Chapter 42: Chapter 42

Chapter 42: Only a Warrior Knows How a Warrior Becomes Stronger (1)

At the sound of a clear voice, I turned my head. The one who had called me was none other than Rahan. Perhaps because it had been a while since we last met, his face was filled with genuine delight.

“You’re already here. I thought it would be a long time before I saw you again. How have you been?”

“I’ve been well. And you?”

“I’m living peacefully. Thanks to you. Normally, there’d be guys trying to pick a fight, but lately they just pass me by.”

I nodded. Most of the ones who had ever messed with Rahan were now dead. Unless someone was a complete fool, they wouldn’t dare provoke him.

“By the way, what happened just now? I thought there was an earthquake.”

“I got an elixir from the North. Garan’s internal injuries have all been healed. What you felt was the aftereffect.”

Rahan asked back in surprise — naturally so. An elixir was a legendary medicine, something even a nation would struggle to obtain. For a mere mercenary corps to acquire one was beyond belief.

“That’s truly great news. I also owe Garan a debt. Lenel will be happy to hear this.”

“Your sister, you mean? Speaking of which, where is she—”

“Before that, Rahan.”

Retina interrupted me. Her expression was one of clear displeasure. I quickly closed my mouth, sensing her mood.

“Rahan, where are the other members? I sent letters saying we’d obtained the elixir. Why don’t I see anyone around?”

Rahan hesitated, glancing uneasily at Retina. He looked troubled — something must have happened.

Retina’s eyes narrowed, urging him to answer. At last, Rahan tightly shut his eyes and spoke.

“All the other members have left the mercenary corps. Now, including you all, only four people remain in the Black Dragon. Once Garan returns, that’ll make five.”

Retina’s voice trembled with disbelief. Her wide eyes fixed on Rahan, as though refusing to accept what she’d just heard.

“We all promised to heal the Captain together. There’s no way those guys would leave the Black Dragon. Are you sure there isn’t some mistake?”

“...They came directly to Garan and said it themselves. That they’d be leaving the Black Dragon.”

Retina bit her lip, cutting herself off mid-sentence. Her face twisted as if crushed by betrayal.

“You’re saying they actually said that? How could they?”

She spat out the words. Of course, it wasn’t as if she couldn’t understand. They had spent years running around to cure Garan’s injuries — something impossible without deep camaraderie.

Even so, it was hard to believe. Retina pressed Rahan for details.

He explained what had happened. About fifteen days ago, the members had given notice of their departure. They had all looked apologetic, but said it would be a waste of time to stay in the Black Dragon any longer.

Garan had understood them. Despite what rumors claimed, the Black Dragon wasn’t a powerful corps. The only one who had reached quasi-knight level was Garan himself.

With him incapacitated, the Black Dragon had been nothing more than a toothless tiger.

That only made it sadder — to have parted with comrades of over ten years’ time, all for being just half a month too late.

I glanced at Retina. Her face clearly showed her turmoil. She pressed her hand to her forehead, as if fighting off a headache.

“All right, I understand. It’s regrettable, but it can’t be helped.”

Soon after, Garan and Kazan returned. Their clothes were soaked with sweat, proof that they had been training hard.

“What’s wrong, Retina? Why do you look so down?”

Garan asked. His tone was casual, but there was a faint sense of testing in his gaze. He clearly already knew about the others.

Retina sighed, holding back what she wanted to say.

Kazan looked much the same — his face flushed red, as if barely holding back his anger in front of me and Ryan.

No one dared speak lightly in front of those faces.

“What does it matter?”

“While I was recovering, five of you led the mercenary corps. And even now, there are still five of us. Nothing’s changed. If there’s one difference…”

Garan grinned, glancing between me and Ryan.

“It’s that a couple of promising ones have rolled right into our laps. Forget what’s gone — what matters is the present.”

Retina and Kazan both nodded, though their expressions were far from pleased. It was clear they were agreeing only because it was Garan who said it.

Garan surely knew that. Yet he didn’t seem to care. Instead, he turned to me.

“By the way, Leon, I heard you paid quite a price to obtain that elixir. And that you can’t talk about what it was.”

I nodded. I hadn’t planned to lie, but things had already gone too far.

‘I did struggle against a Demon Beast, after all. No need to correct the misunderstanding.’

At that, Garan laughed — a hearty laugh filled with satisfaction.

“Hahaha! I knew I had a good eye for people. Ryan! You did well too. I heard you didn’t back down even when you heard about the Dragon’s Blood, and insisted on staying with him till the end? I’ve got the perfect teacher for you.”

Garan looked toward Kazan. Ryan followed his gaze and asked,

“Don’t tell me, Sir Kazan will be teaching me?”

“No need for the formalities. But yes, Kazan will be your instructor. Any objections?”

Ryan replied, his face lighting up with joy. He couldn’t have been happier.

Kazan was a master of the sword — an experience money could never buy.

Garan nodded in approval. Then he turned to me once more.

“And you, Leon. I’ll be the one to teach you. A warrior has his own way of growing stronger. There’s a training method that suits you. Normally, warriors only receive such instruction once they reach the higher ranks, but…”

Garan’s gaze swept up and down Leon.

“You seem to be a little special. I suppose it’s fine to teach you.”

So, he really must have noticed that I could handle Force. Just a glance, and Garan had already assessed my body.

‘Then he must’ve realized my growth isn’t normal.’

When I had first met Garan, I had been no more than an intermediate warrior. No matter how strong the body, without proper technique, it meant nothing. But now things were different.

