[Name: Yuren Rocks]
[Condition: Severe Obesity]
[Traits: Creator's Eye Lv1, Sichuan Tang Clan (Locked)]
[Sync Rate: 99.9%]
Nothing else registered. My eyes locked onto one thing: my trait, Sichuan Tang Clan.
The Sichuan Tang Clan is a staple in martial arts novels, often portrayed as a shady sect due to their use of poisons and hidden weapons. They frequently appear as villains or cowards.
"Why the hell is the Sichuan Tang Clan here? This is a fantasy world!"
I vaguely recalled enjoying a martial arts novel with a Tang Clan protagonist, but that didn't explain why it was listed as my trait. Worse, it was locked, unusable. The setting was spiraling out of control.
[Sync Rate: 99.9%]
The Tang Clan trait was at least somewhat understandable, but this sync rate? I had no clue what it meant. Absolutely no idea.
"There's nowhere to ask about this. It's driving me insane!"
"Is Yuren awake?"
"Yes, my lord. He woke up a short while ago."
In the study, Arin was reporting to Marquis Wellington about Yuren's condition.
"How did he seem?"
"His physical state doesn't seem fully recovered. He stumbled while trying to stand and mentioned feeling unwell."
Yuren's fall wasn't due to his body, but Arin had no way of knowing that.
"Priest Alio said his injuries weren't severe," Wellington mused, stroking his beard as he recalled Yuren's behavior.
"Didn't he seem a bit… off? Normally, he'd throw a fit the moment I told him to apologize to Illia, but he just said 'yes' like it was nothing."
"Perhaps it's because he only just regained consciousness?"
"Maybe. But a beating wouldn't change that rotten personality overnight. I bet by tomorrow he'll be raging about getting revenge on Illia."
Arin had noticed a bigger change in Yuren than the Marquis did but held back from saying anything, unsure of her observations.
"If only he were half as diligent as his younger brother…"
The second and third sons trained and studied tirelessly, even when told to rest. Compared to Yuren, who lazed around and grew fatter by the day, they were worlds apart.
"He'll improve with time," Arin said.
"Hah! Even I, his father, have given up on him, but you still have faith?"
Arin stood silently, her face as impassive as ever.
"I've done you wrong, Arin. If I'd known it would come to this, I would've let you pursue the path of a knight from the start…"
"No, my lord."
Wellington had recognized Arin's talent early and trained her, debating whether to make her a knight or Yuren's bodyguard. He'd chosen the latter, believing Yuren would inherit the marquisate and Arin could serve as his knight. Now, that seemed like a pipe dream.
"Go on, then."
"Yes, my lord."
As Arin closed the door and stepped out, she pondered the Marquis's words and Yuren's unusual behavior.
He's definitely different. Especially his eyes.
"The Sichuan Tang Clan has to be that Tang Clan from martial arts stories. But how do I unlock it?"
I knew nothing about inner energy techniques, and the only blade I'd ever held was a kitchen knife. For an ordinary guy like me to get stronger, I had to unlock the Tang Clan trait somehow.
Since the Tang Clan is a martial sect, it must involve physical training. But with this pig-like body, even basic exercise was a struggle.
I started pacing around my room to practice walking. The room was spacious enough, but the problem was me. After just a few minutes, my legs were already aching, screaming for me to sit.
"So this is what they mean by the body controlling the mind."
My brain wanted to keep moving, but my body yearned for a chair. Every ounce of fat seemed to chant, "Sit down!"
Knock, knock.
After about ten minutes of resisting the chair's temptation, a knock came at the door.
"Come in."
Arin entered, startled to see me sweating and stepping back instinctively.
"Young master, what are you…?"
"Trying to walk a bit. The room's big, but it's not great for moving around. It's stuffy, too. Isn't there a training ground or something? A courtyard, maybe? Take me there."
"Pardon?"
Arin, whose default expression was a blank mask, gaped at me, stunned.
"I'm sorry, could you repeat that?"
Her usually steady eyes began to waver.
"I said, let's go to the training ground."
"May I ask why?"
She seemed worried I was up to some mischief, but I just wanted to lose weight and unlock the Tang Clan trait.
"Like I said, the room's big, but it's awkward to move in. I want to exercise at the training ground."
"Hm."
Arin's stoic facade cracked again, her eyes filled with confusion as she stared at me.
"Arin?"
"I'll guide you."
Shaking her head, she led the way. As expected of a marquis's mansion, the corridors stretched endlessly, lined with countless unknown rooms.
"Wow…"
The sprawling estate was bustling with servants, and every time I passed one, I activated my Creator's Eye.
[Affection: -49 (Dislike)]
[Affection: -74 (Strong Dislike)]
[Affection: -69 (Strong Dislike)]
[Affection: -80 (Hatred)]
[Affection: -77 (Hatred)]
It was no surprise that no one liked Yuren, given his reckless behavior, but the numbers were staggering. Female servants, in particular, despised him more than the men—likely because I'd written him as a womanizer who got dumped by his fiancée.
Fixing this ruined reputation was going to be a nightmare.
I glanced at Arin walking ahead.
[Affection: 0 (Neutral)]
Everyone else's affection was in the negatives, yet Arin, who spent the most time with me, was neutral. It made no sense.
But a more pressing issue arose. We kept walking, but the training ground was nowhere in sight. The estate's gardens seemed endless.
"Huff, huff! When do we get there?"
"We're not even halfway yet."
As expected of a marquis's estate, it was absurdly vast. Just getting to the training ground felt like enough exercise for the day.
"Still far?"
"We're almost there."
"Ugh!"
My body was overflowing with fat but lacking in muscle, making every step torture. I wanted to collapse right there, but the pride of a five-year South Korean reservist kept me going.
"We've arrived."
"Huff, huff!"
In the novel, reaching the training ground would've been a single sentence. In reality, it felt like an hour-long trek.
"How do people even get here if it's this far?"
"Normally, it's much faster, but I slowed down since you seemed to be struggling, young master."
"Tch!"
She was right, and it stung. Reservist pride or not, if she'd moved at her usual pace, I'd have collapsed halfway.
"No one's here."
"It's regular training hours. Most knights are at the first or second training grounds."
"There's more than one?"
"There are four in total. This is the third. Didn't you know?"
"Of course I did. Haha."
I didn't, but I played it off while catching my breath.
Once my breathing steadied, I started walking briskly around the training ground. Resting would feel good, but it'd make restarting harder, so I kept moving despite the fatigue.
"No one around makes this nice."
Arin stood like a statue, watching me, but her gaze felt different somehow.
"Huff, huff! God, this body's too heavy!"
My original body wasn't muscular, but I could walk an hour or two without issue. In Yuren's body, it felt like I was lugging dozens of sandbags. It was brutal.
Pushing my willpower to the limit, I walked until I couldn't anymore and collapsed onto the ground, panting. That's when a shadow loomed over me.
"Huh?"
I looked up to see who it was. The sunlight forced me to squint, but their status window was crystal clear.
[Affection: -91 (Murderous Intent)]