I checked my physical condition.

"Alright."

The body is the vessel of ki. It was a half-broken vessel, but thanks to the various priests who came to treat me with all their heart day after day, the vessel was quickly mended. Not only that, but I also devoted all my spare time to training and succeeded in bringing my physical condition to its peak.

I can guarantee it. I am currently in the prime of my 28-year life. I can be sure of it.

As they say, the ground hardens after the rain. The vessel has hardened into a perfect form. It couldn't be any harder than this.

[...Pathetic fool.]

The Heavenly Demon didn't seem to agree, as he wasn't very satisfied, but what did it matter? My whole body is overflowing with strength.

Right now, I am the strongest. I feel like I could even beat the shit out of that terrifying Frost.

[Tsk, tsk...]

There is no time more perfect than this. I conveyed my intention to visit tomorrow to Frost's messenger, who had come to rush me again today. I told him to wipe his neck and wait, so he should have understood well.

As promised before, I formed an expedition party to raid his place together. Sir Ashley of the Golden Flash, who had recovered long ago but had stayed in the hospital room under the pretext of guarding me. And Sir Fluffy, the master of the demon sword Vlad, who had rushed over after taking a vacation as soon as I told him.

And two others. Sir Walpole and Linda. Since Frost hadn't limited the number of people, I decided to take these two along as well.

We took the carriage sent by Frost early in the morning and headed to his mansion.

Clop, clop. Jingle, jingle.

With the snorting of the horses, the carriage headed to the outskirts of Valeria. The bustling city grew distant, and the carriage ran along a quiet dirt road.

Linda, who had been looking out the window, looked at me.

"Devil."

"What."

"Why isn't Shushruta coming?"

"I don't know. She'll come on her own when the time is right."

"Aww..."

When they were together, they were at each other's throats, but now that she wasn't here, Linda was completely dejected. There was still no news from Shushruta. What on earth was she doing?

Now that my body has fully recovered, I can leave as soon as the Black Prince finishes his preparations... If Shushruta doesn't come, I plan to leave just like this. Maybe this kind of farewell is better.

"Lord Ashuban."

I looked at Walpole.

"What is it, our ace of the Stavanger Knights, the treasure of the knight order, the strong-hearted man who was fine even after his arm was cut off, the immortal Sir Walpole whose arm has reattached."

Walpole, who had been repeatedly clenching and unclenching his fist, chuckled as he looked at me.

"Yes, that's right. That's me."

Sir Walpole's severed arm had been perfectly reattached thanks to quick first aid, and now, on the outside, there were no problems. He still had to consistently do rehabilitation exercises as his senses hadn't fully returned, but it could be seen as a very positive state.

"What exactly did the Knight of Frost say when he invited you?"

Walpole, who had been absent at the time receiving treatment for his severed arm, asked as if he was curious about Frost's invitation.

I answered nonchalantly.

"He just told me to come over for a cup of tea."

"Wow... The Knight of Frost asked you for tea?"

Walpole, unable to imagine such a scene, kept exclaiming things like "Wow... Wow...".

Ashley, who was sitting in a stiff posture, warned Walpole in a sharp tone.

"It was Lord Ashuban who was invited, not us. We are just following as attendants. Refrain from your words and actions so as not to cause any trouble by getting unnecessarily excited."

"Yes, Commander."

But even Sir Ashley couldn't keep her hands still, as if she was nervous deep down.

Whether that was the case or not, Sir Fluffy was sitting upright with his hand on the hilt of Vlad, performing the Mana Circulation Breathing. A red energy swirled around Sir Fluffy. It seemed he had been practicing it whenever he had a chance since I taught him the Mana Circulation Breathing.

This is a different story, but the Mana Circulation Breathing I had preached was spreading like a trend among the people around me. Sir Walpole would often sit cross-legged on his hospital bed and do the Mana Circulation Breathing when he was bored, and Sir Ashley, who had been watching with interest, also asked me to teach her and learned the Mana Circulation Breathing. It naturally spread to the Black Knights who were guarding the hospital room. To the point where the doctors and priests who came into the hospital room once in a while were surprised to see them all sitting cross-legged in a group.

Even Shushruta seemed to like it quite a bit, as I could often find her sitting cross-legged before she left.

I waited for Sir Fluffy's Mana Circulation Breathing to end, and after confirming that he had finished and opened his eyes, I spoke to him.

"Sir Fluffy."

"What is it."

