Chapter 18 In the Training Room with a Young Heiress (2)

 

When I still experienced this world only through a monitor.

 

After conquering the ‘Entrance Exam,’ which was akin to a tutorial, my next focus was on pumping up my stats.

 

[So, I came to see the next best Awakened, but this is all there is.]

 

‘A hidden heroine immune to hypnosis? As a gamer, I can’t let this go.’

 

Barely managing to clear it with lagging stats, a heroine who was completely un攻略able in the main game appeared.

 

The steadfast S-rank number one, my master.

 

To攻略 my master, I first had to become her disciple.

 

However, the minimum stats required to become a disciple were quite high.

 

It was impossible to achieve them by casually enjoying the game.

 

Therefore, I researched the fastest possible routes to level up…

 

‘This is the result of that.’

 

“There’s a training method that can increase your stats by 1 in just one day.”

 

I finally found a super-fast growth method.

 

In disbelief, Shia’s eyes widened.

 

“Increase by 1 stat… really!? That’s impossible!”

 

‘That’s the right reaction.’

 

Awakened stats.

 

The limit of the stats displayed before your eyes, just like in a game, was 10.

 

To increase that by 1 in just one day?

 

Even Shia, a high-ranking member of the number one clan, was understandably shocked.

 

“It’s only +1 in the early stages of awakening. It’s less effective for those who’ve been awakened for a while.”

 

“Ah… but it’s still amazing.”

 

Even with my additional explanation, Shia’s expression still showed amazement.

 

Nevertheless, this training method was undeniably impressive.

 

Shia’s eyes sparkled.

 

“If it’s really true, I’ll make sure to compensate you greatly as a high-ranking member of the Cheonhwa Clan. It will definitely be a huge help!”

 

She even expressed her intention to reward me if the method proved to be effective.

 

It wasn’t hard to understand.

 

The gender ratio of Awakened was 1 man to 9 women.

 

Naturally, many of them avoided rough training.

 

Even though they were Awakened, they were essentially ordinary girls who suddenly had to train like national athletes. How many people would like that?

 

Moreover, physical exercise was an extremely inefficient training method.

 

Stats increased naturally through battles in the gate, far surpassing any gains from exercise.

 

Why do something foolish like training when you’ll naturally get stronger later on?

 

That was the mindset of the Awakened who avoided training.

 

The splendid training rooms were almost deserted, which said it all.

 

‘Young people these days… tsk tsk.’

 

Of course, people like me, who had already reached S-rank number one, and early Awakened clan leaders, knew better.

 

Sure, you get stronger with experience.

 

But if you go in your current state, you’ll die before you get stronger.

 

While we seniors might protect you from dying, you won’t gain any real combat experience.

 

Eventually, precious talent would degenerate into D-rank waste.

 

Those with some sense might reach C or B rank, but still.

 

Knowing this reality, it was only natural for Shia to be interested in my training method.

 

‘Well. There are plenty of girls who train hard, and it’s not that different for guys.’

 

“No need for compensation. It’s not that big of a deal, and not everyone can follow it anyway.”

 

“Not a big deal? Increasing your stat by 1 in a day?”

 

“You’ll see.”

 

With a smile as if to say, ‘Just watch,’ I took my position on the equipment.

 

Then, I started exercising very ordinarily.

 

The only difference was,

 

-Goooo…

 

“Huh, you’re doing it while circulating mana?”

 

The source of an Awakened’s power.

 

I began circulating the intangible energy known as ‘mana’ within my body.

 

She looked at me as if to say, ‘Is that really the secret?’ so I quickly explained.

 

“You know why Awakened are much stronger than regular people, right?”

 

“That’s because of mana.”

 

“Correct. Then, why do physical abilities vary even among Awakened with different stats?”

 

“Because their bodies get used to the mana? It naturally increases the more you use it.”

 

“Exactly. More accurately, it’s because the body becomes able to accept more mana.”

 

This theory would only come up a few years later.

 

A serious contemplation on what Awakened referred to as stats.

 

It was a complex theory, but to summarize:

 

Firstly, the factor that enhances an Awakened’s physical abilities is mana.

 

Secondly, the more mana circulates in the body, the more it adapts to accept greater mana.

 

As a result, the Awakened can exert greater strength.

 

This was why real combat was more effective than exercise in increasing stats.

 

No matter how desperate you were in battle, circulating mana during combat was naturally much more effective for training.

 

I gave Shia a brief explanation of this.

 

Shia’s expression turned skeptical.

 

“So, you’re saying you circulate mana while exercising as if it’s a real battle? It doesn’t seem very effective.”

 

“It is if you just do it normally.”

 

Shia was completely unconvinced.

 

It seemed that what I had presented as a secret method was so common that any Awakened person would have thought of it at least once.

 

And indeed, just doing it normally would have no effect.

 

But…

 

With a single hypnosis, even mere exercise would become a life-and-death struggle.

 

“Watch closely. ——I, Seo Yu-jin, will fall into an ‘indescribable’ state of terror until the hypnosis is lifted.”

 

-Whoooosh!!!

 

The tranquil mana instantly surged.

 

Sensing the end of its life, my body began to draw out all its strength desperately.

 

Shia’s expression went blank.

 

“Yu-jin, your face…”

 

“This? I can manage.”

 

‘I couldn’t handle it in my first playthrough and peed myself a bit. But now, in the second round, with additional hypnosis and splitting it into three minutes a day…’

 

-Ding!

