## Chapter 191 – Mana Man Kim Kat
Those days of training passed in such a way.
Contrary to my worries, Karin didn’t do anything particularly harmful to me, nor did she mention the incident much. She just diligently gave me private lessons.
Though physical contact subtly increased.
No, she kept trying to touch my thing playfully.
Anyway, as soon as sword training was over, I immediately worked on my body. Training with Sheath, who had become a gym rat, whenever our schedules aligned made it even more efficient. I should teach him the basic concepts of machoism soon. He has the qualities of a macho man.
I still couldn’t feel an accurate sense of mana.
But was it the influence of mana? Recently, I felt like my stamina had improved. I could run more than before, and I felt stronger than my muscle mass would suggest.
And they said my swordsmanship itself had become sharper.
The mana that permeated my body had the effect of strengthening it.
When I returned to the lodgings, I immediately put on the circlet. I was worried about side effects, but after using it for almost two weeks, it seemed there weren’t any. There’s no way Risha would give me a defective product in the first place.
“I’m here.”
—I was slowly getting a grasp of the inner world.
Beyond simply recalling the past and reliving those sensations, I could now directly summon illusions and phantasms.
It was simple.
This was my inner world, so it was only natural that everything I had experienced up to now was stored here.
“I said, I’m here.”
I’m no longer naked.
I put on the armor from the real world and focused my consciousness.
—Swish.
Then, as if a flower were blooming in front of me, a dryad appeared.
It was the wicked dryad who had driven our party to the brink of annihilation during the promotion battle. A being who eventually succumbed to the power of science. The bitter scent of blood flowers settled, and petals flew in from somewhere.
—Shaaaash…!
Green skin and radiant golden hair. A large-breasted, nature-type female monster who covered her body with underwear made of leaves. I summoned it based on my experience. I couldn’t remember everything, so her face was blurry.
But it didn’t matter.
Her face wasn’t important.
What was important was her combat power.
“Combat experience. That’s what’s important.”
—Shaaaaa…!
The dryad, with her long nails, bared her fangs and screamed at me. I don’t know what she’s saying. She’s just a being I summoned directly from past experiences. I point my sword and command, “Come.”
—Paaat!
She rushed at me immediately.
The same speed as I remembered.
Fast.
Very fast.
I’ve leveled up in my own way, but that speed still felt fast. However. She’s an opponent I’ve already beaten once. I know her weaknesses, and above all, I know she lacks power.
—Shaat!
Quick attack, I couldn’t avoid it completely. Her nails grazed my body, scratching the breastplate. It doesn’t have the power to cut through the iron plate… but if I can take the attack with my equipment, then I’ll just take it.
That’s why I bring equipment.
“That’s your limit.”
—Thwack!
If I know the attack won’t work, there’s no reason to be scared.
I reached out and grabbed her by the neck and slammed a knee strike into her abdomen. —Shaat…! The dryad groaned. I put the weight of my body into it, slammed her into the ground, and stabbed my sword into her neck.
“If you know how to deal with it, you can kill it faster.”
To kill the dryad more perfectly, I repeated that battle over and over. Even if I encounter another dryad later, I’ll be able to deal with it without having to awaken as a fire magic swordsman.
“Next, Bulverza.”
—Cheeeeeek!!!
A gate to the arena, which had been created at some point, opened, and Bulverza walked out. A body covered in fortress-like solid muscles. And a hand axe and club stained with the blood of prisoners. Green skin symbolizing absolute evil.
It was the orc gladiator Bulverza.
—A formidable foe.
“You are strong.”
—Cheeeeeek!!!
Bulverza, being a gladiator, had no hesitation.
“But.”
He rushed at me immediately. In the arena, I had used the peerless martial arts of the Flying Meteor Shot and the Demonic Divine Art simultaneously to achieve victory, but since I couldn’t die in the inner world, I decided not to use those methods.
—Cheek!
“Even without using martial arts.”
Bulverza, who had rushed in, swung his hand axe. —Swoosh! An explosive strike erupting from muscles honed by murder. Fast. It’s hard to follow with the eye. He was old, but he had the skills that came with age.
