Chapter 200
Chapter 200
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 200
Chapter Title: Part 2 Chapter 1: A New Beginning (1)
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A man with tousled emerald hair swept it back as he rose from bed and walked to the window.
The man, whose eyes matched his hair and who was still not fully awake, let out a long yawn while gazing at the rising morning sun.
He splashed some water on his dry face and looked around the room.
It was a large room, but it no longer felt as vast as it once had.
"Phew. I'm beat."
His work had wrapped up late last night, so he'd come home at everyone's bedtime.
The man—Jamie—roughly wiped away some eye gunk and took off his shirt.
Revealed were sharply defined muscles, sculpted like a statue.
His broad shoulders and perfect inverted triangle physique were rare even among grown men.
What was astonishing was that Jamie was only thirteen!
"My body's perfect as ever today."
Jamie struck poses in front of the mirror with a satisfied grin.
Every time his abs rippled, the corners of his mouth tugged upward for no reason.
Five years ago, after absorbing the holy light that Black had refined from a black mana condensate, his body had begun growing explosively.
His once-small stature had shot up to 180 cm in those five years, and consistent sword training had forged a perfectly balanced frame.
His legs were so long they could rival a model's.
The problem was that he still had more growth ahead.
It was thanks to the Life Orb, empowered by holy light, and the Welton family genes.
In my past life, I never had time for a body like this.
Every day was spent on magic and research, with every action tied to spells, leaving him severely out of shape.
He hadn't minded back then, but now that he had this balanced physique, he rather liked it.
"Time to head out again today."
Jamie changed into his training clothes and headed straight for the training grounds.
He was currently at the Welton family's main estate in Hys.
Starting last year, he'd begun commuting to the mage city.
With his realm elevated, traveling between the two cities posed no issue for him.
He breathed in the crisp morning air, exchanging greetings with the servants bustling about early.
Then he spotted a familiar face.
"Sir Hamilton!"
"Young Master."
It was Hamilton Leonardo, the Count's trusted retainer who had first taught Jamie the basics of the sword.
"On your way to the training grounds?"
"Gotta do it today too."
"Such diligence—truly admirable."
"Can't skip morning training. Are you heading to work, Sir Hamilton?"
"Yes. But my, you've grown even taller..."
Hamilton clicked his tongue in amazement at Jamie, who now stood nearly as tall as him.
Even to his eyes, it was hard to believe this was a thirteen-year-old's body.
No matter how strong the Welton blood ran, could it produce this?
And those broad shoulders could intimidate most knights.
Hamilton felt proud of such a Jamie.
"You've become even more impressive. It makes me proud."
"All thanks to learning the basics from you, sir."
"I did nothing. You'll be heading to work soon too—get to your morning training."
"Yes. See you later."
Leaving Hamilton behind, Jamie arrived at the training grounds.
This was the exclusive grounds for Welton blood only, so it was empty.
He stripped off his top and jogged lightly.
A jog like this wouldn't break a sweat anymore, but it was a sort of ritual.
A ritual to prepare for the true training partner about to arrive.
Moments later, someone approached the grounds where Jamie was running.
Jamie sensed the presence and stopped.
"You're here?"
"Running again today, I see."
The Welton Count smiled as he walked to the center of the grounds.
Jamie stretched his wrists and ankles lightly as he replied.
"Gotta loosen up the body if I want to last even a little longer."
"Excellent mindset."
In the Welton estate in Hys, no ordinary knight could match Jamie anymore.
He'd defeated most Experts in spars.
But there was one man he still couldn't surpass with the sword.
"Here."
As the Count extended his hand, a wooden practice sword floated up from the rack and flew to Jamie.
Sword arts.
A realm of swordsmanship that even Masters couldn't perform easily.
"Let's work up a good sweat this morning. Come at me."
"You've never even broken a sweat once!"
Jamie kicked off the ground and charged.
Morning spars with the Count used only swords.
He started light: Baekhae.
The moment his foot hit the ground, all flows centered on Jamie.
