Chapter 15
You, how did you do that?
Doban said, flapping his mouth like a goldfish.
He looked more shocked than if he'd run into a rhinoceros.
“Why? It's the breathing method you taught me.”
“I taught you? What bullshit are you talking about? I only taught you how to breathe, not how to manipulate mana!”
“Mana?”
I tilted my head at Doban, who was making a fuss.
I had only a vague idea of what mana was.
In game terms, it was MP, Magic Points.
It was the medium needed to use special powers like magic.
In this [Lady Maker] world, mana exists as a property, and everyone in this world has it inside their body.
If you learn how to use mana, you can cast magic and strengthen your body. It's essential if you want to get stronger.
But not everyone can handle it.
Only a handful of people can manipulate mana. As far as I know, no one in our arena can do it except Alex.
It's something you can't learn even if you want to.
“But I used mana?”
“You did it yourself and still don't know?”
“I just breathed the way you told me to.”
“Mana manipulation is, in principle, an extension of breathing techniques. But it doesn't work just because you do it half-heartedly...”
“Hmm...”
I rolled my eyes sideways, gauging Doban's reaction.
☆ New! [Mana Breathing Lv.1] ☆
It was a newly appeared proficiency just now. Its name was Mana Breathing.
When I first started learning breathing techniques, I joked around with Water Breathing and Sun Breathing, but I never thought one would actually appear.
Was this a collaboration between the proficiency system and quest rewards?
'What a stinky breathing technique.'
Of all things, I got it by using the smell of shit. Would I even want to use something this gross?
“Anyway, it's a good thing, right?”
“Can you even say that? A person who can use mana and a person who can't are worlds apart!”
“Oh...”
“Nice.”
So I'm finally going to skyrocket?
Am I going to hit 20,000?
Doban, who had first stared at me in disbelief, now started laughing like a madman.
“Ha! Hahaha! A wet-behind-the-ears brat, and a slave at that, able to use mana. As expected of my disciple. My eyes didn't fail me!”
“Yes?”
What nonsense is he spouting now?
“Why am I your disciple? Weren't you the one who said we weren't master and disciple, but a symbiotic relationship?”
“What?”
“And what's this about your eyes not being wrong? You weren't the one who came looking for me—I was the one who asked you to teach me first. Dozens of times, too. You turned me down every time, and now you're saying your eyes weren't wrong? Where's your conscience?”
I was the one who led this, not you. I was the one who opened the chatroom, wasn't I? But you can't take credit for it.
“You ungrateful little brat? So that's how you want to play it? Spit out everything you learned from me.”
“How am I supposed to spit out something I've already learned?”
“Can't spit it out? Then there's nothing we can do. I'm your master. Whether you become a knight or a sword saint in the future, the fact that I'm your first master won't change. Heh heh heh.”
Doban gave a slimy smile, showing off his rotten teeth.
Until then, he had given off the aura of a once-famous retired mercenary, but now he just looked like a greedy beggar.
'This is why people shouldn't be consumed by desire.'
Still, whatever. It was true that I had learned from him. Thanks to that, I survived even the fight against the ogre.
As the saying goes, if it's good, it's good. Until I'm freed, I should milk it for all it's worth.
***
After a little time passed, the overexcited mood calmed down.
Doban downed a bottle of liquor and wiped his mouth clean.
“It's good that you awakened mana, but if I could give you one piece of advice, it'd be better not to use it in front of others.”
The expression he had a moment ago, like a gambler who'd just pulled off an upset, was gone; now he looked serious.
“What? Why?”
I finally figured out how to use mana. If I make use of it, I'll become a lot stronger, and that directly ties into my safety.
It was the same as winning first prize in the lottery and being told not to spend the money.
“The ability to use mana is something only a talented few have. But what happens if a mere slave can use mana?”
“Hmm, the strongest slave in history?”
“You'd be worked to death until you drop. If you were them, would you leave a slave like that alone?”
“Ah.”
So basically, even if I win first prize in the lottery, I shouldn't tell the people around me.
If you suddenly came into billions, everyone around you would swarm in like locusts, trying to get even a little bit.
“Still, if I win this match, the young lady will free me...”
“You idiot. If Bardik finds out you can use mana, your price will skyrocket. Do you think that girl would pay that much? It's not like she'd be hiring you; she'd only be trying to set you free.”
“Ah......”
This is what a real slave's life is like. Even when I get something good, I can't make use of it.
Is freedom still not good enough?
Would you still come back after being freed?
“Then should I just never use it for the rest of my life?”
“At least while you're still a slave, it's better not to use it. Well, unless you're right on the verge of dying.”
“Hmm... Then it would be best to at least learn the minimum basics of mana use. The other side might use it too.”
“If you're a gladiator backed by a noble, that's basic common sense.”
“Then I guess I should assume they'll definitely use it.”
In that case, I absolutely have to learn enough to use it in actual combat. Only then can I use it as a last resort.
“The problem is where I'm supposed to learn mana manipulation...”
“Don't worry. From now on, I'll be teaching swordsmanship and mana manipulation side by side.”
“Sir... Master, you can use mana too?”
Doban blatantly showed that he was too tired to even explain.
As expected, my eye for people wasn't wrong.
Doban really wasn't some shabby street mercenary. He was a reclusive master.
