Volume 2, Chapter 5: Xia Chen's Laissez-Faire Training Style

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Xia Chen had no prior teaching experience; if one insisted, his only stint was tutoring his elementary school-aged sister in mathematics for two months during his previous life.

That endeavor successfully strained their sibling relationship.

All his knowledge about teaching came from observing Durandal.

However, as the captain of the Immortal Blades, Durandal typically pushed Valkyries to their physical limits.

Himeko mentioned that such intense training methods were not suitable for the Far East Branch.

So, out of consideration, he halved the intensity.

Yet, it still left these Valkyries completely drained.

"Mei, are you okay?"

In the training room, Kiana noticed Mei's pale complexion and couldn't help but ask with concern, "Should I take you to see the doctor?"

Among Kiana, Mei, and Bronya, Raiden Mei, being just a Hiden Kakutō (Master of All Styles), was currently the weakest among the trio.

The swordsmanship she learned was merely traditional martial arts. Moreover, before joining Saint Freya, Raiden Mei lived as a privileged young lady. Although gifted in kendo, she lacked rigorous training.

Otherwise, her emotional breakdown due to Raiden Ryoma's incident wouldn't have occurred.

At Saint Freya Academy, Kiana possessed the unique Kaslana bloodline, while Bronya had been trained by military personnel from a young age and later raised by Cocolia. Their natural talents and foundational skills were unquestionable.

Only Raiden Mei, despite her innate abilities, fell slightly behind compared to the other two.

"It's okay."

Raiden Mei's gaze shifted towards Xia Chen, who continued his workout.

Xia Chen's first lesson was straightforward - he simply led the students through physical exercises. Those unable to keep up could rest when needed; that was all there was to it.

He didn't explicitly mention rewards or punishments, yet the Valkyries pushed themselves hard to match his regimen.

Of course, Bronya was an exception.

Bronya did not share the sense of honor and camaraderie common among Valkyries. She has always disfavored such basic physical training methods, so after briefly participating, she opted for a break.

Raiden Mei's performance was commendable, placing her among the top ranks, but she still fell short compared to Kiana, whose boundless energy seemed unstoppable.

She pushed herself to the brink of exhaustion before finally giving up.

Noticing Mei's discomfort, Kiana naturally surrendered as well. To Kiana, no one mattered more than Mei.

At this point, only Fu Hua could maintain Xia Chen's rigorous training pace.

Despite being battered and bruised, her MANTIS foundation remained strong, making these exercises relatively easy for her.

"I'm far behind them," Raiden Mei couldn't help but smile bitterly.

While not overly competitive, she had always considered herself quite proficient. Yet, facing Xia Chen, who appeared similarly young, she found herself significantly outmatched, leaving her feeling disheartened.

Bronya, noticing her distress, attempted to comfort her, "Big Sister Mei, don't be upset. Instructor Xia Chen is from the Immortal Blades. According to Bronya's research, even Durandal, the strongest Valkyrie of the Immortal Blades at just 15 years old, isn't considered the most powerful there."

It was currently the year 2015, making Durandal indeed 15 years old.

It wasn't entirely her fault.

Raiden Mei said, "Bronya, sometimes when you don't know how to comfort someone, it's better not to say anything."

The idea of a 15-year-old being Schicksal's strongest Valkyrie was hard for Raiden Mei to comprehend.

Bronya remained silent; her analytical mind couldn't grasp the emotional subtleties.

Kiana paused momentarily and then reassured them, "It's okay, we already knew he was incredibly skilled. But rest assured, we will surpass him someday."

"I'll definitely become Schicksal's greatest Valkyrie," Kiana declared confidently.

"And once I find that stinky old man, I'll gladly give this title to you."

Raiden Mei listened without responding immediately.

Bronya chimed in with a slight tease, "Idiot Kiana, first defeat Xia Chen before making such claims."

"Hmph, yesterday was just a fluke. Today, I'm certain I can beat him." Kiana couldn't help but recall the dream from the previous night.

Perhaps due to its uncanny realism, seeing Xia Chen now ignited a surge of anger within her.

Unbeknownst to Kiana, Sirin's subtle influence was gradually affecting her temperament.

"I won't take advantage; once they finish their training, I'll let Xia Chen... Instructor rest, and then defeat him," she resolved.

Three hours passed as she patiently waited for her opportunity.

Xia Chen gradually slowed down, then turned to Fu Hua, who had been consistently following his rigorous workout. With genuine admiration, he praised her, "You're truly impressive."

The intensity of these three hours was roughly triple that of a typical Immortal Blade Valkyrie's daily training regimen. Yet, Fu Hua remained composed and effortless throughout.

It was evident that despite her battered body, Fu Hua possessed immense resilience and strength.

"Just focusing on my inner mantra during exercise helps," Fu Hua explained, looking at Xia Chen. "This mantra promotes calmness even under ordinary circumstances. If you're interested, Teacher Xia Chen, we can discuss it privately."

Since Otto tasked her with observing Xia Chen, she needed a plausible reason to interact with him. Fu Hua, not skilled in deception, resorted to this clumsy approach, already feeling guilty about it.

Xia Chen briefly hesitated before nodding. "Sure, sounds good."

"Let's discuss it privately when we have time. These students will be your responsibility to escort back."

He paused momentarily before addressing the resting students, "I'm not suited to be a teacher, so I won't force anything upon you."

"All I can say is that at Schicksal Headquarters, Captain Durandal of the Immortal Blades trains ten times harder than what I demonstrated just now daily.

"And my teammates match me in prowess."

"That's all I have to say. Dismissed."

Xia Chen wouldn't waste excessive energy on these individuals, even if they were part of the main character group.

The young man had already decided that the strength or weakness of the protagonist team held little relevance to him. If they fell during their fight against Honkai, his only recourse would be to seek vengeance for them. Conversely, if they successfully combat Honkai, he could simply enjoy the fruits of their labor.

However, based on the content from Post-Apocalyptic Scenarios, those outcomes might not be particularly desirable.

Thus, Xia Chen's approach towards training these Valkyries was laissez-faire.

Hmm, this mirrored Durandal's method with the Immortal Blades as well.

One might assume Durandal meticulously planned and assigned individual workout routines for each member, but typically, it was Rita who handled such tasks.

After hearing the dismissal, Kiana couldn't help but grumble, "This Xia Chen is way too irresponsible. Who teaches like this?"

"No, I actually think he's quite responsible." A hint of complexity flashed in Raiden Mei's eyes. "When my father was still with ME Corp, he once told me that if I ever became a manager, the first thing I should learn is to quickly discern the intentions of my subordinates."

"He said it's not an issue for their thoughts to vary, but it's crucial to promptly identify those who align with our goals. Xia Chen... Teacher's approach achieves this swiftly. Those who give up will gradually fall behind, while those persevering will show clear progress."

Kiana couldn't help but stare, surprised. "Is he really that impressive?"

Bronya chimed in from the side, "Bronya also thinks Big Sister Mei might be overthinking it; he probably just didn't want to complicate things too much."

After all, this training method originated from Durandal. Xia Chen simply adopted it.

Raiden Mei shook her head, choosing not to elaborate further.