Chapter 12: Optimal Condition (2)

"…What?"

"I asked if you've been hiding your true abilities until now."

"No, I haven't."

"Then what is it?"

Marhan looked at Kalin with eyes that demanded an answer.

Just a day ago, Kalin was a child who didn't meet his expectations.

A diligent, clever, and talented child, but with some issues.

Despite showing effort, Kalin could only use about half of his talent.

That was Marhan's usual impression of Kalin.

But today was different.

"Today, you're different from usual. No, it's not just different; it's like you're a completely different person."

"Ah…"

Marhan examined Kalin's eyes, which seemed to understand the reason for the change.

On the other hand, Kalin didn't seem to think it was a big deal. It was his worst condition, and there was no reason to hide it.

"Well, I always felt heavy in my body. But today, I feel incredibly light."

Marhan frowned, indicating that the explanation was insufficient.

"Um, how should I put it… Usually, I can only use about half of my strength, but on days when my body feels good, like today, I feel twice as strong."

"You feel twice as strong?"

"I get stronger. I've even heard things I couldn't hear before."

"Is that because you usually don't get enough sleep?"

So you knew that much.

Kalin knew they had been observing him, but hearing it made him feel a bit uncomfortable.

"Not exactly. It's been like this since before."

"Since before? Why didn't you say anything?"

"Um?"

"Didn't Lena ask if you had any health issues?"

Kalin recalled. When he had just arrived, a few days ago, Lena had asked if he was feeling tired.

He had answered that he wasn't sick.

"Well, I wasn't really sick…?"

Kalin continued.

"Um, I just thought my body felt good sometimes. I never thought I was sick."

Marhan looked at Kalin for a while. He didn't seem to be lying.

The possibility of a serious illness had already been raised by Lena, and Marhan had agreed to some extent.

But it was strange that his condition could improve so much.

He had never heard of such a condition or similar symptoms.

He needed to investigate further.

Marhan nodded, thinking to himself.

"Understood. I'll look into ways to resolve this."

"Can it be resolved?"

"It might be a condition you're not aware of."

It's not a condition.

Kalin thought this but couldn't say it, so he remained silent.

"From now on, even small things should be mentioned."

Marhan added. Kalin felt a warmth in his voice for some reason.

"Understood."

Marhan nodded, signaling to move on to the next weapon. Kalin walked back to the display.

And the 'next' showcase continued.

Strange, unnamed swords and double-bladed axes passed by.

Among them, Marhan double-checked a slightly curved dagger and a stiletto. Kalin now understood what this meant.

'Talents in long swords, daggers, and stilettos.'

It was quite satisfying. In a medieval fantasy game, swords were the most commonly used weapons.

And in Kalin's knowledge, daggers and stilettos were essential for spies.

"You've done well. From now on, your main weapons will be long swords, daggers, and stilettos."

"Understood."

"You should focus on these, though you'll still need to learn the basics of the others."

Marhan turned around.

"Celie."

Celie, who had been talking with Orhen, quickly approached them.

When Marhan nodded, Celie placed her hand on Kalin's shoulder.

"Don't be nervous."

"Um? Understood."

Kalin, who had instinctively flinched, relaxed. He felt an alien energy envelop him.

Kalin immediately recognized it as magic, which he had sensed before.

'But something feels different today.'

Usually, he just knew it was there. This morning, it was more distinct than before.

But when it entered his body, it felt like his senses were opening up anew.

Suddenly, Kalin could clearly perceive the magic floating in the air. It was an unexpected harmony.

He thought this was also due to his condition.

His guess was that the benefits weren't limited to physical abilities.

After observing Kalin's body for a while, Celie withdrew her magic. She shrugged.

"Not bad. Not as good as Orhen, but—"

"Exactly."

"Considering he's an orphan, his internal circuits are incredibly clean and solid. His capacity is also good. He's worth training."

"Worth training…"

Celie looked at Marhan, who was hesitating. Her standards were high, and Marhan knew this.

His hesitation meant there was a reason.

"Seems he has considerable potential in physical abilities, right?"

Based on what he saw today. Probably the same for magic. Marhan nodded, thinking to himself.

"And he has a mystery."

"Huh? A mystery?"

Celie was surprised. A mystery was a rare power. She had never seen one before.

She finally understood Marhan's hesitation.

"Then there's no need to specialize in magic. Just the basics, right?"

"Just the basics."

"Yes. Diversifying too much, especially in magic, isn't good. You know that, Marhan."

"True."

Marhan knew this, but his hesitation was due to Kalin's condition.

If every day was like today, he would want to teach him everything—sword, magic, and mystery.

But it wasn't his decision to make right now.

"Understood. Thanks."

