Chapter 153
Chapter 153
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 153
Chapter Title: Weekend? (7)
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I arrived at the training center a little earlier than our appointed time.
There was something I wanted to test.
"Self-mana massage should work too, right?"
I didn't know the exact effects, but if it helped with spell activation, there was no reason not to use it.
While waiting for Nam Da-eun, I took a spot in the communal training room instead of a private one.
As I headed to the corner, gazes poured my way.
"Hey, that's Lee Ho-yeon over there. Is he really getting disciplined?"
"If he doesn't, that's the real problem."
"Agh, you idiots. I told you not to fall for that crap."
"Wow, how can someone look like that... Makes me feel inferior."
They thought they were whispering, but I heard everything.
'Hmm.'
It had been a while since I'd drawn this kind of attention, always having rune barriers up.
Lately, I'd noticed my rune barriers getting pierced oddly often.
In the original story, they were described as the ultimate—and worst—barriers, ones that took multiple professors to decipher. I had no idea why mine were so weak.
Maybe I should consult Professor Im Sol later.
'For now, let's do the massage.'
Gawking from others was something I'd gotten used to by now.
I grabbed my left wrist with my right hand, then let go.
"No need to hold it like that."
Come to think of it, the mana in my left wrist was still my mana—calling it a massage felt off.
I closed my eyes and swelled the mana in my circuits, forcibly stretching them out.
"Ngh..."
A dull pain spread through me, and I felt my mana circuits expanding bit by bit all over my body. Like rubber hoses inside me inflating.
"Oh..."
Definitely faster mana operation now.
It wasn't a huge difference yet, but it'd clearly help with spellcasting.
'I can probably control it a bit.'
I'd only done safe levels on Ellis or Lilia since I couldn't gauge their limits precisely, but this was my body—I could roughly sense where the edge was.
I gradually widened the circuits while managing the pain.
Beyond the initial stinging, I pushed to the point of feeling like my skin was tearing, finding my limit.
"Now."
My mana circuits had widened about 30%.
That was exactly my limit.
This level wouldn't cause side effects or lingering damage.
'30% is solid. No, way better than solid?'
For my current growth level, 30% was huge.
I couldn't hold it long, but as instant doping, it was perfect.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ You have acquired a unique skill! ──『 Blood Beat 』── ▶ Unique Skill ▶ Expands mana circuits momentarily by inflating mana. (Base 1.3x) Maximum duration at 1.3x is 1 minute. Expansion rate adjustable at start (affects duration), but cannot be changed mid-use. Forcing higher expansion shortens duration and may cause aftereffects. "Oh..."
I glanced around and let out a quiet exclamation.
It had been a while since I'd gained a new skill.
Doping skill or not, this suited me better. With Combat Sense, raw power output mattered most anyway.
"Sorry, did I keep you waiting long?"
A woman's voice came from behind.
I turned to see Nam Da-eun standing there in her cadet uniform.
"Nah, I just got here too. Wanna warm up and spar right away?"
"Sure."
Even on the weekend, Nam Da-eun was in her uniform.
Did she not own casual clothes?
I stood, stretched, and drew up my mana.
Nam Da-eun pulled out a training sword and swung it around a few times.
Cadets who used swords usually carried their own, but she didn't have that luxury, so she picked whatever fit from the training hall each time.
'Gotta buy her a sword at least later.'
Swordsmanship without a proper blade wasn't right.
Seeing someone in the bloom of youth live so poor hit close to home, reminding me of my pre-possession life. Bitter stuff.
"Let's go in."
The communal room had sparring areas, but they'd draw too much attention, so we headed to a private one for two.
Bzzz—
The mana field enveloped the sparring ring as Nam Da-eun stretched across from me.
Thump.
"Alright, here I come."
"Okay."
We faced off.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
Combat Sense hitting max for the first time in ages.
Nam Da-eun was stronger than last time. But so was I.
The safety magic circle meant no real injuries, no matter how hard we went.
Time to cut loose.
⚔ SPARRING START! ⚔ I handed my body over to Combat Sense in peak heightened state.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Hoo..."
Ellis was resting in her home training room.
Her whole body was slick with sweat from the intense workout.
"Two times... no, maybe 2.5 times better?"
It was incomparable to her old method of forcing mana through magic stones.
Lee Ho-yeon's near-perfect circuits only gained 30% efficiency, but for Ellis with her congenital mana deficiency, it was over double.
Of course, the amateur-level contract had cost a fortune by now, but it was still cheaper than burning through stones.
