Chapter 28
Chapter 28
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Translator: True Detective
Chapter: 28
Chapter Title: Demigod (1)
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“It was tough.”
Yuri’s answer was straightforward.
A vein pulsed faintly on Johan’s forehead, who had been brimming with anticipation.
“…If Mara Style was just some mediocre technique from the start, do you think I’d have hired a punk like you to refine it? I would’ve handled it myself.”
“Probably, right?”
“Then why the hell are you dragging it out like that!”
“Dragging it out makes me look like I’ve got something going on, doesn’t it?”
“…Before I strip you bare and kick you out, tell me how it felt to use ‘Deflection’ today. Spit it out.”
Johan threatened Yuri, his fist trembling.
For some reason, though, Johan had been using the term “deflected” ever since earlier.
In the spar, it had looked to everyone like Yuri had simply redirected Mu-chi’s Cold Wall Breaker right back at him.
Even Master Ralph had judged it that way.
Yet Johan kept insisting it was a deflection.
And Yuri, answering Johan’s questions, accepted the term as if it were obvious.
“The stronger the power of the opponent’s technique, the easier it is to sense the flow. But deflecting that flow gets correspondingly harder.”
[The flow of all things in the world is subordinate to the flow of mana, the root of all creation.]
Mara Style had been born from that philosophy.
To master it, one naturally had to start by sensing the flow of mana.
The next step was arbitrarily redirecting that sensed flow of mana.
That was the essence of the technique Yuri had used on Mu-chi, which they called “Deflection.”
In other words, what Ralph had thought was redirecting the opponent’s force was actually just a somewhat unique form of “Deflection.”
And even that was still immature and incomplete.
But Yuri and Johan weren’t disappointed.
Instead of disappointment, they put their heads together to find ways to improve it.
“And? Anything else you noticed?”
“For starters, when deploying Mara Style, there’s too much pressure on mana circuits two, six, and eleven.”
“The pressure on two and eleven was intentional, but six was unexpected. Think about why.”
The two conversed with serious expressions.
From the beginning, Yuri and Johan’s relationship had started from their shared interest in a new form of mana martial arts—Mara Style.
Yuri’s goal was to master mana martial arts and resolve the imbalance between his mind, body, and mana.
Johan’s goal was to use Yuri to find and perfect the improvements to the mana martial arts he had devised.
At first, their objectives had differed.
And Yuri had achieved his goal first.
He had sealed his vital energy with the Shari earring, mastered mana martial arts to balance his mind, body, and mana, and now he could shed the label of “living on borrowed time.”
Because of that, he could have half-assed his cooperation with Johan, but Yuri didn’t.
“But how did you endure the remaining force after deflecting it? The backlash should’ve been massive. Honestly, I’m shocked you’re standing here unscathed.”
“I used Deflection on my own body too. If I could deflect external mana flows, I figured I could deflect the mana flows generated in my own flesh.”
Yuri was as passionate as Johan……
No, in some ways, even more so, about finding improvements to Mara Style.
Even if it meant risking danger with bold new experiments.
That was because he now had a new purpose.
The ultimate goal of Mara Style was to control mana flows and wield the opponent’s power as if it were your own.
Witnessing that ultimate Mara Style with his own hands had become Yuri’s new aspiration.
“Hoh? You came up with that reckless idea in the heat of the moment and just went for it without a second thought? Brave or just stupid.”
“Hey, does it matter? It worked, didn’t it?”
“You got lucky. One slip-up, and you wouldn’t have gotten off with just broken limbs.”
“Feels like it. With my current proficiency, I probably couldn’t handle another Cold Wall Breaker-level attack. Back-to-back like that, and my body would’ve given out first.”
“Hmm, don’t worry about that. Techniques of that caliber aren’t that common. Not many your age can even pull one off. That kid Mu-chi is a genius who’d be hailed anywhere.”
“Good to know.”
“Hmm, dispersing the flow through your internal body…… That’s an interesting idea. Worth researching.”
“Oh, and……”
During their discussion on Mara Style, the two shed the roles of teacher and student.
They were equals, both pursuing the “ultimate Mara Style.”
Afterward, Yuri and Johan talked at length about improvements to Mara Style.
The conversation that began in the afternoon didn’t end until stars dotted the night sky.
Johan stretched his stiff back after sitting so long.
Crack.
