novelraw Chapter 46: Breathing Techniques And Combat Arts
Chapter 46: Breathing Techniques And Combat Arts
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A few hours ago
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"huaahh~... okay, it improved by exactly one point. Having this numerical value makes things easier to understand."
Sitting alone at the front desk, I thought aloud as I checked my status.
___________________________
Name: Astan Rothwell
Race: Human
Gender: Male
Profession: Massage Therapist (2)
Sub-profession: Jester
Rank: 1
Stats:
Strength: 4
Dexterity: 3
Vitality: 7
Defense: 20
Mana: 16
Charisma: 6
Perception
: 8
Corruption: 0
___________________________
I used the moments when I had to stay awake and watch over the shop to gain a deeper understanding of this world.
My doppelgänger learned a lot from reading the books Amarillys had, and I put that knowledge into practice.
In this world, every single person has a profession; these professions set the ceiling and the limit for each individual.
But reaching that limit is a separate matter.
From what I’ve learned so far, there are many ways to achieve that, but in these peaceful times, there are two main methods: breathing techniques and combat arts.
Both are the orthodox and widespread methods for reaching that limit.
So I put into practice the "breathing technique" that the system had drilled into my head: this is the standard method for magical professions.
When I finally understood how to do it correctly and put it into practice, my mana stat increased by one point after a while.
The rest of my stats remained unchanged. If I want to increase them, I’d have to practice combat arts.
Now I also understand that the quantification—or the status window—is something unique to Iris and me.
The inhabitants of this world are guided mainly by sensations or by certain energy-measuring devices they’ve created.
But even so, our quantified measurements align with the rules of this world.
According to the system, when any of my stats reach twenty, I’ll hit the cap of my current rank and have the chance to advance to the next rank.
But Iris and I already had a stat at that value from the start: our ’defense’ was exactly twenty.
When I questioned that, the system clarified that it’s due to one of the skills, Slumber of Sin.
That skill ensures our defense is always at the maximum value of the rank we’re in.
Basically, if we advance to rank two, that skill will immediately raise our defense to the limit of that rank, but the downside is that it becomes impossible to improve.
I can’t assign free stat points to it, I can’t train to improve it, but conversely, that also means it can’t be reduced in any way.
I personally think it’s a very good skill.
So we rely on the other stats. In my case, mana is the one closest to twenty.
I also have twenty-five free stats earned through rewards that I can allocate, which would immediately take me to rank two.
But I’m still considering whether to use them now or if it’s better to save them. I think, at least for now, it’s unnecessary to use them, since we can’t even go out, and it wouldn’t serve much purpose other than to give massages to clients more efficiently.
Not to mention that, just like everyone else in this world, I need to understand my ’profession’.
Without that, I’d be stuck at the top of my current rank. So I think, for now, it’s better to gain more experience and stick to using breathing techniques or combat arts to improve.
Although now, with that point clear, there’s something I still need to understand.
"System, tell me something. Are Jester or Berserker jobs common in this world?"
[I cannot answer those questions.]
"Sometimes I think you answer me like that just to mess with me. Well, whatever. My point is something else: the effectiveness of combat arts and breathing techniques depends on the profession, right? You confirmed that to me before."
We’d already discussed this. If a profession focused on physical combat practices breathing techniques, progress is minimal, and the same is true the other way around.
[That is correct]
"So, first: Should Iris and I base our growth on our primary or secondary profession? And second, depending on our professions, are we inclined toward magical or physical development?"
In this world, people grow stronger through breathing techniques or combat arts. The problem is that there are too many professions.
In simple cases, it’s obvious. A mage benefits from breathing techniques that increase their mana. A warrior, from combat arts.
But what about the rest?
There are so many professions, and most of them aren’t combat-oriented, like masseurs and the like.
I understand that it’s pointless for a masseur to train just to advance one rank in their lifetime, but there are non-combat professions that have high ranks, and with them, it’s not obvious whether they lean toward magic or physical combat.
So I need an answer to understand Jester and Berserker, and whether they influence our growth rate, and if they do, what is the best path to follow.
[replying, both users have professions classified as mixed. This implies the absence of any primary methodological restriction. Consequently, Massage Therapists, Jesters, and Berserkers can advance their skills through both breathing techniques and combat arts, without any inherent structural penalty.]
So there are mixed professions. That clarifies things quite a bit. That means it’s also possible for things like magic warriors or melee mages to exist.
Although I’m surprised that Berserker is included. From the name, I thought it was a purely physical class. But that brings me to another question.
"Do people in this world possess some kind of natural talent or inclination toward certain stats?"
Only we see the numbers, but the stats exist within the world’s rules.
I need to understand this because, unlike breathing techniques, combat arts don’t improve all other stats; they focus on one or two and only improve the others as a side effect.
