Izuku clenched his fists, glaring at the system prompt.
"…Increase in growth speed?"
He scoffed.
"How the hell are you going to reduce the damn 90% growth reduction, you bastards?"
The system didn't respond.
Of course, it didn't.
It had never answered his questions. Never explained why Heaven's Curse had crippled his progress so brutally.
Izuku exhaled sharply, pushing his frustration aside. He turned his attention back to Lord Varyn, who was waiting for his answer.
He bowed slightly. "Thank you for your generous offer, my lord."
Varyn raised an eyebrow, and even Sir Garrick looked intrigued.
"But," Izuku continued, "you already allowed me to live here as your son's attendant. Edric and I will be entering the Academy next year."
Varyn's expression remained unreadable as Izuku continued.
"I am only nine years old. If I accept, it will draw too much attention in your mansion."
"And," he hesitated for a second before saying it, "I am already being hunted by the Black Lotus Gang for what I did to them in the slums."
That made Varyn's eyes narrow slightly.
"Oh?"
Sir Garrick, however, let out a short laugh. "So that's why you've been wary. I was wondering why an orphan brat had such sharp instincts."
Izuku didn't react, continuing his explanation. "If I accept your offer, I will be under even greater scrutiny. More blades will turn toward me before I have the strength to handle them."
His hand unconsciously went to his side, where the lingering pain from Edric's strike still pulsed.
Varyn suddenly let out a deep laugh. "Yes. You are absolutely right."
Sir Garrick smirked, crossing his arms. "But that doesn't change the fact that you're weak."
Izuku's eye twitched.
"Not just weak," Varyn added, grinning. "Too weak."
The knights around them chuckled. Even Edric, still sore from the fight, gave a small smirk.
Izuku didn't respond, but his fists clenched slightly.
Strength is the Only Shield
Varyn took a step closer, his expression turning more serious.
"You understand the situation well, boy."
He gestured around the training grounds. "Strength decides everything in this world. And you are still far too weak to control your fate."
Izuku's breathing was steady, but he felt the weight of those words.
He knew that already.
It was something he had learned since the day he was thrown into this world—since the moment Heaven's Will cursed him.
"Let me ask you this, Izuku."
Varyn's voice was calm but carried undeniable authority.
"Do you intend to remain weak?"
The knights quieted down. Even Edric's smirk disappeared as he looked at Izuku.
The question hung in the air.
Izuku lifted his head. His golden eyes gleamed under the morning sun.
"…No."
The response was simple.
But it carried weight.
A Different Path to Strength
Varyn nodded. "Then prove it."
Izuku raised an eyebrow. "How?"
Varyn smirked. "You don't want to join my personal guard. Fine. But you will still train under my knights."
Izuku frowned slightly. "That wasn't part of the—"
"Oh, it wasn't a request." Varyn cut in.
Sir Garrick grinned. "Consider it… a personal command from Lord Varyn."
Izuku's expression darkened slightly.
He wasn't against training. Far from it. But—
Varyn's next words interrupted his thoughts.
"You will train under Garrick. Every morning. Every evening."
Izuku tensed.
Sir Garrick. The head instructor of the knights.
One of the most experienced warriors in Varyn's household.
That was not going to be an easy road.
Varyn chuckled. "You don't want more blades pointed at you? Then make yourself strong enough to cut them down before they can reach you."
Izuku exhaled.
This wasn't an offer.
It was an order.
And he had no choice but to accept it.
Training Begins
The very next morning.
Izuku's muscles were still sore from his duel with Edric, but Sir Garrick didn't care.
"Ten laps around the field."
Izuku started running.
By the third lap, his legs were burning.
By the sixth, his breathing was ragged.
By the tenth, he collapsed.
Sir Garrick kicked his ribs lightly.
"Get up. That was the warm-up."
Izuku gritted his teeth and pushed himself up.
The pain was unbearable. But he had already accepted this path.
He wouldn't back down now.
System Notification
[Endurance Training Complete – +0.1 Endurance][Pain Resistance Increased – 7.05%]
Izuku groaned.
Sir Garrick grinned. "You're going to hate me by the end of this year."
Izuku coughed, spitting to the side.
"I already do."
Garrick laughed.
The knights watching them chuckled. Even Edric, standing at the sidelines, smirked.
Lady Elara, watching from the balcony, sipped her tea.
The training had begun.
And Izuku had one year to prepare for the Academy.
To Be Continued in Chapter 23 – The Road to Growth