Ch.94EP.24 – No Excuses for My Life (5)

Jing (勁), a technique his disciples more commonly call [Muscle Arts], is his original skill modeled after the external martial arts he saw in wuxia novels.

It’s the simplicity of pushing the body’s functions to their limits.

It’s a technique based on simple strength, speed, and sturdy endurance, making it easy for anyone to learn even if they lack some talent.

In contrast, there’s the fighting technique.

This is a difficult skill.

The principle is simple.

It forcibly creates something like an explosion inside the body, unleashing explosive power and speed.

Since it instantly increases physical abilities by about 5-10 times, it’s clearly a formidable, even terrifying technique.

But the sense and talent needed to master the fighting technique must be special.

Just hearing that it’s a technique that forcibly increases overall physical abilities by creating explosions inside the body, isn’t it obvious how insane this technique is?

It requires the ability to use the power of explosion ingeniously without destroying one’s body.

To use an example, it requires judgment abilities comparable to an F1 racer.

That’s why Ihan never underestimates those who have mastered the fighting technique.

Even in wuxia novels, weren’t martial artists who mastered internal energy cultivation techniques usually called the strongest?

After reincarnating, he came to understand there was a reason for that.

But now.

KWAAANG!!

“!!?”

He had only understood it intellectually, but now he realized that the fighting technique was truly the greatest technique recognized by both kingdoms and empires.

It seems he didn’t know what “true fighting technique” was, and yet he had been arrogantly showing off as if he knew something.

Ihan gritted his teeth as he realized how arrogant his past self had been.

If he opened his mouth, he felt like he might vomit up everything he’d eaten yesterday.

‘Is this a dump truck?!’

He could see thirteen knights charging at him, each holding a shield in one hand.

Buckler.

Also called “bouclier,” this round shield was designed more for attacking than defending.

However, despite its advantages, it had many disadvantages, so most knights didn’t use it much. Yet most of the Crimson Eagles used bucklers, and every time these shields came toward him, the collision hit him with the force of a dump truck.

KWAAANG!!

Knights who charged with their entire bodies, kicking off the ground as if causing explosions.

Perhaps because thirteen people had gathered?

Their energy created a resonance phenomenon, causing heat haze, and Ihan thrust his own one-handed shield against them.

By coincidence, both he and the knights were wearing the same bucklers, and Ihan surrounded his entire body with jing to activate Geumgang.

WHOOSH-!

A technique named after reaching the state of diamond-like indestructibility.

Ihan’s current body was like being covered in armor, and because of this, he had no blind spots.

His entire body was at once a shield, armor, and a means of attack.

Thanks to this.

KWAAANG!!

He withstood the explosion-like impact once again.

“KUHURGH!”

“KUHUP!”

“Kugh…”

The knights who couldn’t withstand it collapsed.

He hadn’t shaken them off in one go.

It was only after dozens of collisions that he barely managed to shake them off.

“…These guys are really fighting to the death.”

However, just because he shook them off doesn’t mean he won without any sacrifice.

Cough….

He felt his insides being shaken up.

Even with his extraordinary toughness and recovery ability, the accumulated impacts were too much to fully absorb.

If they had collided just a little more, his Geumgang would have broken first, making him feel a chill.

It was a battle of endurance and stamina, which is why he won.

Ihan resisted the temptation to take a sip of water and immediately turned his head toward the approaching presence.

“Eight of you this time?”

“We work best together, you see.”

“…Why not all come at once?”

“Haha, do you think our strength is lacking?”

“Hmm, not really.”

“Then this is right. Unnecessarily moving in a group of a hundred would only disperse our strength.”

“…Ha.”

At some point, or more precisely, after the spear-wielding knight was defeated, they stopped attacking all at once.

They approached in groups of ten or two and attacked him.

Was this because they were underestimating him or being arrogant?

…That wasn’t it.

‘This is more annoying and more difficult.’

When facing a hundred people, it felt more like a chaotic battle, which was actually easier to handle.

No matter how well-trained they were, a hundred people couldn’t truly move as one.

But now it was different.

The knights coming in groups of ten, seven, or five were all perfectly coordinated.

This meant they were more efficient and threatening than a hundred people attacking at once.

‘None of these guys are pushovers.’

In fact, the most threatening opponents were the thirteen shield knights just now and the two sword masters he had defeated earlier.

Knights with good coordination, or rather masters working together, was like having a pitcher and catcher with fantastic chemistry in baseball, showing skills that could achieve a no-hitter or perfect game.

Therefore, facing these well-coordinated groups was mentally more exhausting and physically more challenging.

This made him realize:

This is what it truly means to duel with knights, or rather, with a knightly order.

With the thought that the real trial was just beginning, Ihan spat out dust and blood-mixed saliva.

