Ch.235EP.52 – A Lady’s Heart is Like a Reed (5)

If born in the world of martial arts, this sword mistress might have joined the Bota Sect… No, the Sword Master of House Ophen elaborated in more detail.

“Have you ever witnessed such a sight? A woman who has never held a sword in her life displaying superhuman strength to save her child in danger, or a fugitive fleeing at incredible speed to escape a wolf, tiger, or bear suddenly encountered on a mountain path—these are excellent examples.”

Tap tap.

She tapped her index finger against her head.

“Such feats are possible because when humans face death, they can draw out latent abilities they never knew they possessed. And what enables these latent abilities to manifest is none other than—”

Tap.

“—willpower, the force of [Will].”

She continued her explanation while still holding the branch. Apparently, she had taken quite a liking to it.

Swish.

“Hmm? Do you have a question, cute child?”

“W-well…”

Somehow finding herself sitting in the garden alongside the others listening to Felinshia’s explanation, Levi, like the model student she was, raised her hand first to ask a question.

“If… if I understand what the Sword Master is saying, is this power of will something anyone can use? From your explanation, it sounds like even ordinary people who haven’t trained with swords can use it. I thought this power of will you mentioned was something that could only be obtained through endless training, like our master.”

“What an excellent question!”

Like a university professor delighted to receive questions, Felinshia looked at Levi with affectionate eyes and vigorously patted her head.

Levi was flustered but couldn’t bring herself to avoid the Sword Master’s touch, maintaining an awkward smile. Naturally, Felinshia, not being one to care about such things, simply continued with her explanation.

“Yes, as this cute child says, willpower might seem like something anyone can use. However, thinking of it differently, willpower is like a blade without a handle. Anyone might use it by chance or necessity, but misusing this power can lead to paying a tremendous price.”

“A price such as…?”

“To use the examples I just mentioned—the mother who saved her child found all her tendons torn the next day, and the person who fled from the beast at full speed suffered muscle ruptures. Both needed over a year of rest to recover their bodies.”

“…”

“I witnessed these incidents personally, by the way.”

“Oh…!”

Knowing these were real events made them all the more believable.

“As you can see, while willpower seems like something anyone can use, using it carelessly leads to serious consequences. That’s why training is important, and being able to control this willpower becomes crucial.”

“Can Kunta ask a question too?”

“Ask away, dear.”

“When Kunta heard the explanation, this willpower thing sounds like just using your body’s strength at full capacity. But can using your physical strength at full capacity let you use telekinesis like a spellcaster? Kunta doesn’t quite understand.”

“Oh, the big one strikes at a surprisingly sharp point.”

“…Is that a compliment?”

“Of course.”

Felinshia nodded, acknowledging that Kunta’s question was valid.

“To answer your question, controlling your body with your will and placing it under the dominion of willpower is the ‘foundation’ of willpower.”

“?”

“Hehe, to explain more simply, your proficiency with willpower is determined by how well you can control this latent ability, and at some point, this power begins to affect the external world. ‘The path where one’s heart becomes the sword’—that’s what Baltar said.”

“???”

“You look confused.”

“…Kunta still finds the common language difficult.”

“Don’t worry, Kunta. I don’t understand either.”

“Neither do I, Kunta.”

The swordsmanship department classmates unexpectedly found solidarity in their shared confusion, patting each other’s shoulders.

…I understand.

Unlike the clever disciples and everyone else present who failed to grasp Felinshia’s explanation, only Ihan, lying exhausted on the grass, truly understood what she meant by willpower.

It wasn’t because he was particularly intelligent.

‘It’s Uigibangin.’

He understood faster than the others because he had already encountered similar concepts in books.

Uigibangin.

A high-level martial arts state where one can harm others with thought power alone.

However, in Felinshia’s version, this world’s Uigibangin could be considered the state where knights freely use their fighting spirit—the power known as life force or life wave.

‘The fighting spirit technique essentially converts internal life force into energy to forcibly enhance physical abilities. But if one reaches this willpower state Felinshia is talking about, they can use that power naturally rather than forcibly.’

If until now it was like squeezing water (life force) from soil (the body), mastering willpower would be like drawing water from a flowing river.

In other words, the process becomes more natural, making life force manipulation easier.

‘It might not seem like much, but it’s actually incredible.’

This state could overcome what might be considered the weaknesses of knights (excluding Ihan)—the risk of internal injuries and difficulty in prolonged battles. One wouldn’t even need to operate fighting spirit techniques, as life force manipulation would become simpler, eliminating unnecessary power waste.

