Chapter 305: Three Guests (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 305: Three Guests (3)
The battle with Shepir.
During their clash, Roman Dmitry had observed the flow of his mana.
'He is different from ordinary low-circle mages. His magic begins in the Middle Dantian and generates explosive power in the Upper Dantian.'
It was strange.
Mages typically formed circles in their hearts—the Middle Dantian—and directly manifested the erupting mana into magic. Shepir's method, however, was entirely different. When the mana rising from his Middle Dantian reached his Upper Dantian, it harmonized with nature to produce an immense, explosive force.
Roman cast aside his preconceptions.
Rather than rejecting the technique simply because it defied the norm, he pondered why Shepir had done it.
'Shepir is an 8th Circle mage. People knew the realm of the 8th Circle existed, but Shepir is the only one who has actually proven he reached it. Perhaps conventional mages simply lacked the necessary requirements. Their circles might have already been refined enough to form the eighth ring, but because they didn't know how to utilize the Upper Dantian, they couldn't advance to the 8th Circle or beyond.'
It was just a hypothesis.
Though not an established fact, the pieces fell into place perfectly if one assumed the Upper Dantian was the key to the 8th Circle.
If so...
...the Upper Dantian was the key to a magical revolution.
Those who trained their Upper Dantian would find the path to the 8th Circle opened to them, and even lower-ranking mages would grow exponentially stronger. For Roman Dmitry, it was a hypothesis well worth testing. While the people of the Salamander Continent didn't even know the concept of dantians, the Murim of the Central Plains had categorized them in detail, perfecting the training methods for each through countless trials and errors.
The Two Modes Divine Art.
It was a method specifically designed for training the Upper Dantian.
Back when Baek Joong-hyuk was researching martial arts, he had created a new version of the Two Modes Divine Art based on the Wudang Sect's original technique.
It was a training of the mind.
Practicing the Two Modes Divine Art pushed brain development past human limits. However, for martial artists who primarily trained their Lower Dantian, opening the Upper Dantian caused their mana to scatter out through the crown of their heads. It was a fatal dilemma. While it wasn't a particularly useful training method for martial artists, if developing the Upper Dantian was indeed the key to breaking through the wall of the 8th Circle, there was no better tool for mages than the Two Modes Divine Art.
That was why...
...upon returning to Dmitry, he had immediately summoned Felix.
Roman explained his conclusions and taught him the Two Modes Divine Art. A few days later, Felix sought out Roman Dmitry with a look of utter shock.
"...My Lord. What on earth is this technique?"
It was certain.
The Two Modes Divine Art was a revolution that would advance the very foundation of magic.
* * *
Over the past month, the Phoenix Mages had succeeded in integrating magic with the Upper Dantian.
Though it couldn't yet be called perfect, training the Upper Dantian through the Two Modes Divine Art showed clear, undeniable results.
Knox.
He was living proof.
Magic that passed through the Middle Dantian and exploded out of the Upper Dantian displayed far greater destructive power than before. Furthermore, the cognitive development of the brain made their spell-processing speed unbelievably fast. This was precisely why Edwin Hector felt that Knox had "omitted the casting." Because Knox cast spells two to three times faster than common sense dictated, Edwin had no way to block his magic, even though they were in the exact same realm.
His defeat.
It was a natural outcome.
Edwin Hector could never have anticipated that a magical revolution had already begun.
"I will ask you once more. Why should I go through the trouble of sharing the secret of the Upper Dantian with Hector?"
It was a flat refusal.
Edwin Hector felt a deep sense of helplessness.
Just as Roman Dmitry said, there was no reason for Dmitry to share the secret of the Upper Dantian.
Although Roman had revealed the concept of the Dantian during the Swordsmanship Presentation, Dmitry was not a fool who gave away its treasures unconditionally. The Swordsmanship Presentation had a clear purpose. The moment Dmitry defeated the Kronos Empire, Roman redefined the concept of Aura and usurped Emperor Alexander's fame. It had sent massive shockwaves throughout the continent. Even though other nations learning about the Dantian wouldn't bring about immediate, dramatic changes, Roman Dmitry had laid the foundation to leap into an empire with that single presentation.
But...
