Chapter 020: Taming
In the heart of Easton’s city district stood a cluster of buildings filled with shops, amenities, and luxurious accommodations tailored for tourists and trade merchants.
Naturally, these were all part of the commercial district managed and operated by Zephyros.
Whenever the Gunbel Trading Company visited Easton, they were treated as top-tier VIPs, benefitting from Zephyros’s patronage, including the exclusive use of an entire building.
The tallest building in Easton.
Its topmost floor served as Jewelina Gunbel’s office.
“It’s a relief things were resolved quickly.”
The view outside the office window was pitch black.
A commotion that began in the early dawn had finally subsided, giving way to night.
“Seriously… my carefully built tower nearly collapsed.”
Jewelina was more focused on stacking tiny cubic dice on her desk than on the conversation.
This was despite the fact that the person standing across from her was Maserin, who had narrowly escaped death.
Of course, Maserin was the type of woman unfazed by such indifference.
“What should we do about Bihen Benkou?”
Tap.
Her movements were meticulous.
The dice, each no larger than a finger joint, were already stacked over ten high.
“A swordsman immune to magic. A blade that cuts through magic… Mana Crusher? Imperial Magic Sword? Hmm, no good. I’m terrible at coming up with names.”
“…Pardon?”
“Don’t you think the hero who saved Easton deserves a fitting epithet?”
Tap.
She spoke from a distance, as if wary of her breath toppling the stack, then leaned in close again.
A playful, intrigued smile accompanied her excitement.
“Isn’t it fun, Maserin? At such a critical moment… a miraculous person came to me. Is this what they mean when they say someone destined for greatness will succeed no matter what?”
“….”
Tap.
Jewelina leaned back again, eyeing the dice tower, now level with her gaze, from top to bottom.
Her expression was that of a sculptor calculating the composition of a masterpiece.
“Let Bihen Benkou do whatever he wants. Freely. But make sure he knows he can come back to me when he needs to.”
“…Deputy Leader?”
“Are hunting dogs born as hunting dogs?”
Tap.
“The first step in taming a beast: let it know who its master is. But take it slow, very slow.”
“In my opinion…”
“Yes, go ahead.”
“Bihen Benkou… isn’t someone who can be controlled.”
Clatter—
At that moment, the precariously balanced dice tower collapsed.
Jewelina deliberately scattered the fallen pieces further across the desk.
“Ugh, what a shame.”
“….”
Finally, Jewelina’s gaze turned to Maserin.
Her slowly rising eyes seemed to stir a chill in the air.
“There’s nothing in this world I can’t have.”
* * *
In my past life, the pinnacle of mastery felt like a colossal mountain.
Looking up from below, its summit was hidden from view, shrouded in thick clouds around its peak, as if warning lesser beings that even gazing upward was forbidden… that kind of towering mountain.
‘Truly, such a gap exists.’
Pausing to rest on the mountainside, looking down after passing the base, I couldn’t help but think this.
…Enough with metaphors. Back to reality.
‘To think I can operate my heart technique even while asleep.’
I was currently at the Altar of the Abyss.
My physical body was recovering at the Gunbel Trading Company’s lodgings, but my unconscious mind had activated the Benkou Vision.
‘So, swordsmen at the pinnacle and beyond trained even in their sleep.’
No wonder the gap in skill widened exponentially.
What a scam.
Imagining them secretly enjoying such sweet unfairness while preaching about effort and grit made me want to retch.
‘…Focus again.’
I sat cross-legged at the center of the altar, surrounded by braziers.
The souls of the Crimson Flame Cult’s mages were all contained within the braziers of the Benkou Swordsmanship.
When the Crimson Flame Leader’s soul was added, the flames surged so fiercely that I thought the altar would become a sea of purple fire.
‘The talents of Benkou Swordsmanship discovered or manifested so far number two.’
Physique and swordsmanship.
My physique, with its innate magic resistance, had now awakened a sixth sense, allowing me to detect mana.
Normally, discerning a swordsman’s level requires reaching the mid-pinnacle stage.
For mages, it’s impossible.
Yet, at the early pinnacle stage, I could gauge a mage’s rank.
Then, swordsmanship.
Compared to my past life, where the ordinary swordsmanship of a low-ranking Imperial warrior family was nothing special, I had now mastered a new technique—cloning—though currently limited to short-range ejection.
‘Good…’
I rose from my seat and slowly paced the altar.
Braziers holding purple flames, symbolizing the achievements of Benkou Swordsmanship, and others with dark gray flames, representing Imperial swordsmanship.
And now, a new one had appeared.
‘Blue-white flames.’
Compared to the others, it was merely a candle’s flicker, but as the first brazier ignited after my regression, its significance was profound.
‘Let’s name it the Snowflower Sword .’
I felt it was too early to append “Technique” or “Art” to it.
Having manifested it only once, relying on intuition after an epiphany, it was still just a rudimentary skill.
‘Nurture it slowly. Keep refining.’
The greatest gain was realizing the special ability of my newly acquired left eye, Ghost Eye.
Though I’d only used it once, I was certain.
‘Ghost Eye is the flint that ignites these braziers.’
Unlike my past life, where endless repetitive training and constant awareness of my limits were all I had, things were now flowing in the opposite direction.
The joy of learning, the satisfaction of achievement, tangible growth, and expansion.
‘So this is what it feels like to cherish each day.’
The meditation had been long.
My body must have rested enough.
As I prepared to conclude, I suddenly turned my gaze to the walls surrounding the altar—the dark backdrop behind the braziers.
I felt as if something was calling me.
Drawn by the sensation, I slowly walked toward it.
