Chapter 358
Chapter 358
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 358
Chapter Title: Collection
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Achievement.
"Hmm, achievement... Oh. Claudia."
"Yeah?"
Without a doubt, I'd overcome fierce battles and survived brutal fights against powerful foes, achieving dazzling feats.
I'd awakened my mana and learned how to wield it.
I'd become the Heavenly Demon.
"Makes me curious about achievements. How long did it take you to create your sword aura?"
Karin had told me that only about one in five new knight recruits could freely handle mana.
And the benchmark for "freely handling mana" was the sword aura.
The realm where you infuse your blade with mana to unleash devastating power. It slices through steel and cleaves monsters in two. In terms of the wuxia novels I loved reading, it was the level of a peak master.
Of course, sword auras weren't all the same.
Some were insanely powerful, others could only manifest for a single second. Some were massive, others puny as hell.
Auras varied wildly based on the user's skill and prowess, but as long as you could emit one, it counted as "freely wielding" mana. The key was manifesting your inner mana externally.
I could already handle mana fairly freely.
But that was limited to within my body. Projecting it outward was still impossible.
Yeah, still impossible. For now.
I'd already experienced that realm once before.
—Fatal Cleave.
When I butchered the Alraune, I, Kim Katt, had sliced through space itself. In a dreamlike realm blending reality and illusion, I'd drawn out unreal power and felled the monstrous flower in a single strike—a foe I could never have beaten otherwise.
I wasn't entirely sure, but that had to have been sword aura. The pinnacle kind, incomparable to anything else.
But it was a one-time thing. Now, not even a trace of that sensation remained. It had scattered like a dream. I'd tried everything since to recapture it, but no dice.
Claudia could produce her aura effortlessly.
Karin could too.
But I hadn't reached that level yet.
The Fatal Slash I could use twice right now was just a technique that concentrated mana to its limit, exploding power into my muscles.
Same with Execution Fist Arts, Taekwondo, Heavenly Demon Divine Art, and the other martial techniques.
They freely manipulated the mana stored in my honed body to massively amplify punches and kicks. But none could project tangible mana beyond fists or feet.
I'd undoubtedly achieved brilliant feats.
But the more walls I smashed, the more massive ones loomed ahead.
Strength had no end.
Beyond light lay even brighter radiance.
That's why I couldn't brag to Claudia about my proud achievements.
Not when I couldn't even manifest an aura yet.
"Hmm, sword aura, huh..."
Claudia, straddling me and about to guide me inside her, paused. She thought for a moment, then spoke.
No, mama, just put it in already.
"The first time I emitted sword ki was around age forty..."
"Yeah, age forty."
"Around age forty..."
"Yeah, around age forty."
Right, Claudia first drew her aura at about forty. My dad was around fifty, so elves really were elves.
From what I'd pieced together, Claudia was over a hundred. So forty was nothing to me now. Even if she'd been born in the Joseon era, I wouldn't care.
"Katt."
As I kept harping on forty, Claudia suddenly flashed a gentle smile and grabbed my face.
"Why?"
"Are you interrogating Mama right now?"
"Interrogating? Gah! Claudia!"
"You do this to Mama?"
Claudia was smiling, but she wasn't happy. Monstrous strength gripped my face from her hands.
Wh-what...? What's this pain!!!!!
"Gahk!"
A-at this rate, I'll turn into Twisted Kim Katt!!!!!!!
Terrified of meeting a gruesome end like Eom Seokdae, I blurted excuses in a frenzy. My face would be ruined!
"Claudia! I get what's bothering you, but I don't care if you're forty or four hundred! I'd already guessed you were over a hundred! My face is gonna crumple!!!"
"N-no! Katt! Don't say it!"
Claudia's face flushed crimson in an instant as she yanked my head into a fierce hug. Shit! Br-breathing...! Am I gonna drown in her boobs!?
"M-Mama! I won't say it anymore, let gooooooo!!!!!"
"...Really."
"Gah!"
Claudia finally released her breast-smothering hold, and I gasped for air... Nearly died there. Guess age was still a sore spot.
Failed again at casually prying into her age.
"Haa, haa..."
"Anyway, Katt. You're talking about sword aura."
"Ah, yeah. That."
Calmed down, Claudia lay beside me. She reached out, stroking my chin as she continued.
"I wasn't exactly young either. It took quite a while to create my sword aura. Hmm, asking that means you're curious how I first manifested it, right?"
"Exactly. So how'd you do it?"
Claudia answered my question.
"Hmm... Not really sure. I don't know how it first happened. It just... happened one moment? Nothing special. I was wandering the desert like usual, killing stuff, and it came naturally."
The case sounded similar to mine.
So was it just a matter of time? No, even if not, Claudia and I differed in so many ways.
"Katt. Worried about the aura? Hehe, don't be. You can do it. No need to rush. When I asked about your achievements, it wasn't that—just how the fights felt."
