LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 211
Ways to improve my skills, huh…
“…”
Mumbling.
“Hmm…”
Nom nom.
I thought for a while, but nothing came to mind.
Maybe I’m just progressing too quickly; reaching the master level isn’t something that can be easily achieved.
Even those with talent might take ages to barely touch that threshold.
Put simply, if you lack talent, you’re not even allowed to catch a glimpse of that level.
And then…
‘Transcendence.’
The level after master, a state that completely surpasses humanity.
It’s legendary, but not entirely unreachable.
According to tales, the founding emperor of the Lo Arka Empire, Arca, transcended humanity, and a few others are said to have done the same.
However, finding information on this was extremely difficult.
Even if I searched, I’d only find vague mentions of it, and there was nothing detailing how one trained to achieve transcendence or how long it took.
Perhaps deep within the Empire, there’s some hidden information on this.
But me, acting as if I’m some kind of grandmaster, going there to demand precious secrets would be downright absurd.
Especially after I’ve already killed the sage and a few of the Empire’s swordsmen.
Honestly, by the time I killed the sage, my feelings toward the Empire were mostly gone.
Even if I didn’t particularly like them, I didn’t feel the urge to wipe them all out again.
But regardless of my thoughts, the Empire would see me as a bitter enemy.
‘Well, you never know.’
Did the sage not realize I hated him when he proposed to recruit me?
Maybe currently, the emperor of the Empire might suppress past grudges for the Empire’s benefit and shake hands with me.
Nom nom.
Anyway.
It’s fortunate that I know where I ultimately need to reach, but without knowing how to get there, I’m feeling a bit lost.
At the very least, it’s clear that swinging my sword without purpose won’t get me to that level.
Edel said someday I’d be able to reach it, but when on earth is that ‘someday’?
Thinking about it, my mouth turned bitter…
“Huh?”
…where’d that sweetness go?
As I mindlessly smacked my lips, a sweet and familiar flavor danced across my tongue.
A delightful sweetness filled with umami.
Was the dilemma I was pondering actually a sweet one, just thinking about it?
‘…No way.’
Even the most imaginative person wouldn’t be able to imagine it this vividly.
So, this had to be someone’s doing.
Like Da-eun sitting next to me and pulling out chocolate.
“…What are you doing?”
“Oh, did you finally notice?”
Da-eun flashed a sly smile.
“Here. Open wide~”
And then she shoved the chocolate into my mouth.
I took a bite, but…
Mumbling.
“What were you doing?”
“I kept putting it in to see how long it would take for you to notice. You know? Kana has eaten over five pieces of chocolate.”
“…”
I meant to ask why she was acting like that, but Da-eun just chuckled in response.
She couldn’t have possibly understood my real question, right?
“…Are you teasing me?”
“Pff. I could never tease such a cute Kana.”
Definitely teasing.
If she’s going to say that, at least she should’ve put on a straight face.
If she’s going to smirk like that, who would believe her?
With me frowning, Da-eun carefully asked this time.
“…Are you angry?”
“Not at all.”
“You look angry.”
“I’m not angry, I said.”
There’s hardly any reason for me to be angry.
It’s just that Da-eun’s blunder was so ridiculous that I couldn’t find the words to respond. I didn’t feel particularly upset.
If I had to add anything, it might be that I felt it was a waste?
‘That’s pretty expensive, you know.’
Of course, price doesn’t always equate to taste, but the chocolate Da-eun had was definitely better than the cheap stuff available everywhere.
And she had eaten over five pieces of it.
“I didn’t taste anything…”
“…Are you the one feeling wronged? Seriously, you’re just a child.”
Da-eun shook her head as if she couldn’t believe it, pulling out another chocolate.
“Just eat more. …But maybe too much might spoil it.”
“It’s fine.”
“What about your health…?”
“It’s fine.”
Nom.
I quickly snatched the chocolate from Da-eun’s finger, which stopped right before my face.
Just moments ago, Da-eun had looked all stiff avoiding my gaze, but now a bright smile spread across her face again.
“Hehe, Kana! You just looked like a seagull swooping in to snatch shrimp chips!”
“…Seagull?”
“Yeah. You know how seagulls come flying in to grab snacks when you’re at the beach? You reminded me of them.”
