The Second Strongest Has Returned - Chapter 2

“But there’s something I don’t understand.”

“What is it?”

The sage, flying around the inn room, asked.

“Why have I returned to the past?”

In truth, that was the first question that needed an answer. The fact that the sage became his mentor and the fact that he had returned to the past were two separate issues.

“That’s probably because the magic in the sage’s stone reacted, that’s why.”

“The magic reacted?”

“Because your thoughts reacted to the pure magic and the accumulation of magical power, it resulted in a kind of miracle.”

“…Is that possible?”

Honestly, it’s hard to believe. No matter how much it’s called a miracle, time travel wouldn’t be such a simple magic.

“Most people’s minds just get chewed up and go crazy with magic and magical power.”

“…What?”

This guy…?

“Hey, think of it like blowing a huge lung-full of air into a small balloon. No matter how tough it is, it bursts in less than a second.”

“So, you’re saying you did that crazy thing to me?”

“That’s right. Of course, I was planning to adjust it to some extent with my own senses. Nothing crazy, just enough to give you enough trauma that you would get nightmares every day.”

At this point, it’s hard to tell if he’s a sage or a demon.

“But you didn’t need that.”

“Huh?”

“You didn’t need it. Your mental strength had already withstood my sage’s stone.”

So, that’s why he said I didn’t know how to give up earlier.

“Then coming back to the past…”

“I told you. Since you endured, a miracle happened.”

“…And that’s called regression?”

“That’s right. It’s probably the manifestation of the intense determination you had before you died created the miracle.”

Determination… that’s…

“Fighting with Ariasphil…”

“A consistent little kid. Did losing to that girl from earlier bother you that much?”

“…Yes. Because she was an opponent I wanted to beat at all costs.”

Although Ariasphil said so, she was Leo’s goal and aspiration. To defeat her, he forged himself as a sword.

“But in the end, you won, didn’t you?”

He did win. But…

“I don’t like winning like this.”

“Oh? Why?” “Who I won against now is to an Ariasphil who hasn’t properly grown. And I, compared to her, am mentally the same as when I was an adult.”

“That’s true. Winning should have boosted your self-esteem.”

“And I was complacent, so it’s hard to call it a complete victory.”

It’s not just a matter of simple talent. The current situation is weird, and Leo himself using a workaround.

“Ariasphil has the skills, but her potential is higher than mine. When I barely broke through to using aura, she was already at the level of firing aura consecutively.”

Defeating her, who hasn’t fully grown, was different from Leo’s wish and direction.

“So what should we do? Wait until she grows up? You’ll have to wait at least ten years.”

“Well, then, let’s wait.”

“…What?”

To wait 10 years was not insignificant.

It might not be just ten years, and the level Leo expects might take more than ten years.

“Are you serious? Are you going to stick to that?”

“But I can wait.”

“…What?” At that moment, there was a moment of silence in the sage’s soul in response to that answer. After a while, the sage spoke again.

“…Are you, by any chance, interested in her?”

“No? Not at all.”

“Why such a quick answer?”

“Because I’ve been living as her rival for over five years, and I’ve never had such thoughts.”

Certainly, Ariasphil was a beautiful woman. With just the men who admired her, it might have been possible to form an army to conquer a kingdom.

But for Leo, she was a rival.

Rather than loving her, researching martial arts to defeat her seemed more efficient at this time.

“…Really… you’ve gone crazy in a strange way.”

“I want to win. So…”

Now it was the most important concern.

“What should I do now?”

With history changed, it was time to think about his actions in response.

***

Ariasphil Reinhardt

She was praised as the most talented warrior under the noble family of warriors.

At the age of 10, she defeated an orc, a killer of beginner adventurers, and at the age of 13, she even subjugated a wyvern, despite being just a juvenile.

No warrior could stand against her sword.

But…

“…I lost. For the first time.”

It wasn’t like today.

“Why…?” Certainly, the one who challenged her to a fight was an ordinary mercenary.

“You’re such a great knight? There’s no need for a long talk. Let’s fight once.”

It was an impolite and informal duel proposal, but she accepted the offer without hesitation. Fighters of that kind would be broken if they lost once.

To completely give up, she even tried to face the boy not with a long sword but with a short dagger.

However…

“But you know, if you fight with such a fruit knife, you’ll lose.”

In just a few seconds, the flow of the boy changed.

And what followed was her own defeat.

…No, it wasn’t even that.

“I lost. If you hadn’t been careless, you wouldn’t have known who would win.”

With a burning fighting spirit unlike hers, he admitted his defeat with strange logic and then casually acknowledged his own defeat.

She herself didn’t want a victory like this.

Nevertheless…

“What can you do? Whether you choose it or not doesn’t matter to me. I can’t accept my victory.”

Saying that, the boy calmly went on his way. He went on his way so smoothly that he couldn’t be held back anymore.

“Miss, are you okay?”

Jehad, the knight in charge of her protection and guidance, observed her complexion.

“…I’m fine.”

Although her expression was stoic, there was a shadow on her face.

“Miss, don’t be too disappointed. It’s not a formal duel, but a cowardly…”

“It’s not cowardly. And that kid also won’t admit his own victory.”

