Chapter Title: Progenitor Humans (3)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Days had passed since Luke Frontel came looking for Kroha, and since Kali had appeared.
"The ways to utilize mana are endless. Moreover, Frontel swordsmanship sticks to the formless style, making it especially versatile in application."
A lesson on mana application for Kroha was underway at the training ground on Thorn Hill.
"A sword's trajectory inevitably has a beginning and an end. If you're going to cut down an enemy, you need to think about what purpose to embed in that space between."
With a concise explanation, mana rippled in Ronne's hand.
"And that's where mana comes in."
Soon, Ronne channeled mana into the stick he held and lightly swung it toward the training dummy across from him.
Crack-.
A clean scar was left on the struck dummy.
"What I just showed you is one common application: to slash an opponent, release mana from your body's core..."
"Young master?"
Ronne cautiously called out to Kroha, who showed no reaction.
He would normally respond eagerly with a barrage of questions, but Kroha was struggling to focus.
"Ah, sorry, Ronne. I heard everything."
Kroha belatedly opened his mouth and flashed a smile.
'Lady Anet must be worried.'
It wasn't just about a momentary lapse in concentration. This state had persisted for the past few weeks.
'His health is fine.'
Kroha's progress was advancing by leaps and bounds day by day, and the mana he emanated was incomparably refined.
Among his peers, there was no one comparable—he was certain of it.
Even knowing this, Ronne couldn't help worrying because the change in Kroha's behavior had started at a specific point.
'It might be the aftermath of suddenly facing a harsh reality he couldn't handle.'
The turning point was after Luke Frontel visited Thorn Hill.
From Ronne's perspective, he had no choice but to assume it stemmed from that.
That was also why he hadn't pried into the power Kroha was hiding. It didn't feel like the right time.
"Anyway, Ronne, can you teach me other applications too?"
"Of course."
However, contrary to Ronne's concerns, the reason Kroha couldn't focus was something else entirely.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
"You're back sooner than expected, you lowly thing."
The first thing he saw upon opening the door was long hair dangling down.
It belonged to Kali, hanging upside down in the air like a bat, greeting Kroha.
It was a sight that would startle most people, but for Kroha, it had become routine.
"Did you bring what this body asked for?"
"Here."
What Kroha pulled from his pocket was a pouch of cherries. Kali's eyes sparkled brighter than ever as she took it.
He had no idea what she planned to use them for, but to make that face over mere cherries... She was an utterly incomprehensible creature.
She complained about overly formal speech feeling cringeworthy, got bored when alone, and seemed no different from an ordinary human at a glance.
"Mmm, tangy and sweet! Cherries are truly the best for this body."
Kali popped one of the cherries Kroha had brought into her mouth, her face lighting up with satisfaction.
He hadn't expected her to want them purely to eat.
"This body has nothing for you."
"I never asked."
"Acting all aloof—listen up while you're at it. Unlike those idle gods playing around, this body places great importance on appetite."
It was utterly baffling.
Not why a Progenitor Human like Kali had such vivid desires, but how she could be so nonchalant about everything.
"More importantly, I told you not to pull pranks like this."
Kroha gestured for Kali to come down.
Progenitor Humans inspired awe simply by existing. There was no need to hide her like this.
But Kroha being of Frontel blood made it plenty problematic.
The Frontels, branded a dangerous group, had even been stripped of their sacred relics.
"What if Ronne sees you?"
If word got out that they were associating with an unverified Progenitor Human, it would draw unwanted attention to the Frontels again.
Especially since Kali was supposed to be with the Aintz Family, who held her relic.
"As if that would happen. Didn't this body say that if she wanted, no one could find her?"
Kali clicked her tongue and landed gracefully in front of Kroha.
It wasn't entirely trustworthy, but he knew it wasn't empty bravado. Kali was exceptionally skilled at concealing her presence.
Though it wasn't the stealth typical of assassins.
He suspected it was some kind of authority granted by her Blessing.
"...You're going to bury your nose in that boring thing again right after getting back?"
Kali scowled at Kroha, who had promptly sat in a chair and opened a book.
"Boring? This is plenty interesting."
"This body was strong without needing such things."
"I need it all."
Though he said that, it might not actually be necessary for him.
What Kroha read diligently every time were texts on swordsmanship dismissed as derivative at best.
Yet he persisted with this seemingly pointless study to maintain broad thinking.
