Chapter 43
Chapter 43
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 43
Chapter Title: Disciple (Meaning a Growth-Type Dildo) (2)
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Half the world was dark.
A glossy darkness, shining like latex mixed with leather, blocked off half the world right in front of my nose.
With the helmet's limited field of view on top of that, the only world I could see was the right half.
It even carried a strange warmth. A humid, sticky heat.
Sniff sniff. The scent made my head spin in a peculiar way.
It rose and fell slightly with every breath, sometimes twitching before squishing flat against my helmet like a warm steamed bun, completely blocking my view.
I stared at it for a while before opening my mouth.
"A stranger's tits..."
"You're awake."
A voice came from above right away. A calm tone, without a hint of fatigue.
I'm dying here, and she's perfectly fine all by herself. How?
"You have no idea how to put strength into your swings. You just flail away at max power like some mindless monster."
"Well, that's usually how you land a one-combo kill with an axe..."
"Think you could one-shot me like that?"
"...No way in hell."
"Exactly. You knew that, so why fight like it? Once you've sized up your opponent, you adjust your hunting method accordingly."
Final verdict.
"Your physical abilities are solid, but your technique is nonexistent. If there were objective scores for skill, you'd be a flat zero."
'How'd she know...!'
Experienced explorers really do have sharp eyes. She saw right through me after just a 10-minute spar.
I'd powered up massively in the hobgoblin village and kept leveling up steadily from the 4th floor onward.
'Sucks that I never had a chance to save free points, though...'
Back then, survival was priority one, so I dumped them straight into whatever stat I needed most right away. In hindsight, my zero Technique stat was a real pain.
I lifted my head and removed my helmeted noggin from Edelbert's lap.
"...So why the lap pillow?"
"The floor's uncomfortable. When you pass out from exhaustion, you need to rest in the most comfortable position possible."
Right. I'd ended up knocking out completely during my spar with Edelbert.
First-strike chance 10 times over? Even with 30, I wouldn't have landed a single hit.
That short scrap was way tougher than fighting dozens of hobgoblins. Hell, calling it a spar is generous.
I ate one clean, concise punch from Edelbert—who'd been dodging the whole time—got embedded in the tile floor, and blacked out.
Even though she'd promised to match my specs, the difference in movement was night and day. Her footwork was just on another level.
'I figured there'd be a gap, but...'
Not like this. I couldn't even graze her with a fingertip.
'Can I ever get that strong?'
Honestly, I'm skeptical. Edelbert's prowess was straight-up awe-inspiring. I couldn't even picture a future where I matched her.
Grip!
I seized my axe and shot to my feet.
No time for moping—that's a luxury I can't afford. If I'm gonna whine, better swing this thing one more time.
"One more round. Up for it?"
"I like the fighting spirit. Very eager. But."
Edelbert pointed at my battle axe with her hand.
"You planning to keep using that?"
The axe. At first, it was just whatever I grabbed in the goblin den.
It felt so damn good in my hands that I'd stuck with it ever since.
"An axe will hit a wall eventually. Even just looking at reach, it's way inferior to a sword or spear. And unlike your fists, it won't toughen up as you grow. No need to cling to it."
"Not clinging. Like you said, I got zero technique, so I'm just using what's easy to swing."
"Hm... Fair point."
I was curious about swords or spears, but with my Technique stat, it's obvious I don't have the knack from the start.
Deluna's magic intrigued me too, but my Wisdom probably couldn't handle it.
In that sense, axes and blunt weapons were a great pick. Nail the contact, swing with raw physical power—that's it.
The key is a killer body. A sturdy frame is a weapon all on its own.
Like the martial artist right in front of me. Edelbert, wielding nothing but flesh and fists to unleash insane power.
"I've got a clear idea how to train you now."
Edelbert beckoned me after a moment's thought. Come at her.
"You ready?"
"Hurry up and come."
I hefted my axe and charged straight at Edelbert.
'Way too green.'
Edelbert watched the axe swinging at her and thought as much.
The axe gripped tight in my hands swung straight without hesitation—but that was it. Nothing special beyond that.
No feints, no power control. Just an honest, full-power strike.
If it was just chopping mindless monsters or trees, it'd be perfect.
But in a real fight full of mind games, it was just dumb stamina drain.
Bwoooong!
She dodged with a casual head tilt. The axe whiffed emptily and went for strike two right away.
That was when Edelbert noticed my grip loosen ever so slightly.
