Chapter 47

Chapter 047

The next day.

As soon as dawn broke, I met Persica and Jin Sohwi.

When the two saw that I was fine, they finally seemed relieved and let out sighs of relief.

“Whew...... I am glad you are safe. Did they say it is all right for you to move?”

“Yes. They said I could be discharged immediately without any problem.”

My body had already been sturdy to begin with, and now that the Dragon Jade had been added to it, my Increased Natural Recovery had practically reached a superhuman level.

The doctor who had come to examine me in the morning had been dazed and said, “You have some sort of fantasy-like body......” It had been quite a masterpiece.

“Stop pushing yourself so hard. Persica almost cried.”

“When did I ever!”

Jin Sohwi, who had come with her, grinned.

By the way, had these two ended up speaking casually to each other too?

Well, they were all the same age, and I also preferred this to that strange Old-Fashioned Polite Style, so it was fine.

“I lived thanks to you. Thank you, Isran.”

“It was nothing.”

“So when can we Spar?”

This lunatic.

Was that something to say in front of a person who had just come back from the brink of death?

Persica shot him an intense look, but he was serious.

“Later. I have something to do right now.”

“Ah, I see.”

Today was the day of my hearing.

Now that I was no longer a patient, I had a duty to give a detailed account of what had happened at South Spirit Mountain.

When I arrived at the Meeting Room, which I was now visiting for the second time, the elders of the clan, including Jin Baek, were gathered in one place.

“I greet the Head of the House.”

Even though I gave my greeting, a heavy silence hung over the Meeting Room.

“Adventurer Isran, give a detailed report of what happened at South Spirit Mountain.”

“Yes.”

Since it was an official setting, I left out any embellishments and reported what had happened there.

From the appearance of the Great Mountain Centipede to the fight against Admon Colishi of the Downfall Order.

As the story continued, the expressions of the people grew heavier.

“You are saying you lost consciousness while fighting a Priest of the Downfall Order, and that you remember nothing after that?”

“Yes.”

“Hm......”

Groans passed around, but by and large, the people seemed to believe me.

In truth, there was no room to doubt it.

No matter how capable I was, blowing away a mountain was something far beyond common sense.

“It does not seem as if he is lying.”

“Is there no possibility that he is a Possessor?”

“I do not sense the distinctive Mana of a Possessor from him.”

I flinched at the word “Possessor,” but fortunately, because the Mana of my Unique Ability was concealed, I did not draw suspicion.

The fact that I had consistently used Mana while training here ended up serving as my alibi.

“Could he not be favored by a Master? If it is a Master, descending into another person’s body should be possible.”

“Nonsense.”

Jin Baek sharply dismissed the theory of a Master possessing me.

“Merely possessing someone would not be enough to produce such power. If it was power capable of blowing away a mountain, it must surely have been the legendary ‘Descent of the Great Precept.’ If one did such a thing with a borrowed body, the Host would die.”

“He could be the blood relative of a Master, could he not? If he were a highly compatible ‘spirit medium,’ then it would be possible......”

“Isran is not from such a background.”

At the continued speculation, Persica defended me.

“Isran’s origins have nothing to do with a Master. I guarantee it in the name of Ortanis.”

“Ahem......”

Since Persica said so, the people did not press any further.

In the end, the truth behind the disappearance of South Spirit Mountain was left unquestioned.

There was no particular evidence or trace, so there was no way to find out at the moment.

“Let us end this here. The Great Mountain Centipede must surely have done something.”

Jin Baek settled the unsettled atmosphere.

“Is there anything else to report?”

“I heard the contents of the Downfall Order’s report.”

This was my main point from here on.

I conveyed the fact that Admon Colishi had reported my existence to the Downfall Order.

“Hm...... Then you are saying the Downfall Order may come to the Second Floor?”

“I cannot be certain, but I believe it would be better to at least prepare.”

I explained it in a way that suggested they were after the Dragon Jade that had merged into me.

Because of that, I described it as a possibility, but I was certain they would come.

They knew I was here.

“......If you wish, I will leave White Cloud Castle at once.”

At those words, Persica raised no objection.

From the moment I obtained the Dragon Jade and crossed swords with the Downfall Order, she must have expected this to some degree.

Jin Baek quietly looked at me, then opened his mouth.

“You may continue to stay.”

