TLed by NolepGuy
Chapter 45
Ebelasque’s Training Hall.
There, Kraush repeatedly clenched and unclenched his right hand.
He did this to get accustomed to the Sword Demon’s arm.
He was still somewhat aware that it was someone else’s arm.
At that moment, Crimson Garden perched on Kraush’s shoulder.
“How much do you know about the Sword Demon’s Ki-gathering technique?”
“Almost nothing. All I know is that his Ki-gathering technique was remarkable.”
“You, a Regressor, asked for the Sword Demon’s arm without knowing even that?”
Kraush shrugged his shoulders.
Did he think he would regress?
“How would I know a man who died before I was born?”
“Tsk tsk, you’re so unprepared.”
Crimson Garden pecked Kraush’s head a few times with her beak before descending in front of him.
“The Sword Demon’s Ki-gathering technique is similar to your One Sword, yet different.”
With that, Crimson Garden began to teach Kraush the Sword Demon’s Ki-gathering technique.
She was earnestly trying to make Kraush stronger, one way or another.
“The Sword Demon’s Ki-gathering technique first involves infusing the sword inside the scabbard with Aura.”
This was akin to the commonly known Ki-gathering technique.
Drawing the sword at the fastest speed, along with the Aura that has settled inside.
That was what Ki-gathering technique was all about.
Of course, most of the time, swinging an already drawn sword is faster.
After all, Ki-gathering technique was originally developed as a technique to quickly draw a weapon in response to a surprise attack.
However, the Sword Demon’s Ki-gathering technique was different.
“And the Sword Demon would finely split the Aura to give it elasticity, then cause it to explode inside. As a result, the Aura inside the scabbard would become tiny particles, wildly thrashing about within.”
“What kind of oddity is that?”
“It’s through such oddities that Secret Techniques are born. Anyway, the Aura inside the scabbard continues to strike the inside without slowing down. The inside of the scabbard becomes filled with the power of the Aura, and at the peak of that moment…”
The sword is drawn out.
Riding on that explosive force, truly at the fastest speed.
Therefore, the Sword Demon’s Ki-gathering technique diverged from the conventional Ki-gathering techniques.
Because it allowed him to strike the opponent’s neck before those who drew their swords based on the explosive force of the Aura.
And the destructive power derived from that explosive force was on another level.
In fact, the Sword Demon’s Ki-gathering technique was a preparatory process for a kind of ultimate technique.
It was a preparatory process to compress and explode the Aura to its limit in order to truly send the opponent flying with a single strike.
“Do you understand?”
Kraush looked at his sword that was sheathed.
If he could understand just by listening, he would have been a genius.
Unfortunately, he was not a genius.
Hearing a hundred times is not as good as doing it once.
Doing it once is better than hearing it a hundred times.
“I’ll try it.”
Kraush gripped his sword following Crimson Garden’s instructions.
“You are now using the Sword Demon’s arm. That means the Sword Demon’s muscle memory is fully embedded in your right arm.”
As she said, the Sword Demon’s arm had now become Kraush’s arm.
And that Sword Demon’s arm had honed its own Ki-gathering technique tens, hundreds, thousands, and tens of thousands of times.
That experience was fully ingrained in his arm.
“Follow the will of your arm. Then you will succeed.”
Hearing this, Kraush quietly closed his eyes.
Then he slowly began to infuse Aura into the inside of the scabbard.
The infused Aura gradually gained elasticity after a while.
Fortunately, it was not too difficult for Kraush, who had practiced Aura manipulation daily to use One Sword.
However, it was still unstable.
So, Kraush took his time and focused as much as he could on each Aura particle.
Several minutes passed like that.
Thud-
Cold sweat slowly trickled down Kraush’s cheek.
It meant he was deeply concentrated.
He had spent this much time just on splitting the Aura.
It was still far from being usable in actual combat.
But Kraush quietly focused.
He did not feel rushed.
Having lived his life like this, he did not disappoint himself and could always view himself objectively.
Watching Kraush, Crimson Garden did not belittle him either.
Secret Techniques are not something one can master in a day or a morning.
Therefore, the outcome varies depending on how one spends that day of learning the Secret Technique.
