Chapter 70 : Chapter 70
Chapter 70: Arnea Dujeu (2)
“Captain.”
“What.”
“Are you hurt anywhere?”
“I am.”
“What? Really? Where?”
“Here.”
“Ah, what the. Who counts a scratch as an injury?”
“If I say I'm hurt, they give me supplies.”
“I told you I'd call the Sword Tower if you need anything.”
“What's the need to go all the way to the Sword Tower?”
“Those bastards don't give you much support, Captain.”
“It's fine. I'm going to go beat them up soon.”
“……”
“They say they don't have any to give because potions are rare. I have to check if they have anything to use when they get hurt.”
“...But you don't need potions, Captain.”
“I use them sometimes.”
“When.”
“I reattached my leg last time.”
“Actually, that wasn't an attack that would have ended with just your leg being cut off. Your lower body should have turned to dust.”
“You want me to be just an upper body?”
“As long as you're alive... no... as long as you can hold a sword, doesn't it not matter...?”
“Are you crazy?”
“You're the crazy one, Captain. I've never seen anyone reattach a leg with a low-grade potion in my life.”
“You can do that much too. The Dujeu of the Sword Tower, the Strong Body of Dujeu. It's famous, isn't it?”
“Our bloodline may be famous, but it's not to that extent. We're not monsters like you, Captain.”
“That's insubordination.”
“Why. It's a compliment.”
“I'm not a Doom Species.”
“Ah, damn it. What are you talking about.”
***
6 a.m.
“Hm-hmm. Hmm.”
Arnea woke up and began to prepare.
If she prepared now, the timing would be perfect.
“The siblings? Has a letter come?”
“Yes. Would you like to check it now?”
“No, later. For now, can you just summarize it for me?”
“They both said their bath time has increased.”
“Oh my.”
Arnea, who was carefully selecting a martial arts uniform from her closet, covered her mouth and laughed.
“The one the youngest liked so much?”
“Young Master Jahar is convinced that there is a reason for Young Master Simurtr's morning bath.”
“And Ael?”
“It seems she is trying to follow Young Master Simurtr's schedule.”
“She could probably skip the morning bath.”
A black martial arts uniform. Arnea decided on the clothes she would wear today.
“When are they said to be coming?”
“They are still reporting their progress at half. It will probably take about 3 more weeks.”
“Already?”
“I don't think it's a time to attach the word 'already' to.”
Arnea smiled bitterly, as if troubled.
To her now, even 3 weeks was too short. Four days ago, she would have welcomed an early return, but not anymore.
The situation had changed, and Arnea wished for the siblings to return as late as possible.
“The 6th Head of the Sword, really. He should have given them a more difficult mission.”
“Ah. The adjutant who delivered the letter asked if you, Lady Arnea, knew of the 6th Head of the Sword's whereabouts.”
“Hmm? Me?”
Arnea, who was comparing the martial arts uniforms in both hands, tilted her head.
The siblings were participating in a mission of the 6th Sword Order. Naturally, the letter had passed through the hands of the 6th Sword Order's adjutant, Naor.
“Why ask me about the 6th Head of the Sword's whereabouts? When you're the adjutant of the 6th Sword Order?”
“He said he is asking everyone he meets, not just you, Lady Arnea. The 6th Head of the Sword has been absent without a word.”
“For how long?”
“He said it's been four days.”
Four days.
Which meant he had disappeared from the day Orde, Beden, and Simurtr had returned.
“He was always a man of strange behavior, so. Wouldn't he be somewhere in the territory? Tell him I don't know.”
“Understood.”
The presence at the door disappeared. Arnea put on the martial arts uniform in her left hand and left the mansion.
“I hope he likes it.”
Arnea was carrying a box the size of a person's torso. It was a secret elixir she had received by contacting the Sword Tower. It was for Simurtr, and it was a sign of her apology.
The exile, the recruitment of the 2nd Sword Order, etc. Most of the fault lay with Janya, but Arnea was not unrelated.
Like it or not, it was a fact that she had dipped her feet in every incident to oppose Janya.
“If it's not enough, I can just do more.”
She had heard Simurtr's words that he would not bother her anymore.
