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◈ Chapter 38 - 7-My Friendly Hometown

The intention is to risk me. Anyway, he has dipped his feet into the battle for successor.

Of course, Count Yakhok would be able to cover it up.

For example, by actively supporting Aidan when he was selected.

However, it was clear that it was a political unreasonable number.

It also means that the situation with the ghost of the yak is urgent enough to throw such an unreasonable number and quickly return to the territory.

The monster invasion continues, and the number of available knights decreases.

Then, once the critical point is crossed, it becomes unstoppable like a dam with a hole in it.

As the number of knights decreases, monsters cannot be killed, and since monsters cannot be killed, by-products cannot be obtained.

Yakhokryeong people cannot engage in their livelihoods with peace of mind due to monsters.

Therefore, Yak Hokryeong's tax revenue is destroyed.

"At this meeting, Count Yakhok will obtain mining rights in the Gray Mountains area. However, it is not something that can be used immediately."

You need miners to mine, and you need knights to protect them from monsters.

However, the mine will be taken over by monsters before Yakhok can even dig up the shovel.

"The wheel of circulation of goods will soon stop. To make matters worse, the number of human lighthouses guarding Fortress Kelderin will gradually decrease. They will move up to Lighthouse Village to prepare for the devil's invasion."

That will happen after this meeting.

Yakhok listened to me without saying yes or no.

"The Count is urgently trying to recruit mercenaries and wandering knights. However, he will soon realize that this is not possible. There is a shortage of goods, and many of them will be tied to the Marquis. In the name of preventing a demonic invasion, this meeting will ask you to "It's the tax that has this stamp on it."

It doesn't matter now that we have enough money, but the moment the economy of the Yak Hump Spirit, which relies on monster by-products, is shattered, dissatisfaction will pour out from within.

What is the Marquis doing while monsters are destroying the territory?

Tax revenues are so high that we can no longer bear it.

Is this nothing more than telling everyone to die?

"But Your Excellency will not respond to that complaint."

Just by chance, the demons in Homeland will start to move violently.

So that the troops in the lighthouse village cannot be removed.

"The Bolmensori will soon turn into a life-threatening struggle. The people of the Yakhok Spirit will choose to fight and die rather than die. You will soon become the leader of the northern rebels."

In the biography of Esteria, after the meeting, the De Jevitz family and the Haenrel family join forces to purge those who go against their will.

Among the targets of the purge was the Yakhok family.

The Yakhok family, suffering from a monster invasion, is instantly exterminated by the Northern Allied Forces.

When the Yakhog family, which guarded the gates of the Gray Mountains, fell and demons began to invade, it was still a long way off for the Great Beast Demon to lead the monsters and enter the central region without any damage.

"So you're saying your Excellency is going to purge me?"

"To be exact, the Haenrell family will instigate this. They will drive the forces dissatisfied with the De Jevitz family towards you and brand you as an impure person who will cause chaos in the North at this critical time."

"And I will ask you, Your Excellency, to choose between Haenrel and Yakhog. My question is, what is wrong with the Haenrel family?"

"House Haenrel wants to have the North. You are an obstacle to that. What other reason do you need?"

To be precise, it was to reduce the power of the North in case the devil moves south, and to help the monsters who were on leashes to enter without blood.

That's no different from saying they want to own the North.

I just omitted the point that I was going to offer it to the devil as is.

The De Jeevitz family has no reason to go against the wishes of the Haenrell family.

If we go there, the Yakhok family is nothing more than an impure element whining in the face of the devil's invasion.

Rather, it is beneficial to organize it as soon as possible.

"I want to dismiss it as nonsense that builds a family... But Count Haenrel is definitely a shady guy. If the monster invasion gets worse here, it's a very likely story. It's not entirely possible."

This is not an unlikely story, but the future that will befall the North in the future.

I'm trying to prevent that.

Count Yak Hock stroked his beard, pondered something, and then opened his mouth.

"First of all, let me be honest with you. I like you. You are incredibly smart, His Excellency's own son, and you fought bravely against the Great Demon of Plague at a young age. I respect you as a warrior. I helped you in the great hall as well. That's why."

It's bullshit.

