REAPER SCANS
Regressing as the Reincarnated Bastard of the Sword Clan
[Translator – Mr.Ghost]
[Proofreader – Harley]
Chapter 72 - Lone Plum Blossom (2)
Theo’s eyes widened.
‘Did he notice my Hatchling Synchro?’
Theo felt that wasn’t quite it, judging by his reaction. However, since it appeared that Trainor knew the reason behind his headache, Theo decided to play dumb.
“What’s a mind gate, sir?”
“Huh? You opened up your mind gate despite not knowing what it is?”
“No, I don’t know.”
“Oho! How is this possible?
“......?”
“I heard that some ‘true geniuses’ are born with their mind gates already open. Is this one of those cases? But this mind gate seems recently opened… How are you unaware of it?”
“Could you please explain it in a way I can understand, sir?”
Trainor brushed his chin for a moment to get his thoughts in order before speaking.
“Hmm… To put it simply, the realm of your mind has expanded, resulting in great improvement to your brain’s function.”
“......!”
“Ah. So you have an idea as to what I’m talking about.”
“Captain, are you by chance saying that Theo has surpassed the ‘wall’?” Evelyn suddenly butted in to ask.
The ‘wall’ she was talking about was the line between a normal human and a superhuman. It was a level that every swordsman aspired to reach. However, most people failed to reach it, the line remaining an unattainable dream for them.
Even within the Ragnar Clan, there were few outside of the Nine Dragons who had managed to surpass the ‘wall’. Evelyn herself had yet to reach this level, but as she was reaching awfully close to the ‘wall’, she had an inkling as to what the beyond was like.
The beyond was not the realm of ordinary beings.
It allowed one to not simply observe the world from a different perspective but also experience time on a different scale. A core component was the greatest mystery of the human body, the brain. Evelyn guessed that the ‘mind gate’ that Trainor mentioned was the door necessary to reach that realm of the brain.
“Of course not. Even the commander of the Black Iron Cavalry only surpassed the wall at the age of twenty, and that was already a miracle. Fifteen is far too young, especially for a trainee swordsman who has freshly completed the Awakening Ceremony,” Trainor shook his head.
“Then what is it…?”
“I think things happened in a different order.”
Evelyn felt like she could finally grasp the situation. “Normal people are only able to open their mind gate after surpassing the wall. Are you saying that Theo was born with his mind gate open?”
“Something like that. Such people end up being called natural-born geniuses. Commander Thorkell is a prime example of this. I heard he exhibited similar traits in his younger years.”
“Then the wall must be easier to surpass for them.”
“Not always.”
“......?”
“People who are born with their mind gates open usually carry a severe side effect.”
Trainor explained that more often than not, it was more of a curse than a blessing. A partially open mind gate could lead to a twisted thinking process, or there could be an imbalance in the body, causing them to be unnaturally weak physically.
“But this child… This doesn’t look like he’s had it since birth. It really feels like it suddenly opened. And, though very slightly, it looks like it’s still opening,” Trainor continued.
His comment resonated with Theo, ‘It must have been the increase in Hatchling Synchro’s rank.’
Increasing the skill’s rank would likely bring him closer to superhuman-hood.
He then remembered what Lodbrok told him, ‘Amon originally meant ‘Hidden Being’, symbolizing all unseen things. Its other name, ‘Om’, is said to be the sound that resonated at the beginning of time and a sacred sound encompassing all vibrations of the universe. Some believe simply chanting it purifies the soul.’
Being able to perceive the sound from the beginning of time would purify the soul, which would lead to the expansion of the mind gate.
‘Amon is the ‘Sound of the Soul’ and the ‘Reverberation of Truth’. By expanding your Spiritual Wavelength, it allows you to understand the essence of things and hear the voices of the thoughts residing within them. Once you reach a certain level, you’ll even be able to hear my voice as well,’ Lodbrok had explained.
The expansion of the spiritual wavelength directly leads to ascension into a higher stage. Theo finally felt like he was slowly approaching Lodbrok’s explanation.
Ba-bump, ba-bump!
His heart fluttered. The idea of becoming stronger was reinvigorating.
