How did i end up like this?

Twenty years have already passed since arriving in this world.

I'm nearing forty now…

Days spent training single-mindedly, without experiencing what most call a "youth." Yet I don't feel unhappy. If anything, I even consider it a blessing. I'm living as I choose. How could that be misfortune?

It's not that I've lost the desire to return home, but right now my training is more important. Besides, this world is better suited for it.

But I miscalculated. Never imagined [Original Knowledge] would become unusable.

It happened when I tried rereading the manga for training reference. No matter how many times I triggered it, nothing.

This ability has no usage limits—and I didn't break any vows. After agonizing over why, it hit me:

[Original Knowledge] and [Absolute Compliance / Geass] are both self-manipulation abilities. And right now, I was being controlled by the effects of [Absolute Obedience/Geass]. Manipulation abilities follow a "first come, first served" rule.

[Absolute Compliance / Geass] won't deactivate unless I die or someone exorcises it.

TL;DR: I hard-locked my own memory. Memory… gone.

Yeah... Crushing despair hit hard.

But the miscalculations don't end there. My physical growth plateaued—and far sooner than expected.

Gon and Killua could move multi-ton doors in under a month. Me? After years of grinding, 300kg bench presses are my ceiling. Impressive by my old world's standards, but here? Pathetic.

When I first arrived, my muscles bulked up rapidly. Now I realize: My limits are tethered to my original world's biology. Of course—this body isn't native here. I should be grateful that I've even been able to learn Nen.

However, I've hit a dead end with Nen as well...

I've mastered the basics and advanced techniques. Ten's duration is leagues beyond where I started, and it's still inching upward—but progress crawls.

But the real problem lies in system-specific training.

The system-specific training methods shown in the original work include:

Enhancement-Type Level 1Emission-Type Level 1 & 5 Transmutation-Type Level 1.

It's said that ideal system-specific training focuses on your primary type while shaping adjacent types into a "mountain range" (excluding Specialization).

In my case, the optimal rotation would be Manipulation → Emission → Manipulation → Conjuration → Manipulation, cycling one type per day. But…

…How do you even do Manipulation-Type and Conjuration-Type specific training?! The original only explained up to Level 5 for other types.

For Manipulation, Bisky mentioned training to "control aura within the body," so maybe that's it—but without proper guidance, I'm stuck winging it.

Left with no choice, I devised my own method for Manipulation-Type training.

The hint came from Transmutation-Type exercises. Transmutation-Type Level 1 involves shape transformation: altering aura's form to create numbers 0 through 9 within one minute (ultimate goal: under five seconds).

This trains shape alteration, not property alteration. Training to change the nature of the abilities would probably be a Nen ability at this point (for example, bungee gum which changes to the properties of both rubber and gum).

In short, I theorized that Manipulation-Type training should involve manipulating the aura itself. Controlling objects, animals, or people would qualify as full-fledged abilities, so—

I devised a training method: gather aura in one part of the body, then consciously maneuver it to different locations.

Important note: This is not "flow." "Flow" applies Gyo and Ten to concentrate aura momentarily for offense or defense—it doesn't involve directly moving aura through the body.

Using this theory, I began my self-devised system-specific training. The rotation: Manipulation → Emission → Manipulation → Enhancement → Manipulation → Emission → Manipulation → Transmutation.

Conjuration-Type? …Forget about it.

I couldn't devise a training method. What…. am I supposed to materialize aura visibly to non-Nen users?

But I feel like Manipulation-Type feels inherently disadvantaged. Offense? Defense? Both pale next to other types. Enhancement-Type speaks for itself. Transmutation and Emission border Enhancement, amplifying their utility. Conjuration shares Manipulation's enhancement rate on the Nen chart but compensates by imbuing objects with special effects.

Specialization-Type? There's no point in thinking about them.

Compared to that, Manipulation-Type… Sigh. Even if I could control other things, I'm already manipulating myself. Controlling external objects isn't impossible, but it feels like a waste of mental bandwidth.

Assuming my Manipulation-Type proficiency is Level 10, my Enhancement-Type caps at 60% of that—Level 6. But here's the kicker: Nen precision diminishes proportionally to mastery. At 60% of Level 6, my Enhancement-Type's precision equals a pure Enhancer's Level 3.6.

