My Growth Rate is Strange – Chapter 13

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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: bchen3
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“Students who have recognized mana, please wait over on that side. The rest of you, line up in front of me.”

At the instructor’s direction, dozens of students moved awkwardly.

While moving, they kept stealing glances at those who had passed the first stage.

It was obvious they were envious of those who had passed.

Normally, I would have been in the same position as them, but.

‘What on earth is this······.’

Somehow, I ended up standing among those receiving envious glances.

The cause was clear.

Last night, another me had unexpectedly headed to the mana training room.

In other words, the effect of the anomaly.

It must definitely be a new effect.

‘There’s no other way to explain it.’

For now, I organized my thoughts to that extent.

I did so because I judged that focusing on the class would be more helpful than dwelling on questions.

“From now on, each of you find a spacious spot. Once you’ve secured enough distance, sit cross-legged.”

The instructor began lecturing with the students who hadn’t recognized mana.

Like them, I perked up my ears to the instructor’s explanation.

“As I mentioned earlier, open your five senses, with the feeling of fully awakening all your senses. This is the only royal road to the first stage, ‘Mana Recognition’.”

The instructor continued.

“This place can be said to be the best environment for being initiated into the mana breathing method. As such, it should take no more than a week to sense mana, so don’t be too impatient.”

I silently mulled over the instructor’s explanation.

Among them, I focused on the part about “taking no more than a week to pass the first stage.”

‘No more than a week. Did I accomplish that in just one day?’

While wondering if that was physically possible.

Suddenly, I sensed someone approaching.

“You all probably know why you’ve gathered here separately. It’s because you students have already passed the first stage.”

It was none other than the instructor.

He continued speaking while looking around at those of us who had passed the first stage, including me.

“Some of you may have received early education, and some may even possess ‘skills’. However, I want to clarify in advance that classes will proceed according to the established curriculum.”

It meant the future class policy would not discriminate in the class itself.

But the instructor’s explanation didn’t end there.

“Of course, I know that there are significant individual differences in magical achievements. Therefore, students whose progress doesn’t match will primarily engage in self-training, but they are welcome to seek learning at any time.”

To summarize, he meant that while classes would proceed as planned, there would be a certain degree of flexibility.

As part of this, the instructor immediately began lecturing about the second stage.

‘Mana Breathing’.

“‘Mana Breathing’ literally means absorbing mana into your body through breathing. For this too, there is only one royal road. It’s about maintaining your breath as deeply and calmly as possible.”

After finishing his explanation, the instructor, without fail, directed us to practice.

Before following his instructions, I first collected myself.

‘Anyway, the immediate questions aren’t what’s important.’

The class in front of me was far more important.

Consciously pushing aside my questions, I sat cross-legged.

‘He said deep and calm breathing.’

I closed my eyes and silently repeated the instructor’s explanation.

As I concentrated, the instructor continued his lecture on the second stage, ‘Mana Breathing’.

“Initiation into the second stage, ‘Mana Breathing’, is never easy. It typically takes two weeks, and for those with dull senses, it’s known to take up to one or two months.”

The instructor briefly added the reason.

“While the first stage is simply ‘recognizing mana’, the second stage requires ‘identifying mana’ and capturing it in your breath. Particularly, mana is difficult to identify because it has no form. That’s why it takes so long.”

Identifying formless mana.

Indeed, it sounded complex just from hearing about it.

‘Anyway, I don’t expect to succeed on the first try.’

Thanks to that, I could fully understand.

“Of course, those with excellent senses might achieve it in just a few days. But don’t be hasty and try calmly.”

Excellent senses, innate quality.

I now knew that most of these talents had no connection to me.

‘No matter how long it takes, I just need to succeed in the end.’

The moment I concentrated on breathing without any excitement.

‘Huh?’

I felt a strange sensation in the breath I inhaled.

A peculiar sensation.

It wasn’t just air.

