Sparring Revelation
Human speech was disorienting, but there was no need to overthink it.
"Now that we've come this far, what's impossible?"
From possession to the System.
Trying to make sense of it all within the bounds of common logic was pointless from start to finish.
"More than once, though?"
Personally, I believed that seeing something once meant you should try it at least once.
'But it won't give the evaluation unless I do, so no choice but to follow orders.'
Reluctantly, he replayed the demonstration motion.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
The combat doll moved relentlessly, enough to get reported for human rights violations if it were a person.
Out of respect for its efforts, he focused as hard as he could.
"Tricky."
The strangest part was that the more he watched, the more new details popped out, making swordsmanship feel even harder.
'Connecting the motions like that there.'
Examining each one and committing it to memory pushed the replay count well past twenty.
"Time to try it."
By the time the combat doll felt almost friendly, he picked up the wooden sword he'd set down.
"Hah!"
The sword thrust out with a sharp kiai.
It wasn't any faster, but the precision had definitely improved compared to before.
'Still red, huh.'
He pressed on with the sword forms anyway, and near the end.
For the first time, one trace glowed not red, but green.
Swordsmanship Score Calculating
3 Points
• Sword trajectory exceeds error margin.
• Elbow raised too high on fifth motion.
Comment: Better than the first time. Keep it up, and there's a little room for hope.
The feedback was full of nitpicks, but the comment was more positive than before.
'Got it like this. Message received.'
Wasn't he the quintessential Korean, the type who executed orders flawlessly?
Replaying the demo endlessly...
"Huh? Lieutenant Palan, what are you doing here?"
Lieutenant Ramon waved from the entrance as he approached with a familiar voice.
"Personal training, sir. But what brings you all the way to this corner?"
Over a month using this place, and aside from Lieutenant Alpen, he was the first other person.
"Wanted to play foot volleyball, but the area in front of the barracks was taken."
"Ah! Use this place, sir. I was just about to head in."
"Nah, no need. Training comes first over foot volleyball. And I haven't gathered people yet."
"Understood. If you do, I'll join."
He hated soccer, but he quite liked foot volleyball.
'Kicking a ball while running burns too much stamina.'
Once you started, the whole day vanished.
"Sure. But looked like sword training—what style?"
"Practicing Hamus Swordsmanship, sir."
"Hmm, really?"
Ramon stroked his chin thoughtfully, then suddenly grinned.
"Nice timing running into you during training. Want to spar?"
"Spar, sir?"
"Yeah. You have to be able to use it against people eventually."
"True enough..."
Like solving problems after memorizing formulas, swordsmanship was the same.
'First spar with someone other than Lieutenant Alpen—should be fine, right?'
After a brief hesitation, it felt awkward to refuse, so he nodded.
"Then, one bout, please."
"My pleasure."
Ramon grabbed an unattended wooden sword and took position opposite.
"I'll yield first strike. Come at me when ready."
"Understood."
Spar or training, a bout was a bout.
Not a frequent chance, so he steeled himself, treating it like real combat.
'Stance biased toward defense for now.'
He analyzed Lieutenant Ramon's posture across from him and formed a plan.
'Fake the first attack, target the opening on the second link.'
All set, he raised his sword and closed the distance quickly.
"Hah!"
Clang!
As expected, Ramon deflected the first strike effortlessly, like it was nothing.
'Can fool him.'
He swiftly lowered his upper body, aiming for the exposed gap in Ramon.
'Got it!'
Was he off guard?
Ramon reacted late and failed to block...
Whoosh!
"Wha...?"
The trajectory should've hit his waist no question.
But when he blinked, the sword merely grazed empty air.
"Sharp one."
Ramon smirked at him, attack failed.
'Messed up distance calc?'
No.
No matter his skill gap, he wasn't so trash he couldn't judge distance.
'Dodged it then—from that stance...?'
Hard to believe from a peer, same rank, same human.
"My turn now. Block well."
Ramon closed in, sword raised.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Going easy? Textbook strikes, no real power.
But the speed left no openings for counter.
'This is average Imperial lieutenant...?'
Just two classes ahead, but the gap was huge—unexpected.
"Hmm."
As attacks continued, Ramon's face darkened, but he had no leisure to notice.
'Ugh, zero chances to counter.'
Stay like this, he'd just get pushed back to defeat.
'Need an exit somehow.'
Not even a counter—just escape this situation.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Dozens of exchanges.
