Chapter 79

Chapter 79. My Constitution Is a Bit Unusual

Although he did not show it in front of others, Balun was actually feeling a considerable sense of crisis inside.

After all, he had discovered that Black Moon had been targeting him ever since the Expedition Team incident.

Moreover, he had now learned that Black Moon was on the same side as the Black Magic Tower, a world-famous Black Mage terrorist organization with history, tradition, and infamy to its name. It would have been stranger if he did not feel a sense of crisis.

Now that he knew someone had marked him as a target, he felt that it would not be wise to blindly chase after money. That was precisely why Balun refused Oskal’s follow-up request.

Well, it sounded grand when put that way, but in truth, it meant he was frightened and wanted to run.

It already seemed dangerous now, so how much more dangerous would it become if he got further involved?

“Are you really not going to do it? It will be even more lucrative than this time.”

“My life is more important than money.”

“Are you saying you are going to back out because you are afraid? That is exactly what it sounds like.”

“Correct.”

“You really do make excellent jokes. You did that last time too, and now again… There is no need for that.”

“It is not a joke.”

“Please be honest with me. You have some other intention, do you not?”

“I have no such intention.”

“Shall I guess? Lord Balun, you do not consider money important. You simply wish to punish the ones who targeted you.”

What kind of nonsense was this now?

“You do not wish to measure such a noble deed befitting a Great Warrior with a worldly value such as money. That is why you refused my proposal.”

“No. I like money more than anything in the world.”

“Pfft!”

Oskal burst into laughter.

“Lord Balun, you truly know how to make people laugh. Unlike other Barbarians, you have wit.”

“I did not say it to make you laugh.”

“Please say something that makes sense. They were people who did not even know what currency was, and yet you say money is the best? Have you ever seen a Mage throw off his glove and challenge someone to a duel, saying that a Mage protecting a lady would tarnish his honor? Have you ever seen merchants say they are not doing this to earn money?”

“I am telling you, I really like money.”

“Yes, yes. Let us say that is the case.”

Balun pounded his own chest in frustration.

No, why could this man not believe what someone said?

“Fine. Think whatever you want.”

Balun gave up on persuading him.

This man was impossible to convince.

“Well, even so, I will always keep the possibility open. If you change your mind, please tell me at any time. Establishing ties with a strong Warrior like you would not be a bad thing for us either.”

“Fine.”

“Then are you leaving now?”

“I will stay in Mirehal for a while.”

“As expected…”

What did he mean, “as expected”?

No, stop looking at me with such expectant eyes.

“If you happen to find any clues, please contact me. I will come running at any time.”

“I said I am not doing it!”

***

Despite the sudden terrorist incident that had occurred in the middle of the night, the commotion in Mirehal was quietly glossed over. Mirehal’s Mayor, Emil, announced that the incident had occurred because a gang fight between Rogues had grown too intense, and that explanation was accepted surprisingly well.

Balun was curious as to why people accepted it so easily, but as it turned out, incidents like this happened frequently to begin with.

Due to the nature of a Free City where countless guilds and families were tangled together in turf wars, incidents and accidents never ceased.

Balun heard that explanation from Darcy, Eclipse’s Second-Class Rogue and bartender.

After receiving a tip of 5 gold from Balun, she had become conditioned like Pavlov’s dog and was showing Balun goodwill.

“They were people with no sense of safety.”

He understood right away.

There were plenty of people like that on Earth too.

“Sense of… what?”

“There is such a thing. By the way, are you people all right? Your guild building was smashed apart.”

“It is fine. We can just rebuild the collapsed guild branch.”

“It will cost more than a small amount of money to build it again.”

“What does that have to do with me? It is not my money being spent. The construction funds will come from the guild’s funds anyway.”

“That is true.”

Indeed. Whether a company building collapsed or not had nothing to do with an employee, as long as the salary came in on time.

“It is fine, since this sort of thing happens often anyway.”

“It happens often? Buildings collapse?”

“Yes. Sometimes, crazy thieves get determined and join forces to attack, you see? When that happens, buildings collapse once or twice. Do not worry about it.”

At Darcy’s answer as she shrugged as if it were nothing serious, Balun was briefly at a loss for words.

“You certainly live exhausting lives.”

“Thank you for recognizing that. Ah, this is the place. This way inside.”

Balun followed Darcy to the outskirts of Mirehal.

