Chapter 77
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 77
Chapter Title: College Tour (2)
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"…This is our club room. It's a bit flashy, huh?"
The club member guided us to [Body Incline], and right from the club room, it was a training hall. The space was bigger than five or six gyms combined, packed with exercise equipment, and even featured artificial nature setups like forests, dirt paths, and waterways.
These guys are swimming in cash.
"Hang on. I'll go grab the president."
The guy who'd brought us there disappeared somewhere.
In the meantime, I checked out the members. I'd figured they'd all be buff, and half were as expected, but the other half were slim.
The gender ratio was about 7:3, with a few more guys, but plenty of girls too. Regardless of gender, most were sneaking glances at Gerkken.
"Ah~ That mana academy assignment this time?"
A booming voice rang out. A short-haired guy who seemed to be the club president appeared.
"Oh, for real. We got the notice, but you actually came here?"
He approached while wiping sweat with a towel.
"High schoolers usually hate physical training, right? Especially no-mana zones. We have a separate one here too. Oh, I'm Edman, president of Body Incline."
He introduced himself as Edman with a smirk.
"By the way, our club trains both mana body and body strengthening. But these days, kids are all about mana body~"
Aren't you one of those kids too? I held back the retort.
"So anyway, I heard one of you high-jumped almost 7 meters?"
Edman crossed his arms, grinning eagerly.
Looks like that rumor had already spread here.
Though technically, it wasn't just a rumor.
"Gerkken, right?"
Edman's eyes pointed straight at Gerkken like an arrow.
We'd never met before, but he already knew Gerkken. No, he'd been talking only to Gerkken since earlier.
Am I invisible?
"No, sir."
Gerkken shook his head. Edman flashed a knowing smile.
"Nah, come on. What's the point of hiding it?"
"…."
Gerkken glanced silently my way. Edman shrugged.
"Fair enough. You might not wanna talk about it. Anyway, if you want our club's approval stamp, you gotta take the test. We only take guys who can handle their bodies decently. You know, 'body techniques'?"
"Body techniques?"
I echoed. I'd heard of it but never learned any. Whether body techniques, swordsmanship, or martial arts, they all cost money to learn properly.
"Oh, you're a senior too? Weren't you Gerkken's manager?"
Edman finally acknowledged my existence.
"…What high schooler uses a manager?"
"Sorry. Anyway, our entry test is that."
Edman pointed to a mud path.
"Simple. Width is 10 meters, length 50 meters. Traverse that mud path in under a minute."
50 meters in one minute. On the surface, it sounded too easy. Probably the mud was super sticky and viscous.
Still, it didn't seem that hard.
"Looks easy, doesn't it?"
Edman smirked, reading my expression.
"Wanna try right now?"
"Sure."
Gerkken apparently thought the same and stepped up to the starting line first. Without any prep stance, he bolted off immediately.
Whish—!
A blue afterimage trailed in the air. It was a sprint whipping up wind. In the blink of an eye, Gerkken was already at the other end.
Not even a minute—he cleared 50 meters in 3 seconds.
Doesn't even give time to watch and learn.
"Whoa… They said one-in-thirty-years talent. Looks legit."
Edman and the members applauded in admiration. Then I did some warm-ups.
"Hey, friend. You don't need to. What's your name again?"
"Sion Askal."
Edman shook his head with a chuckling smile.
"That's easy 'cause it's Gerkken. Most high schoolers—"
I dashed off just like Gerkken.
My first step hit the mud. The ground squelched underfoot, but I'd expected that much mushiness.
Just keep balance, and it should be doable. Even without mana body, my body's— squelch—
"!"
The ground gave way beneath me.
"What the—!"
No, it wasn't just sinking. The ground didn't feel like ground at all. It was like sticky liquid.
One step, and my ankle was trapped. Two steps, knee-deep. By the third, my whole lower body was swallowed.
The more I moved, the worse it got, and soon the mud reached my navel.
I hadn't even made three full steps before I was stuck like a stake.
"See? That's what's normal."
Edman from beyond the starting line muttered while looking down at me. The other members nodded in agreement.
The angle felt kinda humiliating.
"It's a special-engineered mud. High viscosity but low friction coefficient, so it just keeps sucking you in. It even absorbs mana, developed for booby traps… but too expensive, so we use it for training now. You need mana body at a certain level to overcome it."
By now, it was up to my shoulders. Felt like some giant was gripping me tight.
"Need a rescue?"
Edman asked.
For me, the mood was weird.
His expression, voice, nuance—all those subtle condescending vibes reminded me of my old helplessness.
"Don't bother."
Edman repeated, but I just smiled calmly.
I raised one arm straight up.
Extended my middle finger long and high.
"…Pfft."
