CH 268

What is needed to become strong? If asked that, the first thing that comes to my mind… it’s ‘effort’.

It’s definitely not ‘talent’. Talent might be something that can leapfrog one’s efforts to tenfold results, but no matter how much talent one might possess, if you don’t take action to turn zero into one, it’s meaningless. Hence, the absolute necessity was undoubtedly effort.

Therefore, I strive to become stronger. However, the problem here was that I had been making normal efforts up to now.

That’s obvious, isn’t it? Whether it’s a mercenary or an adventurer, since I’m risking my life doing work outside a town infested with demonic beasts, there’s no way I’m neglecting efforts and training to become stronger.

Moreover, if I continued to work for my livelihood, I won’t rest enough to dull my body or skills. You may die from underestimating your own strength and challenging a powerful enemy, or die from a little carelessness or pride, but it’s impossible to die because your body has become dull.

In short, my current state is ‘average strength that an ordinary person can reach through normal effort’. I needed to break through this to keep up with Alexis and the others… but honestly, it was difficult on my own. That’s why I didn’t hesitate to ask that person for help.

“Alright, let’s start training!”

“Yes! Thank you, Gonzo-san.”

I energetically responded to Gonzo, who was smiling as if he’s enjoying himself. Gonzo gladly accepted my request to become stronger as soon as possible, at least not to be a burden on Alexis and the others. That’s why I’m out of town with him, just the two of us, on our rest day after completing the request.

“So, what kind of training will we do specifically?”

“Hahaha, don’t rush. And sorry to disappoint, but the training itself is very ordinary. Running, punching… in your case, swinging a sword, lifting heavy things. Just repeating such obvious things.”

“Ah, I see.”

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“Ho?”

Gonzo’s eyebrows twitched slightly at my slightly disappointed but easily accepting response.

“Those who know my muscles, think that I’m doing some special training. But you’re not?”

“I indeed hoped there would be some amazing training method, but from the perspective of an ordinary person like me, isn’t that how the world works?”

If you’re a chosen one like Alexis or a genius like Rouge, it’s probably different. But I’m just an ordinary person. If I don’t have anything special, all I can do is stack up the obvious.

“Hmm. But if you understand that, why did you ask for my help?”

“Well, you know, with this kind of training, if you do it alone, you tend to slack off, don’t you? I thought Gonzo-san would push me just right.”

Unless it’s a life-threatening situation, it’s difficult to push yourself to the limit. The limit that one is aware of is about three steps short of the real limit.

On the other hand, if you push too hard and get injured, everything will be ruined. Therefore, it’s important to accurately determine the limit point, and there’s no doubt that Gonzo, who was undoubtedly working out, was perfect for that. There’s also the peace of mind that there’s recovery magic in case of emergency. He’s just the right person to ask for training.

Gonzo smiled as if he understood my thoughts.

“Fufufu, I see… if you have such a down-to-earth mindset, you might be able to do it.”

“… What do you mean?”

Feeling a slightly chilly thing behind his smile,

I nervously asked. Then, Gonzo placed his hand on my shoulder with a serious expression.

“Listen, kid. I certainly said I don’t have any special training. But I didn’t say there’s no special way to train. There is a way to become explosively stronger in a short period of time.”

“Eh!? What is-“

“But!”

Gonzo’s hand on my shoulder tightens.

“It’s going to be tough, tremendously so. I’m going to teach you that method now.”

“…Are you sure?”

“Sure. After hearing the story, it’s up to you whether to do it or not. The method of training is… to use rough recovery magic after intense exercise.”

“Rough!? And recovery magic…?”

“Your reaction indicates that you know it. Recovery magic… it returns the body to its original state. Muscles increase by enduring the pain after exercise… It’s a change called growth. Therefore, if you use recovery magic, the muscles will not grow. Are you following?”

“Yes.”

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What Gonzo said was common sense to anyone who has ever thought about training their body. Therefore, Gonzo continued the conversation, as I nodded in understanding.

“That’s where the rough recovery magic comes in. The ‘rough’ part is important, for example, something like this…[Healing Aura].”

Gonzo displayed his healing power on my shoulder. Of course, I was not injured, so I didn’t feel any effects, but I did sense that the light was subtly weaker.

“That’s recovery magic without an incantation. In my case, it heals about 80 to 90 percent, but the remaining 10 percent stays as is… in other words, even if you use recovery magic, about 10 percent of the muscle growth remains as if you didn’t use it. Of course, there’s no point in recovering just for that. In fact, it would be a loss just to recover. But by doing so, you can start training again immediately.”

“Immediately? Wait, you mean…!?”

“Correct. You can train as many times a day as you want, which normally you could only do every other day! As long as your spirit doesn’t break, you can do it tens or hundreds of times!”

“…”

At that answer, I was speechless. No, I understand. I get what he’s saying, but that’s…

“Heh, I thought you’d make that face. Of course. In this training, the pain during the training is not reduced at all. And yet, the effect is only a tenth of the normal. It’s meaningless unless you train at least ten times the normal amount, and even if you train twenty times as much, you only get twice the effect. No sane person would do it.”

“…But you did it, didn’t you, Gonzo-san?”

When I asked, half in conviction, Gonzo smiled wryly.

“That’s right. Didn’t I say it? Faith and muscles, an unbreakable spirit, that’s the secret to strength.”

“…I’ll do it.”

My hesitation was momentary. Crushing the budding doubts, I put my determination into words.

The only way for an ordinary person to catch up with a genius is to keep trying. But if time flows equally for everyone, an ordinary person can never catch up with a genius.

So, what should I do? Ah, the answer was right here. A method to compress time, not with talent, but with effort, turning two days into one, two years into one, has been presented to me.

There’s no reason not to jump at it. As I gazed straight at Gonzo, he, too, returned my gaze.

“It’s a tough, painful, and long road. There’s almost no point in giving up after doing twenty times the work for a month or two. Are you still going to do it?”

“I will. I have… a reason why I absolutely can’t be left behind by everyone.”

My desire to return home… that thought drives me strongly. To that familiar world, to the friends I left without saying goodbye. And above all… for the promise we made somewhere, someday, “See you again.”

“That’s the spirit! Then I will devote myself to training you! Even if you cry and apologize, I won’t forgive you, so be prepared for that!”

“Yeah! That’s what I want!”

There’s no easy way. But if there’s a future ahead of the hardship, I can keep going no matter how far. While inwardly laughing at how I’ve become such a passionate guy, I started moving towards transcending being ordinary.