Chapter 13

On the third day, it was Geilan's turn to teach William.

"I heard from Oli that you're not good at controlling your magic output, right? I didn't expect you, William, to have something you're not good at either. I thought you were a genius good at everything, hahaha!"

Geilan showed no concern for William's displeasure, laughing as he spoke.

There's nothing I can do; I was never a genius anyway. William's reaction was unexpectedly calm, contrary to Grillian's expectation.

Translation: "There's nothing I can do about it; I'm not a genius to begin with." William's reaction, contrary to Geilan's expectations, was unusually calm.

Grillian gave William a hearty slap on the back, laughing, "That's the spirit of a real man! I thought you'd get discouraged over this small matter like David, but I was worrying for nothing."

Translation: Geilan's big hand slapped William's back with a pat-pat sound, and he said happily, "That's more like what a man would say. I thought you'd get discouraged over this little thing like David does, which made me worry for nothing!"

William clenched his teeth, enduring the pain, and asked, "Are we learning a defensive skill today? Is it that 【Iron Block】 you showed us before?"

Translation: William gritted his teeth through the pain and asked, "Today we should be learning a defensive martial skill, right? Is it the 【Iron Block】 you demonstrated that day?"

William, you're aiming to be a swordsman, right? Then a skill like 【Iron Block】 isn't right for you. Sure, 【Iron Block】 instantly boosts your physical defense and looks handy, but a swordsman's defense isn't as high as a warrior's.

Translation: "William, you're aiming to be a swordsman, aren't you? In that case, a skill like 【Iron Block】 isn't suitable for you. Although 【Iron Block】 can instantly boost one's physical defense and seems convenient, a swordsman's defensive ability isn't as high as a warrior's."

Moreover, the warrior class is the strongest tank of all professions, so they often have to absorb enemy blows with their bodies. If you're wielding a weapon, why would you block with your flesh instead of your weapon? Doesn't that seem foolish?

Translation: Moreover, the warrior class is the strongest tank among all professions, so they often have to endure enemy attacks with their bodies; otherwise, if you're holding a weapon, why not use it to block the enemy's attack instead of using your own flesh? Don't you think that's foolish?

Grillian continued:

Translation: Geilan continued:

Besides, there's a saying: "The best defense is a good offense." So, except for warriors, you'll almost only need defensive skills when you can't win without getting hurt or paying a price.

Translation: "Besides, there's a saying that goes, 'The best defense is a good offense.' Therefore, aside from the warrior class, you'll almost only need defensive skills when you cannot defeat the opponent without getting hurt or paying some cost."

In a scenario where both you and your opponent end up wounded, if you have a defensive ability that better preserves your life, you'll be the one who survives.

Translation: "In a situation where you and your opponent are both badly hurt, as long as you have a defensive means to preserve your life that your opponent lacks, the side that survives will definitely be yours."

Grillian said this so casually that William felt a sudden insight, and goosebumps prickled his skin.

Translation: Hearing such words spoken so lightly from Geilan's mouth, William felt a sudden sense of enlightenment, and goosebumps rose all over his body.

I never thought that Grillian, who seems the strongest and most hearty of the White Hawk squad, would always face defending the team with such a life‑or‑death resolve. My past life as a bronze‑rank adventurer shows that the gap with higher ranks isn't just in magical talent.

Translation: I never expected that Geilan, who seems the strongest and most hearty member of the White Eagle Squad, would always approach helping the squad defend against enemy attacks with this life-and-death resolve. Compared to higher-ranked adventurers, my past self as a bronze-rank adventurer is lacking not only in magical aptitude.

If we're going to risk our lives, wouldn't a bodily defensive skill like 【Iron Block】 also be appropriate? William asked.

Translation: "If we're going to fight with our lives on the line, wouldn't the 【Iron Block】 bodily defense skill also be suitable?" William asked.

