Chapter 472
Chapter 472
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 472
Chapter Title: Kim Katt the Sword Aura Guy
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"What? Realms?"
A quiet afternoon.
Today was even a day off for Karin and Lady Lisha. It felt a bit chilly now that autumn was creeping in, but anyway, after finishing my morning training, I asked Karin while peeling an apple.
If I could learn about the stages of power, it'd give me a clear goal to aim for.
"Tell me more about those stages of strength and all that. I don't know jack shit about any of it. I'm totally clueless."
I hadn't really cared about that stuff before, but now that I'd manifested sword aura, it was my problem. Of course I was dying to know. By this world's standards, what level was my strength at? And Cloude's? Karin's?
"My husband's getting curious about that kinda thing now? Kyahaha, perfect timing."
Karin laughed like she was thrilled at my question and crossed her legs.
Right now, Karin was just in a white blouse and black panties. When she crossed her legs, my eyes naturally drifted there.
"Yeah, realms... You're at the age where you'd wonder. First off, what I know is based on kingdom standards, so I'll explain it that way."
"Figures a kingdom would divide them up specifically like that."
"Gotta, or it's inconvenient. Plus, it's handier that way. Gets you honor if you're recognized as high-ranked. Knights obsess over that shit. Murderers with nothing else to brag about, clinging to fancy titles."
Gamers freak out over tiers too, so imagine swords-for-hire in a world where mana makes you strong.
Humans are wired to measure the gap between themselves and others.
Tiers, classes, wealth, smarts—doesn't matter. What counts is knowing you're better and getting that peace of mind. That's how humans find calm.
"Humans chase status wherever they go."
"You get it. Nothing like that in your tribe?"
"Warriors fought like hell over who was Platinum Warrior, Gold, Silver, Bronze—total clusterfuck."
"Kyahaha, humans are all the same. Alright, where to start..."
Karin fiddled with her hair, pretending to think.
—Ex-Kingdom Knight Order.
Karin had served in this kingdom's—Karga Kingdom's—royal knight order, the king's private army, basically.
Not sure on the exact government setup, but nobles without lands or lowborn sons from noble houses joined up.
Youngest kids or sons from second wives, mostly.
Born nobles, they'd had combat training since kids, so they fit right in.
And folks who see themselves as superior turn into inhuman serial killers easy.
You gotta think of people as pigs or bugs to slaughter without hesitation.
Class divides break down those mental walls great. Killing a commoner feels lighter to a noble than commoner-on-commoner. Murder's casual in this era anyway.
They know they're noble and special, but no land or inheritance twists their pride. Serial killers are warped like that.
Young nobles joining the order are usually those types.
Brainwash 'em with loyalty to the king, brutal training, group life—it sticks. Serving the king brings honor and perks the family can't give. High loyalty in the order.
—All Karin's take, of course.
I don't know much, and her views are twisted, so filter it. Deep down, she sees human or fly lives as worthless.
Whatever. She loves me. She treats me special, so I do the same. Her violent ideals won't kill my love.
"Hmm."
Recalling that background, Karin finished thinking and spoke.
"The kingdom knight order splits into three: no-mana knights, mana-holders who can't manifest sword aura, and those who can. Higher up, higher status and skill."
"Heh, makes sense. Sword aura's transcendent, after all."
"You like that?"
"Hell yeah!"
"Kyahaha. Anyway, the core is the second group—mana inside but no external manifestation."
Sure, sword aura's rare.
Only some mana-users manifest it. Knight orders are mostly mana humans anyway.
"Even no-mana vets are brutal killers, but they gap against mana-users. Oh, pretty much all knights are murderous ghouls. The worst kind, packed with authority-worship, honor, loyalty, pride... Fucking bastards."
Karin spat curses passionately.
Knights must've fucked her over bad.
Discriminated there, naturally.
"Calm down, Karin. They're all cannon fodder anyway."
"Yeah... All fodder to me. And if I'd stayed, I wouldn't have met you... Hey, come here. No, sis'll come to you."
Karin, sitting across, came over and straddled my thigh. Craving skinship now.
I slipped a hand under her blouse, kneading her breast slowly. "Hyahhh..." She sighed contentedly, leaning into me, continuing.
