Chapter 9 – Let's Appraise Some Antiques
“Huuuuh!”
He gasped for breath roughly. It was just a short lap around the small training ground, but sweat poured down Lawrence's body like rain. His muscles twitched, and his joints creaked. There was no way a child's body should be pushed this hard.
But I believe in the potential of the Eden family. This is absolutely necessary for the subjugation battle.
Winter was fast approaching, and the boy named Lawrence would soon head out beyond the territory. That hadn't happened in his previous life, but things were different this time. He'd shown his magic and turned one of the family's children into pulp.
The Goldveins are connected to Media's faction.
So they would surely lure him into the subjugation battle. In that harsh environment, they'd try to eliminate Lawrence himself without getting a drop of blood on their own hands.
“That's why! I have! To prepare! You dog bastards!”
The first step was physical training. Overwork followed by superhuman recovery. By repeating these two, the sword saints' family had forged sturdy bodies and later grown into one of the world's top families. With that data proven, Lawrence gritted his teeth and endured the pain.
It felt like dozens of grown men were sitting on him. On every bundle of muscle fibers. Enduring that was the true beginning of training.
“Huff! Huff!”
The body was truly miraculous. As long as the damage didn't completely destroy its functions, it endured, adapted, and grew. The Eden family had become a fearsome sword clan by exploiting that principle and their unique swordsmanship.
Lawrence was a mana-less mage. If his artifact capacity ran out, he'd have only his resilient body to rely on. So he considered physical conditioning essential.
They said that once pain exceeded the limit, hormones secreted to alleviate it. Before long, Lawrence was running silently without a grimace.
“Young master……”
Rachel, watching him, clasped her hands, ready to rush out at any moment. If he collapsed, she'd be there to support him right away.
The young master had definitely changed. And it was her job to care for him by his side.
After a deep breath, she shouted to the diligently running boy. Better to cheer than do nothing!
“Young master, keep going! I'll cheer for you!”
“Hah! Hah!”
Lawrence waved with a smile. Yeah. It was excruciating pain, but the path ahead was clear. With people rooting for him, he'd build strength for their sake first. Even in a cramped warehouse, a monster could be born.
After equipping the Mana Chains, he finished the first day's training. The goal was adaptation, and during training, he could walk and run.
And one more thing.
Hatchling: 10%
Implantable artifact slots increased.
Current implantable artifacts: 4
Implantable circles: 2
“Perfect.”
Finally, he could implant one more artifact. Human battery Lawrence. It felt like he'd gained another USB port.
“Ugh, time to go recover then?”
“Young master, you're heading out right away? In that condition?”
“I'm stopping by the cathedral.”
“Ah, got it. I'll get ready to go too.”
Better to accompany him than let him go alone. Rachel hurried inside to change clothes, not forgetting her protective items and the family crest.
“The clothes from the lady……”
Clothes she wore only when going out to look the part. Gifts from Lawrence's mother, Anis, who had cared for her. Rachel only wore them outside. Noble garments were different from commoners', and instinct told her not to touch them carelessly. Even children and women were rarely harmed due to fear of future retaliation—an unwritten rule.
Meanwhile, Lawrence swapped artifacts. Removing the Mana Chains and equipping a manifestation one. Enough to respond to sudden attacks.
“Young master, I'm ready.”
“Alright, let's go!”
Lawrence changed clothes roughly and quickly left the annex. The cathedral closed at night, so he needed to arrive before then for recovery.
Feels light. The heaviness is gone.
He needed to get used to this light sensation too. In real combat, he'd fight with it. Without familiarity, mistakes happened in crucial moments. Endless training and repetition were the only ways to perfectly control a strengthening body.
Lawrence already knew that as a 3D pen artisan.
There, in the distance, the cathedral came into view.
“Oh my, what an esteemed guest.”
“Hello, Sister.”
“Your body looks terribly worn. It's not good to strain a young body like that. You need to eat well and rest plenty to grow big and strong.”
This world's cathedral worshipped the goddess Seikria. They received divine power from her for various magics.
Lawrence donated a set amount and entered for treatment.
“Please sit here, young lord.”
“Yes.”
“Beginning treatment.”
Pure white light enveloped him. Creaking joints regained function, and snapped muscle fibers reconnected strand by strand. He felt it all.
Holy magic. Among them, the basic Healing spell.
