The Saintess’s Proposal (1)

The Millennial Gold Essence, the top reward from the deserted island exam, arrived at Lunabreeze.

Millennial Gold Essence.

A national treasure-class metallic elixir containing a magic power quantity equivalent to the entry-stage of a grandmaster.

As soon as Ian got his hands on it, he dashed straight to the cultivation room and began replicating it.

― Swoosh!!

He drew out the magic power stored in Vladiark and accumulated it in his dantian.

― Vwoooom!!

He repeated the projection of the Millennial Gold Essence as many times as permitted by his magic power.

[Millennial Gold Essence Lv.92: Projection progress 100.00%]

[You have perfectly projected Millennial Gold Essence Lv.92!]

[Millennial Gold Essence Lv.92 is now permanently saved in the projection list.]

In less than a day, Ian was able to duplicate one Millennial Gold Essence.

[Millennial Gold Essence Lv.92: You have fully manifested 1 unit.]

The millennia-old treasure immediately became two in an instant.

However—

“Uuhhh…”

His magic power was instantly depleted.

Vladiark was drained as well, and Ian’s dantian was at the brink of mana exhaustion.

‘I’ll have to dedicate the whole day to recovery.’

Fortunately, he still had lots of time.

It would be at least a few more weeks before the Dragon Sword Hall reopened, and aside from cultivating his aura, there wasn’t much else to do during that time.

Sophia’s training had also recently been overseen by Charlotte and Ophelia, so Ian could focus solely on elevating his stage.

‘For now, I’ll consume these two right away.’

Currently, Ian’s rank was early-stage master.

If he digested these two Millennial Gold Essences with Sky Thunder, deep As The Clouds, he would be able to reach mid-level master.

‘But to reach late-stage master…’

The higher one’s stage, the explosively greater the amount of magic power needed to break through.

He needed about 13 more Millennial Gold Essences.

An amount of magic power enough to fill the dantian of thirteen entry-stage grandmaster.

It was so much that it almost felt unreasonable.

It was an astronomical amount—almost as if counting the stars in the sky would be easier.

From the master level onward, every breakthrough required a ridiculous amount of magic power.

That’s why it often took masters a lifetime to advance, and why there are so few strong people in the world.

‘It won’t be easy. I will need some time, too.’

But not that much time.

Around six months would be plenty.

If it’s right here in Lunabreeze, it’s certainly possible.

The cultivation rooms in the Heavenly Sword Palace are among the purest mana spots on the entire continent.

Pure, clear mana flowed through the Heavenly Sword Palace like blood through veins.

On top of the quality, the mana was abundant.

One could liken it to the open ocean.

Ian’s cultivation stage had also advanced enough to give him a whale-like capacity, but the oceanic mana of the Heavenly Sword Palace was more than enough to supply his breathing for cultivation.

‘And I know excellent cultivation techniques, too.’

The Celestial Cultivation Method, Heavenly Dawn Technique, handed down only to Hisperion direct descendants.

And the very top-tier cultivation method for storing thunder attribute, Sky Thunder, Deep as the Clouds.

Reaching late-stage Swordmaster within six months was well within his means.

‘Aris easily handing over the Millennial Gold Essence was crucial. Thanks to her, I now have the elixir, mana spot, enlightenment, and cultivation technique… All conditions have been fulfilled perfectly. Now, it really is only a matter of time.’

To reach late-stage Swordmaster at merely age fourteen.

This growth speed transcended not just history or legend, but even myth.

Had Aris not sent him the supreme elixir of Millennial Gold Essence, such rapid growth would have been utterly impossible.

No matter how good the mana spot or the cultivation technique, without an elixir, it would have taken ten times as long to break through each stage.

Mana spots and cultivation techniques make it easier to fill an empty dantian, and are important for increasing the quality and attribute of aura.

But with a full dantian, accumulating more magic power through cultivation breathing alone becomes difficult.

Not impossible, but the speed slows dramatically.

It’s like trying to inhale more air when your lungs are already full.

That’s why elixirs are necessary.

To force even more breath into already full lungs.

By driving a massive lump of magic power in at once, one forcibly expands the dantian and mana circuits, causing one’s internal aura to surge and allowing for rapid breakthroughs.

Of course, a normal person’s body would explode if they tried this, but Ian, who possessed sharp enlightenment and the very best cultivation techniques, could observe and temper the surging aura, strengthening his dantian and mana circuits even further.

Truthfully, all he really needed was those six months.

He was sure he could reach late-stage Swordmaster before the year ended.

* * *

A whole month passed in a flash.

The temporary closure of the Dragon Sword Hall ended.

The next test was set.

A base occupation mock battle taking place at the Three Branch Canyons.

This exam was a team battle, fighting in groups, judging both strategy and combat power.

Their opponent: talented foreigners.

The Selveris Holy Kingdom’s apprentice Holy Knights.

Along with them came the recently-baptized youngest Saintess and elite paladin candidates.

They would likely be the toughest hurdle of this exam—at least for the ordinary Dragon Sword Hall students.

To Ian, it was irrelevant.

By the time of the exam, it wouldn’t matter if the eldest Saintess came instead of the youngest—he’d be able to handle her easily.

The exam was set for January of next year—planned for winter.

And the coveted top prize…

A personal tutoring session from Aris Hisperion.

“…?”

Ian seriously considered skipping this exam.

‘This… isn’t a reward, it’s a punishment.’

