Chapter 60
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 60
Chapter Title: The Delivered Sword
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In the thick darkness.
A blue light spread out, illuminating the surroundings.
Abel stared blankly at the radiant glow before slowly opening his eyes.
"Haa."
Exhaling a hot breath, Abel soon noticed a blinking message in the corner of his vision.
'Grade increase...'
Seeing the message, Abel understood what had just happened to him.
While practicing the breathing technique, he had felt his senses expanding.
He hadn't realized it in his trance-like state at the time, but now he saw it had been caused by his grade rising outright.
Lupus had said it would merely improve efficiency a bit, but in reality, it was more than that.
It felt as if the breathing technique itself had advanced to the next level.
"Well, that makes sense. That's why the grade went up."
Muttering to himself, Abel nodded.
'At this rate, I won't need to rush finding the latter half right away.'
His original plan had been to locate the Optium Breathing Method's latter half as quickly as possible, but after trying the improved version, he felt no such urgency.
He figured he wouldn't have any regrets about his mana capacity for a good while with this.
-You seem pleased.
As that thought crossed his mind, Lupus spoke up.
Abel nodded with a bright expression.
"Yeah. I'm pretty satisfied."
-Is that so.
Lupus fell silent for a moment after saying that, then made a request.
-If you need help with such matters in the future, I'll assist anytime. In return, I'd like compensation.
"Compensation?"
-Indeed.
Abel pondered briefly before replying.
"What do you want?"
-A core.
"A core? Not a Gigant's core, right?"
-Of course not.
"Hmm."
Core was a term used in various contexts, but Lupus meant the cores possessed by Gigadeus or Gigadeus Fragments.
Also called magic stones, Gigant cores were made using those very magic stones as material.
"Alright. I'll get you one as quickly as possible, then."
Abel accepted the proposal readily.
Cores varied wildly in price depending on type, but back when he wandered the streets, he might not have afforded one—now, though, he could manage.
Especially with his connections, he had routes to acquire them cheaply.
'Above all, it's better if there's some form of exchange.'
His relationship with Lupus was purely transactional.
Far from divinity or friendship.
In that sense, paying some price for the help put Abel's mind at ease more than receiving it for free.
-Thank you, Master.
Lupus sounded satisfied with Abel's response.
-Then, I'll go rest now.
"Sure."
With that, Lupus went quiet again, and Abel resumed his breathing practice.
He planned to keep at the intensive training until his convalescence ended.
Silence returned to Abel's room.
* * *
Abel's routine during recovery was simple.
Eat, practice breathing technique, sleep, eat again, practice, sleep.
That monotonous cycle broke on the final day of his recovery period.
"Hmm."
Abel gazed at the greatsword leaning against one wall of his room.
It was so large and thick it resembled a lump of metal more than a sword.
"Fortunately, it's not too heavy..."
Muttering that, Abel picked it up.
It didn't feel particularly heavy, just like before. Perfect weight for wielding with both hands.
'What on earth is this thing?'
Naturally, Abel had tried investigating the sword.
But with most of its abilities sealed, he couldn't learn much.
'I need to unlock the form change first to examine it properly.'
Unsealing this relic artifact was impossible for now.
One of the conditions required a specific location.
That place was outside the academy—and quite far away, at that.
Given the academy's current state, leaving anytime soon was out of the question.
'I'll aim for vacation time.'
Abel looked the sword over once more before leaning it back against the wall.
'Once外出 permits are lifted, I need to scout ways to get there.'
外出 would resume soon enough.
The fallout from this incident wouldn't match the Wall of Glory event.
To outward appearances, it just looked like the Gigadeus Fragment had grown more ferocious than before, prompting a withdrawal.
Only a few knew the full truth.
The cadets had been strictly silenced by the instructors.
Abel was no exception.
The relatively swift decision on the relic's ownership and possession permit included compensation for that silence.
'Well, exposing the truth plainly wouldn't benefit anyone.'
The Empire had many enemies. Thus, incidents unknown to the masses occurred more frequently and numerously than one might think.
'But that won't last forever.'
Even peace has an end.
During vacation, an incident would strike the Empire.
A massive one that could upend the entire nation.
'Then, everyone will realize the peace we're enjoying now is precarious.'
Abel was raising his strength to the max in preparation for that time.
