Hud stared blankly at the rain of petals and Ashuban, who was smiling and looking at it.

"How..."

It's a sorry story, but Ashuban had absolutely no talent for mana.

He couldn't even feel mana, so it was only natural that he couldn't use it.

And yet, he would practice by swinging his sword whenever he had a chance, saying he would become stronger...

It was pitiful to watch from the side.

So there were many times when I deliberately played pranks and disturbed his training.

Because even if he did, he would only be miserable, and there would be no big change.

If you have no talent for mana, the limit is clear.

It was a similar principle to how a three-year-old child can't beat an adult no matter how hard they try.

No matter how hard you train, how can you catch up when there is such a difference in strength?

Those who cannot handle mana cannot defeat those who can.

That was the principle and law of this world.

But, today.

The fight Ashuban showed was outside of Hudmilla's common sense.

Hudmilla's purple eyes shook as if there was an earthquake.

'How can he become so strong in just half a year? To the point of beating an A-rank magical beast?'

'I still can't feel any mana. How on earth...?'

'What's with the aura that changes color and properties? I've never even heard of it.'

'Was everything Ashuban said true?'

'And what's with the blue flame? And what are the dozens of black spears floating in the sky? Did he learn black magic in the meantime?'

Boris's expression was not much different from hers.

"That crazy bastard..."

He had never seen a fight like this before.

He didn't expect Ashuban to be able to defeat an A-rank magical beast.

Because the platinum rank was the domain of monsters.

He watched with a pounding heart, thinking 'no way, no way', but in the end, he defeated the A-rank magical beast alone.

It was a matter that only made him laugh in disbelief.

"...Who is that guy?"

And, on the city wall.

The soldiers, who had been half-way into the pit of despair, were thinking similar things.

There were very few who could hunt an A-rank magical beast alone.

An honorable knight, a famous magician, a platinum-rank mercenary.

All sorts of speculations were rampant.

"Wow, is he a knight from the kingdom?"

"Was there such a person among the platinum-rank mercenaries? Have you ever seen him?"

"No, it's the first time I've seen such an appearance."

"He might be a knight from a foreign country...!"

"Seeing that he uses magic, he seems to be a magic swordsman?"

"The two-faced magic swordsman?"

"No, he's different. And I heard that he's currently in the north."

Whatever.

Ashuban, who was looking up at the sky fluttering with a rain of petals with a faint smile, began to dance with his sword, blending in with the fluttering petals.

"...."

"...."

Those who were watching him were at a loss for words for a moment and just watched him.

"...He's not a knight."

"Definitely."

***

Suddenly, her words came to mind.

—Do you know why flowers are beautiful?

—What do I know?

—They are beautiful because they will one day wither.

I looked out the window, chewing on the conversation I had with someone a long time ago.

"Because they wither, they are beautiful..."

At that time, I thought it was nonsense, but now I think I understand her words a little.

Why was that kid so mature for a kid?

Charrrr—

The carriage was running along a flat road.

The late autumn fields, turning yellow on both sides, are visible.

I looked out the window and felt the blowing wind, and then I gently let go of the petals I was holding.

The petals fluttered and flew away.

I watched the scene silently...

I started a fight with Boris, who was sitting next to me, diligently scribbling on a document.

"Boris."

"What."

Boris answered without even looking at me.

"Do you know why flowers are beautiful?"

"I don't know."

"They are beautiful because they will one day wither."

"...You crazy bastard."

On the way back to Milestone.

The battle that took place in the field full of flowers ended in Hydra's defeat.

Because I went into its body through its mouth and then went on a rampage inside.

I danced with my sword inside Hydra, and then I finally found its heart and burst it, and then I came out by cutting its stomach.

It was so hard when I was cutting it from the outside, but fortunately, it was easy to cut from the inside, so it was a great relief.

I almost suffocated from the blood that poured out when the heart burst.

After that, I was treated as a hero who saved the city and entered Honeygrove.

People kept their distance and sent applause and cheers.

It must have been because I was covered in Hydra's blood.

