Chapter 42

“Welcome, Fourth Young Master Killian.”

As he entered the Apothecary, a middle-aged man with gray hair bowed politely.

Bron Schmidt.

He was the family's senior apothecary, known as the Head Apothecary's right-hand man.

He smiled faintly at Haman.

“We meet again, Chamberlain.”

Haman also greeted him with a familiar expression.

It seemed they had become friendly from his frequent visits for recovery potions.

“Chief Apothecary Bron, I've come today to see the Young Master and Head Apothecary Loen.”

“I understand.”

Bron nodded and immediately led the two to the Head Apothecary's Office.

As they walked, Killian and Haman felt the gazes of the apothecaries at work.

“Chief Apothecary Bron, the atmosphere seems a bit unsettled.”

“Yes. The First Mistress was just here a moment ago.”

“……”

“……?”

For a coincidence, the timing was exquisite.

After guiding them, Bron immediately offered Haman tea and led him to the reception room.

‘Now he's finally getting treated like a chamberlain.’

Compared to when Killian had first awakened, Haman's status had also risen considerably.

‘It's about time I made a decision.’

With his chamberlain's future in mind, Killian opened the door to the Head Apothecary's Office.

The healthy-looking Head Apothecary was infusing Mana into a syringe.

“Your greeting is later than I expected. Did you happen to meet with the Matriarchs?”

She asked, her gaze fixed on the contents of the beaker.

“How did you know?”

“No proper elder of the family could fail to keep an eye on the Fourth Young Master's movements.”

“Is that so.”

“To be honest, I heard it from the guest who was just here.”

Killian naturally sat down in a chair.

He had been in and out of this place as often as the training grounds, to the point where the medicinal preparations she was experimenting with now felt familiar.

Belatedly stopping her experiment, she turned to Killian.

“What did you think of the two Matriarchs' conditions?”

Basquia, a martial family, and Sepia, a merchant guild. Two Matriarchs who had grown up in families of different natures and possessed different dispositions.

‘Cali would have promised honor and growth as a knight, while Emma would have promised a hefty reward.’

She made a guess that was close to the truth and waited for Killian's answer.

“It seems there's no need to choose right away. Wouldn't it be alright to think about it a little more?”

“So you're going to wear the mask of a fox. Well, did you come to see me to thank me for the recovery potion?”

She said, scanning Killian, whose appearance had changed significantly in just a few days.

Broad shoulders and a height that had grown by a handspan.

‘He's grown again in such a short time.’

She was now at a point where she wouldn't be surprised by any changes Killian showed.

“It's only natural to offer my greetings after receiving such a precious gift, isn't it? But it seems the Matriarch made a good offer. You look to be in a good mood.”

“Are you curious?”

“I am.”

“Hmm… The Meyer family has promised priority distribution of our medicinal preparations. They said they would like to have the apothecary they currently operate become part of the family in the future.”

‘Well, look at this.’

It meant that the apothecary of her maternal family, which was originally operated independently, would be brought into the family.

If the Meyer family, which operated the largest apothecary, came out like that, Basquia and Sepia would not be able to remain idle in the future.

It was a way of giving the Head Apothecary a pretext for control and creating a new stage.

‘A scheme worthy of a political family.’

From Loen's perspective, it was also an opportunity to reorganize the apothecaries.

“I also heard from her that the two Matriarchs would approach you.”

“It's been hectic since I returned to the family.”

“Political skill is also one of the virtues a leader must possess. It's best to be careful until your body has fully recovered.”

“I will take your words to heart.”

“So, have you decided on your course in the competition for the headship?”

“What are your thoughts, Head Apothecary?”

A brief frown formed on her brow at the unexpected question.

“Join forces with the First Young Master.”

She said with a resolute face.

“That's surprising. I thought you would tell me to walk the path of the hegemon.”

“You weren't planning on listening anyway, were you?”

“You seem to see me as too reckless. Since you've given me advice, I will take it into consideration.”

“You don't yield an inch.”

Loen stood up, brought five potions, and placed them on the table.

