Volume 3 Chapter 54 Quest： The Rematch Begins – The Shaman –
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
From a distant height, the cry of a hawk hunting sea birds echoed.
The sound of the gentle waves continuously brought warm, moist sea breezes to the training ground, the sandy beach.
The sunlight was strong, making the blue sea and yellow sand sparkle like silver.
”────”
Kian crouched low, his right hand resting on the hilt of the wooden sword at his waist, remaining perfectly still.
His hair and cheeks were dirty with countless grains of sand from falling multiple times.
His breath escaped through slightly parted lips.
His shoulders showed no movement, and he leaned forward slightly.
Sweat dripped down from his forehead, hitting the sandy ground with a soft plop, plop.
Blood splattered on the rolled-up sleeves of his shirt.
His shirt’s hem and pants were torn and in tatters from the falls.
Overall, he looked disheveled.
His body was covered in wounds.
He looked like a swordsman who had fought against enemy soldiers non-stop for 2 days without sleep.
However, from his stance, breathing, and the quietly swirling energy around him, there was not a hint of weakness to be felt.
If one stepped forward, they would be killed.
An indescribable sense of pressure, like a sword’s aura, radiated in large amounts from the young warrior monk’s well-trained body.
”……”
At last, the silence came to an end.
When the seagull cried out 3 times in the sky, Kian, who had stood still like a statue, suddenly released a pure energy.
”────…!”
With his eyes closed,
Kian took a deep, long breath, and when he held it, he kicked off the ground.
He activated the ‘Leap’ technique, the ultimate skill ‘Pursuit of the Shadow’.
But this was a dangerous acceleration that did not alter the laws of the outside world or heal himself.
”────”
In that hyper-speed leap, he felt his muscles tear apart and an unpleasant grind in his bones.
An immense pain flooded his mind, but he ignored it all, focusing only on moving forward.
The pain wouldn’t last long.
It would end soon.
One step, two steps.
And then, with his damaged foot, he took a third step.
Before the 4th step could hit the ground, Kian swiftly drew his wooden sword.
He swung his wooden sword in a straight line.
”────”
He grit his teeth, hearing the sound of a bone breaking.
The tip of the swung wooden sword cut sharply through the air.
With his arm raised like a bird with one wing, the sound came to him a moment later.
Thud────.
If someone were nearby, they would see a shabby warrior monk suddenly appear 20 meters away, as if dust had exploded in a perfect circle.
It was like magic, his sword technique.
The essence of movement.
A leap that touched the principle of a killing sword, surpassing human understanding.
Kian, amidst the sharp pain, took slow, regular breaths as he opened his eyes and returned to his stance.
While healing the broken bone, he looked back at the path he had just leaped through.
”…It’s finished.”
A deep trench formed in the sandy beach.
Kian muttered softly, gazing at it with a strangely calm feeling.
”Finally, it’s done.”
* * *
”──Oh, Mr. Kian. What happened to that bandage?”
”Huh?”
It was a little after 5 o’clock, the heat starting to ease.
In the courtyard of Guy’s estate, the yellowing sunlight shone down.
Kian looked up at Mrs. Fhana, who was elegantly sipping tea across from him.
Under the large white parasol, the madam pointed to her right arm, saying, “Here, here.”
Kian set his cup down on the saucer and glanced at the pointed area of his forearm.
It had been hot, so he rolled up his shirt sleeve, and the edge of a bandaged area with ointment peeked out.
Even at this casual tea gathering, such a thing was not meant to be shown to a lady.
Quickly pulling his sleeve back down, Kian gave a nervous smile to brush it off.
”I’m sorry. I was training to clear a quest until this morning.”
”Oh, I see. Did you get hurt in a sparring match with someone?”
”No, I was swinging the wooden sword by myself. Both of my teammates are out for the Lower-rank Adventurer promotion test today.”
”Swinging the wooden sword by yourself…? Hehe, were you fighting with yourself, Mr. Kian?”
Fhana chuckled softly and let out a playful sound from her throat.
The ends of her silky black hair, naturally falling from her sideburns, swayed gently back and forth.
After laughing heartily, she turned to the maid standing nearby.
”Someone go check on Lord Kian’s arm.”
”No, it’s almost healed. The wounds aren’t serious.”
”Is that so~? But you mustn’t push yourself! Our guards often get hurt too, and all our servants are trained in healing magic. There’s no need to hold back.”
”I’ve been applying a potion from the shaman in my party. She’s a magician with a qualification in Sage.”
”…A low-rank adventurer, yet she has an elf’s qualification as an herbalist? That’s quite an unusual background.”
”She’s a bit of an oddball like me. Most adventurers who try to make a living are a bit strange.”
”Being an adventurer sounds fun! I sometimes wish I was born as a commoner instead of a noble. I would join adventures like Mr. Kian, battling evil dragons and demons alongside brave companions.”
