Mana Blues and Desperate Training

"Learn to handle mana! You're not even a hero—don't push yourself too hard! Why do you think Nex is tagging along with you?!"

"Sorry..."

"Po'runga too! I told you to carry projectiles for times like this!"

"My bad..."

"And Nex! Stop moving so sluggishly all the time—pick up the pace! You trying to grow moss on yourself or what?!"

"...Yesss..."

It was a barrage of nagging that hit like a storm. Nox, fuming mad, scolded us that fighting the griffon head-on was reckless—we should've just run and not worried the party like that.

Thinking back, yeah, we could've bailed... but what if someone else got hurt? I only jumped in because I was sure I could take it down. A frail so-called hero like me—what could I even say? Po'runga had even teared ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠up, whining that this was supposed to be the easiest scouting request, so why did it go so sideways? Escort missions for caravans were the real basics, then scouting... but every time we took a job with Po'runga, it seemed to twist into chaos.

And the most ridiculous reaction came from Riko.

"Huh? You almost died, and you're asking why I didn't come?"

I'd genuinely been on the brink of death, but Riko looked totally unfazed. If anything, she tilted her head like she was the confused one.

"A puny griffon couldn't possibly shatter my protection rune, ahaha!"

Ah, so it wasn't my Metal Skin or skills that kept me unscathed—it was her rune magic all along. I'd wondered how I could take hits like that without more damage. Plus, it probably had some stamina recovery baked in, explaining why I felt so full of vigor. It hit me anew just how ancient this witch was. No empathy for human feelings—that's what made her witchy... I'd nearly drowned, and she just smiled and promised a water-breathing rune next time.

"Anyway, you didn't die, right? Not even hurt? I believe you're plenty strong, hero!"

What the hell was I supposed to say to that? But since the rune did save my ass, I had no comeback.

"Stats dropping? Skill backlash? Hmm... Black Cat Rune swaps luck stats, but if the target dies, it's pointless. And luck isn't even a proper category anyway?"

Riko explained that runes weren't all-purpose— they came with finicky conditions. Swapping luck didn't make you stronger, and even she, a witch, wasn't sure how much it really affected reality. She shrugged. Sure, for real effects, you'd need someone cursed by a ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠god with life-ruining misfortune... but yeah.

In the end, it was just setup for a taunt skill at best.

Getting thrown into near-death every time is the real problem.

I kept stumbling into life-or-death messes. Hero's fate? Like in those comics where trouble just rolls in constantly?

For now, I'd pour all my time into overall conditioning... specifically acquiring "mana."

Physical training on the side was fine, but after fighting the Evil God and griffon, I'd realized mana was the true foundation. Growing without basics was impossible.

After hashing it out with the party, we drew up a solid schedule. Nox's experience as a veteran receptionist shone through. She'd said even back with the griffon, if we'd fought from the safety of the inn without risking injured adventurers, three griffons would've been no big deal—but that creeped me out. Weighing lives like that? The guy wasn't a villain or criminal...

But to them, their party member mattered more than random adventurers, so I got it.

"Sparring's key for growth, right?"

"Oh, bro! Don't sleep on me—I'm D-grade! My fists pack a punch!"

Hyacinth flexed, ignoring his blue wolf heritage, and charged. I wrecked him like a dog toy. No attack pierced Metal Skin's defense. Even when they landed, Recycle's rubber bounce absorbed it all. Meanwhile, my steel fists hammered him until he was rolling on the floor yelping "Ow!" Species pride? Gone.

"I-I'm a gunner! Gotta use my gun to shine!"

"Doesn't work, does it?"

Po'runga's quip sank him. Mana-infused bullets bounced off Metal Skin.

...I wasn't weak; my foes were just abnormal. Power gap of 200, and I one-sidedly flattened Hyacinth? Total stats meant nothing.

Po'runga's one-punch, though? Slammed me into the wall, teaching me the weight of skills, training, and experience as she dragged me out by the leg from the rubble.

"Hyacinth, what does channeling mana into your pistol-sword feel like?"

"Uh, like filling a vessel? Just... mana flowing in?"

"...Any way to explain that without metaphors?"

"...I'm the one who doesn't get summoning chickens or ethanol, bro. Like asking me to explain that simply?"

TL;DR: "It just works." Same boat for both of us. Arms crossed, I agonized over sensing ambient mana.

