Chapter 89. Mirror-Like Still Water (2)
"Young Master Enoch."
Grantel's bewildered voice echoed in the office.
Enoch, who had come for the mission report from Rhodes, stood looking at him with his usual blank expression.
"I'm listening."
"So. What exactly did you do on this mission..."
Anyone could tell he was referring to the content written in the report, meaning taking the explosives head-on with his body.
"It is as stated in the report."
"No. I understood about dealing with the explosives because I heard it in the report. But for you, of all people, to take them on with your own body..."
"It was simply the best judgment. And I'm unharmed."
At the immediate reply, Grantel stared at him for a moment, speechless. Then he exhaled with a sigh.
"Hmph, Lord Dionil's squad who was on site also reported that. But weren't you perhaps too reckless in jumping into a dangerous situation?"
Enoch shook his head calmly.
"I didn't feel my life was threatened during the operation. Though there were some moments that were quite nerve-wracking."
It wasn't a lie.
When I encountered Flare. And when I escaped from the collapsing underground passage thanks to Sirocco, it was quite nerve-wracking.
But although I definitely felt threatened.
My body didn't freeze up from the feeling of being close to death.
Come to think of it, I also felt like my threshold for perceiving death was a little lower than before.
Was this also a kind of growth?
Or had I become desensitized to the threat of death after crossing the threshold of life and death multiple times in reality, along with the inheritance of the sword?
Enoch shook his head inwardly at the question he had posed to himself. It wasn't a question with an easy answer.
"You are detached. Even though it has only been a short time since you properly started undertaking missions. To be honest, it is sometimes surprising."
Grantel quietly shook his head.
"In any case. I'm glad your body wasn't severely harmed. However, please be a little more careful in the future. It could become a difficult matter for the family."
"A difficult matter for the Main House? Why?"
"Perhaps you are not aware. But the Young Master is currently gaining increasing fame. If you are severely injured during an operation, the repercussions, depending on the situation, could be even greater than before."
He was telling me to be aware of the position I had restored for myself.
Once again, it was a request typical of a Main House.
"I'll try."
"And, as an Executive Officer of Elsyde, I would strongly recommend a period of rest for the Young Master."
Enoch slightly tilted his head.
"Rest, you say?"
"Yes. The Young Master has undertaken too many missions in too short a period recently. The results are good, but a reorganization is also necessary."
"..."
"This is not simply a matter of efficiency or health. It is also part of mission execution."
Grantel turned on a terminal like a tablet and, manipulating the display, held it out to Enoch.
The screen on the terminal was filled with scattered media phrases specifically highlighting [Enoch Elsyde].
"I don't know if you realize this. But with Young Master Enoch's current popularity and reputation, it wouldn't be strange for named mission requests to come in in the future."
Named request.
An authority held by prominent figures capable of directly requesting the dispatch of a direct lineage member to a Main House.
Thinking that it was already time to consider such a stage, Enoch inwardly tilted his head.
It was true that he had consecutively succeeded in recent missions. However, his accumulated achievements would be lower compared to other direct lineage members.
Of course, it might just be that Enoch's reputation was further inflated due to his popularity.
And setting aside that question, Grantel's advice just now was clearly not a lie.
"...It's a rest to prepare for the next mission, then."
"Yes. In the case of named requests, the schedule is often set with little time due to the nature of the mission. It would be difficult if you are not prepared."
Enoch nodded, deep in thought for a moment.
It was right to consider variables like named requests anyway, but there was also a need for preparation for the future in the plan I was setting.
And crucially.
There was still some time left until the next important event that he needed to intervene in.
"Then, I will do as you say."
At those words, a look of relief appeared on Grantel's face.
However, regardless of his reaction, Enoch also felt the definite need to make time.
It was literally a time for reorganization.
Although it was a bit different from the reorganization Grantel was talking about.
Enoch suddenly recalled the item he had placed in his room. The object he had carried, wrapped tightly in the charred explosion-proof robe.
He chuckled faintly inwardly.
...Yes.
It was indeed reorganization.
***
After finishing the mission report and returning, Enoch first went back to his room and headed straight to the shower room.
His dark room, where only a bed and a desk were placed, was tinged with the color of madder red by the sunset shining through the window.
After washing off the dirt and the scabs of his wounds with the warm water from the shower. Only then did he feel refreshed and alive.
Although fatigue washed over his entire body and he threw himself onto the bed, surprisingly, sleep did not come easily.
He wasn't planning to rest for a long time anyway.
After telling Sirocco, who had followed him around, to take a shower if she was going to stay in this room.
After half-forcefully pushing her into the shower room in the room, peace finally settled in a little.
He lay down haphazardly on the bed, as if stuffing himself into it. Enoch slowly closed his eyes.
He had no intention of sleeping.
But even with his eyes closed, he felt as if he was at least taking a short rest.
Having gained a quiet moment after a long time, his mind was already deep in thought.
He wanted to review the experience gained in Rhodes this time, use it as nourishment, and prepare for the future events.
Suddenly, the encounter with Flare came to mind.
First of all, his magic resistance, which he had planned from the beginning, should have increased.