"Nah... Not rushing or anything. Killing those bandits was a breeze. Yell, charge faster than they do, cut 'em down. Any decent with a sword? Crush 'em with technique. That vibe."
"Skills improved?"
"Yeah. Sword feels easier to handle now. I can move it however I want. Judgment and reflexes feel sharper too."
Nothing honed skills like real kills.
Slaughtering bandits was simple. No matter what they did, I ended them first. Crystal clear now.
"That's the answer Mama wanted. So quit worrying? You're already a fine warrior, Katt. Give it time, and aura's yours easy."
No, Claudia, saying that...
"M-Mama... My dick feels weird..."
"Really, Katt."
Claudia naturally gripped me, stroking like she was milking out my essence. Ah, the master touch. Exhaustion melted away in blissful waves.
Anyway, sword aura.
To break my current limits and manifest it. Body training alone wasn't enough anymore. No clue how, but I'd make it happen.
Thus, I spent joyful time with Claudia.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Eeeee-lise!!!!!! E-liiiiiise!!!!!!!!! Eliiiiiise-!!!!!!!!!"
The next day, I visited Elise's lodging to see her face. Not sure which room, so I just hollered from outside.
"Sa-Saint! Quiet down!!!"
Elise popped her head out the window and yelled. Third floor. I waved wildly, overflowing with joy.
"Eeeee-lise!!!!!! Diiii-vine!!! Frrrrriend!!! Here!!!!!"
"Saint, pleeeease!!!!!!"
—Thud thud!
Elise vanished from the window amid clattering noises. Moments later, she burst out in just her nun habit, armor shed.
"Mouth! I'll cover the Saint's mouth! Stay still! Where do you even keep that scream-sack?! I need to confiscate it!!!"
Half-charging me, Elise clamped my mouth as I inhaled for another shout. Her strength was always insane. Even I, Kim Katt, couldn't resist.
"Mmph, the... sack's in my heart... Anyway, I'm calm now, let go, Elise!! Too painful!!!"
"Why make it sound like I'm torturing you!!"
"Just a joke. Anyway, eaten yet?"
It was morning.
Yesterday, I'd spent all day blissfully with Claudia, plus some wakeup fun with Winia. Skipped proper dinner with leftovers, slept, woke starving.
"...Haven't eaten. You look bursting with energy, so probably have, Saint."
"Ah, don't get mad. Let's eat. Quick."
"Not mad. Just want to carve out your scream-sack."
Such scary words.
"Elise... If you say carve it ouut-"
"I'll have to subdue you by force."
Elise said it dead serious. Teasing her into embarrassment was one of my life's joys, but it wasn't working anymore.
"Damn. Elise... You've changed."
"I haven't. You made me this way, Saint."
"N-No way...! Unbelievable! Me, making you like this!!!!"
"Hehe, harsh reality."
Elise giggled, declaring it firmly.
"Guh... Anyway, let's eat."
"Yes.. But Saint, any plans today?"
"Plans? Nah."
"Then, I'd like your help again today."
"Help? With what?"
Wonder what.
I walked with Elise toward the dining hall.
"The church recognizes my merits and keeps granting absurdly long breaks. I planned to forfeit them, but the brothers and sisters fiercely refused."
Elise rarely vented with such passion.
I couldn't grasp forfeiting assigned breaks.
"They even threaten to confiscate my habit. Keep telling me to leave church grounds briefly... I get the intent, but it feels like harassment."
"Stealing clothes...? And leave? Are they insane!!! This real life!!!"
No fucking way they're making Elise do that shit!!!!
"Ah, no. I have the casual clothes from the immortality investigation with you, so that's fine."
Thought she was really being bullied.
"I don't know how normals spend breaks outside church. I've lived inside since very young, so I'm clueless."
Listening, it seemed they were just caring for ever-working Elise, not my dark assumption.
Makes sense. She was such a nun-type, clueless about the outside. Our first meeting was basically her debut mission.
Even told to play, she'd have no idea how.
"So, Saint, please teach me how."
Easy request.
No one in Isvant played better than Kim Katt. None. From entertainment-packed Earth, after all.
"Sure! Elise! Operation: Kim Katt Burns Your Break Time starts now!!!"
"Operation!!! Got it!!! But break's not now, just teach me!!"
"Same diff!!! Food first!!! Need energy to play!"
"Yes!!!"
Her manic enthusiasm triggered, Elise raised her arm for Divine Friend.
Half-moved, I formed the cross.
"But Elise. How long is this 'absurdly long' break?"
A month-long vacation? Yeah, she'd rather smash heretic skulls than rest. Boring for her.
Elise replied gloomily.
"Three days. Truly... absurdly long for rest. Better to smite evil foes."
Three days? Not absurd at all. If anything, too short.
Her merits alone warranted multiple paid vacations.
Church was nuts, as expected.