Chapter 2

EP.2 Regression-2

"But there's something I don't understand."

[What is it?]

Hwan, who was flying around the inn room, asked in return.

"Why did I come back to the past?"

In fact, that was the first thing he should have asked.

After all, Hwan becoming a sage and his return to the past were two separate issues.

[It's probably because the magic power in the Sage's Stone reacted.]

"Reacted to magic power?"

[Your mind reacted to a pure combination of magic and magic power, causing a kind of miracle.]

"...Is that possible?"

Honestly, it's hard to believe. Even if it's a miracle, time travel isn't a simple magic.

[Most people's mental strength just gets overwhelmed by magic and magic power and goes crazy.]

"...What?"

This guy...?

[Hey, think of it like trying to blow a huge chunk of air into a small balloon. No matter how tough it is, it'll burst in less than a second.]

"So you did that crazy thing to me?"

[That's right. Of course, I planned to adjust it with my thoughts, enough to give you a traumatic nightmare but not drive you insane.]

At this point, I can't tell if you're a sage or a devil.

[But you didn't need to.]

"Huh?"

[You didn't need to. Your mental strength already withstood my Sage's Stone.]

So that's why you said I didn't know how to give up earlier.

"Then coming to the past..."

[I told you, if you can withstand it, a miracle will happen.]

"...So this regression is the miracle?"

[That's right. It's probably the manifestation of a strong obsession before you died.]

Obsession... that is...

"Fight against Ariasfil..."

[You're such a consistent kid. Were you that upset about not beating that girl earlier?]

"...Yeah. I really wanted to win against her."

Ariasfil, though it's hard to say, was Leo's goal and wish. He honed himself like a blade to defeat her.

[But you did win in the end.]

I did win. But...

"I don't like winning this way."

[Really?]

"Because the Ariasfil I beat wasn't fully grown. In comparison, I'm mentally the same as an adult."

[That's true. It's hard to feel proud of winning.]

"And I was also overconfident, so it's hard to call it a complete victory."

It's not just a matter of talent.

The current situation is like cheating, as if Leo used a shortcut.

"Ariasfil is not only skilled but has higher potential. When I barely mastered Aura, she could already use it continuously."

Beating her when she wasn't fully grown was different from Leo's wish.

[So what now? Wait until she grows up? It'll take at least ten years.]

"Then I'll wait."

[...What?]

Ten years, that's not a light amount of time to answer so casually.

Ten years, or maybe more, could be needed for Leo to reach his expected level.

[Are you serious? Is it worth being so stubborn?]

But he could wait.

"At least for me."

The sage's soul fell silent for a moment. Then, the sage spoke again.

[...Do you have feelings for her?]

"What? No."

[Why the immediate answer?]

"Because I don't. I've lived as a servant in her family for over five years, but I never had those thoughts."

Ariasfil was indeed a beautiful woman. The line of men courting her could have stretched across the kingdom.

But to Leo, she was a rival.

Studying martial arts to beat her felt more efficient than falling in love with her.

[...I see... You're crazy in a strange way.]

"Because I want to win. Then..."

Now, the most important question.

"What should I do now?"

Since history has changed, it's time to think about the next steps.

***

Ariasfil Linhardt

She was a warrior praised as the most talented under the hero's lineage.

At ten, she killed an orc, a notorious killer of novice adventurers, and at thirteen, she even exterminated a wyvern, albeit a young one.

No warrior could stand against her sword.

But

"...I lost. For the first time."

Not today.

"Why...?"

The one who challenged her was a common mercenary.

'You're such a great knight, right? No need to drag it out. Let's fight.'

It was a challenge without any formality, but she accepted it without hesitation. Those kinds of fighters usually break after a single loss.

She even decided to use a dagger instead of a longsword to completely crush his spirit.

But

'But you know, you'll lose with that fruit knife.'

In just a few seconds, the boy's aura changed.

And then came her defeat.

...No, not even that.

'I lost. If you hadn't been overconfident, the outcome would have been uncertain.'

Despite her burning competitive spirit, his strange logic and his casual acceptance of defeat were unexpected.

She didn't want this kind of victory.

Still,

'What do you want me to do? Whether you chose it or not, I can't accept my victory.'

With that, the boy calmly walked away, too calmly to be stopped.

"Miss, are you alright?"

Jehard, the knight responsible for her protection and guidance, checked her expression.

"...I'm fine."

Though expressionless, her face was shadowed.

"Miss, don't take it to heart. It wasn't a formal duel, it was a cowardly..."

"It wasn't cowardly. And he said he wouldn't acknowledge his victory either."

At the time, Jehard had left Ariasfil alone to find an inn. Though a bodyguard, Ariasfil was a knight as powerful as Jehard.

