Chapter 25 …
Three Clauses (4)
Ralph, seeing his grandson, showed a slightly surprised expression.
‘Muchi… that kid…’
He had spent more time with Muchi than the boy’s own parents, ever since he was a newborn.
And yet, this was the first time he had ever seen that kind of look in Muchi’s eyes.
Even from a distance, his frustration was unmistakable.
‘That child… was he always capable of making that kind of face?’
Muchi had always been a simple, obedient child—doing whatever he was told without complaint or grumbling.
But at the same time, he had never shown strong determination toward anything.
Even when he first began learning martial arts, it seemed like he was doing it reluctantly. Later, he appeared to enjoy it, which had reassured Ralph.
Still, the boy’s tendency to worry excessively about others had always bothered him.
But Ralph had thought that as long as Muchi didn’t refuse to train, that was enough.
Or so he had believed…
“…Was I wrong?”
Seeing Ralph’s blank expression, Johann snickered inwardly.
‘Even a rough brute like you can’t help yourself when it comes to your own blood.’
Ralph’s son had been born frail, inheriting his mother’s weak constitution.
Because of that, Ralph had taken on a disciple to preserve his martial legacy.
But no matter how much he cared for that disciple, it wasn’t the same as having a real child.
So when a bloodline capable of inheriting everything appeared, how could he not cherish it?
‘That excessive affection turned into poison.’
A master like Ralph couldn’t have failed to notice his grandson’s true nature.
But his overprotectiveness must have clouded his judgment.
‘Yuri, as an outsider with an objective view, was the first to notice it—Muchi’s true nature.’
Yuri had always been perceptive, and after spending months with Muchi, there was no way he wouldn’t notice.
‘That sly little snake…’
When Yuri suddenly suggested a real sword duel, Johann had wondered what he was scheming this time…
‘So this was his goal.’
Realizing Yuri’s intention, Johann clicked his tongue.
‘Even in the same spar, there’s a huge difference between wooden swords and real blades.’
The presence of lethal force—and the constant danger of accidents—created pressure and tension that could draw out someone’s true self.
Watching Yuri grin, Johann shook his head inwardly.
Still, he pretended not to notice and spoke casually to Ralph.
“Your grandson seems pretty fired up. Like Yuri said, we might as well start right away.”
“…Huh.”
“Go on. We’ll come up with a winning strategy on our side.”
Johann lightly shoved Ralph forward.
Ralph reluctantly stepped toward Muchi.
Standing before his grandson—
“Grandfather…”
The moment Ralph heard his voice, he burst out laughing.
“Pfft!”
Muchi’s voice was low and heavy.
His eyes were slightly moist with frustration.
Even though it was the first time seeing him like this, Ralph thought it actually suited him better.
Now he finally looked like a proper child.
Smiling, Ralph asked:
“Are you upset that you lost?”
“….”
Muchi didn’t answer.
But his heavy breathing spoke for him.
Ralph’s smile deepened.
“Muchi.”
“Yes…”
“Martial arts aren’t inherently bad. Whether you use them to harm others or to save someone—the value of martial arts is determined by the person using them.”
“….”
“Do you think I—or Yuri—use martial arts just to hurt people?”
Muchi firmly shook his head.
“No.”
“Right. How you use your martial arts is up to your will. But if you swing them without a clear purpose, then they have no value.”
“….”
“What value do you want to give your martial arts?”
At that question, Muchi recalled Yuri’s words.
[Now that I have a goal.]
[I want to become stronger. Stronger than anyone else—I don’t want to lose. That’s why I do it.]
[If you want to get stronger, why overthink it? You just train every day.]
[It’s tiring. But… I never get exhausted.]
[That thing you said you didn’t understand… I’ll show you today. Why I learned martial arts, and why I swung my sword like my life depended on it!]
Only then did Muchi begin to understand.
The desire to grow stronger, the will to not lose—that was the value Yuri pursued.
That was why he trained so desperately.
Words and actions that once made no sense were starting to click.
Muchi looked straight at Ralph and answered:
“I don’t know yet what value I’ll give my martial arts. I’ll think about it slowly. But…”
“….”
“For now, I don’t want to lose. At least right now… I’ll make that my value.”
Ralph smiled warmly.
“Good. That’s enough.”
Placing a hand on his grandson’s shoulder, he spoke softly:
“Then I’ll teach you a winning strategy.”
