Chapter 82
Chapter 82
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 82
Chapter Title: Reborn as the Plum Blossom Sword Master in a Count's Family
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Back in my room, I stared at the key I'd obtained from the prison.
It was a key made of black stone, about 10 cm long. At the end of the key was a red gem.
Of course, I already knew how to use it from the original story.
'Press the red gem at the end of the key and insert it into thin air as if unlocking something...'
I twisted the key I'd extended into the air.
Space began to warp starting from the key, and a pure white portal flickered into existence.
'Success.'
The key to the Ancient Warrior Training Ground.
This key opened a portal to an artificial dungeon that had been used as a warrior training facility in the ancient civilization era. The portal would last for one minute.
Once opened, it couldn't be used again for 12 hours.
In the original story, Kyle trained inside this dungeon. Training here was slightly more effective than outside.
'Shall we give training a try?'
I stepped into the portal without hesitation.
'Ooh.'
The training ground came into view.
A clear blue sky and a vast field carved from rock. The training ground was enormous, surrounded by blue trees planted here and there. Next to it was a stream of clear water flowing quietly.
It looked exactly as described in the original. For reference, no living creatures inhabited the stream. The water was drinkable, and there was a lake downstream for bathing.
"So this whole space is mine."
I grinned and headed toward the training ground.
A clear female voice echoed from all directions in the training ground.
I wasn't surprised since I already knew about it.
"Yeah. Nice to meet you. So, what are you?"
It matched the original dialogue word for word. I smirked and nodded.
"I'm Eugene Prukus."
"Funny. If I want to train, do you have the right to tell me otherwise?"
I spat out whatever came to mind.
After all, it was just an emotionless AI. No need to be polite just because it had a pleasant announcer-like female voice.
"Enough. Let's go straight to actual combat."
In the original, even Kyle dismissed Kartman's basic training as pointless. The value of the Ancient Warrior Training Ground lay entirely in its actual combat training.
"Tsk."
I clicked my tongue. This reaction from Kartman wasn't in the original. It seemed my young body was the issue.
'Do basic training to build the body? That's pointless. Once the growth penalty lifts, I can exhibit superhuman physical abilities without any special conditioning.'
Training the body here was a complete waste of time no matter how I thought about it.
"Start with actual combat."
No matter how many times I repeated it, the response was always the same.
Impossible.
I frowned. It looked like I was stuck doing basic training after all.
'Isn't there another way...?'
As I pondered, an idea suddenly struck me. I wasn't certain it would work, but trying it wouldn't hurt.
The ancient civilization era was the peak of magic and engineering. Kartman was merely the product of that pinnacle.
'Not exactly electronics... but similar over-technology for sure.'
Considering Illuster, the odds seemed decent.
"Hacking!"
Hacking Success.
Combat Training Center Kartman can be hacked for 12 seconds.
Success. It was only about 10 seconds, but I could control it as I wished.
I hurriedly addressed Kartman.
"Kartman, I am your master! My commands supersede Failront Imperial Law!"
I clenched my fist tightly, trembling with joy. Now Kartman was completely mine.
"Begin actual combat."
"Sword."
A combat puppet appeared in the center of the training ground.
It was a wooden mannequin. The mannequin held a sword in its hand, and its head bore the mark '1'.
At least its form matched a human's. The sword it held was iron but blunt. As far as I knew, basic warrior stages used blunt swords for safety.
The combat puppet stood still, its black eyes on its head fixed on me.
'There are 100 stages total, I think.'
1~15: Basic warrior stage.
15~40: For aura users.
40~89: For aura experts.
90~100: For aura masters.
Kyle only cleared stage 100 in the mid-to-late original story.
'Too bad. I was curious how far I'd get in reality, but with this body...'
I pulled a dagger from my inventory.
I wanted to use the Fire Lotus Blade, but it was too big for my current small body. The dagger was perfect.
"Ha. Was a dagger always this heavy?"
Thinking back to how Lexi had sent it flying in one hit... I sighed involuntarily.
I gripped the dagger in reverse hand and checked my Eternal Heaven Style.
Perhaps because my body was smaller, there were some awkward creaks, but nothing major. I could properly use Eternal Heaven Style's actual techniques.
I approached the combat puppet, thinking.
'With the Eternal Heaven Style I've learned... at least up to stage 20?'
I stopped at an appropriate distance.
"Kartman. Start."