“Currently, you have become a really big vessel, far too large compared to the contents. What do you think will happen?” Trainor asked Theo.
“There will be far too much empty space.”
Trainor nodded and continued, “Correct. That means that the contents, rather than being properly stored, will roll around all over the place. This will lead to a lot of confusion for you.”
“…What do you suggest I do then, sir?”
“There’s nothing that can be done. You just have to wait patiently.”
“......!”
“There are only two ways to calm a chaotic inside. The first is to wait until the contents get used to the sudden expansion of the vessel. Time will be the cure. The headache will be intense, but you just have to endure it.”
“…And what’s the other way?”
“It’s a method that’s impossible right now…” Trainor hesitated.
“I’d still like to know what it is, sir,” Theo insisted.
“You have to fill the vessel with enough content to fit the space.”
“......!”
“You’d have to obtain a high level of knowledge or attainment. However, that’s impossible in our current situation.”
Theo grit his teeth, “But… the pain is worsening. At the current rate, I will be useless in the coming enemy onslaught.”
“Do you need to do anything more?”
“......?” Theo was confused. What did Trainor mean by that?
“From what I gathered, you’re a new recruit who not only fulfilled his duties but went above and beyond. You can leave the rest to your fellow comrades and seniors.”
The platoon collectively nodded their heads in agreement.
“Captain Trainor is right.”
“Yeah, you need some rest.”
“You worked hard, rookie. Get some sleep. You’ll be back in Wintera when you wake up.”
“You need to leave us some room to show off as well. Got it?”
Selford even lightly punched Theo in the chest, “Why are you getting so worked up, mentee? Times like this, you need to rely on your mentor. Okay?”
“......” Theo was stunned.
‘…Comrades,’ he thought to himself.
He felt a twinge in his heart.
All this time, he thought he had to take charge and solve everything alone. But he finally realized that wasn’t true.
He was now a member of the White-Armored Dragon Cavalry. The White-Armored Dragon Cavalry was like a family.
‘No, but that’s more reason for me to try harder,’ thought Theo.
This battle was a fight against Ed. He was almost certain that the ones behind the artillery strike were Ed’s lackeys. In order to thwart Ed’s future plans, he had to nip it in the bud.
Retrieving Balmung was an utmost necessity.
‘I can’t tell them about Ed yet. Not only do I not have a way to prove it, but I also can’t share my source of intel with them.’
However, they were now aware that there was a mole within Ragnar. This was a starting point he could work with.
Chomp!
Theo bit down hard on the back of his tongue. The pain and taste of blood jolted his brain. Vigor returned to his eyes.
“Never yield and never retreat. I was taught that those are the core principles of the White-Armored Dragon Cavalry. So, I will continue fighting.”
“Hmm…”
Never yield. Never retreat. They were chants of the White-Armored Dragon Cavalry to represent their indomitable will.
Theo’s mention of their core principles made Trainor chuckle, while Selford and the rest of the platoon were shocked by Theo’s spirit.
Breaking the stun, Evelyn asked, “Captain, could the teachings of a supreme martial expert suffice as content?”
Trainor tilted his head at her sudden inquiry, “There’d be nothing more perfect to fill the increased vessel. However, that’s not possible to get a hold of right now—”
“No, we do have it.”
“......?!”
* * *
Reaper Scans
[Translator – Mr.Ghost]
[Proofreader – Harley]
Join our discord for updates on releases! https://dsc.gg/reapercomics
* * *
Before Trainor could even ask, Evelyn pulled a book out.
“I was keeping it safe because I thought it was too early to give it to you, but this might be the right time.”
Theo was confused by the book he was handed. It was titled, ‘Lone Plum Blossom: Flower on the Edge of a Branch’.
Not sure of what it was, he opened the book.
“......!”
Upon reading the text, he was shocked. This text was a debate between the Sword Dragon Osa and the Demon Dragon Julius over martial theory.
Not only did it contain the tense conversations over the principles behind the swordsmanship they painstakingly crafted throughout their lives, but it even had records of their duels.
Julius: What do you believe the sword is, Sword Dragon?
Osa: I believe the sword is a flower.
