Chapter 137
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 137
Chapter Title: Beast King's Training
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Others might struggle to even meet one committee member, but I'd already met quite a few. And every time, I'd gained something from them.
When I met the Great Witch Vivian, I gained Inventory and Portaling, and now I'm her disciple. When I met Sword Saint Cain over Alensia's issue, I received his teachings on the sword. And when I encountered the Demon King Diabolo, I obtained the demon clan's pattern.
And now.
I was meeting yet another committee member: Beast King Leonhart...
"I knew it when I saw you in the tournament. This guy's got talent with his fists—no, with his body!"
Out of nowhere, he'd been tracking me since spotting me in the tournament, and now he was telling me to become his disciple.
'What the hell is going on?'
A bit dazed, but I steadied myself and first responded to Cain, who had made his offer before the Beast King.
"I'm sorry."
"Hmph..."
I turned down Cain's offer first. When he suddenly started talking about my talent and insisted I become his disciple, I overheard a bit of their conversation. It seemed he'd seen my [Swordsmanship] reach level 6 in such a short time and thought I had exceptional talent...
'But my talent's nothing special.'
It wasn't talent; it was the [Lust Absorption] skill that raised my Swordsmanship level. Learning from the Sword Saint would obviously make it suspicious from the start. And I couldn't exactly reveal [Lust Absorption]...
"...Fine, I get it."
Cain didn't pry into why I refused and brushed it off coolly. I'd thought the same last time—guy's got a real chill personality. Doesn't even ask for reasons.
"Kuhaha! See that, Cain? So, you. Become my disciple..."
"No, thank you for the offer, Beast King, but I must decline."
"What."
Well, can you blame him? The offer was appreciated, but now he's saying my body suits martial arts more than the sword? I'd already maxed [Swordsmanship] at level 6. Did I really need to focus on hand-to-hand? I'd even commissioned a sword from Miranda—what fists?
"What exactly made you think I have talent?"
He claimed he'd seen me in the tournament, but back then, I mainly used [Illusion Magic] and only threw punches at the very end. To exploit Leo's carelessness, I dropped my sword, bound him, and pummeled him with fists.
No real technique—just grabbed him and punched. And that's talent...?
"The 'body talent' I'm talking about isn't just fists!"
When I voiced my doubt directly, Leonhart bellowed in frustration.
"It's talent for using your 'body' as the word says. Broadly speaking, your resistance skills or even [Regeneration] are part of that talent."
How did he... Well, [Regeneration] is obvious, and resistances—if he spotted my Swordsmanship level, he could probably see those too.
"And above all... You've got [Limit Break], right?"
"...Yeah, I do. I even used it in the tournament."
"Exactly! That's it! A skill you can only get by pushing your body beyond its limits! By forcibly shattering your body's limiter! Only those who exploit their body to the extreme can obtain it!"
That's all? I just block pain with [Sensory Block] and draw out power...
"So, let me say it again. Become my disciple..."
"I'm sorry."
"Why!"
Reasons? Plenty. I'm already Vivian's disciple, so she might object. Risk of [Lust Absorption] being exposed. Can't freely come and go from the guild if I'm stuck training here...
'One combat style is enough.'
Above all, Rogue techniques or mana control have uses, but martial arts? I'd probably never use it over Swordsmanship. Lately I'd used fists instead of sword, but once my ordered blade arrives, back to sword.
And...
'I already beat Leo.'
His supposed disciple from the tournament? Solid skills, but I won. Even with [Sensory Block] sealed.
If that's the power his disciple has... Not really appealing.
"Because..."
"No, never mind. You haven't experienced it yet! Try it, and you'll love it!"
"Huh? What... Whoa!"
As I started to give my reason for refusing, the Beast King cut me off and hoisted me onto his shoulder like I weighed nothing.
"Kuhaha! Just try it once, and you'll change your mind!"
Hey, what...!
Ignoring my struggles, the Beast King waved at Cain and leaped out, kicking off the ground.
-Boom!
"...Pay for the broken door on your way out."
The Sword Saint sighed at the spot where the Beast King had left, checking on the fallen guild members instead of chasing him.
He was a brute, but his teachings would suit Ian well.
That's how I got kidnapped(?) by the Beast King. Dangling from his shoulder for a long haul, I was finally set down at another guild building.
"Ugh! You crazy beast!"
Beast King or whatever, after being abducted without consent, I dropped the formalities. I twisted to escape, channeled mana for [Limit Break], swung my sword at him, hurt myself, donned [Berserker's Gauntlets] and smashed down—but he tanked every attack bare-handed.
