The Mad Spearman of the Northern Front - Chapter 72

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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The Mad Spearman of the Northern Front (72)

 

Arteon slowly opened his eyes.

 

“….”

 

Arteon, who had been staring at the barracks ceiling, slowly sat up and caught his breath.

 

Judging by the light coming in from outside, it seemed not much time had passed.

 

However….

 

‘How long has it been since I’ve rested this comfortably?’

 

Feeling his completely recovered physical condition, Arteon inwardly exclaimed in admiration.

 

Not only had he rested well, but it seemed many changes had occurred in his body upon reaching 4th Star.

 

But then.

 

“Are you awake?”

 

A low, quiet voice permeated the barracks.

 

At that, Arteon turned his head.

 

“Ah, Sir Seran.”

 

Arteon spoke while looking at Seran sitting across from him.

 

Though he was just sitting quietly, a strange aura flowed from him as if the tension of the battlefield had soaked into his body.

 

However, his expression looked somewhat darker than before.

 

Arteon asked.

 

“Did the meeting not go smoothly?”

 

If there hadn’t been any problems, he wouldn’t have such a complexion.

 

From his atmosphere alone, one could predict how the meeting had gone.

 

“….”

 

At Arteon’s question, Seran briefly closed his eyes and then slowly opened them.

 

Then he shook his head and said.

 

“No, there were no problems.”

 

A single phrase that gave off a strange sense of discord.

 

However, Seran continued speaking without concern.

 

“Tomorrow, we’ve decided to select the most outstanding soldiers from all our forces to form a special unit. With that force, we’ll march out to seize the hill at the forward position.”

 

Arteon’s eyes narrowed.

 

Allied forces and enemy forces.

 

He knew well that the tide of war would change depending on who seized that hill first.

 

Arteon asked.

 

“…Will you be going as well, Sir Seran?”

 

There was a strange tension mixed in Arteon’s voice.

 

If they were selecting the most outstanding from all forces, it was natural that Seran would be chosen first.

 

Especially now that he had reached the 4th Star realm, his power was absolutely necessary when fighting against commander-level warriors of the Kar Tribe.

 

And….

 

“….”

 

Seran didn’t answer that question immediately.

 

He seemed lost in deep thought, as if pondering something.

 

But that didn’t last long.

 

“I’ll participate too. Now is the time when all our strength must be united. If we can’t seize that hill, this fight will inevitably… drag on unnecessarily.”

 

Arteon nodded deeply at those words.

 

He too had properly grasped the core of this war.

 

‘Is it as the rumors say?’

 

To think he could read the situation so keenly after going to the front just once.

 

Usually rumors tend to be exaggerated, but regarding Seran, he thought perhaps the rumors were actually understated.

 

But Seran looked at Arteon for a moment before quietly opening his mouth.

 

“More than that… I’m sorry to ask, but could I get help with what I mentioned earlier?”

 

“Of course.”

 

Arteon answered with a smile.

 

Because he knew that request was by no means a light matter.

 

Moreover, extending a hand to someone lower in both rank and age required considerable courage.

 

Seran was someone who could abandon unnecessary pride and humble himself for his goals.

 

Then Arteon stood up from his seat.

 

“Then… shall we go somewhere without people?”

 

“I’ve already scouted a location.”

 

Seran left the barracks and guided Arteon.

 

Soon darkness gradually descended and night arrived.

 

Though the main force was filled with tension about tomorrow’s march, Seran looked at Arteon with a different kind of tension.

 

And when they arrived at the location Seran had mentioned.

 

“…I didn’t know such a place existed.”

 

Arteon said while looking around.

 

Deep in the forest, this space surrounded by dense trees was beyond the reach of outside gazes.

 

The ground was made of soft earth, and it was a perfect place for training.

 

Seran smiled slightly.

 

“I looked around the area to train comfortably. This seemed like the best spot.”

