The Use of Mankyung (Part 1)
I cautiously opened the door and peeked out with Noah.
A knight stood there, and I gave him a questioning look.
“What is it?”
My cold question made him scratch his head awkwardly as he answered.
“I felt a strange aura inside.”
I was startled inwardly, but I acted nonchalant and showed the rings on my finger.
“I’ve just checked whether the artifact is faulty. You don’t need to worry.”
“I see. Understood.”
The knight nodded without suspicion, closed the door, and left.
I let out a small sigh and opened my pocket dimension to pull out a one-handed sword.
**EASTRO ARMING SWORD**
Material: Mithril + Dragon Bone Function: Amplifies aura and releases it Special Function: Aura Storage Output: 3.0 Description: A force sword crafted by Grand Duke Lucas for Arsia. An organ for storing aura is embedded inside. Anyone can use Force by charging it through charging. However, when releasing force solely through the stored aura, the duration is only about 15 seconds—extremely short. I viewed the detailed explanation of the equipment through Mankyung and exclaimed in admiration.
“Lucas the Grand Duke really is…”
As expected, it was a force sword designed to be the primary attack of the Vanguard.
High output was one thing, but the fact that anyone could temporarily use Vanguard’s power simply by charging in advance was astonishing.
The reason only knights could become Vanguards was precisely because of aura.
Vanguard Force Equipment amplified the aura of knights, but it was known that aura could not be artificially processed.
That was why Force Equipment had become a precious possession of knights, raising their value.
Yet here was a technology that could process aura.
News that knights would faint at.
Of course, the 15-second discharge time was ridiculously short, but if distributed properly, it could allow over ten attacks.
Revolutionary or not, it would be fine.
If that was the case, there was no need to think it was equipment only for Arsia.
I could store aura in my own equipment too.
It would become a great power in case of emergency.
‘It’s understandable why people are so obsessed with Lucas the Grand Duke’s technology.’
But if viewed differently, it could become a way to disrupt the existing order, so those with vested interests would probably dislike the technology.
Next, I took out the Magic Staff and Robe and examined them.
I was surprised to find that this function was even on mage equipment.
**Special Function: Aura Storage**
The same function was attached to the Magic Staff and Magic Robe.
“Huh…”
---
Two weeks had passed since I, as representative of Lawrence Viscount, led the territorial army to the frontline on the Croisen Empire side.
The situation that had been on the brink of war had disappeared somewhere, replaced only by boring stalemate.
The leaders of both countries released daily statements through the media accusing the other, creating a tense atmosphere.
But the frontline itself remained peaceful, separate from that.
Thanks to that, I could devote myself to the game even more comfortably than when I was in the territory.
**LV. 140**
“Still, with a two-person party, this must be the limit of the speed.”
But like all RPG games, Chronicle Online’s level-up speed gradually slowed over time.
After reaching the 5th circle, Salmander’s Tears no longer provided significant help in combat, so I had stopped using it after level 130.
Thanks to that, Arsia and I continued hunting using the standard warrior + mage two-person party strategy.
Thanks to paying a lot of money, our level-up speed was faster than ordinary two-person parties, but the result was never satisfying.
“No way, are you being greedy?”
If a mage who suffers for life just to reach the 1st circle saw this, they would surely curse that it was too easy.
“Let’s stop here for today.”
“Thank you for your hard work.”
After reaching level 140, I ended the game and picked up the water glass Arsia handed me, emptying its contents.
“Hmm…”
Arsia, who received the empty glass familiarly, set it on the table and stood quietly in front of the door, gazing at me.
She had been waiting because she always walked around the command post after the game.
I, who had completely become part of my body with ‘Mankyung’, stood up from my seat.
**Ascension of the Sky — Arsia / Aura Expert**
Race: Homunculus Age: 1 Affiliation: Commoner of Lawrence Territory, Lheinhatz Kingdom Talent: Physical Ability (Highest), Aura (Highest), Learning Ability (Highest), Intellectual Ability (Medium), Empathy Ability (Medium), Mana (Low), Spirit Power (Low) Traits: Close Combat, Defense Ability, Auto-Recovery Relation: Friendly / Absolute Submission Status: In a good mood.
All information about everything I see through Mankyung is input.
At first it felt messy, my eyes hurt, and nausea rose, but for my safety I endured it and wore the Mankyung without skipping.
