Chapter 72
Chapter 72
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 72
Chapter Title: Iljimae (2)
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Theo's eyes flashed open.
‘Did she notice the Hatching Synchro?’
No, from the look on her face, it didn't seem like it.
But since he had no idea what was causing his intense headache, he decided to play dumb and deflect.
“What is a brain gate?”
“Huh? You opened it without even knowing what it is?”
“Yes. I don’t know.”
“Ha! How is that even possible?”
“……?”
“I’ve heard that many so-called ‘geniuses’ are born with their brain gates already open, but is that why? Still, this one seems to have opened only recently…… How could you not know?”
“Please explain it in a way I can understand.”
Trainer stroked his chin with his hand, organizing his thoughts before speaking.
“Hmm. Simply put, it’s like the area of your brain has greatly expanded, or the functions of your cerebrum have significantly improved.”
“……!”
“So you had some idea.”
“Squad Leader, are you saying Theo has crossed the ‘Wall’?”
At that moment, Evelyn cut in with a question.
The ‘Wall’ referred to the line dividing ordinary people from superhumans.
It was the realm every sword-bearer dreamed of crossing.
But most failed, leaving it as an unattainable ideal.
Even in the Ragnar Family, only a handful had crossed it, including the Nine Dragons.
Evelyn hadn’t crossed it either.
However, she was facing the Wall, so she had a vague sense of what lay beyond.
It was no place for ordinary people.
There, one could observe the world from an entirely different perspective—one of viewpoint,
and perceive oneself from yet another perspective—one of time.
Additionally,
it was deeply tied to the brain, that mystery of the human body.
It seemed Trainer’s ‘brain gate’ referred to the gateway to that brain realm.
“No way. Even the Black Iron Knight Commander only crossed the Wall at twenty, a miracle in itself. Fifteen is far too early. Especially for a trainee swordsman who just went through the Awakening Ceremony.”
Trainer shook his head.
“Then……?”
“It’s just the order that’s reversed.”
Only then did something click for Evelyn.
“Normally, people open their brain gate after crossing the Wall, but Theo was born with his already open.”
“Something like that. Those born that way usually have genius-level talent. The Black Iron Knight Commander is a prime example. I hear he was like that as a kid.”
“Then those people must find it much easier to cross the Wall.”
“Not necessarily.”
“……?”
“People born with open brain gates usually come with corresponding drawbacks.”
The brain gate opening imperfectly, leading to thought patterns different from normal; or physical imbalance making the body abnormally weak.
Trainer explained that it often became a curse to the person themselves.
“But…… this guy doesn’t seem born that way. It feels like it opened suddenly. Very gradually, but even now, in this moment, it’s starting to open.”
At that instant, something flashed through Theo’s mind.
‘As expected, it’s because the Hatching Synchro rank rose.’
And,
a skill’s rank increase seemed to mean drawing closer to superhuman ranks.
-Amon originally means ‘hidden existence,’ symbolizing all unseen things, and Amon’s other name, ‘Om (oṃ),’ is the primordial sound that rang at the beginning, a sacred tone condensing all cosmic vibrations—simply chanting it purifies the soul, or so they say.
Detecting the primordial sound purifies the soul.
Which expands the brain gate.
-Amon is the ‘sound of the soul’ and the ‘vibration of truth.’ It expands spiritual wavelengths to awaken the essence of things and hear the voices of lingering thoughts within. Reach a certain level, and you’ll hear my voice too.
Expanding spiritual wavelengths leads to a rise in rank.
Somehow, it felt like he was inching closer to what Lordbrok had said.
Thump thump thump!
His heart raced.
The prospect of growing stronger was exhilarating.
“Your vessel has expanded enormously right now. Ridiculously so, compared to the contents inside. What do you think happens then?”
“Too much of it would be empty.”
Trainer nodded gravely and continued.
“Exactly. So the contents can’t settle properly and just bounce around. The resulting chaos in your head is inevitable.”
“Then…… what should I do?”
“What can you do? Just wait quietly.”
“……!”
“There are only two ways to calm the contents. Wait silently until they adapt to the suddenly expanded vessel. Time will sort it out. Even if the headaches worsen, you just endure and wait.”
“……What’s the second?”
“That one’s practically impossible.”
“Tell me anyway.”
“Pour in contents worthy of the vessel.”
“……!”
“Gain enlightenment or absorb knowledge on that level, but that’s impossible right now.”
Theo gritted his teeth.
“But…… the headaches are getting worse. At this rate, I won’t be able to fight the enemy raid coming soon.”
“Do you really need to step up?”
“……?”
What was this now?
“From what I hear, you’ve already done more than your share as a newbie. Leave the rest to your comrades and seniors.”
The squad members all nodded vigorously.
“Squad Leader Trainer’s right.”
“Yeah. Take a break.”
“Good work, kid. Get some solid sleep. We’ll be at Winterler when you wake.”
“You gotta give us a chance to shine too, right? Uh?”
Selphred even comically thumped his chest with his fist.
“What’s a vice-swordsman gonna do stepping up like that? Leave it to the leads this time, man.”
“…….”
For a moment, Theo’s mind went blank.
‘……Comrades.’
A swell of emotion filled his chest.
He’d thought he had to handle everything himself until now.
Only now was he realizing that wasn’t true.
He was already part of the White Dragon Knights,
and the White Dragon Knights were a united shield—a family.
‘No. That’s exactly why I need to move.’
This battle had already become a fight with Ed.
Without a doubt, the ones bombing from above were likely Ed’s lackeys.
To crush Ed’s planned schemes afterward, he couldn’t falter here.
-Seizing Balmung.
It had become a must-do now.
