Namgung Se-ga, the warrior, was reincarnated in Romance

Somehow, word had spread, and even during Tuesday’s advanced swordsmanship class, my close upperclassmen gave me birthday gifts.

Lucilla gave me a small pink rabbit plush, saying it resembled me, and Matt Niko gave me an artifact repair stone, saying it would come in handy someday.

Rubert gave me a necklace with a rocket attached, which was about the size of a thumb, and the inside of the rocket was empty.

“What is this…?”

“It’s a 4-type defense barrier generator. The mana stone is on the back of the rocket, and the defensive spell is engraved inside the rocket with a symbol. You can insert a portrait into this empty space and carry it around. I thought it might be useful…”

“…Thank you.”

It was a meaningful gift.

When I painted a family portrait this winter, I decided to ask for a piece small enough to fit in there.

Knowing that Rubert was well-off, I didn’t question the price and immediately put the necklace on.

Rubert helped fasten the clasp, and I gladly let him do it.

Lucilla and Matt whistled and clapped, which was amusing. Since it had a defensive spell engraved, I thought it would be best to keep it on me at all times.

After seeing me receive gifts, other upperclassmen, who hadn’t realized it was my birthday until then, said they’d do something nice for me instead and promptly lifted me up, throwing me high into the air.

The strength of the martial artists who had reached a high level was incredible, and because I was small and light, I went higher than expected. It was both funny and fun.

After laughing to the point of being out of breath, I was finally set back down on the ground.

* * *

All morning, I had been congratulated by everyone I met, and I felt like my spirit had been drained.

After an especially noisy lunch, I went to meet Douglas and Boulder, as if trying to escape the commotion.

I was so out of it that even when I opened Professor Mustang’s office door, my ears were still ringing.

“Ernhardt Young Master! Look, this time I interpreted the path leading from the collarbone to the arm differently. If you look at this anatomical diagram, last time I followed route A, based on the memories etched in my body, but Professor Douglas used route B.”

“Welcome, Ernhardt Young Master. I’ve heard about you from Professor Sanson.”

“Yo.”

For the first time, Boulder’s voice didn’t sound loud to me.

Ignoring his words, I greeted the two professors briefly. As promised, Maelo Sanson was also present in Mustang’s office.

The three of us watched as Mage Boulder and Douglas Mustang practiced breathing techniques.

Just like before, Mustang succeeded in drawing mana along the meridians, but the energy he gathered failed to settle in the lower abdomen.

Mage Boulder had the same problem.

They took turns practicing in this manner and asked me for advice, but I was just as lost and had no answers to give.

It seemed that I hadn’t grasped the true meaning of the inner cultivation techniques, but that “meaning” was such an abstract concept that I had no way to explain it in simple terms.

If I tried answering with something like, “You need to store the sky, but you’re pulling mana into you instead,” it would likely sound like the ramblings of a madman.

Watching them, Maelo Sanson let out a deep sigh and grabbed Douglas Mustang, asking him several questions. I was sure he wanted me to hear too, but since I didn’t understand about a third of the terms they were using, I could only sit quietly like I was in a magic class.

“Why did you use a mana manipulation method instead of an aura?”

“Last time, I used an aura. Ernhardt Young Master’s energy is closer to swordsmanship than magic, so… but no matter how many times I tried, the energy didn’t gather in the ‘lower abdomen,’ it just scattered. So, I thought I’d try something else.”

“Also, this ‘meridian system’ moves in a way that’s more similar to mana manipulation than an aura. If you look at this diagram…”

Maelo Sanson asked the questions, Douglas Mustang answered, and Mage Boulder added more information. And I listened quietly.

It was fascinating to see the breathing techniques being broken down in this way, as it was the first time I had seen it done like this.

When I was learning cultivation, I studied from conceptual texts, but what they were showing me was a diagram with mathematical symbols added in.

I was worried they were going down the wrong path, but since the anxiety was theirs, I just needed to assist and try explaining the same thing again and again to help.

Thankfully, Mage Boulder had already gathered some material and organized it in an easy-to-understand way, making it easier to explain.

After a while of discussing various topics, Maelo Sanson fell silent in deep thought and then asked:

“…I really didn’t want to ask, but…”

“Yes, Professor.”

“Where on earth did you learn this?”

“…”

It was a question that felt close to a sigh. I hesitated to answer.

I now knew that the two professors had been very considerate and had overlooked many things up until now.

