A Famous Traitor and Treacherous Genius

106 – Dancing With Elves (7)

There are various cultural differences between kingdoms and empires, and the most representative difference is ‘water’.

There are so many differences in these waters, but if we talk about cultural differences that are relevant to this moment-

‘Swimming.’

Kingdom swimming and imperial swimming are different.

If swimming in the kingdom means survival swimming to survive in the water, swimming in the empire means competition and competition through swimming.

If there is a moment to soak in water, it is when taking a bath.

‘The concept of swimming came from the Empire in the first place.’

Until now, the kingdom had simply immersed itself in water or played in it.

Water fun is all about soaking in the stream and splashing around.

Jumping into the water wearing completely different clothes was an act that no one in the kingdom could have imagined.

-We’re not like drowned dogs, so why do we have to swim in the water? If you fall into the water, shouldn’t a knight come rescue you?

This is the average perception of the kingdom.

He felt that swimming in the water was like a dog struggling on the water with only its head out, so he showed a tendency to look down on swimming itself.

In comparison, swimming was common in the empire.

-All academies provide opportunities to learn swimming.

The empire swimming taught as a liberal arts at each academy.

-Swimming is a play and a game, and at the same time, it is part of the physical activity necessary for human life.

On the surface, it is said to be a function of improving physical strength, improving cardiorespiratory endurance, and providing emergency action in case of falling into the water.

‘Part of a plan to secretly infiltrate Marines into the Southern Channel by swimming.’

Most of the empire’s plans contain the shady purpose of military training for war.

The same goes for swimming.

The ability to dive underwater for a long time.

The ability to swim without losing direction even in deep sea.

If all kinds of monsters, including kraken, did not live in the deep sea beyond the realm of the kingdom, the Empire might have driven ships in the dark and infiltrated marines with their entire bodies painted black at night.

Well, this is just an afterthought to the purpose of war.

There was a big cultural difference: the kingdom did not understand that the people of the empire even wore matching clothes for swimming.

-This is a swimsuit for swimming…? It’s underwear.

Although I heard about it at the Naya Academy, many people were shocked when they went to a place called the ‘Beach’ of the Empire.

The man takes off his top and walks with only his lower body covered.

This is at least understandable.

Among the mercenaries, there were some who took off their tops to show off their muscles, and there were also those who overexposed their thighs, saying they wanted to show off.

But what about women?

-You walk around so proudly wearing only a bra and panties! You are so promiscuous and outrageous!

An outfit that would be extremely vulgar in the kingdom.

A costume that barely covers the chest and lower part of the skin, something that even prostitutes in bars and back alleys wouldn’t wear.

-It’s not a bra or panties, so you’re not embarrassed, right?

When I was a student at the academy, I asked an imperialist, and I got that answer.

Swimming.

A culture that may be taken for granted in the empire, but is a culture shock to the people of the kingdom.

Even though the empire is much more open than the kingdom, if they look at this place now, the people of the empire will reply, ‘Ah, this is a bit much’.

‘Should I call it swimming, or should I call it swimming while taking a bath?’

Immerse yourself in the lake.

After my return, I never went into the water with my bare body except when I was soaking in the bathtub.

‘It’s been a long time.’

Before returning, I dipped into the water quite a bit.

Sometimes at the lake.

Sometimes at sea.

But mostly in the bathtub.

‘It’s awkward.’

The water is warm.

But I don’t feel any other warmth.

Although the surroundings are wide and open, the warmth that can only be felt in a narrow bathtub is not felt.

‘Come to your senses.’

The reason I came here was not to go into hiding.

It is not intended to improve physical strength by swimming in the lake, nor is it to increase ‘magic attribute’ rather than physical strength.

‘Empty your thoughts and focus on your mana.’

As it is a fountain of mana guided by Baekgeumgyeong himself, it is safe to say that there is no place in the world where more pure mana resides.

A spring where nature’s man gathers.