At that time, Jehad left Ariasphil alone for a moment to find an inn to stay. Even though he was a knight in charge of her protection, Ariasphil was a knight with enough strength to be compared to Jehad.

“…So I left her alone for a moment… and during that time…”

During that time, Ariasphil received a duel and lost. Even though it wasn’t a formal duel, there was a possibility that it could become a big disgrace for her and the family.

“…Jehad.”

“Yes, miss.”

“Find that kid.”

“…What?”

“Yes, find him.”

A sudden request made Jehad ask back.

“That kid came to me because of his bravery, and I’ll talk to him properly.”

“But… miss.”

“Do it.”

Ariasphil felt humiliation and ambition for the first time today.

***

[Hey, kid.]

“…”

[Hey, Leo.]

“…”

[Hey, are you deaf?]

“Ah, just shut up.”

While meditating to gather mana, someone has been talking to him for a while.

[Do you realize that I’ve been sitting here quietly for four hours without clothes?]

“Then go outside and come back. You’re someone who can fly in the sky.”

[Can’t do that. There’s a Philosopher’s Stone in your heart, so I can’t go far.]

Wait a moment.

“So, do I have to live with the Sage for the rest of my life?” [That’s right. We have to stick together unless something extraordinary happens.]

“Ugh… This is the worst.”

[What’s wrong with you?]

“Well, then I have to be with you even when going to the bathroom or taking a shower…!”

[Ugh… just thinking about it makes me nauseous…]

Leo is the victim, but the sage doesn’t understand why he’s feeling nauseous. He hasn’t eaten anything since he’s a ghost.

“Okay, I’ll endure it for another 30 minutes.”

[What were you doing all these years without creating a mana core? In my time, everyone was able to create a mana core…]

“My mother passed away, and I became an orphan. I didn’t know how, and I had no way to learn.”

[…Ah… um… I see.]

Whether he gave an awkward answer or not, the Sage ended the lecture without saying anything more.

[Well, do you want me to teach you a better way?]

“A better way? Is there such a thing?”

The mana breathing technique Leo is using is the Empire’s top polishing technique developed by the Reinhardt family. It’s a technique that can’t be surpassed by ordinary breathing techniques.

‘But is there something beyond that?’

[Leo, I’m a Sage.]

“Yes…”

[I’m a Sage.]

“Yes…”

[Because I’m a Sage!]

“Ah! Right! Yes!”

What kind of answer does he want? Did he go crazy because he became a ghost?

[I’m a Sage, so I’ve already developed an efficient mana training method! Got it?]

“Then tell me like that!”

Does he think he’s an old man spinning words around?

[Should I tell you?]

“Ha… Tell me, please.”

[Ask Properly and politely.]

Fine, even though he’s crazy, he saved his life.

“Oh, great Sage, please impart your teachings to this humble mercenary.”

[Fine. You ignorant little mercenary. I’ll teach you myself.]

Just a teacher or whatever. Should I remove the stone from my heart?

[Hoo…!]

Suddenly, the surrounding air began to tremble.

“Uh…?”

Mana around Leo started to surge. At the same time, it slowly adhered to his respiratory system and skin.

[Hoo… It’s difficult in the physical state.]

“…What… What did you do?”

[Try to adapt. It’s a test as your teacher.]

The general mana training method inhales mana particles from the air into the body through the nose and mouth. Then, activate the mana in the lungs to attract mana particles to the body like a magnet.

“But this…”

This allows the mana particles themselves to be absorbed into the body and skin. Originally, it would stick to the skin and then fall off, but this mana particle penetrated the body like fine cosmetic powder.

[Do you get the idea?]

“Are you absorbing mana particles into my body by breaking them down more?”

[I’ve developed an ultra-efficient mana training method. You can compress what you’ve been suffering for four hours into one hour.] “Is it possible?” [I only ask for what is possible.]

It was worth trying.

He started to attempt the new mana breathing technique.

‘…I shouldn’t focus on sticking particles to the skin.’

The important thing is to multiply the mana particles enough to be absorbed.

“…It won’t work.”

After about 30 minutes, Leo stood up.

[What? Giving up already?]

“No.”

Leo picked up the sword on the floor.

[Why are you carrying a sword? What are you going to do?]

“I’ll do it my way.”

That’s what he said as he went outside the inn.

[By the way, you can’t cut mana particles with a knife…]

“I know that. I know.”

[You talk too much for someone so ignorant.]

After taking off his robe, Leo began to swing the sword.

[…Huh?]

Mana particles that were sticking clumsily began to be properly absorbed into the skin this time.

[…Did the mana particles become more fragmented?]

Looking at it again, that wasn’t it. Although the mana particles themselves were divided, they were quite thick.

[…That’s it…!]

After looking at it three times, Leo understood the principle of the method. What Leo was doing was not reducing the unit of mana particles.

[You were expanding the pores of the skin. It was done with swordsmanship.]

By swinging the sword, he activated his body to expand the narrow pores. It was a new application that the Sage, a magician, could not use.

[…Kid, you’re telling me you are not a genius even after doing this?]

It wasn’t just the Sage who was astonished.

“…What is… What is this?” “…?”

The two knights of Reinhardt who came to find Leo were also speechless in astonishment.