Chapter 235
Chapter 235
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: EP.52 – A Lady's Heart Wavers Like Reeds (4)
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'Flying sword art...'
Lee Han fixed an unusually sharp gaze on the tree branch floating in midair.
It was nothing more than a single tree branch, yet he showed not the slightest carelessness.
Cheok.
"You're taking this quite seriously. It's just a worthless little branch."
"...From where I'm standing, it doesn't look like just any branch. Feels like it might be even more troublesome than an actual sword."
"You sensed that on gut feeling? Impressive."
"Not gut feeling, just..."
Taak!
Lee Han kicked off the ground and swung his iron sword, still sheathed in its scabbard.
He hadn't drawn the blade yet—just testing the clash—and the moment the tree branch met the scabbard...
Kuwoong!
"...Physicists would clutch the backs of their necks if they saw this."
A heavy thud echoed, like two hammers colliding.
It was an impossible weight for a dry tree branch. He couldn't fathom how it was possible, but Lee Han wryly smiled, reminding himself that superhumans operated beyond common sense.
So.
'Just think of it as more sparring partners.'
Lee Han decided on that simple mindset. He resolved to treat the lunging branch as a fellow swordsman and opponent, readjusting into an evasion stance.
Why evasion over attack or defense?
Of course he had to evade.
Suwoong! Suuwoong!
His opponent wasn't one, but seven...!
Seven branches swam through the air, all charging at Lee Han simultaneously.
Normally he'd block with Indestructible Training, but recalling Felicia's order against any techniques, he had to work harder.
Hwiik.
Some might dismiss him as technically lacking since he brute-forced blades with his body, but Lee Han had never slacked on fundamentals, swordsmanship, or footwork.
Could he wield complex arts like Phantom Eight Trigrams Step for nothing?
Huwook!
Lee Han moved with speed and flexibility belying his bulk.
Lacking flair, his plain footwork glided smoothly and swiftly, like skating on ice rather than walking the earth.
And when footwork meshed with swordplay...
Paaak!
"Excellent!"
Subduing a swordsman (tree branch) like this was no challenge.
Finally, Lee Han's sword pulverized one branch, and Felicia clapped in delight.
"I'm not some clown."
He grumbled, feeling like a performer, but Felicia ignored him and sent more branches.
"Now, let's crank up the intensity."
Hwaak!
"!!?"
The branches suddenly ramped up speed and pressure, like hiking test difficulty.
Bbang!
"Damn..."
Lee Han barely blocked, but the wrist-jarring impact was leagues beyond before, drawing a reflexive curse.
'This isn't mere flying sword art.'
It rivaled the pinnacle: heart-controlled sword.
'Or maybe a step beyond.'
Lee Han vowed not to box her flying sword—no, [Air Sword]—in his knowledge or logic.
Doing so meant certain defeat.
Sreung!
Lee Han tossed the scabbard and drew the blade at last.
To fight in earnest, baring his true intent.
As expected.
Kwaaang!!
...The already crushing branches intensified their menace.
Proving swift draw without posturing was correct.
"Hup!"
Pasusuk!
Lee Han inhaled, meeting the power struggle as the branch desired—and it shattered.
Taak!
The one creeping from behind fared the same.
Seogeok!
His swings looked plain, but the blade's force was monstrous.
One slash birthed wind pressure and edge evoking sword gale.
Three years hoisting hundred-kilo barbells honing lateral cuts—natural ferocity.
"...Remarkable. Strength aside, it screams relentless training. Basic swordplay alone to this level?"
"No master to teach me decent techniques."
"That's what makes it admirable. Masterless, you hammered yourself harder...! A human ingot, refinement beyond measure."
Felicia lavished praise.
Overkill, like teasing, but justified.
"Boy, your talent's middling, right?"
Suwoong!!
"Body's stellar, but forged via impossible human training. No mystery. Experimented for recovery, I'd wager. Rough childhood."
Kwaaang!
"Not bad, mind. In my day, some had similar regen. Trained alike. One with [Regeneration] mystery aced swords too... but arrogance killed him first."
Kwaajik!
"Other regen types hit limits. Lacked tenacity, 'resolve'."
Seogeok!
Lee Han couldn't spare focus for words.
Branches sharpened like blades, slicing his collar.
Weight crushing, relentlessly cornering him.
Yet this.
"Getting irritating."
Didn't spell crisis.
Kuddeuk!
Lee Han's muscles rippled dynamically.
Like springs snapping back, tensed fibers primed explosive release.
No Realm, but strength primed volcanic—unleashed via blade...
Kwaaaaang-!
Shell-like impact erupted.
Kwaajijik...!!
Earthquake roar shook the building, cracking ground.
Huuk—dust fogged the garden like mist, but cleared to reveal Lee Han and branches.
"...Scariest branches I've tangled with."
All seven lay splintered, yet unease lingered.
Tuduk...
"Iron sword shattering...? What gives..."
His blade teetered on ruin too.
Bitter smile at fissures.
"Ins—instructor, don't call Kunta mystic race anymore. To Kunta, instructor more mystic."
"Agreed, extremely..."
"Haha..."
Kunta and Arno gaped at their master cratering earth sans Fighting Technique or Realm.
Strength-famed barbarians would pale beside him.
Levi awkwardly ventured, "Pretty cool, huh...?"—unheeded.
"...Elza, weird to say, but is Turtle Knight even human?"
"...Beats me?"
As Lee Han's 'strength magic' left witnesses dumbfounded, his eyes locked solely on Felicia.
"Splendid. Reveals obsessive training. Surpasses that arrogant fool, betters the gifted."
"Comparisons or 'better' praise? Not my thing."
Chaeng.
Lee Han aimed his fracturing sword at Felicia.
"Come at me direct? Or Air Sword redux?"
"Can't, even if inclined. Might kill you."
"...Harsh."
Lee Han recognized fact, not bluff.
Her Air Sword redux? He'd unleash all, but beating an Aura User? Unlikely.
Charge? He'd be...
'Human pincushion.'
Branches riddling him pretty holes—chills already.
Imagination alone frosted him...
"Hm, grasped your issue."
"...?"
"Hehe, forgot amid seriousness. We weren't fighting? Just light spar to gauge you."
"......Didn't feel light at all..."
Cheok.
Before retort on 'light,' she tapped ground with branch.
Like: focus here.
"Boy. Not that. Willpower—'mental strength'—still clumsy."
"??"
Lee Han cocked his head.
Not incomprehension; inconceivable.
'...How do you even use mental strength?'
She beamed.
"Wondering how to wield mental energy? Well..."
Felicia casually extended her palm.
Made him wonder what—head tilt...
Kugugung...!
"......"
The ornamental boulder mid-garden uprooted.
Twenty meters distant.
Sudden, signless...!
"Like a [Mystery]? But no. Just my mental energy yanking it."
"...Straight-up telekinesis."
"Not mystery. Just... right, 'guts' and 'faith'—anyone can!"
"......"
"...That look?"
"Nah, just..."
...Guts and faith splitting seas?
'Red Sea miracle or what...'
Instant conviction: Aura Users could evangelize cults.