SC1 16.3 – Calm Morning
Morning in the hut went as usual. I woke up, wore my mask, and then went to side yard. The essence concentration in the area had returned to normal level, so I took a few deep breaths and absorb some essence.
A moment later, Kato exited from bath hut. Usually, she would go straight to dining hut to prepare breakfast. However, after taking a glance on me she immediately walked over to me.
“You have breakthrough to Level 2,” Kato asked me as she had surprise look all over her face.
“Yeah, it seems my fight with Shouji has stimulated my breakthrough.”
“Are you sure a deadly fight can stimulate our breakthrough?”
I nodded and firmly replied, “A life and dead fight is the best stimulation for breakthrough.”
Kato instantly let out a sigh. “I experienced numerous deadly fighting, but none of it stimulated my breakthrough.”
“That’s because back then you didn’t have good breathing technique,” I calmly explained. “Not to mention, your breathing technique is not suitable for your soul mark and affinity.”
“I see.”
Then, I heard a movement from the hut. A moment later, Yunno and Yui came out and the two immediately walked over to me with hasty step.
“Uncle Deitoro,” Yunno worriedly said. “Yunno feel like there is storm in Yunno’s essence sea. Yunno’s essence circuit also fluctuates on its own.”
“Yui also feel the same thing,” Yui added.
“It’s a sign you are ready to breakthrough to higher level. It seems yesterday event in Tadaoka Household have stimulate and speed up the time for your breakthrough.” I calmly said.
“Breakthrough?” Yunno asked while giving me a curious look.
“Yeah,” I nodded and explained, “Every time you use your essence for training or fighting, you will absorb essence from the air a bit more than the amount you use. As time goes on your essence sea will reach its fullest capacity, and you are ready to breakthrough to next level.
Do you get it?”
““Hai.””
I smiled as Yunno and Yui gave me a nod at the same time. Then, I added, “Now, be ready. I will guide you to undergo your first breakthrough.”
“Uncle Deitoro, is it hurt when we breakthrough to next level?” Yui asked me in a tense tone.
“No, as long as the process is undisturbed,” I firmly replied before turning my gaze to Kato. “Please stand guard while I’m guiding Yunno and Yui.”
“Got it.”
Kato immediately took out her kodachi and then vigilantly stood guard. As for me, I scanned the surrounding area using Essence Pulse before asking Yunno and Yui to sit in meditation position on the ground. Then, I used Soul Binding to guide their first breakthrough.
As soon as their Dragon Breath went on full rotation, their essence sea and essence circuit immediately absorbed the essence in the area. Their rate of absorption was as fast as mine, but they would need a longer time to complete their breakthrough. Other than evolving their body, the process would also expand their essence sea and strengthened their essence circuit.
Slowly but surely, thirty minutes had flew. Yunno and Yui were already soaking in sweats from head to toe, but there was no sign they would complete their breakthrough soon. At the same time, the essence concentration in the area started to dry out.
Without delay I scattered 24 essence cubes on the ground, around Yunno and Yui. In rapid pace, the essence cubes vapor into air and being absorbed by Yunno and Yui until it disappeared without a trace. A few minutes later, Yunno and Yui essence sea finally stopped its expansion, while the fluctuation on their essence circuit calmed down.
“Take a slow and deep breath,” I said as Yunno and Yui opened their eyes, and I waited until they exhaled their third breath before asking, “How is your feeling?”
“Yunno feel stronger,” Yunno happily said.
“Yui also feel stronger,” Yui added.
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“Good,” I happily said, “And congratulation, you just becomes a Level 1 warrior. Now, you are a full fledge warrior.”
““Hai,”” Yunno and Yui replied at the same time.
“There is still some time for morning practice. Let’s not waste it.”
“Hold on,” Kato abruptly said as she walked over to me. “Are you sure Yunno and Yui can have morning training right away after their breakthrough? They have to rest a few days until their body fully accept their new essence sea and essence circuit, don’t they?”
“Their body already accepts their new essence sea and essence circuit right now,” I calmly replied.
“How sure are you?” Kato asked as she looked at me straight in the eyes.
“Ten out of ten.” After a short pause I added, “And just so you know, they need to stabilize each of their breakthroughs only for breakthrough after Level 20.”
Big question mark in an instant popped on Kato’s forehead. “Huh?”
“Have you heard that after you reach Level 20, your body will not aging anymore?”
“I have,” Kato firmly replied. “Level 20 is the borderline where a warrior starts their journey into immortality.”
“Yeah, each breakthrough after Level 20 will take a lot of toll on your body. That’s why your body will need a few days to accept your new essence sea and essence circuit.”
“I see. This is the first time I hear about it.” After letting out a deep sigh Kato continued, “When I breakthrough to Level 1, it took two full weeks to stabilize it before I could resume my training.
