Growing Pains (2)

Every time I recited a new mnemonic oral formula, I dreamed.

Up through the second formula, it had felt like an astral projection, drifting aimlessly through the sky. This time, however, was different.

I had dreamed of the old days. Not of this forest, but of my life back on Earth, back when I was struggling just to make ends meet.

It was a time when my parents had recently passed away, and I couldn't even attend school properly. Back then, I thought I was the most miserable bastard alive. After all, not many people had tragedy drop on their heads like that out of nowhere. Yet, despite my sheer misfortune, I was remarkably blessed when it came to the people around me.

Friends who understood my hardships and showed me kindness. A devout pastor whose faith was deeper than anyone's, always extending a helping hand. And after enlisting while wandering aimlessly, a squad leader who took the time to teach me all sorts of practical life skills.

Misfortune had ambushed me without warning, but ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠by some strange miracle, my luck with people had always been extraordinary. Thanks to them, I made a solemn vow: whenever someone offered to help, I would at least make an effort—or pretend to, if nothing else.

That pretense didn't take long to turn into genuine sincerity. I desperately wanted to change, and I wanted to repay what I had been given. If you do nothing, nothing changes. Only when someone lends you a hand and you actively strive to change can you achieve true growth.

Living fiercely with that mindset, it eventually soaked not just into my thoughts, but into my every action. Of course, just as misfortune had struck without warning back then, unexpected turmoil was always waiting around the corner.

Having finally clutched good fortune in my grasp only to watch it slip through my fingers left me with a burning fury rather than empty despondency. Even though I had been dumped into this godforsaken forest, I would never give up. Whoever brought me here, I would grit my teeth and claw my way out. Even if most of the luck I held had vanished, not everyone around me had disappeared.

Opportunity comes to those who act. One way or another, I would seize my fortune once more.

"……."

I blinked my eyes. It felt like I had just awakened from a remarkably warm dream.

It had been so long since I last saw the faces of my late parents, my old friends, and all the people who had looked out for me. You could say it was the period when I first realized what real happiness meant. The military had been miserable, sure, but in hindsight, it wasn't half bad.

This is…… the cave.

It was time to leave the dream behind. Rolling my eyes, the familiar craggy stone ceiling filled my vision. It was the cave at our shelter. For a brief second, I wondered why I was staring at the ceiling, but everything rushed back to me at once.

Ah. Right. Physical Rebirth.

The moment I recited the mnemonic, it felt as though every single bone in my body was being wrenched and twisted. Incapable of enduring the sheer agony, I had blacked out cold.

Usually, in martial arts stories, people stay conscious while undergoing a Physical Rebirth, but apparently, that wasn't the case for me. A pang of worry hit me. What if passing out had caused my bones to reforge in some bizarre, crooked angle?

While I was sorting through my thoughts, a familiar voice echoed from my side. Turning my head, I saw Cain standing nearby. Seeing him in his tiny stone statue form was always a strange sight.

"……What about the little ones?"

Cain examined my face thoroughly before nodding in approval.

"……Did I change that much?"

Cain waddled off on his short legs and brought back a mirror.

Meanwhile, I took stock of my physical condition. First off, all lingering aches were completely gone. Because the cave was dim, I couldn't get a clear look at my skin tone, but it didn't seem drastically different from ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠before. That was probably because my skin had already peeled and regenerated once during the anomalous body cleansing. What I had undergone this time was strictly a restructuring of my skeletal frame.

If nothing else, this refreshed feeling is amazing.

I slowly pushed myself upright. Though a faint languor lingered, my overall condition felt top-notch.

"Ah, thank yo—bleurgh!"

Just as I moved to thank him, something erupted from my throat.

Blood. Thick, jet-black, viscous blood.

Caught completely off guard, I couldn't even lean forward in time and ended up vomiting all over myself.

"……."

I understood the principle, but that didn't make the sticky, disgusting sensation any easier to stomach. Wiping my mouth with a towel as the dark blood dribbled out, I peeled off my stained shirt. I would have to wash this later. Blood stains were notoriously difficult to scrub out.

"Oh?"

Taking the mirror from Cain a moment later, I inspected my reflection.

A Physical Rebirth was meant to reconfigure the body into its optimal state. Since I had no clue what that standard entailed, I had been somewhat anxious, but taking one look at my face immediately put my mind at ease.

"I got handsome."

"That's more than enough."

Having a decent face was definitely a welcome change. The bridge of my nose, in particular, was sharply defined. Sure, living in a place like this meant looks were practically useless—there were only men here anyway. Even so, it did wonders for self-satisfaction. It gave me a strange boost of motivation to keep surviving.

Other than that, not much else looks different. Well, except my hair.

I ran my fingers through my noticeably lengthened hair. During the restructuring, it seemed my hair had rapidly grown and shed repeatedly, leaving thick clumps scattered across the cave floor. I didn't care much since I could just hack it down with a blade, but the beard was a different story.

"……Am I a mountain bandit?"

Not only had my hair grown, but a thick, bushy beard had sprouted across my jaw. Was this standard procedure for a Physical Rebirth? I definitely needed a shave. If it were a modest stubble, I might have left it alone, but this was practically a bird's nest. I could probably barter for a razor from the dwarves or Praise the Sun. For now, it was time to step outside.

Wobble—

"Whoa."

The moment I pushed myself to my feet, my legs buckled slightly under me. I managed to catch my balance, but then something else caught my attention.