“Ow, my back.”
“My whole body’s aching… Feels like I’m gonna die.”
“Quit whining, you brat.”
Johan chuckled and scolded him, but he knew exactly how Yuri’s body felt.
‘Well, he was already in rough shape, and we talked for hours without rest. No wonder he’s beat.’
Johan worried inwardly but didn’t show it.
“Rest up today and tomorrow. Before we leave, let’s work on stably applying those ideas you came up with in real combat.”
Hearing Johan, Yuri blinked his half-lidded eyes, heavy with fatigue.
“…Leave? Where to?”
Johan answered his question with exasperation.
“Where else? Yollam, obviously. You thought we were staying here forever?”
“Yollam? Why there?”
“…What the hell are you on about, you lunatic.”
At Johan’s curse, light returned to Yuri’s hazy eyes.
He smacked his left palm with his right fist.
“Oh, right! We were originally headed to the Dragon’s Cradle, weren’t we?”
Yuri looked like he’d had a grand epiphany.
But that was it.
He soon flopped down indifferently.
Snore— snore.
And promptly fell asleep, letting out soft snores.
Johan shot an incredulous look at Yuri’s sleeping profile.
‘This guy wipes everything else from his mind the second something catches his interest. Tsk.’
Johan clicked his tongue, but a smile soon crept onto his lips.
‘Yeah, sleep well.’
Yuri had given his all over the past months, so he’d more than earned some rest.
Johan covered him with a blanket.
Then he squatted down to study Yuri’s face.
Yuri usually let his unkempt hair half-cover his face, claiming it was too much hassle to groom.
Brushing the hair aside revealed smooth, pretty features.
‘…Looks like a girl when he’s asleep.’
His sleeping face was that beautiful.
The problem was how that mouth turned him into a total punk the second it opened.
Poke— poke.
Johan prodded Yuri’s cheek with his index finger, then suddenly flinched as a thought struck him.
‘Wait. This punk’s got it all, doesn’t he?’
Innate talent that even made him wary.
Unyielding diligence.
And top-tier looks with a promising future.
Staring at Yuri, Johan muttered his true feelings.
“…Lucky little shit.”
Johan’s hand whipped out and flicked Yuri’s forehead.
Smack—.
“Huh, wha?!”
Yuri bolted up, eyes bleary with sleep, looking around wildly after the rude awakening.
But all he saw was Johan’s back, turned away at a distance.
“……?”
Yuri floated question marks above his head, but sleep soon overtook him again, and he flopped back down.
Snore— snore……
As Yuri’s rhythmic breathing spread through the air once more.
A sniffle-like mutter leaked from Johan, lying with his back turned.
“…Bet his dick’s small.”
* * *
After the spar, Yuri and Johan stayed at Ralph’s house for another two weeks.
The reason was simple.
It was the item now in Yuri’s hands.
“My sword… my white steel sword!”
The prize of the bet… no, of grueling labor.
After a full fifteen days of waiting, the pure white steel sword was finally his.
Yuri gazed at the blade in his hands with ecstatic rapture, like a lover smitten.
The elegant curve of the blade bore white wave patterns.
A white hilt and gray wire wrapping.
At 1.1 meters overall, the white steel sword was so beautiful it could pass for an ornamental artwork rather than a weapon for battle.
“This… this is mine!”
Ralph groaned inwardly as Yuri hugged the sword and rubbed his cheek against it.
‘Ugh.’
He had agreed to make a sword if he lost the bet, but he’d planned on just a standard one.
The stakes had escalated beyond his expectations.
‘…How much did that even cost?’
White steel was a rare material to begin with.
Ralph had poured every last bit of the white steel he’d hoarded for eight years into forging this pure white steel sword.
‘It was for Mu-chi’s spear……’
He’d cherished that stockpile, only for some random punk to swallow it all up.
Ralph’s gut twisted.
‘Well, it stings a bit, but……’
He didn’t regret it.
Thanks to Yuri, he’d gained something precious.
Ralph’s gaze turned to Mu-chi.
“Big bro, next time… let’s spar again! I’ll train hard! And next time, I’ll definitely win!”
Seeing his grandson burn with determination unlike before, Ralph smiled warmly.
‘Yeah, this is good. Mu-chi’s grown a step from this. Consider the sword tuition.’
Ralph’s gaze shifted to Yuri.
