12
I Killed the Demon King. It Was a Mistake.
Chapter 12
Smir was a cooler guy than expected.
"Good. Then let's start by analyzing your constitution. I'll need to draw some blood."
The problem is he's so cool it's almost chilling.
"Wait, are you really accepting this?"
"Yes. So give me your blood. We don't have much time."
"We haven't even discussed how much you're paying for it."
"The Magic Tower handles such money matters. Once they appraise it, I'll make potions worth that amount."
"Just the cost of potion ingredients must be quite expensive, right?"
"We've accumulated quite a bit in donations. Think of it as using that up this time."
Damn!
Seeing him so pleased doesn't make me feel good at all.
I would have felt better if he had been more desperate.
Could it be that I'm a sadist?
No, that's not it.
Caesar handed over two gold coins.
"Alright. A deal's a deal."
The two gold coins that left Caesar's hand fluttered and disappeared somewhere in the corner of the room.
Smir brought a syringe.
"Wait, that's sterilized, right?"
"If it's not clean, foreign substances will mix in, making it difficult to check your constitution. It's a very troublesome thing."
Troublesome... No, it's good that it's clean.
I was worried the syringe might be dirty too, given the terrible state of the room.
Caesar comfortably offered his arm.
"You draw from the arm opposite to Finn."
"Yes."
Caesar was surprised.
"Wait, how much are you drawing?"
"About 1 liter."
"Why so much?!"
"You won't die. I've seen people survive even with 2 liters drawn."
"That sounds like you've seen people die from drawing blood?"
"You're noisy."
A tourniquet is applied to Caesar's body, and the needle pierces his vein.
"Were you a tank knight? It's not going in easily."
"That's right."
"Anyway, don't think about moving in your current state. Your blood vessels might tear apart."
After that, Caesar had various samples taken from him.
Not just flesh, but hair, saliva, urine, and even feces were collected.
It feels like a health checkup.
"...Is it all done now?"
"Lastly, I need to check your aura tendency."
"Is that possible?"
"There aren't many magicians who can do that."
Smir brought a crystal ball.
"By any chance, can you use sword energy?"
"What are you expecting from a tank knight? I'm not a technique Knight."
"I guess you're right."
Sword energy can only be used by technique knights who have extremely developed aura senses.
Or by crazy geniuses like Yan.
You can think of sword energy as the pinnacle and final stage for technique-type knights.
There's something called sword force above that...
But it's better not to mention that. It's a legendary level.
"Then focus your aura on your palm. You can do that much, right?"
Caesar focused his aura on his palm as Smir said.
The crystal ball started to react faintly.
It started with a blue color, changed to red, then black, and finally stopped at a dark red color.
"Looks like you've killed a lot of people."
"How do you know that?"
"Magic has no characteristics or color when it exists in nature. But it changes shape and properties according to the will of intelligent life forms."
Smir said as he retrieved the crystal ball.
"And you, when you use aura, you think of 'blood'. That's why your aura color is dark red."
"I could be thinking of roses, you know."
"Don't you think it's strange to imagine roses every time you swing a weapon?"
Well... That's true.
Smir took back the crystal ball.
"Anyway, come regularly. Every Monday at 2 PM would be good."
"You drew so much blood and you want to draw more?"
"I won't be drawing blood. We'll start with allergy tests and then test various elixirs that could positively affect your body. I don't have time today, so you can go now."
This guy is more serious than I thought.
Somehow, he seems more reliable than he looks.
It seems Finn introduced a proper alchemist.
"Is there anything I should be cautious about?"
"It's best not to take other potions if possible. That would change your constitution."
"Hm. I see. What about body strengthening techniques?"
"From a magical perspective, body strengthening techniques don't change your constitution, they stimulate and grow it."
"So you mean it's okay to do?"
"That's right."
"Okay. Got it."
With that, Caesar and Finn left the Magic Tower.
***
As soon as they left the Magic Tower, Finn said with surprise.
"I never imagined Professor Smir would give permission so easily."
"What? Did you think it wouldn't work?"
"I thought he'd just write a recommendation letter and pass you on to another alchemist. Professor Smir is usually very busy."
Judging by the messy state of his room, he does seem busy.
These geniuses always seem to have a screw loose somewhere.
"By the way, what's Professor Smir's specialty?"
"Mainly biology. Unlike most magicians, he's very interested in using non-magical sciences like chemistry to treat humans."
"Not magic?"
"He thinks that while growth is possible with magic, complete healing is impossible. In fact, no one has ever succeeded in it."
Come to think of it, there are no healing magicians in this world.
Usually in games and such, priests use holy magic for healing, but there's nothing like that here.
"There are potions though."
"Potions... Professor Smir seems to really dislike them."
"Really?"
That's a bit strange.
