27. Taeryeong Divine Art (4)
Earth had no shortage of superstitions either, but because mana did not exist there, most superstitions remained nothing more than superstitions.
But the superstitions of Aiter World were a little special. Even if their principles could not be proven magically, their effects were often proven to be real due to the existence of mana.
Ha Taeryeong had actually researched those superstitions and compiled them into a book.
All natural things (自然萬物) are imbued with vital force (正氣), and this is divided into yin (陰) and yang (陽).
Yin and yang oppose one another, yet circulate in harmony to generate infinite energy, and that is what is called 'mana.'
When mages breathe mana, they do not follow the principles of nature. Only their own hearts serve as the center, because they too possess a small vessel of their own.
But the Mana Leakage Body is different.
Rather than using oneself as the standard, one must circulate mana using only nature itself as the standard.
Qi (氣) is broadly divided into five types—wood (木), fire (火), metal (金), water (水), and earth (土)—and these are referred to as the Five Elements (五行).
This one has taken these Five Elements… (rest omitted).
And this and that.
Anyway, the content was telling me to breathe using a very special method in which superstition and magic were all mixed together.
To be honest, I didn't understand it. I keep saying this, but I've never exactly been all that smart.
Still, I was capable of following instructions as written, so I simply repeated the breathing according to the secret manual.
You think it would be easy because it was just breathing?
It was filthy hard and difficult.
Apparently every single breath required you to put force somewhere, imagine something, then release that force on the exhale and savor nature, and—
Anyway, I repeated those motions all day long, over and over again.
I even tried drawing a special formation on the floor, and struck bizarre poses as though I were doing yoga.
I really did every strange thing under the sun.
And so, after staying up all night—
[The skill 'Taeryeong Divine Art' is created.]
At last, the breathing technique was registered as a skill. This sort of thing had happened occasionally back when I was playing the game, but since the world had become reality, this was the first time.
[Skills registered by yourself may be strengthened or weakened at any time through your own research.]
[The skill 'Divine Spirit's Breath' is judged to be a lower skill and is incorporated into 'Taeryeong Divine Art.']
[The skill 'Taeryeong Divine Art' is strengthened.]
[Taeryeong Divine Art]
Breathes according to the principles of Yin-Yang and the Five Elements (陰陽五行), accepting nature into oneself.
When used, the blood mana circulation rate rises, and this value is determined by the user's proficiency. Depending on the environment, attributes of the Five Elements (五行) may be granted to mana. Taeryeong Divine Art also accepts other breaths according to the subtle principles of Yin-Yang and the Five Elements. Divine Spirit's Breath Lv.1
This was the effect of Taeryeong Divine Art.
There was no visibly dramatic increase in stats, but that 'blood mana circulation rate' determined my overall specs and attack power.
How much hell had I gone through until now trying to raise that blood mana circulation rate? No aerobic exercise whatsoever had worked, and apparently there had been a reason for that all along.
It really drove home just how smart the ancestors had been. Yin and yang, the Five Elements—I seriously never could have imagined something like that. How in the world did they come up with it?
Divine Spirit's Breath had been registered as a subordinate skill under Taeryeong Divine Art and mixed into it, and its effects had also increased drastically.
Well, that made sense. Rather than simply exhaling 'Divine Spirit's Breath' in an ordinary way, I was now breathing it through the complex and systematic method of Taeryeong Divine Art.
On top of that, it seemed that Divine Spirit's Breath itself had now gained a tremendous effect that increased blood mana circulation rate, so if I used it at the right moment, it could really produce a huge effect.
Though because of the divine beast affinity issue, frequent use would have to remain taboo.
Anyway, now that I had obtained the skill, I immediately tried using Taeryeong Divine Art.
Of course, it didn't work as simply as shouting, "Taeryeong Divine Art, activate!"
With my current level of concentration, I had to sit still and breathe for quite a while before the effect would barely appear.
[Taeryeong Divine Art]
Only after concentrating for around ten minutes did Taeryeong Divine Art finally activate.
I immediately opened the Mana Leakage Body window to check it.
[Mana Leakage Body Lv.3]
Strength enhanced by 08%(+17%) Agility enhanced by 12%(+29%) Senses enhanced by 20%(+25%) Sixth Sense: Activates by consuming the user's 'mental power.' Moderately detects mana phenomena occurring within a 24m radius, and 'Cognitive Acceleration' is activated.
