Even during Tuesday’s advanced swordsmanship class, my close seniors prepared birthday gifts for me.

Lucilla gave me a palm-sized pink rabbit plushie, saying I resembled it, while Matt Nico gave me a Mana Stone for replenishing Artifacts, saying it might be useful somewhere.

Rubel gifted me a necklace with a locket the size of a thumb joint, which was empty inside.

“What is this…?”

“It’s a Type 4 Barrier Generator. The Mana Stone is on the back of the locket, and the defensive Formula is engraved on the pattern inside the locket. You can put a portrait in this empty space to carry it around. I thought you might need it…”

“…Thank you.”

It was a meaningful gift.

I thought I should ask them to make one small enough to fit inside when I have our family portrait drawn this winter.

Knowing Rubel had ample wealth, I immediately put on the locket necklace without questioning its price.

I let Rubel help me fasten the clasp, which he offered to do.

It was amusing to hear Lucilla and Matt whistle and clap. Since he said it had a defensive Formula engraved on it, I figured it would be best not to take it off.

Seeing me receive gifts, other seniors who belatedly realized it was my birthday, decided to give me something better than a gift and unceremoniously lifted me up and tossed me high into the air.

The strength of martial artists who had reached a certain realm was immense, and my small, light body flew higher than I expected, which was both funny and enjoyable.

Only after laughing until my breath was ragged could I finally touch the ground again.

❖ ❖ ❖

My head was spinning from everyone I met offering congratulations all morning.

After a particularly boisterous lunch, I felt like I was escaping the commotion when I went to meet Douglas and Boulder.

I was so disoriented that my ears were still ringing when I opened Professor Mustang’s office door.

“Young Master Ernhardt! Look, this time I interpreted the path connecting the collarbone and arm differently and incorporated it. If you look at this anatomical chart, last time I proceeded along Route A as per the memories etched into my body, but Professor Douglas used Route B.”

“Welcome, Young Master Ernhardt. Professor Sanson has already told me.”

“Yo.”

It was the first time Boulder’s greeting to me didn’t sound noisy.

Ignoring his words, I briefly greeted the two professors. As promised, Maelo Sanson was also present in Professor Mustang’s office.

The three of us, including Sanson, watched Professor Douglas Mustang perform Circulating Qi.

As had been the case before, Mustang succeeded in guiding Mana along the acupoints, but the guided energy failed to settle in the Dantian.

The situation was the same for Mage Boulder.

They took turns demonstrating, then asked me for the reason, but I was also at a loss and had no idea.

I suspected it was because they hadn’t grasped the true meaning of the Internal energy cultivation method, but that true meaning was such an abstract concept that I had no way to convey it in my limited words.

Answering with something like, “You’re trying to draw in Mana when you should be embracing the sky, so how could this possibly work?” would sound no different than the ramblings of a madman.

Maelo Sanson, observing their attempts, let out a deep hum and began questioning Douglas Mustang about a few things. It was clear he intended for me to hear as well, but knowing less than a third of the terms they used, I could only remain quiet as if attending a magic class.

“Why are you using Mana circulation methods instead of Aura?”

“Last time, I used Aura. Young Master Ernhardt’s energy is closer to swordsmanship than magic… but no matter how many times I tried, it wouldn’t gather in the ‘Dantian’ and would scatter. So, I tried this just in case.”

“Furthermore, this ‘acupoint’ system, the way it moves, is more delicate and closer to Mana circulation methods than Aura. If you look at this anatomical diagram…”

Maelo Sanson asked questions, Douglas Mustang answered, and Mage Boulder supplemented. And I listened quietly.

It was fascinating to dissect the Great expansive divine skill of azure sky in this manner, as it was my first time.

When I practiced the Divine Art, I learned it through conceptual prose, but what they were showing me was a diagram with mathematical symbols added.

I worried if I was going down the wrong path, but they said the anxiety was their burden and I only needed to assist, so I repeatedly tried to explain the same words in different ways.

Fortunately, Mage Boulder had found various materials beforehand and organized them in an easy-to-understand format, which made the explanation simpler.

After a long discussion, Maelo Sanson fell into deep thought and then asked.

“…I really, really tried not to ask, but.”

“Yes, Professor.”

“Where on earth did you learn this?”

“….”

It was a question that bordered on a sigh. I hesitated to answer.

I now knew that the two professors had been overlooking many things out of consideration for me.

However, even I still felt a hesitation in my heart when recalling my own past. It was because I didn’t know the reason for my birth on this land.

I was constantly held back by the fear that I might make a grave mistake by speaking carelessly.

Yet, on the other hand, there was a part of me that longed to confess everything to the two masters I trusted and follow, and find peace.

Whenever the weight of the secrets I carried alone became too heavy, the desire to lean on them surged.

I opened and closed my mouth a few times, choosing the words I would say, and then forced out a voice.

“…I.”

“No, let’s stop there.”

“Huh?”