'Grades won't be the issue then.'
Survival would be the concern, not scores.
No more safe classes within the academy's walls.
In that light, the present was remarkably peaceful.
Like the calm before a storm.
"Ah, not entirely..."
It didn't compare to the vacation incident, but a fairly major event loomed in a few weeks.
Hena's rampage.
'That won't be easy either.'
He had sought a solution long ago, but it proved trickier than expected.
"Hoo."
Sighing deeply, Abel rose from his seat.
He couldn't just sit in his room sighing over worries.
'Right now would be perfect timing to head out.'
Rest had been mandated until noon on the final day, so Abel dressed simply and left his room.
Outside, the dormitory buzzed with its usual energy.
The cadets seemed to have already forgotten the practical training ordeal.
'Well, if they can't handle that level of shock, they couldn't survive academy life.'
Unlike other academies, Del Modor focused entirely on elite Gigant rider training—fall behind, and you're out.
"Abel!"
Lost in dark thoughts as he walked, someone called out and approached.
Turning, he saw Daniel standing there.
'Am I really that bad with people...?'
Abel thought wryly. Whenever someone called him, it was always Daniel.
"What's with the sour face?"
"Nah, nothing."
Unable to voice his inner thoughts, Abel brushed it off with a headshake.
"Anyway, heading to eat? Let's go together."
"Sure."
Daniel and Abel headed to the cafeteria side by side.
Arriving early, it was fairly empty.
"Training tonight, right?"
As they sat with their food, about to eat, Daniel asked.
Abel set down his spoon to reply.
"Yeah. Been off too long."
"Then let's go together tonight. Missed having a proper sparring partner without you."
"What about Hena?"
"She says she's doing other training lately—barely shows at the communal field. Pretty much holed up in her personal one."
"Is that so?"
The personal training field Daniel mentioned wasn't equipped for Gigant operation like Abel's; it was just an attached facility.
Private training like that likely meant something one wouldn't want others seeing.
'She's already started, huh.'
Abel knew what it was.
Shaken by the practical training, she was pushing her clan's secret technique too hard to boost her skills quickly—that was the core of the rampage incident.
"See you at the field around 7, then."
"What'll you do till then?"
"Catch up on backlog."
He had requests for his sponsor Scarlett and a promise with Temarin.
They had agreed to a commission post-practical, but he hadn't gone yet.
Daniel nodded as if satisfied and resumed eating.
As they finished up...
"Abel. Cadet Abel here?"
Someone began calling Abel's name, searching.
Turning, Abel spotted an academy staffer he vaguely recognized.
"Here."
"Ah, good. Come with me a moment."
"Yes."
Meals nearly done, Abel excused himself from Daniel and stood.
By the time they exited the dormitory, the staffer explained.
"The commission you placed at Vulcanus Workshop is complete. They've delivered it straight to your personal training field."
"Oh, really?"
Faster than expected, Abel's face lit up.
'I thought it'd take at least a month longer.'
Not just the crafting time—Vulcanus Workshop always had a backlog.
Even with his work history there easing the request, he'd braced for a wait.
The staffer smiled.
"Indeed. A workshop rep is waiting, so best head there now."
"Yes. Thank you."
After thanking him, Abel hurried to the training field.
Quick steps soon brought the familiar site into view.
Approaching, he unlocked it and entered.
There, a massive sword lay on one side.
At a glance, no mere standard-issue weapon.
Standing before it was a familiar face.
"Abel!"
A woman waving cheerfully—none other than Kaya.
Abel approached, greeting her back.
"Kaya. What brings you all the way here?"
"What do you think? Delivering the goods."
"Who's minding reception?"
"Even I get days off."
She grinned as she said it.
Abel grinned back.
"Then take one—why work?"
"Coming out of the workshop counts as time off. Anyway, check the item first. Gotta know if our patron—no, client—is pleased."
"Right, right. Let's see."
Exchanging light banter, Abel circled the sword slowly.
It was enormous.
Not just Gigant-sized—larger than standard Gigant weapons.
'Similar to the one I just got.'
Coincidence, no doubt, but it resembled the relic from the ruins.
After a full circuit, Abel turned to Kaya.
"Won't do."
"Huh?"
Eyes sparkling, Abel told the puzzled Kaya.
"I have to try it out right away."