Thanks to that, I could learn swordsmanship and mana manipulation at the same time.
And so, the day-four progress check.
======
• Current Proficiencies
【Basic Stamina Lv.8】
【Low-tier Swordsmanship Lv.1】
【Indomitable Lv.2】
【Mana Breathing Lv.2】
======
Ta-da.
The [Lowest-tier Swordsmanship] had been upgraded to [Low-tier Swordsmanship].
Just as I expected.
Why would it be called the lowest tier if there weren't anything above it?
There's a low tier above it, and a middle tier, and a high tier too, so of course it's the lowest tier.
Since the level is low, even a little training makes the proficiency shoot up.
It's on a completely different level from when I first picked up a sword. Now I can at least make a decent imitation of a swordsman.
'I don't know whether this will be enough to beat that guy, though.'
I'm still a bit lacking. I want to squeeze out as much potential as I can.
What would be good?
“So, the waist is slim but the hips are big, which makes it incredibly satisfying to grab—”
The gladiators came strolling in noisily, with Alex at their center.
I met the eyes of the hulking men who had been joking around in a way that didn't suit their muscular builds. The moment they saw me, they frowned.
If it had been before, they'd have come at me with friendly smiles like punks bullying a loser, but now they couldn't.
Bardik had given him a big dressing-down over the previous incident.
Instead, he passed by, glaring at me darkly as if he found me unpleasant.
The moment that happened, a light bulb flashed in my head.
-Thwack!
I kicked Alex's shin.
“Ugh! What the fuck, man?”
“Hey. Fight me one-on-one.”
“What, what?”
“Did muscle clog your ear holes too? I said let's spar.”
This guy's personality is garbage, but he's the face of our arena. In terms of skill alone, he's definitely the best.
My master's half-crippled, so sparring's out.
And his build is about the same as Garner's, and since he can use mana too, wouldn't he be about the same tier?
He's perfect as a sparring partner.
A great chance to test what I've practiced.
“Has this bastard gone crazy? After becoming some noble young lady's plaything, he thinks he's somebody now?”
“Why's your tongue so long? Just say whether you'll do it or not. Are you backing out?”
Alex's face stiffened for a moment before twisting grotesquely. He burst out laughing like a madman.
“Pff, hahahahahaha! Hahahahahahaha! Hey, did you hear that? That blackie says I'm backing out?”
Alex was clutching his stomach and laughing as if it were killing him, and the other gladiators snickered too.
“……Ha.”
After laughing for a good while, Alex let out a short breath.
In an instant, the laughter vanished. The look he aimed down at me had gone cold, like a predator sizing up prey.
“Follow me. I'll make sure to kill you this time.”
Alex started to move toward the training grounds.
“Wait.”
“What? Don't tell me you're trying to back out now?”
“No, let's do it in the arena, not the training grounds. I like it there.”
“What the hell are you talking about? Don't you know the arena can only be used during matches?”
But if we fight outside the arena, the buff disappears. We have to fight as close to real combat as possible, or there's no point.
“If I say I'm doing it, what's impossible about that?”
Do you not know who I am?
I'm Ireon, backed by the Duke's daughter of House Edelheid.
If I say I'm going to do it, then I do it.
***
We took our positions in the center of the arena.
I asked Bardik for permission. When I said I wanted to train in an environment similar to actual combat, he readily allowed it.
Maybe he wants my victory even more desperately than I do.
A quiet arena.
Normally it's so loud that the packed stands practically damage your hearing, but now it's empty.
At most, there are only a few arena staff sitting around watching.
It feels incredibly alien.
“Hey, blackie. You were the one who begged for this spar. Don't go crying to the young lady's skirts later because your arms and legs got broken.”
Alex, standing in front of me, swaggered. He showed off his easygoing confidence with a rough grin.
The wooden practice sword slung over his shoulder was there to make sure no one got seriously hurt, even if this spar was supposed to be as real as possible.
Still, I'm prepared for a certain amount of injury. If it gets too bad, Bardik will probably call in a priest or something.
I silently gripped my sword and took my stance.
“I'll let you have the first strike. It wouldn't be fun if it ended in one hit, would it?”
Alex taunted in an arrogant voice, leaning on one leg.
I didn't refuse.
Even if it's someone I hate, the moment we fight, I have to clearly acknowledge that I'm the weaker one.
Use every means and method available, and allow absolutely no carelessness.
That is the survival principle that lets me live in this harsh world.
-Pow!
I briefly bent my knees, then kicked off the ground.
In the next instant, the arena scenery that had filled my vision slid backward, and Alex's huge frame rushed right up to me.
The distance closed in an instant. Alex's eyes widened in shock.
Before his gaping mouth could even close, I swung my sword. Alex hurriedly brought the sword over his shoulder to block.
-Clack!
The two wooden swords crossed.
At the same time, an alert popped up.
[Low-tier Swordsmanship Lv.1 (3% → 5%)]
I had only clashed swords once, and the proficiency had gone up by 2%.
Fifty exchanges and it'll level up?
Man, as expected, nothing beats actual combat for training.
“You, you bastard...!”
Alex looked clearly flustered by the unexpected strike.
You picked the wrong guy.
You guys can hit me too.
Hit me and you'll get XP.