Chapter 020: Taming
In the heart of Easton’s city district stood a cluster of buildings filled with shops, anities, and luxurious accommodations tailored for tourists and trade rchants.
Naturally, these were all part of the comrcial district managed and operated by Zephyros.
Whenever the Gunbel Trading Company visited Easton, they were treated as top-tier VIPs, benefitting from Zephyros’s patronage, including the exclusive use of an entire building.
The tallest building in Easton.
Its topmost floor served as Jewelina Gunbel’s office.
“It’s a relief things were resolved quickly.”
The view outside the office window was pitch black.
A commotion that began in the early dawn had finally subsided, giving way to night.
“Seriously… my carefully built tower nearly collapsed.”
Jewelina was more focused on stacking tiny cubic dice on her desk than on the conversation.
This was despite the fact that the person standing across from her was Maserin, who had narrowly escaped death.
Of course, Maserin was the type of woman unfazed by such indifference.
“What should we do about Bihen Benkou?”
Tap.
Her movents were ticulous.
The dice, each no larger than a finger joint, were already stacked over ten high.
“A swordsman immune to magic. A blade that cuts through magic… Mana Crusher? Imperial Magic Sword? Hmm, no good. I’m terrible at coming up with nas.”
“…Pardon?”
“Don’t you think the hero who saved Easton deserves a fitting epithet?”
Tap.
She spoke from a distance, as if wary of her breath toppling the stack, then leaned in close again.
A playful, intrigued smile accompanied her excitent.
“Isn’t it fun, Maserin? At such a critical mont… a miraculous person ca to . Is this what they an when they say soone destined for greatness will succeed no matter what?”
“….”
Tap.
Jewelina leaned back again, eyeing the dice tower, now level with her gaze, from top to bottom.
Her expression was that of a sculptor calculating the composition of a masterpiece.
“Let Bihen Benkou do whatever he wants. Freely. But make sure he knows he can co back to when he needs to.”
“…Deputy Leader?”
“Are hunting dogs born as hunting dogs?”
Tap.
“The first step in taming a beast: let it know who its master is. But take it slow, very slow.”
“In my opinion…”
“Yes, go ahead.”
“Bihen Benkou… isn’t soone who can be controlled.”
Clatter—
At that mont, the precariously balanced dice tower collapsed.
Jewelina deliberately scattered the fallen pieces further across the desk.
“Ugh, what a sha.”
“….”
Finally, Jewelina’s gaze turned to Maserin.
Her slowly rising eyes seed to stir a chill in the air.
“There’s nothing in this world I can’t have.”
* * *
In my past life, the pinnacle of mastery felt like a colossal mountain.
Looking up from below, its summit was hidden from view, shrouded in thick clouds around its peak, as if warning lesser beings that even gazing upward was forbidden… that kind of towering mountain.
‘Truly, such a gap exists.’
Pausing to rest on the mountainside, looking down after passing the base, I couldn’t help but think this.
…Enough with taphors. Back to reality.
‘To think I can operate my heart technique even while asleep.’
I was currently at the Altar of the Abyss.
My physical body was recovering at the Gunbel Trading Company’s lodgings, but my unconscious mind had activated the Benkou Vision.
‘So, swordsn at the pinnacle and beyond trained even in their sleep.’
No wonder the gap in skill widened exponentially.
What a scam.
Imagining them secretly enjoying such sweet unfairness while preaching about effort and grit made want to retch.
‘…Focus again.’
I sat cross-legged at the center of the altar, surrounded by braziers.
The souls of the Crimson Fla Cult’s mages were all contained within the braziers of the Benkou Swordsmanship.
When the Crimson Fla Leader’s soul was added, the flas surged so fiercely that I thought the altar would beco a sea of purple fire.
‘The talents of Benkou Swordsmanship discovered or manifested so far number two.’
Physique and swordsmanship.
My physique, with its innate magic resistance, had now awakened a sixth sense, allowing to detect mana.
Normally, discerning a swordsman’s level requires reaching the mid-pinnacle stage.
For mages, it’s impossible.
Yet, at the early pinnacle stage, I could gauge a mage’s rank.
Then, swordsmanship.
Compared to my past life, where the ordinary swordsmanship of a low-ranking Imperial warrior family was nothing special, I had now mastered a new technique—cloning—though currently limited to short-range ejection.
‘Good…’
I rose from my seat and slowly paced the altar.
Braziers holding purple flas, symbolizing the achievents of Benkou Swordsmanship, and others with dark gray flas, representing Imperial swordsmanship.
And now, a new one had appeared.
‘Blue-white flas.’
Compared to the others, it was rely a candle’s flicker, but as the first brazier ignited after my regression, its significance was profound.
‘Let’s na it the Snowflower Sword .’
I felt it was too early to append “Technique” or “Art” to it.
Having manifested it only once, relying on intuition after an epiphany, it was still just a rudintary skill.
‘Nurture it slowly. Keep refining.’
The greatest gain was realizing the special ability of my newly acquired left eye, Ghost Eye.
Though I’d only used it once, I was certain.
‘Ghost Eye is the flint that ignites these braziers.’
Unlike my past life, where endless repetitive training and constant awareness of my limits were all I had, things were now flowing in the opposite direction.
The joy of learning, the satisfaction of achievent, tangible growth, and expansion.
‘So this is what it feels like to cherish each day.’
The ditation had been long.
My body must have rested enough.
As I prepared to conclude, I suddenly turned my gaze to the walls surrounding the altar—the dark backdrop behind the braziers.
I felt as if sothing was calling .
Drawn by the sensation, I slowly walked toward it.
