"Mr. Pais, the butler." Seated in his car, Muria contacted the Douglas family's head butler, who managed all his resources from the family. Whenever Muria needed anything, he was to reach out to him directly.
"Young Master Jerros, is there something I can assist you with?" A respectful but dignified voice replied from the other end of the communicator.
Muria hesitated slightly, glancing at Susan, who was driving, before speaking. "The family should have martial arts manuals, correct?"
"Ah…" Despite his years of experience, the butler, Pais, was momentarily taken aback by Muria's question but quickly recovered. "Indeed, we do. But may I ask why you're inquiring about them, Young Master Jerros?"
"I want to become a martial artist," Muria stated plainly.
Buzz—
The luxury car swerved suddenly, pulling over to the side of the road. Susan, in the driver's seat, turned her head to stare at Muria, remaining silent but clearly taken aback.
"Well now, Young Master, what brought this on?" Pais's voice came through the communicator, asking the same question that Susan undoubtedly wanted to know.
"I deduced the existence of martial artists a while back. I only recently learned the term itself."
"Oh? And how did you deduce that martial artists existed?" Pais asked, a hint of interest in his voice.
"It wasn't hard to figure out. Mutants fall into three categories: Heavenfall, Aberrant, and Native. Heavenfall and Aberrant mutants appeared three hundred years ago, with the meteor shower. However, Native mutants are monsters that were already here in our world.
Some of these native creatures are powerful enough to destroy entire cities. But even before star-armored warriors, humans could hold their ground, meaning there must have been powerful individuals protecting humanity back then.
I now know that they were called martial artists, individuals capable of fighting these native monsters. I want to be like them."
"Young Master, I'm not sure where you learned of martial artists, but I must warn you. Martial artists are obsolete; star-armored warriors have entirely replaced them. In this day and age, with your affinity, pursuing the martial path would be a very poor choice."
"Superior affinity?" Muria chuckled. "Mr. Pais, you jest. For commoners, my affinity would be something to admire, but within the Douglas family, I'm probably near the bottom."
"So that's why you wish to pursue martial arts?" Pais looked at Muria through the communicator with a neutral expression, maintaining his professional smile.
"I aim to stand atop the world, looking down on everything below. I want to be as strong as, or even surpass, the titled star-armored warriors!"
Muria spoke these wildly ambitious words in a calm tone. But then his expression shifted to one of frustration.
"However, my 64.68% affinity isn't enough to support that dream. So, I want to try a different path."
"I understand. Please hold for a moment." The communicator screen went dark for a few minutes before Pais's face reappeared. "In principle, the Douglas family doesn't interfere with the personal ambitions of its members and will provide a reasonable level of support. So, we won't oppose your decision to become a martial artist."
"Will the family provide support?" Muria's eyes lit up as he asked with anticipation.
"We can provide certain support. However, Young Master Jerros, if you intend to access martial arts manuals and resources, the family has the right to place specific requirements on you."
"What are the requirements? Please, go ahead."
"First, you must continue your star-armored training. You may not abandon the path of a star-armored warrior. Additionally, the family will closely monitor your performance at school. Should your academic standing decline, we will withdraw our support for your martial training."
"Agreed." Muria nodded immediately, accepting the conditions without hesitation.
"In that case, I will grant you access to the family's archives. You'll be able to browse all the martial arts manuals we've collected."
"Perfect!" Muria was momentarily surprised, then broke into a bright smile. This outcome was far better than he'd hoped.
This also highlighted the decline of martial arts: manuals from hundreds of years ago had become resources that any teenager could access at will.
…
As Muria ended the call, far away in the capital of the Federal Republic of Azalea, an elderly man finished his own call, then turned back to his gardening work, pushing a lawn mower over the grounds of a sprawling estate.
"Ah, every year there's always a few who discover martial arts and want to carve a different path. Do they not understand that the golden age of martial artists is over? Do they really think they'll surpass star-armored warriors just because they have a few manuals and some resources? Becoming a martial artist requires far more dedication than being a star-armored warrior."
"Well, young people like to try new things. And if the family has the resources, letting them try martial arts is harmless. Once they start, they'll quickly realize if they're cut out for it," another elderly man in a butler's uniform said with a laugh.
"But most of the time, it's just a waste of resources," another butler commented.
"It's hardly a waste. If they want to try, let them. If they fail, it will help them commit to the path of a star-armored warrior," another elder countered.
"The young man I just spoke to said he wanted to reach the pinnacle of the world, but his affinity couldn't support his dream, so he chose martial arts instead."
Pais chuckled, sharing the details with his colleagues.
"Haha! An ambitious young man!" The others laughed in agreement.
"The youth of the Douglas family should have ambition. Ambition is what drives them."
"True, but ambition and talent don't always align. This young master may need a reality check to understand his limits."
"Let's not be too quick to judge. Just because he lacks affinity doesn't mean he lacks talent in martial arts. He might even be a martial prodigy."
"This day and age, talent in martial arts won't mean much without guidance. How far can anyone go alone?"
"We do still have a few martial artist teachers in the Douglas family. But sadly, the only one willing to show himself has no interest in teaching."
At this, the group looked over at an elderly man lounging on a sun chair on the other side of the lawn. The white-haired elder noticed their stares and smiled kindly, prompting the butlers to bow in respect, looking honored by the acknowledgment.
...
"Are you sure you want to become a martial artist?" Susan, having restarted the car, asked calmly as they continued down the road.
"Yes, I want to give it a try."
"Your star affinity is already good enough. Becoming too strong isn't necessarily a blessing," Susan replied, a hint of worry in her eyes. "The greater your power, the more burdens you'll have to bear."
"Power never becomes a burden," Muria answered.
"Jerros, I understand your desire for strength, but you shouldn't have spoken to Mr. Pais in that way." Susan glanced at him. "Avoid saying such bold words in the future."
"Understood. What I say from now on won't be empty boasts." Muria gazed out the window, knowing that if he failed to achieve martial mastery, his recent words would become a joke within the family.
However, he also knew that if he succeeded, those same words would become a tale of inspiration and determination.
The saying "heroes are not judged by success alone" was just a comforting lie. In reality, success and results were all that mattered, no matter the world.
"A martial artist... I will become the strongest!" Muria murmured quietly to himself. With access to the manuals and resources he needed, nothing could now prevent him from reaching even greater heights.
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