Namgung Se-ga, the warrior, was reincarnated in Romance

Returning to the academy, it felt as though I hadn’t accomplished much, yet it was already the last week of August.

In Professor Jürgen Kaiser’s class, we learned how to fill out purchase permits for combat artifacts.

While I had known there were multiple magic towers, it was only now that I realized the specialties and items sold varied by location.

The Sioren Empire has five magic towers in total. Among them, the First and Second Towers are located in the capital.

The two towers, standing tall at the eastern and western edges of the academy, focus on nurturing children with magical talent into proper magicians.

Because of this, it’s possible to purchase artifacts made by novice magicians practicing their craft at relatively low prices.

I couldn’t help but smile at the thought that the chick-shaped artifact I once purchased might have been crafted by a young magician.

Come to think of it, I’d given it to Marianne, but now I couldn’t quite recall where it ended up.

The Third Tower is located in the Withro Ducal Territory of the forest, the Fourth Tower in the Valentia Ducal Territory of the plains, and the Fifth Tower in the Eldidos Ducal Territory by the river.

Withro, bordering the Sole Mountain Range and leading directly to the Shatten Desert via the Owen, is a rugged land.

Its many remote clearings make it ideal for conducting dangerous experiments, which is why it boasts a high number of combat magicians and the most extensive selection of combat artifacts. I made sure to note down the importance of verifying certification marks, as some experimental magicians sell incomplete artifacts.

The Valentia and Eldidos Ducal Territories, on the other hand, are prosperous due to their fertile plains and abundant rivers.

These regions readily fund costly experiments, attracting many magicians who seek peace and spend their later years crafting practical artifacts for daily life.

Given that the main magical disciplines likely also reflect these regional characteristics, I resolved to visit the Fourth Tower in my maternal family’s territory someday.

On Tuesday, Mage Boulder brought a diagram of the human anatomy, filled with the scientific names and functions of various points, as much as he could gather, leaving me exasperated.

It was true that understanding the existing structure was crucial to advancing internal energy cultivation techniques. However, his insistent plea to help him create a *dantian* himself was exasperating.

Throughout Zhongyuan, I had never heard of a civilian over fifty taking up new cultivation techniques and succeeding.

I already knew through personal experience that mana and internal energy were fundamentally different in nature. Mana was light and swift, while internal energy was heavy and slow.

Attempting to handle internal energy as one would mana would undoubtedly shatter the body’s qi channels.

Despite these reasons, I had repeatedly refused, but Mage Boulder’s academic fervor, or rather his incessant persistence, did not relent.

“But wouldn’t it work if Ernhardt Young Master helped? Like when you infused energy into my back that one time. Internal energy must be something you can, well, tweak like that…”

“If it were something that could be done so easily, anyone and everyone would have a *dantian*. The True Energy Master’s technique focuses not on accumulating internal energy but on circulating it—that’s what makes it possible. It’s about expelling toxins and boosting vitality. It’s not suited for storing energy.”

“Then what if you circulate it and then just stop it midway?”

“How can you simply stop something that’s meant to flow? The very suggestion is flawed. I’ve never done it, and I won’t do it for you.”

It was then that Professor Douglas Mustang, who had been quietly listening, interjected.

“…Ernhardt Young Master. What about me?”

“Pardon? Why would you, Professor?”

“I understand it’s a difficult request, but you haven’t tried it yourself yet, have you? I understand that creating a *dantian* is almost impossible, even with your help. I also understand that internal energy techniques awaken and strengthen the body’s qi channels. And most importantly…”

“…”

“Boulder and I can already perceive the immaterial world. I believe we could give it a try. If it succeeds, it might even contribute to upgrading your internal energy techniques. It’s unsettling that we only have you as a reference point.”

Mustang’s final remark hit me hard.

He was essentially saying he didn’t want all the experiments to be done solely on me. I sighed softly, weighed down by his concern.

While it was unprecedented for someone over fifty to take up internal energy cultivation, the fact that magic practitioners were studying it at all was a historical anomaly. I couldn’t entirely dismiss the possibility.

After much thought, I let out a long sigh and agreed.

“…But if it seems dangerous, I’ll disrupt the qi flow, even if it causes some injury.”

“Thank you, Young Master.”

“Wait, didn’t I say the exact same thing? Why does he get a pass and I don’t? This is blatant favoritism!”

Boulder protested, but I had no energy left to address him.

I carefully explained the basics of energy circulation and breathing techniques to Douglas and Boulder, translating it as best I could. Checking the anatomy chart repeatedly to ensure accuracy, the process took quite a while.

