Chapter 33
Chapter 33
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 33
Chapter Title: Sword Duke #3
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Aura was the power of life. Its source was connected to the soul within every living being, and an aura that had reached true mastery could transcend the power of life to attain the power of the soul.
The Sword Duke gazed at the warm light radiating from Ingong’s entire body. The aura, which had once surged violently like a flame, was now a gentle light illuminating the surroundings.
“Interesting.”
The Sword Duke knew what had happened inside Ingong’s body. He also perceived that the aura before him, despite its low level of achievement, already possessed some characteristics of the soul's power.
It was unexpected. When he had decided to teach the Sura Arts, he had never imagined something like this would occur.
“If I had my way, I’d take you to the Sanctuary.”
But he couldn't. That made it a pity, and he was surprised at himself for feeling that way.
“He didn’t do it consciously. It wasn’t a deliberate act. He accomplished it unconsciously. It’s hard to say whether this is talent or something else entirely.”
He murmured his admiration in a low voice. Felicia, who had been listening beside him, could no longer bear it. Her face filled with impatience, she grabbed the Sword Duke’s arm.
“Sword Duke, what on earth does that mean? Is Shutora okay?”
Her tone was almost accusatory, but the Sword Duke didn't get angry. He patted Felicia's head as if calming a child and said.
“You needn't worry about the prince. This is… what should I call it? Just a phase where he’s letting off some steam? He’ll come to his senses soon. As for what happened… I just taught the prince an aura technique called the Sura Arts.”
The Sword Duke said it lightly, but Felicia did not take it as such. Forgetting to even brush away the hand still patting her head, she covered her shocked mouth with both hands.
“The Sura Arts!”
It was an aura technique Felicia knew of. After all, it was the very technique mastered by Galahad, who was considered the strongest of the five Grand Generals. It was particularly famous among the martial arts of the Sura.
And he had taught the Sura Arts to Ingong.
Felicia quickly turned back to Ingong, while Karak, who had been listening to their exchange, belatedly let out a gasp of admiration and clenched his fists.
Karma, who had been cautiously observing the situation, asked Karak in a small voice.
“Karak, what are the Sura Arts?”
“I don’t know either, but judging by the princess’s reaction, it must be something amazing!”
At Karak’s cheerful reply, the Sword Duke let out a hearty laugh.
“What a delightful group. I think I’m starting to understand what kind of person the prince is.”
Taking it as a compliment, Karak laughed heartily in return. Karma, not quite daring to laugh along with the Sword Duke, managed only a timid smile.
Meanwhile, Felicia, the only one still serious, grabbed the Sword Duke’s hand again.
“You taught him the Sura Arts, and then?”
If he had simply taught him the Sura Arts, the Sword Duke wouldn't be reacting like this. There had to be something more important.
The Sword Duke didn't hide it and answered readily.
“The prince merged the Sura Arts with the Beast God Fist.”
“What?”
“He combined two different aura techniques into one. Using the Beast God Fist as a base, he created an even greater aura technique.”
He shrugged, as if to say, *isn't that incredible?*
Felicia was once again thrown into confusion. Although she herself hadn't mastered aura, she had the outstanding aura user Silvan Doomblade by her side. Because of that, she couldn't easily accept the Sword Duke's words.
Combining two different aura techniques?
And right after learning one of them?
It was nonsensical, even by common sense. But she also couldn't imagine that the Sword Duke, of all people, would be spouting nonsense.
The Sword Duke spoke with a magnanimous expression, as if he understood everything.
“The prince didn't do it consciously. It happened in his subconscious. That's what makes it so intriguing. Frankly, it's amusing. To think there was another monster like this besides the Second Prince.”
“Sword Duke.”
Felicia called out to him, her voice a mixture of emotions. Instead of responding, the Sword Duke turned toward Ingong, his eyes glinting as he spoke.
“I think he’s waking up.”
The pure white aura enveloping Ingong had now mostly dispersed. A spark of clarity began to return to his previously unfocused eyes.
“Prince, are you feeling better?”
When the Sword Duke asked, Ingong slowly nodded. He felt dizzy, but not enough to collapse.
Ingong covered his face with his hands. He let out a long breath, coming to understand what had happened to him.
The Beast God Fist had evolved into the Sura God Fist. With it, he had acquired an SS-rank martial art.
The only SS-rank martial art to appear in *Knight Saga* was the Hero Locke's technique, the Hero's Sword.
But not anymore. The Sura God Fist had been added to the list. And the only one who had mastered it was Ingong himself.
“Prince, you seem to be a greater talent than I thought. It was worth coming all this way.”
The Sword Duke's playful voice came from above his head. Snapping back to his senses, Ingong removed his hands and faced the Sword Duke.
“Sword Duke.”
“I won’t pry. Nor do I need an explanation. What interests me is not the principle behind it, but you, the prince who could accomplish it.”