In a straight-up brawl? I'd lose to a Level 4 Enhancer.

Of course, this doesn't mean I'd definitely lose to a Level 4 Enhancement-Type user in practice. If my Manipulation-Type proficiency were Level 20, my Enhancement-Type could reach Level 12. Combat hinges on countless factors: physicality, martial skill, Nen technique, latent/active aura reserves, and ability compatibility.

I know that, but... I guess it's the kind of thing that you can understand but not accept.

Anyway, my Nen training has hit a dead end apart from basic training. I can't expect any improvement in my physical abilities either.

So what now? The answer's obvious:

"If you lack strength, hone your skills instead!"

After struggling and agonizing over the limits of my physical strength and martial arts, the conclusion I reached was gratitude.

Or rather, that's not true. Honestly, I don't feel like I've reached any limits with my martial arts—assuming I even have any to begin with. The truth is, I've never actually trained in martial arts!

All I've ever done is train my aura and my body… It was tough, but it was also kinda fun.

I'm now in a country modeled after my homeland, Japan, called Japon. I quit my job to come here. Everyone was sorry to see me go, and I was a bit lonely too, but the allure of training was too strong to resist.

I was happy that they even gave me a farewell gift, i had saved up my money, but the more the better. By the way, it goes without saying, but I came here by ship. Of course, I wouldn't swim here to train; it would be deadly.

The reason I came to this country is that I thought it might have my ideal martial art. That is the soft martial arts like jujutsu, judo, and aikido. At first, I wanted to join Shingen-ryu, but that's probably a hard martial art. Compared to the people of this world, my physical abilities are infinitely lower. I'm even weaker than a trained 12-year-old boy... In other words, learning a hard martial art wouldn't be very effective for me.

In soft martial arts, strength isn't needed much. If you master the principles, strength becomes unnecessary. Even a certain Kaiou-san once said something like that.

Aim for Shibukawa or Kaiou!!!

And so, my Japon-wide dojo tour is beginning. Before that, a word:

Rice is delicious!!!

After traveling around Japan for two years... Finally, I found the dojo I've been searching for! Its name: Kazama-ryu Aikido Dojo.

After visiting numerous dojos, most of them weren't anything special. I mean, their techniques were probably far superior to mine, but there was no way they could beat me, someone who uses Nen. It's only natural that a human without Nen abilities can't defeat someone who can use Nen, but what I'm searching for is the pinnacle of soft martial arts. If I were to lose to some amateur who can only use Nen, it would be ridiculous.

There were some who could use Nen, but the outcome never changed… It seems my total aura has increased significantly. None of them surpassed me in the fundamentals of Nen either.

The first time I faced a Nen user, I was pretty nervous, but when I saw their aura, my nerves disappeared. It was so pathetic it made me laugh. Lol

I had no one to compare myself to until now, so I wasn't sure —but 18 years of relentless foundational training are finally paying off. Long live the grind! (And yes, I kept training while traveling.)

"Guess I'll have to seek out Shingen-ryu after all…" Was my thought but a stubborn hope led me to one last dojo: Kazama-ryu Aikido.

The dojo owner must be over 60 years old and has about 10 students. Moreover, he didn't seem to be wearing a Ten and showed mo reaction to my Ren.

Another dead end? Still, I challenged him.

There, I met the real deal.

No matter how many times I attacked, I somehow ended up rolling on the ground before I knew it. My head was spinning so much that even standing upright felt unstable.

Strength—my strength—was completely useless…

Before I knew it, I was lying in the corner of the dojo. It seems I had fainted. The training in the dojo was still ongoing. The master's martial art was truly the martial art of silence. I couldn't even begin to fathom the heights his skills had reached.

"This person! This is the warrior I've been searching for! I want to learn martial arts under this person!!!"

I might be scorned as someone who came to destroy the dojo but ended up seeking to join, but I'm determined! I'll beg as many times as it takes to be accepted!!!

I immediately went beside the master and prostrated myself. And with all my heart and soul, I shouted.

....

"Please make me your disciple!!!!"

"Very well. There's no entrance fee. The monthly fee is 5,000 jenny."

…

…

…

…

It was so easy that it felt like my determination was deflated.