The Hidden Ending Strategy of a Veteran in a Dead Game

Chapter 4: The Elder of the Training Grounds

The shout of joy I let out upon checking my constitution had its consequences.

-Boom! Boom!

“Are you alright, young master?”

A soldier standing guard outside the door knocked urgently.

“Ah, yeah! I just solved a puzzle I’ve been stuck on. Got a little excited!”

“Ah, congratulations. Let us know if anything happens.”

I heard the soldier return to his post.

How thorough. Even at this hour, there were guards stationed outside my room.

“I’ll have to keep it down from now on.”

While the strict security was reassuring, it also meant I couldn’t freely express my emotions.

Taking a deep breath, I turned back to the status window.

[Mana Circuit]

Blood vessels and nerves… and what’s this?

Congratulations! Mana flows through your body!

The mana circuit in your body is active.

“Yes! That’s what I’m talking about!”

I punched the air in triumph.

In this world, knights who use auras store their power in their dantian.

Magicians, on the other hand, form a circle in their hearts to wield magic.

Typically, one must choose between the two paths unless they’ve mastered a hybrid technique or possess a rare profession like a magic knight.

There was one exception:

Individuals with mana circuits.

Those born with this innate trait could channel mana throughout their entire body, enabling them to use both aura and magic.

“With this alone, the possibilities are endless.”

I’m a modern human—I’ve shotguns but never cast spells.

I’ve trained in hand-to-hand combat but never wielded a longsword.

Having a mana circuit was a massive advantage, as it allowed me to explore either path.

Grinning, I moved on to check the next constitution.

[Titan Strength]

Woo-hoo! You’re brimming with power!

Your physical abilities receive significant bonuses.

“Ohhhhhh!”

Another jackpot!

I buried my face in a pillow and screamed into it.

While not as versatile as the Heavenly Warrior Body, Titan Strength was still top-tier.

“The Heavenly Warrior Body is only useful for martial arts anyway.”

For someone like me who could use both aura and magic, Titan Strength was perfect.

It boosted strength, stamina, recovery—basically anything related to physical prowess.

My path was clear: I’d become a magic knight.

It’s a risky build—done poorly, it could create a useless character. But if done right, it’s game-breaking.

Fortunately, I had no intention of messing this up. I’d built countless optimized characters before.

“Alright, calm down.”

I still had to check the negative constitutions.

With two strong positive traits, I could handle some setbacks.

After all, I wasn’t new to adversity—this was just another challenge.

With a steadying breath, I opened the next constitution.

[No Projection]

You cannot use mana-based projection or ranged skills, techniques, or abilities.

“…What?”

I blinked in disbelief. Surely I’d misread it.

Nope. It was exactly what it said.

“Does this mean no Fireballs? No Ice Arrows?!”

This wasn’t just about magic—any skill involving mana projection was off-limits.

“Even knights’ Lance Charge and rangers’ Mana Shot are unusable!”

A trait this restrictive was almost cruel.

Unlike mana-related illnesses, which could be cured with elixirs or artifacts, No Projection was absolute.

“This… can’t be happening.”

Without the ability to project mana, I couldn’t use 80% of conventional magic.

Even shields, which relied on projecting mana outward, were out of the question.

Slap.

I slapped my cheeks to refocus.

“Fine. I won’t use projectiles.”

Instead, I could imbue weapons or armor with magic—fire, ice, and the like.

Buff magic was also unaffected.

If used wisely, I could still fulfill both tank and damage-dealer roles.

“Actually, this might work. Being tanky is great when you don’t know where the next stab might come from.”

Feeling somewhat reassured, I moved on to the final constitution.

[Cat’s Hands]

Weapons? What are those?

Your dexterity is abysmal.

“Oh, for crying out loud…”

There it was—the source of my inability to hold knives or cups properly.

***

The Morning After

Sunlight streaming through the window woke me up.

After determining my constitutions and strategizing through the night, I’d barely slept.

Thanks to Titan Strength, I wasn’t too tired, but my body felt stiff.

“Alright, time to review.”

Stretching lightly, I went over my conclusions from the night before.

While my positive constitutions were excellent, the negative ones were severe.

I couldn’t use projectiles or hold weapons properly.

“That eliminates two of the main professions.”

Both mages and knights relied on these abilities.

Even the cleric path, which used holy power instead of mana, was out of reach due to the incompatibility between mana and divine energy.

The solution was simple:

“Fists.”

I couldn’t wield swords, maces, or shields, but I could wear armor.

“And I’ll augment my fists with magic.”

Self-buffing with magic would offset the penalties of not using weapons.

Thanks to the mana circuit, this was entirely feasible.

What should I call this build?

“Magic fists?”

“Martial Battlemage.”

That’s what I’ll call it. “마투가(Demonic Fighter)(魔鬪家).”

A class I’d never tried before.

And at the same time—

“Theoretically the strongest class.”