“…”
“Hmm… Wait. Maybe it was more like a baby bird being fed…”
Seriously, was it necessary to describe me like that when I simply used my mouth to grab it while leaving my hands free?
Honestly, Da-eun’s observations were a bit out there.
“So.”
Da-eun popped a piece of chocolate into her mouth.
The sweetness surged unexpectedly, and she shivered lightly, then casually remarked.
“I wonder what kind of worries our Kana has~?”
“Huh?”
How did she know I was worried?
I stared at her with wide eyes.
“How’d you know?”
“How do you think? It’s written all over your face, ‘I have something on my mind!’ Just by looking at your face, I can tell what Kana’s thinking.”
“So you must also know I think Da-eun is a bit pathetic?”
“…That hurts.”
Well, considering she didn’t even notice the food being put in her mouth, it’s no surprise she realized my thoughts.
It was a clear indication of just how lost in thought I had been.
“What’s bothering you? What is it?”
Da-eun shook my shoulders, urging me to spill.
It wasn’t too rough but enough to break my concentration.
I showed my annoyance by trying to hide my irritation, despite being jostled back and forth.
“Honestly, you wouldn’t understand if I told you.”
There’s no way Da-eun, a half-baked expert who can’t even properly handle mana without the system’s help, could provide answers to my worries.
“This little brat? Is this insult coming from your mouth?”
“Boo…”
“You little brat!”
Da-eun started vigorously pinching my cheeks as if they were made of clay.
To think I had to endure this just for telling the truth.
This is so unfair, so unfair.
“You don’t have to know everything to be able to help! People often get inspiration from offhand comments! When you think it out together, a good idea might pop up! There’s no harm in just talking about it; how about trying once while counting it as a practice?”
“I think that’s what they call an armchair expert.”
“Are you going to keep being stubborn?”
Seemingly frustrated by my reluctance, Da-eun rolled her eyes in discontent.
“Hmm…”
Since she was pushing so hard, maybe I should give it a try.
As Da-eun suggested, I have nothing to lose.
Resolving my mind, I slowly opened my mouth.
* * *
…I thought I had nothing to lose.
Unfortunately, I was completely wrong.
“I see. You want to get stronger.”
Da-eun donned a worn-out training outfit she somehow managed to find…?
In any case, she wore something that looked like it came from a gym and pretended to look serious.
Seeing her like that, I nodded in agreement.
“Yeah, I shouldn’t have said anything.”
I should’ve been more mindful that such a thing could happen.
But regardless of my regrets, Da-eun continued with her ridiculous act.
“Hoo hoo… Aha, I can see you don’t believe in me. Allow me to show you a piece of my strength.”
Haa…!
With a short battle cry, a blue hue flowed around her.
“Huff!”
With a fist, she struck, leaving a fist-sized hole in the square brick.
“So? Can you believe me now?”
“You’re just making a mess. Clean it up.”
“Yes ma’am.”
“…Sigh.”
I sighed as I watched Da-eun mope around picking up the dust scattered on the floor.
I hadn’t expected much anyway, but seeing this left me unable to suppress my sigh.
“All done!”
“Now change your clothes.”
“…What?”
“What do you mean, what?”
Wearing what was basically a raggedy training outfit that looked like it belonged in the trash.
“But doesn’t a reclusive master need this kind of image? Mysterious and naturalistic feel…”
“The way you look right now is more like a beggar than a reclusive master.”
“…Seriously?”
“Yeah, seriously. Even Yuki would say the same if she saw you. Should I take a picture and send it?”
“…No thanks.”
After unhesitantly nodding, Da-eun finally changed into normal clothes.
“Just checking, but you didn’t buy that with money, did you?”
“…Eheh.”
Da-eun just grinned without saying a word.
That non-answer was enough for me to feel a headache coming on.
“So, people now buy junk?”
“Wha-what? It was a pretty expensive cosplay outfit…”
Seriously, they sell that stuff for a high price?
What a world we live in.
“Anyway, listen! I’ve got a great idea!”
“Do we really have to?”
It had barely even been a few minutes since she did her silly act.
“Of course! It’ll definitely help you, Kana!”
“…Just let me hear it.”
If it’s just nonsense, I can ignore it.
Even I could hear the lack of enthusiasm in my own voice, but Da-eun paid no mind and confidently declared.
“What I’ve come up with is… a manga-style training method!”