Chapter 101 : Chapter 101
Chapter 101. 1 Year (1)
Black hair, black eyes, pale skin, a body that is firm but noticeably thinner than in my previous life.
Every time I wake up in the morning and look in the mirror, it feels awkward. One would think I’d be used to it by now, but my appearance from my previous life is still what feels familiar.
“Even Master wouldn’t recognize me.”
The appearance of my previous life and my current one are just too different.
Back then, I at least looked masculine. This face, despite all the training, remains consistently pretty.
But how did Semenu recognize me? As that groundless conviction comes to mind, a scoff escapes me without my realizing it.
“Master would hate it.”
Because Master likes handsome things.
This face is fine, but no matter how I think about it, I think I was more handsome when I was Exa.
“Is this the beautification of the past?”
Master was like a miraculous encounter. Because I was the talent he was looking for.
Because I was handsome. Master said so. Would Master even think of taking me in if he saw me now?
He lost the disciple who was to succeed him. I wonder what Master is doing. Did he find a new disciple? Simurtr was curious about that.
“I’ll know when I meet him.”
Pagna and Pagna, and now even Elder is here.
There are memories too.
“He wouldn’t cast me aside.”
Surely not. Simurtr smirked and looked over his body.
1 year. Time during the growth period works faster and has a greater effect. Even gathering several years of adulthood isn't as substantial as one year of the growth period.
I am growing to a satisfactory degree.
I will grow more from here, and by the time I become an adult, I will likely be roughly similar to my previous life’s build. Probably.
‘Even if I’m frail, I am getting bigger.’
No, being frail is a thing of the past.
I am still frail, but less so. Dujeu’s Secret Elixir gifted by Arnea. I have consumed it every single day for the past year without missing a dose.
My body has begun to mimic Dujeu’s Strong Body, albeit clumsily…….
“I’m going.”
Simurtr sensed Haryun’s presence and left the room. Down the hallway, he saw Haryun with her eyes wide open.
“How did you know?”
“Know what.”
“Didn’t you answer knowing I was coming?”
“Right.”
“So I’m asking how you knew.”
Simurtr was sensitive to begin with.
He hated being disturbed during training and was strict about his own magic management. If there was a discrepancy, he would frown and get annoyed.
“It was 5 meters.”
It was the same when dealing with external things.
Over the past year, Haryun had experienced this to the point of exhaustion.
5 meters. Within that range, Simurtr is more sensitive than anyone. Even without looking, he notices everything. He used to smack Haryun’s forehead when she tried to sneak up and hit the back of his head.
“It increased.”
“When?”
“Last night?”
“By how much?”
Haryun asked with a fed-up expression.
“10 meters.”
Star-Breaking Style 5-Star.
***
Dujeu’s Strong Body stops at imitation.
‘I’ll probably need to take more elixirs.’
If I do that, even if it’s not quite Dujeu’s Strong Body, it will show excellent efficacy in its own way.
No matter how much I guzzle, I cannot obtain Dujeu’s Strong Body. The elixir is for those who are not Dujeu, who wish to mimic Dujeu even a little.
‘A limit will come, but not for a while. It became possible to use 5-Star in just one year.’
It is different from when I felt burdened by even the rotation of 4-Star.
Simurtr could feel that change more clearly than anyone else. He is free with the rotation of 5-Star, let alone 4-Star. He doesn't feel any overload.
I could probably start using the secret techniques of the Star-Breaking Style soon.
Of course, it won’t have the proper scale or power, and I don’t know how my body will hold up, but.
‘Amplification through Pegna is still too much but…… this is better than nothing.’
Point five of Pegna. If I take half a step forward, my body will break down again like last year, but I am satisfied.
Now, the times I’ll have to push myself that hard will be few and far between.
“Are you really going without even saying goodbye?”
“He’ll just say the same things anyway, so why bother going?”
He seems to be on good terms with Haryun.
Why don't you stay longer? You haven't even seen the Swelling Flame yet…… Simurtr anticipated the words Akarr would spout. They pop out on their own without him even having to think about it.