But if there was still bad blood between them, the distance would not close. Arnea had prepared a bribe to resolve the bad blood.
“I wonder if he'd like it more if I got him a sword too.”
Come to think of it, Simurtr's sword was quite worn out.
She had heard that Meram had given it to him as a birthday present, but although she belonged to Mectera, her taste was ultimately that of a magician.
It wasn't very suitable for Simurtr's body type or disposition.
“He'd like it if it was from the Sword Tower, right?”
The tower of swordsmen. Naturally, the Sword Tower was full of blacksmiths who had dedicated their lives to the sword.
If it was a sword forged by a master, wouldn't Simurtr love it?
“He'll like it.”
Her steps towards the west annex were light. Arnea felt that this path was truly like going to meet her son.
To be honest, she liked him a lot.
‘I have no interest in the position of Sword Master. If I dare to covet it, the previous Sword Master, the current Sword Master, and you, Lady Arnea, can join hands and cut off my head.’
Four days ago, when she had visited the west annex, Simurtr had said so. They were words that had immediately calmed Arnea's worries.
She had gone to gauge his intentions after hearing Ael's words, but Simurtr had gotten straight to the point.
‘Instead, don't decide on the Sword Master position so early. Ael is not lacking in any way compared to Jahar. Consider the brother Beden as well.’
And on top of that, words of concern for Ael. It was impossible not to like him. It was to the point where she felt sorry for having been wary of him in the first place.
‘If not, I'll just take the Sword Master position myself and destroy Mectera. I'll get rid of the three of you who joined hands as well.’
The last part was a bit scary, though.
“Actually, none of it matters anymore.”
The successor? That had been a very important issue for Arnea, but now it was an utterly irrelevant matter.
“Our foolish Lady Janya has passed away like that.”
It was a sorry thing to say in front of Orde, but her worries had disappeared. The reason the position of successor had been important was largely due to Janya.
If Beden became the successor, Arnea did not have the confidence to live. It was a very easy task to ensure her own safety, but not for Jahar and Ael.
She had the option of the Sword Tower, but that alone was not enough to ensure the siblings' safety. That greedy Janya would surely try to dispose of the losers.
She could say for sure that Orde would not be able to stop it. The siblings would be kicked out. And then they would die. The naive Orde would not know until then.
“Our husband is so soft.”
But now Janya was gone. She was dead. Beden had survived, but that was not something to worry about.
The one participating in the succession competition was Beden, but everything Arnea had been worried about was what Janya had done.
“Now, it's fine even if it's Simyun.”
So, all that was left was regret.
If she had known things would turn out this way, there would have been no need for Simurtr's exile, or for recruiting the 2nd Sword Order to oppose Janya.
If it was Simurtr, he wouldn't abandon the siblings even if he became the Sword Master. He would rather keep them by his side.
That young youngest child was weak to the siblings. And to Beden as well. At least, that's how it looked in Arnea's eyes.
Otherwise, there was no way he would watch over the siblings' training every day.
“Come to think of it, that seems like it would be more fun.”
She did wish he would become her flesh and blood, but there was no need to dwell on it.
The possibility of him threatening the siblings had disappeared.
“Of course, my father-in-law would dislike it.”
Simurtr does not suit Mectera.
At least, that's what Medeoban thinks. The nature of his mana. Not black, but white.
Medeoban does not want Simurtr to become the Sword Master, for a new bloodline of Mectera to be established.
“A greedy person.”
But he wants Simurtr to remain as a Mectera. The changed Medeoban wants Simurtr to become the 1st Head of the Sword.
“It would have been better if he was born in Dujeu. Preferably as Lete's son.”
Arnea finds that quite pitiful, and uncomfortable.
This is not a talent that can be contained in the position of a mere 1st Head of the Sword, to be treated like this. Medeoban must know that fact.
“No, that's not right. Then he wouldn't have been born yet.”
The reason Simurtr, who had been a mere formal family member, had transformed into a cute youngest son.
Because in Arnea's eyes, Simurtr already looked like a swordsman of the Sword Tower, not an adopted son of Mectera.
It was a favoritism that would never have started if Simurtr had been just a Mectera.
When Simurtr becomes an adult someday, and grows enough to roam freely.
