Chapter 28. Half-Body (1)

"It was difficult."

Yuri's answer was simple.

A small vein popped on Johan's forehead, who had been eagerly anticipating this.

"…If the Maru technique was just that, would I have hired and trained you? I could have done it myself."

"Of course not?"

"Then why are you taking your time to say such obvious things!"

"Taking my time makes it seem more important, doesn't it?"

"…You're right."

Johan's fist trembled as he threatened Yuri.

However, for some reason, Johan had been using the term "flow" all along.

In the sparring, Yuri seemed to have returned the force of Muchi's Cold Wall Breaker to him, as anyone could see.

Even the master, Ralph, had judged it that way.

Yet, Johan kept using the term "flow."

Moreover, Yuri also accepted it as if it were natural.

"The stronger the technique your opponent uses, the better you can feel the flow. But the more you flow, the harder it becomes to handle."

[All movements in the world are subordinate to the flow of mana, the source of all things.]

The Maru technique was born from this philosophy.

To master it, one naturally had to start by feeling the flow of mana.

The next step was to release the felt mana flow at will.

This was the essence of the "flow" technique that Yuri and Johan referred to, which Yuri had used against Muchi.

In other words, what Ralph thought was Muchi returning the opponent's force was actually just a somewhat unique "flow" technique.

Moreover, it was still in an immature, incomplete state.

But neither Yuri nor Johan were disappointed.

Instead, they put their heads together to find ways to improve it.

"Then? Any other thoughts?"

"First, when I used Maru, there was too much pressure on the 2nd, 6th, and 11th mana rods."

"The pressure on the 2nd and 11th was intentional, but the 6th was unexpected. Let's think about the cause."

The two people, engaged in a serious conversation, had moved beyond the relationship of teacher and student.

They were equals, both striving for the ultimate Maru.

After that, Yuri and Johan continued to discuss the improvements to Maru for a long time.

The conversation that started in the afternoon only ended when stars appeared in the night sky.

Johan, who had been sitting for a long time, stretched his stiff back.

Crack.

"Ouch, my back."

"I feel like my whole body is aching… I might die."

"You're just exaggerating, you young whelp."

Although he scolded Yuri, Johan knew his condition well.

'Well, he's been exhausted after a long conversation without rest, given his already frail body.'

Johan was worried inside but didn't show it on the surface.

"Take a good rest today and tomorrow. Before we leave, let's try to make your ideas more practical in real combat."

Yuri, who had been listening to Johan, blinked his half-closed eyes, tired from the conversation.

"…Leave? Where to?"

Johan answered as if the question was absurd.

"Where else, of course to the Cradle. Did you think we'd stay here forever?"

"The Cradle? Why there?"

"…What do you mean, you crazy kid."

Johan's curse made Yuri's drowsy eyes brighten.

He struck his left palm with his right fist.

"Oh, right! We were originally heading to the Cradle of Dragons, weren't we?"

Yuri seemed to have a great epiphany.

But that was the end of it.

He soon lay down, showing no further interest.

Snore, snore.

He quickly fell asleep, snoring softly.

Looking at Yuri's sleeping face, Johan gave an exasperated look.

'This kid, once he gets interested in something, he forgets everything else. Tsk.'

Despite his exasperation, a smile spread across Johan's lips.

'Good night, then.'

After months of hard work, Yuri deserved a good rest.

Johan covered him with a blanket.

Then, he squatted down and began to observe Yuri's face.

Yuri, who usually let his long hair cover half his face because he found it troublesome to style, revealed a fair and beautiful face when his hair was brushed aside.

'…He looks like a girl when he sleeps.'

Yuri's sleeping face was indeed beautiful.

The only problem was that his mouth, once opened, could turn into a disaster.

Poke, poke.

Johan, who had been gently poking Yuri's cheek, suddenly shuddered with a thought.

'Wait? This kid has it all, doesn't he?'

A talent so innate that it even scared Johan.

An unyielding spirit that never stopped striving.

And a top-tier appearance that promised a bright future.

As Johan gazed at Yuri, a deep, sincere thought slipped out.

"…What a lucky brat."

Johan's hand moved swiftly to slap Yuri's forehead.

Slap.

"Huh, what?!"

Yuri, who had been sleeping soundly, suddenly woke up and looked around with sleepy eyes.

But all he saw was Johan's back, who had already turned away and lain down at a distance.

"…?"

Yuri, who had been raising question marks in his head, couldn't resist the drowsiness and lay down again.

Snore, snore.

In no time, Yuri's breathing turned into a rhythmic snore.

At that moment, a slightly sniffing murmur came from Johan, who was lying with his back turned.

"…Your penis will be small."

* * *

After the sparring, Yuri and Johan stayed at Ralph's house for another two weeks.

The reason was simple.

It was because of the object now in Yuri's hands.

"My sword… my white steel sword!"

The prize for the valuable… no, the hard-earned labor.

After a long 15 days of waiting, the solid white steel sword finally came into Yuri's hands.

Yuri gazed at the sword in his hands as if he were in love.

The blade, with its elegant curve and white wave pattern, the white hilt, and the gray tassel, was so beautiful that it could be mistaken for a decorative art piece, not a practical weapon.

