The Knight Who Devours Magic - Chapter 95

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 95. The Path I Must Walk
“Mana is a superb energy, you see. It doesn’t just strengthen Spirit Users like yourself, Munno—it empowers all warriors, lets them shed fatigue, sharpens their senses. The reason Spirit Users live so long… ah, but you’d know that better than I would. In any case, by that measure alone, there’s no doubt mana is beneficial to humanity.”
Karina’s words were ostensibly praise for mana, yet they carried a subtly negative undertone.
“But…?”
“Well… as I mentioned before, when a person undergoes evolution, there is something like the Law of Total Quantity governing their growth.”
“The Law of Total Quantity?”
“Put simply: someone who chooses balanced evolution will be weaker than someone who pursues strength, and slower than someone who pursues speed.”
She opened with a fairly foundational principle.
“Of course, initial awakening may not be entirely within one’s control, but subsequent evolution follows the direction the practitioner has cultivated. Hard Body Technique, in a sense, gradually takes on the shape of that person’s aspiration—or their essence.”
“One cannot choose different evolutionary paths at different stages.”
When Munno stated the basics of Hard Body Technique, she smiled faintly.
“Yes, that’s right. But mana deviates slightly from that directional constraint.”
“Hmm?”
This was new to him.
“Because it can be applied in any direction, many renowned secret arts among those called Secondary or Semi-Secondary Characteristics incorporate mana.”
“Is that problematic?”
“Yes—it is established doctrine that mana, too, consumes growth potential in evolution.”
“Meaning…?”
“Evolution that incorporates mana ultimately weakens the Hard Body Practitioner’s essential strength—that is, the degree of physical evolution itself.”
“Ah…”
“Of course, I’m not telling you to ignore mana just because you practice Spirit Magic. What I mean is: focus your mana training purely in the direction of Spirit Magic, and consider your growth as a knight separately.”
Hmm?
“I thought mana could grow through Spirit Magic training alone… am I mistaken?”
“It can, certainly. Usually people spend years, or even decades, training mana.”
Not that it matters to me.
“But if a thirst for mana takes root in one’s subconscious like that, eventually they end up pursuing evolution that incorporates mana.”
“Is that… so?”
“Yes. And that’s why I suspect even the legendary Spirit Knights in the tales never became the strongest of their age. That’s my theory, anyway.”
Now Munno grasped what Karina was driving at.
Though…
“If that’s true, then there are no Seven Stars among those who pursued evolution with mana?”
“That’s not quite it. But at least in the past three centuries, those called the mightiest Seven Star knights have all achieved purely physical evolution.”
“Really? Is that true?”
This too was news to him.
“Yes. Especially since Artifacts became widely developed, and using Mana Blades through them became possible.”
“I see…”
“More recently, even the Dragon Sword Duke, revered as among the world’s strongest in our own nation, achieved evolution through pure physical development alone.”
“That’s remarkable.”
Hearing this far, he could roughly grasp the problem.
‘If you evolve to increase mana, your body grows that much less.’
In some cases, mana could reinforce the body, but even then, one would end up at a similar level to someone who had pursued only physical evolution from the start.
Which meant…
“So you’re saying that while incorporating mana grants versatility, ultimately you’re only a half-version with a time limit until that mana runs dry?”
“‘Half-version’ sounds a touch dismissive, but the essence is similar.”
Of course, with mana one could use even an ordinary blade like an Artifact, so the comparison couldn’t be quite that simple.
But what if a Hard Body Practitioner with physical evolution already possessed such an Artifact blade?
Considering such a scenario, calling someone a “half-version” wasn’t far off the mark.
‘Then…’
It meant that Enoc of Trian, the “Shield of the Northern Region,” whose powerful mana was palpable, might actually be weaker than Anthony, the Blood Knight—his exact equal at Sixth Circle, yet whose mana felt strangely faint despite his use of it.
Though public opinion differed somewhat.
“I understand what you’re saying.”
This was valuable knowledge.
But why hadn’t his father explained this to him?
Well, he could guess well enough. The answer lay in something his father had once said.
—You must awaken to it yourself.
Inflexible old man…
“Of course, if you’re not aiming to be the absolute strongest, evolution incorporating mana isn’t bad at all. Most importantly, not everyone can obtain Artifacts. But you’re different.”
Hm.
Despite her excessive praise, a satisfied smile bloomed unbidden.
“With your talent, I believe you could go beyond merely reaching Seven Star—you might even contend as the next generation’s strongest in the world. That’s the spirit in which I offer this counsel.”
“Thank you. That’s been very helpful. But I was wondering—does Karina also have that kind of…gift?”
It was a vague question, but fortunately she seemed to understand.
“Yes. When I was younger, Count Enoc saw me practicing swordwork and offered to teach me the Rock Wall Body Strengthening Art. But I refused him.”
“You what?!”
So her talent had been exceptional enough that the Count of Trian was willing to pass on his family’s secret Hard Body Technique.
‘And yet she turned him down.’
This woman had nerve, that much was certain.
A commoner, daring to refuse a count’s offer.
“But surely there were no repercussions? Though I suppose Count Enoc isn’t the type to hold a grudge over something like that.”
Something seemed to occur to Karina then, and she smiled, nodding.
“I was young enough to be fearless.”
Even so, that was pushing it.
“He asked for my reasons, and when he heard them, he laughed and gave his permission. After that, he even sought out a Hard Body Technique suited to my goals and taught it to me.”
Ah.
Both Count Enoc and Karina were clearly people of exceptional character.
“I thought your dream was to become the kingdom’s greatest knight. But you’re aiming even higher than that?”
“First I have to become the kingdom’s greatest. Only then can I speak of becoming the world’s greatest.”
She said something that some might dismiss as absurd, yet her eyes blazed with conviction.
