Book Eater

Chapter 244: Where is This (4)

Theo had declared that he would end the fighting in the Fairy Dance Lee family. However, unlike his aspirations, Theo couldn’t move immediately. He had overworked his circles with an unreasonable summoning spell and then an intercontinental space transfer. If he confronted a proper master, he would be killed instantly. He had to focus on restoring his body for a bit.

Theo set his course of action and focused on sealing the cracks in his wounded body, breathing in the mana of the Baekun Mountains. He looked inward and analyzed his condition.

... It’s a complete wreck in here.

Theo sighed as he diagnosed his torn body.

I can use 5th Circle spells without difficulty, but 6th Circle spells will start burdening my body. It’s completely impossible to use 7th Circle magic. My heart, and my Circles would break.

As Gluttony said, it was fortunate that he had some time to rest. He now had enough time to care for his body and avoid using magic. The Baekun Mountains was a spiritual land filled with mana. Magicians were several times stronger than normal here, and the speed of recovery was incomparably faster. Theo didn’t have any plans of moving.

He had thought he would take two months to recover, but he would be able to recover in just a month if he stayed here. In that case, Theo wouldn’t waste that time.

- As you know, the Moving Clouds and Flowing Water has its foundation in martial arts, but you shouldn’t be caught up in this concept. Clouds can change color, and bring rain or lightning. Water can be more destructive than wildfire. Fairy Dance combines both flow and softness.

If he couldn’t use magic, then he would train in something else. For three hours a day, Theo would work to restore his Circles. Then he would train in Fairy Dance with Lee Yoonsung. He might not be able to use aura, but Lee Yoonsung was this age’s foremost expert on Fairy Dance. An opportunity to learn directly from him was worth a thousand gold.

- Fairy Dance can be divided into four types of hidden techniques.

According to Lee Seol, only two of these hidden techniques had survived to this age. Each of the factions had one, but two factions had let it die out. When Lee Yoonsung learned that, he taught them to Theo.

- 1st?hidden technique, Moon Breaking through the Clouds.

The moonlight shone through the clouds, scattering them with its power. Both arms whipped through the air to create a stealthy and sharp attack. However, what powered it if mana wasn’t used? Theo’s eyes grew foggy as he memorized the theory.

- 2nd?hidden technique, Rain like an Axle.

The scattered clouds would suddenly let a downpour loose. Just like heavy rain from the sky, a swift palm swept quickly in front of Theo. It wasn’t a flood but more like raindrops piercing through a rock. This blow was stiff and heavy. By this time, it had already become a series of continuous attacks.

- 3rd?hidden technique, Fierce Wind and Rain.

This was where the true value of the hidden techniques appeared. Every move in Fairy Dance was connected, and it was only then that they exerted their power. Fierce Wind and Rain would form a gale of wind swirling around the clouds to produce the heavy rain.

Hwiooo

Wind really blew from between Lee Yoonsung’s two palms. Despite not feeling any qi, there was no doubt about the wind’s existence. However, Lee Yoonsung had a look of wonder on his face, as seeing it appear in front of him caused him to feel great pleasure.

Finally, there was the finishing move.

Boundary of Heaven and Earth.

Theo and Lee Seol were looking forward to it, but Lee Yoonsung was uncertain. As he concentrated, the wind passing by stopped and the mountain birds stopped singing.

“... Hrmm, this much is enough.” Lee Yoonsung relaxed.

“Esteemed elder? What is it?” Lee Seol called out to him in a confused manner. Lee Yoonsung smiled bitterly. “You can just call me by name.”

“Elder T-Taodoru?”

“That is a little bit wrong... The pronunciation is hard. Just call me Theo. I am unfamiliar with Eastern forms of respect.”

Lee Seol’s expression showed that she didn’t understand, and she looked down in silent apology. She thought she had been rude to the elder who had come here. Lee Yoonsung treated it casually, but Theo wasn’t used to such formal behavior and his stomach hurt.

When Theo got his body back, he sighed. “Let’s go down. The sun will set soon.”

“Yes, Elder Theo.”

“You can remove the elder.”

The two people chatted casually about what side dishes they were going to eat for dinner as they headed down the path… and about the stars which were only visible from a certain peak on the mountains.

Theo had always been at the center of a battlefield, so this laid-back conversation was pleasant. He wanted to meet a spiritual being, but it seemed like he had to go through some type of procedure or ceremony to meet them.