From what we have seen so far, Yakhok is not a man who will be moved by affection.

If I hadn't realized his intention in calling me here, I would have taken twice the amount of money I helped him out of.

However, Yakhok got lucky and got to the point.

"I can't just throw the family's fate into the hands of the family. I have no justification to jump into the competition for successor with you at the forefront, and it's hard to win in a power struggle with the Haenrel family."

"Are you saying you will help me if I come looking for evidence?"

"How do you find evidence that House Haenrel is trying to purge me in order to take control of the North?"

"I can find it."

All that was needed was to reveal that Count Haenrel was a demon cultist.

And I have a Satanist detection dog, Saint Mion.

"So let's make a deal. I will reveal Haenrel's plans."

"I don't have faith, but let's say I can find out. What do you want from me in return?"

"You can play with me for a few more days. I won't give you an aftertaste, but it will be useful to piss off the Haenrel family."

Yakhok immediately understood the meaning of my words.

"Are you trying to use you to hasten the selection of a successor? Are you even going to act like a clown?"

"Exactly."

"Hmm, I don't understand. It would take time to find evidence, but I'm thinking of wasting that time."

"We'll just have to wait and see."

"Then it won't be difficult. Sword dancing is my original skill."

After hearing Yak Hok's agreement, he poured the rest of his tea into his mouth.

Now I can feel the sweet scent in my mouth.

In terms of time, it would be appropriate to get up now.

To deal with the last opponent to end the day.

"Then tomorrow at the great hall."

Tomorrow I will see the brave man.

I left the room after saying a short goodbye.

*

Helga breathed a sigh of relief as she emerged from Count Yak Hok's room.

"I'm glad things worked out well. I never thought Count Yakhok would be such a conversant person."

"All the hard work is done here. There is nothing to complain about."

However, I will be the one laughing at the end.

I don't know if he knows that he has been caught up in an evil scheme.

Helga said as if she couldn't stand the words she just said.

"Let me be clear. Shouldn't I be doing a lot of the hard work? I want you to know how difficult it is to track someone down and not get caught."

"Did the Ministry of Defense teach you to whine before work even started? Or the Knights of the Holy Cross?"

"Keuheuk, you shouldn't say anything!"

Ignoring Helga, who was hitting her chest and saying she was going to die from illness, I talked to Mion.

"Mion, did you see something strange in the room just now?"

"Hmm... The knight who was protecting Count Yakhok kept looking at me with strange eyes. Then, when we made eye contact, he turned his head away. Why did he do that?"

"..."

Mion crossed her arms as if she really didn't know and stroked her chin with one of her arms.

The article said he must have fallen in love with you, and that's how a man looks when he falls in love with the opposite sex at first sight. I couldn't even get the answer out of my mouth.

What on earth did I do to this innocent child!

"Kuhm! So you're saying there wasn't any dark energy? I got it."

"Still, Bjorn had some shame."

"Shut up."

I cut off Helga and looked down the hallway.

Now it's time to make an appearance.

At that moment, at the end of the hallway that was shaped like an 'L', I heard the sound of shoes clicking on the floor.

"Yeah, that's how it should come out."

How come you never go beyond expectations?

Eileen de Jeevitz, my hateful stepmother.

"Björn! Björn! What on earth have you done!"

Eileen came towards me at a trotting pace, holding on to the hem of her skirt, accompanied only by her escort knight.

"What did you discuss when you met separately with Count Yakhok? Tell the truth right now!"

"Did you leave it to me to answer? What are you shamelessly asking for?"

"W-what?! What did you just say?!"

Eileen's hand rose toward the ceiling.

It seemed like it was going to hit my ear and cheek at any moment.

I laughed at her as much as I could.

"Are you curious? I'll answer. I told Yakhok something about our family. He said that De Jeevitz's treasure was between my stepmother's crotches. The Count said he was so excited."

Now, hit it.

Hit my cheek with her self-defense gear and break her pretty wrist yourself.

And howl.

Just like I did that day when I broke my hand holding the sword.

"I-I-I! I-I-I-IK!!"

Eileen couldn't bear it anymore and waved her hand.

The cheeks turned with a sound.

Not my cheek, but my nanny's cheek.

"Mr. Viern."

