NOVEL NEXT Chapter 65
Holy Relics.
There are said to be a total of seven of them.
Sword of Humility, Humble.
Greatsword of Charity, Nuh.
Bow of Kindness, Kandra.
Shield of Patience, Piant.
Armor of Purity, Serela.
Holy Mark of Temperance, Sacred.
Staff of Diligence, Indus.
Among them, it’s said that the Greatsword of Charity, Nuh, was shattered long ago during an ancient era by an unidentified outsider whose records have since been lost in time.
Humble and Sacred were wielded by Paulo and Luna, respectively.
The remaining four holy relics are rumored to be kept safe within the Holy Kingdom.
And it’s actually true.
Four hundred years ago, when the Holy Kingdom was turned upside down, I had the chance to see those four relics wrapped in brilliant light.
I did hear bits and pieces about the history of the relics during that time, but I didn’t feel the need to remember any of it, so I tossed it all away.
The only thing that stuck in my mind is that they are simply incredibly sturdy and sharp weapons.
The relics possess consciousness. That means they can engage in conversation like people and sometimes throw in a piece of advice—quite a complex existence, if you ask me.
Additionally, they choose their own masters.
It’s quite hilarious that the arrogant Paulo was chosen by Humility, while the greedy Luna was selected by Temperance, but that aside…
Lastly.
When their master dies, they return to their original place.
That is to say, they go back to the Holy Kingdom.
So, I asked Fabiana.
“Do you know the whereabouts of the Holy Relics Humble and Sacred?”
According to Flora, Arisa was the only one who returned from Gebihenum.
Without Paulo and Luna—just her.
However, according to the World Tree lady, everyone except me was present when the Demon King was sealed.
So where on earth are Paulo and Luna, and what are they up to?
At that time, we were strong. Even the remaining three Legion Commanders hesitated to fight us.
Those guys couldn’t have possibly bitten the dust on their way home.
But… I can’t figure out why they weren’t with us. Moreover, this information is likely something you won’t find even in the Forbidden Library.
The Empire’s Forbidden Library is a vault where information tied to the Empire, stuff that needs to be buried, is gathered. So, information related to the relics—or the Holy Kingdom, is presumably absent.
That said, it’s not entirely impossible to find it.
Maybe someone as powerful as Fabiana standing right in front of me might know something.
And my thought was correct.
“I know.”
Fabiana, who was trying to gauge my intentions with my question, cautiously asked.
“But the answer to this question is quite heavy. No, that’s not it. You already know. You know about the interaction between the Empire and the Holy Kingdom… don’t you?”
“…Yeah, sort of.”
We probably couldn’t eliminate what we forcibly created 400 years ago.
Kaloso’s magic and Luna’s divine power.
And it was a contract imbued with the powers of both relics.
To put it simply, it’s a peace treaty.
Even when wars break out among humans or the Demon Races, the Empire and the Holy Kingdom contracted to ‘always’ stick together.
Although a lot of conditions were tagged along in that process, I didn’t specifically remember them.
I only recall that it’s a contract inherited by blood.
“I won’t ask for the source… I’m a generous princess and a senior, after all.”
“…Uh, yes. Thank you.”
“Alright. As for the answer to that question…”
Tap tap- Fabiana, who had been tapping the table, answered in a slightly strained voice.
“Humble and Sacred have not returned.”
And at that moment, my fist clenched tightly.
“But other things have returned instead.”
“Other things?”
“The Hero. The numerous weapons of Arisa Eustetia.”
That was information I was aware of.
However, there’s something I didn’t get from that information.
“Where are they?”
I don’t know where my weapons are.
I couldn’t find them in my father’s study or in the library anywhere.
“I don’t know that either. And whatever I don’t know, the Royal Family likely doesn’t know either.”
“…Arisa… did she hide them…?”
“I guess you could think that way. This couldn’t be traced even in the Forbidden Library.”
“Does that also apply to Arisa’s whereabouts?”
“The only rumor left is that she disappeared along with all those numerous weapons.”
“Disappeared…”
I let out a sigh and sank into the sofa.