"Kingdom knight realms boil down to that. No-mana scrubs are limits-capped, no merits, low status. Just sword skill counts, and they get sidelined."
Knights' world is harsh.
No-mana? Eternal scrubs.
"Could I beat them?"
"Hmm... Haven't seen you fight for real, so can't say for sure... But probably now, yeah."
"Ooh!"
Great news.
Me now? I could hold my own in the order. Beating bottom-feeders puts me mid-low at least.
"Happy? ...Yeah, be happy. But the next tier up, mana-core elites? Not sure. Real flying killers, those."
"Hm... What're they called? Realms-wise."
"Mid to low Sword Expert. Just labels—strength varies."
Realms don't measure combat power precisely. Just words people slap on.
"Like I keep saying, sword aura doesn't auto-crush lowers. No-mana can beat mana, no-aura beats aura users. Remember that."
Practical advice.
"Trust your power, but don't get cocky. Confidence is good, but dumb calls get you killed. How'd I live if my pretty hubby died?"
Heavenly Demon Kim Katt's coldly rational. I gauge gaps, measure abilities, fight smart. Always full effort.
"Don't worry. I know my life's precious—that's why I'm alive. Even kids get my all."
"Kyahaha, great mindset—keep it. True warriors go full throttle, even on kids if enemies!"
I kneaded her breast as she laughed.
Pulling nipples gets her going. Her panties are soaking. Fuck her after this.
"So, since I can coat with sword aura, am I high Sword Expert?"
"Yep. Anyone who can gets called high Sword Expert. Not all are badass, but usually only talented killers manifest it. Like my hubby."
"Whoa, shit."
Surprise: Kim Katt's a high Sword Expert prospect by kingdom standards.
"Me, high Sword Expert."
Doesn't mean my skills top those psycho knights'. Realms are for show. True strength? You know it yourself.
"Manifesting aura means potential. Proof of talent. Tech comes with time. Even if behind now, steady training makes you the strongest type."
"Makes me wanna swing my sword in the yard."
"Not today. Play with sis."
"Ah."
Anyway, chatting like that, I learned from Karin.
Knight order's symbol of might. Everyone thinks knights = power.
Build strength to kill them? No dying anywhere. Now I know—train harder to reach it.
"Oh, sis—one thing I'm dying to know."
"What?"
"Sword Master's level?"
"Knew you'd ask that."
"Gonna be one someday—obvious."
"What? Kyahaha, you punk. Yeah, dream big. Swordsmen gotta."
She laughed like it was hilarious, rubbing against me. Sign she's aroused.
My thigh's getting wet.
Sis is territory-marking me with her juices.
"Wondering how strong Sword Masters are?"
"Fuck yeah."
"Bluntly? Insanely strong."
"Vs. you?"
"Haven't fought one—don't wanna. No need to piss off the kingdom's official strongest."
"Sword Master = kingdom strongest?"
"Current knight captain's one. Peak realm only the worst serial killers reach."
Sword Master's kingdom-top, even Karin yields. Monstrous.
"Decades of missions prove skill and all. Ultimate cold, efficient slaughter-crazy. Huge rep. That's Sword Master. Kingdom strongest, naturally."
Karin smashing buildings vs. Liztina looked like a destruction god. If she says that, Sword Master's superhuman.
"Sis-level experts? Maybe ten in the kingdom. Sword Master's the top one."
Karin's got extreme pride in her strength. But order didn't recognize her... Pre-merc days, maybe not as strong.
Listening to this, one thing pops up.
"What about the Fighter Guild Master? You beat her, but it was even till mid-fight. She's badass too?"
"Dumbass, that bitch's weapon-carry."
"What? Weapon-carry? You saying that?"
"For real. I use rare metal sword, but not top-shelf. Hers? No bullshit—legendary tier."
I recalled Liztina's demonic gauntlets, like Hell Satan's claws. Blue, huge, razor-long claws. Heavy siege weapon for murder.
She blocked Karin's sword with spread hands.
"Pure skill? She's below me. For real—no cap. She's strong, sure. Used to kill barehanded back in the day."