Chapter 62
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 62
Chapter Title: Resistance Training Season 2
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"...What on earth is that getup, Ian?"
"Ah, Alensia."
After a satisfying shopping trip, I returned to the mansion around dinnertime, and Alensia—who must have come back earlier—greeted me. That said, what did she mean by "getup"?
"...Ah."
Only then did I become aware of my own appearance. I'd bought up cursed items from the magic tower, thinking they might help me acquire [Curse Resistance], and now I was decked out in all sorts of dangling accessories. I'd carefully selected the curses, blocking some of their effects with [Regeneration] or [Sensory Block], but my body was still discolored in patches here and there, and it had stiffened up, making my movements jerky like a wooden puppet.
This look might still pass for hipster if I tried hard enough...? No, snap out of it. Was my head starting to go funny too? To think I'd paraded through the streets looking like some freak just to train my resistance...
"...First things first, contact Gloria..."
"No, hold on. Hear me out first."
I nearly ended up back at the temple less than a day after being discharged. If I'd gone crawling back after being told to take it easy, I'd have gotten an earful for sure. I desperately held Alensia back.
"[Curse Resistance]?"
"Yes. I got it after fighting those bandits who targeted me in the Labyrinth."
I carefully removed the accessories stuck all over my body one by one, explaining to the astonished Alensia how I'd acquired the skill—and why I'd gone out to buy cursed items in the first place.
As expected, Alensia showed tremendous interest in my story.
"It seems a combination of factors led to it. You kept using your [Heavenly Touch] in that curse-filled ruin to drive out the curse energy, right? And that strange relic you got from the ruin—you said you heard a voice from it too."
"Yeah. But it vanished once I got out."
"Voices speaking directly into your mind like that are typically a type of curse that affects the spirit. Since they burrow into the mental rather than just the physical, even tough warriors are often weak to them. Looks like resisting those built up a ton of experience already."
Alensia's voice was laced with regret as she analyzed how I'd gained the skill. My method wasn't something another adventurer could replicate. The rotting curse on my body probably owed a lot to [Regeneration] keeping me going long enough to earn the skill too.
No other adventurer would have [Regeneration], [Sensory Block], or [Heavenly Touch], so the same approach probably wouldn't...
"Uh, Alensia? Couldn't someone build resistance by enduring curses and then getting them purified with holy magic?"
"We've already tried that."
'Tried it?'
"We hung curses on ourselves and healed them with holy power over and over, but all that did was level up holy magic—no [Curse Resistance]."
'Hung them on ourselves?'
Something dubious slipped into my ears, but I shoved it out of my mind. Come to think of it, she'd once mentioned beating up criminals and healing them repeatedly to get [Physical Resistance]?
Surprisingly, Alensia might've had a bit of a thug vibe back in the day...
"Still, I know how to train the resistances once you've got them. The look is a bit much, but it definitely seems effective for training."
"Right?"
Alensia, dead serious about resistance skills, vouched that my method would work. What a relief. If she'd said it was all wrong after I'd walked the streets like that, my resolve would've crumbled.
That said, the pile I had on was overkill, so I sorted through them, picking out ones suitable for everyday wear and others for the Labyrinth based on curse type.
Luckily, they weren't all just curses—some had useful effects too.
This one's a magic tool that boosts strength... but it's got petrification curse. No good for the Labyrinth... And this... 'Hair Loss Curse'? Wonder if [Regeneration] regrows hair follicles... Better skip it to be safe. What was I even thinking earlier? Willingly equipping a baldness curse...
"Ian..."
As I sifted through the useful ones, Alensia called my name in a trembling voice. She rarely showed emotion like this—what could it be?
"Ian... You might be the one to make my dream come true."
"Pardon?"
What? Something chills me to the bone...
"You want me to help with experiments on other resistances?"
"Yes. I know it's shameless of me when you've already done so much, but... In the past, I read about a theory called 'Resistance Training' from some otherworlder and spent years researching ways to acquire other resistance skills in the Labyrinth."
I heard Alensia's praise for Resistance Training again after so long. The difference was, back then she'd been certain only about [Poison Resistance] and given up on the rest. Now, her eyes sparkled with hope.
"Back then, the reason we failed to get other resistances was 'healing'."
"Healing?"
"Yeah. Turns out if you take enough damage from a certain attack type to qualify for the skill, then heal with holy magic, you just level up holy magic instead—no resistance skill."
"So, you can't heal with holy magic after taking the hits?"
"Exactly. That's why your [Heavenly Touch] healing—which doesn't use holy power—and [Regeneration] might let us get other resistances."
"What about potions?"
"Same result—no resistance skill."
So, you have to overcome it 'yourself' to get the skill?
On top of that, you'd need the endurance to grit through the pain while taking hits. Hmm...
As I pondered, Alensia made a grim face... Wait, no way. Alensia's expression changed?!
"Please, Ian... You might be the one to complete the 'Resistance Training' I've dreamed of!"