Helga grabbed my wrist.

It was only then that I realized that her hand had unconsciously moved towards the handle of her sword.

"It looks like there is a setback in your education. Can you still call yourself the head maid in charge of the children of the De Jeevitz family?"

Clap, the sound of a palm hitting one's cheek once again spread through the hallway.

"Is it okay for the duke family to behave like this? Or is this proving that you followed something dirty?"

Clap, clap, clap, Eileen repeatedly slapped the nanny on the cheek.

Only when the nanny's lip burst and her blood came out did she stop stabbing, perhaps out of anger.

"...Sorry."

"We'll see. If Bjorn shows this kind of behavior to me one more time, she'll have to prepare herself then."

Eileen looked at me and smiled softly.

I know that smile well.

It's the smile he gave me when he threw me in the stable and threw me a piece of rye bread when I was on the verge of death.

"Let me ask you again: Bjorn, what did you talk about with Count Jakhok?"

◈ Chapter 39 - 7-My Friendly Hometown

I fawned over her to get some love from this bitch.

I felt like I was forgiven by the smile he gave me as he looked down, so I forced a smile.

I'm trying desperately to get noticed.

I can't believe I was treated like that by such a pathetic bitch.

So it became more miserable.

A sigh was mixed with my voice as I answered the question.

"Tell me again? About the treasure of the De Jeviet family?"

"Yes?"

"Why, did you think taking one hostage would get you what you want? I could do the same. To Aidan."

Even more cruelly, he can harass Aidan without leaving a trace.

Anyway, even though I'm a sword expert, it's not hard to make a kid a half-asshole.

"What did you say just now...?"

"Are you deaf? Listen carefully this time."

I released magical energy.

As Eileen's breathing tightened, she spoke again and again in her ear, so as not to ask again this time.

"Right now, this is a battlefield, and your family is trying to kill me. But how dare you come to me so casually and scare me into putting down my weapon? So you thought I would just hand it over to you?"

There are no tricks to guess the intention, no conditions to make a deal, or at the very least, no attempt to shake up a weak point.

They just scold, raise their voices, and threaten.

How can they not understand the situation, how ridiculous is the North that they can do something like this?

It's so pathetic I can't stand it.

Enough to cool down my desire for revenge.

"Make sure I don't commit betrayal now. My anger is deep and the scars you left on me still remain. I think it would be a shame if I couldn't hold back my anger for a moment and killed you easily."

When Eileen's face was about to lose its vitality, the guard knight standing behind her used her own magic to neutralize the mana that was suffocating Eileen.

"I don't want to get involved in a family fight, but I think you should stop right now."

If I could pick on her and start a fight with those words, I could have done that.

Like Eileen, who slapped her nanny in the face.

But it didn't happen.

It was because she was too tired to do that, and she didn't want to reprimand the knight who was doing her duty.

As she quietly collected her mana, the guard knight bowed briefly and supported Eileen.

"Madam, it would be rude to Count Yakhok to be late. It is not too late to discipline him later. Please go quickly."

"Heo, heo, heo... This is what you're going to do to your mother...!"

Eileen, who was sitting on the floor, huffed, probably not convinced.

Then the guard knight called Eileen in her low voice.

"Ma'am."

Eileen's body briefly trembled at the sound of that voice.

Supported by her escort, she quickly stood up.

No, it would be more appropriate to say that she hurriedly adjusted her posture because she was afraid of something.

"...I don't have time right now, but I have no intention of ignoring this incident. I will definitely have to take responsibility."

Eileen left her place as if running away.

As soon as her back disappeared, I checked the nanny's condition.

"Nanny, are you okay? How much are you hurt? Show me."

I grabbed the nanny's face and looked at her cooking.

Her cheeks were already so red and swollen that it looked like they might be bruised.

The good news is that it was her lips that burst.

This will get better soon.

"I'm fine."

The nanny said, holding my hand that was caressing my cheek.

"You're starting to look more and more like your mother. That's enough for me."

"You bitch. I'll pay you back many times over."

Suppressing my anger, I reflected on the purpose of waiting for Eileen here.

Why would I wait for a bitch I didn't want to see?

It's all to find the devil cultists.

