Bzzz!
The bees welcod their master with a buzzing that seed to demand, "Where have you been all this ti?!"
It had only been five days since he last saw them, yet—perhaps it was just his imagination—they looked a bit bigger than before.
“No, it’s not my imagination! These damn bees actually got bigger! What kind of bee grows to the size of a puppy? Damn it...!”
...Correction. It wasn’t an illusion—the bees had truly grown to monstrous proportions.
At this point, the na Tiger Bees no longer seed an exaggeration. Their growth rate was absurdly fitting for such a mighty title.
“Quit looking so pleased with yourself and do sothing about them! Why do they keep trying to attack ?!”
“Maybe because you seem unfamiliar to them. But more importantly, where have you been all this ti, assistant? I haven’t seen you around lately.”
“I was taking shifts in your place! Filling out paperwork...!!”
“Is that so? ...Keep up the good work.”
“!?!!”
Damien Follet—officially known as the swordsmanship departnt's slave, unofficially titled master of paperwork—turned red with fury. His face was contorted with frustration as he stomped the ground.
All while gripping his signature warhamr.
“Is this treason?”
“This is a damn revolution!!”
With a defiant roar, Damien raised the Hamr of Revolution high above his head.
He had made up his mind.
No matter what, he would land at least one hit on his opponent.
FWOOOSH!
He was fast. Whether it was pure rage boosting his abilities or so other factor, Damien’s hamr swung with nearly twice its usual strength and speed.
It wasn’t sword resonance—it was hamr resonance!
A truly grand mont. Perhaps it marked the beginning of the legendary Hamr Knight!
But—
CRACK!
“...Huh?”
“Did you take so kind of enhancent potion? You’re stronger than yesterday.”
“???”
—The hamr was effortlessly blocked.
No, blocked wasn’t the right word.
The man before him had rely flicked it away with the back of his hand, as if blocking wasn’t even necessary. And as a result—
—The hamr broke due to the sheer elasticity of the opponent’s hand muscles.
And to top it off, his opponent kindly inford him:
“My body got a little tougher.”
“Y-you’re even tougher than before?!”
“It just sort of happened.”
“...This is ridiculous. Even a giant beast wouldn’t be this absurd.”
“Anyway. That was decent.”
Tap.
“Keep working harder.”
“...Damn it.”
Damien barely had ti to see the approaching flick of a finger before—
THWACK!
—He lost consciousness.
‘Even the Light is cruel...’
As his vision faded, he weakly raised his middle finger toward the sky, silently cursing.
The guy was already absurdly tough—why the hell did he need to get even tougher?!
***
Ihan looked down at the unconscious assistant with genuine admiration.
“That was impressive.”
“I heard Damien used his savings from helping other departnts to buy a mid-grade enhancent potion. Looks like it worked.”
“So he really did dope himself up?”
Hearing that Damien had resorted to doping just to land a hit on him, Ihan briefly wondered if he had pushed him too hard.
But as he felt the lingering weight of the hamr’s impact, that feeling of guilt quickly disappeared.
“No, pushing him is the right call. He’s the type that grows stronger through pressure.”
“...Are you serious?”
“You saw that hamr resonance just now, didn’t you? If that’s not proof, what is?”
“...So you’re planning to keep pushing him like this?”
“It’s the pain of growth.”
“......”
Derrick couldn’t help but feel both pity and admiration for Damien.
It was obvious that he’d have to continue enduring this hellish training in the future.
And strangely enough... even this bizarre thod of getting stronger was a kind of talent.
...A rather unfortunate talent, but still.
Though, compared to those who were willing to sell their very souls for power, Damien might actually be fortunate.
“...But why are you still here? Shouldn’t you be at ho?”
“...Lady Karin is at my house.”
“......”
Was he... was he bragging?
Ihan clenched his fist slightly, but he forced himself to respond in the gentlest way possible.
“Then go to your girlfriend.”
Again—he was being gentle.
“...I, I can’t.”
“Why?”
“I, I got kicked out.”
“?”
“I, uh... got seriously injured the other day, and I... kind of didn’t tell Lady Karin about it.”
“That’s your own damn fault. Go beg for forgiveness.”
“If I apologize, she’ll start following into dangerous places. I can’t let that happen.”
“...You’re more of a romantic than you look, huh?”
“Haha...”
“Don’t laugh. That wasn’t a complint.”
“...Yes, sir....”
Taechang looked dejected, but Ihan wasn’t softhearted enough to console the bastard.
After all, this was just a lover’s quarrel.
‘There are levels to rubbing salt in the wound...’
Ihan seriously considered flicking the guy’s forehead.
Because no matter how he looked at it—this was annoying.
And then—
“...Instructor, after thinking about it for a while, I’m convinced. The reason Iliad is still alive is because of you.”
