Chapter 106 : The Warrior Returns Home (1)
Chapter 106: The Warrior Returns Home (1)
Following Adam home, Leon was welcomed by Elsa and Heath.
They had clearly missed him greatly, and the two spent a long time catching up with him.
Originally, Leon had planned to devote the entire day to training even after returning home.
However, seeing how delighted they were just to see his face, he simply couldn't bring himself to say that he was going off to train.
If he actually said it and Heath and Elsa ended up disappointed, he felt his own heart would grow heavy as well.
In the end, Leon had no choice but to spend nearly the entire day with them.
Only after spending the whole day together did Leon finally regain his freedom the following day.
The next morning.
Leon woke up early and began meditating.
Ever since reaching the Transcendent Master Realm, Leon had devoted himself more to refining his insights than tempering his body.
Physically, Leon was already no weaker than powerhouses like Indra.
No matter how much further he trained his body, it no longer grew stronger.
Naturally, he had no choice but to seek another path.
Perhaps because his talent was lacking...
Leon had yet to gain any significant enlightenment.
‘It can't be helped.’
Still, that didn't mean this method was completely useless.
Leon simply continued steadily refining himself within his mind.
About two hours later, Leon slowly opened his eyes.
Waiting for him was none other than Adam.
“Hey, Leon. Done meditating?”
“What is it?”
“Nothing much. I just wanted to take a look at your sword.”
Adam pointed toward Leon's sword.
A deep curiosity shimmered within his eyes.
Seeing that gaze, Leon thought,
‘As expected... he recognized this sword.’
Adam had always possessed a keen eye.
Especially when it came to judging the value of someone's possessions.
‘So that's why I kept feeling his gaze yesterday. He'd already noticed it.’
The reason Adam hadn't asked yesterday was probably because of Elsa and Heath.
Nothing could interrupt a long-overdue family reunion.
Even family members themselves.
Leon spoke.
“Brother, have you ever heard of a race called Witches?”
“Witches? Never heard of them. Are they the ones who made your sword?”
“Yeah. According to her, she was the one who taught the Dwarves their techniques.”
Adam's eyes widened.
“She taught the Dwarves? That's strange. If that were true, the whole world would already know. Wasn't she just making things up?”
“I don't think so.”
“You must have seen something.”
“You could say that.”
Adam stroked his chin thoughtfully.
Then he held out his hand toward Leon.
“Whether she's lying or not, I'll know once I see the sword. Hand it over.”
“A warrior's weapon is his life...”
“Quit fooling around and hurry.”
Adam's face had turned bright red with anticipation.
His nostrils flared repeatedly as he snorted excitedly.
Apparently, his curiosity about Leon's sword had reached its limit.
Seeing that, Leon reluctantly handed over the sword.
That expression was so unsettling that he felt something terrible might happen if he didn't.
Shiiing-!!
Adam drew the sword slightly from its scabbard.
Like someone entranced, he stared at the blue blade.
His unfocused eyes looked as though they were drifting through a pleasant dream.
Leon asked,
“Have you seen enough?”
“…Not yet.”
Adam's strange behavior continued for quite some time.
He repeatedly let out excited breaths.
His body trembled as he stared at the blade with a face full of ecstasy.
Finally, he spoke.
“Beautiful. Was it made from Atilans' Tear?”
“You figured that out just by looking?”
“How could I not?”
Adam grinned.
“For all appearances, even Master Phil acknowledged my eye for quality.”
“Master Phil? Who's that? Why are you using an honorific?”
Leon asked curiously.
Adam sighed.
“Ah, right. Of course you wouldn't know. You're still young. You haven't really had the chance to meet him.”
Leon tilted his head.
Adam was a genius in every sense of the word.
Because of that, he usually spoke informally to everyone except those he truly acknowledged.
Yet Adam was respectfully calling someone 'Master Phil.'
Just how remarkable was this person for Adam to hold him in such high regard?
Seeing Leon's questioning expression, Adam grinned.
“He's a famous blacksmith in Elphrel. His skills are outstanding. It's not just me—many warriors respect him.”
