561 – That’s Not How You Climb Up (3)
There are countless crazy training methods out there.
The more you endure, the more experience points you gain.
The training of the strong gets more and more brutal.
The same can be said for why powerful mentors don’t easily take on apprentices.
It’s rare to find an apprentice who can keep up, no matter how hard you make it.
In that regard, Oknodie was the new apprentice who really captured Rung Nosa’s heart.
“I’m glad I sent Jiang to the academy. My apprentice came back as a buy-one-get-one-free deal.”
“But it’s not just the two of us!”
Oknodie’s shadow raised a hand a beat later, following Oknodie with a bright smile.
Rung Nosa clicked his tongue at the shameless shadow, who seemed to have no intentions of hiding its enthusiasm.
“If you have no desire to learn, there are no techniques to teach you. Endurance is only useful to those desperate enough.”
In that sense, the comrades and guardians who followed Oknodie were also quite determined.
“You don’t have the courage to jump off the cliff by yourself? Don’t worry! I’ll throw you off myself!”
“You’re not confident you can land on time? Don’t worry! I’ll call you back up before you die!”
Even after being tossed around to the point of near-death, see how they only whined, “Mommy, help!” without begging for death.
Like a toy that won’t break no matter how long it’s used, they possessed both strength and a solid will.
“Don’t you get bored being the only ‘2nd Revolutionary’ who’s so focused on training?”
“I provide the necessary training materials your honor needs, don’t I? Just so happens I have one extra large mana potion needed by these masters.”
“Hmm, a merchant can fight with money, so there’s no need to complicate things with labor.”
I also liked the young punk’s polite attitude in social situations.
If that “2nd Revolutionary” tried to act cocky like the first one, I was ready to toss him off the cliff twenty times, and what does he do? He starts spilling all sorts of goods immediately.
“Tsk. Teaching it can be fun, but the academy can be a hassle at times. Just when you start to enjoy it, you have to return to the academy. Are you sure you don’t want to take a break?”
As they saw Hiscliff crawl back down to the bottom as soon as he climbed out of the hole, everyone shook their heads in disbelief.
“The academy has masters from various fields, so we can expand our learning!”
“You don’t think the old guy’s teachings are worse than the academy professors, do you?”
“Not at all! Thanks to you, my climbing, fear resistance, flight magic, assassination, throwing, and all sorts of skills have increased tremendously!”
As they put in the effort, Oknodie managed to keep up wonderfully with Rung Nosa’s teachings without relying on any help.
In contrast to Jiang, who had to suppress his emotions and conquer his fear just to see even a hint of training results, Oknodie grasped the concepts rapidly right from the start, thanks to a good mentor.
How enviable for the academy professors who’d be teaching that talent!
“An apprentice’s growth can’t be impeded by their mentor. You may leave now.”
The group that hurriedly rushed down Cheonryeong Mountain, fearing a reversal of the departure approval, was quite comical.
Especially Hiscliff, who used it as a textbook example for teaching “etiquette,” made a dramatic escape.
“You’ll stay behind for a moment.”
If Hiscliff heard that, he’d probably spit bubbles and pass out, but fortunately, Oknodie’s shadow was summoned instead of Rung Nosa’s clone.
“I let your cheeky tricks slide just this once, acting all arrogant in front of an old man.”
“…”
“I even overlooked you making the maid of the foundation fetch the riffraff.”
“……”
“I turned a blind eye to your impoliteness in not bowing your head.”
“………”
“But remind me of just one thing.”
The shadow carefully nodded.
“The updated ranking board. Are those young ones included?”
The shadow grabbed a twig and began writing on the stone wall.
━━━
[Ranking Board]
*Updated as of Empire Year 982, January 1st
*Top Ten Thieves on the Continent
1st place: Gourmet Thief Neomu Masiseo.
2nd place: Ultimate Thief Destroyer.
3rd place: Functional Thief Oknodie.
4th place: Justice Thief Bronze de Estrada.
5th place: Mirror Thief Lilia.
6th place: Ideal Thief Giselle Masiseo.
7th place: Secret Thief Shade.
8th place: Legion Thief Masugaki Hiuqmag.
9th place: Life Thief Rung.
10th place: Guts Thief Son Ohchun.
━━━
Rung Nosa’s brows crinkled fiercely upon seeing the list.
“How absurd! These guys shouldn’t have climbed so high.”
“…”
“I don’t even need to say what happens to weaklings who end up in high places, do I?”
“A ranking struggle.”
“That heavy mouth finally opens up once, huh.”
The corner of Oknodie’s shadow’s cloak fluttered out excitedly.
As it pressed the cloak down, it tightened its collar and spoke.
“That’s why the academy is safer. We have many competent people like in the main building.”
“Why the casual tone, you little brat?”
“…….”
“I’ll leave Jiang in your care. Considering what you’ve taught to your apprentice Oknodie, you better watch over him tightly.”
