The Hidden Ending Strategy of a Veteran in a Dead Game

Episode 9: Advancing Further

The skill, Smash—

At first glance, one might dismiss it as just a D-grade ability, but active skills were different. They transcended ordinary expectations, delivering results that defied logic.

I had broken my fist countless times while trying to acquire it. Without potions, I’d never have managed. It was an achievement born of resilience and determination.

Sure, it was a fundamental skill for most martial artists, but—

‘It’s a versatile, all-purpose skill that’s useful until you acquire its advanced form.’

“This… this!”

Nohr’s voice cracked with disbelief as he stared at the faint but undeniable blue glow surrounding my fist.

Skills fundamentally relied on mana. To use mana here meant—

‘It signifies reaching a rank.’

And in my case—

[Constitution: Mana Circuits are operational!]

My entire body was already equipped with mana circuits.

BOOOOM!

My fist collided with Nohr’s guard, unleashing an impact that seemed impossible for a human body to generate. Dust rose violently into the air.

Hisssss.

The aftermath left a sandstorm in its wake as Nohr slid backward, his feet digging into the ground.

When the dust settled, faint mana flickered around the fist Nohr had used to block the attack.

“You used mana, didn’t you? And you even slid back on your feet. I believe I’ve fulfilled all the conditions to pass your test,” I remarked.

Nohr, who had been staring blankly at my fist, finally spoke.

“Hah… A kid who hasn’t even learned a cultivation technique… How… Could he really be a genius?”

“So, I passed the test, right?”

“Are you joking? You scored full marks! FULL MARKS!”

He burst into hearty laughter, clearly impressed.

“Well then, how about some healing for me?”

“Hmm?”

Snap.

My wrist broke with a sound far too cheerful for the situation.

“Arghhh!”

“You reckless fool! You just poured raw mana into it without restraint!”

Freaking out, Nohr hurriedly pulled out a potion and poured it on my wrist.

Sssss.

The fiery sensation of healing washed over me as my wrist mended.

The issue wasn’t with the skill itself—

[Constitution: Titan’s Strength feels embarrassed.]

[Constitution: Mana Circuits gaze into the distance.]

It was my constitution.

While my unique traits amplified the power of my skills, my body wasn’t yet strong enough to handle it.

Still, I wasn’t too worried. This was a problem that time would solve.

At only 15 years old, once I fully matured, things like a broken wrist would no longer be an issue.

That said, I couldn’t leave this problem unattended until adulthood.

‘Training in a cultivation technique should help improve this somewhat.’

Cultivation techniques not only enhanced the body with mana but also naturally accumulated mana in a well-trained physique over time.

That was why Nohr’s physical abilities far exceeded the norm.

The only concern was that the technique I was about to learn was particularly taxing on the body.

A single cultivation method wouldn’t be enough.

‘I’ll have to find a solution.’

There’s no point in a one-time attack if it leaves me incapacitated.

Trickle.

After using up an entire potion, Nohr patted my back.

“With this, there’s no way you can use that as your main technique. What’s the point if every use breaks your wrist?”

“I’ll just carry more potions for now,” I shrugged.

“Didn’t I give you some potions earlier?”

“I used them all for practice.”

“…Ah, practice, you say.”

Clap.

Nohr clapped his hands together, then grabbed me by the scruff of the neck and shook me violently.

“You maniac! Who trains like that?!”

“Ah, but it worked, didn’t it? The results speak for themselves!”

“Oh, sure! Just great! Use your left and right hands twice each, and you’ll be licking your food off your plate!”

Massaging his temples as if dealing with a headache, Nohr removed the wrist guards he was wearing and handed them to me.

“What’s this?”

“A subspace artifact. It’ll offer some protection for your wrists. There are also potions inside; use them for now.”

“Ooooh! Instructor, a personal gift like this—how generous!”

To my surprise, it was an inventory item. In the game, such artifacts were only obtainable mid-game or later.

You couldn’t even find them in regular markets—they had to be purchased at exorbitant prices from the Mage Tower, workshops, or auction houses.

