30 Years After Reincarnating, It Turns Out This World Was A Rofan?!-Chapter 235: A Lady’s Heart Is Like a Reed (5)

If she had been born into the turbulent world of martial arts, perhaps she would have joined Botamun.

No—rather than a Sword Queen, the Sword Duke of House Offen gave a far more detailed explanation.

"Have you ever witnessed something like this? A mother, who has never held a sword in her life, suddenly exhibiting superhuman strength to save her child from danger. Or a person encountering a wolf, a tiger, or a bear on a mountain path, sprinting away at an impossible speed to escape.

Both are excellent examples."

Tuk. Tuk.

She lightly tapped her forehead with her index finger.

"The reason such things happen is because, when humans face the brink of death, they can tap into latent potential they never knew they had.

And the force that allows them to manifest this potential—"

Tuk.

"—is none other than Willpower."

She continued speaking while still holding onto a twig. It seemed she had grown quite fond of it.

Swoosh.

"Hmm? Do you have a question, my dear child?"

"U-uh, well...."

Levi, who had somehow ended up sitting alongside the others in the garden, was the first to raise her hand, as if she were an honor student.

"If, uh, Your Grace means that willpower is something anyone can use... does that mean even ordinary people who’ve never trained in swordsmanship can wield it? From what you've described, it sounds like a power anyone can tap into, but I thought the kind of willpower you used was something that could only be obtained through relentless training—like what our master went through."

"What an excellent question!"

Felicia's eyes sparkled like a delighted university professor receiving an insightful query. She enthusiastically ruffled Levi’s hair.

Levi looked bewildered, awkwardly smiling but unable to escape the Sword Duke’s grasp. Naturally, Felicia paid no attention to Levi’s discomfort and continued her explanation.

"Yes, my dear child, as you said, willpower might seem like something anyone can use. But think of it this way—willpower is like a blade with no handle.

Anyone may stumble upon it by chance or necessity, but wielding it improperly comes at a steep price."

"A price...?"

"If we apply this to the previous examples—the mother who saved her child? The next day, all the muscles and tendons in her body were torn. The person who sprinted away from a predator? Their muscles ruptured completely.

Both of them required over a year of recovery."

"......."

"I saw it happen firsthand."

"...!"

Knowing these were real events only made them more convincing.

"Willpower might seem like a power anyone can use, but if one wields it recklessly, they will suffer the consequences. That’s why training is so crucial. Learning to control willpower properly is of utmost importance."

"Kunta has a question."

"Ask away, my big child."

"When Kunta listens to your explanation, willpower just sounds like a way to push the body beyond its limits. But how does that explain what you just did? Using willpower to lift things like a magic caster’s telekinesis? That part doesn’t make sense to Kunta."

"Oh-ho, the big one asks sharp questions."

"...Is that a compliment?"

"Of course."

Felicia nodded approvingly.

"To answer your question, the foundation of willpower is about bringing your body completely under your control. That is its most fundamental principle."

"?"

"Heh. Let me put it more simply—

The more you can move this latent power according to your will, the more proficient you become.

At some point, this power extends beyond your own body and begins affecting the external world.

It’s what Baltar once described as ‘The path where my heart becomes my blade.’"

"???"

"You look confused."

"Kunta still struggles with common language."

"Don’t worry, Kunta. I don’t get it either."

"Same here, Kunta."

The swordsman apprentices, finding unexpected solidarity in their shared confusion, patted each other’s shoulders in sympathy.

Ihan understood.

Unlike the others—who, despite being skilled disciples, completely failed to grasp Felicia’s explanation—Ihan, who was lying on the grass, was the only one who truly understood what she meant by willpower.

Not because he was particularly smart.

‘Yi Qi Shang Ren.’

He had simply read about something similar before.

Yi Qi Shang Ren.

A supreme martial state where one could injure others with sheer intent alone.

However, in Felicia’s version, it seemed that willpower in this world was akin to what knights called Aura Force—the energy derived from one’s vitality, often referred to as Life Energy or the Pulse of Life.

**‘Aura Techniques work by forcibly converting one’s life energy into power, enhancing physical abilities.

But if Felicia’s willpower is what I think it is, then rather than forcing it out, she’s saying it can be used naturally.’**

If normal aura users squeezed water from dry soil (their bodies), then using willpower was akin to drawing water freely from a flowing river.

In other words, it allowed for a more natural and effortless control over life energy.

‘It sounds minor, but it’s actually massive.’

It essentially eliminated two of a knight’s biggest weaknesses—internal injuries and endurance limitations.

By mastering willpower, there would no longer be a need to forcefully burn through aura reserves. There would be no waste, no risk of overexertion.

