Ch.340340 – A Child Afraid of Love’s Weight

<340 – A Child Afraid of the Weight of Love>

Zhang knows the reality of assassin training.

After all, he grew up receiving such education himself.

Emotions are weaknesses that kill oneself.

The more an assassin betrays the expectations placed on emotions and erases them from their heart, the stronger they become.

Oknodie was an ideal assassin in that regard.

She was genuinely unfamiliar with many emotions, to the point where it made sense why she was stronger than him.

It wasn’t just fear she didn’t know.

She didn’t understand social norms or human hearts either.

And now, of all things, that child was awakening to attachment.

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you.”

“Really?”

Zhang spoke more sternly to the intrigued Oknodie.

“But you like Titosoga too.”

“That’s different from this.”

How could a friend’s “like” be the same as a lover’s “love”?

“How old is this person anyway?”

“Hmm… 18?”

“Oknodie, you’re 11, right?”

“Don’t know. Maybe?”

“…”

A child who doesn’t even know her own age.

A perfected assassin weapon who never experienced proper attachment from parents.

And now this child is acquiring a weakness.

No wonder he felt uneasy about it.

“If Oknodie takes a taste, that person will immediately face harsh public scrutiny.”

“Why should I care about others’ opinions?”

“They’ll also face your Papa’s scrutiny.”

“Ah. That’s a bit…”

“If Papa attacks them while saying something like ‘I cannot allow someone weaker than me,’ would you be able to protect them?”

“Honestly, it would be difficult right now!”

“See? Assassin masters are all like that. Friendship might be barely acceptable, but if you harbor those kinds of feelings, they’ll definitely die.”

The small flower on the mandrake stem drooped like a frightened child.

“Don’t forget, Oknodie. You might be fine, but the person who receives your feelings will certainly die.”

* *

Actually, I never really disliked the Foundation.

A global criminal organization.

An obviously suspicious shadow organization.

The Wiheomhae Foundation, which didn’t appear in other playthroughs but was specially revealed in this one.

A massive evil organization run by the “Head” of one of the three great evils, a secret society.

I didn’t particularly care about such facts.

What I saw was Papa’s abundant early support.

The massive services provided even during summer vacation.

Honestly, I thought he was the top 0.1% best Papa one could get from the random Papa event.

If Papa hadn’t been the chairman of the Wiheomhae Foundation and the head of a secret society, my current growth would have taken at least 6 months, maybe even a year longer!

Until now, far from being a hindrance, he had been helpful, earning plenty of goodwill from me, but after Zhang’s advice, my thinking changed significantly.

Back when I was 230cm tall, I naturally never saw the possibility of a new event—a romance event with a male character.

New food.

New collectibles.

As a veteran player who can’t resist anything new, I can’t help but sample new events!

‘If the Foundation interferes with my event, that’s a different story.’

Papa also made threats before we parted.

-Remember this. Since you’ve rejected my goodwill, my “playfulness” might be directed at you from now on. For instance, Mr. Sing might find himself frequently visited by suspiciously strong Eastern assassins.

That if I don’t completely follow his policies, he’ll make me regret it.

But Sing was already on his bad side.

If he’s going to send assassins anyway, would a little romance sampling make any difference?

━━━

Tuesday and Thursday, 1st period, 9:00 – 11:00.

Professor Diogenes’ advanced class common required course.

“Advanced Mana Enhancement” lecture.

━━━

A time when advanced class students gather to practice mana cultivation methods and mana refinement techniques to efficiently accumulate mana in their bodies and train physically.

Having mastered the basics long ago, I sneaked over to Sing’s vicinity, avoiding Professor Diogenes’ gaze.

“Sing. Your mana cultivation path is incorrect. Let me help you!”

“Intervening during cultivation is no different from holding someone’s heart in your hand, ready to burst it at any moment. Are you asking me to entrust my life to you?”

“Eh! I would never do something so terrible!”

“…I see. If that had been your intention, you would have made your move at the chairman’s mansion.”

Sing closed his eyes and entrusted his back to me obediently.

Having learned the special Eastern mana cultivation method called “Internal Energy Technique,” Sing’s cultivation quality was quite high.

It wasn’t an orthodox method that accumulated power throughout the body by increasing qi purity, but it was an established technique from a prestigious family that slightly lowered purity while greatly increasing qi accumulation speed.

‘It puts some strain on the blood vessels, and the stability of qi and blood deteriorates with each major battle, making it perfect for shortening one’s lifespan if frequent intense combat occurs?’

Still, I didn’t care originally.

Students just need to stay alive until graduation, right?

There was even a time when it was popular to guide colleagues’ techniques in a more destructive direction to increase DPS in boss battles, creating time-limited parties.

My sturdy 230cm build was great material for experimenting with all sorts of crazy techniques, making it good for learning and mastering practical mana cultivation methods through direct bodily experience.

