Chapter 50
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 50
Chapter Title: Holy Kingdom - 3
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The knight's pure white armor blended seamlessly with her blue hair, giving her a calm and composed impression. She exuded the kind of seasoned poise that allowed her to swing her sword steadily in any situation.
Her name was Camilla.
She was the captain of the Holy Kingdom's Second Holy Knight Order and a Third Rank knight.
"Knightly ranks are generally divided into realms."
"Realms?"
"The Fifth Rank realm strengthens the body with mana, while from the Fourth Rank onward, one can cloak their sword blade in aura."
"Then that Wolf bastard I fought must've been Fourth Rank."
"Yes, that's the realm for most who are called knights. Of course, the Black Wolf was among the top talents in the Fourth Rank."
"You know him well, huh."
"He's a rare genius who reached the Fourth Rank purely on his own talent. The Black Wolf is famous among knights."
"I see."
Was that guy a genius? What a shame.
But oh well! It's not the strong who survive—it's the survivors who are strong.
So why'd he have to go pillaging an innocent village and mess with me?
As I mulled over thoughts about the Wolf I'd killed, Camilla continued her explanation.
"And from the Third Rank, one can wield sword qi."
"Sword qi?"
Camilla drew her sleek sword and performed a basic knight's form. It was a simple horizontal slash, but the tip of her blade was anything but ordinary. A trail of blue haze shot from the edge, slicing through a distant blackwood tree.
"It's the realm where aura doesn't just coat the sword but flares outward."
"...Can you spam this thing?"
"If I could, I'd be Second Rank, not Third."
"So there are people who can?"
I was dumbfounded.
Just one demonstration of her sword qi was enough to threaten me, and there were people who could unleash it repeatedly? In that case, why not ask them for help instead of dragging me into this? I had no idea.
As if reading my mind, Camilla added,
"Second Rank Masters number only ten across the continent. They're not the type to follow orders or serve anyone."
"Heavy-asses, huh."
"That's part of it, but if they move, it shakes the balance of power in the empire."
"Unbelievable. Then what about the even higher First Rank?"
"Only one in history."
"Who?"
"The founding empress, Astyren."
That damn empress again.
I wondered why everyone kept bringing her up—turns out there was history there.
'This all sounds too fantastical to feel real.'
Well, it was the kind of cliché you'd expect in an isekai tale. I figured with enough effort, I could become one of those supreme beings too, but it didn't spark any ambition. I had no burning desire to chase fame and fortune through raw power.
Of course, I needed enough strength to protect my family—enough that no one would dare touch them, and so I wouldn't get swept up in others' messes like this.
"But why can't I learn aura?"
"As you know, the foundation of all realms is awakening mana."
Camilla demonstrated by gathering a wisp of blue energy at her fingertip as she explained.
"All living beings are born with mana. It's just a matter of degree—even the grass in the fields has a tiny amount. But I sense no mana from you, Hero."
"Any reason why?"
"No idea."
Maybe she was getting tired of explaining. Or perhaps she figured it wouldn't matter even if she told me. Either way, her responses were growing shorter.
"Isn't it tied to that brute strength of yours?"
"Brute strength...?"
Now she was straight-up insulting me.
"No power comes free in this world. If you have innate physical prowess, something must've been sacrificed."
"Equivalent exchange, huh."
"That's the extent of the advice I can offer."
"One more thing."
"What?"
I ignored Camilla's exasperated glare and asked what was on my mind.
"Having mana doesn't automatically mean you can wield aura. What's the other requirement for handling aura?"
"Sigh... Aura is composed of mana and will."
"Mana makes sense, but what's will?"
"It's hard to put into words, but roughly speaking, think of it as the life you've built up until now."
Ah, here comes the philosophical cliché.
Damn, shoulda cracked open a philosophy book back then.
"The color of one's aura varies based on the will they've cultivated. That's why the path to awakening differs for everyone. My insights won't help others much."
"Yeah... figured as much."
I sighed and pondered deeply.
This free lesson was about to vanish, after all.
So instead...
"Then, can you teach others besides me?"
"Other people?"
"There are three candidates, and I'll bring two of them."
The three were Clara, Vivian, and Carlson.
All at Fifth Rank, unlike me, they could enhance their bodies with mana and thus qualified to learn aura.
'Carlson should stay to guard the village.'
You never know. Something might happen while I'm away. Handing the opportunity to Carlson—the most skilled and trustworthy among the villagers—wasn't a bad idea.
"Very well. But as I said, we only have three days."
"That'll do."
...
I explained to my family, Tom, and Carlson why the Holy Kingdom had come for me and the current situation in the north.
Carlson, upon hearing my conversation with Camilla, started panicking preemptively.
"M-Me?"
"Yes. You're the only option, Carlson."
"B-But surely the young ones have more talent than someone useless like me..."
"Carlson! Talent isn't what matters for a man. What counts is the guts to challenge the impossible."
"G-Guts?!"
Carlson mumbled to himself, reflecting on his own resolve. And like him, there was one more person freaking out.
"S-Sian, can I really do this?"
It was Sylvia, tasked with the crucial role of persuading the northern tribes.
"Don't worry. If things go south, just loot some burning ice or icicles or whatever."
"......"
"Kidding. Anyway, we leave in three days."
"Dear..."
Chloe, who had been quiet, waddled over with her heavily pregnant belly and asked cautiously,
"Do you really have to be the one to do this?"
Chloe was worried. How could she not be, with her husband heading into danger? Especially to a harsh snow mountain where survival was tough, amid ill omens from the oracle. Dark thoughts must have been creeping in.
To reassure my wife, I took her hand and persuaded her.
"It's something that has to be resolved eventually."
When I heard I'd been chosen to deal with some unknown calamity in the northern snow mountains, it felt like forced conscription. But considering our location, Lugeron Village was at serious risk too. For my family's safety, it had to be dealt with someday. Better now, alongside Helen's knight order. Plus, I'd secured rewards—it was the best scenario for me.
I laid it all out like that, but Chloe still looked anxious.
"It's still dangerous."
She was right. Even with Helen's holy knights, we didn't know what dangers the snow mountains held. My death wasn't impossible, as she said.
"Don't worry. I'll come back for sure. Trust me."
"If you say so, I'll believe you. Please don't leave me behind."
"Of course not."
To ease Chloe's mind, we shared a kiss in front of everyone.
The dialogue felt a bit like death flags, but it's fine. Death flags don't apply to protagonists.
'I'm the protagonist, right?'
Thinking about the oracle, I probably was...
"Sian, I'll go too."
"Clara?"
"I might not help much, but I can't just send you and Mom off alone."
Clara wanted to come along, worried about me just like Chloe.
"Obviously. I planned to bring you from the start."
She lacked confidence in herself, but her archery skills were on par with—no, better than—mine.
Call it a hunch, but her help would prove vital on the expedition. And if she awakened aura...
"Elsia, I'm counting on you to manage the house while I'm gone. Use the gold coins freely. Spend as needed."
I handed Elsia a pouch of gold coins and asked her.
"Yes, Sian."
"Tom, I hate to impose, but please look after my family while I'm away."
"I'd do that even without you asking."
"Thank you."
As I thanked Tom, Petra beside him spoke up.
"Hey, Sian."
"Petra, what's up?"
"You said you're leaving in three days?"
"Yeah."
"Gonna fight?"
"Probably. Gotta take down that troll problem."
"Then swing by the forge before you go."
"Got something for me?"
"Yeah, time's tight, but I'll make something for you."
"Thanks."
With that, as everyone dispersed to their tasks, I began preparing to climb the snow mountains.