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Chapter 22 – Swordmaster Cain (5)
[Translator – Night]
[Proofreader – Gun]
Chapter 22 – Swordmaster Cain (5)
“Feel everything.”
Cain spoke calmly.
“To feel the mystery is to awaken senses you have never felt before. Expand your senses to the fullest.”
Cain’s words were followed.
Ketal expanded his own senses.
“Feel the sensation of the passing wind.”
The strength and angle of the wind.
How it collided with Ketal’s body, how its trajectory twisted, and how it moved.
The wind touching his arms was slightly stronger.
He sensed all the subtle movements of the gently swaying wind.
“Feel the touch of the earth.”
The ground of the training field touching his hips and legs.
The thousands of grains of sand there.
He sensed the shape of each and every one of them.
“And feel the separate sensation within that.”
Expanding the senses even further.
Unfathomable information entered Ketal’s mind.
And Cain’s expression changed.
“Hmm?”
Cain involuntarily stepped back.
He felt a sensation of something passing through his entire body for a moment.
He realized why he felt that way.
‘…Just by expanding the senses, is this the extent?’
Cain was astonished.
It wasn’t using mystery to enhance the senses.
He had simply expanded his own senses.
Yet, the change that occurred was enough for Cain to feel.
‘He’s a real monster.’
How far could that barbarian sense?
Perhaps beyond this territory, even reaching outside.
Even with the senses of a swordmaster, Cain couldn’t perceive everything.
It was chilling to think he couldn’t manipulate mystery.
After a moment, Ketal opened his eyes.
“I don’t feel it.”
“I-Is that so?”
Cain quickly regained his composure and spoke.
“With your strength, I thought you would easily feel it…”
It wasn’t a fixed rule, but someone strong would likely have a high chance of sensing mystery even without mana.
But Ketal was an exception.
“Is it also a peculiarity of the White Plains?”
“I don’t know. No one around me has ever felt mystery.”
‘…The barbarians of the White Plains don’t know mana.’
Cain quickly stored that information in his mind and spoke.
“Well, it’s not that unusual. Feeling mystery from the beginning is not an easy task.”
It was about feeling senses one had never felt before.
Just as a wingless human couldn’t know the sensation of flying in the sky, it was quite difficult.
“Then the next step is for the one who can feel mystery to send power directly and pave the way.”
“Oh, are you transmitting aura?”
“Something like that?”
Ketal was lightly impressed.
He loved fantasy very much.
But his interest was not limited to fantasy alone; it encompassed all the mysteries of the world.
Naturally, he had read martial arts novels, and there were countless situations where masters directly transmitted energy to their disciples.
That too was the essence of martial arts.
Ketal was very satisfied.
“Okay, then let’s get started!”
“R-Right.”
Overwhelmed by Ketal’s enthusiasm, Cain approached hesitantly.
“This time, relax the power in your whole body and focus your senses on your own body. And feel the mana I send.”
Ketal nodded silently.
Cain slowly raised his hand behind Ketal’s back.
And he was amazed.
‘What a body.’
It was as hard as marble.
The intensity and hardness were enough to shatter weapons made of iron upon impact.
And it was heavy.
Not metaphorically, but in the literal sense of the word.
How many muscles were compressed inside?
It was unimaginable.
‘Is this really a human?’
Could such a being be categorized as the same species as humans?
“Cain?”
Cain, momentarily lost in thought, snapped back to reality at Ketal’s words.
“S-Sorry. Let’s begin then.”
He started to send aura.
Simply sending aura was meaningless.
The important thing was to awaken the mystery dormant within Ketal’s body.
So, the most important thing was to find the way.
That itself wasn’t a difficult task.
He was a swordmaster.
He was capable enough to perceive the human body.
That’s why Cain couldn’t help but be bewildered.
‘What’s this?’
He couldn’t find the path of the mystery within Ketal’s body.
No.
