—————————————————————–
Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: FusionX
—————————————————————–
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
“It’s quiet on the way back.”
“Well, considering what we went through on the way here, that’s to be expected.”
My reputation, accumulated during our journey, was enough to make even Green Forest bandits and Demonic Cult members tremble.
Moreover, having reached the master level, no one in their right mind would dare challenge me unless they were truly desperate or insane.
“Now that Benefactor has entered the transcendent expert realm, it’s only natural.”
“…You’ve gotten stronger too.”
“I have, but…it’s not fair that you two are so far ahead!”
Hye-ryeong, having just reached the mid-first-rate level, pouted. She seemed bothered by being the weakest among us.
“Don’t be so impatient. Reaching the first-rate level at your age is quite an accomplishment.”
“Mister, you’re not that much older than me.”
That left me speechless. I did tend to emphasize my age.
If there had been a significant age gap between us, my words might have been comforting, but since we were less than two years apart, it probably sounded condescending.
“Alright, alright. Let’s find a place to camp.”
And stop puffing out your cheeks like a child.
I poked Hye-ryeong’s cheek with my finger, deflating it, and scanned our surroundings, channeling aura into my eyes.
Where would be a good place to camp?
Preferably near a river so we could wash up.
After searching for a while, enhancing my hearing as well, I finally found a suitable spot.
“Let’s go that way.”
“Okay~”
“Benefactor, is there a river nearby?”
“Yes.”
“It seems quite far…as expected of a transcendent expert, your senses are beyond imagination. I’m truly impressed.”
Such effusive praise was embarrassing. I coughed a few times and led the way.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
“Someone’s been here recently.”
I surveyed the clearing we had intended to use as our campsite. It seemed we weren’t the only ones who found this spot appealing. There were signs of recent activity, and judging by the scale, it had been a sizable group.
“…Perhaps a merchant caravan passed through? There are cart tracks here…”
“It seems like they left a while ago. Shouldn’t it be fine?”
“I don’t see any problems.”
It appeared they had left at least two days ago, so we were unlikely to encounter them. I sighed, recalling recent events, and pulled out our camping gear from my bag.
Just some simple cooking utensils.
“Mister, I’ll fetch some water!”
“Be careful.”
“Okay~”
“I’ll gather some firewood.”
“Alright.”
I saw them off and quickly set up camp.
I built a fire to ward off the chill of the night, laid out a mat, and began preparing the ingredients we had purchased in the last town.
The most peaceful time of the day had arrived.
“What should we have for dinner…”
A stew with vegetables and dried meat?
Or should I hunt something?
It would be a bit of a hassle, but with my enhanced physical abilities, hunting wasn’t a challenge. Roasting a wild boar wouldn’t be bad.
…Assuming there were wild boars around.
I pulled out a small knife and began chopping vegetables, waiting for the others to return.
Fortunately, Hye-ryeong and Mokgyeong returned quickly and started helping with dinner preparations.
“Hehe, smells delicious~”
“I always look forward to Benefactor’s cooking.”
“It’s nothing special.”
“But everything I cook burns…”
“You’re not controlling the heat properly.”
While Chinese cuisine often involved high heat, it wasn’t suitable for cooking in the wilderness.
Of course, Hye-ryeong’s lack of culinary skills was a major factor as well.
“But controlling the fire is difficult!”
“Very few people can control a fire as precisely as Benefactor, especially while cooking.”
Very few people put that much effort into campfire cooking. Controlling the flames with aura was no easy feat.
It was a technique one of my comrades had used.
When was it…the day before he died?
As if remembering my request, he had taught me the technique. The next day, he was unhorsed in battle and skewered by countless weapons.
…Let’s not dwell on depressing memories.
I stirred the stew with a ladle and glanced at Hye-ryeong and Mokgyeong, warming themselves by the fire. Their skin, illuminated by the flames, created a contrasting image.
Mokgyeong, with his pale complexion, and Hye-ryeong, radiating warmth.
Both were strikingly beautiful, providing a welcome distraction.
It was pointless, but it was better than staring blankly into space.
Hmm, it was almost ready.
“Hand me the bowls.”
“Okay~”
Dinner, the culmination of our day, had begun.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
“I’m going to practice for a bit.”
