NOVEL WEB Chapter 21: Acceleration
< Chapter 21: Acceleration (1) >
My schedule these days was busy without a break.
In the morning, I had to work hard on physical training because of the ‘Boiling Blood of the Pureblood’.
Then, after attending classes, it was evening before I knew it.
After that, I had to work hard on night training.
If I didn’t, the blood of the beastmen would make my heart beat like crazy and I couldn’t sleep.
Well, not that I hate it.
I’ve always liked exercising, and I can’t slack off on training for a single day to achieve my goal of entering the top 10 rankings within six months.
The fact that my physical ability growth has noticeably accelerated since I got the blood of the pureblood was also one of the reasons that made me work hard.
…Even though I’m still an F-rank loser.
Ah. I’m getting depressed all of a sudden.
Isn’t the status window too unfair? When I see how fast other people are growing, I can’t help but think like this.
“Ah.”
I lay down on the bed with my arms and legs spread out.
Judging coldly, there’s no way I can reach the top 10 with this growth rate.
I need to find some way to do it….
I fell asleep with that thought in mind.
* * *
“…Instructor?”
The next morning.
I met Instructor Pi Jin-ho in the training room.
“You’re working hard from the morning.”
“Ah, yes. Thank you.”
Why is Instructor Pi Jin-ho here? Judging by the curious looks of the people around, it doesn’t seem like he usually uses the training room.
“Why are you standing there? If you came to the training room, you should train.”
“Ah, yes.”
He’s right.
Instructor Pi Jin-ho must have come here for a reason. It’s none of my business. I started my physical training as usual.
I warmed up my body with a light run.
And then I started my strength training as usual.
“Hoo.”
About 10 minutes passed like that.
“What a mess.”
“Yes?”
Suddenly, I heard Instructor Pi Jin-ho sigh.
“Your posture, your reps, your routine. Everything is a mess.”
“…Is it?”
I was exercising based on my experience at the gym in my original world. Is it that weird?
“It looks like you’re making muscles to show off to others.”
“Ah.”
Muscles to show off to others.
That’s true.
In my original world, fitness was for health and beauty.
“Hmm. Come to think of it, I made a mistake last week.”
Instructor Pi Jin-ho casually said.
He must be talking about the Weapon Master thing.
“What do you think? To make up for that mistake. How about I teach you some exercise?”
My eyes widened.
“Wow.”
“Awesome!”
“Instructor Pi Jin-ho is going to give personal training? Wow….”
I heard murmurs from around.
“Really?”
“Instructor doesn’t like to repeat himself. Are you in or out?”
“I’m in!”
I cheered inwardly.
Instructor Pi Jin-ho’s trait is ‘The Eye That Sees Mystery’.
He can analyze the movement of the human body, especially muscles, and bones, at the cellular level.
“Wow. I’m jealous.”
“He’s lucky. He’s so lucky.”
In other words, Instructor Pi Jin-ho is a specialist in physical training.
He might be the best in the world.
He’s going to give me personal training. It’s a dream come true.
“Good. Then let’s start right now.”
“Yes!”
I answered energetically.
And then the gates of hell opened.
* * *
After the hellish training with Pi Jin-ho.
I went to school to attend classes and collapsed on my desk.
I should have a superior recovery rate because of the beastmen’s trait, but I don’t see any signs of recovery.
How much did he squeeze me?
“Seo-yul. Are you okay?”
Jia, who was sitting next to me, asked.
“…Of course. Of course, I am.”
Of course, I’m not.
I turned my head and looked up at Jia while lying down.
Jia took out her phone and tapped it with her finger.
She meant for me to look at my phone.
…I’m too tired.
I fumbled in my pocket and took out my phone.
[It must be hard to pretend to be weak.]
…That’s right.
Jia thinks I’m hiding my strength.
[Yeah.]
I replied briefly because I didn’t have the strength to type.
[By the way, ancestor. Did you see the notice that came out this morning?]
Notice?
Of course, I didn’t see it.
[What is it?]
[It’s about the field training that starts next week. The team assignments are out.]
Oh.
That thing.
[Unfortunately, you and I are in different groups.]
[We’re both archers.]
[(Crying rabbit emoticon)]
I glanced at Jia next to me. Her lips were pouting in a cute expression.
[But there’s a bit of a problem with group 3 that you belong to.]
[Why?]
That’s when it happened.
“Seo-yul. You worked hard this morning.”
Ha Si-yeon came up to me and said.
“Huh? Oh.”
“How do you feel? Do you feel your muscles burning?”
I felt a strange heat in Ha Si-yeon’s eyes. Come to think of it, she was a severe training addict.
“The opposite. It feels like all the muscles in my body are dead.”
Ha Si-yeon’s eyes sparkled.
“Wow. Really? That’s awesome.”
…What?
Awesome?
“I wish I could ask him too. I’ve been training so hard lately, but I don’t have any muscle soreness.”
This girl.
She’s serious.
Creepy.
“Ah, right. I’ll see you next week.”
“Next week?”
“Didn’t you check yet? You and me. We’re in the same group for field training.”
Ah. That’s what she meant.
“We?”
“Yeah. Me and you. And Cheol-jin. And lastly…”
I had a bad feeling.
The last one wasn’t that jerk, was it?
“Ji-hoon.”
Ah.
Why are my bad feelings always right?
* * *
That night.
I received a mail from Yu Hwa.
A refined black box with the logo [MIC] on it.
Mail from Made In China with equipment.
