Time to Train!
"Strength!" I shouted, my voice loud and resonant. "That's what I want!!"
After experiencing hundreds of thousands of years of watching other people from all walks of life progress in their own paths, it was now my turn!
My turn to progress down a path of power! My turn to not watch other people from an immobilized lying position! My turn to be the one out there actively doing things!
"Hell yeah!!" I shouted at the top of my lungs, arms raised high into the sky. "This is the win! The win I've been so desperately searching for all my lives! The Path to Power!"
However, there was one teensy-weensy problem that presented itself to our reinvigorated protagonist.
The Path to Power.
How in the hell should he go about starting his journey on such a vague aspiration?
"Maybe drugs are the answer?" I said, rubbing my chin in thought.
The Falazar family members training in the field looked my way, drawn in by my outburst, but I zoned them out.
"Drugs… like Alchemy and stuff. Although I didn't really pay attention to anything outside Attribute Farming in this life, I do recall a number of servants mentioning the Alchemy profession. There was also something else about high-level pills and an Alchemy Grandmaster staying inside the mansion."
It was decided!
To embark on the Path to Power, the first step was to become a dopehead!
Or not…
"Eldest Young Master?" A curious voice echoed, belonging to the family's Head Steward. "Why are you out here in the training grounds so shortly after your miraculous revival? Has the doctor already given you the green light to begin moving around so vigorously?"
I put on my best poker face and nodded.
In my heart, however, I was praying to my lucky star—praying that I wouldn't be sent back to that test table!
Ya know, as I've lived as an alien of some form for dozens of my lifetimes, I've been told to do things with advanced technology that only ever happened in whacky sci-fi movies.
Probing.
Yeah, the whole shoving things up the bums of different worlds' natives! That was what I did for too many years to count as the crippled child of a Probe Master for the Xylophorgs!
Thinking about those times was enough to make me barf…
Right now, the only thing I wanted to do was train!
I wanted to see if I could become stronger like everyone else!
Maybe with the Attribute Farming System's help, I could become something akin to a genius!
Coincidentally, the Head Steward's voice rang out with the words I so badly wished to hear:
"Are you wanting to train, Young Master Knox??"
His corpulent belly jiggled a little as he reeled back in shocked realization. Beads of sweat ran down his fat-filled cheeks as his mind swirled with thoughts, imagining how the Count would react to this information.
If he knew… If he knew that his eldest son—the bane of his family name—was aiming to train…
He might just die from happiness!
"No, no, I'm getting ahead of myself," thought the Head Steward, his expression evening out. "Knowing the Eldest Young Master's personality, it's very likely that he's just out here to crack a joke or something."
He himself had been the victim of many of Knox's jokes when they encountered one another…
*Brrrr!*
A shiver ran down his spine merely recalling those memories.
Snapping him out of his reverie was the Eldest Young Master's elated voice:
"Training!? Damn straight I'm here to train!" I shouted, nose pointing high. "Tell me, good sir, where can I train in—secret—? To properly unleash my overwhelming barrage of punches, none should be in my vicinity. I fear for their safety, not mine."
"U… Uhmm, yes, of course," said the Head Steward, his sweat glands working at full capacity.
He gently wiped the sweat from his forehead with an elegantly embroidered handkerchief, then motioned to an isolated forest area sitting beside the primary training field.
"Right over there will be your best bet if you desire privacy. No one goes there at this time of the day."
"Thanks, chap!" I said before spinning on my heel and sauntering toward the spot he indicated. "Time to go test out my body! Hwa! Hwa!"
While watching Knox Falazar approach the forest, the Head Steward suddenly remembered something. But except for a slight eye raise, he didn't act any further in response to what he remembered.
"In my confliction, I completely overlooked the fact that Young Miss Yennefer has been seen often visiting that particular forest," he thought. "Though, surely she won't be there today of all days… Surely…"
As the Head Steward's confidence began plummeting, I made my way toward the forest. I was joyfully smiling while merrily swinging my arms back and forth like a happy elementary schooler.
"I wonder how strong I am," I mused, flexing my well-defined biceps. "I look and feel pretty strong, but seeing as this is a world of cultivation, one can never be too certain."
Just then:
*Splish, Splash!*