Chapter 46 - Negotiation
"I see… But, no thank you. Besides, I never agreed to become your student in the first place." said Angus while readying to fight again.
Hearing this, the old dwarf became furious once again and ready to beat up the kid.
"Kid, you overestimate yourself." as he flares up his terrifying mana and releases a huge pressure towards Angus.
On the contrary, Angus didn't feel any pressure at all and replied casually, "Overestimate myself? Maybe? But, the important question here is what can you teach me about?"
Angus continued while looking at the dwarf that started to listen to him, "You said you train me to become a weapon master. But, are you a weapon master yourself? If not, what is your qualification for you to teach me who has this great talent to become a weapon master."
Hearing this, Balrug became silent for a while. Looking at his old boss silently, Bail wants to persuade Angus to apologize before being pummeled by him.
"K-Kid.. Hurry apollo…" said Bail.
Before Bail could finish his sentence, "Hahaha… That's right kid. I am no weapon master. But, I still could teach you the foundation to become a great weapon master." said Balrug with serious expression.
"Hoo… and what is that?" replied Angus.
"Bail, bring that table over here." ordered Balrug.
"Y-Yes, Boss." Bail immediately brings a sturdy wooden table.
"Bail, what grade are you?" asked Balrug.
"Third grade, boss." [Bail]
"Good, now you go arm wrestling with the kid." Order Balrug.
Then, he continued, "The third grade people's physics is almost no different with ordinary trained people. So, if you still have a chance to beat Bail."
Angus didn't know what this crazy old dwarf was thinking, but he knew that the dwarf race hated to use underhanded tactics even if they lost so he complied with him.
He is interested in what the old dwarf wants to achieve from this. Then, Bail and Angus ready themselves to have a match of arm wrestling.
The moment both of them are ready, "Begin!" [Balrug]
The two arms immediately try to overpower one with each other. At this moment, "A weapon master needs a... " *BAM*
As Angus defeated Bail easily before Balrug could finish his sentence.
"Sorry, what do you say once again?" asked Angus nonchalantly.
"Hahaha… Good, your next opponent is me." said Balrug excitedly.
"Nope, everyone could see you are much higher grade than Bail. So, what's the point of this useless match?" replied Angus.
"Don't worry I will not use any mana to strengthen myself. Moreover, you will be considered as the winner if you could move my arm back a little bit." said Balrug.
He added to entice Angus further, "If you win, I will never bother you again."
Although winning seems impossible to Angus but pushing a little bit backwards is still possible. Especially if Balrug didn't use any kind of mana to strengthen himself.
From sparring with his father, he noticed that the higher grade people are not very strong without mana. Moreover, Angus strength is almost more than two times than ordinary ungraded people combined with the mana to strengthen himself, he still has a chance to win.
"Haa… What choice do I have? Alright, let's get over it." replied Angus
As both of them ready themselves, "You ready to lose, kid?" [Balrug]
"Just make sure you keep your own word." [Angus]
As soon as both of them are ready, "Begin!" [Bail]
Angus immediately use his mana to strengthen his arm towards maximum and push Balrug arm. But, he feels like pushing a sturdy immovable wall.
Looking at this, Balrug only smiles and flexes his arm muscle a little bit. Angus feels a huge force overpowering him.
Using his fast relex, Angus immediately uses [Yin - Yang Balancing] to redirect the force from dislocating his arm. But, he still got thrown away from the recoil of the force. *BAM* Angus got thrown away into the nearby wall.
"Hahaha… kid, Did I still have the qualification to teach you?" as Balrug grinning over his win.
Angus is not replying to the old dwarf boasting at all. As an expert martial art, he also has an intensive knowledge about body strength and psych. What he experienced just now completely blows his mind.
Normally, the strength difference between two of them is supposed to be not this huge considering that his father's physical body is not too different from him except after being enhanced by mana.
Even if the dwarf race has superior physical strength than humans the differences should not be this huge. Afterall, he could defeat Bail, the third grade dwarf easily before.
However, Angus feels that the old dwarf physical strength is many times higher than himself. Moreover, judging by the old dwarf's reaction himself, he may not use all his full power when defeating Angus. This kind of realization really surprised him.
After calming down a little bit, Angus realizes it is not because of his grade that Balrug has crazy strength. It is because another factor that makes him have unbelievable strength.
After all besides the monster who evolved with miasma, the other civilian race could not raise their own physical strength easily like them. Otherwise, the feud between the monster and civilization society will already end a long time ago.
Noticing Angus thought, "So, did you still interested in studying under my tutelage?" said Balrug with his proud smile.
Looking at the proud smile of Balrug, Angus feels like want to beat the old man alive. But, he was also curious about the origin of his body strength.
Especially after he knew that in this world, people didn't really attach the importance of their own physical power since they could enhance their own with mana easily.
After thinking for a while, "Alright, I will study under you." replied Angus.
Hearing this the old dwarf feels like winning a lottery before Angus adds, "However, there are a few conditions if you want me to study under you."
"Condition?" [Balrug]
"Yes, first you must not reveal my power to other people. Second, I will only study under you when I am truly free. And lastly, I will not call you my teacher." said Angus seriously.
"Ehh… Well, I could agree about not revealing your true power as it is your own privacy and I don't really care what you call me. But, for the second condition, you are not thinking of lazing around right?"
Then, Angus gave the old dwarf a piece of paper that he already prepared before towards him without answering his question. Grabbing the paper, the old dwarf found a timetable.
"That's my schedule of my course and side course." explained Angus.
Both of the dwarves immediately read the timetable. They were surprised by how tight Angus's schedule was. Besides the weekend, Angus didn't have any free day.
"Brat, you must be joking. This can't be your schedule right?" [Balrug]
"Whether I lie or not. You can check it at the academy registry about this. Besides the weekend and Tuesday smithing course that is under your authority, I am kind of busy on another day."
"Brat, you are too gree…" suddenly Balrug stops his sentence as he realizes the main characteristic of the weapon master.
Over history, all the weapon masters have the same main characteristic. All of them are famous for their thirst for knowledge. Their curiosity over something is so great that they always want to learn everything.
Not only that, they are also a great learner that could sometimes invent something new out of nowhere. Because of this, they are not only famous for battle but also famous as inventors and craftsmen.
Realizing that Angus also has this kind of characteristic as a natural weapon master, "Alright, I accept on your condition. You will be training under me on the weekend and tuesday."
"Ehh…" as Angus didn't expect that the dwarf really agreed about his condition easily.
"However, you need to be serious to study under me. Otherwise, you could… Well… Let's not think about it for now." said Balrug mysteriously.
"Boss, you don't think to teach him that art right?" Bail suddenly asked his old boss.
But, rather than answering he only looked at Angus silently waiting for his answer. Hearing this Angus couldn't help but be curious about their conversation.
"As I said before, I will learn under you in my free time. I don't know what kind of training or art you will give me. But, I will not back down on my own words." replied Angus seriously.
"Alright, then it's a deal." as the dwarf sticks his hand for shaking hands.
"It's a deal." said Angus while shaking the robust old dwarf's hand.
After chatting for a few more about the specific time for his training, Angus excuses himself and goes back towards his dorm.
'Haa… Luckily, it went peacefully. Otherwise, this matter will be blown up and everyone will know my true strength. That's the last thing I want as it will become no different than in my past life.' Thought Angus inwardly.
While walking towards his dorm, he notices the big bright moon and clear starry sky above him.
'Huff… life is really unpredictable and could never be controlled.' Thought Angus silently.