Chapter 23
Translator: True Detective
Chapter 23: Jiu-Jitsu (5)
I wiped the sweat flowing down my face vigorously with the towel I brought.
Thud.
The mouthguard I was biting fell weakly. Maybe because it's a cheap one bought in a hurry, it keeps slipping in my mouth. Gotta fit a better one next time.
Aside from that...
'...Did I use too much strength.'
Inside my mouth was bitter.
Senses were dull from doing it after a long time, but the opponent's guard was more solid than expected so I ended up using strength without realizing.
Honestly a bit embarrassing.
The essence of Jiu-Jitsu is 'suppressing big strength with small strength', but I just 'crushed proper technique with big strength'. Basically cast the so-called Gym Rat Style Jiu-Jitsu.
'Never lagged behind in strength anywhere in life but...'
This isn't manners.
In the original world, I relaxed as much as possible when sparring. Especially when doing it with female members, I actually used less than 40% of my strength. Did it like practicing techniques or accepting them, or just let them win on purpose.
Winning gains nothing anyway. Even with men, I don't show off strength unless it's a bet sparring.
'Maybe because there are many eyes watching.'
With 30 women watching with lights in their eyes, I guess I wanted to look cool without realizing. Failed strength control.
Still, there is one fortunate thing.
'It's asleep.'
Perhaps thanks to the adrenaline surge from focusing on sparring, the little guy in my pants became very quiet.
As expected, in front of sacred martial arts, even instinct becomes solemn. An erection during sparring, I cannot tolerate.
Just then, the Master who was catching her breath approached.
"Jin-hyuk-ssi, are you okay?"
"Yes, I'm okay."
"Um... by any chance do you want to do it with others too? Everyone is going crazy wanting to learn a move because Jin-hyuk-nim is so good."
The Master smiled awkwardly pointing at the members stamping their feet behind.
"Ah, yes..."
I looked around.
Even at a glance, 30 people. Including spectators, easily over 40. Eyes are burning very brightly. Dealing with that many people one by one properly, looks like I'll go home seeing the sunrise tomorrow morning.
'...Just do a relay?'
aka 'Line Batting' sparring. Survival method where the next person enters as soon as one taps. Best for saving time, and direct hit for draining my stamina.
But hesitated.
Relay sparring is usually done by the gym master or instructors when checking members' skills.
For me, an outsider, and a guest who came for the first time today, saying "Now, everyone come at me. Line up." might look too arrogant. Not like I'm a God of Destruction here to break the dojo.
Gotta keep manners.
I wiped sweat and asked the Master subtly.
"Excuse me... Surely not all those people want to spar with me... right?"
Please say no.
But the Master smiled awkwardly as if troubled but unable to deny.
"Ahaha... Yes... Well, honestly speaking everyone looks like they want to pull a number ticket. Atmosphere heated up too much..."
As expected. 30 to 1. Even just 3 minutes per person is 90 minutes. Including break time, 2 hours easily broken. Can't go home today.
I pondered for a moment, then eventually decided to choose efficiency.
"Then... if it's not rude, can we do relay sparring?"
"......Yes?"
The Master's eyes grew round. Oops, might misunderstand. I waved my hand hurriedly and added.
"No, that... not saying I'm good enough to teach. There are many people but no time. Rather than doing long with each person, thought it would be better to rotate shortly and accept as many as possible."
I continued calmly.
"Well, absolutely not trying to break the dojo. Just for stamina training... if you really think not, Master can just designate a few people."
It was the most rational and humble proposal I racked my brain for.
But the Master's reaction was strange. She stared at me blankly, then muttered as if she couldn't believe it.
"Ah... that... well, Jin-hyuk-ssi. Bit awkward to say this on first meeting but..."
She swallowed hard.
"Really... you are bold."
"Yes?"
"Ah, not being sarcastic! Really. You can do it but... um..."
The Master glanced at the 30 members stamping their feet behind. And whispered in a very low and worried voice.
"There is the stamina issue too but... um... don't you see their eyes?"
"Eyes?"
"Right now everyone is in an excited state. Already starved for men... no, male members are precious but opportunity to mix bodies directly arose so eyes rolled back."
The Master was serious.
"If we rotate relay... atmosphere might overheat and members might not control strength. No matter how good Jin-hyuk-ssi is, if 30 adult women determine to attack... safety accidents might happen."
Her words imply, what I threw was not a sparring proposal, but practically a suicide declaration jumping in front of an uncontrollable runaway train.
"For a man alone to take the spirit of 30 people... no, accepting attacks can be really dangerous. Saying this because I'm worried you'll get hurt."
No, to that extent?
Suddenly I was being treated as a 'fearless puppy walking into 30 warriors on its own feet'.
But I shrugged my shoulders.
"It's fine. I'll control well so no one gets hurt."
"...Really? You won't regret?"
"Yes. Gotta finish quickly and go."
At my firm attitude, the Master eventually shook her head and sighed.
"Understood... Instead, if it gets even a little hard or dangerous stop immediately. I'll stop it right away."
