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[Translator - Pot ]
[Proofreader - Kawaii ]
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Chapter 222: Siena Valkenhain
"Now that you've gained new power, you'll need time to adjust. Explore on your own, and if you're not satisfied, grab anyone for a sparring match."
"Would you care to face me yourself?"
"Don't torment an old man. Spar with the young ones."
"That's absurd. Aren't you still in your prime?"
Venion snorted.
"When you get old, you need to sleep early. I've already spent all day teaching you, and now you want me to spar too? Not a chance."
"I see. You strictly observe your working hours."
After Venion left for dinner, I scratched my head and decided to raise the power of the Seven Stars of the Black Sea Technique.
'Close your eyes.'
I stretched my mana like silk threads, or rather, spread it widely like smoke.
My sensing ability soon became visual perception and a sixth sense, allowing me to detect the shapes of objects thoroughly even in darkness.
'Ah, so this is what it feels like.'
When teaching me martial arts before, Ulbhild once told me that 'if she wanted to,' she could block my sword even with her eyes closed.
'Now I understand what she meant.'
I opened my eyes again.
With heightened visual acuity combined with my enhanced sensing ability, I could 'see everything better.' It was as if the amount of information entering my brain had increased.
'And Ulbhild reached this level without the Seven Stars of the Black Sea Technique?'
She too was undoubtedly a genius.
'Still...'
It was remarkably different. If seeing the world without using the Insight Star ability was like looking at trees through fog...
'Now it's like observing a tree up close with no fog at all.'
I could thoroughly detect not just shapes, but even the wrinkles on stems and leaves.
'If I were to fight in this state, I could surely see and perceive the subtle expressions, gazes, shoulders and foot movements, angles, and muscle movements of my opponent.'
This would allow me to predict and respond to the enemy's intentions and movements in advance.
'So this is the true effect of Insight Star.'
Light Star, Dark Star, Insight Star.
None of these abilities were anything less than extraordinary.
'It's astounding. To think such martial arts had been completely forgotten until now.'
This was nothing short of a stroke of luck for me.
Moreover, the effects of Insight Star weren't limited to just that.
'The distance I can perceive with my sensing ability has increased tremendously.'
I observed Julia cleaning, Peter learning something from Olivier, and Jeffrey demolishing his team members in continuous sparring matches as if they were right in front of me, and then...
"Look at this guy?"
I sensed Marco lying down near a sunny flowerbed.
"He dares to slack off before dinner time? His nerve is astonishingly swollen."
I moved like the wind toward where Marco was.
"Marco, slacking off again?"
"Eek!"
Marco panicked and prostrated himself at my voice coming from nowhere.
"Oh my, Young Master! This is a misunderstanding!"
"I misunderstood?"
I had deliberately activated my concealment technique. For some reason, Marco was such a scaredy-cat that he'd be terrified if I did this.
"You're saying you weren't lying down to take a nap?"
"Th-that's not it, I was doing what Attendant Peter asked me to..."
"Oh, really?"
"Yes! He said there were weeds among the flowers, so I was finding and pulling them out one by one."
Marco showed me his dirt-covered hands.
"I thought you were sleeping on the bare ground like a madman. Carry on."
"Th-thank you."
As I looked around elsewhere, I spotted Barclava training with the Special Operations Division members in the distance.
"Good. My sparring dummies are over there."
I moved with even more nimble footwork. My body felt as light as if I were running on clouds.
"So this is what they mean by different footwork."
I nodded with satisfaction.
"Hiyaaaah!"
"When did you learn to make such strange battle cries!"
For some reason, I saw Barclava facing off against a Special Operations Division member while letting out a scream reminiscent of my own.
'His back has gotten quite broad in that time.'
I slowly approached behind him with stealth techniques enhanced by Dark Star's power.
"Huff, huff."
"Young Master Barclava, are you giving up now?"
"Damn it, of course not!"
At first glance, Barclava seemed overwhelmed, but that wasn't actually the case.
Chase had sweat all over his forehead, trying hard to pretend he wasn't out of breath while putting on a facade.
'Oh my. He's trying, really trying.'
I inwardly clicked my tongue. But making a Special Operations Division member 'sweat' – Barclava's growth was quite impressive.
"Hoo, hoo. Not yet."
Woooong!
Barclava drew upon what little mana he had left to unleash a final sword energy.
