Ch.257EP.57 – A Challenge That Lets Me Live for Tomorrow.

Buzz!

The bees welcomed their master as if saying, “Where have you been until now?!”

Though it had only been five days since he’d last seen them, they seemed bigger—was it his imagination?

“It’s not imagination, they really did grow! What kind of bees are the size of puppies, for crying out loud…!”

…To clarify, the bees weren’t just slightly larger—they were enormously big.

Their growth rate certainly lived up to their fierce name, Hornet Bees.

“Don’t look so pleased—do something about them! Why do they keep trying to attack me?!”

“They’re probably just not used to you. By the way, assistant, where have you been lately? I haven’t seen you around.”

“I’ve been covering your shifts and doing your paperwork…!!”

“Is that so? …Keep up the good work.”

“!?!!”

Damian Pollet, officially known as the Swordsmanship Department’s slave—no, teaching assistant—and renowned as a master of paperwork organization, turned bright red with rage and stomped his foot.

Wielding the hammer that had become his trademark!

“Is this rebellion?”

“It’s revolution, damn it!!”

Raising his iron hammer high, Damian steeled his resolve.

A resolve to land at least one blow on his opponent.

Whoosh!

He was fast. Perhaps buffed by his immense anger, Damian’s hammer swung with twice its usual power and speed.

Not the ring of a sword, but the ring of a hammer…!

In some sense, this might have been the momentous beginning of the legend of the “Hammer Knight,” but—

Crack!

“…Huh?”

“Did you take some potion? You’re stronger than yesterday.”

“??”

…The hammer was easily blocked.

No, not just blocked—it was deflected with the back of a hand, as if it didn’t even need blocking, and the hammer broke against the elasticity of the hand’s muscles in a bizarre spectacle that Damian witnessed.

And his opponent kindly added:

“My body’s gotten a bit tougher.”

“Even more than before?”

“Somehow.”

“…Damn it all. Even large predators aren’t this tough.”

“Anyway. Not bad.”

Poke.

“Try harder.”

“…Shit.”

Damian Pollet cursed as he watched the finger approaching his field of vision, and when that finger flicked against his forehead—

Thwack!

He lost consciousness.

‘Even the Light is merciless…’

Already dissatisfied that his already tough opponent had become even tougher, Damian raised his middle finger toward the sky before losing consciousness.

* * *

Looking down at the assistant who had fainted with his eyes rolled back, Ihan genuinely admired him.

“Not bad, this guy.”

“I heard Damian bought a mid-grade potion with money he saved from helping other departments. Looks like the potion worked well.”

“So it really was doping?”

Hearing that Damian had resorted to doping just to land a hit on him, Ihan wondered if he’d been too hard on the guy, but feeling the weight of the hammer’s impact, his guilt quickly faded.

“No, pushing him is the right approach. He’s the type who gets stronger when pushed.”

“Are you serious?”

“You saw how his hammer rang, right? If that’s not evidence, what is?”

“So, you’re saying you’ll keep pushing him like this?”

“It’s pain for the sake of growth.”

“……”

Derrick genuinely felt both pity and admiration for Damian.

He was impressed that Damian would continue to handle the instructor’s duties and that being able to grow stronger through such methods might also be a talent.

…A pitiful talent, but still.

When considering that some people would sell their souls to become stronger, Damian might actually be fortunate(?).

“But why are you still here? Not going home?”

“…Lady Karin is at my house.”

“……”

Is he rubbing salt in my wounds?

Ihan’s fist clenched slightly, but he gritted his teeth and spoke as gently as possible.

“Then go to your girlfriend.”

Again, this was his version of speaking gently.

“I… I can’t.”

“Why?”

“I… I got kicked out.”

“?”

“I was seriously injured before, and I kept it secret from Lady Karin…”

“That’s your fault. Go and apologize properly.”

“If I apologize, Lady Karin might follow me every time I go somewhere dangerous. So I can’t apologize.”

“You’re quite the romantic, aren’t you?”

“Haha…”

“Don’t laugh. That wasn’t a compliment.”

“…Yes…”

Though Derrick looked dejected, Ihan wasn’t generous enough to comfort the deceiver.

After all, they were in a lovers’ quarrel for each other’s sake.

‘There are levels to rubbing salt in wounds…’

Ihan seriously considered giving this guy a forehead flick too, finding him incredibly annoying.

Just then:

“…Instructor, I’ve been thinking deeply, and I’m certain that the reason Iliad survived is thanks to you.”

“Are you changing the subject?”

“No, I’m not changing the subject.”

“Then why the sudden nonsense?”

You already saved him, so what’s this about him not dying being thanks to you…?

