The Indomitable Martial King

“How does that feel? Is it relaxing?”

“Uh…”

Repenhardt had a vague expression. Apologetically, he didn’t feel any relaxation or even the sensation of receiving a massage. This steel body of his didn’t respond to Iniya’s delicate fingers.

Iniya seemed to realize this quickly.

Buzz!

A silver aura emanated from Iniya’s hands.

“How about now? Is it better?”

“It feels nice.”

Only with the aid of the aura did Repenhardt begin to ‘feel’ the massage. Iniya pressed Repenhardt’s back firmly with her aura-filled hands, her face flushing red.

‘Wow, look at that muscular back. It’s impressive…’

Occasionally wiping the drool from her lips, she thoroughly enjoyed (?) massaging Repenhardt’s body. Naturally, Repenhardt, lying face down on the bed, had no way of seeing Iniya’s expression. He simply accepted her kindness gratefully.

Just then, the door burst open, and a platinum-haired elf girl entered. With a determined look on her face, Siris scanned the room.

“……”

Seeing the scene, Siris struggled to maintain her expression. She had already heard from the attendant that Iniya was giving Repenhardt a massage.

It was a scene she had roughly expected. There was no reason to be surprised.

Siris glared at Iniya with sharp eyes. Iniya, sitting on top of Repenhardt and diligently massaging his back, had quite an expression on her face.

‘Isn’t she nicknamed the Ice Queen? Did all the ice melt?’

Indeed, she looked like spring had come and melted all the ice.

Iniya also looked at Siris. The moment she saw Siris’s gaze, Iniya’s expression hardened.

‘Oh? Could she be…?’

A woman’s intuition sounded the alarm. Iniya had been relieved to find out that Silan was not a rival. But here was another contender! Come to think of it, Repenhardt had mentioned that there was someone he had feelings for!

Repenhardt lifted his head.

“Oh, Siris? What’s up?”

Moving awkwardly, Siris replied,

“Oh, I came to help Miss Iniya.”

“Really?”

Why was she doing something she usually wouldn’t? Repenhardt was momentarily puzzled but then just buried his face back into the bed.

‘She came to help Iniya… Maybe they’re close because they’re both elf swordsmen?’

In the air, Iniya and Siris’s gazes met.

Snap!

Electricity crackled. Of course, it wasn’t literal but just a figure of speech.

“Oh my, Miss Siris. Have you learned how to give massages?”

“I haven’t not learned.”

In reality, Siris had been forced to learn various techniques to serve her master during her time as a slave.

‘I learned from professionals!’

Tilla’s voice echoed in her mind like an auditory hallucination.

‘Don’t lose~.’

Fueled by her competitive spirit, Siris stared at Repenhardt’s back.

It was a familiar sight she had always seen—broad, strong, and dependable…

Suddenly, Siris’s face turned bright red.

‘I, I can’t do it!’

Normally, she didn’t think much of it, but now that she was conscious of it, she felt insanely embarrassed. She couldn’t understand how Iniya could do something like this so boldly.

But retreating here would only mean defeat!

Siris closed her eyes and steeled herself. She reached out her trembling hand toward Repenhardt. She gently took hold of his right hand.

Squeeze, squeeze…

Siris earnestly attempted a hand massage.

This was the best she could manage at the moment…

* * *

The window of the living room facing Repenhardt’s room.

Silan was watching the room with a pleased expression. She looked at the two elf women with Repenhardt in the middle and quietly muttered.

“Love is something to be won.”

Personally, she hoped that Siris, whom she had known for a long time, would succeed. However, as a priestess of Philanence, the goddess of love, it was forbidden for her to artificially make people fall in love.

Her mission was to advise those who were already in love and guide them to true happiness.

Thus, Silan was supporting both women equally.

“May true love come to whoever it may be.”

Of course, this was merely a public statement; her true feelings were somewhat different.

‘Anyone, just connect quickly so I can live in peace.’

In front, there was a firm press.

On the side, a gentle squeeze.

The glances exchanged between Iniya and Siris grew sharper. Iniya pouted as she glanced at Siris.

‘I set the table, and now you’re trying to add your fork?’

She was the one who brought the bed and the massage oil.

Siris snorted and turned her head.

‘Hmph!’

Repenhardt, lying face down, suddenly tilted his head in puzzlement.

‘Strange. My body feels relaxed… so why do I feel a chill?’

Making this Gym Unbreakable’s body feel a chill was no easy feat, even if he were to splash around in a frozen lake in midwinter.

But Repenhardt soon dismissed it. After all, he felt good.

“Mmm…”

He let out a pleasant sigh and cleared his mind.

There was still a long road ahead and much to be done.

But enjoying this moment of leisure wasn’t bad either.

‘Ah, it’s peaceful.’

Unaware of the tumultuous events unfolding behind him, Repenhardt enjoyed his moment of peace.

* * *

A large room with walls of gleaming metal.

In the center of the room was a massive tank. Inside the tank, glowing with various magical symbols, lay a naked man. He was a handsome young man in his mid-twenties with a sleek build.

Below the young man’s ankles, his flesh was exposed, revealing red muscle fibers as if the skin had been peeled away from an otherwise intact foot. A silver-haired girl standing in front of the tank murmured softly.

“Jade’s injury is almost fully healed.”

The girl, Serelein, the highest-ranking Guardian among the Silver Sages, looked away from the tank and sighed deeply.

“Who would’ve thought the Fist King had such a high level of magic as well.”

The young man inside the tank was Jade, who had failed his assassination mission and fled. Under normal circumstances, failing his mission, losing the Blink Boots to the enemy, and being caught stealing the forbidden item, the Feather of Return, would have been enough to warrant execution.