After his brisk reply, he deliberately lowered himself to meet Ingong's eyes and asked.
“Have you named it?”
Just as he'd suspected. The Sword Duke knew everything that had transpired within his body.
Therefore, instead of spinning some clumsy lie, Ingong answered with the truth.
“Sura God Fist.”
“Sura God Fist… A simple but good name. I look forward to when your mastery deepens. We’ll have a match then.”
Finishing with a mischievous smile, the Sword Duke took a step back. As if on cue, Felicia approached Ingong.
“Shutora, are you okay?”
Felicia's eyes were red. Ingong smiled and nodded.
“Yeah, I’m okay. Thanks for worrying about me, Felicia.”
“As long as you’re safe. I’m so relieved.”
Felicia let out a long sigh of relief, and Karak chuckled heartily, pleased by the sight. The Sword Duke, who had been watching the whole scene, patted Felicia on the shoulder.
“Princess, I have something to ask you.”
“Me?”
“Yes. How close are the Ninth Prince and the Sixth Princess?”
“What?”
Felicia furrowed her brow as if to ask what he was talking about. But the Sword Duke simply repeated the question with a serious face.
“Exactly what I said. How close are you two?”
Felicia reflexively glanced at Ingong, then suddenly produced a fan from somewhere and snapped it open. Hiding her face with it, she tried to act nonchalant as she replied.
“Well… I-I don’t dislike him, I suppose?”
Karak looked at Felicia with an expression of disbelief, while Karma struggled to hold back her laughter. Ingong, noticing Felicia's crimson ears, felt a spark of mischief and spoke with a deliberately bright smile.
“Really? Because I like you a lot, Felicia.”
“Ugh.”
Felicia’s face flushed bright red. She had absolutely no tolerance for such embarrassing words.
The Sword Duke sighed.
“It’s so heartwarming it’s almost cringeworthy, but it's a nice sight nonetheless.”
Instead of replying, Felicia pouted and raised her fan a little higher. The Sword Duke continued.
“Sixth Princess, since you care for the Ninth Prince, I’ll say this. Keep what you saw today a secret.”
It was clear what "what you saw today" referred to.
The birth of the Sura God Fist. Ingong, who had merged two different aura techniques into one.
“I’m aware that the Ninth Prince is already attracting quite a bit of attention. There’s no need to add the gazes of jealousy and vigilance.”
Felicia lowered her fan and nodded. She too was well aware of the eyes on Ingong. Once the incident at Thunder Doom Fortress was concluded, even more attention would surely be focused on him.
“You can tell the Fifth Prince. Well, the Seventh Prince and Eighth Princess should be fine too, seeing as you’re close enough to have been taught the Beast God Fist.”
“I understand. I’ll do that.”
Confirming once more, Felicia turned her gaze to Ingong and gave him a small, reassuring smile. Ingong returned the smile.
“Good. Then, let’s tidy up a bit and then we can rest.”
The Sword Duke’s words instantly relieved the tension. Having finally regained her composure, Felicia suddenly remembered something and asked him.
“Oh, by the way, Sword Duke. Where does that hole you came down from lead? Can we call the expedition team waiting at the abandoned mine here?”
Now that they had control of Thunder Doom Fortress’s command center, conquering it was as good as done. It was only logical to bring in the expedition team and begin a full-scale investigation.
But the Sword Duke gave an unexpected answer.
“It’s possible. But are you sure you want to do that? There’s no reason to.”
“What?”
No reason? What on earth did that mean?
Ingong and Felicia looked at each other, and the Sword Duke let out a disbelieving chuckle.
“Is this the first time either of you has explored a ruin? If the expedition team comes, you won’t be able to pocket your fair share.”
“Uh… Sword Duke?”
Did I hear that right?
Ingong stared at the Sword Duke with a blank face, while Felicia pressed her temples as if feeling faint.
The Sword Duke clicked his tongue and continued.
“In a fortress of this scale, after all the hell you’ve been through, don’t tell me you plan on handing everything over to the Demon King’s castle? You have to take what you can. Besides, even if you do take it all back, it’s not like it’s going anywhere else but the Demon King’s treasury. So, you can call the expedition team after you’ve taken your cut. The Demon King did the same when he was a prince. A prince and princess have to make a living, don’t you think?”
He even threw in a little wink at the end.
Now even Ingong was starting to feel faint.
But the Sword Duke, paying no mind to Ingong and Felicia’s reactions, pointed to a spot far in the distance.
“Especially that black dragon’s corpse. Make sure you take that. It’ll be useful in many ways. It’d be perfect to split it three ways.”
Ingong’s head shot up. Felicia’s voice rose.
“Wait, hold on. Three ways?”
Divided into three? Not two?
“I have to cover my travel expenses, don’t I? Am I wrong?”