Automatically activates when it is judged that the user is in danger.
Mana Concentration: Gathers inhaled mana into one place and releases it. Blood Mana Circulation Rate: 3%(+6%)
"Holy shit."
Even though I had only just barely taken my first steps, the stat increase was enormous.
I couldn't stop here. My lungs hurt as though they were tearing apart, tears leaked from my eyes, and cold sweat drenched my whole body, but without stopping, I stood up and activated the Telephon Sword.
[Mana Concentration]
The target was my right hand holding Telephon… and beyond the tip of it, Telephon itself.
In other words, I was trying to grant Mana Concentration to this mana sword.
It was possible. The 'Baek Yuseol' of Aiter World had certainly done it, and as a sword master, he had been a swordsmanship genius who could release sword aura from his bare hands whenever he wanted, even without a mana sword.
Chijijijik…!!
At the very end of the Telephon Sword, the form of a blade flared up roughly, then—like the sun burning its last flame before death—
showed a final blaze and went out with a pop.
"Ghk, cough!"
At the sudden, excruciating sensation that nearly sent my mind reeling, my chest stabbed with pain, and I dropped the Telephon Sword, rolled on the floor, and clutched at my throat.
As expected, it seemed that for now, using Mana Concentration while maintaining focus on Taeryeong Divine Art was still too much for me.
But…
it wasn't impossible.
Just for an instant, the shape of the sword had clearly appeared.
Granted, it required the high-level concentration needed to use Taeryeong Divine Art and Mana Concentration at the same time, but if I kept practicing little by little…
someday, I would be able to use it freely.
There were no shortcuts on the road I walked.
All I could do was honestly keep advancing, following the path left behind by the grateful senior named Ha Taeryeong.
"Haha…"
Maybe because I had overdone it a little, my mind was gradually growing hazy.
Since it was Saturday anyway, it should be fine if I slept a little…
…or at least, that was what I'd thought just five minutes ago.
"What the hell."
When I woke up, it was Sunday evening.
The White Castle, the residence of the Elf King, had long been left empty while Kkotseorin stayed hidden in the Primordial Mountain Range.
From the ancient castle nestled deep in the foothills of the Primordial Mountain Range, it was possible to carry out most royal duties involving the World Tree and the fairies, but there were still quite a few things that could not be handled from there.
In other words, someone to act as the 'king's representative' at the White Castle was absolutely necessary.
The king's aide, the high elf Oranha.
He had been recognized as a high elf at the young age of ten, and with a genius intellect that learned everything quickly, he had studied not only magic, but also politics, diplomacy, alchemy, design, cooking, painting, music, magitech, security and escort work… and so on, across too many fields to even count, earning professional qualifications in every single one of them. He was an elite among elites.
Even though he was only 120 years old this year—a young age by elf standards—there was not a single other person who had shown such a trajectory, so it was only natural that he became the king's representative.
…Of course, people did not know.
That the reason Oranha had become so capable was merely one small step toward becoming Kkotseorin's representative.
If it was for her sake, Oranha would not have minded burning all those qualifications to ash.
"I'm glad you're here."
Kkotseorin said that while serving Oranha tea. Due to the influence of her curse, all outside activity was strictly forbidden for her. Even personally showing herself for the Stella student who had rendered meritorious service was something she had to refrain from as much as possible.
It was dangerous even for someone to hear her voice directly or breathe the same air as her.
But Oranha was safe.
As far as Kkotseorin knew, he was the man with the strongest immunity to her curse of anyone.
Even after she had let him hear her real voice several times like this, his heart had not so much as fluttered.
'Even so, I shouldn't show him my face…'
The reason Oranha had become the king's representative was partly because he was capable, but also because he was the only person who could breathe the same air and hold direct conversations with her.
To her, he served almost like a stabilizer.
For Kkotseorin, who could not meet people or hold conversations, small moments of conversation like this brought joy to her life.
And yet—
did she know?
Oranha had already fallen under Kkotseorin's curse long, long ago.
It had happened because of a very small accident born from Oranha's simple curiosity.
Kkotseorin usually took care of not only food, clothing, and shelter, but even keeping herself clean, all quietly inside the old castle. But on that particular day, the castle's water pipes had completely broken down.