Several more minutes passed.
Kraush finally succeeded in giving elasticity to all the Aura.
‘And then, explode the Aura inside the sword.’
Then, the explosion of Aura began inside Kraush’s sword.
As a result, the Aura inside the scabbard started to move wildly.
Striking the inside of the scabbard repeatedly, the forces began to accumulate within the sword.
Kraush felt the scabbard swelling as if it would explode at any moment.
But it was not yet time.
Because the Sword Demon’s arm, gripping the hilt, remained motionless.
With endless concentration, Kraush focused his mind solely on the inside of the scabbard.
And at that moment.
The Sword Demon’s right arm twitched ever so slightly.
As if it had been waiting for this very moment.
At the moment when that timing intersected.
Kraush’s sword explosively drew out.
Kwa-kak-kak!
The sound of the sword being swung with the Aura’s explosion fiercely echoed throughout the Training Hall.
The swing was so fierce that it caused a momentary gust, making Kraush’s hair flutter.
“Haa, ha.”
Kraush, soaked in sweat from head to toe, was breathing heavily.
His right arm, which had used the Ki-gathering technique, throbbed painfully.
The Sword Demon’s arm was accustomed to the Ki-gathering technique.
But it was because the Aura needed to withstand that Ki-gathering technique was insufficient.
Clang!
As a result, Kraush ultimately dropped his sword.
His right arm trembled.
It was the price for not fully withstanding the explosive force of the Ki-gathering technique.
But he succeeded.
It meant he could move forward.
Kraush picked up his sword again and slowly sheathed it.
Though his right arm was trembling from the shock, Kraush paid it no mind.
If he couldn’t be a genius, he had to at least have grit.
He would just keep repeating it until he could master it.
“Begin.”
And knowing this, Crimson Garden immediately ordered him to start.
Kraush faithfully followed that order.
The excellent mentor, the Sword Demon’s arm.
Everything is there.
All that’s left is his own will.
So Kraush closed his eyes again and began to concentrate.
To endlessly repeat until he could reach the Sword Demon’s Ki-gathering technique.
* * *
A few days later, Kraush was facing Number 8.
Today, instead of a maid outfit, Number 8 was wearing something like a tight-fitting suit and still had black rabbit ears attached as she bowed her head.
Then, holding a staff after spinning it once, she spoke to Kraush.
“You may start whenever you’re ready.”
“Alright.”
Upon hearing those words, Kraush placed his right hand on the grip.
It was that moment.
Clang!
Number 8’s body staggered back once.
At the same time, a loud noise erupted from the staff she was holding.
Kraush’s sword had been drawn in an instant.
Number 8, who had been staring blankly at it, responded.
“I can see it.”
“Tsk, not yet.”
Kraush clicked his tongue as he returned the sword to his waist.
The Sword Demon’s Ki-gathering technique is a secret technique that draws the sword at a speed unrecognizable to the opponent’s eyes.
But Number 8 had recognized and blocked Kraush’s draw, and even the destructive power was still far from reaching the Sword Demon’s level.
Kraush looked down at his right hand.
In just a few days, the training had been so intense that his hand was covered in wounds.
Even with the Sword Demon’s arm, it was impossible to avoid injury.
‘It feels like I’m starting to get the hang of it.’
Ultimately, it was a matter of his innate Aura capacity, and he had no choice but to grow on his own.
To do that, it seemed he needed to return to the Green Pine Mansion to learn the next secret technique.
“Thanks. For continuing to spar with me.”
“Not at all. Mr. Kraush, you can have more confidence. Those of us numbered within the top ten are Master-level fighters.”
The corpses of Ebelasque that enter around the ninth rank.
Each one of them is a Master-level monster.
Therefore, it was only natural that they could follow Kraush’s sword draw with their dynamic vision.
But unfortunately, Kraush could not feel satisfied with those words.
“The ones I’ll have to face later are even more formidable than those Master-level fighters.”
The Skyborne Generation, full of beings crafted from talent.
To steal their skills, he had no choice but to become stronger here.
“Still, thanks for saying that. I got a lot of help from you.”
“I’m glad to be of help.”
Kraush smiled at Number 8 and left the training ground with her.
