"Poking several meters deep into rock with a single sword? What on earth are you talking about?"
Haviel furrowed his brow.
The look in his eyes directed this way.
It was filled with disbelief, as if asking what nonsense this was.
"I'm having a bit of trouble understanding. May I speak frankly?"
"Frankly?"
"Yes."
"That's a bit much? You're just going to hit me with the facts without any filter again, aren't you?"
"I've told you repeatedly, I've never assaulted Lord Lloyd."
"You have, though?"
"When?"
"In the ant nest. You punched me in the solar plexus, remember?"
"That was, of course...."
"Oh, and then you slapped me three times in a row to snap me out of it. Right?"
"It was two slaps. You came to your senses right before the third one."
"Aha, so you were disappointed?"
"Of course no... No, that's not it."
"...."
"Anyway, getting back to the point, to be frank, I've never heard of anyone accomplishing something like that with a sword."
"Never?"
"Yes. Not even Swordmasters."
"I see."
"Yes."
It was the truth.
Poking several meters deep into rock with just a sword.
And then blasting the rock through that hole.
He'd never heard of such a thing.
Even looking at the anecdotes of countless Swordmasters recorded in history books, it was the same.
'The founding king, Sir Michael, who was called one of the strongest in history despite developing late, couldn't do it either. The records show Sir Michael's sword aura extended about one meter. Even adding the sword's length, that only allowed him to slash or destroy a little over two meters.'
Sword aura.
A technique that coats the blade with densely concentrated mana.
It was the hallmark skill of a Swordmaster.
But even that destructive technique had its limits.
It couldn't attack enemies beyond the aura's range.
'In the end, a sword is a close-range weapon.'
No matter how powerful the attack, you had to close in and slash or stab.
Unlike a mage firing off spells, you couldn't strike distant foes.
That was both the strength and weakness of a Swordmaster.
"And yet Lord Lloyd, you're defying common sense. You're declaring you'll teach me an imaginary technique that doesn't exist. It's almost like...."
"I sound crazy?"
"Yes."
Haviel nodded promptly.
"Plainly so. It's the kind of absurd statement only a madman, a lunatic, or someone out of their mind would make."
"Hey, you're laying it on thick now that you've got something on me?"
"What's 'laying it on thick'?"
"Sigh, whatever. Anyway—"
Lloyd smirked.
"If I teach you that technique, what will you do?"
"Do you really think it's possible?"
"That's what I'm saying. Answer me first."
"If Lord Lloyd's bold claim turns out to be true—"
Haviel spoke with a serious gaze.
"Then I will gladly follow your will."
"Really? You'll do whatever I say?"
"Of course."
Haviel nodded.
If Lloyd's words were true, there was no downside.
At the same time, he thought.
That offer has to be bluffing.
Something that ridiculous couldn't possibly work.
"Alright. It's a deal. Now then—"
Lloyd extended his hand.
He tapped Haviel on the shoulder.
And spoke as if it were no big deal.
"Draw your sword, rev your mana circles to max speed, and in that state, force two circles to overlap and collide. Want to try?"
"...Pardon?"
"Oh, and don't let the other circles join the collision. You have to protect your heart. Otherwise, the shock will make it triple-axel into paralysis. You'd cross the Jordan in one go."
"What are you saying...."
"Just try it."
"Here? Right now?"
"Yeah."
Lloyd nodded.
Haviel felt perplexed.
'Is that even possible?'
It felt like common sense was crumbling.
The Asrahan Heart Method was like part of his body.
Yet this attempt felt utterly foreign to him.
He'd never even considered trying it this way.
No, he'd never even thought it possible.
Of course not.
Each mana circle spun faster as output increased.
The faster the spin, the more repulsive force they generated.
Like same-pole magnets pushing each other away.
Forcing them to collide?
"It's fine. As long as you firmly protect your heart with the remaining circles, you won't die."
"...."
Lloyd sounded far too casual.
