Chapter 141

Chapter 141. Interlude – Descendant of the Iron Fist (4)

After successfully completing the ruins exploration, our party stayed at Berald’s house to monitor Gilbert’s condition and digest the insights gained from the ruins exploration during the remaining summer vacation.

“Alright, let’s start, Dale.”


“Anytime.”

Yuren, holding his sword, stared at me intently. Yuren’s Holy Mark glowed, and an overwhelming amount of magic power surged out. I let out a small sigh as I watched him.

‘Why does it feel like it increases every time I see him?’

While there are individual differences, generally, the rate at which magic power increases slows down drastically after reaching a certain level. Initially, one only needs to fill the ‘vessel’ called the Holy Mark with magic power, but after filling the vessel, the process of expanding the vessel itself must accompany it. However, Yuren’s vessel seemed infinite, as his magic power increased significantly with each duel.

‘Seeing this, it really feels like the gods are unfair.’

Of course, it’s not my place to say.

“Haap!”

With a clear shout, Yuren kicked off the ground. The silver aura (he doesn’t adjust the aura color during our duels) beautifully adorned the air. The graceful sword strikes were so mesmerizing that admiration flowed naturally.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

The sound of our swords clashing echoed.

“Ugh…”

A groan escaped my lips. After this ruins exploration, Yuren hadn’t just increased his magic power.

‘His swordsmanship has become sharper and more precise.’

Of course, Yuren’s swordsmanship was already unparalleled in my past life, but now it felt like he had taken a step… no, several steps further.

‘And…’

I narrowly opened my eyes as I parried Yuren’s fierce sword strikes. I had thought about it briefly while watching him defeat the Guardian in the ruins, but now, clashing swords directly, I was certain.

‘Yuren’s swordsmanship has changed from my past life.’

To be precise, the form of the ‘Sun Sword’ Yuren was using had changed. Similar to how I reconstructed the Sun Sword to suit me after wandering the continent alone for thousands of years in my past life, Yuren was now transforming the Sun Sword created by Reynaldo Helios to suit himself.

‘Yuren didn’t do that before.’

Yuren had perfectly replicated the swordsmanship left by Reynaldo Helios, as if he were his reincarnation. Without any alteration. Without a hint of change. As if he had to do so. He imitated the ‘Sun’s Sword.’

But.

‘It’s different now.’

Yuren no longer imitated Reynaldo. Of course, the remnants of Reynaldo’s influence were still deeply embedded in his swordsmanship due to what he had learned so far. But as time passed, Reynaldo’s influence was gradually fading, and Yuren… no, ‘Yurina Helios’s’ sword was emerging.

‘If this continues… the Sun Sword 8th Form might become a completely different swordsmanship.’

Just as I created the Ash Fire Sword based on the Sun Sword, Yuren might create a new swordsmanship I’ve never seen before.

“…Huh.”

A chuckle escaped me. The thrill of facing a true ‘genius’ sent shivers down my spine.

“Huh? What’s wrong, Dale?”

Yuren stopped mid-duel, observing my reaction. I smiled faintly and shook my head as if it were nothing. While praise can make even a whale dance, excessive praise can be poisonous.

‘Here.’

Yuren’s growth was so remarkable that it reminded me why he was called a genius.

‘But I think pushing him a bit more would be better…!’

He still wasn’t at the level to bridge the gap with me.

Clang! Clang!

“Kyaa…! D-Dale, you…! That’s unfair!”

Yuren glared at me as I suddenly rushed in and swung my sword. But his panic was short-lived. Yuren, seemingly enjoying the duel too much, smiled brightly and swung his sword back.

“Phew.”


“Haa, haa…”

As Yuren and I were drenched in sweat under the hot summer sun.

“Both of you, take a break~.”

Iris arrived with two glasses of iced coffee, ice cubes floating in them.

“Ah, thanks, Iris.”


“I’ll enjoy it.”

Yuren and I paused our duel and drank the iced coffee.

“Here, use this towel to wipe your sweat.”


“…Iris.”

After the iced coffee, even a dry towel. The Saintess’s thoughtful care filled me with indescribable gratitude.

“Hmph.”

For some reason, Yuren looked quite dissatisfied.

“Thanks.”

After wiping our sweat, Yuren and I handed the towel back to her.

“Mr. Berald will be down soon, so I’ll leave so as not to disturb your training…”


“Wait.”

Yuren grabbed Iris’s shoulder as she turned to return to the mansion. Yuren peeked into the inner pocket of her priestess robe and narrowed his eyes.

“Why did you only put the towel Dale used in your inner pocket?”


“…Tch.”

Iris’s gentle eyes momentarily turned fierce. But only for a moment, as she smiled sweetly and answered Yuren’s question.

“Dale has a bit of a strong scent, so I was going to wash it separately.”


“If that’s the reason, I’ll wash it. It’s sweat from sparring with me.”


“Oh my~ There’s no need for that. You’ve been so busy focusing on training lately, haven’t you?”