―I added a dagger to the catalog you gave me. You already have a bow, so.
Yu Hwa said through the speaker.
“Hmm. Well, since you prepared it for me, I won’t refuse.”
Items are always welcome.
―Then I’ll contact you again later.
“Yes. Thank you.”
I hung up the phone and threw it on the bed, then opened the box.
“Wow.”
As expected of Chinese products.
The quality is no joke.
C-rank necklace.
C-rank shoes.
B-rank ring.
And finally, a B-rank coat.
I didn’t need a bow or armor, since Jia had prepared them for me, so I asked for auxiliary items.
The necklace boosts stamina.
The ring boosts strength.
The shoes boost agility.
The coat is woven with silver, so it has high defense and temperature control function, so I can wear it all year round.
“Long live Chinese products.”
I really like them.
I decided to check the dagger that Yu Hwa sent me as a service.
“The logo is… BS?”
Is that right? It’s written in very sloppy handwriting, so I’m not sure.
What was this logo?
Well, I’ll find out when I see it.
I hummed a tune and opened the box with BS written on it.
And then I was shocked.
“…Crazy. Black Smith?”
Is this a Black Smith product?
I opened the quality certificate with trembling hands.
[This product is certified as a custom-made product by Black Smith.]
“Oh, my god.”
Black Smith.
This is also the name of a workshop in China.
If Made In China competes with quantity, Black Smith competes with quality.
First of all, the equipment with Black Smith engraved on them is at least A-rank.
They are also unique items that are custom-made and only one in the world.
If I remember correctly, the production cost was at least 4 billion won.
“How is this a service?”
This is class.
Long live Yu Hwa-nim.
I held the dagger with reverence.
“…This is insane.”
The grip fits perfectly in my hand.
The refined black appearance.
The elegant patterns are engraved in between.
A simple beauty that I felt from the dagger.
This is my weapon. I’m touched.
I swung the dagger lightly in the air. I shivered at the light and heavy sensation.
“Wow.”
I don’t need to see the product details to know this.
It’s the best of the best.
I immediately called Yu Hwa. I had to thank her for this!
―…Why? Is there anything missing?
Yu Hwa answered sarcastically.
“Yu Hwa! This dagger is really nice!”
I was excited.
“I just swung it lightly. The grip, the sharpness. The appearance. Everything is perfect! Thank you so much.”
That’s understandable. It’s worth at least 4 billion won. Who wouldn’t be thrilled to get such an item by chance?
―…Hmm. You swung it lightly and felt the grip, huh?
Yu Hwa said with a meaningful tone.
―That means you wore it yourself?
“…Yes?”
That’s when I felt something was wrong.
―That thing. You need to be at least B-rank to wear it. And you felt the grip~
Oh my god.
―Seo-yul. You’re weak in strange places. Swinging a sword means you don’t have a trait like a carrier or something like that.
“….”
―That proves that your ability is at least B-rank.
…I was tricked.
* * *
Fortunately, Yu Hwa didn’t do that to trick me.
―I removed the BS logo from the sword itself, so no one will know it’s from Black Smith. I also made the appearance as simple as possible.
It was rather a considerate act.
―Since it’s a custom-made product, you don’t have to worry about your ability being revealed by wearing it. You can use it as much as you want.
Yu Hwa seemed to be sure that I was hiding my strength.
He said I had a reason to hide it.
That’s why he prepared this dagger for me.
A custom-made product doesn’t have any wearing restrictions if you turn off the status window, so I can use it freely.
“…I appreciate the consideration, but…”
I couldn’t shake off the feeling that I was duped.
But I got an A-rank dagger for free, so I let it go.
It was also timely for the field training, where I could wear ordinary equipment besides the training ones.
“Next group 3. Let’s go.”
“Yes.”
Today is Monday.
The day of the field training.
It was a simple training where we had to hunt monsters in a safe field near Gangwon-do.
“Seo-yul. What’s that dagger?”
On the move. Ha Si-yeon pointed at the black dagger on my waist. ‘The Horn of Black Dragon’.
“Um. I just got one for F-rankers this time.”
“I see.”
“Hmph. It doesn’t even have a logo. It must be a cheap one from a nearby workshop.”
Choi Ji-hoon sneered at me.
“That’s right.”
I was rather grateful for his sneer.
I hope he keeps thinking that way.
“But Seo-yul, you can ignore the wearing restrictions. Why do you need that?”
Ha Si-yeon tilted her head.
“It’s not a permanent trait.”
“I see. You can only ignore the wearing restrictions for a certain time.”
“That’s right.”
I’m lying every time I open my mouth these days. I can’t help it, but I feel a bit guilty.
“Everyone, get ready.”
Kim Cheol-jin, who was leading the way, said in a heavy voice.
“We’re about to enter the area.”
Everyone took out their weapons.
I also took out the bow that Jia gave me.
‘Eleseum Bow’
Well, this Gangwon-do field is easy enough for Ha Si-yeon to handle alone, so there shouldn’t be any big problems.
“A horned boar spotted ahead.”
“Got it. Seo-yul. Can you draw its attention with your bow first?”
“Okay.”
I pulled the string.
By the way, there was a demon sealed in this Gangwon-do field.
That’s why the monsters that appear in Gangwon-do are weak.
Most of the magic is used for the seal of the demon.
“Shoot?”
“Yeah.”
Well, it’s not a big deal since it’s a mid-level one.
Swoosh!
I shot an arrow.
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