and capabilities objectively was quite important.

No matter how objective one tries to be, human psychology tends to make us perceive situations subjectively and be endlessly positive about ourselves.

However, Ihan had always been strict with himself.

He had no choice.

He had no master and had to stand completely on his own.

Though he had special abilities, they were merely convenient tools.

That’s why Ihan constantly strived to view his abilities objectively while working hard.

‘How should I gauge my skill level?’

If this world were a martial arts setting, most knights would probably be first-class or peak martial artists.

They’re practitioners of energy techniques, likely comparable to promising disciples of orthodox sects.

In contrast, he would be someone who gained strength through unorthodox methods rather than traditional energy techniques.

Dark arts or a troll’s regenerative abilities—they’re essentially the same thing.

But to be clear, Ihan’s level, after repeatedly strengthening himself this way, had definitely reached the edge of the peak realm.

And if he were to surpass the peak and reach the divine realm, then perhaps…

KWAAANG!

He’d become like that gentleman over there.

Ihan’s body tumbled miserably across the dirt.

PAAT!

But as soon as he tumbled, he sprang up like a coiled spring and charged at his opponent.

His series of movements were so elastic and swift that they resembled not a human but a four-legged predator.

KWAJIK!

Each time he kicked off the ground, the concrete floor shattered, and Ihan went straight for a tackle.

With his weight, strength, and speed combined, he displayed destructive power comparable to a dump truck collision, but unfortunately, his opponent wasn’t someone who could be moved by a mere dump truck.

WHEEEK!

“Still so rough. You should know to be more composed.”

With butterfly-like movements that played with the wind.

It was Baltar Grace, who deflected Ihan’s powerful tackle and naturally planted a palm strike on Ihan’s back.

KUUUNG!

“Urrrgh!”

The ground trembled.

Baltar’s palm strike, which penetrated Ihan’s body, contained some mysterious principle that seemed to skewer his sturdy body like a stake, attempting to bring him down.

If an ordinary person had received that strike, they would have exploded in a chain reaction from the inside.

A rather gruesome sight would have unfolded.

“…You stubborn old man!”

“Hoho, you’ve become even tougher.”

But Ihan’s body neither exploded nor did he faint.

He grabbed Baltar’s wrist firmly.

CRUNCH!

His iron-crushing strength was fully displayed as he squeezed Baltar’s wrist.

A powerful grip that could shatter a human wrist like a thin twig.

“What good is just applying brute force?”

Despite Ihan’s strength, Baltar showed no signs of pain.

Why else would an Aura user be known as superhuman?

That seemingly frail body was a vessel containing superhuman strength that no one could anticipate.

No matter how strong one’s grip, it wouldn’t be easy to break.

Sure enough…

“Hup!”

“Kuhak!”

Ihan was sent flying pathetically.

A powerful pressure erupted from Baltar’s body, becoming a typhoon that blew him away.

But.

KWANG!

He didn’t fall, and instead maintained his charging posture and applied force.

As he gathered strength in his calves and thighs, they swelled as if about to burst, and Ihan, in that same posture…

KWAAANG!

Shot himself forward like an arrow.

A bold move, launching himself like a projectile.

PAANG!

A gust of wind swept through the surroundings.

The pressure and shockwave, which turned even scattered stones into sand, revealed his power.

Seeing this, the smirk that had been constant on Baltar’s face disappeared for the first time.

Instead.

“Good.”

CHWAK!

For the first time, he drew his sword.

Though the sword remained in its scabbard, the mere act of him drawing it changed the atmosphere.

SAAK!

Baltar swung his sword before Ihan could reach him.

A sword strike against empty air.

It might seem ridiculous and one might wonder what kind of stance that was, but the change brought about by that swing was anything but ridiculous.

PAANG!

“…?!”

With a thud, Ihan seemed to hit something, his path blocked, and he flipped over.

Unlike an arrow that gets stuck when it hits a shield, the air barrier was so firm yet soft that it deflected him without causing injury.

“…Old man, you can even make shields out of wind?”

“Just a small trick. But it’s a fairly good move against a beast as fierce as the mountain tyrant.”

“…This is maddening.”

Ihan sat on the ground in a humiliating posture, catching his breath with a frown.

But he didn’t look particularly tired.

Not only did he get hit less than usual, but his stamina was definitely extraordinary, so this much didn’t even make him short of breath.

Of course, there were some aftereffects from facing an Aura user.

THROB!

“…My ribs are broken.”

“Hoho, just that?”

“What do you mean ‘just’? It hurts like hell.”

It would probably take an hour before he could fight again.

“Good, to think you’d make me use this move.”

“How do you do that?”

“If you can read the texture of the wind, anyone can do it easily. Those spellcasters often use it.”

“…I didn’t know you could use magic without incantations.”

“The world of martial arts has no end. With enough effort, you can easily replicate spellcasters’ techniques.”

“You’re talking nonsense.”

Spellcasters would probably say something similar.

That’s how absurd his statement was.

A wall of wind—how was one supposed to break through that?

‘No matter how much I learn, there’s always more.’

Indeed, this 70-year-old monster.

He had an endless supply of hidden techniques.

“What about you? What was that just now? You flew like an arrow.”

“I named it ‘Bow God’s Bullet Shadow.'”

“…Like that ‘Diamond’ thing you mentioned before, all your techniques have something strange about them.”

“Look who’s talking.”