Most people, including eccentric magicians, don't dislike potions.
They love them, actually.
High-concentration holy water potions can save people on the brink of death and heal most external injuries.
It's strange to dislike them.
So what does Caesar think about potions?
Caesar doesn't just dislike potions, he abhors them.
There are two reasons:
The process of producing potions is horrifically inhumane, and
Using potions triggers psychometry sensitively, causing nightmares.
Smir's reason for disliking potions probably isn't because of nightmares... Does he know about the process of making potions?
That can't be.
That truth is treated as a top-secret even within the Royder Order, so hardly anyone knows about it.
"Anyway, there's no need to stay in Sapientia anymore, right?"
"I originally planned to buy some common potions... but if I can't, there's nothing we can do. By the way, how long have you been working with that professor?"
"I studied pharmacology in that lab for about a year. I'm still learning from him, so it's been over 7 years now."
To think he's been with that screw-loose person for 7 years.
I should think twice about getting too close to him.
"Let's go home then. Since I can't take potions, I'll have to do some training for a while."
***
Caesar went up to the rooftop of the Hilton Hotel for training.
Thump- Thump-
Caesar stomped around here and there.
"It's not as sturdy as I thought."
Unfortunately, it seems he can't do intense training here.
He'll have to rent a private training ground later if possible.
Caesar took a deep breath in and out.
Body strengthening technique is like a growth-type passive skill in games.
It uses the aura circulating in the body to stimulate various parts, transforming muscles, bones, and the nervous system.
That's why when you look at the anatomical diagrams of knights and ordinary people, they often differ in structure and even color.
Then, are there no other means for knights to become stronger besides body strengthening techniques?
Of course there are.
For technique knights, they can learn specialized 'swordsmanship' or 'spearmanship'.
For classic knights, they can get high-quality armor.
Then how should tank knights grow?
The answer is to do whatever they want.
Whether it's buying sturdy armor, learning new axe techniques or aura manipulation, or arming themselves with artifacts, they can grow freely in whatever direction they desire.
'I guess this time, technique knight would be better.'
Of course, even if he hones his skills, it would be extremely difficult to imbue sword energy like Yan or Mitchell.
The chances of failure are higher.
But that doesn't mean there's no way.
If he can't use sword energy, he can buy expensive weapons.
If you splurge on weapons, you can get ones that are as sturdy and sharp as those using sword energy.
The 'Wilderness' that Barre used is a prime example.
An axe containing 10% giant tree wood won't break even if Yan strikes it with all his might, only damaging the blade.
Of course, it would break after hundreds of exchanges, but if you use an even more expensive and better axe, it wouldn't matter.
Anyway, back to the main point, Caesar has realized some limitations while living as 'Barre'.
Barre was a strong tank Royder-type knight, combining tank and classic.
You might wonder how such a hybrid exists, but that's just how it is.
He actually sparred with Yan and Mitchell, and while he could somewhat hold his own against Mitchell, he couldn't win against Yan at all.
Of course, that doesn't mean he can't crack demon skulls, but he didn't want to become a strong tank Royder-type knight with clear limitations again.
This time, he's aiming for the extraordinary.
So his goal this time is to become a fast tank Royder-type knight.
Somehow, as the name gets longer, it loses its coolness.
Is there a better naming?
Tech tank Royder knight?
Something seems off.
Tech Royder knight?
This is even worse.
It sounds like a dangerously inappropriate name.
'Let's call it Hybrid.'
Hybrid.
It's an expensive and sophisticated name.
I like it.
"Hah..."
Caesar gripped the axe with both hands and changed his breathing method.
He inhales more deeply, holds it in his lungs for a bit longer, and exhales slowly.
The basics of body strengthening techniques are breathing, heartbeat, and finally, aura.
True body strengthening technique is manifested when all three are in sync.
The body strengthening technique that Caesar has been using 24/7 until now is called 'Giant Stone', traditionally learned by barbarians.
Once you get used to it, you can get stronger even while sleeping, and when you fight using Giant Stone, your physical durability increases dramatically, making it perfect for aspiring tank knights.
But the body strengthening technique he's trying to practice now is a technique knight one.
Basically, because technique knight hardening arts require entering a 'meditative' state where breathing and heart rate are lowered during training, Caesar deliberately took long breaths and calmed his mind.
All bodily sensations focus only on the feel of the axe handles in both hands and the heartbeat.
Caesar entered a complete meditation in just 10 seconds.
Now, the important thing is to pioneer a new path in the magic circuits that were moving along the muscles and skeletal structure.
Caesar sharply carved and pushed in one sensation into his emptied mind through meditation.
Then the magic circuits began to stir and pioneer a new path.
The direction they headed was precisely the nervous system.
