Chapter 33
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 33
Chapter Title: Tail Chase Training
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S-grade.
Even with the qualifier "conditional" attached, it was still an incredible rank.
Abel blinked.
He was thrilled beyond measure, but he couldn't just celebrate outright. The reward felt far too generous compared to what he'd done.
No matter how generous Scarlett was, she wouldn't hand over something this extraordinary without reason.
'First, let's check the details.'
Pushing aside his swirling thoughts, Abel shook his head and examined exactly what "conditional" meant.
He needed to understand that to grasp his current situation fully.
Staring intently at the message, a detailed explanation of the conditional aspect soon appeared.
[The breathing technique is incomplete. You must acquire Optium Breathing Method (2) to unleash its full effects.]
[Individual rank: B-grade.]
"Ah."
Only after reading the message did Abel nod in understanding.
He'd encountered a similar situation in the game before.
"This must be the first part."
Special secret arts or breathing techniques were often spread across multiple volumes.
Naturally, mastering just one volume wouldn't yield full proficiency; only collecting and learning them all would bring out their true power.
In other words, what Abel held now was volume 1. He needed to obtain volume 2.
Abel pondered for a moment before speaking.
"Acquire it."
The moment he responded.
Flutterflutterflutter—!
The book's pages flipped wildly on their own, and a blue light began to emanate.
Abel felt unfamiliar knowledge flooding into his mind like a tidal wave.
It was similar to acquiring a skill, yet different.
The awakening of entirely new knowledge was the same, but the sheer volume was incomparable.
It was like slamming an entire book straight into his brain.
"Ugh......"
Abel trembled, clutching his head.
His brain felt scorching hot, like it was overheating. He worried it might melt entirely if this continued.
He wanted to scream in relief, but he couldn't, so he just gritted his teeth and endured.
"Grk......"
He endured the agony for what felt like an eternity.
[Acquisition complete.]
The message appeared, and the headache vanished like snow under the sun.
Stunned by the stark contrast, Abel blinked blankly.
'Is it over?'
After a brief moment of doubt, Abel thought of a simple way to check and tried it immediately.
By recalling the book's contents.
The results came instantly.
The contents of a book he hadn't even properly read floated perfectly in his mind.
"So that's how it works."
It wasn't an experience he'd want to repeat, but since he'd likely have to do it again in the future, Abel wiped his face.
'Just confirm and rest.'
He wanted nothing more than to collapse and sleep.
But he needed to see how far the contents extended.
Abel delved into the knowledge now stored in his mind and soon reached a conclusion.
"It's not cut off without any context."
The Optium Breathing Method that Scarlett had given him was a standalone technique in its own right.
Meaning, mastering this alone would allow him to accumulate and use mana without issue.
'The countess might not have even known there was a next volume.'
It wasn't all that strange.
The Optium Breathing Method volume 1 was rated B-grade.
It seemed far below S-grade, but B-grade was no low rank.
If S-grade was one-of-a-kind across the continent, B-grade was top-tier on a kingdom scale.
In fact, it was stranger for a mere marquis family of a single kingdom to use an S-grade breathing technique.
'Thinking about it, they probably weren't an ordinary marquis house to begin with.'
Abel decided to investigate the Optium marquis family later as he flipped through the book again.
Analyzing the implanted knowledge, volume 1 felt heavily focused on building the "foundation."
"I probably won't need volume 2 right away."
He couldn't be certain without it, but in Abel's view, he'd need to master volume 1 perfectly before tackling volume 2.
Meaning, there was no need to regret lacking volume 2 just yet.
'I'll have to search diligently for volume 2.'
Abel concluded simply, closed the book, and stowed it back on the desk.
Then he headed straight to bed and lay down.
He wanted to try the breathing technique right away, but he couldn't.
The first page explicitly advised taking ample rest before the initial attempt.
'Sleep.'
Lying in bed, Abel drifted off immediately.
For tomorrow.
* * *
Early morning.
Sunlight filtered through the window cracks.
The rays stretched across the floor, illuminating Abel, who sat cross-legged.
Though it should have been blinding, Abel didn't stir, maintaining steady breaths.
After a long while.
Abel's eyes snapped open.
"Huuuuh."
Exhaling a long breath like someone who'd held it forever, Abel turned his head slightly toward the window.
'Morning already.'
Blinking a few times, he checked the time and muttered softly.
"Two hours passed."
Abel stretched and rose, loosening his stiff body.
Sitting cross-legged for over two hours had left him sore everywhere.
'Well, it's my first time.'
