Episode. 01 There was a God, but there was no God (3)
The gymnasium was spacious.
At a glance, it boasted an enormous area that seemed to be two or three times the size of a tolerable soccer field.
It was to the point where I wondered if even one or two turns would be enough without my knowledge.
‘Useless thoughts.’
The complacent thought immediately gave up.
I had to run until I could run.
Soon Richard started running along the outskirts.
“Hook, whoop!”
when three laps have been made.
Richard sensed that his own body was of lower quality than he thought.
The heart was full of enthusiasm to the point where it couldn’t be better, but the body was too weak to follow.
Breathing quickly began to become difficult.
I don’t think I’ve been running too much, but I’m already sweating.
His stamina was too weak to inherit Battenberg’s blood.
It was the karma of this body that stayed away from training for years.
‘Not yet.’
five wheels.
My breath went up to the tip of my chin.
The cold morning air went in and out of the lungs to cool the body, but the body nevertheless became infinitely hot.
“Huh… … Kuck!”
My whole body screamed at the sudden overwork.
Arms and legs reciprocated endlessly, delivering pain without rest.
‘yet… … .’
Even so, Richard did not stop running.
‘I haven’t had the sensation I want yet.’
seven laps.
Time passed without a hitch.
From noble mtl dot com
How many times have you run since ten laps?
I forgot to count.
The limbs that had been vigorously shaken were staggering, and I couldn’t even breathe properly, so my mind went blank.
Is this how it feels to run toward an end without promise?
A whisper came from deep within my heart to give up.
Enough for today, why don’t we try again tomorrow?
That’s enough, that’s a good thing.
Instead of answering, Richard gritted his teeth.
It was a temptation not worth answering.
and that moment.
“… … !”
I felt something in my body slip and unravel.
It was a very weak sensation.
However, the results were not weak.
『Some of the mana remaining in the body is absorbed due to the load on the body.』
Words appeared in front of Richard’s eyes.
Some of the mana that was stuck in his body flowed into his heart.
And that wasn’t all.
Another small amount of mana was completely assimilated into the body.
“Hoo-wook, good!”
The running legs stretched out vigorously.
Several of the men watching him widened their eyes.
Richard’s complexion, which had been running as if he was about to collapse, became lively.
It was an insignificant change for ordinary people to notice, but the difference was clearly visible in the eyes of the knights.
“… … Have you arranged your stamina?”
Aaron, who had glanced at Richard pretending not to, spat out a question.
Richard’s figure was reflected in his gaze.
Probably sixteen turns.
This time, he gasped and sobbed again, as if he had run out of his saved stamina.
It seemed to be really limiting now.
Apparently it was.
But that crazy boy showed no signs of stopping.
I’m very tired, but I get my energy back.
Then I’m tired again, and I’m fine again before I know it.
The process was repeated several times.
“Hook, whoop… … !”
Four hours had passed since I started running.
Richard was still running.
A mysterious light shone on the faces of the knights watching the tearful run.
◈ ◈ ◈
“You vehemently refused before, so why did you change your mind now?”
the middle-aged man asked.
Sweat beaded on Gide’s forehead as he stood in front of him.
Feeling overwhelmed, Gide struggled to lift his heavy head.
Our eyes met.
Tightly shut mouth and bitter eyes.
In the middle-aged man’s face, I could see Richard’s figure at first glance.
The head of Battenberg and the continent’s strongest swordsman, Ludwig Battenberg.
He was the master of the best swordsmanship, and was Richard’s father.
“I asked. Why are you trying to return to the 3rd Knights?”
Gide catches his breath at the voice of the housekeeper, which is lowered.
And soon he opened his mouth.
“Because Master Richard wants to change.”
“You want to change?”
The housekeeper furrowed his eyebrows.
“Maybe this old man’s home book. It may just be a vain illusion. However, I would like to give wings to Master Richard.”
Gide did not avoid the gaze of the family head.
“It’s been 16 years since I put down my spear, and I haven’t left Master Richard’s side even once.”
He expressed his will and determination.
“Until now, I have seen hope by your side, and I have seen deep despair. I want to give new hope to the young boy who is trying to stand up again.”
please allow me-
Gaju closed his eyes at the earnest request.
His youngest son’s face flickered in his closed eyes.
To the householder, Richard is a sore finger and now a finger that has been cut in half.
The householder opened his eyes again and saw Gide.
He was well aware of how that gray-haired old knight viewed Richard.
Since he was a person with a lot of affection, he couldn’t have ignored Richard’s efforts.
So, the governor was even more reluctant.
“No.”
It is impossible to lose a loyal subordinate for the sake of one son.
“You should know what kind of mission the 3rd Knights are on today.”
dragon subjugation.
It was a request from the northeast kingdom.
“Of course I know. That’s why I ran like this in one month.”
Puffed up, Gide fell to his knees.