“...Are you changing the subject?”
“No, I an it.”
“Then why bring up this nonsense all of a sudden?”
Ihan had already saved Iliad. What was this guy even talking about?
“In the original tiline, Iliad should have died before the first sester ended. But not only is he alive, he’s completely safe. And I think that’s all thanks to you.”
“What, do you think I’m so omnipotent being?”
Ihan was dumbfounded.
He had never even t the guy back then—how the hell could he have been responsible for saving him?
Was Taechang suffering from so kind of delusion? Should he start treating him for mind demons?
“...What if the monster attack hadn’t been stopped?”
“?”
Taechang started making an oddly convincing argunt.
“If you hadn’t been there, and if the cadets you trained hadn’t fought back, the monsters would have overrun the capital. They could have even reached House Offen’s estate.”
“......”
“And what if you hadn’t caught those illegal mages hiding in the academy? Who knows what kind of sinister plans they were plotting? Maybe they were even in league with traitors like Gardin or Elza.”
“...Isn’t your imagination running a little wild?”
“I admit it’s speculation. But doesn’t it show how far-reaching your influence has been? And let’s not forget—you spent three years as a knight hunting down illegal mages and slavers. That alone must have caused countless ripple effects.”
“...I get what you’re saying, but why does it even matter now?”
“By analyzing the past, we can predict how it affects the present. That’s how we gather valuable information.”
...That was unexpectedly insightful.
Was this bastard becoming smarter just because his girlfriend was?
“—Actually, Karin once told that. She said it’s important to look at the bigger picture.”
“...You bastard!”
The mont of admiration shattered instantly.
Ihan shot him a chilling glare, and Taechang awkwardly realized his mistake.
He shouldn’t have added that last part.
It was an unintentional flex, but still—a flex nonetheless.
Realizing Ihan’s expression had darkened—
“I-I just wanted to say that soone out there owes you their life! And, uh... I thought you should know! Th-that’s all!”
Taechang imdiately fled before he could be punished, and Ihan clicked his tongue.
“That bastard worries about the weirdest things.”
He briefly considered chasing after him, but unfortunately—
“—He’s probably just concerned about your sacrifices.”
A visitor had arrived.
“...Eavesdropping on people’s conversations—is that fun for you?”
“I-it’s not like I did it on purpose! I was just wondering when to step in... I swear.”
“Your excuses are getting longer.”
“...It’s not an excuse.”
Ihan had already noticed the bees going silent and hiding away, so he’d sensed her presence.
But seeing it for himself made him narrow his eyes.
“Why are you here? Shouldn’t you be spending ti with your family?”
“I was going to. But there’s sothing I still haven’t done.”
Felicia smiled—floating in midair atop her sword.
***
The woman floating ten ters in the air, standing atop her sword, was an ethereal sight to behold.
It was a fantasy world, and yet—would anyone doubt it if soone said she looked like an immortal sage?
Not quite Lu Dongbin, but still...
“You’ve got quite a few tricks up your sleeve.”
“Oh, this? It’s nothing special. As long as you can keep a sword floating midair, anyone can do it.”
“...Isn’t that already an absurdly difficult requirent?”
Felicia let out a quiet chuckle at Ihan’s remark before gently descending to the ground.
As if feeling apologetic for making him crane his neck to look up at her.
“My apologies once again. I had no intention of eavesdropping.”
“How much did you hear?”
“From the part where Iliad was supposed to be dead.”
“...So, you heard everything.”
“Fufu, which is why I’m apologizing.”
Despite hearing that her son was supposed to be dead, Felicia showed no signs of being shaken.
Unlike her usual fragile deanor, her gaze was firm and unwavering.
Perhaps Ihan’s curiosity showed on his face because she continued with a relaxed smile.
“That boy... does he have the Mystic Sight of the Future? Forty years ago, I t a fortune teller with a similar ability. But this one seems far sharper.”
“He didn’t an any harm, so cut him so slack.”
“I’m not upset. If anything, I feel relieved. That my son’s fate has changed.”
“......”
“Rather, I’m grateful. Because of you, Iliad has survived twice in a row. How many tis must I thank you for that, I wonder?”
Felicia gazed at Ihan with a look so intense, it was almost dripping with honey.
An overwhelmingly affectionate gaze.
It was so suffocatingly overbearing that it sent shivers down his spine.
“That’s unsettling. Stop looking at like that.”
“It’s a gaze full of gratitude.”
“That makes it even worse.”
“...You ungrateful brat.”
Though her words were teasing, her gaze didn’t soften one bit.
“This is the first ti I’ve ever felt this much gratitude toward soone. Not only did you save my child, but you also helped us resolve the lingering resentnt between us.”
Felicia recalled her conversation with Iliad before she ca here—
An honest conversation, filled with words they had left unsaid for far too long.
