/
“The Asrahan Core Technique. I want you to teach me that. Will you continue to try to run away even after all this?”
“….”
Javier hesitated. His eyes were wide open without him realizing it. It was inevitable. Because the young master, the one he escorted, has said such words that should’ve never come out of his mouth.
‘You also know about my mana technique? Lloyd-nim knows?’
He couldn’t understand. Just like the case with his insomnia, this technique is also one of his own secrets. Obviously, he never told anyone. Never even made it obvious. No, it was only a month ago when he named that technique ‘Asrahan Technique’!
‘That technique hasn’t even been completed yet. How do you know about that?’
Does this ruffian Young Master use a mind reading skill?
He looked at Lloyd as if he was facing a mysterious being. Lloyd snorted.
“What? Why? What?”
“….”
“Why are you staring at me with your eyes wide open?”
“That’s natural…”
“Natural?”
“How did you know about that?”
Lloyd was a human being who easily uncovered his secrets time after time.
The only thing he’ll get if he tries to back out is mockery. Knowing that, Javier won’t even bother to back out anymore now. He wanted to know the answer instead. The reply was quite simple.
“You said everything in your sleep.”
“Pardon?”
“Really. You passed out and told me everything on your own.”
“Is that the truth?”
“Uh-huh.”
Lloyd grinned. Is that the truth? Of course not. Javier has no such thing as sleep talking. Even when he sleeps, his appearance looks like an elegant painting.
Lloyd consciously wet his lips.
“If you don’t believe me, should I prove it?”
“Prove it?”
“For example, like this.”
I recited the Asrahan Core Technique theory, which was described in detail in the ‘Iron-Blooded Knight’ novel, as I recalled it.
“There’s a limit to one’s mana heart. The limit is biological, which is already set from birth. So, the amount of mana you can muster at once will be limited.”
It has the same principle as a computer’s RAM or a bucket. There’s a clear limit on the amount of data that can be carried at once with an 8GB RAM, or the amount of water that could be transported with a one-liter bucket. The same is applied to the amount of mana that can move into the heart. The heart’s capacity is the limitation.
As long as we’re human, we can’t break through these limitations.
“Nobody is an exception. No matter how powerful the technique is; no matter how high a knight’s level is; no matter what it takes. The reason is simple. Because we’re born as human beings. The human body, to be exact, can’t go beyond the heart’s biological capacity. Therefore, a dragon with a dragon heart is a cheater.”
“That’s…”
“Sshh. Listen more. So, you then thought. What if you gather mana from outside, not inside of the body? What if you combine the mana you’ve absorbed with the mana heart? Then, wouldn’t it be possible to temporarily emit and handle mana beyond biological limitations?”
Lloyd grinned. Javier’s expression still looked calm and chic. But, Lloyd didn’t miss the faint tremble of his pupils.
“Since then, you’ve been secretly researching the new mana technique. Not too long ago, you gave it a name. It’s called Asrahan Core Technique. Was that about a month ago? Is that right?”
“….That’s right.”
“Why did you meekly admit it now?”
“Because you’re not wrong enough that I couldn’t even think of how to step out of this.”
“Right? Then, let’s go back to the story.”
This is what I actually want to say.
“You left that core technique out, huh? Were you trying to teach me the common old technique which dogs and cows all learn to cleanse their mouth? Are you a kindergarten swordsmanship teacher? Did you try to sell me red bean bread without red bean paste?”
“But, Lloyd-nim.”
“I understand. It’s the technique you’re researching, and you don’t just teach somebody. By the way, am I just a ‘somebody’ to you?”
“Yes.”
“Whoa.”
“Technically, Lloyd is just the one I escorted. Besides–”
“Besides?”
“Even if I want to teach Lloyd-nim my core technique right now, that’s not possible.”
“Why is that?”
“Because it is still incomplete.”
Javier’s voice became as firm as his sword.
“As you said, that’s indeed the concept of my technique. The key is to absorb external mana and use it as your own. However, it’s also a way in which no one has succeeded yet. Even I haven’t succeeded yet, I’ve only made the theory.”
“Therefore?”
“It’s dangerous. Especially for a beginner like Lloyd-nim, who doesn’t even know the basics of mana.”
“Is that soo?”
“Yes.”
“Right now, are you worried about me?”
“Of course not.”
“Tsk. You’re a danhobak1단호박(danhobak): is a Korean slang used to refer to someone who usually refuses instantly without considering it for a second..”
“Thank you.”
“Anyway, since the technique is still incomplete, it’s dangerous. Therefore, you can’t tell me?”
“That’s correct.”
“Then, what if it’s not dangerous?’
“…. Pardon?”
Javier’s eyebrows twitched slightly. Lloyd laughed.
I’m sure you’re nervous about what this one is going to say.
“Let me take a look and I’ll point out why your technique is incomplete and where it is stuck.”
