Chapter 183: Heritage Site of the Spirit Sword (6)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 183: Heritage Site of the Spirit Sword (6)
The Pluto Tribe’s ability to challenge the gods was not solely due to their legendary martial prowess.
Half a million years ago, their magical civilization was, in some ways, superior even to the modern era.
“Unlike other races, we didn’t have the concept of ‘mages,’ haha. Instead, everyone who knew how to handle mana became a blacksmith—just like me.”
While Boras spoke with a triumphant look on his face, Jin was busy suppressing his shock.
Memory transfer magic…!
He had long known that such a device existed at the Hister family’s heritage site. However, that was a unique magic developed solely by the Hister family, not something in common use.
Deleting memories was one thing, but transferring them was a field that even the world’s leading authorities on magic didn’t bother researching.
“Uh, what’s this? Sister 5th Fighting King, did you cast some kind of spell on that fang?”
“It’s a secret!”
“I don’t know what it is, but Jin, you’ve received quite a gift. Sister 5th Fighting King is renowned as the greatest blacksmith in the history of our Pluto Tribe. In the past, all the siblings used to line up just to receive an item from her.”
“Though that’s all a story from before our time was frozen, gahaha!”
Despite being a blacksmith by trade, Boras was also a warrior exceptional enough to hold the position of a Fighting King of the Pluto Tribe.
“Thank you. I will put it to good use.”
“It’s a give and take, right? Since I gave you a tooth, you must give me your second achievement.”
Jin wondered why they were so obsessed with achievements, but he simply nodded. He wasn't quite sure what his next achievement would be yet.
*
January 20, 1797. A month had already passed since Jin arrived in Laprarosa.
During that time, he received training from Garmund and Boras. He practiced Soul Slash with Garmund and learned from Boras how to use his body more efficiently.
How to make the body light, how to control strength, how to exert superhuman power beyond one's limits—the martial arts Boras taught were both savage and mystical.
“I thought you wouldn’t be able to let go of your preconceptions, having lived a life of constant success, but you’re a surprisingly good student.”
“It’s because you’re a good teacher, Boras.”
“Haha, that’s not it. All martial arts of the Pluto Tribe stem from the nature of the aura that accumulates in the heart. The method of sending that heart-aura to various parts of the body to strengthen or lighten them—the fact that you mimicked that so quickly is a testament to your own talent.”
The Pluto Tribe was born with a gem heart that contained aura, but Jin, being human, was different.
Nevertheless, a triangular construct of aura now glowed on Jin’s chest like a gem heart. He had formed an aura heart in his chest to replicate the Pluto Tribe’s unique manifestation of power.
It was by no means an easy feat.
Any martial artist who had reached a certain level could form a ‘chamber’ in their chest with aura, similar in shape to the Pluto Tribe’s gem heart.
However, making that chamber function like a real gem heart was another matter entirely. No matter how skilled a martial artist was, it was impossible to replicate in just one month. Even ten years wouldn't have been enough.
If not for the memories of the Pluto Sword provided by the new fang, even I would have found it difficult.
Jin’s mastery of the Pluto Tribe’s style of aura manipulation in such a short period was largely thanks to the memories engraved in Boras’s fang.
Of course, even taking that into account, Boras still thought highly of Jin’s talent.
“This is more enjoyable than when I taught Temar, haha. The 4th Fighting King will be coming this afternoon. And she will teach you the 2nd form of the Spirit Sword.”
“Hmm? Sister 4th Fighting King is coming this afternoon? Why haven’t I heard about this?”
“It was decided early this morning, so of course you wouldn’t have heard, Brother 8th Fighting King. I personally requested it. Originally, I was going to call her after he finished overcoming the Spirit-Absorbing Sword, but seeing how Jin is doing, I figured meeting early wouldn’t be a bad idea.”
At those words, Garmund grinned.
“Do you think I don’t know what’s on your mind, Sister 5th Fighting King? You just want to feast on Jin’s achievement a day sooner, don’t you?”
Boras feigned ignorance and unpacked a bundle. At lunchtime, the three of them sat side by side and ate traditional Pluto Tribe snacks.
The snack, called ‘Cacto,’ was completely flavorless. However, like the canteen Valeria had handed him in the Great Desert, it had the effect of instantly restoring one’s vitality.
“Can I pack some of this when I leave later?”
“If the Fighting God allows it.”
Munch, munch.
After finishing the Cacto and practicing Soul Slash for about two hours, the 4th Fighting King appeared at the training ground.
She was a woman with a massive greatsword strapped to her back.
She’s the one who showed absolutely no emotion in the Fighting God Temple.
Garmund was the type who was easy to win over, and Boras had taken a liking to Jin from the start. Thanks to that, he had been able to get close to them without much trouble, but he knew he wouldn’t be so lucky with every Fighting King.
“I am Jin Runcandel.”
Even though Jin approached her first to offer a greeting, the 4th Fighting King only gave a slight nod and didn’t offer her name.
Does she dislike me? I can’t read her expression at all.
Just as he was about to greet her again, Boras clapped his hands as if remembering something he had forgotten.
“Ah! That’s right. Sister 4th Fighting King cannot speak.”
She has a speech impediment?
As Jin tried to process this, Garmund added a comment.
“She’s undergoing Vow of Silence training. It’s been quite a while; she started before Laprarosa’s time stopped…”
The 4th Fighting King nodded silently.
