Chapter 12: Qi and Mana (1)

The final moment.

In an instant, Jonathan clearly saw how Roman countered.

‘This can't be happening.’

Just one step.

Everywhere else was a dead zone.

If he retreated, he would be hit by the wooden sword with momentum, and even if he dodged to the side, he couldn't escape the sword's range.

Aura is explosive power.

The release of aura is specialized in exerting force in an instant, and the more distance there is to transmit the force, the more disadvantageous it is for the defender.

Therefore, it was natural to think that Roman, who was just an ordinary person, was in danger, but the result was different from what was expected.

He broke the range of the attack.

By taking just one step forward, he prevented the opponent from fully exerting his power, and boldly avoided the attack right in front of him by slightly turning his face.

It was a matter of a hair's breadth.

Even in a situation where his face could have been shattered, Roman maintained a steady stance and subdued Chris.

Astonishment.

It defied common sense.

For Jonathan, it was impossible to accept the reality in front of him.

‘...I didn't know anything about Young Master Roman all this time.’

Roman is a fool.

Having taught him directly, it was true that he had negative feelings towards Roman, who didn't make proper efforts and gave up easily.

But the Roman in front of him was different.

Roman not only had the temperament of a gambler who never gives up but also had a very solid foundation as a swordsman.

The counterattack that brought down the opponent in a moment was not a lucky punch.

To succeed in what others would consider an impossible move, one must have a solid foundation and the ability to put thoughts into action.

Solid defense.

Smooth attack.

It was certain.

Roman's skills were not something that could be perfected in a year or two; they had been honed over a longer period.

‘When did he grow so much?’

He searched his memory.

In fact, just a month ago, he saw Roman wandering the streets drunk.

How pitiful he was.

His reputation as a fool in Dmitri worsened as he caused a ruckus and shouted in the streets.

A pitiful person.

That was definitely how Jonathan remembered him.

But now, starting with the Blood Fang incident, he even brought down Chris, an Aura Knight.

At that moment,

Lord Romano, who had been watching the sparring, said with a bewildered expression,

“Knight Commander Jonathan.”

“Yes.”

“What is this? Chris, the Deputy Commander, is a two-star Aura Knight, isn't he?”

He was the same.

A moment of bewilderment.

Lord Romano needed an explanation.

He wanted to hear from Jonathan the reason for his son's rapid growth.

A moment of hesitation.

Looking at Roman and Lord Romano with a complicated gaze, he finally gave the most sensible answer.

“...It seems that Young Master Roman is a genius in swordsmanship.”

Roman took a deep breath.

His cheek stung.

When he touched the painful area with his hand, he saw a thin cut bleeding.

‘How pitiful.’

Chris.

He was not a bad fighter.

He knew how to push his opponent aggressively and had a fairly sharp eye for the flow of the fight.

The problem was,

‘Only by the standards of this world.’

Having faced the Blood Fang gang, including Ben Miles, he knew the degree of strength.

Chris's skills were enough to sweep away a dozen of them.

Among the people he had met, he seemed to be the strongest after Jonathan.

But by Baek Joon-hyuk's standards?

The lowest.

Even a low-ranking martial artist of the Cult would be stronger than Chris.

The final release of aura was sufficiently threatening, but compared to the methods used in the martial arts world, it was crude.

‘It was a very crude release of qi. I couldn't understand why he used qi in such a way. It seems that the power of mana, as Hans mentioned, is used differently in this world.’

Curiosity arose.

Aura.

He wanted to learn about it.

If this was the world he would live in, he needed to accurately understand the powers they used.

But then,

“Hahaha.”

Lord Romano's laughter was heard.

Having heard Jonathan's answer, he showed a genuinely happy face at the news that his son was a genius.

“My son, our eldest, is a genius in swordsmanship. Knight Commander Jonathan, are you really sure about this?”

“Yes. There is no other reason to explain Young Master Roman's growth. It seems that my abilities were too limited to recognize his true potential. Young Master Roman is definitely a genius.”

“Is that so? A real genius, you say.”

His face lit up.

Lord Romano gestured for Roman to come closer.

“Son.”

“Yes.”

“I haven't felt this good in a long time. I am very proud of you. Not because you are a genius in swordsmanship, but because you have achieved something on your own. If you have any wishes, tell me now. Rewards and punishments must be clear. For my son, I will give a special reward.”

Lord Romano Dmitri.

This was his true self.

Though he was angry at his son's departure, he was a doting father recognized by all.

He was just clumsy in expressing his emotions, but he truly loved Roman.

Reward.

