Chapter 40

As Otto finished practicing the <Invincible Sword Technique>, Conrad asked, "So, you were a complete rascal for a few years... and then suddenly you changed, is that it?"

"It seems he wandered for a while," Camille replied.

Even though Conrad knew all about Otto's past, he asked sparingly. After all, no matter how annoying Otto was, as a knight, he couldn't speak ill of his lord.

"Indeed..."

Conrad nodded, having heard from Camille about how Otto had changed and shown remarkable strategic abilities.

"Blood will out, I suppose..."

"Yes...?"

"Whether you like it or not, he is my blood. The blood of the Kuntach family."

"Ah!"

"Even if he was cursed and wandered for a while, it seems he eventually came to his senses."

Conrad believed that Otto's transformation from a complete rascal to a young king with outstanding strategic abilities was due to his bloodline. The Kuntach family, with its 1,000-year history, was a prestigious lineage, and Conrad couldn't help but feel a great sense of pride in his bloodline. Of course, in recent decades, they hadn't lived up to their former glory...

"I agree with Your Highness, Duke."

Camille was convinced by Conrad's logic. Why? Because even Camille couldn't understand Otto's dramatic change. How could someone change so drastically overnight and show such remarkable strategic abilities?

Camille didn't usually care much about bloodlines, but Otto was an exception.

"Blood will out, it seems."

"Yes, that's right."

A faint smile appeared on Conrad's lips.

"Where would the great Kuntach bloodline go? It will eventually show itself."

"Yes, Your Highness."

"Thank you for the information."

Conrad seemed quite satisfied with the conversation. To him, Otto was like a lifeline from the heavens. Without a direct heir, Conrad had no choice but to designate Javier's son, Kuzo, as the successor. But if Kuzo became the next head of the family, Conrad's old age would be miserable. Javier, who was now lying low, would surely not leave Conrad alone.

This was why Conrad had been delaying the designation of a successor, but now he was reaching his limit. With Conrad's age, the Kuntach family and retainers would no longer tolerate the delay in designating a successor.

But with Otto suddenly appearing and opening the <Sanctuary>, things were different. If Otto showed even a little ability, with the merit of opening the <Sanctuary>, he had a strong case to be designated as the successor.

'Near-prophetic strategic abilities... he must have been born with a sharp mind. His weakness is that he's too weak... but that's partly due to the curse and the lack of good education from a young age. As a descendant of my blood, he should show great talent in swordsmanship and magic.'

Thanks to Camille's enthusiastic "sales pitch," Conrad's evaluation of Otto was quite positive. After gathering information and hearing Camille's testimony, Otto was far from an ordinary person.

'If he obtains the power of the Invincible Emperor from the <Sanctuary> and later learns swordsmanship and magic to become a Sword Mage... he would be a worthy successor.'

Conrad had already decided to designate Otto as his successor. With his future in Otto's hands, he had no choice but to support him to survive.

* * *

'What nonsense? Five years?'

Otto couldn't understand what Kairos was saying.

- Five years, it's correct.

'Huh?'

- You trained with that tin can for five years here.

'That doesn't make sense. It must be five days. What five years?'

- It's true.

'...?'

- There's definitely some magic on this hall. You recovered infinitely here. You trained for five years without eating or sleeping, without a moment's rest. You didn't even go to the bathroom.

'Really? I did?'

- That's why you were able to successfully attack the tin can. It would have been impossible in just five days.

'Wait a minute!'

Otto, hearing Kairos, asked Akan.

"Um... how long have I been training here?"

- I'm not sure exactly... but it's been about five years.

"Wh-What?!"

- But don't worry. This hall is specially arranged for those who enter the <Sanctuary>. Even if a year passes here, only a day passes outside.

"Really?"

- You can believe it.

...But Otto couldn't believe Akan's words. So he hurriedly ran out of the <Sanctuary> and poked his head out.

"Ah! Young Master!"

The commander of Conrad's personal guard was startled to see Otto's head.

The way he addressed Otto had changed to "Young Master."

"Leaving now..."

"How long has it been?"

"Excuse me?"

"How long has it been since I entered here?"

Otto asked abruptly.

"Today marks exactly five days."

"Is that so?"

"Yes, Young Master."

"Phew! What a relief!"

Otto let out a sigh of relief and disappeared back into the <Sanctuary>.

"......?"

"......?"

"......?"

The guards were bewildered by Otto's sudden actions.

"You, quickly inform His Highness the Duke! Young Master briefly left the <Sanctuary> and then went back in!"

"Yes!"

The commander immediately informed Conrad.

Regardless,

"Really only five days?"

- Didn't I say? One year here is just one day outside.

"Thank goodness. It's hard to believe I was here for five years, but..."

