Chapter 421 - Life-coach (Patreon)

“M-Master?” Boram had his heart shaken to the core. The slap wasn't painful but it was a stern admonishment.

Viers didn't answer him but went to Theus, and lowered his head.

“On behalf of my disciple, I formally apologize. He shouldn't have maliciously injured your knight. This isn't much, but may it help Sir Hayn recover.”

Viers gave high-quality medicine to Theus.

“I hope you can give us mercy and erase your enmity,” Viers said with a still lowered head.

“Master…” Boram sounded lost and hurt.

“Avel, you don't have to-”

“Apologies, Your Highness,” Viers stopped Croix. “This is between me and my disciple. It doesn't concern you.”

“It does concern me! You both are-”

Alfred restrained Croix and calmed him down. Viers returned his focus to Theus.

“Good, good… Unlike your disciple, you know your place. Very well, I accept your apology but your recompense is not enough,” Theus tried to sound magnanimous.

“What do you have in mind?” Viers asked.

“Slap yourself five times for this offense.”

Viers did so without hesitation. Each slap felt like a stab to Boram’s heart. After doing five, Theus said more.

“What is that weak thing? Do it like you mean it! Use your cultivation! Do it again!”

Viers did as he was told. This time he drew power from his cultivation. He didn't use Arte, but each slap sounded like a clap of thunder and it did damage.

Without saying, his cheeks were red and swollen after those slaps.

“Excellent. Little Bo, your debt is squared thanks to your Master.”

Theus made his servants recover Hayn and tossed the medicine with them.

“Avel, is it? If you need to find work, come find me. I have a need for a good guard dog. Hahahaha!”

Theus withdrew. He lost the duel but felt like a winner. The master of the one who defeated his champion submitted to him. What else to call this if not victory? It was also a public humiliation. No doubt everyone would see the recording or hear it from word of mouth. A substantial blow to Croix’s prestige.

After Theus’ camp left, the umpire also retreated, leaving Croix’s camp broken in spirit.

“Boram, come with me. I need to have a word,” Viers said.

“...Yes, Master,” Boram said while holding back his sobs.

“I need a moment with my disciple, please excuse us,” Viers said to Croix and Alfred.

“I’ll stay with the prince. Take your time,” Alfred said.

Viers asked the umpire for directions and left the duel space. They didn't return to the ballroom but went to seek some quiet place. All the while, Boram trailed behind him like a lost child.

They stopped at a veranda.

“This should do. I’ve put up a barrier for extra protection. We won't be heard here.”

“...I’m sorry. I’ve failed you,” Boram cried.

“I am not angry with you. Stop your crying and calm your emotions, then I'll talk about what you did wrong earlier.”

Viers waited for about four minutes while facing Boram with his back. He looked at the dark skies of the Capital of the Latias Kingdom. It was dark and unimpressive, unlike the grandeur of the skies seen from the inside of the ballroom.

But those were fake and these were real.

“I’m ready to hear your wisdom, Master.”

Viers turned to Boram.

“Tell me, have you always maimed your opponent during your academy days?”

“Against the insufferable ones, I do,” Boram admitted.

“Why?”

“So they can't bother me anymore, Master. This is your teaching.”

Viers stayed silent, inviting him to elaborate.

“I was bullied at the Academy because of my slave status. I tried to ignore them at first but they wouldn't stop pushing. They kept coming at me with meaningless cruelty… Then I thought what would you do if you were me.”

“And what would I do?”

“You would cut the problem at the root and salt the earth. Permanently removing the problem.”

“And you did this?” Viers asked.

“No. I couldn't kill a fellow student. I thought about doing it in a life-and-death duel but that is also banned by the Academy even though I once managed to get the other person to agree. I couldn't end the bullies permanently so I racked my brains for alternative solutions… I reported them to some teachers but it did nothing, even though bullying is supposed to be forbidden. On the contrary, the bullies got worse. They somehow knew I reported them and humiliated me further. I then realized I must solve this on my own.”

