Chapter 34
Chapter 34
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 34
Chapter Title: The Best Man
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Rare red hair across the entire continent.
A bit older than Damian.
Above all...
'He's strong.'
Such a being was swinging his sword.
Accompanied by overwhelming sword strikes.
'Yet I can see it.'
The sword's trajectory.
The movement of his feet.
The efficient distribution of power.
Even the irregular stabs at openings.
Things he couldn't see before were now visible.
This too must be the result of countless predations.
"Huuu..."
How much time had passed?
Finally, the royal knight sheathed his sword.
The end of training that bordered on trance.
Clang!
The royal knight sheathed his sword in a flawless stance.
He approached Damian without the slightest hesitation.
'...Is he coming to me?'
Come to think of it, yes.
Watching a knight's training without permission was a grave breach of etiquette.
Yet he'd just stood there dumbfounded, watching.
'Apologize first...'
The moment Damian resolved to do so.
"...?"
Contrary to expectations.
The knight didn't even glance at Damian.
He merely passed by, as Damian happened to be in his path.
"..."
Heavy silence.
Suffocating tension.
Just as he was about to walk away.
"You."
A low, weighty voice.
He stopped and asked.
"Are you Damian Winter?"
He knows me? How?
Put those questions aside for now.
Can't afford another rudeness.
"Yes, that's me."
"I am Gert Kan."
Gert Kan.
That was his only reply.
The royal knight resumed walking.
"...Wow."
Damian, left alone.
He inwardly admired.
The knight was exactly as he'd always imagined.
'Royal Knight, Gert Kan.'
He hungered for it.
For everything that strong man possessed.
Thump!
Now his heart pounded even for allies.
Damian clutched his chest.
'...This isn't right.'
Acknowledge what must be acknowledged.
He had already become a monstrous existence.
But no matter what, he couldn't become a true monster.
'Because a monster-like person and a monster are distinctly different.'
The former was still human, somehow.
Damian still wanted to remain human.
'To clear my head...'
Damian stood in the center of the training ground.
Time to test his new power.
If only to dispel stray thoughts.
'Shaman King Kaldaram, and the Earth Spirit.'
He'd hunted countless superior beings.
But those two mattered now.
'Earth Resonance.'
The ability to check first.
Damian closed his eyes and focused.
Then...
'...I feel it.'
The earth's energy transmitted through his soles.
The mana flowing through the ground felt vividly.
'This is...'
Fundamentally different from Lowest Mana Sensitivity.
'Not mana mixed in the air.'
If previous sensitivity felt atmospheric mana, Earth Resonance felt mana flowing literally within the earth.
Through feet planted on the ground.
'A completely different caliber of ability.'
Not a higher stage of existing mana sensitivity.
A complete expansion of new senses, another power.
'Feel mana with the whole body, resonate abundantly.'
A fine ability acquired.
Next up.
'Eye of Essence: Earth.'
This power he clearly realized while cutting down the spirit.
The flow enabling elemental magic.
Its essential structure came into view.
'Things that once appeared only as supernatural forms.'
But after gaining this power, it changed.
The 'threads' of elements enabling that magic became visible.
Of course, still faint.
'High-level magic is out of reach.'
Even so, plenty to be grateful for.
It opened new possibilities.
Even saved his life once, hadn't it?
'The rest...'
Deep-rooted adaptability.
Rock-hard muscles and bones, shockwave.
'All used to escape the jungle.'
He'd gained various other abilities too.
But even this much confirmed it.
Predation in the great jungle succeeded.
Worth surviving the near-death ordeal.
'Definitely stronger.'
An indisputable fact.
But...
'Not enough.'
The stronger he grew, the deeper the thirst.
Unfillable hunger urged him on.
'The world is vast, full of powerhouses.'
Whether Grand Duke Mikhail.
That royal knight Gert Kan.
Or the monster ruling the monster wave's source.
'I want to surpass them.'
All those many powerhouses.
What must he do?
'Predation.'
The word sprang to mind.
'Certainly efficient. But...'
Can't predation all day.
High-quality predation even harder.
Predation's power demanded ever stronger foes, no?
'At least imitate it.'
Damian closed his eyes, recalling those movements.
Simultaneously drew his sword and moved slowly.
Shing!
Still crude imitation.
Foundation different, naturally.
But not impossible.
'I can see it.'
Newly gained senses paved the way.
Even nonexistent talent filled in.
'Might as well try everything possible.'
Fine gaps predation couldn't fill.
No reason to refuse if he could close them.
'Training, predation, elixirs.'
Even high-quality weapons.
Now he wanted to try everything.
'A mere plow-hand reached this far?'
Shone in war.
Won Grand Duke's favor.
Now even met the prince.
'Can I go back now?'
To plow-hand days?
'No, impossible.'
He knew best.
That self had died.
Can't stop now.
Then run.
'...Come to think of it, how are the folks back home?'