Maelo Sanson cut me off cleanly and decisively as I was about to say more.

I was bewildered, not knowing the reason. But soon, I understood why Maelo Sanson had stopped me. Mage Boulder was clenching his fist, his eyes shining.

He must have realized that someone who didn’t prioritize my convenience was present.

“I didn’t mean for you to agonize over it. If you want to talk about it next time, you can,” he said.

“But if Young Master Ernhardt tells us about the origin of the Internal energy cultivation method now, it could be a crucial key point!”

“Mage Boulder. I trust you remember the terms of our contract.”

Fortunately, Professor Douglas Mustang immediately stopped him.

Sanson hummed and ran his hands through his hair.

At that moment, I was startled and my heart chilled, realizing I had almost revealed that I possessed memories of a past life.

The reason I almost blurted it out unconsciously was because I trusted Maelo and Douglas so much.

I had mistakenly thought they might help me find the answer to why I had descended to this land.

However, now that the path to speaking was blocked, I felt it was fortunate that I hadn’t answered immediately.

How frightening and grotesque it was for a living person to know what came after death. It was not something to be casually revealed without preparation.

Somehow, I didn’t feel bad. I had a master of Hwagyeong and someone who rivaled him standing by my side. I felt reassured that nothing bad would happen.

Yes, in my eyes, they were men my age.

I felt relieved, as if I had found reliable comrades.

It was the same feeling I had when I saw the countless heroes gathered under the banner of the Martial Arts Alliance, raised high.

An unpromised belief that all would be done justly and fairly settled in my Middle Dantian with a warm heat.

We then shifted the topic and focused on dissecting the Great expansive divine skill of azure sky and interpreting each part.

Indeed, Maelo Sanson was an outstanding swordsman, skilled at making insightful remarks from a different perspective than Douglas or Boulder.

Had any martial artist in the Central Plains ever researched how the amount of Qi changed with every few seconds difference in the Microcosmic Orbit?

As we talked, it became increasingly strange and wondrous, and I couldn’t help but exclaim in admiration. With three people who understood ten things from one word, I was careful and thoughtful with every statement I made.

Maelo Sanson, after listening to the explanation of Circulating Qi, didn’t ponder for long. He raised both hands to shoulder height and leaned back.

Due to his large build, the sofa creaked and sank deeply.

“This is a method I cannot use.”

“Why not?”

“Because I have already reached a certain realm. I… well, you two know… being a Grand Sword Master means being able to utilize all the Mana in the atmosphere as Aura, so in a sense, I already possess a ‘Dantian’ outside my body. It’s more accurate to say I have no need for it.”

He explained that being able to use the natural energy as if it were one’s own limbs made using only a portion of it within the body akin to child’s play at his current level.

The idea of using all of creation as a Dantian made my dream of reaching the Hwagyeong realm grow even larger.

Though I had fallen short of achieving it in the Central Plains, if I continued steadily following Sierren’s laws, I too might one day step into Hwagyeong. My heart pounded.

Mage Boulder, who had been listening calmly to Maelo Sanson’s explanation, slammed his fist on the table with an agitated demeanor.

The force scattered the stack of documents, but I didn’t mind, knowing they would simply be tidied up with magic later.

“However, this can be used as a supplementary power source! In an extreme situation where external Mana cannot be drawn, this internal energy would undoubtedly be of great help!”

“…When would such a situation arise?”

“Th-that’s…”

“If Mana were to be depleted on the continent, it would mean the end of the world…”

Maelo Sanson and Douglas Mustang took turns giving negative responses, which intimidated Boulder.

Somehow, a chill ran down my spine. The world ending—it was an unexpected combination of words.

Usually, the expression “end of the world” in the Central Plains was used for matters concerning villages or families. I marveled at how their vast knowledge led them to think on such a grand scale and rubbed my stiff neck.

Maelo Sanson looked at me and added words of comfort.

“However, it seems like it could be sufficiently helpful up to the realm of Sword Master. Having a certain amount of energy that you can fully control is significant, and having practiced using the natural Aura beforehand will make it easier to ascend to higher levels.”

“…Is that so?”

“I’m already looking forward to it. Two of my disciples becoming Grand Sword Masters, that’s incredible.”

It might be laughable to discuss Hwagyeong when I hadn’t even reached Transcendent Peak, but I trusted Maelo Sanson’s judgment. I chuckled softly and nodded.

“Yes. I will work hard.”

As I replied respectfully, Douglas Mustang nodded with a pleased expression.

Having two true masters by my side, I couldn’t help but smile.

After a short break, we picked up the reports again, corrected what needed to be fixed, and organized our schedule.

I was greatly looking forward to Mage Boulder’s boast that he might be able to bring a Golem next time.

By Zephyria

Hello, I'm Zephyria, an avid BL reader^^ I post AI/Machine assisted translation. Due to busy schedule I'll just post all works I have mtled. However, as you know the quality is not guaranteed. Maybe just enough to fill your curiosity.

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