Chapter 7
Chapter 7
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 7
Chapter Title: Skill Practice
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What players need is the 'minimum knowledge' and 'overwhelming force.'
Of course, if a player who excelled in both academics and combat were to emerge, the entire nation would cheer. But artificially cultivating such talent was far too inefficient.
Coincidentally, Korea was a nation short on players.
Lion's Castle emphasized practical training over theory.
Theoretical classes ended after three hours in the morning. Even that was given more weight because they were freshmen.
'What the hell is this?'
After the enjoyable lunch hour had passed in many ways.
Jae-hyeok, who had arrived at Training Ground 6, was at a loss for words.
The lesson was [Skill Honing].
Honing a skill when you didn't have one?
"Yap!"
"Hah!!"
In stark contrast to Jae-hyeok, who stood there blankly, the other students threw themselves enthusiastically into the lesson.
Each had set up various types of targets in front of them and repeatedly used combat skills, magic skills, healing skills, and support skills.
Students who had learned crafting skills had already moved to the research building.
"Hmph."
Yi Jin-seong, deploying the [Fa Jin] skill that ignored the target's defense and shook its internals, flashed a smug smile at Jae-hyeok.
While spouting nonsense about how a greenhorn like him shouldn't get cocky.
'Young and full of vigor, as expected.'
Yi Jin-seong, Cheon Hye-ji, and Du Bae-su had ultimately apologized to Jae-hyeok.
Sincerely, for speaking ill of his 'classmate's parents.'
But not for insulting 'Duke Kang Dae-guk.'
Jae-hyeok knew this full well but forgave them anyway.
-Kids raised exposed to media that slanders Yaksha and House Kang will harbor prejudices against you and won't hesitate to be hostile.
The chairman's words echoed in his mind.
Jae-hyeok now clearly knew what he had to do.
'I need to restore the lost honor of my family.'
When he had been holed up at home swinging his sword endlessly, his only thought had been to survive and get revenge.
He planned to repay the ones who had left his father in that state with thousands of times the suffering before killing them, and deliver severe judgment upon the ungrateful Korean government and association.
And then, by dramatically restoring his father, he believed he would find peace.
But just half a day after entering Lion's Castle, his thinking had changed.
My revenge can't end with mere swordplay. It has to lead to restoring my father and family's honor.
So that Chae Da-hee's admiration for Duke Kang Dae-guk doesn't become a laughingstock.
So that kids like Yi Jin-seong will one day spit on the graves of the scum who will die by my hand.
"Why are you just staring down that scarecrow?"
The practical instructor approached.
"Tall and handsome—could you be the famous transfer student? It's your first day, so it must feel awkward. Beating these boring targets that aren't even live monsters probably seems pointless."
"Not exactly, I don't have a skill... tch, yes."
"But you see, skills accumulate even a tiny bit of experience every time you 'use' them and achieve the 'intended effect.' Even without entering Gates, steadily honing them in daily practice greatly helps level them up."
"Looking at those kids, it doesn't seem like much help."
Jae-hyeok pointed to a few students who were already exhausted.
Class B students were all level 1. Their total mana was low. Most could only use skills 2-3 times at most.
"Isn't it better to hunt monsters and level up first during this time? Lion's Castle is crawling with them, isn't it?"
"Your opinion has merit. It's reasonable to think that way. But monsters are far more vicious and dangerous than you imagine. For players who just awakened, there are too many variables. I'm living proof of that."
The instructor raised both arms. His loose sleeves slid up to his elbows, revealing the bound joints.
They were prosthetic limbs.
"You all need to first get accustomed to Gate environments, learn terrain-based tactics, and memorize monster intel. Honing skills in that process is immensely helpful. Even if it's just a few times, consistently practicing to hit targets steadily improves accuracy and lets you devise various applications. This isn't something others can teach—it's something you have to realize yourself."
"Because everyone uses different skills."
"Exactly. Now, you try using a skill too."
"A skill..."
"Hm?"
"Well, let me warm up first."
Jae-hyeok stopped himself from explaining that he wasn't Awakened.
Memories of that morning's events surfaced.
He didn't want to go through the same repetitive nonsense again.
'I should go to the chairman and ask to switch classes or something.'
From what he'd heard, classes A through C were for Awakened students.
