The King of Vagrants 2

(Around three hours after uploading the previous chapter, some of the Vagabond’s settings were modified. More details are provided in the author’s afterword.)

“To teach ya a rather useful technique well-suited fer yerself.”

Upon hearing those words, Doyun felt a keen burst of eagerness.

Enoch had never shied away from learning.

The culmination of his encounters with geniuses and their collective teachings – that was Enoch Războlnic himself.

“What kind of technique…”

“Yer hand.”

“Pardon?”

“Yer hand.”

The Vagabond extended his hand as if for a handshake.

Unsure of his intent but trusting his experience as the renowned Martial Mentor, Doyun clasped the offered hand.

‘A mentor famed for nurturing prodigies…’

Soon, the Vagabond’s mana seeped through their joined palms.

“Hrm…”

The leisurely inflowing mana wove thread-like tendrils up to Doyun’s wrist, lightly probing his mana pathways and channels.

“Hrm…?”

The Vagabond’s eyes gleamed peculiarly.

“…What kinda pristine mana is this? Ya ain’t some kinda prosthetic, are ya lad?”

Only then did Doyun realize the Vagabond’s intent, marveling at his insightful approach.

‘So one can assess mana quality this way too.’

Befitting his renowned expertise in nurturing talents.

Instead of answering, Doyun reciprocated by guiding his own mana into the Vagabond’s palm, matching his probing method.

“…??”

Clearly not expecting the counter-infiltration, the Vagabond’s eyes widened.

‘Well I’ll be damned…’

A complete natural, huh?

Mana control was truly an arduous endeavor. Thus, when warriors channeled mana, they had no choice but to circulate it through their entire bodies using their heartbeat as a pump.

For the Vagabond to intricately feed mana through their clasped hands up to the wrist required not only decades of battlefield experience but an innate talent for mana control.

Yet this youth had immediately replicated the very same feat.

In his youth, the Vagabond had encountered a few mana control prodigies of this caliber.

Counting them, they numbered no more than five – one of whom had been the War God himself.

‘A talent has emerged.’

Another exceptional gem to safeguard the Alliance’s future.

Having nurtured countless top-tier Disciples, even Heroes, the appearance of such meteoric geniuses always filled the Vagabond with gratification.

But Doyun’s counter-mana didn’t stop at the wrist like the Vagabond’s.

“…!”

Startled, the Vagabond nearly yanked his hand back in shock.

Doyun’s mana traveled up his arm, over his shoulder, infiltrating his entire upper body.

‘Jus’, just what in the…!’

For such intricate mana control to be possible!

Meanwhile, forgetting the original purpose, Doyun had become utterly engrossed in playing with the extended mana tendrils.

‘The mana moves like my own limbs.’

A sensation distinctly different from before.

It felt less like controlling mana and more akin to outright commanding it.

Draconic Verbance – the innate ability to dictate mana itself, an exclusive draconic province. Among existing phenomena, it came closest to the enlightenment of Manifestation – the expansion of phenomena.

‘So this is what it meant, not mere magic but this very sensation.’

Mimicking the divine by wielding mana like one’s very limbs – the draconic mastery of mana control. No, mana domination.

Precisely this feeling.

‘A change brought about by the Dragon Heart.’

While still a minuscule Hetzling’s Dragon Heart limiting his dominion, it represented a dimensional leap beyond his previous mana control capabilities.

Unbeknownst to Doyun, even with Hetzling’s Dragon Heart, he had already surpassed the mana mastery of adult dragons.

For dragons, mana domination wasn’t an enlightened realm of willpower like Enoch’s, but an innate faculty bestowed without effort. The Dragon Lord Tiamat herself hadn’t reached Doyun’s Manifestation level – proof of the sheer gulf between them.

This was the result of that separate endowment combined with Doyun’s remarkably strong willpower.

If his currently minuscule Dragon Heart were to grow further… his mana domination would become incomparable even to dragons.

Utterly absorbed in savoring his newfound elevated mana prowess, Doyun had unwittingly showcased his full capabilities, leaving the Vagabond gaping in disbelief.

‘How… how could such talent even exist…!’

For decades, the Vagabond had nurtured countless prodigies, yet never had he witnessed such an outrageous level of innate gifts.

‘Haineken truly did stumble upon a monster.’

After their prolonged hand-clasp, the two finally released their grip.

The Vagabond clenched his freed hand, his entire body trembling from the sheer awe this unparalleled talent had instilled within him.

‘This lad… is destined to become a pillar of the Alliance.’

Despite that brief examination, the Vagabond had already resolved inwardly.

He had to properly nurture this young man’s growth.

“…”

After a momentary contemplation, the Vagabond spoke,

“…No matter what happens later, ya will come to me to learn this technique.”

“No matter what, you say?”

“Aye. Even if ya refuse my request, I must bear witness to ya learnin’ this technique.”

The Vagabond recalled a technique he had conceived but ultimately abandoned.

‘With talent like his…’

He would undoubtedly be capable of mastering it.

‘I’ll have ta revisit the archives an’ further refine the theory.’

It had been an exceptionally long time since the Martial Mentor’s passion had burned so fervently for martial research.

“Well then, I’ll be on my way. A pleasure meetin’ ya. An’ you take care too, lil’ trickster elf.”

“It was my pleasure as well, sir.”

