Basic Training (Despair Edition)
Basic Training (Despair Edition)
The training wasn't as grueling as I thought; in fact, it was rather fun.
If expectations and anxiety coexisted at first, now it was 100% pure interest.
For some reason, Sua imo's expression looked a bit distorted, but as my magic manipulation skills noticeably improved with each training session, there was no way I couldn't find it enjoyable.
The basics of magic manipulation.
Among them, coating my fingers with magic, which I tried first, barely succeeded after a total of four attempts.
What I learned next was how to wrap magic around other body parts besides my fingers, just like I had done moments ago.
Since I had already gotten the hang of it while coating my fingers, I was able to succeed at this in just one try.
And finally, unlike before, I practiced making magic naturally seep into my bones rather than over my skin.
Letting magic seep into my bones instead of my skin was unfamiliar, so there were a few failures, but thanks to Sua imo teaching me well, I succeeded on my fifth attempt.
"Phew, how is it?"
"Uh, yeah. W-Well, it's perfect."
"Right? It's all thanks to Sua imo teaching me so well."
"...I don't think that's why."
"Huh?"
"It's nothing! Fufu, our Sia. Look at you saying things like that, how admirable."
"Eyy, it's just the truth. Come on."
Sua imo, whose expression seemed to stiffen for just a split second, soon shook her head to brush it off, told me to wait a moment, and stepped outside the training room.
She didn't look like she urgently needed the restroom, did she get a call?
Returning a moment later, Sua imo spoke with a face full of apology.
"What should I do? They said an urgent matter came up at the guild."
"Ah. Then we can't train anymore?"
"It's not that. It's just that it'll be difficult for me to supervise you."
"Then it's fine! I'll work hard on my own."
"No. I feel bad about it, so I'll send someone else."
"You really don't have to go that far..."
I meant that it was truly okay, but Sua imo repeatedly apologized and said she would quickly send a replacement.
Leaving behind Sua imo, who left the training room quickly as if a truly urgent matter had arisen, I refocused on my magic training.
'Since she said letting magic seep into bones is the first step, next would be blood vessels? Muscles? Where would it be?'
Having some time to myself, I continued to experiment with magic in various ways.
Infusing magic into my bones was familiar now, and I was currently focusing on making magic flow through my blood vessels, but because blood vessels were so narrow and had blood flowing through them, the difficulty level was on a whole different dimension compared to bones.
Just when I had managed to wrap magic around my blood vessels and couldn't progress any further, the door opened and someone else entered the training room.
"Abeoji?"
"......"
"Papa."
"Yes, my daughter. Are you working hard on your training?"
Ehyu.
I can't even call my abeoji 'abeoji', doesn't he like being called 'Papa' way too much?
In my heart, considering what happened when I was sick last time, I really wanted to just call him abeoji, but calling an abeoji who went out of his way to get me an elixir to cure that painful state by a title he disliked was also a bit much.
By the way, what was abeoji doing here? Did he come just to watch me train?
"Sua imo taught me well, so I'm training hard."
"I see. Then shall we start training with this 'Papa' now?"
"Huh?"
"Hm? Didn't you hear? I believe the Guild Leader said she would send someone to replace her."
"I did hear that. But that was Papa?"
"Indeed."
Out of all the many samchon, imo, oppa, and noona, she sent abeoji of all people?
Of course, Sua imo must have had her reasons, but...
I couldn't help but harbor the question: Is there really anything to learn from abeoji?
Abeoji was a physical type, and even on a global scale, when considering pure physical capabilities alone, he was a hunter whose physical prowess ranked within the top three.
His class was a Martial Artist, and from asking abeoji separately before, I heard his unique trait was Yeokbalsangigaese (S).
Literally, a momentum that uproots mountains and covers the world.
Possessing such power, it was probably child's play for him to single-handedly destroy half of the Hunter Association headquarters.
But is there anything to learn from an abeoji like this?
When I'm a magic type, not a physical type?
Having seen right through my doubts at once, abeoji, who possessed a doctorate in Han Sia Studies, spoke with a serious expression.
"A healthy magic power dwells within a healthy body. Originally, magic and the body can never be viewed completely separately. In the end, even if you control magic through will, the place that stores and releases magic is the physical body. My daughter, for now, why don't you try doing what this Papa tells you?"
Listening to him, it didn't seem particularly wrong, so I nodded at abeoji's words.
And so I moved as instructed, but...
"L-Like this?"
"Just one more set."
"Eugeugeuk... A-Are we still not done?"
"Let's do just one more."
"Euhyak!"