"I need to see Lee Ho-yeon more often..."
His massages lasted about a day.
Daily sessions would be ideal, but impossible, so stones filled the gaps.
On the bright side, each massage permanently widened her circuits a tiny bit.
At this rate, a few dozen more might finish it.
"Miss."
A blonde woman appeared behind Ellis.
"Scarlett. You're here."
"Yes. I brought the video from earlier. Didn't want to interrupt your training, so here it is now."
Scarlett stood at attention, handing over the video file.
"Thanks."
Scarlett had softened strangely since their first meeting.
Her strong pride had faded, replaced by growing loyalty. Whatever the reason, it was a good change, so Ellis let it be.
"Oh, and I found this in your room, Miss."
Scarlett held out a smartwatch.
"...What's that?"
"Looks like Cadet Lee Ho-yeon left it during the massage. I didn't open it."
"I see."
Ellis casually pocketed the smartwatch.
"Send the video to me. Need to check if it's blackmail material. Any unusual business reports?"
"None. But I might have good news soon. Nearly breached their defenses."
"Got it. Good work."
Ellis waved her off.
Clutching her pounding chest, she showered, then locked herself in her room.
First, the video from Scarlett.
Lee Ho-yeon sweating as he kneaded her body.
"Mm."
She hadn't expected much, and sure enough, it didn't arouse her.
- Hnngh. Hnng... Ah.
'I reacted that much, huh.'
Just watching made her blush, so she stopped the video.
Then she pulled out the smartwatch.
"...Smartwatch."
No lock screen.
Some people were like that—never lost it, so security didn't matter.
'Lucky he's that type.'
Lee Ho-yeon had rigged it to avoid suspicion: faked messages, contacts, history. Even Ellis would buy it.
Of course, critical logs were scrubbed.
"...Can return it tomorrow."
Normal classes meant handing it back in A-Class.
"..."
Lately fixated on sex, Ellis knew some couples filmed themselves.
Just in case, she checked the gallery.
"!"
A woman with something in her mouth.
Thump. Thump.
Her heart raced. Tapping it, Lee Ho-yeon's voice from moments ago.
- Wh-what is it, Master?
- Don't worry. Just wanted to try.
- I-it's embarrassing...
- Suck it quick.
- Mmph... Hnng.
Slurp. Smooch. Slrrp.
The lewd act captured perfectly.
A beautiful woman licking Lee Ho-yeon's cock like ice cream.
"Wh-what the..."
Expecting it but shocked it was real, Ellis swallowed hard.
"..."
- Cum... please cum, Master. Slurp.
She couldn't look away.
His interspersed voice confirmed it was genuine.
Gulp.
Double-checked the door, then slipped her hand into her panties.
"Nngh... Ho-yeon..."
Squelch—
Soon, wet sounds filled the room.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Haa... haa... Good work."
"You too."
Nam Da-eun and I caught our breath on the sparring platform.
The magic circle handled safety, so no worries there.
I'd thought holding back for her sake would give me the edge, but huge miscalculation.
She came at me like she wanted to kill, making it brutal.
And whatever training she'd done, she was way stronger than before.
Wasn't she a sponge? People actually got stronger from training?
"Hoo... Oh yeah, you went to see your little sister yesterday?"
"Yeah, yesterday. Heading back the day after tomorrow too."
"Oh, really? You visit often."
"Usually once a week, but as a top-score reward... Nah, no. Hospital policy changed."
"Ah... Gotcha."
Nam Da-eun noticed her slip and flushed slightly.
Sweet guy like me, of course I pretended not to notice.
Good thing, though.
Frequent visits to her only family would keep her mentally stable.
She was the type to snap unpredictably.
"Right. Thanks for the special exam last time."
I pulled out the wallet from my pocket.
"Wh-what's this?"
"Thanks for the exam help, and sparring today. No pressure, just take it."
"This... it's too much..."
Caught off-guard by the pricey gift, she stammered.
Delay, and she'd refuse.
I cut in before she could say it was burdensome.
"What're you talking about? We're past that. We even spar."
"Are we...?"
"Yeah. Sparring buddies are close friends. It's from me, so accept it."
"...Okay. Gotta brag to my sister."
She smiled faintly, pocketing the wallet.
Phew, finally relaxed.
Carrying that hole-riddled thing hurt my heart too.
Grades drop tomorrow—she'd brighten up more. Hopefully make some friends then.
I watched her clutch the wallet with both hands, a warm smile in my mind.