Training Method You Don't Know #1
Media Montemer received the report, and her mood soared. Even seeing Loras slacking off more than usual today, she thought, 'One day of rest won't hurt.' And when Lorelian snapped at the maids, she decided, 'The maids need to take better care of her.'
Had she felt this good lately?
"Heh, of course. How's an uneducated kid supposed to handle precious daily necessities properly?"
It was only natural for a child to break things and not know how to use them well. And he only had one maid, right? After years of using commoner-level items, he'd suddenly been given luxurious noble goods. Of course he'd want more after breaking them.
'The plan is perfect. Now... I just need the family head's orders.'
She smirked and called for the head maid. Media's people were planted all throughout the Montemer main house. It was time to make another request.
"You called for me, Madam?"
"There's been a resupply request from the annex warehouse."
"How long ago did we send the last one...? What shall I do?"
"Do what you always do. I'm counting on you again. Send Oliver this time."
The head maid bowed deeply. Once an order was given, it was her role to carry it out. She withdrew to recast the curse and assign Oliver as the attendant.
There would be no failure this time either. After all, this was a direct order from the lady of Montemer house.
After taking measures, she met with Oliver and explained.
"Madam has ordered you to go to the warehouse, check on the young master's condition, and report back."
"A simple task. Understood."
Oliver, a 4th Circle mage. Though an outsider, he'd caught Edward's eye and was serving as a combat mage. His family ran a small merchant guild that traded with Media's house. Oliver was inevitably tied to her and devoted himself to his family's prosperity.
"Oh, and take the materials requested by Young Master Lawrence, along with the daily necessities."
"Orders received loud and clear."
"Deliver them and inspect, then report back. Then..."
The head maid gave a quick bow and hurried off. Oliver watched her go, thinking of the young master in the 'trash warehouse.'
'He used magic this time, huh. Tsk tsk. If he'd just stayed quiet, he wouldn't have drawn their ire...'
What could a mere ten-year-old do? Sigh, it was truly unfortunate to be born into a great house without talent or backing.
Oliver turned toward the family head's office. He didn't know what the kid had requested, but it was probably pointless flailing. He pondered what reward to demand and how far he could push the deal. After all, he wasn't a mage who worked for free.
"Young master, are you alright?"
"Cough! Ugh... I'm fine."
"Shouldn't I fetch some medicine?"
"We have no money. Maybe... it won't arrive today?"
Rachel watched Lawrence groan with feverish chills, her eyes welling up. Seeing a child suffer like this reminded her of the madam who'd cared for her when she was sick as a kid.
Why had the perfectly healthy young master suddenly...?
'Come to think of it, he broke all the dishes and told me never to touch them.'
He'd strictly separated ingredients for himself and her too. At this point, it would be weird if she hadn't noticed.
Rachel changed his cold compress, thinking how unfair this world was. Left alone in this rundown annex with a ten-year-old boy... They wouldn't even leave them be, dumping all sorts of strange things on them.
He wasn't skilled in magic, nor could he distinguish curses from poisons, but what else could suddenly make the young master ill?
"Young master..."
"I'm... cough! Fine, so watch for guests properly. Call me right away. Got it?"
"Yes. You... you have a plan, right?"
"Yeah. Ow..."
His mouth was parched, swallowing hurt. Muscle aches wracked his body, chills rising from within. And on his retinas, messages tormented his mind.
In Progress: 4%
In Progress: 12%
'They must really hate me and my mother.'
Actually, it was fine. Their hatred fueled his own, driving him to move more viciously.
Just then, the sound of horses and a carriage approached from the open window.
'They're here.'
"Rachel, sounds like they've arrived, cough cough! Hurry, go down..."
"What about you, young master? Stay here."
"Hng... fine."
Lawrence staggered to his feet anyway. He'd endured days of suffering for this moment. Not knowing when they'd come, he'd lived with the curse and poison clinging to him—his body was wrecked.
Thud thud! A loud knock echoed from below.
Rachel hesitated, glancing back and forth, then rushed down to greet the guest. Lawrence staggered slowly toward the entrance.
"Who is it?"
"Resupply. I'm Oliver, the attendant."
