Chapter 97
Chapter 97
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 97
Chapter Title: [Abyssal Miner] It Works
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"Yes, I know you're no ordinary man, even if I'm just some nobody with no skills or possessions. If taking me on as a disciple is asking too much, how about using me as an errand boy and teaching me bit by bit?"
"Hah..."
"I may not have much, but I've got grit in spades. Just give me one shot—trust me once and teach me. I'll show you what I've got."
"Hmm..."
"I make decent money and I've got some strength to boot, so if there's anything you want, I'll do my best to make it happen..."
"Hmmm..."
He just kept letting out those sighs of surprise, but it didn't seem to be swaying him much.
Well, a Sword Saint like him probably isn't short on cash, and anything I could do for him would be worthless anyway.
Guess all I can do now is beg.
"I'm begging you here. Please... isn't there any way? I'll do anything."
After I groveled like that, the Sword Saint seemed to mull it over for a moment...
"Fine. I was getting bored anyway—this works out perfectly. I'll make an exception and train you. Not as a disciple, just whenever I have time. That okay with you?"
I nod eagerly.
Whoa, holy shit, he actually accepted.
I immediately bow deeply in gratitude.
"Yes! Thank you!"
"Lee Jun, are you sure about this?"
Erika, who had been growling threats at the Sword Saint from the side, turned to me.
"Don't worry, Erika. This guy's the real deal."
"I get that, but..."
She was clearly swallowing words about how he seemed like a weirdo, even if he was skilled.
Yeah, he was a weirdo, no doubt.
Once the conversation wrapped up, the Sword Saint spoke up again.
"But there are conditions."
"Name them."
"My training's brutal. Don't even think about running halfway through. I'd make you wish you were dead instead."
That wasn't an idle threat—he meant it.
"No worries there. I've got endurance to spare."
"And one more thing. That girl comes too."
"Pardon?"
"Training alone gets boring. You'll both learn together."
It felt a bit off that he'd train us together just to kill time, but hey, if he's including Erika in the package deal, that's a win for me.
Just like I'd hoped: she grows stronger, I learn something, one stone two birds—hell, eating the pheasant and the egg, clearing the ditch and catching the crawfish, all that jazz. Total win-win.
"Erika, you heard him. We're training together."
"Huh? Oh... sure. If that's what you say, Lee Jun."
She still looked dazed, but she nodded obediently since it was me asking.
"Good. Then let's start today."
Today? Right now?
"What, can't handle it? Quit then."
"No way! I'm in!"
"It's your first day, so we'll go easy. Build some basic stamina—swing that sword a thousand times."
"Yes, sir!"
I replied right away, got into stance, and started swinging.
Wait, huh?
Didn't he say easy?
A thousand times?
I'd never even done three hundred in a day before.
How long would that take?
I glanced over, and the Sword Saint was watching me with a strangely satisfied look. Our eyes met, and suddenly he barked an order.
"Your form's sloppy! Straighten that back!"
Thwack!
He even whipped my waist with the scabbard.
"Ow!"
It felt like a light tap, but it hurt like hell.
Some searing energy burrowed straight into my body.
"Where'd that lesson go? Don't just count reps—put your soul into every swing!"
"Got it!"
I obediently adjusted and swung as ordered.
Fine, I knew it'd be intense—I'd have to tough it out.
Not a disciple, but still getting trained by a Sword Saint.
Quite a bit of time passed after that.
"Bend those knees more! Yeah, like that! Don't stop—chop down from there!"
"Gahhhh!"
"If you can yell, swing once more!"
Thud!
"Form's breaking! Again!"
I was crawling on the dirt-caked ground, exhausted and battered from all the beatings, while the Sword Saint drilled me mercilessly.
Erika was off in the corner, sweating buckets practicing the footwork he'd shown her, but at least she wasn't getting hit like me.
'Talk about favoritism.'
He was all praise for her—great instincts, natural talent.
But for me? Clumsy, slow—nothing but criticism. Stress was piling up.
My stats should make me faster than her, right? What slow and clumsy?
I even pointed that out, and he scowled like I was an idiot and hit me again.
"Breathing's ragged! Control it!"
Thwack!
"Urk!"
The scabbard dug into my side, ribs burning.
I wanted to snap back, but I held it in.
Because...
The effects were hitting exactly right.
Worlds apart from swinging alone, grunting away.
And yeah, it hurt like hell, but it wasn't just mindless beating—each hit infused power into the spot, corrected my form, and soon a refreshing sensation followed.
Felt kinda masochistic, but for growth, I'd endure this pain.
"Huff... huff... One hundred twenty-two!"
"Oops!"
As I gritted my teeth and swung, the Sword Saint suddenly smacked his forehead and yelled.
"What's up?"
"Darn it, I forgot something important."
"Important?"
"Yeah. Got a quick errand—keep going. I'm starting to get a feel for you now, so no slacking."
"Huh? Where are you—"
"None of your business. No tricks—keep at it! You too, miss—no breaks!"
Whoosh!
He vanished like the wind, leaving no afterimage despite being right in front of me moments ago.
Gone from sight in an instant.
"...What the hell, that old geezer."
"Lee Jun, you okay?"
The second he was gone, Erika rushed over, grabbing my hand with a worried look.
Whoa, so warm.
"Yeah, I'm fine. How about you, Erika? Manageable?"
