Although I had a lingering anxiety that there might be no place left for me, the Cataphract, stripped of its sides and roof, was indeed quite fast. Combined with the driving skills of a speed-hungry golem, it tore through the path at a speed no ordinary beast could match.

If not for the fierce wind, it might have even been a comfortable and peaceful journey... or so I thought.

"Young Gwe, keep the balance over there."

"You’re just ordering me around for free! This time, I’ll do it, but next time, ask me properly!"

Clang, clang. The regular sound of hammering steel echoed. The Regressor was using Jijan as a hammer to build something.

A flat platform and a T-shaped handle, tied tightly with sturdy rope. At a glance, it looked like a sled meant to be ridden standing up.

The only question was—what was it for? Our Cataphract was already moving at a pretty fast pace.

‘I can’t just sit idle while we travel. I need to make the most of this time! I’ll train that Hughes guy!’

…I actually knew because I read his mind. I cursed my mind-reading ability the moment it let me glimpse this forbidden truth, but knowing or not, it was a card that would come back to me. The only difference was whether I’d know in advance or be blindsided.

Cautiously, I asked, "Shay."

"Hm?"

"What exactly is that?"

The Regressor lifted the sled lightly and answered, "Good question. This is a device to help with your training!"

"Training?"

"Yes! Didn’t I say I’d help with your training?"

But why on earth is a sled a training device? I desperately tried to redirect the conversation.

"Am I supposed to lift it with my hands? It looks heavy, but I think I could manage it as an exercise."

"Idiot. If it were that simple, I wouldn’t have made it into a sled."

"But you just called it a sled! That’s even stranger! How is a sled supposed to be a training tool?"

"It’s simple. Before you start training, it’s to measure your Qi abilities."

The Regressor placed the sled in front of me and said, "You know the basics of Qi Gong—Heaven, Earth, Water, and Fire, right? You even gave a little lecture about it back in Tantalos."

"Of course, I know."

Qi Gong is a technique to strengthen the body using one’s Qi.

Heaven infuses Qi into all things, Earth roots Qi underfoot to connect with the land, Water fortifies the body itself, and Fire twists the laws of nature.

I know it all, even if I can’t use Fire. The only problem is my body can’t keep up.

"Generally, achieving Heaven and Earth is considered decent. Reaching Water is seen as a sign of an excellent Qi practitioner. Even becoming a Military Nation general requires mastering Water Qi. If you can reach that level, it’s just a matter of scale after that. Fire is an exception since it varies too much by individual."

"Why is Fire an exception? Is it because you couldn’t master it?"

"Not at all! It’s because everyone reaches a different limit, so you can’t compare."

‘I couldn’t master it… but! Damn it. I’ve tried training and broadening my horizons, but Fire is just beyond me!’

Well, it’s a bit ridiculous to tell someone who regresses to envision an ideal they want to achieve. Why bother when you can try again in the next round? You’re already overcoming death—do you really need to achieve enlightenment too?

"Anyway. From what I’ve seen, you’ve clearly reached Water, haven’t you? Sure, some people reach Water first depending on their talent and education, but the Military Nation’s curriculum follows Heaven, Earth, Water, Fire. For a moment, I thought you were at the general’s level because of that."

"Haha. I don’t know what to say."

"Well, I still think you could reach the general level with the right training. But first, I need to assess your current state accurately."

The Regressor shook his head and handed me the handle.

"Grab the handle with Heaven Qi, attach your feet to the platform with Earth Qi. Stand on the sled and balance yourself. Just consider it part of your training."

So, in other words, he was planning to attach the sled to the back of this rattling Cataphract, put me on it, and drag me along? What a game that Azi would enjoy. Haha.

...Are you kidding me?!

This high-speed Cataphract—if I don’t want to fall off, I’ll have to hold onto that rope with all my strength. My grip, arms, waist, or legs—if any part of me slips, I’ll lose balance and topple onto the ground in an instant.

They probably wouldn’t even be able to pinpoint where I died. My body would be shredded, scattering debris over hundreds of meters!

"How is that training?! It’s punishment—no, it’s an execution!"

"If it isn’t hard and painful, it’s not training."

"I’m not doing it! What era are we in for such barbaric strength training?!"

‘What’s the big deal? I used to be dragged around with only straw shoes on. If I didn’t protect them with Qi, my soles would get all scraped up. It’s better than that, isn’t it?’

That’s just an abusive practice! Just because you suffered it, you’re going to make me do it too? People like you, who pass on bad practices, are the reason society doesn’t improve!

"I thought I’d get some elixir or treasure. Why would I put myself through such hardship? Why don’t you put Azi on the sled instead?"

"Woof?"

"Yes, Azi. Perfect timing. Isn’t it more fun to do this than just stick your face out and stare blankly?"

I shook the handle, and Azi, who had been yawning with his head out, showed interest and approached. Let the handle be Azi’s toy. I handed it to him and pulled the rope, playing tug-of-war. Well, it was more like trying not to let go every time Azi twisted his head.

"Wow, you’re strong."

"Woof woof! Harder!"

"Easy, easy. You’re several times stronger than me. It won’t change anything if I put in more effort."

The Regressor clicked his tongue as he watched me play with Azi instead of focusing on training.

‘…He’s the most averse to training of anyone I’ve met across all my regressions. Isn’t the desire to grow stronger an instinct? I didn’t expect him to refuse when a master offered to help.’

Due to my firm refusal, the Regressor softened his tone slightly.