"Kuhaha! Full of energy!"
Damn. Now I got why the Swordsmanship Guild folks looked soul-crushed attacking him earlier.
My attacks did zilch; he no-sold them bare-skinned, laughing it off. From the attacker's side, it'd drive you insane.
"We're here! This is the Martial Arts Guild!"
"Here my ass...!"
Whether I cursed or attacked, he just yapped on. Confirmed it: committee membership requires a screw loose.
The moment he set me down, I bolted—only to get grabbed again. Giving up escape, I tried positive thinking instead.
'Think positive. It's the Beast King. I get to learn from the Beast King himself.'
Despite reasons to refuse, it was the 'Beast King''s teachings. Wouldn't pale next to Sword Saint or Vivian's.
That made it seem not so bad. Already at the Martial Arts Guild—might as well learn. Who knows? Could pick up something amazing.
"Kuhaha! Not running anymore?"
"Yeah. So let go."
Seeing me drop escape vibes, he released my arm happily, grinning as he opened the Martial Arts Guild door.
"Don't worry. You'll love it."
-Creak...
The heavy door swung open slowly. And the scene inside...
"Kuhaha! Add more plates!"
"Kehek! S-Save..."
"Up! Lift! Squeeze more! More more... Yes! Now ten more sets!"
"........."
A thick sweat stench wafted out. Folks gripped bizarre contraptions—purpose obvious at a glance—grunting oddly as they hoisted heavy equipment. Newbie guild members had two or three buff beastkin or orcs piling on plates beside them.
'...Gym?'
Just like gyms on Earth. Buff dudes—mostly orcs and beastkin—grinning as they lifted weights. Door creak drew all eyes to me and the Beast King.
-...Smirk...
Shiver.
'...Newbie?'
'Guild master's newbie?'
'Look at that body. Not systematically trained. But that presence...!'
Damn.
'Gotta run.'
"Kuhaha! Where you going?"
Seized by inexplicable dread, forgetting my resolve, I tried bolting—but he'd anticipated, pinning me forcibly.
"Cardio first! You'll love it!"
'Save me.'
Martial Arts Guild, my ass.
"Yes! Like that! Rip those muscles more!"
"They're actually ripping, you know?"
"You've got [Regeneration] anyway! Rip 'em for real! They'll heal!"
"Crazy..."
Still, when I agreed to his teachings, I had expectations. Sword Saint's half-day lesson massively boosted my swordsmanship.
So I figured Beast King's would be similar—some special method to elevate my skills...
Not this traditional grind.
"More! Yes! Lift! Use [Limit Break]! Burst those muscles!"
"Hup!"
Following his words, I hoisted the dumbbell before me. Magic-infused, even my toughened body couldn't budge it.
Activating [Limit Break], the immovable weight began rising slowly.
-Crackkk...
My arm emitted ominous sounds, but Leonhart wasn't worried—he got more excited.
"Yes! That's it! Endure the pain! It'll all become your muscle!"
'Never endured.'
With [Sensory Block] up, no pain. Calm-faced lifting had distant Martial Arts Guild members whispering.
'...How much weight now?'
'Ton per side. Plus gravity magic.'
'Crazy... Not a newbie? Body didn't look special...'
'Guild master's new disciple?'
Who disciple?
Anyway, their shock made sense. Even I was surprised. Freaked seeing folks scream earlier...
'...[Sensory Block]... OP for gym?'
Ignore muscle pain/fatigue buildup. [Limit Break] abuses muscles; [Regeneration] heals at super speed.
Painless gains... Perfect?
'Whoa! What am I thinking?'
Hanging here pollutes the mind. Feels like I should stack more plates, lift heavier...
-Clank!
"Ooh! One more plate! Yes! As expected, you've got body talent...!"
"Ugh, shut it!"
Stop backseat coaching!
After Beast King dragged me through every machine in the Martial Arts Guild, the gym... er, training session ended.
Muscles tore and healed repeatedly in that insane cycle, but no skill growth.
'Well, [Body Enhancement]'s already level 6.'
Still, consistent work should yield results. More satisfied than expected, I eyed the Beast King—who'd dragged me here abruptly—favorably. Normal method, all things considered.
And his next proposed training...
"...What's this?"
"Electric chair! Ordered it from an otherworlder. Otherworlders are impressive! Inventing training gear like this..."
That's not training gear, you madman.