At dawn, on a night where the moon shone full and bright, she had no choice but to secretly go to the lake and bathe.
That day, at the lakeside—
Kkotseorin first removed only her mask, then spent quite some time simply enjoying the feeling of the cool breeze against her face.
Startled!
Then, thinking she had felt a gaze on her from somewhere, she hurriedly rose and went on guard, but fortunately, it turned out to be only a passing wild animal.
Back then, and even now—
Kkotseorin did not know.
That the true owner of that gaze had been the young Oranha, who had heard from the wind that Kkotseorin had gone outside and had come seeking her out just because he wanted to see her even once.
[Sight Beyond]
Thanks to that trait that allowed him to see over great distances, he had recognized Kkotseorin's face at a glance even from afar, and the instant she sensed something, he had swiftly withdrawn, escaping notice.
By sheer chance, it had ended with him secretly stealing a glimpse of her face.
Oranha still remembered that day vividly.
Was it that even the cold moonlit night could not make him look away from Kkotseorin? Her white hair, like the pale-white mountain range, gleamed blue under the chilling light, and eyes that seemed to hold the stars were more beautiful than any celestial body in this world.
From that day onward, there had not been a single moment when he forgot Kkotseorin's face.
Sometimes, she would say to Oranha like a habit:
'If people see my face, they all fall under a curse and die.'
At first, he had not understood what she meant, but now he did.
A curse that made one fall lovesick merely from beholding someone so beautiful.
If that was truly a curse, then he too had certainly fallen under it.
Because there was simply no controlling the heart that pounded so violently in her presence.
But that was fine.
Because the way to cure lovesickness was simple.
Lovesickness was an illness that came when one had fallen in love, but that love could not be fulfilled.
Then if he could only make her his…
would lovesickness no longer be an illness, but instead become that deep, rich love?
A beautiful love that would spend a lifetime gazing at only one person.
'Ordinary methods are useless.'
And yet decades had already passed with him trying to win Kkotseorin's heart.
She had never once looked at him as a man.
Now it seemed there were not many methods left.
Even if the Forest of Fairies were completely tainted by dark magic, that would be fine. Even if the World Tree itself burned to nothing, that would be fine. Even if his entire race were to fall into corruption, that would still be fine.
As long as he could make her look at only him.
As long as he could make her love him…
Oranha was confident he could do anything.
"If you could attend this reward ceremony, that should be enough."
"Yes. It is not difficult."
"Hehe, that's true. Unlike me, you are capable even in public settings, Oranha."
"You flatter me."
What kind of face was hidden behind that mask? He was terribly curious about her smiling expression. He wanted to seize that mask right now and tear it away roughly, to confirm those glittering golden eyes for himself.
"…Are you all right?"
"Ah, it is nothing."
"That's good, then. I'll be taking my leave now."
Already?
There were not many chances in a year when he could be alone with her like this. And yet they already had to part. Unable to let go, Oranha stopped her.
"Do you have some urgent matter that requires your attention?"
"Ah… yes. It's personal. You needn't concern yourself with it."
Kkotseorin answered with a dark expression. In any case, Iphanel had fallen asleep, and the boy's whereabouts had become uncertain, so she had no choice but to return to the White Castle before dawn.
But her thoughts were still tangled.
When would Iphanel wake up?
She wanted to go at the proper time.
And how was she supposed to uncover that boy's identity?
She could hardly use the World Tree's power for a personal matter.
As Kkotseorin's mood sank slightly, Oranha stroked his chin.
'A personal matter, hm.'
Because Oranha was highly sensitive to changes in her emotions and personal affairs, he could guess what it was.
'She is probably searching for the divine spirit killer.'
That, too, was quite an interesting matter to Oranha.
To be honest, he did not care at all whether some divine spirit called Iphanel had died. But if he could only find that divine spirit killer…
would not the gaze she turned toward him contain even a little affection?
Of course, finding the divine spirit killer when even Kkotseorin herself had failed would not be easy.
Shaking off those useless thoughts, Oranha rose from his seat.
Stella Academy, was it? Going all the way to a human magic school was a considerable nuisance, but if it was for Kkotseorin, what could he not do?
"I shall be going, then."
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