"............."
Her tone burned with passion, but I couldn't fall for that. What she meant was she'd beat me up, blast me with magic, burn me, grill and fry me—without healing—and just leave me to recover.
"Fine, let's give it a shot."
Of course, I didn't refuse.
Labyrinth, 5th floor.
Alensia must have serious pull in the Labyrinth Guild. My case was under investigation, so I shouldn't have been allowed in, but they let me through just because I was with her...
"You're a victim anyway, Ian. Plus, your testimony checked out—we've ID'd the culprits."
"Oh, you caught them?"
"Yeah. Can't say more myself, but expect an apology and compensation from the Guild soon."
Guild compensation... Honestly, the ambush happened because Guild info on the ruin's discoverer—me—leaked. It's only right they compensate.
"Does internal info leak like this often?"
"Not usually. This time, post-Labyrinth anomaly, things were chaotic internally. 'Investigation' requests right after anomalies normally disclose rough floor maps and results by principle. We redacted your info since it was a ruin, but..."
"Security was weak?"
"Yes. And no one expected a ruin on just the 9th floor. Previous ones were at least 12th."
So, I just had rotten luck. Well, I got stuff from the ruin, so not total bad luck. Haven't learned anything from Vivian yet, though.
"Ready, Ian?"
While I mulled that over, Alensia wiped out the wandering monsters in a blink and approached me wielding a thick club.
This is terrifying for real. Should I quit now?
"One more time, Ian—this is you indulging my stubbornness. Say the word, and we stop anytime."
Her words reassuring me it was okay to quit actually steeled my nerves. With a sigh, I stowed my armor in my inventory. Potions out just in case...
"I'm ready!"
"Good—here goes!"
-THWACK!
-CRACK!
Like she'd been waiting for my signal, Alensia swung the club at me. No blocking—half-hearted defense just prolongs the pain. Better let her hit precisely.
The club smashed into my arm, twisting it unnaturally with a bone-crunching sound. Despite bracing, the agony ripped a groan from me as my body flew and slammed into the ground.
"You okay, Ian?"
"...F-F...ine..."
Alensia sounded worried, but I activated [Sensory Block] right away. It couldn't block the initial break, but it dulled the afterpain fine.
Feeling [Regeneration] kick in, I crammed recovery foods with my good hand.
Alensia guarded me from monsters in the meantime. Or rather, kept them from approaching...
"...What's that in your hand?"
"Electric shock baton. Don't worry—no threat to life."
"No, I only do one resistance at a time pleeeease..."
"Y-You're really gonna shoot?"
"Yes. Just fire your fire magic at me."
"B-But what did I do wrong?"
"Hm, nothing. It's for training."
"..............."
Snapping to, I saw a mage in unfamiliar robes standing awkwardly beside Alensia.
"Ian, fire magic incoming. Quitting?"
"...No."
'This is straight-up a torture scene.'
The watching mage gave up thinking, squeezed his eyes shut, and hurled a fireball.
"Gwaaaahhh!!"
"Kyaaak! M-Murder!"
"Relax—he's not dead."
"Uwaaa! Labyrinth criminal!"
"No, I'm..."
We even got spotted by a passing adventurer mid-session, drawing a Labyrinth investigator.
-Hiss...
"Guhk..."
"Hm. No good for [Freeze Resistance] types—regeneration slows too much. You'd die before recovering. Can you talk now, Ian? Quitting?"
"...N...o..."
"That's the spirit, Ian."
"Glug..."
"Didn't I say water magic?"
"Huh? Drowning's most effective..."
"...Nothing life-threatening."
"...Y-You're saying heal that guy? No, attack him?"
"Yes. Nothing life-threatening. Just offensive holy magic."
"A-As a servant of the gods, I can't partake in torture!"
"It's not torture—it's training!"
How many days passed? With [Sensory Block] numbing everything, time blurred. I'd passed out from shock more than once.
Alensia tortured—er, trained—my resistances in every way imaginable. Mages for all sorts of elemental attacks, even priests for holy magic blasts.
The upside: just endure the hit's instant, and [Sensory Block] ignored the lingering pain.
Still, my body and mind were nearing their limits. Some spells like fire slowed regen enough that I chugged potions to avoid death.
Yet I never said quit. Ridiculously, it was working.
You've endured countless hits from various elemental attacks in short succession—not just one type. Acquired [Elemental Resistance Lv.1].
Your body has hardened from countless attacks. Acquired [Physical Resistance Lv.1].
Your body now resists external magic. Acquired [Magic Resistance Lv.1].
You've overcome extreme conditions with overwhelming mental fortitude. Acquired [Mental Fortification Lv.1]. Skill level adjusted to 3.
"Ian... Thank you. To see the 'Resistance Training' theory completed with my own eyes..."
"...Alensia..."
I wanted to say something, but thanks wouldn't come out.
Whatever. I got the skills, right? Let's grab a drink~