When I felt I’d reached the end… I understood why.
There had been another change.
‘What’s this…’
On the dark wall, barely noticeable unless closely inspected, were tiny golden dots.
As I traced the irregularly scattered points, one by one…
It felt like gazing at a constellation of golden stars in the night sky.
‘Ah.’
They say constellations each hold aning. Imperials love this idea.
The Benkou Vision not only showed tangible achievents but also revealed why I must achieve them…
That’s the aning I gave it.
* * *
It had been a while since I’d operated the Benkou Vision for this long.
If it was bright daylight outside, I’d need ti to adjust to the light, so I braced myself before lifting my eyelids.
A familiar ceiling.
As expected, the sunlight streaming into the bedroom was dazzling.
The stinging in my eyes was secondary; my body felt light.
‘Well, there wasn’t much to recover from. I just overexerted myself a bit.’
After shattering the stone wall with the Snowflower Sword and collapsing from exhaustion, Jayden had half-carried out of the underground passage.
It was already dawn outside, and I rember my eyes closing the mont I saw Zephyros approaching.
I stretched widely and opened the door.
“…Gah!”
It was Bill, dozing off in a chair, startled awake.
He was ard, as if ordered to guard the bedroom.
“You’re awake, Bihen! Thank goodness.”
“Why are you here?”
“The captain ordered . Said to return with you once you woke up.”
Bill adjusted his crooked leather helt, his eyes darting side to side.
“This place is full of Gunbel Trading Company folks. Maybe because they’re Imperials, they’re so stoic… I kept feeling out of place. They’ve got such stern faces.”
“…The company mbers are seafaring folk, so they can be rough. Not all Imperials are like that.”
“Oh, really? Hehe.”
“By the way, return together?”
“Yeah. Sothing about a big party.”
Bill’s eyes glead mischievously.
He leaned in as if to whisper.
“Easton Guard’s party for their first successful operation this year.”
I might have let my surprise show.
A proud Imperial warrior at a party? The thought alone made my face burn.
“I’ll pass…”
“Oh, Young Master Bihen? You’re up and about?”
The mont I heard the voice, blood rushed to my head.
Jewel, accompanied by a single burly escort, was waving her fingers in greeting from behind.
“What are you two chatting about so cozily? I’m jealous. Do you know how worried I was?”
“…Jewel.”
I strode forward and grabbed Jewel’s wrist.
I barely suppressed the urge to twist it.
The large escort didn’t know what to do.
He knew his employer was a commoner, and I was a noble.
For an Imperial, the class divide etched into their bones wasn’t easily ignored.
“I’m fine.”
Jewel played it off with ease.
I brushed past Bill, dragged Jewel back into my bedroom, and released her wrist as if tossing it away.
“You could speak slowly, and I’d listen to the end. Well, I like this rough side too.”
Her shalessness was starting to feel repulsive.
I sensed her escort and Bill pressing their ears to the door, so I gritted my teeth and spoke.
“Be honest. Among the Imperials you brought, so were handed over as sacrifices, weren’t they?”
“…I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Don’t play dumb. The knights you called your business partners—so of them are tied to the cults, aren’t they? A great Imperial rchant like you wouldn’t be unaware of that.”
Jewel rolled her eyes once and let out a sigh through her nose.
“Slaves or sacrifices… I don’t see the difference.”
“Don’t spew nonsense. It’s taking the lives of living people. In an unnatural, unjust way. How are they the sa?”
“I believe I ntioned before. They’re heinous criminals or traitors destined for the guillotine back ho. Lives ant to end on the executioner’s block. Using those lives for the Empire’s benefit—isn’t that showing them undue rcy?”
I swear, I would have cut this madwoman’s throat right then and there.
If I weren’t an Imperial, if I weren’t an Imperial noble, if I hadn’t been a soldier in my past life.
‘…Damn it.’
Jewel took a step closer.
Even now, the fragrance she exuded was sickeningly sweet.
“I don’t know every detail of my business partners’ affairs. Well, fully grasping all of it is the goal of , our company, and…”
Jewel pointed a finger at the ceiling.
“…those above.”
“….”
“But I can promise you one thing clearly. Everything I do in the na of the Gunbel Trading Company is unquestionably for the Empire’s benefit.”
“So, the Imperial Court is scheming to fuel chaos in the Kingdom by supporting cult factions. Is that the interpretation?”
Jewel twisted her lips.
“Yes. As you’ve guessed, our family serves the Imperial Court. Of course, I have my own objectives.”
“And what are those?”
“Oh, how could I reveal that now, in this mood? But I’ll promise you this: I swear on my personal intentions that I will never tarnish your honor or that of your family. Quite the opposite.”
I barely swallowed a sigh. Damn it. I had to admit I looked pathetic.
‘Here I am, getting heated and confronting an easy target like her instead of the Imperial Court itself.’
…What a disgrace.
Still, I intended to make one thing clear. I pointed my index finger at the bridge of her nose.
“Don’t tie to the Gunbel Trading Company.”
“Noted.”
As I turned, her voice followed.
“Now that the misunderstanding is cleared, how about dining together? I’ve been dying to treat you. They say you perford spectacularly. Zephyros is buzzing because of it, and our company’s standing has risen too. This is truly unprecedented.”
I didn’t respond.
When I flung open the bedroom door, Jewel’s escort and Bill, who had their ears pressed to it, stumbled forward together.
Being a VIP suite, the bedroom was spacious. Since we’d spoken in hushed tones inside, they likely hadn’t overheard our conversation.
“Let’s go, Bill.”
I yanked Bill up by the ear as he stood there with a sheepish expression.
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