“Now I win.”
Bulverza has a problem with his eyes.
But I don’t want to take advantage of that.
I dodge the hand axe and use the long distance to thrust my sword. Of course, the attack is blocked. Bulverza was a master. But I was stronger than when I was a gladiator in the arena.
—Cheek!
“Slow.”
Bulverza, who blocked the attack with his hand axe, charged in and swung his club. He’s coming in? Then I have to back away as much as possible. I create distance, avoid the club, and this time I take a step in and slash with my sword.
I pretend to struggle for strength, then pull out my sword and take his life. To do this, I need to make a slightly bold decision, but as I said, I don’t die here.
Boldness.
That leads to victory.
—Chee, cheeeeeet…!
Bulverza, his neck half-severed, fell. “Not enough.” I summoned Bulverza again. The dead Bulverza turned to ashes and disappeared, and a new Bulverza walked out of the arena entrance.
“Come at me.”
I fight,
—And fight again.
“Not enough.”
—Cheeeeeek!!!!
I summoned Bulverza and fought and fought again until I was satisfied. Each time, my sword became sharper and more deadly. But? Still not enough. I couldn’t satisfy this craving.
“Come out! Bulverza!”
I keep fighting Bulverza!
I want blood!
“Kieeeeeeeeeeeeeeekㅡ!!!”
Repeated battles!
—Clang!
Soaring passion!
—Cheek!
Courage! And strength!
All of those things permeated me, and my senses expanded! I can feel the mana! More clearly than yesterday, and the day before! A crimson mana bubbled and overflowed throughout my body as if I could grab it!
Of course, I can only know this because it’s the inner world.
I still couldn’t properly feel the mana in reality…!
More!
I need to get more used to it!
I’ve killed Bulverza enough to be sick of him now.
I need a new opponent.
“Next. Kobold Guardian.”
—Kugugugugugu!!!
The ground cracked.
What could be seen through the cracks was the darkness of the abyss.
From the depths of the deepest subconscious, the cursed, roaring Kobold Guardians crawled out. —Kwoong! —Kyusat! Their number was one, no. Two, three, four, five!
Alright! Come all of you!
“Come at me!”
And attack me!
—Kyoooooooaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
—Kyuuuuuusaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
—Kyuuuuuuuuuuㅡ!!!!!!!!!!!!
—Kyusasasasasa!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
—Kyooooooosaaaaaaaat!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Five guardians led their massive bodies and rushed at me. The shouts filled the inner world! Thump, thump, thump! As the huge muscle masses, each over 2 meters tall, ran, it felt like I would be overwhelmed!
But!
You guys can’t beat me!
“I am a Sword Saint.”
Imagining myself as the strongest.
“Kim Kat.”
I gathered mana.
At the same time, the same sensation as when I cut the orc in half surged through my fingertips. —Chwaat! An unbelievably overflowing power. An imperceptible, transcendent speed.
Thus, the path to enlightenment.
That was the power of mana, and my potential.
I take a step and swing my sword.
“Extreme Moon Slash.”
The trajectory of the sword,
Was not visible.
—Skeong.
Only the crimson, undulating energy.
Cut through space.
「 “””””Kyuuuuuuuuuu!!!!””””” 」
The five guardians were cut in half as they were, scattering their innards. They, who had been running, were split in two and screamed in agony as they crashed to the ground. They poured out blood, simultaneously turned into black ash, and scattered away.
Even beings from the darkness of the abyss could not defeat me!
“Absolute power!”
This is the power of mana!
Absolute force!
The primal power that allows humans to transcend humanity and reach God!
That is mana!
“Manaㅡyeah!!!!”
Kwooooooooㅡ!!!! My positive scream echoed in the inner world. The sound was reflected off the massive walls and traveled in all directions. What did those sounds awaken? —Sssst!
“This place.”
The jar of solitude was empty.
Then what was inside it?
“Was already a manufacturing vat of solitude.”
—Putsuchut.
—Kigik.
—Kirikkirik.
—Keureuk!
—Tsuchuchu…!
—Kkadeudeuk.
—Kyutkyut.
