Chapter 250

Posted by Kuze, ? Views, Released on January 26, 2025

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The most important thing in theory is accuracy and numbers.

Instead of vaguely explaining things like “adequate,” “strong,” or “weak,” it’s better to express them in mathematical terms.

That way, when others look at it and try to follow, they can act more easily, and it’s also easier to prove scientifically.

But it’s not necessary to express everything mathematically; sometimes, it’s okay to use a moderate approach.

After all, theory is just theory. As long as it makes sense, that’s what matters.

“Are you curious about how an ordinary person catches monsters?”

“Yeah.”

So, I went to Rod and asked him. Unlike me, Rod is someone who climbed up from the bottom.

He went from a wandering life with nothing to earning the title of Sword Saint. A master who slices through space like tofu.

Though people say frogs forget their tadpole days, Rod surely doesn’t. He maintains a serious and humble attitude in everything.

“Hmm… Wouldn’t it be better to ask someone else? Especially Eli and Luna, since they come from the outskirts, they’d know more.”

“Oh.”

I gasped in realization at Rod’s not-so-subtle suggestion. Come to think of it, there were indeed those two.

Given the era, it’s only natural for rural areas to need vigilante groups.

Even wolves are a severe threat, let alone monsters. Just the presence of an orc would be catastrophic.

“Still, I’d prefer my grandfather.”

“Why’s that?”

“He’s experienced.”

“Hmm. That’s a fair point.”

Rod replied that as he sipped his tea. I always think he really loves tea.

He offered me a cup, but I declined. I’d been eating only healthy stuff lately, so it tasted extremely bitter.

You know, the kind where ancient folks brew water with herbs or mushrooms from the mountains?

It definitely didn’t suit my sweet-loving taste. Eli seems to like it, though.

“The way ordinary people catch monsters…reminds me of the past. I was really weak back then.”

Rod’s expression turned nostalgic as he recalled old memories. I silently watched.

When reminiscing, it’s usually best to say nothing. Rod is quite aged, after all.

As far as I know, the past was as harsh as the present. Several nations even engaged in warfare.

A prime example would be the establishment of the Tartar civilization. Old folk had to endure the ravages of time directly.

‘Did Rod have a weak past, too?’

There has to be. Very few people are strong from the start.

Actually, there are some. The beasts of the Eastern Empire are born as monsters from the get-go.

They’re a mutation of mutations, born with terrible powers right from birth.

Maybe that’s why their mindset differs from ordinary folks, making them dangerously unique in many ways.

“Before I tell you, why do you want to know?”

“Theory.”

“Theory?”

“Yeah. I want to do well on my exam. So, I need theory.”

“Oh, now that you mention it…you did say the final exam focuses on theory.”

Only then did Rod nod as if he grasped the situation. He then asked, puzzled.

“Aren’t you usually unconcerned about the exam? Why the sudden change?”

“I’m afraid I might do poorly.”

If theory was 50%, I might’ve ignored it and scribbled something down. But it’s a whopping 70%.

Even Kara is racking her brain over that. Seeing that made me feel guilty for just goofing off.

Although we’re all supposed to study together, that’s not enough. No one knows how the topics will come up.

‘I barely scraped through the final exam in the Soul World.’

Right after the final exam, a demon invasion occurred, and the exam ended up being a non-issue.

At the time, I thought it was just because a big event happened, but it turned out the theory was crucial.

Of course, one could ignore everything and focus solely on practice. But due to the rumors I heard, I couldn’t just disregard it.

‘I might get held back.’

I want to avoid being held back at all costs. My scores are high, but I still feel uneasy.

Plus, the numerous accidents I’ve had only tighten the scrutiny on my grades. The higher I go, the tougher it’ll get.

“Really? That’s great. Focusing on studying is wonderful.”

While I was internally fretting, Rod seemed satisfied with whatever he was thinking.

It felt like he’d finally seen this lazy kid buckle down and study.

Especially since that kid had caused all kinds of trouble, he must’ve felt relieved.

“Good. I’ll personally let you know how terrifying monsters are from the perspective of an ordinary person.”

“I know, too. I got bitten by a wolf.”

“Anyway, just tell me how dire it is.”

“…..”

Maybe I shouldn’t have asked. Adults, especially old ones, love bringing up stories from the past.

Becoming an old man in such times means you’ve survived. It’s no wonder seniors are respected.

With the limitations of the era and the extreme slowness of information transfer, they have to rely on their wisdom.

Furthermore, since most people spend their entire lives in one place, wisdom accumulates naturally.

