Chapter 18

"Ki-se?"

Raon frowned.

'I thought it would be a test of physical strength and mental fortitude.'

Considering the training Rimer had directed so far, it should have been a test of physical strength and mental fortitude, yet his choice was ki-se.

"Ki-se?"

"To test the children's ki-se..."

"That guy still doesn't know his limits."

The parents of the children also raised their voices, surprised by the content of the test.

"The instructor is me, so please be quiet."

Rimer chuckled and waved his hand.

"Ki-se is an inseparable element in the life of a martial artist. If I want to test such an important ability, why are there so many complaints?"

He wasn't wrong. Ki-se is the harmony of a martial artist's temperament and dignity. It's not uncommon for a martial artist with strong ki-se to make their enemies lose their will to fight even before the battle begins.

"The children have only recently learned to harness aura. Testing their ki-se doesn't make sense."

"There are also children who haven't even learned to harness aura."

"The test is too unfair!"

"Clearly, you don't understand. Ki-se is not simply the manifestation of aura."

Rimer swayed his long fingers back and forth like a pendulum.

"True ki-se is the dignity a martial artist has earned through their achievements. It's a proof of a martial artist that can manifest without aura."

As he spoke firmly, a cold green wind enveloped the entire training ground.

'This is...'

Raon narrowed his eyes. Just now, Rimer had displayed his ki-se without using aura, as if to prove his own words.

"Still, if you have complaints, you can ask the head of the family."

Rimer suddenly turned around. He bowed before Glen with a grin, as if he had never been serious.

"Respected head of the family. Is the ki-se of a martial artist created by aura?"

'Huh.'

Raon let out a sigh. To suddenly involve the head of the family in such a situation, Rimer—no, the elf—was unpredictable.

"You're not wrong. Even those who haven't learned aura can develop their own ki-se based on their way of life."

"Ah, as expected, the head of the family!"

Rimer clapped his hands as he turned around.

"Hmm..."

"Oh dear."

"If the head of the family says so..."

Since Glen had spoken, no one, whether direct or collateral, dared to argue further.

-That pointy-eared one is finally saying something I like. Ki-se created by mana, magic, or aura is fake. Only the ki-se built on achievements in the soul is real.

Las nodded in agreement.

-This reminds me of when I was in the Demon Realm. When the unqualified demons started causing trouble, I summoned a tremendous ki-se to subdue those fakes... Ugh!

He hit his bracelet to prevent himself from going on a tangent.

"Over the past six months, the children have endlessly surpassed their own limits. Thanks to my detailed training..."

"Don't lie."

Balen's father and Glen's second son, Karun Zighart, stood up and glared at Rimer.

"Many people have seen you lying down and taking naps during regular training sessions. Did you properly train them?"

"I've heard the same. You only showed up during training sessions and showed no interest."

"They said you slept all day and let them train on their own!"

"Oh, you know well."

Rimer was not flustered. Instead, he nodded, impressed by their information.

"That was also part of my training."

"Was that training?"

"Exerting oneself to the fullest by one's own will versus exerting oneself to the fullest by someone else's orders. Which one can achieve more?"

"Obviously the former."

"Exactly. What I hoped for in these children this time was that spirit. While physical strength and skills can be improved, raising willpower is not easy. I wanted to select and cultivate children with outstanding mental fortitude."

Rimer spoke in his usual tone, but his words carried a profound meaning.

"Children who have overcome their own limits have created their own dignity, even if it's small. This will be a great help to their future."

His confident voice left others speechless.

People's eyes sparkled with anticipation, truly hoping that their children had changed as he said.

"Since everyone seems to understand, let's start the test..."

"One more question."

Karun did not back down. The distrust in his eyes remained.

"Even if all trainees undergo the same training, the level of dignity each possesses is different. How do you plan to test that?"

"I'll see how much they have grown from the temperament they had initially. The temporary trainee who has grown the most will be the top student."

"Do you mean six months ago? Do you remember the temperament of all 160 children?"

"If I can't, I should be fired."

Rimer smiled, and Karun's expression grew even colder.

"Alright, you troublemakers. Or, since the parents have all acknowledged, let's start the test. Ruan, come to the front, and the rest step back."

Ruan nodded slightly and stood in front of Rimer, while the other children moved back.

"Ruan Slieron. The ki-se I will release is a level you can overcome if you have trained to the best of your ability."

Rimer continued with a light smile.

"If you can break through my ki-se and touch my body, you pass."

"Yes."

Ruan nodded slightly in response.

"Then let's begin."

Rimer closed his eyes and then opened them. A green light flashed in his eyes, and a powerful ki-se arose.

Rumble!

The sudden oppressive wave shattered Ruan's expressionless face.

"Ugh!"

Ruan bit her lip and curled up like a shrimp.

"Using aura will result in disqualification. Awaken the mental fortitude you've developed through your training."

"Ah!"

She suppressed the aura she was about to use and took a step forward. Cold sweat trickled down her forehead, but she endured and took small steps forward.