Without stopping, he stepped forward with the other foot.
[Welton Style Variant Technique]
[Baekhae (Hundred Seas) - Ram (Spread)]
All flows gathered at his toes, then spread outward with fierce power in every direction.
A glint flashed in the Count's eyes.
"Ho."
The Count ducked low against the wind pressure from Baekhae and leveled his sword horizontally.
"A new approach. But..."
He watched his son charge amid the surging mana.
The sword curved upward from below.
Welton Style 10 Forms, 3rd Form: Rising Slash.
Intending to stiffen the opponent with 'Baekhae - Ram' and strike the opening.
But his opponent was the Welton Count.
Among Seldam's Sword Masters, second only to the Sword Duke in raw power.
He twitched the sword tip.
Twisted his left foot right, shifting his center of gravity.
As he raised the shaking sword leftward, the mana gale from Baekhae - Ram vanished like a lie.
Without pause, he thrust his right foot forward and stabbed straight at Jamie.
"Tch!"
Jamie clicked his tongue at being countered despite striking first and deflected the incoming blade.
His palm buzzed—the thrust from that awkward stance packed immense power.
He retreated half a step, reset his stance, and recalled the technique the Count had used.
Dispersed the mana flow I controlled. Not Baekhae...
But he had no time to think.
The Count closed in at terrifying speed.
Jamie rapidly scanned with his eyes, ceaselessly blocking the storm of wooden sword strikes.
Just as Jamie refrained from magic, the Count used minimal mana.
A pure clash of swordsmanship.
The Count swung hard left.
Gripping with both hands, he brought the sword from above, reverse, to his left shoulder.
The wooden swords collided; shock rippled from Jamie's shoulder through his body.
Pushed sideways, Jamie took two steps back, righted himself, and counterattacked.
[Welton Style 10 Forms]
[7th Form - Gakroe (Striking Thunder)]
He drove hard off the ground, charging at high speed.
Maintaining Baekhae mid-charge to keep flows constant.
The Count held his wooden sword out front, as if inviting him in.
It looked like he was going easy, but daily spars proved otherwise.
This stance signaled the Count was done sparring.
But Jamie had no intention of ending it there.
I've always been stopped here...
A mage was one who explored.
Jamie had endlessly studied this technique and devised counters.
Reaching one conclusion.
Can't break through head-on.
Not yet with pure swordplay.
So instead, force a defensive situation.
Jamie leaped high.
Jumping against an expert was madness.
Movement restricted, attack linear, defense awkward.
Unless exploiting the environment.
"Using your head, eh?"
The Count gazed approvingly at his son, backlit by the sun.
Without aura, facing the sun head-on was tough even for him.
Jamie's will to block finishing blows at the source.
It worked.
The sun's glare shielded Jamie's descent from clear view.
Thrusting Gakroe in that state.
Forced into defense.
But son, your opponent is me.
The Count closed his eyes.
In the darkened world, he felt one movement.
The realm where he could swing without sight.
As the fierce wooden sword fell toward his head, the Count smoothly extended his sword.
Crack!!
The sound of a wooden sword snapping.
Someone landed softly behind.
The Count opened his eyes and checked his sword.
"...Damn it."
His son's grumbling came from behind.
The Count examined his intact sword and said to Jamie.
"Papa wins again today?"
"Hoo. Thought I'd land one this time."
The plan was perfect, but the Count's bottomless swordsmanship foiled it effortlessly.
"Still, you've improved more. Even I was a bit surprised."
"A bit isn't enough. Was aiming to hit the next phase this time."
"Kekeke. Five years is still too soon. Train five more."
"Shame."
"Let's grab breakfast. You've got work."
"Yeah. I'll wash up first."
The Count watched his son head to the bath, then glanced back at the sword.
He tapped it with a finger.
Spiderweb cracks spread across the wood, and it shattered.
"Nearly broke it clean."
Jamie's skill was growing fast, but the Count hadn't expected this level yet.