The two, each holding a towel used to wipe my sweat, smiled brightly. Though their mouths smiled, their eyes did not, as their conversation continued.

“Iris, you’re not exactly idle either. Recently, you’ve been training that… ‘Seven Eyes,’ right?”


“Hehe. But it’s nothing compared to you, Yuren, who moves your body directly.”


“No. These things aren’t just about what’s visible.”


“But you can’t chase what’s invisible, can you?”

Their gazes crossed.

“……”


“……”

After an awkward silence.

“Eek! Give it back!”


“Not until you tell me what you’re going to do with it!”

Iris and Yuren argued like children fighting over a toy.

“……”

As I pondered how to intervene.

“Brother! Are you done training with Yuren?!”

Berald roughly opened the mansion door and walked out into the yard.

“Ah, yeah. We’re taking a break.”


“Hoho. Then, can you spar with me next?”


“Of course.”

Since I had decided to focus on helping my comrades grow during this summer vacation, there was no reason to avoid sparring.

‘It’s not like it’s no help to me either.’

As the old Republic saying goes, ‘Teaching benefits the teacher.’

Sparring with Yuren, Berald, and Camila provided valuable experience that contributed to my growth. Especially in situations like now, where I couldn’t fully control my newly gained power.

“Hoho! Great!”

Berald clenched his bandaged fists and let out a strong breath.

“Are you planning to keep wearing those dirty bandages?”


“Hehe. It’s a legacy my ancestor left for his descendants.”

Berald smiled and flexed his bandaged hand.

“And it’s quite effective, you know.”


“Effective, you say?”

No matter how you looked at it, it was just a dirty piece of cloth.

“Hmm… How should I put it… It feels like my fists are a bit lighter?”


“Isn’t that just because it’s a legacy of the Iron Fist?”


“Hehe. Maybe. But it doesn’t feel bad, so why not use it?”


“True.”

If he likes it, there’s no reason for others to criticize.

“Alright, let’s begin!”

Berald shouted as he gathered his magic power. I sheathed my sword and gestured with my hand.

“Let’s see if you live up to the name of the Iron Fist’s descendant.”


“Hahaha! Great!”

Berald laughed heartily and kicked off the ground. A deep earthen aura erupted from his fists.

Boom! Crash! Rumble!

The sound of fists clashing, unimaginable, echoed across the wide yard.

‘Berald’s movements have improved a lot.’

Though it was a pity he lost a powerful artifact, Berald’s personal growth was remarkable, to say the least.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

Perhaps because I had heard Gilbert’s story, Berald’s fierce punches reminded me of the ‘Iron Fist.’

‘By the way, he’s really something.’

To think he fought a Devil God with just those worn-out bandages wrapped around his fists. It made me realize once again how incredible the Iron Fist Ryujinseong was.

‘At that level, a powerful artifact becomes a necessity, not a choice.’

While there’s a saying that a craftsman doesn’t blame his tools, it doesn’t apply to heroes. The stronger a hero’s power, the more a weapon that can withstand that power becomes a necessity.

‘Otherwise, just pouring magic power into it would make it explode.’

Of course, it’s possible to enhance a weapon’s durability with magic power, but focusing on that is a loss. It’s more efficient to use a sword made of iron than to pour magic power into a wooden branch to make it as strong as iron.

‘Well, the Iron Fist fights with fists, not swords.’

But considering that Reynaldo Helios, the Sun’s Sword, used the legendary sword ‘Dawn,’ and Baek Seunghyeok, the Divine Spear, used the powerful artifact ‘Dragon Slayer Spear,’ the Iron Fist was indeed an exceptional existence.

‘He said such weapons didn’t suit him…’

Recalling the Iron Fist’s words, I smiled faintly.

‘There’s so much to learn from him.’

Though I don’t agree with his thoughts, I can acknowledge his conviction. A hero who fought the Devil God believing solely in his own fists. A true ‘martial artist.’ No matter how different our thoughts, I couldn’t belittle such a great martial artist.

“Huff, huff…!”

As the spar continued, Berald’s breathing grew rougher.

“Shall we end it soon?”


“No! I can still go on!”

Berald clenched his fists tightly and charged at me.

‘As expected, his tenacity is incredible.’

Thinking that the title ‘Descendant of the Iron Fist’ was well-deserved, I prepared to parry Berald’s punch when…

Whoooosh!

A bright light enveloped his fists, and the stained bandages turned black.

“…Huh?”

Golden letters appeared on the now pitch-black bandages. The words, written in the ancient Republic’s language, read:

‘Heavenly Destruction Asura Fist Armor…?’

What’s that?

Booooom!

Before I could finish my thought, Berald’s punch sent me flying, smashing through the mansion’s wall.

“Cough, cough…!”

I spat blood and looked at the black gauntlet wrapped around Berald’s fist.

“Damn… this Iron Fist bastard…”

Did he mean that such weapons didn’t suit him because he had something better?