'On the battlefield, what decides the game is flexible responses and deep understanding.'
That was the same reason he diligently took lessons from Ronne.
"Don't you have something more entertaining? Something to alleviate this body's boredom... What are you looking at?"
Kali backed away, seemingly burdened by Kroha's direct stare.
It had been quite some time since Kali first manifested here.
Kroha had seen it as an opportunity back then, but...
Now he couldn't help thinking it might have been a misjudgment.
"When are you going to teach me how to handle the Blessing, anyway?"
Kali's behavior in the meantime had been far too laid-back.
On sunny days, she'd laze around napping; otherwise, she'd pull bizarre pranks at random.
Where had the dignified Progenitor Human gone?
"Always nagging. You need to learn some leisure in life, you lowly thing."
"What does that even...?"
"Sigh, such a bore. No wonder you're obsessed with useless stuff."
Kali clicked her tongue with a sigh.
Kroha was the one who wanted to sigh.
'Leisure in life, my foot.'
He had no time to waste.
Surpassing his Frontel brothers and gathering enough power to make the Empire his enemy was challenge enough.
Achieving higher realms in this new body wouldn't be smooth sailing.
'And yet she won't help...'
Kali clearly needed Kroha too.
Of that, he was certain. If not, she'd have vanished long ago.
Her staying meant she couldn't—or shouldn't—leave him.
So the logical step was to develop him quickly for future gains.
Then why drag it out like this...?
"You don't actually know, do you?"
It could only be explained by her not knowing how to handle Blessings herself.
Kali, mid-chew on a cherry, flinched and pounded her chest as if choking.
"What are you... cough, cough!"
"You really don't?"
"Do you think this body is some fool? Cough! I'll find a solution soon enough!"
"Exactly. You don't know."
He'd suspected as much, but to think she was stalling for that reason.
Kali hesitated a moment, then muttered softly under her breath.
"But... what am I supposed to do when this body's relic isn't here!"
"Relic?"
"Yes, to wield a Blessing, lowly things like you need a relic."
It didn't sound like an excuse to dodge the issue. It was perfectly convincing.
Kroha's case was special; normally, summoning a Progenitor Human without a relic as the medium was impossible.
All the contractors he'd seen in his past life had been like that.
'In a way, it's only natural.'
However, it left one part unexplained for Kroha.
"You said I was the vessel before. That's how you could manifest like this."
"This body doesn't understand that either. Do you think relics exist for no reason?"
"So what's the problem?"
"How much do you know about Blessings?"
"...The power that sustains the continent's foundations?"
"Ugh, that's not what I meant. Must you always pick the most boring phrasing?"
Her reaction was understandable.
Kroha's definition of a Blessing sounded like it came straight from an academy textbook.
"...Well, it's not entirely wrong. A Blessing is the qualification to wield those foundations you mentioned."
That much was common knowledge.
Like Karon Ascensio, who contracted with the Progenitor of Frost, Arie, to wield Ice Flowers; Bellona Ark, who with the Progenitor of Sand and Iron, Nert, commanded the eternal seasons; and Kun Frontel, who through his pact with the Progenitor of Fire, Rashi, handled Crimson Flame.
The Blessings manifested by such famed powerhouses were all elements dubbed the continent's foundations.
'Ah, Siek... him too.'
He'd recently read about Siek in the news bulletins.
Siek Aintz, contracted with the Progenitor of Radiance, Lumilon, could now wield White Light.
"Do you know that all those continental foundations you mentioned originate from mana?"
"I know that much."
"That's the issue. Lowly things like you can only handle processed mana."
Kali seemed to be referring to the concept of the core.
A core gradually condensed incoming external mana in the dantian, taming it to suit one's body.
And that's when Kroha sensed something had always been off.
"So to manifest a Blessing, you need mana that's not artificially processed... but natural mana?"
"Exactly."
"Hold on. That's not the whole problem, is it?"
"What could be worse? Without pure mana straight from nature, you can't manifest a Blessing..."
"So relics solve that issue?"
"Stop interrupting! Anyway, I'll find a solution, so quit nagging..."
"No need."
"I said stop—wait, how do you..."
Kali blinked in undisguised shock.
She recognized the rising blue mana as anything but ordinary.
"Now teach me. How to wield the Blessing."
Kroha said, lips curling into a smile.