Ihan grumbled but mentally reviewed the recent sparring session.

‘Something like an internal energy technique, and the rest is sword wind?’

Converting Baltar’s techniques into his own understanding based on countless martial arts novels he’d read in his previous life, Ihan pondered.

‘I might be able to imitate that internal energy technique, if not the sword wind.’

…Like this?

TWOONG.

“…Tsk, not right?”

He placed his palm against the ground and flicked it, but unfortunately, it only created a slight impact.

This was closer to just applying energy rather than an internal energy technique.

As he was feeling disappointed…

“Your sense is still good. Trying to imitate that without even knowing the basics of energy techniques? Hmph.”

It was natural for Baltar to find it absurd.

What were energy techniques in the first place?

Wasn’t it a kind of body-strengthening technique where trained martial artists sense the flow of life force within their bodies and either release it or momentarily strengthen their bodies?

But since not everyone can learn this mysterious “skill,” it was named a technique (技法).

Sensing the life force within one’s body and controlling it is purely a matter of talent.

Moreover, the optimal time to sense this flow is during childhood when life force is still subtle, and trying to learn it at a later age is meaningless.

It’s a distant goal for adults whose life force flow has somewhat solidified after the most delicate and weak period has passed.

But this guy is different.

Even though he’s already thirty, his life force still “pulsates” like a child in the growth phase.

And whether it’s due to growth or some unique characteristic, he handles the flow intuitively.

For example, the way he swelled the strength in his legs to shoot forward like an arrow, or how his internal organs withstood Baltar’s power—it’s all based on this principle.

‘But his power is chaotic. It’s probably because he handles it intuitively.’

Lacking the basics of energy techniques, he’s in a peculiar state where he merely strengthens the flow through training, creating a powerful rotational force throughout his body.

It’s no different from having waves constantly surging inside his body.

And if anyone other than Baltar knew about Ihan’s physical condition, they would be shocked.

Someone who should have died long ago, unable to withstand the flow, is still perfectly fine because he recklessly expanded his vessel.

A mad spellcaster would have desperately tried to make him an experimental subject or dissect him.

‘…Interesting.’

The only emotion Baltar felt was interest.

If such a flow, such “life force,” continued to strengthen, and if the vessel could withstand it…

If he were to awaken as an Aura user, become superhuman in such a state, what would happen?

Perhaps.

‘He might attain strength comparable to the legendary Lion King or Knight King.’

It’s still just a prediction.

But imagining the future of a young man with a bright future ahead…

‘In my twilight years, I’ve discovered someone truly intriguing, hoho.’

It was an inevitable pastime for an old man on the verge of retirement.

Baltar concealed his tingling wrist and laughed heartily.

* * *

Gulp…

Only the sound of dry swallowing echoed faintly.

That’s how impactful the collision between the two knights was.

Especially for the new knights who were witnessing their clash for the first time, the shock was even greater.

They knew Ihan was strong.

Hadn’t he subdued Yord Decker, the top graduate, in one go?

But they didn’t know he was this strong.

What was that?

‘A mini [Mountain Lord]?’

Mountain Lord, or the Tyrant of the Mountain, a monster called an ogre.

Though they hadn’t seen one in person, if there were a human form of the Mountain Lord, wouldn’t it be something like that?

It was enough to make one suspect he might be a half-breed with a monster.

‘Why is someone like that still a regular knight?’

Regardless of his status, someone with such skills should rightfully hold a certain position.

Yord wouldn’t deny that his view might be somewhat biased, but for him to still be a regular knight is unacceptable…!

“It’s because he has too many penalty points. So don’t misunderstand.”

“…Pardon?”

“It’s true that many high-ranking individuals look down on him because of his low status, but that’s not the only reason he’s still a regular knight. He’s still a regular knight because of his poor behavior.”

“Poor behavior?”

“He’s often late, and he rarely goes on missions. That’s why he has quite a lot of penalty points.”

“……”

“Based on skill alone, he could have aimed for the position of vice-captain long ago, but well, with his conduct like that, I don’t know when he’ll ever get promoted, hah.”

“…He really is a strange person, Senior Rihan.”

“It’s Ihan, I tell you. …Wait, why am I correcting this?”

Yord didn’t hear Jake Farman’s last words as he continued to gaze passionately at Ihan.

Although Ihan might think he was pathetically defeated, Yord felt differently.

He instantly realized that Ihan, not just the captain, was a massive wall and a goal to aspire to.

‘To have someone like that nearby, what incredible luck!’

Such a strong person was right beside him.

And he’s always looking for sparring partners!

This was an opportunity for Yord.

If he could spar with such a strong person, he would naturally grow as well.

‘I’m looking forward to it.’

Yord felt that life in the knight order would be incredibly rewarding—

“—Knight Ihan Turtle, hear this. Due to your poor attitude, destruction of knight order facilities, failure to perform duties for four months, and other offenses that cannot be overlooked, it would be right to discharge you as this tarnishes the honorable spirit of the Silver Lion. However! We cannot deny the merits you’ve accumulated, so taking this into account, we’ve decided to issue an honorable punishment to reduce your offenses. You are to teach the students (學徒) who will be responsible for the future of Pendragon for three years. This is truly an honorable and wise measure, and Ihan Turtle should consider it an honor.”

…Huh?

Unfortunately, Yord’s hopes seemed to have flown far away.

Ihan.

He had been demoted.