“And this way is better. In the end, you didn’t show me the Swelling Flame. I’m leaving without looking back out of disappointment.”
“Still. What if he hates you?”
“Eh. Me?”
Simurtr laughed as if it were ridiculous.
Akarr Bahab sincerely wants to obtain Simurtr. There’s no way he would be hated. If anything, he’d treat him well.
Wasn’t the past year proof of that? In the West Palace, Simurtr lived receiving treatment no less than that of a direct descendant of Bahab. Even Mectera wasn’t like this.
“I’ll leave the aftermath to you.”
“If he asks why you just left, you want me to answer like that? That you were disappointed in Mother?”
“You should sugarcoat it a little. No. You can say it as is. That side likes honesty.”
The more outstanding the talent, the more outstanding the ego.
Even more so, Simurtr is the talent Akarr is drooling over the most.
“Still, if you tell him, he’ll probably like it more, saying there’s a taste in taming you?”
“That is true but…….”
“If it really doesn’t seem right, you can say my grandfather was extremely fussy. He’ll understand that much.”
“The Head of the Senate of Elders?”
“Yeah. He’s trying hard to keep me in Mectera.”
“Didn’t you say you wouldn’t be the Sword Master?”
“I told you. Even if I’m not the Sword Master, there are plenty of things for me to do.”
“…As expected.”
Mectera isn’t all that great either. Haryun thought.
“What?”
“Nothing. I’ll speak well on your behalf.”
“Thanks.”
Simurtr, who was answering, was grinning.
He had been like that since they first met today. Simurtr seemed genuinely happy to be leaving Bahab.
“Is it that good?”
Haryun didn’t like that.
Because she knew the one year wasn’t mutual.
“Does it show?”
It is that good.
Not because he is returning to Mectera, but because he is starting to like his current body a little.
Considering the past of this body, just being able to handle the rotation of 5-Star is tremendous.
“If you were going to be like this, I shouldn’t have taught you.”
“Ah. That? Why. I’m leaving early thanks to you.”
“Exactly.”
White Flame.
Haryun called Simurtr’s expanding flame by that name.
“Thanks.”
“Hmph. Forget it. Just get lost already.”
“Why. You won’t meet me?”
“…When will I see you.”
“When you’ve mastered all the secret techniques?”
“F*ck.”
“I’m joking. If the timing is right when you go out for bellows-work, we’ll probably see each other often.”
1 year.
Haryun often went out for bellows-work.
Akarr didn’t demand accompaniment, but Simurtr volunteered to go with her. It was the optimal environment to train the White Flame.
“Really?”
“Is there a reason to lie? If you’re bored, you can come to Mectera to play too.”
“…Can I really go?”
“I said come.”
Mectera might not welcome it, but Simurtr has the power to push that much.
Perhaps she would get along quite well with the siblings.
“Even if I say I won’t teach you the secret techniques?”
“Forget it. I have some shame too.”
It’s already excessive. Simurtr acquired everything Haryun knew.
What Akarr was scared of and refused, Haryun gave. The Swelling Flame. If we count this as a debt, how much would it be?
‘How do I pay this back?’
This is why I should have kept my distance.
Simurtr thought while looking at Haryun, then smiled bitterly. To think this about an enemy’s daughter. Pay back the debt? Will that even be possible when the time comes?
“I’ll think about it.”
“Think carefully. About what you want to receive from me too.”
So, the debt owed to Haryun must be paid back as soon as possible.
Before attacking Bahab.
“Pardon?”
“I owe you. It would be better to think about this as soon as possible.”
“Forget it.”
“You’ll regret it.”
I hoped Haryun would detach herself from Bahab if possible.
That is the reason I did my best for Haryun over the past year.
When killing Bahab, how will Haryun react? I didn’t dare imagine it first. Simurtr was afraid of the future Haryun.
“Haryun.”
“What is it, Simyun.”
“Do you still want to become the Duke of Bahab that much?”
Haryun tilted her head.
As if asking why he was asking something so obvious.
“If you want to, don’t do it. Hmm. I haven’t been a Duke so I don’t know…… but it’s probably nothing special.”