Some indescribable energy had permeated my breath.

‘······This feels strange going down my throat?’

The sensation I felt when entering the mana training room.

It was completely different from the alien feeling of mana.

‘Should I say it’s refreshing, I’m not sure.’

As I tilted my head at the unexpected sensation, the instructor’s voice was heard.

When I heard this, I got goosebumps all over.

“When mana enters your body, you won’t feel the alien sensation anymore. Rather, you’ll feel something close to ‘refreshment’.”

The instructor’s expression, that was exactly it.

‘Refreshment? Really······?’

Because it matched exactly with the sensation I was feeling through my breath.

The meaning of this was singular.

‘······Wait. I’ve reached the second stage too?’

That I was performing the second stage of the mana breathing method, mana breathing.

‘This is crazy, seriously.’

A laugh involuntarily escaped me.

The instructor’s explanation that it typically takes two weeks, or at minimum several days, was still vivid in my mind.

‘To be able to do that in just one day.’

At this point, even with the existence of the anomaly, the speed of growth was beyond comprehension.

Just then, I heard conversation sounds nearby.

“Are there any students with questions?”

“······Um.”

“Hmm, Student Cha Eun-wol. Please ask your question.”

“In the second stage, the mana that flows in through mana breathing seems to keep dispersing, what should I do?”

At Cha Eun-wol’s question, the instructor wore an expression of utmost interest.

“Oh, you’ve already been initiated into the second stage?”

After quietly muttering, he immediately looked around at those of us who had passed the first stage, including me, and asked.

“Students who can perform the second stage, mana breathing, please raise your hands.”

At the instructor’s words, all the students gathered, including me, raised their hands.

At such a sight, I was inwardly astonished.

‘What? Is this pace common?’

While tilting my head with a dumbfounded feeling.

The instructor added one more qualifier.

“Students who could perform mana breathing before class, please lower your hands.”

Then all the students lowered their hands at once.

As a result, only two people, Cha Eun-wol and I, kept their hands raised.

‘······So it’s not common after all.’

I sighed at the question that had returned to square one.

Regardless of my reaction, the instructor looked at Cha Eun-wol and me with eyes full of intrigue.

“As Student Cha Eun-wol said, mana taken into the body through the second stage disperses quickly. That is, if you don’t go through the third stage, ‘Mana Circulation’.”

The third stage of the mana breathing method, ‘Mana Circulation’.

As the name suggests, it was the stage of circulating mana in the body.

“But it’s impossible right now. Unlike the first and second stages, which can be learned through sensation, the third stage requires learning a part of the ‘mana breathing method’ along with sensation to be initiated.”

“Then perhaps······.”

One needs to learn a part of the ‘mana breathing method’ along with sensation.

At the instructor’s explanation, Cha Eun-wol’s eyes sparkled.

Toward her, who was seeking to learn, the instructor spoke firmly.

“Of course, students will receive the academy’s common mana breathing method, and further, common skills. But that’s from the first semester finals.”

The class itself proceeds as planned.

That’s what he had said earlier.

Perhaps that’s why Cha Eun-wol smacked her lips in disappointment.

Finding her appearance admirable, the instructor spoke in a more generous tone than usual.

“However, the part of the ‘mana breathing method’ needed for third stage initiation corresponds to the midterm progress of the first semester. Since we’ve spent quite some time today, I’ll lecture on it in tomorrow’s class.”

“······Yes!”

Thus, their conversation ended warmly.

Coincidentally, one of my questions was also resolved through this.

‘It’s about sensation. Anyway, it seems it’s not entirely impossible to be initiated into the first and second stages.’

Thanks to that, the confusion in my mind subsided considerably.

It would be troublesome for me if the effect of the anomaly produced results that completely shattered common sense.

The reason was simple.

‘So that I can keep pace with my other self.’

In other words, it was to utilize it in the most beneficial direction for me.

I let out a deep sigh and organized the gains and thoughts so far.