Did my clothes…… shrink?

The fabric felt tight. It pinched awkwardly under my armpits. And my pants? The cuffs hovered well above my ankles. Going through the Physical Rebirth had clearly stretched my height and expanded my frame.

I'll have to ask Princess Chaeng-gu for some new clothes.

Proper gear was vital for survival. Feeling the vigor steadily surge through my limbs, I walked out of the cave.

Outside, Ludwig was busy preparing lunch.

"Kkyuuu! Kkyuu!"

Spotting me first, Wonmo came scampering over on his stubby legs. But the second he drew near, he froze in his tracks, tilting his head with slight wariness. My altered physique had clearly triggered his sense of unfamiliarity.

"Wonmo. Did you already forget your dad's face?"

"……Kkyuu!"

The moment I smiled and spoke, he leaped forward without hesitation. I scooped the owlbear cub into my arms as he clung to my leg. That fluffy, plush sensation never failed to soothe my soul.

"Ppiiii! Ppii!"

Next came Tyrano, throwing a spoiled tantrum to be held as well. She scratched furiously at my trouser leg with her tiny claws, overflowing with jealousy. Laughing, I picked up Tyrano with my other arm. With my newfound strength, holding both of them was effortless.

"Are you well?"

Ludwig walked over and checked on my condition. I gave him a firm nod. Setting Wonmo and Tyrano back onto the ground, I stood straight before him.

"Oh."

"#%%#."

Just as I let out an involuntary sound of awe looking at Ludwig, he looked at me and nodded with genuine approval. Originally, the height difference between Ludwig and me had been substantial. I had been of average height for a Korean man, whereas Ludwig was a towering giant. Now, however, our eye levels were nearly aligned. I had grown significantly taller.

I've definitely cleared 180 centimeters, right?

Considering Ludwig easily stood above 185 centimeters, I was practically shoulder-to-shoulder with him. In every sense, this was immensely satisfying. I let out a proud grin. In the brutal Forest of the Four Seasons, physical mass and reach were crucial advantages. With my frame substantially upgraded, surviving here would become far more manageable.

The Heavenly Demon is truly a god.

Silently sending my gratitude to the Heavenly Demon, I vowed to repay her debt somehow. But before all that...

"Were you making lunch?"

"Yes."

"Let me give you a hand."

Food came first. After enduring such an ordeal, my stomach was roaring. Lunch was our usual grilled fish, with garlic tossed in for good measure. Ludwig seemed to enjoy the garlic as well, raising no objections.

After polishing off a hearty meal, I took some time to properly test my transformed body.

Crack!

"Oh."

A thick block of firewood shattered in my grip, drawing an impressed murmur from my lips. My baseline muscular strength had soared. Best of all, I didn't even need to consciously struggle to regulate it. Was this the miracle of Physical Rebirth? Every test I ran filled me with deeper satisfaction.

Nothing wrong anywhere else either.

All that remained was my Internal Cultivation Art and my Aura. Sitting cross-legged, I initiated my breathing method. Surprisingly, the circulation itself didn't feel drastically different. The issue had never been internal; it was the external vessel that had been lacking. Now that my physical shell and internal energy harmonized seamlessly, the flow felt incomparably smoother and more refreshing. Controlling the frost energy had become a breeze as well.

Finally, the Aura. Did this change too?

Gripping the Heavenly Demon's Sword, I gradually channeled my energy. Translucent aura began to shimmer along the steel like heat haze, slowly swelling outward. I didn't stop there. Pushing forward, I strove toward the realm of an Aura Blade, carefully weaving together Sword Master's advice with the Heavenly Demon's third mnemonic formula.

If it bleeds out, just let it flow.

Rather than obsessing over energy loss, focus on completing the structure.

Closing my eyes, I quietly recited the Heavenly Demon's third mnemonic formula under my breath. Visualizing the structure while merging it with Sword Master's guidance, I gave it everything. If even this failed, it meant my talent had hit its ceiling.

Hummmmm—

"……."

Slowly, I opened my eyes. What greeted my sight was no longer an unstable haze, but a solid, manifest shape. I could feel zero leakage from the aura. A broad grin spread across my lips as I lifted my head.

"……What the hell is this?"

Having the aura take physical shape was great. I had finally achieved the Aura Blade I yearned for. But could this thing…… really be called a 'blade'?

It didn't look like a sword blade at all. It looked like an oversized hotbar on a stick. In other words, a club. An absurdly, pointlessly massive glowing club.

"What on earth is that monstrosity……"

Their brief congratulations withered away as Cain and Ludwig stared at my Aura Blade in sheer bewilderment. Both of them were seasoned combatants whose realms far exceeded my own. Yet even they wore expressions of complete disbelief, as if laying eyes on such a thing for the very first time in their lives.

"……Is it normally supposed to look like this?"

I held out the aura construct, which resembled a giant skewered sausage rather than a blade. Sword Master had explicitly told me it would form the edge of a sword. Reality, however, had violently diverged. It had formed a solid shape, yes, but that was where the similarities ended. Instead of slashing, it looked designed to bludgeon something into paste.

"@$%#$ @$?"

"Come on."

Invasive species or not, this was taking it way too far. Dumbfounded, I stared at the monstrous Aura Blade before pulling open the Gallery to write a post.

"……."

Why was it that I could never, ever become strong in a normal way?