The Sword Duke flashed a roguish smile, and Ingong and Felicia wore identical expressions.
The Sword Duke, leading a very excited Karak and Karma, headed toward the corpse of the black dragon, Partisan. It seemed he intended to butcher the corpse himself.
Instead of following right behind him, Ingong gently took Felicia’s hand.
“Felicia, I need to talk to you for a moment.”
Felicia looked back at Ingong and gave a small nod. Once they were a sufficient distance from the Sword Duke’s group, she was the one to speak first.
“Is this about your magic that puts things into another space?”
As expected of a talented mage. She had only seen it a few times during today's battle, yet she had already grasped the general situation.
Ingong readily nodded.
“Yes. That’s exactly it.”
Ingong kept most of the many abilities he possessed a secret.
The inventory ability wasn't just convenient. Depending on its use, it could be a truly powerful ace up his sleeve.
For an ability like this, the fewer people who knew, the better. Like all secrets in the world, the inventory ability was more powerful when it remained a secret.
But Ingong decided to confide the secret of his inventory to Felicia. He couldn't keep collecting items behind her back forever. The convenience of using Earthquaker and White Eagle was also a factor.
Felicia was a trustworthy ally. Revealing the secret of his inventory to her would be a gain, never a loss.
Felicia gave Ingong a slight side-eye. Just when she thought she couldn't be surprised anymore, he presented a new astonishment. He was like an onion with endless layers.
“Did you learn it recently?”
“No, it’s a magic I’ve always had.”
“Can you teach it to me?”
“Sorry, that’s impossible. It’s not the kind of magic that can be taught to others.”
This, too, was not a lie. Felicia looked into Ingong’s eyes for a moment, then nodded.
“Well, it’s fine. You and I only got close recently. I understand why you kept it a secret.”
“Thank you.”
Instead of replying, Felicia opened her fan again. She feigned nonchalance for a moment, then leaned closer to Ingong and asked in a suggestive voice.
“Hey, by the way.”
“Yes?”
“Do Caitlin and Chris know?”
Ingong rolled his eyes to look at Felicia, who was still hiding her face with the fan, feigning indifference.
Ingong fought to suppress a smile and said.
“No, they don’t know yet.”
“Is that so?”
A cheerful lilt entered Felicia’s voice. The sight was so adorable that Ingong nearly burst out laughing again, but he managed to hold it in.
“Anyway, Felicia. What do you think will happen if I reveal my magic to the Sword Duke?”
There were more than just one or two items to collect, including the black dragon’s corpse. At first, he had considered bluffing about having a special magic pouch, but he doubted such a lie would work on the all-seeing Sword Duke. Now that they had established a good relationship, he didn't want to ruin it with a clumsy lie.
At Ingong's question, Felicia tilted her head for a moment, then spoke with a faint smile.
“I don’t think he’d care at all.”
“That’s what I was thinking, too.”
They had only been together for a few minutes, but it had been more than enough time to understand the Sword Duke’s personality.
And a few minutes later, the Sword Duke reacted exactly as they had predicted.
“That must be convenient. I have a similar tool myself.”
And that was it. The Sword Duke pointed to the black dragon’s corpse, which was already half-butchered, and asked.
“Prince, Princess, what do you plan to do with these?”
The process of its decay into a zombie dragon had caused some damage here and there, but there were still far more usable parts.
Ingong glanced down at the Dragon Scale Greaves equipped on his shins and answered.
“I plan to entrust them to the blacksmiths at the Demon King’s castle.”
“Princess?”
“Me too.”
It was the natural course of action. Among all the blacksmiths Ingong and Felicia could visit, the most skilled were at the Demon King’s castle.
But the Sword Duke shook his head with a displeased look.
“Hmm, the skills of the blacksmiths at the Demon King’s castle are quite excellent, but since you’ve acquired such fine materials, why not meet an acquaintance of mine?”
“An acquaintance?”
Felicia’s eyes instantly sparkled. Pleased by her reaction, the Sword Duke continued with a smile.
“That’s right. I’m telling you this specially because you’ve piqued my interest even more.”
“Who might that be?”
Ingong couldn’t hide his excitement either. An acquaintance of the Sword Duke, who could be called the strongest in the Demon King's castle. He was already filled with anticipation, even without hearing a name.
The Sword Duke answered with a dramatic flourish.
“‘Might be’? He’s not worthy of such a title. Prince, Princess, have you ever heard the name Amita?”
Felicia tilted her head, and naturally, Karak and Karma could only blink without offering any real answer.
But Ingong was different.
His eyes widened as his voice rose.
“Amita! Amita Ignacia!”
He knew. Of course he knew that name.
Meeting Amita was the true hidden event of *Knight Saga*!
Amita Ignacia.
The greatest blacksmith in the demon world, wielder of the Final Flame!
The Sword Duke’s explanation continued.