Cultivation Technique

Gregory was left dumbfounded by Ernest's sudden and aggressive actions. He glanced at his companions for a moment, then spoke cautiously.

"How did you find out, and about what?"

Ernest, who already knew about Walter's illness, could not bring himself to say another word after hearing that.

If Walter's condition were to improve, it was clear that his own reputation would suffer for having failed to address it earlier, even while being at Walter's side.

In truth, Ernest had once warned Gregory in advance, and he had since resolved not to reproach Gregory any further.

This was also something that he could vaguely sense was thanks to Gregory's foresight.

"Did you... do this on purpose?"

Ernest whispered into Gregory's ear. Gregory flashed him a sly smile and played along.

"Isn't it obvious?"

Just as Gregory knew, Ernest loved to be recognized and elevate his honor.

All people feel exhilaration when they are acknowledged and gain prestige.

Since Ernest was especially attached to such recognition and honor, Gregory intended to boost his spirits by crediting these achievements to him.

Gregory's companions looked perplexed, not understanding what was happening, and Gregory soon explained the situation to them.

He stated with a nuance that it was Ernest's suggestion to procure the medicine this time, and thanks to that, Walter was able to survive.

Of course, all the real credit went to Alexander, who blinked in confusion throughout the explanation, but Gregory nudged Alexander's arm, giving him a hint.

"Ah, ah. So that's how it is. I see what you mean."

Ordinarily, alexander would have failed to notice Gregory's intention, but perhaps because he had recently renewed his resolve,

This time, he quickly caught on to Gregory's intent and played along naturally.

"Y-yeah. We could treat him thanks to Ernest."

Though still a bit awkward, it was still something that Alexander was willing to do.

Even though he didn't know exactly what Gregory intended, he quietly went along with it.

Gregory looked at Alexander with quiet satisfaction.

Meanwhile, Elisabeth and Adrian looked up to Ernest, who had predicted Walter's illness and prepared for it, with a sense of reverence.

After all, he was the one who had saved the commander's life and prevented the pillar of the Dawn Knight Order from falling apart.

Gregory diverted the topic to clear up the awkward atmosphere.

"By the way, it's been a while since we all gathered together like this—wasn't the last time back at the ruins in Boriha?"

Adrian looked at Gregory with a wary gaze.

"Don't tell me... not again, right?"

Gregory strode forward as if to ignore his comment.

"Of course not... It's just time for us all to train together again."

"Ah..."

Adrian sighed at Gregory's action but couldn't do much else. He was personally experiencing the rewards of hard work.

He also clearly knew that if Gregory had not been present during that battle with the giant worm, they would have been utterly wiped out.

Gregory had expected Adrian's reaction. However, this time, he wasn't planning just ordinary strength training or swordsmanship practice.

"We'll soon commence cultivation technique training."

By now, his companions would have gained at least a faint understanding of real combat sense.

Subtly, while fighting, they must have touched upon their focal points.

That meant that they were all now capable of rising to the 4-star knight, and especially Ernest had reached the point where he could challenge himself to become a 5-star knight.

"Cultivation technique?"

"R-right now? Isn't it too soon?"

Everyone asked with doubt. Just reaching 3-star knight at their age was an incredible feat.

However, reflecting on Gregory's use of the words 'action' and 'cultivation technique' gave them a somewhat different feeling.

Cultivation technique was originally a method mostly used to raise one's quality of mana.

Gregory had considered all of this.

With their current level of skill and sense, it would be nearly impossible for his companions to truly touch their focal point; for them to become 4-star knights at all was already a near-miracle.

Therefore, Gregory was confident. Having been a Swordmaster in his previous life, he possessed the ability to enlighten others regarding their focal points.

If he helped them control the mana flowing in their bodies, he could not only stimulate their focal points but also provide ample assistance in reaching the rank of a 4-star knight.

"Don't trust me? If you can't believe it, you can stay out. I'm not going to force you. I was just trying to help you."

Alexander answered, full of confidence.

"All right, let's do it!"