“Really?”
At his grandson’s eager gaze, Ralph’s eyes gleamed mischievously.
* * *
Ralph even created a mana sound barrier so Johann couldn’t overhear, whispering to Muchi.
Watching this, Johann scoffed.
“Tch, you think I can’t hear that?”
Breaking through such a barrier would be easy—but there was no need.
Johann turned to Yuri.
“From the looks of it, Lightning Wings… you’re probably limited to one more use. Your arms and legs are already shaking, aren’t they?”
Yuri widened his eyes.
“You’re like a ghost. How’d you know?”
“I’m the one who taught you that technique, you little bastard!”
Lightning Wings wasn’t something you could spam endlessly.
It required gradual growth.
At Yuri’s current level, two or three uses were the limit.
“Yeah, yeah. Still, if I push it, maybe three times…”
“Don’t overdo it unless you want to be bedridden for a week.”
“Is it that painful?”
“Why do you think I’m constipated?”
“…?”
“It hurt so much I couldn’t even go take a dump. Overused it in my youth—now I’ve got chronic constipation.”
“…I’ll finish it in two. Definitely.”
Yuri nodded firmly.
Then he shrugged.
“Well, two should be enough anyway.”
“Yeah. Two will be enough.”
Johann had no need to hear Ralph’s strategy.
No matter what, at Muchi’s current level, he couldn’t stop Yuri’s technique.
Their confidence was absolute.
Five minutes later—
Yuri and Muchi faced each other again.
“Got your strategy ready?” Johann asked.
“Of course,” Ralph replied.
“If you’re going to lose anyway, why drag it out?”
Ralph knew this fight was disadvantageous—but he still looked confident.
“Isn’t it only decided after you try?”
“And if you lose, won’t that be embarrassing?”
“Hmph!”
As the two masters bickered, Yuri observed Muchi.
‘Oh? What’s this?’
Something about him had changed.
Yuri smirked.
“Did my beating hurt that much? Looks like you’ve come to your senses.”
“Yuri…”
“What?”
“This time, I’ll win.”
“Yeah, that’s just your wishful thinking. And I told you to call me ‘big brother,’ didn’t I?”
Muchi didn’t respond.
Instead, he raised his spear high.
The final match began.
Yuri didn’t rush in this time.
“Damn, he’s huge.”
At nearly 2 meters tall with a 4-meter spear, Muchi looked like a towering fortress.
But more terrifying than his size was the energy rising from his body.
Rain poured down—but the droplets bounced off the violent waves of mana around him.
It showed just how much power he was gathering.
Yuri stared, slightly impressed.
‘That’s terrifying.’
If hit, it wouldn’t end with broken bones.
‘I’d be split in half… or worse.’
But—
‘The wind-up is too long.’
He could simply dodge.
Or rush in and stop him.
‘No need for Lightning Wings.’
Yuri prepared to charge—
Until Muchi shouted:
“Yuri! If you block this, Grandfather will make you a sword out of pure white steel!”
Yuri froze.
“…What?”
Johann was even more shocked.
“…WHAT?!”
Silence fell.
Then Johann grabbed Ralph.
“You insane bastard! Bribing kids in a duel?!”
Ralph smirked.
“You’re the one who taught me—losers cry, winners sleep smiling.”
Johann couldn’t argue.
‘Damn it… when did he figure Yuri out this well?’
Meanwhile—
Yuri was seriously thinking.
“…White steel? Really?”
A rare material—stronger than steel, incredibly expensive.
A full sword made of it?
Just for blocking one attack?
“…Seriously?”
Ralph shouted:
“A pure white steel sword! No impurities!”
That settled it.
Yuri planted his feet firmly.
“Muchi! What are you waiting for?! Come at me! I’ll block it!”
Johann shouted:
“If you lose, I’m throwing you off a cliff!”
Muchi’s spear glowed red.
“HYAAAAA!”
He swung.
A simple downward strike—
But—
BOOM!
The spearhead exploded with mana.
It descended at terrifying speed.
Schnell Axe-Spear Technique – Splitting the Frozen Wall
A legendary strike—capable of splitting mountains.
Facing it—
Time slowed.
The red arc of death approached.
Even then—
Yuri smiled.
‘Old man, who said I’d lose?’
His sword moved.
A silver trail cut through the rain—
Like the illusion Johann once showed him.
