Chapter 16….
Best of Three (1)
Spiritual Vein.
It was an unknown domain.
Although masters had opened their spiritual veins and reached the realm of manifestation, the truth was that even they did not know everything about spiritual veins.
It had only been about a hundred years since the previously chaotic concepts of spiritual veins and manifestations began to be properly systematized.
There was still far more left to be explored than what had already been charted.
Moreover, opening a spiritual vein was a matter of talent.
Teaching the theory did not mean everyone could open one, and since it also belonged to the study of ascension, secrecy was inevitable.
Because of that, Johan was confident.
The knowledge about spiritual veins that most masters hid away like pocket money—
Aside from the Sword Lord, there was no one who knew more about it than he did.
He had spent decades traveling far and wide, meeting countless masters and discussing spiritual veins in order to create new martial theories and body arts.
Having devoted such a long time to research, Yuri’s condition was, to Johan, all the more absurd.
‘A core in the spiritual vein? It sounds ridiculous, but what I’m sensing from this brat’s spiritual vein really does feel like a core.’
Though one could not directly inspect another person’s spiritual vein and thus he couldn’t state it with absolute certainty, the powerful pull and flow drawing in mana was unmistakably that of a core.
‘Creating a core inside a spiritual vein? Just how…?’
Back when he had interacted with various masters, there was something they all unanimously said.
[The spiritual vein is a mirror, and the manifestation is the self reflected in that mirror.]
The spiritual vein was compared to a mirror not only because it reflected the self and drew out the manifestation, but also because it was just as fragile.
How many had become idiots or madmen after trying to open their spiritual veins through improper or forced methods?
For a mana core—something belonging to the material realm—to exist beyond that fragile spiritual domain was something Johan simply could not comprehend.
And after hearing Johan’s explanation, Yuri picked at his ear.
“Uh… what are you even talking about?”
At the utterly unfamiliar reaction, a deep sigh escaped Johan’s mouth.
“Haah… What are we supposed to do if you don’t even know your own body? No, at this point, is there anything you do know?”
“In the past I wouldn’t have let nonsense like that slide… but now, honestly, I’m not so sure myself.”
Yuri had only recently learned about the concept of spiritual veins. How could he possibly have known there was a core inside?
‘Seriously, since when did I even have this?’
Ever since getting entangled with Johan, Yuri had gradually realized that his body was unusual in many ways.
He found himself nodding unconsciously—then suddenly flinched and took a step back.
Johan’s eyes narrowed.
“What are you doing?”
In response, Yuri wrapped his arms around himself.
Putting on the most fragile, frightened expression he could—
“N-No! Don’t!”
“…?”
“No dissection! Spare me!”
Yuri had finally realized.
What Johan’s muttered, ‘Should I dissect this brat…?’ actually meant.
‘Well… if I were him, I’d want to dissect me too.’
Even he found his own body fascinating—how much more fascinating would it be to someone else?
Realizing Johan had been serious, Yuri edged another step away with a fearful face.
At Yuri’s antics, Johan’s expression soured.
“Cut it out before I really do split your skull open.”
“Okay.”
At Johan’s warning, Yuri instantly dropped the scared act and hurried back over.
Then, glancing sideways, he cautiously began,
“But, old man…”
“What.”
“Then my core… how do I make it? I can make one, right?”
A core was an organ that strongly condensed mana.
If one core already existed, creating another was nearly impossible.
Still, Yuri asked with hope.
“I heard there are body arts that use multiple cores. I can do that too, right?”
“Your current case is a bit different from typical multi-core techniques.”
There were body arts that produced two or more cores, but those were designed so the mana pathways generated multiple cores from the beginning.
That didn’t apply to Yuri, who had to create an entirely new core separate from the existing one.
As the news grew increasingly grim, Yuri’s face stiffened.
Johan let out a small sigh and waved his hand.
“Don’t worry. It’s not like there’s no method.”
“Really?”
Yuri’s face brightened instantly.
Johan crossed his arms and nodded.
“Yes. In fact, it might be fortunate that your core is in the spiritual vein.”
If the core had already settled in the physical body instead, they would have needed to destroy the existing core—a dangerously risky operation.
‘If I make proper use of Yuri’s current situation… this brat could end up possessing two completely different types of cores in one body.’
It might well be recorded as a new milestone for humanity.
Johan’s eyes heated slightly with excitement.
“You should consider it heaven’s luck that you met me. Without me, you wouldn’t have even been able to attempt this.”
Johan’s shoulders rose proudly.
Having now roughly grasped Johan’s personality, Yuri played along.
“Of course! How much hardship must Lord Johan have endured to make a half-wit like me into a proper person?”
“Hmph! You’ve only realized that now? Foolish brat!”
“Yes, this foolish brat has finally realized it! If you make someone like me into a real person, I’ll engrave your great kindness into my bones, Lord Johan!”
“That’s right! Only those who know gratitude are human, hm!”
“Long live the great Lord Johan!”
“Ahem!”