At that moment, he saw Ebelasque passing through the hallway.
She looked as if she had just woken up, rubbing her eyes with a tired expression.
Her T-shirt was stretched out, barely covering her chest, and her hair was a mess, dry and unkempt.
Kraush looked at her as if she were trash.
He made the corpses he dealt with look respectable, so why was she in such a state?
Kraush, who loathed the word ‘sloth’ the most, once again felt that it would be difficult to work with Ebelasque.
“What, what’s with that look?”
And at that moment, Ebelasque also noticed Kraush.
Then, seeing her own attire, she quickly covered her chest with her hand.
“Pervert! You’re a man after all! Well, I guess I am pretty glamorous and enchanting enough to captivate a teenage boy’s heart. It’s only natural to have those thoughts. Right.”
Kraush didn’t even bother to respond.
Because it wasn’t worth responding to.
She must have been reading some erotic novel before going to bed.
“I’ll be returning to Balheim today.”
The return of his arm to Hardenhartz had been safely acknowledged.
Bianca had burst into tears again upon seeing it, but since there were no other people around, it wasn’t a problem.
Meliocan, without saying much afterward, had called a priest to restore the arm as Kraush wished, and informed Balheim.
Now, it should be fine to return for real.
“Uh, then, what about me?”
“Do whatever you want.”
Kraush no longer cared whether Ebelasque followed him or not.
From the beginning, he had told her to roam freely.
“Hmm, what should I do?”
“You can stay here. Even if it’s you, you’d probably be found out soon in Balheim.”
Unless she uses a bell like Crimson Garden, as a World Erosion Being, Ebelasque is full of that energy.
Balheim is home to many monsters.
This is because not only the direct line but also those who have lived with Kraush’s father, Balrok, reside there.
The five elders of Balheim.
They would almost certainly detect Ebelasque’s presence.
“Ew, scary.”
She shivered once with a fearful look in her eyes.
Having been captured by the Empire, she wouldn’t want to be caught again.
“So stay here. I also have a personal favor to ask of you.”
“Oh, what is it?”
“There’s someone called the Poison King.”
One of the Ten Strongest Under the Heavens and the one who destroyed Hardenhartz.
There’s still plenty of time left, but if the 2nd Prince seeks asylum in Hardenhartz again, he will eventually come to Hardenhartz on the Empire’s orders.
“I’d like you to stop him from causing trouble in Hardenhartz. Or at least buy some time.”
“One of the Ten Strongest Under the Heavens? That won’t be easy…”
“I’m not asking you to confront him head-on. It’s fine as long as you keep the Patriarch of Hardenhartz, Douglakan, alive.”
It’s not something that will happen immediately anyway.
“Got it. If that’s all, I can do it.”
She readily agreed to the request.
Kraush had said that retrieving her heart was a transaction, but despite appearances, Ebelasque still felt grateful to him.
That’s why she easily accepted Kraush’s request.
“If you need a favor later, feel free to ask.”
He would return the favor as much as he had asked.
Kraush was always clear about such things.
So, leaving those words behind, Kraush walked out of Ebelasque’s hideout.
Ebelasque, who was watching his retreating figure, somehow let out a small chuckle.
“Master, are you sure you don’t want me to follow you?”
Kraush had said that Ebelasque would be found out if she came to Balheim, but if she really wanted to hide, it wasn’t impossible.
But she chose not to.
“If it were the old me, I might have followed.”
Once upon a time, she too had been a World Erosion Being, but there was a time when she adventured the world with someone.
But that was too long ago, and her will from back then had faded significantly.
Kraush would surely travel through many worlds.
“I followed you this far on a whim. But if I keep going, I might start to equate you with my old companions.”
So she decided not to follow Kraush any further.
“I’ll stop here. I’m not an outdoor enthusiast, after all.”
One of the unique figures among the World Erosion Beings, she said this and turned away.
However, there was something that bothered her.
Judging by Kraush’s actions, he would surely get involved with many other World Erosion Beings besides herself.
Among them, there are truly dangerous individuals.
And they, like herself, would recognize Kraush.
‘When that time comes.’
She thought it might be okay to properly repay him for the heart’s worth.