Chapter 3
Chapter 3
As far as Mam Tae-seong knew, Tod was an instructor of warriors. If that was the case, the young men in front of him were most likely warriors.
“They look a bit too old to be trainees……”
The young man named Vins appeared to be in his early to mid-twenties.
On Earth, it wouldn’t be strange for someone of that age to still be a trainee. However, the standard of adulthood in this world was fifteen, and given that its civilization lagged behind Earth, it was not unusual to impose harsh training from a young age.
“Most likely a full-fledged warrior.”
Mam Tae-seong frowned slightly.
In Sedokma, there existed secret techniques that used an energy called mana to transcend the limits of the human body.
Just as mages had magic, warriors had matu-arts.
Humans who mastered matu-arts could become far stronger than what mere physical training alone could ever achieve.
And those who were recognized as warriors within the Bernas Grand Duchy were all beings who had surpassed such levels.
“If it’s just an ordinary warrior, I feel like I could take him down without much trouble.”
It was an absurd confidence.
“But even so, I wouldn’t gain anything from that. For now, I should at least learn basic combat techniques here.”
This world was a fantasy world ruled by swords and magic.
Unlike modern Earth, one could never know where or when a blade might be drawn. A casual shoulder bump could escalate into a conflict with someone who could cleave a castle wall in a single strike.
Impossible, you say?
Sedokma had featured situations like that more than once.
To survive in such a world, one needed strength.
“Only great power grants great freedom. And in this world, that’s taken to an extreme.”
In a world where superhumans truly existed, an individual’s strength could surpass groups and even nations.
Mord’s body was already strong. He would not be easily dismissed anywhere.
But that level alone would not be enough to survive here.
“I’d like to leave this place and live a quiet life unrelated to fighting, but no matter how I look at it, this world doesn’t allow that.”
As someone who had read Sedokma, Mam Tae-seong could say this with certainty.
Trying to run far away and live peacefully was essentially the same as buying a one-way ticket to hell.
“Then here……”
Two options came to mind.
Mam Tae-seong’s deliberation was brief.
“Obviously option two.”
There was more than one bastard child in the Bernas Grand Duchy.
Among them, some showed outstanding talent.
But since none of them were ever recognized as heirs, there was no reason to tremble in fear of being eliminated by contenders for succession just for showing one’s abilities here.
“Proving my ability and receiving proper support to grow quickly is the best path. I’ve never fought in this body before, so I should start by testing things out.”
Mam Tae-seong walked forward and stood before Vins.
Vins stood around 175 cm tall, considered tall by the standards of this world.
But Mam Tae-seong looked down on him.
Mord’s body was already 190 cm tall at the age of fifteen.
Vins clicked his tongue and asked Tod,
“Is he really fifteen? I mean… his face kind of looks like it, but……”
Upon closer inspection, Mord’s appearance was quite unbalanced.
A towering frame of 190 cm packed with thick muscle, yet his dark brown hair and deep green eyes still belonged to a boy.
His eyes were sharp, his expression stubborn and reserved, but his facial features were refined and handsome.
“He’s almost as big as the young masters. I’ve never seen someone who grew up outside end up this large. Makes me wonder whose son he is.”
Just hearing that confirmed to Mam Tae-seong that what he had learned through Sedokma was correct.
There were clearly many bastards affiliated with the Bernas Grand Duchy.
“It’s not like only the Grand Duke would have bastards, so that makes sense.”
In this world, unlike modern Earth, birth control was not well developed. Naturally, bastards were common.
Any bastard who carried the blood of the lineage would receive the same treatment upon entering the Grand Duchy.
“Let’s see if you can fight as well as your size suggests. Come at me.”
Vins beckoned Mam Tae-seong with his fingers in provocation.
Mam Tae-seong looked at him for a moment, then raised both arms into a boxing stance.
“Hm?”
Vins tilted his head in confusion.
For someone who claimed to have never learned how to fight, the stance was far too well-formed.
“Even if it’s just surface-level, it’s better than wild brawling.”
Mam Tae-seong had some experience with martial arts from Earth.
He had trained in Taekwondo as a child, and as an adult, he had spent about three months at a nearby martial arts gym as a hobby. Still, his stance looked decent enough.
Soon, Mam Tae-seong stepped forward and threw a punch.
Whoosh!
A chilling sound of displaced air echoed.
“……!”
Vins was startled.
The sudden punch nearly hit him. He managed to dodge, but the sensation was unnerving.
And that was not the end of Mam Tae-seong’s attack.
Hooowooong!
A leg like a log sliced through the air.
Vins narrowly avoided the kick, his expression now completely hardened.
Meanwhile, Mam Tae-seong himself was surprised.
“This was just meant to be a probing strike… but my body is moving too well.”
It was on an entirely different level compared to when he used his original body.
His physical responses were exceptionally sharp. It felt as if his body moved exactly according to the images in his mind.
“Not bad. So you were lying when you said you hadn’t learned anything.”