When he entered an old log cabin located in a place where sunlight barely reached, there was one person inside. It was Aldric, the Branch Chief of Eclipse’s Mirehal Branch and a Special-Class Rogue.

He was also the person who would teach Balun Stealth.

Apparently, even within Eclipse, he was an expert who would resent being called second to anyone when it came to Stealth.

“Branch Chief. I brought him.”

“Yes, good work. Go rest.”

“Yes, sir.”

Darcy withdrew like that, leaving only the two of them.

“Do not stand there. Sit here. I cannot leave a guest standing.”

When Balun sat down in the chair, Aldric brought out tea. It was black tea with plenty of sugar added.

As Balun savored the tea, Aldric opened his mouth.

“I will not say thank you for helping us. You helped us, but you also laid hands on our people. If I had to put it into words, we each repaid a debt once. Any objections?”

“None.”

“That is unexpected. I thought you would curse me as a shameless bastard who did not know gratitude.”

“I do not care about such things. I did not come here to make a show of anything in the first place. You do not have to care either.”

When Balun said that, Aldric grinned.

“You seem less like a Barbarian and more like a merchant.”

“I hear that often.”

“That is why I like you. I like people like you, who keep their accounts precise.”

After downing the tea in one gulp, Aldric continued.

“As planned, I will teach you Stealth. The tuition is 100 gold. I already received 50 gold as an advance payment, so you only need to pay the remaining 50 gold. Is that correct?”

“That is correct.”

“I will return the 50 gold I received. Do not give me the remaining 50 gold either.”

Aldric suddenly handed him a money pouch.

“Why are you giving this to me? What are you thinking?”

“I thought about it, and the calculation did not seem right. The debt I owe you for catching the rat seems much larger than the debt you owe me for beating our people. I decided not to take the tuition.”

“Put it away. I am fine.”

When Balun pushed the money pouch back, Aldric shook his head.

“I believe I already said this. Accounts must be precise.”

“Repay it in some other way. Take this money first. Take the additional 50 gold too.”

Balun put another 50 gold into the pouch that already contained 50 gold and handed it back. Aldric’s eyes narrowed.

“Why are you doing this?”

“It is charity for the less fortunate.”

“What?”

“I am telling you to use it toward the construction costs for your branch.”

“There is no need for that…”

“I heard everything. I heard that your branch’s financial situation is not good.”

Balun continued.

“I heard a considerable amount of ledgers and smuggled goods went up in the explosion. You are now unable to collect money you were supposed to receive. Am I wrong?”

“…”

“I do not want to squeeze money out of beggars. Besides, this was a contract in the first place.”

He had thought about it a little, and he felt this was the right choice.

He had gained thousands of gold anyway, so 100 gold was not that much.

If he left a debt here, he might be able to receive help later as well.

“So take it. Do not put on airs for no reason.”

‘Take the bonus while I am asking nicely and teach me the technique with all your heart and soul.’

“Gangsters and thugs are always the ones who love putting on airs. Are you like that too? From what I heard, your position is not exactly in good shape because of this incident either.”

At Balun’s words, which came pouring out like a storm, Aldric let out a hollow laugh.

“Those damned bastards must have been spouting unnecessary things to an outsider.”

Then he shook his head and let out a small sigh.

“Thank you. I will accept your consideration.”

Aldric’s eyes briefly warmed before returning to normal.

“Even so, I will definitely repay the favor. Accounts must be precise.”

“Of course you should. I will follow you all the way to hell to collect it.”

***

After that, Balun began learning Stealth from Aldric in earnest.

Aldric was busy in many ways, having to uncover any additional rats that might have infiltrated the guild, and running around here and there to rebuild the collapsed building. Even so, he said he had made as much time as possible.

Eclipse’s temporary hideout.

Standing in the spacious clearing behind the old log cabin, Aldric began his explanation.

“Five hundred years ago, Doras, the legendary Rogue Master whose name was known across the entire continent, defined Stealth as follows. He called it ‘the secret art of hiding one’s body within the laws of the world.’ Have you ever heard that?”

“No. I have not.”

“What do you think after hearing it? Does it sound reasonable?”

“It sounds like dog shit.”

“Dog shit?”

“Why are there so many flowery words? Is it not too pedantic? Truth is originally simple and straightforward.”

“Hahaha! You certainly speak in an amusing way!”

After laughing loudly, Aldric continued.

“That is right. It is pedantic. The explanation is difficult to understand. That is why Doras had no disciples after teaching in that manner. A Rogue Master famed throughout the world, no less!”

