Chapter Title: Black and Falsehood (2)
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Several more weeks passed.
During that time, Kroha's daily routine had continued without any major changes.
He faithfully received Ronne's teachings without fail, endlessly pored over swordsmanship manuals from various families, and trained relentlessly to build his stamina.
It might have seemed like a monotonous grind of tedious, exhausting days, but Kroha brimmed with more enthusiasm than ever.
After all, he was finally training in the Black Domain, the one thing he'd been longing for all this time.
"...As expected, you're definitely a Successor, you lowly creature."
Kroha's room was shrouded in the Abyss.
Kali, lounging in mid-air, spoke softly.
"Successor?"
Kroha, who had been focusing intently on the mana within his body with his eyes gently closed, opened them.
"Yes, a Successor."
It was a term Kroha had never heard before.
But it didn't take long for him to grasp what it meant.
"It refers to lowly creatures who remember their past lives."
At that moment, Kroha barely managed to suppress his body from twitching involuntarily.
He knew there had to be a reason Kali was bringing this up.
And he suspected it was likely tied to her peeking into his memories.
"Don't talk nonsense. Just go to sleep."
Kroha forced himself to stay calm as he replied.
He had no intention of blabbing about his reincarnation. He couldn't be sure, but it might even be connected to why Kali had lost her power.
In the worst case, she might hold a sword to his throat again like when they first met.
Better to keep it hidden as long as he could.
"Well, it might not resonate with you. And take it as a compliment."
"What do you mean by that?"
"...They were all geniuses. Every lowly creature who possessed memories I couldn't see."
Normally, he'd brush it off with a casual "Thanks" and end the conversation there, but Kroha couldn't suppress his curiosity.
"So, you're assuming I remember my past life?"
"No, not quite. I said 'memories,' but... it's more like the will of a past life."
"Will?"
"Don't some fools live obsessively devoted to one thing? That's all the undiluted will from a past life carried through reincarnation."
It sounded like superstition. If Kali hadn't been the one saying it.
The good news was she hadn't figured out he'd actually reincarnated just from mentioning memories.
"Talent, something like that?"
"You could put it that way."
Now that he thought about it, there was some credibility to it.
The continent was full of outliers like Kroha's father, Kun Frontel, the head of a grand ducal house, who achieved realms beyond what a lifetime allowed.
"So why the sudden praise?"
"Ha!"
Kali let out a scoff of disbelief. After a brief pause, she shouted.
"You call that a question? I'm saying this because you've already achieved this much!"
What Kali's finger pointed to was a blue aura dyed pitch black.
It meant Kroha had succeeded in converting part of his mana into the Black Domain and manifesting the Blessing.
To be precise, it was an accomplishment from just four days after starting his training.
"Ah..."
"...Ah? Even with a divine miracle's help, this is something that would take years of wasted effort!"
"That's surprising."
There wasn't much reason for Kroha to act so indifferent.
It had simply been too easy for him.
Naturally occurring mana was something humans shouldn't handle easily by definition.
Unlike mana tamed through a core, natural mana was too wild, hard to control, and inefficient.
'Not for me.'
Of course, his proficiency came from handling it in his past life, and the River skill provided endless mana supply for efficiency.
As a result, manifesting the Black Domain was as natural to Kroha, who was so familiar with natural mana, as breathing.
'She didn't bring up Successor for nothing.'
In a way, Kali had a point.
His quick manifestation of the Blessing was influenced by his past life, after all.
The only difference was that Kroha remembered his past life itself, not just its will.
"Anyway, be grateful for this praise from me! As much as I hate to say it... you really are a genius."
He should be prostrating in thanks.
But Kroha felt pretty good about it. It was as good as recognition of his efforts so far.
Of course, he had no intention of getting complacent.
"What's next?"
Kali had praised him until her mouth went dry, but he hadn't even glimpsed the Black Domain's hidden potentials yet.
"Greedy one... Well, that's what makes it interesting."
The next step was set.
It was touching the realm of creation—the essence of the Black Domain and its potential as truth.