"Mion, how were you just now? Did you feel something?"

"Yes, definitely. The dark energy I felt from the vase filled the body of the guard knight just now."

I scowled at Helga.

"What do you think? Was I right?"

"I have to think about whether I should be happy about being beaten. Aren't those elite members of the Knights of Sedalia, the Haenrel family, that your wife brought with her when she came here?"

"It's Eileen's personal article now, so technically not."

"Does that matter now?! If the Haenrel family are really demons, then the North is finished! I'm afraid of how much blood will be shed in the future, but you're so quick to act like that?!"

"Thank goodness only the North became a bloodbath. If it had been just a little bit later, the entire empire would have suffered."

Helga, who was frantic, closed her mouth at those words.

I gave him an order.

"Helga, follow in the footsteps of that knight and hunt down the abominable devil religion that has taken root in the north."

"I follow your orders."

Helga sank into the thickening darkness.

When he appears before me again, a huge bloody wind will blow in the North, just as he worried.

*

It's a dark northern night with faint moonlight.

The De Jeevitz family home was noisy with the sound of the windows shaking in the strong cool wind.

The sound of someone stepping on the grass in the backyard was drowned out by the rattling windows.

The man walked.

Passing through the backyard that the gardener worked hard to landscape today, over the high wall built to prevent suspicious people from easily climbing over, and up to the roof of the wealthy village that Stemwind is proud of.

I moved effortlessly over a distance that would have taken an average person half a day to reach.

His steps stopped at a shabby shack in a slum filled with the smell of ash and excrement.

When he knocked on the door, someone with his face covered with a cloak came out and greeted him.

"Cameron. Welcome."

Cameron, a descendant of the Aryan race who was a knight of the Knights of Sedalia.

Working as Eileen de Jeevitz's escort, he took off his cloak hood when his name was called.

"For the first god erased."

"For the first god erased."

Someone in the room raised a lamp containing burning ice.

When there was no response to the fire, Cameron followed the guide into a room inside a ramshackle shack.

When I lifted the carpet, which I didn't know what color it was, the door to the basement was revealed.

When I opened the door, the old hinges made a strange noise in the quiet slum.

Cameron went down the stairs without losing his footing in a place without any light, as if he was used to it.

A chill ran down the basement walls.

Cameron placed his hand on the crystal ball located in the middle of the basement.

"Count, I will report it."

[To summarize.]

The bored voice of the person on the other end of the crystal ball echoed in the basement.

That voice could not have been recognized by anyone close to power among northerners.

He was Count Vamond Haenrel, a descendant of the Aryan people, the head of the Haenrel family and one of the two sword masters the North boasts along with Canniel de Jeevitz.

"Count Yakhok is making a disrespectful move to appoint Björn as his successor. Lady Eileen has protested, but any further delay may have a negative impact on the selection of the successor."

[Count Yakhok... No, that can't be true. So you're urging me on.]

"I'll tell my wife to hurry."

[There must be something more important than that.]

Cameron whispered into the crystal ball.

"As the Count ordered, I placed a vase containing the power of God in Björn's room. However, by the time Björn returned to the room after the meeting, the vase was broken."

[Antenor was right. It's Jin's doing. Her seal has been broken. I couldn't believe that the dungeon that Bjorn discovered was the place where Jin was sealed.]

Things in this world don't really go as planned.

The count's voice contained a sigh, like a person about to face trouble.

"I encountered Bjorn in the castle. At that time, the artifact reacted. Jin and Bjorn are together."

The moment we encountered him in the hallway, there was a faint, but faint, response from the artifact he was holding.

The artifact he possessed was an object that only responded to the presence of the Godhead.

Cameron never imagined that this artifact would actually react.

The reaction was subtle enough that she would have thought it was an illusion if she hadn't known that Jin had been released, but the artifact clearly let her know that there was something by Bjorn's side.

[What are the chances that Jin noticed your presence?]

"When I came here, I leaked my energy so that Jin could notice, but the artifact didn't respond at all. The same goes for the lantern made from Jin's fire. From what I've seen so far, it seems like Jin doesn't leave Bjorn's side."

