CHAPTER 82: TO NEW BEGINNINGS [4]

"That really hits the spot." Kai exhaled deeply as if letting go of all his fatigue.

After his meal and banter with the ramen shop owner, Kai had forgotten most of the dream that made his heart ache a moment ago, so he was able to finally unwind.

The weather was cold and crisp as the early morning breeze brushed against his skin. He shut his eyes briefly, leaning his back on one of the wooden chairs that stayed by the roadside.

In his hands, gripped tightly, was a bottle of soda that he had gotten from the vending machine that beeped softly in his ears.

Slowly opening his eyes again, he tried to use his right hand to open the soda alone, but no matter how much he twisted, it refused to move.

"And they always say this is realistic in movies." He sighed, then opened the drink properly, taking a small sip from it, as a drop of water slid from the can onto his neck. "That really hits the spot..." He paused staring at the drink. "Hmm... Didn’t I say that a minute ago?"

Kai smiled. These past few days had been calm.

Maybe because his life had been full of chaos and quick decision making since he entered this world, but the calm felt oddly unfamiliar.

He slapped his two cheeks. "Don’t ruin this simple moments." Sinking into the chair, he looked at the dark sky.

The sun was going to rise anytime soon. "I’m bored."

He let out a long sigh and stood from his chair, switching his destination to the training chamber, one of the few buildings that was still relatively intact after the Deerheart incident.

---

It didn’t take him that long to reach the training chamber, and without sparing a look at anything, he stepped into one of the quiet spaces.

"Ok, some light training." He stretched himself a bit, as his eyes glowed gently, mana flickering around him. "Let’s start from weaving."

The room was pure white in color, like something that would be used for a simulation room.

Swords and other weapon racks were set against the wall opposite the door.

"Hmm..." Kai raised his arm, channeling mana into his fingers, then formed thin threads with them.

And with a flick from his fingers, the threads shot forward, sticking like cobweb onto one of the swords. Then, with an easy tug of his finger, the wooden blade flew forward and landed in his grip.

During the time Kai had first transmigrated into this world, he was too afraid to pick up a sword and leaned towards long-ranged combat.

But after fighting over and over, he understood that his strength wasn’t in long or close combat, but instead in adaptability.

And with the help of weaving, he could make that possible.

"Now let’s check how much I have improved." With a single command to Alpha, Kai triggered the combat chamber’s robot training system: Automated System Partner, and set it to maximum.

The last time he used it, he put it on low level, which was equal to a D-rank, which he was at the time.

But right now, he was no longer at a low level, which meant he could use the mode meant for his rank.

{Infinite Adaptability Is Resonating With User}

Kai smiled widely as the ASP charged at him with its hand out, ready to swing a fist.

The speed was nothing like it was when he last used it.

However, in Kai’s eyes, it was far too slow to even bother using a talent.

Kai simply channeled mana into the wooden sword, wrapping dark threads around it.

He stepped to the side, raising his blade midair.

The robot looked up to him, and with a calm expression, he brought the wrapped blade down, smashing the lower half of the robot’s body into bits.

"Huh?" Kai tilted his head, his eyes drifting to the blade in his hands. "Isn’t it meant to be the strength of a low-level B-rank?"

Kai couldn’t even picture the level of strength he held, even without using any skill or ability.

It was already clear that he could match the strength of a low-level A-rank, but being able to defeat lower levels in his rank like they were kids wasn’t something he had expected.

He grinned broadly, but his grin quickly turned to a frown as his eyes moved to the wall.

It was faint. If it wasn’t for weaving, he wouldn’t have noticed it.

But the threads hovering around the entrance to his chamber were more than enough to show him that someone was behind the door, eavesdropping.

"Who is there?"

Even after he spoke, no one responded. He slowly and steadily moved toward the door.

His balance lowered slightly, ready to pounce on whoever stood behind it.

With a firm swing, he opened the door, raising his blade to strike the figure.

But before his sword could even come close, he found himself flying toward the wall and slamming hard into it.

"Argh." Kai’s eyes twitched as he moved his hands, ready to summon Star of Ruin.

"What are you doing, releasing that amount of killing intent in the school?"

Kai blinked — only then did he notice the beautiful woman behind the door.

"Huh? Neko-sensei?"

The blonde-haired woman gracefully walked into the room from the dark hallway. "You don’t even recognize your master’s mana... Do you want me to cry?"

"Like that could make you cry." He muttered, leaning on the wall.

Neko-sensei raised a brow. "What do you mean by that? You know I love you?"

Kai flinched back. "Hey, don’t say that again, okay? It sounds really weird."

Neko-sensei covered her mouth with her hand. "Oh, my student hates me."

Kai facepalmed. "No, I don’t."

Hearing his words, she smiled. "Then you love your master?"

Kai looked at her sparkling eyes, then covered his face fully, his cheeks turning slightly red. "Uhmm... Yeah."

Neko-sensei shut one eye and frowned. "I didn’t catch that. Could you say it again?"

Kai pressed his hand harder into his face, then yelled. "Damnit! Can you stop that!?"

Neko-sensei stifled her urge to burst into laughter, but as soon as she saw his face, she started giggling until it turned into full laughter.

Kai sighed, but as soon as he did, she crouched in front of him and began tugging at his cheeks. "My baby has gotten so adorable."

Trying to speak clearly, he muttered. "What’s... gotten into you?"

She then smiled brightly. "Why don’t I adopt you?"

Kai tilted his head, his cheeks still puffed from being pulled. "Whatz?"

Letting go of his cheeks, she stood. "Never mind that..." She paused, turning to Kai who was getting back on his feet. "So what new things did you learn during your fight with Deerheart?"

’Seems she’s been dying to know.’ Kai smirked. "Why should I tell you?"

"Huh? But I’m your mentor. The teacher of the year." She shot back.

Kai raised a brow. "Who said you’re my mentor? I quit."

Mana surged around Neko-sensei. "How dare you?"

The two of them stood staring at each other for a moment before bursting into laughter.

Wiping the tears from her eyelids, she struggled to talk. "On a serious note, could you show me?"