Chapter 11
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 11
Chapter Title: Meditation with the Blade
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Orpheus sank into the chair in her office and let out a deep sigh.
"Phew..."
Wanting to be cut just to learn his Unique Magic? It was an idea she'd never even heard of before.
Absurd as it still seemed upon second thought, she'd already given her permission.
She had no choice but to prepare it as safely as possible.
"Is anyone outside?"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
The maid stationed outside opened the door and stepped in, bowing her head low.
She was the Emperor's exclusive attendant.
"Fetch the Chief Healer, then swing by the knight order and bring back one of their men skilled with precise cuts. They'll hand him over if you ask."
"Understood."
The maid swallowed dryly and hurried off.
Even after years as the exclusive maid, she still felt that constant fear and tension.
'He said he wants just a light nick, so a shallow scratch should suffice. Have them use a knife instead of a sword...'
Orpheus closed her eyes and sorted through her thoughts.
She calmed her pounding heart, fueled by worry and unease.
"Your Majesty. I've gathered the men you requested. Shall I bring them in?"
Twenty minutes after closing her eyes.
The maid who'd left at her command returned.
"Bring them in."
Orpheus slowly opened her eyes in response.
Even the tremor in her gaze had settled into cold resolve.
"We greet Your Majesty."
Two men quietly opened the door and entered, offering polite greetings.
One placed his fist over his heart and bowed—a soldier's salute.
The other laid his palm on his chest and bent at the waist moderately—a noble's courtesy.
The one with the salute was the knight.
The one with the standard bow was the Chief Healer.
"Rise and hear me."
At the Emperor's command, both men lifted their heads.
"I have an important matter tomorrow, so clear your schedules. Rest today and do no work."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"As Your Majesty commands."
What could this important matter be?
Most would ask, but these two accepted without question or objection.
They'd find out tomorrow anyway.
No point risking the Emperor's ire with questions now.
When the Emperor issues a command, obey without doubt or hesitation.
That was one of the rules for long life in the Imperial Palace.
"I've said my piece. I'll send someone tomorrow morning, so rest well until then. If anyone disturbs you, remind them it's by my order—or you'll face punishment yourselves."
Orpheus dismissed the two men without waiting for a reply.
Ruthless though she might be, an Emperor was still an Emperor.
She usually had time for her subordinates' words, but not today.
Tomorrow was the day her son Niu would attempt his madness.
Her heart was too troubled and chaotic for any work.
'I need to rest today.'
In the end, she abandoned her duties and left.
Meditating while being sliced by a blade.
Madness upon reflection, but he hadn't changed his mind.
When desperation takes hold, reason flips, and the world fades away.
Like a gambling addict lost in the thrill of the bet.
With the mindset of that addict, he entered the training hall.
Antiope and Ekyon were resting.
"A blade, of all things. I never imagined Your Highness would resort to something so perilously dangerous just to grasp your magic."
The Old Mage, already there, grumbled as he shot him a side-eye.
He felt the same, so Niu just smiled.
"Sorry."
"No need to apologize. If you've been stuck at the same plateau for months, changing your environment is the right call. It's simply my own inadequacy."
"That's not true, so don't apologize. You're an excellent teacher."
He comforted the self-reproaching old man and took his seat.
It only made him feel guilty himself.
"Your Highness's judgment is risky, but I believe it's feasible. Just don't chase excessive stimuli at the cost of your health. Understood?"
"I'll keep that in mind."
He met the old man's eyes and nodded.
Even if it failed this time, he had no intention of going to extremes like torture.
"Son. Are you in there? I'm coming in."
As he steeled himself, Orpheus entered the training hall.
With the two men from last night's discussion in tow.
"Thank you for coming."
"Don't thank me. But please, no more dangerous stunts like this. It sets my heart ablaze."
"Yes, Mother."
He smiled at the sighing Orpheus, then met the men's eyes.
"Thanks for helping out. Sorry to ask this of you."
"Not at all. If it's Your Majesty's command and Your Highness's wish, we'll obey."
The knight in uniform flashed fierce eyes as he spoke.
His resolve seemed firm, though a hint of tension lingered.
"Even a mere scratch harms a precious body. My stomach churns with nerves, but I'll do my utmost."
The man who'd treated Antiope, by contrast, openly showed his fear.
His candid emotions actually earned him some goodwill.
"My heart can't take it—let's begin at once. Mage, step back. You two, take your positions."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
The three men replied in unison and moved swiftly.
The Old Mage retreated to a distance.
The knight positioned himself in front, the healer behind.
"You start things off."
Orpheus handed over control, as if her role was done.
It was his training—he'd have to regulate it himself.
He nodded silently, then addressed the knight.
"First, can you slice my forearm once? I want to gauge the pain."
"Yes, understood."
The knight reached into his uniform and drew a small knife.
A silver dining utensil.
"If I may ask one final time— a knife will cut both flesh and clothes. Is that acceptable?"