Paulo and Luna are not dead.
But I can’t know where they are.
And the Arisa who brought all the weapons has vanished.
So, it’s impossible to trace their whereabouts in the Empire.
And in the Holy Kingdom? Well… who knows.
The Empire doesn’t know what the Holy Kingdom would know.
“However, there is a little information left about what Arisa Eustetia did before she disappeared.”
At those words, I raised my head to look at Fabiana.
But she simply smiled faintly, raising her index finger.
“However, this time it’s my turn to ask.”
I thought she would ask why she was curious about it.
It seems she has no intention of asking the reason.
Truly… an outrageously fiery princess, no matter how you look at it.
“…Yes. Go ahead.”
In accordance with her indication, I nodded readily.
“Then, I will ask. Eliaernes. Before entering the labyrinth, you were at the 4th Rank. But the moment you encountered the Demon Race, you jumped up to the 5th Rank. What kind of magic did you wield?”
“…Are you really asking me that?”
“I’m seriously asking.”
Fabiana’s earnest gaze made me deflate a little.
“I’m ready to answer truthfully to whatever you ask Princess.”
“That’s a very kind word.”
“But… is that the only thing you’re asking?”
“Exactly. Right now, it’s what piques my curiosity the most. And it’s not just ‘something’—it’s a very important matter.”
Pointing at herself with that raised finger, Fabiana chuckled.
“Embarrassingly enough, I’m still at the 6th Rank. I can’t feel the wall to reach the 7th Rank, nor can I see the way.”
“At your age, being at the 6th Rank makes you an extraordinary genius, doesn’t it?”
“Right. I am a genius. But just a genius. I can’t become one of the Empire’s six pillars or a monster like you. I mustn’t. I need to grow even stronger.”
“Princess, you didn’t ask for the reason, but I would like to inquire. Why do you wish to grow stronger?”
“I won’t answer since I didn’t ask.”
In an instant, the ease and arrogance that usually adorned Fabiana’s face faded, only to return in an instant.
“So, what’s your answer?”
Having stared at Fabiana for a moment, I shrugged my shoulders and said.
“For now, I’ll tell you, but even if you hear it… you probably won’t be able to follow it.”
“That’s a rather arrogant remark, dismissing me, the princess. But that’s what makes it all the more appealing. Speak.”
“To widen your dantian.”
“…That’s a rather… mysterious statement.”
“Mysterious or not, it’s literally what I mean.”
Holding the teapot beside me, I poured tea into the empty cup before me.
“Think of the teacup as the dantian, and this tea as mana. Right now, being filled to the brim is the usual state.”
And after a brief moment, I poured more tea over the brimmed cup. The light pink tea began to spill over and wet the saucer beneath.
“Normally, the dantian cannot contain more mana than its set capacity. As one’s rank rises, the amount of mana the dantian can hold increases too, and eventually, it will burst open to reach the higher planes, becoming a superhuman.”
My explanation may have sounded quite convoluted, but I thought Fabiana would probably catch on and continued speaking.
“Then, think of it in reverse. If the dantian can’t hold mana, then widen it. So, like this.”
I placed my hand wrapped in strong magic over the teacup and slowly let some tea spill into it. Miraculously, the spillage started to gather in my hand.
“It’s simple; you just need to widen it. The method is straightforward: after unleashing mana within the dantian, control the frantically surging mana and ensure that the dantian doesn’t break. Little by little, it needs to tear apart and widen slowly.”
Once I finished speaking, I unleashed the strong magic encircling my hand and scattered the gathered liquid mass into the air.
As a result, a subtle peach fragrance lingered within Fabiana’s room.
Amid that gentle aroma, Fabiana’s gaze fluttered.
“So, you’re saying… you raised your rank using this method?”
“Yes.”
“And with the Demon Race…?”
“As soon as I entered the labyrinth.”
“Still, that took less than a minute.”
“…Well, that’s true.”
“The surge of mana and the resulting expansion of dantian…”
Fabiana seemed to be contemplating my words and gently stroked her chin in thought, then shook her head with a click of her tongue.