“All of a sudden?”
“Do something else besides that. It doesn’t really suit you either.”
“…Then what suits me?”
“…If not Bahab, anything?”
“What is that.”
Haryun let out a light laugh.
“I’ll take care of it myself. Whether I become the Duke of Bahab, or become something else.”
“…Do that.”
“The debt too. Don’t think of that as a debt. That wasn’t you owing a debt, Simyun, but me paying back what I owed.”
“What?”
“The secret technique. I’ll teach you that later too.”
“I said forget that?”
“I don’t want to. It’s the price of my life. If we consider it paid with just one year of teaching, my life looks too shabby, doesn’t it?”
The value of the human named Haryun.
To cover that, it was still far off.
***
The sunlight grows hotter day by day.
Summer is occupying the season. Looking up at the sky, the sun tried to enjoy the highest place in the heavens.
In fact, such heat cannot affect Semenu at all. But it’s hot and unpleasant. It used to be. Exa Baperr died in the summer.
“It’s warm.”
A smile briefly appeared on Semenu’s face as she faced the sun.
She had hated the summer for the past 20 years. This year’s summer is quite welcome. It is the season that confirmed the Captain is alive.
“He said today.”
The Captain.
Simurtr returns today.
He finally decided to leave that disgusting Bahab. Perhaps he has arrived at Mectera by now.
The Mectera family members are probably waiting from the castle gate.
“Annoying.”
Greeting the Captain is not Mectera’s role.
Especially…… Medeoban Mectera. Semenu did not like that old man acting friendly with the current Captain.
Not only are his intentions insidious, but it’s laughable. Medeoban has already abandoned the Captain once. In Semenu’s opinion, Medeoban and Nurmakan are no different.
“Captain is too kind.”
The Captain said he understood the expulsion, but Semenu does not want to understand it.
That is like asking Semenu to understand Nurmakan. No matter the reason, it is unacceptable.
“I hate Aran Lubeil too.”
That old Head of the Sword is the same.
He wanted to join the expulsion? Lies. Semenu does not believe the Captain’s defense. If he wanted to do that, he should have done so even if it meant death.
In her eyes, Aran is ultimately one who chose what he built over the Captain. Yet he is an ugly old man who whines about missing Exa.
However, unlike Medeoban, there is room for consideration. In terms of regret, Semenu acknowledges Aran Lubeil. The past 20 years. Aran is a human who missed the Captain no less than Baperr.
“Only up to Aran Lubeil.”
The Captain also wishes only that far.
Therefore, Semenu does not let go of the hand holding Aran. Aran is deceiving Homer.
To the Captain, he lied saying Homer is looking for the Captain’s corpse.
Semenu muttered while looking at the Sword Tower that began to block the sun.
“What are you doing here? Not going in.”
A familiar tone. But the voice is not.
It belonged to a sharp woman. Sky. The color of Dujeu.
“I’m going right away.”
“Why not stay a bit longer? Urkel and Ejel are coming too. Ejel was worrying about what to wear because you’re coming.”
“I don’t want to.”
“Are you just going to show your face and leave? If so, why did you come? Did you not compile the intelligence?”
“I can say it now.”
“Damn it. Fine, go, go. Anyone would think we’re begging.”
Lete Dujeu, the Master of the Sword Tower, frowned.
Every summer. August 2nd. On the day known as Exa’s death, there is a regular meeting of Baperr.
In reality, it is a meeting for Exa, who is certainly alive.
“Melia is coming too. Come to think of it, Semenu, didn’t you meet Melia last year? At Bahab.”
“…Melia said that?”
“Yeah. Said she met you coming out of an elf accident in Hella. She’s funny too. Knowing she’ll be hated even if she saves them like that. Just because they’re the same race.”
“Yeah. What about it.”
“Melia said something interesting. Kanan too.”
“…….”
“Simurtr Mectera. You know him?”
Lete Dujeu recalled the information about Simurtr.
The benefactor of Huit, whom she thought might be Exa’s disciple.
“He’s only sixteen? Such a brat is Degrate’s VIP?”
White mana.
