[Translator - Peptobismal]
[Proofreader - Max]
Chapter 57
"M-medicine?"
Aster was taken aback by Zeke's words.
He then drooped his head dejectedly.
"Haa... Thanks for the offer, but no thanks. I've tried every medicine out there, but nothing works."
Looking at Aster's worsening complexion, Zeke grinned.
"Forget about it. Just follow me."
Zeke dragged Aster to a nearby lawn.
Finding a secluded spot, Zeke pulled something out of his pocket.
It was a small pouch that fit snugly in his palm.
"Aster, how many hours do you want to sleep?"
"Uh... well, if I could get even two hours of deep sleep, I'd be happy."
Zeke held the pouch under Aster's nose and gently opened it.
Aster looked at Zeke and said,
"Even if you do that, it won't..."
Before he could finish his sentence, Aster collapsed onto the lawn.
Seeing Aster sprawled out, snoring softly, Zeke nodded.
"Sandman's Sleep Sand. It's incredibly effective."
Becoming a mid-level manager had significantly expanded his item purchase options, including all sorts of peculiar items.
There were items to cure insomnia, antidepressants, and even aphrodisiacs.
He never thought he'd actually use something he'd only considered a novelty, but it seemed to work better than expected.
Zeke left Aster sleeping on the lawn, attended to some business, and returned two hours later.
Aster was still fast asleep, so Zeke shook him awake.
"...doesn't work."
Aster woke up, finishing his previous sentence.
He sensed something was different and looked around.
The persistent headache that had been bothering him was gone.
Aster stared at Zeke in disbelief.
"Did I... fall asleep?"
"You slept soundly. The medicine worked well."
After a week of sleeplessness, Aster felt refreshed despite only sleeping for two hours.
He grabbed Zeke's hand and exclaimed,
"Oh my god, thank you so much! I can't believe it... The world is such a beautiful place!"
Aster jumped up and down excitedly.
Then he asked Zeke,
"Where can I get that medicine? Tell me!"
Zeke shook his head.
"It's a secret medicine I barely managed to get from an acquaintance. You can't buy it anywhere."
Aster's face fell in disappointment.
Then Zeke said,
"There is one way to get this medicine."
Aster's eyes lit up as he leaned closer to Zeke.
"W-what is it?"
"Have you decided what you'll do after graduation?"
Aster shook his head.
"No, not yet. I was planning to look around after graduation, but with my insomnia getting worse, I don't know if I can live a normal life."
Zeke grinned and pulled out a contract from his pocket.
"If you sign a contract with me, I'll provide you with the medicine regularly. Enough for you to sleep soundly every three days."
Aster was astonished.
"R-really? All I have to do is sign a contract?"
He tried to sign the contract without even reading it properly.
Zeke stopped him.
"Hey, at least read the terms before signing. You might end up being sold to some shady organization."
Ignoring Zeke's warning, Aster hurriedly signed the contract.
"I'll do anything if I can just sleep properly."
Zeke clicked his tongue inwardly as he watched Aster.
'Did this guy get sold to the Empire in my past life because of this?'
He had acquired one of the Five Star Knights more easily than expected.
With a satisfied expression, Zeke took the contract and handed Aster some Sleep Sand.
"This is a month's worth. If you take too much at once, you might fall asleep forever, so use only the amount I tell you."
"Oh, okay."
Looking at Aster, who seemed somewhat lacking despite his skills, Zeke frowned.
'Diego, too... All these Five Star Knights seem a bit lacking.'
Among those he had met, Reina seemed the most normal.
But Zeke shook his head.
'Get a hold of yourself. Don't fall into this Draker-like way of thinking.'
"Aster."
"Yes?"
"Again, from now on, call me Master."
"Oh, sorry. Master."
"Let's see your skills before we go to Delfoa."
Zeke decided to properly educate Aster about hierarchy later. For now, he took him to the training grounds.
He had heard many rumors about the Phantom Knight in his past life, but he had never faced him directly on the battlefield.
He needed to assess Aster's abilities properly.
As Zeke drew Bahamut, Aster began assembling something he took out of his bag.
A moment later, a considerably long spear was formed.
"It's been a while since I've seen a knight who uses a spear."
"Ah, it's because of clan spear techniques. I mean, spear techniques, Master."
Aster stood before Zeke, spear in hand.
He had been walking listlessly just a moment ago, but his demeanor changed completely once he held the spear.
'Oh? Not bad.'
Zeke said to Aster,
"You can use your Aura freely."
Aster flinched slightly.
"R-really?"
"Yes. Give it your all."
Aster hesitated for a moment, then nodded.
He aimed his spear at Zeke.
Woooong!
Aster's Aura infused the spear, and an ethereal energy rose from it like a heat haze.
Zeke also gripped Bahamut and pointed it at Aster.
Aster shifted his weight back and took a stance.
Zeke had expected him to lunge forward with the long spear, but it seemed to be a defensive technique.
Zeke charged at Aster first.
Wheeik!
Zeke countered Aster's spear with the Basic Dragon Slaying Techniques.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Aster maintained his distance and effortlessly blocked Zeke's sword with his long spear.
The reach of the spear made it difficult for Zeke to get close.
'In that case...'
Zeke used the Phantom Steps to close the distance with Aster.
At that moment—
Click!
Aster's spear separated, transforming from a long spear into a short spear.
He struck Zeke's sword with the shaft in his left hand and thrust the spear in his right hand towards Zeke's unguarded spot.
Whoosh!
His spear technique, utilizing both hands, had excellent balance between offense and defense.
As Zeke stepped back, Aster reassembled his spear back into its long form.
'Interesting technique.'
Switching between a long spear and a short spear, adapting to the opponent's distance with unpredictable techniques... An ordinary knight would be overwhelmed and defeated before they could even display their full abilities.