Classes D through F focused on skill awakening for non-Awakened.
'Wait... If even Class B is like this, won't Class D be too low-level?
Above all, it didn't seem like the chairman had mistakenly placed him in Class B.
He felt there was some reason, and he wanted to know what it was.
Jae-hyeok stood squarely facing the scarecrow.
Swoosh.
He bent at the waist, leaning his upper body forward.
Left hand on the scabbard, right hand gripping the hilt.
'Just think of it as normal training.'
There was no reason to be disappointed with the lesson.
Does training care about the environment?
No, it's all about mindset.
I just need to do as I always do.
Shfwaaang-!
The iaido he deployed over ten thousand times daily created a flash of light.
"..."
Silence followed.
The instructor's eyes nearly bulged out as he was left speechless.
Crack, craaack!!
By the time Jae-hyeok had sheathed and prepared his next strike, the scarecrow let out a scream.
'Hm?'
Jae-hyeok tilted his head.
The students, who had been shouting exaggerated skill names like Meteor or Excalibur and making a racket, had suddenly gone quiet.
"G-Good heavens..."
The one who broke the silence was the practical instructor.
"That strike reminds me of when I saw His Excellency Yaksha in my youth."
"You know my father? Heh heh."
Jae-hyeok beamed at the highest praise.
The instructor's face, as he spoke of Yaksha, was filled with respect.
He seemed like a good person.
"Lightning...? Hm, judging by the form, wind attribute?"
"...?"
"I've vaguely heard rumors that skills can be inherited through bloodlines, but seeing it with my own eyes is truly astonishing."
What the hell? It was going well until suddenly...
Is this place for real...?
'No, actually, this works out. They see my iaido as a skill, huh?'
I won't have to stand around sucking my thumb during class.
The moment Jae-hyeok prepared his stance again.
"I-Instructor! The scarecrow won't repair!"
One student shouted.
Indeed.
The scarecrow Jae-hyeok had just slashed dangled there half-destroyed.
"Gasp...! A magic-engineering scarecrow that can withstand hundreds of C-rank player skills...! In one strike!!"
"R-Really?"
This time, Jae-hyeok was startled.
Was I that strong?
Realizing a fact he hadn't known made his heart pound like it would burst.
"Wait... Come to think of it, has it been about 10 years? Its durability must have been running out. Use the one next to it instead."
"...Yes."
Grumble grumble.
Jae-hyeok muttered, disappointed after getting his hopes up for nothing.
But regardless of his mood, his iaido deployed as cleanly as always.
This time, the students witnessed Jae-hyeok's attack.
"I couldn't even see it with my eyes... Isn't that Sword Wind?"
"That's B-rank idol Shin Su-ji's signature move, right?"
"Good lord. Two Sword Wind users in Korea now."
The students made a fuss.
Some even clapped.
On the other hand, the instructor's expression turned grave.
"This is absolutely not Sword Wind."
'Oh.'
Had he finally realized it wasn't a skill?
Yes, someone of instructor rank should get it.
"This is a light-attribute combat skill. So fast and powerful it seems like a flash of light—a single flash..."
"Th-the legendary light attribute...!"
"Not quite legendary..."
'Damn it all.'
Unable to vent his frustration, Jae-hyeok just focused on training.
The other scarecrows, being worn out, couldn't withstand even two strikes of his iaido.
Thanks to that, the instructor got busy, and the students gradually lost their minds.
"How can he keep using a skill like that?"
"With that power and low mana cost?"
"Isn't it just high mana stats? They called him a moron and all, but even he mismatched his first skill and stats."
"..."
From Jae-hyeok's perspective, the situation felt utterly ridiculous.
But the instructor and students misunderstanding wasn't because they were stupid.
A level 1 player's skill power was at best enough for E-rank monsters.
Even that surpassed ordinary human strength by several times, but comparing to Jae-hyeok made it look pathetic.
Because Jae-hyeok's body and technique produced power far beyond common sense.
In short, Jae-hyeok was the anomaly.
Despite being Awakened himself, he couldn't comprehend the position of students far weaker than him.
'Bunch of good-for-nothings, worse than bandits.'
Jae-hyeok sighed, comparing the B-rank player who had infiltrated the mansion days ago to these freshly Awakened players.