In fact, technique knights are difficult to perfect and extremely tricky to become.
This is because only the 12 knight families who exterminated dragons with the emperor 230 years ago, bringing peace to the Valent continent, and their subordinate families can create technique knights.
If one challenges it without knowing better and the nervous system is abnormally transformed, in martial arts terms, they might have a 'fit of delirium' and have seizures, or in the worst case, become a 'demon'.
So unless there was a proper master to help beside you, it was better not to even dream of becoming a technique knight.
But Caesar had no worry at all about falling into a fit of delirium.
After all, Caesar had perfectly learned the hardening arts of the Redfield family, one of only two Viscount families in the empire, and even called the current top power.
How?
By using psychometry on the guy's sword while Michel Redfield was passed out to steal his skills and know-how.
Caesar slowly swung down the axe in his right hand.
It was at a speed like a snail crawling.
However, the direction was certain and the path was straight.
The technique Caesar is currently unfolding is 'Red Wing (적익)', one of the Redfield family's swordsmanship techniques.
It's a swordsmanship and hardening art technique that only members of the Redfield family can learn, meaning red wing.
It's a crazy technique where reflexes and aura sensitivity increase the more you use it, and if expressed in game terms, it has an over-balanced performance.
However, what Caesar is using is an axe.
It doesn't match with light and nimble swordsmanship.
'Then I'll just modify it.'
Caesar began to modify the technique that only 'swords' could use into his own style.
Unlike swords, axes have their center of gravity very far forward.
So they can never achieve the same speed as swords.
Rather, if you tried to follow Red Wing exactly, your shoulder wouldn't be able to withstand it and would dislocate.
That's why Caesar decided to compromise appropriately.
Instead of maximizing aggression, he decided to modify it into a perfect defensive technique that could deflect all attacks coming within a certain radius.
Named 'Noisy Silence'.
It's quiet now because it's moving slowly, but when it's used in earnest, it will create a fierce gale.
...Probably?
Then the axe in his left hand also begins to move.
The direction is opposite to the direction his right hand axe is moving.
Because the center of gravity had to be balanced, he had to follow a predetermined pattern.
'But I can't give up dual wielding.'
That's the core of romance.
He will use dual weapons no matter what, even if just for the sake of the romantic path he's walked so far.
Caesar swung his axes drawing elegant curves, as if he was dancing.
As he did so, the auras circulating in Caesar's body stimulated the nervous system and muscles according to the set flow.
All techniques come from a perfected body.
No matter how strong muscles you have that can do a one-punch three-point punch, if your wrist bones aren't sturdy, they'll all break.
Likewise, Caesar began to build a body to use 'Noisy Silence'.
Without realizing time was passing.
***
Ramsky headed to the Hilton Hotel with documents in hand.
He gathered everything that could roughly show the mansion blueprints, locations, and even prices to show Caesar.
Because of this, Ramsky and the Parker Bank employees couldn't go home for six days.
When he went to the front desk, a hotelier welcomed Ramsky.
"Where is Lord Caesar?"
"He's on the rooftop."
"The rooftop? Why?"
"He said he was training, so unless it's really urgent, don't call him."
Ramsky began to ponder.
He had heard that knights basically do something called training.
If he interrupted while Caesar was focusing on training, Caesar's axe might end up stuck in Ramsky's forehead.
"Since when has he been training?"
"Since after he had dinner yesterday until now."
"What?! It's been 12 hours?"
"Yes. So I was wondering whether to serve breakfast or not."
Ramsky thought for a moment and then spoke.
"I'll go up. Bring breakfast and follow me."
"Ah, yes, understood."
Ramsky boarded the elevator.
Although he looked like nothing more or less than a human butcher when cracking people's skulls, now it seemed like he might be able to see a knightly side.
In fact, Ramsky was also seeing a knight train for the first time, so he was a bit excited.
If you've read a fairy tale where you heroically break through enemy lines to rescue a princess and then get married, you might have thought about becoming a knight.
Since Ramsky was once a child too, of course he had dreamed of being a knight.
He just gave up the moment he realized he was terribly uncoordinated.
Ding-
The elevator stopped.
To get to the rooftop, you have to go up one more staircase from here.
Ramsky and the hotelier opened the rooftop door and went up.
Whoosh… Whoosh… Whoosh… Whoosh.
Every time Caesar's axe cut through the air, a vortex occurred.
That vortex blew away all the dust scattered on the rooftop floor.
'A knight is indeed a knight.'
I don't know what it is, but it looks very cool.
A gust of wind blowing every time the axe moves.
Isn't it like the wingbeat of a bird taking flight into the sky?
However, the admiration didn't last long.
Whoosh-!
"Ugh. Cough! Cough!"
The dust vortex Caesar created all went into Ramsky's mouth and nose.