Chapter 212
“This is actually a pretty well-known training method.”
“Uh-huh.”
“There was a chef who got famous by cooking dishes from a manga, and even an athlete who won a competition using techniques from a manga… This proves that the things shown in manga aren’t always far-fetched.”
“Uh-huh. I see.”
“So, maybe the answer to Kana’s dilemma can also be found in a manga!”
“Yeah, yeah. Everything Da-eun says is absolutely right.”
I nodded along to Da-eun’s words, but as soon as she finished, I asked:
“So, can I leave now?”
“…You weren’t listening at all, were you?”
“No, I was listening.”
It’s just that I let it go in one ear and out the other, not that I didn’t hear it.
“I even agreed with you, didn’t I?”
“You sounded so lifeless! Your responses made it obvious you weren’t paying attention!”
“…You noticed?”
“How could I not…”
Well, Da-eun is pretty perceptive, so of course she’d catch on.
I wasn’t exactly trying to be subtle about my disinterest.
‘But still…’
Even knowing that, she kept talking until the end?
Amazing. Truly amazing.
She really was persistent about the strangest things. You had to admire that stubbornness.
“Where do you even think you’re going? It’s not like you have plans.”
“Anywhere.”
Even lying curled up in bed, wrapped in a blanket, scrolling through my phone all day would be more productive than sitting here listening to Da-eun.
Hearing my grumbling, Da-eun’s eyes took on a dreamy look.
“Rolled-up Kana… That sounds cute… Hah?! No, that’s not the point! I let my guard down for a moment…!”
Then she slapped her cheeks lightly, shaking off her drowsy expression.
Da-eun’s eyes now burned with determination.
Seeing that, I immediately realized:
“This is going to get annoying…”
While determination is generally a good thing…
In this situation, it was the last thing I needed.
Sure enough, my attempt to quickly escape was foiled by Da-eun grabbing my hand before I could leave.
Though, “grabbing” wasn’t quite the right word—it’s more accurate to say I let her grab me.
If I’d really wanted to dodge, her slow movements wouldn’t have been enough to catch me.
Even if she did manage to grab me, it wouldn’t have been hard to shake her off.
“Stop being so negative! It’s not like you have a brilliant plan right now anyway!”
“That doesn’t mean I have to waste time on something pointless.”
“How is this pointless, and how is it a waste of time?”
“There’s no way this kind of thing could help me achieve my goal.”
If something like this could lead to transcendence, someone would’ve done it already.
The idea of a normal—or below-average—kid suddenly becoming strong through unconventional training is pure manga fiction.
“Kana isn’t a boy, so you can do it!”
“…Boy or girl, it doesn’t matter.”
Gender isn’t the issue here.
“And what’s the big deal if you don’t reach your goal? Kana, you’ve said it yourself before—nothing happens overnight. You might fail, and you might fail again. But those failures are still valuable experiences. And those failures will help you achieve your goal in the end.”
“…You’re surprisingly eloquent.”
I almost opened my wallet, entranced.
If I’d had one, that is.
Why is it that Da-eun’s way with words only shines in moments like these?
“…Fine. I’ll give it a shot.”
In the end, I was the one who surrendered first.
Not because I thought Da-eun was right, but because I knew she’d nag me for days if I ignored her.
Rather than endure that, it seemed more strategic to humor her and go along with her idea.
It was a very calculated decision.
“Really?! You promise? If you back out later, you’ll have to swallow a thousand needles!”
“A thousand needles? …Why would I swallow that? Are you telling me to die if I break my promise?”
“Pfft… It’s not literal! It’s something people in Japan say when they make a promise. It’s kind of a joke, you know? Since manga is famous in Japan, I thought I’d use it.”
“…You’re really enjoying yourself. Next thing I know, you’ll be buying Japanese textbooks to learn the language.”
“Th-that would never happen…!”
Da-eun trailed off, avoiding my gaze.
Her behavior was highly suspicious.
Narrowing my eyes in suspicion, I watched as Da-eun, clearly flustered, blurted out in a loud voice:
“…What’s wrong with studying Japanese?! Learning a foreign language is never a loss! It’s only beneficial, okay?!”
“I didn’t say it was bad.”
“And, I already know basic Japanese. I’m confident in free talk too. I just bought the books in case Kana got interested!”
“So, why are you making excuses if I didn’t say it was bad?”
“The tone! It sounded super negative!”
“It’s all in your head.”
This was the truth, so I said it confidently.
I wasn’t thinking negatively about learning a language; I was being critical of Da-eun’s over-the-top behavior.
“…That’s even worse! I did this because I was thinking of you, Kana, but you don’t even appreciate my effort. You’re so mean….”
“I’m not mean.”
“Siii….”