As for master, it took only a few days but she still had to carefully stabilize her breakthrough.”
“In your case, it’s because you use incompatible breathing technique. As for your master, I guess it’s because she use low-end breathing technique that fully being dependent on essence cube and can’t absorb pure essence from the air directly.”
After slightly nodding her head Kato said, “This is also the first time I see a breakthrough to Level 1 has dried up the essence in the surrounding area.
Moreover, Yunno and Yui still need additional 24 essence cubes and absorb it in a blink of an eye.”
“Your breakthrough to Level 2 will be no different than them.”
“When do you think I will have it?”
“Keep training with me every night, and you will have it in 2-3 weeks.”
“That fast?”
“Yeah, that fast.”
Astonishment was clearly visible in Kato’s eyes, so I didn’t explain to her that she was actually lagging behind. It was the side effect from using incompatible breathing technique for almost two years. Well, once the side effect was gone, her ability to absorb pure essence directly from the air would spike significantly. At that time, she would realize the side effect she had on her body on her own, and would have put more precaution on her training.
Wasting no time, I took Yunno and Yui to drink warm soymilk before sweeping the yard and had morning training. As for Kato, she went preparing our breakfast.
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Drinking soy milk, sweeping the yard, morning practice, taking shower, and then having breakfast, Yunno and Yui had already got used to this routine. And as usual, the two heartily ate their food. They had gained some weight, so they looked healthy and sweet.
At the same time, I could see Kato had a big relief in her heart after finding that Yunno and Yui didn’t blame her for yesterday incident.
Then, once the breakfast was over Yunno and Yui immediately tidied the table and did the dish in the laundry quarter. Wasting no time, I casted Soundproof Spell around the bath hut. At the same time, Kato took a sip of her tea before turning her gaze to me.
“Do you have something important you want to talk?”
“Yeah,” I briefly replied.
Right now, even though Yunno and Yui already had proper clothes, it was just ordinary clothes and not warrior clothes. Their sandals were also ordinary sandals. That’s why it got destroyed as soon as Yui used Wind Step in full rotation.
And so I brought the matter, “When will Yunno and Yui receive their warrior clothes?”
“In two weeks,” Kato casually replied. “I thought I can finish it before Yunno and Yui reach Level 1, but their breakthrough comes faster than my estimation.”
“I see.” I nodded before asking, “Can you get me additional warrior clothes, another traveler cloak, red demon mask, and some other masks?”
“I can, but for who?” Kato curiously asked. “You already have several warrior clothes.”
Wasting no time I presented my clones to Kato, and she dropped her jaw as they came out of my shadow one by one and introduced themselves.
“How can these clones are not just shadow, but have real body like normal human?” Kato asked in a tone full of astonishment as she gripped my clone’s arm one by one.
“That’s my innate skill,” I explained. “When they are outside my shadow, my clones are no different than normal warrior. They need clothes, food, essence cube, weapon, and training.”
“I see.” Kato said, still in astonishment tone. “I will prepare their clothes and everything else. They will also need personal hygiene supply I guess.”
“Yeah,” I said as I asked my clones other than Sanno-01 to return to my shadow.
“What pretext you will use to explain the presence of Otter, Civet, Badger, and Weasel.”
“They are my vassals, but when no one around they will treat you like how I treat you. They are another form of my existence after all.”
“I see. You all are single existence.”
“Yeah.”
A moment later, Yunno and Yui exited the bath hut carrying the dishes they had just washed. As soon as they saw Sanno-01, they immediately jogged to him with big smile in their face.
“Big Bro Sanno,” Yunno said. “Have you eaten breakfast?”
“I have,” Sanno-01 said as he kneeled in front of Yunno and Yui. “I’m sorry. I was not at home yesterday, so I couldn’t prevent mother from hurt you.”
“It’s okay,” Yunno said. “Yunno is fine now.”
“Mhm,” Yui happily added. “Everything is fine now.”
After a smile Sanno-01 said, “Yeah. Fortunately, everything is fine now.”
Sanno-01 was another form of my existence, so he would treat Yunno and Yui precisely like me. At the same time, when I saw the happiness in their eyes as they looked at Sanno-01, I realized something. For Yunno and Yui, the presence of Tadaoka Sanno is deeper than I thought.
Then, I gave Sanno-01 the material for today study, kitchen work, and afternoon training. After that, he took Yunno and Yui to resting hut. I didn’t know how long the process to complete the marriage registration in Rokube Civil Affair and Administration Hall, so today Sanno-01 would stay with them until I come back.
And so, after finishing my tea I went to Sendai, while Kato went to Rokube to buy warrior clothes, mask, and personal hygiene supply for my clones.
*****