The fact that someone has become an elder without knowing what could happen hints at their respectability.

“The first time I encountered a monster…I was in my early teens. The first monster I met was a goblin.”

“Goblins are really weak.”

“Weak, yes. But you know they don’t just show up one by one, right? They’re surprisingly crafty.”

I know that. If wolves are scary, goblins can be deemed a nuisance.

They have enough intelligence to set traps and they tend to roam in groups.

This roving behavior is something humans also exhibit, and it’s one of the essential conditions for forming a civilization.

That’s why some researchers claim goblins have the second-highest blue mana after humans.

The very existence that proves this is the hobgoblin. A leader of goblins and a true servant of demons.

“But why goblins?”

“My father died back then.”

“…..”

There was no need to go that far. It was just awkward for me.

When I kept my mouth shut, Rod chuckled softly.

He took a sip of tea and, as if to reassure me, began to speak.

“You don’t have to feel too uncomfortable. He wasn’t that great of a father. He was violent every single day.”

“What about your mom?”

“Well…it’s been so long I can’t remember, but I heard she died when I was born. It happens often.”

“…..”

I rolled my eyes at the consecutive tragedies. But it was standard for that era.

After all, the concept of hygiene was relatively new, and medical facilities were scant.

If a priest were around, the chances of survival might increase, though they rarely come to rural areas. Except for pilgrims, of course.

“Anyway, after that, I left home and became a mercenary. I didn’t know basic combat or swordsmanship; I was just fighting randomly.”

“Monsters?”

“I also hunted people. Ah, you better not catch people if you can help it.”

That’s quite a scary statement. Honestly, I don’t feel good about harming people either.

It feels like crossing a line. The first time might be hard, but after that, threatening someone could become too easy.

“Anyway, there were quite a few major obstacles. Do you know about the owlbear? You can think of it as a bear with an owl’s face.”

“Yeah. That one’s delicious.”

“…..Regardless of its taste, it’s a very vicious creature. How did you catch that?”

At Rod’s question, I recalled the past. When I had grown to a certain extent, an owlbear invaded my territory.

It was wandering around with its cub, probably looking for a new hideout. Of course, I sent both of them to a better place.

“I just…avoided its claws and struck its head with my axe. That was it.”

“Very straightforward and simple. But it’s extremely difficult for weaker individuals. They’re so quick that it’s easy to get your head smashed in by their claws.”

“Oh. I got hit. It hurt a lot.”

Maybe it was because she had a cub. At that time, the owlbear fought me with desperation.

Thanks to that, I got hit by its claws and fell into a temporary groggy state. If I were an ordinary person, my head would have been blown off.

“The best method is for the vanguard to absorb the owlbear’s attacks while the rest gradually take it down. But don’t aim for its eyes.”

“Its eyes? You mean our eyes?”

“Yeah. Even ordinary people go crazy when their eyes get hurt; how much worse for a beast? They may become more reckless, but blind attacks are much scarier.”

That’s one of the tips I know. Rather than making it lose its senses, deceive its senses.

Beasts react more wildly when they feel pain differently from humans. Unless you smash their heads, that is.

“Above all, there’s the best method when facing giant monsters.”

“What is it?”

“Running away.”

“…..?”

What does that even mean? As I gave him a confused look, Rod chuckled.

It was as if he had fully anticipated my reaction. What followed was something utterly logical.

“Many people overlook this part. In a crisis, running away maximizes your chances of survival.”

“So if they chase after you…”

I started saying something but trailed off. Beasts or monsters usually have territory.

In other words, if you only escape from their territory, they likely won’t chase after you. It essentially means the aggro is dropped.

“I can’t count how many times I’ve run away. It’s better not to engage with opponents you can’t win against. First, you have to survive, then you can plan for tomorrow, right?”

“Then how did you become strong?”

“I ran away, identified their weaknesses, then trained and killed them. Repeating that cycle, I eventually found that I didn’t need to run anymore.”

So basically, it was just barely surviving. Surely that’s normal.

Except for a few, it’s typical to become stronger gradually. I was part of that group too.

‘But I came to hear theory, right?’

Why am I hearing these old tales? But surprisingly, it turned out to be interesting, so I listened quietly.

If only there were snacks in between, it would’ve been perfect. But I didn’t fancy drinking tea.

“And in the middle, I met Rize…”

Rod trailed off. As everyone knows, Rod is familiar with Rize.

I think he met her when he was young. Rize is still plenty young, but Rod is not.

He probably had to backtrack halfway. I’ve heard Rize is somewhat stronger than Rod.

“…..”