Among all the builds I’d ever created, this one had the most potential.

I never got to play it before because I was dragged here before I could even start leveling it.

“It’s insanely difficult.”

The class requires not only essential skills but also hellish control.

It’s a hybrid of brawlers, known for their close-range combat and lightning-fast reflexes, and magic knights, who wield swords while casting spells, requiring mastery over both mechanics and skill builds.

Combining the two created a class so demanding that no player dared attempt it.

Except for me.

“I can handle it.”

Both brawlers and magic knights were my mainstay characters.

The idea of fighting in real life was a little intimidating, sure—but in a way, that was better.

“I’ve always been confident in my physicality.”

Learning both swordsmanship and magic from scratch felt unrealistic.

There wasn’t enough time to reach the level I wanted, especially with only two months until the official duel.

I swung my arms a few times to loosen up.

“I’ll need to get used to this body.”

This body wasn’t my original one.

Plus, with the additions of Titan Strength and the Mana Circuit, I needed to test my limits.

And while I was at it, I could build some physical fitness.

The original owner of this body wasn’t much for exercise—more of a bookworm.

“At least the frame is decent.”

I studied myself in the mirror.

For a 15-year-old, the proportions were good, and the skeletal structure was solid.

Kellen was tall in the game, so I’d probably grow more in time.

First, training.

Next, I needed to secure a mana cultivation technique.

Mana cultivation strengthens both body and mind, increasing the total quantity and output of aura and magic.

The choice of cultivation technique determines growth limits and unique features.

No matter how good my constitutions and traits were, a bad technique would cripple my potential.

Fortunately—

“The Bayerle family is full of techniques.”

As a conquering family, they didn’t just claim lands and wealth—they also acquired the cultivation methods and technologies of fallen families.

However, even as a direct descendant, I couldn’t freely access those techniques.

Talent and proven ability were prerequisites.

The original Kellen hadn’t even attempted training. He’d spent all his time buried in books.

“Still, there’s a way.”

In the game, the Bayerle family played a significant role before their betrayal.

I knew enough about their inner workings to devise a plan.

“The Fourfold Training Grounds.”

It was time to move.

After spending too much time thinking, my body was itching to act.

I quickly swapped out my silk pajamas for comfortable clothes.

Or at least, I tried to—

-Slip. Fumble. Clatter.

The buttons kept slipping through my fingers.

[Your “Cat’s Hands” constitution is fumbling.]

“…Damn it.”

In the end, I flipped the shirt over my head and yanked it off awkwardly.

Reaching the training grounds wasn’t hard.

The rumors of my duel with Gaiden had already spread like wildfire.

“Do you think the young master will be okay?”

“Gaiden’s already set to join the Academy. It’ll be tough for him.”

“What if his cute face gets scarred?”

Thanks to Titan Strength, my heightened senses picked up the whispered comments of the servants.

No one believed I could beat Gaiden—the gap between us was that wide.

Knights and mages were classified into ranks from 1st to 9th, with 1st–2nd rank considered low-grade.

“Most commoners or mercenaries barely reach the 2nd rank.”

3rd–5th rank were mid-grade, where individuals began establishing themselves in their respective paths.

Knights at this level could be knighted, and mages could join the mage towers.

6th–7th rank were high-grade, respected as masters and recognized across the land.

8th rank were monstrous warriors capable of turning the tide of battles singlehandedly.

And above that—

“9th rank is reserved for those on the verge of transcending humanity.”

These individuals were managed at the national level.

Gaiden, my younger brother and opponent, was a 3rd-ranked mage at the age of 15.

“The matchup doesn’t favor me.”

Knights and mages were theoretically equal at the same rank, but in practice, mages held the upper hand—especially at the lower levels.

Even in terms of pay, a 3rd-ranked mage was worth three times as much as a 3rd-ranked knight.

“If you can’t fight them up close, mages dominate with sheer firepower.”

For knights, 3rd rank was when they began utilizing aura—but only briefly.

If they failed to take down a mage within that short timeframe, they’d be pummeled from afar.

To overcome this, I needed a powerful cultivation technique.

“The Explosive Return of House Ponte.”

This technique matched my constitution perfectly and would connect me to key figures necessary for later plans to bring down the Empire.

Lost in thought, I arrived at the training grounds.

It was an empty space, surprisingly deserted considering the Bayerle family’s focus on martial prowess.

But there was a reason for that—him.

“The only person in the family who’ll accept me without prejudice.”

A scrawny old man dozing under the shade. At first glance, he didn’t seem like much, but appearances were deceiving.

Despite his gaunt face, his muscular frame was evident even under loose clothing.

This was the man once called the Wolf of the Battlefield.

“Hmm.”

He stirred slightly, half-opening his eyes as he sensed my presence, then quickly lost interest.

That was fine for now. Soon, his attitude would change.

“Alright, let’s get started.”

Loosening my shoulders, I began running laps around the training grounds.