“There are many ways to commit suicide, but this seems like a new method of doing so.”
And she locked her eyes back onto me.
“However, seeing you casually conversing with me here suggests this isn’t an impossible method. Indeed… this is a crazy act, even if you know how to do it. Intentionally causing a surge of mana to control it? Isn’t that a reckless act? One wrong move and your dantian could completely fail, no—your body could explode and kill you. How on earth did you manage to achieve such madness?”
“Well… You get used to it quickly. That said, blindly raising the rank could lead to trouble later on; it’s just about controlling it.”
Although I’m not an expert on these matters, I do know a bit from what Paulo taught me.
Heart, Qi, Body—balance among them.
It must roughly align so you can digest, control, and handle your own abilities without issue.
Especially, that’s crucial when ascending from the 5th Rank to the 6th Rank.
When opening the upper dantian, that’s the most careful point.
That stage entails filling mana with ideation.
If you try to rush into that phase, you won’t even hit the wall of the 7th Rank, let alone the 8th.
Considering the foundation is weak, it’s only natural.
Thus, rather than blindly raising one’s rank, laying a solid foundation bit by bit to climb slowly is vital.
However, this time, I had no choice.
If I hadn’t used my magic, I wouldn’t have been able to take down that Demon. So I had to tear open my dantian.
Thus, I’m now feeling under the weather like this.
My heart and qi were roughly in balance, but my body was lacking.
“Anyway, not that it’s my place to say, but using this method could be detrimental. I strongly recommend building your foundation slowly and steadily.”
“That’s the same as telling a junkie not to smoke magic herbs. Oh come on…”
Fabiana, now seemingly fed up, let out a hollow laugh and gently closed her eyes.
“If my previous assumptions were right, that somewhat eases my mind.”
“What do you mean?”
“That curious movement you displayed in battle. When I thought you were going straight, you went sideways, and when I thought you went sideways, you shot straight up. I assume that movement was also a result of unleashing mana—a wild explosion of mana across each joint, thus twisting your movements?”
“Oh…”
Spot on.
Just as Fabiana explained, I consciously unleashed mana spread throughout my body to limit, twist, or alter my movements.
Every time I did that, the mana shone bright, and I heard the Demon Race calling me a fortress.
Anyway, that’s the truth.
“You were a madman who risked your life in battle.”
“Battles are when all beings risk their lives, aren’t they?”
“That’s not what I mean. The mana explosion and the control of movement. Your crazy method of raising your rank is just pure lunacy. If you misadjust even a tad, your limbs could twist and die. The fact that you’ve achieved it so casually is—quite remarkable, if not bizarre.”
“…Geniuses are like that originally.”
Now, I casually said it, but I too understood it was outrageous.
But I had no other choice.
I needed to pave the way for Paulo.
I had to catch up with Arisa’s moves.
I needed to protect Luna preparing for a miracle.
I had to buy time until Kaloso’s great magic was ready to unleash.
But I was lacking in talent.
I couldn’t wield a sword as well as Paulo; I didn’t possess the insane physical abilities of chimpanzees; I couldn’t create miracles like Luna; and I couldn’t use magic like Kaloso.
So, in the end, I had to fight with everything I had.
In fact, just as Fabiana described, I contorted my limbs a few times with early mistakes.
My dantian nearly became malformed and almost shattered.
If it hadn’t been for Luna’s miracles and Arisa’s superior talent in mana control, I would’ve died long ago.
Even still, I have no regrets.
If anything, I’m content.
It allowed me to carve through the Demon Races liberally.
“Though it wasn’t the answer I wanted, it was still satisfying. Thank you.”
Fabiana, who had been lost in thought for a while, took a sip of her cold tea and smiled gently.
“Now, I must answer your question.”
What Arisa did before she vanished.
“It’s said she took on a disciple. And that to acquire the title and estate of a duke—”
She seemed to struggle to contain her laughter as Fabiana’s lips quivered.
“—she supposedly inflected merciless violence upon the emperor of the time, the illustrious Emperor Fortinus de Herman.”