Chapter 125
Chapter 125
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 125
Chapter Title: Come Back Stronger...
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There was this funny meme.
Someone comes up with something utterly amazing, incredible, cool, flashy, powerful—something that would make anyone leap to their feet in applause.
Then, when asked how to actually make it, they just say, “That’s your job from here on out,” and dump it all on the engineers.
“...So, it’s not just channeling mana into martial arts, but actually incorporating magic into the mix.”
“Something on the level of a Fire Bolt’s explosion or flames should be plenty.”
“If it were that easy, I would’ve tried it myself by now.
You don’t know jack about mana... Ah.”
Raido caught himself mid-sentence and let out a surprised cough, clearing his throat with a “Ahem!”
He’d mentioned several times that he couldn’t handle mana, but in this world, it was treated like an incurable disease—and basic etiquette dictated not bringing it up in front of the person afflicted.
But the words had already left Raido’s mouth and reached Sion’s ears, so Lucia was glaring at him fiercely with narrowed eyes.
“I don’t mind anymore.
Raido-nim.
And Lucia, don’t worry.”
“But I hate hearing it.”
“You’re already worrying about my husband...”
Raido had slipped up with his mouth again.
Only after Lucia let out a guttural roar did he finally shut up and meekly start pondering solutions.
“So, in the end, Sion, what you’re saying is that combining the firepower of magic with Lucia’s basic martial arts techniques could compensate for any shortcomings elsewhere.”
“That’s right.”
“It doesn’t sound like a great idea, though.
What lunatic would give you that kind of opening?”
“Well, Lucia can just train to speed up her mana concentration or elevate her martial arts level, right?”
“You’re just spouting off because it won’t be your hardship.
I don’t want my daughter suffering.”
“I won’t shy away from any hardship, Father.”
Raido clicked his tongue at Lucia’s bold declaration, muttering, “That, that!”
Deep down, he wanted to tease her with something like, “Raising a daughter’s pointless!” But he had no idea what kind of lion’s roar his daughter—who was the spitting image of his late wife—might unleash if he did.
...Fine.
Since things have turned out this way, I should just accept that she’s with the guy she likes.
With that thought, Raido stared at Sion for a moment.
...No matter how positively he tried to spin it, a guy with multiple women still rubbed him the wrong way.
“Hah, that bastard... Kinda jealous.”
Scratching the back of his head, Raido refocused on his own mana manipulation.
Incorporating magic into martial arts was, as expected, no easy feat.
To cast magic, one inevitably had to concentrate their mind, gather the mana inside their body at a single point, form hand seals to shape it into a formation, and create a path for it to release outward.
“Urgh.”
If he could just solve that pathway issue, it might work.
Martial arts were as familiar to him as eating; magic was the same.
His daughter Lucia had inherited his talent for magic, with vast mana reserves and a solid foundation in basic martial arts.
If her talent truly lay in martial arts as Sion suggested—and if even a little magic could be woven into it—that would be monumental in its own right.
‘The problem is, it’s anything but easy!’
As Raido lost himself in thought, his expression growing vacant, Sion called Lucia over.
“Anyway, now do you get why I left you out of the group heading north?”
“...I get it up here, but my heart still can’t accept it.”
Lucia pointed alternately to her head and chest.
Sensing her cute feminine pout, Sion decided to reinforce her resolve with a slightly bold move.
Right in front of Raido, he planted a light kiss on Lucia’s lips.
“Huh?”
“What?”
Lucia’s cheeks flushed red as she floundered, her face beaming with delight.
Raido, on the other hand, looked like he was thinking, “What kind of thieving scum is this?!”
In the end, Raido grumbled, “Ugh!” and retreated to a corner.
Thanks to that, Sion found it much easier to talk with Lucia.
“You tell Raido-nim, Lucia.
About the elves, and what they might be scheming.”
“...So, your theory that the celestials we imagine might not be the real deal.”
“You can gauge the leaders from their followers.
It’s hard not to worry when you look at it that way.”
Sion judged that Lucia was better suited to explain the recent events, the radical elves, and their intentions to Raido than he was.
If his most precious daughter spoke in a serious tone, Raido might take it gravely, ponder it deeply, and even launch an investigation.
“Oh, and Lucia.”
“Yes, Sion.”
“Even if it fails, don’t get too discouraged.
It might just be my wild idea.”
“...Fails?”
“Yeah.
Combining martial arts and magic.
Raido-nim says it’s tough, so the odds don’t look great for now...”
“You’re already calling it a failure.”
Lucia’s voice had changed dramatically from her usual tone.
It was as if she was offended by the implication of doubt, her eyes practically sparking with flames.
“Don’t worry, Sion.
When you return from the north, I’ll have something solid to show for it and make my demands proudly.
Don’t be surprised then.”
Of course, that’s how it should be!
Sion chuckled inwardly while feigning surprise.
He’d confirmed from the novel that Lucia was kind-hearted and pure.
The issue was that in the story he was shaping ahead, such personalities risked being toyed with by enemies.
