Chapter 9
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 9
Chapter Title: The Final Battle
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“Heh heh... You enter at just the right timing.... *cough cough!*”
I never imagined an opportunity to test my Dantian would come this soon.
It still hadn't fully regenerated, but it was nearly complete.
“Kriru?! Kirururururu!”
The Griffon spotted me and charged madly, even more enraged than before.
Gripping my trembling legs amid the excruciating pain, I slowly rose to my feet.
I endured through sheer willpower. If I relaxed even a little, I felt like I'd lose consciousness.
“Right... You want to pick up our unfinished second round, don't you?”
“Kirururururu—!”
The Griffon barreled toward me with enough force to kill.
I gathered every ounce of strength and threw my body to the left.
“Hup!”
-Kwaaaang!
The Griffon slammed into the massive dead tree I'd been leaning against.
-Eujijik! Ku-gu-gu-gu-gu….
The tree where the Griffon had embedded itself soon splintered and collapsed limply to the side.
The thought that I would've been crushed alongside it if I'd stayed put sent chills down my spine.
“As expected of the Debauched Young Master's grand comeback! Come on, you flashy freak!”
“Kirururururu!”
The Griffon charged ferociously again.
Its previous leg injury hadn't healed; it limped on its right leg, charging at an angle.
“That's your weak spot, huh!”
Thunder Sword Arts - Third Form: One Stroke, Two Cuts
Mana channeled from regenerated Dantian
With the Strengthening Herb's effects worn off, I had no choice but to rely on my Dantian's mana this time.
It was the first time using mana from my regenerated Dantian. I wanted a safer method, but there was no way to dodge that headbutt right now.
'No choice but to try it!'
I imagined moving the Dantian's mana just like I had during meditation.
Once to the right.
Once to the left.
The mana flowed through my bloodstream, following along.
-Hwiriririk!
-Pabat!
-Kwaaaang!
“Kirururururu!”
I dodged.
Faster than the Griffon's charge.
My body reacted, spinning at tremendous speed. It was movement enhanced by mana.
Far more flashy than the trick with the Strengthening Herb, and the most perfect Third Form rotation I'd ever executed.
“Haha...! This Debauched Young Master's body was the real-deal combat type after all!”
“Kirurururu!”
Chaining into the next form against the disoriented Griffon.
The final motion: a spinning horizontal slash for One Stroke, Two Cuts.
But executing just that felt insufficient.
So I unleashed the First Form thrust, Second Form spinning vertical slash, and Third Form One Stroke, Two Cuts horizontal slash in rapid succession.
True to Thunder Sword Arts' nature, all spun like lightning, using the momentum for dazzling strikes.
Target: the Griffon's right leg joint.
I swung my sword with all my might.
“Die! You damn trash mob!”
-Hwick!
-Kwak!
-Chwaaaa!
-Swiiiiiek! Chwaaaaaak—!
“Kriuk?!”
Precise sword strikes targeting only the joint.
The relentless barrage tore the Griffon's flesh to shreds, causing massive bleeding.
“Kirurururu—!”
The Griffon screamed in agony, loud enough to burst eardrums.
'This is it!'
If not now, I couldn't test it.
Skill: Aura Blade
Mana enveloping the blade
Aura Blade.
The skill of wrapping mana around the sword with magical power to attack.
I imagined mana surging from my hand gripping the hilt.
Then, it flowing along the hilt to the blade.
-Woooong….
Changes began in the sword.
A faint, haze-like blue energy rose from the blade.
That was mana enveloping the sword.
'No way, it works! Isn't this supposed to activate at 3-star Dantian level?!'
Dantian level 3-star realm.
Dantian levels went up to 10 stars, and 3-star was at least Sword Expert realm.
Did that mean my regenerated Dantian had 3-star talent?
Lucky. Questions arose, but no time to think now.
For now, I was satisfied that I had a Dantian capable of ending this.
“Thanks for being my EXP fodder, birdbrain.”
“Kiruru... Kirurururu!”
The Griffon, having lost its right leg, glared at me while limping.
I reinforced my legs with mana and leaped explosively.
“Hah!”
Light.
Using mana made my body feel endlessly light.
How much lighter would it be after shedding all this fat?
Pushing aside the intriguing thought, I hovered in the air and aimed my Aura Blade at the Griffon's head.
