Chapter 58: To Marzen (3)
Aura.
A mystical power that allowed swordsmen to exert strength surpassing that of ordinary humans.
This wasn't just about absolute powerhouses like Masters or Graduates.
Even Experts, and ordinary Aura Users below them, could sufficiently demonstrate abilities beyond ordinary people through aura.
If so, what method was needed for humans to accumulate aura?
In ancient times, harsh training was the only answer.
It was a theory that if one continuously trained their body, practiced swordsmanship, and resisted the pressure and pain that came with it, aura would naturally accumulate to protect the body.
Just like muscles growing.
Of course, this method required an enormous amount of time and patience, so it was said that in the past, there were very few swordsmen who reached even the Graduate level, let alone Master.
However, the history of such swordsmanship met with tremendous evolution due to the birth of the ‘Aura Cultivation Method’.
“A method to efficiently accumulate aura, you say?”
“Yes. A way to accumulate aura without having to simply and crudely train the body, practice swordsmanship… or rely on extraordinary enlightenment that comes as rarely as a bean in a drought. It’s that precious, but it’s something that any swordsmanship hall or swordsmanship family with deep tradition and history possesses. It’s something that most, no, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that all swordsmen at or above the Graduate level, like Mr. Harang, have mastered……”
“But, I’ve never learned anything like that.”
‘Yes, that’s what’s absurd.’
Sheratiya Viyan, hearing Harang’s words, wore a dumbfounded expression.
The opponent’s words were true.
Although he had an unpredictable personality, the words he uttered were all transparent.
The intuition of a seasoned merchant was telling her so.
But common sense dictated it was impossible.
He reached such a level without learning an Aura Cultivation Method?
‘Nonsense!’
If one were to tell someone about this, it was a story worthy of ridicule for being excessively delusional.
However, the young man before her was real.
He had subdued Black Scorpion, who had been acting leisurely against the Head of Security, with just a gaze.
He had single-handedly dealt with the Black Snake who commanded them.
And he had even performed the feat of exterminating the Black Hydra, whom even she, well-informed as she was, had only heard about through rumors.
The fact that he hadn't sustained a single wound in the process also gave Sheratiya goosebumps.
What was even more surprising was the fact that the being who had finished all this in a single day was a mere lad of only 20 years.
‘Of course, it’s not like there are no geniuses who reached the Graduate level before the age of 20.’
She didn't know the exact number, but if one were to scrape together everyone from the entire continent, about five would probably emerge.
Monstrous individuals who reached the Graduate level in their teens.
Demonic beings who possessed insane talent as if they had trained with a sword since they were in their mother’s womb.
However, all of them must have been taught the supreme Aura Cultivation Method from the world’s top swordsmanship organizations and consumed precious elixirs like water.
Compared to them, this young man…….
“Hmm. Aura Cultivation Method, huh.”
She opened her eyes wide and looked ahead.
The black-haired young man, who seemed to have become interested in this thing called the Aura Cultivation Method, muttering to himself and continuing his thoughts intently, came into view.
Sufficiently incredible even now.
But a being whose future was clearly even more valuable… like a mine where a gold vein was certain to be discovered.
Sheratiya, having thought this far, tossed out a remark.
“Harang.”
“Yes, Client.”
“Will you marry me?”
“……Are you joking?”
“Half joke, half serious. That’s how much I covet you. You, as a person.”
Deureureuk
Sheratiya pushed her chair back and stood up.
And leaned her upper body towards Harang.
With their faces so close that their breaths could touch, a sweet voice flowed from her lips.
“I am wonderful even now, but I am a woman whose future will be far more brilliant. I’m not just talking about a beautiful face. I have that much ability, and proving it isn’t difficult. You’ll know even if you spend just a month with me. So…… I’ll ask again.”
“…….”
“Won’t you join me? With me.”
Sheratiya Viyan’s gaze, deep and intense, hot like the scorching sun.
Harang let out an exclamation of admiration.
It was the first time.
The feeling of being overwhelmed by the gaze of someone who wasn't a swordsman.
