Chapter 388
Chapter 388
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: EP.80 – The Knight Sets Out on the Journey Again (5)
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"Congratulations."
"?"
He wondered what this sudden congratulations was about, but soon realized what it meant.
"You've finally gotten a feel for how to handle your Domain, haven't you?"
"...Ah."
"What, you didn't even notice?"
"...I wasn't paying any attention."
"...How intense must your hatred for mages be to let you focus that hard...."
"Doesn't everyone get like this when fighting spellcasters?"
"What nonsense are you spouting?"
"......"
Kaiser muttered in disbelief, while Lee Han could only scratch his cheek.
Embarrassed?
No.
'Isn't it obvious to go all out when trying to kill a spellcaster?'
He questioned whether everyone else's focus tripled when killing spellcasters.
'Doesn't everyone else do this?'
He tilted his head.
Lee Han had finally learned how to handle his Domain!
Well, to be precise, it wasn't so much "learned" as instinctively grasped in the moment his focus surged endlessly to kill the spellcaster.
But either way, the important thing was that he had it now, right?
...In the end, even Domains require willpower.
He realized it the moment he intensely immersed himself in killing the spellcaster—his Domain moved like an extension of his own limbs.
What was needed was willpower, the sturdy rope to tame the wild bull that was a Domain.
This ultimately tied into intent.
Since a Domain was part of one's intent, controlling it naturally required willpower.
In other words, it could be overcome with mental strength. Kaiser could have simply advised using willpower instead of spinning everything so complicatedly...
'It's because the knack is different.'
They might seem similar at a glance, but the applications were completely different.
If intent was like a friendly retriever that listened well, a Domain was a finicky, aloof cat.
If Kaiser had bluntly told him to use willpower, Lee Han would have stubbornly tried treating the Domain like intent, fixating on one method—and that would have wasted years more time mastering it.
Only by not fixating on willpower from the start, repeating trial and error, and awakening a new way to wield it had he reached this point. Otherwise, realization would have been impossible.
"Thank you."
"No need for thanks—what did I even do to help? But don't get arrogant. You're just at the starting line, with a long road ahead. Even entering the Domain stage means plenty of mountains left to climb."
"I know. I'll have to train my willpower diligently from now on."
"Experience real combat more than training."
"...?"
"Willpower is like unrefined iron ore. The best way to forge it? Real battle. In the tension of combat and fights against all sorts of foes, your willpower will harden. That's the shortcut to growing strong fast."
"I don't really care about getting strong quickly, though...?"
Lee Han looked unhurried, but Kaiser shook his head.
"Those Blood Cross guys or whatever—they'll have marked you as dangerous after this. Seeing they brought a grand sorcerer-level powerhouse, who knows how many more like that they have? If I were them, I'd pour everything into eliminating a threat like you. ...Even at the cost of sacrifices."
"......"
"Become overwhelmingly strong. It's the only way for you to live peacefully. So no one can disturb it."
"...I'll keep that in mind."
Lee Han accepted without much argument.
Not because he had no counterargument.
He was simply grateful that the Mercenary King was giving this advice purely for his sake, so he nodded firmly.
"Well then, come at me."
"Pardon?"
"I said you need real combat experience. Lucky for you, there's someone far stronger right here—perfect opponent, no?"
"...Oh."
"If you're scared of getting hit, feel free to back out."
"......Let's stick to fists again this time."
"Heh, knew you'd take the bait."
Lee Han gladly rose to the lame provocation.
Of course he did. After all...
'He's offering to be my sandbag to make me stronger—gotta appreciate that!'
Time to show his teacher what rapid progress looked like.
Whoosh!!
Lee Han clenched his fists tight, charged forward, and Kaiser mirrored him, throwing a powerful straight punch with clenched fists.
Bam!!
The two men's fists clashed once more.
......The next morning, Kaiser had vanished without a trace.
* * *
Scribble scribble.
