Chapter 31: The Leafy Plain (1)

After that day, Damian dedicated himself to training.

Thanks to the Balance Ring, his physical abilities had improved dramatically, but he still had a long way to go.

Currently, Damian's physical abilities were at the low-class level. To reach a higher realm, he needed to train his body even more.

Most importantly, to fully absorb the magic crystal elixir, it was crucial to strengthen his physical body.

If magic power were water, the body would be the container. Just as a wider and stronger container can hold more water, the same principle applied here.

‘I like that the duke’s mansion has many training tools.’

The duke’s mansion was equipped with various training tools for the knights.

It was rare to have the opportunity to use so many tools. Damian utilized all the tools to train his body.

However, the training that Damian invested the most time in was something else.

It was the most effective training through sparring.

“Ugh...”

“Hah...”

In the training ground set up inside the duke’s mansion, five knights lay sprawled on the ground.

“What a bunch of pathetic things.”

Damian Hassen looked down at the knights and said.

“How do you plan to fall before me, who is wearing magical artifacts, when you can’t even stand up?”

Unlike the lightly dressed knights, Damian Hassen wore various magical artifacts in the form of bracelets and shackles all over his body.

All of these were magical artifacts that increased his body weight or hindered his movements, deliberately worn to maximize the training effect.

On the first day, he only wore three or four, but now he wore more than ten.

As his physical abilities improved, he increased the number of magical artifacts.

“Can’t get up right away? Should I knock your heads to snap you out of it?”

At Damian’s threat, the knights sprang to their feet as if the groaning they had just been doing was a lie.

“Your tricks are getting better every day.”

Damian clicked his tongue at the knights.

“Are you, the knights of the duke’s mansion, afraid of me and running away?”

For the knights, it was a frustrating and maddening situation.

For over 20 days, Damian Hassen had been using sparring as a pretext to beat them up.

During this time, the knights had made desperate efforts to land a hit on Damian Hassen.

But they hadn’t even managed to touch a single thread of his clothes.

The knights hadn’t lost their fighting spirit for no reason.

“Seeing you use tricks, it seems you’re getting used to the current intensity. I’ll increase the sparring time from now on.”

At Damian’s words, the knights’ faces turned pale. Damian glanced at them and smiled wryly.

“I’m joking. I’ll end the sparring here for today.”

“Huh?”

One of the knights, surprised by the unexpected words, asked.

Pavel Vermont, who acted as the eldest among the dueling knights, was the one who spoke.

“Y-You’re stopping?”

“Why? Don’t you like it?”

“No, no! I like it!”

Pavel Vermont hurriedly shouted. The other knights shook their heads vigorously, their hair flying.

“Just that, I’m curious why you’re ending it earlier than usual...”

“In two days, we have a duel with the viscount’s mansion.”

Damian looked at the knights and said.

“There will be no sparring from today. For the remaining two days, take a rest and reflect on what I’ve taught you.”

At Damian’s words, the knights looked puzzled.

What have we learned? Haven’t we just been hit? Their thoughts were clear.

‘As expected, no one has realized it yet.’

Damian Hassen smiled bitterly at the knights.

There were two main reasons why Damian sparred with them.

One was to train his body.

If it was just to increase muscle strength, using tools would be better.

But through sparring, he could use all the muscles needed for combat.

Even when he worked as a mercenary in his previous life, he enjoyed training through sparring.

The second reason was to win the duel.

According to Damian Hassen’s judgment, the knights of the duke’s mansion couldn’t defeat the knights of the viscount’s mansion. The knights of the viscount’s mansion were too outstanding.

To win the duel, they needed to win two out of three matches.

Even if Damian defeated Michael Ryanbloom, if the other knights lost, they would lose the duel.

That’s why Damian, while training his body, also trained the knights.

‘None of them have figured out what sword technique I’ve been using.’

When sparring with the knights, Damian used the Lion’s Roar Sword Technique, which the viscount’s knights were learning.

By becoming familiar with the enemies’ sword techniques, he could lead the duel to his advantage.

‘I don’t know if we can win tomorrow with this.’

While Damian was worrying, he noticed something.

Among them, only one person, Pavel Vermont, was resting his chin and deep in thought.

‘Oh?’

Pavel Vermont stood out among the dueling knights.

He had leadership skills and was talented enough to act as the eldest.

‘I can have some expectations for this guy.’

A smile slowly appeared on Damian’s lips.

* * *

After parting ways with the knights, Damian returned to his room.

He called a servant and gave strict instructions.

“Don’t let anyone in from now on. Even if His Excellency comes, don’t open the door.”

Damian sat in the middle of the room and took out a small glass bottle from his pocket.