"It's fine. Go ahead."
"Yes, understood."
At Niu's nod, the knight swung the knife-armored hand.
It was so fast, only an afterimage registered.
"Ngh...!"
The moment the knight lowered his arm, Niu's right forearm burned fiercely.
A glance showed his sleeve lightly sliced, blood seeping through.
Hot, stinging.
It prickled the nerves in every way, but it was bearable enough.
"Good. Keep cutting as I meditate."
"Yes. I'll judge based on your condition. Begin whenever you're ready."
"Thanks."
He closed his eyes and circulated the mana accumulated in his body.
The dormant mana stirred to life, coursing through him like blood to every corner.
Sizzle. With sharpened senses, he even heard his flesh tearing vividly.
Like paper ripping.
Then came the earlier sting, heat, and chill—the wound and the blade's bite.
Following close, warmish blood welled from the cut.
As if lukewarm water had splashed on his skin.
"Mm..."
A groan escaped unbidden, but his focus held.
One, two.
With each new wound, his mind grew calmer.
Forearm slashed, back of hand nicked, thigh cut.
Even chest and abdomen at times.
The nape and face seemed off-limits—true irreverence, he figured.
He appreciated the consideration.
"I'll heal you now. For effective treatment, I must touch your body. If you'll permit."
He nodded wordlessly in reply.
Utterly immersed in the vivid swim through the cosmos, he had no room to speak.
'Oh...?'
Soon, warm mana flowed from behind.
Like twinkling starlight from that universe settling into his body.
The infiltrating light circulated within, mending wounds.
He felt his parted flesh knit closed, the bleeding staunch—the process crystal clear.
Wound, heal.
The opposing acts clashed fiercely inside him.
All the while, the starlight sparkled brighter, his body floating freer.
As if being drawn somewhere.
The blade's sharpness and healing's warmth.
The colliding sensations sparked, then began to merge as one.
'This is it.'
He resisted the urge to snap his eyes open.
The sought-after sensation was finally arriving.
'Not just one thing.'
Sting to itch, chill to comfort.
Opposing stimuli cycled rapidly without end—it was hard to endure.
Sweat soaked him from the strain.
Yet in the wound-heal loop, ecstasy bloomed.
Over three hundred times the dopamine rush from jerking off.
Marinated in it, white sparks burst endlessly in his brain.
At this rate, it'd burn out.
Fentanyl? Krokodil?
He'd never tried drugs, but he was certain—no contest.
'Wha—what...?'
At last, the swelling sparks exploded in a massive burst.
His eyes flew open unwittingly.
A thunderous crack slammed his eardrums like a lightning strike.
"Congratulations."
The Old Mage, who'd been at a distance, approached and sat beside him.
The knight sheathed his blade; the healer withdrew his hands.
Success?
Befuddled at first, he scanned his body and understood.
White light.
The light that had detonated the dopamine now enveloped him.
"You succeeded on the first try. Thank goodness."
Orpheus sighed in relief and pulled him into a tight embrace.
He felt nothing but sorry and grateful.
"It's all thanks to you, Mother."
"I respected your will and watched, but it was nerve-wracking. I thought my heart would leap out."
"I'll be careful."
He apologized, pulling his head free from her breasts.
Her body's excesses even ruined touching moments.
"Mother. I'd like a moment alone with my teacher. May I?"
"What? Don't tell me you're jumping straight into more training?"
Orpheus eyed him suspiciously.
He had no such plans, but even if he did, he'd have to deny it.
"No. I'm tired too—just a few questions, then done."
"Oh, alright then. That should be fine. Hurry and finish up. We're napping together today—don't sneak off anywhere."
"Yes, Mother."
Orpheus rose with a reluctant glare.
The two men with her sighed softly, backs half-turned.
"Thanks to both of you for coming."
"Not at all. We salute Your Highness's achievement. Congratulations."
"Not sure if it's proper to say, but... you were magnificent."
The two men met his eyes and bowed lightly.
They'd worked hard today—time to reward them somehow.
"I'll head to the bedroom first and wait. Come quick. No detours."
"Don't worry."
After seeing off the fretting Orpheus, he faced his teacher.
With the two men gone, just the pair of them remained.
"You mentioned questions for me. I can guess—they're about Unique Magic training, right?"
A heavy silence hung briefly, noses clogged with tension.
The teacher spoke first.
"Yes."
"As I said before, Unique Magic is largely defined by personal traits. Exploration comes before training."
Precisely what powers it held, what applications were possible.
How grand it could grow.
All had to be intuitively hypothesized, then verified through experience.
In short, knowledge before blind use.
"I understand. But may I ask one more thing?"
"Go ahead."
"Is this light truly my Unique Magic?"
The nagging doubt slipped out.
He was convinced it was, but 'what if' lingered.
Sensing it, the old man stroked his beard and smiled.
"From what I see, Your Highness's light is indeed your Unique Magic. So rest easy and get some proper sleep today."