At the same time, a question arose.
What kind of life did this person live, and what kind of dreams did she have, to be able to shine so brightly?
Could he find out by following this person? Was that it?
……Such thoughts did cross his mind for a moment, but Harang’s answer was already decided.
“I’m sorry.”
“…….”
“I don’t think it will work out.”
Harang, who rejected the opponent’s proposal even more politely than before.
Sheratiya couldn't take her eyes off him for a long time.
It was a full minute after hearing his refusal that she finally averted her gaze and sat back down in her chair.
Chik, chik.
Seueup, hoooo……
Lady Viyan, lighting her long pipe with a magic lighter, took a deep drag and then exhaled as if the ground would collapse.
Billowing, the tobacco smoke tinged the inside of the tent with a hazy white.
Sheratiya, who continued to smoke silently for a few minutes like that, opened her mouth.
Her gaze did not meet Harang’s.
“Alright. The escort request isn’t over yet, so let me know if you change your mind.”
“I will. Though I don’t think it will change.”
“Really? Then get lost.”
“Uh… Yes.”
“Just kidding. We can’t always be together, but let’s stay close in the future. You can still accept requests from time to time, right? Surely you wouldn’t refuse even that much?”
“That’s…… right?”
“Good. You’re not offended, are you? If you are, tell me. I just spoke comfortably because you feel like a friend, like a younger brother, but if you were uncomfortable……”
“No. I’m not uncomfortable.”
“Good. That’s a relief then… For now, please leave. I have some things to think about.”
An order to leave, much gentler than before, was given, and Harang hesitantly exited the tent with an expression of not knowing what was what.
He hadn't developed any bad feelings towards the other person.
Just as Sheratiya had thought Harang was an unpredictable person when she looked at him, Harang too, looking at Sheratiya, simply thought she was an unpredictable person.
Sheratiya, watching his retreating back with a sidelong glance, took another drag of her cigarette, seueup, and thought.
‘He’s a really peculiar person.’
Judging by his appearance and actions, he was unequivocally a social misfit, an incompetent person.
But the reality was completely different.
Was there even one person on the entire continent with such swordsmanship skills at the same age?
Probably not.
Therefore, he was dangerous.
Because he seemed like a person too big for her own vessel.
But she coveted him.
Because she wanted to break through her own limits.
“Well, it seems it’s already too late, though… Hoo! Let’s just work.”
Sheratiya, muttering to herself, turned her eyes to the documents she had been ignoring.
Yes, this was right.
It didn't seem like she could hold onto him by clinging more desperately anyway.
In that case, it was right to just cut off her thoughts and work.
However.
‘So I thought about it carefully, and it seemed like it wasn’t just people with power, so I pondered a bit more. Not everyone who influenced me had power.’
‘……So, as a result of your pondering, you came to the conclusion that not just people with power, but also impressive people can influence others… Is that what you mean?’
‘That’s right. I think that’s it. You summarize well.’
‘That category is too broad.’
‘Hmm, among the people I met recently, the impressive ones are… Jack and Matthew, and Lady Sheratiya Viyan.’
‘……What did you say?’
The conversation he had with her comes to mind.
Harang’s voice, saying she was impressive, that her appearance while handling the merchant guild’s affairs looked joyful, and that he was envious because of it, continues to linger in her mind, refusing to leave.
“Fuck……”
Her mood soured.
It wasn't because of Harang.
The fact that Harang’s story wasn't that unpleasant was dragging her mood further and further down.
“Damn it. Damn it……”
Chik, chiik. Hwareureuk!
Seueup, hoooo……
In the end, Sheratiya Viyan reached for a cigarette once again.
As the night deepened, she found herself unable to concentrate on her work, only thinking about Harang and the words he had said.
* * *
“Well then, I’ll be going.”
“Yeah, just get lost already.”
“It was nice meeting you, Harang! Let’s see each other again!”
“Yeah, let’s see each other again! You’ll still be in Marzen, right? I’ll drop by sometimes!”