“And so, the cruelty.”

“Yes. I would challenge them to duels, during classes or publicly, force them in a situation to accept. After the duel, I made sure they wouldn't soon forget the consequences of crossing me. A broken arm or leg, no permanent injuries because it is against the rules. Once they are healed, I challenge them again. I'd do this to each of them until they stop their bullying. There were a lot of them. Most are cronies of another rich kid. It took a few weeks.”

“Did it stop?”

“Yeah. After that, some tried to get clever and went after my things. Vandalizing my desk or stealing my shoes. I counterspy them and caught them in the act, then I would duel them and leave them broken and hurt. By the second year. There were no more bullies.”

“And so because you tasted success using this method, you derived a lesson from the experience.”

“...You disapprove?” Boram asked.

Viers nodded.

“Respectfully, Master, but what would you have done?”

“Did Croix know? Farley?”

“The prince is in a different curriculum than me. Only a few join classes. Sis Farley is on a different course with minimal contact. And I don't want to bother them. Although, I suspect Sis Farley knew,” Boram winced a little.

Viers sighed loudly.

Sending Boram to school made him experience bullying. It made Viers once again realize how imperfect the school system was, from the old world or this one. Kids could be meaninglessly cruel.

“...I only tried to follow your advice, Master. Don't be weak,” Boram defensively said.

Alright, world. Since you taught my disciple an ugly life problem, don't cry foul when I teach him how to solve it.

“Bullying is one of the truths of human relationships. Until humanity matures as a whole, it will never disappear,” Viers began. “You disagree? A king taxing his citizens so he could have a good life at their expense, or a con artist who scams ignorant people to shitty deals for more coin, are these not bullying to you? To me it is.”

Boram went silent and perked his ears to soak in the pearl of wisdom his master was about to bequeathed him.

“I teach you to be strong because those who are strong are less likely to be bullied. In a way, you succeed in this. Imagine if you’re weaker than those who bullied you. Imagine helplessly accepting their bullying. How much worse can it feel? You may thank me for teaching you strength.”

“Thank you, Master. From all my heart.”

“Now then. To the lesson. You crippled that knight earlier to make an example of him and to reduce Theus’ strength for the competition ahead.”

“I did.”

“This is wrong.”

“What?” Boram was surprised.

“The wrong way to use your strength. You see, I have a rule: Do not injure someone you do not mean to kill.”

Boram carved the words of wisdom to the depths of his soul.

“Hurting someone can serve as a form of intimidation, this is true. As was your case in the academy. But it can also plant in them a seed of hatred. This hatred might be a blade on your back for your whole life.”

Boram dawned with realization.

“If you hurt someone, end it with totality. If you don't mean to kill them, do not hurt them. This is a secret to a long life, so one day, you won't have an enemy obsessed with killing you who spends their entire waking moment plotting your demise. Having one is bad enough, imagine multiple people. Can you live your life in peace?”

“So earlier-”

“Whether I stopped that knight or Theus’ seed of hatred from germinating remains to be seen. I tried to mend it but what’s done is done. What would you do now?”

Boram thought about the answer for a moment but the contemplation was deep.

“I’ll take Hayn and Theus' lives. In the Prix if possible.”

“Good answer. Because if you don't, I will,” Viers said while caressing his cheek.

Viers might have shown meekness earlier, but he was certainly not someone meek. Theus’ humiliation was a cheap price to pay but Viers would demand payback for that, with Theus’ life as the price.

Scratch that, life alone was not enough. Viers would also take all his assets. Because what would his life benefit Viers? Besides the soul and memories and body for materials. Those weren't enough. If Viers was going to kill, he didn't do it without taking maximum benefit.

As so Theus planted a seed of hatred in Viers. The villain was sure the young master of the Mercea family didn't realize what he had done yet, drunk in the feeling of victory.