“You can trust me.”
The shadow of Professor Bronze that talked back all the way slipped away silently.
Rung Nosa had tried to call that brat back dozens of times to fix that attitude, but let it go this time.
It’s already a dangerous time for kids.
Keeping a guardian away for too long isn’t wise.
“You’ve used quite a bit of strength.”
“They learn rather well, these youngsters.”
“Didn’t you realize it’s not the time to worry about others?”
“Hmph. Your fate was sealed from the moment you came swinging that sword at me. Do you think you can escape? Swing that sword without ever getting caught in my hands.”
“I came because I was sure. That’s all there is to it.”
On the cliff where everyone had left.
With his arms crossed behind his back, Rung Nosa quickly found a thief aiming for his spot.
‘The battle for the ranks is just beginning. After a few years at the academy, if you can’t build the skills to maintain your name, you will certainly die. Get strong. And don’t be anxious. It’s all about waiting for the right moment, Jiang.’
Suppressing feelings that could become a weakness for the assassin along with unspoken words, Rung Nosa began to weave threads.
Threads shaped by his sharpened emotions.
Like a spider, consistently and daily.
As he oversaw the training of the kids, a massive amount of mana flowed through the ground, far beyond what he’d ever seen before.
In that instant, when enough mana surged to fill the cliff face, mountain peaks and cliffs crumbled down.
It was like a reminder that the training of the departed kids was merely child’s play.
In a bloody battle where only those with skill could rise in rank, the difference in caliber from the famously celebrated rankers was apparent.
*
The time spent with Rung Nosa truly, truly helped a lot.
[Isn’t the result of special training just too good? Even a born thief can’t miss out on this level of achievement!]
[Assassination Experience +300]
[Throwing Experience +300]
[Flight Magic Experience +240]
[Leap Experience +225]
[Aerial Acrobatics Experience +222]
[Aiming Experience +200]
[Climbing Experience +174]
[Hiking Experience +174]
[Reflexes Experience +130]
[Aerial Acrobatics Experience +120]
[Concentration Experience +115]
[Hanging Experience +116]
[Tracking Experience +100]
[Breathing Experience +100]
[Finding Experience +100]
[Stealing Experience +100]
[Climbing Experience +84]
[Endurance Experience +80]
[Fear Resistance Experience +75]
[Taming Experience +45]
[Mental Power Experience +40]
[Threat Experience +33]
Vacation events are super cost-effective.
The time spent at the academy is about eight months a year, and vacation is half that with four months.
Of course, there’s no rule that rewards must follow that, but veterans are always about that cost-effectiveness.
‘If Jiang hadn’t just dived in right away, I could’ve at least managed the favorability while on vacation together!’
But even then, it’s rare for the effectiveness to be this high.
Typically, the sweet training dates would happen before the third-year summer vacation.
The scale of training gains varies with the achievements up until that time, so usually, you wouldn’t get this strong.
Quick elimination of the revolutionaries.
Imperial succession.
Opening of the Underworld.
This is all due to the snowball effect of various major events rolling downhill!
“I feel so unjust. It feels like Oknodie stole my mentor.”
“You’re just imagining things!”
“Oknodie got way stronger, right?”
“It’s just your imagination!”
“If you call it just my imagination again, I’m definitely going to kiss you.”
“It’s just your imagination… Ah, no! That doesn’t count!”
“Heh. Does Oknodie really want to kiss me that badly? Hmm~ Is that so~”
“Ugh. Jiang, you’re such a cheat for setting a trap.”
Anyway, it’s time to head back to the academy.
Just as we tried to step forward with a sense of accomplishment, we paused at the deserted Mana Transfer Station.
“Huh? Why is there no one here?”
“…Let’s wait a moment.”
Gizel, with an incredibly guilty expression, began frantically communicating in all directions, trying to summon some manpower.
Don’t tell me we’re going to be late returning before winter break is over?
I’m fine since I’ve got lots of points, but I feel really bad for the NPC friends!
“If you’re worried that the way back is blocked, why not ask Papa for help?”
A tense voice came calling out as I puzzled over a solution.
The handsome Papa, looking dashing in a white shirt, greeted us in the lounge of the transfer station.
Everyone, from Gizel who was in communication mode, Isabel who was trying to borrow the kitchen to cook with, to those worn out and flopped like defeated soldiers, gasped in shock.
“How about having a nice chat between father and child after a long time…”
Thud.
Titosoga, shaking with tearful eyes, said, “I was so scared I shut the door! Sniff sniff! Oknodie, what do I do? Aren’t you gonna do something scary to a naughty kid like me?”
“That voice definitely heard everything inside!”
“Sniff.”
The useless boy hiccupped.
Even if I hadn’t said it, I was sure he would be hiccupping soon.
Swish.
As if waiting, the transparent cloaks of lurking troops began to appear from various corners of the transfer station.
A multitude of Assassin Maids welcomed us warmly.
