Chapter 2 Endless Effort (1)
I explored the forest all day long.
I was barely able to discover a cave.
It was cramped and shabby, but it was enough to shelter from wind and rain.
Jace Crodaine.
This body had trained in swordsmanship since childhood.
Even though he had become unable to use mana.
Having invested over 10 years, that physicality still remained.
“…….”
I am a natural person.
I hypnotized myself like that and tried to live roughly.
Being so young, I wasn’t worried about getting sick.
‘Well, I should be able to last a month.’
Since it’s a forest, I won’t starve to death.
There are many ways, whether catching rabbits or picking fruit.
I boldly omitted cleanliness as well.
When I can’t even attend classes, is maintenance really necessary?
Occasionally, Student Council members would come to monitor, but generally, there was no one who would enter this place.
Rather comfortable.
If I had to fit in among the students right after being possessed, it would have been mentally overwhelming.
One month… It’s a bit long, but.
Let me calmly organize my thoughts.
“…….”
Memories of my previous life come to mind.
But they’re hazy like fog.
Fragmentary and imprecise feelings.
I wasn’t particularly anxious.
Since the memories were gradually becoming clearer, time would naturally resolve it.
Being possessed by a character from an unfamiliar world.
That mystery also remained unsolved, but it didn’t matter anyway.
Just obtaining a young and strong body was satisfying enough.
Of course, I planned to do my utmost best for a better life.
I examined the given task.
I had to manifest sword energy within a month.
In other words, I needed to change so I could handle mana…
It was realistically impossible.
If that were possible, Jace wouldn’t have been frustrated either.
‘Then…’
I’ll solve it through unrealistic methods.
I opened the exchange items in the system window.
[Mana Sensitivity Ability]
[Required Achievement Points: 10,000]
[Currently Owned Points: 6,000]
Wow, so easy!
Is it okay for it to be this easy?
Not only was exactly what I needed available, but the required points weren’t that high either.
Having secured 6,000 points from the first day.
Securing the remaining 4,000 points wouldn’t be that difficult.
“…….”
No, wait a minute.
It gives off a tutorial vibe, but you never know. It might actually be somewhat different…
Mana sensitivity ability would be exactly what it says.
It would only cure this body’s incurable disease.
The process of sensing and gathering mana would be necessary.
If I don’t make an effort, nothing will be resolved.
Also, receiving achievement points generously was just lucky.
Would they really continue giving them out?
I’d better give up such expectations.
[Sub Quest]
[Physical Training: Repeat 100 push-ups, 100 sit-ups, 100 squats, and 10km running daily]
[Reward: Achievement Points +100]
Hmm, now that I look at it, the reward is extremely stingy.
Only 100 points for all that hardship?
[Can be received daily upon repetition]
Then the story changes a bit.
I can secure 100 points steadily each day.
Even so, it’s only 3,000 points in a month.
Right now, it doesn’t reach the target.
Considering the time needed for mana sensitivity.
It would be desirable to obtain that ability within a week.
[Sub Quest]
[Sword Training: Swing the sword 1,000 times without rest]
[Reward: Achievement Points +100]
This is a one-time quest.
Even if repetition were possible, doing it daily would seem difficult.
If I overdo it carelessly, I might end up groaning in pain.
There are other quests besides these.
Time-wise, I felt it was a bit tight.
“…….”
What if I just go find Seria.
And make jokes following my instincts.
With a feeling like ‘come on, let someone get caught.’
If I extract achievement points like that?
“Eh, let’s not do that…”
The appearance would be too bad.
Just having an engagement broken is extremely fatal for a woman.
She’d be disappointed even now, but I didn’t want to receive contempt as well.
Above all…
I didn’t want to rely on something uncertain.
On the other hand, sub quests could have a killing-two-birds-with-one-stone effect.
Along with achievement points, my stamina would increase accordingly.
Effort never betrays.
Now is the time to practice those words.
Thus, hard training began.
*****
“HUFF, HUFF…”
Sweat poured down like rain.
I lay sprawled on the ground, panting.
Completing 100 repetitions of each exercise.
That process was tougher than expected.
It was exhausting to death.
But precisely because of that, I felt alive.
“HA, HAHA…”
Laughter came out without me knowing.
Actually, it felt somewhat unreal.
But after sweating profusely like this, even a trace of anxiety completely disappeared.
My violently beating heart.
That sensation was so ecstatic.
If this isn’t real, then what is?
With my current mood, I felt like I could accomplish anything.
[Achievement Unlocked: Unwavering Will]
[Reward: Achievement Points +100]
An unexpected harvest.
They give a little bit as a service concept.
At this rate, I’ll have more than enough to collect 10,000 points.
I’m just happy.
Is this what the joy of life is like?
“…….”
Jace, this foolish guy.
His limbs are perfectly fine, and he’s still quite young.
What made him so upset that he became a scoundrel?
Well, I understand to some extent.
I also had experiences of frustration.
Anyway…
From my perspective, I’m just grateful.
Yes, it’s a feeling.
