Chapter 8: 8. Why Does This Smell Like a Martial Arts Novel...?

[Title: Hey, Kim Mebung, You’re Expelled from the Party.]

"As of today, you need to leave this party. A mercenary named Max will be taking over as our frontliner from now on."

"Are you out of your mind? You’re expelling me, a level 95? For that guy, who doesn’t even have a taunt, damage reduction, crowd control, or a pulling skill?"

"It’s true that finding another frontliner with a skill set like yours would be difficult."

"Then why?!"

"Max didn’t make the mistake of learning Slime Body."

The frontliner of the hero party nodded, logged out, and pressed the Create Character button.

(A screenshot of a level 95 frontliner class with LV.1 Slime Body learned.)

└LOL, what an idiot.

└You burned a level 95 character just to get a hot post? Up you go.

└└Fuck, I didn’t learn it just to get a hot post.

└└Don’t lie, Kim Mebung! What kind of idiot accidentally learns an idiot skill that turns their character into boneless chicken in an instant?!

└└For real;; It’s not like someone that stupid could exist.

└└Fuck off, all of you bastards.

[Title: I just hit level 22 as a newbie and learned this. Is it any good?]

(LV.1 Slime Body)

I recently hit level 22 on my swordsman class. I had an essence in my inventory, so I used it right away. How good is this?

└Boneless chicken rec.

└Boneless chicken rec.

└Boneless chicken rec.

└?? What the fuck is "boneless chicken rec"?

└└Why are you even browsing the gallery if you don’t know boneless chicken rec;;

└└Boneless chicken rec.

└└Go study it up!

└└Your body’s fucked, that’s what it means.

└└Fuck, I looked it up.

└Maybe you just don’t know because it’s only level 1??

└└(Link) I’m the guy who gathered 200 of the same essences and tried leveling it up.

└└Fuck, why won’t it level up?

└└Dunno. You’re fucked.

└└Motherfucker.

"One million twenty-one... one million twenty-two..."

"Little one, why do you always put a million in front of the number?"

"Huff... huff... I’m trying to at least make it feel a little impressive..."

It had already been a month since I began learning under Master. My status window now looked like this...

[Status Window]

Name: Jang Ryu-o

Class: None

Title: None

Level: 8

HP: 400/400 MP: 250/250 Strength: 19 Agility: 10 Vitality: 11 Intelligence: 6 Luck: ¿?9

Remaining Points: 1

Trait: BUG

Skills: [LV.MAX Slime Body], [LV.4 Basic Swordsmanship], [LV.2 Qi Circulation and Meditation], [LV.1 Walking on Empty Air]

That was where I stood now!

When I realized that my stats could rise through training as well, I was so happy that I hugged Master and jumped up and down.

[Huh? Ah? Master! Maaaster!]

[Eek! L-Little one! What is it?!]

I absolutely had not hugged her out of any ulterior motive. I had simply been so happy that I did it without thinking.

When my concentration slipped, Master spoke teasingly.

"Hmm? It seems you have energy to spare. I’ll add a little more weight, then."

At that moment, it felt as though another boulder had been placed on my back.

"Urgh..."

"Focus and let’s finish just fifteen more!"

Master was currently sitting on my back.

Push-ups with a person on your back—classic, but undeniably effective.

I had no idea how she increased the weight. When I asked her about it...

[It is still too soon for the Thousand-Pound Drop... Or is it? Could you manage it?]

In the end, we decided I should focus on my current training.

Ah, and a few more exercises had been added to my regimen.

"All right, now let us temper your joints. Get up."

"Yes."

Once I stood, Master climbed onto my back piggyback-style.

This exercise was the most grueling.

Because with Master on my back, I could feel certain... slightly embarrassing parts pressed against it.

"Begin."

"Yes."

Master began her own qi circulation and meditation while I rose onto my toes and lowered myself again, training my ankles and calves.

"Inhale... exhale... inhale..."

"Hoo... hoo..."

Master’s personal philosophy was, ‘It would be a waste not to make use of these flexible, sturdy joints!’

Our training course now included arm wrestling, military presses with Master, horse stances with Master balanced atop my head, and all sorts of other rather unusual exercises.

It had become a little like couples cheerleading, which was embarrassing, but I could see my body improving in real time because of it. All I could do was follow along.

Maybe it was thanks to Slime Body, but muscle was literally piling onto me.

As I trained while recalling the diligent month I had spent, I eventually finished my assigned amount.

"Master, I’m done."

"Inhale... haa... hoo..."

She truly was remarkable. Even though I must have been swaying around, she could maintain this much focus on the Thousand-Pound Drop while practicing qi circulation and meditation...

I did not want to disturb her, but my legs felt as though they were on fire, so I cautiously called out to her.

"Master?"

"Hm? Ah, yes! Good work. Now then, qi circulation and meditation—"

"Ah, I did it once before bed yesterday, then woke up early and did it again in advance."

I was already grateful enough that she watched over me. It was only proper manners to get at least this much done ahead of time.

Contrary to the reaction I had expected, Master spoke in a low voice.

"What...?"

I was startled by a tone of voice I had never heard from her before.

"I-I’m sorry, Master. I thought that since I can do qi circulation and meditation by myself now, I should get it done in advance..."

I thought she would tell me how proud she was...

Master climbed down from my back and waved her hands in alarm.

"No. Your diligence is certainly worthy of praise. I was merely worried that something might go wrong with your dantian... Cheer up, little one, all right?"

Ah... It seemed I had misunderstood what Master meant.

Other than the minor(?) trait of my dantian moving around my body, there was nothing seriously wrong with it.

