Chapter 236
Chapter 236
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: EP.52 – A Lady's Heart Sways Like Reeds (5)
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If she'd been born into one of those legendary martial worlds, she might've ended up joining some sect called Botamun... No, the Sword Master of House Offen unraveled her explanation in even greater detail.
"Have you ever witnessed a scene like this? A woman who's never so much as touched a sword in her entire life unleashing superhuman strength to save her child in mortal peril. Or a fugitive sprinting away at unbelievable speeds to escape a wolf, tiger, or bear they suddenly encounter on a mountain path. Those make for perfect examples."
Tap tap.
She tapped her temple lightly with her index finger.
"The reason such feats are possible is that humans, when pushed to the brink of death, can draw out latent potential they never knew they possessed. And what enables them to unleash that potential is none other than..."
Tap.
"...willpower."
She continued her explanation while still clutching the twig. It seemed the little branch had really caught her fancy.
Swipe.
"Hm? Got a question, cutie?"
"Uh, that is..."
Somehow, Levy—who'd ended up sitting in the garden alongside everyone else, listening to Felicia's lecture—raised his hand first like the model student he was and posed his question.
"If I'm hearing you right, Lady Sword Master, does that mean anyone can use this power called willpower? It sounds like even ordinary folk who haven't trained with swords could wield it. I figured the willpower you used was something only achievable through endless training, like what my master endures."
"What a splendid question!"
Like a university professor delighted by a student's inquiry, Felicia gazed at Levy with overflowing affection and ruffled his hair vigorously.
Levy looked flustered but couldn't bring himself to dodge the Sword Master's touch, managing only an awkward smile. Naturally, Felicia—oblivious to such nuances—simply pressed on with what she wanted to say.
"Right you are, cutie. Willpower does seem like a force anyone can tap into. But think of it the other way around: willpower is like a bladeless sword. Sure, anyone might wield it by chance or necessity, but misuse it, and you'll pay a tremendous price."
"What kind of price...?"
"Take the examples I just gave. The mother who saved her child had every tendon in her body snap the next day. The one who fled the beast full-tilt suffered torn muscles. In the end, both needed over a year of bed rest to recover."
"......"
"And those were scenes I witnessed firsthand."
"Ugh...!"
Hearing it was a real event made it all the more credible.
"So, willpower may seem accessible to all, but wield it carelessly, and you're in for big trouble. That's why training is crucial—and mastering control over it becomes paramount."
"Can Kunta ask a question too?"
"Ask away."
"When Kunta heard the explanation, that willpower thing felt like just squeezing every last drop out of the body's strength. But can you use something like a spellcaster's telekinesis just by maxing out your physical power? Kunta's a bit confused."
"Ho ho, the big guy's got a surprisingly sharp insight."
"...Is that a compliment?"
"Of course."
Felicia nodded emphatically, agreeing that Kunta's point was spot on.
"...To answer your doubt: the 'foundation' of willpower is first placing your own body under its dominion, moving it at will."
"?"
"Hee hee, to put it simpler: the proficiency of willpower depends on how well you can wield this latent power at your command. Eventually, that force begins influencing the world around you. 'The path where my heart becomes the sword'—that's what Baltar said."
"???"
"I see that look—you don't get it."
"...Kunta still finds Common Tongue tricky."
"Don't worry, Sir Kunta. I don't get it either."
"Same here, Kunta."
The swordsmanship cadets unexpectedly found themselves sharing the misery of ignorance, patting each other's shoulders sympathetically.
...I get it.
Unlike his clever disciples or anyone else present who failed to grasp Felicia's explanation, Lee Han—the only one lounging exhausted on the grass—fully understood what she meant by willpower.
It wasn't because he was smart.
It's Yi Qi Shang Ren.
Having encountered similar concepts in books before, he grasped it faster than the others.
Yi Qi Shang Ren.
A profound realm of martial arts where mere thought could harm others.
But rephrased in Felicia's terms, in this world, it equated to knights freely wielding their fighting spirit—the power known as life force or vital waves.
Fighting Techniques ultimately convert the body's life force into energy to forcibly boost physical abilities. But reaching whatever Felicia calls willpower means using that power not forcibly, but naturally.
Up until now, it had been like wringing water (life force) from dry soil (the body). With willpower, it would shift to simply drawing from a flowing river.
In other words, more natural, with easier control over life force expenditure.