“Mister…can you show me something?”
“What?”
“Aura Blade!”
Hye-ryeong looked at me with sparkling eyes.
Was she that eager to see it? It wasn’t that big of a deal.
Well, it was a big deal.
There were probably less than fifty people in the entire Murim capable of using Aura Blade.
It really put my level into perspective. There were less than fifty people stronger than me.
Even in the original story, transcendent experts didn’t appear until the very end.
So, I shouldn’t face any serious threats for a while.
“Sure, why not.”
“Benefactor, could I also…”
“Come along.”
“Thank you, Benefactor.”
Mokgyeong’s excited tone suggested he was also curious.
We added more wood to the fire and headed towards the riverbank. The open space by the river was ideal for practice.
I stood in the clearing and drew my sword.
My trusty longsword.
I never imagined I would use it to unleash Aura Blade. I wondered if the Captain would have been proud.
Pushing aside nostalgic thoughts, I gripped the sword with both hands. The familiar, slightly rough texture of the hilt filled my palms.
I focused on the sensation and awakened my mana core.
…Why mana core?
The sudden question stopped me mid-flow.
Why wasn’t it an aura core if I was using aura?
The familiar term suddenly felt strange.
Was this another effect of reaching the transcendent expert level?
“Mister? Is something wrong?”
“No, just getting used to my increased internal energy.”
I offered a vague explanation and drew aura from my mana core.
The amount of aura I could now control was far greater than before.
As it flowed out of my mana core, it surged through my body. I gauged the amount of aura permeating my muscles and mana roads, then slowly channeled it into my sword.
A vibrant blue aura enveloped the blade.
Even my Aura Blade had become more refined.
Impressed, I channeled more aura into the sword.
Once.
Twice.
Thrice.
Four times…
With each layer, the aura surrounding the blade grew larger. It easily extended to four cheok (120cm). I could probably double its length if I pushed it.
“Hmm…”
What exactly was Aura Blade?
Even the Captain had only described it as “the ultimate embodiment of destructive power.” I had no clear understanding of its nature.
I contemplated, looking at the blazing aura surrounding my sword.
Reaching the master level didn’t automatically grant me the knowledge of how to create Aura Blade.
Should I try the method I had envisioned?
I closed my eyes and recalled the Captain’s Aura Blade. A massive blade of aura superimposed on his sword.
…The Captain had used Aura Blade to cleave a castle gate in half.
How could I replicate such power? Should I try to create a similar blade of aura?
But how?
Compression?
I slowly compressed the aura surrounding my sword, focusing it into a smaller, more refined form.
I opened my eyes and observed the shrinking aura.
As it condensed, the hazy aura began to resemble a sharpened blade.
“This is…”
“This is Aura Blade…”
“Mister, that’s amazing!”
My sword now radiated a soft blue light, enveloped in an Aura Blade smaller than the Captain’s, but similar in form.
Bathed in moonlight, it shimmered with an ethereal beauty, yet it was the embodiment of destruction.
A single touch would result in utter annihilation.
“Mister, swing it!”
Should I?
I looked around for a suitable target. My eyes fell on a large boulder.
It seemed out of place by the riverbank, and its size made it an appealing target.
I took a deep breath and raised my arm.
My sword followed, rising above my head, poised to cleave the boulder in two.
Then…
One.
Two.
Three.
I swung downwards, a clean vertical strike. I marveled at the smooth, effortless sensation as I looked at the bisected boulder.
“He cleaved such a large boulder in one strike…”
“…There was almost no resistance.”
This was Aura Blade?
No wonder everyone coveted the transcendent expert level.
It was on a completely different level than Aura Blade. While Aura Blade could also cut through stone, it felt much rougher.
Impressed by the power of Aura Blade, which sliced through the boulder like a knife through butter, I examined the cut surface.
And…
“Hmm?”
“Mister, what’s wrong?”
“Hye-ryeong, what does this look like to you?”
“…Um…a cellar door?”
“…It appears to be a hidden entrance.”
We exchanged glances.
A silent understanding passed between us. We all had the same thought. We nodded.
“Hehe…”
I carefully grasped the handle and pulled open the mysterious door beneath the boulder.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
[Your Text Here]
Thanks my friend!