However, Zeke was no stranger to such unorthodox techniques.
He suddenly drew a dagger and threw it at Aster.
Aster reacted immediately and deflected the dagger, but the force behind it made him falter.
Zeke seized the opportunity, aiming for Aster's legs through a low, blind spot.
Swish!
Aster retreated, evading Zeke's sword.
But Zeke's attack didn't end there.
He had been waiting for Aster's balance to break, and he immediately straightened up and unleashed a Dragon Slayer Technique.
Dragon Slayer Technique, True Dragon Sword Skill
Chapter 2, Verse 1
Earth Splitter
The simplest yet most powerful technique.
Caught off guard by Zeke's Earth Splitter, Aster detached his spear shaft and channeled his Aura.
Eldolf Spear Technique
Counterattack
Reverse Current Thrust
Aster's spear spun, attempting to deflect the force of Zeke's attack.
However, the power of Zeke's Earth Splitter was too strong for the Reverse Current to take hold.
Instead, Aster's spear was dragged along by Zeke's attack.
"Ugh!"
Aster tried his best to withstand the attack, but it was futile.
Unable to deflect Zeke's sword strike, Aster took the full brunt of Earth Splitter.
Crash!
Sent flying by the impact, Aster crashed into the wall of the training ground.
"Gah!"
The pain, as if his whole body had been pummeled, overwhelmed him.
"Ugh..."
Zeke approached Aster and offered him something.
"Drink this."
It was a diluted solution of a low-grade healing potion.
The healing potions from the system shop were so potent that even when diluted, they were more effective than regular potions.
After drinking the potion, Aster finally caught his breath.
"Ugh... Master, are you a monster?"
"It's not that I'm a monster, you've just been too lax in your training."
Aster's jaw dropped.
Having lived his life as a genius, he had never been told so bluntly that his skills were lacking.
"You'll need some training before we go on the mission."
Zeke's chilling smile sent shivers down Aster's spine, but he couldn't argue.
***
Having successfully shocked Aster, Zeke returned to the mansion in high spirits.
He was slightly giddy as he planned Aster's grueling training schedule.
Just then, Decker approached him.
"You have a visitor, Young Master."
Gelion was waiting in the reception room.
"It's been a while, Gelion."
"Greetings, My Lord."
"How's the blacksmithing going?"
Gelion replied with a sheepish expression.
"Thanks to you, My Lord, I'm crafting weapons to my heart's content. It's nothing to boast about, but I've been getting a few customers from afar lately."
In his past life, Gelion was known as the Soul Blacksmith.
Now that he had a magic forge, it was only a matter of time before his skills became widely recognized.
'I should bring him over to my side after he gains some more experience.'
Zeke planned to make Gelion his exclusive blacksmith once he established his own base.
"But My Lord, what is the reason for summoning me? Is there something wrong with Bahamut?"
Zeke shook his head.
"There's nothing wrong with Bahamut. I wanted to see you about something else. Let's go."
Zeke led Gelion to his private training ground.
He then said to Gelion, "Gelion, you must never speak of what you see here to anyone."
Gelion nodded.
"Of course, My Lord."
Zeke stepped away from Gelion and transformed the armor he was wearing.
Clank!
Hercyon enveloped Zeke's entire body, changing its form into full-plate armor.
"M-my goodness!"
Gelion gaped at Zeke equipped with Hercyon.
Zeke approached Gelion and said,
"Do you know anything about this armor? I couldn't find any information about it, no matter how hard I looked."
Although he had registered it in the system, even with Dragon's Eye, he couldn't glean any information about the armor.
He had summoned Gelion hoping that identifying the armor might shed light on the identity of Cain, its previous owner.
Gelion examined every nook and cranny of Hercyon with a serious expression.
After a while, he seemed to have figured something out and clicked his tongue.
"Do you know something?"
Gelion nodded.
"I've never seen anything like this. From its construction to the materials, I don't recognize anything."
Zeke was taken aback.
If Gelion, a disciple of the dwarven master Golin, didn't know, who would?
Just as Zeke's concern grew, Gelion corrected himself.
"Ah, My Lord. When I said I don't know, I meant that this artifact is beyond the scope of my knowledge. However, there's something I can infer from that."
"What do you mean?"
"My master taught me everything about items made after the Golden Age."
Zeke looked at Gelion.
"Are you saying this armor was made before the Golden Age?"
"That's what I believe. Judging from the completely new structure, material, and craftsmanship, this couldn't have been made with modern technology. It could be from the era of mythical hero-kings or even an ancient civilization that existed long before."
"Is it that different from the Empire's Hercyon?"
Gelion nodded.
"It's not even comparable. I once assisted my master in working on Hercyon, but this armor's sophistication is unmatched. It's on a completely different level."
"Amazing. Even the Empire's Hercyon costs hundreds of thousands of gold, and this is even more impressive."
Zeke grew even more curious about the identity of Cain, who had possessed such armor.
Gelion asked Zeke, "The material of the armor is truly unique... It's neither mithril nor dragon bone, yet it has such strength and elasticity. Do you know anything about it?"
Zeke seemed to recall something and said to Gelion, "Oh, come to think of it, this armor deflected an Aura Blade."
Gelion's eyes widened in surprise.
"I-is that true?"
"It deflected the Aura Blade I created."
"M-my goodness..."
Zeke didn't understand Gelion's astonishment.
"What's wrong, Gelion? Is that so extraordinary?"
Gelion replied in a trembling voice,
"M-my Lord, there's only one metal in the world that can deflect an Aura Blade."
With an excited expression, he exclaimed, "Only Orichalcum, the metal of the gods!"
[Translator - Peptobismal]
[Proofreader - Max]