Edman's scoffing face vanished into the mud. By now, even my eyes were submerged.
I couldn't see, hear, or speak.
Pure blackness.
I tried struggling a bit, but with nothing to push off, no chance.
First, stay calm.
This depth isn't infinite.
In other words, even this special mud has a 'bottom.' Like even the deepest ocean has an end if you go far enough.
If I can touch it, step on it once, I can leap off that propulsion.
Like hippos jumping from water.
They don't swim—they push off the riverbed and surge up.
Of course, humans aren't hippos, but if human flesh is as strong as a hippo's, it's possible.
I could manage it, if only briefly.
Gurgle…
I held my breath as long as possible. My whole body slithered down. I thrashed on purpose to speed the descent.
—And then.
Thud.
I touched something.
As expected, there was a 'platform' underfoot.
I planted both feet on it.
Firm. Solid enough to push off.
This could work.
I summoned Perion. Heat from my dantian spread to my limbs. Pure power surged through my musculoskeletal system.
Perion
Amplifying raw 'athletic ability' and 'strength' output
What I wanted: the simplest, most destructive boost to 'athletic ability' and 'strength.'
Sure, pointless stubbornness might bring side effects, but whatever.
Way better than getting dragged into that old helplessness.
Better than spaghetti dumped on my head, shivering locked in a cabinet.
Better than lying in a hospital bed waiting to die, watching my old classmates become famous knights on TV.
Better than pathetically staring as the family that killed my father and ruined my life took over Edsil.
Better than suffering that inferiority, powerlessness, defeat.
Even if it takes sheer stubbornness, overcoming it alone is far better…
I opened my eyes. Pitch black all around, but my target coordinate was clear.
Straight up.
No deviation, just directly above my head.
I tensed my soles.
Pushed off the surface and leaped.
Kwaaaaa—!
My whole body shot upward in an instant. The sticky mud flaked off like dog hair, and the gripping sensation vanished.
Fresh air rushed in.
The ceiling loomed right before my eyes.
"…."
In midair, I glanced back.
Below, under the splattered mud in the training hall, Gerkken, Edman, and the members stared up at me. Time seemed slowed. Eyes widened in shock and awe flashing across their faces.
Not a bad view.
Shoooo…
I was in the shower, rinsing off the mud. Bracing for side effects, but so far, so good.
"…Huh?"
I glanced in the mirror while soaping up and startled.
Because of my water-slicked body.
"When did my body get like this?"
It's good. Not narcissism—anyone would call it 'good.'
Not bulky muscles. Not overly massive or scrawny, just perfectly packed where needed: real combat-compressed muscle.
Why's my body like this?
I'd never even made time for weights.
Thanks to Body Integration too?
"…Ahem."
Enough admiring.
I finished showering quick. On the locker room bench, my uniform was already dried and folded.
Changed and headed out.
—If you really come to Edsil, join our club~ We won't hassle you.
Gerkken was surrounded by members.
—He said he's aiming for the Knight Faculty? Tons of Knight Faculty here.
—Really… Oh, there he is, your friend.
Who said friend?
—He's not my friend.
Good, Gerkken corrected it.
—Oh, yeah? Knew it.
Knew what?
I approached them. President Edman stood first.
"Good work. Time to give the interview results, huh?"
He glanced between Gerkken and me.
"Gerkken passes. Sion…"
His expression was meaningful.
Obviously rejected.
"Passes."
"…Pardon?"
"Well, Sion, you didn't clear the 50 meters obviously, but your ingenuity and explosive power were insane."
Edman clapped my shoulder. Pat-pat. He kneaded my traps and delts alternately, groaning like he'd downed a shot. Kuhhh—
"As expected. Killer physique? You train hard?"
"Kinda—"
"Aiming for Knight Faculty too?"
"Yes. Knights—"
"Frame's a bit small for a knight, but not unheard of. Train hard, you'll make it! Hahaha."
Edman boomed a laugh and handed over the club card.
"Here!"
Mine and Gerkken's approval stamps side by side.
"Thanks. We'll be off."
Gerkken said politely. I smirked and nodded.
"Alright. Good job."
As we walked out side by side, Edman called out loudly behind us.
"But hey, Gerkken! That high jump! Wasn't you?"
Gerkken turned and answered firmly.
"No, sir."
"…Haha. Train a bit harder. You could break draft records."
Edman clearly didn't buy it.
We left the club room. The sunlight felt refreshing. Probably the shower.
I said to Gerkken,
"Hey. This time, go where I say. You followed me last time."
Gerkken replied.
Not really to my words.
"It was you. 683 cm."
"…What?"
I froze on the spot. Legs locked up.
Gerkken didn't.
He was already ahead, and my eyes blankly followed his back.