Chapter 52
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 052
Chapter Title: The Blind Vikram (1)
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The Dragon of Trials, Britra. The temple monks of Britra were mostly orphans without parents, or people in similar dire straits who had gathered there.
This was because the path to becoming a temple monk was far too grueling. Holed up in the temple, eating plain food, spending the entire day in relentless training. Few chose such a harsh life of their own accord.
Thus, most people couldn't endure it and left. The only ones who took the path of the temple monk were orphans raised in the temple from childhood.
Vikram was one such orphan.
'...I have to hold out until everyone else collapses.'
The young novice monks stood in a line, assuming horse-riding stances. Legs spread shoulder-width apart, knees bent in a squat. Their thighs burned like fire... but they had to grit their teeth and endure.
Their stern and fearsome master watched their training from behind.
"Your form is starting to slacken."
A long stick prodded the novices' arms and legs, pointing out lapses in form during training. The novices tensed up and corrected their stances.
But the stick never touched Vikram. Unlike the others, his legs were rooted firmly to the ground.
Vikram glanced sideways at those around him.
'They're all exhausted.'
Sweat beaded on the novices' foreheads. Their legs trembled. Even though the master had just called out their poor form, they were already worn out, and it quickly fell apart again.
Thud—
Soon, one collapsed face-first onto the ground. A particularly scrawny novice. Vikram smirked faintly at the sight.
'Radin... that straggler.'
The frail Radin.
Every training session, Radin was the first to drop out. He sat on the ground, heaving ragged breaths. His body was drenched in sweat like a drowned rat.
No matter how even the start, some inevitably lagged behind. The opposite of Radin, Vikram was a prodigy who always raced ahead of everyone.
'Just a bit longer.'
With that thought, he waited leisurely. As expected, before long, the novices around him began collapsing one by one.
All the novices except him had fallen. Vikram felt a quiet satisfaction.
'Now I can rest.'
Thud.
Vikram plopped down too. Training was over. The master, who had been observing from behind, stepped forward.
A middle-aged temple monk standing with hands clasped behind his back. A man with the sharp eyes of a bird of prey. His gaze swept over each disciple's face.
"You've all improved, but not quite up to expectations. A pity."
The master's eyes suddenly turned this way.
"Vikram... you were the best again today. Probably no match for you among your peers."
Rare praise from the master. Vikram struggled to suppress a smile as he replied.
"I will strive harder, Master Bau."
"You must."
Bau's eyes fixed on Vikram.
"Do not grow complacent."
At the time, he couldn't understand those words.
Ten years passed.
Vikram and the other young novices had grown into proper adults. It was time to leave the nest.
"You have now become temple monks who can stand on your own. When you venture out, take care not to tarnish the name of our order."
Bau gave his final teachings to his disciples. With that, the novices became full temple monks of Britra. What they did next was up to each individual.
They could become teachers like Bau, ascetic contemplatives endlessly refining their inner selves, or wandering mendicants aiding the needy through relief work.
At this crossroads, Vikram decided without much deliberation.
"I want to try relief work."
Spreading Britra's teachings to the people and helping the weak in need. For that, Vikram left the temple.
The world he encountered right after...
Was filled with wonders. Grand, ornate buildings and roads, decorations everywhere. Vikram's eyes widened as he looked around incessantly.
'...The walled city of Yurgis.'
He had only walked half a day from the temple, yet he never imagined encountering such a city. What was he supposed to do here?
Fortunately, the Church Alliance resolved his bewilderment. They introduced him to various jobs, allowing Vikram to continue his relief work smoothly.
Hunting beasts in the Demonic Realm beyond the walls was one such task.
Splat!!
Vikram's fist shattered the skull of a massive rat monster. The rat convulsed, spewing thick blood. Dead. Vikram clasped his hands in prayer, offering condolences for its passing.
Someone approached with a hearty laugh.
"Hahaha! It's like a nagging toothache finally gone. That beast gave us so much trouble."
"I'm glad I could help, Mr. Alfred."
The merchant Alfred.
A merchant who had amassed wealth traveling between the walled city and the Demonic Realm. Having exterminated the rat beast that had long plagued him, he was in high spirits.
"Vikram, how about I treat you to dinner back in Yurgis?"
Normally, he would refuse.
But this job had been tougher than expected. Dealing with the cunning rat beast meant days in the Demonic Realm without a proper meal. His starving stomach craved food.
"...Turning down every invitation wouldn't be polite."
"I'll make it worth your while."
The two men returned to Yurgis.
Vikram entered a fancy restaurant for the first time in his life. Unfamiliar aromas wafted from the dishes on the table. Faced with them, he fell into contemplation.
'...Am I allowed to eat food like this?'
Roast suckling pig with an apple in its mouth, perfectly fried duck, steamed fish topped with exotic sauce... They were all exotic delicacies at a glance.
Britra's teachings emphasized moderation, so he shouldn't indulge in such luxuries. As Vikram hesitated to pick up his utensils, Alfred asked cautiously.
"Is meat forbidden, by any chance?"
"No, nothing like that."
Of course, a vegetarian diet alone couldn't build muscle. Some monks avoided meat altogether, but martial monks trained in combat arts often ate plain chicken.
"I've been taught that temple monks should shun luxury and live moderately... These dishes make me hesitate."
As Vikram voiced his conflict, Alfred smiled wryly.
"Tasting these is an experience too. You're young, Vikram. Accumulating such experiences in life isn't a bad thing."
"Is that so."
"Yes. Isn't true moderation enduring and abstaining after experiencing them? Blindly avoiding the unknown... isn't that more fear than moderation?"
To gain greater enlightenment, one must seek various experiences. Vikram found it hard to argue.
Alfred gestured toward the food with a smile.
"Come on, eat before it gets cold."
