Chapter 24
Translator: True Detective
Chapter 24: Jiu-Jitsu (6)
Master Lim Chae-yang, watching that spectacle with arms crossed, clicked her tongue.
'...Where did a monster like that really roll in from.'
To her eyes, Seol Jin-hyuk was wonder itself.
Chae-yang herself sometimes does relay sparring to discipline members or check skills. But that's at most 5 to 10 people. Beyond that, no matter if you're a Brown Belt, physical limits come and concentration is bound to waver.
But that man...
Already ground up about 20 White Belts, and now is not being pushed back at all even against Blue Belts with fresh stamina.
He's not even going full power. It was clearly visible that he was accepting them while controlling strength so the opponent wouldn't get hurt. That's not just good stamina, it's a different class.
However, there was another reason Chae-yang's brow furrowed.
Her gaze turned to the members hanging onto Seol Jin-hyuk.
'And those things...'
Chae-yang sighed deeply.
Not doing the Jiu-Jitsu they were told, just throwing themselves and rubbing.
Pretending to block a guard pass while wrapping legs around his waist to tighten, pretending to give up side mount while burying face in his chest and rubbing. Some b*tches even endured on purpose when they should have tapped, groping the man's body.
Technical offense and defense? No such thing.
Just looked like a zombie horde frantic to touch a man's body legally. It was obvious they were indulging in the man's body heat and muscles felt through the sweat-wet uniform.
'Phew... Gym is running well.'
Chae-yang shook her head, but her gaze didn't know how to leave Seol Jin-hyuk's wet back on the mat, who was exhaling rough breaths and sweating.
Honestly, she wasn't in a position to curse the members. Because even she was thinking, 'Relieved I'm the last turn(?)'.
"Tap! Tap! Tap!"
The sound of hitting the mat floor rang cheerfully.
Yu-ri, pinned under me, declared surrender while exhaling rough breaths.
"Haa... Oppa, too strong..."
"Good work."
I helped the punk stand up. She acted playful with words, but when actually engaging, she rushed in trying to win quite seriously. Strength was good and balance was good, but eventually couldn't overcome the weight class and technique difference.
'Still endured quite a bit. As expected of a Blue Belt.'
"Next!"
Now the remaining ones are the Blue Belt line.
Definitely a big gap from White Belts. Intended to pass with 1 minute cut, but surprisingly took a bit more time.
"Ucha! Won't let go!"
"Where do you think you're going!"
Everyone looked like hungry wolves on the outside, but when engaging, they were true martial artists.
Sticking persistently trying to win properly, and enduring tenaciously even when caught in a technique. That fighting spirit not letting go of my waist even while covered in sweat.
'Wow... Competitive spirit is no joke.'
Problem is, the more they do that, the longer and stickier they cling.
Have to adhere closely to apply technique, have to hug to defend. The more they rushed to win, the surface area and time touching my body only increased.
'...Is this exercise, or torture.'
Sweat poured like rain. Just when stamina was showing the bottom, finally became the last turn.
Surroundings became quiet. Members opened a path like the Red Sea parting.
Trudge, trudge.
Master Lim Chae-yang, with her uniform belt tied firmly, walked into the center of the mat.
"......?"
I opened my eyes round and asked.
"...Master is doing it too?"
Usually doesn't the master just referee or watch? Did I massacre civilians (newbies) too much so she came out to educate me?
Then the Master answered with a feigned stern expression, but with eyes shining brightly.
"Of course. I have to finish it."
She added while lowering her posture.
"Wanted to verify Jin-hyuk-ssi's skills properly. No going easy this time."
Ah, as expected.
The Final Boss appearing to save the members' morale. Tension rose without realizing.
I checked my body condition slyly.
'Roughly how much stamina do I have left...'
Almost none. Hitting bottom. Fuel warning light came on long ago.
Just came to hit the last blow. Cowardly.
'Considering weight difference... about 70%? Should I use about that much strength.'
Sounds good saying 70%, but practically full power.
Originally it's impossible for humans to use 100% strength constantly. That comes out only at decisive moments using explosive power. In my current state, I have to squeeze out strength I used to suck milk to barely produce maybe 70% of usual.
I lifted my butt that was flopped on the mat and got up.
Discarding the Sitting Guard I stuck to until now. Risk is too big to accept sitting down against the Master.
Standing.
"Please take care of me." "Osu."
Started bumping fists lightly.
Tense confrontation state.
The Master lowered her posture and watched my movements. No gaps. Dignity of a Brown Belt, or maybe my eyes became dim. Can't see a hole to penetrate.
'...Disadvantageous for me if time drags.'
Stamina is already minus. Loss the longer it gets.
"Hup!"