The Master turned around with a grim expression and shouted towards the members.
"Now! Attention! Jin-hyuk-ssi proposed relay sparring!"
"Waaaaaaah!!!"
Roars burst out enough to make the gym leave. Heat reminiscent of an idol concert hall.
I stood in the center of the mat, and tied the uniform belt firmly once again.
'Well, mostly white belts or at best blue belt scrubs...'
Estimated coldly. Technical superiority goes without saying, weight class difference is gangster level. 183cm and 85kg. Probably no one heavier than me here.
'Just use moderate strength... finish roughly in 1 minute cut per person maybe.'
Calculation stood.
I put my butt on the mat floor without hesitation.
No need to fight for strength standing up. Waste of time.
Self Guard.
Posture sitting down voluntarily and dragging the opponent into own guard. You guys come in, I'll accept.
The Master put a whistle in her mouth and shouted.
"Now, no time so rotating quickly quickly! Those on top, don't look at eyes (hesitate) and enter aggressively! Attack!"
"Yes!!!"
I stared blankly, but sharply at the approaching opponent.
Flushed cheeks, breathing roughened by adrenaline, uniform sticking wet with sweat.
A sight where ordinary men of this world might be intimidated, or swallow saliva in a different meaning.
But what is reflected in my eyes right now is not women.
Just martial artists (Mu-do-in) wearing the same uniform as me, competing with techniques on the same mat.
My gaze also became subtly serious.
Is it thanks to the 'Holy Ritual' performed a few hours ago still being effective. Inside the head is like a bright mirror and still water (Myeong-gyeong-ji-su). No gap for sexual desire to dare invade exists in the current me.
I lowered my posture and reached out.
'Come at me!'
...There was a time when I thought like that.
"Hiyaah!"
"Caught you!"
These women, not doing the Jiu-Jitsu told, are just diving straight into my guard.
Technique? Offense and defense? No such thing.
Just busy wrapping my waist, burying face in chest, hugging with whole body. This isn't sparring. Human punching bag... no, communal bamboo wife experience site.
"......"
Pressure of closely attached breasts. Touch of soft flesh transmitted through the uniform. Rough breathing heard in ears.
Clearly held a funeral solemnly earlier, but my Excalibur kicked the coffin lid away with a high kick and reported survival.
"Peekaboo."
'F*ck...'
I screamed inwardly.
Holy ritual? Bright mirror still water? Give it to the dogs.
In front of physical stimulation, even Buddha would recite the Heart Sutra as a rap. Going like this, crisis of holding a tent groundbreaking ceremony on the sacred mat and getting socially buried.
'Fast... Must finish fast.'
I exercised survival instinct. Before distracting thoughts occur, before the bastards explore my body deeper, must finish.
Swish. Thud. Ugh.
Grab collar and choke. Snatch arm and armbar.
"Kyaak! Tap! Tap!"
"Next!"
"Ugh! Tap!"
"Next!"
Stamped over members like a factory machine. No leisure to go easy or whatever. It was a desperate struggle to protect my chastity and social status.
Like that, about 20 white belts were swept away like autumn leaves.
"Huff... Huff..."
Surroundings became quiet before I knew it. Only colored belts, blue belts remain.
I exhaled rough breaths and flapped the uniform. Whole body is covered in sweat. Sweat drops dripping from hair.
'...Hope I don't smell.'
Suddenly worry came first. Even though exercising, men of this world risk lives on scent management. No way they'd like a man smelling of sweat...
Trudge, trudge.
Just then, someone walked in front of me.
That partner from earlier. Was Kang Yu-ri.
"......"
The punk's condition is unusual.
Face flushed red as if to burst, and eyes... glistening like a beast with delicious prey in front.
She smelled my sweat, sniffed sniff sniff, and smacked her lips.
"...Oppa, was hard waiting for my turn."
"Yeah... come quickly."
Informal speech popped out without realizing. Because adrenaline pickled the brain. Manners or whatever, right now felt like just a fighting dog standing in the ring.
"Hehe... I'm going!"
Yu-ri lowered her posture and rushed as if she waited.
Thump—!
Bodies collided. Definitely different weight from previous white belts.
'...Hard, f*ck.'
Breath rose to the chin.
No matter how much of a weight class gangster with good technique, dealing with over 20 people in a row is crazy. Moreover not going full power, but accepting while controlling strength to reception sparring level not to hurt them, stamina consumption was twice, three times severe.
Feel like a Raid Boss Monster in an MMORPG game.
Unlucky boss who has to endure persistently while HP bar is shaved off against constantly flocking dealers (members).
"Ucha!"
Yu-ri grabbed my uniform collar and hung on. Sweat-wet uniform was slippery, but her grip strength was persistent.
But strangely...
'Feeling is good.'
This sensation where the heart beats as if to burst, and muscles of the whole body scream.
Felt the reality of being alive, which I couldn't feel when just tapping keyboard in the room corner. Pouring sweat properly after a long time felt like clearing even the brain.