When I felt I’d reached the end… I understood why.
There had been another change.
‘What’s this…’
On the dark wall, barely noticeable unless closely inspected, were tiny golden dots.
As I traced the irregularly scattered points, one by one…
It felt like gazing at a constellation of golden stars in the night sky.
‘Ah.’
They say constellations each hold meaning. Imperials love this idea.
The Benkou Vision not only showed tangible achievements but also revealed why I must achieve them…
That’s the meaning I gave it.
* * *
It had been a while since I’d operated the Benkou Vision for this long.
If it was bright daylight outside, I’d need time to adjust to the light, so I braced myself before lifting my eyelids.
A familiar ceiling.
As expected, the sunlight streaming into the bedroom was dazzling.
The stinging in my eyes was secondary; my body felt light.
‘Well, there wasn’t much to recover from. I just overexerted myself a bit.’
After shattering the stone wall with the Snowflower Sword and collapsing from exhaustion, Jayden had half-carried me out of the underground passage.
It was already dawn outside, and I remember my eyes closing the moment I saw Zephyros approaching.
I stretched widely and opened the door.
“…Gah!”
It was Bill, dozing off in a chair, startled awake.
He was armed, as if ordered to guard the bedroom.
“You’re awake, Bihen! Thank goodness.”
“Why are you here?”
“The captain ordered me. Said to return with you once you woke up.”
Bill adjusted his crooked leather helmet, his eyes darting side to side.
“This place is full of Gunbel Trading Company folks. Maybe because they’re Imperials, they’re so stoic… I kept feeling out of place. They’ve got such stern faces.”
“…The company members are seafaring folk, so they can be rough. Not all Imperials are like that.”
“Oh, really? Hehe.”
“By the way, return together?”
“Yeah. Something about a big party.”
Bill’s eyes gleamed mischievously.
He leaned in as if to whisper.
“Easton Guard’s party for their first successful operation this year.”
I might have let my surprise show.
A proud Imperial warrior at a party? The thought alone made my face burn.
“I’ll pass…”
“Oh, Young Master Bihen? You’re up and about?”
The moment I heard the voice, blood rushed to my head.
Jewel, accompanied by a single burly escort, was waving her fingers in greeting from behind.
“What are you two chatting about so cozily? I’m jealous. Do you know how worried I was?”
“…Jewel.”
I strode forward and grabbed Jewel’s wrist.
I barely suppressed the urge to twist it.
The large escort didn’t know what to do.
He knew his employer was a commoner, and I was a noble.
For an Imperial, the class divide etched into their bones wasn’t easily ignored.
“I’m fine.”
Jewel played it off with ease.
I brushed past Bill, dragged Jewel back into my bedroom, and released her wrist as if tossing it away.
“You could speak slowly, and I’d listen to the end. Well, I like this rough side too.”
Her shamelessness was starting to feel repulsive.
I sensed her escort and Bill pressing their ears to the door, so I gritted my teeth and spoke.
“Be honest. Among the Imperials you brought, some were handed over as sacrifices, weren’t they?”
“…I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Don’t play dumb. The knights you called your business partners—some of them are tied to the cults, aren’t they? A great Imperial merchant like you wouldn’t be unaware of that.”
Jewel rolled her eyes once and let out a sigh through her nose.
“Slaves or sacrifices… I don’t see the difference.”
“Don’t spew nonsense. It’s taking the lives of living people. In an unnatural, unjust way. How are they the same?”
“I believe I mentioned before. They’re heinous criminals or traitors destined for the guillotine back home. Lives meant to end on the executioner’s block. Using those lives for the Empire’s benefit—isn’t that showing them undue mercy?”
I swear, I would have cut this madwoman’s throat right then and there.
If I weren’t an Imperial, if I weren’t an Imperial noble, if I hadn’t been a soldier in my past life.
‘…Damn it.’
Jewel took a step closer.
Even now, the fragrance she exuded was sickeningly sweet.
“I don’t know every detail of my business partners’ affairs. Well, fully grasping all of it is the goal of me, our company, and…”
Jewel pointed a finger at the ceiling.
“…those above.”
“….”
“But I can promise you one thing clearly. Everything I do in the name of the Gunbel Trading Company is unquestionably for the Empire’s benefit.”
“So, the Imperial Court is scheming to fuel chaos in the Kingdom by supporting cult factions. Is that the interpretation?”
Jewel twisted her lips.
“Yes. As you’ve guessed, our family serves the Imperial Court. Of course, I have my own objectives.”
“And what are those?”
“Oh, how could I reveal that now, in this mood? But I’ll promise you this: I swear on my personal intentions that I will never tarnish your honor or that of your family. Quite the opposite.”
I barely swallowed a sigh. Damn it. I had to admit I looked pathetic.
‘Here I am, getting heated and confronting an easy target like her instead of the Imperial Court itself.’
…What a disgrace.
Still, I intended to make one thing clear. I pointed my index finger at the bridge of her nose.
“Don’t tie me to the Gunbel Trading Company.”
“Noted.”
As I turned, her voice followed.
“Now that the misunderstanding is cleared, how about dining together? I’ve been dying to treat you. They say you performed spectacularly. Zephyros is buzzing because of it, and our company’s standing has risen too. This is truly unprecedented.”
I didn’t respond.
When I flung open the bedroom door, Jewel’s escort and Bill, who had their ears pressed to it, stumbled forward together.
Being a VIP suite, the bedroom was spacious. Since we’d spoken in hushed tones inside, they likely hadn’t overheard our conversation.
“Let’s go, Bill.”
I yanked Bill up by the ear as he stood there with a sheepish expression.