30 Years After Reincarnating, It Turns Out This World Was A Rofan?!-Chapter 238: The Knight Dislikes the Chaos (1)
Whoosh!
The wind blew.
A cool and pleasant forest breeze.
Though a bit chilly due to the season, the scent of the wind was not unpleasant.
Perhaps because it had rained at dawn, the smell of rain was also mixed in, a scent he quite enjoyed.
"Hmm?"
Amidst the wind, a sweet fragrance wafted past his nose.
It was an intoxicating scent, different from the sweetness of sugar, and he began to move towards the source of the fragrance.
Whisk, whisk!
Navigating through a forest filled with natural traps like steep paths, rocks, vines, and mud puddles, he moved as freely as a four-legged beast.
His muscular body suggested slow movements, but in reality, his motions were quicker and lighter than any animal's.
And when he arrived,
Buzz! Buuzz!
Bees were flying around.
It was surprising to see bees still active in this weather, but in Pendragon, it was nothing out of the ordinary.
Perhaps due to the influence of <Mystique>, this southern region teemed with mystical creatures like spirit insects, spirit trees, and others.
The bees, diligently working even in autumn, were likely a type of spirit insect.
Buzzz??
The bees' movements showed confusion.
Indeed, as spirit insects, they displayed an organized march unlike typical bees.
"I feel a bit sorry."
It was somewhat regrettable.
Normally, one wouldn’t expect to encounter a human in such a deep and dangerous forest, but here was one on a 'light stroll.'
The bees, having their habitat discovered, would likely seek a new home once this crisis passed.
Even for Pendragon, where autumn was long, it wasn’t wise for the bees to relocate at this time.
He said,
"Moving isn't the best plan."
Buzz!?
He attempted a conversation.
"I'm not sure you'll understand, but I advise you to stay here. You may not trust me, but I want nothing from you, nor am I interested in your honey. My lips aren't loose enough to speak of this."
Buzzz...
"It’s up to you to trust me... What am I even doing, talking to bees."
Attempting to converse with bees, anyone else might think him mad.
"...Take care."
Feeling a bit of self-reproach, he quickly turned to leave.
But then,
Buzz!
"Huh?"
Buzz-!
"Are you, are you giving this to me?"
Buzz.
"...Living life twice, and now I'm receiving bribes from bees."
With a chuckle, Ihan scratched his cheek as he received a piece of honeycomb from the bees.
He had boasted of experiencing all sorts of strange things in his life, but it seemed that wasn't quite true.
"...It’s Mokcheong."
Among wild honeys, Mokcheong is renowned along with Seokcheong as one of the finest.
Moreover, this Mokcheong honey was from a spirit insect bee.
Even Mokcheong honey was valuable, but the honey from a spirit insect bee held an exceptionally rare worth.
It was as if he had stumbled upon gold on the roadside.
But from Ihan’s perspective,
"...Take it back. It feels like I’m extorting you, man."
Buzz?
"It's not that I dislike it, I really am okay."
Buzzz...
"No, don’t be disappointed... Damn, what am I doing talking with bees?"
Why was he, of all people, having a standoff with bees here?
Unable to comprehend the baffling situation, Ihan eventually had to accept the Mokcheong.
Saying,
"I'll bring a gift when I visit this path again as thanks."
Buzz?
"Maybe a potion or perhaps I'll teach a skill?"
Buzzz??
"Enjoy your meal, anyway."
With that, Ihan swiftly descended the mountain, and the bees watched him go for a long time.
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Buzz!
***
Drip!
"What's this? Why is it so delicious...?"
Ihan had tasted Mokcheong honey a few times before, but this was a completely different level of flavor.
The fragrance of flowers filled his mouth, but it wasn’t just the taste—he suddenly felt a vitality coursing through his body, almost like the effects of a potion.
True to being a spirit insect, the honey wasn’t just ordinary—it was exceptional.
As he was marveling at the taste and effects of the honey,
Rustle.
“Enjoying something delicious all by yourself, are you?”
A silver-haired woman, who had approached without him noticing, chided him.
“Why are you here?” “Why are you coming out of there?” “It’s a shortcut?” “Are you out of your mind? Do you know how many monsters and poisonous creatures are in that forest?” “If monsters appear, I’ll just catch them, and thanks to the fairy lady, I'm immune to poison, so I should be fine.” “Immune, what?”
“Forget it, just try some honey.” “No, listen to me—Oh! What is this!?”
Felicia, a sword sage who had been invited to dine on countless delicacies at many royal and noble houses, was now clapping her hands in amazement over mere honey.
Ihan shrugged, hinting that she shouldn’t ask too much about the source of the honey.