'...I left her alone for a moment... and in that time...'

In that time, Ariasfil accepted a duel and lost. Even if it wasn't a formal duel, it could be a great disgrace to her and her family.

"...Jehard."

"Yes, Miss."

"Find that boy."

"...What?"

Surprised by the sudden request, Jehard asked.

"Find that boy."

Today, Ariasfil felt humiliation and a burning desire to win for the first time.

***

[Hey, kid.]

"..."

[Hey, Leonardo.]

"..."

[Hey, are you deaf?]

"Shut up."

I was meditating to gather mana, and you've been talking to me this whole time.

[Do you think my optic nerves are fine, staring at a naked guy sitting still for four hours?]

"Then go outside. You can fly, can't you?"

[I can't. The Sage's Stone in your heart prevents me from going far.]

Wait a minute.

"Does that mean I have to live with you forever?"

[That's right. We'll have to stick together.]

"Ugh... This is the worst."

[What?]

"Then you'll have to be with me in the bathroom, in the shower...!"

[Ugh... Just thinking about it makes me want to vomit...]

I'm the victim, so why am I the one feeling nauseous? You're a ghost, you don't even eat.

"Fine, I'll meditate for another 30 minutes and then go out."

[What did you do all this time without even creating a mana core? Back in my day, I made one every time I ate...]

"My mother passed away, and I became an orphan. I didn't have the time or the knowledge."

[...Ah... I see...]

The sage's answer was too quick, and he ended his lecture without much to say.

[How about I teach you a better method?]

"A better method? Is there one?"

The mana breathing technique Leo was using was the best cultivation technique developed by the Linhardt family, the best in the empire.

It was a technique that couldn't be surpassed by ordinary breathing methods.

'Is there something that can surpass it?'

[Leonardo, I'm a sage.]

"Yes."

[I'm a sage.]

"Yes."

[I'm a sage, dammit!]

"Ah! Got it! Yes!"

What kind of answer are you looking for? Did you really go senile after becoming a ghost?

[As a sage, I've already developed a new mana cultivation method! Got it?]

"Then just say it!"

Why are you beating around the bush like an old man?

[Then I won't tell you?]

"Fine... Please tell me."

[Properly, respectfully.]

Yeah, even if you're senile, you did save my life.

"Oh great sage, please bestow your supreme teachings upon this humble mercenary."

[Alright, humble and crazy mercenary. I'll teach you myself.]

Maybe I should just remove the stone from my heart and be done with it.

[Suck...!]

Suddenly, the air around him started to tremble.

"Huh...?"

The mana around Leo began to swirl and slowly adhere to his skin and respiratory system.

[Phew... It's tough in this ethereal form.]

"...What... What did you do?"

[Match it. It's a test from your master.]

Ordinary mana cultivation methods involve breathing in mana particles from the air through the nose and mouth.

Then, the mana in the lungs is activated to attract more mana particles like a magnet.

"But this is..."

This method makes the mana particles themselves absorb into the body and skin. Normally, they would stick to the skin and fall off, but these particles were seeping into his body like fine cosmetic powder.

[Do you get it?]

"Did you break down the mana particles to absorb them into my body?"

[It's a super-efficient mana cultivation method I developed. It can compress four hours of your hard work into one hour.]

This idea is honestly... incredible.

The theory alone is astonishing, and it's hard to believe it can be executed.

It's like a human breathing through the skin instead of the lungs.

"Is it possible?"

[I only do what's possible.]

It's worth a try.

He sat cross-legged and began to attempt the new mana breathing technique.

'...It's not about focusing on sticking the particles to the skin.'

The key is to break down the mana particles finely enough to absorb them.

"...It's not working."

After about 30 minutes, Leo got up from his seat.

[What? Giving up already?]

"No."

Leo picked up the sword he had placed on the floor.

[Why are you picking up the sword? What for?]

"I'll do it my way."

With that, he went outside the inn.

[By the way, you can't cut mana particles with a sword...]

"I know. I know that too."

[You're so rude.]

After taking off his shirt, Leo began to swing his sword.

[...Hm?]

The mana particles that had been sticking to his skin awkwardly started to be absorbed properly.

[...Are the mana particles breaking down more?]

Even after looking again, it wasn't the case. The particles themselves were still relatively large.

[Got it...!]

After observing three times, the principle of the method became clear.

What Leo was doing wasn't reducing the size of the mana particles.

[He was expanding the qi points in his skin using swordsmanship.]

By activating his body through sword movements, he was expanding the narrow qi points, a new application that the sage, a mage, couldn't use.

[...Kid, and you're not a genius?]

The sage wasn't the only one shocked.

"...What... What is that, Miss?"

"......?"

The two Linhardt knights who came to find Leo were also stunned.

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