Which only made him less trustworthy.
Of course, Haviel had no idea.
In another space and time, another version of himself.
The him from the novel Iron-Blooded Knight had invented this technique.
That this very method was one of the skills that made that version of himself the strongest knight in Loraasia continent history.
'Of course, that was supposed to happen much later.'
Lloyd suddenly recalled the novel's plot.
Blasting (confined blasting).
Back when Haviel developed this technique, he had just reached Swordmaster.
He'd also acquired his fourth circle.
The combo of Swordmaster and quadra circles.
That alone could place him among history's strongest knights.
But even with that power, he hit a wall.
Namaran's barrier.
A wall enchanted with evil, powerful defensive magic.
Behind it were thousands of refugees he had to save.
Neither sword aura nor quadra circle mana amplification could breach it.
Time slipped away wasted.
The date proclaimed by the wicked mage approached.
Thousands of refugees would become sacrifices in the mage's ritual.
And finally, on the fateful day.
In a desperate final attack to pierce the barrier, Haviel unwittingly collided two circles.
The moment he first used blasting, a technique he'd never imagined.
A power beyond imagination shattered Namaran's barrier in an instant.
'After that, blasting became Haviel's go-to main skill.'
It became a signature technique of Iron-Blooded Knight, alongside the Asrahan Heart Method.
And now, his current self was teaching it to this guy.
It felt oddly surreal.
'I need to learn it myself once I hit triple circles.'
He couldn't learn it now even if he wanted to.
The two circles to collide.
Plus at least one more to protect the heart.
Blasting required at least triple circles.
'Even triple circles won't make it easy, though.'
The same went for Haviel.
Lloyd smirked at the thought.
"Hmm, still hesitating? You don't trust me that much?"
"...."
"Scared?"
"Of course not. It's just—"
"Just?"
"You'll have to make a promise."
"Hmm, a promise?"
"The new technique you're teaching me."
"Yeah."
"If it turns out to be a lie or a mean prank to toy with me...."
"A prank?"
"Then extend the lullaby service free and unlimited from now on."
"Well, now."
It was bolder than expected.
It also clearly revealed what he really thought of the lullaby service.
"You know, now I see—"
A sly grin crept into Lloyd's eyes.
"You've become the type who can't live without the lullaby service?"
Flinch.
Haviel's shoulder twitched ever so slightly.
Lloyd continued.
"What now? It's obvious."
"An overreach in speculation."
"Hey. Look me in the eye when you say that?"
"I've never avoided Lord Lloyd's gaze."
"Are my eyes in my nostrils?"
"...."
"Fine. I promise."
"Really?"
"Yeah. If it's a lie or I'm toying with you, lullaby service unlimited refills from now on. Free."
"You promised."
"Yeah, yeah. Just try it. You didn't forget the method I told you?"
"Yes."
Shing.
Haviel drew his longsword.
Lloyd stepped back a few paces.
'It's his first try, so I'm a little worried... But Haviel should be fine even if he messes up practicing.'
Haviel was leagues ahead in the Asrahan Heart Method.
He had triple circles.
Superior control over each mana circle.
Masterful and refined, like a craftsman.
Even trying a new concept for the first time, he wouldn't damage his heart.
'Though he'll suffer for at least a few days.'
Colliding mana circles spinning at high speed near the heart.
It would put massive strain on the body.
Even a sword genius would need time to get used to it.
'A week at best? Maybe half a month or more. Then I'll schedule construction around when quarrying starts....'
Thud!
"Success."
"...."
Something unbelievable happened.
Lloyd unwittingly gaped.
He stared at Haviel a few steps ahead.
Then cast his gaze farther.
A mark had appeared on the ground where none had been before.
"Not as hard as I thought."
"...."
A full ten-meter-long trench had been gouged out.
Not just shallow scrapes on the surface.
A long hole deep inside the ground.
An explosion from within had flipped the earth in a straight line.
"Uh, Haviel?"