He had already chosen the path of the sword and was full of fighting spirit, and Adrian, seeing Alexander's enthusiasm, couldn't bear to lose and revealed his own competitive spirit.

"Ugh...! I can't lose. Then I'll do it too."

It was the same for Brea. She was someone who didn't care about circumstances as long as it meant getting stronger, and although she normally would have whined, she couldn't feel her skills improving just through basic training anymore.

But when Gregory said he could help with cultivation technique, her heart wavered.

Everyone had their doubts about Gregory, but they knew he wasn't someone to make such jokes, so no one refused.

Fundamentally, to help someone's cultivation technique, you had to be a master with skills leagues above the person you were helping.

"If everyone's in, then I'll gladly do it too."

***

Meanwhile, Walter was showing rapid recovery from his illness. In retrospect, it was clear that he had been sick in his previous life as well.

Even then, no one could tell how he made a recovery.

Although the timeline had changed, perhaps his overcoming illness and joining the war was an unchangeable causal event.

In other words, important events could sometimes be resistant to change, no matter what variables intervene; from now on, it would also mean that making future predictions would become even harder.

'Why do I keep having these thoughts, not just once or twice but repeatedly?'

Once is coincidence, twice is just repeated coincidence, but if it happens three times, doesn't that make it fate?

Gregory decided to put aside such deep thoughts for now, needing to focus on cultivation technique first anyway. It wouldn't be too late to think about it later.

Walter looked proudly at Gregory and his companions.

"All right... Since you cured me, I'll let you enjoy the facilities inside the knight order as much as you like for a week."

Gregory and his companions headed toward the newly established facility.

Access was granted only after Walter's permission, so Walter's complete recovery meant even more to them.

This place, surrounded on all sides by stone walls, felt almost like a prison—it had been specially prepared for the purpose of practicing cultivation technique.

If they focused on cultivation technique outdoors, they never knew what could happen.

If they accidentally absorbed all the mana floating in the air and it rampaged out of control, it could damage their bodies.

To avoid such dangers, the permission of the knight order commander was required, and so this facility had been prepared.

Alexander's eyes sparkled as he beheld the grandeur of the facility.

"Amazing...!"

Walter opened the door for them.

Normally, such a task would be reserved for someone with skills commensurate with the position of knight order commander.

Walter had steadfastly trusted Gregory's actions so far.

Therefore, he had resolved only to step in and help personally whenever a truly serious matter arose around them.

"All right, everyone, enter one at a time."

There were several rooms. However, Gregory made his way toward the room he liked best.

After all, without the help of Gregory or Walter, it would be nearly impossible to succeed at cultivation technique.

They would each enter in turn and finish their cultivation technique.

The companions hesitated, glancing at one another to see who would go first.

"Then... should I go first?"

Ernest, full of tension, sidled up to where Gregory was.

Recalling his experience in sparring previously, and judging from the abilities he'd witnessed in Gregory, Ernest believed he was the only one capable of enduring Gregory's cultivation technique training fully.

Amidst the atmosphere of fear, Ernest resolved to muster up his courage and take on the challenge.

"Hoo... All right, let's do this."

Gregory closed the door and began to observe Ernest closely. Helping someone realize their focal point was an intensely demanding task.

Ordinarily, just assisting Ernest would have exhausted Gregory's strength.

But Ernest already had a sense for it.

Before joining the knight order, thanks to Gregory's hint, he had reached 4-star, and his skills had accumulated enough that there was no need to teach him separately about the focal point.

Still, Gregory thought, he could help design the cultivation technique if it looked to be heading in the wrong direction, and Ernest trusted him for it, sitting down.

"Hoo... Well then, shall we begin?"

"Yeah, try it once as if I'm not here."

Ernest took a deep breath right away. It felt as if the surrounding air was being sucked toward him. Gregory kept observing Ernest's actions.

Just like when Gregory first became accustomed to this body, difficulty varied greatly depending on the type of cultivation technique.

As Ernest kept breathing, clear mana began to flow in from the surroundings.

'Good... If he keeps this up, there should be no problems.'

-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=【ദ്ദി(⩌ᴗ⩌)】

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