And he wondered:

“Aren’t you being too noble against an intruder? Why are you putting in so much effort?”

“Haha, do you think any of us still consider you a mere intruder?”

“Aren’t I an intruder?”

“After having such a conversation with Lord Zeon, how could we possibly underestimate you as a mere intruder?”

“…Why?”

Ihan genuinely tilted his head in confusion.

And who was this Zeon person anyway?

But in response to his reaction:

“…You acted without knowing what you did, huh… Ha! That ignites a knight’s fighting spirit even more! Very well, let’s fight with our honor at stake!”

“…This is driving me crazy.”

The knight was spewing passion like flames from his eyes, and Ihan wondered if they had all taken some kind of drug.

“Fine, I’ll get my conclusion after defeating all of you.”

Still, what he needed to do remained unchanged, so Ihan threw away his broken axe and armor and silently picked up a sword.

With a positive mindset that he only needed to defeat 60 more.

*

*

*

KWAAANG!!

CRACK! CRACK-!

“……”

Tristan’s elite soldiers couldn’t dare intervene in that battle.

An intruder had attacked. Logically, they should be supporting the knights and defeating the intruder.

They knew this intellectually.

Yet they couldn’t intervene.

Why?

Simply because:

“If we go near, we’ll die…”

“…gulp.”

…The moment they stepped in, they would be torn apart like being caught in a typhoon.

The soldiers’ faces turned pale.

Those fighters didn’t look like humans made of flesh like themselves.

How could people move like that?

Did gravity not apply to them?

“Su-superhuman…”

One soldier muttered.

Yes, it wasn’t their first time seeing knights duel.

As soldiers who had worked in Tristan for a long time, they occasionally saw practice matches.

But this was different.

BOOM!

Every time a foot touched the ground, the marble floor shattered.

CRASH!

Every time swords clashed and bodies collided, it sounded like thunder.

What? Is this the sound that occurs when humans collide?

They recalled the content of a “hero’s tale” recited by a minstrel long ago:

– [A knight’s movement is like the wind, and a knight’s sword strike is like lightning, thus they are superhumans who can face a thousand alone.]

They thought it was just a fairy tale made up to take children’s pocket money.

But now they understood.

So this is what knights are.

Knights truly are superhumans who can become the wind and lightning.

However:

“No, if they were truly superhumans, it wouldn’t be like this. The mansion would have been completely destroyed by now, haha.”

“!!?”

There was an old knight correcting their misunderstanding.

The soldiers opened their eyes wide.

As soon as they recognized their lord who had approached them, they immediately prepared to salute…

“Ah, that’s not necessary. You don’t need to observe etiquette in this situation. I just came here because it was lonely watching alone, so please continue watching as you were.”

“L-Lord?”

“This is good, very good! Yes! This is what a duel should be!”

“……”

“I wonder when my turn will come, goodness! I’m not a child, but I’m so impatient I could go mad…!”

Shiver…

The soldiers felt a chilling fear.

Their lord.

Lord Jeminia’s eyes were bloodshot, looking like a predator expressing hunger.

Yet he seemed not just hungry but also moved.

Like an eagle who had forgotten how to fly freely, suddenly remembering it had wings and preparing to soar through the sky.

And as if this wasn’t just an illusion:

CRUNCH!

The bow in his hand was screaming.

As if it wanted to shoot an arrow right now.

Marquis Jeminia.

He was impatient, waiting for his turn to come.

…Even as he gleefully watched his knights being defeated.

Like that.

KWAAANG!

As if fulfilling the Marquis’s expectations, his turn was approaching.

* * *

CLANG!

“……”

Ihan looked at his sword, broken in half.

Since about the 50th opponent, it had been making ominous sounds, and now its durability had finally given out.

It had been a long time since a sword had broken after he mastered Geumgang.

However, Ihan showed no attachment as he threw the sword away and pulled out a hand axe from inside his clothes.

“I am Karl de Metz of the Crimson Eagles. My rank is, let’s say, around twentieth.”

“I’m Ihan.”

…He couldn’t remember how many times he’d had this conversation.

At some point, the knights started giving their names, and Ihan responded with his own out of habit.

Well, he couldn’t remember all their names.

He remembered some, but there were times when he almost lost consciousness, so he probably forgot.

Though he might not remember names or conversations well, he did remember what techniques they used and what weapons they wielded.

Because his body remembered, not his mind.

-The same would be true now.

WHOOSH!

The sword and hand axe clashed like beams of light, and the opponent’s body was pushed back.

Ihan didn’t miss the opening and immediately dove into the opponent’s space, delivering a headbutt.

The footwork of Gungshintanyeong.

It was an unavoidable strike that gave the opponent no chance to dodge.