"It's mine, this is mine!"

Ralph, seeing Yuri hugging the sword and rubbing his cheek against it, inwardly groaned.

'Ugh.'

Initially, if he lost the sparring bet, he planned to make a regular sword.

But the stakes of the bet had unexpectedly grown.

'…How much did that cost?'

White steel was a rare material.

Therefore, Ralph had to use all the white steel he had collected over nearly 8 years to make this solid white steel sword.

'This was the white steel I had saved to make Muchi's spear.'

Seeing all his cherished white steel used by an unexpected person, Ralph couldn't help but feel bitter.

'Well, it's a bit regrettable…'

But he didn't regret it.

Thanks to Yuri, he had gained something valuable.

Ralph's gaze turned to Muchi.

"Brother, next time… let's definitely spar again! I'll prepare well! And I'll definitely win next time!"

Seeing his grandson, who was burning with determination unlike before, Ralph smiled warmly.

'Good, this is enough. Through this, Muchi has grown to a new level. I can consider this as his tuition.'

Ralph's gaze returned to Yuri.

'Thank you, thanks to you, Muchi has gained a good older brother…'

Just as warmth filled Ralph's eyes,

A grating voice interrupted.

"What, you snot-nosed brat. I won't fight with someone who drags their feet after losing. Ew."

Yuri, using his beautiful face to mock Muchi, crumpled it up.

The mockery made Muchi, who had been building his resolve, immediately deflate.

Ralph's warm gaze towards Yuri instantly changed.

'This kid… is a cursed, evil brat from birth.'

Ralph, so angry that veins bulged in his temples, placed his hand on Yuri's shoulder.

"Ha, ha, so you're going to the Cradle?"

"Yes."

"Which batch?"

"50th batch."

"Ha, ha, I didn't want to say this… but I'm from the 6th batch of the Cradle."

"Then what?"

"Tsk, tsk, it seems Senior Johan hasn't taught you anything. To the Cradle-born, batch numbers are like ranks. In other words, seniors from higher batches are your superiors. And the difference between the 50th and 6th batches is so enormous that you can't even sit at the same table!"

"But I haven't entered the Cradle yet?"

"You will soon."

"So what?"

"Hem! So… don't you dare mess with this heaven-like senior's adorable grandson."

In other words, if you bully Muchi, I won't let you off.

For some reason, Yuri nodded obediently.

"Ah, I understand! Senior!"

"Good, you're not completely clueless, hehe!"

Seeing the unexpected smooth conversation, Ralph patted Yuri's shoulder with a satisfied face.

Or, he tried to.

Before he could, the cursed, evil brat spoke.

"Hey, snot-nosed brat."

"Huh?"

"You said you want to fight me again, right?"

"Uh, yeah!"

"Then prepare and come to the Cradle. I'll be waiting there."

"Ah…!"

Yuri's words left Muchi, who knew nothing, with a moved expression as he nodded.

"Yeah! I'll definitely… definitely go!"

Hearing Muchi's answer, Yuri smiled and turned to Ralph.

The mischievous glint in his eyes said it all.

'So, now Muchi is my junior, right? If you don't want your adorable grandson to be bullied, you'd better treat me well.'

'…'

Ralph, who tried to pressure Yuri with batch numbers, ended up being threatened instead.

'This, this…!'

He forced his trembling fists to relax and placed them back on Yuri's shoulders.

"Ha, ha, what… what's your surname?"

"Holland."

"I'm seriously curious…"

"…?"

"Do you have any ancestors from the Redner family? Paternal or maternal."

"Not at all."

"Think hard! There must be some Redner blood in your lineage! Yes, definitely!"

How else could a mere 15-year-old boy have such a bad attitude, so typical of the Redner family!

Ralph grabbed Yuri's shoulders and shook him, interrogating him.

"Tell me, honestly. Are you a secret late-born child of Senior? Right?"

"Are you kidding me? What bad luck! Why would I be that old man's late-born child!"

"No, from what I see, you're definitely Senior's child… Choke!"

Ralph's interrogation didn't last long.

Johan, appearing like the wind, kicked Ralph like a bolt of lightning.

Bang! Crack!

Ralph, breaking countless trees, disappeared into the forest.

Johan glared at the trajectory Ralph left behind.

"Redner family? Secret late-born child? I'll kill this bastard!"

"…Isn't he already dead?"

Didn't he just fly away like a cannonball?

Yuri's blunt question made Johan wave his hand dismissively.

"If that brat had died from that, he would have been dead decades ago."

Beside him, Muchi explained with a bright smile.

"Yeah, my grandfather is tough, so he'll be fine!"

"…"

Yuri thought.

Everyone here seems to be abnormal except for me.

As he confirmed this, Yuri shook his head, and Johan asked with a smile.

"Are you ready to leave?"

"What do I need to prepare? I just need my bag and this."

Saying that, Yuri showed his new sword, which he now considered his own.

After a moment of a happy smile, he turned the question around.

"What about you, old man? What were you doing that made you so late?"

"Me? I was also preparing to leave, so I was a bit late."

"…Preparing? You?"

"Hehehe."

Yuri suddenly felt a chill run down his spine at Johan's low, ominous laugh.