"Yeah... it's more fun than I thought! Moving my feet like this makes my body feel way lighter than usual. That old man... I thought he was weird at first, but he's incredible."
"Good to hear."
She's already seeing results.
"How about you, Lee Jun?"
"Me..."
Meanwhile, I'd gotten some stat and proficiency bumps here and there, but zero praise—just beatings.
Life's so unfair.
"Eh, it's okay. Anyway, let's keep doing what he said. Might as well learn it right."
"Yes!"
And so we kept training without him.
Not that I didn't want to slack a little, but with Erika busting her ass nonstop, I couldn't either.
An hour? No, two maybe.
Then the Sword Saint returned.
"Well now, still at it?"
A pleased smile on his face.
What had him so happy?
"Hahk... hahk... Of course. Did as ordered... no breaks."
"Heh, looks like you got a lot done. Floor's soaked in sweat. How many?"
"About two hundred."
"Oh? Not bad. At least your grit passes muster."
Sounded like that was the only thing.
"Thanks for the praise. You look thrilled, though—what good news?"
"Good news? Yeah, had some. Heh heh."
The old man chuckled smugly.
"Anyway, don't mind it now. Form's still a mess."
"Really? Feels improved to me."
"Better than start, sure... Nah, redo it. Expected this much."
"Ah, yes! Got it!"
Whatever he expected, I just nodded.
"Don't snap the wrist there—push straight! Yeah, like that! You're forcing it, that's why it's jamming! Ride the flow—the flow!"
Thwack!
"Ow! I get it!"
"You say you get it but you don't! Show me with actions!"
His training dragged on into the night.
Erika learned footwork plus swordsmanship basics.
Me? Just endless beatings and form corrections.
Finally released near death.
Honestly, thought I couldn't hit a thousand in a day... but I did.
"That's it for today. Same time tomorrow, here."
"Yes... thank you..."
I mumbled from the dirt.
Erika slumped beside me, catching her breath from all she'd learned.
"Erika, you good?"
"Y-yeah... You?"
"Me? Tough as nails."
Stamina already recovering, in fact.
Even at the end, the stats and proficiency poured in.
Daily quests had been pushing training, but efficiency had been dropping bit by bit.
Yet today's gains in one day outstripped days of solo practice.
Tenacity jumped especially high, thanks to the old man pushing relentlessly.
No wonder everyone raves about a good master.
"C'mon, Erika. Time for food."
"Yes! Meat today—meat!"
"Yep, stuff ourselves with meat."
I supported her wobbly legs—jelly from the day's work—and headed to the restaurant.
"Yaaawn."
I stretched luxuriously on the inn bed upon waking.
Barely slept due to personal stuff last night, but my condition was peak as always.
'No matter how I look, Blessing of the Earth is the most broken trait.'
[Into the Comics] goes without saying—foundation of all abilities, so excluded.
Others like [Mana Affinity] or skills are great, but nothing tops the first one I got: [Blessing of the Earth].
Cuts fatigue, boosts recovery—sped up early Abyssal Miner mining too.
Naturally amps grinding and training gains, mining efficiency, combat endurance.
Base of all growth and snowballing, really.
Without it, I'd still be whimpering in the mines' lower levels.
'Hans and Lisa would've died then.'
Thinking that, I'm just grateful for the initial Blessing and all-stats +10.
I got up and did some light stretches.
Habit since kidhood—from a Korean comic saying stretches "open the knowledge of qi" (氣知開).
Basically, a pose to attune the body to qi, opening meridians.
No workouts needed; always did it first thing. Easy habit.
Knocked out a daily quest right on waking today.
'Alright, time to grind hard again.'
Check dailies first, though.
[Daily Quest List][1. Swing Heavy Iron Demon Slayer Sword 1000 times (0/1000)]
[2. Morning greetings (0/3)]
[3. Stretch] (Completed)
Saw the training quest first and got excited, then frowned at the reward.
"...What the hell?"
Makes me do training dailies, then only 3P?
Was 10P, 25P recently.
Yesterday no training quest—bummer. Today it shows, mood lifts...
Then this crash, like a dream cut short.
'Wait.'
This was training I'd do anyway, quest or not.
Old man ordered exactly that yesterday: thousand downward cuts with the sword.
Quest-ifies routine stuff into everyday chores.
'More points for quests with clear purpose? 3P since it's routine but tougher?'
Recall jumping from 12P to 25P—system's got logic.
"Hm... Bit disappointing, but fair enough."
System gets a pass this time.
Erika picked me up yesterday, so today I go first.
Quick wash, out the door.
Room 201 next door shut as usual.
Long-term guest.
Inn regulars nod hellos, but this one's never seen outside the room.
Asked owner once if dead—prepaid, no issue. Banged wall during a deed once.
'Wonder who lives there.'
Not my business, just curious.
Heading out, innkeeper calls.
"Ah, Lee Jun."
"Morning."
"Morning. Oh, letter for you earlier."
"Letter? For me?"
"Yes. Some guy dropped it. Here."
"Hmm..."
Taking the envelope, I pondered.
Who'd send mail in [Abyssal Miner]? Erika? Luna? Lisa? Hans? Nyami? Sword Saint geezer?
They'd just come talk.
No seal, sender name, signature, nada.
Tore it open.
"What is this?"
Inside the stationery: a drawing of a dagger stabbing an eyeball.