Ch.167EP.40 – Spring of the Knights (2)

Lac de Duron’s expression hardened.

‘…This rogue has definitely grown since the old days.’

About half a year ago when they first fought, the man had an unnaturally sturdy body.

Even then, Lac had to pour all his energy into the fight, and in the end, he couldn’t gain the upper hand and had to resort to using techniques.

It was his specialty, after all.

But now, he wasn’t confident that using techniques would allow him to match this rogue like before.

No, at the very least…

‘Fighting bare-handed would be disadvantageous now.’

If before the man was simply tough, now he was solid.

Like high-quality steel completed through hundreds of temperings in extreme heat.

He never expected to have such an impression about a person.

In other words.

‘This rogue is not human.’

He’d thought the man was strange from the beginning, but now he had evolved into something even more bizarre.

Lac reminded himself that he needed to avoid hand-to-hand combat.

…Of course, if a situation arose where he had to fight bare-handed, he had no intention of avoiding it.

“Man, your eyes are truly vicious.”

“…You’re one to talk.”

Lac frowned and withdrew his spear.

Normally, he wouldn’t withdraw his spear so readily, but unfortunately, today the opponent he needed to point his spear at wasn’t this rogue.

The targets he needed to aim his spear at were those presumptuous mages who didn’t know their place, and to eliminate them…

“You still consider me a burden.”

—The rogue’s cooperation was absolutely essential.

The rogue shrugged his shoulders.

“I never called you a burden, what nonsense are you talking about?”

“When you said ‘I’ll go alone, just wait here,’ wasn’t that dismissing me?”

“…I just meant it would be easier to go alone?”

“That’s what dismissal means, you rogue!”

Lac gritted his teeth.

His anger still hadn’t subsided.

But what was even more irritating was…

‘The fact that I can’t climb the magic tower without this rogue’s cooperation.’

Just like how he deflected the spear with his forehead earlier, this rogue possessed many strange abilities.

Skills like making flowers bloom from a sword, or launching his body like an arrow.

And also.

‘The skill to walk on air…’

He roughly understood the principle behind the technique, but such a skill was nothing if not too delicate for someone trained in battle energy techniques.

‘He must be creating footholds by delicately expelling energy.’

However, it was a difficult technique for knights trained in battle energy to use.

Since knights’ basic combat method was to release power using the explosive force within their bodies.

Using such a delicate technique would be extremely difficult.

Therefore.

“Take me with you, rogue.”

“…Your attitude when asking a favor is too arrogant?”

“……”

“Well, whatever. Don’t just ask, show me more. Show me if you’re worth taking along.”

“…Don’t regret it later.”

Whoosh!

Lac thrust his spear forward once again.

* * *

The relentlessly thrusting spear seemed to approach in a simple straight line, but it was creating countless variations.

No matter which direction one dodged, it would definitely follow—that’s how it felt.

Sure enough.

Clang!

‘—Again?’

Ihan got hit by the spear again.

The first time, he hadn’t wanted to get hit on purpose.

He had tried to dodge, but got hit anyway.

Even Ihan, with his extraordinary senses and quick movements, found it difficult to avoid the spear work.

‘His precision seems more accurate than a machine.’

Ihan thought he understood why he couldn’t dodge that spear.

It wasn’t because of any special mystery or battle energy technique.

It was simply because the spear wielder’s precision and technique had reached a level of mastery that was impossible to imitate.

‘He’s not just thrusting. There’s high-level calculation involved.’

It wasn’t simply thrusting a spear; it was a strike delivered by simultaneously using all the joints of the body—hands, elbows, shoulders, and back—making it a thrust impossible to dodge even if one tried.

While Ihan focused more on the “functions” of the body rather than techniques, this man seemed to have invested everything in “artistry.”

He was the complete opposite type from Ihan, with a level of perfection that Ihan couldn’t even think of imitating.

But what was even more impressive than the perfection of his technique was…

‘Reading moves.’

The man was intelligent.

If knights like Ihan were commonly called “intuitive knights”—those who fight using superior physical abilities, senses better than others, and combat experience—then this guy was clearly what would be called a “strategic knight.”

