Chapter 594
Chapter 594
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 594
Chapter Title: Scent of Spring
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After Elise headed back, there wasn't much else for me to do.
I'd drop by the church, go out to meet Liztina. And aside from trips to the market, I didn't do anything special—just stayed home sparring away with Karin, ding ding clang clang.
-Paat!
I kicked off the ground and charged at Karin, swinging my sword down at the same time.
-Chaeng!
Her training longsword clashed against my active sword, ringing out with a clear metallic chime. Of course, the first strike would be blocked. -Karduk! I tried to push the blades aside and wrap around her sword for a follow-up combo.
A fierce, brutal onslaught, but one executed with precise technique to seamlessly blend offense and defense.
That was the foundation of the swordsmanship Karin had taught me.
"Hoo, yeah. You're getting better and better."
The entangled blades would eventually veer toward the opponent's vital spots based on our respective skills. Of course, my sword would never reach Karin.
She parried all my attacks while slowly retreating.
"Hold it right there. Freeze."
"Hm? Why?"
Just as we were in the thick of it, Karin stopped moving.
Was she about to point something out?
"Look, we're right up in each other's faces like this now, right?"
"Yeah. We are. What, you gonna show me something?"
"Watch closely."
With us locked in close quarters, Karin reached out with one hand and grabbed me by the collar.
"When you're stuck like this and attacks aren't landing easily..."
-Whoosh!
"Ack!!"
...she lifted me right off the ground by my collar.
In an instant, her insane strength hoisted both my feet into the air.
Karin had a perfectly feminine figure, but her power was monstrous. Lifting me one-handed was no trouble at all.
"You can hoist the enemy up like this, then ram your sword in."
"Hoist them up?"
"Like I said, swordsmanship isn't just about swinging the blade."
She set me down and continued.
"If you can't pin them down with cuts alone, use your hands, your feet—whatever. Honest swordplay is just for practice. What I'm teaching you is how to kill."
Prioritizing your own safety while finding any way to finish the enemy.
That was Karin's swordsmanship.
To put it to the extreme, even poisoning an enemy's meal could count as Karin-style swordplay. If she shot an arrow from afar, it'd be swordsmanship too.
"My husband's already got strength on a whole different level from ordinary humans. That's what mana does—reinforces the body itself. So the top priority now is incorporating that boosted power into your swordplay, right?"
I nodded automatically.
"Yeah. That's the most important part."
Karin was spot on.
Obviously, the physical capabilities of a normal person and a superhuman with mana were worlds apart.
Strength, endurance, stamina, reflexes, agility. Durability.
All of it transcended normal human limits.
It wasn't like doping on Earth to balloon your muscles—this was fundamentally different. Even without extreme bulk, mana infused into bones and muscles produced greater power.
What Karin meant was to leverage that enhanced strength.
"Alright, again. Get back into that exact same stance."
"Got it."
I assumed the position we'd been in, blades locked just like before.
"Say you're slashing away and end up closing in on the enemy like this."
We were right on the verge of tangling up in close combat.
"Sure, killing with the sword is fastest and easiest. But fights don't always go smoothly—real battles are full of curveballs like this, where you can't easily knock their blade aside."
"Obviously."
"That's when you do what I just did—lift them up—or if you've got the skill, like this."
-Thud.
Karin reached out and grabbed my chest.
"Punch right through their heart. Makes killing a fucking breeze."
"With a fist?"
Her grip on my chest started kneading the flesh.
"Punch a hole straight through their chest. Or rip the heart out entirely. If you catch 'em off guard, they just drop dead."
"Fuck, that's scary as hell."
Basically, mid-swing, suddenly slamming an Asura Blood Claw into the enemy's chest.
"If you handle mana right, you can unleash more power than a full-force swing even up close. It's one way to end it quick while they're focused on your sword. Got it?"
"Got it."
"Ahh, feel how firm this meat is."
Karin grinned and kept kneading my chest.
"Kinda ticklish."
The ticklish sensation actually felt pretty good.
She was loosening me up.
"Well, I can smash armor with my punches, no problem. But you can't yet, so save it for unarmored bastards. Don't obsess over it—use it only when it feels right. Works surprisingly well against equals."
"I'll keep it in mind. If the chance comes up, I'll try it and let you know."
"Yeah."
She pulled her hand from my chest, reset her stance, and tapped my leg with her foot.
"If they're in chest armor, just kick their legs out. Smash the thigh with your knee. For reference, if I do it, the leg snaps clean off."
I pictured Karin landing a sneaky low kick on some enemy swordsman.
-Whirr!
Both legs severed, the guy spinning like a joke before crashing into the dirt.
"Kyahaha, scored some fun kills that way."
Karin laughed like it was hilarious.
Sis is terrifying...!
"Fuck, that's brutal...!"
"This is advanced stuff. I'm teaching it now 'cause you're ready. Time for you to master using that boosted strength over fancy technique—that's how your skill grows."
If it's advanced, that means we're getting into the real deal now.
Karin was about to share her essence with me.
"You have to reach a certain level on your own first. That's why I stuck to basics and sent you out. Not that they're useless—even with mana, you don't grow extra limbs, so the core principles are universal."
She explained it all with evident delight.
