Chapter 53
Chapter 53
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 53
Chapter Title: Basic Training Dummy and Meal
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"Don't like it? Cloud Salt is cute."
The rabbit perched on my palm taps my palm with its adorable little paws.
This fluffy puffball is pickier than I expected.
I plopped down on the porch with the rabbit in tow and tried a few more names that popped into my head, but it shot them all down.
"There's nothing you like at all? You're white like a snowflake—how about Snow?"
The rabbit, curled up on my lap, finally perks up its ears.
"You like Snow?"
The rabbit, which had rolled over to show only its plump little butt, finally seems pleased. It turns its head and rubs its face against my thigh.
"Alright, Snow it is."
As I fiddled with Snow's soft fur, a system chime rang out.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Helper registered. [Snow the Mortar-Pounding Rabbit (white snow)] Pleased with the name, it rubs its head against the finger stroking it.
What an affectionate little rabbit.
"But mortar? What are you supposed to be pounding?"
"Rice!"
"...You all just say whatever you feel like. What do you want to eat?"
"Rice!"
"What kind of rice?"
"I'm hungry!"
"There's tons of grass over there—go graze on that."
It taps my thigh with its cotton-candy paws, so soft it's hard to feel even when I focus. Looks like the field grass doesn't appeal.
"Nothing to eat right now... Hmm. Status window!"
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [[Shop List]] ⚔ STATUS ⚔ [Items] [Skills] ─ [Sort Ascending] [Search] Remaining Funds: 400,000 won ..
[Lollipop]
[Price: 300 won]
..
..
[Water 500ml]
[Price: 800 won]
..
..
[Ramen]
[Price: 1,000 won]
This was the shop that tried to sell a single drop of holy water mixed with candy syrup for 5 million won, but now it had all sorts of everyday items added. That must've been what it meant earlier about the shop being restructured.
I scrolled through, hunting for something Snow could eat.
"Want a carrot?"
Tap tap.
Snow taps my knee, a clear no.
"Snow, it's 5-year-old bellflower root. Want this?"
Tap tap.
"Nothing in here you wanna eat?"
"I'm hungry."
After bickering with Snow and searching through grass types for a while, something caught my eye.
[White Geumgang Lantern Flower]: A wildflower faintly imbued with mana
[Price: 100,000 won]
"Snow, this flower has mana in it?"
Snow doesn't react like before, so I bought the flower and held it out.
"Can you eat this?"
Snow, sitting on my lap, perks up its ears, sniffs, and starts munching right away.
"Looks like this suits your taste. Good thing."
"Yum!"
One flower for 100,000 won left me with 300,000.
"Feeding you is gonna break my back."
The palm-sized baby rabbit chows down on a flower bigger than its body.
I stroke Snow's head, and its tiny ears twitch.
"Snow, while you're eating, can you resummon that wooden dummy?"
Snow waves its front paw in the air, and the wooden dummy from before starts to take shape.
[Basic Trainee Wooden Dummy summoned] I set the munching Snow down on the porch and threw on the army jacket I'd tossed aside.
In the meantime, the dummy raises its arm. One thing I learned from the first fight: they don't attack unless I take a fighting stance.
I step forward and assume position. Sure enough, it swings a fist at me. I raise my arm to block, and the heavy impact transmits straight through.
"Hup!"
Bam—!
💥 CRITICAL HIT! 💥 +10,000 won
EXP +2
[Growth Rate: 6%]
Same routine as before. Block, swing my arm up—the recoil exposes its face, and I strike.
A few more, and my arm might snap first.
The impact is no joke.
I used Devour, gaining an extra 10,000 won and 2 EXP on top, pushing growth rate to 8%.
"Snow, keep this up?"
Snow, nibbling petals, looks up at me.
"Yeah!"
"These things are different from people. No eyes, so no tells on where it'll hit, and dodging up close is tough."
[Basic Trainee Wooden Dummy summoned] "Ugh."
I glance at Snow, who favors hardcore training despite its cute looks, then charge the dummy.
