Chapter 7
Chapter 7
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 7
Chapter Title: An Unwelcome Summons
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The next day.
When I opened my eyes, an oddly cloying scent pricked my nose.
What was this smell?
‘The scent of roses?’
Glancing around with half-open eyes, I quickly found the source of the fragrance.
There was a vase on the table next to the bed, and in it were bright red roses.
“Such taste.”
Ruan Bednicker and the scent of roses. What an absurdly mismatched pair.
Of course, there was a reason.
It was because one of the symbols of the Bednicker family is the rose.
In fact, the walls of the main family’s estate were covered in rose vines.
“Ugh…”
I staggered out of bed.
Away from the blankets, it was quite chilly. Was it late autumn or early winter? I couldn't quite remember.
The room was still dim.
Seeing as my fatigue hadn't fully lifted, I probably hadn't slept the whole day.
“…Is it still dawn?”
It was exactly that kind of feeling.
The kind when you want to sleep more, but your body wakes up early out of habit.
A state where you're still tired, but it feels awkward to go back to sleep.
Trying to force myself back to sleep in this state would just be a waste of time, so I got out of bed.
“Mm.”
And then, my body screamed from head to toe.
Muscle aches?
It seemed to be from overexerting myself yesterday.
What a pathetic body, truly.
Still, it wasn't unbearable, so I shuffled over to the mirror.
This was a historic moment, the first time I'd faced myself since coming to the past, but…
A scrawny weakling was standing in the mirror, looking back at me.
Of course, it was me.
“This is worse than I thought.”
With my platinum blond hair and pale skin, I already looked frail, but now I was so gaunt I looked like an invalid.
It was a wonder I managed to perform the White Sun Eclipse in this emaciated state.
First, I needed to do something about this body, but it was a difficult problem in many ways.
I fundamentally don't overeat and have a constitution that doesn't easily gain weight.
On top of that, my palate is ridiculously picky.
I was sensitive to the smell and texture of ingredients, like some wannabe gourmet.
Still, I could never compromise on my meals, so I'd put effort into cooking even right after my Master beat me all day until my bones were broken.
A sensitive palate might be considered a rather refined advantage in aristocratic society, but…
Considering the path I must now walk, it was nothing but a hindrance.
A talent that found the wrong owner, you could say.
“I'm hungry.”
The thought of food made my stomach churn.
It was only natural, having gone through that whole ordeal last night without eating anything.
In any case, I was finally back in my hometown after a long time and could eat the local food.
Should I go to the dining hall?
It was still early, but the kitchen always started its day early.
They'd probably give me something if I went.
I was about to leave the room to satisfy my hunger and look around the estate for the first time in a while, but…
*Creeak.*
“Gasp…”
Someone was standing in front of the door.
Her face seemed familiar.
Probably one of the maids who was in the room when I woke up yesterday.
She looked like a timid squirrel, and I remembered she was the one who had panicked the most when Keian showed up yesterday.
“Y-Young Master. Are you awake?”
“And you are?”
“I'm Liza.”
The maid named Liza bowed her head deeply. I gave a cursory nod.
“Alright, Liza. What is it at this hour?”
“I-I came to check on your condition, Young Master. I didn't find any abnormalities when I checked on you last night, but… are you feeling unwell anywhere?”
“I'm fine, aside from being hungry. Speaking of which, can you bring me something to eat?”
“Ah, yes. I'll prepare breakfast right away.”
“Right. By the way, where is my mother?”
Liza then said with a somewhat flustered expression.
“The mistress went to the main family estate three weeks ago.”
“…”
I was wondering why I hadn't seen her even with the Collector here. Right, that's what happened.
On second thought, even Arjan wouldn't have been able to beat me up if my mother had been here.
“I see. You may go now.”
“Yes.”
Bowing her head, Liza first entered the room and…
She replaced the flowers in the vase.
“Hey, those roses…”
“Yes?”
“…Never mind. Carry on.”
“Yes, sir.”
* * *
A short while later, Liza brought a simple breakfast.
Maybe my appetite hadn't returned yet, but it tasted awful.
I ate just enough to fill my stomach, then washed myself. They must have slathered me with so many medicinal herbs because a foul smell was coming from my body.
By the time I had washed up and was stretching my stiff body, the sun had fully risen.
As the sun drove away the darkness and chill of the estate, my mood improved along with it.
Was it because of the martial art I learned?
Or was it simply human nature?
I much preferred the day over the night.
“Young Master, are you awake?”
“Are you feeling unwell anywhere…?”
It would have been much better if these people hadn't barged in.
I glared at the servants of the estate with irritated eyes.
