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chapter 07
Thud… thud!
The monster’s heart burst inside Noah’s mouth. An indescribable, foul juice, so revolting it could make anyone gag, assaulted him with its stench.
“…Huff.”
Noah clenched his fists and endured the pain. He closed his eyes and tried not to breathe. Meanwhile, he continued relentlessly chewing on the monster’s heart.
‘Mana is entering.’
The source of power used by monsters. Mana, similar in nature to aura, was flowing into Noah’s body.
-Whuuuush!
The Aura Heart inside Noah began purifying the invading mana. Aura and mana intertwined, creating a battle within him.
‘Good… keep tearing apart.’
Just as muscles tear during exercise and grow back stronger, so too could aura break and rebuild while destroying mana, becoming stronger.
“Ugh!”
Noah’s face turned pale. Using his aura to eliminate the incoming mana was strenuous. It was a bit overexerting, but he did not stop.
‘I have to get stronger, even just one day sooner…’
The reason Noah was pushing himself this far was clear: to kill Kalshupl, the tyrant and emperor. Without that goal, he wouldn’t have risked his life this way.
‘Did His Majesty know it would come to this? That’s why he didn’t reveal the information I obtained.’
Ber Kalshupl, Kalshupl’s father and the former emperor. He had not shared the secrets Noah uncovered with anyone, instead ordering Noah to keep them to himself.
‘Your Majesty…’
Noah had not understood Ber Kalshupl’s command at first. But being an imperial order, he obeyed. And now, he finally understood the reasoning behind it.
“Guhk!”
A flood of mana surged into Noah’s body. The aura emanating from his heart struggled desperately to destroy the intruders.
Bang… bang!
He felt as if his body were being hacked with a sword. Noah slammed his fists into the floor, enduring the trial.
‘Last piece… just one more.’
The monster’s heart he had been chewing was now down to one final piece, containing an immense concentration of mana.
“Huff.”
Noah exhaled deeply. His hands and feet trembled violently, like those of a fevered patient.
Gulp…!
Yet Noah’s resolve remained as strong as a fortress. He swallowed the final piece whole.
A massive amount of mana surged toward Noah’s heart. At this point, the aura alone could not block it.
So Noah slightly released the aura he had been suppressing, overloading the aura within him.
“Aaargh!”
Noah, who could withstand most pain, could not help but cry out like a newborn. The sensation was like his heart was being torn apart.
Yet he did not give up.
‘Kalshupl… just wait!’
He had to kill Kalshupl, the one who had made him suffer so terribly.
“…What on earth were you doing last night?”
The next morning, Noah’s personal maid, Henzel, entered his room and frowned, hit by the lingering stench.
“Training.”
Noah answered her question succinctly, then pointed at the open window.
“It was open all night… the smell still hasn’t fully gone.”
“This won’t be solved with just ventilation. We’ll have to bring a mop and clean everything by hand.”
Henzel sighed and shook her head. Noah merely shrugged.
“You’ve done a lot. I’ll raise your salary soon, so hang in there a bit longer.”
“…How would you do that, my lord?”
“There’s a way.”
Henzel tilted her head at Noah’s cryptic answer, about to ask what he meant, when suddenly—
Clatter… clatter!
The sound of countless hooves entered Noah’s room.
“What is it?”
Noah leaned out the window to see. Baron Beratan had arrived in his room and looked at Noah.
“Let’s go, son.”
“Eh?”
Noah turned slightly inward at Beratan’s words, looking at the baron’s displeased expression.
“Where to?”
“To welcome the Bizmark family.”
Noah’s face hardened at the baron’s response. The Bizmark family was notorious for collecting defense fees under the pretext of protecting the Monster Forest.
Yesterday, their estate had suffered severe damage due to them, and Noah had no reason to look favorably on the family.
“Understood.”
Noah wasn’t going to let this pass easily. Preparing his sword just in case, he followed Baron Beratan.
“This place is always in poor shape.”
Baron Lotringen, head of the Bizmark family, observed the dilapidated Beratan estate, clicking his tongue. He looked at the captain of the knights beside him and asked:
“How long would it take to seize this place?”
“Less than a day.”
“Of course. Taking even a day for a house like this would be shameful.”
The captain nodded. At that moment, Baron Beratan and Noah appeared before them, with the Beratan knights behind.
Clack… clack.
The two barons’ eyes met. Lotringen dismounted and spoke coolly:
“I came because of the news I heard yesterday.”
“I see.”
“But it doesn’t seem like there was much damage?”
Beratan frowned, as did the knights behind him and Noah. Lotringen, unfazed, continued:
“I suspect you called me over for a trivial matter… just a thought.”
Noah was incredulous but could not draw his sword here. He could only glare.
‘Who’s the girl beside him?’
A girl stood to Lotringen’s right, looking at Noah with an indifferent gaze.
“And… that child?”
“Oh, she will lead the family. Elin, greet him.”
Lotringen looked at Elin, who responded with a perfunctory greeting. Baron Beratan was displeased; even as heir, she was far below him.
“And the child next to you? I thought the first and second had left home.”
“This is Noah. Take care of him.”
Noah stepped forward and greeted in a calm voice. Lotringen studied him but judged him simply as a weak third son.
“Good. While we talk, let the children build camaraderie.”
Beratan nodded. Lotringen smiled inwardly.
‘I’ll make them humiliated!’
The “camaraderie” Lotringen mentioned was no ordinary socializing. In the Bizmark family, it meant sparring with swords.
Elin was the one who had defeated all other heirs in such duels.
“Elin, interact with Noah.”
“Understood.”
Elin knew exactly what kind of “interaction” this meant and smiled along with her knights, anticipating what would happen.
“Let’s go.”
Lotringen glanced at Beratan, who nodded.
‘I’m concerned leaving Noah alone, but… he knows his own path.’
Previously, Beratan would have taken Noah to the lord’s room personally. But now he trusted Noah, knowing he had reached the level of an aura knight.
“Very well.”
They proceeded to the lord’s room, with Noah and Elin entering the estate as well.
The Beratan and Bizmark knights took their positions on the training ground, guarding while the two barons talked.
“Annoying brats.”
“Still so arrogant.”
“Do they even work outside? Why is their skin so flawless?”
The Beratan knights resented the Bizmark knights, many having suffered because of the Monster Forest.
“Quiet.”
Noah spoke in a low voice. Immediately, the Beratan knights shut their mouths, realizing it was natural for him to command respect.
“Huh.”
Elin took interest; a seemingly weak boy commanded the knights.
Step… step.
She stood and approached Noah boldly. He simply observed her without reaction.
Tap.
Elin came right up to his face, exuding her presence.
‘Will he faint?’
It was a test: did Noah have the right to command the knights? Fail, and she would tell him bluntly that he was unfit to become an heir.
But…
“…What are you looking at?”
Noah didn’t falter. He looked at Elin as if she were an insect.
Then, addressing her display of intimidation, he said:
“Is that supposed to be a threat?”
