(EP-176.2) Sand #1
176 – Wind and Sand #1
“Yeah. I heard you’ve been exercising with Elga lately. You’ve been trying to increase your strength or reduce record time, right?”
“That’s right, my lady.”
For the growth of strength and agility, Elga progressively increased the intensity of my training.
The body tended to adapt to resistance and weight, and to avoid plateauing, the intensity of my training needed to be constantly raised.
“The Mana path is the same. It needs increasingly stimulating factors. Theo, the nearby dungeons are no longer enough for you.”
Aira was right. Being a Rank 7 Archmage, she was able to accurately pinpoint the problem that caused my stagnancy.
And I wasn’t that stupid to not grasp her intention. So, I asked.
“Aira-nim is saying that this duel is a good catalyst for my growth?”
“Indeed. Treading between life and death is the true path to growth. The novel says it here~.”
So she was telling me what she read in the novel…
Whether it was about my height earlier or now, it seemed like Aira was deeply immersed in the pleasure of reading, unable to distinguish reality from fiction.
Thus, I lightly advised Aira.
“Aira-nim, the stories in novels are just made-up. You actually don’t believe everything in those scenarios as the truth, right?”
“Indeed, there’re made-up stories. There’s definitely some of that. However, it’s not all lies. If you believe it’s real, it can become real. If you earnestly wish for it, the world will help you.”
‘The world will help you if you earnestly wish for it.’ That sounded like a line from a novel. But come to think of it, maybe Aira was right.
After all, wasn’t I someone who had entered the world of the last novel I read? The stories could be real.
“Theo, it’s not just a story I made up. The great Archmage Solomon is said to have improved his skills through days of dueling.”
“By Archmage Solomon, are you referring to the Demon King Angmar?”
I never expected Aira to bring up a story about the Demon King. So, feeling a bit puzzled and intrigued, I asked, and Aira gestured with her index finger into the air.
“Archmage Solomon and the Demon King are the same yet different. There’s a need to distinguish between the two.”
“I see.”
Before and after corruption, they were treated as separate individuals. It made sense.
And when Aira mentioned that Solomon raised his magic skills by fighting, it felt like there was something about it. Did I also need to fight?
In fact, Professor Balan, who was the Demon King’s follower, also suggested the need to stimulate magic growth through experiences involving fighting and life-or-death situations.
I suddenly wondered.
“Then, did Aira-nim have duels to improve your magic skills?”
“No. I don’t need to do such things.”
“I see, truly remarkable. Then is Queen Aira more powerful than Solomon?”
“Hmm, I’d say I’m wiser. I don’t cling to the impossible task of resurrecting the dead.”
“You mean Solomon’s Nymph.”
“Yes. Solomon delved into various magics to revive the dead Nymph, eventually being consumed by the madness itself. Theo, remember this. Magic is nothing more than a tool.”
“I’ll keep that in mind. But does Aira-nim believe that it’s impossible to use magic to resurrect the dead?”
There was a brief silence. The atmosphere suddenly felt tense. But Aira soon burst into laughter.
“Yes, that is why I am wiser than Solomon.”
Aira was firm. She was indeed a wise queen…
“Ah, and it might get noisier. I got this letter today.”
Seuk.
Aira held out a lavish letter that was on the desk.
It was wrapped in a golden-dusted wrap with luxurious golden sealing. It looked like real gold. Who would be wasting money like this?
However, as soon as I noticed the engraved pattern, I understood.
It was a tiger emblem. And, as far as I knew, there was only one place that used this valiant tiger as their family crest.
“It’s from the Tanak Family-, sent by Prince Kasim.”
“No, it’s now Crown Prince Kasim. After the previous king died, his heir succeeded the throne. He plans to visit Monarch City after the coronation ceremony for an agreement with the church.”
Crown Prince Kasim, the King’s younger brother. I knew that a meeting would eventually happen.
Because he was interested in Aira.
I thought we would naturally meet in Ark, but it got delayed. It appeared that he had to deal with the coronation ceremony back in his home country, Tureuki.
As briefly mentioned before, Tureuki was a small country bordering Angmar.
And the fact that they were ‘bordering’ Angmar, meant that they had enough strength to resist getting absorbed by Angmar.
They were a small but fierce country, like a stinging scorpion or wasp.
In fact, they repelled several invasions of the Demon King Solomon.
Thanks to this, they were overflowing with pride, and their prince, Kasim, asked for Queen Aira’s hand.
Of course, Aira hated it.
“That Kasim… See what he wrote in the letter. I don’t even want to look at his writing.”
“As you wish.”
I tore off the seal and read the elaborate letter. The contents were about wanting to meet Aira and verses of praise.
“He says he wants to meet Queen Aira.”
“Hmm.”
Aira frowned. Then something flashed in my mind.
Kasim was a Rank 5 Mage, with not much difference from me. Wouldn’t my magic skills improve if I fought Kasim first?
So, in a subtle tone, I said to Aira.
“By any chance, this meeting. Could you arrange it for me?”
Edited by: faker