"Lastly, really just one more."
Without any change in expression, abeoji simply sent me a gaze that grew prouder by the second while working me to the bone.
Slowly, my arms and legs went beyond trembling like a newborn deer and began showing signs of cramping up.
"Good, that's enough."
"Hek, heek! Huek!"
Collapsing onto the training room floor, I could only tremble violently with my head buried in the floor, unable to move.
"You did very well. For a first time, it's splendid."
"N-No more, I can't do any moreee..."
"I have no intention of making you do more, so just lie there and listen."
Eugek.
Lying still while barely avoiding the dripping sweat droplets from entering my nostrils, abeoji brought a towel over and wiped away my sweat.
Then, after setting aside the sweat-soaked towel, he pressed firmly down on my body with his thumbs as he spoke.
"Saying you did well for a first time isn't just because you're my daughter, it's my genuine opinion. Physical strength, flexibility, perseverance. In every aspect, it's to the point where comparisons with other children your age are simply impossible."
"Eugyaaaaa!"
"I'm loosening your overworked muscles, so try not to move as much as possible."
T-That's easier said than done!
I wanted to argue back, thinking 'so you DO know you overworked them!', but all that came out of my mouth was a scream filled with pure agony.
"Papa hopes our daughter pays as much attention to her physical body as she does to her magic. In my heart, I want to keep raising you in my embrace forever, but our daughter will also enter an Erosion Zone someday. No, considering my daughter's talent, the day you enter not only an Erosion Zone but even an Erosion Gate might not be far off. And an Erosion Zone is an indescribably dangerous place. It's a place where it wouldn't be strange to die at any moment in any way if you go there. That's why Papa hopes our daughter will cultivate enough power and skill to take care of her own body."
"Hyaaaaaak! I-I get it! I'll train hard! Please, not the calves, nooooo!"
"Hmm, then you'll train hard from now on, right? That's a promise with Papa?"
"Y-Yes! Sia will work harddd!"
"Alright then."
Kkuuk!
"Hik-aaaaang!"
Along with abeoji's merciless touch, I unconsciously succeeded in channeling magic into my muscles.
**
Several days had already passed since the training began.
During that time, in the mornings, I was able to experience various methods of magic training rotated by several executives of the Changgung Guild, while in the afternoons, I had to endure the merciless hellish physical training with abeoji.
Even though executives from one of the top 5 guilds had all gathered and burned their time just to oversee my training, I wasn't happy at all.
Sure, the magic training was fun, and seeing my skills steadily improve while others praised me as a genius gave me a proud, heartwarming feeling, but whenever afternoon came, no matter where I hid, abeoji would appear like a ghost, capture me, and force me through hellish training.
But today was different.
Today, after finishing only the morning magic training, I got into a car with Maria eonni and headed outside the guild.
"Sia-ya. Are you that happy?"
"Un! I wish it could be like this forever."
My true feelings spilled out reflexively.
At that, Maria eonni, holding the steering wheel, looked straight ahead with a bitter expression and said,
"Abeonim did all of that thinking of you, Sia. I hope you don't hate him too much."
"I know that too, but..."
That abeoji steeled his heart and trained me for my own sake?
How could I not know that?
I didn't mean anything bad by it either. It was just that the training was so exhausting.
Still.
"Honestly, if only he'd cut it down by just one set..."
"Ahaha, then would you train hard?"
"If he cuts down two sets—no, three sets—I'm confident I can work hard."
"That wouldn't be enough training though."
What? From my perspective, even if he cut down three sets, it still looks like a lot though?
Three sets was my absolute maximum compromise!
Was it because Maria eonni also belonged to the physical type?
She didn't seem to understand how I felt.
Still, having some tact, she checked my discontented face through the mirror and let out a low groan, 'Eueum'.
"If things go on like this, Sia will turn all muscular-muscular."
"That won't do."
"Pfft!"
At her answer that popped out immediately without a moment's hesitation, a light laugh burst out of me.
So eonni doesn't want me to get a muscular body either?
Abeoji is fine with it and just keeps working me recklessly though.
Seeing clearly that continuing this conversation would only leave eonni wavering between my future figure and my safety, I changed the subject.
"So where did you say we were going today?"
"Ah! Since you awakened this time, you can't just attend a regular elementary school anymore. So we're on our way to the Hunter Academy Elementary Division to handle your transfer procedures. Once we go there..."
Although I already knew from hearing about it before we departed, I looked out the window while listening to Maria eonni's lecture as she kindly explained it once again.
Not far away, the Hunter Academy that I would be attending from now on came into view.