The stage was set.

Usually, a father's reward would be accepted with a smile, but Roman's reaction was different.

Receiving rewards and punishments.

It was a familiar life for Roman, and when Lord Romano mentioned the reward, something came to his mind.

“I know that my engagement to the Lawrence family has been called off, and my military service is inevitable. My two younger brothers, who have left for the capital, cannot bear the burden of military service, so I will have to leave for the battlefield in six months. Therefore, I request the authority to personally select the troops I will take with me. And it would be good if you could support the costs involved in this process.”

It was straightforward.

With a fairly specific proposal, Lord Romano showed a surprised expression.

“...Oh.”

Military service.

It was a bitter reality even to think about.

As a minor kingdom, Cairo had to share the kingdom's risks in this way.

It was an unavoidable reality.

A noble who was married could temporarily be exempt from military service, but Roman's attitude changed when he accepted the reality.

He wanted to believe in his son.

Roman's life.

As a father, the only thing he could do was to help him soar.

“I understand. I will grant you full authority regarding military service.”

“And one more thing.”

“Speak. If you show the same attitude as now, I will do anything for my son.”

Perhaps because his expectations were at rock bottom.

Lord Romano's belief was blind.

Roman smiled lightly and looked at Chris, who was lying on the ground.

“I want to learn aura in the future. Therefore, I request that the knight I faced be assigned to me for personal training.”

A new culture.

Now, it was time to understand this world a bit more.

* * *

How much time had passed?

Chris opened his eyes.

Seeing the clear blue sky, he couldn't help but shed tears.

“Damn, this is so embarrassing.”

Defeat.

It was a bewildering reality.

Defeating at the hands of Dmitri's fool, he wanted to hide his face in a mouse hole.

But what could he do?

That was the reality.

The fact that he had been defeated by Roman did not change, and when he regained his senses and stood up, he saw his reflection in the mirror. It was pitiful.

Chris, who was known for his handsome appearance, now had a mirror showing a fool with two missing front teeth.

A situation as desperate as defeat. He checked the broken teeth in the training ground, but there was no way to put them back in place.

“...Should I die?”

It was a moment of genuine contemplation.

The problem was not just that.

To him, who was stuck in the depths of despair, a thunderbolt command fell.

“Huh???!”

“I know how you feel, Chris. But this is the Lord's command.”

“Knight Commander, no, Master. This is too much. I have just been defeated by Young Master Roman and lost my front teeth. Are you telling me to teach Young Master Roman aura as well? This is really too much. Even if I risk my life with the punishment for insubordination, I cannot accept this.”

He lay flat on the ground.

Desperate determination.

He never wanted to see Roman's face again.

Given their history, which could be called a bad relationship, his defeat by Roman felt more humiliating than ever.

Jonathan said,

“I have a proposal for you.”

“...”

“Under the pretext of teaching Young Master Roman, accurately observe and report how he has changed. If you handle this matter well, I will allow you to learn the secret techniques that I have been putting off.”

“...Are you serious?”

“Yes.”

“Damn.”

Chris jumped up from his seat.

Secret techniques.

The secret that made Jonathan a three-star Aura Knight.

For Chris, who had always coveted Jonathan's secret, it was impossible to refuse Jonathan's offer.

“Don't complain later.”

An irritated voice.

In the end,

Chris crossed a point of no return.

* * *

The next day.

Chris met Roman.

But,

He chuckled.

Roman laughed.

In an instant, Chris's eyes widened.

They just looked at each other without any conversation, but the meaning of his sudden laughter was all too clear.

‘Damn, fuck.’

The missing front teeth.

Wind blew through the gap.

Chris, who was already regretting accepting the proposal, had to endure the unpleasantness to achieve his goal.

Suppressing the boiling anger, Chris said with a calm face,

“I will now explain aura to you.”

Aura.

A branch of mana, it referred to the power used by knights.

While mages stored mana in circles, knights spread mana throughout their bodies.

“Aura was invented by Emperor Alexander, known as the Pioneer. Unlike mages, he spread mana throughout his body, discovering the first method to enhance human physical strength. Aura is the power to release this mana instantaneously. Normally, the mana spread throughout the body is released in an instant by the user's will, exerting powerful force.”

“...”

Roman's attitude was serious.

He neither contradicted Chris's explanation nor showed a playful attitude.

Seeing his serious demeanor during the lesson, Chris's resentment subsided to some extent.

“Actually, knowing the history of aura is not important. Mana is a power that only the chosen few can use, and one in a thousand can become an Aura Knight, and one in ten thousand can become a mage