Chapter 15
Translator: True Detective
Chapter 15: Irion Will Be Free Soon! (2)
“You, you, how did you do that?”
Doban spoke while opening and closing his mouth like a goldfish.
He was unusually surprised, as if he had met a Renoataur.
“Why? It’s the breathing technique you taught me, Mister.”
“I taught you? What nonsense are you talking about. What I taught was just how to breathe, not how to control mana!”
“Mana?”
At Doban making a fuss, I tilted my head.
I vaguely know what mana is.
In game terms, MP (Magic Point).
An essential medium for using special powers like magic.
In this [Lady Maker] worldview, a property called mana also exists, and any inhabitant of this world possesses it in their body.
If you learn how to use mana, you can use magic and strengthen your body. It is essential for becoming strong.
However, not everyone can handle it.
Humans who know how to handle mana are few. As far as I know, in our arena too, no one can handle it except for Alex.
It’s something you can’t learn even if you want to.
“But you’re saying I handled mana?”
“You don't know even though you did it?”
“I just breathed as ordered?”
“Originally, the operation of mana is an extension of breathing technique. But it’s not something that happens just by doing it roughly.......”
“Hmm....”
I rolled my eyes to the side while reading Doban’s mood.
A proficiency that appeared newly just a moment ago. Name is Mana Breathing.
When I just started learning breathing techniques, I joked about Water Breathing, Sun Breathing, but to think it would really appear.
Is it a collaboration of the proficiency system and quest reward?
‘A smelly breathing technique.’
To think I obtained it using the smell of shit of all things. Can I use this feeling icky?
“Anyway, it’s a good thing, right?”
“Are you asking that? The difference between humans who know how to handle mana and those who don't is heaven and earth!”
“Oh....”
RISPE.
Is it finally skyrocketing?
Is it hitting 20,000?
Doban, who looked with disbelief at first, started laughing like crazy now.
“Ha! Hahahaha! A brat smelling of milk, and a mere slave at that, knows how to handle mana. As expected of my disciple. My eyes were not wrong!”
“Yes?”
What bullshit is this again.
“Why am I your disciple, Mister. You were the one who said we are a symbiotic relationship, not master-disciple.”
“What?”
“And your eyes weren't wrong, you say. You didn't come to find me, I asked you to teach me first. Dozens of times at that. You rejected me every time back then, but now saying your eyes weren't wrong. Where is your conscience?”
Even if I said buy low and sell high, you should keep your conscience.
I led this, not you. I opened the reading room. But you shouldn't try to take credit for it.
“This ungrateful bastard? So you want to play like that? Vomit out everything you learned from me.”
“How do I vomit out what I already learned.”
“Can’t vomit it out? Then what can you do. I am your master. Whether you become a knight or a sword saint in the future, the fact that I am your first master doesn't change. Hehehe.”
Doban smiling sinisterly revealing all his rotten teeth.
Until before, he exuded an aura like a retired mercenary who once made a name for himself, but now he just looks like a greedy beggar.
‘This is why people shouldn't be consumed by desire.’
Still, well. It is true that I received his teaching. Thanks to that, I could survive the fight with the Ogre too.
Good is good. Until liberation, I should suck the sweet water as much as possible too.
After a bit of time passed, the fussy atmosphere subsided.
Doban drank from the bottle and wiped his mouth.
“It might be good that you awakened mana, but let me give you one piece of advice: it would be better not to use it in front of others.”
The expression like a gambler who succeeded in a reverse bet just a moment ago disappeared without a trace, and he spoke with a serious expression.
“Yes? Why?”
I finally realized how to utilize mana. If I utilize this, I will become much stronger than now, and that is directly connected to safety.
It’s the same as telling someone who won the lottery first prize not to spend money.
“Those who can use mana are a talented few. But what will happen if a mere slave uses mana?”
“Um, the strongest slave in history?”
“You’ll be worked to death all your life. If it were you, would you leave a slave of that level alone?”
“Ah.”
Meaning, even if I win the lottery first prize, don't tell those around me.
Because if I suddenly get billions, locusts will swarm around trying to get even a little bit.
“Still, the Princess said she would liberate me if I win just this match....”
“You stupid bastard. If Bardick knows you know how to use mana, your ransom will skyrocket; would that Lady pay that much money? Not to hire you herself, but just to release you?”
“Ah.......”
A real slave is this sorrowful. Even getting something good, I can’t use it.
Is liberation still bad?
Do I still return after being liberated?
“Then should I not use it forever?”
“At least while you are a slave, it would be better not to use it. Well, right before dying, it can’t be helped.”
“Hmm.... Then it would be good to learn at least the minimal usage method. The opponent might use it too.”
“If it’s a gladiator sponsored by a noble, it would be basic knowledge.”
“I have to assume he uses it unconditionally.”
Then I must learn enough to use in actual combat unconditionally. Only then can I use it as a last resort or something.
“The problem is where to learn mana operation....”
“Don’t worry. From now on, we will carry out swordsmanship and mana operation in parallel.”
“Mis... Master, do you know how to use mana too?”
Doban showing clearly that he finds explaining annoying because his mouth hurts.
As expected, my eye for people wasn't wrong.