Before I was covered in blood, I was also covered in the beast's poison, so the smell was no joke.

Anyway, we were treated as VIPs in the city.

Because we were the heroes who saved the city from the terrifying Hydra.

I washed my body in a good inn provided by the city, received treatment, and was treated to a meal.

And so, after spending a night in a soft bed, I am on my way back to Milestone.

Of course, this spacious and comfortable luxury carriage was also provided by Honeygrove.

In the back of the carriage, there was honey, a specialty of Honeygrove, and hornet wine, which the mayor of Honeygrove had personally gifted.

No wonder the flower field was spread wide in front of the city wall. It was a city that specialized in beekeeping.

Honey is worth its weight in gold, so I hit the jackpot.

I'll go back and share it with our Sherwood members.

And the hornet wine is a liquor aged with the poison of a hornet called 'Giant Hornet', and it's so strong that you have to dilute it with water at a ratio of 100 to 1.

It's at a level where you have to drink a drop of it in a glass of water.

And you shouldn't consume it when you're not in good health.

For reference, the Giant Hornet is a magical beast classified as E-rank as a single individual, but if they form a swarm, they are dangerous creatures that can go up to A-rank depending on the size of the swarm.

Since it's a liquor made with the stingers of such terrifying creatures... a ratio of 100 to 1 doesn't seem excessive.

I should give this to Linda.

Anyway, it was thanks to Linda that I beat Hydra.

"Hmm."

I fiddled with the brilliant, fist-sized magic stone in my hand.

I had pulled it out of the beast's heart.

Hydra's heart was as big as my height, but the magic stone embedded in its center was so small.

This small magic stone was the fuel that moved that huge Hydra.

It means that it's a high-quality mana that is extremely condensed.

At a glance, an unusual energy is overflowing.

"Are you going to sell that?"

Boris asked, glancing at the magic stone in my hand.

"If you're going to sell it, I'll take care of it. There are a lot of guys who would go crazy for an A-rank magic stone. If you put it up for auction, it'll be quite profitable."

I thought for a moment and then shook my head.

"No."

"You're not selling it?"

"Yeah."

"Why?"

"I'm going to keep it and ask Siri to purify it."

"Ah."

I had visited the temple before with several magic stones, including a B-rank magic stone.

To purify it and absorb its energy like an elixir.

Because although the mana of magical beasts is polluted mana, it's still mana from nature.

I entrusted it to a skilled priest at a high price...

It was no good.

More than half of the energy in the magic stone had dissipated.

It wasn't even completely purified.

As someone who knows Siri's purification skills, I couldn't be satisfied.

And in this Maia, it's hard to find elixirs.

It's like all the energy of nature that could become elixirs is being used for the birth of magical beasts.

Therefore, I plan to keep this magic stone and ask Siri to purify it when I find her.

I don't have elixirs, but I have money.

I am the owner of the legacy of Ophosis.

'Siri.'

I put the A-rank magic stone in my pocket and made a promise.

'Wait for me. Sooner or later, I'll find you.'

No matter how much she hides.

A foolish saint who doesn't even believe in God can't escape the eyes of Ashuban Sherwood.

At that moment, I felt a gaze and looked at the other side, and purple eyes were staring at me.

A slightly dazed gaze.

"What are you looking at?"

"Uh, uh?"

"First time seeing a handsome man?"

Hud, as if waking from a dream, was startled and then narrowed her brow.

"...You."

"What."

"You're Ashuban, right?"

I answered in a solemn tone.

"The leader of the New Sherwood, the cute one of Sherwood, the man who was called the Red-Eyed Devil in the lower town, the only disciple of the Heavenly Demon, the second Heavenly Demon. What are you doubting? The one and only being in this world, Ashuban of the Half-Sword. That's me."

"...."

Hud muttered with a listless face.

"It's definitely you... but I can't believe it."

I said with a strict face.

"Believe it. Because I'm the one who didn't stop training to kick your asses from below the cliff."

"...."

