Whoosh! Whoooosh!
A chilling sound of tearing through the wind.
After fitting and securing a 50kg iron ring onto the end of an iron staff, executing movements as if swinging a sword produced a heavy, lethal sound.
Getting hit by that would likely kill a wild boar instantly.
However, this training, which seemed impressive at first glance, possessed a massive flaw.
*Creak, crack!*
It was a training method that left no part of the body intact—wrists, elbows, shoulders, waist, and so on.
The weight of typical swords ranged from 1kg to 1.5kg.
Heavy swords could weigh over 5kg, but excluding those, one generally did not use overly heavy swords.
The reason was simple.
Because a moment of carelessness would wreck the entire body.
One could end up a cripple just by swinging it.
Even if swung slowly, a single slip-up carried an over 90% chance of becoming crippled. Such was this training method.
It was one of the extreme training methods that Lee Han had dubbed the Vajra Indestructible Body Training Method.
“Phew!”
When he first put this training method into practice, he had nearly become a half-cripple for real.
He was initially shocked by the weight, and then realized just how insane it was to swing something like this.
However, Lee Han did not give up; he started with 5kg, gradually increased the weight, and slowly adapted to both the weight and the training.
Now, he had reached a level where he could handle the combined 60kg weight of the iron staff and iron ring.
It was truly a triumph of human will.
…Well.
*Snap.*
“Ah, it snapped again.”
There were times like this when his elbow or wrist gave out.
Full-Body Destruction Exercise.
That was the other name Lee Han had given to this barbaric training.
After immediately consuming a massive amount of nutrients and going through a rest period, his body had finally recovered to some extent.
Bones and muscles recovered quickly, but if tendons or joints were injured, it took over two hours to heal even with a troll's regenerative power.
The only person who had seen this training was Jake, his sole acquaintance in the knight order, and Jake had said,
‘Are you trying to kill yourself? What kind of insane training is this…?’
-He had displayed gestures and a sense of terror that seemed genuinely traumatized.
Was it really that bad?
‘…I suppose it is that extreme.’
Admittedly, even he thought this training method was a bit much at times.
It was a training method that could easily render him a cripple, relying solely on a troll's regenerative power to pull it off.
However, the reason he needed to continue this training despite the risks was that it visibly strengthened his muscles, bones, and overall physique.
For instance, take that bastard Yordan he fought the day before.
To deal with a guy who freely wielded flashy and swift sword qi, it was necessary to deflect or parry the attacks with a sword, but Lee Han lacked such refined skills.
He simply blocked them through brute force.
Yet, even when taking the attacks head-on, Lee Han not only took no damage, but his hands did not even tremble.
What could be the reason for this?
‘It means this training has paid off.’
It meant that no matter what heavy attack came his way, his muscles and bones had become so resilient and hard that they completely dispersed the shock.
A body where his entire form might as well have been a bulletproof vest.
In fact, during a recent spar with Baltar, whereas he previously could not endure even ten strikes, he could now withstand twenty.
It was nothing short of a groundbreaking achievement...
“Achievement my ass... I'm still getting beat up.”
Stretching his now somewhat recovered body, Lee Han scowled deeply.
Just recalling Baltar, who still displayed an overwhelming gap in their strength, made his temper flare.
What was it he said?
[Oh ho, you have become a bouncier sandbag. Commendable fellow. Are you doing this just to let Me savor the feel of striking you? Haha.]
If that was not mockery, then what was?
Monster of an old man...!
“Should I gradually increase the weight?”
Should he increase the weight of the iron staff, or perhaps increase the duration of his other training methods?
His contemplation deepened.
He still could not picture himself defeating that old man.
However, if there was even one thing where he could surpass that old man, there was a chance he could land a significant blow.
Endurance.
If his already strong endurance became even stronger, if he could take a hit without his entire body giving out and charge in to the very end, then at least he could land one strike...!
“Oops!”
*Thud.*
“…….”
“Hehe, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to get in the way, but I fell.”
“...Are you sure your knee—or rather, your face—is alright, Miss Maid?”
“Hehe, yes, I'm fine, Sir Knight. Fortunately, my body is sturdy. I've even been hit by a mace before and came out perfectly fine, hehe.”
“...Ah, I see.”
...Where should he even begin questioning this?
Should he be concerned about the part hit by the mace, or should he ask for the secret to surviving such a blow?
Lee Han made a conflicted expression as he looked at the uninvited guest he had unintentionally taken in.
*
*
*
The day before, Crown Princess Isis had spoken.
She had a request, though calling it a request was merely a formality; it was practically an order.
However, Lee Han.
“I refuse. Do you have any idea how hard I work to avoid getting entangled with nobles like you? Why would I want to get involved with you, Sister?”
“...How cold. There are countless men who would lay down their lives for a mere ‘request’ from Me.”
“Then ask those people. I have no intention of offering my life.”
An attitude that was not merely cold, but outright insolent.
Yet Lee Han was resolute, displaying a rare, unyielding coldness.
“You've used me once, and that's enough. It's not like you see me as anything more than a hunting dog.”
This was a warning.
A warning not to take him lightly, even if the other party was the heir to the throne, and even if she had powerful figures swarming around her.
What was the reason Lee Han sought to become stronger?
To never bow down, and to never live as he did in his past life.
