Chapter 34
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 34
Chapter Title: Beautiful Light
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Before acquiring the Authority, I'd roughly analyzed its characteristics while in contact with Grurr.
Flames that melted even rocks, infused with the rage of magma.
So nothing new there.
Except...
'It's powerful.'
It's Extreme Yang Energy. Kalruk Andre Bong Seid, you have become a paradoxical Holy Knight possessing both Extreme Yin and Extreme Yang!
'Wuxia or Holy Knight? Pick one. I can't get used to this.'
Right!
The magma's Authority, subdued before Silver Star's power, had nothing more to say.
It just furtively glanced around, like a cat that had shredded the toilet paper and was scared of getting scolded by its owner.
'You're mine now. Obey my commands.'
Sss...
The Authority on my palm seeped straight into me.
Orange flames swirled around my body in a vortex.
It wasn't hot. Nor was it scary.
"Congratulations, Boss!"
"Congrats, Kalruk."
"Lucky bastard, huh?"
An Authority is a mystical power.
It craves mana, and those without mana must pay with their life force.
I recalled Luke's advice: neglect your mana cultivation, and your Authority will amount to nothing.
Without mana or the willingness to burn life force, you can't use or grow an Authority.
But Holy Knights have vessels for divinity. And I've got an overdose of Toolsep to boot.
'No mana, divinity in short supply—but for now, I can run it on Toolsep's energy. Still, to max out the Authority, I need to raise my divinity realm.'
Exactly! Congratulations on your achievement, Great Hero Kalruk Andre Bong Seid!
'Forget Andre Bong already.'
I patted my chest to soothe the hyper Silver Star, like calming an excited cat.
I placed my hand on Grurr's forehead, which tilted its head like a feline.
"If you promise not to harm people, you can stay in the mine. It's your home, so you'd be comfortable. If you want to see the wide world, go ahead and leave. Just be careful. People will attack if they see you."
Grurrr...
I couldn't understand a word it said.
Silver Star was the same.
Grurr has high spiritual energy, so Silver Star can't interpret it! If Kalruk gets stronger, you might understand someday!
'Yeah. My fault for being weak.'
Thinking that way eased my mind. And it was true.
Everything was my fault.
Falling into another world, chased by heart-hungry monsters—all my fault.
My dizzy head and queasy stomach? My fault too.
"Boss!"
"Kalruk!"
"What's wrong with you?"
My legs gave out. I collapsed right there.
First things first: fix the breathing issue.
Like in mana cultivation, I sat cross-legged.
'Why is this happening to me?'
My body and mind were in a state similar to when I first received starlight and acquired divinity.
Focus! Focus! Your body's boiling! Toolsep is going berserk!
'Ah, right.'
Having gained such a mighty Authority, mana was draining even without my intent.
My mana vessel, pitifully small despite my efforts, triggered Toolsep to digest reflexively.
Silver Star was the only one to rely on in times like this, but over-dependence was trouble.
The more I leaned on it, the slower my growth—and Silver Star would fall asleep. Slow growth was one thing, but a sleeping Silver Star meant boredom. I hated that.
Oh, wait—one more to lean on.
'Where's the Star?'
Still seated, I turned toward the Star.
How was it when I first gained divinity?
I recalled that memory.
Consciously breathing to keep my heart from bursting, I circulated the elixir's energy along imaginary paths.
I melted my heart's divinity bit by bit, loading it into my bloodstream.
Through eyes and crown, I drew in starlight.
Starlight filled the divinity leaving my heart.
Empty, fill.
My vessel expanded rapidly.
To never forget—and prepare for repeats—I organized my thoughts.
'Undigested Toolsep is rampaging after meeting the magma Authority. Trying to devour it? Who knows. Let's say it's just reacting because it needs to. Easier that way. It's a crisis, but also an opportunity. Chance to expand the vessel.'
Correct! I'll help!
'I'll try myself. If you sleep now, who knows when you'll wake.'
Got it!
Cold rose from my left hand.
Heat haze billowed from my right.
I clenched and opened my fist—now right hand chilled, left hand blazed.
'I can control it. It's my body.'
If you can't, you'll get eaten! Lie there leaking water till Toolsep runs out! Ahh—Kalruk Seid became a human humidifier!
Whose side is this kid on, snarking like that?
'When will the Toolsep wear off? Gotta stock mana too.'
Can't calculate! Infinite supply!
...
I must've eaten a ton.
Still, one thought lingered.
A vague belief that Toolsep wouldn't harm me.
Melting exactly when my body needed it—seemed plausible.
Plausible!
'Even so, if it looks like I'm about to get eaten, help me out.'
Got it!
My crown grew damp.
Heat and cold met there, creating steam.
Sweat trickled down my forehead.
Steam and moisture burst from my pores too.
'What sweat...'
Not sweat! Water!
'Oh, different?'
Kalruk's body has no waste!
Mages and knights of the Eard continent cultivate mana in this posture. Eyes closed, just regulating breath.
But do you have to?
The thought struck me while watching the Star brighten and dim in sync with my breath.
I could blink. I could move.
Regulating breath while receiving starlight—that was acquiring divinity, cultivating.