“No, that’s not the gift. I was planning to stop at this, but your performance exceeded my expectations. You deserve proper rewards.”

So this wasn’t the end?

Suddenly, Nohr looked about ten times more handsome.

“Rewards for merit, punishment for wrongdoing. That’s my principle,” he declared.

“I’ll keep surprising you, then.”

“Good. I’m looking forward to it.”

Nohr tousled my hair with a satisfied smile.

“Follow me. We’re going to the Steel Library.”

“Yes, Instructor!”

Finally, it was time to receive a cultivation technique.

I followed Nohr to the Steel Library, standing tall and imposing behind the drill yard’s rear gate.

How many people had ever been granted access to this place?

The Steel Library rarely opened its doors.

To be granted access, one needed to either display exceptional talent or qualify through specific circumstances.

‘Like being a knight’s esquire, or receiving a reward from the Grand Tournament.’

Esquires usually learned their knight’s cultivation technique, making it unnecessary to delve into the techniques of a conquered family.

The Grand Tournament, held every four years, allowed direct descendants and cadet branches to compete for rewards, but its frequency made it rare.

Still, the Steel Library was no ordinary archive.

It housed the core cultivation techniques of families conquered by the Bayerle family—priceless treasures and symbols of their victories.

‘Unlike the Bronze Library filled with random junk, or the Golden Library restricted to the head and heirs, the Steel Library is the best option for most.’

“Greetings, Knight Nohr!”

“Good work, everyone.”

“Not at all, sir!”

The two knights guarding the library saluted sharply. Despite the importance of the facility, it wasn’t heavily guarded. But considering Nohr himself managed it, this made sense.

The knights stationed here were all at least 6th-Rank, and in case of a serious threat, Nohr could handle it himself.

Dereliction of duty was unthinkable—no one dared slack off under Nohr’s watchful eye. His respect among the knights was too great, and the consequences of angering him were legendary.

The Steel Library was massive.

“It’s huge,” I murmured.

“First time here?”

“Yes. Normally, there’s no reason to come.”

“Let’s head inside.”

Whoosh.

Cool air greeted us as we stepped in. There was no air conditioning, so it had to be magic.

And then I saw it.

“Is that a training room?” I asked, pointing at a section within the library.

“Yes, that’s correct. Insights can strike at any moment! The library even provides a space for training. While it’s not as good as the family’s official mana training room, it still accumulates a decent amount of mana.”

A dedicated space for cultivating techniques was excellent news for me.

‘I’ll make use of this.’

Even Gaiden, no fool, would likely be monitoring what I was preparing. If I wanted to pull off a surprise, I’d have to hone my trump card here. Only then would he be caught completely off guard.

“What cultivation technique are you planning to choose? If you want a recommendation, the Azure Flow Manual from the Lerot family or the Golden Ring Method from the Boalek family are good options. They’re stable, so even if you upgrade to a mainline cultivation technique after winning the Grand Tournament, you won’t experience side effects.”

“I’ll browse for now.”

I already had something in mind, but who knew? There might be something better.

I began examining the bookshelves at the front, taking my time.

“So many,” I remarked.

“It’s the accumulation of the Bayerle family’s history.”

Which meant, of course, that the family had conquered numerous others.

Perhaps this history was why the Bayerle family eventually sided with the demons.

As the scenario progresses, the world plunges deeper into chaos, and enemies multiply. 

The Bayerle family, burdened by accumulated grudges, would have many seeking their downfall.

It wouldn’t be surprising if they decided they couldn’t survive in the Empire and sought power within the demon’s domain, where strength reigned supreme.

‘I’ll need to investigate further.’

While it was known that the Bayerle family aligned with demons, the reason wasn’t clear.

As I gained influence within the family, the truth would likely reveal itself.

Four hours passed as I sifted through the cultivation manuals. While there was a range of quality, none surpassed what I had initially planned to choose.

Slide.

I pulled out a manual tucked into the corner of a shelf.

Its crimson cover bore a design of three overlapping golden circles.