So, warriors and hybrid classes like ours, who can practice combat arts, must choose which combat art to practice.
Now I want to know if that choice is backed by anything.
[That’s correct; every individual possesses a natural statistical inclination. In most cases, that inclination is influenced by the structure of their profession, which leads to a faster growth rate in specific attributes.]
Just as I imagined.
Hypothetically, that would mean a shield warrior would have a greater affinity for defense, and that training a martial art that boosts that attribute would be more efficient than one focused on strength or another parameter.
"So, what is the inclination for Massage Therapist, Jester, and Berserker? Since they’re mixed classes, each profession must have an inclination toward some physical stat, right?"
[That’s incorrect. The professions mentioned do not have a predetermined growth vector. There is no class-imposed statistical bias. Therefore, there is no privileged attribute or structural limitation on their development.]
Right. it said ’mostly’, not ’always’.
That means there are exceptions: professions without a fixed inclination, capable of growing in any direction without structural restrictions.
Still, I don’t like relying on chance. Spreading out training sounds inefficient. I need something more concrete.
"So, if the profession doesn’t guide us, is there any variable that somehow defines an optimal path for our strengthening?
[In the absence of a professional inclination, optimizing growth requires identifying the attribute with the highest individual natural potential. Prioritizing its development will increase the rate of progression.]
"Natural potential?... In my case, would that be mana?"
It’s the only thing I can think of, since it’s my highest stat aside from defense, which is influenced by skill.
[That is correct. The user is inherently attuned to mana. Your magical nervous system demonstrates high capacity for energy storage and circulation. Recommendation: begin specialization using breathing techniques to maximize magical capacity expansion. Once growth has stabilized, integrate combat arts for operational balance as a hybrid profession.]
"I see. So Iris should initially focus on combat arts, since most of her stats are physically oriented."
That means the breathing technique and combat arts implanted in our minds aren’t a coincidence, since the combat arts curiously focus on vitality and strength—areas where Iris has the greatest potential.
Which is a good thing. In a world where we don’t know what lies ahead, getting stronger isn’t optional.
I should tell Iris to start practicing the combat arts as soon as possible.
[Correct. User Iris showed accelerated growth and statistical improvement after implementing combat arts. This confirms compatibility between her physical profile and said development method.]
I was already starting to find it strange that she was so calm. So she was busy with that.
I guess she’s ahead of me...
It’s not surprising, considering she seems to have more knowledge and control over this whole fantasy business than I do.
Anyway, it’s good that she found something to keep her entertained and that it’s also making her stronger.
"Alright, now all that’s left is... ah! It won’t be long before she wakes up."
I checked the time, and there wasn’t much left. It was the last shift change. Now we could spend the next period together.
I wonder... During our last exchange, she told me to get ready, that now she was in the mood for a romantic evening again.
She seems ready for it, although I still have to get used to her new look.
I always thought I wasn’t the type to care about physical appearance, but honestly, I’m having a really hard time adjusting to this change.
Well, I guess it’s because one day isn’t enough to make up for twenty-five years. But in the end, she’s still herself, so...
SLAM!
"Huh!?"
The loud sound of the door slamming open snapped me out of my thoughts. I looked at the culprit, and there stood a blonde girl.
"Haaah... ahhh!... I-I need help. Haaahaaah~ Can I hide here for a moment?"
She was flustered and breathing heavily, with clear fear in her eyes.
She asked me for help, but didn’t wait for my answer, and hurriedly closed the door again.
What kind of situation is this?
It was the most bizarre entrance so far, and it didn’t seem like a good situation.
I also wonder if all our customers will be women. She was the fourth, and she was another woman.
If this keeps up, it reinforces some of my hypotheses and, unfortunately, some of Iris’s ideas as well.
On the other hand, the woman seemed so flustered that she wasn’t thinking straight. I don’t know what she was running from, but in any case, I gave her a warning.
"It’s fine, but I’d recommend you move away from the door, since it’s transparent."
The front door was mostly made of clear glass, so you could see right through it.
It was already nighttime outside. I also realized that we were somewhere else.
I don’t know if it was because of the time of day, but the street was unusually empty. Come to think of it, everywhere we go, the street is always unusually empty.
According to Azalea and Amarillys, we’re located in a corner of their respective city and capital.
"Ah!... oh no, it’s too late."
The woman realized her mistake, but it was already too late. At the end of the empty street, she spotted a group of men who now seemed to be heading straight toward us.
I suppose they were the reason for the woman’s state.
It wasn’t a welcome situation, but I was calm. According to my hypothesis, only those the system considers customers can see and enter our strange establishment.
So the chances of them getting in were—
SLAM!
"We’ve finally got you, bitch!"
"..."
Yeah. Apparently, my assumption wasn’t entirely correct. All the men walked right in.
I couldn’t take this calmly anymore.
[New mission received]