He would mention it again when it came time to leave the Baekun Mountains. Just when Theo saw the cabin in the distance...

“... Seol.”

“Yes! Eld, no, Sir Theo!”

He ignored the way she called him and asked softly, “Do you have any idea who’s at the cabin right now?”

“Huh? Who... Ah!” Lee Seol belatedly looked at the cabin and shouted with surprise. It didn’t seem to be a face she knew, but her expression wasn’t good. There was another reason why Theo was wary.

An uncanny presence. It is like the intensity of a fire and river... I haven’t felt something like this before.

He didn’t know who the two uninvited guests were, but it wouldn’t be easy if it came to a fight. His super sensitivity gave him an ambiguous warning. It only took a few minutes for Theo and Lee Seol to reach the cabin and meet the uninvited guests.

The first one to speak was not Theo but Lee Seol.

“Why have you come here, Uncle?” Her words only contained the barest veneer of politeness.

The man she called Uncle frowned at her greeting. “You are too rude! You are the keeper of this mountain, not a wild animal. Your uncle has come a long way, but you can’t even say hello?”

Lee Seol responded, “Didn’t you send someone else to greet me just a while ago? I don’t know what type of greeting you want me to give now.”

Lee Seol’s uncle’s eyes narrowed. “That was my last consideration. I was doing you a favor, but you kicked it away. So, I have to come here personally.”

Lee Seol replied coldly, “Favor? It seems the master of the honorable Fairy Dance Lee family lies as easily as he breathes. You can leave if you just came here to speak meaningless lies.”

“Y-You cheeky girl! Yes, then I’ll do what you want!” Lee Seol’s uncle, Lee Inyoung, stepped back.

Then he gestured to the person accompanying him, who looked quite unique. They wore old-fashioned clothing with the pattern of a snake embroidered in gold thread. The oddest part was that it moved over the clothes like it was a living thing.

The clothing was strange, but it was their face that looked more unusual. It was completely covered by black linen.

I can’t see through that cloth. There is a strange spell on it.’

Theo quietly scrutinized them.

Unexpectedly, the gentle voice of a woman came from under the cloth. “Hello everybody. I am a notary from the Imperial Family, who has been commissioned to observe the proceedings of the trial, Shim Samho.”

“Notary?”

Unlike the confused Theo, Lee Seol immediately understood the implications of the words.

“A notary from the Imperial Family! Uncle, are you thinking about a duel trial?”

“Kuhaha, exactly!” Lee Inyoung gave a disgusting laugh. “Even though we aren’t as prominent as we used to be, our family is one of the pillars of the empire. Therefore, His Majesty wants to clear up this internal conflict. You do know that his decisions are final, right?”

Shim Samho inclined her head. “... The preliminary discussion is over.”

Lee Inyoung gloated, “That\'s right. If the notary here professes my victory, the Fairy Dance Lee family will return to being one entity! There is no need to be tied up by the archaic tradition of a keeper for this mountain!”

Theo stepped forward in order to protect Lee Seol. While Lee Inyoung was displeased with his action, Theo emitted the presence which he had been suppressing.

Kuooooh!

Gravity seemed to multiply. Lee Seol couldn’t feel it from behind Theo, but the two people facing Theo could feel the pressure of a 7th Circle magician. Moreover, his body contained quite a few divinities and dragon’s blood, so this pressure was like a mental attack.

“H-Heoook!” Lee Inyoung turned pale despite being an excellent aura user, while the notary didn’t move. No, nobody could see her reaction. Like Theo, she stepped forward, smiling underneath the piece of cloth. She didn’t look like she was affected by his pressure at all.

She is the real danger, not Lee Seol’s uncle.

Theo raised his guard.

She casually opened her mouth, “Calm your anger, guest from a distant place.”

Theo stared at the black cloth on her face. “Before that, I want to hear something from you.”

“Me?”

Theo’s eyes shone as he nodded. “I want to know exactly what a duel trial is and how it relates to this child.”

“Well, it isn’t that hard,” Shim Samho responded to the request before starting to explain.

A duel trial was a law enacted after the emperor’s ascension, and it referred to a duel presided over by a notary of the Imperial court. The Middle Kingdom was a place where all types of armed forces coexisted, so they weren’t allowed to fight indiscriminately. The duel trial was the only means to argue for specific results through force.