"From what I see, you have a lot of potential."

"The Military Nation’s instructors used to tell me the same thing. They’d say, ‘This kid seems talented but definitely isn’t putting in any effort.’ I resented it back then, but now I’m grateful they believed in my potential."

"I’m not being sarcastic! Seeing how you handle Qi, magic, and alchemy proficiently across the board, you’re clearly not lacking in talent. It’s more like… everything’s somewhat blocked."

You know me well. This right here is my limit! If you know that, why are you still trying to push me like this?

"Sorry, but I’m too old to envision new possibilities for the future. Sadly, this is my limit."

"No, it’s different. I think your body’s balance is off."

"Balance?"

"Yeah. It happened to me once too, but when you train in techniques with different properties, like magic or Qi Gong, it’s like… how should I put it? Your body leans to one side. Keeping that balance is important…."

Ridiculous. I’ve never faced the kind of problem you’re describing.

I am the King of Humans. I can wield all knowledge and skills given to humanity as if they were mine. The only issue is I don’t have enough magic or Qi to reproduce them fully.

If that’s the case, I just need to increase my magic and Qi… but no matter how hard I try, my power doesn’t grow past a certain point.

I don’t know why. It’s probably connected to that ‘incident’ where the King of Humans lost his power.

What incident? I don’t know. I really don’t.

Frankly, I’m the one who’d love to know.

It’s no lie. Azi inherited an ancient promise, but if I ask him about it, he’ll just go “Woof?” Even the best detective can’t recreate a scene from just a contract. Similarly, while the promise endures, the memories don’t. I guess it’s a curse or a seal… maybe something to do with the first Saintess….

Anyway, I wasn’t really interested in this “balance” talk, so I responded indifferently.

"Do you think this will make me stronger? How about just giving me some elixirs or treasures? I’d put them to good use."

"Strength gained without effort is rarely put to good use! I had a similar experience. If you work hard, you might break through a wall!"

‘The way you handle Qi and magic are fundamentally different. Qi is the force that moves my body to affect the world, and magic is the power that recreates external changes within my body. Inside to outside, outside to inside. They conflict, so when you try to use both, it keeps slipping... Hmm. How should I explain this?’

Heh. “Nothing ventured, nothing gained”? The moment you put in effort, you’ve already lost something. Let’s see you try!

‘Oh, whatever. I’ll just make him do it and see what happens.’

The Regressor gave me a shove. Caught off guard, I muttered stupidly, "Huh?"

He’d used Qi in that push, and I was helplessly propelled backward. As I stumbled, my foot landed on the sled, and I slid down the sloped back of the Cataphract. Before I knew it, I was scraping along the ground.

Wait, hold on. You’re just shoving me like this?

"Here."

The Regressor snatched the handle from Azi’s mouth and tossed it to me. Anyone sinking into the water will cling to a straw, so I grabbed the handle that came right before me.

"Hold on tight if you don’t want to fall."

The rope in front of me went taut. Instinctively, I gripped the handle with all my strength. Immediately, I felt tension pulling on my grip, arms, legs, and waist.

Realizing my situation, I was now riding the sled, as the Regressor had planned. Struggling to steady my shaking body, I yelled,

"Arrgh! What… what do you think you’re doing?!"

Is he insane? Pushing me like that without a second thought?

I’ve met countless people, but I’ve never encountered anyone as reckless as this Regressor! And he moved reflexively, without any forethought, so I couldn’t even react!

While I screamed, the Regressor continued to pull on the rope calmly, saying,

"Good. Hold on as long as you can. It’ll hurt if you fall, so try not to."

"Of course it’ll hurt, you idiot!"

‘Well, if you’re about to fall, I’ll catch you. But if I tell you that, you won’t stay tense, so just hold on for dear life.’

I’m reading your mind, you know!

But I couldn’t let go. Even if someone assures me they’ll catch me, and even if that’s sincere, it’s hard to fall back with full trust.

Even if it’s true, what if that unreliable Regressor fails to catch me? I’ll die!

Tch, no choice. It’s undignified, but...

"Tiran! Please pull me up!"

Desperately, I called out to Tiran, but she didn’t seem particularly concerned. She even seemed a bit amused by my predicament.

"It’s good to see you persevering."

"You think this looks good? I’m on the brink of death every moment!"

"What does not kill you will make you stronger. The stronger you become, the more threats you can overcome."

"But if I die here, it’s over!"

What am I, a bet? Risk bigger stakes for a larger payout? What if I lose everything in one misstep?

"Don’t worry. I’ll keep watching to make sure you don’t fall into danger. And…."

‘Even if you fall, you won’t die here. If you’re hurt enough to need my help, I’ll share my blood generously. Perhaps… the King of Humans might become the King of Vampires.’

There’s no way I’m falling. I’ll hold on with sheer willpower.

Actually, the Regressor isn’t completely wrong. I’m a mind-reader. My strength comes less from building my own hand than from reading and exploiting others’.

If I can’t win, I avoid direct confrontation or try to recruit. If my plan is countered, I adapt. My victory lies in a precarious balancing act. That’s why I’ve always improved my strength by adding to my range of options.

However... in the face of overwhelming power, no number of options matters. Even if cloth can cover a rock, a mere handkerchief can’t contain an avalanche.

Training might not make me stronger, but if I can get a slightly better hand, I’ll endure this!

"Fine, do your worst! Let’s see how strong this training can make me!"

"You’re the one training, so why are you grinding your teeth…?"