Seems minor, but it's huge.
It was a realm that overcame the knights' key weaknesses—internal injuries and poor endurance in prolonged fights—except for him, of course. No need to operate Fighting Techniques; effortless life force management would eliminate wasteful energy loss.
Theoretically, at least.
Even void grasping would be possible?
Like with that rock earlier—not just stones, maybe even on people.
However...
That fox auntie wasn't doing mere void grasping...
It was an entirely different realm from telekinetically manipulating objects. No trace of life force expenditure at all.
Truly, the level of 'Heart Draws Sword'—lifting a blade with the mind alone.
...Or so he suspected, at least.
"Does willpower have stages too?"
"Oh? ...You've already pieced that together? What a marvel you are. You don't look the type at all..."
"Don't judge by appearances. Just answer the question."
"S-Sorry, I didn't mean it like that... Hm, to your question: it's not quite right to say willpower has distinct stages. If anything, it's like swordsmanship. The more you train, the more refined it gets—but the deeper you delve, the less you see the end."
"Got it."
"That's the idea."
"Then, my current level of willpower control is...?"
"...Generously speaking, like a hundred-day-old infant flailing around with a toy sword?"
"......"
...No wonder she called the kids 'kids' but him specifically 'baby.' In her eyes, his willpower handling was truly at the drooling infant stage.
Lee Han made a face of dawning realization, but...
Damn, that old man was definitely toying with me.
Recalling Baltar chuckling during their spar, he felt a surge of shame.
It hit him crystal clear now: how his swings must've looked from that man's perspective.
I was...putting on a show?
Lee Han realized he'd unwittingly performed like a clown for the thirty-something-year-old before Baltar.
* * *
But wait...don't I already know what intent is?
His shame over clowning for Baltar lasted only a moment.
The instant he realized intent equated to the Yi Qi Shang Ren realm, Lee Han suspected he'd already touched fragments of that power.
Arhat Divine Fist or Sword of No-Thought.
Infusing strikes with will, or forging blades with willpower.
It closely mirrored the foundational ways Felicia described using willpower—ways he'd already employed.
Thus, he marveled at himself for already wielding it, while wondering why bother coming to House Offen when Baltar could've taught him directly.
No need for this pointless struggle here.
However.
"That's not quite true. As I said earlier, baby, your willpower level is barely beyond an infant's. To raise it, the wise path is learning from someone like me who handles it masterfully. Besides, Baltar's never been great at teaching—and since the late king passed, he steers clear of worldly affairs. Sending you to me? That's probably his utmost courtesy. ...He must truly cherish you, fussing over you like this. Hee hee."
"Eh, I doubt that."
Lee Han didn't buy that Baltar had sent him here with such profound intent.
The man looked sage-like but was a crotchety madman at heart.
He might've sent me just to mess with me.
Baltar knew exactly what kind of person Felicia was.
"...You're overflowing with distrust for Baltar."
"Considering what that guy's put me through, it gives me chills."
"Hee hee, maybe you're just not used to him showing kindness."
"Damn it, if it'd been any more awkward, I'd have bolted to Avalon ages ago."
Lee Han shuddered recalling the past three years' torments, while Felicia cackled anew—but soon,
"Still, I can definitely help you. So let's train that willpower together with all we've got!"
"......"
She pumped her fist enthusiastically, eyes blazing with passion.
Receiving that gaze, Lee Han...
What is this? It's clearly good fortune, but why does it feel like...
...my energy's draining?
Meanwhile, Iliad had watched the whole scene unfold from nearby, offering a sympathetic look.
"...Sir Lee Han's got his work cut out for him. Mother's great in every way, but her enthusiasm is a bit much..."
"Still, it's a huge stroke of luck, isn't it? Throngs of people across the kingdom—no, the continent—would kill for her tutelage."
"True enough."
"......"
...Elza clamped her mouth shut for a moment.
She instantly realized her slip-up.
It might slide with others, but saying that to Iliad of all people was a grave mistake.
And sure enough.
"Elza, I'll head back now."
"Master..."
"I'm fine. Don't worry."
"......"
"I said I'm fine."
Iliad waved her off with a bright smile, like a child abandoned by the water's edge.
But as he turned to face Elza squarely,
"......Not everyone can be like Mother."
...a somber silence hung over his expression.
A silence so oppressively dark it chilled the air.