Skill superior or not, he was human.
Couldn't avoid mistakes in prolonged pressure.
'Found it!'
Ramon's thigh strike created a belly opening.
"Haaap!"
Intent to end the bout here, he thrust the wooden sword with full power.
'This hits!'
An angle impossible to dodge, even revived.
But just before touching Ramon's abdomen, his body froze like brakes slammed.
Squeeze.
"Uh... uhh."
A cold wooden sword pressing his Adam's apple.
No idea when the sword from Ramon's thigh reached here.
'What the hell is this feeling.'
Not that his exposed neck paralyzed him.
Purely the suffocating pressure Ramon exuded.
His instincts screamed that one more step, and he'd die.
"That ends it, right?"
After a silent moment, Ramon smiled like nothing happened and lowered his sword.
The pressure vanished like a mirage.
"Hahk...! Hahk...!"
He gulped fresh air into his brain.
"You okay? Got too serious maybe. But you gotta handle this to survive the battlefield."
"I... learned a harsh lesson, sir."
Facing an unwelcome reality.
'At my level now, going to the frontlines... certain death.'
A bit annoying before, but now deeply grateful to Lieutenant Alpen.
"Let's spar often from now on. Don't run off."
Ramon's hand on his shoulder sent chills, hairs standing.
'What's this guy's specialty.'
Curiosity triggered Truth Eye.
View target's truth?
Cost: 15p
'Tch, too pricey.'
Wallet wasn't loose enough to burn points on one specialty.
"Call me anytime you're free, sir."
"Stance improved? Wanna work out?"
"R... right now, sir?"
Said he liked spars, not workouts.
"Kidding, kidding. I'll bring elite soldiers, set up the net. Foot volleyball time."
"Understood."
Played 4-on-4 with the six soldiers Ramon brought until dinner, then parted.
That night... he dreamed of Ramon's sword slicing his throat.
"Unbelievable."
Back at his quarters, Ramon swept back his golden hair and sat.
'Who'd have thought he wasn't intel. My prediction off?'
Today's encounter with Palan Oclo wasn't chance.
Judged safe by superiors, so confirm intel affiliation and eliminate pre-mission.
But the plan crumbled the moment swords crossed.
"Shocking he even commissioned."
Thought it acting at first, ramped attacks to unmask.
But he stayed raw to the end, so Robin unleashed killing intent for real kill.
'Even the best control shakes before death.'
Yet Palan Oclo bungled amateurishly, baring his neck.
"Would've looked like a fool without confirmation."
Still, Robin was satisfied with the meet.
'Can push the mission more aggressively now.'
Robin pulled letter paper from a drawer and took a fountain pen.
Palan Oclo intel update and addition requested. Downgrade from 'Caution' to 'Safe'. Confirmed via direct contact and spar. Target's combat power at civilian level.
Short but crucial content reached morning briefing, and Robin was summoned to Sadis immediately.
"Lieutenant Robin."
"Yes, Section Chief."
In the battalion armory, sealed tight.
Summoned there, Robin trembled slightly at Sadis's question.
"For acting on personal judgment."
"Why? My words lack trust?"
"S-sorry, sir."
Eyes and aura utterly different from with battalion members.
Laden with thick killing intent and rage.
"Last op, your judgment right once—think superiors easy? A mere lieutenant playing thinker. Hard to fathom."
"Sorry. Got cocky for a moment."
Sadis looked down at head-bowed Robin, unable to meet eyes.
Silent hush, no sound.
To Robin, each second felt a year.
"If arrogance ruins the mission, maybe I should handle the lieutenant myself. Thoughts?"
"Truly sorry! Won't happen again!"
He knew those words could be sincere, so Robin pleaded desperately.
"No issue with results, so let off this once. Repeat, no mercy."
"Thank you!"
The choking killing intent eased, color returning to pale face.
"Good you reported despite knowing. Confirmed not intel, cut useless steps."
"Yes. Just use the puppet you made thoroughly."
Robin nodded vigorously.
"Return quarters, await further orders."
"Yes... sir!"
"Want to live long? Don't forget today."
"Etched in my bones."
"Show it in actions."
As Sadis left the armory, alone Robin collapsed, legs giving out.
"Expected it... but nearly died."
Mental breakdown wouldn't be odd, but Robin's mind held firmer than thought.
"Succeed the mission. That's all—then done."
For Robin, who'd do anything but die to break poverty's chains, that was enough.