“What are you talking about…”
“You absorb mana from the outside, move it to the manaheart, and fuse it with your manaheart. But you couldn’t do that. You always got stuck there. When trying to combine them, they refuse to merge and then they collide. Hence, you’ve failed every time, right?”
Javier’s eyes shook.
“How do you know that?”
“How do I know? I told you. I heard your sleep talking.”
“….”
Hearing him sleep talking about these is a lie.
Javier shut his mouth before this invincible cheat-key-like excuse. Lloyd’s smile deepened.
‘You won’t have anything to say. Because you sleep so soundly that you don’t know what your sleeping habits are like.’
Suddenly, I was reminded of a story in the ‘Iron-Blooded Knight’ novel. Javier of this period actually failed to complete this technique because of the mana collision. He had tried various things, yet he failed every time.
‘And then, it was 5 years later when he finally changed his initial idea and completed the technique.’
Later, Javier further sharpened his technique. Finally, he became the first Grand Master in the history of the Loracian Continent.
While recalling Javier’s change of ideas that he would achieve 5 years in the future, Lloyd then said.
“It seemed to me that the attempt to mix external mana with your own mana itself is the error, no, I think it’s the mistake?”
“Pardon?”
Javier’s eyebrows twitched and moved.
“What do you mean by that?”
“Literally. Why do you have to combine external mana with the manaheart? Manaheart’s capacity limit is the one causing the heart strain. Besides, is there any specific reason which makes you have to combine the external mana with your own mana? Well, isn’t that a stereotype tied to directions on how to use the mana heart?”
“That means…”
“You can make it spin around outside. Outside the manaheart.”
“….”
Javier’s eyes slowly grew wide in astonishment.
I’m sure he’s already figured it out.
Lloyd picked up a twig that was laying around on the corner of the training ground. With it, he scribbled on the soil to draw a picture.
“How about when we absorb the external mana, we then make it spin around like this? Around the heart, outside the manaheart.”
“Do you want me to make ring-shaped circles and wrap them around my heart?”
“That’s correct. Circle, that’s a good name.”
“Then, the mana I originally had…”
“You don’t have to mix it. It will be operated separately. Your mana is inside the manaheart. The foreign mana absorbed from outside is spun into a circle outside the manaheart. What do you think?”
“….”
“I’m just saying whatever comes to mind. You know I’m a beginner at using mana. Maybe that’s why I’m not obsessed with existing stereotypes.”
“…..”
“If you have a doubt, try it yourself.”
“I understand.”
Javier nodded straight away. He seemed to have gotten the hang of it.
From then on, Lloyd firmly shut his mouth. He just took a few steps aside quietly. Watching Javier as he tried out the new technique.
How long has it been? At last, Javier opened his eyes. He looked back at me with meaningful eyes.
“Thank you.”
Ding dong.
[Javier Asrahan’s favorability towards you has increased by +5!]
[Your current relationship with Javier Asrahan: -22]
[A visible improvement in your relationship with a key character earned you 90 RP]
[Current RP: 187]
[Your level of closeness with Javier Asrahan has been raised from to .]
[5 additional RP has been earned as a bonus for raising the closeness level.]
[Current RP: 192]
‘You made it.’
Javier’s gratitude; a slightly different expression in his eyes; and the string of favorability messages that popped into my mind. All of these made Lloyd completely certain that Javier had finally completed the Asrahan Core Technique.
“Did it go well?”
“Yes, Lloyd-nim.”
“Does the circle work well?”
“Yes. It seems inefficient to use just one to operate mana, so I made several.”
“How many?”
“Three.”
“Whoa.”
Three circles straight away on his first success. As expected of Javier, he’s a hot-blooded fellow.
‘So, he’s almost at the edge to reach the level of a Sword Master.’
At this moment, Javier’s level is still at Sword Expert. Still, the gap with Sword Master is quite large.
‘Anyway, since he has succeeded in creating a triple circle outside the manaheart, it’ll be enough to put a front if we are to fight face-to-face seriously against a smart Sword Master. If luck is on our side, we might even be able to aim for a draw.’
To give extra power beyond the present level. That was the strength of Asrahan Core Technique.
‘This technique is about adding extra mana absorbed from the outside to the original mana capacity. One auxiliary engine per circle.’
So, what about Javier in the ‘Iron-Blooded Knight’ novel? He completed the Asrahan Core Technique when he was already a Sword Master. Immediately, he made a whopping 4 circles. That alone had given him an overwhelming ability among all other Sword Masters.
‘And even after that, you became a Grand Master equipped with a penta circle. In the final fight, he then became the holder of the hexa circle.’
In that state, the amount of mana Javier could use at once surpassed far beyond Dragonheart, which was described in the novel.
Now, I had witnessed the completion of the Asrahan Core Technique, the beginning of the legend, 5 years earlier than the original.