Leaving Hud, who was at a loss for words, I poked Boris's shoulder with my elbow, who was flipping through documents.

Boris got angry.

"Ah, what now."

"So? When is the platinum tag coming?"

"Ah, you asshole. Just be still. The platinum tag will take a while to come."

"Huh. Why?"

"The documents to be submitted are twice as many, and the procedure is complicated. And it takes time because the guild headquarters makes it directly."

"Can't you just do it roughly?"

"Do you think the platinum tag is a joke? Just wait patiently."

I looked at the platinum-rank senior.

"How long did it take you?"

Hud scratched her cheek.

A red lizard was on her shoulder.

"Me? I don't know. I think I waited a few weeks."

"Hmm. Really?"

It's hard to wait.

Let's just train hard in the meantime.

That way, time will pass a little faster.

I thought about the ultimate skill I had created this time while returning to Milestone.

A defensive ultimate skill that covers the whole body with the ice art of the Snow Branch Blue Flame Art.

Thanks to that, I didn't burn to death.

Although it was made in an instant and had many shortcomings, if I keep improving it, it will become a very useful ultimate skill.

If I refine it, I'll be able to manifest it not only on my whole body, but also on my forehead, shoulders, palms, and other more detailed parts.

I realized that ultimate skills are not only for attacking.

"Alright."

Then I have to name it...

I'm a man with a talent for naming, so a suitable name came to mind right away.

'Ice Barrier.'

The Heavenly Demon, who had been silent, asked.

[What does that mean?]

"It means a defensive barrier made of ice."

The Heavenly Demon sighed.

[Call it White Snow Cold Curtain.]

Adopted.

And so, the name of the new defensive ultimate skill using ice art was decided as White Snow Cold Curtain.

"Hmm."

I'm satisfied.

I have to refine this ultimate skill through training as well.

Speaking of which, I gently closed my eyes and checked my current martial arts.

The Night Sky Star Moon Art had reached the full moon state.

But I was not neglecting my training and was constantly exploring it through repeated contemplation.

How to use internal energy, how to put it into the sword.

It was the result of accepting the Heavenly Demon's words that there is no end to training.

The lightness skill, the Floating Step, was also being gradually improved through contemplation after being inspired by Hudmilla's storm spirit.

If the level of the lightness skill increases, I will be able to run faster, of course, and my evasion, attack, and the transition between them will become faster and freer like the wind.

And the Snow Branch Blue Flame Art...

"Hmm."

Is it because I created a defensive ultimate skill using ice art? Is it because I kept throwing the blue flame at the cut surface of Hydra?

I felt like my level had risen by one step overnight.

The ice art emitted a colder chill, and the flame art's heat became hotter.

[You've entered the seventh stage.]

The Heavenly Demon affirmed my feeling.

I had originally reached the sixth stage beyond the fifth stage through steady training, but there had been no change for a while, and through this battle, I had risen to the seventh stage.

It seems I'm a man who is strong in real combat.

I immediately checked.

A pure white ice art in one hand, a blue flame in the other.

Saaa— Fwoosh!

Hudmilla's eyes widened, and Boris, who was flipping through documents next to her, was startled.

I ignored Boris, who was spewing curses, and then carefully looked at the chill and the blue flame that had bloomed in both my hands.

"Oh."

Not only had the power of the simple ice art and flame art become stronger, but the level at which I could use the ice art and flame art at the same time had also risen.

In other words, I could now use the ice art and flame art at the same time at the fourth stage level.

That means that the power of the ultimate skill that mixes the two energies and explodes has also become stronger.

A laugh escaped me automatically.

"Hehe."

Ah, I have to name that too.

Well, let's name it next time.

White Snow Cold Curtain is enough for today.

"You crazy bastard, aren't you going to put that away? Are you going to burn all the documents? If you burn this, the platinum tag will be a week late."

"...."

I was scolded by Boris and obediently withdrew the Snow Branch Blue Flame Art.

***

A few days after that.

"...What? A new platinum rank has been born?"

The mercenary guild was turned upside down.

(End of Chapter)