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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Kiteretsu]
[Proofreader - Kyros]
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Chapter 168
At the entrance of the Gray Temple, Gailgron was resting, leaning against a tree.
With a somewhat exhausted expression, he blinked slowly and absentmindedly rolled his eyes to look at Ian, who was standing still.
"Do you have something to say?"
"Not particularly, but you seem very tired."
"Do I?"
"It's unusual for you to be this quiet. Would you like something to eat?"
Ian moved his fingers as if performing a trick, and in an instant, a high-calorie energy bar appeared in his palm.
Gailgron let out a small laugh as he looked at it.
"I'm good. You should eat it. That stuff tastes awful."
"Would it be better if it had some fruit flavor added?"
"That'd make it even worse. Just thinking about it is dreadful. I might end up hating fruit altogether. When a person eats a meal, it should be proper food. Even if you have to hunt, you should at least eat real meat. But that? That’s not food. It has no taste. It’s a crime against enjoying life. At least, that’s how I see it."
"But you still have to eat, don’t you? Shouldn’t a Hero, of all people, keep these close? They may be called emergency rations, but they’re practically everyday necessities."
"Hmm. Ugh, I hate to admit it, but you're not wrong."
Technically, as long as one had enough mana, eating wasn’t necessary. Any caloric deficiency could be supplemented with mana.
However, mana wasn’t an all-powerful solution, and relying solely on it wasn’t advisable.
In the long run, it could negatively impact one's health, so it was best to eat at least a little when possible.
The reason such tasteless products sold well was because there was a clear demand for them.
"And besides, why would you eat that after coming all this way?"
"…Huh?"
"If we stop by the nearby city, there’ll be plenty of delicious food. Haha. Honestly, one of the reasons I rushed here from so far away was because of that. Damn, just thinking about it is making me drool."
Watching Gailgron smack his lips, Ian withdrew his outstretched hand.
"So you’re not eating it?"
"You go ahead. Soon enough, you won’t be able to live without it. Huh? What's with that face? What? Surprised? You reached a higher rank—did you think I wouldn’t notice? Your mana is extremely unstable right now. It’s rough—just like how people are when they first reach Level 6. You might think you're managing it well, but you're not."
Without warning, Gailgron began offering advice. Ian, caught off guard, listened carefully.
"Try to feel your mana. It’s different from before, isn’t it? The total amount must have surged."
"What should I do?"
"What else? You have to suppress it. This is happening because the dam you've built isn’t high enough. You need to raise it higher. It’s simple—don’t overthink it. There, you’re getting the hang of it. Just like that."
"Hmm. It still feels a bit awkward."
"That’s normal at first. You’ll get used to it soon. Your mana capacity has increased, but it's also become much purer, so your techniques will be significantly stronger. You should be feeling all sorts of changes—not just in your body, but in your mind as well."
That wasn’t the case. Ian had already possessed spiritual clarity since his regression.
But there was no need to reveal that, so he simply nodded.
"…Hm? Wait a second. When we last met, weren’t you Level 5? No, actually… you weren’t even Level 5 yet, were you?"
"I think so."
Gailgron’s expression subtly shifted. He seemed to be calculating something in his head, but the result must have been unbelievable, as he kept doubting it.
It was understandable.
"…Something’s not right. Wasn’t our last meeting not that long ago?"
"What’s your definition of ‘not that long ago’?"
"A year?"
"A little less, actually. Oh, saying it like that makes me sound kind of amazing, doesn’t it?"
"…Your growth rate is insane. This is nearly at the level of a Hero. And you managed to reach a higher rank in such a short time… without even receiving a blessing?"
"In many ways, luck has been on my side."
It wasn't humility—he truly meant it.
The biggest factor was the spirituality he had obtained before the regression.
The star that shone brightly in his mental imagery always provided a firm mental barrier whenever he became entangled with the Outer Sea.
Without it, there had been multiple instances where he might have suffered mental corruption, just like the Paladins in the Gray Temple.
Even after that, every time he achieved a significant feat, he received appropriate support, allowing for rapid growth.
Though misfortune followed him, constantly involving him with the forces of the Outer Sea, it was also true that fortune accompanied him. He had no reason to deny that he was lucky.
"If the Lord had not taken an interest in me this time, it would have been absolutely impossible."
"Interest?"
"The Lord granted me a blessing or protection. It was only temporary, but it was incredible."
"Oh?"
Not only had it completely erased his accumulated fatigue, but it had also instantly restored his depleted stamina and mana—a truly unforgettable experience.