Kalin was scratching the back of his neck, feeling a bit embarrassed at being praised for his talent.

By then, his future path had been decided to some extent.

'No need to worry.'

He was under the command of a nation's spy master.

And it was the judgment of experts far more skilled than himself. He had already seen Marhan's discerning eye.

Just the fact that Marhan had trained Denif was proof. A notorious imperial terrorist, after all.

He just needed to follow orders. Celie stepped back, and Marhan turned to Kalin.

"Pick up the sword."

And less than 20 minutes later, Marhan found himself speechless again.

* * *

'Is this even possible?'

Marhan was amazed. Had he ever been this surprised? Tracing back his memory of over a decade, he shook his head.

He had been surprised before, but not to this extent.

Kalin's talent today was beyond belief, far exceeding what anyone could predict.

Marhan, who could gauge someone's talent to some extent, was even more impressed.

'I could sense it from the moment he picked up the sword, but this is ridiculous.'

Horizontal cuts, vertical cuts, thrusts. These were the basics of the basics that Marhan taught first.

But seeing one, you can understand ten.

All sword techniques are extensions of cutting and thrusting.

And Kalin had transcended Marhan's demonstrated movements, making them his own.

Literally. He didn't just copy; he made them his own.

Just cutting and thrusting isn't the issue. A 7-year-old child can do that.

The true difference lies in the finer details.

The spacing of the sword's movement, the timing of applying force, the stride of the extended foot, the distribution of power to the body, the rotation of the waist.

Kalin's sword was flawless in every aspect.

And this wasn't something that could be achieved just by being told. Every person's body is different.

The ratio of the upper and lower body, the length of the arms and legs, the strength of the muscles.

Thus, the process of finding the optimal posture through experience, practice, and guidance is essential.

But Kalin had perfected this process simply by watching.

And he had done it with just one question.

"Like this?"

Marhan nodded calmly, knowing it wasn't a simple coincidence.

One or two things being perfect was possible, but all of them being perfect was not.

Kalin had flawlessly replicated the high-speed sword technique he showed next.

This was purely in the realm of talent.

But the biggest question remained: the stark difference between the child Marhan had known and today's Kalin.

Kalin had far exceeded the talent Marhan had recognized in him.

'I always thought he had outstanding talent, but…'

Marhan quickly thought. Was his eye wrong? Had he gotten old and made a mistake? No, that was impossible.

Though not a mystery, Marhan's eye was as accurate as the duke's, who could evaluate mysteries.

In all the years of training countless children under the duke, his predictions had never been off.

The most important point was that Kalin's words matched his observations perfectly.

'He said he could only use half his strength usually.'

This aligned with the report Marhan had sent to the duke. Showing only half of his abilities.

Today, it was double… no, more like triple. Yes, triple was accurate.

And from the insane learning speed, it seemed his talent wasn't just physical.

Marhan pondered. The child had been there for just over 20 days.

"How often do you have such days?"

"I'm not sure."

A reasonable answer from Kalin, but he continued, seeing Marhan's eyes.

"Maybe once a year? It's not exact. Sometimes it's later, sometimes earlier."

Kalin hedged his bets, not being certain.

"How long does it last?"

"A day."

"…I see."

Marhan's brow furrowed slightly. Kalin observed his expression, but Marhan was deep in thought.

Was it a disease?

Being unable to use full strength could be a disease, but no disease could triple one's abilities on specific days.

Especially when it also enhanced talent.

'If it were a last burst of energy, he would have died long ago.'

It didn't seem to be a disease… Marhan's thoughts deepened. He exhaled, clearing his mind.

It was a pointless worry.

'This is a problem I can't solve.'

He needed to report and wait for the duke's action.

And if this issue could be resolved, if Kalin's condition could always be at its best…

Perhaps he could teach the best in the continent.

Thinking this, Marhan felt his heart race.

Training a talented child was something he enjoyed and loved. And now he was seeing the best talent of his life.

Of course, there needed to be a guarantee that today's state would continue.

Marhan calmed himself.

If it couldn't be resolved, the unsatisfactory result he initially felt would be the outcome.

'If I pay more attention, could it get better?'

Kalin said it happened once a year. Whether it could be resolved or not, reducing the cycle would be a good start.

The important thing was not to waste today.

He regretted the time spent choosing weapons.

Marhan looked at Kalin, who was looking up at him, and then at the sky.

The sun was approaching the zenith.

There was still time before the morning training ended. Marhan turned around.

"Denif."

The gap between the two children was incomparable.

But Marhan decided to have them spar.

Today's Kalin would benefit both of them.

And more than anything, Marhan wanted to see Kalin's sword, which moved naturally and alive, without any teaching.