Chapter 52

Chapter 52. World Construction (3)

Seria explained to Balun why she had been so surprised, but the explanation did not really resonate with him. It sounded far too metaphysical.

Honestly, even the Mindscape still felt rather bewildering to him, so how could talk of building a world or whatever possibly resonate with him?

Naturally, to Balun, it could only sound like some stuffy theoretical explanation given by philosophers.

“No, I mean. How should I explain this more simply? Now, listen carefully.”

“I am listening.”

“Creating a Mindscape is something only experts can do. It is like their exclusive privilege. In other words, it is so difficult that not just anyone can do it. Do you understand that much?”

“More or less.”

‘So, it is a high-level skill with a tier requirement.’

To compare it to a game, it meant it was something that could only be unlocked after reaching a high tier, such as Diamond.

“Creating a Mindscape is already that difficult, but manifesting that Mindscape in detail and building your own world is even harder. Only a very small number of experts can do it!”

“Then that must require something higher than Diamond tier. Does one need to be about Master tier?”

When Balun muttered that without thinking, Seria’s ears perked up.

“You said it well. That is right. It is something that should only be possible for someone around the level of a Sword Master.”

Balun was slightly flustered.

‘I did not mean that kind of Master……?’

“But you are not even a Sword Master, let alone someone who can manifest Aura. You cannot use magic either. Right?”

“Th-That is true.”

Balun felt the factual blow strike painfully deep.

No, why did she have to point that out so pitifully?

“In other words, you are not only far from being an expert, you have not even entered the threshold. Normally, you should not even be able to perceive a Mindscape in the first place. But you not only created a Mindscape, you built your world. So how could I not be surprised?”

“I see.”

“Do you understand?”

“To some extent.”

Seria let out a small sigh. She rubbed her eyelids as though she were tired.

“I can guess the reason.”

“What is it?”

“This.”

Seria poked Balun’s body with her finger.

“Your Enhancement Art. It must be because that is reconstructing your body.”

“Reconstructing? The Enhancement Art is?”

“Yes. That is why you gained the qualifications to enter the Mindscape even though you cannot handle mana. By force, that is. You really are lucky.”

“Does that mean the Enhancement Art is modifying Balun’s body?”

“That is right. Exactly.”

Balun tilted his head. He did not understand.

“But the Enhancement Art is temporary. When Balun uses up his strength, Balun returns to his original body. That cannot be called modification.”

“That is not true. The more you use your Enhancement Art, the more it trains your body. Very little by very little.”

Balun blinked. This was the first he had heard of it.

“Do not tell me you did not even know that. I could tell after touching your body a little.”

“I did not know. No, more importantly, is that information accurate?”

“Then do you think I am making things up? A long-eared elf like me?”

Balun was struck speechless. Come to think of it, he believed he had heard that elves did not lie.

“This is only my hypothesis, but it seems that whenever the mana dwelling in your bones and muscles is activated, a very small amount of it is absorbed into your body. That is why your body becomes sturdier.”

“I see.”

“The longer you train in your Enhancement Art, the sturdier your body may become compared to now. Probably.”

“Hmm.”

“Do not take it too seriously. It is only a hypothesis. It could be wrong.”

“No, you are right.”

Balun’s expression turned serious.

He recalled the past.

The days after he had left the tribe’s embrace.

“Come to think of it, after Balun left the tribe, Balun neglected training. But Balun’s body became much sturdier and stronger. That does not make sense.”

Looking back, that had indeed been the case. Even when he fought without using the Enhancement Art, he had felt that his strength had grown and his body had become sturdier.

This definitely did not make sense. His absolute training time had decreased, so how could the speed at which he grew stronger feel faster than before?

It was thanks to the Enhancement Art. Otherwise, it made no sense.

“The Enhancement Art changes Balun’s body. Balun grows stronger little by little.”

Who would have known?

Who would have thought the technique he had trained out of necessity in order to survive would be such a godsend?

‘If I keep using the Enhancement Art steadily, I can continue growing stronger from here, right?’

