How To Live As A Third Son Of A Failure [EN]: Chapter 53

How to Live as the Third Son of a Wasted Novel – Chapter 53

* * *

It’s a mountain.

Clouds spread out beneath my feet. A place where even oxygen feels scarce. But I, having long surpassed the limits of humanity, felt free.

“This is driving me crazy.”

A voice escaped my lips.

No, not my lips. Yet, simultaneously, it is my mouth.

It’s a sensation I’ve grown quite accustomed to now.

Yes.

I was currently Emperor Belankas.

“What’s wrong?”

The woman beside me tilted her head.

Familiar features.

It was Kerwin Aphen, whom I had met at Maneloff Peak. Her appearance from hundreds of years ago was no different.

As our eyes met, a strange emotion welled up.

The lingering feeling of affection. It must be love.

“There’s definitely a better way, and I feel like I can actually do it. I feel it intuitively. But it’s like there’s a wall blocking me; it’s driving me nuts.”

“Mana cultivation?”

“Yeah.”

“If you don’t know, who would? The continent’s best swordsman doesn’t know.”

“That’s a crude piece of advice coming from the continent’s best mage.”

“With dragons around, what’s the best?”

“Let me correct myself. Among humans.”

“In that case, shall I advise you as the best human mage?”

Kerwin Aphen chuckled and stood up.

As she reached out, the clouds parted. Simultaneously, mana erupted from her.

Soon, a dragon appeared in the clear sky, gliding down.

I flinched for a moment but soon realized it was an illusion spell.

“Are you telling me to watch a dragon?”

“This is my answer.”

“What do you mean?”

“You have no rivals.”

It was an unkindly short statement, but I could easily guess its meaning.

“Right. You have the existence of dragons, but I don’t.”

“That’s right. Unlike me, you are a pioneer. Creating something is hundreds of times harder than imitating.”

“That’s true.”

Her words were correct. But at the same time, it was a correct answer with no solution.

“Then, should I go ask a god? Do you know any skilled priests?”

“How cowardly. Aren’t you an atheist?”

“I can convert anytime, as long as they give me a satisfying answer.”

“I might have told you out of spite, but I’ll stop.”

I was drained by the pointless conversation and lay down on the ground.

I had reached the pinnacle as a swordsman.

Beyond humans, comparable to anyone. That’s why the blocked path was even more frustrating.

Like she said, I felt like I wanted to ask a god for an answer.

Thinking about it that way, priests have a really easy job. They just ask God and get the answer.

“Wait.”

Is this what it feels like to be struck by lightning?

The thought that flashed through my mind made me hurriedly get up from the ground.

“What’s wrong?”

“Kerwin.”

“What?”

“What do mages and swordsmen use to gain power?”

“What are you talking about?”

“Just answer me.”

“…Mana? You’re not asking because you don’t know, are you?”

Right. Swordsmen and mages gain power through mana.

“What about priests?”

“…Divine power?”

“What about demons?”

“Pure dark power. Also called magic energy.”

“What about celestial beings?”

“Well, it’s generally accepted that it’s a power similar to a priest’s divine power, but somehow different.”

“What about shamans from the East?”

“Sorcery.”

“What about spiritists?”

“Spirits, of course… What are you trying to say?”

“How do they use power without going through a mana heart? I’ve never heard of them cultivating [training or developing their power].”

“……”

She pursed her lips.

For her, who was known for her wisdom, to become tongue-tied. I couldn’t help but let out a faint smile.

“But their power is temporary. There’s no concept of storage.”

“Nonsense. They just don’t store it in a mana heart, but drawing power from somewhere when they need it is no different from us.”

“……So, what are you trying to say?”

“Maybe, I’ve been too trapped in the well called the mana heart.”

“Are you crazy?”

She looked at me with wide eyes.

“Their power isn’t theirs. They borrow it. On the other hand, we’re different. We make it our own and use it.”

“So, what about it?”

Cutting off her words, I met her eyes.

“Why can’t we temporarily borrow it when we need it?”

* * *

After regaining consciousness.

What came into view was a simple study.

Instinctively sensing that I had found the answer, I smiled broadly.

“I knew it.”

It was as expected.

The Emperor’s legacy. That was contained in this book.

Refining the mana scattered in the atmosphere to suit the individual and storing it in the mana heart.

And utilizing it appropriately.

The Emperor attempted to overturn the unchanging basic mechanism.

‘Establishing a new concept that breaks away from existing ideas.’

In the end, it gave birth to a new paradigm.

Mana Tunnel.

A method that boldly breaks away from the basic mechanism of [Pure Mana → Refined by Mana Cultivation → Stored in Mana Heart → Use].

An unprecedented method of pouring raw mana directly into the body, omitting the intermediate processes of cultivation and storage.

Of course, the mana absorbed through the tunnel has a high level of impurities and is not stored, but soon evaporates.

It requires monstrous talent and effort, as well as side effects.

But the reward is certain.

It’s like drawing seawater instead of a limited well.

‘An idea that overturns the basic concept.’

Even knights who unleash ruthless destructive power with powerful aura have a weakness.

That is, once they use up all their limited resources, they become no different from ordinary swordsmen.

It’s important that such a weakness has been compensated for. Even if it’s said to have fallen far below the original skill, mana is still mana.