“A blacksmith... Come to think of it, Father told me to replace my weapon. He said he'd asked a friend of his. Could that friend be this Phil?”
“…What?”
Adam's eyes widened.
It was the most shocked expression Leon had ever seen on his brother's face.
Clearly stunned, Adam couldn't hide his bewilderment.
After rubbing his face, he said,
“Things moved faster than I expected. Father said he asked a friend? Then that friend was probably Master Phil.”
“Really?”
“I can hardly believe it myself. To receive a weapon from Master Phil, you normally have to reach an exceptional level... Come to think of it, Uncle Indra mentioned you too.”
“Uncle Indra? You two seem closer than I expected.”
“We are. He's helped me in many ways.”
“I see.”
Respect was clearly visible on Adam's face.
People said geniuses recognized other geniuses.
It seemed Adam had understood far more from Indra's teachings than Leon had.
Leon himself had certainly benefited from Indra.
But he had never felt respect for him.
He had merely thought that Indra had reached an incredible enlightenment beyond Leon's understanding.
He had never found anything about Indra himself that inspired admiration.
With that question in mind, Leon asked,
“Brother... have you comprehended the Ultimate Essence of Power?”
“You're asking me whether I've comprehended something even Uncle Indra hasn't?”
Adam answered with an expression that said the question was absurd.
“Hey, even Father hasn't comprehended the Ultimate Essence of Power.”
“…? Really?”
Leon was genuinely shocked.
After all, in terms of the Martial Alliance, Zeke had reached a realm no different from that of the Martial God.
Yet even someone like Zeke hadn't comprehended it.
“Is the Ultimate Essence of Power really that extraordinary?”
“Are you kidding? Do you think Father sent us to Uncle Indra for no reason? If it were something Father could teach us himself, he would've done so.”
Leon let out a sigh.
Adam was right.
Zeke was a man who always did everything he could within his own abilities.
He wasn't someone who pushed his own responsibilities onto others simply because they were troublesome.
Yet Zeke had deliberately sought Indra's help.
‘It was obvious if I'd just thought about it for a moment.’
Leon clicked his tongue inwardly.
Why had it taken him this long to realize something so simple?
Moments like this reminded him just how ordinary he truly was.
Then a question suddenly occurred to him.
Hadn't Adam just said that even Indra hadn't comprehended the Ultimate Essence of Power?
Then how had he taught Leon?
When Leon asked, Adam frowned.
“…You really are stupid. How did someone with your level of thinking reach your current realm?”
“That's a bit harsh to say to your younger brother.”
“I'm saying it because you're my younger brother. If you belonged to someone else's family, I wouldn't even bother.”
“……”
Leon couldn't deny it.
He pouted slightly.
“You can make that face all you want, little brother. It won't change the truth.”
Adam shook his head helplessly.
Then his expression suddenly became serious.
“What Uncle Indra taught us was only the very foundation of the foundations. He's spent decades training to comprehend the Ultimate Essence of Power. How could people like us, who've trained far less than he has, possibly understand the realm he's pursuing?”
“…Ah.”
“Honestly, what am I supposed to do with you? Judging by your reaction, you still haven't realized the true value of that power.”
“I know it's incredible. Ever since I understood it, the way I handle power has completely changed.”
“If that's all you got from it, then you still haven't realized its true worth. Once someone fully comprehends the Ultimate Essence of Power, they'll become a powerhouse equal to Father.”
“……!!!”
Leon's eyes widened.
What had his brother just said?
That someone who fully comprehended the Ultimate Essence of Power would become as strong as Father?
Leon couldn't understand it.
Certainly, Indra's teachings had been extraordinary.
But he had never felt they were enough to surpass his father.
‘No... maybe I simply failed to understand them.’
After all, knowledge only revealed itself to those capable of understanding it.
How could someone as ordinary as himself hope to comprehend the thought process of a genius?
Leon sighed.
“So there really was a reason Indra secluded himself in the mountains...”
“You're only realizing that now? Honestly... Well, I'll let it slide since you're my little brother.”
