85. A More Meaningful Life
When Sirius and the Huan King arrived, the situation was already over.
The Wind King’s assassin had already committed suicide, but Sirius grasped the situation after listening to Berdian and Velid’s story.
“Good job, Velid.”
“It was nothing.”
It was a dangerous situation.
There were escorts by Justitia’s side, but they were not enough to deal with the Wind King’s assassin hiding in the crowd.
Berdian, who had the keenest senses, had lost his magical power and had no combat ability.
However, there was Velid.
Velid, who had studied magic at the academy, sensed that someone nearby was trying to use Storm Magic secretly.
So he attacked the culprit with the wooden sword he was holding.
Velid had already practiced the Three Calamities Swordsmanship ten thousand times.
He could wield his sword as naturally as breathing.
As there was no murderous intent, even assassins wouldn’t be able to notice him.
“You’ve already completed ten thousand times?”
“Yes, next is one hundred thousand times?”
Velid’s expression was bright.
This was because he could confirm that his training wasn’t in vain.
Sirius nodded and said.
“Velid.”
“Yes?”
“From now on, let’s also spar with each other.”
“……!”
Velid’s eyes sparkled.
Up until now, he often sparred with Aleion, but he had never sparred with Sirius before.
“I will also use the Three Calamities Swordsmanship.”
“G, good! Let me show you my skills!”
Sirius smiled as he looked at Velid.
He thought that it was good that he had taken this guy in.
* * *
After also having a conversation with Justitia, Sirius went to look for Berdian.
Berdian was examining the assassin’s corpse together with the king.
“We were lucky.”
The king said as he crossed his arms.
“They only sent one assassin to kill Berdian, who lost her magic power. If there were several assassins, it would have been hard to get through safely.”
“That’s right.”
There were many people in the surroundings.
If several assassins had used the Gale Magic at the same time, there would have been great damage.
“After hearing the story and looking over the scene again, if Berdian had tried to dodge, your wife would have been put in danger.”
“Is that so?”
“That’s why Berdian’s response was also delayed. She was able to live because Velid properly charged in.”
Sirius looked at Berdian.
She was hanging her head with an uncomfortable expression.
“Well, it’s not like I was trying to protect your wife.”
“…….”
“My judgment was just slow at that moment.”
Berdian said that and let out a sigh.
“Even if I hadn’t lost my magic power, I wouldn’t have frozen up in front of the Gale King’s assassin, but I feel pathetic.”
“That’s unfortunate.”
“Who’s fault is it that I became like this…….”
“It’s more difficult to escape now that things have turned out this way,” said Hwanwang with his arms crossed as he stood next to Berdian, who was glaring at him.
“Tch…”
“Up until now, we only had to be wary of Yeomje’s subordinates who took over the southern region, but now we have to watch out for the Wind King’s assassins who are roaming freely throughout the continent. So, it’s safer if you just keep following Sirius.”
“Your Highness… It seems you’ve already made up your mind to follow Sir Sirius,” said Berdian with a stiff voice after listening to Hwanwang.
“There’s no point in returning to the Alliance headquarters now.”
“That’s good. You’ll be able to act freely without anyone bothering you.”
“That’s right. I’m not a brainwashed body like you.”
Berdian glared at Hwanwang.
However, Hwanwang’s expression didn’t change.
“You should start coming to your senses, Berdian.”
“Your Highness…”
“You’re loyal to the Poison King as if she were your mother, but to her, you’re just one of many test subjects. If the Poison King really cared about you, she would have already sent her confidants to rescue you.”
“……”
“Come to your senses. The Poison King is just a witch who kidnapped you and experimented on you with all sorts of drugs.”
After saying that, Hwanwang turned his back on Berdian.
“Sirius, I’ll go look around outside one more time. There might still be some of the Wind King’s men left.”
“Yes, please do.”
Once Hwanwang went outside, Sirius and Berdian were left alone.
“Berdian.”
“Yes…”
“Thank you for protecting Justitia.”
“That’s not it.”
Berdian let out a sigh.
“But what’s that story about?”
“What story?”
“I heard it from Lady Justitia. She said something about taking me and mixing some kind of drug…”
“Ah, I see. I haven’t had a chance to talk to you about that yet.”
Sirius had been busy moving around the south.
Just yesterday, he had been visiting various clans with Paltheon to ask for their cooperation.
That’s why he hadn’t had a chance to talk to Berdian calmly.
“Berdian, I’m thinking of creating an organization called the Holy Order soon.”
“The Holy Order?”
The Holy Order was one of the Four Orders that existed in the Murim Alliance.
It was in charge of medical care in the Murim Alliance, treating injured alliance members and producing and distributing healing potions.
Furthermore… it was also in charge of developing and managing elixirs.
“I’m going to make a drug called an ‘Elixir’ there.”
“An Elixir?”
“It’s a special drug that was used a long time ago. You’ve probably never heard of it.”
“Yes, until now not even once……”
“The reason I’ve gained such power is because I consumed that elixir.”
“……!”
Verdian’s eyes opened wide.
“By consuming the elixir, one can obtain the energy known as ‘internal energy.’ All of the power I wield is based on that internal energy.”
