Reincarnated with the King’s Power

Chapter 3

"Prince Killian is in danger."

"Chamberlain Haman, explain in detail."

At the cold tone, Haman flinched and hunched his shoulders.

Escardo Schtenberg.

The Commander of the Knights of the Eurasia Family, a 7-star knight, and the godfather of the princes, having sworn an oath of brotherhood with the family head.

If there was anyone in the family from whom one could seek help regarding Killian's matter, it was Escardo, who was also serving as the acting head.

'Was he disappointed by this incident?'

Even so, nothing would change.

Haman swallowed hard and opened his mouth.

"The, the third prince… Prince Julian has declared that he will not leave Prince Killian alone. He said he would break his arms and legs before the family head finishes his closed-door training…."

At the mention of Julian's name, Escardo's sigh deepened.

Julian Eurasia. The third prince of the family and a troublemaker who had the Sepia Merchant Guild, his mother's family, as his backing.

Compared to the first or second prince, his innate talent wasn't exceptional, but he was a cunning child who knew how to use the halo he possessed.

No, now that he was over twenty-three, it was awkward to even call him a child.

'How did things come to this….'

Since he couldn't act recklessly towards his older brothers, he was venting his anger on Killian, who had no backing.

The family head, who advocated for the survival of the fittest, was aware of this fact but chose to ignore it.

"There's a rumor that this incident was also because of Julian. Is that true?"

"W, well, that is…."

"If you intend to lie, you may leave."

"I, it's true. It is all my fault…!!"

That Killian, exhausted from the assault, had resorted to an Elixir to become stronger.

Haman, shutting his eyes tightly, confessed the truth.

"He must have been desperate in his own way, but still, to do something so pathetic……. What is Killian doing now?"

"He took a decoction a little while ago and is resting."

"You mean you left him alone?"

"Well, he said he wanted to be alone…."

"……."

He was a lad who had just returned from the brink of death; there was no telling what he might do.

"There's no need to delay. Lead the way."

"Th, thank you."

Escardo followed Haman, clicking his tongue softly.

Unlike the other princes, Killian had neither a maternal family for a background nor a mother who doted on him with extreme affection.

If even he turned his back, there was no telling when the soft-hearted child might make another extreme choice.

Playing the role of a mother to him, a born knight.

'If the family head knew about this….'

With a sigh, Escardo shook his head.

***

'Is it impossible to form a Mana Heart right away?'

I focused, trying to sense mana with the body of a talentless person.

There wasn't a single spot in my body free of impurities.

Was it because of the aftereffects of swallowing the Elixir? Even my blood vessels and organs were bizarrely twisted.

'This is on the level of drinking poison, not an Elixir.'

Just as I was thinking that.

Knock, knock.

"My prince, it is Haman."

The door opened with the chamberlain's voice.

Following him, a middle-aged knight with short-cropped black hair entered. It was a face from my memory.

'This man is the Commander of the family's knights, Escardo Schtenberg.'

A pillar supporting the family by the side of the family head.

A man known in the world as the 'Sword Demon'.

'Hoh. Quite impressive.'

The trained physique visible between the gaps in his armor and his stable presence.

I could tell at a glance that he was a knight who had surpassed the wall. It was an admirable achievement, even considering his age in the late forties.

Killian was not the only one who was surprised.

Escardo's eyes twitched.

"……."

The gaunt frame, the dark circles under his eyes, and the skeletal, emaciated body were no different from his memory.

What had changed was his gaze.

It was similar to the gaze he used when testing the family's knights, or when the family head confirmed his achievements.

'Did he… develop a fighting spirit after coming back from the dead?'

If so, it was a fortunate thing.

Living as a member of the Eurasia Family required more than just ordinary tenacity.

"Killian, I heard from Chamberlain Haman. You overexerted yourself by swallowing an Elixir…."

Before he could finish his words.

Drip. Drip.