“......Pardon?”

“If I drove you out over something like this, would the name of White Cloud Castle not weep?”

Jin Baek continued speaking solemnly.

“Isran, you saved a child of the Jin Clan, and you achieved great results in the investigation of South Spirit Mountain. As a result, White Cloud Castle gained a great benefit from the mountain’s disappearance.”

Because South Spirit Mountain had occupied a large part of the southern territory of the Second Floor, they said the inconvenience caused by having to go around it had not been trivial.

That inconvenience had vanished when the mountain disappeared, and the Hill Country left behind could be used to lay roads or even as cultivated land. It was true that White Cloud Castle had gained greatly from this.

“But I was not the one who erased the mountain—”

Persica jabbed my waist with her elbow.

It was a gesture telling me to stay quiet and listen.

“Furthermore, you learned White Cloud Castle’s Martial Arts and underwent White Cloud Castle’s Construction Ritual. How could I think of someone like you as a stranger and cast you out?”

“I do not intend to become a person of the clan......”

“I am not telling you to belong to us. I am only saying that is the meaning you carry.”

Even in this situation, you say something like that, he seemed to say as he sighed.

“I cannot cast out one of our own. I will discuss this separately, so withdraw for now.”

After I came outside, I felt dazed.

To be honest, I had even considered the possibility of expulsion, so I had never expected them to try to protect me.

“It seems the Head of the House thinks very highly of you.”

“Hmm......”

For simply thinking highly of me, this seemed excessive.

What was it? I could not understand why he would try to protect someone who refused to become his Disciple and also refused to become a member of his clan.

No matter how I looked at it, this was a structure where White Cloud Castle would be taking a loss without question.

“Sohwi, do you know anything?”

“I will tell you if you fight me once.”

“......You do not know either, do you?”

“Haha.”

What did he mean, “haha”? Was he trying to get hit?

‘Well, I suppose it does not matter.’

The Downfall Order was an opponent too burdensome for me to face alone.

In that sense, being able to receive White Cloud Castle’s protection was good for me, and there was absolutely nothing bad about it.

Then there was only one thing left.

‘Checking my condition.’

I immediately headed toward the Training Grounds.

***

The Training Grounds I arrived at were old Training Grounds located in a corner of White Cloud Castle.

All the doors were locked, because I had asked Jin Sohwi to clear everyone out.

It might have been a somewhat rude request, but perhaps because he was so good-natured, he readily agreed.

“Do we really have to go this far?”

[If you are interrupted while cultivating Mana, you could die.]

Of course, this was because of Hyeollyeo’s advice.

Perhaps its claim that it had been friends with Jin Ryeon was not empty talk, because it knew quite a lot about human training methods.

[Slowly feel the energy flowing within you. First, you must sense your Mana, circulate it, and grow accustomed to that power.]

“Understood.”

I sat cross-legged and began sensing the Core settled in my heart.

At the very center of my beating heart.

I felt a solid organ supporting the flow of circulating Mana.

‘So this is my Mana Core.’

Even at this moment, the Core was pulsing together with my heart, vigorously circulating Mana.

Sensing the Core required considerable concentration.

The energy it held was almost indistinguishable from the Mana of nature, so recognizing it was not easy.

“I know the Core is there...... but when I actually try to feel it precisely, it does not work very well.”

[That is because of Pristine Power. It happens because it is almost indistinguishable from the Mana of nature.]

If I had to describe it, it felt like river water within seawater.

The Core’s presence was so faint that at a glance, it almost looked as though Mana was circulating on its own without a Core.

‘This will help me hide my presence.’

If it was hard to distinguish, that also meant it was hard to detect.

Unless I directly stirred up my Mana, I could be said to have a presence no different from an ordinary person.

Since there were many monsters sensitive to Mana in the dungeon, this would become an advantage the farther down I went.

[For now, focus on sensing Mana today. Since you have not learned a Mana Cultivation Method anyway, it will be difficult for you to use the Core in earnest.]

Following Hyeollyeo’s words, I focused on the movement of Mana.

‘This is my Mana......’

I felt the Mana that was making a circuit around the Core.

Was it because of Pristine Power? The more I sensed the Mana, the more I felt a strange freshness.

Cool, clean Mana was circulating, invigorating my body and filling it with vitality.

‘So this is the reason for that Recovery.’

