Chapter 84
Chapter 84
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 84
Chapter Title: Collateral Chase
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“What did you just say……?”
A low voice I’d never heard before.
Holding back the terror making my flesh tremble, I spoke.
“Th-this training ground as collateral to lend it…….”
That was the moment.
Splat.
“W-wait a second!”
I sensed killing intent in Barundel’s eyes and bolted out of the room.
Thud thud thud!
Barundel chasing after me in an instant.
This wasn’t some cute lovers’ chase by the seaside.
It was a life-or-death pursuit.
Right now, even a murderer wouldn’t scare me more than Barundel.
“Stop right there!”
Swinging his axe wildly as he chased, he shouted in a fury-filled voice.
“So that’s why you asked? If it cost a lot to build this training ground!”
“W-wait!”
“Oh ho! Now I see—you planned it all from the start! You approached me to siphon off my fortune!”
“That’s not it! …F-first, put that down and let’s talk!”
Was he even listening to me?
“You con artist! You demon! Die!”
Splat!
Barundel didn’t stop running as he slammed the razor-sharp axe into the ground.
No, he seemed even faster than before.
Now I absolutely couldn’t shake him without using magic.
Crackle!
Thud thud thud!
In the end, I wrapped myself in electric transformation magic and circled the training ground interior.
Amid it all, snippets of conversation drifted by.
“…I’ve never seen Master this mad before.”
“His speed is insane. So this is the true value of physical training?”
“…We’ve got a long way to go.”
My fellow mages chattering as if watching a movie.
Somehow, it pissed me off.
‘These guys aren’t even thinking of helping!’
Who’s fault was it that they could train here?
I wanted to smack them, but now wasn’t the time.
All I could do was vow never to forget this as I pounded my feet like mad.
“Huff……!”
How long did I run?
Only when my breath reached my throat did Barundel finally stop the chase.
His stamina must’ve run out.
“Huff……! Huff……! You got even faster, Yoo Han!”
“Huff……! Huff……! Can you stop now? Are you really going all the way?”
“Huff…… I’m getting old, too old.”
Thud, Barundel collapsed on the floor, breathing raggedly.
“Tell me. How did you even come up with that idea?”
“…….”
From the nuance, he was asking how I could think of using the training ground as collateral……
Honestly, I didn’t have much to say on that.
“Well, it’s a weapon you’d use anyway…… And beyond that, we don’t have anything else to put up as collateral.”
“……That’s your whole reason?”
“No, it’s not that serious. It’s just a contract putting it up as collateral—we can keep operating the training ground normally. If worst comes to worst, we don’t even have to go through with it.”
“……You can keep operating it?”
“Yes, or else we wouldn’t have proposed it in the first place.”
As I explained fully, I could feel Barundel’s breathing steadying.
If only he’d listened sooner.
Once he’d calmed somewhat, he asked.
“……Nothing else I need to know?”
Something he needed to know……
There was one thing.
“The loan period is five years, then you get it back. Fully upgraded to mythic grade.”
“Hmm…….”
“That’s fine too, right? Five years is plenty for growth, and by then you’ll be retiring anyway.”
Barundel still lay there, eyes closed.
Lost in thought, it seemed.
A moment later, he opened his eyes, decision made.
“……Fine. I’ll think it over. When’s the contract date?”
“Tomorrow.”
“……You’re cutting it close.”
“But if we’re doing it, better to have it before the war, right?”
“Got it. I’ll decide by tomorrow anyway.”
He said that, but still.
In my view, there was only one choice.
‘A chance to rent a near-mythic weapon almost for free—how could he turn that down?’
A rational think would lead straight to yes.
Barundel would accept for sure.
‘……Somehow it worked out.’
With this, Barundel’s ultimate weapon was secured.
Twists and turns, but a success.
Tension easing, my body started aching all over.
Might as well knock out some delayed tasks while I was at it. I stood.
“Been a while—shall we train?”
Straight to physical training stage three.
I’d done it sporadically during the two-week hunt, but hadn’t fully finished.
He didn’t seem thrilled.