Having woken at dawn, Abel had immediately tried the breathing technique.
He'd struggled a bit with focus at first, but soon sank deep into it, breathing uninterrupted for two hours.
Without a schedule, he could have gone several more hours.
'More fun than I thought.'
A formally learned breathing technique differed from vague imaginings.
Its purpose, true to its name, wasn't mere breathing but accumulating mana.
What Abel enjoyed was vividly sensing the flow of mana entering and leaving.
On inhale, a certain amount flowed in; on exhale, more than half escaped.
Through this, Abel realized why there were hundreds or thousands of breathing techniques in the world.
'The efficiency is on another level.'
All breathing techniques shared the same basic principle.
Inhale, exhale.
But after that, they diverged.
Where to guide the incoming mana on inhale? Where to store it? How to retain it?
These details varied wildly between techniques.
That led to efficiency differences far greater than Abel had expected.
If the third-rate breathing techniques he'd picked up on the streets retained only 3-5% of incoming mana.
The Optium method retained a full 10%.
And this was just the early stage, with efficiency still climbing.
"No wonder kids from great houses pull ahead."
Effort or decent talent could close the gap early on, but over time, the difference would widen.
Unless one had freakish talent, elimination was inevitable.
Even in this era of Gigant riders over knights, mana remained crucial.
'Well, works in my favor.'
Putting aside grand ambitions, Abel dressed.
He had training and lessons with Iolin before class—no time to dawdle.
Finishing preparations quickly, Abel headed straight to the training grounds.
An hour and a half later.
Having finished training and eaten, Abel headed to the lecture field with Daniel.
"Abel, you not nervous?"
"Nervous?"
"Yeah. Real operation training starts today."
"Oh, that."
Daniel's words reminded Abel of the last class announcement.
Everyone had mastered basics, so proper training would begin.
Abel replied nonchalantly.
"Even 'proper' probably just means running on the first day."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah. They'll wait till everyone can run proficiently before combat training."
"Oh...... Yeah, makes sense."
Daniel nodded, convinced by Abel's logic.
It had to be.
That's exactly how the curriculum worked in the game.
'Master controls through running while building operation time—that's the initial task.'
Even after weeks of training, plenty of cadets couldn't sustain Gigant operation for 30 minutes.
The special class consisted of top cadets from each squad, advancing to practical lessons.
The regular class would be stuck running laps endlessly.
Chatting idly, they arrived at the field.
"May!"
Daniel waved wildly and called out upon arrival.
May, dozing in a corner, lifted her head at his booming voice, then closed her eyes again.
Undeterred by the blatant ignore, Daniel rushed over and started chattering at her.
Abel seriously wondered if Daniel's real weapon wasn't stamina but that mouth.
Fortunately for May, instructor Kaul soon arrived.
"Everyone here!"
Kaul drew attention with a shout, scanned the cadets, and muttered.
"......Eight, nine, ten. Good. All present. Let's start the lecture. Remember what I said last time?"
"Yes—!"
"Right. Don't forget already. Real operation training begins today. Half of you might crawl back after class."
Kaul grinned broadly, dropping the brutal line casually.
The cadets, knowing he never bluffed, paled naturally.
"Now! Prepare mentally till the Gigants arrive!"
Kaul glanced toward the warehouse where Gigants were emerging.
In prior classes, seniors or assistants piloted them one by one.
This time, they were transported via separate vehicles.
With personal Gigants now common, it was expected.
Once all Gigants arrived and matched to cadets.
"Time to explain today's training."
Kaul smiled more wickedly than before.
'Like a gorilla plotting something.'
Abel thought as he watched.
"First training: running."
As Abel expected so far.
"But mindless running from day one would be boring, right?"
No cadets responded.
What was "fun" for Kaul usually meant hell for cadets.
But the excited Kaul pressed on.
"So I devised a special training! Tail chase!"
"Tail chase?"
One cadet couldn't resist asking about the unfamiliar term.
Kaul explained eagerly.
"Rules are simple. Three start with tails. The other seven steal them. Fun already, huh?"
No response again. Kaul smirked and dropped his trump card.
"Of course, there's a reward. The final three with tails get my special body technique. Deal?"
The ambitious pitch got a lukewarm reaction. Until the next line.
"And it's taught during stamina training. Meaning, stamina sessions waived while learning it!"
The moment he finished.
Flames ignited in every cadet's eyes.
[Quest 'Kaul's Prized Disciple' progresses.]
[Captivate Kaul with overwhelming skill!]
[Reward: A-grade or higher body technique skill.]
And Abel was no exception.