They had talked.
And talked.
And talked so more.
And in doing so, she had co to a realization.
She had never once truly praised her son.
“I’ve never complinted Iliad before... I only ever acknowledged his achievents, but that’s not the sa thing.”
She was a mother who had failed in the most basic of ways.
“There are far worse parents out there, trust .”
“Oh? Like who?”
“Oh, I don’t know, maybe mine? ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) The ones who sold into slavery?”
“......”
“So don’t worry. There are far more monstrous parents out there than you.”
“...That’s... not comforting at all.”
Felicia suddenly realized just how much trouble her own mouth could cause.
***
Ihan eventually asked again.
“So, why are you here?”
She could’ve just stayed with her son and showered him with the praise he never got.
And honestly, Ihan was hoping she wouldn’t bother him for a while.
But unfortunately—Felicia was not the type to pick up on subtle hints.
“Well—”
She smiled mischievously.
“I ca to give you my final lesson.”
“...?”
“I thought about it, and I realized—I never actually taught you anything of substance. I just rambled on about vague things, never giving you any real guidance.”
She always kept her promises.
And now, she intended to keep one that had been left unfinished.
But—
“You’re just realizing this now?”
For a disciple, it was frustrating to hear that she was only now planning to give a proper lesson.
Felicia hesitated slightly, looking a bit guilty.
But still—
“T-to be honest, I didn’t expect you to grasp Willforce this quickly....”
She had assud he’d struggle for at least half a year—rolling around in hardship and suffering before he even ca close to it.
That miscalculation was hers.
“But you defied my expectations. You reached for the Willforce you sought and grasped it. It’s admirable... and also makes feel a little bad.”
So, the least she could do was properly guide him now.
“Do you understand what Willforce is now?”
“More or less?”
“Fufu. Well, it’s still a bit vague, isn’t it?”
“Hmm....”
Ihan nodded.
He understood that there was so power within him.
But wielding it freely? That was a whole different matter.
It was exactly as she had described—
“This is definitely vague. I know what it is, but if you asked to explain it, I wouldn’t know how.”
“That’s natural. Willforce is like a song—it can be heard, but never grasped.”
“...?”
“...I just said sothing that sounded profound. Don’t mind it.”
“I figured as much.”
She probably read that line from so book.
But Ihan couldn’t relate to it at all.
Because to him—
Willforce wasn’t so elegant lody.
If anything—
‘It’s a new muscle.’
Ihan decided to think about it in a way that made sense to him.
‘Willforce is just another muscle.’
What if humans had tails or wings?
‘You’d have to train yourself to use them, right?’
In that sense, Willforce was just like a new limb.
A muscle that had to be exercised.
And one day—
When he had trained it long enough, it would beco as natural as breathing.
A perfect unity of body and power.
“...By then, I’ll finally be able to brag about how strong I am.”
Felicia grinned.
“Exactly. That’s the stage of Willforce Integration. The best examples of those who have reached it would be the Crown Prince... no, Duke Blake, Grand Duke Lionel, and Marquis Jenemia.”
“......”
...So that Marquis really was on a whole different level.
‘That day... he definitely held back.’
Now that Ihan thought about it, he was damn lucky to have walked away intact after storming the Marquis’ estate alone.
Just as he was letting out a relieved chuckle, Felicia continued.
“It’ll be an exhausting and tedious process. Only through relentless training will you refine your Willforce. But if you remain true to yourself and continue your efforts, you’ll get there eventually. Even if it’s as slow as a turtle’s crawl.”
“Good thing slow and steady is my specialty.”
“That’s a wonderful thing.”
Srrrrrk.
Felicia smiled warmly at his confidence.
A man should have at least that much self-assurance.
But words alone weren’t enough.
“What’s the point of just talking? Why don’t you experience it firsthand?”
“...That’s a real sword.”
“It’s part of my collection.”
Seventeen pristine white swords soared high into the sky.
“These blades are infused with my highest concentration of Willforce. If you face them, even a little, you’ll gain sothing.”
“The edges on those are sharp.”
“Perhaps they’ll sink nicely into your flesh.”
“...That’s basically a murder attempt.”
Even with just wooden swords, she could’ve easily turned him into a pincushion.
But now, she was aiming dozens of real swords at him.
There was no reason to risk his life just for a slight improvent.
“Hah... are you trying to kill ? Who the hell does sothing this insane—”
“So, are you going to refuse?”
“...Do you even need to ask?”
Of course, I’m doing it!
Because that’s just how n are.
Even if they know they might die, even if the waves before them are overwhelming—
A man faces the challenge before him.
Because it’s through these challenges that he lives to see tomorrow.
***
...That day, Ihan was stabbed twelve tis.
And he only regained consciousness four days later.
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