His expression turned serious.

“Hiding within the laws of the world, the secret art of this and that… All of that is just language that sounds impressive. It was dressed up to sound scholarly because of an inferiority complex toward Knights. In truth, Stealth is very simple. It is a technique for hiding the body with mana. End of story.”

“…”

“That really is the end of it. Stealth is simply a technique for handling mana well. However, the method of handling mana is slightly different from Magic or Aura, so you can only acquire Stealth if you properly understand that difference. I do not know whether you will be able to understand that distinction.”

“Ah, if that is all, then of course I can.”

Balun spoke with a confident expression.

“I am naturally cowardly and craven. My personality suits Stealth perfectly. I should learn it well too.”

“Hah! You make good jokes! A brave Warrior like you is what? Craven?”

Balun did not know why everyone treated it as a joke.

No, he was serious.

“I am asking just in case.”

“Speak.”

“If it is a technique that handles mana, does that mean I need to know how to handle mana too?”

“Of course. It is a technique that handles mana. To be precise, it is a variant of the Aura Cultivation used by Knights. You add secrecy to Aura and conceal your body. This is the very point that makes our Stealth different from the Invisibility used by Mages.”

“What if I cannot handle mana?”

“Then, well, you cannot learn it. But that does not apply to you, does it? There is no way a strong Warrior like you cannot handle mana.”

For some reason, Balun did not answer.

“Balun. Do not tell me you cannot handle mana.”

“…”

“That is impossible. You cannot handle mana? You, the Hero of the Expedition Team and a powerful man who slaughtered more than a hundred Black Moon Assassins?”

“…”

“Good heavens.”

Aldric’s mouth fell open. He could not believe it. How could something like this make any sense?

Someone who could not even handle mana had accomplished something that was difficult even for a skilled Knight? Without the support of mana, using only the power of his pure body?

“Are you human?”

“I am human.”

“Are you perhaps a Half-Orc?”

“What is that?”

“I am asking if you are of mixed Orc blood. I thought it would make sense if you had Orc blood.”

“I am not.”

What nonsense was this about Orcs?

Was he looking at Balun as some kind of monster?

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“There was an impossible monster right here.”

Aldric was looking at him with awe, but Balun could not even see that. All he could do was sigh.

‘Of course. What Stealth, at my level? I should just swing my axes around ignorantly.’

Even so, he was not that disappointed. Contrary to his expectations, he had vaguely anticipated this deep inside. He already knew that his path had been set.

He was in a position where he could not use active skills and could only learn passive skills. He was a failed build with a damned, twisted development route.

Still, he could not help feeling bad about it.

‘My Invisible Axe Technique… My life insurance…’

Balun’s eyes opened wide. He could not give up like this. With the feeling of a drowning man grasping at straws, he spoke.

“If I can handle mana, is it possible?”

“That is only natural.”

“What if I can handle mana, but I cannot accumulate mana?”

“Hmm, that would be difficult. Using mana that is not yours as if it belongs to you is something only a Dragon could do.”

“Then what if the mana does not accumulate in the reservoir where it is originally supposed to accumulate, but instead accumulates in another reservoir?”

In truth, Balun handled mana very well.

By now, he had grown accustomed to Mana Cultivation, so there were no problems at all.

It was just that the mana did not accumulate in the proper reservoir, but in a completely different one.

A reservoir used solely for strengthening the body.

“In that case, it may be possible. Of course, we would have to try to know for certain. But why are you asking?”

Balun did not speak.

Aldric, quick-witted as he was, noticed Balun’s intention.

“That is your story, is it not?”

“It is.”

“Can you tell me how that happened?”

“My constitution is a bit unusual. That is why. That is all I will tell you.”

“Hmm.”

“What do you think? Will it be possible?”

Aldric stroked his chin.

After thinking for a long while, he soon let out a small sigh and spoke.

“Now that I see it, you did not come here to learn Stealth. You came here as a patient seeking treatment.”

Then he shook his head and continued.

“I will be generous. I will specially allow it. Besides, I have to repay the debt I owe you anyway. Accounts must be precise.”

“Really?”

“Yes. Consider yourself lucky. Opportunities like this do not come often.”

“I do not know what it is, but if you are being generous, I am grateful.”

“Of course you should be grateful. You are going to receive my secret technique.”

‘Secret technique?’

Balun looked at Aldric in confusion, and Aldric was staring at him with a very serious expression.