Everything else had gone smoothly, so I must have become complacent. I spoke to Master.

"Thank you for worrying about me, Master. From now on, I’ll try to do it in front of you."

"Yes! Let us do that from now on, understood?"

"Yes!"

"You must be hungry, little one. Let us go eat."

"Yes, Master."

We went to the kitchen and began cooking.

"Master, I’ll take some salt."

"All right, here it is. Ah! Fetch us a bucket of water as well."

"Yes."

Preparing every meal together like this, we had naturally become perfectly in sync.

Watching the cooking proceed so smoothly, Master chuckled softly.

"Hehe..."

"Did something good happen?"

"Hm? Ah, no. I simply felt like laughing."

? I did not know what it was, but seeing her smile made me smile too.

"Haha..."

"Hehe..."

What a fulfilling life... I had never felt warmth like this even in my past life.

With every passing day, my gratitude only grew.

Was there no way I could repay her?

"There, it is done. Let us eat while it is hot."

"Yes."

While we were eating, Master asked me something.

"Would you like to go outside?"

Outside... Of course, if Master gave me permission, I intended to challenge the labyrinth.

I would leave eventually, but right now... I was not so sure.

"I am curious, but I am also deeply grateful for and happy with my life as it is now."

At my words, Master’s tail began to sway back and forth.

"I-Is that so? Yes... Like this, forever..."

"Master?"

Master’s eyes trembled before she shouted.

"No! No, that will not do. Ahem! Disciple, I have a simple errand for you. Would you go and take care of it?"

A request from Master... Naturally, I would accept.

"Of course. Just leave it to me, and I’ll get it done."

Master smiled as she explained the errand.

"Yes, you should go out at least once... It is simple. If you walk straight down from here..."

The errand itself was as simple as a baby’s first errand.

I only had to go to a place called Chwihyangru, give the owner a letter, and bring back an item.

It seemed Master had assigned it so I could see how the world was doing.

"Little one, do not follow someone just because they tell you to, and do not carelessly eat things that suspicious people give you..."

Master was teaching me to say no, I do not want to, do not do that, as though I were an actual child...

"Master, you do not have to worry. I’m an adult..."

Master squeezed her eyes shut and nodded.

"That is right, of course you are... Hoo. Have a safe trip, little one."

"Yes. I’ll be back."

I crossed the front gate and headed outside.

Why was something so simple making my heart race like this...?

My steps were light on my first proper outing.

Could the air really feel this different just because I had crossed one threshold?

Of course, it was probably only my imagination, but that feeling seemed incredibly important.

On the way, I looked once more at the letter Master had written for me.

I did not know why I could read it, but the envelope had ‘Chwihyangru’ written in large letters so that I could recognize it.

As I looked at the remarkably considerate envelope, I saw the entrance to the nearby downtown district.

"Come on over! Delicious grilled skewers, only five copper coins!"

"Mom! I want that! Thaaat!"

"I bought you one last time! No!"

"Secret manuals are here! Read one, and anyone can become a master!"

A bustling downtown street, rows of Eastern-style buildings, and people walking around in clothes similar to mine.

I had roughly guessed as much after seeing Master’s house, but this was...

‘Isn’t this a martial arts novel?’

[The place where we live is in the eastern part of Labyrinth City Velanis. People who crossed over from the Eastern Continent settled and cultivated this area, so the culture of the Eastern Continent is quite developed here.]

Had they settled in the east of Labyrinth City Velanis because they came from the east...? Maybe I would understand if I had actually played the game before being transported here.

They said all sorts of NPCs existed, so I assumed the game company had simply included an Eastern-style culture.

It was very different from the Labyrinth City I had imagined, but seeing so many different people made my excitement, which had gone cold, rise once more.

‘Wow... Master isn’t the only one with ears.’

I did not know much about the appearance of animal ears, but I occasionally spotted people with them. There were even people with horns.

It would be rude to stare, so I was walking through town while sneaking glances when...

"Whistle! Hey, young man!"

Crunch!

When I turned around, I saw street vendors standing frozen with their mouths hanging open and people avoiding my eyes.

‘What...? Were they not calling me?’

I must have been too self-conscious. There were this many people around...

To hide my embarrassment, I quickened my pace toward Chwihyangru.

As the murmuring voices faded into the distance, so did my embarrassment.

‘They definitely avoided my eyes... I’m being self-conscious. Just self-conscious.’

Before I knew it, I had arrived at a building.

A tall, splendid Eastern-style building. People dressed in extravagant clothes came and went, and since it stood prominently in the heart of the district, everyone passing by could not help looking at the large letters on its sign.

"Chwihyangru..."

A faint sense of discomfort rose at the fact that I could read the words, but I quickly shook it off and headed inside.

"Welco...ooome..."

The employee’s greeting, which had begun energetically, trailed off. The building’s interior fell silent.

"Excuse me... I came to see the owner of Chwihyangru. If you look at this letter..."

"Yes... you need... to see the owner. Please follow me..."

"?"

I followed the employee, who walked upstairs as though possessed.

-Did you see?

-Yeah...

-Holy shit... Could he possibly end up working here?

-If you don’t have money, don’t even look at him.

Listening to the fading whispers, I arrived on the fourth floor.

The employee, who had been walking with his mouth open, stopped before a door and knocked.

"Madam Owner... an honored guest has arrived..."

-What? What kind of bullshit is that? Are you slacking off again?

An irritated voice rang out from within the room.

As though this was not the first or second time, the employee ignored it and opened the door.

Creak.

"Oh? You’ve really gotten full of yourself now, have you... Passssssssed!!!!!!"

"...? Pardon?"

I froze at the black-haired beauty’s shout.

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