Dizziness faded. Queasiness settled.
Only the clash of elixir and magma energies remained.
I rose.
"Requiya, the staff."
"Here."
"Everyone, back off."
The security team cleared a wide space.
Recalling the Sanctuary manual, I swung the staff.
Thrusts, slashes, sweeps, blocks—the basics of spearwork felt smoother than before.
Movements flowed seamlessly, unconsciously.
When my left arm brimmed with power, I wielded with left. Legs bursting? Footwork.
Body moved as it wished, overlaid with my will.
Instinctive spear forms, mind firmly in control.
Body and mind united—the heavy staff felt like a feather.
Peeek—!
The air whistled sharply.
'Not much different from swordplay.'
Different! But similar!
Kwaduduk—.
Swinging wide, the staff scraped the tunnel wall.
A rough line gouged into rock. Just a wooden staff.
'Different from the Sanctuary marks.'
Different!
'Why?'
Different realms!
'As expected. Someone left those too. A high-realm martial artist. Who?'
Not the great Holy Knight Luke Seid!
'Obviously. Luke found it first too.'
Who could it be?
Highly refined Toolsep.
Sharp scars deep in rock.
Altar.
Flowing water.
'Water.'
Heupf.
'No way—did Heupf spend his final days there and become a star?'
Who knows.
No weapons or clues in the Sanctuary.
'Gonna drive me crazy with curiosity. Gotta live long to find out.'
Live long and prosper!
The sun hit midday, but my staff dance continued.
The quarry was low-lying, like an open-air theater.
The dark crowd watched like free spectators.
Ah, one silver per head—that'd be a fortune.
Skipping meals, steaming from every pore—what a sight.
Silver Star could fix it quick!
'If you sleep, you miss world-gazing with me. Gotta see it together. Promise.'
Moved!
'So don't sleep.'
You got this!
I blinked, and Mom appeared.
She smiled watching the lives I'd saved play.
Checking granddaughter's homework, dangling cat toy, tossing ball to pup.
Even dead, my wish was one.
'Mom, stay healthy and live long.'
If only I could let her hear my voice.
Blink—Luke now.
Where do these monsters keep coming from?
Like living oil slicks.
Even overlooking as a star, too many to grasp.
The ground crawled with them entirely.
At least Luke had grown stronger. Clear change.
Fleeting divinity now flowed steadily.
'Hang in there, Luke. I'll help.'
Luke glanced at the Star, nodded once.
No distractions possible.
He pressed dual-wield combat.
Like auto-hunt. Loot well, Luke!
'Does Luke return after trials? What about me?'
No one knows.
No one to tell.
Yet, somehow, I felt there was a way.
'Is this faith? Turning vague hope to belief, finding methods, realizing it?'
Dunno!
Silver Star knows too little.
Still a blank slate, waiting for data like an analyzer.
Blink—back to reality.
Ah, not reality?
My view was the frontier city's western skies.
Small city, but all in sight.
'Ah, the overlooking-the-world Authority.'
Vessel grown, Insight Authority strengthened—saw who did what where.
Security Captain dude! That kid's pissing in the alley!
'What a view. Fun world.'
Blink—normal sight.
Let body move on autopilot, occasional flair.
Ttak—!
Golf-like, smacked a floor pebble with staff tip.
Nodded to Requiya.
"Boss—!"
Quick-witted demon tossed a stone.
Thwak! Smacked midair.
"This one too!"
"Over here too!"
"Me too—."
Crowd joined, stones flying everywhere.
Some lofted high, dangerous ones shattered midair.
Don't hit the shaky spots!
Marked the guy aiming poorly. Security captain grinning like an idiot. Watch out, pornstar.
Planted staff, spun bodyweight on arms a few turns.
Yo—sexy baby—. Deedle-dee-doo-doo-doo—.
BGM in my ears only—turned it indecent pole dance.
Clothed, so not obscene.
Audience grimaced, but I didn't see. Really. Didn't.
'Seems settled now?'
Stomach calm—!
Staff dance yielded much.
Grew vessel, honed spearplay, no Silver Star crutch.
Long exhale, lowered two-handed staff horizontally.
Horizontal Windmill Spear Art!
'This has a name? Just basic chain.'
Dunno! Made it up!
Clap clap clap—.
Crowd dispersed; only Requiya and Fred clapped.
"It's a beautiful light. Isn't it, Captain?"
"Mm. Been ages since I saw a Holy Knight's glow. Rare sight."
Only then did I notice my spot shone brighter.
Kuuu—.
Baby hippo waddled up.
Lifted the now medium-dog-sized beast. Whoa—heavy.
"Let's wash and eat."
Sun was setting.
Onsen soothed body fatigue; laundered clothes.
Daily ritual since arriving.
One outfit meant daily wash.
Holes riddled pants and tee, but beats nudity.
Donned Requiya's magic-dried garb, headed to inn.
Evening inn bustled, no seats free.
"Suhes, paying for the Authority."
Suhes shook head, smiling warmly.
"Would've shown up eventually without you. If while you were gone, mine and city would've been wrecked."
"Fair point."
Ah, kinda arrogant from my mouth.
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