“Take these. You must have used up a lot of vitality recovering from the reflux.”

His deal with her had ended with the subjugation.

Nevertheless, Killian expressed his gratitude for the pure kindness of her taking care of his recovery potions like a personal apothecary.

“Since it is the Head Apothecary's sentiment, I will not refuse.”

“There's no need to thank me. It was a deal where I gained more, if anything.”

Killian's advice had been a great help to her in breaking through her wall and solving the head's problem.

Loen deliberately did not voice her inner thoughts.

“Come and see me anytime. Conversations with you also bring me inspiration. Consider the recovery potions a welcoming gift.”

“Since I have received such a generous gift, I must pay the price as well.”

“Oh, this is exciting. What do you plan to pay with?”

“You are having trouble handling 7-star Mana, are you not?”

“……”

The corner of Loen's mouth twitched.

She had not trained her body like the knights, nor had she learned numerous formulas like the mages.

She had recently been approaching the Mana Heart in a new way, but it was true that she was struggling.

“That is not a problem you can solve.”

But it was a part that needed to be improved step by step over a considerable period of time.

At least 10 years, maybe she wouldn't even see the edge of the 7th star until she died.

She thought that was the only natural course.

But.

“It's not that there is no way.”

“What…?”

Killian smiled his characteristic harmless smile and continued.

“The realm of transcendence. Some call it a mystery, while others call it a disaster .”

A being who handles a transcendent power that has broken free from the individual known as a human.

Those who have achieved the 7th star are for that reason called Superhumans.

“From the moment you break through the wall, there is not much difference between a knight and a mage. It's just that the method of releasing Mana through the medium of a sword and magic is different.”

The Mana that his ancient self had discovered in the form of a Gate has been separated into the forms of Gye and Shik in the modern era.

Killian raised his index finger in front of him.

Sssss.

Blue Mana, which could be called the basic color, rose up.

And.

Fwoosh.

The Mana that spread from his index finger instantly filled the Apothecary.

Loen's eyes widened.

“This is…”

She stuttered at the sudden Carpe.

It was not the first time she had seen Carpe.

What surprised her was that Killian's Carpe had a density similar to that of the former Annihilation Squad leader.

“How…”

“A finger clad in 7-star Mana can in itself become a famed sword. Also…”

Fwoosh.

This time, a red flame erupted from Killian's hand.

Its firepower was no less than the Red Flame he had used through the Cheonghwageom as a medium.

“The release of visualized Mana can in itself become a single magic.”

Tzzzzzz.

Mana began to gather at Killian's index finger again.

Vooooo.

The Mana gathered at the tip of his finger transformed into a spherical shape.

He had instantly compressed the Mana used for the Carpe into a small form.

“Compressing enough Mana to unfold a Carpe. I am certain that this will be the fastest way for you, an apothecary who is neither a knight nor a mage, to get used to the Mana of a Superhuman.”

As soon as Killian finished speaking, the endlessly compressing Mana.

Flick.

Finally disappeared before Loen's eyes.

“Do you understand?”

“……”

At the unexpected enlightenment.

Loen quietly nodded her head.

***

After leaving the Head Apothecary's Office, the next place Killian visited was the training grounds of the Blue Knight Order.

Even though it was still the rest period, the Centurions who remained at the training grounds and were sparring raised their swords in a salute as soon as they saw him.

“You all seem to have gotten much stronger.”

“Isn't this all thanks to your training, Tactician?”

“It seems Hector still has some lingering attachment to the Tactician's buttocks.”

“Hey, you son of a bitch?!!”

“Huan. Isn't it the same for you?”

“Shut up, Jesse.”

Watching the three bickering Centurions brought a smile to his face.

“I welcome a spar anytime, but it won't end with just a kick to the buttocks anymore.”

“Oh, it's a misunderstanding, Tactician!!”

“Hahahaha. Don't deny your instincts, Hector.”

“Huan. I told you not to introduce yourself.”

Killian scanned the even more solid presence of the Centurions.

‘Not bad.’