"Heh heh heh, thanks Karin! I'll do exactly what you say!"
No matter what, I just had to follow her curriculum.
"Kyahaha, good boy. So obedient, my cute little troublemaker."
"Hey, troublemaker?"
-Pat pat.
She chuckled and gently patted my cheeks.
"Alright, starting today, let's train on wielding that power."
"Yes! Sis Karin!"
Anyway, Karin began drilling me intensely on what she'd just described: mid-swing, using irregular punches and kicks to overpower the opponent.
Karin was a superhuman who wielded mana freely. She could topple buildings with a single sword. I had no doubt I'd become one someday too, so I gritted my teeth and moved as she commanded.
Of course, I wasn't clueless about these techniques.
This was just like when I'd wrecked that heretic swordsman—up close, I unleashed Heavenly Demon Supremacy and blew his foot apart.
The bastard was pretty strong, but after letting that hit land, he lost his life pathetically.
-Mana-infused physical strikes outpower even a full swing from a blunt weapon.
No need for distance to pack that punch. Compressing and exploding mana inside the body was like firing a gun.
Using it freely, anytime, anywhere.
That was the gateway to superhuman combat.
"Ahh, good work today."
"Hoo... Sis, I'm dying here."
We trained until we were drenched in sweat, then sheathed our swords.
Not only had I burned through all my mana, but holding stances and blocking her strikes had exhausted my stamina too.
Fucking exhausting.
"Quit whining. You worked hard, so how about a reward? Sis'll fuck you—make you cum ten times? Hm?"
Karin hugged me from behind, licked my ear, and whispered lewdly with a cutesy tone.
Hearing that gave me a burst of energy.
"Heh heh heh, you'll pass out in ten minutes again. Where's this bravado coming from?"
"This fucker? Hey. Tonight you're on top. Loser who cums first does whatever the winner says?"
"Sis... I might lose at swordplay, but I don't lose in bed. Don't beg me to stop moaning again—just lie back quietly."
"Kya, my troublemaker's gotten cocky lately. Huh?"
"Ow!"
Karin let out a moan and nipped my ear.
"If I win, no cumming for two days."
"Hmph. If I win, I won't stop even if you cry and beg."
"Ahk... Such harsh words. Anyway, wanna wash up together?"
"Heh heh heh, sure sure."
We cooled off in the breeze for a bit, then headed inside.
"Oh, by the way, I was thinking—ask that Liztina bitch to teach you something too."
"Liztina?"
"Yeah. She's guild master material, right? She could pass on some useful skills. Might as well get something out of her while she's draining your cum."
Sounded like a good idea.
I'll mention it next time.
"Father. Are you done training?"
"Yeah, all done."
Down in the living room, Alraune greeted me with a big smile.
She'd been folding clothes with Winia.
"Ugh, that 'Father' stuff. Poor darkie. Gonna wash up with Sis Karin now?"
"That's the plan. You two folding clothes?"
"I told her to, but she helps out. Gotta teach her how to sort underwear too."
"Heh heh heh, cute."
Well, Alraune handled laundry and cleaning, but housework wasn't just that. We all had our chores. I mostly did bathroom scrubbing and trash duty.
"Mm, yeah. She's obedient, so it's cute. Hard to imagine she's a monster, honestly."
Karin placed a hand on Alraune's head and stroked it.
"..."
Alraune stared at me without reacting.
When Karin pulled away, Alraune spoke.
"...Father, pet me too."
"This kid."
I stepped close and stroked her head. She beamed and hugged my leg.
"Hee hee hee, Father. I folded clothes real hard. Praise me."
"Good girl, good job. Save it up and I'll give you allowance."
I gave her 25 copper a day as pocket money.
She was family now, no matter what anyone said.
Feed her, house her, clothe her.
As head of the house, it was my duty to provide food, shelter, clothes—and pocket money. She was half maid-like, so I paid her well above labor value.
25 copper was an E-rank quest reward.
I didn't know what she'd become, but she looked human enough to live in society someday. She'd need money then.
Better start spoiling her now.
Treating monsters as full persons was controversial. But Alraune was family. So treating her as a person was right.
-This was responsibility.
Once you decide to care for something, you handle all of it. Common sense.
This went beyond fusion Confucianism—it was basic.
Assigning chores was part of her education too.
"Yes. I'll save it all up."
"Smart girl."
I kept petting her head.
I'd scolded her harshly once before, but she still listened well. Maybe from the hugs—Aeong was more frequent now.
I didn't mind it anymore.
Having committed to responsibility sealed it.
If she were just some stray, I wouldn't have bothered disciplining her.
"Hng... Father, it feels so good."
"Feels good for me too."
"Really?"
"Did you live on lies or what?"
"I haven't lived long."
"True."
I didn't see myself as her real dad, but protector? Guardian? Yeah. That's what made her truly part of the family.
"Ugh... You're spoiling the darkie to death. Darkie, you know you can't come to bed with us, right?"
"She calls me Father—why would I?"
"So you'd with other girls?"
Winia glared at me instantly.
"Aigoo, Winia. Wash together?"
"Pass. Tonight."
"I want now."
"Do it with Sis Karin. I gotta finish this and study."
Bummer.
I stripped and headed to the bathroom with Karin.