“Fare ye well, Sir Vagabond.”

The Vagabond’s departing strides seemed quite hurried.

+++

Around a month later, the follow-up team’s investigation to verify Leona’s expedition report concluded.

And an announcement came from the Alliance’s Central Quest Management Headquarters:

[Enoch Războlnic’s Legacy Unearthed! 40,000 Gold Coins and the Guardian Dragon Lord!]

The entire continent was utterly rocked.

People were enraptured by this tale seemingly part fable, part myth.

Enoch Războlnic, who despite living a mere century ago was treated like a mythical hero due to his unparalleled continental feats. And the true mythical being, the Dragon Lord, who had safeguarded his legacy.

It was a grandiose narrative befitting an epic myth.

Then there was the novice adventurer who, during that first expedition when all his senior team members had been incapacitated, ventured into the mysterious cave to uncover the heroic legacy and treasures, even conversing with the Dragon Lord within.

Another dreamlike, fantastical tale.

Alongside the Alliance’s announcement, bards across the continent sang of this story and the name of the novice adventurer, Han Doyun.

Occasionally, those who overheard drunken bards slurring the three syllables ‘Han Do-yun’ between gulps at taverns after arduous expeditions would remark:

“Hm? Han Doyun? That Han Doyun?”

“The World Tree, must be. Wow… what a jackpot. I knew he was destined for greatness, but to strike it big like this on his very first expedition…”

“Heheh. He’s soaring to such lofty heights, I can’t even feel envious, ya know? That diligent fella since the Cradle days… Good for him, he deserves the success.”

“Hm? You knew Disciple Han Doyun?”

“Hah, as if. Back in the Cradle, that guy and I… Hm? We were just, you know?”

“Han Doyun, that guy was a surefire genius since the Cradle. That, what was it… Boss Monster? Anyway, even that he…”

And so, bit by bit, tales about the figure of Han Doyun began spreading across the continent.

However, not everyone welcomed the meteoric rise of this new star.

“Sir Hero. Do you recall the Ley family?”

“Ley?”

After a contemplative pause, Doyun responded to Eloah’s query,

“Ah. That inbreeding-obsessed clan.”

“Wow. I’m surprised you remember them that way? The clan head a century ago really adored you, you know – he’d cry if he heard that description.”

“…Did they have any other notable traits?”

“They claimed draconic descent, didn’t they?”

“Ah, right. That’s true.”

Only then did Doyun recall the name Ley, lingering in a corner of his memory.

A clan whose members all bore scales, wings, and tails – professing themselves as dragon descendants.

‘And a remarkably consistent sexual preference across the clan.’

In which iteration was it? At some point, upon learning the clan’s secret, the phrase ‘dragon descendant’ had utterly drained Doyun of motivation, their sexual proclivities leaving a far more vivid impression instead.

“What was the clan head’s son’s name again?”

“If it was the eldest son during your era, it would be Ley Fredrick. Quite the fanboy of yours.”

“…Let’s avoid unpleasant phrasing. Anyway, did that guy eventually succeed in marrying his own sister?”

“No. He perished on the battlefield outside the Demon Lord’s Domain while you were engaged with the Demon Lord herself, unable to complete the ceremony.”

“I see.”

Ley Fredrick. He had indeed been a valorous and formidable figure worthy of the ‘Dragonkin’ moniker – a reliable comrade Enoch could entrust his back to during their final war together.

And he had harbored an ardent, unrequited love for his famously cold-hearted younger sister, relentlessly pursuing her affections.

Though she had remained aloof towards Fredrick until the very end, his poignant yearning for his sister was quite renowned – even Enoch had inwardly rooted for him.

‘So in the end, he died without ever attaining that love.’

Doyun briefly mourned his fallen comrade.

“By now, the clan’s draconic bloodline must have thinned considerably, with that friend being the sole direct descendant.”

“Hmm…”

“A regrettable turn of events. That clan did possess rather prominent draconic traits.”

“No, their lineage persisted.”

“Pardon?”

“Ley Fredrick, that friend’s younger sister. She became pregnant.”

“…What?”

“Paternity tests confirmed it was Fredrick’s child. Even the First Name was inherited.”

If the First Name had been inherited, it was undoubtedly conclusive – an immutable law of this world.

“…How utterly shameless.”

“Upon receiving Fredrick’s death notice, that sister didn’t shed a single tear. And do you know what she said? ‘If I were to wail in anguish and risk a miscarriage, I would hang myself to meet my brother and child in the afterlife, unable to face them.'”

“…”

“They had already been deeply intimate lovers.”

…Doyun rescinded the prayer for Fredrick’s repose he had inwardly offered, instead congratulating him.

“…Well, it’s certainly a tearjerker of a love story, but why bring it up?”

“The youngest son of that clan is currently a Hero. And just like his ancestor, an obsessive Războlnic fanboy.”

“…Enough said.”

“For reference, that child has a sister complex.”

“Eloah. I had hoped you would only see and hear the good things while growing up…”

“Tee-hee.”

Eloah chuckled, seeming to find the Hero’s reaction amusing.

“But that’s not the main point, you see.”

“Then please, do elaborate on the actual crux of the matter.”

“That friend has publicly denounced you, Sir Hero.”

“…Pardon?”

Doyun tilted his head, perplexed by this unexpected revelation.