Balun touched his body. He felt his firm, muscular physique, without an ounce of excess fat. Thinking that the Enhancement Art had contributed to part of this body somehow made the Enhancement Art seem even more lovable.

‘One way or another, this is the only path I have. I cannot use Aura or magic like others.’

Since it was a path he had to walk anyway, he felt that if he had conviction, he could walk it without hesitation.

Even if everything around him tried to shake him and push him away.

“Then there is something I want to know.”

“What is it?”

“What is good about World Construction? If I do that, do I get a new technique or something?”

“How would I know that?”

“Why do you not know?”

“Because I have never done World Construction.”

“Why?”

“What do you mean, why? Because I am not skilled enough to do something like that.”

“Even though you are a Grand Smith? One of only ten? Even though you can make Ego Weapons?”

“Ugh, you idiot! That is why I was surprised! That is why I went through all this trouble explaining until my mouth hurt!”

SLAP!

“And I do not need something like World Construction. A blacksmith only needs to swing her hammer well. What else would I need? I do not have to fight either. Right?”

“I understand, so stop hitting me. It hurts!”

No, why did this woman’s palm sting so much?

He did not even need to look to know that his back had probably turned red.

“But how do you know? You said you had never done it, so how do you know it in such detail?”

“Do you have to do something yourself to know about it? Do you know how many powerful people I have dealt with…… Wait. You are making fun of me right now, are you not?”

“I am not.”

“What do you mean, you are not? You are. You are mocking me because you built a Mindscape world and I cannot. You are, are you not?”

Balun quietly averted his gaze.

Because that had not been entirely absent from his intentions.

***

After that, Balun talked with Seria about many things until evening. The conversation mainly concerned the Mindscape, the Enhancement Art, and Ego Weapons.

Seria’s knowledge was like an inexhaustible spring. Even though he had already heard all sorts of information, her stories showed no sign of running dry. Thanks to that, Balun unexpectedly acquired a great deal of valuable information.

The knowledge related to Ego Weapons, in particular, was like blessed rain in a drought. Thanks to it, Balun learned how he should handle the three axes that had become his companions.

“You should be grateful. I am usually a taciturn woman with customers. I do not chatter like this.”

“Of course I am grateful. Thanks to you, I learned many things.”

Balun raised his thumb.

“You are the best. You are my extremely close friend.”

To be precise, “extremely close friend” should be written as “free lifetime warranty service technician.”

“Friend, my foot……. Are you sure you are not just a greedy bastard trying to take everything you can?”

“I am not.”

That stung.

Because it was actually true.

It was his petty scheme to receive free weapon maintenance forever until he died of old age!

‘She is disgustingly sharp.’

“If you were not Calrent’s disciple, I would have kicked your backside long ago. Whew.”

“I said I am not his disciple.”

“I am telling you, you are. Did I not tell you? That man is the famous Gray Sage. That means he is an incredibly exacting fellow. If he had not had goodwill toward you in the first place, he would not have treated you so well.”

“Is that so?”

“I am telling you, it is. Believe it when an elf says something. Why is a Barbarian so suspicious?”

“I believe you.”

Looking back, Calrent’s goodwill had truly been extraordinary. After all, he had treated a Barbarian he was seeing for the first time that well.

“It has gotten late.”

Balun looked outside the window. Before he knew it, the day had grown dark.

“May I come again next time?”

“I do not stop guests from coming.”

“Good.”

“If you are going to come, bring a gift or something. Do not come empty-handed when you are not even paying me.”

“I understand. I will bring a gift.”

He had already felt a little sorry. He had used her services without paying despite hearing that her commission fee was expensive.

“Then I am leaving.”

“You said you are going to Rotenfeld tomorrow?”

“That is right.”

He had already told her. He was going to Rotenfeld with Heinrich.

In any case, there was still a reward he had to receive from him, and furthermore, he was curious about how a renowned noble family operated.

“Be especially careful when you go to Rotenfeld.”

“About what?”