‘Thanks. Now Mu-chi has a good big brother……’
Warmth filled Ralph’s eyes for a moment.
Then a raspy voice cut in.
“What’re you yapping about, snot-nose? I don’t spar with crybabies who lose and whine. Nyah nyah.”
Yuri twisted his pretty face grotesquely to taunt Mu-chi.
Mu-chi, who had been steeling his resolve, deflated instantly.
Ralph’s warm gaze toward Yuri turned icy.
‘That one… born rotten to the core.’
Fuming so hard a vein bulged at his temple, Ralph placed a hand—thud—on Yuri’s shoulder.
Yuri’s eyes widened.
“What?”
“Heh heh, so you’re heading to Yollam?”
“Yeah.”
“What cohort?”
“50th.”
“Heh heh, I wasn’t gonna say this much, but… I’m from the 6th cohort at Yollam.”
“So?”
“Tsk tsk, looks like Senior Johan hasn’t taught you anything yet. To Yollam grads, cohort number is like a rank insignia. Upper cohorts are your superiors. And between the 50th and 6th? Worlds apart—not even fit to share a table!”
“I haven’t joined Yollam yet.”
“You will soon.”
“And?”
“Ahem! So… how dare you mock this sky-high senior’s precious grandson?”
In short: hurt Mu-chi, and you’re done.
For some reason, Yuri nodded obediently.
“Ah, got it! Senior!”
“Good, at least you’re not totally dense. Ha ha!”
Ralph, pleased at how well the talk went, patted Yuri’s shoulder.
Or tried to.
Before the cursed rotten punk opened his mouth again.
“Hey, snot-nose.”
“Yeah?”
“You said you wanna go another round with me?”
“Huh? Yeah!”
“Then get ready and come to Yollam. I’ll be waiting.”
“Oh……!”
Mu-chi, clueless, nodded with感動.
“Yeah! I’ll… I’ll definitely come!”
Yuri grinned ear to ear at Mu-chi’s reply and turned to Ralph.
His devilish smirk said it all.
‘See? Now Mu-chi’s my junior. Don’t want your cute grandson bullied? Better play nice with me.’
‘…….’
Ralph had tried leveraging seniority, only to lose ground and get threatened instead.
‘Th-this……!’
Forcing open his trembling fist, he placed his hand back on Yuri’s shoulder.
“Heh heh, uh… what’s your family name?”
“Holland.”
“I’m asking seriously……”
“……?”
“Any Redner family in your ancestry? Maternal or paternal side.”
“Nope.”
“Think hard! Trace your bloodline back—there’s gotta be some of that obnoxious Redner blood somewhere! Yeah, has to be!”
Otherwise, how could a mere fifteen-year-old boy be slathered in that signature Redner obnoxiousness!
Ralph grabbed Yuri’s shoulders and shook him back and forth, interrogating.
“Be honest. You’re some late-born bastard Senior had on the sly, right? Right?”
It wouldn’t be a stretch—Yuri acted just like Johan.
His head flopping side to side, Yuri bellowed.
“What bullshit! How am I that geezer’s late kid?!”
“No, from where I’m standing, you’re clearly Senior’s spawn… Gahk!”
Ralph’s grilling didn’t last.
Johan appeared like the wind and kicked him like lightning.
Boom—crash—!
Ralph flew through the forest, snapping countless trees, vanishing into the woods.
Johan glared at the trail he left.
“Obnoxious Redner family? Senior’s secret late kid? That scum’s begging to die!”
“…He’s already dead, isn’t he?”
A guy just got launched like a cannonball.
Johan waved it off at Yuri’s stunned question.
“That bastard would’ve died dozens of times over if that killed him.”
Mu-chi beamed beside them, adding.
“Yeah, Grandpa’s tough—nothing a little thing like that can’t handle!”
“…….”
Yuri thought.
Everyone here’s nuts except me.
Shaking his head in certainty, Johan grinned and asked.
“Packed and ready?”
“What’s to pack? One bag and this, and I’m good.”
Yuri held up his “beloved sword starting today.”
Flashing a happy smile, he fired back.
“What about you, old man? Where you been?”
“Me? Just finishing my own preparations to leave. Got held up.”
“…Preparations? You?”
“Heh heh heh.”
Yuri’s unease surged at Johan’s low chuckle.