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Velism.

Presumably the realm's largest religion. It mirrored a similar monotheistic belief from my old world.

It was the faith and practice of the Church of Vel, an international institution headquartered in the Kingdom of Merulea.

Although the Church's presence was great in Jazga, I had yet to feel the effects of its influence in Yarzon city.

Sure I'd hear about Vel from time to time, but it wasn't like the guy showed up in every conversation.

Not to mention... people seem to call him God more than Vel... Is Vel another name for that geezer upstairs..?

My impression of the Church so far had been a mix of fear and uneasiness. I couldn't shake the feeling they were up to something.

It all started with Seyna's vague remarks—that untrustworthy sow really knew how to plant the seeds of anxiety. Rysef's insistence on leaving the subject alone only further piqued my curiosity.

I probably shouldn't dig anymore. Wouldn't want to find myself burned on a cross for heresy or something...

「Lorenzo? Are you listening? I'm not going to repeat you know?」

My eyelids drooped and my whole body felt heavy. As expected, I couldn't get a wink of sleep.

Melyn had a habit of moving in her sleep. I scarcely had time to even doze off as she pushed me around the mattress.

She even kicked my nuts at one point. Was that on purpose?

By the time I decided to change rooms, it was already sunrise. I would've repaid the favor and strangled her if I wasn't so tired.

Standing in the dimly lit training chamber as I listened to Lia's monotone lecture made it impossible not to doze off—somnolent, I absolutely was.

「S-sorry... I let the bedbug bite me last night...」

「Hm? Well, in any case, we're now going to begin the breathing techniques training. Follow my instructions carefully!」

Lia walked up to me and grabbed my wrist. She swiftly stuck my hand on her bust.

S-so soft..!

The sudden sensation woke me up quite a bit.

「W-w-w-what are you doing?! A-are you Seyna in disguise?!」

「Pay attention to your breathing. What do you hear?」

「B-breathing?」

I suddenly remembered we were in the middle of a lesson.

「Compare both our breathings. You should find a difference straight away.」

I ignored Lia's supple breasts and focused. As her chest rose and fell, I noticed something unique with the way she respired.

「Y-your breathing... it's incredibly slow...」

「Yes. That's the most basic breathing technique: Hu. It hides you from other breathing technique users and even conceals your presence around people. Ideal for stealth.」

「All that just by breathing slowly?」

Lia confidently nodded.

I took the time to close my eyes and analyze my own breathing. The sound, the air leaving my nostrils, the way my chest inflated and deflated...

The two can't be compared. It's almost inhuman how steadily she respires...

「The subtle whistling sound in your nose as you inhale, the gust of air that blusters out as you exhale—it's ineffective and loud. Any breathing technique user can see you coming from a mile away.」

「And how does breathing relate with hearing other people breathe?」

「Your respiration generates unwanted internal noise and creates unnecessary external movements. Ever wondered why archers hold their breath while aiming?」

It was hard to believe the secret to the unbelievably useful and overpowered breathing techniques resided in a simple premise: the pacing of one's breathing.

If anyone can master these techniques... isn't it dangerous to spread around..?

Or so I foolishly thought.

「For over a month you've been training with aerobic exercises... As a result, your lungs should be in a less sorry state than before..」

「Blunt way to put it, but yes. My stamina's increased dramatically since last month.」

Lia removed my hand from her upper body and pointed to me.

「Now it's your turn—breath as slowly as you possibly can and maintain it for an hour every day. Your goal is to be able to breathe like that for up to ten minutes at a time. Understand?」

「Aye aye captain, whatever you say...」

And so my training had begun in earnest.

I drew in a deep breath and exhaled as slowly as I could. The first problem presented itself almost immediately.

T-this is more strenuous than it looks...

By the time I'd completed a full exhalation, my lungs screamed for me to speed up my inhalation.

The difficulty ascended the further I progressed, almost like Battleshift's leveling curve.

「Constrict your airways and keep at it, Lorenzo! Don't slack in the middle, just uphold that momentum!」

It was impossible to continue with my iron will alone. The second problem reared its ugly head as soon as I finished exhaling a second time.

Gaaaaasp!

If I wasn't breathing normally, my body would reflexively take over and force me to breathe.

My streak was ruined in less than five minutes. Apparently all battles I fought ended in less than five minutes now...

「Lorenzo! Are you even trying?!」

「I-I know, I know..! Y-you don't need... to tell me, teach. B-but... my body just won't listen by the second exhalation!」

Lia reached into her pocket and pulled out an unusual object with two small protruding holes. It had a strap going through it.

「I figured you'd have trouble starting, so here.」

She tossed it to me with a smirk.

「I fashioned this out of stone and leather, but it should do the trick.」

「T-the hell is this..?」

「An apparatus that'll aid in your breathing training. It narrows your nostrils for you, limiting the amount of air that enters and exits. You'll be wearing that from now on during training.」

It was a stupid-looking mask, but one that brought me a sliver of hope. If it was able to push me past my current self, I'd happily take it.

It flat out looks like a pig nose though...

I reluctantly stuck it on my nose and strapped it around my head. It covered my mouth as well, leaving my nostrils as the sole opening for oxygen.

It was as though I was purposely suffocating myself—less air entered and exited. God would've cast me into the inferno of hell for suicide had I died to this.

「Get used to the sensation and drill it into your brain. Make a habit out of breathing this much air and only then can we move on with the other breathing techniques.」

I fell to my knees as I struggled to breathe.

N-no good... my body can't take it...

I clenched my fists to prevent myself from ripping the mask off. It was arduous forcing myself to respire so little.

「It'll be a long and difficult road, but you will start now. You must start now. For the sake of yourself and the slum dwellers.」

Her utterances meant nothing to me at that point. I was about to lose consciousness. Unfortunately, my drowsiness caught up to me, and before I knew it...

I succumbed to the darkness.

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