Simurtr possesses such a trait. But Degrate’s VIP. Is this a simple coincidence? Lete Dujeu’s eyes looking at Semenu turn fierce.
“I’ve already finished investigating him. He has nothing to do with the Captain.”
“Really? Then why are you like that? You didn’t even come last year. You’ve been acting strange since last year. But it turns out that started right after meeting that brat?”
“Ayulsor doesn’t come at all.”
“That bastard is too stupid to come.”
“I’m busy.”
“……So it’s true? Simurtr Mectera.”
“No.”
“Really? Really not that bastard?”
“Yeah.”
“Swear on the Captain?”
“Yeah.”
Semenu answered without hesitation.
The Captain wished for this in the first place. So it’s okay to swear.
“Then what wind blew for you to act like this?”
Lete Dujeu’s eyes narrowed.
Semenu Baperr. That bitch who hopes to be called Baperr rather than Degrate, is the most vicious bitch in the Baperr unit when it comes to matters related to the Captain.
Since she swore on such a Captain, saying Simurtr Mectera is unrelated must be true.
Then.
“…You. Did you find him?”
“What.”
“You f*ck, you found the Captain, didn’t you?”
“No.”
“Where is he? Ah. You won’t tell me. You’re acting like this to keep it to yourself without telling us, aren’t you? Right? To keep us from meeting him.”
“I said no.”
“No wonder, the crows seemed to have gotten lazy lately. Right? It’s true. Right. You found this bastard.”
“I said no.”
“Bullsh*t…… Are you crying……?”
Lete Dujeu flinched upon seeing Semenu’s face.
Tears were falling from her two eyes.
“Ah, that’s an illusion, right? Almost fell for it again. As expected of gloomy things, lying is just…….”
“I haven’t found the Captain yet. The crows are really just busy.”
Semenu cut her off.
Is it real? Lete thought while looking at Semenu’s face, which had even turned red.
Semenu, who rarely expressed emotion to begin with. Tears? The last time she saw them was 20 years ago. When the Captain went missing. Since then, Lete had never seen Semenu express emotions.
“Fine. Whatever. Fine. Just tell us what you found out and go.”
But now.
Lete was seeing Semenu’s tears again after 20 years. It must be real. Even if she’s a crazy bitch, surely she wouldn’t go so far as to deceive her own side.
Semenu is Baperr. A comrade sharing secrets and dreaming of the same goal.
‘Even if she’s annoying, she’s on the same side. Let’s stop caring. I’m dying of annoyance anyway.’
Since last year.
Lete Dujeu’s head has been incredibly complicated.
Just when she thought she finally got a decisive clue, the crows are still whining about not being able to find Egna Harkinwagen.
Homer Harkinwagen, whom she sent begging him to take good care of it, gets Elder stolen by Remeter.
She thought the guy named Simurtr Mectera might be a clue, but Semenu swears on the Captain that he isn’t.
‘Remeter, why is that old bastard crawling out and making a fuss.’
The Black Land is a place that cannot be touched rashly. It is like a beehive. Touching it pointlessly only results in loss.
Lete Dujeu. No, the Baperr unit members including the Sword Tower, have a reason to preserve the power they have gathered over the past 20 years as much as possible.
‘Sh*tty.’
Lete scratched her head roughly.
Sky-blue hair fluttered along with her hand. Voices recognizing Dujeu grew louder everywhere.
‘Fcking shtty.’
Lete does not welcome that attention. In the past, the Captain took all this aggro.
This is why being the leader sucks. There are too many things to think about. It was comfortable just receiving orders and swinging the sword.
“I’ll come back after calming down.”
Suddenly Semenu spoke.
This bitch is still shedding tears. Making a person feel awkward for no reason.
“Okay. What, should I go inside?”
“No. Stay here. I don’t want to go in.”
“Understood.”
When Lete nodded, Semenu turned around. She opened her Unique Phantasmal Realm and fell into it.
“That was dangerous.”
Green world.
Entering the Unique Phantasmal Realm, Semenu wiped her flowing tears.
“Sensitive bitch.”
The wiped illusion disappeared from her fingertips.