However, Lloyd shook his head. Now is not the time to be sentimental because of a penny. It was time to seize the benefit that came into my grasp.
With an attitude as if I was showing off, I asked Javier.
“So, it’s thanks to me?”
“Yes, Lloyd-nim.”
“Then, now you have a reason to teach me.”
“Pardon?”
“The Asrahan Core Technique.”
“….”
“Oh ho, look at this? You don’t intend to only say thank you and then move on, right?”
“But Lloyd-nim.”
“Yes. Give me an excuse.”
“I think the basics of basic mana technique is more important.”
“Uh-huh. Then what?”
“Then, why don’t you learn the basic technique first and learn my technique separately later?”
“Uh. No way.”
Of course I don’t want to. This was all the more so because of the duel with Sir Neumann in 15 days.
“You put yourself in my shoes. No matter how hard I try to master the normal mana technique, can I use it in a duel in 15 days?”
“I don’t think so.”
“Then? Are you saying I should just lose the duel?”
“….”
“Yes, I know what you’re thinking of. Right now, you want me to be able to fight longer so that I won’t get defeated trivially. Building a solid foundation for sure is beneficial. You’re right. However, I don’t think that’s the way for me.”
“How come?”
“This duel is just that important.”
It was the truth. Sir Neumann is a human being who betrayed the territory through the back door. If I fail to trample on and punish such a man, from then on, straightening the public order of this territory would be a very long way to go.
In other words, the improvement of this fief’s constitution, which had been grasping for straws to keep going, would be doomed from the very beginning.
“That’s why I’m definitely going to win. I’m going to learn the Asrahan Core Technique as well.”
“But what if I refuse?”
“Oh-ho? You’re going to come out strong? Then I still have a way too.”
Lloyd grinned and took out his lethal card.
“If you won’t teach me, then I’ll stop the lullaby service.”
“…..”
“What? Why? What? Why are you looking at me while looking like you’d chewed on some shit? Am I being cheap?”
“A little bit.”
“There’s no such thing as freebies in this world. If you feel that’s unfair, just teach me your technique.”
“….”
Javier’s face was filled with anguish. The corners of Lloyd’s mouth went up.
‘You’ll never refuse. Why? Because you already tasted the sweetness of a good night’s sleep.’
In the last few days, Javier has been enjoying a better good night sleep than ever before. All thanks to me for reciting the contents of my major’s subject from memory.
He wouldn’t expect the service to be cut off in an instant. I’m sure he had a pretty good time.
‘That’s how psychology originally works. If you have received it and then it got taken away, it’ll feel more bittersweet.’
Everyone’s the same. Once you have a taste of convenience, you can hardly live without it.
‘Smartphones, once you try it, you won’t be able to use old phones because it’s too stifling. Robotic vacuum cleaners, high height insoles, selfie apps, delivery apps, or an elevator. If you don’t use it after using it once, it’ll feel incredibly frustrating, stuffy, and uncomfortable.’
That’s exactly what happened to Javier right now. He had been suffering from insomnia for years. Then, thanks to me, he learned the taste of the happy and sweet deep sleep. His body would no longer be able to go back to its former state.
As expected, Javier nodded.
“Phew. I understand.”
“Understand what?”
“I’ll teach you the Asrahan Core Technique.”
“Good decision.”
Lloyd clenched his fist tightly.
‘That’s why I bet you, right? All your swordsmanship will be mine.’
Asrahan Core Technique.
Now, all I have to do is to work hard.
Time flew by.
The training continued until now.
His basic stamina became more solid. He worked even harder on the Asrahan Core Technique. On the other hand, Lloyd also commissioned the blacksmith to make him a special weapon.
“Use steel entirely. Make the design as drawn here.”
“Lloyd-nim? This is?”
“It’s a weapon I’m going to use, so I drew it myself. Why? Is it strange?”
“That’s not it. Only, how will you use this as a weapon ….”
“Never mind that. Can you make it?”
“Pardon? Yep.”
“Then, please take good care of it.”
The blacksmith was perplexed when he looked at the drawing Lloyd gave. Even if he kept looking at the drawing, this wasn’t something you would use as a weapon.
However, he couldn’t help it. Lloyd is the son of the Lord and is known as the reckless ruffian. The blacksmith didn’t dare to refuse the request of such a person.
More days passed just like that.
The morning of the duel had finally arrived.
“Young Master Lloyd. The item you commissioned from the blacksmith has arrived.”
The weapon he commissioned to be produced had been delivered to the mansion. Lloyd gently clenched his fists as he listened to the servant’s voice announcing the news.
Asrahan Core Technique. And his own weapon. All arrangements were already in place.
‘Sir Neumann. You’re through now.’
Lloyd’s eyes gleamed violently.
Finally, the time has come to cut off the rotten sprouts.
1단호박(danhobak): is a Korean slang used to refer to someone who usually refuses instantly without considering it for a second.