God of Assassination, Become the Strongest Healer - chapter 2

Mana.

A miraculous power that allows a knight’s sword to split the earth and a mage’s spells to tear the skies  Many Msuperhumans wield this power—knights, mages, spirit summoners, martial artists, alchemists, healers, rangers, and more.

Though these various groups handle mana in their own ways, they all have one thing in common: they train to form a “mana ring” in their hearts, and through that ring, they gain transcendent power

Because of this, the idea that “mana users = mana ring holders” is widely accepted as an absolute truth.

A chuckle escaped my lips.

I couldn’t help but smile as I remembered my teacher’s hearty voice .

“Think about it. Imagine an assassin going around with a big, obvious mana ring, practically shouting, ‘Hey, I’m a mana user, so be careful around me!’ Wouldn’t that be ridiculous?”

“From now on, I’m going to teach you how to accumulate mana without a mana ring. It’s the greatest gift I can give you.”

“How’d I come across such a strange method, you ask? Well, I can’t say for sure. I found this breathing technique in some ancient ruins I stumbled upon in my youth. All I know is that it’s probably a relic from an ancient kingdom. I don’t have all the details.”

“I’ve learned through experience, though, that this breathing technique is similar to what those spirit summoners do. It seems to emphasize communion with nature, just like they do.”

It doesn’t matter where it came from. What’s important is that this breathing technique helped me go from being a wandering mercenary to one of the top five assassins in the area. Now, you will learn this breathing technique that was only mine before. My master taught me a special breathing method called “Arca.” Arca is a powerful breathing method that helps users improve their abilities but also has the benefit of keeping their powers a secret. It uses the blood and muscles to hold mana, so others can’t see if someone has magical abilities because there is no visible sign of it. Because of this, I was able to carry out many seemingly impossible assassinations. It took me about a year to completely learn the first stage of Arca, right? On the day I left my master’s side, he told me that Arca has seven stages based on how well you train. He had reached the fourth stage himself and believed I could reach the sixth stage one day. He said that even at the fourth stage, he was one of the top five assassins on the continent. If I manag to master the sixth stage in the future, people might call me the god of assassination.

My master was right. After I left him, I mastered the third stage and eventually reached the sixth stage when I turned seventy. After that, people started calling me the god of assassination.

I take a deep breath and relax in a comfy spot, letting my arms and legs move freely. I can feel the teachings of Arka, which my master has shown me and I’ve practiced for a long time, flowing into me. However, even after a year of training, I’m still at the first level of Arka. Being in a child’s body brings many challenges that make it hard to concentrate fully on my training. I don’t feel rushed or anxious about anything.  if I think about it logically, I might not need to go over the assassination skills I learned in my past life. This is probably because I’m now the heir of the famous healing family, Claudius. As I lie there looking up, I notice the golden shield symbol on the ceiling. The central shield stands for Claudius’s strength, and the eight wings around it represent the important mission that Claudius has to fulfill.      I’ve heard the Claudius oath so many times that it’s completely ingrained in my mind now.

Every time I see this oath, I’m reminded that I’m not the God of Assassination but ‘Pagan Claudius’ instead.

“Claudius, noble Claudius.”

I mutter the name of my family again, still not fully grasping it.

On this vast continent, there are countless countries, each ruled by noble families.

Sword, magic, money, combat, technology, spirits.

Noble families, each pushing their unique traits, were caught up in their power struggles.

Among all those noble families, it wasn’t too hard to find a “family of healing arts” that specialised in treatment techniques to expand their territory.

But even among the many families known for their healing skills, Claudius was a little, no, quite special.

“The lions of mercy, who never hesitate to reach out to the lowest” and “the grey ones, whose true intentions are impossible to read.”

These were the two old nicknames that followed Claudius

Healing techniques were quite valuable, so most well-known families would typically align themselves with larger powers to seek profit.

However, Claudius used their exceptional skills not just for a specific family but for all who were suffering. Because of this, people’s views on Claudius were split in two.

                                                                 Some people saw him as a hero who helped those in need, while others thought of him as a two-faced hypocrite who didn’t truly commit to anyone. If Claudius hadn’t had a few special skills, his family might have already faced serious trouble from someone who didn’t trust them. Claudius was the one leading them through these tough times. He thought about his father, Tiberius Claudius, whom he admired greatly. Just the thought of his father’s strong jaw and bushy beard made him smile. It made him realize how quickly time had passed.  I checked the time and finished today’s breathing exercise.

Then I neatly arranged my bedding again before slipping back under the covers and closing my eyes.

In a little while, the nanny would come to wake me up.

Normally, she would come a bit later than this, but today she was supposed to come a little earlier.

Today was the first official day of my heir training, after all.

I heard soft footsteps approaching.