Thanks to that, the nausea and dizziness have eased a lot.
Of course, as the wear time increases, my head hurts, but that too is gradually easing.
Didn’t someone say that?
Humans are animals of adaptation.
A rather stupid method, but Mankyung had that much value.
‘A dog?’
As I started walking, I saw Arsia’s status change to ‘In a good mood’ and let out a dry laugh.
From this, it seemed that homunculi had emotions too.
There were many things I didn’t know yet, so their individuality was weak, but good and bad surely existed.
Of course, nothing was shown outwardly, but through Mankyung, I could see her status changing constantly, so she wasn’t purely artificial.
As Arsia and I walked down the corridor, the maids turned deathly pale and fled the area.
The soldiers and knights on guard took rigid postures.
“The escort is fine.”
“Understood.”
I stopped the knights who tried to follow me and left the headquarters.
The temporary buildings made from stacked containers lined up in a row, which looked somewhat grand, but due to the territorial army’s characteristics, the uniforms were all different colors, lacking unity.
I leisurely patrolled the camp, and because of Arsia’s exquisite appearance, many eyes turned toward us.
As we passed the camp’s outskirts, the scenery of the wide plain without obstacles came into view.
Since Rondel was occupied by a few countries, it was hard to say whether it was naturally larger than Earth, but every single natural terrain looked enormous.
That was why I could feel a sense of openness just by looking at it.
“It’s nice.”
By the way, this world was full of feudal disparities, with 16 out of 20 countries operating under feudal systems.
But I swear that compared to the mind toward nature, the rulers of Earth couldn’t match the nobles.
Whether because the gods existed or they understood the blessings of nature, even the rivers surrounding major cities were kept at 1st-class purity, showing an extreme aversion to pollution.
That was why natural purification magic and related technology were treated as basic national literacy, and even when war broke out and the surrounding areas were devastated, after the war, mages and priests were sent to restore nature with passion.
It was an idea I couldn’t help but want to instill in Earth’s rulers who prioritized development over nature.
**Status: In a very good mood**
I glanced at Arsia staring at the plain and let out a smirk.
“Excuse me…”
How long had we been walking?
Just as I was about to think it was time to return to the shelter, a man in green uniform resembling a knight approached hesitantly.
“What is it?”
Green uniform in this camp meant belonging to the Otis Earldom family.
I wondered if the division commander was calling.
“If you’re free, wouldn’t you like to have a drink together?”
“Huh?”
I wondered what this sudden offer was about.
I checked his status through Mankyung, and emotions like ‘embarrassment’ and ‘shame’ appeared—emotions that didn’t match the words.
So I glanced around and saw a group in green uniforms laughing mischievously while looking this way from a far distance.
“So the people behind there orchestrated it?”
My question made the handsome-looking knight with a slender build flinch.
Since I had no intention of playing along, I shook my head and tried to ignore him.
**Allen Lopez / Aura User**
Race: Human Age: 20 Affiliation: Regular Knight of Otis Territory, Lheinhatz Kingdom Talent: Mana (Highest), Learning Ability (High), Intellectual Ability (High), Intuition (Medium), Physical Ability (Low), Aura (Medium), Empathy Ability (Low), Spirit Power (Low) Trait: Rapid Calculation Processing
I stopped at his information, which was somehow strange.
“Why are you a knight?”
My careless question slipped out.
Allen Lopez misinterpreted my meaning and blushed.
“I-I’m sorry for being rude, but I don’t think I’m the one to hear that.”
I wasn’t asking in that sense, so I felt awkward.
I had only been puzzled because his talent and trait suggested he should be a mage instead of a knight.
That was natural.
I had checked the information of many people until now, but excluding the homunculus Arsia, I had never seen anyone with two or more high-level talents.
Yet he possessed the highest talent and had an unusual trait attached.
That was why I wanted to ask why he was wasting his talent and acting as a hanger-on to other knights…
“I’m sorry.”
I didn’t think it mattered to involve him.
I nodded toward Arsia to go, and we continued our leisurely walk.
“If you had become a mage, you would have been great.”
Still, as I passed him, I added one word out of regret.
Lopez looked at me with a surprised expression.
“Don’t do anything troublesome, you knights.”
By the way, I never forgot to tell those knights who had done rude things before entering the barracks.