Chapter 224: Curse of the Great Knight [3]

Chapter 223

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Episode 56 - Curse of the Great Knight [3]

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I looked at the Ancient Spirit, fast asleep on the pillow.

’It feels like a waste to have given her that body.’

There were countless things I could have done with the body of an Ancient Spirit.

One of them was an Elixir.

Lumina had stumbled upon the recipe for an unnamed Elixir by chance.

Its main ingredient was the intact body of an Ancient Spirit or higher.

Although Lumina never managed to obtain that Elixir, its effects were described in the recipe.

’Lumina was frustrated simply because she had never found the body of an Ancient Spirit.’

In any case, I looked at my master for a second before grabbing her.

Then I shook her with all my strength.

"Ahhh!... W-what...?! Damn it! Who the hell is messing with me?"

Her eyes flew open as she cursed.

Soon, her gaze focused on mine.

"....."

She blinked over and over before finally closing her mouth.

"Master, I don’t remember giving you that new body so you could laze around."

"I-I... uh... w-well, you see, disciple... when you’re a sword, you never feel comfortable at all... I swear on my ancestors."

"Yeah, sure. I don’t care. It’s time for you to do your job."

When I say she should do her job, I mean training me, of course.

Otherwise, why would I call her master, and why would she call me disciple?

At last, I let go of my master, and she floated into the air. She yawned as she stretched like a human.

"Ah, I guess today is the last day, isn’t it?"

She muttered while I finished drinking a cup of coffee.

"Yes. That’s why I want to reach the next Mastery level of my Growing Flower Trait."

At the moment, I’ve already raised its Mastery to Master. The next Mastery level is Perfection.

Once I reach Perfection Mastery, only Maximum Mastery will remain—the final stage—and I’ll finally master the full power of the Growing Flower Trait.

’Theoretically, it’s the most powerful Trait I possess.’

My Unique Trait, Gravity, is certainly powerful.

Its strongest effect, allowing me to use 1% of the world’s gravity, is extraordinarily powerful, but it has its limits.

I could only use it once a day.

Meanwhile, Growing Flower was an arsenal of every kind of attack.

’That includes soul attacks, which I consider the most powerful of all.’

There was also its emotion-based attack effect, but even now I still didn’t know what it actually did.

In any case, it also possessed physical and tangible attacks.

’It’s an all-in-one Trait.’

So by the time I finish Chapter One, I have to reach Perfection Mastery.

I wasn’t sure whether I could achieve Maximum Mastery, since it wasn’t simply a matter of training and using the Trait countless times.

Rather, it was about concepts, understanding, and the Trait’s true power.

There were many aspects I had to comprehend to attain Maximum Mastery.

"You’re ready, disciple."

I nodded as I set the coffee cup down on the bedside table.

"Yes, I’m ready."

My master nodded, and shortly afterward, she murmured,

"Domain Creation."

The world around me changed. A moment ago, it had been nothing more than a simple inn room; now, it was a valley with no discernible end.

The valley was filled with different landscapes and different colors.

’An Ancient Spirit is equivalent to an Eight-Star Awakened, and since my master used to be human, she inherited, through her soul, the Domain she had created when she was still human.’

Neither of us actually knew why she could use a Domain.

My master simply believed she had inherited it through her soul.

It made no sense, because only Awakened could use a Domain, not beings like Spirits, Fairies, or other races born from Mana.

"Ah, I feel like a Goddess, hahaha."

"...."

I ignored the strangely childish personality my master had suddenly developed after obtaining her new body.

I looked around for a second before turning back to her.

"Ah, please try to control that strange personality of yours, would you?"

Honestly, I had no idea why, but it seemed as though the original Ancient Spirit’s personality had now become part of my master’s personality.

So yes, she often got on my nerves and made me want to punch her in the face.

’Well, it’s only a hypothesis, but what if that has always been her personality?’

Shaking my head, I looked at my master before murmuring,

"Growing Flower."

Flower petals of different colors appeared out of nowhere.

They drifted through the air in waves, circling around me.

Next, flowers sprouted from the ground beneath my feet and spread across a wide area.

