Chapter 29

Announcement: Pick one of the following Sub-Skills for the Skill: [Sword Mastery]

|Military Standard| |Self-Taught| |Style Creator| |Adaptive Swordsman|

Crimson stared at the options; it was the first time he’d heard of Sub-Skills.

“Captain, once I reached [Sword Mastery X] I received a prompt to pick a Sub-Skill.”

“It’s about time! I thought you’d reach X half an hour ago…get up to speak to me.”

Crimson lay flat on his back on the ground, his Stamina was just barely in the double digits (11), he’d lost all feeling in his legs, and his Stamina was [Suspended]. It had been a long day.

The only thing that had let him keep up with Mars far longer than the previous day was the [Stamina Meditation] skill he’d gotten from the breathing technique of W.C. Kung Fu. When he first got the skill it had sped up his Stamina regen by enough to remove his [Suspended] tag and change it to a [Slowed] tag. Once it leveled up it was enough to remove his [Suspended] tag entirely. The only limitation was that he had to hold still for [Stamina Meditation] to work and it only removed his [Suspended] tag while it was in use.

Despite the limitations it was still an impressive skill that, apparently, he invented:

[Stamina Meditation]: A secret art for quickening the recovery of stamina.

Lore: A unique skill created through the efforts of Crimson Hokori by using a ridiculous breathing pattern. It’s no wonder that he created this skill: he’s the only one crazy enough to waste time doing that.

Bonus: Increase the effectiveness of the vitality stat every level. Base 1.5x, Second level x2 increases by 1x every level after.

He hadn’t asked Lena yet, because he didn’t have the chance, but he wondered why nobody else had created the skill, or one like it.

“Yes sir.”

He hauled himself to his feet, almost too tired to be excited about Sub-Skills, ALMOST.

“Now, what options are available to you recruit?”

“The first is called {Military Standard}, the second is called {Self-Taught}-“

“Don’t pick {Self-Taught} recruit. Don’t even consider it an option, you would only weaken yourself if you picked it.”

“Yes sir!”

“Continue.”

“Yes sir! The third option is called {Style Creation}, and the fourth is called {Adaptive Swordsman}.”

“Hmmm.” Mars struck up the thinking pose that is standard in all worlds: rubbing his chin. The only difference is that he had giant hands, like bear paws, that covered half of his face easily.

“I can only guide you in your choice recruit, the final choice is yours, but I can only really tell you about three of them anyway.”

“Thank you for your help sir!”

Mars grunted in return, “I’ll repeat what I said earlier: don’t pick {Self-Taught}, it only gives bonuses to leveling your [Sword Mastery] when you’re using techniques you figured out yourself; it reduces the amount of XP you get from leveling a technique you’ve learned from someone else. It has a nickname: The Shackles. It acts like shackles and keeps you bound and week. Avoid this one like it’s your mother in-law.”

Crimson had to hold in a snigger. It looks like this world as a similar stereotype as in my last one.

“I know quite a bit about {Style Creator} and {Military Standard}. The first helps you create your own individual fighting style and the conditions to unlock it are reasonably obscure, but my own Sword Master had it. He used to create the one I picked {Military Standard}.”

“I thought you were a Spearman sir.”

“I started out as a Swordsman before switching, now shut up and listen.”

“Yes sir.”

“{Style Creation} is a good pick if you want to forge your own path, but if you want to get strong faster, I’d recommend {Military Standard} it’s the style I’ve been teaching you; don’t let it’s name fool you: it is actually a powerful style. Don’t ever underestimate a master of it.”

“And the last one?”

“I have never seen the {Adaptive Swordsman} Sub-Skill before recruit. It’s not like everyone has access to the same Sub-Skills after all. My apologies recruit, it could be the best of the bunch, but without knowing more I’d suggest you not pick it.”

“Thank you for your counsel Captain Ursidae.”

Mars grunted in response, “I’ll leave you to it recruit. You’d better hurry if you want to make it to the cafeteria.”

Crimson looked at the sky while Mars walked away; the sun was starting to set. He quickly pushed himself back to his feet. The [Suspended] tag was still on his Stamina, but it was full because he was using [Stamina Meditation] during the whole conversation.

I have enough Stamina to make it there in time if I run!

He ran to the cafeteria, burning through his now limited Stamina.

He burst through the castle front entrance, fortunately it was mostly empty, and jogged down the right corridor to the cafeteria. He made it just in time to hop into line to pick up some food. Unfortunately all that was left was the unwanted dregs that had been left behind by the other DGs-not that he cared, so long as he could eat.

The room was mostly empty, all the DGs had already finished their meals, but there were some maids wiping down the tables. One of them, an extraordinarily pretty young woman who appeared to be in her 20s approached his table carrying a tray. She had blonde hair, blue eyes, and an expression of serene happiness on her face.

“That food is not good enough for one such as you, please, take this.”

She presented Crimson with a tray of food, it was clearly better made than what he had grabbed, and it also had a piece of cake on it.

He looked at her in confusion, “Why would you give this to me? I didn’t do anything to earn it.”

She dismissively waved off his comment and responded, “I just wanted to perform two acts of kindness this evening. Mind if I have a seat?”

She sat without waiting for his response.

Acts of kindness…that’s not suspicious AT ALL.

“My second act of kindness is a warning: you should stay away from that Fox-Kin maid you had breakfast with. She’s an evil temptress that fooled her highness Princess Rhinese into letting her stay in the castle as a maid, after she ruined the Crown Prince. She is a vile waste of flesh that should be executed as soon as possible for her heinous crimes…do not involve yourself with her further.”

Crimson listened to that whole monologue without saying anything, his outward visage completely calm, but inside he was a seething ball of rage. He could read this girl’s type like a book; if she was a high school girl she’d be the popular girl that spreads rumors and bullies the other girls. It wasn’t hard: deciding who to trust.

“Thank you for your…KIND…advice. I will take it into consideration.”

She smiled, sickly sweet, the smug satisfaction leaking through her expression as she stood and bowed, “Thank you for not letting that temptress get another hold on our castle.” She clearly believed that he wouldn’t say no-that he was playing hard to get.

She walked away, even her posture showed the haughty pride that had originally been hidden. Fortunately she’d never introduced herself: she wasn’t interested in getting involved with Crimson further.

He glanced down at the tray she had brought him and hoped that she had made it herself as he went back to the tray he had grabbed-ignoring it.

Cake was nutritionally horrible anyway.

- - - - -

Crimson lay in bed, Lena sat on his chest as he asked the question that he’d been burning to ask for the past hour, “What does {Adaptive Swordsman} do?”

“It really isn’t as amazing as it sounds master,” Professor Lena was back, “It gives bonuses to learning a bunch of different techniques from different styles, even ones owned by more intelligent monsters.”

“That actually sounds really good.”

“It’s not master, it only provides a bonus to LEARNING new techniques, not mastering them. It’s really a Jack-of-All Sub-Skill. It even has a debuff that slows your [Sword Mastery]’s experience when you grind with stuff you already know.”

“Ahh, yes. I see what you mean Lena. It really isn’t that good.”

“What will you go with master?”

He opened the Sub-Skill selection page.

“I’ll go with…”

Announcement: Pick one of the following Sub-Skills for the Skill: [Sword Mastery]

|Military Standard| |Self-Taught| >>|Style Creator|<< |Adaptive Swordsman|

“{Style Creator}!”