"Yes, Lord Lloyd."
"Are you actually a monster?"
"No. I am, of course, human."
"...."
He totally seemed like a monster.
Or maybe the son of Mom's friend who only existed in legends.
Lloyd stared at Haviel in bewilderment.
Haviel smiled elegantly with one corner of his mouth.
"Thank you, Lord Lloyd. You weren't teasing me."
"You just figured that out?"
"Yes."
"Well, look at that shamelessness."
"I had no choice. It was a concept I'd never considered."
"Does it make sense now?"
"Yes. Though—"
"Though? What now."
"I'm curious how Lord Lloyd came up with such an exquisite technique."
"Why? Can't I think of stuff like this?"
"Of course that's not it, but...."
Haviel trailed off.
Lloyd stiffened his neck proudly.
"Whatever. Keep your promise. You know I wasn't teasing now, right?"
"Yes."
"So you'll do whatever I say?"
"Any task, gladly."
Cool but committed when he agreed.
Haviel nodded.
At that moment, a message appeared before his eyes.
Ding.
[Haviel Asrahan feels grateful for your guidance.]
[Haviel Asrahan's favorability toward you +3.]
[Current relationship with Haviel Asrahan: -11]
[Slight relationship improvement with a key figure grants 54 RP.]
[Current RP: 561]
'Good.'
He was convinced the guy had accepted it wholeheartedly.
Now, it was time to test his performance(?) for serious quarrying.
♣
"Alright, from now on, you're the human dynamite."
The next morning dawned.
Far west of the orc village.
In the granite outcrop at the mountain base, Lloyd picked up a large brush.
He dipped it into the jar he'd been carrying.
Splat.
The red paint from the orcs soaked into the brush.
Lloyd held the paint-dipped brush.
He dabbed it at regular intervals on the ground.
"Here. And here. And here."
Plop plop plop!
Fist-sized red dots marked the ground.
"See the spots I'm marking?"
"Yes. Do I stab the sword in there?"
"Yeah. Smart guy. Stab, collide mana circles, boom. Got it?"
"Understood. Is there a set depth?"
"Yeah. Ten meters."
"Ten meters?"
"What you can do at your current level. Right?"
"Yes."
"Stab consistently to that depth. Then blast. Full power."
Lloyd clenched his fist, then dramatically opened it.
"I'm marking spots calculated for blasting at that depth. But after blasting everything, run back here fast? Or you'll get crushed by falling rocks and go squish, ouch. Got it?"
"...Understood."
Haviel nodded.
Lloyd retreated dozens of meters from the blast site.
He raised both arms toward Haviel.
"Three! Two! One! Fire in the hole!"
He shouted loudly.
A second later, he saw Haviel raise his sword.
Then the guy vanished. Or rather, blurred. Moving at ghostly speed, stabbing the rock repeatedly.
Lloyd clenched his fist watching.
'Please succeed.'
Success would make quarrying a breeze.
Like the revolution in quarries thanks to Alfred Nobel's dynamite. What took dozens of men grunting with chisels, hammers, and levers for a year could now be done in days.
If Haviel played the role of modern blasting explosive like ANFO or Newmite, he could complete the stone ice storage this month.
'That's why I taught him blasting. Please earn your keep!'
Lloyd prayed.
And witnessed it.
Flash!
"...!"
Blinding flashes erupted from spots in the massive granite slab.
Right after, Haviel raced back like a gale.
He arrived in an instant and stopped right in front.
"I'm back."
Clink.
He sheathed his longsword.
At that moment—
Boomf!
A ferocious shockwave and gust roared from the granite zone.
The entire massive slab shattered into dozens of pieces.
It collapsed like a falling giant.
Rumble rumble...!
An overwhelming roar shook the earth.
Lloyd unwittingly gripped his fist tight. He was certain.
"It worked."
All construction prep was finally complete.
Now, it was time to start the real build.
(End of Chapter 34)
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