'He swung his sword until he reached that state? Wow, stubborn guy.'
To think that someone this tenacious had been living so pathetically under Verdzig – it was a waste of time just thinking about it.
'But he's pushed himself too far.'
While I'd praise his mental fortitude, forcibly ignoring physical pain isn't always good courage.
"Alright, that's enough."
I gently tripped his foot from behind as he was about to charge.
"Gwaak!"
Barclava fell flat and didn't move.
"Whoa, what's this, are you dead?"
I deactivated my concealment and helped Barclava up.
"What the hell was that for?"
"Ah, sorry. I didn't think you'd fall that hard."
In a sense, this seemed like the ultimate form of the soft arts that Flowing Cloud Thunder Fist seeks to achieve. Using minimal force to make an opponent fall. I learned something new again.
"To interfere in a sacred sparring match by tripping someone, such an outrage..."
"Sacred my ass."
I snorted and snatched Barclava's practice sword.
"Rest now. Rest is as important as exercise."
"...!"
Barclava looked at me with a strange expression before asking.
"Brother, what did you come here for anyway?"
"Looking for someone to fight, of course."
"Huh? What are you talking about?"
I grinned and declared.
"Actually, today I was initiated into the Ink Soul Sacred Shadow Technique and broke through the barrier of the 6th tier."
"...!"
Barclava muttered with an incredulous expression:
"You somehow get stronger whenever you disappear for a few days."
"That's who I am."
I nodded.
"Young Master, please spare me."
Chase quickly spoke up, afraid I might call on him.
"Should I call Harold?"
"That would be appreciated."
I nodded.
"Tell him that since we've already determined the winner before, this time it's just a friendly sparring match."
I felt a bit sorry for Harold, but I didn't have many options.
The Ink Soul Sacred Shadow Technique, the realm of the 6th tier, and the Seven Stars of the Black Sea Technique that had reached 10th stage.
To test all of these, I needed to bring someone at least at the battalion commander level who led a Special Operations Division battalion.
* * *
"Elder, it's been a long time since I've seen you."
Zizek bowed his head to Balthazar, Knut, and Tara Eisenach.
"Brother Knut, have you been well too?"
Knut, who had become a ‘brother’ just from giving him medicine once, smirked.
"Zizek, I thought you'd forgotten my face."
"I apologize. I didn't expect it to take this long..."
"It's alright."
Balthazar shook his head.
"Even for Allenvert, how could meeting his mother again after she closed her heart for seven years be easy? These things happen."
"Thank you for understanding."
The old man smiled faintly and patted Zizek's shoulder.
"Zizek. Have you been well?"
"Yes. Many things have happened, but..."
"Indeed, you've become much stronger since I last saw you. Your physique has become much more robust."
Balthazar nodded with satisfaction.
"Yes, quite impressive."
Tara also acknowledged Zizek.
"You might be a match for me now."
"..."
Zizek was about to retort but sighed instead.
"This tiny thing."
She was a little girl not much older than Moritz, but as a direct descendant of the Eisenach family, she held a position equivalent to a noble lady. If he dared to hit her, he might be executed.
'And there's no guarantee she'd even let me hit her.'
Zizek felt a bit pathetic for being slightly intimidated by a child. The great Zizek...
"By the way, Zizek, news of your exploits reaches us even from afar. I heard you were quite impressive?"
"Ah! No, not at all."
Zizek replied bashfully.
"I hardly did anything. Boss Karzan did all the hard work."
"For us, it was like hearing exciting hero tales. Isn't that right, Knut?"
"Yes, Grandfather."
Knut nodded.
"That man Karzan's skills are remarkable. Allenvert has found himself a worthy retainer."
"Hehe, of course. Boss Karzan is a dragon among men."
Zizek smiled broadly. It was always pleasing to see the man he served as boss being recognized.
"I'd love to set up a feast and hear your heroic tales all night—"
Balthazar said.
"But right now, reading Lusatia's handwritten letter takes precedence."
"Here it is, Elder."
Zizek took out the cherished letter from his breast pocket.
"...This is it."
The old man's hand trembled slightly.
"I'll step outside for a moment."
"Please do."
After Zizek left, Balthazar exhaled deeply and opened the letter with a serious expression.
"Ah, there's no doubt. This is Lusatia's handwriting."
Moisture gathered in the old man's dry eyes. He nodded as he read through the lengthy letter.