Fluffy's red eyes stared at me. Two men with red eyes were staring at each other. Linda, finding it strange, tilted her head and looked back and forth between me and Fluffy.

"Have you made any progress?"

Fluffy nodded.

"I have."

Fluffy's eyes, as he said that, seemed even calmer than before. In many ways, he was the polar opposite of Vlad.

"Is Vlad quiet? He's not resisting?"

"He still tries to rebel whenever he sees an opportunity, but I'm calming him down by talking to him."

"Talking to him?"

"It's thanks to the Mana Circulation Breathing."

So he was saying that he was suppressing, talking to, and beating up the creature every day with the Mana Circulation Breathing.

"...I'm not beating him up."

"How can you not beat him up?"

I had my doubts, but I thought that perhaps it was because he didn't beat him up that Sir Fluffy was able to handle Vlad. It seems that sometimes, the rod is not the answer. He was said to be doing the Mana Circulation Breathing every single day, and so, day by day, Fluffy was taming the beast-like Vlad.

As the preacher of the Mana Circulation Breathing, it was news that I couldn't help but be proud of.

The Heavenly Demon nagged.

[Learn from him.]

"No, why? I also practice energy circulation more fiercely than anyone."

[I'm telling you to learn from that calmness.]

"Master. I also read the room. When it's time to be calm, I'm a man who becomes scarily calmer than anyone."

The Heavenly Demon snorted.

[As if.]

I collected testimonies.

"Sir Walpole."

"Yes?"

"I'm calm when it's time to be calm, right?"

"Uh..."

When I looked at Sir Ashley, she naturally looked out the window, avoiding my gaze. Fluffy went back into his Mana Circulation Breathing, and Linda, after glancing at me, stuck her head out the window.

"...."

The carriage ran for a long time and arrived at a quiet village. In the distance, a mountain with clouds hanging over it could be seen, and it was a beautiful place with fields of yellow flowers in full bloom on both sides of the road. The sight, buried in the colors of nature, was pleasing to the eye.

Surprisingly, Frost was enjoying a leisurely and peaceful country life.

The people tilted their heads, wondering what was going on as the fancy carriage passed through the village. They looked very peaceful.

I asked Sir Ashley, who was still fixing her gaze out the window.

"Have you been here before?"

"No. I didn't even know the Knight of Frost lived in a place like this."

Simple and cozy wooden houses were gathered here and there, forming a small village. It was a village with a very calm atmosphere.

It was impossible not to know where Frost's house was. Because there was a huge mansion situated behind the village.

Jingle, jingle.

I was lost in thought as I looked at the approaching mansion. Frost is not a man to invite someone over for a tea time. Even though I had only seen him a few times, that was certain. But why did he show such an unexpected behavior towards me, as if he was desperate to invite me? His obsessive side was enough to surprise not only me but others as well.

Walpole would joke about his strange behavior, saying, "Maybe he's in love?" and would get a glare from Ashley.

Anyway, it was clear that I would soon find out the reason.

The main gate opened, and we entered the spacious courtyard of the mansion. When we got out of the carriage and looked around, flowers in full bloom greeted us. It was a beautiful garden with various colors of flowers blooming in harmony. I thought that whoever the gardener was, they were no ordinary talent. It could have felt excessive, but since it was blooming so harmoniously, it was just beautiful.

Just then, the gardener who was tending to the flowers approached the carriage. He was wearing a mask that covered his nose and mouth, but his eyes were shining coldly, so I could recognize him at a glance. It would be hard to find someone who looked as bad in overalls as he did. He was wearing so many layers of clothes that only his eyes were visible, and he was even wearing thick gloves.

Frost, who had transformed into a gardener, took off the gloves he was wearing and threw them on the ground, then took off his mask and approached us.

"You've come."

Seeing the gloves fall with a thud, they were no ordinary thickness.

I stared at Frost blankly.

"Why did you suddenly become a gardener?"

Frost answered curtly.

"It's a hobby."

His appearance looked somewhat awkward, so I looked him up and down and suddenly realized that his waist was empty.

"Where's Frostblade?"

"It's in the mansion."

"You don't wear it?"

"I'm keeping my distance from it."

"Why?"

"I was advised to do so."

And the way he stared at me blankly, I could guess who had given him that advice.

"...."

Did the Heavenly Demon not spare his advice even to a guy who was already monstrously strong? Having received the Heavenly Demon's advice, he must have become even stronger than before. Frost, who had faithfully carried out the Heavenly Demon's advice, was not what I had expected. What should I do?

