Report
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Griffin Scans
Translator – Sleepyhead
Proofreader – Hero of death
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Chapter 10 - The Easiest Way to Acquire Skills
If we were to intuitively simplify the process of acquiring a new skill, we could say it occurs when a specific condition is met.
So then, can you acquire the same skill by simply repeating the same action over and over?
Are the conditions for obtaining a skill always the same?
The answer is no.
Skill generation is fluid.
To put it very simply, a skill corresponds to a single, specific condition.
This means that even if someone else, like me, gets hit by the Steel Doll, they won’t necessarily acquire the [Strong Wil]l skill.
Let’s stop with the headache-inducing theory for a moment and change the question:
If the mechanism for skill generation is just as I said, then what’s the easiest way to obtain a skill?
"That, I can say with certainty, is being the first to surpass the world."
If skills are treasures, then the world is a treasure island.
Naturally, the one who discovers the island first gets the most treasure.
Thanks to that reasoning, I managed to acquire three new skills between 7 PM and 11 PM.
I wanted to keep training, riding the high tide of gaining new skills but since dorm curfew was at midnight, I had to reluctantly call it a night.
Instead, the next morning at 5 AM, I returned to the exhibition hall.
There stood a vast waterfall, stretching out like a wall to the left and right, and at its base, a deep pool catching its mighty flow.
I dove deep into the black water, as if diving into an abyss.
The swirling current, driven by the force of the waterfall, shook my body. But I made it to the bottom with ease.
That was thanks to the skill I gained yesterday: <Thousand-Pound Fall>.
A skill that makes your body as heavy as a thousand pounds. I earned it after desperately resisting the current without getting swept away.
I planted both feet firmly on the floor in peace.
It was silent underwater, with no sunlight reaching the depths. I couldn’t see a thing.
I closed my eyes and began repeating movements from the “101 Routines to Become the Strongest” that Samchil had taught me.
Waves followed my fingertips, and my movements created new flows.
Focusing on the cool energy coiling through my body, I repeated the routine—
“Puhah!!”
Thirty minutes later, I surfaced and gasped for air.
“Huff… huff…”
I heaved violently, trying to refill my oxygen-starved lungs.
I was only able to stay underwater for so long thanks to the <Underwater Breathing> skill I’d acquired the day before.
Now that I was warmed up, it was time for physical conditioning.
The waterfall pool had a diameter of about 30 meters—big enough to be called a lake.
I swam across and back repeatedly, skimming the surface like a motorboat with fins on.
As I moved, I could feel the water splitting like a wedge in front of me.
That, too, was thanks to the <Swimming> skill.
After swimming for about an hour, I dove again—this time, into the dark where not even light reached—and began swinging my sword underwater.
Shwaaak.
I slashed the surging currents over and over. At some point, my blade, once dull, began to tingle with an aura of intent.
<Condition has been Met.>
<Skill 'Wave Slash' has been acquired>
<The future has changed.>
<Hot water is now available in your shower room.>
As soon as I saw the message, I could almost hear Samchil cheering in my head.
He had complained about how the hot water had been cut off despite the cold weather.
It was already past 8 AM.
That was the end of my morning training for today.
I opened my skill window to check my current skills:
<Skills:
Phone That Connects Time (SSS)
High-Speed Movement (C)
Basic Swordsmanship (C)
Thousand-Pound Fall (D)
Space Slash (D)
Sturdy Physique (D)
Iron Will (E)
Wave Slash (E)
Underwater Breathing (F)
Swimming (F)>
When I first enrolled, I had only four skills. Not even a week, I have gained four more.
Having lots of skills is always a good thing.
[Nice, nice! That’s more than enough for such a short time.]
Samchil’s voice echoed in my head again, full of joy probably because the showers had hot water again.
“You came because of the hot water, didn’t you?”
[Yeah. I seriously needed it. Lately, the water’s been ice cold.]
Just hearing his voice brought life back into the scene.
I suddenly realized—without him, I probably would’ve felt very alone.
"I thought the same thing the moment I heard the message."
[Really? To be honest, I’m looking forward to tomorrow. There’s an incredible skill you need to acquire outside the academy.]
"Oh right, tomorrow’s Saturday."
It was the first weekend since entering the academy.
I had already applied for an off-campus pass for the weekend.
[Kim Wootae won’t stay still. We need to get stronger quickly.]
Samchil knew countless ways to acquire skills.
Those methods included passing new warp points like now, or knowing the conditions to obtain skills like during the puppet training.
The meaning was clear.
I could acquire skills more easily than others.
[The mountain we must climb is high, and the waves are rough! We can’t win just by becoming normally strong.]
Samchil had said this more than once.
[We have three years. Six hours a day to talk. We’ll use this skill to the fullest and elevate our lives in 20 years to the top.]
We were reaffirming our resolve.
[I know the future. We’re going to scoop up all the opportunities that will unfold ahead of us.]