Something trickled down from Killian's nostrils.

Killian belatedly realized it was the impurities from within his body.

"What were you doing?"

Escardo asked in a cold tone.

"I was meditating. There's nothing better for grasping the condition of my body."

"You seem to be misunderstanding my words. Do you know what those impurities mean? For those who do not possess a Mana Heart…."

"Impurities are a factor that dulls mana sensitivity and are the toxins within the body that must first be discharged to create a Mana Heart. Naturally, I was in the middle of the preliminary work for creating a Mana Heart."

"……."

Escardo was at a loss for words at his attitude of not only cutting him off but also explaining calmly.

He was firm and full of conviction.

'Is this man really Killian?'

Looking into the silver eyes that stared straight at him, he even had the illusion of facing the family head.

"It seems Haman has caused you unnecessary worry, Uncle. However, you no longer need to concern yourself."

At the business-like tone, Escardo's eyes sank.

He wasn't wrong.

He was the princes' uncle, but at the same time, he was a bystander who had to watch over the competition for the family's headship.

The problem was that this attitude was being shown by the fourth prince, not the first or second.

Suddenly, a possibility surfaced in his mind.

'Did he gain enlightenment at the crossroads of life and death?'

An Elixir made by diluting and hardening the blood of a Drake.

It was true that Killian's body couldn't handle it, and he had wandered on the verge of death.

'In the end, he survived by a stroke of luck. Though he gained no physical growth, a mental enlightenment must have followed.'

Gaining enlightenment after overcoming a brush with death.

It was a situation many heroes were said to have experienced, and something both he and the family head had also experienced in their younger days.

The corners of Escardo's mouth lifted.

"Yes. You too are one who inherited the blood of the family head."

He had no intention of belittling the results of a gamble attempted at the risk of one's life.

Enlightenment was merely a trigger. Genuine growth was only possible when followed by bone-grinding effort.

"I heard you must maintain absolute rest for the time being. Do not overexert yourself just because you have gained enlightenment."

"……."

"I am not unaware of your desire to create a Mana Heart, but your body is not yet whole. If you push yourself too hard, you could fall into a relapse again."

Creating a Mana Heart required a sufficient preparatory process.

One had to train the body, expel the toxins and impurities from within, and create a pure state.

'It should take at least a year.'

Killian meekly nodded his head.

"I will keep that in mind."

"It will be one year until the family head's seclusion is complete. I will forbid you from contacting others."

"……?"

What did he mean by this now?

"Until then, focus on your body's recovery and try to achieve your goal."

A year was enough time to expel the impurities from his body and create a Mana Heart.

Killian realized that the Commander of the Knights before him was trying to give him a chance.

"Understood."

"Congratulations on stepping onto the path of the sword."

With those words, Escardo left the room.

Haman, who had been watching with bated breath, approached.

His face, still bruised, was full of worry.

"My prince, are you alright?"

"Chamberlain Haman. I seem to have caused you unnecessary worry as well."

"……?"

At his unusual demeanor, Haman tilted his head.

Such formality between them?

'As I thought… the aftereffects still remain.'

"I should rest now. Call me when it's time for my meal, and you may leave."

"Rest well…."

Haman, unable to erase the worried expression from his face, quietly withdrew.

Click.

As the door closed.

Thud.

Killian immediately sat down on the spot and crossed his legs.

And once again, he began the work of heightening his mana sensitivity.

***

Those commonly called geniuses create a Mana Heart around the age of fifteen.

Normally, it was common to form one around the age of twenty. Creating a new heart was, after all, not as easy as it sounded.

They said those with high affinity could feel the presence of mana after concentrating for just a few days.

For Killian, the task of just sensing mana had taken nearly half a year.

Today, too, I sat cross-legged and steadied my breathing. It was the same routine as always.

'Has it already been eleven months?'

I had poured all my time into sensing mana without any interruptions.