To unleash an aura that cuts steel like tofu like an unceasing spring?

It’s a level that completely reverses the basic doctrine of war.

If it’s a master-class knight, it’s like becoming a legion-class weapon alone.

‘So, the Emperor sealed this technique.’

Strong power is bound to invite greed.

The Emperor foresaw that if this secret technique were to spread, war would break out again, and therefore sealed it.

Because he was just a pure desire for strength.

But the Emperor knew that not everyone in the world was like him.

‘Still, it was too much to end with this short word.’

How many knights and scholars racked their brains to guess this one word.

But I seized the Emperor’s legacy in just a few hours.

Compared to their efforts, it’s almost like getting it for free.

‘How much time do I have?’

I glanced out the window.

There wasn’t plenty of time left until sunset, but there was still a considerable amount of time.

Even though the method in the big picture was already engraved in my body, there was no reason to refuse reviewing it when the memory was freshest.

I got up from the desk and sat on the spacious floor. Then, I took the same posture as when performing mana cultivation.

But the method is different.

I can’t explain it in words. I don’t have the skills to theoretically explain it. I’m just imitating the Emperor’s memories.

But even if it’s an imitation, the effect is the same. Because it’s engraved in my body.

I closed my eyes and began to concentrate.

* * *

De-eng!

I regained consciousness at the sound of the spire bell ringing in my ears.

Outside the window, the sunset was setting. I checked the time with the ringing bell and began to tidy up the study.

After returning it to its original state, I took a light breath.

I gained a lot. At the same time, responsibility followed.

The more I delved into it, the more convinced I became. Mana Tunnel is a dangerous technique. It’s like discovering nuclear weapons in modern times.

The world’s major powers unanimously restrict developing countries from possessing nuclear weapons. Even countries that already possess them are forcibly demanding reductions.

The reason is simple.

Because it’s a dangerous power.

Mana Tunnel is the same. It’s a power that can be used in any way depending on the user.

It can be used for terrorism. It can be taught to assassins. Either way, it will leave a considerable aftermath.

That’s why the Emperor sealed it.

Then, how should I use this power?

Knock knock!

The knocking sound broke my thoughts.

When I lightly opened the door, Jescal’s tense face came into view.

“The time is up.”

“Yes. I’ve finished my business as well.”

Clang!

As I came out, the door automatically closed and locked like a living creature.

“Let’s go. I’ll guide you out.”

“Let’s do that.”

After that, Jescal and I stood side by side and began heading out of the palace.

But a subtle awkwardness was felt. Jescal’s pace was somehow slow.

Ah, is that so?

“Are you curious?”

“Yes?”

At my question, Jescal’s eyes widened like a thief caught red-handed.

But soon, Jescal regained his composure and pursed his lips. He must be thinking that it’s not information he should know.

But inside, he must be dying of curiosity. Because no matter which knight in the world you ask, the Emperor is an object of respect.

“I’ll see it myself later.”

See it myself later.

The right to access that study is either inherited by the royal family or by becoming a royal guard knight who protects the king right next to him.

In other words, Jescal has now revealed his ambition to go beyond the Capital Knights and reach the position of protecting the king.

Should I say that he is truly like the supremely virtuous person who stayed with the kingdom until the very end?

I feel a little sorry for no reason.

Because it’s the power that Jescal would have originally gained first.

“You will soon.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean I’m cheering you on.”

“……”

Jescal narrowed his eyes slightly, nodded slightly, and began to walk ahead.

It was only after leaving the heavily guarded palace that I was able to get back the sword I had brought.

“I’ll stop here.”

“Thank you for your hard work because of me today.”

“It was just what I had to do.”

After slightly bowing my head at Jescal’s reply, I was about to turn around and move my steps.

“There’s something I want to ask.”

“……”

I turned my head at the words that came from behind. It was Jescal.

“What is it?”

“Did you find what you were looking for?”

What I was looking for?

He’s not talking about the Mana Tunnel.

Ah, is it what I said at the arena? That I would follow the Emperor’s noble beliefs?

In the end, that’s what he was curious about. He’s truly a knight-like person to the bone.

I chuckled and nodded slightly.

“I found it.”

“How was it?”

“It was perfect. You can look forward to it.”

Recalling Jescal’s words that he would see and confirm it himself, he smiled faintly for the first time.

“I understand. Thank you.”

“Then, goodbye.”

Turning around, I faced the sunset in Capital and moved my steps.

At the same time, I raised my hand to my waist and looked for my sword.

Soon, finding the cold handle, I concentrated.

Sss….

After that, I opened the tunnel.

Mana like the sea began to enter through the opened path.

It was a highly impure mana with a distinct foreign substance, not what I usually carried in my mana heart.

Of course, the size of the tunnel, which had just taken its first steps, was narrow, and naturally, the amount absorbed was insignificant.

It was not enough to be used in actual combat.

[Eek.]

Aphen, who was greedily sucking up mana, was disgusted.

“Just take what I give you.”

[Am I a pet dog? Give me that, that! I can’t do anything with this!]

I scoffed at the words aiming for the mana contained in the mana heart.

It’s a kind of training. The width of the tunnel will naturally widen as I use it.

The consumption was simple. How convenient it is to feed it to Aphen without having to sweat and discharge it at the training ground.

“Perfect.”

[What is!]