“Sister—no, Crown Princess Your Highness. If you consider me a dog to be used rather than your sworn brother, then you have come to the wrong person. I am someone who wants to quit being a knight, or whatever else, this very moment. The only reason I follow you now is because I fear your power and our shared connection. But if you cross the ‘line,’ I will not care about power or connections. I will smash it all to pieces, so you had best understand that.”
“…….”
He was sincere, and this was his resolve to fight, even at the cost of his life.
Sensing this, Isis's elegant brow twitched in irritation.
“Stubborn fool. There is nothing you dare not say to your elder sister.”
“A sister should act like one.”
“...Do you find it so pleasing to defeat a woman with words?”
“I abhor sexism. Gender equality is wonderful, yes indeed.”
“...Insolent brat.”
In the end, the first to lose her nerve was Isis.
Born with extraordinary talents, she had lived for nearly forty years as one who reigned above others, accumulating years of experience.
It was rare to find someone who acted so impudently in front of her.
...Still.
“Indeed, a man should possess at least that much backbone.”
“...?”
For some reason, she seemed to be admiring Lee Han.
“A knight is one who does not bow to power, but fights those in power to walk the righteous path. It is a splendid stance, truly befitting of My sworn brother, haha.”
“...Was this some sort of test?”
“Of course.”
“…….”
“Do not look at Me like that. In My position, one must always test others, even if the other party is not a sworn brother, but a blood relative or a limb.”
“...You really live a tiresome life.”
“It is the destiny of a monarch.”
Isis had just tested Lee Han.
If Lee Han had simply accepted Isis's request—no, her command—she would have been disappointed in him.
She would have viewed him as a lowly sycophant kissing up to power.
Of course, even if he were branded as a lowly sycophant, she would not have abandoned Lee Han.
As Lee Han had just said, she would have made him a hunting dog and used him thoroughly.
A hunting dog to be boiled once the hares were hunted.
‘What a frightening vixen.’
“Stop looking at Me with such hostility. My ears are itching.”
“I said beauty, beauty. It's a compliment for a beautiful woman.”
“Well, from where I'm standing, I feel like the word ‘crazy’ belongs right in the middle of that.”
“You're imagining things, imagining things.”
“Shameless brat.”
Even though he had openly insulted a member of the royal family, Isis did not reprimand him.
One who sought to live as a monarch had to brush off the criticism and contempt of the people as lightly as breathing.
Even so.
*Flick.*
“A knight must never insult a lady, you rascal.”
“Nice wrist snap.”
A flick of this severity was acceptable for a sworn brother.
Isis's expression was undeniably stern, yet somewhere within it, she wore the softest expression he had seen from her all day.
“—Then I shall say it again. This is not a command, but truly merely a [suggestion], and I would very much like for you to accept it.”
“...I'll at least hear you out.”
The request continued once more.
Knowing that this was not a command, Lee Han decided to listen obediently.
For this woman to bend her pride was equivalent to making an Italian admit that pineapple pizza was the greatest pizza.
It was only common sense to humor her to some extent.
“You said there were two requests, but in a way, the commissions I have for you share a similar aspect.”
*Thwack.*
“...Why is tomorrow's newspaper here?”
“It is the power of authority.”
“Honestly, people in power.”
*Swish.*
Lee Han unfolded the newspaper she handed him.
His action of unfolding and reading it without asking any further questions was exactly to Isis's liking.
There was nothing more detestable than a tactless fool.
In this regard, he was certainly tactful and far from foolish.
Before long, Lee Han paused at a certain page of the newspaper.
It was clearly news that should have made the front page in large print, yet it was relegated to the tenth page.
He pointed at the page where the royal family's influence had evidently been exerted.
“...Is the request you mentioned earlier related to this young lady or this arrogant-looking young master?”
“Why do you think that?”
“Because they are the only ones in a position that would make it difficult for you to touch them.”
“Accurate. However, to correct you, if I truly wished for it, I could sever their heads at any time. It would merely become a little troublesome.”
“Yes, yes, how mighty of you.”
*Flick!*
The fan struck his crown like a spark, but Lee Han remained unfazed.
If he could take a hit from an Aura User and walk away fine, would a mere fan hurt?
Instead, he read the newspaper and murmured their names.
“Irene Windler, Roen Dimitri de Lionel.”
Irene Windler was a beautiful 19-year-old mage lady of commoner origins, but she was a prodigy who had recently enrolled at the top of the Academy's Department of Magic, and it was said that Duke Galahad had additionally announced her adoption.
The kid named Roen or whatever was the youngest son of the Grand Duke Lionel family, known as the King of the North, but as he was an illegitimate child, his chances of succession were extremely low, and he had recently enrolled at the top of the Academy's Department of Swordsmanship.
Although they were part of Pendragon, Duke Galahad and Grand Duke Lionel maintained an extremely hostile relationship with the royal family.
Yet their adopted daughter and illegitimate son had not only entered the capital, the heart of Pendragon, but had even enrolled in the Academy.
This was massive news enough to shake the capital.
Seeing as it did not make the front page of the newspaper, it likely meant the royal family was disapproving of them.
Sure enough.
“If it were up to My heart, I would simply want them dead.”
“...As far as I know, both Galahad and Lionel have blood ties to the royal family, don't they?”
“They would be My cousins, or second cousins.”
“And you want to kill people like that?”
“If I asked, would you do it?”
“...No.”
“Hmph, what a pity.”
...Vixen.
*Flick.*
He had insulted her once again, and the fan struck his crown.