The Royal Military Academy's Impostor Owns a Dungeon [BL]

Okay.

Maybe they should’ve also called for emergency services while they were at it.

But to be fair, the first soldiers gave rave reviews about their first use of the Manual of Spiritual Enhancement.

When they first began, everyone waited with bated breath as the captain of the guards went first.

Many of the younger soldiers eagerly stepped forward to try, but the captain chuckled and patted his chest.

”Let the eldest go first, you brats. I’ve earned it.”

Of course, everyone knew it was partly because their captain probably wanted the most experienced fighter to go first, just to ensure there were no side effects—but that didn’t stop the guards from teasing him relentlessly.

”Captain, don’t die, you’re still single!”

”Come back stronger, old man, or no one will marry you!”

The captain growled under his breath, cheeks faintly red, but he grinned good-naturedly.

The playful ribbing gave the tense atmosphere a much-needed break.

However, when the perennially single man received the first manual from their Young Lord, his face was a mixture of surprise as he talked about seeing a prompt asking if he wanted to use the item.

Luca then confirmed that it was also how he used the other manuals, so the captain felt more at ease about it.

And so with a ”YES” came the first golden shimmer that enveloped the captain’s body as the manual took effect.

Beside him, the little golden dragon had been anxious about the results to the point that Xavier had to keep a hand behind him for support.

D-29 was also asked to help as it was tasked to take videos while scanning the guards for changes.

And it was the sight of two scans that got everyone excited.

The captain blinked at the anxious crowd around him, then gave a wide grin.

”I’m fine! Better than fine, actually. I can sense the energy around me more clearly than ever before.”

”Captain, would you like to see your before and after scans?” said Luca who was planning on sharing his scans with him until he realized that everyone looked at him with pleading gazes.

And so the heir had to ask for his consent, which was thankfully readily given.

And what do you know? It was...

Remarkable.

The energy pathways that had once been faint, narrow, and slightly blocked were now noticeably wider, clearer, and stronger. Blockages appeared reduced, and the flow of spiritual energy through his meridians was more robust and balanced.

Excited murmurs spread through the crowd.

If this much was visible just from the scans, surely the manual’s other promises must be true as well!

Of course, testing the maximum capacity increase would require more intensive exercises and spiritual exertion drills, but for now, the results were more than promising.

With a gleam in their eyes, the rest of the top ten lined up eagerly. They agreed to try their first manuals one by one, with D-29 taking before and after scans like earlier.

And just like that, they moved through the lineup.

One manual, one person.

Scanned, observed, recorded.

Everyone showed the same remarkable consistency that excited them all: wider, healthier energy pathways and reports of smoother energy flows.

Both Duchess Amelia and Marquise Julienne leaned forward with intense fascination, exchanging murmured speculations about what this could mean for the future of training and healing practices across the Empire.

Then, from the crowd, someone nervously raised their hand.

”Young Lord, if we use the second manual...will it give the same kind of improvement?”

”There should be improvement, but according to this, the second manual use is supposed to give a noticeable boost—better precision in spiritual abilities, and an enhanced recovery rate.”

He hesitated, then added, ”And the third manual should give a major boost: greater spiritual resilience and laying the foundation for advancing to higher-tier cultivation techniques.”

That was all it took.

The guards’ excitement soared. They wanted all three, even when they didn’t actually have an idea about cultivation techniques save for circulating the energy, but didn’t that just mean that there were other means? So that must be a good thing!

Luca, a little flustered, gave in after extracting a promise that they would take breaks between each one so they could be monitored properly.

And so they proceeded after everyone cleared the first manual.

Surprisingly, the second manual was cleared in the same way. In fact, it might have helped them more because the guards who had earlier fought with everything they had felt that increased recovery all right. And it was all the more evident because they had only taken healing pills.

The little heir could see it in everyone’s faces. They looked like the kids in those advertisements back in Tesseris when the national holidays were coming closer. They looked so giddy that even Luca’s fears couldn’t help but be partially washed away.

But then came the third manual.

Terrance, for one, kept being surprised every time that strange prompt would appear before his eyes. And despite doing it twice already, the third one still made his heart beat a little faster.

[Acquired: Basic Manual of Spiritual Enhancement x1]

[Use Item?]

[Yes] or [No]

He swallowed hard.

Yes.

And the moment he selected ’yes,’ the guard’s body was enveloped in golden light as the Manual disintegrated before him.

Just like before.

Just like everyone else.

He was ready to grin, ready to laugh with the others—

When it hit.

An ache, sudden and unexpected, bloomed deep in his core.

It wasn’t pain, not exactly—it was pressure.

And if certain people were privy to what he was feeling, they would’ve told him that it was likely a surge.

Like his very being was pulsing, expanding, testing its limits.

His shoulders stiffened. His pupils dilated. His chest rose sharply as his breath hitched.

Thump.

A heartbeat.

No, more like a corebeat that was so heavy his entire body practically thundered with it.

And not just him, for without warning, an energy ripple burst outward, shocking the people around him.

Furniture practically moved, and small objects flung to the walls while the people instinctively shielded themselves from the sudden ”attack.”

A faint hum shuddered through the floor panels.

A few guards stumbled back, eyes wide, gasping.

”Wha-what’s happening?!” one yelped, panic creeping into his voice.

”Doctors—!” someone called, half-rising.

”STOP.”

Xavier’s voice cut cleanly through the tension.

Everyone froze, heads snapping toward the white-haired giant, who had moved sharply to Luca’s side, his hand braced protectively behind the little heir.

”I’ve seen this before,” Xavier said calmly but firmly, his eyes locked onto Terrance.

”Nobody touch him. Minimize noise.”

Everyone froze mid-motion, and even the Duke, who was in the middle of calling for the medical team, stopped at his insistence.

”Kyle,” The prince ordered quietly, ”run to the elders. Confirm the breakthrough signs. But hurry.”

Kyle gave a quick nod and sprinted off.

Xavier’s voice softened slightly, murmuring just loud enough for Terrance to hear:

”Don’t panic. This might be good for you...If you survive it.”

Terrance gritted his teeth, sweat beading on his forehead. His knees wobbled slightly, but he forced himself upright.

”Channel it,” Xavier instructed calmly. ”Guide the energy through your body. Spread the surge—don’t let it bottleneck.”

The entire room fell into a breathless hush, and the Prince hoped this one won’t need a revive pill, too.