Chapter 73: Rewards and Punishments (2)

“I believe it’s fine now. The effects of the holy water seem to have manifested well.”

“That’s a relief.”

At the healer’s words, Instructor Andreas let out a breath of relief.

Among the cadets admitted to the infirmary, the very last one to remain bedridden was none other than Carl.

His injuries had been so severe on the surface that everyone worried about possible aftereffects, but thanks to the highest-grade holy water specially procured from the temple, all wounds and contamination were purified.

“With Cadet Carl as the last, everything’s finished. We can finally breathe easy.”

“Instructor Andreas, about the lecture attendance…”

“Don’t worry. Since it was an accident that occurred during practical training, it won’t affect your grades or attendance.”

Instructor Andreas looked at Carl with a kindly expression.

He understood Carl’s desire to maintain his top theoretical score.

With the points he had earned so far, Carl could easily maintain his first place in theory, just as in the entrance exam.

The midterms were scheduled soon, but Andreas believed Carl would have no trouble keeping up.

“I’ve taken care of all the minor arrangements, so you can return to classes starting tomorrow. You don’t need extra preparation time or anything, do you?”

“One day is enough. More than that, how is the situation on the other side?”

“In Bayern, fifteen cadets died. A tragic loss… though with some places having lost more than fifty people in one blow, perhaps we should be thankful it wasn’t worse.”

Instructor Andreas exhaled sharply and shook his head.

Fifteen dead on Bayern’s side.

That was no small number, yet there were places where over fifty people had been swept away and annihilated at once.

If they had been regular cadets, it might have been easier to overlook, but when the deceased were from noble or well-known families, it became a serious headache.

Not only the Imperial Army that had conducted the Erendal subjugation, but the Academy itself also had to bear responsibility, and there was significant political pressure from the government.

“There will be a three-day mourning period, so Cadet Carl, keep that in mind as well.”

“……Understood.”

Carl nodded.

From the entrance exam to the Erendal subjugation, it felt like a major incident occurred with every important event.

Just as Andreas was about to leave with a word for Carl to rest well, he stopped mid-step as if recalling something he had forgotten.

“Oh, by the way—have you heard? The Order of Knights decided to award a medal to you and your brother.”

“A medal? This is the first I’ve heard of it.”

Carl’s eyes widened.

“Well, I only heard about it right before coming here. You know the Raging Flame Knight Order, right? The one your eldest brother Carius joined.”

“Yes, I know.”

“They unanimously decided that you and Darius’ spirit of self-sacrifice is a model of chivalry.”

“I see.”

“Originally, your eldest brother Carius was also to receive one, but his independent actions became an issue.”

“……”

Carl closed his mouth and nodded.

Even if it was to save them, he had half-abandoned his post in the knight order to act on his own.

While he upheld the knight’s spirit, such actions went against the order’s regulations, so it seemed they had struck a balance between reward and punishment.

“Well, they’ll explain the details themselves. In any case, wrap things up and get discharged.”

With that, Instructor Andreas left.

Carl proceeded with his discharge and left the infirmary in perfect health.

“Hm.”

It was during lecture hours, so few people were walking around the campus.

While others were diligently attending class, he alone strolled leisurely, which made his body itch with restlessness.

‘I should loosen up my body a bit.’

Using treatment as an excuse, he had been lying in bed for five days.

It wasn’t as if his body had grown weak, but he wanted to move with strength for the first time in a while.

Carl immediately rented the training hall, changed into simple clothes, and stood at its center.

If he went to a lecture hall now, he would only attract people’s attention, which would be bothersome.

Tomorrow would be soon enough for that.

Shaa—

As he lightly circulated the Bright Heaven Divine Art, a cool chill flowed through his entire body.

True to its righteous nature, the Bright Heaven Divine Art had the ability to calm both mind and body.

Standing in the middle of the training hall, Carl closed his eyes and recalled the battle in Erendal Forest.

‘Matthias was quite a troublesome opponent. Even though he was armed with unorthodox techniques, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say he honed them to the extreme and formed his own school.’

Perhaps that was how he could hold the position of one of the Seven Wings of the kingdom.

Carl had only experienced his quick-draw and formless sword techniques firsthand, and he was curious what else the man might be hiding.

‘Did they awaken Matthias knowing who he was?’

The forces that had distorted the space of the forest and awakened Matthias—

What exactly had been their goal?

“Hoo…”

Exhaling a short breath, Carl began to slowly move his arms and legs to loosen up his body.

He did not use internal energy.

Purely to check his physical condition, he extended his hands and feet, moving with nothing but his body.

Like stretching, he moved slowly, taking various martial stances.

“……”

Then a thought struck him.

Matthias had said he formed his formless sword from his imagination and will.

Carl lowered the hands he had raised toward the sky and walked toward a small stone lying in the corner of the training hall.

“Hup.”

He formed the image in his mind and infused it with will.

But only the sound of air escaping his lips came out—nothing happened.

Once more, he calmed himself and extended both hands toward the stone.

