Part 36
"Ahh—ouch…
My head… my head hurts so much!"
Yeah… after I blew up the outhouse wall and saw the old man doing his business, he chased me all over the forest.
And when he finally caught me, he smacked me on the head with a few sticks until I saw stars.
Anyway…
A whole day has passed since that incident, and I finally understood how the technique works.
But there were problems…
First, the technique only worked when I stayed completely still.
If I tried to move, even a little, it became insanely difficult.
Second, it drained a huge amount of energy.
I could barely use it three times before I was completely exhausted—
Which meant I'd be useless for the rest of the exam.
Third, this was my only technique.
Against the real antagonists, I had no chance.
Especially against Harry, who had two magics—Ice and Light.
Basically, I had no chance of getting into the top four.
And Lucas's claim that the entrance exam results were rigged would be proven true.
I was stuck.
Until I realized something:
I needed the old man's help.
He clearly knew how to trick the brain, how to focus energy, and probably knew the deeper secrets of this technique too.
So I went to him.
He was gathering mushrooms.
"Hey, um… can you—"
He raised his hand, telling me to shut up.
Damn old man.
If I didn't need him so badly…
He finally filled his basket and walked away.
"What the—?"
I followed him.
"Hey, can you teach me?"
He stopped, looked at me…
Then turned around and walked away again.
What was that supposed to mean?
Was he trying to ghost me?
I followed him into the house.
He went to the pot, dumped the mushrooms in, filled a bowl, sat down, and—
"So. Teach you what?"
"Huh? Oh—
The technique. The energy‑focusing thing."
He burst out laughing.
Laughing.
At me.
"What? Did I tell a joke?"
"No, no… haha…
You idiot. Your body isn't even healed yet, and you want to use a technique this heavy?"
"What's wrong with that?"
"Nothing's wrong.
Except you'll collapse again, fall into the swamp, and beg me for your life.
Hahaha."
"…Funny."
"At least if I lose to Harry, I'll know I tried."
"Oh? Now it's interesting.
Tell me the real reason you want this.
Then I'll teach you."
"Well… how do I say this…"
"Spit it out."
(…Better tell him the truth. Maybe he'll pity me.)
"Fine.
I'm a Breach.
My whole family line is Breach.
Until I turned ten and it was discovered I had Wind Magic.
The church took me in, called me a miracle, trained me under Ziar.
Then I passed the Elite Academy entrance exam.
But rumors spread that the church and the Hyper family rigged the results for me.
Some even said my father wasn't my real father, that I was a bastard child from my mother's affair.
So if I don't get into the top four, everyone will believe those rumors.
I need to prove I earned my place.
I need to prove I'm Anthony Breach's real son."
"Haha.
Good story.
But it's a lie."
Of course he didn't believe me.
So I dropped to the floor and begged.
"I know you don't believe me.
I know it sounds like a lie.
But please—help me.
Help me.
I'm tired of this world.
I found peace here with you—
No, wait, that came out wrong—
Just help me. I'll do anything. Anything!"
The old man thought for a moment.
"Tell me…
What things do you enjoy doing the most?"
"…Huh?"
"You heard me.
It's necessary for your training."
"Oh. Uh…
I like cooking… cleaning… organizing… and drawing."
"Good.
From now on, you'll cook, clean the house, and draw."
And he walked away.
"What?
What does that have to do with anything?!"
He returned with a cloth, some papers, and a pencil.
"You can start now."
---
…Four days later…
I grabbed some mushrooms and chopped them.
Then sliced tomatoes and green peppers, made a sauce—
I was making pizza.
There was a perfect fire pit for it.
I placed the raw pizza on bricks near the fire and started cleaning the house while it cooked.
I tied a cloth around my face and head and got to work.
The place was filthy.
It took hours.
The smell of pizza filled the air.
I took it off the fire, put another one to cook, and kept cleaning.
After several hours, the house was spotless.
I sat down to eat.
It was delicious.
Then I glanced at the mirror.
Today I had finally removed my bandages.
My hair—
From all the near‑death fear—
Had turned almost white.
Now it was silver.
There were lines on my face, stitches near my eye,
Scars all over my chest and stomach.
I had really been close to dying.
I looked away and continued drawing.
A picture of myself—
Silver hair, muscular body, academy uniform, bow in hand, wind magic swirling around me.
It was almost finished when I heard the door.
The old man had returned.
I ignored him and kept drawing.
He noticed the pizza and started eating.
In the past four days, I had cooked all the meals.
He didn't say a word.
What was this?
Less than five days left until the exam, and I hadn't trained at all.
I was cooking and cleaning like a housewife.
What was I supposed to do—fight with cooking skills?
My patience was running out.
"Excuse me… can I ask something?"
He flinched, lost in thought, then looked at me.
"You told me to do things I enjoy.
But what does cooking have to do with focusing energy?
Less than five days left!
I haven't trained at all!
I asked for your help to prove myself, and now—"
I didn't even finish.
"Come to the yard."
"What?"
He walked outside.
I followed.
He pointed at a tall wooden post.
"Stand there."
I did.
"Now do exactly what I say.
First—visualize your brain."
I did.
"Now attack the post."
I did.
"Now focus your energy and strike!"
I struck.
BOOM.
A horrible cracking sound.
I opened my eyes—
Half the post was gone.
Turned to powder.
I was speechless.
"See?" he said.
"No, I was blind. Only you saw it."
"Don't get smart with me.
You saw the result."
"…Yeah. I did."
"And before this, you couldn't do it.
Do you know why?"
"…No?"
"Because now you're calm."
"What does that have to do with anything?"
"I told you to do things you enjoy, didn't I?"
"Yes."
"And didn't you feel calm?"
"No. I don't feel anything. I'm emotionally dead."
"Exactly.
Before, you were stressed about the exam.
Stress disrupts mana flow in your veins.
Your mana connects your body to your brain and heart.
When you're stressed, the flow becomes unstable.
Your energy scatters.
Your strikes become weak.
But when you're calm, mana flows evenly.
You can focus it anywhere you want.
And your strikes become powerful."
"…Oh.
Yeah.
I get it."
"Explain it."
"Uh… short version:
Calm mind = strong strikes."
"Heh.
Good.
Now do you understand why you shouldn't doubt my decisions?"
I immediately dropped to my knees.
"Yes, master!"
"Heh.
Good.
Since you're so pitiful—
Fine.
I'll teach you.
Not just this technique,
But how to focus energy in your legs, arms, and whole body."
(Oh my god…
If he really teaches me all that…
Who could possibly beat me?)
"But you might die in the process.
Are you willing?"
"Yes, master."
"Good.
Your real training begins tomorrow.
Four days until the exam."
End of Part 36