My Lord Who Is Being Prudent! [EN]: Chapter 174

§ 174. Growth (1)

The storm of mana raging within the training grounds grew fiercer.

Whoosh!

The heat blazing around Cyan intensified as well.

Cyan gritted his teeth, barely holding onto his sanity.

He constantly recited the incantations of the Mana Soul Control Method, gathering his mana.

After some time,

the storm of mana in the training grounds gradually subsided,

and the heat engulfing his body began to cool.

Cyan closed his eyes, calmly observing his entire being.

A chilling sensation washed over him.

And then.

Ding!

[Mana Soul Control Method Progress: 89.72% (+30.1034%)]

The progress rate of the Mana Soul Control Method had increased by over 30%.

“Crazy…”

Cyan muttered involuntarily.

The Mana Soul Control Method, a fundamental way to manipulate mana.

Kyle’s aura cultivation technique, the Mana Soul Control Method, had always been incredibly slow to progress.

Not just slow, but frustratingly so.

Despite being the first of Kyle’s legacies he encountered and learned, he still hadn’t mastered it.

Yet, in a single moment, the progress rate had jumped by 30%.

Now, the progress rate was at 89%.

He was tantalizingly close to 100%.

Frankly, he didn’t even need to train.

He still had 500,000 mileage points.

He could just buy another elixir with the remaining mileage.

But unfortunately, that wasn’t possible.

Firstly:

– Elixir of Immortality (500,000 M)

– Elixir (Sold Out)

– Golden Apple (600,000 M)

– Peach of Immortality (620,000 M)

.

.

.

Items in the 『Special Items』 section could only be purchased once.

It was impossible to buy the same item again.

Of course, there would be items with similar effects to the elixir.

But he couldn’t know the specific effects of each item.

More than anything.

“I haven’t fully… absorbed it.”

He hadn’t fully absorbed the power of the elixir.

The immense energy coursing through his body.

Cyan hadn’t been able to make all of that energy his own.

He was only able to contain it thanks to Kyle’s Mana Soul Control Method.

Otherwise, he would have leaked all that energy.

And having taken the elixir himself, to be honest…

The elixir was different from the legends.

As expected, the stories were lies.

“Is the legend nerfed?” [Nerfed means weakened or made less effective.]

In other words, it was a lie in the other direction!

If it weren’t for Kyle’s Mana Soul Control Method, leaking energy would have been the least of his problems.

He would have died on the spot!

If Cyan hadn’t learned Kyle’s Mana Soul Control Method,

if he had learned a regular aura cultivation technique,

or even Charlotte’s aura cultivation technique, it wouldn’t have made a difference.

He would have died on the spot, unable to withstand the elixir’s power!

“They sell things without even writing these warnings?”

It was the height of inconsiderateness.

“Hoo…”

Well, whatever.

Buying another elixir was out of the question for now.

He had to fully absorb the remaining energy from the elixir before doing so.

And by then, the progress rate of the Mana Soul Control Method would be at 100%.

“Then, I might be able to fully absorb the power of the elixir.”

At that point, he could take elixirs recklessly without any problems.

Of course, he would still have to spend a lot of money.

As he was lost in thought,

“T, this is…”

Kendrick’s voice drifted from the side.

He looked over to see Kendrick staring at Cyan with a shocked expression.

Of course, as a Death Knight, Kendrick didn’t have facial expressions.

But the flickering dark blue light within his helmet clearly conveyed shock.

Cyan looked at Kendrick and suddenly became curious.

The power that had changed so drastically after taking the elixir.

Although he hadn’t fully absorbed that power, there was definitely growth.

How much had he grown?

“Kendrick, would you mind sparring with me again?”

“-Of course.”

Kendrick nodded without hesitation.

He immediately reached out to the side.

With a whooshing sound, darkness coalesced in Kendrick’s grasp.

Soon, a jet-black sword was in Kendrick’s hand.

Cyan straightened his lowered sword.

A brief standoff.

Bang!

With a light step, the distance between Cyan and Kendrick closed in an instant.

Clang!

A deafening sound erupted, and the space vibrated violently.

The swung sword pushed back the strike, and a whirlwind raged around them.

Clang!!

Clang!! Clang!

The swords intertwined, and thick sparks flew.

With the clash of swords, dense mana scattered in all directions.

A terrifying pressure pressed down on the sword.

The impact felt like it would shatter his arm.

Even after taking the elixir, he couldn’t withstand this power.

Kendrick’s level was still far ahead.

But… why?