“Heeheehee♪.”

Not long after I lay down with my eyes closed, I could hear a cheerful tune coming from down the hallway.

Thanks to the extra snacks I’d been getting lately, her footsteps were a bit heavier, and she was humming her usual melody.

Creak.

“Master! Master! It’s time to wake up!”

The door swung open with a start.

“Master, listen to our little chirpers singing to wake you up! Hurry up!”

With an energetic shout, she pulled back the curtains by the window and swung the window wide open again.

“Mmm… Nanny? What time is it?”

“It’s just a little past seven in the morning. Master, today is a special day, so you need to get up early, just like the lady said last night!”

I felt her soft, plump hand against my cheek.

“Mmm… I remember.”

“Of course, our master is so smart! So impressive!”

                         I probably didn’t need to pretend to wake up, but seeing the nanny’s face that said, “Waking our little prince is my greatest joy!” made me think that this kind of childish act wasn’t so bad after all.

“Alright! Let’s wake up, my dear prince!”

With her arm tucked under my armpit, the nanny kissed me on the cheek.

In most noble families, such familiar behavior wouldn’t be allowed, but the nanny showered me with affection without a second thought.

This was Claudius’s land, and my mother believed that “giving pure affection can never be a crime.”

“Prince, let’s go eat! I’ve prepared a big breakfast with all your favorite dishes.”

“Ugh, okay.”

Still pretending to be half-asleep, I took the nanny’s hand and stepped out of the room, feeling the morning breeze that flowed in through the open window to celebrate the first day of my lessons.

                                Whoosh!

After finishing breakfast and getting ready, I stepped outside. A wild sea breeze blew in, slapping my cheeks.

“Oh my! What kind of wind is blowing so hard? Aren’t you cold, young master?”

“No, I’m fine.”

As I climbed the neatly arranged stone steps, I shook my head.

“Ugh! If I had known the wind would be this strong, I would have dressed you in warmer clothes. Young master, your legs must be tired from climbing the steps. Come here, and I’ll carry you!”

“No, I’m going to see my father. I appreciate your concern, but I want to go to where my father is on my own two feet. ”

“Oh my! Our young master! How brave you are!”

Ignoring the fuss from my nurse , I looked around.

Splash, splash.

Whoosh, whoosh.

The sound of waves crashing all around and the relentless sea breeze blowing in.

And the view of the blue sea pouring in, still not too wide.

‘Ah… this is nice!’

Hiding from my nanny’s gaze, I couldn’t help but admire it again. The scene from the stone steps leading to the island’s peak was breathtaking every time .                                                               ‘Awaken ‘ 

The lonely island where I’ve lived since getting my second chance at life, and the place that nurtured and protected the Claudius family—the beautiful blue sea.

Being a towering island in the middle of the ocean might seem lonely at first, but the surrounding forest is filled with all sorts of plants and flowers, so Espe Tara didn’t feel lonely or sad at all.

And for the past five years, I’ve been able to enjoy a happy and abundant childhood surrounded by the blessings of the sea and forest.

Sure! Here’s an informal English translation of your text:

“Hey, are you feeling nervous, sir? It’s your first class today, right?”

“Uh… I am a little nervous, but I’m not worried. It’s just something everyone from Claudius has to go through.”

“Oh my! You’re so brave and composed! Honestly, just watching you makes me feel full, even if I skip a meal!”

“But you had two bowls of breakfast this morning, right?”

“Well, that’s because starting today, I have to take even better care of you, so I need to prepare myself! Ahem, anyway, sir! You can do it! Everyone on this island, including me, is cheering for you!”

“Thanks, nanny. I’ll do my best.”

Holding the hand of the nanny who had looked after me in place of my busy mother, I hurried up the spiral staircase.

Saying I wasn’t worried was true, but that didn’t mean today was just another ordinary day.

At the end of this staircase was my father, Tiberius Claudius, the current head of the famous medical family ‘Claudius,’ waiting for me.

Finally reaching the top of the stairs.

“Have you arrived? Phaegan.”

“Yes, Father.”

My father, with a build more reminiscent of a warrior than a healer, welcomed me with a booming voice, and I let go of the nanny’s now-sweaty hand, stepping forward.

“You’ve prepared your mind well since it’s the first day of class, right?”

“Of course. I may be lacking, but I’ll do my best to meet your and our family’s expectations.”

“Haha! That’s the spirit!”

My father’s hearty laughter echoed.

There were two desks facing each other.

Various textbooks for healing arts and equipment to help sense the flow of mana were all set up.

“Let’s get started right away since it’s the first day!”

And once again, the sea breeze slapped my cheek a bit harder.

With a calm but determined stride, I prepared to say goodbye to the carefree childhood I had known.

“I understand. Father, I’m ready whenever you are.”