‘Looks exactly like it did in the game.’

A peculiar sense of familiarity washed over me as I opened the manual.

“I’ll go with the Explosive Circuit of the Fonte family.”

“Very well. The Explosive Circuit, where practitioners are said to blow themselves up before achieving greatness. A bold—wait, WHAT?!”

Nohr, who had been nodding along, froze mid-sentence.

“What nonsense is this?! If you train with that, you’ll die!”

His shout came too late.

Whoosh.

The moment I skimmed the manual—

[Mana Cultivation Technique: Explosive Circuit (爆裂回) acquired.]

“Oh. Got it.”

The technique’s intricacies flooded my mind.

Meanwhile, as I explored the Steel Library, Gaiden sat in a chair, frowning deeply.

Behind him, Eltz toyed with his hair, her playful gestures failing to lift his mood.

“I’m exhausted.”

Gaiden ran a hand over his face. That morning, his mother, the Countess, had paid him a visit. Their conversation had been lengthy, but the core message was clear:

– Crush Kellen.

– Prove who belongs in the family’s ranks by showing the difference in skill levels.

– After all the resources we’ve invested in advancing your magic, this should be no problem for you.

“That’s annoying. Beating Kellen is a given, so why stress me out with all this?”

The constant pressure weighed on him.

In the race to become the Bayerle family’s heir, their eldest brother Zarhil was already the clear frontrunner.

Age played a role, but more importantly, Gaiden had no desire to vie for the headship.

The Bayerle family favored knights over mages, and Gaiden had committed to the path of magic. 

He had long since planned to join the Mage Tower after graduating from the academy, leaving the title of Count to Zarhil, who was already showing superior results.

“Mother’s expectations are just that high. It’s because you’re so talented, brother,” Eltz said, trying to console him.

But Gaiden’s mind remained troubled.

“That damn elder brother. Why couldn’t he just stay cooped up like usual? It’d be better for everyone—he’d avoid what doesn’t suit him, and I wouldn’t have to waste my time.”

Gaiden scratched his head irritably, clenching his fists.

Expectations.

At times, they could feel like praise. But when they piled up incessantly, they became suffocating.

As a direct descendant of the Bayerle family, a 3rd-Rank Mage, and the nominal second-in-line for succession, Gaiden outwardly appeared to lead a glamorous life. But the price he paid for this image was steep.

‘I’m sure they expect me to show even more progress than before.’

The Countess was ambitious and spared no expense in ensuring her children achieved great things. The more support he received, the harder it became to defy her wishes.

Even his prior altercation with Kellen had been half her orders and half his stress relief.

Deep down, a part of him resented Kellen.

If Kellen had actively competed with Zarhil, it might have been easier for Gaiden to focus solely on his magic. 

Instead, Kellen had retreated, becoming a passive disappointment who didn’t even fulfill his role as a brother.

‘Back then, I liked his gentle nature.’

Not anymore.

The expectations and burdens that should have been Kellen’s had shifted onto Gaiden’s shoulders.

“Why did Father even approve of the official duel?” Gaiden muttered.

At only 14, he knew his position well and felt the noose tightening.

An official duel, permanently recorded in the family’s annals.

Such duels were rare, even in the succession race, and the family head typically avoided granting permission for them.

Now, the weight of his father’s expectations had joined his mother’s, doubling the pressure on him.

‘I wanted to take more time to prepare. But there’s no choice now.’

He resolved to advance to the next stage of his magic.

Among the four fundamental magical elements—water, fire, earth, and wind—Gaiden had specialized in wind, which had allowed him to reach the 3rd rank quickly.

But now, he decided to take on a new attribute.

“Eltz, I’ll need your help.”

“Anything, brother.”

“For the next month, I’ll train in fire magic. Can you handle that?”

“You can count on me. Everything will turn out fine,” Eltz replied with a smile.

“Thank you.”

Eltz patted Gaiden’s head. He felt a peculiar sense of calm settle over him as she did.

‘Adorable,’ Eltz thought, watching him sway under the weight of his turmoil.