“What are you talking about? I’m not lying.”
“Spare me that. Your punches and kicks are too clean.”
“I just copied what I saw others do.”
“……”
At Mam Tae-seong’s indifferent reply, Vins’ eyes sharpened.
He feinted a side step, throwing a punch to draw Mam Tae-seong’s attention. In that instant, he accelerated at twice the speed and closed in.
Tap.
But in the next moment, Mam Tae-seong deflected Vins’ fist.
“Eh?”
Exclamations of surprise rose from those watching.
Vins had used precise timing and acceleration—something only possible through matu-arts—to exploit an opening.
Yet it had been brushed aside as though swatting away a fly.
Thud!
Mam Tae-seong followed with an elbow strike, and Vins was knocked backward.
“Gah!”
In such a tight space, the movement should have been manageable. Yet he was sent flying as though struck by a moving carriage.
“What the hell is that guy?”
The observing young men were stunned.
Not just them—Tod was equally shaken.
To display such unbelievable performance in such a short exchange!
“You bastard……!”
Vins, barely avoiding being thrown to the ground, seethed with anger.
Steam-like energy began to rise from his body.
“Hey, Vins!”
“Stop it! What are you doing against someone who hasn’t even learned matu-arts!”
His comrades shouted in alarm. But Tod stopped them.
“Let him be.”
“But instructor—”
“Just watch.”
At Tod’s words, the others fell silent.
And then Vins charged again.
The five-meter distance vanished in an instant, a speed impossible for an Earth human.
Boom!
A sound like bursting air rang out as Vins’ punch struck Mam Tae-seong’s guard.
“I’ll hold back, so be grateful, you bastard!”
Vins circled and threw a hook.
Thooaang!
The sound was too fierce to be from one human striking another.
Yet Mam Tae-seong did not budge.
“……!”
His body absorbed the impact with a dull sensation, like being headbutted by a child.
Even so, he had not been pushed back a single step.
“If I had taken that directly, it wouldn’t have ended well.”
Having practiced the night before, Mam Tae-seong had learned how to draw out mana and reinforce his body.
Without that, blocking with his arm alone might have caused injury.
Whoosh!
Vins’ fist cut through empty air as Mam Tae-seong sidestepped.
Tap!
A light jab from Mam Tae-seong struck Vins’ guard, causing his movement to falter, followed by a right hook.
Thooaaang!
Vins raised both arms defensively, but Mam Tae-seong’s fist crashed through.
Vins was sent flying like a toy and slammed into the ground.
“Ugh…!”
After rolling several times, Vins staggered back to his feet.
“….”
Tod and the others froze, unable to believe what they were seeing.
“Is this enough?”
Mam Tae-seong asked, frowning.
“I’m not good at controlling my strength. If we continue, I might end up killing him.”
“……”
Everyone stared at him in disbelief.
This was a place where roles were clearly defined: examiner and examinee.
A skilled examiner would test the examinee by pushing them just enough to gauge their current ability and potential.
That was the purpose of this test.
So what exactly was unfolding before them?
“Instructor! Vins just let his guard down! Please give me a chance!”
One of the young men, angered by Mam Tae-seong’s arrogance, stepped forward.
But Tod shook his head.
“No need.”
“Instructor!”
“This is a test. And the results are already in.”
Tod looked at him with cold eyes.
“What meaning would there be in you stepping in to reverse it? This isn’t a place to test your pride.”
The young man fell silent at those words. Though frustrated, he bit his lip and glared at Mam Tae-seong.
Mam Tae-seong met his gaze with a look that seemed to say, “And what are you going to do about it?”
Tod sighed and asked,
“Why did you lie?”
“About what?”
“You said you hadn’t learned anything.”
“I haven’t.”
“You expect me to believe that? You even used mana. How could you use mana without learning the basics of matu-arts?”
“This is mana? I’ve been able to use this since after I suffered a high fever once. I don’t really understand it well.”
Mam Tae-seong explained Mord’s experience of awakening his divine blood.
For reference, Mord had been able to use mana even before awakening his divine blood. That alone showed how monstrous his talent was.
“It’s no wonder the Grand Duke chose him as a hidden card.”
In Sedokma, he had died a meaningless death, but in terms of setting, he possessed combat ability that surpassed even the Grand Duke of Bernas at the time.
And that future was only seven years away from now.
A boy who had never formally trained in combat until the age of fifteen became, in just seven years, stronger than the Grand Duke of Bernas himself, regarded as one of the strongest descendants of the War God.
Such a feat was impossible without overwhelming talent.
“It’s all thanks to lineage.”
The strength of the Bernas bloodline was purely due to lineage.
Yet Mord possessed the strongest lineage among them all.
Not only did he inherit the blood of the War God Bernas, but also that of the Sky God Arita, and the two bloodlines created a synergistic effect.
The one and only existence in whom the blood of two gods coexisted without conflict, and even amplified each other.
That was Mord.
“…that was the setting.”