I knew that knowing and being proficient in multiple languages was a good thing.
Even if it wasn’t useful now, it would definitely come in handy someday.
But just because I understood its importance didn’t mean I had any desire to study a new language.
With the method I learned from the Demonic Race and the Purifier Clan, I could communicate without any language barriers. Was there really a need to learn another language?
‘Though I can’t read or write with it.’
At the very least, I wouldn’t have to struggle while traveling abroad.
Da-eun, after hearing my logical explanation, looked dumbfounded, as if she’d been struck.
“…Now that I think about it, you’re right.”
Then, she looked completely deflated.
“What was the point of all that studying….”
“Do you want me to teach you too?”
“…I can do it too?”
“…Probably? You already know, Da-eun, but it’s all based on using mana, so you should be able to.”
If she got more proficient at handling mana, that is.
Da-eun’s eyes, which had sparkled with hope, suddenly turned cold.
“I’m not learning it. Kana struggled a lot with it, didn’t you?”
“Struggled a lot…? Did I?”
I did struggle, but it didn’t feel like it took that long.
“The world’s greatest prodigy, the one even gods envy—Kana—had a hard time with it. There’s no way someone like me, who’s just starting out, could manage. I’ll think about it after I’ve improved more.”
“…The world’s greatest prodigy, what?”
Also, is this the same person who just gave a whole speech about failure earlier?
“Forget it. Just tell me what I need to do.”
“…What?”
“You know, that manga-style training method you were talking about.”
She seemed so confident earlier, so she must have some idea in mind.
There’s no way she said that without thinking it through, right?
However, contrary to my expectations, Da-eun started sweating nervously at my words.
If someone saw her, they’d think she was standing under the blazing sun in the middle of summer.
Under my sharp gaze, Da-eun hesitantly opened her mouth.
“Uh… 100 push-ups, 100 sit-ups, 100 squats, and a 10-kilometer run…?”
“….”
“The important thing is that you can’t skip a single day! If you miss even one day, it’s all pointless.”
“….”
I nodded.
“I see.”
“Right?! Kana, you think it’s a good training—”
“I was wrong to trust anything you said.”
There’s a saying I found online: disappointment comes from having expectations in the first place.
I don’t know who said it, but whoever they are, they’ve clearly mastered the truth of the world.
At least, that’s what I thought.
***
Thud!
Suddenly, a loud noise startled me, and I instinctively turned my eyes toward the source of the sound.
There, I saw Da-eun standing with wide, rabbit-like eyes, having just dropped a stack of books on the floor.
It seemed the noise was louder than she’d expected, and it surprised even her.
In other words, this was a very Da-eun-like moment.
“Ah, you don’t think the downstairs neighbors will complain, do you?”
“If you were worried about that, you should’ve put it down gently in the first place.”
“But that wouldn’t have any dramatic flair. …Wait, no, it’s just that it was heavier than I thought.”
“How heavy could it possibly be? And if it’s heavy, you could’ve just used body reinforcement.”
“…That’s true? Why didn’t I think of that?”
Da-eun, who had been rubbing her sore arms, now wore a dumbfounded expression.
“I can answer Da-eun’s question.”
“Because Da-eun is a fool.”
“…Is it okay to say such mean things to your sister?”
“Because Da-eun is a fool.”
“No! I’m not a fool, I’m just not used to it yet…!”
“Sure. Let’s go with that.”
“I’m serious!”
If someone from Silia Online saw this, they might ask why I was wasting precious mana on trivial things.
In fact, I’ve been told that quite a few times.
But honestly, who cares?
It’s not like it runs out, so I’ll use it however I want.
They only complain because they can’t handle it properly themselves.
“Wow… That sounded just like an arrogant genius.”
“So, do you hate it?”
“Not at all!”
Da-eun let out a silly laugh, “Hehe.”
“That just makes you even cuter, so I like it!”
“….”
I couldn’t say anything in response to that.
I turned my head away from Da-eun, who was smiling brightly.
“…What are all these books?”
“Ah, Kana is embarrassed!”
“Are these mangas?”
Ignoring Da-eun’s persistent and mischievous gaze, I picked up a book.
It was filled with sound effects, dialogue, and illustrations.
I opened another book out of curiosity, and it was the same.
Looking at the various characters drawn in the books, I raised my head.
…Why did she suddenly bring these?
“Seeing is believing!”
Da-eun picked up a book and thrust it into my arms.
I unconsciously caught it, and she smiled mischievously.
“Rather than me explaining, wouldn’t it be best for Kana to see and try it yourself? Plus, if you develop an interest in manga, we could share a hobby and have even more in common!”
“Of course.”
She had ulterior motives.
With a sigh, I reluctantly opened the book.
—
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