With Johan strutting proudly and Yuri cheering like a sycophant, their little farce continued for quite some time aboard the smoothly sailing passenger ship.
And then three days passed.
* * *
Bwooooo—.
At the deep horn announcing arrival, Yuri awoke from mana cultivation.
“Ah…”
Letting out a small exclamation, he gently touched the area around his navel.
Thump—thump—.
A strange sensation he hadn’t known until recently.
It felt as if a small heart had formed inside his abdomen. The unfamiliarity was there—but it wasn’t unpleasant.
Rather, his actual heart trembled pleasantly in response to the pulsing in his belly.
The more he focused, the more vivid the presence of the mana core became, heightening his emotions.
‘So this is… a mana core.’
Three days ago, with Johan’s help, Yuri had finally succeeded in creating one.
And once again, he realized.
How foolish he had been to strut around relying only on his manifestation.
‘Just having a mana core the size of a fingernail makes this much difference…’
After three days of growth, Yuri’s core was still only the size of a pinky nail.
Even so, his five senses had sharpened dramatically, and vitality overflowed through his body.
It felt as if he had been reborn.
Bwoooong—.
“Urgh—!”
As the arrival horn sounded again, Yuri stood and stretched.
His face looked completely refreshed.
In contrast, Johan looked utterly exhausted.
In fact, in just a few days, Johan’s face had grown noticeably haggard.
He glanced at Yuri and muttered irritably,
“…Happy, are you?”
“Yeah. Couldn’t feel better. Why?”
“….”
Just look at that sun-soaked cat face.
He looked so blissful that Johan felt a powerful urge to smack the back of his head.
But—
‘I don’t even have the strength for that right now, damn it…’
Johan’s drooping shoulders trembled faintly with despair.
Was it his imagination, or did the sky seem unusually close and comforting today?
As if beckoning him to come up already.
As if there were no pain up there, tempting him.
‘Forget a new milestone for humanity… at this rate I’m going to kick the bucket first.’
Johan thumped his aching lower back and glared at Yuri.
‘That damn brat! I thought once would be enough!’
The reason he was half-dead and grumbling was entirely Yuri’s fault.
The method he had used three days ago to create Yuri’s core—
was to forcibly block Yuri’s spiritual vein with his own power.
Then redirect the mana leaking into the spiritual vein back into the body to form a core.
It sounded simple in theory, but in practice it was anything but easy.
If he made even a small mistake and damaged Yuri’s spiritual vein, the boy could have become an idiot at a young age.
It required extreme concentration and consumed enormous mental energy.
Even so, Johan had attempted it because he thought once would be enough.
If successful, the newly formed core in Yuri’s body should have enough cohesion to accumulate mana on its own.
At least—that’s what he had expected…
‘To think I dug my own grave.’
After tremendous effort, Yuri had succeeded in forming the core.
But contrary to expectations, the core in his body couldn’t condense mana.
No matter how much he circulated his mana pathways, the core in the spiritual vein kept greedily sucking it away.
‘Damn it! Just how strong is the core inside his spiritual vein?!’
Which meant the core in Yuri’s spiritual vein had stronger cohesion than the one in his body.
In other words, as long as the spiritual vein remained open, Yuri couldn’t store mana in his body.
‘And freshly made cores are unstable—they need to be steadily fed mana to properly settle…’
So what choice did he have?
Every time Yuri circulated mana, Johan had to block the boy’s spiritual vein.
No wonder his old bones were aching after the massive mental strain.
But the bigger problem started now.
‘How long the hell do I have to keep doing this?’
For Yuri to accumulate mana without his help, the body’s core had to surpass the spiritual core in cohesion—
or Yuri had to reach the level where he could open and close his spiritual vein at will.
And neither was easy.
‘In the end, I have to stay beside him every time he trains…’
After just three days of this, he already felt like he’d met his deceased parents in the afterlife.
If this continued another week, he wouldn’t just be visiting them—he’d be eating memorial offerings beside them.
‘D-drastic measures are needed!’
A way to block Yuri’s spiritual vein without relying on him!
Fortunately, Johan did know such a method.
‘Looks like I’ll have to go find that guy.’
As it happened, the Niger Administrative District was where that fellow had settled.
Just as Johan was mapping out their future plans—
“Old man, they say we’re disembarking! Pack up!”
Yuri urged him excitedly.
Seeing that face made Johan’s irritation flare.
‘Damn brat—he’s the only one enjoying himself!’
Johan quickly erased the sinister glint in his eyes and put on a gentle smile.
“You go ahead and get off first.”
“Huh? What about you?”
“I have something to take care of. Let’s meet near the city gate.”
“Yeah? Okay then.”
Yuri nodded casually, not thinking much of it.
And he didn’t realize—
this was not a moment he should have taken lightly.
It didn’t take long for him to find out.
30 minutes later
In front of the city gate crowded with people coming and going,
Yuri stood stiff-faced, staring at something.
Then he finally couldn’t hold it in and asked—
“…Old man, what exactly are you trying to pull right now?”