Grillian nodded. "Exactly. Tactically, teaching you 【Iron Block】 makes sense. But strategically, it's not the best option."

Translation: Geilan nodded and said, "That's correct. Purely from a tactical standpoint, teaching you the 【Iron Block】 skill is indeed appropriate. However, from a strategic perspective, 【Iron Block】 is not the best choice."

Strategic level??

Translation: "Strategic level??"

You want to be a swordsman, right?

Translation: "You want to be a swordsman, right?

Whether you're the team's main physical damage dealer or you want to duel alone, your first priority shouldn't be a fight to the death; it should be how to win without getting hurt, or how to maximize your overall contribution to the team.

Translation: Whether you're the team's main physical damage output or you want to duel as you mentioned earlier, for you the absolute first consideration shouldn't be fighting the enemy to the death, but rather how to defeat the enemy without getting injured yourself or maximize your contribution to the team's overall output.

If the team's damage dealer gets hurt, it hurts not only your staying power but also puts extra pressure on your teammates, possibly endangering the whole squad because of your recklessness.

Translation: Because if the output position in a team gets injured, it not only affects your personal sustained combat ability but also increases pressure on other teammates, potentially putting the whole team in danger due to your reckless behavior.

Grillian spoke with a smile, but William knew he wasn't joking. In his past life, everyone around him died before his eyes, and William feels responsible for their deaths.

Translation: While Geilan said these things with a smile, William understood he wasn't joking at all. In his previous life, everyone around William had died before his eyes, and William knew deep down that he couldn't escape responsibility for their deaths.

Seeing William's solemn expression, as if he had taken everything in, Grillian dropped his prepared lines and said: "So, for strategic reasons, I've decided to teach you a warrior‑class intermediate skill, 【Immovable Fortress】."

Translation: Seeing William's solemn expression, as if he had truly absorbed what was said, Geilan abandoned his prepared other explanations and directly said, "Therefore, out of this strategic consideration, I've decided to teach you a warrior-class intermediate skill, 【Immovable Fortress】."

William gasped, "An intermediate skill?! Isn't that something only gold‑ or even platinum‑rank adventurers can learn?"

Translation: William exclaimed in shock, "An intermediate skill?! Isn't that something only gold-rank or even platinum-rank adventurers can learn,

But I haven't even learned a single low‑level skill yet!

Translation: but I haven't even learned a single new low-rank skill yet!"

Come on, I never said you had to master it now!

Translation: "Geez, I never said you had to master it right now!

If you start learning now, by the time you reach bronze or silver rank and can master it, that will already be a strategic win. Imagine facing an opponent a bit stronger than you but not unbeatable—using a powerful skill that surpasses your current level by a whole tier at a key moment could give you a surprising, decisive edge.

Translation: If you start learning now, by the time you reach bronze or silver rank and are able to learn it, that will already count as a strategic victory. Imagine when you face an opponent somewhat stronger than you but not unbeatable; if you unleash a powerful skill one major realm above your current level at a crucial moment, wouldn't that produce a surprising, winning effect?

That makes sense, but I have another question: Wouldn't it be better to first master low‑level skills like 【Sword Strike Slash】 or 【Minor Heal】? Is jumping straight to an intermediate skill too ambitious? William asked doubtfully.

Translation: "That makes sense, but I have another question: would it be better to first master these low-rank skills and magic like 【Sword Strike Slash】 or 【Minor Recovery Technique】? Isn't learning an intermediate skill right away aiming too high?" William asked doubtfully.

Grillian wasn't offended by William's doubt; most people would think the same as William, and even when Grillian himself was forced by his mother to learn this technique, he had the same thought.

Translation: Geilan wasn't angry at William's doubt; most people hearing this would think the same as William does, and even when Geilan himself was forced by his mother to learn this move, he had the same thought.

Grillian asked: "William, do you think a violinist improves more by practicing one note at a time, or by practicing whole passages?"