Julius: Flower?
Osa: Yes. For a flower to flourish beautifully, it requires a long process. A seed has to fall to the ground, sprout, and grow stems, before it can finally bud. And all the while, you must care so the branch does not snap…
Creating something like this was dangerous as not only could it be used to analyze and compare the swordsmanship of the Sword Dragon and the Demon Dragon but even expose their weaknesses. Despite that, the two exchanged the highest degree of conversation and recorded it.
All for Theo’s sake.
Ba-thump! Ba-thump!
Theo’s heart beat rapidly. He thought back to what Lady Plum Blossom told him during the nomination ceremony, ‘Don’t feel pressured. No matter your decision, I will always support you.’
She had kept her promise to stand by him.
‘Even though I haven’t done anything for them… They continue to help me.’
Julius was the one who taught Theo the fun of swordsmanship, and Lady Plum Blossom was the one who taught him the basics of swordsmanship. They both gave and gave without hesitation.
Thankful for their unconditional support, Theo couldn’t help but close his teary eyes.
[Activating 'Skill: Hatchling Synchro' to read the memories of the item.]
Fwooo!
Suddenly, his vision changed from the dark room.
It was a moonlit night.
Lady Plum Blossom and Julius stood across from each other, engaged in conversation.
“Do you believe this book will be of help to Theo?” Julius asked.
“As it is simply a written account of our conversations, I do worry that he won't understand most of it.”
“Huh? Then what’s the point of making this book?”
“There is a point,” Lady Plum Blossom smiled gently. “It can still serve as a guide…”
“A guide, you say…”
“I’m sure you’re aware, but Theo is far too speedy of a child. When you’re too fast, you can miss many things.”
“True. Some things can only be figured out when you go slow.”
“Indeed. And when you miss essential details, you might end up building a crumbling sandcastle.”
“Commander Thorkell also faced many crises like that.”
“I believe our discussion can provide the necessary foundation for what he might be missing,” Lady Plum Blossom said with a smile that was brighter than ever.
Her concern for Theo was genuine.
Watching her, Julius nodded with a heavy head, “I see your point now. In that case, I will continue to assist the best I can.”
“I do wonder, is there a need for you to go all out on this? Theo’s already a part of your White-Armored Dragon Cavalry.”
“You should know better than anyone, Lady Plum Blossom,” Julius answered with a smirk. “I want to take care of him more now that he is a part of my unit. He’s now family.”
The conversation between the two ended there.
Fwooo!
All of the contents of the Lone Plum Blossom rushed into Theo’s mind.
As it was a record of their conversations, it was easy to transfer the memories directly into his mind. Thanks to that, Theo was able to immediately understand the core of the «Lone Plum Blossom».
The branch signified the sword, and the plum blossom at the edge of the branch signified swordsmanship.
Lady Plum Blossom said that time and effort was required to bloom a beautiful flower. It was the same for swordsmanship.
Without long training and research, it could not progress.
Julius then asked her if she believed that blossoming the flower was the end.
......
......
As their conversation continued, there was more and more that Theo was unable to comprehend. However, thanks to the guidance they provided, the roadblocks that Theo faced so far felt like they were dismantling. He analyzed the «Quadruple Dragon’s Claw» he recently completed from an objective perspective.
At the same time, he felt the killer headache quickly subsiding. It wasn’t just the headache. He also felt his muscle aches disappear. He felt his head quiet as if he had plunged into cold water.
“......”
And from within that silence…
Ba-thump! Ba-thump! Ba-thump!
The only sound he could hear was the robust echoing of his heart.
He could feel the flow of his blood.
It wasn’t just his blood. He could sense the minute details of his entire body. That was when Theo realized that the Body Cleansing Purification wasn’t the end.
His mind gate had expanded to match his transformed body. Now that the increased vessel had become filled with adequate contents, his body was finally at equilibrium.
Mind, body, heart.
It was the balance of the three that mattered.
[You have obtained a new insight into swordsmanship. You have gained a large amount of experience points.]
[You have leveled up.]
Theo then focused his mind and stood up.
His mind felt as clear as if it were freshly washed.
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