To put it bluntly, the plan to stomp Vlad into obedience was a failure.

The more we trampled him, the more violently he lashed back, like weeds growing thicker the harder you cut them.

At last, when his scarlet aura flared, threatening to spiral out of control, I had no choice but to admit my method was wrong.

Come to think of it, Vlad had never truly yielded to me either, no matter how much I beat him down. The only time he’d quieted was after being pummeled by the Heavenly Demon.

And well… if I got pummeled by him, I’d be meek too. Hardly something I could argue with.

“...”

We sat across from each other with the troublesome blade lying between us.

Fluffy glared at it for a long while, then asked solemnly.

“Have you no other method?”

“There is… though it’s not much different.”

“What is it?”

Honestly, it wasn’t so much a new approach as a variation. Still involved beating the thing senseless—only this time you grabbed it by the hair and dragged it out of hiding before you did.

More direct. More satisfying to the fists. But that was about it.

With no other option, I decided to try.

The first step was teaching Fluffy the basics of circulation.

Not the full, orthodox art of drawing energy into the dantian and flowing it through the meridians—that would take too long—but the general concept.

Qi replaced by mana. The principle was the same.

I dubbed it Mana Circulation Breathing.

“Sir Fluffy.”

“I’m listening.”

I’d meant to correct his posture, but he was already sitting straighter than any textbook knight—no advice needed.

Truly, he was a knight among knights.

“Close your eyes. Focus.”

“Mhm.”

“Empty your mind. Breathe slow, steady. Sink inward. Deeper… and deeper.”

“Huuu…”

The model student entered meditation with startling ease.

As expected from the man who’d already suppressed Vlad once—his concentration was remarkable.

[Breathing and meditation differ little,] the Heavenly Demon’s voice echoed. Meditation is communion with the inner self. The province of those with firm will.]

So he said.

“In that state, move your… mana. Let it flow through your body, slow and even.”

“...”

“Stillness to movement. Not just in battle. Water stagnates and rots, but a flowing stream stays pure. So must your mana circulate—through every limb and vein.”

I felt the current stir within him, clean and bright, winding through his frame.

“Mm.”

It seemed more abundant than when I last checked. Had he grown through sheer training—or because of that time I kicked him in the groin? Unclear.

Regardless, he dove deeper into circulation with frightening focus.

Seeing that, I turned to the two gawkers beside us.

“Oi. You two, join in.”

“...”

Apparently they’d been itching to anyway. Shushruta folded into a calm pose at once; Linda mimicked him without complaint.

I shut my own eyes and sank lightly, not deep—just enough to steady my breath and spread my senses toward Fluffy.

The world of sight faded. A world of currents and pulses unfolded.

There he was—his whole form outlined in radiant mana.

‘Oh-ho.’

Closer study showed his mana coiled around his heart like a serpent. Unlike qi, which gathered below the navel in the dantian.

As his circulation quickened, his aura began to leak outward in waves.

[That’s qi resonance,] the Heavenly Demon remarked.

‘Qi resonance?’

[Every cultivator emits a unique wave. Different arts leave different imprints. These knights, it seems, are much the same.]

‘I see.’

[From that resonance, you can roughly gauge one’s level—though some can hide it.]

I remembered those who’d mocked me for having “no mana.” Likely they’d sensed nothing because I truly had none. Meanwhile, I could feel their waves, but they could never sense mine.

‘Truly, martial arts are cheating.’

Chest swelling with pride, I observed him more closely. His flow surged faster, resonance growing stronger.

Vlad rumbled uneasily.

“Enough.”

At my word, the mana slowed and stilled.

“Sir Fluffy. Move it now—from the heart to the shoulder.”

The current trickled outward, following my words.

“Good. Shoulder to elbow. Elbow to palm.”

It obeyed, settling smoothly into his hand.

I lifted Vlad and pressed it into his grip. The blade growled like a chained beast.

“Now, channel it into the sword. Drag the thing out. Pull it into your mind, or wrestle with it there if you prefer.”

Scarlet aura erupted, the sword trembling as if to break free. For a moment it bucked wildly—then subsided.

I opened my eyes.

Around Fluffy shimmered a faint red haze.

His breathing was calm, his face serene—focused, but distant, as if lost in thought.

There was no fear of frenzy in that expression.

“It’s working.”

My part was finished. The rest lay with him. Whether he beat Vlad bloody inside his mind or outside—his fight, not mine.

I glanced at the spectators.

Shushruta sat so still she almost seemed to fade into shadow. Linda, on the other hand, was doodling on the floor with a finger.

“...”

Well. At least she was quiet. That was worth praise.

Watching Shushruta, I noticed the air around her dim a little.

I remembered what they’d said—that light had poured from me while I cultivated.

‘So the aura differs for each person…’

I was lost in thought when—

“Lord Ashuban.”

“—Ah, damn it!”

Startled, I turned.

Not far off, Walpole sat cross-legged, one eye open, staring at me.

He held my gaze calmly.

“Why so jumpy?”

Clutching my chest, I asked, “When did you get here?”

“Earlier.”

Apparently, while I was immersed in sensing Fluffy’s flow, he’d slipped in unnoticed.

I had spread out my Super Sense, but instead of casting it wide and thin, I focused it narrowly and precisely, projecting it solely onto Fluffy. All my attention was fixed on him.