If such a state could be maintained permanently, was there anything in existence that he wouldn't be able to overcome?
Gailgron looked at Ian with interest.
"It seems that Lord Damrak has taken a liking to you. Even most saints don't receive such a blessing."
"Is that so?"
"Even I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve received such a blessing. That alone says enough. Who knows, maybe when I die, you might become the next Hero?"
"You should live long. There’s still much to be done—why would you say such things?"
"Hmm, true enough. I suppose retirement would be a better choice? I'd rather leisurely travel around, visiting all the best restaurants in various regions."
Gailgron let out a deep sigh before continuing.
"So, you—just keep growing at your current pace. You've advanced in rank, haven't you? You’re not planning to stop at Level 6, are you?"
"Of course not. I intend to go further—if I can."
"That kind of half-hearted resolve won’t do. It’s not about 'if you can'; you must be determined to do it. Look over there."
Gailgron gestured with his chin. As Ian turned his head, he saw Abella at the entrance of the Gray Temple, tending to an injured Ashen Paladin alongside the priests.
"Didn’t you say you wanted to share the burden she carries?"
"……."
"Your growth rate is truly remarkable. I can't say for certain, but it might even be something recorded in history. But don’t forget—there are far more Level 6 superhumans than you think."
He knew that. Even among those actively defending the frontlines, the number was not small.
They were critically lacking only in comparison to the sheer number of deployed soldiers and knights. Individually, they were treated as strategic weapons.
"Right now, you’ve merely met the bare minimum qualifications to stand alongside the Hero. Unless your field of expertise is unparalleled, you’re just another average warrior."
"…How do I reach Level 7?"
"As someone who has already reached that level, let me tell you—you need to complete your mental imagery. And you must be able to project it into the world. You’ve heard of Unique Domains, haven’t you?"
"Yes."
He had seen it multiple times while traveling with the Hero. Quite a few of their party had reached Level 7.
In fact, if Riorg Ribella hadn't appeared this time, they might have been caught in the Unique Domain that the wraith had been preparing to unfold.
"Only when you can fully manifest your Unique Domain will you be recognized as a true Level 7."
"Then how do I complete my mental imagery?"
"That’s... tricky. Even I find it difficult to explain. But from what I’ve gathered, the framework of one's imagery is already predetermined."
"So, it's up to me to flesh it out?"
"That’s right. The framework is built upon your memories or desires, and you must fill it in with what you wish to project. How original and how unrealistic it is will determine the amount of mana and willpower consumed. That’s why it’s called a Unique Domain."
Gailgron swallowed briefly.
“The thing to be careful about is that once an image solidifies, changing your mental construct is nearly impossible.”
“At all?”
“There are ways, but if you mess up, your rank could drop, or worse, you might end up crippled. And even if you do manage to change it, the new construct might be worse than what you originally had.”
Ian couldn’t quite grasp it. Even before his regression, he had heard that completing a Unique Domain required forming a mental construct, but back then, it had been just as elusive.
“It’s vague, isn’t it? But don’t give up. While it requires an immense amount of mana and willpower, it’s an ultimate move capable of overturning a battlefield. No one can deny that.”
“It sounds difficult. How do I determine my framework?”
At Ian’s question, Gailgron shrugged.
“Self-reflection. As you use your abilities, the scenery will naturally come to mind—like a background. It will change, centering around the place where the star within your soul resides. Spirituality represents your core. It’s everything about you. There’s a reason we call it the soul’s star.”
There was only one conclusion.
Keep going as he was.
By mastering the Flames of Bane and battling the Outer Sea, he would naturally form his mental construct and bring that domain into reality.
“Thank you.”
“No need to thank me. This is something most people know. Even your father would tell you the same thing if you asked.”
“There’s one more thing I’d like to request.”
“A request? From me? Hmm, what is it?”
“Do you remember what you said last time? You mentioned teaching me swordsmanship in our next meeting.”
“Hmm. Swordsmanship, huh… You want to learn from me?”
Ian’s eyes gleamed as he nodded. Gailgron slowly stood up.
“Well, I don’t see why not. But my swordsmanship is practically useless if you can’t wield divine power. I think it’d be better to focus on correcting your posture instead. What do you think?”
“Either way is fine. As long as it helps me. If it can make up for my shortcomings, that’s more than enough.”
“Good… then. Shall we start right away?”
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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Kiteretsu]
[Proofreader - Kyros]
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