Even if it takes quite a while, I’ll restore your honor someday.
As repayment for borrowing this body, I should do at least that much.
The evil deeds Jace committed.
I’ll have to bear people’s prejudices.
But when I weigh it all up, I benefited much more.
A swordsmanship genius who received an S-grade evaluation.
If things go well, I could even aim for the highest position.
I don’t have big greed.
But if it dangles before my eyes, I’ll reach out without hesitation.
****
Seria’s heart was extremely troubled.
“SIGH…”
She ended up sighing.
It was none other than because of her fiancé.
Kind, gentle, and dignified…
Not just in swordsmanship, but a man with an even stronger heart.
Jace was perfect enough to be everyone’s role model.
‘That accident ruined everything…’
Being unable to handle mana was extremely fatal.
It was virtually no different from having his right arm cut off.
No, it might be even worse than that.
The Crodaine family was a distinguished house among the best.
They had produced excellent talents for generations.
Because they fought bravely against the Demon Lord’s Army, they were enjoying their current prosperity.
However.
A problem had arisen with the family’s heir.
Even if he wouldn’t be expelled, he would naturally lose his qualification as heir.
‘Just in case…’
Because he had committed all sorts of evil deeds like a scoundrel.
Expulsion was also a situation that could be fully considered.
He wasn’t that kind of person.
Even if he had lost his abilities, he would still be a wonderful man.
Unable to accept reality, he was consumed by frustration.
“…….”
Now it’s irreversible.
Even if he repents his wrongs, his actions up to now remain clear mistakes.
Whatever thoughts Seria might harbor.
The family would proceed with breaking the engagement.
“…….”
The girl bit her lips tightly.
She should have embraced her fiancĂ©’s pain.
Even if he had been demanding of her, she should have stayed by his side until the end.
She tried to do so.
But because Jace’s misconduct gradually worsened.
At some point, she ended up cutting off her interest.
Regretful.
Painfully distressing to her heart.
That’s because.
Jace was the girl’s first love.
And not just any first love.
They had been looking at only each other for over 10 years.
How could she organize memories shared together since childhood?
It was too great a trial for the girl.
There was no way to express that pain and sadness.
Having dreamed of a future with the best partner.
Finding new love felt impossible.
Would things change a bit as time passed?
Even if so, could she endure until then?
She pondered over and over.
But it was already too late, making it meaningless.
She had to maintain distance decisively.
She should turn away as if he were a stranger.
She tried to resolve herself like that.
But he showed an unexpected side during the Summary Trial.
‘He wanted a chance…’
Even his eyes had changed.
It seemed like he had returned somewhat to his former self.
Had he truly repented his wrongs?
Anyway, the evil deeds he committed would remain as they were.
Also, regardless of punishment, if he couldn’t handle mana, he had no qualification to attend the academy.
Though it was a place of learning for students.
Hero Academy was closer to a military academy.
Its establishment purpose was to produce talents to face the Demon Lord’s Army.
In other words, one had to possess minimum skills.
The condition that punishment would be withdrawn only if he manifested sword energy meant exactly that.
‘Impossible.’
Jace’s energy center was broken.
Then there was no way to fix it.
He had only gained a one-month grace period.
His fate would eventually lead to expulsion.
Though truly regrettable, she was going to just quietly see him off.
She just wanted to hear one last word.
Even if false, she hoped he would say something hopeful.
However.
She ended up hearing something completely unexpected.
‘…Beautiful because it cannot be possessed?’
Was he hinting at eternal farewell?
Though that seemed to be the case, it was excessively romantic.
The girl couldn’t know how to interpret those words.
“Could it be…”
Suddenly, a certain assumption came to mind.
Perhaps he had committed evil deeds on purpose?
Being in a state no different from a cripple due to his broken energy center.
Unable to bear that his existence would become a stain on his fiancée.
By pretending to be a scoundrel, he provided justification for breaking the engagement…
“———!!”
When her thoughts reached that point.
Seria was startled.
It wasn’t an absurd assumption at all.
Jace was a man who would do that and more.
That kindness. That consideration.
So that she could cleanly give up.
He might have deceived everyone and acted like Human Trash…
“…….”
Frightening.
That absurd sacrifice gave her chills.
On the other hand, she felt even greater sadness.
It must have been painful enough to want to die, yet even in such a situation, he looked after his fiancée.
Who in the world would go that far?
She didn’t want to let go.
What if he lost some ability?
She could support him for life with that trivial thing.
“No, wait a minute…”
Jace didn’t just leave.
As if he would try something, he requested an opportunity.
Had he belatedly found a clue to fix his energy center?
Yet he still hinted at farewell.
That probably meant the possibility was almost nonexistent.
“…….”
Seria didn’t act rashly.
That assumption was just a trace of lingering attachment taking form.
“I need to check…”
She had to have a conversation.
To hear Jace’s true feelings.
Fortunately, there was still time.
After calmly organizing her thoughts, she should watch for an opportunity.
Struggling to console herself.
The girl tried hard to calm her sorrowful heart.