Vow of Silence training? Why on earth would anyone do that?
He had heard stories of the saints of Vankella keeping silent while performing penance, but this was the first time he had seen a martial artist undergo Vow of Silence training.
More importantly, if she doesn’t speak, how is she going to teach me the 2nd form of the Spirit Sword?
Amidst his rising questions, the 4th Fighting King drew her greatsword.
Then, at a speed Jin’s eyes could barely follow, she carved letters into the floor of the training ground.
—Linpa.
That was the 4th Fighting King’s name.
“Linpa. It is a pleasure to meet you.”
“Wait, Sister 4th Fighting King. This is the Continental Language, isn’t it?”
Linpa had written her name in the Continental Language, not in the Pluto Tribe’s script. Garmund’s and Boras’s eyes widened as if they found this fact incredibly shocking.
“Gahaha! No wonder you’ve been cooped up in your room lately. Don’t tell me you studied the Continental Language for the sake of the second successor… Ack!”
Clang!
A greatsword cut Garmund’s words short. Linpa had thrust it at him as a warning to shut up.
It was a fierce and heavy attack for a mere warning. Garmund, barely managing to deflect the greatsword, was sent flying through the air. Just as another attack was about to follow, Boras blocked her path.
“Are you really planning to split Brother Garmund in half?”
Nod.
“Come on, have some patience for the successor’s sake. It’s not like Brother Garmund’s big mouth is anything new.”
Nod.
As Linpa sheathed her sword, Garmund let out a long sigh of relief. The exchange revealed the clear hierarchy of combat power among them, as well as the authority of Boras the blacksmith.
Jin, however, couldn’t help but find it absurd.
Seriously, is studying a few words of the Continental Language for my sake something to be that embarrassed about? If I’m not careful, she might actually kill me.
Fortunately, Jin had already dealt with several ‘crazy’ people like this in the outside world.
In Jin’s eyes, the person most similar to Linpa was Yona.
I should try treating her like I treat Sister Yona. That might be the most effective way.
*
The 4th Fighting King, Linpa, was in many ways like a mute version of Yona.
That wasn't necessarily a good thing. They were only similar; Linpa wasn't the real Yona.
Therefore, no familial affection existed between Jin and Linpa, and Linpa seemed to view Jin as a somewhat interesting toy.
Just like when Jin first sought out Samil.
Linpa tormented Jin from time to time.
She would suddenly demonstrate the 2nd form of the Spirit Sword once and then return to her silence.
Or, while Jin was performing Soul Slash, she would watch for a while and then strike him with her greatsword, as if to say, That’s not it.
“Urgh!”
If he hadn’t awakened his Mind’s Eye, his head would have been lopped off by that greatsword at least five times by now.
Every time he blocked the blade, Jin felt as if his entire body were being shattered, but Linpa would just smile, her eyes sparkling with satisfaction.
It was impossible to tell whether she was satisfied with her own strike or with the fact that Jin had blocked it.
Jin never once complained. He never asked, Why are you doing this to me? What do you want? Why do you keep attacking me?
The trick with people like Sister Yona is to ignore them until their own curiosity gets the better of them and they approach you first.
Garmund and Boras found Jin’s behavior simply fascinating. It reminded them of how Temar had been utterly confused for two days when he first met Linpa.
Jin’s strategy bore fruit ten days after Linpa’s arrival.
Skritch! Skritch! Shing!
For the first time since her first day, Linpa carved letters into the ground.
—Why don’t you ask for the name of the Spirit Sword’s 2nd form? I’ve already shown it to you several times.
Jin smirked.
A smile naturally spread across his face as soon as he saw the letters.
I knew it!
Jin wiped the smile off his face and met Linpa’s eyes.
“It’s because I wasn’t curious.”
—Why?
“More importantly, can this even be called… Vow of Silence training?”
Linpa’s eyes widened.
“In my opinion, a vow of silence shouldn’t just be about not speaking. Its significance should lie in forbidding all communication with others.”
“Whoa, I think Jin hit the nail on the head.”
“You know, he’s right.”
Garmund and Boras turned their heads to look at Linpa.
She simply stared blankly, as if lost for words, reflecting on Jin’s question for a long time.
It was time to drive the point home.
“You asked why I didn’t ask for the name of the Spirit Sword’s 2nd form? I have no desire to learn anything from someone who is all for show. That’s why I wasn’t curious. If you want to teach me, show me something truly great. Just like Garmund and Boras did.”
“Oh.”
“Ah…”
Exclamations escaped Garmund and Boras.
They never imagined in their wildest dreams that Jin would corner Linpa like this. Even the Fighting God had only ever said things to her like, ‘Sister 4th Fighting King, why must you be this way?’
The moment Jin turned around to resume practicing Soul Slash…
“It is… not like that.”
Linpa opened her mouth.
It had been half a million years. Since the Pluto Tribe’s time hadn’t flowed normally, from Linpa’s own perspective, it was the first time she had spoken in twenty years.
Garmund and Boras couldn’t help but make a fuss.
“S-Sister! Your Vow of Silence…!”
“Sister Linpa! Are you okay!?”
The two of them rushed to Linpa’s side, their eyes darting around in worry, but she kept her gaze fixed on Jin and spoke again.
“I will show you… something great.”
They really are a tribe of battle-crazed simpletons.
Jin swallowed a laugh and nodded. It seemed he would be able to finish his training with the 4th Fighting King, Linpa, within a few days as well.