Munchkin Disciple Wants to Stop Being Obsessed Over

For two years, I learned swordsmanship, magic, and various kinds of knowledge from Daphne.

The process was by no means smooth.

She pushed me to my limits every single day without exception, and there wasn’t a day when my body wasn’t bruised.

To be honest, I had several near-death experiences.

Each time, I harbored reasonable doubts about whether Daphne was trying to kill me.

It was that grueling a time, and the days were hard to endure.

There are still more days to endure ahead.

Nevertheless, I persevered through these two years.

As a result, I was able to achieve exponential growth compared to when I first started.

[Name: Kamel Hyacinths]

[Age: 12]

[Level: 10]

[Strength: 13]
[Stamina: 17]
[Agility: 13]
[Magic Power: 14]

[Traits: Vessel of Sin, Deceiver of the Scale (lv.3), Penetrating Eye (lv.4), Swordsmanship (lv.5), Divine Sword (lv.1), Starlight (lv.1)]

A status window that makes me satisfied every time I look at it.

Perhaps because I was trained so harshly, my stats have increased unbelievably.

Considering that the ability scores assigned during character creation were 10, these are sufficient numbers to enter the academy right away.

That’s not all. Three more traits have been added, all thanks to the Penetrating Eye.

Without the Penetrating Eye, I wouldn’t have been able to fully absorb Daphne’s complex swordsmanship and magic.

Of course, it’s still insufficient to stop the original protagonist or main villains like the Seven Deadly Sins.

But it’s also true that with these stats and traits, I wouldn’t get beaten up wherever I go.

To what extent? To be honest, I could easily defeat most of the knights in the barony where I reside.

This has been achieved in just two years.

With this rate of growth.

In six years when the main episode begins, wouldn’t I be able to easily beat anyone?

Ah, except for one person.

“I said no idle thoughts!”

“Gack!”

Daphne’s wooden sword struck my abdomen the moment I was lost in thought.

With unspeakable pain, my body flies backward.

-CRASH!

My flying body slammed into a rock. The impact was so strong that rock fragments scattered in all directions.

“Urgh!”

It hurt so much that tears welled up in my eyes.

It’s always like this. The moment I let my guard down, I get slammed into rocks or have my bones broken.

“Progress is so slow, my disciple. This master is utterly frustrated. I guarantee even a passing dung beetle would achieve more than you.”

The nagging voice reaches me amid the pain.

When I look up, I see my Master extending her right hand, casting a healing spell on me.

“No, Master. How can I respond when you suddenly add an acceleration spell like that?”

“My disciple. That’s not something you should say when you’ve wrapped yourself in acceleration magic five times. I only wrapped once.”

When I retorted indignantly, Daphne calmly countered as if she had expected it.

“But still, couldn’t you be a bit gentler?”

“What a foolish question. How many times has this master told you? A flower that hasn’t experienced hardship cannot hold fragrance.”

“Flowers are organisms that grow well with just water though…”

“Silence. And this master has been very gentle with you.”

Words failed me.

Because, although I hate to admit it, it was true.

Daphne really did hit me gently.

“At this rate, even a hundred years won’t be enough. You have so little talent for swordsmanship and magic.”

Daphne starts chattering as she sits down next to me.

Looking at her and the notification, I felt a sense of despair.

[Receive Daphne’s swordsmanship and magic training. (Progress: 2.00232%)]

Daphne’s words, which were close to mockery, were unfortunately facts.

Despite being pushed so hard for two years.

What I’ve received from her is only about 2%.

‘How frustrating.’

At this rate of progress, I’m not sure if I’ll even be able to escape from Daphne after six years, let alone receive everything.

“Let’s stop here for today. A man with such a weak body, what use could he be? Tsk, this master is already worried beyond measure.”

“No, Master. If you go to the village right now, you’d find it hard to find a man more capable and handsome than me… Ow!”

Thump, I received a flick on my forehead.

“Recently, your backtalk has increased, how impertinent.”

It’s called a flick, but due to the magical power in her finger, I, who had just managed to get up, had to be slammed back to the ground.

Ah, it really hurts like hell.

“By the way, Master, I’m curious about something…”

“Yes. Nothing nourishes growth like questions. What is it, your question?”

“Are you going to continue using that strange manner of speech?”

“Strange? What nonsense is this? Originally, there are protocols that must be observed between master and disciple.”

“Haa…”

Daphne answers with a benevolent smile, as if it’s obvious.

