A Disaster-Level Assassin Has Been Freed

Chapter 134: Aura Cultivation Method (3)

Those who reached Graduate were said to have achieved a ‘grid.’

Those who reached Master were said to have achieved a ‘color.’

This meant a Sword Master transcended the uniform, attainable realm, entering a world of swordsmanship with their own unique hue.

So, where did a Master’s Color Sword, their ‘color,’ come from?

The nature of their swordsmanship?

The characteristics of their Aura Cultivation Method?

No.

A swordsman’s color, their temperament, didn’t stem from such external factors.

Emotion.

That instinctual force, preceding reason, was the root that defined a Master’s color.

‘……That makes sense.’

Summarizing the book’s content, I slowly nodded.

Without my encounter with a Sword Master, I might have scoffed, wondering what nonsense this was.

But having crossed swords with Heitz of Acanthus, I understood this was a truth remarkably close to reality.

A Color Sword that made even a perfected Aura Sword seem like child’s play.

I had vaguely sensed that the foundation of it was the intense ‘emotion’ consuming Heitz.

‘Cold fury, like ice.’

Emotion could be a powerful motivator for achieving and accomplishing something.

A fiery passion could blaze into great deeds.

Yellow anxiety and urgency could relentlessly drive self-improvement.

Heitz’s sharp vengeance was no different.

Without his cold hatred for the Red Magician, could he have reached the Master level at such a young age?

‘Probably not easily.’

At least, that’s what I thought.

Ironically, his Blue Sword could be said to have been forged by the Red Magician.

Briefly recalling that encounter, I shook my head.

Heitz wasn’t important now. The Aura Cultivation Method was.

Focusing back on the book, I read with intensity.

[Since ancient times, it has been said that the head is closest to human reason, and the heart to human emotion. Some may call it superstition, but the author of this book does not think so.]

[When emotions surge, the blood surges.]

[When emotions roil, the blood flow roils.]

[What organ could represent emotion better than the heart, which pounds like war drums in the heat of emotion, pumping blood and hurling the body into a vortex of feelings?]

[Even if it’s superstition, it doesn’t matter.]

[A fact believed by many carries immense power.]

[So, practitioner… if you wish to reach the Master level faster, to imbue your Aura Sword with your own ‘color’ by manifesting not just Aura but emotion, store your energy in your heart.]

[Even if it is an absurdly difficult task…]

“……Haha.”

I let out a hollow laugh.

I couldn’t help it.

The author, who had tirelessly emphasized the stability and importance of the Aura Hall in the first three-quarters, had stated that it must be sturdy, spacious, and quick to recover, making the lower abdomen the ideal location.

Yet, the final one-quarter presented entirely contradictory content.

Store energy in the heart?

Did they know how vital and dangerous an organ the heart was?

‘……Of course, they knew.’

I nodded again.

Now I understood why they mentioned peak Graduate level and the continent’s top talents.

They were referring to those with the boldness not to fear the risk of their heart bursting during Aura Cultivation and the confidence to trust their own Aura manipulation.

Of course, I wasn’t afraid.

I didn’t hesitate or fear. Instead, I felt my body trembling with growing excitement.

‘If there’s a way to grow stronger faster, that’s even better.’

High risk, high return.

My favorite phrase.

That’s why I accepted the Cursed Sword from Collector Neumann.

Why I dove without hesitation into the danger-filled ancient dungeon.

Why I showed interest in demon summoning, feared by all.

This time was no different.

“Let’s start now.”

With firm resolve, I steeled my mind aloud, recalling the final verses of the Aura Cultivation Method, and pulled something from my pocket.

Two elixirs.

Trophies from defeating the 13th Black Hydra while escorting Sheratiya’s merchant caravan last year.

‘Let’s see how effective they are.’

With that thought, I swallowed the two elixirs and sat cross-legged.

Palms and soles facing upward.

The easiest posture to absorb the world’s energy, a fundamental movement of the Aura Cultivation Method.

In that state, I remained motionless, sinking into my own world.

There were no crises.

No obstacles, no hurdles.

A talent far surpassing the author’s expectations and an unwavering mind made it possible.

For about three days, I focused solely on reshaping my body, immersed in my inner world.

Zuuuung…

Woo-woo-woo-woong—!

Finally, I succeeded in creating twenty Aura Roads and one Aura Hall.

The location of the Aura Hall?

No need to ask.

“Hm… Not bad.”

Having anchored the Aura Hall in my heart, I smiled with joy.

* * *

An hour after imprinting the Aura Cultivation Method in my body, I couldn’t help but grin broadly at my transformed physical state.

Was it the effect of the elixirs?

Or the efficacy of the Aura Cultivation Method?

