Turning my head away from the Regressor, I focused.

Heaven (乾), Earth (坤), Water (坎), and Fire (離)—the four directions in which a human can extend their Qi.

Heaven represents the sky, or rather, all things. Using Heaven Qi, I extended my Qi outward, gripping the handle as though it and my hand had fused into one.

Earth represents the ground. Rooting myself firmly on it, I grounded my small self against the vastness of the world. Sensing the flow beneath my feet, I tapped into Earth Qi.

Water represents the body. Here, the world and everything else cease to matter. The body is a small universe, enclosed in a thin layer of skin. With Water Qi, I infused my muscles, bones, and flesh, pushing the limits of the human body…

“Ugh. Already losing Qi.”

…Although, from here on, my limits showed. Water Qi affects the entire body, consuming far more Qi. If a weapon breaks, it's fine, but a broken body is a different story.

I steadied my posture, gathering minimal Qi in the connection between my waist and arms, enough to hold on. Even a trickle of Qi helped. If I could just hold on like this—

"Woof! Woof! Woof!"

Perhaps sensing my struggle, Azi popped his head out, barking fiercely as if ready to leap out at any moment. Yes, man's best friend indeed. Even if he’s just barking, it’s comforting. Dogs really are a source of solace.

"Azi, you’re my only hope. But don’t worry, I’ll definitely—"

"Woof! Can’t take it anymore!"

With that, Azi leapt out without hesitation.

His body brushed past me, landing far ahead, then chased after me with quick steps.

Wait a second, was that excitement I sensed from Azi?

“Woof! Tag, you’re it!”

“It’s your hunting instinct, isn’t it?!”

“Woof! Gotcha! Let go!”

“If you’re gonna let go, don’t grab me in the first place! You’re shaking everything!”

Every time Azi appeared at the edge of my vision, the sled shook violently. Thankfully, he didn’t seem to want to tackle me outright, but his constant nudging threw off my balance.

This is a disaster. If it were a human messing with the sled, I could read their mind and prepare, but since it’s Azi, I have to rely purely on my own skill! And I don’t trust that!

“This is really dangerous! Hilde! Emergency! Help me!”

When I screamed for help, Hilde smiled innocently and asked, “Should I help you?”

“Yes! Quickly!”

Hilde jumped up, placing her hands on her hips, and stretched out her arms and legs alternately as she shouted, “Fight on! Father, you can do it! You have ‘me’ with you!”

“Don’t just cheer! Give me some real help!”

“If I may offer advice, bend your knees a bit more! Father’s lower body looks weak for some reason!”

“How is that practical help?!”

And I can’t help my weak lower body! The King of Humans doesn’t have a strong foundation in the legs!

Damn it. Watching me struggle with amusement. I thought I’d endured enough indignities, but I’m still the King of Humans, you know!

I shouted with all the anger I could muster, “Just you wait! When I get stronger, I’ll make sure each and every one of you pays!”

“Please, by all means, try.”

Especially you! Be prepared, Regressor!

 

“Woof. Used up all my strength.”

Azi saved me just as I was about to collapse from exhaustion.

Or rather, he bit me by the scruff of my neck and leapt back up when I couldn’t hold on any longer.

My arms ached, my waist throbbed, my grip was shaky, and my calves were swollen. I had no strength left, and my energy wouldn’t respond properly.

“That was fun! Woof! Let’s play again sometime!”

“You really are just a dog, aren’t you? Always barking nonsense…”

We’re both supposed to be kings of beasts, yet here I am, barely holding on to the sled while he runs alongside with energy to spare. It’s utterly unfair.

I lay flat on the Cataphract floor, filled only with bitterness, as the Regressor spoke to me.

“Already out of Qi? Unbelievable! For someone who’s mastered Earth Qi, that’s pretty pathetic!”

“…Do you think I wanted to be born like this? If I could have chosen my body before I was born, I’d have picked yours, Shay.”

“You think I gained this strength for free?”

I might not know how hard you worked, but you definitely got the regression for free. If you’ve gained Qi, magic, and relics from it, then yeah, it was free.

The Regressor scratched his chin, looking down at me.