...the Upper Dantian was different.
No matter how close of an ally they were, the benefit Dmitry stood to gain from sharing the Upper Dantian wasn't significant.
Think about it.
If they used the 'secret of the Upper Dantian' as bait to absorb other Magic Towers, mages yearning for cognitive development would have no choice but to flock to Dmitry. Yet, he was supposed to share it with Hector, and by extension, the Sky Magic Tower? Unlike the swordsmanship revolution, the achievement of sparking a magical revolution was no longer necessary for Dmitry.
It was a bitter pill to swallow.
Edwin had no justification to persuade him.
'The Phoenix Magic Tower is already establishing a system using the secret of the Upper Dantian. If they lead the charge, perhaps our turn will come eventually. But by then... if the Kronos Empire starts a war before that happens, the Hector Kingdom will be forced to remain a mere bystander. History will just repeat itself.'
It wasn't that they wanted to stand by and watch.
But lacking power, they would be forced to watch blankly as the people of Hector were sacrificed in vain once again.
Edwin clenched his fists.
He was...
...a rational man.
He was not one to appeal to emotions, but just this once, even if it seemed pathetic, he desperately wanted to grasp this sole lifeline.
It was then.
"There is indeed no reason for Dmitry to share the secret of the Upper Dantian. Except for one. If the Hector Kingdom swears a master-servant relationship... Dmitry will guarantee Hector's freedom and take responsibility for Hector's future."
At those words, Edwin Hector snapped his head up, his face filled with shock.
* * *
Edwin Hector.
He was an intriguing individual.
Though he was the first foreign enemy commander Roman Dmitry had defeated, Roman had recognized his value from the very beginning.
His surprise attacks, his bold decisions, and his personal prowess in magic.
Had Edwin Hector not been born in a weak nation, he might have grown into an even more formidable figure. The duel with Knox just now was proof of that. Although Edwin had felt helpless in his defeat, the brief flash of resourcefulness he displayed—even while Knox held an overwhelming advantage—proved exactly what kind of man Edwin Hector was.
On the battlefield, Edwin Hector was a commander who stood at the vanguard.
He had lived a harsh life, risking his neck alongside his soldiers to the point where the instincts of a war mage were deeply ingrained in his very bones.
Roman liked him.
That was precisely why he had accepted the alliance with him in the first place.
'Magic and swordsmanship are different domains. While I can handle everything regarding swordsmanship, trying to control even the unknown domains is nothing but arrogance. Accepting people who can compensate for my shortcomings will guide Dmitry in the right direction.'
The Heavenly Demon Baek Joong-hyuk.
His strength did not lie in martial prowess alone.
What he lacked, he made up for with people.
Just as he had taken in the Strange Demon to compensate for his own uncompromising political skills, and just as Count Fabius—who had once swayed back and forth like a bat—had become Roman Dmitry's man, Edwin Hector could be the same. Although Felix of the Phoenix Magic Tower was covering the magical aspects, it was impossible for the Phoenix Magic Tower alone to handle the vast, intricate domain of magic.
Ultimately, he needed people.
He needed a trustworthy individual who could assist Felix and actively drive the magical revolution born from the Two Modes Divine Art.
Edwin Hector.
He fit the bill perfectly.
The brilliant, unpolished gem looked at Roman Dmitry, his eyes shaking with inner conflict.
"Make your choice. If you swear to follow Dmitry, I will promise you a new future."
* * *
A master-servant relationship.
It was an unexpected turn of events.
No, it was something he had never even considered.
It was entirely different from being allies.
An alliance implied an equal relationship with Dmitry, but the moment he accepted Roman Dmitry's proposal, the very nature of their interactions would change. Roman Dmitry would speak down to him, while he would have to speak with the utmost respect. Roman Dmitry was demanding a relationship where the Hector Kingdom served Dmitry—a territory that was still merely a duchy.
At first, he was bewildered.
Yet, strangely enough, the mention of a master-servant relationship didn't offend him.
'...What have I been living for all this time?'
The heir to the royal family.
People looked up to Edwin Hector's life.