Honestly, it was hard to believe he had trained with Akan for five years. But since both Akan and Kairos said so, he decided to believe it...

- O traveler of the <Sanctuary>. This place is specially arranged to teach the invincible sword in a short time. It's natural that it doesn't feel real. But you will soon feel it.

"I understand."

- Then I'll be going.

Akan said and walked to the center of the hall, transforming into a stone statue.

As if he had completed his mission...

Ding!

At the same time, a notification window appeared in front of Otto.

[Notification: You have learned the <Invincible Sword Technique>!]

Then, the training process of the past five years flashed through Otto's mind like a slideshow.

"Ah..."

Only then did Otto realize he had trained here for five years. Akan's movements were imprinted in his mind.

However, this didn't mean Otto had reached the level of a Sword Saint. He had only laid the foundation for the perfect sword technique, the <Invincible Sword Technique>. He needed to diligently practice and grow stronger through battles with powerful opponents. After all, he had just barely begun.

'So that's why in the game, talking to Akan would automatically teach you swordsmanship.'

Otto, recalling the differences between the game and reality, passed the now-stone Akan and entered deeper into the <Sanctuary>. Having enhanced his body and learned swordsmanship, it was time to learn magic. The magic used by the Invincible Emperor, the ancient absolute ruler...

* * *

The <Sanctuary> consisted of three areas.

The bath where the <Divine Body> was formed.

The hall where the <Invincible Sword Technique> was learned.

And the <Hall of Powers> where the magic used by the Invincible Emperor in life was learned.

The <Hall of Powers> had a small square with five dungeon entrances.

Players could learn ultimate magics used by the Invincible Emperor in life by clearing these five dungeons.

'Let's see...'

Otto's gaze swept over the five dungeon entrances arranged in a fan shape in front of the square. Each entrance had a different statue, vivid as if they could come to life at any moment. In front of each statue was a stone tablet inscribed with ancient script.

'Is this what I remember?'

To confirm that the game and reality matched, Otto carefully examined the statues. Having been burned twice by the differences between the game and reality, he decided to be more cautious.

With the power of infinite knowledge.

The statue on the far left was a scholar holding a large book in one hand.

He who wields the sword of the mind can even slay the gods.

The second statue was a knight with a blindfold over his eyes, unusually with empty hands, as if holding a sword.

Quick in the east, quick in the west.

Master of the world.

The third statue resembled a jester, with a mischievous face.

I am strong.

The enemy is weak.

The fourth statue was a brave barbarian warrior roaring at the sky.

Do not meet my gaze.

For the moment your eyes meet the serpent, your soul will be taken.

The last, fifth statue was a witch with hair made of snakes.

'All correct.'

Otto smiled, seeing that the dungeon information he knew matched reality.

- Hey, brat. What are these?

'Nothing much. They're like tasks set by the Invincible Emperor.'

- The Invincible Emperor?! The Invincible Emperor I know?

'The Invincible Emperor, who else?'

- Good heavens! So, this is the tomb of the Invincible Emperor?

'Not a tomb. Just a place where his legacy is stored.'

- So you're here to obtain the power of the Invincible Emperor?

'Correct.'

- How did you find the tomb of the Invincible Emperor...?

'Can't tell you. It's a trade secret.'

- Then what do you plan to do with the Invincible Emperor's legacy?

'Obviously, to get stronger.'

- Stronger for what?

'To survive.'

- Hmm?

'Before long, the whole world will be engulfed in the whirlwind of war. To survive in such a chaotic world, I need to get stronger.'

- How can you be so sure? Are you a prophet?

'Not a prophet. Just... someone who knows the world better than anyone else.'

With that, Otto moved towards the entrance of the dungeon on the far right. The five dungeons in the <Hall of Powers> had varying difficulty levels. It wasn't possible to clear all of them at once; one had to level up gradually and clear them one by one.

If you entered a dungeon that was too high-level, you'd likely die within seconds. Once you entered, you couldn't leave until you cleared it, so choosing a dungeon required great caution.

Moreover,

'There's an order to clearing the dungeons. Hehehe.'

Clearing a high-level dungeon often required powers obtained from other dungeons. Therefore, an optimized order was necessary, and Otto knew it. Of course, he also knew the strategies for each dungeon.

Otto stood in front of the entrance of the fifth dungeon on the far right.

'I can do this, right?'

He hesitated slightly. Even the lowest-level dungeon in the <Hall of Powers> was terrifying enough to put your life on the line. It was natural to be afraid.

But only for a moment.

'I've formed the <Divine Body> and trained in the <Invincible Sword Technique> for five years. I don't need to be afraid. I can do this. After all, I already know the dungeon.'

Trusting his greatest assets, <information> and <experience>, Otto took confident steps forward. He passed the statue of the witch with snake hair and entered the dungeon.