 

Arteon nodded, acknowledging that this was optimal as a training location.

 

“Then, would you like to try creating aura first?”

 

Seran caught his breath and slowly raised his sword.

 

Mana gradually condensed at his fingertips, and soon vivid blue aura wrapped around the sword and climbed up.

 

Blue aura flickering like flames.

 

Arteon’s eyes narrowed slightly at that intense aura.

 

‘…The color is deep, but the solidity is lacking.’

 

He could tell at a glance.

 

Though the mana output was high and the power might be strong, the binding force maintaining the aura was quite unstable.

 

This was because the control to maintain it was insufficient compared to the strength the aura possessed.

 

However….

 

‘I should check first. I can’t accurately grasp the problem without clashing directly.’

 

Then Arteon slowly raised Iglis.

 

When he channeled mana, Iglis, which had been in rod form, transformed into a spear.

 

Seeing this, Seran looked with somewhat surprised eyes and asked.

 

“You have an unusual weapon. Is it an artifact?”

 

“Yes, it’s a keepsake my father left me.”

 

“…Your father must have been an outstanding spearman too.”

 

“I only learned by watching over his shoulder. Then I’ll begin.”

 

Nod.

 

When Seran nodded, Arteon instantly created aura.

 

The blue aura wrapped around the spear and was refined into a solid form.

 

Seran showed an even more surprised expression than when he had just seen Iglis.

 

‘At this age… this level of aura.’

 

He wondered if what he was seeing was a dream.

 

But he soon composed himself and raised his sword.

 

“Then I’ll learn from you.”

 

“I’m the one who should be asking for your guidance.”

 

As their voices overlapped, the tension in the space grew even thicker.

 

The two moved their feet toward each other slowly, yet firmly.

 

And….

 

Clang!

 

With an intense metallic sound, the first clash occurred. The air shook and the forest leaves scattered.

 

Arteon’s brow furrowed slightly.

 

‘Strong… as expected.’

 

Despite its instability, Seran’s aura possessed tremendous destructive power.

 

Arteon maintained his distance and thrust his spear in a long attack. The attack was simple, but it was a calculated movement to confirm the characteristics and reactions of the aura.

 

Seran also swung his sword cleanly.

 

The consistency of that line, the unwavering posture was the essence of fundamentals gained through long training.

 

‘Indeed… the rumors weren’t false.’

 

Arteon analyzed his opponent with admiration.

 

Conversely, Seran’s eyes widened at Arteon’s spear technique.

 

‘Such refined spear technique… at this age?’

 

Even a simple thrust drew a perfect trajectory, leaving no openings.

 

‘If he adds irregular attacks to this… it would be difficult to handle.’

 

Cold sweat ran down his spine.

 

And once more.

 

Clang!

 

A fierce strike collided and intense waves spread out.

 

At that moment, Seran’s aura wavered, made a bursting sound, then scattered completely.

 

Seran, who had stepped back, struggled to form his aura again.

 

But that wasn’t an easy task.

 

Whooom…

 

It took far too much time for the form to take shape.

 

Seran gritted his teeth, but soon smiled bitterly and withdrew his mana.

 

He lowered his sword and spoke with his head down.

 

“This current state is the problem… I don’t know what to do.”

 

His earnest gaze turned toward Arteon.

 

“…”

 

And Arteon understood those feelings.

 

Having reached the 4th Star realm and become able to handle aura, but with it being unstable, how his heart must be burning inside.

 

After catching his breath for a moment, Arteon carefully spoke up.

 

“Then, would it be alright if I share my thoughts?”

 

Seran nodded with an expression mixing subtle expectation and tension.

 

“You can speak without holding back. Even harsh criticism is fine.”

 

His gaze showed he would sell his soul even to a demon if it could solve this problem.

 

Arteon spoke with a stern expression.

 

“Your greed is excessive.”

 

“…What do you mean by that?”