“Still, your balance seems fine. No issues with Qi release or control. It’s just…”

“Just what?”

“…You’re pitifully low on Qi. Only slightly more than a regular person with no training.”

Thanks. Just what I needed—a reminder of what I already knew.

“But don’t worry! It actually simplifies things. If you lack Qi, you just need to increase it!”

“Easier said than done. How do I do that?”

“There’s a simple way. Expensive, but simple.”

The Regressor drew a circle in the air with his finger. A circular hole appeared, following the path traced by his fingertip. He reached into it, rummaging around.

Hilde gasped, covering her mouth.

“Wow. Shay, is that…?”

“It’s my pocket.”

“That’s René’s Pocket, isn’t it? You have one of those?”

“I have one.”

“There are only four in the world! And you’re calling it ‘just one’? Are you the son of some king or something?”

“I wish.”

‘Let’s see… hmm, alchemical essence… that’s for emergencies… nope. Ah, found it.’

Ignoring her question, the Regressor pulled out a small, black-locked box after a few more attempts. He opened it casually and held it out to me.

“Here. It’s an elixir.”

Inside was a white pearl wrapped in herb leaves, emanating a slightly briny yet refreshing fragrance. I barely raised my head to look at it.

“It’s an elixir?”

“Yes. How much you absorb depends on your skill, though.”

An elixir, huh. I’m a bit skeptical.

But there’s no reason to refuse. This would be the first real elixir I’ve ever had. Who knows? Maybe it’ll help me regain my strength.

Moreover, this elixir is…

“Wow, it’s Sangahwan! That’s the rare elixir made from the essence of elephants!”

Hilde, sniffing the air, recognized the elixir and expressed her admiration. She was genuinely impressed but also knew that giving the desired reaction could draw out more information.

A basic social skill, but the Regressor was anything but basic. He replied indifferently.

“Yeah.”

“How did you get it? Elephants highly value their own kind, so it’s hard to find one freshly dead!”

“I found it somewhere.”

“Wow, talk about an evasive answer with zero enthusiasm! Found a demon sword, found an elixir—what do you people even trust about this guy?”

Tiran answered Hilde’s muttering.

“We trust him for his loyalty, and if that’s lacking, then for his grudging loyalty. It may not be much, but it’s fittingly memorable.”

‘Grudging loyalty…?’

That’s what shocks you? Of course it’s grudging loyalty, not genuine affection.

“By the way, Shay, I heard you’re supposed to take elixirs in the most relaxed and stable state possible.”

“True.”

“But no matter how I think about it, a rough, jostling vehicle like this doesn’t seem ‘stable.’ Shouldn’t we move Hyou somewhere more steady before he takes it?”

“Good idea.”

“For example, a calm, serene place like my coffin would be ideal….”

‘My coffin is as much a part of my body as I am. I can keep it free of even the slightest vibration. Ah, I’ve always wanted a chance to lay Hyou inside. This is perfect.’

“Oh, that won’t do. To fully absorb Qi, it’s better to be on solid ground.”

“…Why?”

“Qi doesn’t settle well if you’re in motion. Especially if you plan to use Earth Qi—it’s better to absorb it slowly while still.”

“Even in my coffin?”

“It’s still moving, isn’t it?”

Tiran responded curtly, somewhat disappointed.

“Then it seems Hyou won’t be able to take the elixir while we’re moving.”

“No, it’s fine. The sun’s setting soon, and we’re entering Yulguk’s territory. Let’s rest for a bit. The golem’s already reached the communication range limit.”

The golem remained silent, holding onto the wheel. Judging by the lack of even static noise, it seemed the limit had long been reached.

“Didn’t you say we’re in a hurry? Why stop now?”

“Well, it’s best to travel through Yulguk during the day. Once you see it, you’ll understand…”

That’s true, too.

Yulguk is a land where everything changes, even the landscape. Today is never the same as yesterday, and tomorrow’s stability is never guaranteed. It’s a land of constant flux, where trust in anything is rare.

“Look, it seems someone’s already set up camp there. Let’s check it out.”

The Regressor mumbled as he noticed a distant campfire and faint silhouettes around it.