Chapter 10
A Healthy Mind Builds a Healthy Body (3)
Butler Apel had been meditating for enlightenment for two days straight.
During that time, the training grounds had been swept by relentless storms.
By the following afternoon, the winds began to die down gradually.
Which also meant my “physical training break” was coming to an end.
Hellish training would resume soon. And this time, Butler Apel was leveled up and even more formidable.
Ugh… I really didn’t want that.
I was lost in these thoughts while handling paperwork when the head maid came in. I flinched involuntarily, as if she had read my mind.
“I’m sorry…”
“No, it’s fine.”
Ah, I felt bad for flinching. She had rushed to save my life before, and yet, I still couldn’t shake the fear from that moment. Every time I saw her, I felt like a mouse frozen in front of a cat. I needed to calm down.
“The Duke said that after you finish your work today, come to the training grounds. By then, he thinks the butler’s enlightenment will be complete.”
“Understood. I’ll head down promptly.”
The head maid left as usual, leaving a freshly brewed cup of Salvinus tea behind. Its aroma filled the office, a gentle reminder of life in the Helphion Duchy.
Flying maids, suddenly enlightened butlers, and the finest tea—this was the ordinary here. I had better get used to it.
I sipped the tea and returned to my paperwork.
That evening, the howling winds that had raged through the training grounds for two nights calmed down.
Instead, a mixture of laughter and sobs echoed from Butler Apel.
“Hahaha… becoming a mid-level Sword Master in my twilight years… ughhh!”
“Have you pulled yourself together yet?”
“Haha… yes, indeed!”
The Helphion Duke arrived with the household, visiting the training grounds to congratulate Apel on his enlightenment.
“Your mana flow and balance have improved greatly. Congratulations.”
Indeed, Apel’s appearance seemed younger. His previously wrinkled, gray-tinged face of a sixty-year-old now looked like a man in his forties.
Wait… the head maid also looked astonishingly youthful. Could it be that she was even stronger than Apel?
No way… Sword Master mid-level was rare even across the empire. Above that was the grand title of Sword Master, the Grand Sword Master—held only by the Helphion Duke. There couldn’t possibly be two such people in this household. Probably just my imagination.
While I was lost in thought, a massive shadow suddenly fell over me.
It was Butler Apel.
“Sir Butler?”
At my call, he prostrated himself fully on the ground. Too much! This was over the top!
I rushed to grab his shoulders and lift him, but he was like a boulder, immovable.
“I shall assist you three times in anything—so long as it does not harm the Helphion household or betray my duties or will—for granting me enlightenment.”
“I-I was just rambling about silly philosophy I discussed with schoolmates…!”
“You were right, steward. Straight lines and curves are just a single line if connected; why did I cling to them so? And the names I obsessed over were not the only things. This old man failed to recognize your wisdom and committed a grave error. Will you forgive me now?”
“Really… please, stand up! I’m fine!”
Apel finally rose only after the Duke spoke. Whew… what a relief.
“Now, shall we try swinging the sword?” the Duke asked. Apel immediately drew his wooden sword, and the other retainers moved to the corners of the training ground, eyes gleaming. I shrank into a corner like a scared animal.
Once everyone was ready, Apel assumed a mid-level stance, tense and focused. The Duke, calm and relaxed, seemed to enjoy the evening air.
Then, Apel’s sword slowly traced a circular path. His movements were mesmerizing. Even before his arms fully swung the sword, sparks of light flashed near it. The sword seemed alive, and from the scabbard, hundreds of afterimages bloomed. Watching it was like witnessing a sapling rapidly grow into an ancient tree. Apel created his own world with the sword. This was the skill of a mid-level Sword Master.
Even more overwhelming was the Duke’s response. Every stroke of Apel’s sword was effortlessly erased by the Duke’s movements—absolute, world-erasing power.
“Incredible,” I blurted.
Apel and the Duke then stepped back, sheathing their swords.
“Not twice, but three times—astonishing,” the Duke said, eyes filled with interest.
“Three times? What do you mean?”
“It means Apel blocked your strikes three times.”
“Oh… impressive, but… so impressive, right?”
Apel replied with a voice full of emotion:
“My lifelong wish was to make the Duke swing twice. Now that I have made him swing three times in a single encounter, I can die satisfied.”
“Tch, no need to die. Now that your body is healthier, train harder—I want to see you make him swing ten times.”
Two, three, ten swings… the gap between a mid-level and a top-level Sword Master was staggering, even if only one tier. Truly impressive. My employer was that strong.
“This was a sword not bound by beginning or end. His claim of making ten swings isn’t an exaggeration. If he trains diligently, he could achieve it in a year or two,” I thought.
“All thanks to your help, steward,” Apel said, giving me credit. All eyes turned toward me—chef, head maid—somewhat intimidating. The gaze was like that of someone spotting a coin on the floor.
Then the Duke approached.
“So, steward, have you thought about taking on a new task?”
“A task?”
I was already writing letters, doing paperwork, and working hard—wasn’t that enough?
“Your thinking is clearly freer than men like myself or Apel. Could you perhaps teach me something?”
A surprising offer. Not just continuing as a steward, but becoming the Duke’s personal tutor. Higher social status, a strong ally, and—bonus—if this combat monster accepts common sense, writing letters might become easier.
“A healthy body houses a healthy mind. But perhaps the reverse is also true: a healthy mind may cultivate a healthy body,” I said.
“Duke, will you pay well?”
The Duke and those around him chuckled. Why were they laughing? Money was a matter of survival for me.
“Very well. Steward, the rest may leave. I wish to speak with you alone.”
Apel bowed once to the Duke, once to me, and stepped outside with the chef and head maid. Their silent glances spoke volumes—congratulations without words.
“Laward Gordem, steward,” the Duke addressed me formally.
“Yes!” I responded, nervous.
“Ah, about money… you requested a loan yesterday, didn’t you? Ten thousand gold.”
I scratched the back of my head. I’d sent a letter to my younger sibling a while ago and needed some working capital to stabilize the Helphion Duchy’s chaotic economy, and prepare to face the other factions: the Grizzly Mercenaries and the Village Women’s Association. Ten thousand gold might multiply ten- or even fifteen-fold.
“Yes… that’s right.”
“Very well. Use it however you see fit. I give you 100,000 gold.”
I couldn’t believe it. “Are you serious?”
The Duke looked up at the sky, calm.
“I gave you a month’s opportunity with little expectation. In my domain, filled with civil officials, what could you achieve? Yet you consistently surpass expectations, even beyond astonishment. So now, I will expect more. What will you show me? Will the results meet my expectations—or surpass them? Perhaps even bring change to this Duchy blocked by demons?”
I remained silent. I hadn’t had anyone expect something from me in so long… I had only known scorn, disdain, and disappointment.
Finally, I said:
“I’ll do my best. I promise to give it my all.”
Today, I witnessed a rare spectacle: a duel between Sword Masters. Stories of Sword Masters were abundant in the Akashic Records—those who could cut through sky and sea. Ordinary people struggled even to follow their movements.
But today, I saw it. Apel, newly enlightened as a mid-level Sword Master, wielded his sword magnificently. And once… just once, the path of the Duke’s sword was visible, perfectly clear.
Perhaps… I could imitate it.
Lying in bed, I raised my hand and traced the path of that sharp, clear line.
“Huh?”
Strange. When I had traced curves before, it was easy. Why can’t I follow this line? Like this? Or this?
No matter how many times I tried, I never succeeded, and eventually fell asleep, exhausted.