"Ah, yes!"
Rachel flung open the door. Oliver, the 4th Circle mage. He directed his men to stack the cursed items, then looked around.
Where was Young Master Lawrence?
"Sir Oliver, cough!"
"Young master, greetings. But your complexion looks terrible."
"Y-yeah... think I caught a cold."
Cough cough! The coughs racked him from deep in his lungs. Seeing the maid's genuine worry confirmed the poison and curse had taken hold properly.
Pitying him, Oliver handed over a few books.
"Books and materials from the family head. Hope they help."
"Thank you."
"We'll stack the items in the back warehouse. The foodstuffs... how were they?"
"Delicious. I'd love more if possible."
The innocent little young master smiled through coughs. Oliver meticulously noted the inventory, then bid farewell.
"That concludes my duty. I'll take my leave."
"Thanks for coming all this way. Give my regards to Madam."
"Will do. Then..."
The door closed, and soon the carriage and horses faded into the distance. Rachel watched from the window, then whirled around shouting.
"Young master! This is too much—huh?"
"Ahh, I feel alive now. Hm? What'd you say?"
"Young master...?"
Their little young master had been on death's door moments ago. Why... was he now so bright and perfectly fine?
Rachel froze, her mind in cognitive dissonance. Lawrence burst out laughing at her expression.
"You thought I was really sick? Well, I was—poison and curses... horrific."
"Young maaaaster! You're really, truly okay!?"
"Of course."
Stored Energy: 443
The energy spent on training had refilled. The poison and curse gnawing at his body transformed into growth fuel. His flaky skin regained its tautness, his dull eyes sparkled anew.
And above all, it lulled the enemies into complacency and bought time. He'd grown stronger nonstop.
Lawrence eyed the books from the main house.
Eden Family – Swordsmanship
Eden Family – Physical Conditioning
Eden Family...
The baronet family called sword maniacs, Eden. Now just a shabby frontier house, but in the future, they'd be hailed as saviors of the nation. They'd produce a Sword Saint long vanished by then.
This was a tale from 15 years ahead. Still a distant dream.
But Lawrence knew. The Eden family's physical enhancement methods were the driving force behind their Sword Saint legacy.
"One thing I want to ask."
Please speak.
"Artifacts—you can uninstall the implanted ones, right?"
Possible.
"It won't disappear or anything?"
It will remain as an item.
Curiosity sated, now it was time to grow stronger without worry.
Scritch scritch.
Lawrence focused quietly on his work. Rachel fussed for him to rest, but how could he? Time was more precious than gold right now.
'Gotta build a solid foundation in the growth phase. This is totally normal.'
Why did athletes who quit young still outclass average adults? Because their bodies, trained from childhood, remembered that prowess.
Growth phase activities and training shaped one's entire life. No one rivaled the Eden family's methods for building physical prowess.
"Done."
Mana Chains was a debuff spell that crushed the user's body with mana. Activating it imposed massive strain, exponentially increasing fatigue.
Anyone would call it insane. For a growing child, it could ruin the body.
"Uninstall Fire Arrow artifact."
Uninstalling artifact.
Zzzzap!
The implanted artifact reverted to an item. In this forsaken trash warehouse, he hid his treasure and plunged himself into ascetic torment.
"Implant Mana Chains artifact."
Implanting artifact.
Zzzzap!
The new artifact implanted, and Lawrence dropped to his knees.
Mana Chains activated.
Negative Energy consumption increased.
"Hng... this is it."
A training method you don't know.
If there was a lottery guaranteed to hit 100%, you'd walk a thorny path to claim it. Certainty turns humans into superhumans.
Crack!
His young body screamed. Simultaneously, the Negative Energy it voraciously absorbed began depleting rapidly.
"Punching someone felt pretty satisfying."
Artifacts had infinite potential. Like changing classes in a game by equipping different items.
Lawrence held the potential to be a warrior or mage.
At 10%, number of implantable artifacts increases.
He would grow even stronger. And in the great upcoming event, the Subjugation War, he wouldn't let history repeat.
Lawrence had regressed to right the twisted path. His mind clearly recalled his conversations with the dragons.