Chapter 72
Chapter 72
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 72
Chapter Title: The Dragon and Hero's Battle Is a Foregone Conclusion (2)
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“Are preparations all set?”
The guild's top adventurers had gathered to head to Bastia alongside Emmy.
I ask while looking at them.
No, there's no need to even ask.
With five veteran adventurers here, there's nothing to worry about.
Especially since they're all S-rank parties or solo adventurers who've traveled across the entire continent, they're experts at long expeditions.
They must be far better prepared than me, someone who's never even been on a proper trip.
It'll take about ten days to get there.
There are villages and cities along the way, and a port city right before entering the forested continent, so resupplying won't be an issue.
The real problem is the battle with the dragon... but that's something I can't get involved in anymore anyway.
I reviewed the Black Dragon's traits with them as much as possible... but in the end, the fight depends on them.
Honestly, I'd love to go with them.
I want to help them even a little.
But I know full well that if I tagged along, I'd just be dead weight in a dragon fight.
“Big Brother Kane, it's dangerous, so stay here.”
“It could turn into a huge disaster.”
“Yeah, where does a weakling like you think he's going?”
“Instructor Kane isn't weak! It's just a different field of expertise!”
They know it too.
Right. The battle against the evil dragon is the hero's duty.
I'm just an adventurer instructor.
And as just an instructor, I have my own job to do.
Here, teaching people.
...Yeah. That's the only thing I can do right now.
“We'll be back, Big Brother!”
“We're off.”
“Instructor Kane, see you soon.”
“Take care.”
They each bid me farewell and pass through Hassler's gates.
“......”
Dazzling.
Is the back of a hero heading to slay an evil dragon like this?
Is the back of a hero defeating a great demon and bringing peace to the continent like this?
Is the back of a hero party setting off to save the world like this?
So many thoughts flood my mind as I watch their radiant silhouettes.
What if I could stand right there in the middle with them?
What if I were a hero or a hero candidate—or even someone like Veronica, at the pinnacle of her field?
Could I be in that position?
“...Pointless delusions.”
You can't change the aptitudes you're born with.
And I, with these eyes, know that better than anyone.
But.
Still.
Maybe.
What if these pointless delusions could become even a little real?
Maybe I glimpsed that possibility when I learned dagger arts.
In fact, while learning dagger arts, I achieved growth on par with someone of aptitude.
Thanks to memorizing theory until the books were worn to shreds.
Of course, it takes far more effort than for those with aptitude, and it's much harder.
But still... if I piled up that much effort in other areas too.
Maybe a day could come when I become useful to them?
“...I need to learn something.”
Growing through learning feels good.
Seeing theory become reality in practice feels good.
And finally.
The thought of one day standing shoulder-to-shoulder with them, walking side by side.
It makes my body itch unbearably.
“Guess I'll start with martial arts.”
For now, let's build up the theory.
I've already read quite a bit on martial arts, but since it's a skill that directly uses the body, it varies a lot by person.
And it's heavily influenced by movement style, environment, and more.
So basics differ quite a bit.
Weapon skills have established fundamentals with applications built on top.
That's why martial arts are said to be harder to learn than weapon skills.
Well, not really.
If you just adopt one style and master it, it'd actually be easier.
But I want to learn many martial arts, then mix and apply them.
A few books won't cover every martial art out there.
For now, let's gather all sorts of materials.
Hassler's resources might fall a bit short.
Maybe I need Carmen's capital library or the imperial library for enough?
The imperial library, huh.
Since we've built friendly relations, maybe His Majesty the Emperor would open it for me if I asked?
...Should I head back to the capital after so long?
For now, before that, I'll learn some practical stuff too...
There was definitely an A-rank adventurer in Hassler who was a martial artist.
Oh, and Emmy Brave had pretty high martial arts aptitude too.
If only there was time, I'd have learned from her.
Ah, but beastkin martial arts might feel a bit different?
Anyway.
Lots to do.
Keep exercising to build stamina, learn martial arts, and after that...
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ “Oh, you're back.”
Emperor Karr 17th welcomed his butler grandly upon his return from Hassler.
“How did it go?”
He asked his butler with eager anticipation.
Honestly, he had already predicted the outcome.
It was an offer that couldn't possibly harm them, and even if they suspected ulterior motives, there was no reason to refuse.
He was certain the other side... Instructor Kane would accept.
“As Your Majesty promised full support, we have established friendly relations with them.”
“Excellent. Very well done.”
It was a bit ambiguous phrasing.
It might even look like handing out favors like a sucker under the guise of friendship.