A prince commanding servants in a royal palace, with guaranteed wealth and honor—that was the royal life people imagined. But Edwin Hector's reality was far from it. From his childhood until the moment he earned the title of "Hector's Star," Edwin had to shoulder countless burdens hidden from the public eye.
Not for a single moment...
...had his mind been at ease.
Even when the Kronos Empire wasn't intentionally inducing famines, the Hector Kingdom could hardly be called a prosperous land. Thus, he had to toil away at state affairs in place of his incompetent father. He processed mountains of paperwork and practiced magic in his spare moments just to live up to his reputation as Hector's Star.
Why on earth...
...had he lived like that?
And even now, Edwin Hector had sought out Roman Dmitry solely to seek revenge against Kronos.
'Born as a prince of Hector, I was never allowed the luxury of dreaming. There was a time when I thought such a life was unfair, but now, the comfort and peace of the Hector Kingdom have become my sole reason for existence. That is enough. I do not wish to ascend the throne and enjoy wealth and glory. I only wish to bring down the Kronos Empire and find peace for Hector at the end of this grueling reality.'
Truly, it was a sorrowful life.
Edwin Hector had become a being who could not live for himself.
If so, was there any reason not to swear loyalty to Roman Dmitry?
Hector did not desire grand power.
Unlike Kronos and Valhalla, who glared hungrily at the continent with desires of conquest, Hector's wishes were different. They only wanted peace. Edwin simply wanted to give the people of Hector a life where they could wake up in the morning without worry, where they wouldn't have to clutch their starving bellies at every meal. From the beginning, he had no intention of fighting for interests among the powerful. As long as no one coveted Hector's meager livelihood, their goals were entirely different.
He painted a picture of the far future.
If Roman Dmitry conquered the continent, would Hector, standing by his side, be happy?
'They will be happy. At least, the Dmitry I know does not sacrifice the happiness of those who follow him.'
Rumors had drifted across the borders.
Hearing that Dmitry had introduced a system like the National Merit System after Henderson's death, people felt a vague envy toward Dmitry. How wonderful would it be to be protected by such a country? What does it feel like to possess the power and wealth to give back so generously? Watching Dmitry's path, Edwin Hector might have unconsciously begun to yearn for a life alongside Roman Dmitry.
Therefore, the master-servant relationship Roman Dmitry spoke of didn't sound entirely bad.
Looking at the hand extended to him—a hand that recognized his true worth—Edwin Hector dreamed of a future with Dmitry.
And then, he became certain.
Even if he could never surpass Roman Dmitry, the people of Hector would be happy.
"I will follow you."
His voice was quiet at first.
Edwin Hector looked at Roman Dmitry and spoke once more, his tone resolute.
"If you promise me Hector's future, I will lay down my life for you, Lord Roman Dmitry."
On that day, Dmitry gained the Hector Kingdom—no, it gained the man named Edwin Hector.
* * *
It had been a busy day.
In the morning, his meeting with Hoffman had soured Dmitry's relationship with the Golden Bank, but by lunchtime, he had gained the Hector Kingdom and Edwin Hector.
An oath of loyalty.
Edwin Hector knelt.
While some would have remained endlessly suspicious even after witnessing such a sight, Roman Dmitry immediately provided the mnemonic chant for the Two Modes Divine Art and financial support for Hector's stability. To Edwin Hector, this blind trust felt bewildering. He wanted to ask if Roman had ever considered the possibility of betrayal, but he had heard that everyone who followed Roman Dmitry fell under his spell in this exact manner.
It was Dmitry's way.
Since trust breeds trust, Roman Dmitry solidified relationships by showing faith first.
He did not worry about betrayal.
Just as the spies had eventually come to follow Dmitry, he didn't merely trust in people; he trusted in his own absolute capabilities.
It was not arrogance.
Arrogance backed by solid justification was more accurately described as confidence.
The sun began to set.
As the outside world gradually grew dark, Dmitry welcomed his third guest without any prior notice.
The guest requested a private audience with Roman Dmitry.
When the meeting finally took place, the guest blurted out, his face flushed with impatience:
"Look, I tried my absolute best to hold back because I didn't want to seem like a weirdo, but when on earth are you going to forge the new sword?"
Marquis Valentino.
The Collector's patience had reached its limit.