Doban wasn't a scrub rug mercenary commonly seen on the street, but indeed a hidden master.
Thanks to that, I could learn two things, swordsmanship and mana operation method, simultaneously.
Like that, the interim check on the fourth day.
Ta-da.
[Lowest Grade Swordsmanship] has been upgraded to [Low Grade Swordsmanship].
It was as I expected.
Why would Lowest Grade be Lowest Grade?
Because there is Low Grade above, Middle Grade, and High Grade, so it’s Lowest Grade.
Since the level is low, proficiency goes up smoothly even with a little training.
It’s a different dimension from when I first held a sword. Now I can at least imitate a proper swordsman.
‘I don't know if I can beat that guy with this though.’
There is a feeling that it’s still lacking. I want to raise the possibility as much as possible.
Is there anything good?
“So about that. The waist is slim but the hips are huge, the grip is just——”
Gladiators walking while chatting noisily. In the center is Alex.
Our eyes meet with them who were giggling unsuitably for their muscular physiques. He frowns as soon as he sees me.
If it were before, he would have picked a fight smiling affectionately like a delinquent bullying a loser, but he can’t do that anymore.
Because he got an earful from Bardick due to the previous incident.
Instead, he passed by glaring ferociously as if unpleasant.
At that moment, a light bulb flashed in my head and.
—Kick!
I kicked Alex’s shin hard.
“Ugh! What the fuck is this?”
“Hey. Let’s have a round with me.”
“W-What?”
“Are your earholes filled with muscle too? I said let’s spar a bit with me.”
This guy has a trash personality, but nominally he is our arena’s signboard gladiator. His skill alone is definitely the best.
‘Since Master is semi-disabled, sparring isn't possible.’
Just in time, his physique is similar to Garner, and since he knows how to handle mana, wouldn't they be similar levels?
He is perfect as a sparring partner.
A good opportunity to check what I practiced.
“Has this bastard gone crazy. Acting as a noble lady’s toy for a bit, do you think you became something?”
“Why is your tongue so long. Just say whether you will do it or not. Are you scared?”
Alex’s face stiffened for a moment, then soon distorted grotesquely. He burst into insane laughter.
“Pfft, Kuhahahahahaha! Hahahahahaha! Hey, did you hear? That blackie bastard is asking me if I’m scared?”
Alex clutching his belly and laughing heartily as if dying of laughter. Other gladiators giggled too.
“......Ha.”
Alex, who laughed like that for a long time, let out a short breath.
Whoosh— The playfulness disappeared. That gaze looking down at me had cooled down coldly like a predator targeting prey.
“Follow me. I’ll kill you properly with this opportunity.”
Alex trying to move to the training ground.
“Wait.”
“What. Don’t tell me you’re trying to run away now?”
“No, let’s do it in the arena, not the training ground. I like it there.”
“What bullshit is that? Don’t you know the arena can’t be used except during matches?”
But, the buff turns off if I fight outside the arena. I have to fight as close to actual combat as possible, otherwise it’s meaningless.
“I say I’ll do it, so where is can’t?”
Don’t you know who I am?
I am Irion sponsored by the Edelheid Duke’s daughter.
If I say I do it, I do it.
We stood taking positions in the center of the arena.
I asked Bardick for permission. When I said I wanted to train in an environment similar to actual combat, he readily permitted it.
Maybe he is more desperate for my victory than I am.
The silent arena.
Usually, it is noisy enough to damage hearing due to people filling the spectator seats, but now it is empty.
At best, a few arena staff sitting to watch.
It is extremely alien.
“Hey, blackie. This is you begging for sparring first. Don’t cry later holding onto the Princess’s skirt saying your limbs are broken.”
Alex standing in front of me acts arrogantly. He laughs boisterously showing off a leisurely attitude to the fullest.
What he has on his shoulder is a wooden training sword. No matter how much it’s sparring like actual combat, it’s troublesome if really injured.
Still, I am prepared for some degree of injury. If I get hurt badly, Bardick will call a cleric or something.
I held the sword without a word and took a stance.
“I’ll yield the first attack. It’s no fun if it ends in one hit, right?”
Alex provokes with an arrogant voice while standing crookedly.
I don't decline.
Even if it’s an opponent I loathe, at least for the moment of fighting, I clearly acknowledge the fact that I am the weak one.
Mobilizing all means and methods I can, and not allowing a single bit of carelessness.
That is the survival principle for me to survive in this rugged world.
—Pak!
I bent my knees shortly and kicked the floor.
Next moment, the scenery of the arena that filled my vision was pushed back, and Alex’s bulk approached right in front of my eyes.
Distance narrowed instantly. Alex’s eyes, which were leisurely, widened in shock.
Before the bastard’s opened mouth could close, I swung the sword. Alex hurriedly moved the sword on his shoulder.
—Clack!
Two wooden swords crossed.
At the same time, an alarm popped up.
Just clashed swords once, but proficiency went up by 2%.
‘Level up in 50 bouts?’
Kya, as expected, there is no training like actual combat.
“You, this bastard...!”
Alex with evident panic at the unexpected blow.
You got caught properly.
You guys hit him too.
If you hit, experience points come out.