Ch.350EP.74 – The Knight Converses with the Butler (2)

Three years ago….

That would have been the time when the fighting spirit against Baltar was in full bloom.

Back then, Ihan was desperately training to escape the Order, deliberately picking fights with members of the Order of the Silver Lion and building his strength almost daily.

And just then, as Isis was vigorously engaged in political affairs following her confirmed appointment as crown princess, she introduced someone to him.

Her butler, she said.

And so….

“I am John Ray Albert, Lord Ihan.”

That was how Ihan and Albert first met, and before long, Ihan learned:

“An Aura user? You, butler?”

That the old man, like Baltar, was a superhuman.

He had thought the butler was extraordinary, but never imagined he was a superhuman.

“That’s right….”

Let me say it again—at that time, Ihan was full of youthful vigor…

No, that’s not it. Let me correct myself. He was someone who didn’t know his place.

A foolish youngster who couldn’t even distinguish the difference in skill between himself and others.

That was what he was three years ago, mistakenly thinking the gap between superhumans and himself wasn’t so dramatic.

And so….

“Butler, would you face me just once?”

He provocatively challenged the butler.

At first, he thought Albert would refuse, so he planned to be persistent…

“Ho ho, certainly.”

Surprisingly, Albert readily accepted his challenge, and Ihan must have smiled.

Expecting that through this match, he might learn how to defeat a superhuman.

“Well then, time is precious, so let’s begin right away.”

“What?”

…It was a delusion.

That day, Ihan understood the feelings of a cornered rat.

More precisely, the terror of a rat that can’t even resist when gripped in human hands before its death….

“Haha, your potential isn’t bad. So don’t neglect your efforts.”

“……”

…He struggled desperately and survived.

But Albert treated his struggles as mere child’s play and remained kind until the end.

“So damn strong……”

He was overwhelmed by despair and helplessness, and had to lie in bed for two weeks to recover, but he still managed to quickly shake off the negative feelings and get back up.

However, for Ihan, that day was an unforgettable, miserable defeat, and it clearly became a precious turning point.

Because he learned something by ruminating on that defeat.

“Even a rat bites fingers to survive, so what’s stopping me…!”

The mindset that one must struggle until the end, even if lacking in talent and strength.

It was probably from that time.

Instead of challenging Baltar once a week, he began to challenge him only when he saw certain progress, and started exploring new possibilities that surpassed existing ones.

It wasn’t that he wanted something new or ingenious.

“What I’ve learned so far isn’t enough. I need something to serve as a core.”

The things he had learned until then.

The stealth of an [Assassin] lacked power.

The roughness of a [Mercenary] was too raw and lacked balance.

The spirit and courage of a [Soldier] were powerful but utterly helpless before the real thing.

So he needed a central axis that would encompass all three while filling in the gaps, and after seeking something that could materialize the idea he had…!

“Let’s call it ‘Gyeong (勁)’.”

Thus was born the possibility imbued with a pledge to be strong and unyielding.

And now, three years later-.

‘Come to think of it, he’s like a benefactor…’

Deeply moved, a rematch was about to take place.

Why deeply moved?

Isn’t it obvious? He was the very person who had turned around his complacent mindset, which had been pathetically lax.

Not that he was grateful for having to suffer for over two weeks, but….

And just as these thoughts crossed his mind.

“Ho ho, it’s been three years? It’s only been three years, yet it feels like such a long time. It’s now a memory.”

Albert also mentioned that time.

“…For me, it’s a nightmare.”

“Ho ho, you’re exaggerating.”

“…Does it seem like an exaggeration?”

Unlike Albert, who laughed lightly as if reminiscing about fond memories, Ihan couldn’t laugh at all about those three years ago.

Rather, it was just an embarrassing past.

“Are you challenging me like back then? To defeat Baltar, or to land a hit on me?”

“…Don’t dig up my dark history too much. And it’s not about revenge.”

Just….

“It’s about conversation.”

It might sound like an excuse, but conversation doesn’t necessarily have to be conveyed through language alone.

When traveling abroad, don’t we express our intentions through gestures when language doesn’t work?

Not only this, but sometimes conversation is possible through music, paintings, dance, or songs.

Even mathematical formulas can work.

In that sense.

“This is also a case.”

That’s the end of the long-winded excuse that conversation methods aren’t limited to just one.

Well, for a special conversation….

‘I’m probably the only idiot who would challenge an Aura user.’

“Haha, I understand. I’ll take it as such.”

“…I’m telling you it’s true.”

“Haha.”

Thwoop.

For the first time, he took off his coat.

Three years ago, he hadn’t even removed that coat while toying with him.

But even though he took off his coat….

‘He really just took off the coat.’

He still wore an immaculate white tie and gloves, and the formal waistcoat under the coat seemed to mock Ihan.

Perhaps noticing Ihan’s gaze on the coat.

Albert said:

“That coat is made of a material that’s difficult to clean. It’s troublesome if dust or blood gets on it.”

“…Whose blood are you referring to?”

“No comment.”

“…I think I already got my answer.”

He revealed his intention to toy with him.

Who can’t hide their expressions from whom….

The difference was that Ihan tried to hide but was seen through, while the old man didn’t even try to hide.

This was a big difference, and it was like a provocation.

‘See, we’re already having a conversation.’

The first step in proving that conversation is possible through actions alone.

And to the provocation from the other side….

‘I should respond.’

A response strong enough to wipe away that composure…!

KWANG!

There was no agreed signal.

He just kicked the ground with all his might, and the force was so great that the ground collapsed, creating shockwaves like an explosion that spread in all directions behind him.

A charge of Gungshintanyeong filled with nothing but the will to slam into his opponent!

What about his usual probing?

Enough of that, he wanted to respond, not put on a show like three years ago.

‘Directly!’