 

[Repeated experience increases strength and agility by 0.01.]

 

“Anyway, when you exercise in this state, your mana consumption skyrockets. Your stats will increase quickly. They just went up.”

 

But I continued to exercise calmly.

 

In this forced awakening state, my survival instincts drove me to unleash mana.

 

It only took 30 minutes for all my mana to be completely drained.

 

[Repeated experience increases strength and agility by 0.94. Mana increases by 0.31.]

 

[The trait ‘Indomitable’ is forcibly activated! The special status ailment ‘indescribable terror’ caused by hypnosis is lifted.]

 

『Strength [4.47 (+0.94)] Agility [4.05 (+0.94)] Intelligence [3.12] Luck [8.42] Mana [4.11 (+0.31)]』

 

‘Ah, I should’ve obtained the trait later.’

 

I wanted to reach a strength stat of 5.0, but that seemed to be overambitious.

 

However, I had sufficiently increased my stats by the promised 1 point.

 

I smiled at Shia as I spoke.

 

“Huff, huff… My strength and agility have already increased by 0.94. Mana by 0.31. Isn’t it amazing?”

 

‘This time, I’ll really give it my all! For you all!’

 

“…”

 

Shia didn’t respond.

 

* * *

 

Yu Shia had been eagerly anticipating what special training method Yu-jin would reveal.

 

However, what she faced was a completely different sight.

 

-Whoooosh…

 

‘What the… Is he crazy…?’

 

Yu-jin was lifting and lowering a barbell right in front of her.

 

His pupils were shaking as if there was an earthquake.

 

His hands and feet were trembling. His forehead was drenched in cold sweat.

 

His face was as white as a sheet.

 

He looked like someone who was mentally at their limit.

 

“Ah, it went up again.”

 

‘How can he talk so casually in that situation?’

 

Despite this, Yu-jin kept moving.

 

With trembling hands, he slowly lifted the equipment, and then lowered it again.

 

Desperately drawing out mana as if he didn’t want to die.

 

Fighting against the fear, against the irrationality of death.

 

Just watching it made one feel overwhelmed by the madness.

 

‘He’s not normal.’

 

What Yu-jin was doing was close to mental self-harm.

 

Casually throwing himself into the jaws of death.

 

…Sure, that would increase his stats.

 

Literally dying and coming back to life with each moment.

 

But why?

 

Sure, it’s a full point increase, but it’s just one point.

 

For any other minor characters, it might be significant, but for Yu-jin, it didn’t seem that important.

 

He was already strong enough.

 

Why was someone who was almost guaranteed to be the next S-rank acting so insanely?

 

What was driving him to train so madly?

 

Unable to understand the bizarre scene, she couldn’t bring herself to stop him and just watched.

 

The more she watched, the more it felt like her heart was being ripped apart.

 

Yu-jin’s madness ended after 30 minutes.

 

“Huff, huff…”

 

“Is it… over?”

 

“Yeah. After a while, your body adapts to the fear, and you can’t do it anymore. I adapted pretty quickly.”

 

Yu-jin smiled nonchalantly, as if asking, “Isn’t this impressive?”

 

For some reason, she felt a lump in her throat and wanted to argue.

 

What’s so impressive about this? Isn’t this madness?

 

Don’t ever do this again—she wanted to say.

 

But,

 

“…Okay.”

 

Shia barely swallowed the words that had risen to her throat.

 

For some reason, she felt she shouldn’t say them.

 

Instead,

 

“Can you stand?”

 

“Not right now. Look, I can’t move my arms or legs at all. Haha.”

 

“Idiot. I’ll take you to the dorm.”

 

-Grab.

 

Without hesitation, she lifted his sweat-drenched body.

 

Yu-jin, still trembling from the lingering fear.

 

Yesterday, Yu-jin had seemed so strong, but now, holding him, he felt surprisingly light.

 

“Hmm? No, I can walk after resting a bit…”

 

“It’s fine. Which side of the dorm is it? Just tell me, I’ll take you there.”

 

“…Thank you. Hehe.”

 

Though her multi-million-won artifact clothes were soaked with sweat, she didn’t mind at all.

 

In fact, she felt it wasn’t enough; she wanted to do more for him.

 

“Are you hungry? I’ll get some chicken while you wash up.”

 

“Huh? No, that’s too much…”

 

“I have plenty of money, so just shut up and eat.”

 

“Oh, thank you?”

 

“I’ll also order some recovery and nutritional supplements, so take them.”

 

“Pfft. You’re overreacting. But thank you, I’ll eat well.”

 

“And… don’t train like that again.”

 

“Huh? I could increase my mana stats a bit more though?”

 

“Don’t do it. Please.”

 

“…Okay, okay.”

 

‘If one of my three wives asks, I must comply. Absolutely.’

 

“Good. Don’t make people worry about you anymore… idiot.”

 

Somehow, they grew a bit closer.

 

* * *

 

Maybe it was because I had taught her an incredible training method.

 

Shia willingly carried me to the dorm.

 

Despite disliking the smell of sweat, she did it willingly.

 

The misunderstanding from the infirmary incident was cleared up, and I felt we had become closer…

 

“Yu-jin. What’s the password…”

 

-Creak.

 

“Dad~?”

 

“———Yu-jin?”

 

“…!!!!?”

 

…I was happy, but now I am unhappy.