"...Yes, these are things that only she would know."
There was no room for doubt. The clan secrets and Balthazar's teachings that no one else could know were written throughout.
"You've made a big decision. You've decided to burn your flame for Allenvert, for our revenge."
It would be a lie to say that the long wait had never felt resentful.
But the moment he confirmed Lusatia's resolve, all the pent-up frustration vanished.
"...Grandfather, what exactly does it say?"
"Read it yourself."
After handing over the letter, Balthazar wiped his tears, and Tara quickly ran over to offer him a cloth.
"Thank you."
After wiping his tears and stroking his granddaughter's head, Balthazar turned to Knut.
Knut had read the letter with a serious expression, then a faint smile, nodding throughout, and finally looked up.
"Grandfather."
"Yes."
Balthazar looked at his grandchildren and said.
"Get ready. In three days, we will go to meet Lusatia and Allenvert in person."
* * *
The Kingdom of Litvaleur has two founding heroes.
Vitenfeld Grunewald and Ernst Valkenhain.
As the absolute ruler and second-in-command of their era respectively, they joined forces to establish the Litvaleur dynasty, and for their contributions, each became lord of a vast duchy.
"We have had to swallow our humiliation under the shadow of Grunewald for a long time."
Duke Valkenhain looked solemnly at his pride, his first daughter Siena Valkenhain, and his youngest son Jillian Valkenhain.
"However, that long humiliation will end in your generation."
"Leave it to us, Father."
"With my sister and me stepping forward, there will be no problems."
"Good."
The Duke extended his palm forward.
"Go. Go and defeat Allenvert and Barclava, and proclaim that the era of Valkenhain is coming."
Snap!
After executing a splendid military salute, the two turned their horses around.
Waaaah!
Like generals holding a departure ceremony, Siena Valkenhain, dressed in armor and mounted on a white horse, crossed the main street.
"Ah, she's truly beautiful."
“For real, she’s my jade beauty.”
"I heard she underwent special training for this competition."
"She's not someone a terminally ill young lord could possibly handle."
Receiving their subjects' admiration, the siblings moved forward.
"Haha, Sister. I can already picture those Grunewald fellows with their crestfallen expressions."
"Jillian."
"Allenvert and Barclava, I can't believe they'd actually put forth such clowns."
Siena Valkenhain slightly frowned at her brother's frivolous tone.
"Enough."
Siena said coldly.
"You lack respect. They are scions of the Grunewald, a great clan equal to Valkenhain. Don't speak of them lightly."
"...Your brother was foolish."
Jillian bit his lip at his sister's reprimand.
"But Sister, haven't you finally broken through the barrier of the 6th tier? No matter how much Allenvert has made a name for himself, he'd be lucky to have broken through the 4th tier."
"No."
Siena shook her head.
"According to rumors, Young Lord Allenvert has recently reached the 5th tier."
"I think the rumors are exaggerated. How could someone who's been properly training for less than a year—"
"Don't be careless."
Siena admonished her still immature brother.
"Besides, victory isn't determined by level alone. Young Lord Allenvert has genius martial talent, so he will certainly try to compensate for his disadvantage in power and tier with his wit."
Siena's gaze sharpened.
"If I fail to deal with him properly and get entangled, I might be the one who loses. Moreover, I've heard that Young Lord Barclava has also been focusing on training recently."
"Even so, he's only at the 3rd tier, right?"
"Don't be careless. At your age, skills can improve rapidly."
"...Yes."
Jillian's face turned slightly sullen after being needlessly scolded.
"Jillian, you still can't hide your emotions. Exercise restraint."
Only then did Jillian lower his head with hunched shoulders.
"I apologize."
Siena inwardly sighed at her still immature and inexperienced brother before turning her gaze forward.
"...I hope I can finally meet my match this time."
She was by no means being careless.
"He must be a young tiger capable of competing with me. I felt a similar sense from Kailan Webern, that fallen noble's son."
"You can tell that just from the accounts of his deeds?"
To her brother's question, Siena asserted.
"Because that explains a lot about a person."
"..."
"Don't neglect your training even while we travel. We must win this competition."
"Yes, I know."
For the honor of the clan.
And also—
"..."
Siena had several matters to attend to in Grunewald.
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[Translator - Pot ]
[Proofreader - Kawaii ]
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