I tried activating the Mana inside my body in earnest.

At that moment, my heart pounded loudly, and my eyes flew open.

Even though I had only stimulated it slightly, an enormous amount of Mana began to surge like a raging current.

‘It is strong......!’

The quantity itself was only 2-Star, but because its Density was three times that of ordinary Mana, its Output was unbelievably powerful.

It felt as though blood three times heavier than normal was racing through my Blood Vessels.

The Output was so strong that I nearly lost my focus, but then something even more fascinating happened.

‘The Mana...... is not deviating?’

When I was about to lose control, the Mana lowered its Output on its own and matched its pace so I could keep up.

It was like a dog that saw its owner drop the leash, sat in place, and waited for its owner to come.

Once I regained control, it began racing powerfully again.

‘So it had this function too.’

I had vaguely felt this when I fought Admon as well, but the Mana emitted by the Dragon Jade had a property that tried to harmonize with its master as much as possible.

It was not only the reason it had somehow kept me in a Suspended Animation State when I was about to die, but also the reason it increased my Recovery and invigorated me.

At this point, I could understand why the Dragon Jade was treated as a Precious Treasure.

The Mana had a will of its own and adjusted itself to me. In effect, this was no different from saying I was immune to attacks that twisted Mana or made it flow backward.

Thanks to that, I succeeded in making the high-Density Mana, three times stronger than normal, complete one full circuit from the very start.

As I felt the Core’s pulsing and the Mana that had spread out, I realized just how absurdly I had been operating Mana until now.

‘To think I was moving something like this by kneading it directly...... It is a wonder I did not die.’

I realized how fragile and sensitive the paths through which Mana flowed were.

To think I had been constantly stimulating those countless thousands, tens of thousands of paths...... I had essentially attempted suicide any number of times.

I felt anew just how important the existence of the Core was.

The fatigue and burden from before had completely vanished, and rather, the more Mana circulated, the more vitality overflowed through my entire body.

I had already opened Divinity, which had increased my Increased Natural Recovery by quite a bit, and now the power of Pristine Power had been added on top of that...... It was no joke. I could hardly contain the vitality boiling over inside me.

“......Now.”

I gripped my sword and stood up.

I felt as though I would go mad if I did not move immediately.

I could not suppress the urge to unfold the Swordsmanship I had completed not long ago.

TAP, TAP!

With the sword in hand, I immediately began unfolding the White Cloud Sword Method.

I performed the Chant of Buddha Patriarch in sequence and naturally began operating the surging Mana according to the Forms of the Swordsmanship.

‘Now......!’

The moment the Mana completely blended into the Swordsmanship, I adjusted my stance and activated my Unique Ability.

My heart and sword resonated, and Ishara’s realm took root within me.

The Forms of the White Cloud Sword Method naturally began to continue into Ishara’s Swordsmanship.

“It works.”

The world of Lines and Trajectories I had entered while fighting Admon Colishi.

When I had first seen this through my Unique Ability, I could not even understand it, but now I could see every single one of its principles.

Trajectories spread out like a net.

Sharp Lines flashed between them.

Even amid movements that flowed like water, I no longer suffered Overload.

The Core supported my body, and Enlightenment formed a realm.

At that moment, I realized that I had reached Great Completion of the “First Chapter.”

I was certain.

Now, even without my Unique Ability, I could unfold Ishara’s first Swordsmanship.

“Ha......!”

My blood boiled.

Joy seeped into my heated breathing, and the air brushing past my Lungs felt fresher than ever.

I roamed freely across the wide Training Grounds and swung my sword, lost in a trance.

It was enjoyable.

It was fun.

I felt an emotion of pure joy spreading through me.

At some point, I realized that I was smiling.

“......This is fun.”

More.

I wanted to know more.

I wanted to learn more.

‘So this is what you meant, Robin.’

He had said that the moment I overcame the Wall, it would no longer be a Wall but would instead become my firm Foundation.

I felt as though I finally understood what he meant.

Because when I confirmed that the now-complete first Swordsmanship had become solid ground beneath my feet, I instinctively sensed that I was ready to use it as a foothold and move on to the “next.”

THUMP!

My heart and sword resonated once again.

At that moment, the fierce sequence of movements entered the “next.”

“......!”

The sword drew a completely different Trajectory.