‘Talking about protocols and whatnot.’

A sigh escapes me involuntarily, and my face crumples.

I wasn’t the only one who changed over these two years.

Daphne also began to change as she stayed with me, and one of those changes is that strange way of speaking.

‘I should tear that book to shreds.’

The reason for Daphne’s change in speech was simple.

She was influenced by a book borrowed from the library.

‘Who would have known there would be martial arts novels in this world?’

And the title is “Mireudo.” To be precise, it’s not martial arts but a story from the eastern continent beyond.

“Ah, my disciple. Are you not hungry? Just in case, I made sandwiches today…”

“Master!”

While lost in thought, I heard something dangerous and had to urgently call out to my Master.

“Do you know the saying ‘Three Days of Glory’?”

“Of course I do. It’s a phrase that signifies the emptiness of power. Why do you suddenly…”

Did she guess my intention?

Daphne, who had raised her hand to open the spatial void, answered with a somewhat dejected voice.

“Yes, as you know, Master, in this world, even power is lost after three days. But what about food?”

“…”

“Master, I saw it. About a week ago? Someone sneaked into the kitchen and burned a whole lettuce.”

“Nngh…”

“I believe it wasn’t you, of course, but perhaps the sandwich isn’t from that time?”

When I asked, Daphne pouted her lips, lowered her hand, and then hung her head with a dejected expression.

‘Sigh.’

She’s my Master, but at times like this, she’s so cute that I can’t even get mad.

‘Why does she act like this?’

That doesn’t mean I understand it. No, I absolutely cannot understand.

If she’s going to gag on her own cooking, why does she keep trying to cook?

“Where are you going?”

As I stood up, Daphne peeked out and asked.

“Where else?”

Seeing her like that, a curt answer naturally came out.

“I’m going to earn money to pay for the ingredients someone burned.”

My age. Twelve this year.

An age where I should be earning my keep.

The closest domain to our log cabin deep in the forest is the Darmian Barony, located at the outskirts of the Empire.

Though it’s called a barony, it’s just a village slightly larger than a regular one.

Considering its location and size, it’s virtually a remote area.

Nevertheless, high-ranking nobles frequently visit the Darmian Barony, and the reason is the existence of a certain lake.

“Kamel, have you heard the news? They say the Cayden Count’s family has come to the village this time.”

“Why are they here?”

“Why else? They must be visiting the Lake of Mana.”

The Lake of Mana, located near the barony.

It’s rumored to be a lake rich in mana that can cure all diseases, and it’s also the lake where I nearly drowned on my second day of possession.

‘Cure all diseases, my ass.’

From my experience, it’s a false rumor.

Ah, of course, it is true that it’s rich in mana.

“Shh, this is a rumor that’s circulating secretly.”

Mr. Jakel lowered his voice with a fuss.

For reference, I’m working at Mr. Jakel’s beverage stand.

“I heard Count Cayden’s you-know-what isn’t working well these days.”

“My goodness. His you-know-what?”

“Yes. So his wife is incredibly worried, they say.”

“That’s unfortunate.”

“That’s why this uncle is giving you advice. From today, do lower body exercises diligently. Don’t ask why.”

I think I might be bigger than him in that regard.

I almost said that, but I had to nod with a forced smile.

Even if my lower body is weak, Jakel was my money source… I mean, employer who pays my wages.

‘What’s his angle?’

Apart from workplace socializing, a question arose.

‘I clearly remember he was a lecher.’

A fact I know from playing the game: Count Cayden is definitely not impotent.

Quite the opposite. His sexual desire was so strong that he not only raped numerous women but even became a subordinate of the Lust among the Seven Deadly Sins.

‘Whatever.’

Upon reflection, it wasn’t my concern.

Whatever he does, if I leave him alone, the main episode will proceed as I remember.

Rather than causing unnecessary trouble, it would be wiser to let him die at the hands of the original protagonist.

‘What I need to focus on right now is…’

Learning swordsmanship and magic from Daphne.

And.

“Well, let’s start preparing. Lady Rose’s twelfth birthday is approaching, so customers will gradually increase.”

Rose Van Darmian, the woman who will become a notorious villainess.

“By the way, you’re also twelve, but you’re earning money. What a commendable lad.”

Mr. Jakel chuckled, patting my shoulder.

He probably would never know, even if he died and came back to life.

The reason why I’m working at this stand, even going against my Master’s stubborn wishes.