It reacts instantly, swinging a fist.
I focus power into my left eye as the punch flies in.
[Heavenly Eye]
My vision expands, time slows.
The dummy's swinging fist looks sluggish. I shift my center of gravity back and backstep quick—the fist slices empty air.
Its weight pitched forward, I snap a roundhouse kick into it. Our strikes counter, and its jaw shatters.
💥 CRITICAL HIT! 💥 +10,000 won
EXP +2
[Growth Rate: 10%]
Messages pop up, I release the focus, and time resumes.
"Haa—Snow, this is tougher than it looks."
"More!"
Despite my complaints, the stacking EXP and rising growth rate make my deficient skills feel more ingrained. It's actually fun.
"Three down, 12%. Just 22 more for level up."
I kept at the dummies after that, but unlike my hopes, normal hits barely scratched without Heavy Blow mixed in—and mixing it drained stamina fast.
[Growth Rate: 52% (52/100)] [Remaining Funds: 560,000 won] "Hoo... Hoo... Gonna die. Rest a bit, then continue."
Hands on knees, ragged breaths—then a tapping on my head.
"When'd you climb up?"
"I'm hungry!"
"Already? How long ago did you eat?"
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Remaining Funds: 460,000 won] I bought a Geumgang Lantern Flower from the shop and placed it on my head. Snow grabbed it in its mouth and leaped off the porch in one bound.
"Where does a tiny thing like you put it all?"
I watched Snow munch petals, slowly recovering stamina.
"Snow, one more."
[Basic Trainee Wooden Dummy summoned] No sooner said than a dummy appears.
Arm up, fist swings as expected. After over ten, I've built some know-how.
Short burst of Heavenly Eye to dodge the fist, then slam in the roundhouse.
Cross-counter with its forward-leaning weight lets me hit hard with less force.
—Crack!
The dummy's wooden head explodes from my Heavy Blow roundhouse.
[Growth Rate: 56% (56/100)] [Remaining Funds: 480,000 won] "Huaa, exhausting."
Thanks to the dummies' repetitive attacks, I could handle them mechanically, but stamina recovery slowed.
I'm dying here, and Snow's just happily nibbling petals. Now I'm hungry too.
"Tasty?"
"Yeah!"
I stopped dummy hunting, sat on the porch, and bought ramen, water, pot, wooden chopsticks, and a gas burner.
Water boils, add noodles—feel eyes on me.
"This is ramen. The pinnacle of modern cuisine."
Snow tilts its head.
Doesn't know it.
While chatting with Snow, noodles look done. Turn off heat, grab chopsticks.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Graceful Chopsticks] ⚡ SKILL ACTIVATED ⚡ [Graceful Chopsticks] My hand moves, chopsticks dance elegantly through the pot, lifting noodles flawlessly. Accelerated motion with zero loss thanks to friction boost—no noodles slip off.
"Nice!"
Snow, silent during dummy fights, stares wide-eyed with praise.
"Wasn't aiming for that."
Ignoring Snow's gaze, I dug into the ramen.
"Haa—this is it. Great view, ramen outdoors."
As I slurp away, Snow stares blankly.
"What's up, Snow? Want some ramen?"
Snow, just watching, brings over its half-eaten flower at my words.
I take the flower, hesitate, dip it lightly in the broth, and offer it back.
"Not sure if rabbits should have this. It's hot, so just a little."
Snow nibbles the broth-dipped petal—its eyes sparkle instantly.
"Any good?"
"Tasty!"
A rabbit dipping mana flowers in ramen broth? Absurd.
"...Yeah? Next time top the ramen with Geumgang Lantern Flower?"
After finishing the dipped petals, it offers the flower again.
"...."
I buy a disposable bowl, pour some broth, and hand it over.
Snow laps broth with its tiny tongue, grabs a petal, laps more.
"Snow knows how to eat ramen."
Feeling like I'd learned from the rabbit, I bought some kimchi I'd forgotten about.