The combat puppet gripped its iron sword with both hands and charged at me.
'The original said combat puppets are almost like humans. They even have human habits.'
The combat puppet's field of vision was human-like. It could hear sounds and sense things like wind, as described.
'In that case... this should work.'
Eternal Heaven Style actual technique: Azure Stream (碧溪).
The combat puppet's eyes shifted behind me. Proof it worked.
I grinned and slashed the side of the passing combat puppet with my dagger.
A red mark appeared on the mannequin's side. It meant a critical hit. There were also blue marks, indicating effective hits.
The combat puppet vanished without a trace.
"Easy. Too easy."
I boasted.
"Honestly, isn't aura master level no big deal? Haha."
"Obviously stage 2. Stage 1 is for scrubs."
I swung the dagger in my hand through the air.
"Orc? Hmm. Nice. Orc."
The combat puppet appeared.
Unlike stage 1, it held no weapon. Instead, it was huge. Over 2 meters tall, with disproportionately large hands and feet.
"Start."
The combat puppet charged at me. Definitely faster than stage 1.
'How far does Azure Stream work?'
I used Azure Stream. The puppet's eyes wavered. It worked.
'Thanks for the easy win~.'
As I tried to slash its side while passing, the puppet twisted its body and swung a fist at me.
"Gasp!"
I twisted my waist in panic to dodge the fist.
The combat puppet didn't stop, barreling toward me relentlessly.
The "orc" label was spot on. There were no rules in its punches or kicks. It was like a complete novice flailing wildly.
'The problem is its physical prowess—one solid hit and I'm done!'
I footworked to dodge punches and kicks, stabbing the puppet's left shoulder.
A blue mark on the shoulder. Effective hit. The left punches slowed slightly.
'Stay alert, dodge everything, and strike openings.'
Its wild swings made openings easy to exploit.
I kept stabbing openings until the puppet was covered in blue marks and collapsed.
'A human would've gone down much faster. Must be the orc build.'
I caught my breath. With lowered stats, I could already feel my stamina dropping.
I pulled a canteen from my inventory and gulped down water to quench my thirst.
I had no intention of stopping here.
The assassin combat puppet hurled a dagger at me. I backstepped to dodge the flying dagger. While its gaze was on the dagger, the puppet closed in instantly and swung the dagger in its hand.
Clang!
Dagger met dagger. I was pushed back slightly. I was outmatched in physical strength.
'This is due to the size difference.'
The combat puppet clung to me.
Unlike the stage 2 orc, it wasn't reckless. There was a pattern to its movements. It had definitely learned basic martial arts.
'This is tough!'
The moment I showed even the slightest opening, it sensed it like a ghost and struck precisely.
'Size difference is the problem. Size difference!'
The puppet was large, and I was small. Simply put, even swinging the same sword, our reaches differed.
Distances I couldn't reach by extending my arm, it could. This put me at a ridiculous disadvantage.
Use my small build? Easier said than done. When I tried to slip inside its guard, it checked me with kicks.
'And there's another issue. This isn't my first fight. At this rate... I'll tire out first.'
The puppets tired too. That was how they were set up. I'd confirmed it at stage 3.
Clang!
My swung dagger was deflected sideways.
My torso was completely exposed.
'Shit!'
The combat puppet didn't miss the chance. It swung its dagger down on my shoulder. Since the blade wasn't sharp, it didn't cut, but a bruise formed. Probably a deep purple welt.
'No choice but to push through the pain and end it!'
I gritted my teeth, ignored the shoulder pain, and thrust at its abdomen. But its knee struck my gut first.
"Urk...!"
Strength left my grip, and I dropped the dagger.
My body floated upward, and my eyes met the puppet's. It didn't move.
My body hit the ground. The combat puppet stood over me, silently watching.
I tried to get up, but winced at the pain in my abdomen and lay flat on my back.
The hard ground was annoying, but gazing at the sky like this felt pretty good.
Recovery speed increased while inside this training ground.
"Shut up."
I rested, then stood again. I lost to the assassin puppet because I was already tired.
In reality, I made it up to stage 7.
I beat stage 6 perfectly using Complete Recovery, then lost at stage 7 while fatigued.
'Damn. Even with the growth penalty, I can't believe I couldn't even reach stage 10...'
Without the penalty, I could've gone to 20.
'No, not 20—30 for sure. Definitely.'