Tak!

…Of course, just like before, not even the slightest breeze stirred, let alone forming a formless sword.

“So it doesn’t come that easily.”

Carl clicked his tongue in mild disappointment.

Thinking it was akin to the heart-sword and might hinder his martial arts training, he had refused when Matthias offered to teach it.

Now, he slightly regretted not accepting when offered.

Whik.

This time, he lightly flicked his hand while channeling internal energy.

The stone on the training hall floor floated up and rose into the air.

But this was simply object manipulation using internal energy, not the concept of a formless sword guided by image or intent.

Throwing a sword with object manipulation was like sword-throwing techniques, not controlling the sword.

Crunch.

Clenching his fist, the intact stone crumbled into powder.

Carl brushed his hands lightly and clicked his tongue inwardly.

He wasn’t even producing sword energy yet—what talk was there of a formless sword?

Step by step, steadily.

There were no shortcuts in mastering martial arts.

Even if there was, it was a situation where he should ignore it and move on—yet here he was, letting his attention drift to side matters.

“...I’ll have to raise my realm quickly.”

Carl shook his head.

In the first place, mastery of martial arts and a martial artist’s realm were closely related.

While it was best to raise them in balance, the balance between the Primordial Unity Divine Art and the other two divine arts had led him to a realization.

‘Once one side is raised, the other tends to follow naturally.’

The Bright Heaven Divine Art was a good example.

As a righteous art, its progress had been slow, but when the Heavenly Demon Divine Art advanced, the Bright Heaven Divine Art deepened naturally alongside it.

The Primordial Unity Divine Art also grew naturally under the influence of the other two.

Tak.

After warming up to a certain degree, Carl sat cross-legged in the center of the training hall.

Exhaling a long, thin breath to calm body and mind, he observed inwardly and reestablished his martial arts.

There were many ways to advance to a higher realm.

One could redefine one’s martial arts to forge a new path, pursue enlightenment through accumulated insights, or follow the natural principles of a given martial art to ascend.

Carl chose to redefine his martial arts and forcibly knock on the wall ahead.

It was a path he had already walked once, and his original self’s realm had been far higher than now, making it a viable method.

…However, he hit an unexpected obstacle.

‘Is it because of the difference in martial arts I’ve learned?’

The Unkillable Mu-ak had only mastered killing sword techniques designed purely to slay the opponent.

With single-minded focus on killing and being killed, there had been no need to think of anything else.

That might have been why they suited him so well at the time.

But the martial arts Carl had now were different.

The Heavenly Demon Divine Art, the Bright Heaven Divine Art, and the Primordial Unity Divine Art.

Each held its own belief, foundation, and direction.

‘If I force it, I could probably do it…’

But with martial arts on the level of divine techniques, even Carl couldn’t easily predict what problems might arise.

It seemed he needed time to calmly adjust and redefine them.

In short, it wasn’t possible right now, so he opened his eyes and exhaled.

Beep.

Coincidentally, at that exact moment, a message arrived via the Archive.

Laysis: Where are you? I went to your room, but they said you were already discharged.

During the five days he’d been hospitalized, aside from Yuria and Amy, the one who had visited most often was Laysis—who had apparently gone to his room again.

Carl quickly moved his fingers to reply.

After being scolded once by Yuria, he had sought Luna’s advice and practiced typing.

Now, he could proudly say his skill and speed were on par with Yuria’s.

I’m at the training hall.

Laysis: Are you doing rehabilitation exercises? Should I help?

“Hm.”

Carl rubbed his chin.

He had planned to loosen up alone at leisure, but having a partner didn’t sound bad either.

So he sent back an affirmative reply, and after a short wait, the training hall door creaked open as Laysis poked her head inside.

Like a true friend, she appeared much like Yuria did when she visited.

She soon spotted Carl in the center of the hall, smiled, and walked in with quick steps.

“Carl, are you all better now?”

“I’ve been declared fully healed. They said I can resume classes starting tomorrow.”

“Still, you shouldn’t overdo it. Sit down for a moment. I’m confident in joint-relaxation massage. You must be stiff after lying in bed, so let me work you over a bit.”

“…Haha, that’s all right. I’ve already loosened up.”

Carl declined gently.

He had, on occasion, seen Laysis give “massages” to Yuria or other cadets.

In Yuria’s case, she had twisted her body in agony, eyes nearly popping out.

The effect seemed undeniable, but from Carl’s perspective, it looked more like someone being dislocated bone by bone.

Not wanting to voluntarily undergo such torture, he refused, and Laysis clicked her tongue with a disappointed look.

“Rather than that, I’d like to request a light spar.”

“That works for me.”

Accepting the practice sword Carl handed over, Laysis put some distance between them and faced him.

“By the way, what happened with that thing?”

“What thing?”

“The sword form you said Instructor Frahan was going to teach you.”

“It got delayed because of the actual combat, but we’ll set a date again soon. Don’t worry, you’ll be the first I show it to.”

Laysis gave Carl a playful wink as she spoke.

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