Chapter 52 part 1: The Training of Shukuma

Lucius and Shaulia are sitting in the office, meditating.

They sit facing each other, holding each other’s hands.

After leaving the labyrinth, Lucius visited Shaulia’s office as instructed.

“…Transfer your magic power.”

 Captain Shaulia calmly speaks to Lucius.

“Yes.”

Magic power flows from Lucius’ right hand into Shaulia’s left hand.

At the same time, Shaulia’s face contorts in pain.

“Reduce the amount.”

“Understood.”

While adjusting the amount of magic power flowing, Lucius continues.

Lucius’ magic power is poured into Shaulia’s white eye magic core and then returned to Lucius’ left hand through Shaulia’s right hand.

A slight pain runs through them.

The density of magic power is high.

The magic power returned from Shaulia is dense. Lucius takes the high-density magic power he received and transfers it to the dragon rider magic core where the evil dragon resides.

“This is the Shukuma’s Training.”

“By increasing the density of magic power, the total amount of magic power increases, right?”

The size of the magic core stops growing around the age of 10.

Expanding the vessel is a simple method to increase the total amount.

The idea is to make the magic power high-density.

“Yes. Besides expanding the magic core, there are two methods to increase magic power: increasing the density of magic power and incorporating false cores.”

While continuing to give magic power to Shaulia, Lucius speaks.

“But if there were such methods, they should have taught me before I made a contract with Shiki.”

If the level of the magic core had been raised in advance, he might not have had to deal with the troublesome oath with the evil dragon.

When considering that, one might feel inclined to complain.

“Spirit dwells in magic power. In the Shukuma’s Training, no matter how carefully it is done, other people’s magic power will mix. If you exchange large amounts of other people’s magic power without the use of contracts, it could lead to the worst-case scenario of self-destruction.”

“Now that you mention it…”

When forcibly flowing magic power during infancy – during reincarnation – a headache occurs.

“Hasn’t it been painful since earlier? Many people dislike emergency magic power recovery.”

“It hurts normally, you know? But since I did it every day until two years ago, it feels nostalgic, rather.”

A piercing gaze is directed at him, different from the morning.

It’s like looking at someone with a special and incomprehensible fetish.

“…I also became a Class 1 through training. It wasn’t just by the vessel, so I don’t know how much it will help.”

After that, the two sharpen their senses and circulate magic power.

With each repetition, the pain gradually intensifies.

And now, after 30 minutes, Lucius is grimacing in pain as if his nerves were being directly touched.

Certainly, this is tough.

The magic power flowing into the non-contracted magic core is raging violently within the body.

The magic power directly affects the mind.

When he grimaces in agony, something suddenly flashes through his mind.

It’s the backstreet of the town.

What is it?

Emotions and memories mixed in with magic power.

They take shape and pass through his head.

“Shao is small, so I’ll protect her.”

The backstreet of the town.

When she was bullied by the local boys, her brother always saved her. He always protected her.

“I’ll become a knight too. Someone has to support the family.”

Living room of their home.

Her desperate brother holding back tears.

It was the day she received the news that their knight father died on the battlefield. Her brother decided to become a knight for the sake of the family.

“Shao, you don’t have to become a knight.”

The town’s tavern.

Words from her returning brother.

It wasn’t the answer she expected. She thought her brother would praise him more. But the result was her brother with a sad expression on his face.

“Don’t expect sibling affection now that we’re assigned to the same unit.”

The hall of the garrison.

Her brother emphasizes his words, pushing her away.

She didn’t have any expectations. However, she felt terribly lonely.

“Don’t cry anymore. Look, I bought figs that Shao likes.”

My room.

On a night when she was scolded by her superior and was alone and depressed, her sweaty brother came to her room.

He had sweet fruit in his hand, even though it was out of season.

His expression was still the same as it used to be.

“Ah… Shao. I… I… I killed someone on the battlefield.”

Her brother’s room.

Alone in the dark room, he trembles.

He seems unable to sleep, and his eyes look deeply sunken.

“I’m tired of this! Scared, scared, scared. I don’t know when I’ll die. I’m going to die like father.”

The corridor.

Alone, he holds his head and crouches on the floor.

Unable to do anything, the only thing she could do was hug her crying brother.