Of course, the duel trial wasn’t valid if there was no justification. However, once a conclusion was reached, it couldn’t be challenged.

Shim Samho spoke to Lee Seol, “In this case, Lee Inyoung proposed the unification of the Fairy Dance Lee family as his justification, and the emperor agreed. All other faction members except for Lee Seol have already joined Lee Inyoung’s faction.”

Theo frowned. “... So, this child has to fight those forces alone?”

“Ah, that isn’t it. The goal is to create as fair a trial as possible, so it will be a one-on-one duel.”

Theo scoffed. “How ridiculous.”

Fair? A child of sixteen is facing a giant force alone, and yet it’s considered fair??

However, he was an outsider in this country and couldn’t overturn the laws set by the Imperial court. It was easy to escape with Lee Seol, but that would destroy her efforts of having protected the mountain for all this time.

In order to protect the Baekun Mountains, Lee Inyoung’s ambitions had to be restrained.

It is a situation where I have to achieve both of my objectives.

There was only one option which allowed that.

“Notary, did you say you were Shim Samho?”

“Yes.”

“I will participate in the duel on behalf of this child.”

Shim Samho wasn’t surprised.

However, Lee Inyoung immediately protested, “This is ridiculous! I don’t know who you are, but this is a matter regarding our Fairy Dance Lee family! There is no room for a foreigner to enter a duel trial notarized by the Imperial Court!”

“... Is that right?”

“Yes.”

In response to Theo’s question, Shim Samho nodded. The intervention of uninvolved parties wasn’t permitted in the duel trial. It wasn’t an area where a notary could interfere, since it was something only the emperor could do. Lee Seol’s expression grew grouchy, while Lee Inyoung looked elated, certain of his victory.

Perhaps that was his own delusion.

“Then I will prove my qualifications.”

Before anyone could respond, Theo’s left hand flashed through the air toward Shim Samho.

Pang!

The sharp sound of Theo’s hand cracked through the air. If it landed, it would certainly break bones. However, Shim Samho didn’t show any reaction. She just looked at the palm that had stopped before her.

But Lee Inyoung was flabbergasted. “M-Moon Breaking through the Clouds? H-How can a Westerner have the technique that our family lost…”

That was all he needed. Theo laughed inwardly at Lee Inyong’s reaction and lowered his left hand. If Lee Inyoung hadn’t responded like this, things would’ve become much more troublesome. Lee Inyoung’s greed had become his downfall.

After all, this was a missing hidden technique. Lee Inyoung just admitted it with his own mouth that Theo wasn’t an outsider in this duel trial.

“Hah, so it is like that.” Shim Samho recognized Theo’s intentions and smiled. “You can’t be an outsider if you can use the Fairy Dance Lee family’s hidden technique. As the notary of this duel trial, I recognize your qualifications. What is your name?”

“Theodore Miller.”

“Theodore Miller... Yes, I have recorded it. The trial date will be a fortnight from now. If you have a reason to postpone it, the duel trial can be postponed to a month later.”

Lee Inyoung had been shocked by Theo’s terrifying presence and taken aback even more by Theo’s demonstration, so he was too late in reacting. He felt desperate at the thought of his goal being taken away.

“Notary! He is a shaman! How can a foreign shaman participate in the duel trial that will determine the fate of the Fairy Dance Lee family’s unification?!”

“I have also thought about that.” Theo inwardly laughed as he rebutted, “As Lee Inyoung said, I am a foreigner. I have no claims on this land. So, if I win, they will be given to Lee Seol. Oh, I also won’t use any magic except for strengthening my body during the duel. If I break this condition, it will be my loss.”

Shim Samho chuckled. “Huhu, you are thorough. According to your words, there is no reason to refuse.”

“E-Even so!” Lee Inyoung couldn’t accept it.

Shim Samho slowly turned to face him. She had easily endured Theo’s pressure, and this minor expression of her irritation was enough to quiet Lee Inyoung, who was only an expert.

“Don\'t be mistaken. I’m not organizing this duel to your liking. I just came to notify you of the duel trial. You should stop thinking of your own convenience.”

Lee Inyoung ground his teeth. “Kuuack...”

Shim Samho turned to incline her head politely to Theo. “I will contact you again later with the place and time. Then may the two of you be at peace until our reunion in a fortnight.”