"Ugh, ah…"
After seeing the Celestial Martial Body message last night, I passed out. Waking up, it was already morning.
"Hmm."
My body felt so light that a slight twist of my waist lifted me upright.
"Is this what 'light as a feather' means?"
It wasn't just lightness. Since learning martial arts, I'd become sensitive to spatial awareness, and my perspective had noticeably shifted from yesterday.
Did I get taller?
My eye level was distinctly higher. I must've grown.
[Creator's Eye activated.]
[Name: Yuren Rox]
[Traits: Creator's Eye, Sichuan Tang Clan, Hundred Poisons Immunity, Celestial Martial Body]
[Notes: None]
[Sync Rate: 89.01%]
Checking my status after a while, a lot had changed. But my focus locked onto one thing.
"Celestial Martial Body? For real…?"
In the novel, the protagonist gains this, the story's ultimate physique, past the midpoint. It's a heaven-sent vessel for martial arts, able to mimic any stance or technique after one glance, with a body that continuously grows and adapts.
With this, I could master the form of any sword or fist technique. Maybe I should learn them.
"The real fortune here wasn't Agnes—it was the Celestial Martial Body."
[What? You're dissing me?]
"Look at that quick wit."
[You jerk! I've never had such a rude master!]
Agnes, in bracelet form, buzzed and shook my arm.
Knock, knock.
"Young Master."
"Come in."
Giranox, already washed, entered with a damp face.
"To reach As Castle by tomorrow, we need to leave now."
"I'm coming."
"I'll order breakfast."
"Good."
After sending Giranox out, I washed up and headed downstairs. I filled up on bread and soup, then hit the road.
"Hmm…"
"What?"
Giranox kept fidgeting beside me, lost in thought.
"Huh?"
"What's with you?"
"You might think I'm crazy, but… Young Master, you seem a lot taller."
"I feel it too."
If Giranox noticed, it must be obvious.
"As a blacksmith, I'm good with measurements. Your height's up about 6cm since yesterday."
He kept eyeing me up and down, clearly amazed.
"You don't just notice—you know the exact number?"
"You were 176cm yesterday; now you're about 182cm."
"Damn, that's not just eyeballing."
"Yeah, it's a blacksmith thing. Occupational habit."
What a quirky habit. Thanks to him, I knew my exact height—pretty useful.
Chatting about men's heights, we headed to As Castle.
After camping overnight, we arrived at noon the next day.
"Good thing we caught a carriage. Got here fast."
"Yeah, I expected evening."
"That sweltering forge smell—so hot and steamy. As Castle's the best."
Last time, As Castle felt like a sauna, hot and sticky. Now, I felt nothing.
Celestial Martial Body's effect.
It grants immunity to water and fire, keeping me refreshed despite the heat, unlike my last visit.
"Let's head to the mage tower."
"Yes!"
At the mage tower, the old man from before was gone, replaced by a young girl in a blue robe, looking too youthful to be a wizard.
"Welcome!"
"Where's the wizard?"
Giranox spoke before I could.
"Huh? Right here!" She thumped her chest, and I barely stifled a laugh at her cuteness.
This world has young but powerful beings. She might look young or actually be young, but judging by appearance alone could get you killed.
"We want to use the warp."
"Where to?"
"The royal capital."
The girl went to a desk, fiddled around, and returned with a small rod.
"Warping to the capital requires ID verification due to potential threats to the royal family. Please understand."
"Not the royal palace, just the capital."
"Right, but it still needs verification. It's a hassle, but it's protocol."
Not for mileage points but ID checks? I didn't set this up.
It's like needing ID to enter Seoul because the Blue House is there—ridiculous.
"No choice. I'm Yuren Rox of House Rox, and this is my blacksmith, Giranox."
"Yuren Rox… Yuren Rox?"
The girl, casually holding the rod, snapped her head up, eyes sparkling with curiosity.
"No way, the Yuren Rox? The Iron Wizard?"
Thanks to the mage tower confirming the orc warrior, my name had spread here.
"What?"
"The Iron Wizard?"
"Yuren Rox?"