“Shao, I’ve caused you a lot of trouble. I’m going to continue being a knight. I’ve found someone I want to help. It doesn’t matter where they were born. I’ll follow that person.”

The dining hall.

Her brother’s face is bright, standing up straight.

Just like when he saved her from the bullies.

A feeling of discomfort crawls up his right arm.

A feeling of discomfort, as if his right hand has been stained with blood, spreads throughout his body.

I… took a life…

Along with a reaction close to rejection, his memory is interrupted.

“What did you do?”

In front of him stood Shaulia, who had grown into an adult.

“I most likely saw Captain Shaulia’s memories.”

“Yes… There is a non-contracted magic core, right? I was careless. It seems that this training is still too early for you.”

Shaulia unties her hands and stands up, turning her back.

Lucius throws words at her back.

He has to convey it now.

“…He said, ‘Why didn’t you… come earlier?'”

“What?”

“Those were Mr. Bluesen’s last words. I don’t understand their meaning, but you might. Also, it might be a mistake, but he was smiling at the end.”

Shaulia closed her eyes.

After contemplating silently for a while, she sits in front of Lucius.

“Brother… my brother was… mentally unstable. He would suddenly go on a rampage, and the next day he wouldn’t come out of his room. In such times, I met him four years ago.”

“Who was it?”

“A man from the same Noris Northern Province as you. He was the heir to one of the Four Great Noble Families.”

The heir of the Four Great Noble Families in the Northern Province.

There is currently only Olivia, but there used to be one more.

He was Olivia’s brother who died four years ago in the conflict.

“So, he probably died four years ago…”

“Yes.”

“Brother, was infatuated with that man. But it didn’t work out.”

“What do you mean?”

“It was a terrible battle. Four years ago, during the collapse of the defense in the conflict, the Empire’s War Emperor and Conquest General appeared. It was only a matter of time before the Imperial soldiers stormed into the border city. I thought it was the end.”

The name War Emperor was something he had heard before. Yuu had mentioned that he was a hero of the Empire.

“I have heard of the War Emperor’s name.”

“He is a calamity in the form of a human, unstoppable. Even with just his right-hand man, the Conquest General, it takes division commanders and brigade commanders forming ranks to barely contain him. Even then, half of the people who face him die. The previous division and brigade commanders also died in that battle.”

“How did you deal with it?”

“We needed someone to buy time to evacuate the residents. And that man… volunteered. He said it was time to fulfill the duty of a noble… As you know, the result is as you know. And my brother, who lost his support, truly broke down.”

Shaulia’s downcast shoulders seemed to be tied to the past. Her dark and gloomy back gave off a sense of guilt.

Unable to bear the feelings he had been carrying in his chest since morning, he spoke up.

“Brigadier Shaulia and the knights gathered in the courtyard, do you resent me?”

“I don’t know.”

She couldn’t answer immediately, taking a considerable pause before responding.

“You don’t know?”

“The knights of the Honogura territory have committed atrocities. Even as comrades, I can’t forgive that. I would do the same if I were in your position. But the images we have of them are of weakness, misery, and yet, they remain very human-like in our memories.”

“I see…”

He thought that if there had been a proper lord commanding, things wouldn’t have escalated to such ruthlessness.

The knights of Honogura went out of control in a state where the town was on fire and monsters were overflowing, losing control.

If you could call it their true nature, so be it, but it was not uncommon for them to be seen as opportunistic.

“So I talked to everyone and decided to pour everything into this morning’s battle. Whether we win or lose, maybe we can draw a line there and move on, I thought.”

“That’s what it was.”

“I’m sorry. To you, it must have been just a troublesome matter.”

“Well, it was sudden, wasn’t it?”

“And I made a promise to accept the past… and also the punishment.”

“Punishment?”

Shaulia looked at Lucius.

Her eyes were burning with determination.

“You can hit me as much as you want, kick me as much as you want. If you want, you can even kill me. But I will accept the punishment for all the members who were there. It’s selfish of me, but I want to settle things that way.”

“No…”

“Can I ask something?”

The door was knocked on, and without waiting for the room’s owner to respond, the door opened.

Turning around, Karan, the Division Commander, stood there.