Hometown people suddenly came to mind.
Just then.
"Sir Damian."
Someone came looking for him.
"There you are."
Elena Sobkov.
She'd come to the training ground.
"Have you been here the whole time?"
Night had already deepened.
How many hours had he spent like this?
Lost in trance training, then deep thought; time flew unnoticed.
"Somehow it turned out that way. But what brings you here?"
"The Grand Duke is looking for you, Sir Damian."
Grand Duke seeks Damian.
Suddenly, what could it be?
"He seems to have something to say to you."
'Grand Marshal.'
Grand Duke Mikhail Sobkov.
He who ultimately accepted the prince's proposal leaned back in his office chair.
'Someone must break this vicious cycle.'
The prince had said.
Could no longer delay like ancestors.
Must decide for future generations.
Those words pierced the Grand Duke's heart.
'If that someone is me, I'll gladly bear it.'
Of course, unsure if sincere.
But Grand Duke had resolved.
His life's final task, perhaps?
Knock knock!
Then.
Door opened with knock.
"Father, I've brought Sir Damian."
Elena and Damian.
"Then I'll leave you two to talk."
Elena, task done, moved to leave.
"You sit too."
Mikhail stopped her.
"Me too?"
"It's a talk you need to hear."
Thus, three seated at round table.
Mikhail, Elena, Damian.
"I'll explain simply."
Grand Duke's gaze turned to kingdom map on table.
"As of today, Sobkov's goal is complete subjugation of the eastern great jungle."
Starting point of all plans.
Damian and Elena's eyes widened.
Not contain, subjugate?
"With the royal family's full support, end the jungle's monster waves. That's our new goal and greater cause."
Hearing that.
Elena's heart pounded.
The nightmare monster waves endured since childhood.
Hateful beasts stealing precious lives each time.
Sweeping them away as new cause?
"His Highness the Prince strongly desires this, and I agree."
Agreement of two giants.
Irresistible flow.
"May I ask one thing?"
"Speak."
Elena calmed herself.
Posed practical question.
"By royal support, do you mean the currently stationed royal troops and knights?"
"Yes. Additional support is also planned."
"Then how do we handle human wars?"
Various monster waves handled by Sobkov territory and other domains.
Thus, imperial disputes—human vs. human wars—left to royals and rest.
Removing the major pillar of royals from fixed pattern?
"If the Empire sees this as opportunity again, how do we counter?"
Doubt from knight, not daughter.
Damian nodded too.
'Aligns with what she said before.'
Elena had explained to Damian.
Human wars secondary.
Meaning roles divided.
If that boundary crumbled?
Opportunity for Empire.
"Good question."
Grand Duke continued.
"First, Empire suffered greater losses in last war. Expedited deep into our territory, lost much retreating."
Of course, difference not huge.
War left wounds both sides.
Still, if splitting hairs, Empire's heavier.
"Second, monster waves not our problem alone. Empire territories face many too."
Kingdom, Empire.
Both handle numerous large and small waves.
"They too must consider unpredictable monster breaks."
Monster break.
Disaster when waves breach inland, failing containment.
"So soon after war's end, surely burdensome."
"Indeed. Especially precarious usurpers."
Political human war.
Survival monster war.
Currently, latter weighs more.
"Finally third, winter comes soon."
Brief explanation.
Most solid reason.
"Unlike our kingdom facing winter only in northern parts, nearly all Empire territory endures it."
Empire waging winter war?
Practically suicide.
"Other factors exist, but these three main. Convinced now?"
War just ended.
Young usurper emperor's position weaker.
Greater losses, same wave pressure.
Even geographic weakness of winter-plagued lands.
"Yes, fully convinced."
Elena nodded.
Rather, perfect timing.
Prime chance to overturn board.
"Good. Now your turn."
Grand Duke convinced daughter.
Turned to Damian.
"His Highness departs for capital in days. To get final approval from His Majesty."
Not mere wave support.
Plan possibly shaking kingdom's foundation.
Needs top authority's permission.
Even with prior agreement.
That's procedure, system.
"Support troops remain stationed here, of course. Preparing big fight from tomorrow."
Knights and soldiers stay?
Then who escorts prince?
"Small elite guard planned for quick trip. I recommend you, Damian Winter, as member."
"...Me?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
Vital mission.
Why him?
"Want to entrust to most reliable person."
"..."
"Our territory's future at stake."
Grand Duke's most trusted talent.
Not Sobkov knight.
Damian, mercenary who joined suicide squad.
"His Highness showed interest in you too."
He knew well.
Felt it with whole body.
"Refuse if unwilling. Your choice."
Damian pondered.
Grand Duke spoke.
"Damian."
"...Yes, Grand Duke."
"Not ordering now. Asking the best man I know."
Not order, request.
Best man.
"So I ask again."
Grand Duke's voice grew earnest.
"For Sobkov territory's future, safely escort His Highness to the capital."