Just as past hardships become fond memories when looking back, these were quite enjoyable memories for me too.

“!!”

Mana cultivation methods typically have taboos.

Don’t go against the flow.

The more damage to mana roads and qi vessels, the lower the stability and lifespan as a mana user.

Going against the flow of mana is the craziest act that most rapidly shortens one’s lifespan as a mage or swordsman.

I casually committed the taboo technique known as reverse flow.

Even with his eyes closed and body entrusted to me, I could feel Sing’s alarm, but he had already given himself over, right?

This body is mine now.

Hehe.

Now you can never go back to ordinary cultivation methods!

I need to make you sturdy enough to survive even if Papa sends assassins to harass you!

[Reverse Flow]

As I caused qi stagnation by reversing part of the qi flow, the mana went wild in confusion like a major collision accident.

For a player with low proficiency, the qi would crash violently, causing them to vomit blood, bruise and tear their mana roads and qi vessels, and suffer permanent stat loss or penalties.

But under my skilled guidance, Sing’s energy was divided into three paths: one moving forward, one returning, and one rotating between them to amplify power before firing to the next section.

Energy that was moving with an output of 10 suddenly increases to 20, and instead of colliding and causing internal injuries, it rotates in an orderly path, gaining more power and breaking through to the next section with a force of 50.

Like a roller coaster following a downhill path through rotating courses to go faster and farther!

“Stop flinching. I’m guiding you, so trust me and leave your body to me. It’s okay, you won’t die!”

Though Sing seemed to have a lot to say, I kept expanding the amplification circuit, preventing him from uttering a word.

[Explosive Heart Technique has been added to Sing’s Internal Energy Method.]

[Second Stage Explosive Heart Technique has been added to Sing’s Internal Energy Method.]

[Multi-stage Explosive Heart Technique has been added to Sing’s Internal Energy Method.]

[The stability of Sing’s Internal Energy Method decreases.]

[The explosive power of Sing’s Internal Energy Method increases dramatically.]

[An adaptation period forms for Sing’s Internal Energy Method.]

[If the established path is not solidified through consistent energy circulation during the adaptation period, the path will scatter and return to the original Internal Energy Method.]

[If the adaptation period is safely passed, the grade and performance of the Internal Energy Method will improve.]

Having barely completed the circulation, Sing glared at me with a face that had nearly died.

“Are you angry?”

“How could I not be? Such a dangerous technique…”

Well, anyone would be angry if someone else put them in danger. Even if it ultimately benefits them, taking the risk itself can be infuriating.

If they didn’t request it themselves, it wouldn’t be strange to be despised and called a meddler.

But if you provide a clear solution along with it, you become a benefactor rather than a meddler or know-it-all!

“If you’re done, eat this!”

“What is this pitch-black dish that reeks of burning?”

“It’s a rare dish that increases your explosion resistance, making your internal organs, blood vessels, and qi vessels stronger when you eat it!”

“!!”

“It’s super rare, you know? I only have one and haven’t even collected it myself, but I’m giving it to you because I got it for free from Papa!”

Honestly, it’s a dish I’m reluctant to give away.

While it’s only rare grade, for someone using amplification circuits or the Explosive Heart Technique, it’s more effective than a unique dish.

It’s practically a custom elixir!

But Sing isn’t just anyone, right?

He’s a person of interest with potential for new events.

To see the event, Sing needs to become strong enough to survive Papa’s interference, so I need to thoroughly develop him as a prerequisite for the event.

“Is this the chairman’s doing?”

“What is?”

“I’m asking if it was that chairman who taught you this brutal technique, this mana cultivation method.”

But newbies really don’t know how to accept gifts.

If it were me, I would have accepted it gratefully without complaint.

“Does that matter? If you eat this food, your output will increase dramatically without any risk or lifespan reduction…”

As I was about to explain the true value of the entertainment dish <Rare Dark Matter>, Sing interrupted me by raising his scabbard to my mouth.

“It matters.”

“!”

“The unfairness you must have experienced with that body. The pain of being manipulated according to your family’s wishes. I told you that matters more to me.”

This person.

Was he always like this?

His serious expression keeps making me blank out.

“Um, well… although it’s a landmine food with absolutely no taste when eating, the effect is really good… if you don’t like it, maybe another food with similar effects…”

For reasons I couldn’t understand, I nervously changed the subject, and Sing promptly picked up the dish.

A food that looks thoroughly burnt on the outside.

Despite its appearance suggesting it would be harmful to the body, Sing chewed and swallowed the crunchy Rare Dark Matter.

Like someone who couldn’t taste.

Like someone whose senses were numbed by pain greater than gustatory suffering.

Watching that scene, I thought:

‘It must taste better than it looks. I should get another one for Morb later!’

Perhaps it was a thought that came to mind as if I were trying to escape.