His crushed, screaming body gradually recovered. At the same time, the negative energy he'd stockpiled began depleting rapidly.
Crack!
It was growing. He could feel his body strengthening in real time.
So this is what it feels like.
Negative energy, Mana Chains, and Eden training. The perfect combo for a flawless, sturdy body.
While lost in thought, the sister finished and sat before him.
“Treatment complete, young lord. May the goddess's blessing be with you……”
“Thank you.”
Lawrence rose and headed out. On his way back to the annex, he watched children playing.
Wahaha!
Innocent laughter from the kids, and his own stoic expression. They looked the same age, but their cores were worlds apart. Comparing his still figure to their lively chatter, a faint envy welled up.
That's the happiest time, huh.
Lawrence, entertaining an adult thought, started to move. If not for the glimmering text on the kids' toy, he'd have returned straight to the annex.
The sudden text made Lawrence blurt out a trendy phrase from the future—one every Seikria follower uttered habitually.
“Seiya, my goodness……”
No need for regular donations then? Lawrence strode toward the kids.
Curious eyes turned to fear.
“Noble……”
“Oh, hi there?”
“Hey kids, hello? I'm Lawrence from the Montemer family.”
Lawrence smiled brightly.
Now, let's check out those antiques you're playing with.
His smile grew even brighter.
“You're really taking these antiques?”
“Yes. Think of it as a hobby.”
“It's fine by us, but……”
Lawrence offered his bargaining chip: donate the curse-extracted daily necessities. Take what he needed, donate the rest to the cathedral. With many kids and constant shortages of consumables, a humble cathedral like this always needed them.
Even in grand, wealthy cities, wealth gaps existed. This was one of the poorest temples.
“I don't know what you plan to do, but as a cathedral, we can't refuse. Very well. The goddess will be pleased.”
“Then I'll bring the items next time.”
“Yes. Here's the contract.”
Even a goddess's temple had to be pragmatic with material matters. The Montemer name held weight, but the cathedral enforced procedures rigorously.
Lawrence smiled and signed.
“We'll provide good playthings for the children.”
“I didn't know the Montemer young master was so considerate.”
What? It's all for my benefit.
Lawrence chuckled quietly and left the cathedral. Today's haul: a small orb the kids used for games. Seemed like a ball, but surprisingly solid.
“By the way, young master.”
“Yeah?”
“If we keep requesting daily goods, won't the main house get suspicious?”
“You noticed too?”
“……Yes. I'm not that dumb.”
Rachel puffed her cheeks. True, he'd been openly ill and openly fine. Not noticing would be weirder. She was his mother's chosen maid—smart and quick on the uptake.
“What do you think? How can we keep getting them without suspicion?”
“Hmm……”
Rachel pondered, chin in hand. Media was meticulous. If she sensed anything, she'd switch tactics immediately. Supplies might even get cut.
Not a big deal, though……
He could get cursed items anytime. But he didn't want to give up the convenient supply.
Then Rachel spoke.
“Um, it reminds me of when you were sick last time.”
“What?”
“How about pretending to be crazy……?”
“……”
A spot-on, persuasive suggestion. Madness syndrome…… Not bad.
“Huh, that actually makes sense.”
“Right? I read it in a book. Taming the mad prince—!”
“Okay, we'll go with that. Worth trying whether they notice or not.”
“Yay! I've dreamed of spy stuff since I was little!”
Sure. Lawrence smirked and returned to the annex. With Rachel, life wasn't lonely.
What day was it? Heading to the bath for a soak, Lawrence checked the date. Days were getting chilly.
“Winter brings wolf packs.”
Subjugation battle. Sacred fight to drive out threats to border territories and the empire, protecting citizens. This year, wolves, he remembered. And a tragic event.
Prevent that, and I'll solidify my position a bit.
Gaining allies was simple: give unforgettable inspiration or impose debt. Absolute trust worked too, but hard for a child. And most important:
Vision.
How firm, grand, and bright the future vision. People joined organizations for that.
Show it in this subjugation, and he'd get help later.
Scratch scratch.
Lawrence crafting another artifact. Holy magic extract was prime material.
“Done.”
Crackle!
All conditions for training set. Now Lawrence was a mage-knight who could use holy magic.
“See you in six months.”
Time flew. Rumors spread of a Montemer madman in the annex. Daily crashes of furniture, endless maid screams.
Soon, even territory folk avoided the place.
And winter arrived.