The sensation in the hand holding the sword,

Crack!

was quite unfamiliar.

“-……!!”

For a moment, Kendrick’s dark blue light flickered greatly.

The emotion visible within was bewilderment.

Cyan’s sword flowed.

Kendrick, a Death Knight at the upper Master level.

Kendrick called that level his own limit.

The limit of a genius.

Even after a thousand years, Kendrick couldn’t overcome that limit.

But even that level was still far beyond Cyan.

There were too many walls to break down to reach that level.

He didn’t have to go far.

The high wall that had been blocking his path just now.

Even breaking down that wall was too much to handle.

And even now, after absorbing the power of the elixir, he couldn’t reach Kendrick.

Therefore, Kyle’s level was still distant.

He knew it well, even now, that he couldn’t do it, couldn’t follow.

But why did he keep smiling?

Was it because of Kendrick’s advice not to be impatient?

Perhaps…

For a moment, Kyle’s illusion flashed before his eyes.

In the illusion, Kyle’s sword was awe-inspiring.

That’s why Cyan couldn’t imitate Kyle’s sword.

Even attempting to imitate it required a firm resolve.

Cyan had that resolve just now.

And Cyan still had that resolve now.

Surely that was the case.

Clang!

The sensation of holding the sword suddenly felt unfamiliar.

He couldn’t feel anything in the hand gripping the sword.

It was unfamiliar.

The steps he was taking now.

The sword being swung.

The feeling was awkward.

The sword was still heavy.

The moving body, the weight on his shoulders, pressed down.

Overcoming all that weight, Cyan swung his sword.

Kyle existed in a distant realm.

He doubted if he would ever reach that realm, it was so distant.

Even the effort he was making now made him doubt.

But he had to do it.

He had to.

No.

Clang!

He wanted to do it.

So he wanted to be with them, with Ruben.

He wanted to be with their smiles, their dreams.

In a realm that no one else could reach.

He wanted to protect their smiles and dreams.

It was absurd.

A hopeless talent dreaming of becoming the strongest.

Arrogance and recklessness.

He had no excuse for any words of ridicule.

Even this effort might just be a futile struggle.

So he didn’t think it was the right answer.

Perhaps it was just a foolish act.

However.

Boom!

He didn’t think it was the wrong answer either.

The swords surged.

His heart flowed like a single wind.

A definite sensation, a clear sensation.

He felt it in his hand.

He still didn’t know what that sensation was.

But a little.

Just a little.

Even the word “little” was insignificant.

Compared to Kyle, it was infinitely pathetic.

‘When you reach the extreme, everyone looks at the same place in the end.’

Whoa!

[Mana Soul Asura Sword Intermediate Progress: 92.76% (+47.6%)]

Something, even if small,

seemed to be visible.

#

A raging storm.

The storm of mana completely covering his vision swallowed everything around him.

Soon, the storm disappeared, and the training ground was in ruins.

There wasn’t a single intact corner.

“-L, Lord… What on earth…!!”

Amidst the destruction, he heard Kendrick’s shocked voice.

He looked over to see Kendrick’s face with his dark blue light flickering greatly.

Kendrick slowly looked around the training ground.

Then, he looked back at Cyan and muttered in disbelief.

“-Just now… it was like the previous lord…”

“No way.”

Cyan said as if it couldn’t be true.

How big was the gap between him and Kyle now?

He had to say something that made sense.

Look at Kendrick’s sword still aimed at Cyan’s neck.

In the end, Cyan couldn’t surpass Kendrick.

But he was like Kyle?

It really didn’t make sense.

“-This is… this is…!”

But Kendrick didn’t seem to think so.

At Kendrick’s expression, Cyan shrugged his shoulders once.

Then, he checked the notification window on his smartphone.

[Mana Soul Asura Sword Intermediate Progress: 92.76% (+47.6%)]

The intermediate progress rate of the Mana Soul Asura Sword had increased by a whopping 47.6%.

He still couldn’t agree with Kendrick’s words that he was like Kyle.

But certainly… something was visible.

However, he couldn’t know exactly what it was.

He was a little disappointed, but he didn’t care.

The path of martial arts that he had to walk endlessly.

It was a task that Cyan had to solve in the future.

Cyan put his smartphone into his pocket.

Then, a question suddenly arose.

‘What is my level now?’

After consuming the elixir, the progress rate of the Mana Soul Control Method and the Mana Soul Asura Sword increased rapidly.

Of course, he couldn’t reach Kendrick, who was at the upper Master level.

