“Um…
can I get it on credit first?” Haus explained his current situation.
He only had 5 silver and 91 copper coins left in his pocket, and 91 copper of that was needed for daily expenses.
All he could offer now was 5 silver coins.
This caused a flicker of surprise in Marcus’s eyes nearby.
He glanced subtly at Garp, his gaze seeming to ask why this kid couldn’t even come up with 10 silver coins.
Wasn’t it said that this kid was generous enough to take out 10 silver coins all at once just to participate in an adventure?
Garp shook his head slightly with a wry smile.
He hadn’t expected that Haus would leave himself no fallback, having almost spent all his savings before the adventure.
But thinking about it, it wasn’t surprising that such a cautious guy, after investigating and preparing everything, would make such an all-or-nothing choice.
“Alright, Haus.
Out of respect for Mr.
Garp, I’ll allow you to get it on credit first.
The repayment deadline is set for three months from now.” Marcus agreed to Haus’s request for credit.
And three months was enough time for an ordinary adventurer to earn 10 silver coins.
Provided no accidents occurred.
Hearing that he could learn first and pay later, Haus immediately expressed his gratitude to both Marcus and Garp.
Honestly, this kind of opportunity to learn skills was truly rare.
If not for Garp, Haus himself would have no idea how long it would take to learn skills through normal channels.
Haus didn’t realize that Marcus had actually given him a discount.
According to the guild’s standard pricing, even the most basic entry-level skill cost a full gold coin for instruction, enough to buy an ordinary house.
As for 10 silver coins, at most, you could only buy a fragmentary manual to practice with.
For just 10 silver coins, Haus could learn a complete and orthodox skill.
This exceptionally low price was entirely a special discount Marcus offered out of consideration for Garp’s friendship.
These 10 silver coins were the guild’s share; Marcus himself took not a single coin.
It could practically be considered free teaching.
As for why Marcus would go to such lengths, it was because he had heard that Haus displayed remarkable warrior talent during his first adventure and even saved Russell and Jack from a perilous situation.
Talented, courageous, kind-hearted, destined to shine in the future, coupled with factors like his connection to Garp’s team.
Both sentimentally and logically, he was worth doing this favor.
…
After chatting for a bit, Garp stood up to take his leave, while Marcus led Haus to the Adventurer’s Guild’s exclusive training ground.
The two arrived at the training ground.
On the training ground, about half the size of a soccer field, a dozen or so boys and girls were practicing Slashes against the air or wooden posts.
When Marcus walked in, he instantly attracted the attention of everyone present.
Haus, following behind him, was also noticed by everyone.
“Hello, Master.” “Mhm, continue training; don’t slack off.” After a brief greeting, Marcus led Haus to the weapon rack and gestured for him to choose a suitable wooden weapon.
All the weapons here were wooden tools with little lethality, likely because the guild was concerned about novices accidentally injuring others during training.
Haus glanced over and picked up a longsword.
Seeing this, Marcus also took an identical longsword and then led Haus to a corner.
Standing before a wooden post, Marcus began the formal instruction.
“Haus, listen carefully.
My teaching is only responsible for showing you how to unleash a skill.
I cannot guarantee you will definitely learn it; that depends on individual talent.” Marcus first gave himself a way out.
He only promised to teach, not to guarantee mastery, lest Haus fail to learn it for a long time later and blame him, the training master.
“Understood.” Haus nodded.
Then Marcus formally demonstrated the longsword’s [Slash] skill for Haus.
Unlike the [Slash] unleashed by the greatsword Garp wielded, the [Slash] released by a longsword did not require raising it overhead.
It simply involved holding the blade vertically, aiming forward, and smoothly exerting force to slash straight down.
The motion was concise and plain, without any flourish.
How to put it…
Haus didn’t understand.
At this point, Marcus took out a parchment scroll inscribed with Mana Flow Runes from his pocket, handed it to Haus, and slowly began to explain: “The prerequisite for unleashing a skill is that you must first sense the mana within your body.
Once you can sense mana, then try to use it to outline the execution trajectory of the skill…” Listening to Marcus’s explanation and observing the skill scroll, Haus gradually gained some understanding of the essence of the skill.
He also realized that when ordinary people fail to use a skill, it doesn’t necessarily mean they haven’t learned it.
Many people memorize the key points of force application but still fail to unleash it.
The root cause lies in their internal mana being too sparse, insufficient to support the complete execution of the skill.
Simply put, it’s like having the skill unlocked but not having enough MP.
And training day after day is precisely about expanding one’s own mana pool while also reducing the cost required for the skill.
Until one day, when the mana capacity within the body becomes sufficiently abundant, or the mana consumption of a skill is compressed to a level the individual can bear, one can smoothly activate a skill and complete its release.
After understanding this, Haus began to imitate Marcus’s movements, swinging his sword accordingly.
At the same time, following the mana pathway of the skill as shown on the scroll, he attempted to calm his mind, focus, and guide the mana within his body to outline the skill [Slash].
This was different from activating the [Slow Regeneration] skill.
The former required Haus to comprehend, outline, and successfully guide the mana to flow within his body to release the skill; The latter was innate, requiring no deliberate control, as if it were an instinctive ability, naturally taking effect.
Haus settled his mind and began to focus on training.
Beside him, Marcus quietly observed, occasionally offering guidance and correcting Haus’s sword-swinging posture.
Once Haus’s movements finally met the standard, Marcus quietly left, leaving Haus to train alone.
Generally speaking, for an ordinary person to practice a skill to the beginner level, it could take anywhere from a few months to several years.
And to fully release it might be something they could never achieve in their entire lifetime.
Marcus believed that even if Haus had the talent of a warrior, it would take at least a few weeks for him to barely reach the beginner stage.
Just like the young disciples on the other side of the training ground, those who were naturally able to sense the mana within their bodies and were sent by their parents to learn skills.
During this time, Marcus only needed to occasionally check in, offer some guidance, correct mistakes, and answer questions.
…
After Marcus left, Haus did not slack off in the slightest, continuing to train tirelessly and repeatedly.
Fine beads of sweat covered his forehead, slowly trickling down his cheeks, flowing over his jaw, soaking his collar, and were all quietly absorbed by the slime nestled in his arms.
He didn’t know how long he had been practicing, maybe ten minutes, maybe an hour, but while deeply focused on his training, Haus suddenly felt that the previously sluggish and stuttering flow of mana within his body had quietly become somewhat smoother.
[Slash Proficiency +1] [Skill: Slash lv1 (1/10)]