“What I’m trying to say is about the original story. According to the original story, Iliad should have died a semester ago. Yet he’s still alive and has survived safely. And I suspect this series of changes is thanks to you.”

“Do you think I’m omnipotent?”

Ihan was dumbfounded.

The idea that he had saved someone he didn’t even know during the first semester seemed like complete nonsense.

He was about to suspect that Derrick’s mind had been infected by a mind demon and consider treating him when:

“What if you hadn’t stopped the monster terror attack?”

“?”

He began making rather persuasive arguments.

“Back then, if you hadn’t been there, if the students you trained hadn’t been there, the monsters would have definitely spread throughout the royal capital. They might even have reached the Ophen family mansion.”

“……”

“And what if you hadn’t caught the illegal magician hiding in the academy? Those illegal magicians might have plotted something evil, and they might have cooperated with traitors like Gardin or Elza.”

“Isn’t your imagination running wild…?”

“Yes, I admit it. But it also means the butterfly effect you’ve caused is extensive. Besides, you clearly said it yourself, right? That for three years after becoming a knight, you went around eliminating illegal magicians and slave traders? Even this alone would cause a tremendous butterfly effect.”

“…I get what you’re saying, but why is that important now?”

“By examining past records, we can predict what impact they have on the present. Wouldn’t that gather more information?”

…This was an unexpectedly profound reasoning from Derrick.

Is this guy becoming smarter because his girlfriend is smart?

“—That’s what Karin told me once. She said to keep a broad perspective.”

“…You bastard!”

The moment of admiration shattered, and Ihan gave him a cold stare, making Derrick look embarrassed.

As if he just realized he shouldn’t have added that last part.

What a vicious guy, unconsciously rubbing salt in wounds.

Did he realize Ihan’s expression wasn’t looking good?

“I-I just wanted to tell you that someone survived thanks to you! I-I thought someone should thank you… S-so then!”

True to his excellent survival instinct, Derrick fled as soon as he noticed Ihan’s expression turning grim, and Ihan clicked his tongue.

“That guy worries about strange things.”

He considered chasing after him to scold him, but unfortunately:

“—He’s probably concerned about your sacrifice. It seems you’ve been living while hiding all your achievements? That child was probably worried about that. He’s a thoughtful child.”

Ihan couldn’t chase after Derrick because he had to welcome a guest.

“Did you enjoy eavesdropping on our conversation?”

“I-I didn’t deliberately listen. I was just wondering when to appear… Really.”

“Your excuses are long-winded.”

“…It’s not an excuse.”

The bees suddenly grew quiet and retreated to their hive—Ihan had already noticed, but having it confirmed so directly made his eyes narrow.

“Why are you here? Shouldn’t you be spending quality time with your family?”

“That was the plan, but there’s something I haven’t given you yet.”

Felinshia, with a broad smile, was floating in the air, standing on her sword.

* * *

The sight of a woman floating about 10 meters high, using her sword as a foothold, was incredibly mystical.

This was clearly a fantasy world, but would you believe it if I said she resembled an immortal?

She wasn’t even Lü Dongbin…

“You have many talents.”

“Oh, this? It’s nothing special. Anyone can do it if they can float a sword in the air.”

“…Isn’t that an extremely difficult condition to begin with?”

Felinshia laughed softly at Ihan’s retort and gently descended to the ground.

As if she felt sorry for making him look up.

“I apologize again. I had no intention of eavesdropping.”

“How much did you hear?”

“From the part about Iliad already being supposed to die.”

“…So you heard everything.”

“Hehe, that’s why I apologized.”

Despite hearing that her son should have died, Felinshia’s composure remained unshaken, and unlike her usual carp-like demeanor, her eyes looked remarkably steadfast.

Perhaps this puzzlement showed on his face, as Felinshia continued with her relaxed smile.

“That child must possess the mystery of [Future Sight]. I saw a fortune teller with a similar mystery 40 years ago. Well, he seems much sharper than that fortune teller.”

“He meant no harm, so let it go.”

“I’m not angry. I just feel relieved in a corner of my heart. That my son’s fate has changed.”

“……”

“I’m rather grateful. Thanks to your existence, Iliad has survived twice in a row. How many times must I thank you, really…”

Felinshia gave Ihan a profound look.

A gaze dripping with honey, perhaps?

It was an uncomfortable gaze that gave him goosebumps.

“It’s unpleasant, so stop looking at me like that.”

“It’s a gaze filled with affection.”

“That makes it worse.”

“…Cheeky fellow.”

Despite her words, the discomfort in Felinshia’s eyes didn’t disappear.

“This is the first time I’ve felt such gratitude toward someone. Not only did you save my child, but you also helped clear the resentment between my child and me.”

