NOVEL NEXT Chapter 5
A nice prize called a “Praise Sticker” is on the line, but Sowol hardly ever manages to withstand my sword.
After dropping the sword several times and clenching her small palm tightly, she finally made a face.
“What am I supposed to do with this?!”
“Well.”
“You should at least teach me how to do it before saying that…”
Pouting her lips, it looked like she was really sulking.
Better whip out a carrot before she gets even more upset.
I approached Sowol and placed my hand on her pink hair.
“The reason you can’t block my attacks is for two reasons. First; you’re lacking strength.”
“Well…”
No matter how talented Sowol is, the basic difference in physical strength can’t be ignored. So, it’s only natural that she can’t block my attacks.
“What you need to make up for that difference is mana.”
“Mana?”
“Yes. It’s the power also called magical energy.”
“Isn’t mana only used to cast magic?”
“When you reach a certain level, you also need mana to use your body. Now, watch.”
I moved with my wooden sword towards a nearby rock.
I swung the wooden sword down, but of course, it just bounced off the rock.
“Now, if I infuse it with mana…”
Here comes the real deal.
I struck the wooden sword again, and at the same time, the rock was cleanly sliced like tofu.
Did Sowol’s eyes sparkle because she saw my skill in slicing the rock?
“This time, I infused mana. When you reach a certain level, you can infuse your weapon with mana, and we call it ‘aura.'”
“That’s amazing! Can I do it too?”
“Of course.”
Basically, everyone has a power called mana. It depends on whether you awaken it or not, but with Sowol’s talent, it’s definitely possible.
“Alright. Sit down over there.”
Now, I’m going to teach her some seriously awesome training methods.
With Sowol obediently sitting as I instructed, I stood behind her and placed my hand on her head. Then I poured my mana into her.
“Ugh?!”
It seems she felt some pain, as a groan slipped from Sowol’s lips.
Ordinary people would faint from this, but Sowol was different.
Her overflowing talent didn’t resist my pouring mana but accepted it and guided the mana within her body.
Naturally blending with my mana and creating paths for it to flow, I stopped pouring mana.
Nevertheless, the mana within Sowol quickly rotated and began to engulf her body.
“Keep breathing and accept the mana present in nature. That way, your body and nature become one. This state is called ‘unity with nature.'”
“……”
No response. She was lost in ecstasy, absorbing the flow of mana as her own.
She truly has an amazing talent.
At this rate, within a year or two, I could teach her everything and leave.
“Whooo…”
After a while of being in a trance, Sowol exhaled a heavy sigh and seemed to regain her senses.
“Should be able to flow mana now, right?” I handed her the wooden sword again.
“Now you should be able to hold on?”
Nodding her head in response, Sowol prepared her stance.
This was different from before.
Like a calm yet powerful river, Sowol emanated a strong aura, and I swung the wooden sword at her.
Thwack!!
As expected, this time was different from before.
She staggered a bit, but she definitely managed to block my attack.
“Good. Now let’s continue training with the goal of maintaining mana.”
“…Got it. Sir.”
“Hey, if I’ve taught you this much, shouldn’t you start calling me ‘Master’?”
In response to my words, Sowol just slowly shook her head.
What a pricey little one.
.
.
.
“Excuse me? You’re taking Sowol with you to subdue the bandits?”
“Yes.”
When I told Lady Sojoong that I’d include Sowol in this skull gang subjugation, her reaction was as expected.
Looking surprised, she began to glance around nervously.
Understandingly so, the bandit group named the Skull Gang was considerably larger than just a simple gang. That’s why the lord must have sought help from the Eastern Trading Company.
This meant that the upcoming subjugation would be a dangerous battle, and no father would easily allow his daughter to take part.
Lady Sojoong appeared very negative about it and was trying to refuse, but that couldn’t happen.
Opportunities for lessons like this don’t come around often. We gotta grab it while we can.
“I believe becoming the master of a large trading company means understanding its weight.”
“The weight…?”
“The weight of people. To manage a company, one must be keenly aware of the weight of life and death.”