Translation: Geilan countered, "William, do you think a violinist or similar musician practices better by repeating one note at a time, or by practicing an entire movement at a time?"

William, though not versed in music, guessed and replied: "Practicing whole passages works better, since they ultimately need to play a passage, not isolated notes."

Translation: Although William doesn't know music theory, he could guess a bit and replied, "I think practicing an entire movement at a time would be more effective, after all, they ultimately need to perform a movement, not individual notes."

Exactly! Training works the same way. We teach you to become a strong adventurer, not just to learn flashy moves or to look good with a high‑rank badge.

Translation: "Exactly! Cultivation is the same; what we teach you is aimed at making you a powerful adventurer, not turning you into someone who only knows fancy fists and kicks, with just a badge on their neck showing their adventurer rank that looks nice in color.

Battle isn't just about who has higher magical talent or stronger skills; gear, class matchups, luck, and perseverance matter too. Otherwise, how could someone with average magical ability become a hero‑level powerhouse?

Translation: "Battle isn't solely decided by who has higher magical aptitude or whose skills and magic are stronger and more proficient; weapon equipment, class ability counters, luck, perseverance, etc., are all factors in determining victory. Otherwise, what makes some people with average magical talent become hero-level powerhouses?

If that were really what you think, then you, with a star‑rated magical aptitude, might as well quit trying.

Translation: "If that were truly what you thought, then you, with star-grade magical aptitude, might as well give up on striving hard."

Grillian locked eyes with William, silent for a moment, knowing William is smart enough to understand.

Translation: Geilan stared at William's eyes for a long time without speaking; he knew William was a smart kid who couldn't possibly fail to understand this reasoning.

William's hesitation vanished, his gaze hardened, and he said: "Please teach me!"

Translation: With no hesitation left, William's gaze became firmer, and he said, "Please instruct me!"

Watch closely—this is a skill I've been learning since you were this size, all the way up to just before silver rank: 【Immovable Fortress】!

Translation: "Look well, this is a skill I've been learning since you were this big, all the way until just before becoming silver rank, 【Immovable Fortress】!"

As his words ended, a magical rune far more complex than those of low‑level skills appeared before William, and a green magical light burst from Grillian, wrapping his whole body, leather armor, and large shield.

Translation: As soon as his words fell, a magical rune tens of times more complex than those of low-rank skills and magic appeared before William's face, and a green magic light surged from within Geilan's body, enveloping his entire body, his leather armor, and the large shield in his hand.

Though the skill grants no attack, William felt Grillian stood before him like a towering castle wall; any attack would feel like slamming into a mountain, shaking him violently.

Translation: Although this skill has no offensive power whatsoever, William felt that Geilan at that moment resembled a towering castle fortress standing before him; if he were to launch an attack, he would surely be shaken terribly as if crashing into a great mountain.

Grillian canceled the technique and said: "Your 【Boost】 raises some attributes by 5%, 【Iron Block】 instantly increases a single defense stat by about 100%, while my 【Immovable Fortress】 instantly boosts defense by 500%."

Translation: Geilan dispelled the skill and said, "The 【Enhance】 you know can raise some of your attributes by five percent, the skill 【Iron Block】 can instantly boost a single defense attribute by about one hundred percent, while my 【Immovable Fortress】 can instantly raise the defense attribute by five hundred percent."

Five hundred percent—that's huge! William drew a deep breath.

Translation: "Five hundred percent, that's high!" William took a deep breath.

Grillian loved seeing William's shocked reaction and laughed triumphantly: "Now you know what strategic victory means, right? If you use it at the right moment, you could even beat silver‑rank adventurers while you're still bronze rank—hahaha!"

Translation: Geilan loved seeing William's surprised reaction and laughed triumphantly, "Now you know what strategic-level victory means, right? If you use it at the right time, you might even be able to defeat silver-rank adventurers when you're still bronze rank, hahaha!"

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