Breakthrough with the Forbidden Master Chapter 444: That Place

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〔…… This way…… then do… that…… Ah… right……〕

Having put an end to one hellish ordeal, Earth smiled, his entire body brimming with magic power as he grasped something profound.

Staring intently at that sight……

“Wait…yeah, yeah… during that final battle over a decade ago, “that guy” …… recovered the massive amount of magic power he had used… that one…….”

“I remember now. That’s right…… Huh? Wait a second… Then, all the more reason, why Earth?”

Both Hiro and Mamu……

“Strippin’ every nerve bare, pushin’ ‘imself to the limit with razor‑sharp senses… oh, so that’s why ‘e drained the water out… but nah, even that alone ain’t enough to master that person’s technique. There’s somethin’ more important, innit……”

Even Hakuki had doubts.

A question for which there is no answer.

“With medical examination magic you can figure out the ‘number’ and ‘rough positions’ of all the magic holes in the body… but the ‘exact spots’, nah, you can’t pin ‘em down. That person once said… ‘If you don’t know the precise place o’ every magic hole, you’ll never catch the feelin’ of magic flowin’ out an’ in, the proper circulation.’…… One tiny slip o’ the needle an’ it’s all ruined. That’s why, when they fiddled with the Demon King Army soldiers to give ‘em more magic holes, ‘is Six‑Path Eyes were a must…… But Earth Lagann ain’t got no Six‑Path Eyes… nor any o’ the other Three Great Magic Eyes… and it ain’t like he’s been trained by Jamdi’el with that Heraldic Eye of hers…… so why then? Jamdi’el, you bleedin’ muppet… You’ve been livin’ with him for months! Why the bloody hell weren’t you there for such an important moment like this!”

At the same time, he was trembling.

〔Ah… hah~…… I’m glad I’m alive.〕

While making three of the world’s strongest fighters tremble, Earth, reflected in the sky, ended his training, and began to drink water, which he had completely abstained from until then, restoring not only his magic power but also the life to his parched body.

Then, Earth started running again.

Earth Lagann was born and raised in the Imperial City.

The Empire should be Earth’s homeland.

As childhood friends who had grown up together in the Empire for over ten years, they should have known Earth better than anyone else.

However, ever since the Imperial Tournament, they had completely lost their grasp on who Earth was.

And even now, like this, they are shown an Earth they didn’t recognize.

〔It seems thou has made quite the accomplishment.〕

〔Well, look forward to it at the upcoming tournament.〕

〔Very well, Show me! I’ve left thou to thy own devices, as thou wished, and I want to see the end of thy path.〕

He engages in a conversation with Jamdi’el, one of the legendary Six Supremacy, without backing down a single step.

After completing his water-draining training, Earth has returned to his former fierce form.

No, having overcome a personal hell, Earth is brimming with even greater confidence.

And at the same time, his everyday life also seems vibrant and full of life.

〔Hey, Earth!〕

〔Ora, we’re here! You’re going start working together with us again today!〕

〔Today is a school holiday, so we’re a little early, but…〕

〔Fuah~… sleepy…〕

Early in the morning, he ran around the city with Mortriage’s crew and trained with them.

〔Here we go, boys!〕

〔〔〔〔Oh!!! 〕〕〕〕

It seems to have become a familiar sight in Cacretale, as townspeople call out to Earth and the others as they run by.

Training together, sweating together, pushing each other to the limit……

“Huh…… Hmm…… Ugh……”

“Oh……”

“…………”

Phianse, Fu, and Rebal looked at Earth and Mortriage’s crew with mixed feelings.

Originally, they should have been in that position……

〔I’ll be participating in the upcoming tournament. And I’m going to win. In other words, if that José comes out, I will fight José at some point. And I’ll beat him up. But I’ll also put your feelings in my fist.〕

And just as the four looked up to Earth, Earth viewed them not merely as students or as a mentor-disciple relationship, but as friends… no, as comrades……

〔We sweated together like this and we sipped the same water.〕

He was about to fight while carrying that sentiment with him.

Seeing that, the Phianse group……

“It might be too late to say this now, but… originally, we should have been the ones standing in that spot… I’m unbearably envious…….”

“Mortriage and the others… for Earth to speak to them like that… it’s just like the Earth who used to lead us around when we were kids…”

It was jealousy.

“Ever since we entered the Academy… Earth gradually became more withdrawn… but instead of reaching out to him, we became somewhat awkward… Ah… that’s right. If only we had been more there for Earth… if only we had…….”

Rebal, too, looked up at the sky and felt mixed emotions as he watched Mortriage and the others laughing and working up a sweat alongside the lively Earth.

It was Mortriage’s crew who… no……

“Hehehe, is this what youth is all about? But Earth and the others seemed to be having so much fun back then~”

“Amae ran with Older brother, too!”

“Yeah, that’s right~. It kinda became a local attraction, seeing you guys running through town, you know~”

“I remember it well too. They blended in so well in less than two months.”

“Yes, Little man, and Mortriage’s crew…… were running, weren’t they?”