I couldn’t tell which was more significant, but I felt a dramatic increase in my total Aura.

In truth, compared to my level, my Aura reserves had been on the lower side.

It was inevitable. I had built my energy through grueling training and real combat without the aid of an Aura Cultivation Method, and my young age meant I lacked absolute time.

But now, things were different.

And they would continue to be.

Realizing I could accumulate energy far faster than before, I began to consider revamping my swordsmanship accordingly.

‘So far, I’ve only used techniques that minimize Aura waste. But if I have plenty of Aura, I could employ more powerful techniques, even if they’re less efficient.’

My mind kept racing. Numerous inspirations filled my head, further expanding my possibilities and bringing me more joy.

But not everything was pleasant.

There was still one unresolved mystery.

‘Why is there energy in my heart (Aura Hall) that I can’t control?’

It wasn’t as if half my energy was locked away.

More accurately, it felt like I had discovered new Aura, separate from what I had, but it was beyond my control.

This was a first, and I wondered if it might cause problems later.

‘Just in case, I checked the book thoroughly, but there’s no mention of this symptom.’

The only silver lining was that this uncontrollable energy didn’t hinder my Aura manipulation; rather, it seemed to solidify around my heart, the Aura Hall, as if protecting it.

‘Like a shield.’

Of course, that wasn’t entirely good.

It was my body, my Aura. Yet, having something I couldn’t control or understand was bound to cause lingering unease.

Still.

‘Let’s not get hung up on it now.’

I nodded, reaching that conclusion.

I thought it foolish to waste time agonizing over something I couldn’t solve immediately.

‘I’ll ask the Mercenary King or Philip Portville later. That old man’s knowledgeable too.’

With that decision, I checked my appearance.

I looked like a beggar.

Truly, I reeked, and my body was filthy, as if covered in grime.

It was shocking, beyond just not washing for a few days, but I remained calm.

It was mentioned in the book.

‘It said that when first practicing the Aura Cultivation Method, waste from the body might be expelled as the Aura Roads are opened.’

No wonder I felt refreshed.

But that feeling didn’t last long, replaced by an urgent need to wash.

“Alright, let’s go.”

Bang

Thus, after a training session that was long yet short, I left the private training room.

And there, in front of me.

“Congratulations on your achievement!”

“……?”

Darren, the former assassin, appeared.

No, ‘appeared’ wasn’t quite right.

He was there the moment I opened the door, meaning he had likely been waiting for me the whole time.

And that wasn’t all.

“Here’s water for washing your face.”

“……Thanks.”

“There’s a towel too. Oh! And since you’ll need a proper bath, I’ve heated water, so follow me.”

“……”

Why was this guy acting like this?

Suspicion crept into my mind.

Darren always tried to curry favor with me, but today it was excessive.

It felt like he wanted something.

But I didn’t dwell on it. As he said, I desperately needed a bath right now.

“Thank you.”

After thanking him again and following Darren to finish my bath, he appeared before me once more.

This time, not alone.

Eddy, Pale, Kennedy, Thomas, Glen.

All those closely connected to me showed up, dragging me to a dinner gathering.

“What’s with all this food?”

“Haha, it’s nothing. This much is only natural.”

“Of course. It’s the day our Boss mastered the Aura Cultivation Method, the Aura Cultivation Method! It’s worth celebrating.”

“Right. Shall we toast to our Boss and the Aura Cultivation Method?”

“……”

‘These guys want to learn the Aura Cultivation Method!’

I finally realized.

Understanding why they were acting so out of character, I gave a wry smile tinged with pity.

‘It can’t be learned below Graduate level.’

To be precise, it wasn’t impossible—just not recommended.

But I planned to follow the author’s advice and have the mercenaries stick to physical training and sparring.

While the Aura Cultivation Method’s benefits were significant, the potential for its drawbacks to cause problems later weighed on my mind.

“Hm!”

Then, a sudden thought flashed through my mind, and I shot up from my seat.

“Boss?”

“Harang Boss?”

“Why so sudden…”

“Just a moment, I have something to do.”

“What do you mean…”

“I understand your expectations and interest in the Aura Cultivation Method. But it’s not possible right now.”

“What? Aura Cultivation Method? Haha, what are you…”

“Come on, we weren’t thinking that at all.”

“Of course not. How could we shamelessly ask for something so precious…”

The Eddy Mercenary Corps played it off.

Darren was the worst, waving his hands as if he had no ulterior motives.

But I wasn’t fooled.

I said, “You really don’t need it?”

“……”

“……”

“……”

“Stay quiet. I’ll figure out a way.”

With that, I grabbed a chicken leg and left the dinner table.

Darren, dazed for a while after I left, muttered to himself, “Is this… actually possible?”