"Bearable."
Scribble scribble.
"...You sly bastard, so this wasn't worry—it was just messing with me?"
"Wha...? Hu...?"
I have no idea what you're talking about...?
Orthos stopped scribbling on the sand board and bolted in panic.
Off to hunt or whatever excuse, and Lee Han clicked his tongue.
"Should grab him once and lay down the law, that... "
Lee Han grumbled in dissatisfaction, but midway, his mouth hurt so much he clutched it.
"Ow..."
"Does it hurt a lot, Sir Knight?"
"...I'm fine. Not really injured or anything."
"Your face is full of bruises?"
"......"
"And you're sweating bullets."
"...Ahem."
"Hee hee, don't hold it in, Sir Knight! They say bottling up pain makes it worse!"
"......Yes."
"Hee hee, I'll grab an ice pack. Pressing it on should help."
"...Thank you."
Leira headed to the ice storage, and the moment she was out of sight, Lee Han clutched his face again.
'Her stamina's something else, seriously.'
Lee Han rubbed his sore spots with a drained expression.
In yesterday's sparring, he'd been knocked down over twenty times and knocked out five.
Made his "no sandbag" declaration look silly—he'd just gotten thoroughly thrashed. Damn.
...As expected of the Mercenary King. Different level.
He'd blacked out in the final round after the beating, and waking to blazing sun—who'd believe it?
Tried to go another round, but Kaiser was already gone, leaving Lee Han with a defeated end. Regrettable.
'Win and dip... fights dirty as hell.'
True mercenary. That seasoned vibe was no joke.
Knew exactly how to toy with opponents.
Lee Han sighed in admiration of the Mercenary King, but no disappointment or defeat showed on his face.
He'd been completely toyed with, sure, but still.
'Got plenty out of it.'
Ironic how gains lifted his mood.
That said...
"Could've at least eaten before leaving."
Rematch aside, sending him off without proper hospitality stung a bit.
He'd received so much, given nothing back in return.
Natural to feel apologetic.
"Chase after him now...?"
Slap.
"No need. Sir Kaiser isn't the type to demand anything in return from you."
"...Well, true."
She'd returned with a cold ice pack, rubbing his face, and he nodded at her sound logic.
That guy wouldn't care for some dude's thanks anyway.
"Hee hee, I packed him some bread and honey when he left. Don't worry about it, Sir Knight."
"...Always in your debt, miss."
"Ehehe. No biggie."
He'd learned recently: the maid loved praise.
Though she uncanny sniffed out insincere words, reacting only to genuine ones. Amazing.
Bzzz.
"Ah, the honeybees are back with honey. Perfect—rub some on your wounds, Sir Knight."
"No need. Soak in these hot springs and it'll heal quick... Hm? Miss, what's that?"
"Hm?"
"That in your pocket."
"Ah! Right. Sir Kaiser said to give you this!"
"......"
A compass dangling from Leira's skirt like decoration.
Looked antique, on the verge of breaking—but with his unintended insight, Lee Han knew it was no ordinary item.
None other than...
'That...'
A holy relic.
A fairly high-grade one, at that...
'Are holy relics really this common?'
Even nobles died without seeing one, yet here they were everywhere. Lee Han blinked in bewilderment, but Leira beamed her usual smile, introducing the compass.
"Sir Kaiser said it's borrowed. Needs returning to the owner, but he has no time. So when you have time later, deliver it for him!"
"Hm..."
"Oh, easy to find the owner too. Just follow where the compass points! Hee hee, super simple, right?"
"...Yeah. Real simple."
"Hee hee."
Satisfied with her memory, Leira looked pleased, and Lee Han smiled at her cuteness—but inwardly stuck out his tongue.
'That guy's a true mercenary.'
Leaves a debt you can't refuse. No amateur.
Anyway.
'Mercenaries don't take losses.'
...Seemed his next stop was set.