[Hmm, I guess I should judge that we are reducing our strength as much as possible due to the risk of being discovered. Then she probably didn't notice the contract on your body.]

Now that I've been discovered by Qwarha, does that mean I won't make the same mistake?

The Count seemed to be using his brain to extract more from minimal information.

"What should I do?"

After a short silence, Count Haenrel spoke slowly.

[I wonder why Jin is hanging around with that kid. If the circumstances allow, I would like to kidnap and torture Bjorn to find out...]

"Bjorn is a Sword Expert. It is impossible to kidnap her from within her castle without leaving traces of her."

[In that case, we need to thwart whatever Jin's plan is. If Jin needs that kid, we can just kill him.]

"B-but now that we are fighting over the selection of a successor, doing so will raise suspicions on our Haenrel family. It is too late to have the imperial family as our enemy just yet..."

[Stop.]

Cameron fell silent at the Count's cold tone.

[Soon our God will come down. If you follow the will of God, do you think you should be afraid of the emperor? Pay more attention to Jin than to the emperor.]

"I follow your orders."

Cameron continued his report by placing his hand on his chest as if to engrave the command.

"Also, a strange rumor has been spreading recently. It is said that a saint has appeared in the North."

[That's sudden. A saint.]

"Yes, the Knights of the Holy Cross who were dispatched to the north to investigate the dungeon found a saint in a nearby village."

[Tell me more about it.]

Cameron licked his lips briefly with her tongue, feeling his throat burn.

"According to rumors, Runea van Hoss, vice-captain of the Knights of the True Cross, certified that the village kid was a saint. The only strange thing is that Bjern took the saint with him."

[Does that mean the Knights of the True Cross gave up on saints?]

"It's just a rumor, I'm not sure."

From the crystal ball that had been silent for a while, laughter erupted instead of a languid voice.

[Khahahaha! Bjorn, you are a very intelligent kid! It hasn't been long since I met Qarhanim, but I can't believe he reacted so quickly.]

"...Yes?"

[Perhaps Bjorn, with Jin's help, manipulated the artifact that detects saints. I guess it's to distract our attention by making a fuss.]

Haenrel revealed the basis for his speculation, saying that it was because the saint was not taken away after the commotion.

[He probably used a village child to pretend to be a saint and cause trouble, and when the atmosphere was ripe, he stopped manipulating artifacts. Lunea thought the artifact had malfunctioned and left her child behind. But the rumor remained and deceived us.]

Haenrel laughed out loud as if he was surprised.

Haha! I can't believe they took advantage of the fact that the Knights of the Holy Cross came to the North to investigate a dungeon like that! What a guy! Too bad. He is a child worthy of even God's attention.]

When Cameron was surprised by Bjorn's evil plan, Cameron nodded her head and admired the intelligence of her lord.

"Indeed! It may be possible with the Flame Jinn. However, we cannot rule out the possibility that a true saint was born."

[What difference will that make?]

"Yes?"

[Cameron, I appreciate your caution. Until now, your insight has become the strength of the religious community. But now that time is over.]

Haenrel spoke leisurely, like a lion twisting the neck of its prey.

[The North, the Central Province, the Southwest, the Southeast, and even beyond the Gray Mountains belong to our God. Neither the Emperor, the Sword Saint Landeros, nor the Tower Lord Asili can turn back now. But do you think it would be overturned by a newborn saint?]

So, Haenrel took a moment to catch his breath.

He said it as if he must remember what he said next.

[Don't make me repeat the same thing. The top priority right now is to disrupt Jin. Even though he is half a penny without a body, he is still a god. Whatever the plan, it must be foiled. Put aside the question of whether he is a saint or an emperor and assassinate Bjorn first.]

"Yes, we will implement it as soon as it is ready. If we do that, the issue of successor will be naturally resolved."

[For the first god erased.]

The crystal ball, which had lost its light, was immersed in the dark night.

For the first god erased. Cameron recited the teaching inaudibly.

Without noticing the eerie eye glow in the darkness that would have been familiar to them.

◈ Chapter 40 - 8-the One Who Couldn't Let Go

*

A time when the dew on the grass falls to the ground and the stars have not yet fallen asleep in the dusky sky.

The private garden attached to the room originally used by the head of the household was particularly noisy.