As his vessel grows, when he realizes the height he can climb. If his desires grow along with the size of his vessel.
“But if he can't covet the Sword Master position.”
Though he is more than capable, if he is rejected simply due to the opposition of those around him. Simurtr would surely flow to the Sword Tower.
Arnea was convinced of it.
***
Four days.
Four days had already passed. It was enough time for Meram's fatigue to be relieved, and it was also the time Beden had spent in Kelken's cabin.
The siblings' return was still far off, Medeoban was said to be reading in the Senate of Elders, Deban was training with the 6th Sword Order swordsmen, Orde was still busy, and so was Naor.
“Aran?”
The past four days.
He had met almost everyone he had a connection with, but Aran was not among them. Naor had said he had lost him too.
“It happens often?”
Simurtr let out a hollow laugh.
For a Head of the Sword to disappear periodically. Simurtr suddenly felt sorry for Naor.
“He'll come back on his own. How old is he?”
Wasn't it that Aran Lubeil? It wasn't something Simurtr had the capacity to worry about.
After finishing his bath. As he roughly dried his hair and went down to the 1st floor, he heard a voice that had become familiar recently.
“My, what child takes a bath for an hour.”
“Lady Arnea?”
A face that had become familiar recently. For four days, Arnea had not missed a day visiting the annex.
“Oh my. Did you just call me mom?”
“...Lady Arnea, you're here early.”
“My siblings are coming soon, aren't they? I thought I should secure my spot first.”
“Childishly competing with children… they still have a long way to go before they arrive.”
“Your words are harsh to your mom.”
Though being forced to call her mom every day was not something he was keen on. Even considering that, Arnea's visit was a rather welcome one.
“Wouldn't it be better to shorten your bath time?”
“There is no better environment for meditation than a bath.”
“First time I'm hearing that.”
“We will have plenty of sparring even without that. It's a good time for me as well.”
“Really? Then that's fine.”
Arnea placed a box the size of a torso on the table. Judging by the lack of sound, it didn't seem very heavy.
“What is that?”
“Curious? If you call me mom, I'll tell you right away.”
“If you keep doing that, I think I'll never call you that.”
“It's a bribe from this future mom.”
Dozens of small boxes popped out of the box.
Roughly 50. A pungent scent wafted out, but it wasn't a spiritual medicine.
“What is that?”
“It's the secret elixir of Dujeu. A 50-day supply. I contacted the Sword Tower and had it sent.”
“...Is it okay to release that to the outside?”
Simurtr made a strange face.
The secret elixir of Dujeu. He knew of it. He had heard about it from Lete once.
For generations, the Dujeu are born with a Strong Body. That secret elixir was a medicine designed to imitate that Strong Body.
“Who would stop a mother from taking care of her child? Your body is weak compared to your innate talent, isn't it?”
Three times.
The number of times Simurtr had sparred with Arnea.
It was said to be three times, but considering the time spent, it was more than enough time to grasp each other's physical body and mana.
“Won't I be dragged away by the Sword Tower for accepting this?”
“Don't worry. I got permission from the Sword Tower Master.”
Greed flickered in Simurtr's eyes.
The body. A weakness he had been aware of and had keenly felt every time a fight broke out, ever since he had been reincarnated and started training in the Star-Breaking Style.
‘This body won't do. It's hopeless.’
It was not suitable for the Star-Breaking Style. Even after his growth period ended and he became an adult, absolutely. It wouldn't work like this. With this body, he could not master the Star-Breaking Style.
In the battle with Gerehk Adre, Simurtr had realized that fact once again.
‘Especially, the mana circuit.’
Bones, joints, muscles, tendons, nerves. The weakness of his body was one thing, but the fault of his mana circuit was too great.
This body, Simurtr had a thin and dense circuit. The circuit extended to his fingertips, and it was spread out so finely that it allowed for very delicate operation.
‘The direction is too different.’
It was the exact opposite of the circuit required by the Star-Breaking Style.
If Simurtr's mana circuit was the roots of a tree, Exa's mana circuit was a single pillar.
Simple, but a much thicker and stronger circuit. A naturally born Strong Body, a body optimized for the Star-Breaking Style.