But it was clear that he wasn’t at a low level.

However, there was no suitable comparison group, so he couldn’t objectively confirm it.

‘Hmm…’

As he was lost in thought,

“T, th, this is what…!!”

A strange voice came from one side of the training ground.

He looked over there.

There, Hans and a man were staring with wide eyes.

It was Philip, the commander of the 3rd Royal Knights.

A knight who came to Ruben as a bodyguard for the Crown Prince and Princess.

But perhaps because he was focused on sparring with Kendrick,

Cyan hadn’t noticed the approaching presence at all.

Cyan sheathed the sword he was holding and said to Philip.

“What’s wrong?”

Philip didn’t answer Cyan’s question.

His mouth was wide open.

His eyes were wide open.

With a blank face, he was just looking at Cyan and the scenery of the training ground.

At Philip’s appearance, Hans, who was next to him, answered instead.

“That is… they want to have a friendly match between the Royal Knights and the knights of Ruben.”

“Friendly match?”

At Cyan’s question, Hans nodded lightly.

“Y, yes.”

Philip finally came to his senses and said to Cyan.

“If Count allows it… I would like to host a friendly match between our Royal Knights and the knights of Ruben.”

Philip’s face still hadn’t recovered from the shock.

Philip’s eyes looking at Cyan were wide open.

“Hmm…”

Cyan was lost in thought for a moment.

If it was a friendly match… there was no reason not to allow it.

Actual combat was always the best training.

If the opponent was the Royal Knights, it would be of great help.

They were one of the best knights on the continent, along with the White Wolf Knights.

And the soldiers of Ruben had almost no experience in personal combat.

Every day, monsters were rampant throughout Ruben.

They could be proud of being the best on the continent when it came to fighting monsters.

But people against people.

In other words, they had very little experience in personal combat.

They had almost no experience.

The only ones who had some experience were the knights of Ruben who had fought the barbarians in the north.

But that was not enough.

In order to face the White Wolf Knights in the upcoming territory war with Elan Dur, it was necessary to gain experience in personal combat, not monsters.

Therefore, a friendly match could be a great asset to the soldiers of Ruben.

‘Not bad?’

Honestly, it was a good suggestion.

But that was only for the knights of Ruben.

In other words, it didn’t really benefit the Royal Knights.

Although the knights of Ruben were excellent, they still couldn’t match the Royal Knights in terms of individual level.

“And if possible… I would like to have a match with that Death Knight.”

“You mean Kendrick?”

Philip nodded slightly.

Only then could Cyan understand the intention of this friendly match.

A match with a knight who had reached a higher level.

It was a learning opportunity that many knights longed for.

Especially if it was an upper Master level, it was an opportunity that they couldn’t get anywhere else.

Currently, there was only one official upper Master level.

It was only Durac Elan Dur, who was known as the best sword on the continent.

Therefore, it could be seen as an opportunity that the Royal Knights, including Philip, would never have again.

Therefore, Ruben was for the Royal Knights.

The Royal Knights were for Kendrick.

An opportunity for each other to become a place of learning.

Cyan turned his gaze to Kendrick.

Kendrick nodded slightly and said.

“-If Lord allows it… I don’t mind. It will be of great help to the knights of Ruben as well.”

As expected, Kendrick quickly understood Cyan’s intentions.

Cyan turned his gaze back to Philip.

A friendly match that had no reason to refuse in many ways.

Besides, it wasn’t a bad match for Cyan either.

‘What is my level now?’

He was still lacking compared to Kendrick.

But what if he compared himself to the Royal Knights?

The Royal Knights, all of whom were experts.

If he sparred with them.

“Okay.”

He could know some objective figures.

#

The training center located in Ruben.

Albert quietly raised his eyes and looked at the existence in front of him.

Albert, a knight belonging to the 3rd Royal Knights under Philip.

Albert was a considerable expert at the intermediate level.

And a blond man in front of Albert’s eyes.

“I am Albert, belonging to the 3rd Royal Knights. It is an honor to be able to spar with Count.”

Cyan, the lord of Ruben.

“Ah, um… please take care of me.”

Cyan awkwardly answered Albert’s greeting.

Perhaps because he had not received the title of Count for a long time.

He looked awkward in his condescending manner.

He didn’t feel any dignity as a Count at all.

Albert slowly drew his sword, and Cyan also slowly drew his sword.

“Are you both ready?”

And the words of a soldier who was heard.

Albert quietly looked at Cyan.

A hopeless talent, a scoundrel of the Marquis family.

