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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: FusionX
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“I never actually thought Acasa would take a disciple,” a voice mused.
“Tell me about it,” another replied.
Inside the Martial Arts building’s staff lounge, a space the size of an apartment’s first floor, the martial arts professors were enjoying their after-lunch tea. The main topic of conversation, predictably, revolved around Acasa’s new disciple, Lee Seok-hyun. The subject was clearly a hot one, as every professor chimed in.
“What kind of conditions did she have, anyway, to take so long picking a student?”
“Well, after all that deliberation, he’d better show some real results.”
“Ha! Of course he will. After all her shirking, she owes us that much.”
It was rare for positive gossip to flourish in the absence of its subject. Acasa had become the target of the martial arts professors’ speculation.
I can’t say I don’t understand.
For years, Acasa hadn’t taught a single class, doing nothing but searching for a disciple. Of course, the headmaster had approved this arrangement, and Acasa wouldn’t have joined the academy otherwise. However, people weren’t generous enough to consider such circumstances. They judged based on appearances, and when scrutinized, who could truly claim to be flawless? In that regard, Acasa was the perfect target. She had been practically invisible, and now, resurfacing to finally do something, she was vulnerable. This was the perfect opportunity to tear her down.
“What qualifications does he have, anyway, for her to snatch him up like that after being so secretive?” one professor questioned.
“It’s only because the headmaster is so lenient. If he were under me, I would’ve given him a proper scolding,” another declared, self-righteous.
“Haha, as always, Professor, you’re a model of diligence.”
“It’s just basic professionalism, hahaha!”
“Well, it’ll all come out in the dungeon evaluation anyway, so it’s a bit funny to even be talking about this.”
“Exactly!”
The laughter echoed. Acasa had secured every convenience from the headmaster, a fact they resented. They themselves had been born into noble families, securing their professor positions through privilege, and yet, they cried foul at the slightest advantage enjoyed by another.
Of course, Acasa wouldn’t care about any of this.
She would likely scoff at the situation, calling it a gathering of losers. Gainad, however, understood their behavior, not condoning their criticisms, but grasping the reason behind them.
Ignorance.
A peaceful world breeds complacency. The threat of Mains was now perceived as common murder rather than terrorism, and with all wars ceased, these professors had grown soft. He didn’t mean to belittle them, but they were talents nurtured in peace, untouched by war.
They’ve never experienced it.
They’d never witnessed the strength to push forward even while bleeding, never faced unwavering resolve, so their actions were as light as feathers. Indeed, those who had experienced war, including Gainad, remained silent, not participating in the gossip. They knew what Acasa was capable of, the terror she inspired on the battlefield.
“We must be getting old,” Gainad sighed, standing up.
“It’s the difference in experience,” another veteran agreed, joining him.
There was no point in remaining in the same space; it would only lower their own standards.
“Oh, Professor Gainad, where are you going?” An oblivious professor from the gossiping group called out.
“I’m going to the training grounds,” Gainad responded curtly, not giving him a chance to continue the conversation.
They’ll probably gossip even more once we’re gone.
At least they had some sense of decorum, choosing their words carefully in the presence of outsiders. They would likely criticize everything once he left, from Lee Seok-hyun’s 6th place ranking to his representative speech. The fact that such narrow-minded individuals existed among the Mirinae Academy professors was troubling.
It’s the major drawback of a meritocracy.
With that thought, Gainad recalled Lee Seok-hyun.
A peculiar fellow.
He had received offers from all the first-year representative professors, ultimately choosing Acasa, the most ideal mentor. Gainad couldn’t imagine what kind of training he was undergoing, but one thing was certain: to replicate Acasa’s battlefield prowess…
He’ll be worked to death.
Gainad was sure of it.
++++++++++
He collapsed, his body falling limp like a marionette with its strings cut.
“Ugh…” he groaned.
“Get up,” Acasa’s voice commanded.
His vision blurred, the sky appearing yellow. Acasa’s figure wavered before him, his hands and feet trembling uncontrollably. This was the result of just thirty minutes of training after hearing the name “Infinite Track.”
This is insane.
He finally understood why there was a training ground near Acasa’s residence. It wasn’t for her own training. This training ground, specifically designed for the Infinite Track inheritance, possessed numerous functions.
“Ugh…hack…” he coughed, struggling to breathe.
“It seems you have solid fundamentals. I couldn’t even last five minutes when I first started this training,” Acasa commented.
The most practical function of the training ground was its automatic cleaning system for vomit and its readily available water supply for dehydration. Of course, he couldn’t drink the water. Acasa’s logic was sound: why drink when you’re just going to throw it up again?
“Lee Seok-hyun, get up. I’ve praised you and given you time to breathe. It’s time to train again.”
“Yes…cough…of course…”
He coughed so much that he tasted blood. The worst part of this torturous training was that it hadn’t even properly begun.
Creak…creak…creak…
The sound of rusty metal emanated from his joints after only thirty minutes.
Crack…crack…crack…
Each movement sent agonizing signals through his bones, screaming that any further exertion would result in their shattering.
“It must be painful. That is Infinite Track.”
Infinite Track. A power conceived from the idea of endlessly extending one’s path, perpetually advancing. Its core principle: never fall, no matter the circumstance. The first requirement to achieve this insane notion of moving even after death was a resilient body. And here, “resilient” transcended ordinary comprehension.
If it weren’t for that, I wouldn’t be suffering like this.
The training began with weight-amplifying bracelets, enchanted to increase their mass. He had been shocked when she casually mentioned starting with 50kg on each limb, a total of 200kg. He hadn’t known; skipping through the training process while playing as Lee Seok-hyun meant he’d only seen the final results.
“To push the human body to its limits, you must first reach those limits,” she had said.
And the fastest way to reach those limits? A beating. It was a three-in-one deal: building endurance, strengthening resolve, and acclimating to pain. Acasa had pummeled him mercilessly, stopping just short of breaking his bones. It was as if she was kneading dough, expertly manipulating him into the perfect state of exhaustion, a state resembling the aftermath of a grueling battle. That was when he first vomited, finally understanding why she had advised against eating. As he looked up, the training ground floor began to move like a treadmill.
Thirty minutes of running.
He had collapsed, vomiting, and that brought him to his current predicament.
“Seeing you get up so quickly, you clearly have good stamina. My eye for disciples is truly impeccable.”
Despite possessing tireless stamina thanks to Ungbak’s internal organs, he had reached his limit. He gasped for breath, but Acasa continued to admire her own judgment.
“Do you know how someone who can’t use mana can defeat someone who can? Through extreme training.”
Acasa restarted the treadmill as she continued.
“I heard you defeated all the first-year students in hand-to-hand combat. But that’s only possible at the beginning. Do you think you can win against them under the same conditions when they grow stronger, become knights, and eventually knight commanders? Of course not. The gap between those who can use mana and those who can’t only widens with time, creating an insurmountable distance.”
Therefore, to bridge that gap, one couldn’t rely on conventional methods. You can do it. Acasa showered him with encouragement and praise, bolstering his self-esteem, ensuring he wouldn’t give up. Even though he was determined to endure no matter what, her words provided a strange comfort.
Running at 30km/h with an extra 200kg…
The problem was, this wasn’t even the beginning.
“You’re doing better than I expected. We can speed things up a bit.”
The gates of hell hadn’t even opened yet. That realization filled him with despair.
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