In this Second Chance at Life, where I can see skills as clear as day, everything feels like a breeze. And to make it even better, I’m spending my days joyfully with my First Love. - Chapter 9

After integrating magical training into my routine and persuading my parents to buy cheap, imported protein powder at 1,000 yen per kilogram, my muscle-building efficiency skyrocketed.

I became fully immersed in my training. Even while playing with Ichika-chan, I never stopped finding ways to incorporate magic into my exercises. Summer vacation came and went, and during the second semester, I was experimenting with new techniques during class, on lunch breaks, after school, and early in the morning.
Occasionally, I walked to school with Ichika or played with her afterward. These breaks were rare moments of social interaction in a schedule otherwise dominated by self-improvement.

When news of the 9/11 terrorist attacks reached me, my first reaction was the common sentiment, “What a shock.” Then I went back to training.

The routine continued as seasons passed—winter break came and went, followed by the third semester. During spring break, Ichika-chan and I hoped we’d end up in the same class again. In my previous life, that only happened once in sixth grade, but for some reason, we were placed together in second grade this time.

I remembered hearing that “problem children” are often placed in the same class as those who might look after them. But I’m not a problem child, I told myself.

Sure, I didn’t pay attention during lectures, but I aced every test. I was dedicated to my self-training—a stoic, albeit intense, figure. Maybe I was just a little too focused and unapproachable.

Thanks to this, my interactions were limited to Ichika-chan, and I avoided the typical elementary school teasing about “hanging out with a girl.” Perhaps the other kids didn’t want to bother with the weird guy always training. It was a little sad, but it saved me the trouble of being interrupted.

Aside from helping my parents with farm work or the occasional time spent with Ichika, my days revolved around magical power exercises, strength training, and running. I thrived on the routine, which meshed perfectly with my unique skill, [Repeated Attempts]. Still, life was monotonous as my second year of elementary school came to an end.

By spring break, my stats had grown significantly:

Name: Yasushi Sashima
Stamina: 483/500
Strength: 400
Magic Power: 1320
Agility: 400 ▲
Level: 1
Occupation: None
Skills:
• [Appraisal Lv12]
• [Agility Boost Lv18]
• [Stamina Boost Lv23]
• [Strength Boost Lv18]
• [Super Recovery Lv28]
• [Calculation Lv9]
• [Magic Boost Lv42]
• [Agriculture Lv7]
• [Physical Resistance Lv7]
• [Teaching Lv6]
• [Flexibility Lv11]
• [Heat Resistance Lv4]
• [Damage Reduction Lv4]
• [Magic Efficiency Correction Lv8]
• [Swimming Lv15]
Special Skills:
• [Mental Resistance]
• [Swiftness]
• [Herculean Strength]
• [Automatic Stamina Recovery]
• [Magic Manipulation]
• [Magic Absorption]
• [Magic Resistance]
Unique Skill: [Repeated Attempts]

For comparison, here’s my father’s status:

Name: Kosuke Sashima
Stamina: 62/68
Strength: 54
Magic Power: 1
Agility: 27 ▲
Level: 1
Occupation: None
Skills:
• [Stamina Correction Lv5]
• [Strength Correction Lv4]
• [Swordsmanship Lv3]

At 38 years old, my father is still active and not particularly weak. Yet my strength, at 400, is nearly eight times his, and my agility, at 400, is almost 14 times his.

With a muscle power comparable to a brown bear or gorilla and agility rivaling a bullet train, my physical stats are phenomenal. My light weight of 27 kg might make it difficult to overpower an 800-kg bear, but with my magical power at 1320, I could easily compensate.

Magic power has grown to a staggering scale. At 84 during my first summer vacation, it was strong enough to support my weight, roughly the size of a stability ball. Now it’s over 15 times larger. It could fill a classroom if hardened like water or cover a 25-meter swimming pool with its mass.

Despite its potential, I keep this ability hidden, fearing dissection or experimentation. Secretly, though, I’m eager to discover just how far my magic can go.

With many skills surpassing Lv. 10, my training has yielded remarkable results:

• Boost skills have leveled dramatically, with magic reaching Lv. 42.

• Special skills like [Damage Reduction] and [Magic Efficiency Correction] emerged when their respective boosts hit milestones.

• [Heat Resistance] came from something as mundane as burning my hand peeling eggs.

Despite my impressive growth, one mystery lingers—my level remains at 1. Perhaps leveling up requires something more drastic, like defeating a monster or even taking a life. The thought is unsettling. Would I be glad to kill for progress?
Whenever these dark musings arise, I bury them beneath relentless training. Weightlifting is wonderful; it clears the mind, replacing doubts with fatigue and satisfaction.

After drinking my protein shake, I used [Super Recovery] to repair my strained muscles. Wrapping myself in magical power, I headed to the park, where I ran laps with resistance. While I could sprint as fast as a Shinkansen train, the magical load reduced my pace to about four minutes per kilometer.

And so, my journey continues, each step a testament to growth—and the questions that come with it.