However, Serelein had discreetly erased Jade’s records and placed him in the recovery tank to regenerate his severed feet. Jade, being the younger brother of Guardian Arclight, was not someone they could easily silence like other assassins.

Moreover, a powerful mage who had reached the 7th Circle at such a young age was rare even among the Silver Sages. Although the Silver Sages were indeed a powerful group, this was due to their monopoly on ancient artifacts, not because of the individual strength of its members.

It was not an easy decision for the Silver Sages to give up on such talent. Guardian Arclight, being the eldest son, had inherited the role of Guardian, but his prowess as a mage was still below that of Jade.

Serelein examined the condition of Jade in the tank.

“He might wake up today, but he won’t be usable immediately.”

This recovery tank, which could regenerate even lost body parts, was indeed remarkable. However, it had the drawback of requiring the occupant to remain unconscious inside the tank until fully healed. Jade had been in the tank for almost two months, and even if he woke up, it would take considerable time for him to regain his full strength.

‘Even if he can be used, the problem remains.’

The girl furrowed her delicate brows slightly. Even if Jade completely regained his condition, sending him back to Repenhardt was out of the question.

No matter how powerful an Aura User, Mage, or Priest was, they were not a significant threat to the Silver Sage. The Silver Sage, who had manipulated humanity from the shadows for countless years, possessed magical tools that suited each situation. The assassins only needed to use those weapons according to the prescribed manual to eliminate their targets.

However, it was extremely rare in history to find someone who could wield both high-level magic and Aura. A single assassin would not suffice against such an opponent.

‘But I can’t send multiple assassins either.’

Serelein pouted her lips.

Sending too many assassins would risk exposing the existence of the Silver Sage. Moreover, there were many powerful Aura Users around Repenhardt. The risk of attempting another assassination was too great.

To deal with him, a group other than the Silver Sage was necessary. A group that had a reason to kill the Fist King from the beginning, so that even if news of the assassination spread widely, the Silver Sage wouldn’t be suspected.

‘Should I seek his help after all? Damn, I wanted to avoid involving outsiders if possible.’

There was someone.

Someone who harbored a grudge against Repenhardt, who could confront him without any awkwardness, and who had even clashed with him once. Although they had ultimately been defeated and fled from the Fist King and his party, with the power of the Silver Sage behind them, they could yield sufficient results.

Thinking of their leader, a dark-haired man who possessed both Aura and high-level magic like Repenhardt, Serelein made up her mind.

“I suppose I need to find Sage Restin.”

☆ ☆ ☆

A noble’s mansion built at the foot of a mountain.

In the front yard, a dark-haired man was swinging his sword.

“Spiral Blade!”

A golden Aura swirled around, riding the blade and piercing the air. The atmosphere shook, producing a loud roar. Philena, who was watching from nearby, clapped her hands.

“That’s amazing, Teslon! With that level of power, you can definitely take on the Fist King!”

Teslon clicked his tongue and shook his head.

“Not even close. It’s still far from enough.”

Philena’s expression turned sullen again. Teslon sighed.

‘Hah… I should have finished it back then…’

Previously, he had managed to exploit a flaw using Karzian martial arts. Missing that golden opportunity had resulted in nothing more than kindly pointing out his weakness. There was no way Repenhardt, not being a fool, would retain that weakness.

Besides, Repenhardt didn’t have many other weaknesses to exploit.

‘Is improving my skills the only way…’

This mansion was the residence given to Teslon by Duke Iranard. After being defeated by Repenhardt, Teslon and his group had been honing their skills here, waiting for the day of their revenge.

In the front yard, some distance away, Stefan, clad in black armor, swung his sword fiercely.

“Haah!”

The dark energy slashed through the air. Eusus, wearing golden armor, cast a spell to block the attack. They exchanged blows frantically for a while. Eusus created some distance and praised Stefan.

“That was a good strike, Sir Stefan.”

Stefan shook his head as he lowered his sword.

“Thanks to you, Sir Eusus. I feel like I’m finally getting used to handling this armor.”

The two took a moment to catch their breath. A delicate elf woman approached with drinks.

“Please, my lord.”

After taking a drink, Stefan continued.

“Bring a wet towel as well, Relsia.”

“Yes.”

She was Stefan’s slayer, Relsia. Since joining Teslon’s group and mastering the Berserker Armor, Relsia no longer assisted Stefan in combat but instead handled chores around the mansion.

Though she was skilled above the average knight, compared to Teslon’s group, she was significantly weaker. Even Christine, the weakest among them, could subdue Relsia in just ten seconds. There was no reason to take her along in battles as she wasn’t helpful at all.

“Here it is, my lord.”

After wiping his sweat with the towel Relsia handed him, Stefan spoke again.

“Let’s go again, Sir Eusus.”

Eusus nodded as he took his stance.

“Alright, come at me!”

“Haah!”

As the two knights resumed their sparring, Teslon watched them with a serious expression.

‘They’ve gotten stronger, but…’

Philena, who had been diligently practicing magic, was nearing the late 6th circle. Stefan had become quite proficient with the Berserker Armor. Christine, the paladin of Seiya, was also steadily increasing her strength with a burning desire to reclaim Sillan.

Yes, they had all gotten significantly stronger.

The problem was that Teslon had become much stronger than them.

‘Relying on magical tools has its limits…’

Teslon smiled bitterly as he looked at Eusus. At some point, he had reached a level far beyond the golden knight Eusus, even without magic, solely as an Aura User.

Eusus was already fully developed as a magic swordsman. No matter how much he trained, his Magic Armor Eldrad wouldn’t become any more powerful. While he could gain strength through strategic or tactical experience, his inherent skills remained unchanged.

The growth rate between the truly strong Teslon and his comrades, who relied on shortcuts, was too different.