My body had grown far beyond normal limits — to the point where technique seemed trivial.

He would surely ask me many things. I might even have to reveal that I was the Conqueror’s son. My growth was that abnormal.

“Kazan, Retina, you two — let’s talk for a bit. We need to discuss how to lead the Black Dragon going forward. Leon, Ryan, you must be tired from retrieving the elixir. Go rest. We’ll begin training in a week. Until then, focus on maintaining your condition.”

I nodded. A trace of concern appeared on Garan’s face — it seemed a serious conversation was about to take place.

And so, the next day arrived.

Since Garan’s internal injuries had been healed, the Black Dragon could practically be called reborn. However, it wasn’t completely restored. Garan had been away from the field for a long time, and his stiffened body needed to be awakened.

Just as a sword rusts when left unattended, so too had Garan’s senses dulled.

Still, he was a powerhouse at the knight level — the equivalent of a divine-grade weapon. It would take time for him to recover his full senses.

During that period, Ryan and I underwent training. I was taught by Garan; Ryan by Kazan.

Just as had been discussed before.

“Leon, let me ask directly. Is your father the Conqueror Zeke?”

Garan asked before our training began in earnest.

“As the body grows stronger, your hair turns red. That rate of growth is unbelievable for someone your age. Unless you’re the child of Elphrel’s greatest warrior, it can’t be explained.”

I nodded. It wasn’t unexpected. Garan had known Zeke personally. It wasn’t strange that he would recognize the son of his old friend. The most update n0vels are published on novel※fire.net

A sigh escaped Garan’s lips.

“I wondered from the start, but now I’m sure. You look exactly like Zeke and Heath mixed together. It’s almost strange I didn’t see it sooner. To think Zeke’s son would come to the Empire — how curious. Do the others know?”

“You two have been together since the beginning, so that makes sense. What will you tell Kazan and Retina?”

“I’d like to keep it secret for now. My father’s reputation is enormous in the Empire. I want to form relationships with people who won’t be swayed by my lineage.”

“I see. Then I won’t say a word until you decide to.”

Garan smirked faintly.

“To think I’d end up teaching Zeke’s son… life really is full of surprises.”

“Thank you for your guidance.”

Garan looked at me, his expression suddenly sour.

“Is there a problem?” I asked.

“It’s just strange hearing humble words coming from a face that looks like his. But let’s leave that aside for now. Leon, as you probably know, you have a serious problem.”

At that moment, Garan raised his hand, gathering mana into a spiral shape. It looked almost magical — surprising, given that he was a warrior.

“This is Force. Only those who’ve reached the knight level can use it. You’re probably wondering how I can manipulate mana despite never learning a mana cultivation method.”

My eyes widened. I had forgotten — Garan was a warrior. Warriors didn’t train in mana cultivation methods. I had unconsciously overlooked that, since I had learned an internal energy method myself.

Confusion swelled within me.

“This is knowledge only high-ranking warriors know. In Elphrel, there’s no such thing as a mana cultivation method. Warriors there grow stronger solely by tempering their bodies. But that’s only half true. The reason warriors don’t awaken mana is because it already flows in their blood.”

“Whether it’s the tendons, bones, or muscles — it doesn’t matter. Warriors are born with mana within their very bodies. The more they temper themselves, the stronger that mana becomes.”

It was a difficult concept to grasp. Mana residing in physical flesh? It sounded impossible.

“It’s natural that you don’t understand. But surely you’ve wondered — Imperial soldiers train by alternating between mana cultivation and swordsmanship. Yet we warriors, through body training alone, can surpass them. There’s a reason for that.”

“You mean the reason is because mana already flows within our bodies?”

“Exactly. The Empire and the Holy Kingdom nurture mana through breathing. We warriors grow it by training our bodies. It’s the gift of a warrior’s blessed constitution. And that’s why I find your case so strange.”

Garan pointed at my lower abdomen.

“Why is your mana concentrated there?”

My eyes widened. He had noticed. My secret was exposed. I looked at him, forgetting even to feign surprise.

“Sorry if I overstepped, but if I’m to help you grow, it can’t be helped. You’re different from other warriors. Your mana is unusually focused in one spot.”

“Are you saying mana doesn’t reside throughout my body?”

Suddenly, Garan struck me in the abdomen. The impact made me grimace instinctively.

I groaned and managed to speak, “What was that for?”

“That strike carried Force.”

The difference between a simple punch and one imbued with mana was like heaven and earth. And this was Force — far beyond ordinary mana. If I weren’t a warrior myself, that blow might’ve pierced my abdomen entirely.

“As you can see, my fist was blocked. That’s impossible with mere physical strength. Which means mana truly flows through your body. Do you know what that implies?”

My mind spun rapidly. Garan never said anything meaningless — his question surely had purpose.

And then, it clicked.

A realization escaped my lips.

“Could it be that I can manipulate two different types of mana?”

“Correct. The unknown mana residing in your abdomen, and the mana that dwells within your body as a warrior.”

Garan chuckled in disbelief.

“You’re like a knight who’s learned two mana cultivation methods at once. It’s a wonder your body hasn’t already exploded.”

In martial arts terms, it was as if I were running two internal energy systems simultaneously.

‘That’s impossible,’ I thought.

Handling energy required delicate control. Even one type demanded extreme focus. Managing two at once would twist one’s energy channels beyond repair.

Perhaps a divine being could manage it, but I was just an ordinary man.

I hadn’t even fully grasped the Martial God’s martial arts. How could I possibly demonstrate such mastery?

And so, I realized — my very state was abnormal.