But nothing in the world is truly free.
By providing support through friendly ties without holding back.
Nothing binds the Hassler branch more tightly than debt like this.
When he later asked for help, they'd find it hard to refuse after all they'd received.
And in the end, when they helped the imperial side.
Since it would be help they chose to give, without any orders or contracts.
All choices would rest with the Hassler side.
And above all.
‘The key is making them think they offered the help themselves.’
That's how people are.
If they move by contract or command, the phrase ‘no choice’ lingers in their heart.
But if they choose to help on their own?
They naturally think deeper about their relationship with that person.
The more they do, the more they exchange help, deepening ties.
‘After a few such exchanges, they're practically on my side.’
Not moving people with paper or forced orders.
But moving hearts.
‘However, Instructor Kane is a concern.’
The problem is, once they see through all this, their heart won't budge.
If they grasp it, it's no different from a contract on paper.
Instructor Kane.
He shone brilliantly even stopping the Troll Lord.
Mersen Remnant, who cared nothing for commoners let alone nobles, focused solely on hero duties.
That same man praised this commoner effusively.
And he was one of Marquis Harkur's retainers.
The first commoner to hold an academy teaching position.
By career or background.
He's no ordinary man.
There's even talk Jenny Harkur became an adventurer because of Kane.
He's probably the real center of the Hassler branch.
That's why he specifically called Instructor Kane when delivering the offer—to gauge him.
“So, what was he like? This Kane fellow.”
He asked the butler.
About the man named Kane.
“...A very meticulous man.”
The Kane the butler saw was meticulous.
‘...Me? Really...?’
Playing the fool as if he weren't the real leader of Hassler branch.
‘Sorry I'm late. I had to check with the others.’
Gathering and relaying others' opinions, not his own.
“It felt like he was saying, ‘I'm not the person you think I am.’”
Controlling him yields nothing, that's what it felt like.
But contacting Scarlett or Jenny directly would be pointless.
With Kane holding the reins, his opinion is the branch's.
“...I see. We've made friendly ties, but he won't show us everything.”
So the emperor thought.
A man without flaws.
He'd read all his thoughts, accepted the support, but wouldn't yield his heart.
“Kane... a fearsome man.”
From one probe, the emperor promised support but gained little.
The other side loses nothing, gains all.
The basics of one-sided diplomacy.
‘But not bad.’
In the end, he confirmed Kane leads Hassler branch.
And they forged positive relations regardless.
Satisfactory harvest for now.
That's how he decided to view it.
“Next time, I'd like to meet him in person.”
Somehow, he felt they'd get along well.
Such thoughts crossed Karr 17th's mind.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ “Ah, I miss Big Brother Kane already.”
Three hours after leaving Hassler.
Alongside beastkin hero Emmy Brave.
The Scarlett Party, Veronica, Rin, and Jenny were trekking through the forest.
That's when Jenny let out a deep sigh and said that.
Scarlett chuckled in disbelief.
“Hey, it's only been three hours?”
Just three hours.
Ten days there, ten days back.
The dragon battles in between? Who knows how long.
Just three hours into a month-long journey at minimum.
Seeing Jenny already missing Kane—showing classic Kane withdrawal symptoms—everyone laughed in exasperation.
But unlike the others, Rin nodded in understanding.
“I get how you feel. I'm dizzy from Kane withdrawal right now too.”
Everyone shot her looks like ‘That bad...?’
Except Jenny, who nodded vigorously in agreement.
“Yeah, Rin gets it. Three hours without Big Brother Kane, and I'm already fading.”
“......”
“What, he's not some mana-recharge magic tool.”
Treating Kane like a portable battery had everyone fed up.
And they marveled at how two girls crushing on the same guy got along so well.
‘At that level, it's not romantic—it's worshipping him like a god.’
‘Like a cult leader or deity... something like that...?’
That's when Emmy Brave, leading the way, tilted her head.
“Can Elder Kane recharge people?”
“......”
The others, except Jenny and Rin, shook their heads as if not to take her words at face value.
“Big Brother Kane can do anything. He probably knows the theory at least.”
“Right, if he wanted to, he could.”
The duo's non-stop Kane worship elevated him to omnipotent creator god status.
“Ooh... Elder Kane is amazing... No, not elder. Katar the God!”
“Who's Katar God?”
“Beastkin god. Created the beastkin world.”
“A beastkin god? Instructor Kane is a god in his own right!”
Unbeknownst to Kane, his nickname had evolved from Elder Kane to the one true god Kane.