Wizards nearby, previously focused on their tasks, dropped everything and rushed over.
"What magic do you use, Lord Yuren?"
"There's no mana signature!"
"But the soldiers didn't lie. The orc warrior's wounds couldn't be from a sword."
"They said daggers kept coming endlessly—how?"
"How do you target with daggers? Can you share the formula?"
Their questions crossed my tolerance limit, and more wizards were gathering. The girl was squished out of sight.
Boom!
A loud thud silenced the room. No sound came from speaking—it was a silence spell.
"You lot never know when to stop."
A handsome middle-aged man emerged from the crowd, smiling. Everyone else was mute, but he spoke freely.
"Sorry, Lord Yuren. They're too curious…"
I wanted to reply but couldn't make a sound.
"Let's move elsewhere."
Buzz.
Instantly, Giranox and I were in another space. He'd teleported us without chants or formulas.
"You can speak now."
"Where are we?"
"My study. It'd be endless back there, so I moved us. Apologies."
"No, thank you."
Even without Creator's Eye, I knew who he was. His kindly smile hid a slaughterer who'd kill thousands without losing it.
[Creator's Eye activated.]
[Name: Yubion]
[Traits: Mana Affinity lv4, Spatial Domination lv4, High-Speed Calculation]
[Affection: 0 (Neutral)]
As expected, this sly bastard.
"I'm Yubion, head of the As Castle branch."
"Yuren Rox."
"I know—the Iron Wizard, Lord Yuren Rox."
His smile persisted, but knowing his true nature, I saw darkness flickering in it.
"Why visit the tower?"
"To warp to the royal capital."
"Perfect, I'll send you."
He clapped, delighted.
"We have a warp circle here, so I'll send you directly."
"I don't accept unearned favors. I'll pay."
"Haha, no misunderstanding—you'll pay. I just mean you'll avoid the chaos downstairs."
Feels off, but no choice.
I hesitated to accept his warp, but refusing further might draw more attention.
"Alright."
Giranox and I paid the warp fee and stepped onto the magic circle.
"Unlike the others, you're not asking me anything, Yubion."
"Haha, I'm curious about you, but…"
His smile turned serious as he looked at me.
"I think we'll meet again."
Whoosh.
With that, we were in another space. Yubion was gone, and a door stood before us.
"Welcome to the royal capital!"
A cheerful female wizard greeted us as we stepped out.
"Have a great time and come back!"
Leaving her greeting behind, we exited the mage tower.
"Didn't feel a thing, and we're in the capital? Magic's wild," Giranox said.
Checking myself for any tricks Yubion might've pulled, I found nothing.
Was it really just a chance meeting? Why am I running into scary people lately…?
"Wow, these buildings are so fancy."
The capital was neatly zoned, like a redeveloped city. Most buildings were over three stories with sleek designs, feeling like a return to the modern world.
"Is this the same country? As Castle's nice, but this is another world."
Giranox couldn't tear his eyes from the buildings.
"It's not just buildings. People's clothes, status, and looks are on another level. This is the kingdom's heart."
"Yeah, everyone here looks so refined."
Giranox sighed, comparing his shabby clothes to a noble's fine suit across the street.
"If you're that jealous, buy clothes with the money I gave you."
"Nah, I couldn't…"
We wandered the capital, heading to the Royal Knight Academy. Clear zoning and signposts made navigation easy.
"Here it is. Royal Knight Academy. Massive."
"Like a university."
"Huh?"
"Nothing."
The academy's varied buildings towered like a university campus. I hadn't detailed its curriculum or layout, yet it all functioned seamlessly—fascinating.
"Welcome."
At the main building, a receptionist greeted us.
"What brings you?"
"Here to visit."
"Your name and the student's?"
"I'm Yuren Rox, here for my brother, Colin Rox."
"Oh!"
The receptionist gasped at my name.
"You're the Yuren Rox who slew the orc warrior!"
My fame reached here already?
"Yuren Rox?"
Someone called my name from behind. Turning, I saw a figure with waist-length silver hair and radiant silver eyes. Only one family in the kingdom had such striking features.
"The Elion Duchy…"