The thing that would benefit both my 37-year-old self and my 17-year-old self the most was his help.
And with his help, I would gain countless skills and grow faster than anyone else.
So, we had decided—
To dominate the academy through sheer skill.
—---
—-----------
The Green Garden, one of the beautifully landscaped gardens adorning the campus.
All the first-year cadets had gathered there by group.
Since it was their first training, the atmosphere was as lively as if they were going on a picnic.
“…W-what the?”
Ha Taesan widened his eyes as he looked toward one side.
Following his gaze, I saw a small girl with her long hair tied up.
Fair skin and a baby-like face—it was our group member, Lim Yu-ah.
“…..”
I was just as surprised to see her.
She was carrying a backpack larger than her upper body.
Clearly, not something needed for today’s training.
“Are you gonna drop out?”
Lee Junghoon cautiously asked. Everyone seemed to nod in agreement at that thought.
They didn’t know the reason, but with that much luggage, it seemed plausible.
“N-no. That’s not it. I just don’t know what might happen.”
Lim Yuah flushed with embarrassment and waved her hands.
So in the end, she had packed for training.
There wasn’t a strict limit on the weight or volume of what we could bring, but no one brought this much.
It would be uncomfortable during movement or battle situations, and for a mere 8-hour training, all this gear was overkill.
Usually, people just carried emergency potions or healing items in their inventory. No one—at least in our class—carried a huge backpack like hers.
Probably not in any other class either.
At that size, she could probably survive a month on a deserted island.
“I’m just a bit paranoid. But don’t worry—I won’t fall behind.”
“What exactly did you pack?”
At my question, she gleamed and showed me a small notebook. It had a drawing of the big backpack, and detailed notes about what was packed in each pocket.
Towel, tissues, snacks, clothes for hot weather, clothes for cold weather, flashbangs, smoke grenades, flint, lighter, sleeping bag…
She literally had everything.
“The towels are for, in case I get wet, to retain body temperature. The snacks are in case we get stranded. The clothes are for if…”
She kept saying "in case" as she justified everything.
If she was right, we weren’t training—we were preparing for survival.
Our other group member, Lee Mijin, snapped at her.
“You seriously think you won’t fall behind carrying all that? It’s just 8 hours of training. This is way too much. You’re supposed to consider weight and size—it’s basic. Don’t you know a big bag draws attention?”
Her tone was harsh, but not wrong.
“You’re right… But this backpack can camouflage like a chameleon. I’ve always carried it, even in middle school. I won’t be a burden.”
“Suit yourself.”
Lee Mi-jin turned away coldly, and Lim Yuah gave an awkward smile.
It was clearly over the top. Since this was group training, one person lagging could cause trouble for the rest.
Now that I thought about it, there had always been a big white object in the classroom during basic training.
I hadn’t realized it belonged to Lim Yuah.
So… she really always carries that bag?
Just then, Instructor Kim Hoon appeared. Unlike usual, he wasn’t alone.
Four unfamiliar instructors followed behind him.
“These are assistant instructors who will help supervise and evaluate your training.”
The instructors briefly introduced themselves one by one.
With 10 groups and about 50 cadets to assess, having assistants was essential.
They all gave off strong, heavy presences like Instructor Kim Hoon.
Once introductions ended, we were given the explanation for today’s training.
“Today’s training is simple. Just reach the destination within the time limit. You’ll be warped to an area with the highest mountain. At the peak, there is a return portal. The time limit is 8 hours. Fail to return in time and you’re disqualified with zero points.”
That was it. No further explanation.
“To your positions.”
At his words, the assistant instructors led us to the center of the garden.
There, we found a massive tree surrounded by a fence.
It was so huge we had to crane our necks just to see the top.
Its exposed roots formed gaps that revealed a dark space below—our warp point.
Each of the 10 teams gathered around the tree.
Warp points used for training were specially controlled by the academy, allowing cadets to be teleported to designated areas.
To enter as a group, we just had to be physically touching.
“Begin the training.”
At the instructor’s signal, we stepped between the roots that could each be mistaken for a whole tree.
The instructions had been simple, but this couldn’t just be a matter of running to a destination.
As we approached the darkness, my heart began to race. It was our first training, after all.
[Here’s a hint: Even though it’s called training, remember that it’s ultimately a test.]
I nodded at Samchil’s words.
He had told me he would avoid interfering as much as possible during training.
The purpose of training wasn’t just grades—I needed to become strong on my own.
As these thoughts passed through my mind, the darkness swallowed my vision.
I felt as though I were being sucked in, and the ground beneath my feet vanished.
Suddenly, a sea of green filled my sight.
My group and I were falling from the sky, straight toward the green sea.
Here, the “green sea” didn’t mean literal water—
It was a forest of dense, towering trees.
“WAAAAAAH!!”
My teammates’ screams echoed through the vast sky.
~~~~~~~~~~~~Chapter End~~~~~~~~~~~~