Even Leona casually gathered mana in her palm like it was nothing. Nox made a ball in her hand for me to feel—nada.

"Mana insensitivity?"

Larirure said there was such a thing. Cure? Slam mana into 'em. She punched mana into my gut; Riko's protection rune shattered. Riko broom-sprinted over yelling "Assault!" but it was just a light mana-fist tap. Chills from her griffon-surpassing punch. Dwarf muscle mass at 140kg...?

"What wife punches her husband?! Divorce him!"

"I went easy!"

"That was a protection rune?! Can't control your strength?!"

"Just like roughhousing with Po'runga."

"Sounds like premeditated murder—am I hearing things?"

Our party was muscle-headed as hell. Obvious, really...

Nex suggested holy power if mana failed. My orbiting constellation blessings, Fate Goddess's direct divine power. Born under holy stars—priest or paladin material. Pray with strong faith.

I did that tearing tickets. "High priests hear gods, see their forms... Divine power dwarfs mana. Master the aura, and as a blessed human..."

"What level is seeing a god?"

"...Avatar tier. Could be pope."

Hey, Goddess? Why can't I use holy power? A faint voice: [Because... you're already the hero...]

Holy power was out too. Faith solid, but no grasp. Visualize invisible force? Not like Dragon Ball? No ki from yelling. Failed.

"Ugh...! F- and E-grade jobs only, yet death lurks daily!"

"Right?"

Step-by-step, but killing intent floods in. Mana slow; test weapons instead.

Po'runga bought explosive projectiles. Strap to waist, lob to blow heads off... Throwing grenades? I stayed quiet.

Larirure called her barbaric. Riko, sobbing, bought a spellbook and—mana fail— a plain gun.

"I-it means something, right?"

"Sure."

"Wanna shoot me?"

Nox grinned; I pulled trigger, curious. She snatched bullet midair with index-middle fingers, smiling. Hyacinth shrieked. She borrowed gun, shot temple—bullet dented, rolled away.

"Quality matters, but strong foes shrug it off."

"That's 'cause you're..."

Larirure shut up, bowed. Sneak shots might work; Nox blindfolded Hyacinth, told me shoot.

...Shoot a teammate? Receptionist pressure? Fired anyway.

"Wack! You actually shot?!"

Hyacinth dodged blind, freaked.

"See? Everyone senses threats via mana aura."

Huh, beyond ears/smell—mana detection. Tense/knowing helped dodge, but some effect, Nox said. Meh.

With mana, pistol-sword with Metal Mimic shells... but no mana, buying ammo drains cash. And if disarmed and shot? Can't dodge!

"Any constellation skills mana-related?"

Po'runga's question tilted my head.

"Usually inherited young. Born with mana skills? Natural grasp. Yours drop random—no clue how. But if body's adapted, other ways blocked?"

Lightning struck. Can't handle mana outside Sacred Heaven Divine Art?

Level 2 now—stronger effects? But no operation method.

Beating Evil God Succubus Lord impossible? Goddess shrugged—Godslayers common. Most Evil Gods felled. Not impossible.

For true impossible: Slice Mashin, space-time slash, solo 1000-layer Magic Palace. Sound familiar? All done already—"impossible" off-table unless first.

Heroes cleared it all. Head in hands, despair.

Goddess advised: Note ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠it's constellation skill. [Impossible feat skill, already given by stars. Just learn use.]

Saint cheat! Pre-unlocked impossible skill!

...No insight, no super body, no "m" in mana. Like handing scripture to illiterate. Stabbed deep.

Wanna use it...! Somehow! Years maybe? No operation, no accumulation. Level-up ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠notes innate geniuses auto-learn!

Like driving sans license—turn key, go! Rank-up ticket for hero!

Trembling, I gripped rank-up ticket, prayed. Level 3 auto-use? Ponder: Transfer to mana-less Leona for zero-base build, or bash head till mastery.

Leona had potential—born with mana! Goddess: Art auto-operates mana. Skill fine. If mana...

But I got none! Stars might give mana skill... someday. All on this ticket.

Whoa, dream skill for some? Guaranteed hottie! Idol debut easy! I faceplanted, sobbing at cruel reality.

"Time for drastic measures!"

Nox, grasping my desperation, vowed brutal training for mana insensitivity till mana sparks. Transfer Sacred Heaven Divine Art to Leona, build from zero...

Skill acquisition later; mana unlocks hero bonuses maybe?

I wanna cry.