‘For now, I’ve been initiated into the second stage of the mana breathing method, and I’ve discovered a new effect of the anomaly.’

Just as I was thinking I should organize my thoughts again this evening.

‘Hmm?’

Somehow, my eyes met with the instructor’s.

His eyes contained warmth that didn’t quite match him.

‘······What’s this?’

It reminded me of the way he looked at me after finishing the stat test on the first day.

Just as I was about to turn my head away, feeling slightly burdened.

Fortunately, the instructor moved his gaze first and spoke.

“The remaining class today will continue with initiation into the first and second stages. So I’ll briefly explain about tomorrow’s class.”

The preview of the next class flowed from the instructor.

The content was none other than this.

The 7th and 8th periods would be the same magical class as today, but the 9th period would be different.

“Tomorrow’s 9th period will be held in the gymnasium on the first basement floor of the main auditorium. It’s a class about the last course of stat circuit training.”

The last course of stat circuit training.

The moment I heard it, I vaguely recalled what the instructor had said.

‘Didn’t he say it would be next week?’

As soon as the thought crossed my mind, the instructor added one more statement.

“Of course, the full-scale class for the last course begins next week. Tomorrow can be considered preparation for next week’s class. During tomorrow’s class time, each student will form a team of four.”

Forming a team of four.

In other words, the last course would proceed as a team project, a group assignment.

“Not only is the last course class conducted in teams, but the performance assessment in the third week and the first semester midterms will also be with the same team. I’ll give you time until tomorrow, so think it through thoroughly.”

The moment the instructor finished speaking.

Ding dong deng dong-

The bell announcing break time rang.

I thought as I slowly left the mana training room.

‘······I need to organize my thoughts calmly this evening.’

From the new effect of the anomaly to the sudden team project.

Somehow, tonight seemed like it would be a long night.

*

Late at night.

“······Kuuul.”

An Il-han fell asleep later than usual.

And.

-Confirming the subject’s unconscious state.

-The subject’s initiative is transferred to [Shadow of ????]!

-Checking synchronization rate with the subject.

-Current synchronization rate······ [5%]

-The synchronization rate is quite low!

-[Shadow of ????] acts according to consciousness imbued with slight discernment and fragments of memory!

-[Skill] imprinted in consciousness has been activated!

···

···

···

He opened his eyes without fail.

His two eyes, flickering like shadows, stared straight at the door.

“······.”

Soon, he burst out of the dormitory room.

The place he reached was, as usual, the stat training room.

Also.

“Oh, Il-han! You were amazing today?!”

Lim Gang-cheol’s greeting was also the same as usual.

“Going to the mana training room today too?”

Nod-

“Tell me your secret!”

Shake shake-

“Tch, so no shortcuts! Well, alright. Let’s do this!”

Nod nod-

From there, the two headed straight to the mana training room.

“Alright, I’ll catch up soon, so wait!”

Lim Gang-cheol plopped down and sat cross-legged.

Then he grunted as if he needed something.

An Il-han, who had been watching him for a while, calmly took his place.

“······.”

The alien sensation enveloping his entire body.

From late January until this moment.

It had been too long a wait.

Perhaps that’s why.

An Il-han, in a cross-legged position, immediately awakened his five senses.

Simultaneously, he focused on his breathing.

“······Suuuu.”

Infinitely deep, infinitely quiet.

According to his will, mana was being identified.

Furthermore, he began to greedily devour the mana.

The moment he recognized the large amount of mana flowing into his body.

Flash-

An Il-han opened his eyes.

At the same time, he ‘observed’ himself.

In that state, he began to ‘circulate’ the mana that had flowed into his body throughout his entire body.

Swoosh!

Like that for one hour, two hours······.

Mana continued to race through every part of his body.

Slowly, bit by bit, it accumulated.

Feeling the flow of mana, An Il-han continued the circulation.

So that he would never forget, until his body completely remembered.

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