Thanks to the harmony of their experience as mercenaries and proper teaching, their growth rate was fast.

At this rate, it seemed they would be able to enter the 4th star before long.

Killian picked up a wooden sword that was lying on the floor.

“Come at me all at once.”

“……!!”

“T-Tactician?”

“So suddenly?”

“If you can land a single blow on me, I guarantee you will reach the 4th star soon.”

4th star.

At that enchanting word, the three Centurions charged at him simultaneously.

But a moment later.

“Keoheok…”

“Geu…eo…eo…”

“Cough…”

They couldn't even touch a single hair on the Tactician and were just rolling on the floor.

“You're still a long way off.”

After giving some lessons to the groaning Centurions, Killian turned his feet towards the private training grounds.

Haman had already arrived and was waiting.

“Young Master, are you training here today?”

Haman, knowing his master was a training addict, familiarly took off his pants.

A sturdy lower body, not lacking even for an intermediate Ranger or a novice knight, was revealed.

He had not neglected his physical training during the subjugation period. Whether it was Lower Core Strength Training or core muscle strengthening, Haman was confident he would not easily collapse.

But.

“Grab a sword.”

“What? A sword…?”

Haman asked back in a dazed voice.

“I need to see the results of your training so far.”

“So suddenly?”

“Originally, talented guys know what to do without being taught.”

“Whaat?”

“If you don't meet the standard, there will be no swordsmanship training.”

Killian picked up a wooden sword from the wall.

“I won't use Mana, so come at me with all you've got.”

“Uh, um, Young Master…?”

“If you hit me even once, you pass. Of course, you can use Mana.”

Killian grinned and pointed the wooden sword at Haman's chest.

“Did you really think I wouldn't know?”

“How… did you know?”

“I heard from Lord Zodiac. He said there was a small deal?”

When he went to see Emma Eurasia, Zodiac, who had guided him, had told him what had happened with Haman during the subjugation period.

‘Should I call this praiseworthy, or hasty?’

Haman lowered his gaze with a bewildered expression.

“I apologize.”

“Are you going to admit defeat without any resistance? You know I'm not a man of two words, right?”

“……”

At those words, as if he had made up his mind, Haman took a wooden sword from the wall.

“Don't hold anything back.”

Killian turned over the hourglass placed in the training ground.

“I'll give you 10 minutes.”

“……!!”

Haman's body leaned forward.

Fwoong.

A clumsy thrust using his trained lower body muscles.

Killian took a step to the side and easily dodged it.

Haman bit his teeth and drew up his Mana.

A faint Mana that was hard to detect unless one concentrated.

The amount gathered at the tip of the wooden sword was not great, but it had achieved a decent stability.

‘Did Lord Zodiac teach him well, or does this guy have talent?’

Perhaps it was both.

“You think you can graze my clothes with this?”

“Ugh…!”

Just by lightly striking the wooden sword, Haman's body was sent flying.

The wooden sword, torn from his grasp, rolled on the floor.

“8 minutes left.”

“It's not over yet!”

Haman grabbed the sword again and continued his attack.

6 minutes.

Boom!

Haman, who had been floating in mid-air, came crashing down.

5 minutes.

Thud!

Haman, who had rolled on the floor, got up and charged again.

4 minutes.

Thud.

Haman's knees buckled and he let out a roar.

3 minutes.

Pow!

Haman's body, which had been rushing forward with a scream, was sent flying.

2 minutes.

Crack.

Blood flowing from his palm stained the floor.

1 minute.

“Heok…”

Haman, who had become a wreck in a short time, gasped for breath. His breathing was so ragged it seemed he would pass out at any moment.

“50 seconds left.”

“Ughh…!!”

There was no time to cry foul.

Haman calmed his breathing, raised his sword, and lowered his stance.

30 seconds.

He concentrated Mana at the tip of the wooden sword.

20 seconds.

He tensed the muscles in his legs.

10 seconds.

He tensed the muscles in both arms holding the sword and took a stance to use a technique.

And.

Using the power of his tensed muscles.

“First Flash…!!”

Haman thrust his sword.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.