My plan to beat up Frost was in jeopardy. No, come to think of it. But why did this guy obediently accept the advice given by an enemy?

[Tsk, tsk... pathetic fool.]

"...."

Frost's gaze turned to behind me. Sir Ashley quickly got into position and greeted him with a sharp salute.

"Ashley Grandlender of the Stavanger Knights."

Frost nodded.

"I know."

Then he looked at her outstretched hand and said.

"Let's skip the handshake. My hands are cold."

"Ah, yes."

Sir Ashley awkwardly retracted her hand.

Frost substituted a nod for Walpole and Linda, then turned his gaze to the last person who had gotten out of the carriage.

"The master of the demon sword."

Sir Fluffy met Frost's gaze with his lake-like calm eyes.

"It is an honor to meet the Knight of Frost, whom I have only heard of. I am Roetgel Göbekli."

Frost answered curtly.

"Serkov Wintermeier."

The owners of the two famed swords exchanged a brief, unreadable glance.

Frost turned his body and led us.

"Follow me. Let's have a cup of tea."

And so, the place he led us to already had a waiting guest.

A well-built old man with completely white hair looked at me with a hearty laugh.

"You've come. Devil of the Red Eyes."

"...."

I stared at him for a moment, then looked at Frost.

"Isn't that the former king?"

Frost nodded.

"That's right."

"Why is that old man here?"

Frost narrowed his eyes.

"Watch your language."

The King laughed heartily and stopped Frost.

"Don't mind him. It's more comfortable without the formalities."

Then he looked at me and said.

"How about it, do you like tea?"

The old king who had ruled the Blake Kingdom for a long time and had now stepped down from the throne. A strange light flashed in his eyes.

"...Shit."

I had a bad feeling. I felt Frost's sharp gaze from the side, but I ignored it.

***

I looked at the teacup in front of me, which was steaming. It was a strangely blue tea, an ominous tea that reminded me of Linda's tea party.

"What are you doing? Not drinking."

"You first."

The old king laughed heartily and drank the tea. Only after confirming that there was no poison did I taste the tea.

"Hmm."

"How is it?"

"It's not undrinkable."

The old king chuckled. Surprisingly, the taste wasn't bad.

"It's butterfly pea flower tea."

"What? Butterfly pea flower? What are you planting?"

"Butterfly pea flower. I said, butterfly pea flower tea."

"Ah. Butterfly pea flower. I know it well."

"...Keuk, keuk."

I looked at the old king, who kept chuckling for some reason. To think that I would be drinking tea with the king of Blake. You live and you learn. How could I have known a day like this would come? The little kid from the dirty back alleys has made it big.

Now I understood why Frost had rushed me so much. The king must have ordered him to bring me.

The old king brought the tea to his lips, then put it down on the table and looked at me.

"You seem to have fully recovered."

"That's right."

"That third son of mine seems to be trying to make you his knight. Did you accept?"

I shook my head.

"Who would want to be the knight of that insidious guy?"

"Everyone except you. It's a great honor."

I snorted.

"Honor, my ass."

"You don't seem to pursue honor?"

"Does honor feed me?"

Despite my rather rude words and actions, the old king just smiled good-naturedly.

"Interesting. You're not interested in honor or fame. Then why did you help my third son?"

"It's my business. Got a problem with it?"

The old king said in a soft tone.

"You're going to leave soon anyway, aren't you?"

"...Why do you think so?"

"It's only natural. You are not a being to be subordinate to one country."

I stared at the old king.

"Do you know me?"

"Not well."

"...."

"My third son must have already realized that he can't tie you down. So allow him at least a small string. It seems he wants to hold on to at least a minimal connection."

"...We'll see."

The old king smiled brightly.

"Yes. That's enough."

He was a man who was hard to get used to in many ways. It would be nice if he acted like an enemy if he was an enemy, and like an ally if he was an ally.

I scratched my head and asked.

"What should I call you?"

"Feel free to call me Eskel."

"Alright, Eskel."

"Keuk, keuk."

I feel like I can feel Frost's glare from far away. Still, that seemed too disrespectful, so I decided to compromise with "old man."

"So, old man. Why did you want to see me?"

The old king smiled at me.

"I wanted to tell you an old story."

An unreadable light sparkled in his eyes, which held the weight of time.

"It will be a long story."

(End of Chapter)