The Star-Breaking Style, engraved on his soul, was like Simurtr's origin. Not only his Phantasmal Ability, but all his actions through mana were based on the Star-Breaking Style.
The foundation of everything, the cornerstone. The Star-Breaking Style would be compared to such things. For Simurtr, a body that could handle the Star-Breaking Style was absolutely necessary for the future of his revenge.
‘Of course, there's a limit with just the secret elixir.’
Simurtr looked at the box Arnea was holding.
The imitation of Dujeu. He couldn't obtain a Strong Body on par with that of a Dujeu just by drinking that secret elixir. It was a secret elixir that merely imitated it.
The Strong Body of Dujeu was something that could not be caught up with unless one was of that bloodline.
‘But even just imitating it, there won't be a problem up to the 5th Star.’
The Strong Body of Dujeu. Simurtr had experienced that Strong Body every day in his past life. He knew its power.
It was comparable to the unexplainable Strong Body Exa was born with. At least, that's what Simurtr thought. The Dujeu were a bloodline that was considered the best among special constitutions.
“Aren't you going to take it? We don't have time.”
Looking at it, greed arises.
The current situation made it inevitable.
A body that had not yet fully grown. An innate weakness. With his current body, there was a clear limit.
‘I need it right now.’
4th Star. Simurtr had reached that level, but it was difficult to unleash his full power. If he did it just two or three times, his body would be torn apart.
And on top of that, he had even obtained Pegna, which could take him to an even higher output. In such a situation, that secret elixir was definitely great news, but.
“...Still, it seems like an excessive apology. Feed it to the siblings instead of me.”
It felt like he was incurring a debt, which was unsettling.
He understood the meaning of the apology Arnea had mentioned, but the past exile was not that big of an incident.
For the reincarnated Simurtr, it had been an ideal environment.
‘And besides, she's Lete's family.’
Simurtr narrowed his eyes.
If she were just from the Sword Tower, it would be different, but he had no intention of holding a grudge against a unit member's family.
‘I should just bury it. It was just an exile.’
If he made an enemy here, how would he face Lete later? Simurtr had long since folded his feelings about Arnea.
“My father-in-law dislikes that.”
“Ah.”
Simurtr understood Arnea's words at once. The bloodline of Mectera. Medeoban wished for that blood to continue without being contaminated.
Arnea had fallen in love with Orde at first sight, but it was said that it took quite a long time for them to get married.
It would be different with other bloodlines, but he had disliked the mixing of Dujeu blood in Mectera.
“But isn't it already mixed?”
But in the end, they succeeded, and the siblings were born.
The blood of Dujeu flows in Jahar and Ael.
“Ah, so that's why the old man appointed Jahar? Because he saw a glimpse of the Dujeu's Strong Body in Ael?”
“Simyun, you're really quick-witted, aren't you? You're no less than our Ael.”
Ael, the blood of Dujeu was particularly strong in her.
Simurtr understood Ael's incomprehensible durability, which he had seen once, through Arnea.
“So, Simyun. If you don't accept this, I have no choice but to throw it away.”
Arnea.
She had mentioned the reason why the greedless Mectera had no choice but to accept the bribe.
Medeoban was concerned about the mixing of the Dujeu's Strong Body in Mectera. As if to prove it, he was trying to make Jahar the next Sword Master.
If Simurtr really had no greed for the position of Sword Master, he had to accept this secret elixir.
“If I were of Mectera blood, that would have been a plausible reason.”
Such a claim by Arnea would only work on Beden. It did not apply to Simurtr, who was not of Mectera blood.
“Still, with this much sincerity, you should accept it, shouldn't you?”
“...The apology ends with this. Don't think of giving me anything in the future.”
Simurtr eventually nodded.
It was a waste to throw it away, and it was polite to accept it after she had gone this far. In fact, his greed was greater.
“Is that so? What a shame. I was going to give you a Sword Tower sword too.”
At the sight of him declaring that and gulping down the secret elixir, Arnea smiled mischievously.
“...The upper floors?”
“Made by Dujeu's exclusive blacksmith.”
“……”
“Custom-made.”
“...Really?”
“Now, repeat after me. Mom.”
Simurtr barely held back.