Felinshia remembered the conversation with her son before coming here, where they had expressed their long-held feelings.

They had talked a lot.

Really, a lot.

And through that, she realized.

She truly…

“I never once praised Iliad. No, what I thought was praise was merely ‘commendation’.”

Could there be a more incompetent mother in the world?

“Don’t worry. There are more incompetent parents in the world than you might think.”

“Where?”

“Well, my parents who sold me into slavery?”

“……”

“So don’t worry. There are plenty of beasts worse than you.”

“That… doesn’t comfort me at all…”

…Felinshia newly recognized that her mouth was the source of disaster.

* * *

Ihan asked again.

“So, why did you really come?”

It was a reproach—she should be giving her son all the praise she hadn’t given him before, so why come here?—and it also contained the implicit meaning that they shouldn’t meet for a while. However, Felinshia wasn’t perceptive enough to notice such subtle implications.

But unlike her perception:

“To give you one last teaching.”

“?”

“Upon reflection, I realized I haven’t really taught you anything. I’ve only given vague words without substance, and I wonder if my teachings lacked real value.”

She was the type who always kept her promises.

However:

“You’re only realizing that now?”

On the other hand, it was simply bewildering for the student to be told that proper teaching would finally be given now, and seeing this reaction, she flinched slightly.

As if she felt guilty about many things.

Still:

“H-honestly, I didn’t expect you to handle念 so early…”

If she were to make an excuse, her miscalculation was that she thought it would take him at least another half year of struggling and suffering.

“You broke my expectations and finally reached the念 you were aiming for. I’m both proud and sorry.”

Therefore, it was only right to fill in what she could, even if it was the last lesson.

“Do you now understand what念 is?”

“Sort of, I guess?”

“Hehe, yes, it must still be a bit subtle for you.”

“Hmm…”

Ihan affirmed her statement.

Yes, he certainly understood something.

That there was some kind of “power” within his body.

But freely using it was another matter entirely.

In other words:

“As you said, it is subtle. I know what it is, but I can’t explain it clearly.”

“That’s natural.念 is like a song. You can clearly hear it, but there’s an intangible beauty there.”

“…?”

“…I was just trying to sound profound, don’t mind it.”

“That’s what it seemed like.”

It seemed like she was reciting something she’d read in a book, but it wasn’t something he could relate to.

Because念 wasn’t something as elegant as a song.

Rather:

‘It’s like a new muscle.’

Ihan decided to think about it in a way that was easier for him to understand.

‘念 is a muscle.’

For example, what if humans had wings or tails?

‘You’d have to work to control them.’

In that sense,念 is like these tails or wings.

It’s a new muscle that needs to be trained, and as you train this muscle, there will come a day when you no longer feel any sense of dissonance.

A natural integration.

“By then, I’ll be able to brag about being strong wherever I go.”

“You understand perfectly. Yes, that’s the stage of integration with念. Representatives who have reached that stage include His Highness the Crown Prince… no, Duke Blake, Grand Duke Lionel, and Marchioness Jeminia.”

“……”

…That Marchioness, she really was an extraordinary person.

‘I was right to let her off that day.’

It was fortunate he hadn’t been gutted when he stormed the Marchioness’s mansion alone.

As Ihan gave a bitter smile of relief, her advice continued.

“It will be arduous and tedious. Only consistent effort and training will strengthen your念. But if you don’t deceive yourself and keep working hard, you’ll eventually reach it. Even if you’re as slow as a turtle.”

“That’s good news. Running slowly is my specialty.”

“That’s, very good to hear.”

Swish.

Felinshia smiled contentedly at Ihan’s confident attitude.

Thinking that a man should have at least that much confidence.

However, what use is teaching only through words?

“I’m not satisfied with just words, so would you like to experience it physically?”

“…That’s a real sword.”

“It’s my collection.”

Made of some unknown material, seventeen pure white swords rose high into the sky.

“These are swords with my highly concentrated念. Facing them might be of some slight help.”

“Those blades look extremely sharp.”

“I wonder if they’ll slide right into your body.”

“…Is this a murder threat?”

It’s chilling enough when someone who could turn his body into a porcupine with a wooden sword points dozens of real swords at him simultaneously.

Logically, there’s no need to risk one’s life for just a slight improvement.

“Ha, are you trying to kill me? What kind of madman would do this…”

“So you won’t do it?”

“Do you even need to ask?”

-Of course I’ll do it right now!

…Logically speaking, that is.

That’s how men are.

Even knowing they might die during the challenge, even with fierce waves approaching, they must move forward.

Because men are creatures who live for tomorrow through challenges.

*

*

*

……On this day, Ihan was stabbed by twelve swords and only regained consciousness four days later.