Movements I did not know, and Trajectories I did not know, began to embroider the air of the Training Grounds.

As expected, Ishara’s Swordsmanship did not end here.

There was a “next.”

There was a “Second Chapter”!

My thoughts accelerated, and I began analyzing the new Swordsmanship.

What kind of Swordsmanship was this? What purpose did it hold, and what principles did it contain?

What did it pursue, and what realm was it trying to reach?

‘Is this...... related to the operation of Mana?’

If the First Chapter had supplemented the flaws of Parrying and established the framework of Swordsmanship, then the Second Chapter seemed to discuss the “form” of Swordsmanship in earnest.

The reason I spoke of it as a prediction rather than a certainty was...... because this Swordsmanship did not continue to the end.

“Ugh......”

A sharp pain flared in my heart.

If I wanted to, I could have continued, but it was a pain that clearly told me something would go very wrong if I did.

After gathering the raging Mana, I traced the cause of the pain.

‘The Core...... is activated.’

It was not naturally pulsing like a heart. Rather, it had activated in earnest and was “weaving” Mana.

Could the Core itself, not the Mana, be activated directly?

If so, why was this pain occurring?

As I was lost in thought, Hyeollyeo spoke in a stunned voice.

[You......]

“What?”

[What in the world are you?]

Its voice was full of disbelief.

[Was this not your first time using a Core?]

“It was, right?”

[How did someone using a Core for the first time reach the “Activation” stage?]

“What do you mean, Activation?”

[The Swordsmanship you just showed me! You went beyond simply operating Mana and directly activated the Core, did you not?]

Hyeollyeo was utterly stupefied.

It seemed to have been deeply shocked by the “Second Chapter” I had unfolded.

[Did you perhaps learn a separate Mana Cultivation Method?]

“What is that?”

[A Mind Method that handles Mana by directly operating the Core!]

“I did not learn anything like that.”

[......]

Hyeollyeo stopped speaking for a moment.

[You handled the Core without a Cultivation Method? No...... you even operated Mana in that state and incorporated it into Swordsmanship......?]

Hyeollyeo had fallen into great confusion.

Apparently, one needed something called a Cultivation Method to operate the Core......

‘Could it be because of that?’

The pain from just now seemed to be a problem caused by the absence of that thing called a Cultivation Method.

It was the same concept as unfolding the First Chapter without a Core.

I could do it if I forced it recklessly, but as a price, it placed a great burden on my body.

‘I need to learn a Cultivation Method if I want to continue further.’

My next goal had been decided.

I was clenching my fist when Hyeollyeo, still unable to escape its shock, began speaking incoherently.

[How can such a thing be possible? Jin Ryeon...... What exactly is that thing......?]

“Why are you making such a fuss?”

[Do you not know what you just did? Activating the Core without a Cultivation Method means directly moving the heart to give blood a new flow and property. It is something impossible from the beginning!]

“......”

[Are you truly human?]

What on earth was this creature talking about?

Leaving Hyeollyeo aside, I focused on my Unique Ability, which was still active.

Now that I had a Core, my Mana Density had increased, and I had even gained the property called Pristine Power...... there was something I had to try.

‘How long can I use Aura?’

The previous record was 0.4 seconds.

It had been too short, so I had only been able to perform Basic Manifestation.

But now, perhaps the time had increased considerably compared to before.

Maybe I could even go beyond Basic Manifestation and manifest a Trait, like Admon had shown.

“Seeing once is better than hearing a hundred times.”

I held up my sword and prepared.

A strange sensation swept through my entire body, and my Mana began to vibrate greatly.

[Wait, what are you trying to...... Stop!]

“I can do it! If it is me!”

FLASH—!

A fierce violet flash burst out.

The light of Aura swallowed the entire Training Grounds and began blazing like brilliant starlight.

I still did not know the principle behind its Manifestation. I did not even have a feel for it.

But!

‘One second...... two seconds...... three seconds......!’

The time that had only been 0.4 seconds increased significantly.

It passed four seconds and entered five.

Could this...... work? Could I really do it?

Was I really about to manifest even the Trait?

Damn it, just how strong was I going to—

HISS—BOOM!

“Guh!”

And then, the sky spun.

The Aura evaporated, and with blood gushing from the seven orifices of my head, I slammed face-first into the floor and passed out......