And if that was possible, then in theory—

‘Even object manipulation should be possible.’

Felicia had lifted a boulder with her mind earlier.

If that principle applied, then lifting a person—or even manipulating their movements—might not be outside the realm of possibility.

However...

‘That fox-woman’s demonstration wasn’t simple telekinesis....’

It wasn’t just a matter of moving objects with mental power.

There were no traces of life energy being used in her technique at all.

What she had done was something else entirely—

It was, quite literally, the realm of Mind-Controlled Swordsmanship.

And if his guess was correct—then this was only the beginning.

"Willpower—does it have realms or stages?"

"Hmm? ...Ah, have you already figured that much out? What a curious child. You certainly don’t look like someone who thinks deeply..."

"Let’s not judge people by their appearance. Just answer the question."

"M-my apologies. That wasn’t my intention... but, hmm, to answer your question, saying that willpower has defined stages wouldn’t be quite accurate.

If I had to compare it to something, willpower is like swordsmanship—the more you train, the more refined it becomes. But no matter how deep you dig, there’s no end in sight."

"I see. That kind of concept."

"Exactly."

"Then, at what level is the willpower I’m currently using...?"

"Hmm... At best, you’re like a baby, barely a hundred days old, flailing around with a toy sword."

"......."

...That explained something.

She had been calling the others ‘children’ but insisted on calling him ‘baby.’

It wasn’t just some odd speech quirk—she genuinely saw his level of willpower as that of an infant who had just learned to stand.

Ihan finally understood.

‘Damn it, that old bastard was toying with me after all.’

He recalled Baltar, laughing heartily during their sparring matches.

Now, Ihan fully grasped how Baltar must have seen him back then.

‘I... I was just putting on a show for him, wasn’t I?’

At thirty years old, Ihan had unknowingly performed a cute little display for Baltar like a child showing off.

‘Wait a second... do I already know what willpower is?’

His embarrassment over dancing like a fool for Baltar faded as a realization hit him.

If willpower was the same as Yi Qi Shang Ren—the supreme martial concept—then wasn’t he already using it?

Arahan Divine Fist.

Boundless Sword.

Fists imbued with intent. A sword forged by sheer willpower.

Felicia’s explanation of the fundamentals of willpower sounded eerily similar to the techniques Ihan had already been using.

Had he unknowingly been utilizing it this entire time?

If so, then why the hell did he need to go through all this hassle at House Offen? Couldn’t Baltar have just taught him directly?

Why did he have to suffer through all this instead of training under someone he was already familiar with?

But then—

"That wouldn’t have worked either."

Felicia seemed to have read his mind.

"As I said earlier, baby, the level of willpower you wield is at the absolute beginner stage.

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To advance, it’s best to be taught by someone who has mastered it.

However, Baltar has never been a good teacher. And ever since the late king passed away, he has completely withdrawn from worldly affairs.

Sending you to me was likely the greatest kindness he could show you.

...He must truly care about you, seeing how much effort he’s put in for your sake. Heh."

"That’s...."

Ihan refused to believe Baltar had sent him to Felicia out of some deep-seated affection.

The man looked like a sage, but deep down, he was a madman.

‘He probably did this just to mess with me.’

Baltar had to have known exactly what kind of person Felicia was.

"...You don’t trust Baltar at all, do you?"

"If you knew what he put me through, you’d understand why I don’t."

"Heh. Maybe he just struggles to express kindness properly."

"Bullshit. Any more of his kindness and I’d already be in Avalon by now."

Ihan shuddered as he recalled the past three years of training.

Felicia merely laughed.

But then—

"Regardless, the fact remains that I can help you.

So let’s work hard together and hone your willpower!"

"......."

She clenched her fist in enthusiasm, eyes gleaming with passion.

And Ihan...

‘Why does this feel like a blessing and a curse at the same time?’

...felt utterly drained just by looking at her.

Meanwhile, watching from nearby, Iliad de Offen let out a quiet sigh.

"Sir Ihan must be suffering... My mother is wonderful in many ways, but her passion can be... overwhelming."

"But it’s still an incredible opportunity, is it not? The kingdom—no, the entire continent is filled with people who would kill for the chance to learn from her."

"You’re not wrong."

"......."

Elza abruptly fell silent.

She had just realized she had made a mistake.

With anyone else, her words wouldn’t have mattered.

But to Iliad—they carried a different weight.

And sure enough—

"I should head back now, Elza."

"Master...."

"I’m fine. Don’t worry about it."

"......."

"I said I’m fine."

Iliad waved his hand dismissively, smiling as if nothing was wrong.

But as he turned away, his expression hardened.

"...Not everyone can be like Mother."

A heavy silence followed.

A silence so deep and dark, it was suffocating.