The bottle contained a blue liquid that sparkled like melted jewels.

A smile formed on Damian’s lips as he looked at the liquid.

“Finally, it’s time to take this.”

Damian had kept the magic crystal elixir given by the duke without taking it, to create a body that could fully absorb it.

“The magic power gained from the magic crystal elixir is equivalent to ten years of cultivation.”

For a famous elixir, the amount of magic power gained wasn’t much.

But the real strength of the magic crystal elixir was that it increased the body’s sensitivity to magic power upon consumption.

With increased sensitivity, the control, accumulation, and recovery of magic power all improved.

It was truly an incredible elixir.

“Shall I take it then?”

Damian swallowed the magic crystal elixir. It felt like swallowing sticky honey.

Because of this, he could vividly feel the elixir sliding down his throat to his stomach.

The liquid settled in his stomach. Immediately, the elixir began to burn hotly.

The flames caused by the elixir spread throughout his body, burning impurities and seeping into his muscles and organs.

‘...I was curious about how it would increase sensitivity. I didn’t expect it to be like this.’

When clay is fired, it turns into pottery.

The effect of the elixir was similar. It strengthened the body using pure magic power.

‘If it were someone else, they would have just stayed still.’

Damian began to use the Power Accumulation Technique.

He absorbed external magic power and supplied it to the magic crystal elixir, making the flames even more intense.

How much time passed?

“...Phew.”

Damian exhaled deeply and opened his eyes. Instantly, a blue light flashed in his eyes.

Damian stood up. Ash-like gray powder fell from his body.

The impurities burned by the elixir had been expelled from his body.

“Excellent.”

He manipulated magic power. Previously, when he moved magic power, it felt like running on a gravel field.

But now, it felt like sliding on ice.

The speed of manipulating magic power had increased significantly.

“Shall I test it?”

He slowly extended his hand toward the air.

He grabbed the empty air. Then, blue mist began to gather around his hand.

Soon, the mist formed the shape of a sword.

If someone had seen this, they would have been shocked.

Auras are usually applied to swords. Forming a shape by condensing an aura was unimaginable.

Middle-class experts can emit auras to attack enemies from a distance.

But forming a weapon’s shape with only an aura, as Damian did, was unimaginable.

It was a skill only high-class experts could perform.

“This is enough.”

Damian lightly swung the intangible sword.

He could vividly feel the air being cut. Damian looked at the sword and smiled in satisfaction.

“Now, I’m just one step away from the Aura Blade.”

* * *

The two days passed quickly.

On the day of the duel, Damian Hassen headed to the Leafy Plain with the duke.

“We’re a bit late.”

As soon as they arrived at the plain, the duke looked across and said.

There, the troops of the viscount’s mansion were already in formation, waiting.

“Damian Hassen, what do you think of them?”

Damian Hassen was riding next to the duke.

Despite being an outsider, he was treated like one of the duke’s close aides.

Damian narrowed his eyes and observed the troops of the viscount’s mansion.

“They are a high-level army overall.”

Not only the quality of the equipment the soldiers wore, but also the atmosphere they exuded was impressive.

The soldiers of the viscount’s mansion, known as the best knight family in the Apple Kingdom, were indeed formidable.

“Right? I envy those soldiers. If I could, I’d want to learn how to raise such soldiers.”

The duke smiled and said.

To Damian, this was just empty talk.

A proud duke like him wouldn’t really envy the viscount’s mansion.

Even if he did envy them, he would deny and ignore it.

Seemingly aware of the duke’s arrival, a messenger from the viscount’s mansion set out.

The messenger arrived in front of the duke, dismounted, and said.

“To His Excellency, Duke Goldfics! The viscount suggests a meeting between the representatives on the plain before the duel begins!”

After delivering the message, the messenger returned to the viscount’s camp.

The duke looked at Damian and Gaol Heinrich and said.

“Since the viscount’s mansion has said this, we have no choice but to go. Will both of you come with me?”

Damian and Gaol Heinrich nodded.

The three of them rode toward the center of the plain.

* * *

Meanwhile, a small commotion was happening in the viscount’s camp.

“Michael! Can’t you get up right now!”

The viscount roared and entered the tent.

Despite its size, which could accommodate dozens of people, the inside of the tent was quite shabby.

A bed.

A sword.

That was all.

On the bed, someone was sleeping soundly under the covers.

“The duke’s mansion has just arrived! We need to go and welcome them, so why are you still sleeping!”

Despite the viscount’s repeated roars, there was no sign of the person getting up.

The viscount’s face began to heat up. Finally, unable to contain his anger, he kicked the bed.

“Get up right now!”