When managing a company, there inevitably comes a time when someone must be killed.
In the line of duty, not only would you encounter bandits that need to be dealt with, but you’d also need to eliminate those who interfere with the operations.
At that moment, the decisions you make will determine the fate of the company.
Then, recognizing the weight of life and death from a young age will be immensely helpful later. Thus, experiencing it firsthand in this subjugation would truly aid her future. I earnestly persuaded her.
“But… is it too early…?”
“Parents often assume their children will remain kids forever.”
Of course, she is still a child, but someone like Sowol should be fine.
“Fine… I understand. Then I hope you take good care of my daughter, Master.”
“Thank you.”
Alright. Done deal.
Though it seemed she wasn’t entirely keen, Lady Sojoong couldn’t outright deny my opinion.
Anyway, wanting her daughter to succeed is something she shares too.
She knew this opportunity was beneficial for Sowol’s growth.
As I received her permission and stepped out, Sowol, who had been waiting outside, rushed up to me. I nodded at her questioning gaze, and she lightly clenched her fist.
“Are you happy?”
“Yes! I’m a little excited.”
It seems most sword wielders feel a thrill about their first kill.
But the important thing is…
“I know. No thoughts, right?”
“Exactly. When you kill someone and save someone, getting too caught up in that meaning is troublesome.”
No thoughts. No thoughts are key.
I reached out to pat Sowol’s head, but she dodged my hand, tilting her head, then fell silent for a moment before asking.
“…What was it like for you at first, sir?”
“Me?”
When I first killed someone…
Since coming to this world, I’ve killed a whole lot to gain power.
There were always those trying to take from me and others hiding where I needed to go.
And there were more than enough folks I needed to kill, so many I couldn’t count.
What was I thinking when I killed those guys?
“…I think I had no particular thoughts.”
“So, does that mean you also have talent, sir?”
I can’t say I don’t have it.
Responding with that, I stepped forward.
The next night. The troops heading towards Wolasan wore all black clothing. Only the red symbols tattooed on their arms emerged in the darkness for identification.
“Then we will take the lead.”
The plan is as follows.
While the lord’s soldiers distract the Skull Gang near Wolasan, the warriors of the Eastern Trading Company will attack from the rear to create chaos.
And during that, I’m supposed to take down the skeletal warrior Longbeat.
That’s the basic framework of this operation.
I glanced at Sowol beside me. Although I need to keep her safe from the strong opponent Longbeat, I wasn’t particularly worried.
“Let’s begin.”
As Lady Sojoong raised her hand, the personnel from the Eastern Trading Company started to move.
As they carefully approached the Skull Gang’s hideout while navigating the back of Wolasan…
Waaaaah!!
It began.
As the lord’s soldiers began yelling and attacking from below the mountain, the Skull Gang members stirred.
Naturally, the rear defenses weakened, creating an opening for us to enter.
“I’m going in.”
Warriors equipped with grappling hooks threw ropes over the wooden barricades.
Quickly, they climbed up and started lowering ladders.
“Who’s there?!”
Oh no. They spotted me.
I quickly climbed the ladder, leaped up, and beheaded the enemy while scanning my surroundings.
There it is.
The back door prepared at the barricade.
I dashed toward it and opened the latch.
As the door swung open and the warriors from the Eastern Trading Company began to pour in, shouts were heard.
“Attack from the rear!!”
“It’s an ambush! An ambush!!”
Those little brats. They caught on quickly.
“Master!!”
“Yes. Understood. Sowol, follow me.”
“Yes.”
Sowol, who had been nearby Lady Sojoong, dashed over to me.
With her by my side, I raised my sword against the incoming Skull Gang members.
“Lord of Fire.”
A massive flame gathered at the tip of my sword and flew out, incinerating many Skull Gang members.
As they crumbled without a single scream, I said to Sowol,
“This is the boundary between life and death. Now, the real lesson begins.”
“What… should I do?”
In response to Sowol’s question as she tightly gripped her wooden sword, I aimed my sword at the charging enemies.
“Survive.”