He felt a duty to protect the bees from this monster.
Lest she wreck the ecosystem in her quest for more honey.
Felicia, though initially delighted by the taste, soon coughed to cover her embarrassment.
“Ahem, and why would you come through such a forest path? Just take the road like everyone else.” “The road is a waste of time. Coming through the forest saves me three hours, so it’s better.”
Felicia often found herself saying this about Ihan during the ten days they had spent together.
“You could just stay in our domain instead of going back and forth.” “I’m not unemployed. I actually have a job, and I’m even considering an offer to become a professor.” “Hah.” “I come here for tutoring in my free time. I don’t have time to focus only here.” “...”
Defining Felicia’s teachings as 'tutoring' was something that even she couldn’t respond to immediately.
“...If the knights of the kingdom heard that, they would beat you up.” “Wouldn’t they be the ones getting beaten?”
“You cheeky fellow, trying to win an argument with an old man like this?”
It was bizarre that she, seemingly ageless, kept muttering complaints.
But still.
“At least, you keep your promises, I have to admit you're diligent.” Felicia couldn’t deny his honesty, though she was puzzled by his carefree demeanor.
“You seem to have slimmed down.” “Damn it.” “Ahem.”
Ihan immediately grimaced as being slim was hardly a compliment for him.
Why?
“I think I’ve lost about 2kg of muscle.” It was muscle, not fat, that he had lost.
Ihan felt downcast.
“20g, probably. You’re exaggerating.”
“20g might as well be as sad as gold slipping through my fingers.”
“Don’t be so dramatic.”
“You don’t understand this feeling.”
“Is it really that sad?”
“...”
Ihan looked at Felicia incredulously as she posed such an uncharacteristic question.
‘Of course, that monster would.’
Sword Sage Felicia, in Ihan’s view,
‘Doesn’t understand human, or rather, a bodybuilder’s heart.’
***
“For the time being, refrain from training that strains your body.” Ihan was forbidden from training by Felicia.
Moreover, not straining his body meant...
“Are you saying not to do strength training?” “Yes.” “If I skip even a day, I lose muscle, you know?” “Hmm? And that’s a problem?” “...We’re not communicating, are we?”
It was like a bolt from the blue for him.
He might understand if he wasn’t someone who had once spent 18 hours of a 24-hour day exercising.
To him, skipping exercise was akin to being told not to eat, a naturally objectionable proposal, but,
“Try training your mind instead. It will be good for you.” “...What nonsense...”
“Ahem! Watch your language!” “...You sound like a puppy.” “That’s cute, not pretty.” “I’m losing my mind...”
If the opponent hadn’t been the great sword sage known as ‘Sword Sage’, Ihan would have retorted sharply.
“What does mind training even mean at this point...”
Ihan knew that mental training, or imagery training, was somewhat effective. But if asked whether it was better than physical exercise—
Well?
At least, Ihan believed that actual physical training was more beneficial.
Especially since three years of strength training had become a part of his life, to suggest he now do only imaginary training was hard to accept.
“Ahem, you talk too much. This is also a way to train your willpower. Just trust and follow it.” “...Could you explain the theory behind it?” “....” “Hey.” “Ahem, well, my rejuvenation seems to have affected my memory. I know it’s theoretically beneficial, but explaining it in detail is a bit...” “...”
“If it turns out to be ineffective, I stake my name that I’ll compensate you.” “For every 0.1g of muscle lost, a grudge is accrued.” “...”
Ihan decided to go along with this seemingly dubious theory.
Why the subdued resistance?
“...Because she’s the Sword Sage. She wouldn’t cheat.” “I can hear you, brat!” “That’s why I’m saying it.” “Let’s have a little tussle today.” “I won’t decline.”
This time, not branches, but nine wooden swords flying in the sky aimed at him.
“He really is too strong...”
The loser, bound by silence, as if using it as a pretext, Ihan tearfully agreed to follow Felicia’s words.
It really was a prohibition on all training.
Heavy squats, bench presses, and all other exercise equipment were out, and the most he did was walk around and spar with the students.
But even this.
“Stop training and just play! But train only with your mind.” ...Felicia forbade him again, and Ihan had no choice but to stop even sparring.
Instead, he sent the students for civil support, or rather, training, to various damaged temple facilities, skipping training with the students.
And now, roughly five days later...
“What? How is this even possible?”
Surprisingly, although he had lost 20g of muscle,
“Why have my bones gotten stronger?”
Instead, his 'muscle and bone' structure had hardened, which was bewildering.
Clang!
“...I guess I won’t need a hammer for nailing anymore.”
Because he could do it with his fists now.