Barundel replied in a deflated voice.
“Right now……?”
“Yeah, you’re warmed up anyway. Feels like the perfect time.”
“Urgh……. Fine.”
With that, Barundel hauled himself up with effort.
Barundel through and through.
Even exhausted, he never skipped training.
Crack, pop, crack!
After light stretching, I turned.
To the guys who’d been lounging.
“What’re you doing? You too.”
“Us too……?”
“Barundel, they won’t die from stage three, right?”
“True, but…… it’ll strain their bodies enormously.”
Enormous strain…… exactly what I wanted.
“That’s fine. Let’s do it together.”
“Ah, wait! What about our opinion……?”
They asked desperately, but I ignored.
Just murmured inwardly.
‘It’s all for your own good.’
Their easy training up to now was over.
***
Dwarf-style training stage three was simple.
Close your eyes, stand at attention.
When you sense something approaching—.
Whoosh!
‘Good.’
Twist your body to dodge. That’s it.
Of course, simple in words—agony in practice.
Miss the faintest sense, and massive pain engulfs you.
Splat!
“Argh—!”
Like that.
Next to me, Rieff doing the same training tumbled from Barundel’s club.
Even so, no stopping the beatings.
Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!
“W-wait! I’m dying! Dying!”
“Get back in position!”
Hearing those cheerful sounds brought back memories.
‘……Brutal.’
The first time Barundel put me through this.
Beaten senseless by that club—lost count of hits.
Felt like tenderizing meat for tonkatsu, not training.
Doubted if it worked at first, but Barundel doesn’t lie.
See?
Swish—!
Even in pitch darkness, I sensed the club swinging without seeing it.
‘Now!’
Eyes closed, I pinpointed its arc and twisted opposite.
A motion flowing like water now.
“Phew.”
Relief at dodging, followed by Barundel’s applause.
Clap clap clap!
“Good. That’s enough for stage three.”
Finally, Barundel’s pass.
“Is it over?”
I asked, slowly opening my eyes.
Swish!
No breather—another attack.
A complete beatdown in defenseless state.
Whoosh!
But my body moved before I registered.
Barundel nodded.
“Yes. You pass.”
Behind, the guys who’d collapsed early gasped in awe.
“Whoa…… what was that?”
“Is that a human reaction speed?”
They’d seen it clear as day.
Honestly, even I was shocked.
‘……I didn’t predict it at all.’
Similar experience before.
During the spar with Roan.
In hazy smoke, dodged his ice spear on instinct.
Body deciding before mind.
The effect of dwarf stage three?
I voiced the question, and Barundel answered.
“All nerves connect to muscles. Brain too. Reach a level, and you move without thinking.”
Crack, crack.
Stretching his neck side to side, Barundel continued.
“Stage three doesn’t just do that. Dodging blind revives dead senses and muscles.”
“……Dead senses and muscles?”
“How much of your body do you think people use? Average folk, less than half. Activate the rest—that’s it.”
“……I see.”
Seemed complex, but got it.
In short, this training unlocks 100% body use.
Huge effect already.
“Will help big in war.”
“Exactly. Shines in melees.”
Never planned to finish training, but glad I did.
Boosted war survival odds meaningfully.
Suddenly, wild curiosity hit.
“What’s the next stage’s effect?”
Body itched to learn now.
If this was midway, complete body would be insane.
But Barundel shook his head firmly.
“Too early to ask. Details after the war.”
“……Ah, yes sir.”
Bit disappointing, but whatever.
He had reasons not to spill early.
Anyway, training done.
Barundel fetched a tub of salve and started first aid on the downed mages.
“Don’t move. You’ll break something.”
“Ugh…… this is your fault!”
“Complaining now?”
Squeeze!
Barundel tightened the bandage hard, screams rising.
“Arghhh! Stop! Stop!”
I savored the sounds like a favorite tune, lying back.
Resting like this, thoughts wandered.
‘Really not much time left.’
The great war, once distant.
Now right at the door.
But why?
A sliver of anticipation mixed into the fear and tension.
Maybe because I’d grown strong enough not to fear war anymore.