But headbutting someone wearing a helmet…

It seemed like a foolish move that might crack his own skull, but:

“…Your skull, is it made of steel?”

“That helmet looks worn out, you should get a new one.”

“Y-you madman.”

THUD.

It was the helmet that broke, and Ihan’s head that won.

“…That hurts.”

He gained the lesson that one shouldn’t headbutt a helmet, and it cleared his mind.

He had almost lost consciousness during the fight.

“Phew…”

“Your forehead is bleeding.”

“I know. By the way, which number are you? Why are you coming alone?”

“I’d like to coordinate with others, but unfortunately, there are no more comrades to coordinate with.”

“Why?”

“Look around.”

“…Ah.”

Only after following the opponent’s advice to look around did he see.

Except for one person, everyone else was down.

The Crimson Eagles.

The knightly order with countless legends was sprawled on the ground, and only Ihan remained standing.

“Congratulations. You’ve effectively defeated the entire Crimson Eagles.”

SHING.

“However, I must prevent our complete defeat at all costs.”

While duels are important, victory is equally important.

Vale, emitting fighting energy, demonstrated an ominous “sword resonance.”

WOONG!

Sword cry.

The moment he drew his sword, he naturally produced a sword cry.

As soon as Ihan saw the man’s sword resonance, he realized:

This guy was among the top fighters he had faced so far.

“I am Vale de Tristan. I humbly serve as the vice-captain of the Crimson Eagles.”

“Tristan?”

“A branch family. But let me clarify in advance: I did not become vice-captain because of my bloodline.”

“I know. Just looking at you, you seem to be the strongest among all those I’ve faced so far.”

“…Haa, it’s been a long time since I felt that my efforts were worthwhile…”

At this moment, Vale cast aside all the feelings of inferiority he had felt for being from a branch family.

The knight before him didn’t see him as merely a branch family member but solely as an opponent to be defeated.

It felt like a stroke of luck, as if all the time he had spent striving to become stronger was being rewarded.

-And so it was regrettable!

“I should have fought you when you were in better condition.”

“I’m still fine, though?”

“Looking like that?”

“…Ahem.”

As the other said, Ihan’s appearance was miserable.

The ninety-nine eagles might have fallen, but they certainly didn’t fall without a fight.

Some had inflicted stab wounds.

Others had struck his jaw.

Some had blocked his movements for their comrades, and he had even been stabbed.

As a result, Ihan looked no different from a blood-covered person.

It meant he could collapse at any moment without it being strange.

Therefore, Vale felt humiliated that his turn was last.

He should have gone first, but the others kept pushing him back.

“Aren’t you the vice-captain? Why didn’t you pull rank?”

“Even as vice-captain, they’re all my seniors.”

“Ah, then that makes sense.”

Having experienced the military where seniority often outranked position, Ihan understood Vale.

Nodding, Ihan said:

“Anyway, pick up your sword.”

“Don’t you want to rest a bit more?”

Vale had deliberately engaged in conversation to let him rest, but as he was about to frown:

“I’m not underestimating you, but if I rest now, I don’t think I’ll be able to move anymore.”

“…Indeed, a lion is still a lion even when wounded.”

WOONG.

Vale’s sword trembled.

A sword resonance incomparable to anything before.

Was this showing that there are levels even to sword cries?

It was different from the sword cries shown by Yord, a junior in the knightly order, or that returnee.

SWISH!

Sword energy?

No, it was different from sword energy.

It was as if he had drawn out the power inherent in the sword cry itself like a thread.

Yes, just like Ihan’s Sword Flower, he was utilizing only the energy possessed by the sword.

Sword Thread.

SLASH!

The thread emitted by the sword showed cutting power that could slice through rock.

“…That’s impressive.”

“The power will be even more impressive.”

SWISH!!

No further conversation was needed.

Vale’s sword thread came crashing down, and Ihan immediately responded by lifting his body into the air.

Air Step.

It was Ihan’s move to strike a quick decisive blow.

“I’ve already seen that!”

But how could he not predict a technique already shown once?

Just as Ihan’s Geumgang had no blind spots, Vale’s sword thread also had none.

The reason he was called “Tristan’s Owl” was because his attacks had no limitations in range.

Even aerial combat was just another stage for him to play freely.

The blade of the sword thread rose fiercely, persistently targeting Ihan who had jumped into the air.

Like an owl that catches its prey in one swoop, even hunting and devouring hawks.

But Ihan, facing such sword threads:

THWACK!!

Charged forward without hesitation, kicking off the empty air.

“What!?”

Charging toward the sword thread was tantamount to suicide.

Had he given up on the match?

‘No!’

Vale already acknowledged Ihan, so he believed that Ihan wasn’t charging in desperation, giving up on victory.