"Haha!Haha! Look! The perfect sword aura emitted by this witty knight! And be amazed!"

Barton finally wrapped mana around the Damas Sword, which looked particularly sad after meeting the wrong owner.

Amber, who was looking at this situation, couldn't help but say a word.

"What is it? That impotent Auror? He looks like he's about to fall over."

"I can pierce you with this?! Should I test it?!"

"Bjorn! Barton sexually harassed me! Let's quickly behead him and establish chivalry!"

"When did I!!"

As I looked at the pig that was shaking with fever since dawn, the intersection mark stood out on the map.

"Shut up! What kind of adolescent brats are you?!"

"I don't want to hear those words from Bjorn."

"Wow, how can people have such a lack of conscience?"

These are my cavalry.

A secret organization that protects the saint and operates secretly according to the orders of the De Jeevitz family.

However, looking at the tail, I would believe it even if it came right out of a retail store.

I want to behead my own head for leading those people around as vassals.

Still, it's a blessing, but I have to say what I have to say.

I congratulated Barton in an annoyed tone.

"Ha. Yes, Barton. Congratulations on becoming a sword user. You have finally become a true knight."

"Wow! I've been through a lot of heartache after being run over by monsters... I feel like I've been rewarded with this!"

Amber tried to argue, telling him to do it in moderation.

"Don't get upset just because you became a sword user. I achieved it when I was 13."

"13 years old?! Wait a minute, then at what age did you become a sword user, Bjorn?"

"Me? I'm 9 years old. Why are you asking if I'm going to make you miserable?"

"God is dead. No, I will kill him!"

Jean, Barton says he's going to kill you.

Uh, tell him to work hard.

Jin also reacted cynically, probably because he had completely adapted to this kind of skit.

I decided to show Barton something interesting.

"Mion! Come here and grab the sword!"

Mion rubbed her sleepy eyes and held my sword.

"Now, if you do it like this... Like this... Like this..."

"Huh? Oh, like this, like that?"

Soon, a bluish light appeared on the blade that Mion was holding.

Although it was weak and blurry compared to Barton's, it was a clear sword aura.

"Now, with this, you become a Miondo sword user."

"Aaaaah! What a fucking world!"

Barton's Sword Aura fluctuated just like its owner's emotions.

However, this time, Amber seemed shocked and asked me with a trembling voice.

"Huh, how did you do it? Even though you're a saint, you've probably never learned the art of mind, so you're a sword auror?!"

"No matter how saintly you are, it's possible. It's all about talent."

This is not something I would say to Ember, who became a sword user after looking over her shoulder in the stable, but what can you do when there is a sky above the sky?

Mion had a natural talent for manipulating her mana.

So even though her dantian had not yet opened, she was able to cover her blade with that little mana.

Indeed, only this is worthy of praise as a savior and hope that protects humanity.

"If you don't work hard, Mion will catch up to you within three years."

"It was the creepiest sound I've heard in a while. What kind of monster..."

"Am I a monster?"

"No, I don't mean that, I mean it in a good way, that thing over there!"

Even the heavenly Amber was at a loss as to the lukewarm purity of a saint.

Well, if she looks like that and has an intimidating face, regardless of her gender, she will apologize for making her own mistake.

"Ember, take charge of the saint for a while and teach him swordsmanship."

"Huh? Why did I..."

"The saint is the perfect person to edify your damnable personality."

Look at that pure, angelic face.

I can't help but admire the wonders of the main god.

Surely Mion would be able to purify even Ember's foully corrupted tongue.

"How can you be so cruel? Are you human? Get out of that body right now, you evil plague!"

I can understand Amber's complaints.

She is also about to become a sword expert, so her nose must be three feet tall.

But what are you going to do?

It doesn't matter if you screw it up or not.

And by teaching Mion, Amber may also gain enlightenment that will lead her to become a Sword Expert.

Mion was restless between me and Amber.

"Oh, no, I don't want to disturb you... But you don't have to..."

"Uuuuu...! Okay! I'll take care of it for you! But if you're lazy, be prepared to be severely scolded."

"Thank you!"

Amber, who was looking at Mion, eventually accepted my command with a look on her face that said something was wrong with her.