“Wait a moment. Then the reason you were searching for the White Ice Flower or the Crimson Flame Grass was……”
“That’s right. Those medicinal herbs act as elixirs in my body, granting me formidable internal energy.”
“Ah……!”
This was the first time this concept was being explained to him in detail.
“However, as you know, for an ordinary person, consuming the White Ice Flower or the Crimson Flame Grass would be life-threatening. That’s why I must develop a safer elixir.”
Therefore, Sirius had asked Justitia to gather various medicinal herbs.
It was to combine the medicinal herbs of this world and develop a more stable elixir.
If they could create an elixir that anyone could consume, they would be able to foster warriors with internal energy.
If they were to pass on the martial arts of the Murim to warriors who had consumed the elixir, it would be a great help in maintaining the order of this world.
However, Sirius could not develop the elixir on his own.
That was because he still did not know much about the medicinal herbs of this world.
“That’s why I need your help, Verdian.”
“To join forces with you…… and develop something called an elixir?”
“Yes, and……”
Sirius said in a calm voice.
“Once the elixir is complete, you will be the first to consume it.”
“……!”
“There’s no need to be surprised. I’ve had that in mind from the beginning.”
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That’s right.
Ever since he had taken Verdian in, Sirius had had this plan in mind.
“Verdian, you’ve lost your magical power. Since the Circle was destroyed, you can no longer use magic. However…… it will be possible for you to cultivate internal energy.”
“……!”
“Learn how to fight using internal energy. I will guide you myself.”
Up until now, Sirius had taught swordsmanship to Aileon, Vellid, and others.
However, he had not been able to teach the martial arts that used internal energy.
After checking in various ways, he had concluded that it was impossible to use both magical power and internal energy at the same time.
However, Verdian had lost his magical power.
So, if he consumed the elixir, he would be able to accumulate internal energy in his dantian.
If Sirius guided him properly, Verdian would be able to become the first warrior in this world to use internal energy.
“Lord Sirius, why? I am from the Alliance, and I have always been defiant toward you……”
“I think I’ve said this several times.”
Sirius said, looking at Verdian, who was fumbling over his words.
“I only wish for you to be rehabilitated.”
“……!”
What is rehabilitation?
To put it into words, it means ‘to live anew’.
Sirius wished for Berdian to live anew.
Just as he himself had died once and lived again.
“Berdian, you have lived as the Poison Monarch’s slave up until now. End that life.”
“……”
“And as a member of the new alliance I shall forge, live again in a brighter world.”
Just as Sirius Canisroot had died as the undefeated White Tiger and began living again as Sirius Canisroot.
Berdian too, would live again.
“You will become the Saint’s Pavilion’s Saint’s Pavilion Master. I will make you a great man, respected by all on the continent, and one whose name will forever be etched in history.”
Sirius spoke, looking straight at Berdian.
“I will let you live a more meaningful life than following the Poison Monarch.”
A more meaningful life.
Hearing those words, Berdian’s expression seemed as though he might burst into tears.
* * *
As Sirius stepped outside, Hwan Wang was standing on the roof of a nearby building.
“Are you done talking?”
“Yes, I am.”
“I see.”
Hwan Wang nodded, gazing to the north.
“The Poison Monarch is a witch-like woman.”
“……”
“She brings in young children and forces them to study poisons. Many of them end up dying from the poison during the process. She even makes them use poison to kill each other. She takes those that survive and makes them her followers.”
His story brought to mind voodoo.
“Even after doing such things, the children are unable to escape from the Poison Monarch. That’s because she brainwashes them into feeling as though she is their mother.”
“……”
“So if you truly wish to save Berdian… You will have no choice but to kill the Poison Monarch.”
Hwan Wang’s voice was filled with complex emotions as he spoke.
“Anyway… there doesn’t seem to be any suspicious characters around.”
Hwan Wang coughed and jumped down from the roof.
“But don’t let your guard down. They’ll send new people after our lives before long.”
“Does the Wind King have many skilled assassins under him?”
“He does. But he’ll send stronger ones next time. Since the ones he sent this time failed to accomplish anything.”
“He must be agonizing over who to send by now.”
“Yes, new assassins will appear before us by the time we enter the West.”
Hwan Wang chuckled.
“Sirius, I guarantee you, our journey through the West will be quite arduous. After all, the West is a far more chaotic place than the East or South.”
Eustia had told him the same thing before.
That because it wasn’t easy to advance into the West, they would need a local guide.
That was why Eustia intended to ask her older sister for help.
As the eldest daughter of the Rigel family, Titania Rigel was currently active in the West.
“Even the Alliance hasn’t been able to fully seize control of the West. The one currently reigning over the West’s dark guilds… is a man named Zephyros, who leads a force called the Obsidian League.”
“Zephyros…”
“He has subjugated many dark guilds and formed a formidable force. They say he boasts that one day, he’ll defeat the Alliance and rule the world.”
As he spoke, Hwanwang chuckled.
“Come to think of it, he sounds a bit like you. What would you do if you met him?”
“What do you mean, what would I do?”
Sirius answered in a cold voice.
“If he seems like the type who could be rehabilitated, I’ll beat him to the point where he’s close to death, but won’t actually kill him. If he seems like the type who can’t be rehabilitated, I’ll beat him to death.”