Their method of learning was different from Zhongyuan’s; they wanted to memorize and practice before attempting energy circulation in my presence. I granted them permission.

In the Empire’s genealogy class, we studied the personal relationships of past emperors in detail.

Calips Agrigent, the lecturer, spoke in his usual feeble voice about the rumor that one empress wasn’t human but a dragon.

“In truth, opinions are divided on this matter. Karzentia the Empress seemed too human-like to be a dragon. She could use magic, but she wasn’t particularly powerful, and there’s no record of her summoning spirits.”

“…”

“Then why did the rumor that she was a dragon arise? Academia explains this as part of creating a sense of divinity. It discusses the possibility that the emperor of the time fabricated the claim to formalize a marriage of unequal status (*nobility marrying commoners*). Such a union with a commoner, devoid of title or support, could have been a dangerous move politically, risking the loss of key allies.”

Even so, the explanation suggested that the emperor, for the sake of love, refrained from taking concubines and maintained a monogamous marriage, borrowing the authority of dragons and myth.

Before my visit to the botanical garden, I would never have understood a man agonizing over such matters to the point of risking his family’s reputation.

Now, I simply wondered whether the emperor of that era had looked at his empress the same way I looked at Marianne.

During this week’s “Praising Excellent Steeds” class, Benjamin finally managed to ride a horse with grace. It was thanks to his persistent visits to the stables all week, juggling eggs and enticing the horses with carrots.

After the black horse Viktor accepted Benjamin, the other horses became less wary of him, and fewer bolted away at his approach.

Overjoyed, Benjamin grabbed me in a tight hug and spun me around on the spot several times. However, he trusted in my strength a little too much, failing to hold back his excessive grip.

Even after being spun around like a lantern in a storm and put back down, I was left dizzy for a good while.

Though I assured him I was fine, later that evening, while washing up, I discovered vivid bruises on my shoulders and waist. I felt fortunate that my sturdy muscles and bones hadn’t sustained fractures.

The next day, during the advanced swordsmanship class, Luber noticed my discomfort and expressed concern. Thinking he wouldn’t worry if I told him the truth, I casually mentioned Benjamin’s exuberance.

However, his expression turned even more sympathetic as he lightly brushed his fingertips over my shoulder, leaving me oddly warm-hearted.

“I’m really fine. It doesn’t hurt much.”

“…Don’t you have a throwing knife class this afternoon? Are you sure you’re okay?”

“Well… not much choice if I’m not, right?”

Later, when Benjamin, exhausted after sparring against Maello Sanson in groups, asked if something was wrong, I dismissed it as nothing.

In the practical throwing knife class, I could now aim for targets 10 meters away without my knives veering off course. Occasionally, shifts in wind direction or strength caused them to land on the target’s edges, but seeing even that success filled me with pride and confidence.

Still, I regretted not knowing the right cultivation method for throwing knife techniques, having to rely on slow breathing instead.

I considered later consulting with Professors Douglas Mustang and Mage Boulder to see if we could develop a suitable internal energy technique for it.

Then, on Thursday evening, I was hit with a bolt from the blue.

I was chatting with Shayden, who had come to check if I was properly watering the plant she gave me last week.

She praised my progress with throwing knives and suddenly, while massaging her hand, remarked, “My hands are so sore. But at least I finished everything on time. Even after cutting it down, I still managed to fill all 20 pages.”

“…Huh?”

“What’s with that face? The report for Professor Cedric—it’s the fourth week of the month. This month’s assignment is due tomorrow at 1 PM.”

I had completely forgotten about it.

I had plenty of excuses. Right after last week’s alchemy class, I’d gone to the botanical garden, and the entire following week was consumed by personal training, energy circulation, and Sanson’s lessons in the mornings.

Afternoons were packed with various classes, and after those, I spent time at the stables for Benjamin. By the time I had dinner and completed my evening training, there was no time left.

I scrambled to my feet, fetched the handouts from the study, and grabbed the notes I’d used during camping class.

Fortunately, Jenny had let me copy her notes ahead of time, and I had meticulously recorded every step during the last alchemy class. This was enough to start writing the report.

Shayden clicked her tongue, tidied up her things, and stood.

“At least I told you now. If you start now, you won’t miss the deadline tomorrow. Submit it to the alchemy department office by 1 PM. I’ll go with you, so just finish it before our beginner swordsmanship class.”

“…Thanks.”

“Good luck, Micah. You got this!”

Her cutesy encouragement was both annoying and endearing. Dragging my still-aching body, I sat down, gripping my head as I tried to focus.

I spent over five hours summarizing what I needed to write on a blank sheet of paper, converting it into paragraphs and tables, and then transcribing it onto the designated report form.