Ember is weak to lukewarm temperatures.

Let's take note.

Only after Amber and Barton left with Mion, was I able to start training.

[I understand why you said taking the entrance exam was to buy time. I never thought it would be this busy...]

Looking at the waves of flame rising through Jin's body, I hate that thing.

I had been looking at Jin's colorful flames for so long, and now I could read his emotions just by looking at the direction from which the flames were rising.

[This is all because you are weak. My head is suffering because I don't have enough strength.]

"Do you know that I am the person who became a sword expert the fastest in the history of the Oxburg Empire?"

[You brag like that to your enemies too, right? I am the youngest sword expert, so I was wondering if you could take a look at it just once.]

"Ah, just like you did to Quarha? I didn't have any anger, so did you say please forgive me just this once?"

[Is that enough for the will?]

Her face lit up.

Perhaps because he was a shell god who had been robbed of his passion, the fire was lukewarm.

As the light on her face was about to go out, Jin let out a sigh of relief and spoke.

[Ha, if you become an advanced sword expert, I can create a fleshy body. Then it would be worth fighting the Sword Master.]

"But there's no way to complain. Even if I'm the genius of the century, I can't go from low level to high level in one year."

Jin himself said this in the past.

If she helps him, she gives him three years to deal with a Sword Master and five years to become a Sword Master.

If what Jin said is true, it would take at least two years to reach the advanced level of Sword Expert.

Now, less than half a year after meeting her, her reward was impossible even if she ate the heart of a basilisk.

The Danjeon is often compared to the lungs.

What should I do to improve my lungs and cardiopulmonary endurance?

When you run hard and run again and again and your body wants more oxygen, you have to consistently face those moments to increase it.

The same goes for Danjeon.

Train your body to withstand mana, and constantly infuse mana into your Danjeon through meditation.

You can barely feel the results if you repeat the same stagnant training for several years.

"The dantian is not some kind of rubber band, and there is no way you can stretch it as much as you want..."

For a moment.

A bright idea passed through my head.

Before that, let's ask one thing clearly.

"But why does it take more than advanced mana to create a fleshy body?"

[To be precise, the physical body does not need your mana.]

Jin corrected me.

[To create a physical body, Hwajeong's mana is needed. Quite a lot at the moment.]

"Then I need to be a superior..."

[To withstand the mana of Hwajeong pouring out all at once, you must protect your body with your own magic power.]

In other words, it meant that all of the upper-level mana had to be poured into the self-defense force to create Jin's physical body.

It was truly a ridiculous cost.

"Wait a minute, if I make that kind of sacrifice and summon a physical body, I'll be leaving the battlefield, right?"

[It's short, but you won't be of much help if I'm faced with a moment where I need to gain a physical body.]

I could only nod my head at Jin's words.

If I had to summon her despite taking on such a risk, she was no longer an opponent for me.

At times like this, I realize that the girl I used to be so familiar with is one of the three gods who govern this world.

"Anyway, what you're saying is that I just need to secure the mana to protect my body, right?"

[Have you come up with any method?]

Increasing the size of the lungs involves enormous effort.

However, if you force the diaphragm further, the lungs will physically expand.

The same goes for Danjeon.

It is very difficult to increase its size by filling it with mana and pushing it out from the inside.

But what if there is an external force that acts as a diaphragm?

I don't know how useful it will be, but the size will increase.

No one has tried it so far, but I could.

Because there is Hwajeong.

I was planning to use Hwajeong's mana to pull the dantian.

[Wow, is that really a great idea? If you want to increase your height, just pull your legs straight out. Why are you stretching your neck at this point?]

"Why, if you want to widen a tight pussy..."

Her mouth was so open that she couldn't continue speaking.

The feeling of her saliva bubbling in her mouth wasn't very pleasant.

After hearing what I said, Jin muttered, 'It was my fault for expecting more.'

[If you don't want to be an asshole, don't even try to do something like that! Do you know what kind of master key Hwajeong is? And then Danjeon...]

"Is it increasing?"

[Please listen to me!]

Hwajeong.

This guy's setup is just a scam.

◈ Chapter 41 - 8-the One Who Couldn't Let Go