The viscount shouted with magic power. The loud cry shook the tent and the ground.

“Damn.”

Finally, the boy lying on the bed groaned and slowly got up.

The viscount looked at the boy with disdain.

The boy’s name was Michael Ryanbloom.

He was the eldest son of the famous Ryanbloom viscount’s mansion.

Although he was often mistaken for a boy due to his small stature, he had long been an adult.

“Father, it’s noisy.”

At Michael’s words, a vein popped on the viscount’s forehead. He unconsciously clenched his fists.

“Why did you wake me up when I was sleeping well?”

“What... did you hear... I said the duke’s mansion has arrived... and we need to go and welcome them...!”

“What does that have to do with me? Call me when it’s time for the duel.”

The viscount suppressed his anger and said.

“This duel is an opportunity to make your name known. It’s an opportunity that others would pay for.”

“I don’t care.”

Saying this, Michael Ryanbloom tried to lie back down.

The viscount sighed and said.

“Damian Hassen will definitely be there.”

Michael Ryanbloom, who was about to lie down, paused.

“Why is he at the duke’s mansion?”

“You probably didn’t hear because you were always sleeping, but the duke’s mansion selected Damian Hassen as their representative.”

“Oh, is that so? Good. I was already eager to take revenge on Erwin.”

For a moment, a murderous intent flashed across Michael’s usually lazy face.

While he was lazy, when it came to family matters, he would charge in like a raging bull.

“There are rumors that he blocked a middle-class attack.”

“So what?”

“Isn’t that impressive? A squire who was originally evaluated as such, now knocking down a low-class and blocking a middle-class attack.”

“It is impressive.”

“Don’t you want to know what he looks like? He might be your rival...”

“Father, don’t say such things.”

Michael sat up and said.

“Do you know how many times I’ve been disappointed after getting excited by such talk?”

“It might be different this time.”

“It’s the same. The rumors are impressive, but when we actually face off, he’ll probably be nothing.”

Michael Ryanbloom’s eyes were cloudy, as if covered in fog.

Because he was too talented, too strong, Michael had never met a worthy opponent.

Ironically, Michael was struggling with boredom because he was too outstanding.

“Ah, I’m fully awake now.”

Michael got up from the bed.

“Let’s go and meet him.”

The viscount rode with Michael to the center of the plain.

The duke was already waiting there.

As soon as the viscount arrived, the duke twisted his lips and said.

“To invite someone and then be late. You’re still lacking in common sense.”

The viscount laughed and retorted.

“To get angry over such a trivial matter. Not only do you look like a pig, but you also have a narrow mind?”

The two of them laughed loudly. Their mouths were smiling, but their eyes were fierce.

“Sir Gaol Heinrich, it’s been a while.”

“It’s been a while.”

Next, the viscount looked at Gaol Heinrich. Gaol Heinrich nodded and said.

In terms of age and experience, Gaol Heinrich was more senior.

But since they were both high-class and the viscount’s position was higher, he usually addressed him informally.

“Isn’t it boring being at the duke’s mansion? Why don’t you come to our family?”

“I plan to spend the rest of my life at the Goldfics duke’s mansion.”

“What a waste. A waste. It’s like putting a pearl necklace on a pig.”

The viscount clicked his tongue. Then he turned his gaze.

To the right of the duke was Gaol Heinrich, and to the left was a young man he had never seen before.

“If my guess is correct, this young man is Damian Hassen...”

The viscount casually glanced at the young man.

But the moment he looked at him directly, he felt a shock as if he had been hit on the back of the head with a hammer.

‘...What is this?’

The viscount didn’t like Damian Hassen.

He was the hated enemy who had humiliated his beloved second son and the family’s knight.

On the other hand, he was also curious.

Damian Hassen’s actions were too unconventional, and he wanted to see what kind of person he was and what kind of talent he possessed.

Perhaps he could be a suitable stimulus for the bored Michael Ryanbloom.

‘...What kind of monster is this?’

The moment he saw Damian Hassen, the viscount felt a chill run down his spine.

It was absurd for a high-class to feel fear towards a mere low-class knight.

The viscount’s fear stemmed from the talent Damian Hassen possessed.

Damian Hassen was not someone who would end as just a stimulus for his eldest son.

He might be a monster on par with his eldest son.

‘Oh no.’

The viscount hurriedly looked at Michael.

If he was this shocked, Michael must have felt something too.

“...”

Michael was staring at Damian Hassen with a blank expression.

He didn’t even blink once, as if even that would be a waste of time.

“...Ha.”

A sigh of ecstasy escaped Michael Ryanbloom’s lips.

At that moment, Michael’s hand gripped the hilt of his sword.

The blade was revealed.