Just a moment ago, Adam had said he was being harsh precisely because Leon was his younger brother.
Leon tilted his head, unable to understand Adam's standards.
Just then—
“Is anyone home?”
Someone called from outside.
Leon opened the door.
A man standing there smiled warmly.
“Good day. Forgive my sudden visit, but may I ask your name?”
“You're asking before even explaining why?”
“If you're not the person I'm looking for, I'll leave immediately. So please don't worry.”
“…I'm Leon.”
“Ah, then I've come to the right place.”
The man introduced himself with a gentle smile.
“It's a pleasure to meet you. My name is Octer, an apprentice learning at Master Phil's workshop. Master Phil asked me to come find you.”
Leon turned to Adam.
Adam simply shrugged.
“I already explained it to you. Why are you looking at me? Just answer him already. It's rude to keep a guest standing outside.”
“Hmm.”
Leon nodded in agreement.
Then he looked at Octer.
“My apologies. I've already obtained the weapon I'll be using, so I don't think I'll need to visit.”
Crack-!
The warm smile on Octer's face instantly shattered.
“He says he's already obtained the weapon he'll be using.”
“…What?”
Inside the workshop, where waves of heat filled the air...
Phil thought for a moment that he had misheard.
“He already has a weapon?”
“…Yes.”
“Even after hearing that I'd be the one forging it?”
“…Yes...”
Seeing Octer avoid his gaze as he answered, Phil let out an incredulous laugh.
“Well, that's an interesting fellow. He heard my name and still said that? Hah... Fine. It doesn't really concern me anyway.”
“…?”
Octer tilted his head in confusion.
The Phil he knew was someone who couldn't tolerate being looked down upon.
He had expected Phil to explode in anger.
Yet the reaction was far milder than expected.
Unable to hide his curiosity, Octer asked,
“Are you really alright with this?”
“Why wouldn't I be? Go get some rest. As thanks for delivering my message, I'll personally teach you how to maintain weapons later.”
“…! Thank you very much!”
Some might say he was making too much of learning how to maintain weapons.
But the person offering that knowledge was none other than Phil.
In Elphrel, where anyone who wasn't a warrior was considered worthless...
Phil was the one and only person who stood above the warriors.
For someone of his stature to personally teach weapon maintenance...
Even if one already knew how, it was something that had to be accepted gratefully.
Octer repeatedly bowed before leaving.
Left alone inside the workshop...
Phil picked up his hammer once more.
Clang-! Clang-! Clang-!!
As he swung the hammer, Phil thought,
‘I'd assumed Zeke and I had already reached an understanding. Apparently not.’
Despite not being a warrior, Phil stood above all the warriors.
The only person in Elphrel to possess such a title.
He wasn't someone who forged weapons for just anyone.
Phil forged weapons only for warriors he personally acknowledged.
‘Naturally. How could worthless nobodies possibly wield something I created?’
And yet...
Someone had rejected one of his weapons?
‘His loss.’
There was nothing more to think about.
Just because he was Zeke's son, Phil had even sent one of his apprentices to personally invite him.
And what had he heard?
He'd already obtained a weapon to use?
‘Unbelievable.’
A chuckle escaped him.
Clang-! Clang-! Clang-!
Casting aside his distracting thoughts, Phil once again poured his entire being into swinging the hammer.
As his mind gradually cleared, the sound of his hammer became increasingly pure.
It was as though forest fairies were singing.
But only for a moment.
Clang-! Clang-! Clang-!!
The clear ringing gradually grew muddled...
Until it became nothing more than an unpleasant metallic clanging.
Phil stopped hammering and clicked his tongue.
“I can't concentrate.”
Until now, every one of Zeke's children had received a weapon from Phil.
Perhaps because of that, Leon continued to occupy his thoughts.
The eldest.
The second.
Both had happily accepted his weapons.
Yet Leon had rejected his offer without even seeing the weapon.
Just what kind of extraordinary weapon had he obtained?
“It can't be helped.”
Setting down his hammer, Phil wiped the sweat from his forehead.
“I'll have to see it with my own eyes.”