Not dropping it.
Like a virgin on her first time, my arms had been rigid with tension.
Now, a bit of slack crept in.
The previous swing had been stiff, arms flung high.
Bwoong—
This one had a touch more ease—more concise.
Edelbert dodged a hair faster this time.
The axe that'd dropped low-left now swept diagonal toward upper-right.
Bwoong—
Much cleaner and tighter than the second swing. Yet it packed more power, using my whole body.
'Fixed the issue after one tip-off and three swings.'
Axework doesn't hold the intricate mysteries of swordplay, but this was impressive.
The first spar confirmed no special weapon skill. Yet here was change.
'He's starting to control his body more perfectly.'
Edelbert read the vibe and info pouring from her disciple's whole frame.
Battle heat, like he was pumped. But not micromanaging every muscle fiber.
You couldn't move this fast if you were overthinking details.
Meaning he did it all on instinct.
'If I can train that body to my will.'
Gulp.
Edelbert swallowed without thinking.
Her disciple's talented but green, inexperienced frame.
Feed it real intense fights and spars, mix in her fave 'martial arts'...
'It might actually work.'
Edelbert's lower belly fluttered. Her womb quivered with anticipation, tightening her leotard a bit.
Claaang!
"Holy shit."
Nam Sujin stared pale at the axe buried deep along Edelbert's waistline.
It rang metallic even though it should've hit her side flush.
Edelbert—who'd dodged or parried every swing so far—had suddenly stopped.
"Disciple."
"Y-yeah, Master."
"From now on, come here every morning. Except Labyrinth days and the day before."
Nam Sujin pondered Edelbert's words.
Every day was pushing it. Evenings were for helping at Diana's tavern.
"Eh, if you wanna toughen up slow like a sluggish grub, once every two days is fine by me."
But he fell for the cheap taunt. Fine. Sleep less, whatever.
Training like this shines brightest with daily routine.
Plus, it benefited him most. More sessions, faster growth.
"Tomorrow too?"
"Yeah. One more hour today as a teaser."
"Ah. But that axe—"
"Axe? Chuck it over there. I'll get you a better one later. And from now on..."
Boom!
Edelbert clapped her fists together, unleashing a shockwave that filled the training room.
"Time for martial arts sparring."
Nam Sujin sensed something off as Edelbert approached, tail whipping like a lash.
"I'll teach you 'real combat'."
"Ughhhh..."
My legs wouldn't move right. Not just legs—none of my limbs obeyed me.
"Quit groaning. I used a high-grade potion. Bruises and all should be gone."
"No, I legit can't walk..."
Shockingly, it wasn't bruises or injury. Just muscle pain.
No joke—I couldn't even stand.
Try to walk, and my thighs quake and buckle right away.
Haven't felt soreness this bad since my first manual labor gig. Brutal.
Still, silver lining.
'Means I racked up insane sparring XP today.'
What I lacked most now was experience and know-how.
So far, stats and helmet-boosted perception let me steamroll anyone.
Can't count on that forever.
Green as I was, even stats matchup would start pushing me back. Equals would wreck me.
That's why linking up with Edelbert as master was genius. Prime combat XP ahead.
"Ughhh..."
A bit too rough, though.
"We're here. You actually talked Diana down? Her snapping out of rampage mode..."
"Had my ways."
Edelbert was shocked that rampaging Diana had regained sanity and reopened the inn.
She'd tucked my ass under her arm like luggage and carried me to the inn despite me not walking. As she opened the door...
"Ah. Welc... Wha—"
Diana was wiping tables for evening service. Our eyes met.
Diana's gaze dropped to Edelbert's hand on my waist, then my trembling limbs.
Thud.
The rag fell from Diana's hand.
That moment, I felt an eerie sense of déjà vu.
'Feels like this happened before...'
Diana's eyes slid up from me to Edelbert holding me.
"Long time no see, Diana. Rampage sorted? Borrowed your employee a bit. Oh, and this guy's my disciple now. Starting today, every day he'll..."
I remembered.
Similar reaction when I brought Kakchi here once.
But Diana's response now dwarfed that.
Kaboom!
Something flashed behind Diana—the instant Edelbert reacted.
Thwack!
"Kuh!"
I hit the floor dazed and looked around.
"...Where'd they go?"
What the hell just happened?
Panicking a sec, I glanced back and gaped silently.
"Holy shit..."
A massive ice spike, dozens of meters tall, pierced the inn entrance.