My Disciples Grind, I Get 100x Their Progress

[System]

Disciple Rank Progress detected.

Source Rank: [F]

Progress Gained: [+0.30%]

MASTER Authority activated.

Return Multiplier: [100×]

[Status Update]

Rank: [F] — [0.0%] → Rank: [F] — [30.0%]

”....!”

’What is this?’

Julian felt a burst of foreign energy explode inside his body. It seeped into his bones, into every cell of his body, delivering a sensation that felt refreshing and strangely addictive. Even though this foreign energy was completely unfamiliar to him, Julian could say with total confidence that it was an entirely new, entirely pleasant feeling.

’Could this be what they call Mana?’

He mulled it over for a moment. Then, the skill he’d received from Kina earlier suddenly felt far clearer than before. Before now, Julian had felt like he simply couldn’t use that skill no matter what he tried, and that was because his body hadn’t had enough of that foreign energy to serve as the medium for it.

But now, Julian could say with real confidence that he understood exactly how that power worked.

’Insane, insane, insane, this is incredible! Is this really a world with magic? Wow.’

If it weren’t for his Talent standing in the way, his face right now would look absolutely ridiculous, eyes practically sparkling with stars.

But that giddy sensation lasted only a moment, because reality came crashing back just as fast, the fact that he really had been transported to another world.

’Can I even get home?’ Julian could only hope he’d find some way back.

Before that though, he still needed to focus on survival. His gaze drifted briefly toward Kina, who was currently staring off into empty air, doing exactly what Julian had just been doing.

Kina felt his gaze and quickly glanced back at him, a little awkwardly, a smile forming on her face.

The air between them turned awkward. Kina clearly didn’t seem inclined to say anything, while Julian, for his part, was waiting for her to speak first.

But since Kina wasn’t saying a word, Julian decided to take a step forward and ask:

”What’s your name?”

”Kina... Mivelo.”

Julian nodded. He already knew the girl’s name, but he’d decided to ask first before addressing her by it. It would’ve felt awkward to just blurt her name out before she’d said it herself.

Now, let’s focus on what actually mattered.

”Where are we right now?”

”Level F Invaded Zone.”

”...What does that mean?”

Kina paused for a moment, ”You don’t know?” Then she stopped, furrowing her brow and letting out a small sigh. ”Wait, shouldn’t we be discussing something more important first?”

”....?”

”Can we just forget about that whole master and disciple agreement from earlier?” Kina forced a smile onto her face, doing everything she could to win Julian over. ”I can pay you whatever you want. You know? I come from the great Mivelo family!”

’Mivelo? Whatever! I don’t know anything about anything here, lady!’ Julian was genuinely tempted to take her up on it, but he held himself back, knowing it probably wouldn’t actually work out in his favor.

He let out a small sigh, looking at Kina, who was staring back at him full of hope, then his gaze dropped to the wounds covering the girl’s body.

”You’re from a great family? Then what exactly is going on with you right now?”

’There’s no way someone from a great family would end up looking like a homeless person, right?’

Julian let out a soft huff. Was the girl in front of him lying to him?

Watching Kina flinch made Julian think his suspicion was probably right. Kina looked like she was about to say something, but at that exact moment, the sound of footsteps rang out behind Julian.

Kina’s body went rigid, her face draining of color, and Julian, a beat too slow to notice, spun around, and honestly, felt a wave of pure terror the instant he did.

’Oh God, what now, what kind of test is this now!?’

His soul practically leapt out of his own body, yet, ironically, his face still showed nothing but that same calm, indifferent composure.

Standing in front of Kina and Julian was a man with curly hair that looked disturbingly like seaweed, his face gaunt and shadowed, bearing all the telltale marks of someone strung out on drugs.

”Oh! I heard Miss Kina Mivelo got left behind out in the wilds, how lucky that I actually managed to find you here.”

’Miss? She’s actually a ”Miss”? Wait, that’s not the point right now, but that man looks genuinely terrifying! He’s definitely a bad guy!?’

Julian felt like he wanted to cry. He glanced quickly at Kina, hoping she’d do something. But what he found instead was Kina, pale as a sheet, ducking behind his body for cover.