Mixed in bits of Father's techniques too...
Five years ago, the Count had given Jamie his own father's secret manual.
Clearly mastered it well.
Jamie, already at a realm in magic, now chased the same in swordsmanship.
"Not quite Sword Master level yet, of course."
His growth rate was on another level.
The Count smiled warmly, tossed the broken sword aside, and headed to the bath.
Freshly bathed, Jamie headed straight to the dining hall.
"Oppa!"
Then, from behind, a girl's voice—her pronunciation clearer now.
Turning, someone leaped toward him.
"Sara."
"Hehe."
It was his eight-year-old little sister, Sara.
She'd inherited more from her mother's side, but with Welton blood too, she was as tall as Jamie at eight.
"Sleep well?"
"Yeah! Did you, Oppa?"
"Like a rock."
The lisping Sara of before was gone, but her crisp speech now was just as cute.
"Piggyback!"
And she loved piggybacks.
Oddly, she never asked her dad, but pestered Jamie often.
Not a hassle, so he hoisted her onto his back from his arms.
"Hehe. So high!"
"To breakfast."
"Okay!"
On the way to the dining hall, Sara chattered happily about her dreams, what she'd done before bed last night—everything.
Jamie was often late from the mage city, leaving little time for talks like this.
He felt a twinge of guilt.
"Here. Hop down."
At the dining hall door, he set Sara down gently.
Holding her hand, they entered; the Count sat at the head.
No sign of his mother, Sears.
Jamie feigned ignorance and asked the Count.
"Where's Mom?"
"Who knows."
The Welton Count chuckled airily.
Sara tilted her head curiously and toddled to her seat.
That was when it happened.
"My precious daughter!"
"Eek!"
Sears burst from behind the door, scooping Sara up.
Eyes sparkling, she charged at Jamie waiting behind.
"And my handsome son!"
Jamie chuckled and opened his arms lightly.
Sears, still holding Sara, crashed into his embrace.
"Heavens, you're so big now, Mommy's the one hugging you?"
"Hahaha. Come on, food'll get cold."
"Food! Food!"
Sara bounced to her chair.
Sears and Jamie sat, and breakfast began.
After breakfast, Jamie returned to his room and changed.
Changing meant simply donning a crisply dry-cleaned robe.
Standing before the mirror, Jamie drew a calm breath.
Five years had passed since recommitting himself.
In that time, he'd done nothing but train.
Had he achieved his goal?
No telling.
Never tested it.
But no worries.
The time to test was near.
His eyes briefly tinged purple before fading.
For work, Jamie stepped into the estate's hall.
The Count, Sears, and Sara were there to see him off.
Seeing his family waiting every morning stirred complex emotions.
All tied to 'happiness'.
"Why're you all out here?"
"Of course we'd see our son off to work. Right, dear?"
"Indeed. Can't lounge while the eldest heads out."
"Yeah, yeah!"
Sara beamed and chimed in.
Jamie smiled helplessly.
"You've got the palace today, right?"
"Tch. Tried playing the loafer, but my son knows my schedule."
"Speaking of, you need to prep for the royal castle too. The court mage'll be here soon."
"Hahaha. Just need to change."
"Daddy, take me toooo."
"Sara's playing dolls with Mommy, right?"
"Hiiing."
Peaceful chatter.
He'd returned from the mage city for this warmth amid harsh realities.
Jamie approached and hugged each family member first.
He recalled their shock at his first hugs.
—What's with him?
—Hohohoho.
—O-Oppa...?
Lifetime non-hugger suddenly hugging—big surprise.
Now it was natural; they hugged back naturally.
"Have a good one."
"Don't be late. Want to see my son's face at dinner."
"Oppa, take me next time! Show me the mage city!"
"Sure, Sara. When I have time, Oppa'll take you."
"Yay!"
With farewells done, Jamie left the estate under family escort.
He didn't know how long this peace would last, but wished it as long as possible.
"Shall we?"
A tailwind blew.
With it, Jamie vanished.