Thud.

Ruan slowly but accurately extended her hand and grabbed Rimer's sleeve.

"Pass. Your efforts in training to the best of your ability are evident."

Rimer smiled and patted Ruan's head.

"Ha!"

Ruan panted heavily and stepped aside.

"Next, Dorian."

"Me? Already? Really me?"

Dorian, who had been hiding behind Raon, trembled and peeked out. He fidgeted with the bag in his stomach, looking anxious.

"Is this the order...?"

"It's my decision. Come quickly."

"Ugh!"

Dorian shed a tear and walked forward, looking like he was being led to the slaughterhouse.

"Ugh!"

He started to feel nauseous again.

"You saw what Ruan did. Break through the wall of ki-se I create with the mental fortitude you've built through your training."

"Can I really do that? I'm known for lacking mental fortitude..."

"If you can't, you fail."

Rimer released his second ki-se, which was clearly weaker than the one he used on Ruan. It was true that he was sending different levels of ki-se to each child.

"Ugh!"

Dorian made a raccoon-like sound and stepped back.

"Stepping back any further will result in disqualification."

"Ugh..."

"Let me give you one last piece of advice. You're timid, but you've been sincere in your training. Believe in yourself and come forward."

"Ah, I understand."

Dorian closed his mouth at Rimer's calm voice and slowly approached.

He wobbled like a toddler taking their first steps but didn't fall. He moved slowly but steadily, extending his hand.

Thud.

Dorian's hand touched Rimer's waist.

"Pass. You lack confidence compared to your skills. In the future, be more confident..."

"Ugh!"

Unfortunately, Dorian was too busy vomiting to hear Rimer's advice.

"Hmm. Let's continue."

Rimer immediately called the next person.

* * *

As the sun, which had been high in the sky, began to set in the west, most of the children had taken the test.

The number of children who passed was considerable, but several times more children failed and burst into tears.

Interestingly, the few children who had been inspired by Raon and trained their physical strength near him mostly passed.

However, the children who followed Balen and focused on swordsmanship or martial arts rather than physical strength, more than half of them failed.

As the test progressed, Balen's expression grew colder, and it was finally his turn, just before Raon.

"Balen Zighart. Come forward."

"Yes."

Balen walked to Rimer with heavy steps. His expression was visibly dejected.

'Of course.'

Raon smiled. Balen's pride must have been hurt because many of the trainees he had trained with had failed.

"Let's begin."

Rimer maintained his smile and released his ki-se. A powerful ki-se, on par with Ruan's, hit Balen like a green wind.

Rumble!

Balen bit his lip hard under the overwhelming ki-se.

'He, he endured this and moved forward?'

Watching from the side was different from experiencing it directly.

Ruan. The coward who had given up competing with me broke through this level of ki-se?

"Ugh!"

His feet wouldn't move even as he bit his lip. It was too difficult.

'Could he be making it stronger just for me?'

He turned to look at his father, hoping for a sign. But his father only had a stern expression, indicating there was nothing wrong with the test.

"Your talent is special. Among the 160 talents, few can match you. However..."

Rimer smiled and continued.

"You and the children who followed you wasted time. You should have trained your physical strength and mental fortitude instead of practicing swordsmanship without understanding its essence."

"Ugh!"

Balen bit his lip hard and moved forward. Aura naturally rose from his dantian.

"You always used aura when things got difficult. Using aura this time will result in disqualification."

"I won't use it."

He suppressed the surging aura and took a step forward. Each step felt like walking on lava.

'Suck!'

He felt a cold gaze from behind. It was his father's.

'If I can't overcome this, I'll be abandoned...'

The faces of his two older brothers, who had been cast aside for not meeting their father's expectations, flashed through his mind. He couldn't become such a failure.

"Ugh!"

Balen, showing an ugly voice and expression that he shouldn't as a direct descendant, struggled forward and grabbed Rimer's clothes with all his might.

"Pass."

Rimer chuckled and extinguished his ki-se.

"Ugh!"

Balen fell to the ground, panting heavily. It was a side of him that had never been seen before.

"You're only 12 years old. Don't pretend to be mature. If you only look up, you might trip over a branch."

Rimer gave Balen some advice and turned his head. The smile on his face deepened.

"Finally, Raon Zighart."

"Yes."

At his call, Raon stepped forward.

"Are you ready?"

"Of course."

"Then let's begin."

Rimer's ki-se exploded. A stronger ki-se than what he had released on Ruan and Balen swept over Raon like a storm.

"Raon!"

"Master Raon!"

Sylvia and Helen's screams came from behind.

"Is this my test?"

Raon frowned. When he first came here, his dignity was far below even the lower-middle class children. Considering that, this ki-se was too powerful.

"Who knows?"

Rimer shrugged and continued.

"The talent I see in you is greater than Ruan's or Balen's. Try to endure it."

"Is that so?"

In Raon's eyes, which were enveloped in green wind, a red flame ignited.

"Then I must not disappoint that expectation."