”M-master... could you do something?”

’...She’s calling me Master at a time like this!?’

Julian didn’t know what to say, but Kina was clearly proving to be a whole lot shameless than she looked!

He turned his attention back to the man, who pulled out two sharp daggers dripping with dark blood and gave a crooked smile.

Julian’s entire body broke out in chills.

’What am I supposed to do here!?’

Bet everything on One Slash, the skill he’d only just gotten?

But could he actually pull it off well?

No, if he couldn’t do it, he just needed to make himself able to do it. Didn’t he have a system that could push his progress forward at an insane rate, depending on his disciple?

Right, if that progress climbed high enough, maybe there was still a chance!

”Kina.”

Julian stepped aside, tilting his body and looking directly at Kina with a pleading look in his eyes, one that no one else would ever be able to catch, given how differently his expression read to everyone else watching.

”Use One Slash. Fight him.”

’Please, lady! We’re both going to die if you can’t pull this off!’

Meanwhile, Kina’s face went pale the instant she heard what Julian said. She couldn’t wrap her head around it, wasn’t he supposed to be her Master!?

And more than that, how was she supposed to fight a man who was clearly far more experienced and probably had progress far beyond her own?

As for One Slash, it was nothing but a useless, trash-tier skill that didn’t amount to anything! On top of that, Kina had zero confidence she could even pull it off properly.

”...I-I can’t, huwaa Master, can’t you just do something yourself?”

’Aren’t you supposed to be my Master?! Help your gorgeous disciple out here!’

Kina broke into sobs, entirely fake ones, of course. She had no idea exactly how strong the man in front of them was, but she could say with confidence that he was definitely strong enough to be dangerous.

Meanwhile, the man watched them both, chuckling.

”Who’s this man, Miss?” He tilted his head, his gaze radiating pure, unmistakable killing intent. ”Have you finally decided to rely on some random stranger to save yourself?”

”That’s pathetic.”

Kina glanced at the man, then paused for a moment, looking at Julian instead. She smiled faintly, then turned back to the man, pulling down the corner of her eye and sticking out her tongue.

”Bleeh! Shut it, you ugly seaweed man! Ugly bastard! Dried-up body! Wrinkly skin! My Master’s gonna kill you if you come any closer!”

For a brief moment, Kina felt a faint tremor in the air, but she brushed it off. Just the wind, probably, right?

’No! That’s not right at all! Damn it! Get me away from this crazy girl!’

Julian nearly burst into tears, staring at Kina in absolute disbelief. He was just an ordinary actor, how was he supposed to fight, let alone pull off some elaborate sword dance!?

This made no sense at all!

’Leave me alone!!!’

Julian let out a low groan, watching the man’s face darken with fury. Then he glanced back at Kina, who was staring at him, full of hope.

’This troublesome girl...’

He needed to stay calm.

”Kina, just do what I told you. Use One Slash and everything will be fine.”

”That’s... not possible... my mana will just scatter, I don’t have the talent for that... One Slash needs mana focused into a single point, and that’s really hard to do.”

’Are you kidding me!? You’ve got Sword Maiden potential!! That’s supposed to be incredible, isn’t it!?’

Both Julian’s and Kina’s bodies jolted at the sound of a heavy sigh coming from the man. They turned toward him at the same time and found his face twisted into a deep scowl.

”How dare you... how dare you call me Ugly Seaweed Man!?”

Kina instinctively latched onto Julian’s arm in sheer terror. Julian, meanwhile, was far too terrified to even move. But he forced himself to act, turning to shove the overly clingy Kina off him and saying, panicked:

”Kina, listen to me, you can do this. Just remember, use your mana, just one, remember, one, okay?”

But from Kina’s point of view, he still looked completely calm. He gave her a quick push forward, sending her stumbling helplessly ahead.

”Ugh... Uh... Fine, fine! I’ll do it! But if I’m in danger, you have to save me, Master!”

Julian would be stunned to learn that the words and advice he’d just thrown out completely at random were about to have a massive effect on Kina.