Thus, it was time for a slight corruption—or shift in mindset.
‘Jealousy, greed, whatever works.
In a world where pure kindness or constant yielding won’t keep you alive, they need to learn that.
Not as much as Trisha, but at least some healthy competitiveness.’
That’s why he’d deliberately kept Lia and Lucia away from his side for a bit.
Neither insisted on clinging to him, nor subtly showed greed, nor even mildly checked rivals in a reasonable way.
Lily always asserted her presence, Risikida unwittingly sharpened her edge toward Trisha, and Trisha bared her fangs outright—yet those two were far too passive.
‘Pure kindness alone won’t make them the assets they need to be when it counts.
They need remodeling, remodeling.’
Only after enduring real hardship and reaping rewards would they charge ahead with fierce determination.
To pull their weight against the celestials, both needed far more growth than now.
After wrapping up with the northern barbarians, he prayed the transformation would become reality as he announced his return to his room.
With departure at dawn tomorrow, rest was obvious, and Raido offered no objection, just a “Come back safe” before sinking back into thought.
Heading to his room, Sion reviewed the people around him once more.
‘Lily-nim is basically complete.
She’ll keep getting stronger on her own, so no worries there.
Same for Kim Yu-hyun.
He’s steadily recovering his condition unnoticed, honing his sword in the shadows.
These two are fine.’
Trisha worried him in other areas, but at least on the “getting stronger” front, Sion could relax.
Her stigmata had faintly manifested, making her no longer 100% human, and that bullshit awakened form from later in the story had partially emerged—so any chance of her staying docile was near zero.
At least it wasn’t a full blackout like before; Sion had forced a tweak to the “making an effort to impress him” setting, so he could at least control the bomb timer.
‘The real concerns are Lia and Lucia.
One dies right after maturing, out of the fight; the other loses her brilliant magic somewhere and ends up as a mere emotional crutch before dying too.
Neither contributes meaningfully against the celestials.’
He didn’t know their growth potential precisely, but the thought of losing them made his gut twist with curses.
The mindset that nothing and no one could touch what was “his” was pure Sion—and the results followed naturally.
He wanted them to grow at least to Trisha’s current level, if not Kim Yu-hyun’s, and fast.
Of course, that would exponentially raise the odds of his back exploding from their catfights, but that beat losing them pointlessly.
‘...Come to think of it, Risikida’s a bit of an issue too.’
Upper knight, Risikida Amstel.
Unlike Lia with some description or Lucia who stuck around Kim Yu-hyun till late, she was Nudia’s knight who exited early.
Even with her fate altered to be his guard, her growth ceiling was as unknown as theirs.
‘Sure, she’s an upper knight, so I let my guard down—but if she stagnates here, she could get overtaken by Lia or Lucia.
Then that rigid woman might deem herself unfit as a guard and distance herself, shaking her barely recovered mentality.’
He’d seen Risikida’s rigidity in daily life, alone time, even in bed.
As Sion pondered how to infuse his knight with fresh wind without wounding her pride, heading to his room—
Through the window, he spotted a man and woman darting around the villa’s training grounds in a thrilling duel.
Their movements were so fast Sion couldn’t track them, let alone identify who.
‘Saw a sword just now, so the guy’s probably Kim Yu-hyun, and the other...’
Could be Risikida or Trisha, but neither could keep up with that speed and power yet.
That left one woman in the villa capable.
“Agh, seriously.
You really human?”
“You’re chasing too scarily.”
“Watch your words.
It’s not chasing—I’ve already lapped you.”
“Oh?
Wow, Sion might get away with saying that.
But another human guy? This big sis feels a tad offended.
Think you can handle it?”
The dialogue was a bit cringy, but from Lily, it fit.
The ultimate villain who’d tricked and landed hits on heaven-defying Kim Yu-hyun, tormenting the protagonist repeatedly.
Until the celestials and sudden wildcard Chil-ik appeared.
After Khan and White Death retired, she’d even been pegged as final boss.
‘She left the battlefield injured by Kim Yu-hyun and got killed by arriving celestials, but that was due to the wounds.
This time’s different, pigeons.’
Thinking that, as he turned back to his room, another woman appeared.
She’d apparently been watching their clash for a while.
“...”
Her softly waving golden blonde hair swaying, lightly armored, the knight gripped her sword hilt tightly—as if their display had impressed her deeply, touching something within.
Seeing Risikida like that, Sion smiled faintly.
His worries about her could be shelved for now.
‘She’s an upper knight, after all.
Unnecessary concern might poison her—or bruise her pride.’
Before him, she shed shyness to act and speak freely, but around others, she clung to her knightly demeanor.
Naturally, that earned her “rigid” labels.
Sion had worked to soften it a bit, but he had no intent to erase her nature entirely.
‘Knights have their own charm.’
D-Day approached, the novel characters growing bit by bit.
Anxious, yet relieved seeing the changes, Sion refocused on his tasks.
Now, to plan persuading the northern barbarians, drawing Khan and Winter’s Daughter to his side.