"Now I'll teach you how to create falsehoods. But first..."
Kali trailed off and stared intently at Kroha.
"No more issues, right?"
"Not that."
"...Then why are you staring like that?"
"Manifesting the Blessing was easy, but I think this next part will be quite difficult for you."
Gulp.
Kroha swallowed hard, tension rising.
Kali had watched him closely all this time, so she knew his innate potential well.
If she was warning him this much, there had to be solid grounds for it.
Kroha was confident he could master whatever came next in handling the Black Domain, but something still nagged at him.
"Wait... You think it'll be quite difficult for me?"
It was an incomprehensible statement. Especially since it was aimed at him, Kroha.
"Something like that."
Kali blinked nonchalantly and nodded, then continued.
"Then let me ask: Do you have a clear purpose?"
"You mean why I want to get stronger?"
"Hmm, close enough."
Kroha's purpose had been set from the start.
Revenge against Siek Aintz, who betrayed and crushed his past self.
But he couldn't voice it.
Not only did it not feel like the answer Kali wanted, but he couldn't explain without revealing his past life.
"Your silence means even you don't know for sure."
"But... how does that relate to handling falsehoods?"
"Tsk tsk. Didn't I say falsehood is the potential to become truth? How can you speak of creation without conviction in the truth you want to achieve?"
Understanding Kali's words wasn't hard.
And at the same time, he realized why she'd warned that it would be tough specifically for him.
It echoed what Ronne had said recently.
-A sword's trajectory inevitably has a beginning and end. If you're going to fell an enemy, you need to place a purpose between them.
"Sharpen mana to cut, make it rough to smash, narrow it to pierce..."
Having a clear purpose to reach creation's realm wasn't just plausible talk.
"Ugh, do you have to phrase it like that... Anyway, without purpose, it'll just be something vague."
Kali shuddered at Kroha's signature stiff analogy.
"I get it."
But pondering what kind of person he wanted to become would take some time.
"Think it over carefully. Once you grasp it, the rest will be easy. Then I'll look forward to the falsehood that entertains me."
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'The truth I want to make real...'
Kroha mulled over his persistent dilemma as he walked. Unfortunately, no solid answer had come to mind yet.
The only vague ideas were murky ways to kill Siek.
"What are you pondering so deeply, Young Master?"
Ronne's voice snapped Kroha out of his thoughts.
'Already here?'
A savory smoked aroma tickled his nose. Steam rose from the prepared meal, wafting everywhere.
Family meals were a staple in Kroha's routine.
Until now, he'd been dragged into them by Anet's insistence.
"Oh, I was thinking about that mana application you taught me last time."
"You're always so diligent. But you don't need to worry too much."
"Huh?"
"Your instincts are sharp, Young Master. You'll use it well."
Ronne smiled proudly at him.
"Mother's not here yet?"
"...Ah, it seems Anet will skip dinner again today."
"She must not be feeling well."
It had become more frequent lately.
Anet hadn't shown her face for the same reason. Even though it never happened in the past few years.
Kroha couldn't help but wonder.
He didn't fully buy into her philosophy of ending the day with loved ones, but...
'It bothers me.'
It couldn't be explained by just feeling unwell.
Come to think of it, her complexion had looked off lately.
There had to be a reason Anet, who doted on him so fiercely, was avoiding him like this.
"Can I go check on Mother myself, Ronne?"
Ronne didn't answer right away. He wasn't sure if Anet, wracked with guilt, was ready to face Kroha.
"How about waiting until she's feeling better?"
"Yeah, maybe."
"Anet wouldn't want you worrying, Young Master."
"You're right, Ronne."
"Let's eat before the food gets cold. That's what she'd want."
"Sure."
Kroha sat obediently and began eating alone with Ronne.
They talked some, but the silences that crept in made Anet's empty seat feel all the more real.
Kroha wondered if he'd grown too accustomed to life here.
And even then, he hadn't noticed.
That his own Black Domain was writhing, preparing to create a falsehood.