Falling with the acceleration of descent at high speed toward its head.
-Puuuuk!
Soon, my sword plunged deep into the Griffon's skull.
“Kriru, kiruu….”
The Griffon, its skull damaged, rolled back its eyes until the whites showed, then closed them.
“Hah, haah….”
I collapsed as if falling, leaning against the dead Griffon like a backrest.
The situation was fully resolved.
“Ha ha, ha.... Fuck….”
Tension began to ebb away.
The pain I'd forgotten amid the adrenaline surge during battle crashed over me all at once.
Side effects from overdosing Strengthening Herb.
Side effects from forcing back the extreme poison and elixir overdose.
And from forcibly drawing mana before the Dantian fully regenerated.
My entire body was dyed in horrific agony.
Unable to endure any longer, shock set in, and I lost consciousness right away.
Passing out while seated against the Griffon as a backrest.
A soft sensation enveloped my entire body.
A goose feather blanket and cotton bed, perhaps.
Lying still, it felt like I'd be sucked in by the fluffiness.
That was the first sensation upon regaining consciousness.
'...What is this.'
I slowly opened my eyes.
A familiar ceiling came into view.
'Brace Ducal Estate?'
Looking around, I was in my bedroom.
...How?
What about the Griffon?
Unable to grasp the situation, I blankly looked around like an idiot.
-Bang.
A maidservant entered my room.
“...Gasp!”
The maidservant gasped upon seeing me awake and ran down the hall, calling out dramatically.
“Your Grace! The Young Master is awake—!!”
Déjà vu.
This situation... felt like I'd been through it exactly once before.
Soon, Pablo and Sara entered my room.
Pablo remained stoic as ever, while Sara looked displeased for some reason, as if upset with me.
Sara soon approached me, lying in bed, and snapped.
“You! What kind of nonsense did you pull this time!”
Nonsense?
I'd only gone to fix my Dantian.
“Sneaking off to Taipan with the family escort knights and coachman—are you sane or not?!”
I bristled a bit.
The first words to a patient just waking up were nothing but finger-pointing? And based on assumptions?
I could tell over a day had passed since I blacked out.
Yet instead of worrying about a patient unconscious that long, she lashed out first. That irked me.
Usually, you'd explain the situation first, right?
What was I even expecting...?
“I didn't go to play.”
“What?”
“I said I didn't go to play.”
“Then what did you go for?”
“To fix my Dantian.”
“Ha?”
Sara looked down at me with eyes mixed contempt and bafflement.
I kept a straight face and responded calmly.
Then Pablo asked me.
“...A reward has arrived for slaying the Griffon on behalf of the family.”
Not even a week had passed, and it was already here?
The kingdom works fast. Efficient records too...
No, was it because we're a ducal house that they processed it quickly?
“Good. Add it to your pocket money, Father.”
“Did you slay the Griffon?”
“Yes.”
“Don't lie!”
Sara cut in, as if it was absurd.
“You slayed a Griffon? A Griffon is an ultra-high-tier beast that even 3-star realm swordsmen struggle with! How could a fat slob with a defective Dantian like you possibly slay one?”
Her nitpicking left me exasperated.
At this point, I was starting to get angry.
Had she even listened to me earlier?
“Don't you have a memory? I went to fix my Dantian.”
“Wh-what...?! Don't spout nonsense—it has to at least make sense...!”
This time, Pablo interjected.
“Looks like the rumors of you receiving private swordsmanship instruction from Lady Iris were true.”
Sara's eyes widened in shock at that.
“Ah, Father... What do you mean...?”
“Exactly as it sounds. Recent rumors. Maidservants frequently spotted you and Lady Iris alone together at night.”
“......”
Sara stared at me in shock.
What? What are you gonna do about it?
I only received sword lessons. Nothing shady.
I was innocent. Pablo's words were true in context...
But Sara seemed to interpret it differently.
“Th-then... that ridiculous rumor about Lady Iris having a secret rendezvous with this guy outside the ducal estate at night...”
Tears welled up in Sara's eyes.
...That was a twisted rumor.
It was just a casual walk, not a rendezvous. This misunderstanding was problematic.
No matter how much I denied it, the maidservants embellished the gossip...
My head started throbbing.
To avoid putting Lady Iris in a tough spot later, I needed to clear this up with everyone soon.