The kind who treats combat like a game of Go or chess.

And Ihan found these strategic types far more troublesome than intuitive types.

Especially considering that move-reading becomes crucial in duels between warriors of similar skill.

And,

‘This guy is at least a Grand Master.’

The spear wielder’s move-reading skills seemed to be at the level of a chess Grand Master.

That’s how helplessly Ihan had allowed attacks without being able to respond to the man’s offensive.

But what still didn’t make sense was…

‘Is it possible to read my movements so completely?’

He understood that the spear wielder’s move-reading skills were excellent.

But Ihan half-opened his eyes as he watched the spear blade that pursued him as soon as he tried to dodge.

The skill to predict where he would move next was understandable.

But.

‘This seems less like prediction and more like precognition?’

Future sight.

The thought crossed his mind because the spear was striking at the direction he would move next.

Feeling this, Ihan became convinced.

That the spear wielder possessed something special.

Just as Maximus, the champion of the North, had the Heavenly Martial Body, this spear wielder filled with killing intent had some similar “function.”

And recalling the abilities of the spear wielder that he had observed during the four and a half days breaking through the Red Mountain Range, Ihan thought he knew what function the man possessed.

“…You have incredibly good ‘eyes.'”

“……”

“It doesn’t seem like a [Mystery], is it a special secret technique or skill passed down in Galahad?”

“…As expected, despite your appearance, you’re quite perceptive.”

“Hey, stop commenting on my appearance, will you? You seem like someone who discriminates based on looks…”

“…Hmm, I admit I was wrong about that.”

“Surprisingly, you know how to apologize?”

“If I don’t want to appear ill-mannered, my lord taught me that one should acknowledge one’s mistakes.”

Tap.

The man put down his spear.

Then.

“Have you heard of the [Thousand-Mile Eye] mystery?”

“Huh? Hmm, I think I’ve heard of it…”

Despite the spear wielder’s sudden statement, Ihan pondered for a moment at the non-hostile question, then nodded.

“It’s definitely an eye that can see a thousand li ahead…”

“An eye that can see 244 miles ahead.”

“……”

“What’s wrong?”

“…Please, I’m begging you, use kilometers, damn it.”

“?”

Ihan felt his blood pressure rising.

* * *

There are various [Mysteries] in the world.

Although not many people possess mysteries, the types of mysteries are as numerous as the stars.

Various mysteries exist in the world, and many are fascinated by their power.

Just looking at how Greg, whom Ihan had captured, dedicated his entire life to extorting mysteries, one can see how valuable mysteries are.

But while there are those who want to obtain mysteries even through such base methods, there are also righteous individuals who research mysteries themselves and come up with ideas like ‘How about utilizing them technically?’

For example.

“Galahad has always been serious about sublimating mysteries into techniques. Of course, the research process itself was difficult, and even if there were results, only a very small number of people could master them.”

“But there were people who mastered them, even if few?”

“That’s right. Especially for the successive heads of the Galahad knights, it’s like a basic qualification that must be mastered.”

“Isn’t that standard too high?”

“Do you think someone who can’t even do that much could dare to become the head of Galahad knights! Of course they must master it.”

“……”

…Now it made sense why Galahad knights were so strong.

‘Of course they’re strong when they only accept people who have the potential to master such impossible things.’

Compared to that, the Order of the Silver Lion was…

‘Sigh, that place is truly hopeless.’

Even if he wanted to compare, there was an unbridgeable gap.

Ihan was about to click his tongue, thinking how depressing his workplace was, when Lac continued speaking.

“Galahad has successfully embodied 31 different mysteries as techniques. Of course, no one has mastered all these secrets, and even those who have properly mastered just one or two are quite remarkable.”

“How many have you mastered?”

“Seven.”

“…I see now, you’re just bragging?”

“You asked first, you rogue!”

“Fine, I get that you’ve learned some amazing skills.”

“…You’re one to talk.”

In his view, it was more amazing that the man was still fine despite being hit by his spear.

