Reincarnation of Nikola Tesla in another world-Chapter 32: test once again

Kim sat on the edge of the medical cot, flexing his wrist. The dull ache had mostly faded, but Catherine still watched him with thinly veiled suspicion.

She reached out and poked his arm again.

Kim flinched. "Would you stop that?"

"Not until I figure out what's wrong with you."

"Nothing's wrong with me," Kim replied. "I just heal fast."

Catherine raised an eyebrow. "Healing fast is one thing. But your bones? They're denser than before." She ran a hand along his forearm again, muttering a diagnostic spell. "I can feel the difference."

Kim shrugged. "So I got sturdier. That's a good thing, right?"

"That depends." She narrowed her eyes. "Are you secretly a dwarf?"

Kim sighed. "Do I look like I enjoy mining?"

Catherine snorted, but her expression didn't change. "You're acting way too casual about this."

"I'd rather not panic over something I can't change," Kim said simply.

She didn't look convinced but sighed. "Fine, keep your secrets. But if I catch you throwing yourself down another flight of stairs, I'm tying you to the bed."

Kim smirked. "Kinky."

Catherine punched his shoulder.

"Ow—"

"You deserved that."

Kim chuckled, rubbing his arm. "Alright, alright. I'll try to stay in one piece."

Catherine shook her head with a grin. "For both our sakes, I hope you do."

This chapt𝙚r is updated by freeωebnovēl.c૦m.

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The butler arrived not long after to summon Kim back to Vaqihr.

Kim followed through the twisting, nonsensical hallways, mentally mapping out the routes. He had memorized enough turns to know that this place was intentionally confusing, but not enough to navigate it freely.

Eventually, they arrived at the training chamber.

Vaqihr stood beside a wooden pendulum mechanism, its weight suspended by thick chains. A table sat beside him, holding incremental metal plates—a weight-adjustment system.

Kim frowned. "...You want to swing a giant hammer at me?"

Vaqihr smirked. "Observant as always."

"Why?" Kim asked flatly.

"To test your endurance, of course," Vaqihr replied. "Magic isn't just about casting spells. Resilience matters."

Kim sighed. "Let me guess—I have no choice?"

"You always have a choice," Vaqihr said smoothly. "It's just that refusing will make you look terribly weak."

Kim exhaled.

Before he could argue, a familiar chime echoed in his mind.

[ New Quest: Endure an Impact of 500 Newtons ]

Let the test hit you without dodging. Reward: Improved Damage Resistance. Penalty: Increased Pain Sensitivity for 24 Hours.

Kim's expression didn't change, but internally, he was seething.

Of course the system would do this.

Suppressing a groan, he stepped onto the marked spot in front of the pendulum. "Fine. Let's get this over with."

Vaqihr pulled the first lever, releasing the pendulum. It swung forward, slamming into Kim's chest with a solid thud.

Pain flared, but it was manageable.

Vaqihr studied him. "Not bad."

Kim rolled his shoulders. "I've had worse."

Vaqihr smirked. "Then let's increase the weight."

He gestured to the metal plates, and the butler carefully attached an additional 10 kg to the pendulum.

Kim's lips twitched. "You're enjoying this, aren't you?"

"Immensely," Vaqihr admitted.

The pendulum swung again. Harder this time. Kim braced himself, exhaling as the impact drove into his ribs.

It hurt. But still—manageable.

Vaqihr nodded. "We're getting somewhere."

Another 10 kg was added. Then another. Then another.

By the time 60 kg swung into him, Kim had stopped talking.

His entire body burned, his bones screamed in protest, and yet—he was still standing.

Vaqihr watched him with open intrigue. "You're taking this surprisingly well."

Kim exhaled slowly. "You're... taking too long."

Vaqihr chuckled. "Eager to be finished?"

"No," Kim muttered. "Eager to see if you'll actually stop."

Vaqihr smirked, then gestured for the butler to increase the weight to 80 kg.

This time, when the pendulum swung, Kim's knees buckled slightly.

Pain shot through his ribs. His breath hitched. His entire body screamed for him to stop.

But the system had other ideas.

[ Quest Progress: Impact Threshold Increased ]

Kim clenched his fists.

Vaqihr, amused, added the final 20 kg, bringing it to 100 kg.

The pendulum swung forward with full force.

Kim braced himself.

The impact sent a shockwave through his bones, forcing him back a step. His ribs ached, his muscles strained, but—

He was still standing.

Vaqihr raised an eyebrow, visibly impressed.

But before he could continue the experiment, a loud chime rang in the chamber.

A timer spell lit up on the wall.

Vaqihr sighed. "Ah. Time's up."

Kim let out a breath. Finally.

The wizard turned to him. "That was more informative than I expected."

Kim wiped a hand over his face. "Glad I could entertain you."

Vaqihr smirked. "Consider it... training."

Kim shot him a dry glare before stepping away.

Kim made his way back through the corridors, rubbing his sore ribs. He had barely processed the absurdity of today's events when something caught his attention.

Down the hallway, sealed in a crystalline case, sat a book.

Not just any book.

It was locked in layers upon layers of magical barriers. The kind of security that screamed, "Stay away or suffer horribly."

Kim slowed his steps, eyes narrowing.

Why this much protection for a book?

He blinked.

The book vanished.

A weight settled into his hand.

Kim's breath hitched.

He looked down.

The book was now in his grasp.

A familiar chime echoed in his mind.

[ New Quest: Hide the Book in a Safe Place ]

Do not let anyone see it. Reward: ??? Failure Consequence: Immediate discovery.

Kim's grip tightened.

He had never touched it. He hadn't even moved.