“Remember, the loss of a family member or someone dear to you at the hands of another is also a major source of enmity. If you kill someone, do it in a way that doesn't create a hundred enemies.”

“...Sounds hard, Master.”

“Life is hard. Alternatively, become stronger. So strong that even if the whole world’s hatred is pointed towards you, you can overcome it. This is what I strive to become.”

“You can do it. I believe if someone can do it, it’s you.”

“But I still have a long way to go,” Viers gave a mirthful smile. “Now, after saying all that, there’s another way of handling bullying or adversaries. Most people will agree this is the better method than the one I told you. To befriend the bullies. Turn them from enemy to friend. Repay hatred with kindness. Deal with them with patience and understanding. Look at the bigger picture and act for the good of the many. I admit this is the nobler path.”

Boram had a puzzled look.

“So why don't you?”

Viers shrugged.

“Naaawww, my way is fine for me. If you or other people want to take that path, be my guest. Not my business. I master my life. This is how it should be.”

Boram gasped.

How mighty.

How grand.

How powerful.

Strong and wise, that was Boram’s Master. Whether his name was Viers, Avel, or whatever didn't matter. To Boram, Viers was his guru, his lao tzu, his sensei of life. Someone who uplifted him from the mud of ordinary and ignorance. Boram realized he wasn't teaching him right or wrong, good or evil, but life.

He would follow this man until his last breath, slave or no.

“One last question, Master. If you become me in my first year, what would you do against the bullies?”

“I would mitigate the damage of their bullying, showing strength but not maiming them, and find ways to get teachers involved. Then I'll bid my time. When it is time to strike, after graduation or whatever… They’ll never see it coming.”

Viers scoffed.

“They hurt me. Humiliation, despair, anger, hopelessness, revenge, all those negative feelings can be one hell of a motivator to be stronger. Thus, remember what I said today. Don't hurt people you don't plan to kill. Very sensible when you think about it.”

“...I will remember.”

“Now then, I’ve said what I have to say. Shall we head back to the dance party? On second thought, let's go to the restroom first. You can take care of the after-effects of your crying.”

“M-master, don't tease,” Boram was embarrassed he was crying. “I’m already fifteen, I’m an adult.”

“Not to me you ain’t,” Viers chuckled. On his own end, the damage from his slap was already healed.

His healing factor default speed was based on his Level. Now that he was a Level 4, his regeneration was faster and more potent. With extra healing Arte and boosts, he should be able to regenerate like Wolverine. When he became Level 5, even without those, his default regeneration speed would be at that degree.

A very juicy ability. Utterly enviable.

Viers got this power from the mysterious Goldbloom Everlife Flower, his first ‘cheat’ power.

Boram had to change clothes because the precious one was ruined in the duel. After the master and disciple refreshed themselves, they went back to the place of gorgeous revelry.

Viers had steeled his resolve for people to look down on him after his stunt earlier. The jeer, the look someone gave to their lesser. Some might give him a disapproving look because he didn't show any spine.

Inconsequential all. Not Caring about other people was always one of Viers’ forte.

“Ahh! There you are~”

Not long after his reentry, a woman suddenly grabbed his arm with a coquettish voice.

“Hm? You’re-”

“This way, this way.”

The female dragged him without giving him any say, towards the area of the Level 5s.

“Oi, you-” Viers was about to give her a piece of her mind.

“There we go, Avel, meet my parents,” Ciel said in a resplendent blue gown. “Duke Sterling Valentine and Duchess Camile Valentine.”

Viers had no idea what was happening. Why did Ciel suddenly take him to see her parents?

“Dear daughter, who’s this?” the duchess asked her. Her husband was at her side.

“My boyfriend,” Ciel replied with a hundred-watt smile. “We are in an extremely special relationship.”

The duke broke the champagne glass in his hand.

The duchess gasped and would have fallen if her attendants didn't catch her.

Viers’ expression was that of stone as he looked at the blonde who pressed her chest against his arm. She absolutely relished the look on her parents’ faces.