The sight of their backs as they scurried away when Keian barged in was still vivid in my mind.
To be honest, I had no intention of reprimanding them for that alone. My personality back then was just that terrible.
But if they were going to act like that, they could at least be consistent.
They were quick to flee and pretend they saw nothing, but now that the Collector was gone, they were all flocking back to spout their insincere concerns.
In any case, given my own past misdeeds, I couldn't just beat them and kick them out.
I waited until their fake worries were over before speaking.
“Alright, that's enough. All of you, out. I'm going to rest some more.”
“Yes. Um, but, Young Master.”
“What.”
“What happened with the collection?”
“Can't you tell by looking at me?”
Even as I waved my arms to show them, they just blinked their eyes.
“The collection was not carried out.”
“What?”
“I persuaded him with words, and he left.”
“Th-That can't be…”
“That's enough, now get out. While I'm still being nice.”
They looked like they wanted to ask more questions, but I forced them out.
Before closing the door, I didn't forget to add one last thing.
“Don't let anyone in for a while. And don't even knock.”
“What? Ah, underst—.”
*Slam.* The room finally fell silent after I closed the door.
I enjoyed the silence for a moment before throwing open the window.
“The weather's nice for the middle of winter.”
The sun was strong, but the wind was cold.
I like it.
The perfect amount of chill helps awaken a weary mind.
With a smile, I plopped down in front of the window where the sunlight was pouring in.
My first moment alone since coming to the past.
I straightened my back and sat cross-legged.
I closed my eyes…
And began the one thing I should have done first after arriving in the past.
The divine art of Baek Rogwang, the World's Greatest.
Circulating the Arts of the Greatest of All Time.
* * *
The Arts of the Greatest of All Time is a cultivation method.
In the terms of this world, it's a method of refinement.
The sun being at its zenith meant it was the best time to circulate the Arts of the Greatest of All Time.
The Arts of the Greatest of All Time is rooted in the Five Elements, and according to this method, most humans can be classified into one of five attributes.
They are Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water…
Whether my Master intended it or it was mere coincidence, each of his five disciples possessed a different attribute.
My attribute was Fire, and my Master told me that aiming to be a simple match flame was unimpressive; I should become a being great enough to swallow the sun.
Anyway.
As with all cultivation methods, environmental factors are especially important when circulating the Arts of the Greatest of All Time.
It's not enough for a place to simply be full of nature's energy; one must find a location that matches their attribute.
Simply put, if your attribute is Wood, circulating your art in a forest will be much more efficient—that sort of concept.
In my case, it's best to concentrate during the day. It's most efficient when the sun is at its zenith.
In truth, the optimal locations are lands dense with yang energy, volcanic regions, or, in extreme cases, places where great fires have occurred in the past.
‘It would be difficult to seek out such places in my current state.’
I sat on the floor, cross-legged, concentrating my mind for several minutes.
Soon, I opened my eyes with a frown.
“…Wow.”
A dry laugh escaped me.
I already knew my body from this era was garbage just by looking in the mirror, but examining its inner workings revealed an even more pathetic state.
Even a six-year-old kid would be healthier than this.
My innate bone and muscle structure isn't bad, but…
After living a debauched life for quite some time, and having recently been beaten to a pulp, I was practically no different from a patient on their deathbed.
‘Will a month be enough?’
With a body like this, it would take at least half a year to make it usable.
That's because the Arts of the Greatest of All Time is a martial art that places a particularly high emphasis on external training.
‘I'll have to cut back on sleep…’
I focused my consciousness on the sunlight pouring through the cool breeze.
The heat I felt through my clothes.
This heat would be my starting point.
The starting point of the Fire attribute of the Arts of the Greatest of All Time—in short, the Flame Arts of the Greatest.
First, I had to convert the heat absorbed through my skin into fire energy within my body, and then utilize it.
“…”
A flame I could control at will.
To obtain that fingernail-sized flame, I sat perfectly still for a long time.
If I moved, the fire energy I had painstakingly gathered would dissipate.
I thought of this process as being similar to shielding a match flame from a raging blizzard.
It meant the task was arduous, but not impossible.
‘…’
How much time had passed?
By the time my entire body was drenched in a cold sweat, and I felt a drop fall from my chin…
*Fwoosh—.*
A faint flame surged in my dantian.
Not a real flame, of course, but a sign that internal energy containing fire ki had finally been born.
“Hooooo…”
I let out a long sigh, taking a short break.
Even a simple exhale carried heat like a warm breeze—proof that I had successfully taken the first step into the Flame Arts of the Greatest.