I attempted a tackle recklessly feeling 'whatever'. Intended to dig into the lower body, grab legs and take down.
But.
'Ah... Slow.'
Usually would have entered lightning fast, but legs didn't listen. My body reacting half a beat late cut through empty air.
The Master, as if mocking my slow tackle, turned her body smoothly and accepted it.
Thud.
"Caught you."
My head was sucked between her armpits. She hung on wrapping my extended arm and back.
Octopus Guard.
Technique wrapping the body behind my back like an octopus to suppress.
"Ugh..."
Struggled to escape, but the tightening pressure is no joke. Brutal grip strength unbelievable for a woman's strength tightened my body.
'...Wow, what is this strength?'
Not simply good technique. Bone structure is different. Density of muscles, texture of squeezing strength is different.
Is this the strength of a Brown Belt. Or a species trait possessed by women of this worldview.
'Ah... If it was really the old days, would still be sturdy... I aged a lot too.'
Funny to lament being old with a body of merely twenty, the most vigorous age. But the soul's age doesn't lie. Moreover, drained of energy dealing with 30 people earlier. Every joint was screaming like a rusted machine.
Vision blinked like a flickering light. Lack of oxygen.
'What was I supposed to do at times like this...'
In fading consciousness, I desperately groped for past memories.
If try to run away because caught, it tightens harder. That's what amateurs do.
Retreat means decline. Being scared means death.
Then the method is one.
Rather digging in deeper.
Loading my weight entirely, crushing her to become one with the mat floor. Releasing guard with pressure. That is my last winning move.
'Going!!'
I squeezed out strength used to suck milk and bounced my waist. And tried to throw my body back as is to cover her.
But.
"Quack."
Sound of a duck quacking came from my mouth.
Moment of applying force, already discharged legs trembled and gave way. Far from throwing the body, just collapsed on the spot.
The Master wasn't one to miss that gap. Her arm dug deeper into my neck.
Tightening. Breath blocking. Vision blacking out.
'Ah, can't do it.'
If endure, will faint. Without 1 second of hesitation, I tapped the Master's thigh with my palm.
Tap, tap, tap!
"Tap! Tap! Tap!"
Surrender. GG.
As soon as tap sound came, the pressure choking the neck disappeared like a lie.
"Huff... Huff..."
I lay prone on the floor exhaling rough breaths. Embarrassment or whatever, needed oxygen first.
But.
"Ah..."
Deep sigh sound came from above.
Looking up, the winner Master Lim Chae-yang's expression was strange. Far from enjoying the joy of victory, was regretting like someone who lost their country.
'...What?'
She bit her lip tightly looking down at her hand. Expression like she would burst into tears any moment. Like someone who committed an irreversible high treason.
"...Are you okay? I must have choked too hard... I'm sorry."
The Master became tearful and swept down my back. No, was massaging.
Her face was full of apology, but I had no way of knowing the true meaning of that expression.
'Ah, crazy... Lim Chae-yang, you idiot.'
Actually, she was shedding tears of blood inwardly.
Her original plan wasn't this.
Since the opponent is tired, intended to pretend to accept techniques moderately and cling stickily. Rolling inside the guard, rubbing in mount, intending to savor that firm muscle and man's body scent for at least 10 more minutes.
'Put this precious wild live fish... into spicy fish stew without even slicing sashimi.'
Brown Belt instinct was the problem. As soon as opponent showed a gap, body reacted on its own and stuck a choke.
Too clean and perfect suppression. So more resentful.
. . .
"Really sorry... I couldn't control strength... You didn't get hurt anywhere? Neck okay?"
The Master was restless stroking my nape. Touch was strangely persistent.
I exhaled rough breaths and waved my hand.
"No... Huff... I lost because my skill was lacking, well. It's fine."
I only thought she was sorry for making a mistake while trying to give me reception sparring. Since competitive spirit was too strong and almost killed the guest, deserves to be embarrassed.
"Haa... Could have done more..."
The Master muttered lowly.
"...Yes?"
"Ah, no! Nothing."
She smacked her lips with eyes dripping with regret.
Surrounding members were the same.
"Ah, Master has no tact..." "Should have shown a bit more. What to do ending already." "Sweat hasn't even cooled yet..."
Sighs burst out from here and there. Like reactions of viewers cut off at drama highlight.
I tilted my head inwardly.
'Why is the reaction like that?'
Usually when a winner is decided, isn't it normal to clap saying 'Good work'. Why is everyone acting like people who had delicious food taken away while eating.
'...Truly people I can't understand even if I know.'
Decided to just think of it as a somewhat peculiar reaction and pass. My brain cells were also discharged to think deeply.
Legs trembled. Stamina minus, mental power depleted.
Gotta go home now. If stay longer, felt like really won't be able to salvage bones.