“Hey there, Lord Lucius. Good thing I made it in time to judge whether to forgive or not.”

Karan entered the room, making a gesture of apology with his hands.

“Sorry about earlier.”

He had the same light-hearted atmosphere as always.

“What about the members of the unit?”

This is about that man.

He must have already finished gathering information from the members who were in the courtyard.

“They had a great reaction, more than I expected. It seems like they have all swallowed it safely.”

“Well, it’s only as bad as being cursed since I hurt someone. The match itself was fair. And if you’re willing to support the division, I have no complaints.”

In other words, it was a story of picking a fight to accept the mock battle and Lucius bought it.

As for Commander Karan, he simply proposed the match and fought fair and square.

He even had a touch of trying to bring out Chi You earlier and hasten the conclusion.

Even in the match, they had prepared countermeasures against Lucius, but information gathering and countermeasures are basic fundamentals. It can even be said that Lucius was at fault for readily accepting without doing any of that.

“Aren’t you angry?”

“I am. But can I say something? Let me give you an example. Imagine a person who kills others and calmly holds a sharp sword. If they ask you to trust them, can you sleep next to them?”

“…I can’t.”

“Exactly. You obtained immense power like the Evil Dragon and Chi You. It’s like wielding a sharp sword. Whether that blade will be swung at the enemy or pierce oneself, everyone is uneasy about it.”

“Am I going to stab someone with it?”

“Throughout history, there have been people who obtained power, whether it be authority or violence, and started using it recklessly. It might feel good to them, but to others, it’s just a swollen sore.”

“But I won’t do such things.”

“Even if it’s said in words, few people can believe it. Besides, His Majesty is already quite old. The current king has become much softer, but originally he was the type who could handle both good and evil. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be fit to be a king. The trust in you, who has seen the light, is a reaction to that.”

“…Do you doubt His Majesty?”

“Haha, it seems you still have a lot to learn in that area.”

Karan looks directly at Lucius.

“His Majesty has already considered these kinds of things. That’s why he pushed aside the opposition of the four major noble families other than Marquis Norris and allowed you to wander around other provinces alone. It’s a parent’s heart to let a cute child experience a harsh journey. And he believes that you can overcome any trial, like an earnest and innocent girl.”

“Do you… want me to doubt His Majesty?”

“Hehe. It seems you’re still a bit naive about that.”

Karan let out a sigh.

“Well, it can’t be helped. The responsibility of a subordinate lies with the superior.”

Karan placed his own sword in front of him and deeply bowed.

“I apologize.”

Shaulia, who had been in a state of confusion, hastily lowered her head to Lucius.

But she had missed placing her sword in front of her during the customary acceptance of an apology. She desperately searched for it with her eyes.

Usually, when accepting an apology with a sword placed in front, one would also place their own sword in front.

She knew the etiquette, but she was confused and couldn’t respond immediately. It was an uncommon situation. She couldn’t handle it promptly.

Seeing her like that, Karan sighed.

“There’s no helping it. The responsibility of the subordinate lies with the superior.”

Karan placed his sword in front of him and bowed deeply.

“I apologize.”

The three noble individuals, who were supposed to be sitting on the floor in the room, bowed their heads to each other in this strange scene.

After a short pause, Lucius stood up and Karan spoke to him.

“Changing the subject, would you like to come to the southern region? I promise you the treatment that allows you to fully demonstrate your abilities in the name of Sou Shi Winzor.”

Laughing, but with a serious gaze, Karan’s eyes were focused on him.

“I will succeed my father and become the Baron of Silverheart Territory.”

“I guess you got turned down, too bad. But as expected, the reason His Majesty and Count Esta support you is clear. I hope you find a Class 1 [False Core]. I sincerely hope so.”

“Yes, thank you very much.”

Lucius smiled and left the room.

As he walked down the corridor, his footsteps were very light.

For the past few months, or rather, for the first time in two years, his heart was clear.

He looked at his right hand while opening and closing it.

The throbbing he had always felt in his right hand was now so small that he could hardly feel it.

He gained power without wanting it.

Because of that power, he will continue to bear many punishments in the future.

It’s easy to turn a blind eye to punishment, using righteousness as a shield.

But it didn’t feel like himself.

Yes, living like this, I can truly live as myself.

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