To offer the dragon’s heart, that supreme elixir, to Richard.
“You don’t need the support of Burt Kingdom. Hey, Gide Meyer. The former leader of the 3rd Knights will participate.”
“Don’t say it again. Your participation is not permitted.”
Gaju firmly shook his head.
Even if the dragon to be subjugated was a young dragon, Gide and the 3rd Knights were not the only opponents to do.
Without the support of Burt Kingdom, who had requested subjugation, the 3rd Knights had to endure great damage.
“… … Then there is nothing you can do.”
Gide pulled something out of his chest and held it up.
It was a golden round plaque that ran out of his wrinkled hands.
“He gave me this one day and told me to tell him what I wanted.”
A medal awarded for a knight who served Battenberg throughout his life, and a token of promise.
Seeing the card, the head of the household gradually hardened.
“Looks like now is the time to give this back.”
The determination shone in the old man’s eyes.
“I will burn this old body and subdue the dragon. Please give the dragon heart to the young master.”
Gide was even ready to die.
“… … Are you going to quench it?”
“yes.”
“That old body won’t be able to stand it.”
“It’s just peeling off the rust on the body. I will use it where it will be used as a knight and break it.”
after-
The housekeeper let out a small sigh.
Although he is the overlord who rules the northern continent, it is so difficult to break the old man’s stubbornness.
Perhaps Gide would not even accept Battenberg’s mercy and consideration.
A knight is such a creature.
I don’t think my life is insignificant, but I don’t mind dying for the faith once hardened.
“Reinstatement to the 3rd Knights will not be permitted.”
The housekeeper said in a stern voice.
“If you return now, you will only bring confusion to the Knights. Join the mission as Richard’s butler and Richard’s escort knight.”
◈ ◈ ◈
“Turn off, turn off… … .”
The way back to the sleeping quarters after training was exhausting.
It wasn’t easy to even lift a finger because he overworked his body to the limit.
If the knight who had been watching me throughout my training hadn’t supported me, I might have to crawl back.
As I entered the room and lay down, I remembered the article I was thankful for.
It was he who guided me to the gymnasium, and he was the one who supported me.
However, it turned out that he was Gide’s grandson.
Aaron Meyer.
A talented person who will be called ‘changgwi’ in the future.
“You mean he was him?”
The atmosphere was so different from what I remembered.
There were also no visible scars across the face.
I guess it was before I got hurt.
I thought of him, unlike my grandfather, who was blunt, and looked down at his hands.
His body was worn out from exhaustion, but a deep sense of accomplishment filled his chest.
Like fat, the mana that was embedded in his body was reduced a little bit.
All of this was the result of hard work to the point of discoloration in front of my eyes.
Every time I wanted to give up, I was full of energy, and that alone was a great motivation.
I closed my eyes and tried to feel the energy in my heart.
However, it was unreasonable to sense that speck of mana with mana insensitivity attached.
There was something wriggling in my heart, but it was just a blur, like a haze.
“I can’t do this in this state either.”
I poured my faith into my heart.
『Cures the target’s ‘mana insensitivity’.』
『’Mana insensitivity’ is being alleviated.』
After infusing 50 faith like that, I withdrew my hand.
I used 350 power yesterday and today, but there was no sign that the disease would be cured.
I had no idea how much more faith would be needed in the future.
“Is 650 everything now?”
I didn’t know when and where I would need faith to invest all in the treatment of mana insensitivity.
Furthermore, it would be a waste if he could not be cured even after using all of his faith.
“The best way is to enlist followers.”
This is because Shintoism is the source of faith.
But who would believe the words of the crazy Richard right now?
“Let’s not rush into it.”
He shook his head and brushed off his thoughts.
In any case, I need strength now.
For the time being, I just had to invest time in training in this state.
Then, when the opportunity comes, grab hold of it.
It was when I was holding my heart like that.
smart-
A visitor came in the middle of the night.
Someone did it, it was Gide.
While holding the luggage tightly.
“what. Where do you go to evacuate? I haven’t seen you all day.”
At my words, he smiled kindly. Then he bowed his back.
“young master. There is a mission received from the head of the family. I guess I won’t see you for a while.”
“… … what?”
What is it that makes you want to leave so suddenly?
There was a stern look on his wrinkled face.
“What’s the butler’s job? I’m not even a knight anymore.”
“Whoops. Even a retired article should be used if there is a place to use it.”
There was a sad corner somewhere in the eyes looking at me.
I was embarrassed and scratched my head.
I don’t know what it is, but it seems that a rather heavy mission has been handed down.
“Go carefully. Think about your age.”
“I’m sorry for leaving so quickly. Then take care of yourself. and… … Please don’t stop training.”
Gide said hello and turned his back.
For some reason, I felt strange, so I followed him and escorted him to the front of the Short Swordsman’s Palace.