However, I still couldn’t help but feel hesitation in my chest whenever I thought about my past. I didn’t know the reason why I was born on this land.

I always feared that I might make a huge mistake if I spoke carelessly, and this fear kept me firmly rooted in place.

Yet, at the same time, I couldn’t deny that I wanted to tell everything to the two masters I trusted, to feel at ease.

The weight of the secret I kept to myself was heavy, and whenever I felt exhausted, the desire to rely on them rose within me.

I opened my mouth several times, trying to choose the right words, then closed it again, before finally making an effort to speak.

“…I…”

“No, just stop there.”

“Excuse me?”

Before I could say more, Maelo Sanson cut me off firmly.

I was confused, not understanding why. But soon, I realized why he had stopped me. Mage Boulder had clenched his fists, his eyes shining brightly.

He must have been conscious of the fact that someone who didn’t consider my convenience was present.

“I didn’t mean for you to suffer like this. If you feel like talking about it later, you can.”

“But if Ernhardt Young Master shares the origin of his internal cultivation method now, it could be an important key point, right?”

“Mage Boulder, I trust you remember the terms of the contract.”

Fortunately, Professor Douglas Mustang intervened immediately to stop him.

Maelo Sanson sighed deeply, then ruffled his hair with both hands.

At that moment, I was shocked to realize that I had almost blurted out that I had memories from a past life, and it sent a chill down my spine.

The reason I almost revealed it was that I trusted Maelo and Douglas so much.

I had foolishly thought they might be able to help me find the answer to why I was sent to this world.

But now that I was at a loss for words, I was relieved that I hadn’t spoken.

Knowing the future of a living person after death is such a terrifying and eerie thing. It was not something I could easily disclose without preparation.

Still, I didn’t feel bad. The masters of Huajing and those of similar skill were on my side. I felt secure, confident that no harm would come to me.

After all, they were just like young men of my age in my eyes.

I felt relieved to have trustworthy companions.

It was a similar feeling I had when seeing the many heroes gathered under the banner of the Martial Alliance, fighting together during the same era.

A sense of hope, with no guarantee, that everything would be done justly and fairly, filled my lower abdomen with warm energy.

We returned to the topic of breaking down and interpreting the Changgong Great Yuan Divine Technique piece by piece.

It was clear that Maelo Sanson was an outstanding swordsman, skilled at offering different perspectives with ease, unlike Douglas or Boulder.

I wondered if any martial artist from Central Plains had studied how much the amount of energy changes when the time taken to travel a distance of a few seconds in a sword strike fluctuates.

The more we talked about it, the more strange and fascinating it became, and I couldn’t help but express my admiration. Whenever someone spoke, it felt like three people were considering the essence of the words.

After calmly listening to Maelo Sanson’s explanation, Mage Boulder slammed the table with a fierce attitude.

A pile of documents scattered and fell, but since they knew it would be cleaned up by magic, no one paid it much attention.

“But this could be used like an auxiliary power source! In an extreme situation where external mana cannot be drawn, this internal energy would surely be of great help!”

“…When would such a situation ever arise?”

“Well, that…”

“If the mana in the continent ever runs out, the world will end…”

Maelo Sanson and Douglas Mustang alternated in giving negative responses, which made Boulder shrink back.

I felt a chill run down my spine. The idea of the world ending was a combination of words I never imagined.

In the Central Plains, the term “ending” was typically used for villages or families, not entire worlds. The fact that the scope of knowledge these two masters had in their minds was so vast made me feel a bit stiff, so I massaged the back of my neck.

Looking at me, Maelo Sanson added reassuringly.

“However, I think it could still be quite useful for reaching the Sword Master level. The fact that you can already manipulate energy like an extension of your limbs is remarkable, and once you reach the next stage and learn to handle the aura of nature, it should be easier since you’ve practiced it in advance.”

“…Is that so?”

“I’m already looking forward to it. Two of my disciples becoming Grand Sword Masters, that’s incredible.”

It might seem laughable to be discussing Huajing while still far from reaching the pinnacle, but I trusted Maelo Sanson’s judgment. I smiled and nodded.

“Yes. I will do my best.”

When I replied politely, I saw Douglas Mustang nodding with a satisfied smile.

Having two such excellent masters by my side made me feel warm inside, and I couldn’t help but smile.

After a short break, we picked up the scattered reports and made necessary revisions, organizing the schedule.

Mage Boulder confidently claimed he would bring a golem next time, and I couldn’t wait to see it.