My Disciples Grind, I Get 100x Their Progress

’Wha... what...!?’

The professor genuinely couldn’t process what he’d just witnessed. He watched Kina let out a soft breath, right alongside a target sliced clean, perfectly, in two. As a professor, an evaluation examiner, and a D-Rank Hunter himself, what Kina had just shown him fell completely outside anything he could make sense of.

One Slash was supposed to be a notoriously difficult skill to develop, most Hunters would rather pick up any other skill than sink time into it. Not just because it was hard to master, but because One Slash was also a skill genuinely ill-suited to real combat.

The difficulty of aiming, the intense focus it demanded, and the underwhelming damage it dealt out, that was One Slash. But what Kina had just demonstrated, even setting aside how far it went beyond the professor’s own understanding, the real problem was just how deeply she’d already come to grasp this skill.

’Talent? No, she doesn’t have anywhere near the Talent needed for that. Then what?’

Cold sweat spilled down his face, and the professor suddenly pictured Adelle’s face, grinning nervously, exactly as anxious as he felt right now.

’...I think I might just be the one who’s lost his edge here.’

The headmaster of Canelo Academy was still every bit as sharp as ever. The professor had no idea what made this girl so special, but Kina was clearly an anomaly, and the headmaster must have seen something in her that he himself had completely missed.

A young girl, growing at this rate, despite an F-Grade Talent.

The professor gave an awkward smile, then turned to Kina and her guardian and said, ”You pass.”

***

[System]

Disciple Skill Progress detected.

Skill: [One Slash]

Source Rank: [F]

Progress Gained: [+22.00%]

MASTER Authority activated.

Return Multiplier: [100×]

[Status Update]

[One Slash] — [D] — [4.0%] → [One Slash] — [D] — [26.0%]

’This... is this what a Sword Maiden’s talent actually looks like? This feels like straight-up cheating, did she just experience some sudden enlightenment or something?’

Julian didn’t fully understand it, but one thing was certain, watching Kina’s progress instantly put him in an extraordinarily good mood.

This was the single best investment Julian had ever made in his life. He wasn’t letting go of this one, not for anything.

’My life is literally in your hands, Kina!’

As for the strange conversion happening with his own growth, ’Seems like the higher someone’s Rank or Grade climbs, the actual value shifts too, right?’

He couldn’t say exactly how much it shifted, but it clearly wasn’t a simple flat calculation. Julian had just received a 22% gain, which, multiplied by a hundred, should’ve been an enormous number.

But what he’d actually gained didn’t even reach fifty percent.

’As long as I keep growing, that’s fine by me.’

Julian nodded to himself a few times, then suddenly heard the examining professor’s voice.

”You pass.”

”....!”

Julian’s gaze immediately snapped toward the professor, who was looking at Kina. He was bracing himself for bad news, but instead, Kina looked absolutely thrilled, sprinting toward Julian with a bright smile on her face.

”See? I passed!”

Then the girl leapt straight at him, practically bursting with joy. Startled, Julian scrambled to keep his balance, celebrating right alongside her in his head.

’Of course she passed, this must’ve been incredibly rough on Kina after everything she’s been through. Even I feel exhausted just watching.’

Julian hesitated for a moment, then rested a hand on top of Kina’s head and gave a small smile. ”Good work.”

With that, his allotment of a comfortable, happy life had officially been secured.

***

After that, Julian, as her guardian, had to help handle several decisions on Kina’s behalf, working through a few required procedures and signing off on approvals.

Once everything was finally settled, it was Julian’s turn to sort out his own situation. Canelo Academy sat close to a nearby residential district, so with the Academy’s help, Julian was granted a modest place to live within that district.

Kina, meanwhile, would be staying in the Academy dormitories. As her guardian, Julian wasn’t required to visit her regularly, he’d only need to show up whenever something required his involvement, like signatures or other formalities.

”Master~ I’ll definitely send you a letter the moment I accomplish something!”

So, with a temporary goodbye to Kina, Julian finally made his way toward the residential district.

Canelo Residential District.

There were plenty of large, luxurious estates scattered around, but most of the housing consisted of modest homes for people of comfortable, ordinary means. And that’s exactly where Julian was placed, with things like electricity, water, and a few other expenses covered by the Academy.

Food, though, Julian still had to handle on his own. The Academy had also offered him a few job options he could take on, ones suited to someone with an unregistered identity like his.

Naturally, Julian accepted all of it without a second thought. He had no problem with a life like this, as long as his safety was guaranteed, and the place was clean.

Who wouldn’t want a calm, peaceful life after seeing firsthand just how exhausting this world could be?

Julian looked over the modest house that would now be his home. A two-story building with a small porch, more than enough for his needs. Honestly, the Academy had been surprisingly generous with accommodations this nice.

Julian pushed the door open and stepped inside. First thing he noticed was a short hallway, a living room to the left, a bathroom to the right, and a kitchen straight ahead.

Everything was spotless, fully furnished. From the living room, a staircase led up to the second floor, which held a bedroom and a porch of its own.

’What more could a man ask for?’

Julian tossed the black coat Kina had returned to him somewhere off to the side, kicked off his shoes, eyed the soft-looking bed, and dropped himself onto it.

Puff!

Every ache in his body, every ounce of exhaustion, every restless, spinning thought, all of it melted away into that soft, comfortable mattress.

Julian rolled around happily, feeling genuinely, completely alive. Then, once he’d had his fill, he pushed himself back up, fighting off a sudden wave of drowsiness.

”I think I’ll go take a shower first.”

Only after that could Julian finally sleep soundly. Especially since he already had a plan brewing for what he wanted to do the next day.

First of all, he wasn’t too worried about food or money. Kina had already given him plenty, so whatever job he ended up taking would just be something to keep his days moving at a slower, more relaxed pace.

So what Julian actually wanted to do the next day was explore this city that had somehow managed to survive, and maybe try out some genuinely delicious food, and pick up a few nice new clothes while he was at it.

With that thought in mind, he headed toward the bathroom, looking forward to tomorrow with real anticipation.