 

When Seran looked puzzled, Arteon continued firmly.

 

“When first forming aura, you’re injecting more mana than you can maintain at your limit. Because of this, you create aura that’s powerful but unstable.”

 

Aura differs in power depending on the mana used.

 

However, if one forcibly injects excessive mana pursuing only power, that form was bound to collapse easily.

 

Seran bit his lips and muttered.

 

“But if I don’t use that much mana, I can’t form aura.”

 

Arteon shook his head with a smile.

 

“It’s not impossible. You only feel that way because you buttoned the first button wrong.”

 

For stability, one must reduce the amount of mana and first learn how to maintain the form.

 

However, since Seran was already accustomed to strong aura, he couldn’t create weak aura.

 

Arteon stepped closer and spoke firmly.

 

“The most important thing in creating and maintaining aura isn’t the amount of mana. You need a clearer ‘image’.”

 

And he stepped back once more and injected mana into his spear.

 

Instantly, blue aura formed. It was solid without wavering, inspiring admiration in those who saw it.

 

Seran looked at that aura with envious eyes.

 

Arteon didn’t avoid that gaze and continued speaking.

 

“What I think of when creating aura is death and flames. What about you, Sir Seran? When you first created aura, what memory came to mind?”

 

Seran hesitated for a moment, then muttered quietly.

 

“I am…”

 

“Hold onto that memory. And start by injecting very little mana. The form of aura is grasped through will and image. The amount of mana is only related to output, it has nothing to do with forming aura.”

 

At that moment, Seran’s gaze wavered.

 

He understood what was being said, but.

 

“…”

 

He worried whether he could do it well.

 

However…

 

“I understand.”

 

Soon he nodded as if his resolve was set.

 

Whooom!

 

The first attempt at aura formation.

 

As expected, it wasn’t easy.

 

It wavered unstably, looking precarious as if it would disappear at any moment.

 

But Seran didn’t hesitate.

 

He continued concentrating and recalled Arteon’s advice.

 

As time passed, he realized what the ‘core’ that Arteon had spoken of was.

 

Whooooom!

 

With a small vibration, the aura gradually formed stably.

 

Though not as powerful as before, the unstable wavering energy had disappeared.

 

Seran opened his eyes and looked at the aura he had created.

 

“How is it?”

 

Arteon’s voice was heard.

 

“…It feels like there’s less burden somehow.”

 

Seran answered while exhaling deeply.

 

At those words, Arteon nodded.

 

“You must remember that feeling well. Once this becomes skillful, even if you gradually increase the amount of mana, the aura will be maintained stably.”

 

Seran looked at Arteon with a strange expression.

 

“But, how do you… know these things?”

 

It was advice that was hard to explain with common sense.

 

Arteon scratched his cheek awkwardly and turned his gaze away.

 

At that sight, Seran made an expression as if realizing something.

 

Who he was and how he knew such things didn’t matter.

 

Right now, wasn’t he a benefactor who had opened a path forward for him?

 

He quickly bowed his head.

 

“I didn’t intend to interrogate you. I’m sorry if I offended you.”

 

“Not at all. It’s just… difficult to explain.”

 

Everyone has at least one secret. Seran didn’t ask further.

 

He took out a small seal from his chest and held it out to Arteon.

 

“It’s not a famous family, but this is a seal engraved with our family crest. If you ever come looking for me or our family with this, whatever the matter is, I’ll help you.”

 

Arteon received the seal and looked at Seran.

 

The opportunity to receive help from someone with such skill was precious beyond what money could buy.

 

“Thank you.”

 

Then Seran smiled and said.

 

“Now go back. Tomorrow… there will be an important operation.”

 

Arteon nodded.

 

This experience would undoubtedly elevate Seran to a completely different realm from his past.

 

Swoosh.

 

Arteon’s eyes gleamed as he looked toward the Forward Position.

 

Now, it was time to reclaim control of this war.

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