"As always, I’ll simply use Growing Flower."

That was how I had been training with this Trait, relying on nothing but my Mana and the power of this Trait.

"Very well, let’s begin."

The flowers and their petals flew toward my master.

***

At the same time.

Raon swung his sword over and over again, trying to calm his emotions.

Many weeks had passed since he left his young lady, Vilenia, behind and said goodbye to Teresa.

Since then, he had devoted himself solely to training in an attempt to calm his emotions.

Even so, it was still difficult for him to come to terms with everything that had happened over the past few months.

After giving it some thought, Raon realized that ever since he had become a Guardian Knight, he had been the target of many people.

He had never noticed because, back then, his mind and heart had been filled with happiness.

Happiness because he had achieved his greatest dream.

Happiness because he believed everything would go well and that he would fulfill his duties as a Guardian Knight.

But from a more rational perspective, with a clearer view of his surroundings...

He became aware of the envy, the rejection, the veiled insults, and the prying stares.

The reason for all of it...

Raon did not even have to think about it.

’I’m a commoner.’

Of course, every other Guardian Knight belonged to a noble house.

Raon not only had greater accomplishments, but he was also more famous. He was known as a great hero and, above all, was loved by countless people.

People whose lives he had saved, whether directly or indirectly.

’I was a fool, naïve and blind. Without realizing it, most people hated and envied me.’

Even so, Raon felt no resentment.

His master had always told him that holding on to hatred simply because others were selfish or envious...

Would never bring him what he truly desired.

Because one day, those people would pay a heavy karma for their actions.

And Raon believed that, because he had seen countless people fall or be left behind by his master whenever they harbored envy or resentment toward him.

So Raon swung his sword.

At that moment, the only emotion he felt was sadness, because he had been forced to part with the little girl he was supposed to protect.

He was disappointed in himself for failing to faithfully fulfill his role.

Even if the King said he was no longer a Guardian Knight...

There was one thing the King could never take away from Raon.

Loyalty.

He had sworn loyalty not only to Vilenia, but to her entire family.

He had become the knight of an entire family, a knight who would protect them until the very end.

’But the King is still the King. Disobeying his order would not only endanger me, but also Young Lady Vilenia and her entire family.’

So, with all his determination and perseverance...

Raon had to become stronger.

So strong that no one, whether in the Kingdom or across the entire continent, could ever make him abandon his beliefs or the purpose of his life.

"Cough...!"

The sword fell to the ground as Raon gasped for breath, droplets of blood dripping from his nose.

A violent cough tore through his throat as it burned with pain, and he spat out a mouthful of blood.

’What kind of poison is this...? I’ve tried to purge it with all my mana, or at least suppress it, but it’s impossible.’

He wanted to become stronger, but the poison inside him was steadily weakening him.

Although he had not lost much strength yet, as time passed, the difference between his current self and his peak would become enormous.

’At this rate, I might grow so weak over the coming years that I won’t even be able to protect my own purpose.’

Let alone protect Young Lady Vilenia, even from afar.

Raon rose from the ground and picked up his sword.

He continued training for hours.

His muscles screamed in agony, and mental exhaustion consumed him, yet he refused to stop.

He kept swinging his sword with all his strength.

He kept pushing himself beyond his limits.

Even as his body screamed at him to stop, because the poison weakened him more with each passing day instead of making him stronger.

’O-one more time...’

He raised his sword with trembling hands.

When the sword reached its highest point...

Raon brought it down. It was his final strike, and after this, he would force himself to rest.

The sword descended, and just as it completed its arc...

"Sir Raon!"

"...."

Raon froze and turned his head. His expression was one of pure surprise, but also happiness.

He recognized that voice.

"Countess..."

It was Vilenia’s mother, but the moment Raon heard the Countess’s cry...

He knew something else had happened, because her scream was filled with utter desperation, as though she were crying out for help from the depths of her soul.

Without a moment’s hesitation, Raon dashed forward with his sword in hand.

His exhausted and battered body was pushed even further beyond its limits as he ran as though his life depended on it.

And finally, when Raon arrived and saw the Countess’s condition, he froze in place.