“Well, I don’t know if I’ll have a reason to drop by again… But still, if we keep doing mercenary work, we’ll meet again someday. See you next time.”
“It was nice meeting all of you. See you next time.”
Harang, who had safely completed the escort mission for the merchant guild traveling between Marzen and Kilken.
He bid farewell to Sheratiya Viyan, Jack, Matthew, and the slightly balding mercenary Konjinyu, and then walked the streets of Marzen with a joyful heart.
He had gained more than he expected.
From Jack and Matthew, whom he had met after a long time, he learned that ‘one’s words and actions can influence others’, and he also learned various common knowledge from the veteran mercenary Konjinyu.
In addition to that, he learned about a new approach to aura called the ‘Aura Cultivation Method’, and also about an organization called ‘Black Poison’ that might be related to the ‘village’.
‘The client… no, not the client anymore. Lady Viyan said she would find out more about Black Poison and let me know, so I just have to wait.’
Harang, having thought this far, stopped abruptly.
And looked at the panoramic view of Marzen, bathed in the golden sunset.
The merchants, busy selling their last-minute goods at the end of the day, and the tavern owners, shuffling out at the beginning of the night to prepare for work.
The bustling sight of various other people mingling together evoked a sense of warmth.
Was it because of that?
The worries that had complicated his mind throughout the escort request melted away.
Why did he give up the opportunity to experience a wider world?
Why was he able to refuse Sheratiya Viyan’s proposal so firmly?
He postponed the answers to these questions for a while.
More important than that was reuniting with the Eddy Family, whom he hadn't seen for a month.
‘I miss them. I wonder if everyone is doing well.’
Walking again, Harang recalled the members of the Eddy Family one by one.
Eddy, a man who looked rough on the outside but was surprisingly affectionate and overflowing with loyalty.
Pale, who was cool-headed and smart, taking care of everyone from behind the scenes.
The Iron Fist and Bloody Fist brothers, who were stupid, really stupid… but whose brotherly affection was heartwarming, making one think about what ‘brothers’ meant.
Glen, who was bravely carving out his own life despite his young age.
Besides them, he was very curious about how the beings who had influenced him in various ways, and who had also been influenced by him in various ways, had changed over the past month.
Indeed, had they escaped their gangster lives and successfully adapted to life as mercenaries?
Or were there still many awkward aspects?
It was when he was thinking such thoughts and gradually picking up speed towards the Eddy Family’s hideout.
He saw Pale, the Fist brothers, and Glen running from afar.
The problem was…….
All of them were drenched in sweat, wearing grim expressions.
“……What happened?”
Harang asked.
“The boss, and Daereon… seem to have been kidnapped.”
Pale answered.
And a moment later, when his eyes met Harang’s, he unknowingly flinched and stepped back.
He thought.
‘What is it?’
Harang was a frightening person.
His skills, even at the lowest estimate, were at the top level of an Expert, and the fact that one couldn't tell what he was thinking and that he had no emotional fluctuations made him even more chilling.
Apart from being their benefactor, that much was something everyone in the family acknowledged.
But now.
Harang’s gaze, which, unlike usual, showed an emotion of ‘anger’ that anyone could recognize, was more frightening than any other appearance of Harang that Pale had ever seen.
“Kidnapped, you say? The proof?”
Harang didn't care.
To be precise, all his nerves were so focused on Pale’s words that he didn't notice the change in Pale’s expression.
He also didn't notice that Glen and the Fist brothers standing behind him were showing similar reactions.
He merely asked for proof quietly, and Pale, as if possessed, handed him a note.
“He hadn’t been seen at all since yesterday, so when I went to Boss Eddy’s room… this note was on the desk. It’s presumed to have been left by the kidnapper……”
He felt Pale saying something or other.
But he couldn't hear it.
Harang’s attention was solely focused on the note, reading the same content over, and over, and mulling it over again.
[Harang. As soon as you see this note, come to the hut 3km from Marzen’s west gate. If you’re late, I cannot guarantee the safety of your subordinates.]