When he actually encountered Flare and deliberately triggered her explosion magic, Enoch's body was unharmed by the explosion.
No matter how much Flare reduced the power of her explosion magic. The fact that his bones weren't broken even after being hit by the explosion magic directly beneath his feet meant that.
But even with this resistance to magic, it was by no means a panacea that could indiscriminately block all kinds of attack magic.
The relevant description from the original work came to mind.
「...The concept of Magic Resistance is paradoxically not applicable to all magic. It is a quality difficult to standardize...」
Even in the original work, the concept of Magic Resistance was applied very limitedly. That was because there were clear limitations on its activation.
Enoch clearly remembered those conditions as well.
'Only magic that directly utilizes mana.'
There was no need to look far.
Flare's explosion magic, which I experienced firsthand, could serve as a good example.
「...The mechanism of the explosion magic that Flare uses is to directly condense mana to the extreme and detonate it, constructing the phenomenon of 'explosion' itself with mana...」
That must be why Magic Resistance was activated.
If something like a fragmentation grenade, which caused damage with explosion fragments, had exploded in front of him, his body would have been torn to shreds.
And naturally, there were countless magic spells in the Magic Empire that could correspond to or produce similar effects.
Suddenly, the future flashed through Enoch's mind.
"..."
The countless strong individuals of the Magic Empire who appeared in the original work.
Recalling those who I might encounter based on mutual interests. And whom I might even become enemies with depending on the situation, his body naturally tensed up.
Magic Resistance would likely not be an effective defense against most of those powerful individuals.
It should be seen as fulfilling its role splendidly if it could only mitigate the splash damage from wide-area magic spells cast by high-tier mages, which surpassed common sense.
'And crucially. The level of Magic Resistance itself cannot be said to be sufficiently high yet.'
Therefore, while increasing magic resistance. Instead of relying on it, he should approach it with the concept of a possibility that he might be able to avoid instant death even if hit by an enemy's magic during a fierce battle.
However, that was the most important thing for Enoch.
If he died in reality, everything would be over.
Ultimately, there would only be a future if he didn't die.
Therefore, it was essential to acquire such conditions for survival.
And Enoch was gradually realizing the fact that he had accomplished that.
It was definitely significant growth compared to before.
'I should keep these factors in mind from now on.'
Surprisingly, even in this moment of quiet contemplation with his eyes closed, Enoch could clearly feel himself growing without cease.
The sensation in his fingertips, which had gripped and swung the sword, came alive.
The fruits of his repeated battles, having crossed the threshold of life and death until now, were ripening at this very moment.
Inheriting the Sword Saint's sword and raising his combat senses. Having gained sufficient practical combat and mission experience.
Just as he could now. It was also possible to make judgments about combat and predict the future, which were the most important things.
He had to always keep in mind.
This was reality, and Enoch was not a mage.
As long as he couldn't directly use magic. He probably wouldn't be able to fundamentally understand its profound principles.
However, in this form, he could gauge the enemies he would face in the future,
And furthermore, with the talent for the sword, which was the only thing he could rely on, he would be able to find a way to reach a level where he could overcome countless powerful enemies someday.
"..."
Thinking that far, Enoch chuckled softly.
It was ironic.
To survive, he had to risk death countless times. To become stronger, he had experienced dying and falling countless times in the Inner World.
In that contradiction, all the combat experiences Enoch had personally accumulated were finally pulsating softly, preparing for the next stage of leap.
To not die, one must strive enough to die.
And the task he had to do from now on was the same.
Slowly opening his eyes, Enoch checked his physical condition.
He shouldn't think more deeply than necessary.
At least for now, action had to take precedence.
'Because nothing gets solved by standing still.'
Now was not the time to rest.
At least not yet.
Enoch slowly got up from the bed.
He didn't know how long he had been lying down.
Perhaps Sirocco was playing with the shower? Inside the shower room, a playful splashing sound mixed with the sound of water tickled his ears.
Enoch glanced towards the door.
Perhaps she was away for a moment now, but Lien would visit the room soon.
The injuries from Rhodes weren't severe, but getting caught would just mean another lecture.
But he didn't have time to worry about such things.
There was something he had to do right now.
'The best option is to quietly avoid Lien as much as possible.'
Naturally, taking Flare's magic head-on was necessary for his growth, but he couldn't help but feel a slight pang of guilt at the cold gaze of Lien that flashed through his mind.
In any case, there was something he had to do immediately.
He clutched the dark, charred, long rolled-up piece of cloth he had left by the bedside.
Inside it, the feel of a sturdy weapon, hidden from the eyes of the world, touched his fingertips.
Enoch opened the door and stepped out.
The sun was already setting.
Outside the massive fortress's glass windows, twilight was descending. Enoch walked, watching the lights of the city's tall buildings turn on one by one.
Night was coming.
But he had no intention of sleeping now.
Perhaps thanks to the brief rest, or perhaps due to anticipation, his mind was already clear.
It wasn't strange.
The task he was about to undertake was something Enoch had been anticipating just as much until now.
***
The spacious interior of the Elsyde fortress had quite a few modernized facilities, creating a rather pleasant and unique atmosphere.