—Sseuseuk!
—Sseureureum.
—Kigigigik!
—Kihyuk!
—Gagagak.
All around.
No, in all directions. No! In all existing directions!
Hundreds, thousands, tens of thousands of red eyes glared at me!
“Come at me, solitude.”
—Pacheuchut!!
It was a collection of cursed insects. Too small to be cut with a sword. They were too small and too fast, so I had to fend them all off one by one.
Impossible.
But that’s why it’s training.
Overcoming the impossible by colliding with it!
That’s my way, Kim Kat!
“Eat my bodyㅡ!!!!”
—Kieeeeeeeeeeeek!!!! I cut and cut again! Training that requires a high degree of concentration and accuracy! The insects, born from my childhood trauma, mercilessly tore my body apart!
“Die! Vermin!”
I fend them all off. Lost in battle and ecstasy, I just screamed and swung my sword wildly. A being I can’t cut? Not many.
A being I can’t kill?
Still not many.
Because I am Sword Saint Kim Kat!
—At that time, a mountain was built with the corpses of insects.
At the same time, the world began to brighten.
It had become ‘time’.
“…Too bad.”
With half of my body eaten away, I returned to reality.
“…”
More.
I want to do more.
But to do more, I needed to recover my mental and physical strength through regular exercise and sleep…! —Ppudeuk! My teeth grinded! How can I be so weak! Have I still not escaped my childhood trauma…! Kim Kat!
A longing for greater power!
When I couldn’t satisfy that, other desires raged.
—Sexual desire!
“I am Erection King Kim Kat!”
“Oh my.”
“…Darkie.”
I indulged in Claudie and Winia until I was satisfied and fell into a deep sleep. Then a refreshing morning greeted me. Was it because I had cleaned up my devastated inner world? The darkness was short, and the dreamless sleep sharpened my mind more than anything else.
There was no fatigue.
I was intoxicated with mana.
No.
With martial arts.
I was intoxicated with martial arts…!
“Look! The secret technique I’ve completed!”
“Hoh?”
I mix the enlightenment from the inner world into my sword.
Of course, it was an unfamiliar sensation. It didn’t work well, but my sword became faster than before, and it was gradually transforming into something deadly.
“Not bad? At this rate, you’re at the level of a mercenary who’s been around for quite a while. You can make a living anywhere now.”
“Is that so?”
Karin praised me.
Even I thought that the slash just now had touched the ‘Sword Saint’ himself. I was worried that I might cut the sky with it. If the sky collapses, humans cannot live. That is the end, and those who have not become Buddhas when the end comes will not be able to survive.
“What if I become a Sword Master like this!”
“Bullshit. How many of those are there in the country.”
Sword Master.
A being who has overwhelmed the ultimate in swordsmanship.
Why is that?
Now it seemed very small. To put it coldly, I am a Heavenly Demon. Isn’t a Heavenly Demon a being above a master of swordsmanship? Then it will be only a matter of time before I become a Sword Master.
Certainly.
This mana energy will be more than enough to make that possible…!
I am the cutter, Kim Kat!
“You’re thinking about some crazy shit again, aren’t you? Go do some physical training.”
“Tch, it was good just now…”
Training in reality was a little frustrating.
It didn’t go as well as I thought, and I felt clear limits. But it’s important to train my body. It’s a little frustrating, but I can relieve it by running.
That’s the runner’s high.
Feeling the limits of reality.
Doesn’t that mean that I know myself better than anything else? As much as I feel the limits, I can gauge my skills more accurately and calmly.
If the limit is broken,
I will know immediately.
—Repetition of everyday life.
I just focus on training without anything special happening.
Now was the most important time for me. They say that opportunities come three times in life. If you miss them, you’ll be a cripple forever. I couldn’t live as a cripple anymore.
Because I’m not a cripple!
Knowing that, Claudie and Winia were considerate of me. Now they both worked or did other things individually and returned to the lodgings around evening. Claudie was happy with my growth, and Winia was just Winia.
If she didn’t like something, she just got annoyed and beat me up.
What, what?
Really?
Ah, damn it, I got hit again today.