More precisely, he couldn’t reach it.
No matter how far he stretched out his aura, he couldn’t touch or see anything.
It was like trying to explore a vast ocean.
‘No. It’s more like…’
Rather than a vast ocean, it felt like swimming in the deep and profound depths of the sea.
Feeling like moving forward in a space where nothing was visible, feeling like being crushed by water pressure to the point of death.
Cain let go of his hand.
Ketal tilted his head.
“Cain? I didn’t feel anything special.”
“…Seems like it won’t work.”
“What?”
Ketal’s expression changed.
He looked at Cain with a face as if the world was collapsing.
“It won’t work. What does that mean? Does it mean I’m untalented?”
“No. It’s not that. Just…”
Choosing his words carefully, Cain began to explain.
“Simply transmitting aura into your body isn’t enough to awaken the mystery. Ultimately, to understand the mystery, you need to awaken the power dormant within you.”
“I know that.”
Transmitting aura was akin to blood transfusion.
With transfusion, you had to find the veins inside the body and pass the blood through there. Sticking it anywhere wouldn’t have any meaning.
Aura was similar.
It wasn’t just about sending it; it was about finding the path of the mystery.
Cain said with a puzzled expression.
“But I can’t find the path of the mystery.”
“…Could it mean you can’t even feel the mystery itself?”
Ketal’s face stiffened gravely.
Just as terrible despair was about to set in, Cain shook his head.
“No. That’s not it. I haven’t even confirmed it.”
“What do you mean?”
“…Your body is peculiar.”
Cain looked at Ketal with eyes seeing something completely different.
“To find the path of the mystery, you need to deeply send aura into your body. But… your body is deep and heavy. The aura can’t even properly reach inside you.”
This was the first time Cain encountered such a situation.
Pure physical force was blocking the aura.
“So, does that mean it’s impossible?”
Cain also roughly understood the meaning.
It was harder to find the veins of a fat person than a skinny one.
Because the fat obstructed it.
It seemed that it wasn’t fat but rather the muscles of the body that were the problem, but it could be seen as an extreme case of that.
“At least for me, it seems impossible.”
Even for a swordmaster.
Ketal’s face grew gloomy.
“Then am I unable to obtain the mystery?”
“…It’s hard to say that. Ultimately, since I haven’t confirmed it.”
As Cain, he also didn’t know whether the path of the mystery existed or not.
[Translator – Night]
[Proofreader – Gun]
In other words, if there were those who could know it, Ketal could also feel the mystery.
“Others might handle aura better than me. Other swordmasters, or maybe you could visit the towers. Or try to find a path through alchemy?”
“Alchemy? Is that possible too?”
“Some have become transcendent by artificially awakening the mystery with the power of alchemy. It’s not impossible.”
“Oh.”
This world seemed to place considerable value on alchemy too.
Curiosity crept onto Ketal’s face without him realizing.
Cain shook his head.
“Anyway, it’s impossible for me. I’m sorry.”
“No, it’s okay.”
It’s not impossible.
There’s enough possibility.
That’s enough.
After all, there’s interest in the towers and alchemy.
It could be left for later enjoyment.
He had already had enough fun.
This place was the fantasy world he had longed for.
The continent of mystery and fantasy.
“Hmm. Can I ask you for one thing then?”
“What is it?”
Cain felt a little sorry for giving only expectations but speaking of impossibility.
If he asked for money or something, he was willing to comply.
But what came out of Ketal’s mouth was completely unexpected.
“Could you explain how to use aura’s movements or swordsmanship?”
“…It’s possible, but it wouldn’t have much meaning, would it? You still can’t handle aura.”
“I just want to hear it. How the power is used.”
“Okay then.”
Cain nodded reluctantly.
* * *
Cain didn’t have big thoughts while explaining.
What he said was nothing more than a very simple theory.
It was as uninteresting as a professor teaching history at an academy.