However, perhaps managing the entirety of such a vast fortress was difficult even for a Main House, as there were definitely some facilities where human traffic had ceased and were not properly maintained.
The underground area where Enoch's personal training room was located was just such a place.
Passing through a dilapidated underground passage that looked fit for use as a storage room, the personal training facility came into view.
Enoch opened the door and entered.
When he turned on the power switch on the wall, the LED white lights lining the ceiling illuminated. A modern interior with large glass panels lining the walls greeted him.
It was virtually an empty facility, but the previously eerie flickering magic stone lamps were gone, perhaps cleaned away by Lien, making it look quite pleasant.
Enoch moved his steps into the spacious training facility.
The reason he came here was naturally only one.
It was for the inheritance of swordsmanship.
Of course, it was closer to having escaped here for proper concentration before Sirocco, who had showered and come out of the bathroom, caused another incident in the room or became bothersome.
"... "
Enoch glanced down at the charred piece of cloth he held in his hand.
Unrolling the cloth that had been the rolled-up explosion-proof robe.
A sword was revealed from within.
A long greatsword.
A very long two-handed sword, about 1.3m in length.
Whether it was the blade or the hilt. In many ways, it was a much longer double-edged two-handed sword than the sword he had used so far.
Enoch gripped the hilt and drew the sword.
With a low, chilling groan, as if freezing the spine, the blade slowly emerged from the scabbard.
A sleek blade with no elaborate decorations. The hilt was finished with a sturdy, matte black material.
A simple and refined design with the subtly shining silver of the blade, crossguard, and pommel contrasting with the jet-black of the grip.
"..."
And the moment he gripped the sword. To his surprise, Enoch realized that he already knew how to handle the greatsword he was holding for the first time.
Two-handed sword.
Unlike the free and nimble one-handed sword. A sword that was a union of offense and defense, thoroughly suppressing the enemy with balanced sword principles and the long reach of its blade.
Enoch's gaze narrowed as he looked down at the sword.
'...This is the knowledge that the former Enoch possessed.'
A strange sensation of completely understanding how to wield and fight with a two-handed sword, even though he had no memory of it.
It wasn't unfamiliar. It was the same when he first inherited the sword of the Empire's Last Sword Saint.
Enoch, as if it were a matter of course, had already mastered the techniques for wielding a one-handed sword to the extreme.
'Come to think of it. The countless swords in that training ground.'
Enoch briefly turned his head. The swords that the former Enoch had used, left neglected in one corner of the training facility, a graveyard of swords, caught his eye.
It seemed clear how he 'remembered' how to handle a sword he was holding for the first time.
"..."
As he had naturally come to know through countless battles where life and death hung in the balance with a sword. The wielding of a sword and combat techniques were inevitably dependent on the form of the weapon.
This was because there were physical limitations on the movements of the body depending on the length or shape of the sword.
Therefore, there was always a sword principle suited for the one-handed sword and one for the two-handed sword.
There were also things he could only know because he had already mastered all of that.
Enoch looked down at the sword calmly and made a judgment.
The sword styles he had inherited and used before. And talents like the Sense of Mana could be used without problems.
The former Emperor's Supreme Sword's sword styles. [Explosive Sword] and [Fire Wheel], could also be used with the new Sword Saint's two-handed sword, not just his one-handed sword.
Of course, since the sword's length and form were different. It would be impossible to perfectly reproduce 100 percent of the sword technique's power.
'But that's not a big problem.'
If he could use other Sword Saints' sword techniques within a single sword without problems, it would rather broaden the options for cards he could draw in combat situations.
The more cards he could draw in combat, the better.
Furthermore, learning another Sword Saint's sword style might unleash synergy beyond what he could imagine.
Enoch's intuition about the sword was whispering so coldly.
"Swoosh."
Enoch focused his mind and took a short deep breath. For a moment, the sensation of the world's appearance reversing enveloped his body.
In the World of Impermanence, Enoch slowly opened his eyes.
A world where translucent water formed the land, and the night sky dotted with glittering stars formed the firmament.
Enoch slowly raised his head and looked straight ahead.
On the land made of the mirror-like clear water of the World of Impermanence, the silhouette of someone standing as if it were a matter of course came into view.
'A knight of silver.'
As if proving that Enoch had certainly grown stronger than before.
Unlike when he first inherited the sword of the Empire's Last Sword Saint, her appearance was clearly visible.
The knight standing holding a sword was a slender woman with long, flowing light blue hair.
Although she was hidden by the clear silver armor and helmet, her physique, which was not entirely concealed by the armor, was clearly slender and delicate enough for anyone to tell at a glance.
But there was no mistake.
Enoch, facing the knight before him, clearly realized it from the chilling sensation running down his spine.
─A Sword Saint.
Enoch smiled faintly.
His heart was now pounding loudly.
Until now, he had fought constantly on the boundary between life and death.
He had devoted himself to becoming stronger by fully utilizing his knowledge. With his sword, he aimed at the death that would come in the future.
Then now,
After crossing the slaughterhouse that unfolded on that boundary of life and death countless times, relying on a single sword, he had reached this point.
It was time to see for himself how much his swordsmanship skill had improved.