If that were possible, theoretically…

‘Even Heogongseobmul would be possible?’

Not just with rocks like earlier, but perhaps this could be used on people too.

However…

‘What that nine-tailed fox lady showed wasn’t mere Heogongseobmul…’

Should it be considered a completely different level from simply manipulating objects with telekinesis?

There wasn’t even a trace of life force being used.

It was literally like “heart-moving sword”—controlling a sword with the mind alone.

…Though it was just speculation, perhaps…

“Does willpower also have different levels?”

“Hmm? …Ah, you’ve already noticed that far? What an interesting child. Looking at you, one wouldn’t think you’d be so thoughtful…”

“Don’t judge people by their appearance and just answer the question, please.”

“S-sorry, I didn’t mean it that way… Well, to answer your question, saying willpower has ‘levels’ isn’t quite right. If I had to explain, willpower is like swordsmanship. The more you train, the more refined your technique becomes, but the more you delve into it, the more endless it seems.”

“I see.”

“That’s about right.”

“Then, my current level of willpower is…”

“…Well, at best, it’s like a hundred-day-old baby swinging a toy sword.”

“…”

…Somehow, he wondered why she called him “child” when referring to others, but used “baby” specifically for him. Perhaps in her eyes, his level of willpower control was truly that of an infant not yet having reached their first birthday.

While Ihan showed an expression of finally understanding…

‘Damn, that old man was really messing with me.’

Ihan felt embarrassed as he recalled Baltar laughing during their duel.

He could clearly imagine how his sword must have looked from Baltar’s perspective.

‘I was just playing like a child?’

Unintentionally, Ihan realized he had been acting like a child performing for Baltar at the age of thirty.

* * *

‘Wait, don’t I already know what willpower is?’

After briefly feeling ashamed about acting childishly before Baltar, Ihan suspected that he might already be using fragments of this power.

Arahan Divine Fist or Muae Sword.

Infusing will into his strikes, or forging a blade with willpower.

The basic application of willpower that Felinshia described was similar to what Ihan was already using.

So while Ihan was surprised to realize he was already using willpower, he also wondered if there had been any need to come to House Ophen at all—couldn’t Baltar have taught him directly?

Rather than wasting time here.

However.

“That’s not quite right. As I said earlier, your level of willpower is like that of a baby who hasn’t even grown teeth yet. To improve, it’s wise to learn from someone like me who handles willpower well. But Baltar has never been good at teaching others, and since the late king passed away, he’s been even less involved in worldly affairs. So sending you to me was probably his way of showing the utmost goodwill. …He must really care for you, to be so considerate, hehe.”

“That’s a bit…”

Ihan didn’t believe that man had sent him to Felinshia with such meaningful intentions.

Though he looked like an immortal sage, his inner nature was no different from an eccentric madman.

‘He might have sent me here just to mess with me.’

He must have known what kind of person Felinshia was.

“…You have such distrust toward Baltar.”

“Thinking about what I’ve suffered from him makes my teeth clench.”

“Hehe, perhaps he’s just awkward at showing kindness.”

“Good grief, if he’d been any more awkward, I would have gone to Avalon long ago.”

Ihan shuddered recalling what he’d endured over the past three years, while Felinshia laughed again, but soon…

“Still, it’s true that I can help you. So let’s work hard together to train your willpower!”

“…”

She cheered enthusiastically with passionate eyes.

Receiving that gaze, Ihan…

‘What’s this? It’s clearly good fortune, but why do I feel…’

…like my energy is being drained?

Meanwhile, Iliad was watching this entire situation from nearby and gave Ihan a sympathetic look.

“…Lord Ihan will have a hard time. Mother is wonderful in every way, but her passion is excessive…”

“Still, it’s a great fortune, isn’t it? Throughout the kingdom—no, the continent—there are countless people who wish to receive Her Excellency’s teachings.”

“That’s true.”

“…”

…Elza suddenly pressed her lips shut.

She quickly realized she had misspoken.

It was a major mistake to say such things specifically to Iliad.

Sure enough…

“Elza, I’ll be heading back now.”

“Master…”

“I’m fine. Don’t worry about it.”

“…”

“I said I’m fine.”

Iliad waved his hand and smiled brightly at her, who looked at him as if he were an abandoned child.

But on his face as he turned to face Elza…

“…Not everyone can be like Mother.”

…There was only silence.

A silence so dark it was gloomy.