“All nobles are nothing but dog-like bastards. It will probably be quite difficult. Especially for a Barbarian like you.”

“Wherever a Barbarian goes in the civilized world, it is full of difficult things.”

After saying that, Balun left the smithy. Seria silently watched Balun’s back as it slowly sank into the darkness and thought.

‘Will he do well? The pressure from nobles is not something ordinary people can endure…….’

Even an insignificant noble boasted authority as high as the heavens to commoners, and the other party was the Rotenfeld Family, which was considered a prestigious house even in the Kingdom of Corint.

There was no way those proud people would leave Balun, a commoner and a Barbarian at that, alone.

No matter how much Heinrich protected him.

‘Well, nothing serious should happen. He is someone who built a world, at least.’

Seria watched the last traces of Balun disappear completely into the darkness, then looked away.

‘By the way, what does the world that guy built look like?’

She had not built a world herself, but she had entered other people’s Mindscapes before.

That was why she was curious.

What form had the world of Balun the Barbarian taken?

‘He probably made a hut roughly woven together with straw.’

Seria chuckled. Just imagining it made laughter slip out.

***

The next day.

Balun woke early in the morning, checked out, and was packing his belongings when Knight Roton came to find him.

He looked quite excited.

“Balun. Are you ready to leave?”

“I am ready.”

“Good. Come out quickly. We will leave Pordel at once and depart for Rotenfeld Castle. It will take a full three days on foot, so we must hurry.”

“Wait. Balun must bring his horse.”

“A horse?”

“I have one horse I received as a gift.”

“I see. Then bring the horse as well and come to the small square by the west gate. I will go ahead.”

“I understand.”

Balun led the horse he had received as a gift from the lord and went to the small square by Pordel’s west gate, but soon he was surprised. Soldiers were lined up in neat rows and columns.

They were Pordel’s territorial soldiers, troops provided by the Lord of Pordel to escort Heinrich.

Their number was small, roughly around sixty men, but all of them were sharply disciplined, and every last one seemed to be elite.

Perhaps that was why they somehow looked far more impressive than the Expedition Team, which had numbered around two hundred.

“This is the return of the hero who stopped the Black Tower’s conspiracy, so escort him without the slightest opening!”

“Yes, sir!”

At the very front, a knight was delivering a speech to the soldiers in a loud voice.

Heinrich was seated in the splendid carriage at the center of the formation, peeking his face out and waving to the citizens who had come out onto the street. Like a hero.

When Heinrich spotted Balun, he waved. The ornament attached to his sleeve fluttered. It seemed he was wearing rather stylish clothing.

“Balun! Here, here! Come this way!”

In an instant, every gaze turned toward him. When Balun went to the side of the carriage, Heinrich laughed heartily and ordered the soldiers to open the carriage door.

The carriage door opened, revealing the interior of a carriage with an elegant design. Heinrich patted the seat and spoke.

“Now, Balun. Sit here. I even placed a cushion inside for you. Haha.”

“You want me to ride? In this……?”

“Yes. A hero like you should naturally travel with me. What do you think? Do you like it?”

Balun could not say anything. He was flustered.

‘No, am I allowed to ride this?’

At a glance, it looked like the sort of carriage only a young noble master would ride.

“No. I would rather just walk instead of riding this……”

“What are you saying! Do you not know that if the one who saved me simply walks, it is the same as insulting my honor?”

“That is not what I mean……”

“No. I will not allow it. Do not grumble and get in.”

“What about the horse I received as a gift?”

“The soldiers will lead it for you, so do not worry.”

“Balun is carrying weapons.”

“That is fine. You will not harm me, will you?”

Heinrich deliberately put on a stern expression. Balun had no choice but to board the carriage.

It was unbearably burdensome.

But what could he do now that things had turned out this way?

He decided to simply relax.

Even though everyone was sending him looks of envy and jealousy.

The young noble master had told him to ride, so who would say anything?

‘Forget it. I might as well enjoy it. It is better this way, since I can travel comfortably.’