Fhana picked up a sweet pastry and took a delicate bite.
”On our journey, we would encounter beautiful landscapes unseen before, sharing heartfelt moments with my companions… Just like a bard’s tale, after defeating the dragon, I would find love with a handsome swordsman caught in our adventures. At the wedding, surrounded by friends and villagers we saved, I’d beam with happiness…”
”That sounds like a lovely dream.”
”Hehe, but I’m already an old lady, so such a dream feels far away. That’s why I listen to the songs of the theater troupe that visit, dreaming of being the heroine of a story.”
Fhana smiled sweetly as she spoke.
She was about to push the plate and say, “Please have more baked goods. I’m really proud of them,” when a high-pitched sound, like a “Hiiiin,” suddenly echoed from the back of the mansion, making her frown.
”――――.”
”That’s the sound of steam when iron is being forged. As promised, my husband seems to be reworking my magic sword.”
”Ah, so that’s why he’s been holed up in the workshop since last night. I’m a bit worried. Once he gets into his work, he doesn’t sleep at all. I hope he takes breaks like he should…”
Surprisingly, Mrs. Fhana looked genuinely worried.
Even if their personalities didn’t match or their bodies were a bit off, she still thought of her husband as Guy.
The heart of an unfaithful wife is complex, but Kian could just barely understand it.
’It’s Guy who guarantees Mrs. Fhana’s life, after all. There must be some feelings there.’
(So it’s different from just cheating. Like meals and these sweet baked goods.)
Kian pretended to sip his tea, taking a moment before saying,
”Are you going to check on him?”
”Even if I go, he’ll probably just say, ‘Sorry, but please come back later,’ and that would be it. I know nothing about blacksmithing, so I’ll just leave him alone as usual.”
”I see. But that might be for the best. His workshop is quite serious. It’s a bit dangerous for someone as delicate as you to step in.”
”Speaking of which, Mr. Kian, you went into his workshop, right? After the dinner party 2 nights ago.”
”Yes.”
Kian couldn’t help but chuckle as he remembered the state of the lord’s ‘hobby’ room.
Piles of firewood stacked high and a forge that could produce intense heat.
A long aqueduct made from pipes leading from a river, and a waterwheel powered by the flowing water, among other things.
The workshop’s gadgets cost a fortune, and the finished products could fill ten weapon and armor shops.
After that dinner party, even though Guy said he had work the next day, he ended up showcasing his creations until dawn.
He probably hadn’t even shown a hundredth of what he had.
Lord Blumer’s arrival marked the end of the workshop tour, but Guy happily said, “I’ll tell you more next time.”
Honestly, he felt like a week could easily slip away, and he wished it wouldn’t.
”It was an amazing hobby room!”
”I think it’s a bit messy with all that scrap metal lying around. He should really clean up! His bedroom is also quite dirty. Besides blacksmithing, he loves playing card games, but last time, he just left cards scattered everywhere and went off to work!”
”So you threw away your husband’s deck, then?”
”Exactly! I thought I was being helpful by cleaning up!”
”Hahaha!”
”It really is funny, isn’t it?”
”But, you might not want to throw away the cards so casually. Your husband’s passion for his hobbies is real. He probably keeps his important things in a special place, but those scattered cards alone could build 5 commoner houses! Remember, tossing away cards might be like throwing away Gold Coins!”
”Oh, Mr. Kian, are you defending my husband? You two have become quite close since that secret meeting at the workshop, haven’t you?”
”No, I was just stating a general opinion…”
When Kian said this, and his eyebrows lowered, he suddenly sensed the presence of a teleportation gate opening at the courtyard entrance.
Priscilla’s magic power surged strongly next.
Following that, Natra and Rufna’s magic power appeared as well.
”Lady Fhana, it seems Ms. Priscilla has arrived!”
”Oh really? With Priscilla here, we can have a tea party with 3 of us! Since my husband will probably be holed up for the night, let’s chat until it’s evening!”
Clapping her hands together, the madam’s eyes sparkled with excitement.
Unfortunately, it seemed that if Natra and the others had finished their test, the tea party would have to end for today.
From beyond the courtyard’s flower garden, the sounds of maids and Priscilla’s voice could be heard, and amidst the slight chaos, a witch with white hair was guided to the tea party’s square.
Behind her, dressed in a black witch’s outfit, followed Natra and Rufna, shrouded in Eastern, alien attire.
Natra’s face was covered with a Kitsune mask, while Rufna’s was adorned with a Tengu mask.
”Priscilla! Welcome!”
As the lady stood up from her seat, Kian also rose, setting down his cup.
Natra and Rufna approached Kian and promptly dropped to one knee before him.
Kian looked down at the two and inquired.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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