Even though he hadn’t imbued it with [Killing Intent], it was humiliating that there wasn’t even a scratch.

Trying to hide his frustration, Lac continued.

“…Also, even though I’ve mastered seven, most of the mysteries I’ve mastered are concentrated in my eyes. I’ve incorporated a total of five arts into my eyes.”

“Hmm, I see.”

Ihan had a reason for thinking his eyes were special.

The reason they could come to the central region without getting lost even once.

Even when encountering fog or earthquakes, and despite changing terrain, he understood how the man could find the right path without any confusion.

‘So it’s basically the Thousand-Mile Eye mixed with various other things.’

Hmm…

“Don’t your eyes turn red and develop something like curved jade around your pupils?”

“…What nonsense are you talking about?”

“…There is such a thing.”

It’s clearly that type.

Enhanced insight, predicting opponent’s movements, observing surroundings, and incredibly improved dynamic vision.

If he could copy opponent’s techniques and breathe fire, that would be perfect.

‘…First that northern guy, now this bastard, why do they have so many cheat keys?’

One was born like Hercules, and the other gained ultimate weapon eyes through talent.

Well…

“Life is really unfair for those without talent.”

“……”

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“……”

Whoosh!

Crack!

“Why are you picking a fight again?”

“…You blocked it.”

“Of course I blocked it?”

“…Ha.”

The spear wielder thrust his spear again, and Ihan frowned, wondering why he suddenly acted this way.

…Lac was convinced.

‘This rogue is a beast.’

Lac read all of the man’s movements and actions.

Lord Blake had even named it the ‘[Third Eye]’—that special eye belonged to none other than Lac.

He dared to be confident that nothing could escape his eyes.

And yet…

‘He shows reaction speed that escapes my eyes?’

It wasn’t human reaction speed.

In other words, after scuffling with him a few times, the man had already adapted to his speed.

Probably, as they continued fighting, he would respond even faster to his attacks, and at some point, he might even be able to counter.

And yet this man was talking about talent or lack thereof, which made Lac’s blood boil.

‘Not funny at all!’

He was certain.

This rogue was…

‘I’ve seen intuitive knights before, but this is my first time seeing a beast-type knight…’

A type of knight he had never seen before in his life.

Lac frowned, never expecting to feel such admiration for someone else.

…Because he didn’t want to admit his admiration.

* * *

There had been some squabbling, but now they were running out of time.

It wasn’t because of issues like having little vacation time left.

‘There’s nothing good about staying here too long.’

Although the Empire was falling apart and Yellow Turban rebels could appear at any moment, the Empire was still the Empire.

These madmen who had maintained the name of Empire for a thousand years on this vast continent.

The continent’s largest population powerhouse with about 500 million people.

With population as their trump card, if they set their minds to it, they would definitely discover that they, who belonged to Pendragon, were here.

And that wasn’t what Ihan wanted.

Therefore.

‘Just quickly take care of the magic tower and get out.’

For that very reason.

“So I need to carry you up there…”

“…How dreadful.”

“That’s my line, you bastard.”

He didn’t like it, but there was no choice.

As much as he hated to admit it, this man’s skills were extraordinary.

Taking him along would help save time.

“We’ll take down the magic tower before dawn.”

Flinch!

“……”

“…Hey, young friend. Playing unconscious is fine, but if you keep doing that, your mouth will get crooked.”

“……”

“Well, we’re leaving now, so do as you please. Sorry for the rough sight.”

Although Ihan hadn’t attacked directly, he felt sorry for being the cause of the fainting, so he apologized sincerely and was about to leave.

They would only be inconvenienced if these people stayed.

Just as Ihan was about to turn away—

“—If, if you’re going to the magic tower, going through the sky isn’t a good method…”

“…?”

“The, the front of the magic tower has powerful defensive magic laid out. No, no one except a mage can break through it, so, so if you want to enter…”

“……”

“…If, if you want to hear the rest, it’s, it’s paid information…”

“…Look at this kid?”

This young friend—

“Can you give me a discount? I didn’t bring much money…”

He knows how to do business.