Chapter 93.2

“Ah! Jarvis, how did it turn out? Is it good?”

However, Arad, oblivious to her gaze, was entirely focused on the photograph.

“Oooh! It came out…? Wait, everyone’s expressions look so stiff! Their mouths are smiling, but their eyes are completely frozen. Wait, even I was forcing my eyes open?”

He was engrossed in analyzing the results of the magical camera.

***

Two days passed after Manager Theo’s wedding ended successfully.

While Theo enjoyed his honeymoon, the rest of us returned to our usual daily lives.

And I, as always, was spending my day in a slightly unusual way.

The High Tower’s inner citadel.

The Palace of Glory.

Today was the day for Arina’s regular medical check-up.

Arina, who had once escaped death in the Abyss of the Demon Realm, regularly summoned me to the Palace of Glory in the High Tower for her medical check-ups.

“Hmm…”

I lightly held her right wrist, taking her pulse.

“Your body is truly in excellent health…”

Her pulse reflected perfect health.

After releasing her wrist, I noted the condition of her lower dantian and upper dantian in my records.

Incidentally, Mary wasn’t at work today due to other commitments.

“Arad, is there really something you don’t know?”

“I can’t possibly know everything.”

“Really? I find that hard to believe.”

“You must believe it. I’m not a dragon or a god, after all.”

“Fair enough.”

“I admit my knowledge is lacking when it comes to matters of the lower and upper dantian.”

Arina’s past injuries from the Abyss of the Demon Realm had been entirely healed, thanks to the miraculous success of a half-strength elixir.

All she needed now was to rebuild mana within her reset magical core.

“The speed and quantity of mana accumulation are this poor? I don’t understand.”

This was where the problem began.

Arina resumed her training with renewed determination.

However, something was off. The rate at which mana accumulated in her lower dantian core was unusually slow, and the amount was alarmingly small.

But a bigger issue loomed.

“Each time you train, the mana gets absorbed by the heart circle instead.”

“And I can’t control it.”

Whenever she attempted to accumulate mana, it didn’t just gather in her lower dantian—it also surged into her heart, the upper dantian.

For someone who needed to avoid becoming a Magic Swordsman, this was highly undesirable.

“At least I can do this.”

Suddenly, Arina demonstrated something unexpected.

“This is a technique I discovered recently. You’re the first person I’ve shown it to.”

Mana from her heart and lower dantian collided within her body, merging into something massive, almost like nuclear fusion.

“Your Highness! It’s dangerous!”

I shouted in alarm as I witnessed an unfamiliar surge of mana erupting violently within her lower dantian.

The problem wasn’t just the technique itself—it was the toll it took on her body.

She wouldn’t survive using it.

“I know. That’s why I’m not using it.”

Arina understood this. She had only shown it to me briefly to demonstrate.

“Never use this technique again.”

“Let’s hope I never need to.”

“You won’t.”

After exchanging words riddled with clichés and ominous undertones, I calmed myself and reported my findings to Arina.

“In any case, it would be better to discuss this issue with experts like Sir Balzac, Isabelle, or Commander Sun.”

“I already spoke with the three of them.”

“Did you? What did they say?”

“They told me to ask you.”

“….”

Those people… really?

“Your Highness may have encountered a new type of barrier. I can’t help but think that the change in your mana and sword aura colors is connected.”

“They said the same thing.”

“In my personal opinion, I strongly recommend you refrain from mana training for now.”

“Then what should I do in the meantime?”

“It would be safer to focus on meditation and philosophical discussions to seek enlightenment.”

I speculated that Arina had encountered a wall, a growth barrier that must be overcome to reach the next level of mastery.

To transcend from Sword Master to Grand Sword Master, one must face such a trial.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t be of more help.”

As someone firmly in the non-combatant category, I lacked the knowledge to resolve this issue.

“It’s not your fault.”

Arina gently smiled as she lowered the sleeve she had rolled up.

“Surely, you have some guesses? Aside from meditation or discussions—that’s what Isabelle and Balzac suggested too.”

“Guesses… I have one or two.”

“Oh? Let’s hear them.”

Pressed by her insistence, I recalled the story of the Era of Silver 1 from the original timeline.

‘The only person to become a Grand Sword Master in the Era of Silver 1 was the Dark Archduke Doom.’

The tale of how the Empire’s Dark Archduke Doom ascended to Grand Sword Mastery was legendary.

‘At the time, Doom fought an endless battle against the Mongar Orcs at the Great Wall while in a position of extreme disadvantage. Through countless life-and-death battles, he gained enlightenment.’

It was precisely this—life-and-death battles.

In the original timeline, Doom faced countless elite Mongar Orcs alone after losing the Carpe support and with little aid from the Imperial family.

‘It’s said that when he became a Grand Sword Master, he regained his youth.’

Perhaps the technique Arina had just shown me was one she could only use after such a transformational breakthrough.

‘But this is far too dangerous. It’s unrealistic.’

The problem was that such a path wasn’t suitable for Arina.

The risks were far greater than they had been for Doom. If Arina became crippled or died during her trials, the Renslet lineage would be severed, potentially giving the Empire an excuse to invade the North.

“It’s fine. Speak your thoughts.”

Unaware of my internal struggle, Arina urged me to share.

“Consider this only as a reference. Please swear never to attempt it.”

“I swear.”

Hearing her promise, I spoke.

“Life-and-death duels.”

“I see.”

With a single word, Arina nodded, as if she had expected it.

“You suspected as much?”

“Soon mentioned life-and-death duels.”

“….”

Those people, again?!

“Don’t worry. I know that’s not something I can do right now.”

“Yes, please don’t. And as for the technique you showed earlier—never use it. Absolutely not.”

“I understand its danger better than anyone. And as for that technique… don’t mention it to anyone.”

“A doctor doesn’t disclose their patient’s condition.”

Despite my stern tone, Arina didn’t seem offended.

“Well then… I’ll take my leave.”

“Alright. Thank you for your effort. You may go.”

With a gentle smile, she bid me farewell.

I bowed politely to Arina and prepared to leave the Palace of Glory.

“Oh, by the way, I heard Theo Shapiro had a wedding?”

Suddenly, Arina mentioned Manager Theo.

“Pardon? Oh! Yes, that’s correct.”

“Convey my congratulations to Theo Shapiro and Maria Shapiro.”

“Of course, Your Highness.”

It was truly an honor that the ruler of Renslet remembered the marriage of a mere employee.

I must tell Manager Theo when he returns.

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