The only thing that exists in pure water where there are no living creatures is mana.

In fact, mana is the fish and plant that lives in this water.

If you want to have a shape, you can become a fish and swim, or you can become an aquatic plant stuck to the bottom and sway in the waves.

‘All of this is mana.’

I focused on the water flowing throughout my body.

‘Feel mana with your whole body.’

Become nature itself from head to toe and absorb mana.

It fills mana into even the smallest cracks in the hair, fills mana between cracks in the skin, and draws mana under the skin, filling and refilling mana.

Wrong.

In front of me, the upside-down platinum mirror approached me, mouthing the words.

It’s not about forcing absorption, it’s about letting yourself go with the flow.

Baekgeum-gyeong says:

A completely different theory from the emperor.

They say that the methods of those who ruled the continent by randomly absorbing mana and accumulating it in their bodies were wrong.

Do you think you can force time?

It raises a question.

Time moves forward and is a transcendent concept that cannot be captured in any way.

Mana comes from nature. How do you think someone who wants to go against the flow of nature can contain mana?

That is correct.

When those who became sword masters talked about mana, phrases like that were always included.

But this is the honest and right way.

Knowing that it is the right doctrine and the right path, why do you insist on choosing the quick path?

I don’t have time.

Even if we postpone the cause of war, five years have already passed.

‘It’s not enough to just get over the intermediate level.’

It is clear that growth is faster than in the previous life, but it is still not enough to reach the peak.

This is absurd. I want to walk on an easy and fast path.

Baek Jin-gyeong laughs.

Someone wanted to reach a place that took hundreds of years to reach in just a few years. Isn’t that too greedy?

Of course.

There is no room for argument on that point.

Originally, I had no intention of doing something like this.

However.

‘Isn’t the person who climbed the highest mountain, the sky, trying to kill anyone to prevent them from climbing to the point they have reached?’

As if the person who reached first would give down a rope from above and help the latecomer, they would throw a knife at the latecomer and swing a whip to prevent anyone from coming up.

‘I have to bring him down.’

Was your goal to bring him down and rise to the top?

‘No. The only goal is to drive him out.’

And even if you fall from the sky and fall with him?

‘If only those who wanted me to be happy could live in peace in the land where he disappeared.’

Even if it means flying up a cliff to do that, I will choose that path.

It is desirable.

The corner of Baek Jin-gyeong’s mouth lowers.

Correction.

Because it’s upside down, that’s a smile.

In that case, I will have to step in to help the expedient.

Baek Geum-gyeong approached me while standing upside down and grabbed my face.

Rest assured. You will not die, and your time will not be taken away.

‘What did you do-‘

The moment I thought this, Baek Geum-gyeong forcibly grabbed my jaw joint with his hand.

“!!”

The water was forced into my mouth.

She tried to close her mouth, but her jaw joints were compressed and she couldn’t.

Drink. Mana. You’re not even a frog, so why do you absorb mana through your skin over the most efficient path?

Warm water flows down my throat and fills my stomach.

With the momentum to fill my internal organs with water, the water continues to enter my body without any time to resist.

As if it came into my body with its own will.

It’s like a platinum ball controlling the waves and pushing water into my body.

Gradually.

I start to lose my breath and lose consciousness.

Rest assured. The main woman is not trying to kill you, she is trying to make you stronger as quickly as possible.

Because I knew, I couldn’t bear it anymore.

‘If I were a master, I would have held my breath for over an hour.’

Instead of becoming a master, the limit has come.

* * *

“I almost died.”

“It will repeat over and over again. Go back in.”

“…”

The moment I came to my senses, I was already out of the water, and Baekgeumgyeong tried to throw me into the water as soon as I came to my senses.

“Wait a minute. Don’t you know the saying ‘too much is too little?'”

“I don’t like it because it’s a dwarf’s saying, but the more iron is struck, the harder it becomes.”

“If you hit it too hard, it breaks. And I’m human.”