Of course, he knew that the rumor was wrong.

There was also the recent incident in the north.

Kai Elan Dur, who is called the star of the Empire.

He watched Cyan confront Kai with his own eyes.

Therefore, Albert did not despise or underestimate Cyan.

But that doesn’t mean he thought he would lose to Cyan.

No matter how much Cyan had changed from the past, the period was too short.

A person can change, but they cannot change at once.

Moreover, he was called a hopeless talent.

And the level of an expert was not a level that a hopeless talent could reach.

It was a level that geniuses could only reach after repeated efforts.

Cyan, who once couldn’t even use aura, couldn’t reach that level in that short period of time.

Of course, the fact that he confronted Kai was more than surprising.

But if you dig into the truth a little, it wasn’t just that.

Cyan was Kai’s younger brother anyway.

Kai must have had a heart to look after his younger brother.

Besides, Cyan couldn’t surpass Kai in the end.

If the Crown Prince hadn’t stepped in, it would have ended in Kai’s victory.

In many ways, Albert didn’t think he would lose to Cyan.

“It seems that you are both ready, so let’s start right away!”

At the soldier’s words, Albert grabbed his sword again.

There was no need to waste time on such a match.

A match with a knight at a higher level was an opportunity to move forward one step.

There was nothing to learn from a match with a lower level than himself.

‘Finish quickly.’

Albert immediately burst into momentum.

Bang!

Albert immediately rushed towards Cyan.

And.

“……?”

Albert stopped his rushing movement.

Because Cyan’s figure had disappeared from Albert’s sight.

That is to say.

‘Did I miss the movement…?’

No, to be exact, it wasn’t that he missed it, but he couldn’t see it.

Albert didn’t even realize that Cyan had moved.

In Albert’s sight, it only seemed that Cyan had suddenly disappeared.

“What is this…?”

Albert hurriedly turned his head to find Cyan’s figure.

At that moment.

Whoosh!

He could find Cyan’s sword rushing from the right.

‘Danger!’

Albert hurriedly raised his sword to block the rushing sword.

And just as he was about to counterattack again.

Kwa──ang!

Cyan’s sword hit Albert’s sword, and a terrible explosion erupted.

At the same time, a tremendous shock struck Albert’s entire body.

“Cough!!”

A terrible pain erupted from Albert’s mouth.

‘W, what kind of power is this…!’

The shock, as if hit by a blunt weapon, struck his entire body.

In the dizzying pain, Albert struggled to lift his head.

But in the sight he saw, only the afterimage of dark darkness remained.

Darkness that had been eroded in all directions.

In that darkness, Cyan was showing movements that he couldn’t understand at all.

And it was impossible for Albert’s sense to follow it.

Whoosh!

In an instant, Cyan’s sword rushed in as if cutting out his side.

Albert barely raised his sword to block the rushing sword.

Kwa──ang!

A terrible roar erupted from the touching sword.

Albert’s body was pushed back.

“Cough!”

At the same time, a shock struck his entire body.

For a moment, Albert’s mind seemed to be cut off.

‘I have to do something…!’

Albert gritted his teeth and raised his sword.

But… there was no way.

He couldn’t follow Cyan’s movements, and above all, the power of each attack was insane.

He was barely blocking it with his sword.

But is this really blocking it?

Isn’t he being hit with the sword?

Albert couldn’t continue thinking any further.

Whoa!

In an instant, a tremendous momentum erupted in all directions.

The darkness that had been cast was condensed and exploded, emitting a black light.

Black aura blooming around him.

And then, a single strike.

Albert lost his mind to the blade rushing in like a ray of light.

Resistance and resistance.

He didn’t have any reckless thoughts.

The only thought in his head.

‘I’m going to die!’

At the same time as that thought, Pat!

The rushing blade stopped right in front of Albert’s eyes.

Whoa!

Soon, a tremendous wind pressure swept over Albert’s face like a storm.

Thud.

Albert’s legs gave way and he slumped down on the spot.

Then, he slowly turned his head and looked back.

There, the afterimage of a long blade was engraved like a scar.

Krrrr!

Starting from the engraved scar, the facilities of the training center began to collapse and be destroyed.

“……”

“……”

“……”

Everyone in the training center stopped moving at the absurd sight.

Everyone who was sparring stopped moving and stared blankly at this side.

A strange silence fell in the arena.

“Eh…?”

There was only.

“I didn’t use Sura Demonic Massacre… ?”

Only Cyan’s dumb voice could be heard.