He must have some means to do this, which is why he was charging with all his might.

Knowing this, Vale:

‘I’ll cut him!!’

Spread a net of swords that would tear him apart regardless of whatever strategy he had.

He named it [Heaven’s Net].

A net of blades from which there was no escape, whether on land or in the sky.

“A net of heaven and earth…!”

Ihan was incredulous.

He couldn’t believe such an opponent would appear at the end.

This could really result in his entire body being sliced up if he wasn’t careful.

Still:

‘What can I do-!’

Ihan rotated his entire body as if he didn’t care whether he got sliced up or not.

If what the opponent had spread was a net of heaven and earth, then what he would unfold was:

“What!?”

A martial art created by the descendants of Kunlun, the legendary home of Taoist immortals, after observing the movements of dragons playing among the clouds.

– Cloud Dragon Great Eight Forms (Unryong Daepal Shik).

However, this was his reinterpreted version of the Cloud Dragon Great Eight Forms.

While in wuxia novels it was classified as a divine technique, Ihan’s version infinitely amplified the rotational force and penetrating power generated when falling from the air.

It was like recreating the Gwanilchang he had used the day before with his entire body, and ultimately, his Cloud Dragon Great Eight Forms:

CRACK!

Demonstrated the power to tear through anything, be it Heaven’s Net or whatever else.

“…Well, now. Where does one learn such techniques?”

Vale couldn’t help but ask as he watched his technique being broken.

More than the emptiness of seeing his technique broken, he wondered where one could learn such techniques.

“There is a place, a bookstore full of romance and gallant heroes.”

“Wh-what are these gallant heroes you speak of…?”

BOOM!

Vale was flipped backward.

Without even a chance to dodge, Ihan’s knee had struck precisely the center of his stomach, causing him to collapse.

“……”

Huff…! Huff…

Ihan breathed heavily.

He felt relief at having defeated a strong opponent who gave him no room for carelessness until the very end, and he recognized that he had been lucky.

‘It worked because the technique was unfamiliar; otherwise, I would have been the one taken down.’

It was a moment when he felt rewarded for stubbornly practicing the Cloud Dragon Eight Forms, and Ihan was grateful to the Kunlun sect, which might not even exist.

Thanks to that, he won.

……However:

“Phew, did I keep you waiting too long?”

“Not at all. It was an incredibly rewarding and exciting time. You have no idea how long I’ve been waiting for my turn, haha!”

“…I shouldn’t be the one saying this, but aren’t these your subordinates?”

“They must all be satisfied. After all, where else could they experience such a duel? Though they were defeated, it must have been an invaluable time that money couldn’t buy.”

“Hmm… are all high nobles such eccentrics?”

Whether it’s a grand duke, a duke, or a princess… they all seem to be people with peculiar ways of thinking and values.

Are all those in power eccentrics?

He gave a hollow laugh, but the marquis didn’t mind.

He simply revealed his excitement as he held his bow.

THUD!

The massive bow struck the ground, creating a cracking sound.

It was hard to gauge just how heavy the bow was.

One might doubt if it could even be drawn, but:

SWOOSH!

The marquis demonstrated by drawing the bowstring.

WHOOSH-!

There was clearly no arrow.

Yet the moment he drew the bowstring, a vortex formed, and an arrow, or rather a projectile made of wind, seemed to target him.

In this tense moment, the marquis, still smiling, said:

“Ah, I just learned from a report, but I should apologize in advance. To make a slight excuse, sending hawks to your disciple wasn’t my intention. My subordinates took matters into their own hands.”

“I know. It’s not really something to blame you for. I also know that what I’m doing is crossing a line.”

“…Then why go this far?”

“To make a statement.”

“A statement?”

“I won’t stop you from taking our child, but I wanted to show you not to take us lightly. I wanted to let you know that there’s a formidable backing behind that kid.”

“…You did all this for that reason?”

“Why, is it too insignificant a reason for a high noble to be disappointed?”

“…No, how could I be disappointed? Rather…!”

─It’s a wonderfully splendid reason!

The marquis was moved.

The era of the revered former king had ended, and life had been boring.

Having passed 50 years of age, with declining strength, aging day by day, what a heart-pounding stimulus this gave to the life of an old knight!

He was almost moved to tears with gratitude, and all this was done simply to show that his disciple wasn’t a child without value.

To show that even Tristan couldn’t treat the child carelessly!

“For the sake of a lady, isn’t this an attitude that today’s young knights should emulate? I might fall for you.”

“I’ll pass, pretty mister.”

“Young people these days have no manners, ho ho ho ho!!”

FWAAANG!!

The marquis laughed cheerfully as he released the bowstring.

Like a message that the marquis, that Tristan, acknowledges you.

─It was an extremely violent method, but.