“Hahaha, it’s embarrassing, but we’re still running now too!”

“Ora! I can run even more now!”

“I’ve gained a little more stamina……”

“I’ve lost a little weight!”

In fact, it felt as though this Cacretale might actually be a better home for Earth than his native Empire.

And in a sense, that’s not wrong.

〔Ufufufu, this day has finally come, Earth.〕

〔It has.〕

〔In the interest of fairness, I can’t cheer for Earth alone, but I’ll be watching you closely! So, please show me, won’t you?〕

The tournament Earth had been aiming for.

Under normal circumstances, those who knew the outside world might have dismissed it as nothing more than a “closed-off tournament of frogs in a well.” But that wasn’t the case at all.

“And so, this is it… Earth… He’s brimming with confidence, just like when we competed in the Imperial Tournament…”

“Yes. And it’s different from that time. I’ve already heard the result, but… he fought through this tournament to the very end… unlike the Imperial Tournament.”

Now, everyone is interested in the outcome of the tournament, and even those who have already seen it are looking back on it with excitement, their faces full of anticipation.

“Um…… still…….”

“Ufufu, but even so, Little man, in these days…”

And on top of that, Phianse and Sadiz……

〔So that’s the genius, José? Earth, what do you think?〕

〔He’s really unpleasant!!〕

〔…… No, I didn’t mean that… Or rather, your voice is loud.〕

〔Hey, you! I can hear you!〕

〔Yeah. I meant for you to hear me. A bunch of obnoxious mass-produced waste of space!〕

〔What!?〕

Facing José —whom he’d been trying to avoid as much as possible until now—and his entourage of girls……

〔You! What did you say… to the people I care about?〕

〔Didn’t you hear me? Then, one more time―――〕

〔Shut――――〕

〔You shut up!!〕

〔Eh!?〕

〔I’m sorry, but I’m not gonna shut up today. And I won’t back down, I can’t give in.〕

He didn’t back down a single step.

〔So if you want me to shut up… then shut me up. In this tournament!〕

〔Ah … d … dear me. Don’t you know that weak dogs bark louder?〕

〔Kuhahahahaha, are you stupid? Dude. This is the human world. Why are you bringing up matters of the dog world?〕

He was overwhelming him, brimming with confidence that there was absolutely no way he could lose.

“Th, this Earth… how… how cool…….”

“Ugh~, I really regret losing my memory back then… Ooohh, Little man, you’re sooooo hot!!!”

Phianse and Sadiz are completely captivated by Earth……

〔And now, I would like to launch this competition between 16 men who will determine the pinnacle of martial arts in this country! Please watch to the end!〕

No…… not just the two of them……

“Ufufufu! Mmm, Earth is so amazing! Are you watching, everyone? That’s Earth, the man I admire! He’s so cool! But that’s not all! Earth is even much, much, sooooooooooo much cooler!”

Kron, puffing out her chest and boasting, “Mufufu~” at the construction site.

“True, he’s definitely a guy who works really, really hard……”

“Oh, he’s cheeky, but he’s got guts too……”

“I thought that, since he’s the guy Krony has a crush on, he’d be some slender, prince-like heartthrob, but turns out he’s a rough-and-tumble fellow.”

The men working there had all been curious to see the man that Kron, who had become quite popular with them, was so smitten with, but he exceeded their expectations, so no one could complain.

“Well shit, that guy… so that was the kind of training he was doing, Master?”

“Indeed… well, in hindsight… there existed a surfeit of unresolved queries pertaining to the lad…”

〔Will the sudden appearance of this comet be a bad omen or hope for the future? All the numbers he produced at the dojo are top class in the rankings! An unknown powerhouse who even sparred with that strongest Machio! Now is the time to show us what you’re really made of! The ‘Supernova’, Earth Lagann!〕

And not only Kron……

“Big brother, you’re so cool, you’re great! Ah~~~, seriously! I was actually thinking of going over to beat up that José guy for making fun of Big brother while he was drained of water, but ugh well, never mind!”

“This is a recording, so we can watch it over and over again later, right? I want to watch Brother’s story as many times as I can. I’ll have to negotiate with Paripi later.”

“…… Honey…… ah, doing all this behind my back… Just how much more are you going to make me fall for you before you’re satisfied?”

“Hah~…… Sir Earth…… you are far too gallant for mortal ken~”

“Whooooa~~~, my son-in-law is absolutely stunning~~~! Go, go, son-in-law~!”

“Hehehe, those are some nice, confident words…… But still…… My Lord…… that matter of his magic power recovery…”

“Hmm…… no doubt about it. Or rather, even Norja was shaken when she first saw that… Well, that’s fine. For now, let’s see this through to the end.”

Everyone in the Elf Settlement was having a great time.

Well, not everyone……

〔Dear me, I don’t like to stand out.〕

〔Then, I’ll end this in seconds.〕

The highly anticipated match between Earth and José is set to begin in the first round.

Not only the Elf Settlement, but the whole world is now on the edge of their seats, waiting with bated breath for the match to begin……

“Stop…… already……”