Moreover, the listener was a barbarian who thought in terms of strength.
Cain thought Ketal would quickly lose interest.
But Ketal listened as if every word Cain said was very interesting.
“Oh, I see. Controlling aura in that way is the foundation. Interesting. I’ll have to try it later.”
Finding Ketal’s reaction amusing, Cain continued to explain.
And before they knew it, it was already night.
A maid who heard about the lord’s orders came to them cautiously.
“Uhm, Swordmaster, it’s getting late…”
“Ah, has it already come to that?”
“Do you have an appointment?”
“I originally came here for something. Unexpectedly, I took up a lot of time.”
“Is that so?”
Well then, this is farewell.
A sense of regret crossed Ketal’s face.
Although some expectations were shattered, meeting the Swordmaster was still enjoyable enough.
“Thank you. Thanks to you, I’ve learned a lot. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call you my mentor.”
About aura.
About enlightenment.
And about controlling it.
He learned many things except swordsmanship.
“When someone asks who my mentor is, I’ll mention your name. Cain, the Swordmaster.”
“No. There’s no need for that…”
This barbarian calling himself a mentor?
A being stronger than himself, yet unable to use aura, calling him that?
Cain liked to elevate his reputation, but he could be sure.
If that barbarian were to call him a mentor and follow him, it would be a noose around his neck.
“I-I’d appreciate it if you refrained from that. I haven’t imparted teachings worthy of being called a mentor.”
“Well… if you put it that way.”
Don’t respond unless someone asks who your mentor is.
Ketal decided that.
And seeing Ketal willingly accept it, Cain felt a strange emotion.
The barbarians he had met so far were uncontrollable.
All they desired was alcohol, violence, and death.
They refused to accept the concept of trade and obtained what they wanted through plunder.
Even the considerable strong ones were no different.
That’s why barbarians were excluded from society.
But this barbarian was different.
This barbarian could be controlled.
Such incomparable strength in a barbarian like this.
Desire gleamed in Cain’s eyes.
“If you wish, do you have no intention of settling in this kingdom?”
“Hmm? What do you mean?”
“Exactly as I said. Swear allegiance to the kingdom and receive a position. With your power, you would receive a high position. I’ll be your sponsor.”
“That’s also interesting, but…”
Ketal shook his head.
“I decline. I have no desire to be bound by anything.”
“A position will give you many things. Wealth, women…”
“But I will be bound to the kingdom, right? Unable to act as I please, and have to follow orders. Isn’t that so?”
“That’s true, but…”
Cain quickly interjected.
If he could put this barbarian in the hands of the kingdom, they might be able to break away from the empire.
It was a persuasion filled with such greed.
“Even so, you can obtain a noble status. Don’t you find that attractive enough?”
“Hmm.”
Cain seemed unwilling to back down.
Therefore, seeing him like that, Ketal smiled quietly.
“I will play my game.”
Chilling.
A moment of goosebumps.
An irresistible will that wasn’t a threat but was simply spoken.
Cain slowly nodded.
It was the best action he could take.
“…Is that so? Understood.”
“Anyway, thank you. I won’t forget this favor.”
“You can think of it as repaying the favor of not taking my life.”
“Is that so? Then I’ll see you later if I have the chance.”
With a smile, Ketal bid farewell to Cain.
Cain walked through the castle with the maid and thought.
‘I had absurd thoughts.’
Controlling that barbarian?
That’s impossible for anyone.
That’s a being that acts solely on their own will.
They may consider the surroundings and be able to socialize, but that’s it.
Within them, there’s only their own thoughts.
Since it was impossible to read them, in a sense, they were more unsettling than other barbarians.
‘The barbarian of the White Plains… is that what they are?’
That’s the existence of the Forbidden Lands.
Cain sighed deeply.
“A conquest of the Forbidden Lands. What on earth is the Emperor thinking?”
[Translator – Night]
[Proofreader – Gun]