“Didn’t you want an honest and fast path?”

“Yes, but.”

Since I know it, there is no room to refute it.

“Your skills will ultimately need to be honed after accumulating mana. Perfecting your body is the priority.”

“…”

“You don’t think your current body is complete, do you?”

“Of course not.”

I raise my body and look down at my reflection in the water.

“I think I need to gain more muscle and my physique can become bigger.”

“I don’t think that’s the only thing that’s getting bigger.”

“…Look here, Baek Geum-gyeong.”

“I’m just kidding. Even though it’s a compliment, you really hate it.”

“I appreciate the compliment, but that also depends on the person. And I don’t like being like this right now.”

They say it can’t be helped, but I have to say this clearly.

“If I were to rule this elven forest, I would dress all the elves.”

“He is a tyrant.”

“Wouldn’t it be better than being destroyed at least? The empire also has cameras, so if you make a mistake, your body could be filmed naked.”

This is all consideration for the elves.

“If clothes are uncomfortable, I will at least wear underwear or a swimsuit. Definitely.”

“Hmm… “

“Would you like to review it?”

“Wearing clothes is like locking yourself up with oppression.”

“Animals also cover themselves with fur.”

“We have hair.”

“Ha…”

Baek Geum-gyeong swept her loose hair to the side and shook it back and forth.

“Vampires have already blended into civilized society and infiltrated every corner of humanity’s shadow, but elves are just lounging around in the forest, so the number of vampires is continuing to increase, isn’t it?”

“…”

“Was I wrong?”

“That’s true.”

Ta-aak.

“…It’s unfair.”

“I told you it was true.”

“You’re trying to solve the problem with violence just because you’ve been hit in the head. It’s not mature.”

“Why bother arguing with hurtful words when the easiest way to solve the problem is with stronger violence? And isn’t that the same for you?”

“…”

“You have no intention of persuading the person you want to kill.”

“That’s different.”

I stood proudly in front of the White Gold Mirror.

“You cannot be persuaded, you must not be persuaded, and everything ends only when someone dies.”

“It seems like there are some parts that cannot be negotiated.”

“Yes.”

I received and learned so much from the emperor.

Although I am the reward for opening the gate of the canyon and being loyal to the empire as the Margrave of Gibraltar, the emperor has invested a lot of resources in me.

“If only one problem could be solved, I honestly would like to take his side his his right now.”

“Can we convince you of that from now on?”

“No. Regardless of his relationship with White Gold Lord, he will not give up on that idea.”

“People can change.”

“But the root does not change or change. He is already an adult.”

“…”

“Lord Platinum. As you have already vaguely noticed, I want to kill Habsburg von Thersian.”

The crown prince of the empire and the next emperor.

“Perhaps he is a traitor whom Lord Platinum hates, a being who is under the control of the Bloody Elves. Only by eliminating him can I be truly happy.”

“…It’s a bad relationship.”

“Yes. It’s a bad relationship.”

From a human perspective, he is Baek Geum-gyeong’s son-in-law.

“I’d like to ask, but how did you two end up having a child?”

“I was immature.”

“…Yes?”

“Erwin is smart, but he was blinded by her love and couldn’t help it. She was like that too.”

Lord Platinum shook his head with a somewhat bitter expression.

“I can’t stand handsome people.”

“Then the crown prince…” ” “

“It was about 20 years ago.”

Baek Jin-gyeong nodded silently.

“He was one of the three most handsome men she had ever seen in her hundreds of years of life.”

“…”

“It’s a bit difficult now because of the beard.”

Past.

-I was as good as you when I was young. Haha!

I thought it was just nonsense.

“…”

“Why?”

“No. Just.”

Sometimes.

“My father also fell in love with my mother at first sight, so I understand.”

“Hmm…?”

“…Me too.”

She realized once again that sometimes the simplest emotions are the foundation of everything, without complex causal relationships or anything like that.