Musou Knight: Crow of Cinders-Chapter 15: New Skill

Chapter 15 - New Skill

"What are you talking about?"

I opened my eyes and stared at her. She also stared back. This time, her expression was solemn.

"Stop feigning ignorance. The last time I met you, I sensed Musou’s aura coming from you. And today, your aura has grown bigger. It’s clear that you knew a cultivation method. Who taught you?"

I cussed at my ill fate. I hated the fact that I overlooked one important fact that Musou knights could sense and measure each other’s energy core, similar to those in cultivation stories.

Lenitia pressed further. "Tell me who your master is and why you are asking for my country’s token?"

My actions probably struck her as odd. She realized I could utilize musou, and though I declared allegiance to Invidia, I was journeying to her nation. Any other musou knight would have executed me for acting like a spy.

I lied again.

"Self-taught."

"Impossible. It takes a decade for an ordinary person to learn musou arts."

"Yeah, well, try getting drafted without so much as a ’please,’ tossed into a war like yesterday’s garbage, clawing through the chaotic battlefields between musou knights, dumped half-dead into a mass grave for the scenic view, digging yourself out from under a mountain of corpses, and then fine dining on whatever poisonous mushrooms you can find just to keep the diseases guessing. That’s my crash course."

It was a desperate excuse, but half of it was true.

Though Musou knights often trained in secluded academies, not all of them came from noble families. These individuals, some vagabonds or bandits, had their energy cores form unintentionally. While many were drafted into knightly orders across different nations, a select few emerged as celebrated heroes.

I was using the same excuse. Hopefully, this airhead would buy it.

"I...I am sorry. I knew not you had suffered so."

Lenitia sheathed her sword. Her subordinates sighed in relief, and so did I.

I shook my head and rubbed my wounded neck. Fresh blood stained my fingers, and I rolled my eyes.

"You’d better have some ointment and a clean bandage. Otherwise, I’ll die from fever or blood loss."

"KYAAAAAA!! I AM SO SORRY! I SHALL FETCH ONE AT ONCE!"

The dumb princess screamed and dashed toward her subordinates. She rummaged through their belongings, fetched a bundle of clean cloth and ointment, and brought them to me.

After tending my wound, I had the urge to smash a vase and summon some healing food. Instead, I fell asleep hungry and in pain.

Morning arrived. I woke early. Lenitia’s subordinates standing guard nearby.

But a shock awaited me. Studium, though appearing healthy and uninjured, never regained consciousness. His body had already turned purple, and he was not breathing.

I inspected Studium’s body.

’How could you kick the bucket so early? You haven’t taught me everything yet! Why now?!’

While I examined him, Lenitia approached. She peered into the cave and raised an eyebrow.

"Was he your father?"

"...No. I was his apprentice."

"I see. The air in this cave is thin. He likely perished peacefully in his sleep."

I raised an eyebrow, recalling documentaries from my previous life. Testing the theory, I carried a torch into the cave.

The flame died instantly.

I understood then why no animals lived here. It was a death trap. I should have realized something was wrong when Studium fell silent the moment he entered.

"Bad luck, I guess."

I searched for something to dig a proper grave for my mentor. Burning his corpse was a choice. However, a cremation would risk a forest fire, and Cow-Cow lived here. I couldn’t be lazy or inconsiderate. Thus, I borrowed a tool from the soldiers and dug a grave.

After burying Studium, I packed my belongings onto the cart and prepared to depart. My stomach still rumbled. I hadn’t even had breakfast or drunk a drop of liquid since I woke up.

Lenitia and her crew were also ready. As I fixed the cart, she approached.

"Traveling alone may be dangerous. Will you come with us?"

No way. If I followed her, they might discover my secrets. I steeled myself and declined.

"Sorry, but I’m done with this country. I want out."

"I mean, we are poor at directions. Wilt thou be our guide? I shall hire you."

"No, thanks."

I didn’t believe her bullshitery. Constantia was full of hunters and rangers. Their icon was a black wolf. Forest predators didn’t get lost. Moreover, those men were not even her subordinates.

Lenitia offered me something unique.

"How about a cultivation method?"

I froze. Her subordinates turned, alarmed.

"Your Highness! You mustn’t!"

"The cultivation method is exclusive to the family! It cannot be shared!" 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

Their concern was valid. I agreed. To be courteous, I refused again.

"Even if I had your cultivation method, it would be useless. I’m Fire type. Constantia is famous for wind-based Musou force. We’re incompatible."

"Wind supplements fire. You can use it."

"But it will hinder my future potential."

"It’s impossible for you to acquire the resources and wealth needed for level 5 or above. Why strive for more when you can live a life of freedom as a level 3 knight indefinitely?"

"You..."

This woman offended me. Even though I knew Lenitia was a bothersome character in the game, I found her to be irritating when I spoke to her directly. I felt sorry for the main character, who was destined to marry her. Good luck with your married life, bozo.

"Please?"

Lenitia’s puppy eyes were blinding. I averted my gaze, not falling for the obvious trick.

Still, I recalled something. Her home country, Constantia, had an issue. Lenitia’s home, Garuda Stand, was the location where another villain was hatching a plot for a rebellion. If I went directly there and the villain’s knights sensed me, I would be in serious trouble.

Studium’s death hurt. My migration plan wouldn’t work without an artisan like him.

Traveling with a spoiled princess would be annoying, but I could use her food and water. When the fateful event started, I could simply bail.

"Hah... Fine! But share your food with me, too! You already ate all my rations last night. I’ve got nothing left! Also, I’m hungry. I need food, now."

"Of course, we shall feed you!"

"Aight. Deal!"

We shook hands. It was going to be an eventful journey.

.

After I had a feast and filled my stomach with water, we continued our journey, using the sun for direction. We detoured southwest around the hill, though our destination lay northwest.

I was leading Lenitia and her subordinates straight to the battlefield I had escaped from. And no, I wasn’t trolling them. I was avoiding a certain event.

Traveling with able men made the journey easier. The soldiers helped push and pull the cart through uneven terrain. By noon, we had covered five kilometers and reached the ruined battlefield.

Corpses still littered the ground. Crows and vultures lingered, though most bodies were skeletons. The stench was stronger than when I had first transmigrated here.

Lenitia and her subordinates flinched at the sight and smell. They halted at the edge of the mass grave, burning the scene into memory.

"Where are we?" Lenitia asked.

"Hell. The place I escaped from."

"I see. Yet you look unharmed?"

They sized me up, clearly expecting scars.

I smirked and drew a knife. Though it was my first attempt, I felt confident.

I cut my fingertip with a knife. Then, I focused my force on the knife, lighting it on fire. Using the same knife, I bathed my wounded fingertip in the flame.

My finger felt warm and clean, as though I had just washed it with soap.

Most importantly, the wound healed.