As much as the impurities had been expelled, my mana sensitivity had also risen considerably.

'I think I can try it now.'

What remained was the turbid energy.

That would all be discharged during the process of forming the Mana Heart.

"……."

I looked at my reflection in the mirror.

Compared to when I first woke up, I had gained quite a bit of weight. To the extent that the gaunt ribs that had been visible above my skin had receded a little?

It was thanks to the countless repetitions of my daily routine over the past eleven months: meditation, quality meals, moderate exercise, and decoctions to heighten mana sensitivity.

Knock, knock.

"It is Haman."

"Come in."

I neatly finished the decoction Haman brought right on time, without leaving a single drop.

"Haman."

"Yes, my prince. Shall I bring another cup?"

"The decoction is fine, go and make me a Mana Recovery Potion brewed from Mandrake root. If possible, add some decent ingredients to it as well."

"A Mana… Recovery Potion? Not a Vitality Recovery Potion?"

"Yes, a 'Mana Recovery Potion'. It would be best to find an apothecary who will make it quietly, even if you have to slip him some money. You know what I mean, right?"

There were many in the family who did not think well of me. So, he was telling him to act with discretion.

"No, that part isn't difficult, but… why would you, my prince…."

A Mana Recovery Potion for a man who couldn't even create a Mana Heart due to his lack of talent?

For someone who couldn't handle mana, it was an item no different from plain water with no medicinal effect.

'A decoction that recovers vitality would be more helpful….'

"I can hear your thoughts from here."

"My prince, no matter how I think about it, I can't understand…."

"Just go and make it."

"……."

I continued in a firm voice to the hesitant chamberlain.

"If made properly, it should take ten hours. Don't think of returning to the bedchamber until then."

"What? No, my prince…."

"I don't need a meal either. Make sure to tell the royal guards that on your way out."

"No, I…."

"Answer."

Unlike his gaunt body, the spirit emanating from his two eyes was murderous.

"Y, yes, I understand."

Overwhelmed by his spirit, Haman scrambled out of the room.

Click.

I locked the door, just in case.

To form a Mana Heart, two assistants were generally needed.

But who was I?

The creator of the Mana Heart, said to be the light of humanity, the master who had raised numerous Sword Masters, and the Magic Sword that had written myths with heroes.

Considering my body's condition, it would take roughly nine hours to create the Mana Heart.

'I'll finish by the time Haman returns. After that, drinking the recovery potion he brings back would be perfect.'

I let out a long breath and pushed away the distracting thoughts that rose in my mind.

"Huuuu…."

My irregular breathing began to stabilize little by little.

Killian, no, Adamas, recalled this moment that he had witnessed countless times.

Among those who had become his partners, some had formed a Mana Heart from the start, but most had been ordinary people who had never even held a sword.

How did they react when they created their Mana Hearts?

'They raised all kinds of hell.'

That's what creating a heart was like.

Feeling the throb of a beating heart, I recalled that pain.

I imagined a heart made of mana.

"Huuuuu…."

Calming my stabilized breath, I pushed out the turbid energy that had settled in my body.

My senses sharpened. Shallow and deep breaths repeated.

Five hours after starting the breathing technique, I had expelled all the turbid energy.

'From now on is what's important.'

The location to form the Mana Heart was right next to the heart, slightly to the right of the center.

'The body can't even be called trained yet.'

If the balance was off, the Mana Heart would damage the original heart.

Whoooosh.

It began with the sound of wind.

The affected heart tickled.

'Weaker.'

Whooooooooosh.

My chest area felt cool.

'That's right.'

Like that, I concentrated for another hour and felt the mana. Perhaps because I had become a natural body, sensing mana was faster than I thought.

I focused my mind to enter a state of selflessness.

Before I knew it, a small puddle of turbid energy had formed around me.

Around the time seven hours had passed.

Whoooooooooooooosh.

Faster than expected, a fragment of the Mana Heart began to take shape.