Taking advantage of my blind spot, Walpole slipped in brazenly and spoke.

“Anyway, please take a look. Am I doing this right?”

He closed the one eye he had slightly opened and began to stir his mana, circulating it through his body.

His movements were surprisingly adept.

Is this really his first time? Why is he so good at it?

Walpole opened his eyes and asked, “Well? Is this correct?”

“…Yeah.”

So geniuses really are built different.

He looks about the same age as me too.

Damn geniuses.

For a moment, jealousy tried to rise in me. But I had the talent of the Heavenly Demon, his martial arts, and above all, the guidance of the Heavenly Demon himself. So I quickly crushed that useless emotion and added some praise.

“As expected of the hope of our Starvanger Knights. A talent so great it makes other knights despair. Sir Walpole, splendid—truly splendid. At this rate you’ll soon catch up to Sir Curtis.”

Walpole beamed.

“Thank you.”

“Ashuban. Why don’t you praise me too?”

I turned my head and saw Shushruta, who had paused her energy cultivation, staring at me.

Right, this girl was also a genius.

Damn geniuses, coming in pairs…

Once again, I smashed down my rising jealousy and forced out praise.

“Of course, you’re our alley cat. An alley cat who practices energy cultivation—never heard of such a thing before.”

“Heh.”

Shushruta chuckled through her nose and closed her eyes again, resuming her practice.

“What about me, demon?”

Linda, who had been tracing little drawings into the plush carpet with her finger, looked up at me.

I answered curtly.

“You? What about you?”

“Praise me too!”

“And what exactly have you done to deserve praise?”

“…Hmph.”

Linda lowered her head, sulking, and went back to doodling on the carpet.

“Hm.”

I folded my arms and glanced around at them.

What I had taught Sir Fluffy as a method to communicate more deeply with Vlad was energy cultivation. But honestly, I had no idea what benefits these others would gain from practicing it.

After all, Qi and mana are different, just as martial arts and their aura are not the same.

I watched them a while longer, absorbed in their training…

That’s when I noticed Walpole finishing his cultivation, exhaling a long breath. I turned my gaze toward him.

He blinked and said,

“Strange… I feel like my mind is clearer. My body too—it feels lighter.”

I watched him flex and unclench his fists, then asked,

“Really? Does it feel effective?”

“Yes. It’s like I could take flight. Ah, so that’s why you tried to fly out of the carriage earlier.”

I nodded gravely.

“Something like that.”

Walpole grinned, clearly pleased to have picked up scraps from me.

“To think such a training method existed. I’m truly glad I followed you.”

Well, even scavenging scraps takes ability.

I decided to value Walpole’s hunger for strength.

I nodded thoughtfully and asked, “Will you be joining the decisive battle too?”

“No. If I went out, it would only bring disgrace.”

So humble on top of everything.

Is this even fair? Maybe exceptional people really are just different.

I grumbled inwardly, then remembered Walpole being thrashed by the Captain earlier.

“Speaking of which.”

“Yes?”

“How many participants will each side be fielding?”

Walpole smacked his forehead.

“Ah, I nearly forgot again. Let me explain right away.”

He began listing off the knights from the First Prince’s camp, one after another.

But I didn’t recognize a single name, so I just nodded absently.

When the list passed twenty names or so, I tilted my head.

“Didn’t you say ten participants?”

“Yes. But the exact lineup is only revealed on the day of the match. I only named those with the highest likelihood.”

“I see.”

Both sides would, of course, try their best to discover the other’s lineup—and just as hard to conceal their own.

I erased the names I’d just heard from my mind. No point remembering them. Better to see for myself on the day.

“And the Black Prince’s side?”

“As you know, Lord Ashuban, the Captain, and Sir Roetgel here will participate.”

I said with dignity,

“Sir Fluffy is correct. Call him Fluffy.”

Walpole glanced uneasily at Fluffy, who was clutching Vlad.

“He doesn’t seem to like being called that.”

“No, that’s just on the surface. Deep down, he loves it. I know.”

“…Really?”

“Of course. Look—he hasn’t even objected.”

Truth was, he hadn’t heard a thing, too busy negotiating with Vlad. But I pressed Walpole to use the name anyway.

Because Fluffy is Fluffy.

In the end, Walpole accepted it.

“Very well. Lord Ashuban, the Captain, and Sir Fluffy will participate.”

“And?”

“From the Black Tiger Knights, Sir Smith and Sir Max will also join.”

“Hm.”

Sir Smith must be that huge knight always stuck like glue to the Black Prince…

As for Sir Max, the name rang familiar—probably someone I’d spoken with once or twice. Perhaps when the master of the Demon Sword was being chosen.

I’d remember once I saw him.

So that made five: myself, Captain Ashley, Sir Fluffy, Sir Smith, and Sir Max.

“And the other five?”

“The remaining five were personally chosen by His Highness in advance. They’ve been waiting here for the summons…”

He listed their names one by one, but again, I didn’t know any of them.

So I discarded those from my memory too.

In short—

The First Prince’s lineup was unknown.

Our side: myself, Sir Fluffy, the Captain, Smith, Max, and five others.

“And the strategy the Captain mentioned earlier?”

“Ah, I’ll explain that as well.”

(End of Chapter)

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