Those bright, luminous eyes made her already beautiful face shine all the more, and he found himself smiling without quite meaning to.
But the moment he became aware of his own situation, a slight chill ran through him.
‘Here I am, enjoying a conversation about swordplay with a woman. What’s wrong with me…’
Yet the truth was, this woman’s greatest passion was precisely this subject, and it was a field that held his deep interest as well.
If they both enjoyed being together and talking about it, did anything else really matter?
The thought brought another quiet laugh to his lips.
“Then I suppose I have to surpass you as well?”
“Not yet. I’m still ahead of you. The challenge is yours to make, Munno.”
Right, of course.
“In any case, it will be difficult, but I think it would be good for you to develop the habit of separating Spirit Magic and the Hard Body Technique in your mind. I know you’ve already found your direction with Spirit Magic and the sword, but even if it feels forced…”
As Karina said, the direction of one’s evolution is influenced by that person’s wishes and essence—their subconscious—so one couldn’t simply choose it at will.
‘It doesn’t matter to me, though.’
True, being able to divide one’s consciousness into two parts didn’t mean one could control the subconscious. But in his case, Karina’s concern was ultimately meaningless.
The Demon Devourer consumed Demonic Energy and Magical Power, converting them into Mana.
There was no reason he should ever feel a hunger for Mana.
“Thank you for the sound advice. I’ll certainly keep it in mind.”
Still, what Karina had said brought about a genuine shift in his thinking.
He had resolved that one day he would improve his family’s Hard Body Technique as a way to repay his debts. Now he understood that might not be the true path of gratitude after all.
Yet a lingering unease remained.
Specifically.
“Hmm…?”
His own path. The prerequisite condition for a fourth evolution.
“What is it?”
“So then, what path should I take…?”
“Sorry?”
What was it?
Munno voiced the doubt that had just surfaced, watching Karina tilt her head in confusion.
After hearing his words, Karina smiled and nodded.
“You must determine your own path to cross the threshold into 4-Star. You were quite right, Baron.”
“I thought that ‘path’ you mentioned referred to the directional choice in Hard Body Technique that you were talking about. But my direction has been consistent from the start.”
Consuming demons and their spawn, growing my strength.
Looking back now, that goal hadn’t come to him solely because of the demon that lived in his mind.
Perhaps the hatred and longing he’d accumulated since childhood were the more fundamental source.
But if that truly was his own path, there was no reason he shouldn’t have reached 4-Star by now, given that he’d consumed far more powerful Mages.
As he wrestled with confusion, Karina asked him a question.
“Munno, don’t you have a goal you absolutely must achieve?”
“Yes, I do.”
“What is it?”
“First, to root out those cult bastards and destroy them utterly—”
“No, no. Not that. I mean a goal for yourself—a future you want to achieve, a person you want to become.”
“I…”
Now that he thought about it, he didn’t have one. Or rather, he did.
“I do.”
“Do what?”
“Live well. Eat well.”
I wanted to live like a human being for once, to actually savor life a little.
It was a sincere answer, heavy with the resentment I’d carried since my past life.
“……I’m sorry?”
Karina stared at me with a furrowed brow, her expression so pitying that I realized I must have said something wrong.
……It wasn’t fair.
“I have a lot of grievances bottled up inside me. You must have heard—why I came to be Drasen’s adopted son.”
“Ah…….”
Without even needing to dredge up the story of my past life, that alone was enough to change Karina’s expression to one of apology.
“Right. Well. The point I’m trying to make is that you need a more concrete aspiration. A specific peak you wish to reach as a Hard Body Practitioner. The moment that vision becomes clear, you’ll break through the wall that’s blocking your path.”
A peak I aspire to reach.
“……That’s difficult.”
“Take your time thinking about it. You’re already advancing far too quickly, Munno. The fact that you’re already aiming beyond the Third Circle at barely coming of age—it shouldn’t even be possible.”
Karina laughed and tapped her chest, but this time I couldn’t bring myself to laugh along.
‘So it all comes down to having a dream…….’
Han Moon-ho in my past life had dreams when he was young.
President, idol, famous YouTuber—all manner of things.
But beneath all those worldly dreams, the true reason was always the same.
– I’ll become famous, and I’ll find the parents who abandoned me. And……
– ……I’ll show you that this child you threw away turned out just fine. That I lived well without you.
– I’ll mock you to your face. And even if you apologize, I’ll never accept it.
A childish and heartbreaking reason that always surfaced in a young mind.
The resentment of an orphan who had finally abandoned hope that his parents would one day return for him.
But as my mind grew, everything felt increasingly pointless, and facing the harsh winds of reality, even that hollow dream eventually faded away.
‘I was too busy trying to survive.’
But in this life…….
‘I have Drasen.’
Just thinking of him warmed my chest—my frozen, lonely homeland made warm.
Apart from the terrible memories of childhood…….
“I’m already living well.”
“What?”
“It’s just…….”
In my past life too, I hadn’t wanted very much.
But now, having driven out the demon in my mind, I realized that this same vague, futile hope had taken root in my present heart.
Living like a human being?
I have a family that loves me more than anyone else, and a household that, while tight on budget each year, provides everything I need to eat and live.
Above all, I now have the strength to live well and prosper anywhere in this world.
And yet.
‘What was I really wishing for all this time?’
Thinking it over carefully, the answer came.
– I despise people like the parents who abandoned me in my past life.
– I despise a world that oppresses the weak and causes them suffering.
– Ultimately, I despise my own weakness—my powerlessness in the face of others’ will.
“……I wish to be free.”
“What?”
“To be free—never swayed by anyone, able to impose my will upon this world. That is my dream.”
The same answer, after all the circling.
But the heart speaking those words had already changed completely.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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