"...Understood."
Vikram took a bite of the pork.
Crunch—
The well-roasted skin crackled crisply. Then, the rich juices burst forth. Overwhelmed by the intense flavor, Vikram was stunned.
'...Food can taste this good?'
A lifetime of asceticism. His dulled taste buds awakened. It felt like learning to eat anew.
He feared chewing the food in his mouth. Yet he couldn't ignore the taste. Half-entranced, Vikram devoured the dishes before him.
Sensual pleasure, and a sense of sin.
They became part of Vikram.
Even as a wandering mendicant, one must periodically return to the temple. Vikram lived busily shuttling between the temple and the walled city.
Seven months later.
An official notice arrived that stirred up the temple monks. Vikram read the posted proclamation too.
'Grand Elder Orden will pass on his martial arts to one young temple monk.'
Orden was one of the contemplatives who had pondered martial arts his entire life. In his later years, the grand elder had gained new insight, but he was too old to perfect the technique born from it.
Thus, Orden decided to name a successor. He wanted a young, talented temple monk to inherit his martial knowledge and complete the half-formed technique.
Reading the proclamation, Vikram smiled.
'This... is my chance.'
Inheriting the grand elder's martial arts would grant him even greater power. Without hesitation, Vikram applied to become the successor.
But there was one problem.
'Plenty of competitors.'
The opportunity was too tempting to ignore. Several other temple monks wanted to be the successor too. The solution was simple.
'A contest.'
Eight young temple monks would duel for the successor position. It was good news for Vikram. He had always been the frontrunner, a genius.
Facing his first opponent, Vikram chuckled inwardly.
'Radin... this fool forgot his place.'
A barely qualified straggler. Practically a free win.
The moment the duel began, Vikram kicked off the ground and thrust his right fist at his opponent. Radin extended his palm in counter.
Boom!!
With a thunderous roar, Radin was sent flying. The guy's level hadn't changed.
'Weaker than me, and slower.'
He pressed relentlessly. Radin scrambled like his soles were on fire, barely dodging and blocking the onslaught.
Radin's technique was still clumsy. Every move full of openings. Vikram didn't miss them.
'Now.'
He lunged at his foe.
...
"...Fortunately, no serious injuries."
A familiar voice rang out. Vikram opened his eyes. For some reason, Bau was looking down at him.
"You're awake."
"...Master?"
"Don't try to get up. Stay lying down."
"What happened to the duel?"
"It's already over."
What was over?
Vikram looked around. Strangely, he was lying in bed.
"...Why am I here?"
"Because you lost."
"I lost? To whom?"
"Radin."
Words hard to believe.
Perhaps it showed on his face. Bau explained without pause.
"You fell for a feint, charged in, and got knocked out by a chin shot. Radin beat you and all the other monks to become the grand elder's direct disciple."
A moment's carelessness led to his first defeat. Realizing this, Vikram ground his teeth.
"...I can't accept it."
"Why not?"
"You know it too, Master. That I'm far superior to Radin!"
Bau asked calmly.
"What makes you think that?"
"I surpass Radin in every way. Strength, speed, technique. Everything! Please, give me another chance... I won't let my guard down this time."
Vikram begged fervently. But Bau shook his head firmly.
"Even if you lead in all those... Vikram, you can't match Radin as you are now."
"Why?!"
"Because you lack enlightenment."
Humans are weaker than beasts. Thus, humans devised weapons and strategies to protect themselves.
Martial arts are no different.
Techniques conceived by the weak to topple innate superiors. While Vikram relied on strength and lorded like a beast, Radin meditated alone, striving to grasp the essence of martial arts.
"Three months ago, Radin's persistent efforts bore fruit in enlightenment. From that moment, he wielded martial arts that surpassed yours."
"Why didn't you tell me... how important that enlightenment was?"
Vikram spoke with resentment. Bau let out a deep sigh.
"I told you countless times. Now I want to ask you, Vikram. Why did you sit down back then?"
"...What do you mean?"
Not understanding, Vikram asked back. His master looked at him with pity.
"From your novice days... every training, I told you not to break your horse stance until you reached your limit."
Radin always pushed until his upper body was soaked in sweat before collapsing. That was struggling to surpass his walls each time.
But Vikram would glance around during training. And the moment he confirmed all other novices had fallen, he stopped and rested.
He had the stamina to continue back then. But he was satisfied with merely outlasting others. He never pushed beyond.
"I pointed it out to you repeatedly. Sometimes indirectly, sometimes harshly. But you always let my words go in one ear and out the other."
Talented, thus arrogant.
Because of that, he yielded the lead to the straggler he thought he'd left behind long ago.
"...What should I do now?"
Vikram asked dejectedly. Bau placed a comforting hand on his shoulder.
"Strive like Radin did. You have talent. Don't rush—refine yourself further."
"Yes... I understand."
Vikram bowed his head in reply. But a dark shadow settled in his heart. He couldn't accept this unfair reversal.
'I can't acknowledge it.'
He had to reclaim the lead he'd lost.
With venomous resolve, Vikram focused on training again. He halted relief work, repeating drills and meditation to reach his new goal.
But reality wasn't lenient.
'...Even holding second place is a struggle.'
Vikram had superior physical abilities and learned techniques faster than others... but
He'd only shone because the others grew slowly. Given enough time, they would catch up.
While he'd lived complacently on fine food these past months, the other monks had closed the gap. At this rate, they'd overtake him soon. Vikram grew more anxious.
'I need a new way.'
He meditated for enlightenment, but it yielded no progress.
After much deliberation, Vikram headed to the library. A place with diaries and manuals left by great masters. He planned to read and analyze books for a way out.
As he browsed the shelves...
One technique caught his eye.
'...Heavenly Eye?'
This discovery changed everything.