Pure power.

Ihan was showing his full strength, and his body completely enveloped Albert’s.

KWAAAANG!!!

An even larger shockwave than when he kicked the ground shook the earth, and a massive cloud of dust spread in concentric circles, leaving scars on trees and rocks like a cutting wind.

It wasn’t a force that a human charge could produce, and it was sufficiently overwhelming….

Crack….

“Hmm, have you been eating well? Somehow you seem to have lost weight since before.”

“…!”

“Haha, but it’s fortunate. Three years ago, Lord Ihan’s bones would break just from collision, but now your bones are sturdy.”

“Tch, that doesn’t sound like a compliment….”

“Ahaha! I’m sincere.”

Grind!

Ihan gritted his teeth.

Despite exerting so much force that veins bulged on his forehead, Albert’s body:

‘He, he doesn’t move even 1mm!’

Crunch…!

Even though he was gripping Albert’s waist with both hands, Albert’s body didn’t budge at all.

Rather, only Ihan’s feet dug into the ground as he applied force, while his opponent remained composed.

Ihan immediately gave up the power struggle from that position, and as soon as he made that decision.

FWOOSH!!

He extended a fist.

A straight punch stance.

It was Baekboshinkwon executed from a 1cm distance, and this Baekboshinkwon emitted enough force to overturn a mountain.

Poof!

“Your reaction is about 0.02 seconds slow. You’re focusing too much on your stance.”

“……”

“That’s why it’s so easily blocked. What good is a strong technique? If I don’t give you the chance to extend it, that’s the end of it.”

“Ha….”

The Baekboshinkwon was blocked.

It was parried before he even had the chance to extend his fist.

The humiliating part was that instead of countering…

Swoosh.

“Let’s try again. Make your movements smaller, include only necessary movements.”

“……”

He was giving him another chance.

…How kind.

“……”

Hook!

But there was no hesitation.

Right then….

KWANG-!

“Ho ho, I told you to extend your fist, but suddenly you extend your leg.”

Gwanilchang. It was like a roundhouse kick, but a technique he was confident was superior to Baekboshinkwon in both power and speed, yet this too was blocked.

But somewhat proudly.

Whoosh….

“Oh my, my hair is disheveled.”

He had finally disheveled the hair that hadn’t even been disturbed three years ago.

Therefore-.

“Butler, what’s the secret to having such abundant hair even after passing a hundred years?”

“Diet management and minimizing stress.”

“That’s…”

Difficult.

KUNG!!!

-He wanted to show something more.

* * *

He was changing in real-time.

FWOONG!

It wasn’t like he was learning instantaneously.

FWOOOONG!!

The knight simply delivered heavy blows.

Even when blocked, he didn’t give up, just showing himself as he was.

Everything the present knight had achieved.

Each time, he appropriately cut off the flow, but while doing so, his eyes widened inwardly.

If an ordinary person had pushed themselves like that, it wouldn’t be strange if their tendons had snapped or bones had been crushed….

“Tendons stronger than iron chains, and more elastic than rubber. I can’t imagine what kind of training you’ve undergone…. Ho ho, truly remarkable,”

“HAAAAA!!!”

FWHAACK!!

To this extent after three years.

‘When I was his age, I couldn’t even imagine this….’

Poof.

Despite his admiration, he once again cut off the flow with a knife hand.

Using only his right hand at that.

The knight knew this but wasn’t frustrated at all.

He just shone with fierce determination and exerted his full strength.

As if worry or helplessness would only hinder him, as if he was determined to focus entirely on the present.

His will….

Each blow was filled with strong ‘willpower’ without any gaps.

And that will….

Throb….

‘…It hurts?’

For the first time, he ‘hit’ John Ray Albert.

“…Hmm.”

How long has it been since he felt this sensation?

His ‘wrist’ tingled.

Clearly, he was deflecting all attacks in advance and reducing their power, yet [strength] was penetrating from his fingertips.

It was a numbness like being bitten by a poisonous ant or spider, and he found this numbness curious.

‘How many years, no, how many decades has it been since I felt pain, my goodness.’

But he didn’t find this pain unpleasant.

Rather, it felt like reuniting with a welcome and familiar ‘friend’.

That’s because he was too accustomed to pain.

One could say he had lived with pain.

‘When I was young, I experienced a lot of pain.’

He was tortured for about a month.

He endured being confined in a coffin for half a year.

He had the experience of enduring in a heated iron maiden.

Of course, he endured all this through the grace of the Light of Radiance, but at that time….

‘I was too dramatic.’

It’s an embarrassing past when he thinks about it now.

Why did he cry and go mad over such trivial pain….

Perhaps it was the rashness of youth?

‘I hear the younger generation calls that romanticism? Ho ho, I too lived a somewhat romantic life….’

Albert felt nostalgic.

And he understood why Baltar so gladly accepted that knight’s sparring requests.

‘To monopolize this excitement….’

So it’s fortunate.

That even now he can feel this joy.

That he can feel such stimulation after decades.

It’s truly a valuable and precious gift.

‘Well, shall we share this joy?’

What good is it if only he enjoys it?

That’s not right.

WOONG!

Albert used his Aura for the first time in a very long time, bringing out one of his old ‘specialties’.

His most proficient weapon was an awl, but strangely, the weapon others feared most was none other than….

WHIIISH-.

-[Iron chains].

The Aura-formed iron chains wrapped around his neck, wrists, and ankles the next moment, and then….

“This might sting a bit.”

DRRRRRRRK!!

Quartering.

Originally a [execution technique] requiring four horses and ropes, but Albert was capable of using this technique alone, and additionally.

CRACK!

CRACK!

CRACK!

“I preferred to pull out the head as well.”

Penta-Section (五體分屍).

He preferred dividing into five parts rather than four.