Of course, for those who didn’t know Aris’s true nature, there would be nothing lacking in this top reward.

It was a chance to receive personalized training from a grandmaster expert, after all.

On that merit alone, it could be considered extravagant.

If it were auctioned, it would likely exchange hands for a truly astronomical sum—and make history.

But for Ian, who knew Aris’s wicked and cunning true nature, it felt more like…

A punishment, as if he had to share a table with a giant venomous spider.

‘Maybe I should just coast through this exam and cultivate in Lunabreeze instead…’

He thought about it for a moment, but then quickly changed his mind.

‘No. By then, I won’t have any reason to fear being alone with Aris.’

By the time the exam was over, Ian’s level would be late-stage master.

Although a rank below Aris, with the Authority of Projection and abilities like Vladiark, he’d definitely stand a chance against her one-on-one.

‘And by that point, I’ll need some guidance as well.’

Late-stage master was the highest level Ian had reached in his previous life.

To push beyond that, he would need more research and enlightenment.

That’s why this was an important opportunity for him, too.

A chance to learn the path to grandmaster for next to nothing—from Aris.

‘In the end, I have no choice but to do my best on this exam, too.’

Ian decided to take the top spot this time as well.

And he’d ask Aris—

How to break through from late-stage master to grandmaster.

― Murmur, murmur.

Time passed a bit more.

The Selveris Holy Kingdom’s apprentice Holy Knights arrived at the Dragon Sword Hall.

For the duration of the exam, they would be training together with the Hisperion students at the Dragon Sword Hall in a group residence.

The Dragon Sword Hall often held joint training sessions each semester with swordsmen from other countries in this manner.

This time, the guests were from the Holy Kingdom, but next time it might be the Empire, or a Royal Federation.

Thus, talented individuals from all over the world gathered at the Dragon Sword Hall.

“We sincerely welcome you to the Dragon Sword Hall.”

― Clap-clap-clap-clap!

A simple welcome ceremony was followed by a banquet.

Since all students were required to attend, Ian had no choice but to take a seat.

It was meant for students of both nations to get to know each other and build friendships.

At first, he stuck with Sophia and Charlotte, but he couldn’t stay with them for long.

If students only hung out with their close friends, the instructors would come and split them up.

It was meant to encourage them to greet new classmates.

“…”

― Kya! Kyahaha!

Sophia had already befriended the girls from the Holy Kingdom and was excitedly chatting away with them.

Indeed, her social skills were impressive.

“…”

― Murmur! Murmur!

Charlotte was greeting high-ranking priests from the Holy Kingdom.

Being a direct descendant of Hisperion, political encounters and exchanges were unavoidable for her even in these settings.

‘I wonder what Yuria’s up to.’

Yuria was also a direct descendant.

Maybe she was being harassed by the political types from the Holy Kingdom as well.

Yuria didn’t really like that kind of thing.

If he found her, he’d have to rescue her.

As he thought so and started searching for Yuria…

“Young master Ian. This is our first meeting, isn’t it?”

“…?”

A seductive, melodious voice called out to Ian.

A voice he had never heard before.

He turned his head toward it.

“Ah.”

The second wife of the Heavenly Sword family patriarch.

Marceline was standing there.

Ian immediately showed his respect.

“I greet Lady Marceline.”

Marceline smiled in satisfaction.

“It’s an honor. I thought there was a chance you wouldn’t recognize my face.”

“How could I fail to recognize the lady of the house when I am indebted to the Heavenly Sword Palace? That would be inconceivable.”

“Fufu. Is that so?”

Marceline folded her jewel-encrusted fan and placed both hands below her navel.

“I wanted to thank you. You saved my son, and I’m sorry to be so late in expressing my gratitude, young master Ian.”

“Not at all. I’m sure you’re extremely busy. I only did what anyone would have done.”

Ian’s reply was simply polite convention.

“Fufu, how mature. You’re someone my husband likes. And I’m entrusting my daughter to you as well—Charlotte Hisperion. She hasn’t caused any trouble, has she?”

“…”

In the past, he would have immediately wished she’d take her back, but now that Charlotte and Sophia had become so close, he honestly felt she was part of his family, too.

“Thanks to Lady Charlotte, the annex has become lively. Though our first meeting was… less than ideal, we get along well now.”

In truth, Ian and Charlotte were still a bit awkward, but he said it out of courtesy.

“Fufufu. I know my daughter’s personality—she isn’t so easily tamed. I’m sure you’ve been through a lot.”

“…?”

Not particularly, though.

“It can’t be too interesting to converse with an older woman like me for long.”

“Not at all. I am honored that you would speak to me.”

“Fufu, what a sweet boy. Still, I’ll be brief and let you get back. Young master Ian.”

Marceline opened her jewel-encrusted fan and spoke.

“I owe you a great debt, little one. Both my son and daughter have benefited from you. As a mother, I feel immense gratitude and indebtedness.”

“I am deeply honored by your regard.”

“No need to be so stiff, Ian.”

Lady Marceline gently placed a hand on Ian’s shoulder.

He looked up at Marceline.

“You may think of me as a mother if you wish. Treat Kargon like a brother, and grow as close with Charlotte as you like.”

“…”

There was meaning behind her words.

“If you ever need help, come to this mother anytime. For you, young master, even your mischief is welcome.”

————-= Clacky’s Corner ————-=

Gyat damn.

【ദ്ദി(⩌ᴗ⩌)】

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