‘I can’t tell them about Ed yet. No proof, and I can’t mention the status window.’
Fortunately, he’d planted suspicion of a spy in the Ragnar Family, so he had to start from there.
Crunch!
Theo bit hard on the back of his tongue.
The metallic taste of blood forced his mind awake.
Strength returned to his eyes.
“Unyielding and Unretreating. That’s the spirit of the White Dragon Knights I was taught. So I’ll fight too.”
“Hmm……!”
Unyielding: never submit.
Unretreating: never fall back.
Mentioning the White Dragon Knights’ motto drew a groan from Trainer, while Selphred and the squad marveled at Theo’s resolve.
Right then,
“Squad Leader, does that ‘contents’ include teachings from master swordsmen too?”
Evelyn’s sudden offbeat question made Trainer tilt his head.
“Nothing better to fill an expanded vessel. But getting something like that right now is……!”
“No. We have it.”
“……!?”
Trainer had no time to ask what she meant.
Evelyn suddenly pulled a booklet from her bosom.
“I was thinking it was too early to give it, but maybe this works out better.”
Theo took the booklet from Evelyn, tilting his head.
-Iljimae (One Branch Plum).
A plum blossom on the tip of a single branch?
Wondering what it could be, he flipped it open wide.
“……!”
Theo was struck with a massive shock.
It was a record of discussions.
On swordsmanship philosophy between the Sword Dragon, Plum Palace Lord, and the Demon Dragon Julius.
They fiercely debated the truths of the sword styles each had pursued their lives to create, even clashing blades directly when needed, with the entire process documented.
Julius: What do you consider the sword to be, Sword Dragon?
Osa: I think of the sword as a flower.
Julius: A flower?
Osa: Yes. For a flower to bloom brilliantly, it requires a grueling process. A seed falls to the earth, a sprout emerges, a stem grows, leaves flourish, and within all that, a bud forms—but until then, you must protect the branch from breaking……
It allowed comparing and analyzing the Sword Dragon and Demon Dragon’s sword arts, so dangerous that mishandling it could expose weaknesses.
But,
the two paid no mind to such risks, engaging in profound exchanges.
All for Theo alone.
Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump!
His heart pounded fiercely.
-Don’t feel burdened making your choice. Whatever you decide, I’ll always be on your side.
The Plum Palace Lord’s words from the naming ceremony briefly crossed Theo’s mind.
She had kept her promise to stand behind him no matter what.
‘I’ve done nothing for them…… yet they keep helping me.’
Julius had taught him the joy of the sword,
and the Plum Palace Lord its foundations.
People who gave endlessly without reserve.
In overwhelming gratitude, he unknowingly squeezed his eyes shut.
[Skill: Hatching Synchro reads the lingering thoughts attached to the item.]
Whoosh!
In that instant, his darkened vision flipped.
A serene moonlit night.
The Plum Palace Lord and Julius faced each other, conversing.
-Do you think this book will help Theo greatly?
-It’s just a record of our talks; won’t he struggle to understand most of it?
-Hmm? Then what’s the point of making it?
-There is one.
The Plum Palace Lord smiled faintly at Julius’s question.
-It can serve as a guidepost.
-A guidepost……
-The White Dragon Knight Commander knows too, but Theo’s too fast. And the faster you go, the more you miss.
-True. Sometimes you need to go slow to see things.
-Exactly. Miss those details, and you end up with a sandcastle prone to collapse.
-The Black Iron Knight Commander overcame that danger multiple times himself.
-So I believe this discussion will fill in those lacking details as a foundation.
The Plum Palace Lord’s smile was brighter than ever.
Her worry and care for Theo were more genuine than anyone’s.
Julius stared at her intently, then nodded heavily.
-Indeed. You’re right. Fine. I’ll help even harder.
-Speaking of which, doesn’t the White Dragon Knight Commander have no need to step up so actively? Theo’s already in your care, isn’t he?
-That’s unlike you, Plum Palace Lord.
Julius chuckled.
-He’s in my care, so I treasure him more. He’s family now.
Their conversation ended there.
And,
Whoosh—
All of Iljimae’s contents flooded into Theo’s mind like a tide.
Since it was a record of their talk, the lingering thoughts simply transferred it wholesale.
Thanks to that,
Theo instantly grasped Iljimae’s core points.
The branch symbolized the sword.
The plum blossom at its tip symbolized swordsmanship.
The Plum Palace Lord said:
To bloom a splendid flower requires that much time and effort.
Swordsmanship is the same.
Without prolonged training and study, it cannot advance.
Julius agreed, then asked:
So once the flower blooms, that’s the end?
.
.
The conversation continued in a chain, most of it delving into depths Theo couldn’t yet comprehend.
But thanks to the guidepost they created, his previous dead ends unraveled smoothly,
and he could even observe his recently developed [Dragon’s Four Claws] from a third perspective.
At the same time,
Splash—
He felt his throbbing headache rapidly subside.
Not just the headache.
His body aches vanished too.
His mind cleared like he’d dunked in cold water.
“…….”
In that deep silence,
Thump thump thump thump thump!
Only the vigorous beating of his heart rang out like a war drum.
He felt the flow of his blood.
Thanks to the blood permeating every part of his body, he could finely observe his entire physique.
In that moment, Theo realized.
Balmung’s infusion hadn’t been the end.
His brain gate had expanded chasing his changed body, and now, with contents filling the enlarged vessel, balance was finally achieved.
Mind · Energy · Body.
That balance was key.
[Obtained a new hint on swordsmanship. Massive experience accumulated; level up.]
[Level up.]
Theo came to his senses and rose.
His mind felt refreshed, as if washed clean.