From here on, it gets a little easier.
Careful not to extinguish the burning flame, I nurtured it, making it grow. At the same time, I expanded the enlarged mass of fire energy throughout my entire body.
The countless blood vessels in my body, and the impurities accumulated in my internal organs.
I easily burned away the first impurities I encountered with the flame, then slightly opened my mouth.
*Pshhh…*
A little black smoke trickled out of my mouth.
The foul smell was unpleasant, but it was a necessary process I had to endure.
Besides, it was much better than other cultivation methods. Usually, the impurities gathered while circulating energy are expelled from the body through its orifices.
And what does that look like?
Foul-smelling sludge gushing not only from your mouth, but from every pore on your body…
‘Ugh…’
My stomach turned, so I stopped thinking about it.
In truth, when it came to removing bodily impurities, the Flame Arts of the Greatest was the most superior among the Arts of the Greatest of All Time.
You just had to burn them away.
Of course, a lack of proficiency could result in severe damage to blood vessels or organs… but there was no way the current me would make such a basic mistake.
‘This is more fun than I thought.’
I thought the process of cleansing the vessel would be tedious, but it's surprisingly enjoyable.
Perhaps it's because the task is so much easier now than when I first started the Flame Arts of the Greatest?
At first, I moved in small increments, but once I got used to it, my speed literally caught fire.
‘So this is why they say it's good to learn martial arts when you're young.’
I was struck anew by what a great fortune had come my way.
A mature mind inhabiting an immature body.
With this mature mind, I could accurately identify my body's problems and areas for improvement…
Even the most brilliant master couldn't provide such sharp insights.
In the end, the only one who can understand me most accurately is myself.
‘The speed at which I accumulate internal energy will be several times faster than before.’
And the purity of the accumulated energy will be far greater as well.
If I could regain a level of martial prowess similar to my Spirit Mountain days with this body, I would surely be much stronger than I was back then.
Now, I was beginning to understand a little of my Master's intention in sending me to the past.
If I could master the Flame Arts of the Greatest and perfect the White Sun Eclipse with a body built meticulously from the ground up, I would be able to stand against my Eldest Martial Brother.
Of course, that didn't mean my other questions were answered.
Why was Eldest Martial Brother excommunicated, and why didn't Master handle it himself?
Furthermore, why did he choose me out of the four remaining disciples?
What did it have to do with sending me to the past?
‘…Not something to think about right now.’
I pushed aside the questions that had surfaced all at once.
The answers to all these problems were likely held by my Master or Eldest Martial Brother, but at my current level, knowing the truth would be meaningless.
It was a simple principle: my personal martial strength was currently insignificant.
‘First, I need to get stronger.’
Recalling the words my Master used to say like a mantra, I focused on circulating my energy.
* * *
After that, I remained cooped up in my room, focusing my efforts on circulating the Flame Arts of the Greatest.
I poured all my strength into cleansing the vessel that was my body, forcing down disgustingly bland food.
It required a certain degree of patience.
After finally escaping Spirit Mountain and returning to my homeland, being stuck in my room made me antsy, naturally.
Still, I couldn't skip this process.
In any case, after a week of this, my pathetic body had improved to some extent.
Of course, it was just an improvement; nothing had fundamentally changed in a major way.
For now, I knew what the biggest problem was in my current situation.
My internal energy was too low.
Of course, the comparison was to my dantian from ten years ago, so it was natural I'd feel a greater sense of emptiness, but even taking that into account, it was still too little.
“A spirit pill would be perfect right now.”
I had to laugh at my own words.
Spirit pills weren't exactly weeds you could find on the side of the road…
Especially during this period, when competition between the Great Families was fierce, even relatively low-quality spirit pills were hard to come by.
“…Still, should I try looking for one?”
Even a low-grade one would be a huge help.
I was planning on going out today anyway.
If I explored the area outside the estate or scoured the night markets in a nearby city, couldn't I get lucky and find a low-grade spirit pill?
My eye for these things was decent enough, after all.
“Alright.”
With a sense of excitement, I opened the door to my room.
And with light steps, I walked down the hall, ready to stride confidently out the estate's main gate—
“Greetings, Young Master.”
But.
A group of knights clad in crimson armor blocked my path.
I looked at the knights, bewildered. They weren't the knights of this estate.
Not because I remembered their faces, but because I had seen that distinctive red armor before.
“I am Osel of the Fang Knights.”
The Fang Knights.
The personal knight order of the Iron-Blooded Duke, belonging to the Bednicker Family.
“We have orders from the Family Head to escort you to the main estate.”
They had appeared out of nowhere.