Chapter 8

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Translator: MadScientist

Chapter: 8

Chapter Title: Chapter 8

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Translator: MadScientist

Chapter: 8

Chapter Title: Waist Bent Like a Bow

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My waist bent like a bow.

I had agreed to receive martial arts instruction from the Martial Gods on a conditional basis.

I'd get some techniques for immediate survival, but anything beyond that would be discussed after I proved my worth later on.

So, if asked what that proof of worth entailed—

That was the conclusion—it hadn't been decided yet.

A challenging task, huh.

I had no idea what kind of mission they'd give me.

No way it was something like Hercules' Twelve Labors, right? I hoped not.

With a silent prayer, I posted on the board.

"They found the martial art most suited to me?"

I was excited.

This was like Warren Buffett teaming up with some Money Tree lady to build me the perfect investment portfolio.

Fuck, hold on for real.

"This can't be right!"

Colorless Bird.

She was the gallery member who'd shown me an oddly high level of affection from the start.

There was no reason to keep my distance from someone who liked me, but—

Aw, damn it, Seduction Arts.

'Of all the countless martial arts, it had to be Seduction Arts.'

If this were a normal world, it'd be fine.

Hell, even if it were just a wuxia world, that'd be okay.

Learning Seduction Arts directly from a Martial God.

There'd be all sorts of steamy stuff unfolding.

But,

But!

"This is an apocalypse world!!!"

Seduction Arts are great when there's someone to practice on.

But with nothing but mutants around, I couldn't get steamy with those things.

At that moment,

As if reading my mind, Colorless Bird messaged me.

Something else besides Seduction Arts?

So, what the hell was that martial art?

I was dying to know!

When the going gets tough, bite the bullet.

I immediately activated the moderator's authority (free sparring room).

In truth, Martial God Gallery moderators had another hidden authority besides free sparring rooms.

It was the ability to choose sparring room skins.

I decided to make full use of it and created an Eastern-style dojo sparring room.

'This is the classic wuxia setup.'

The dojo's exterior, made of asbestos, was surrounded by a long stone wall.

Beyond the wall, glimpses of towering cliffs could be seen here and there.

For some reason, looking at it made me imagine a young boy climbing those cliffs to bang on the door and beg to be taught martial arts—

"Newbie mod!"

As I was lost in thought, a voice called out.

I turned toward the source.

"Colo... Colorless Bird?"

"That's me!"

Saying her name out loud was surprisingly tricky.

Colorless Bird approached with a bright smile.

"First time seeing me like this, right?"

"Y-yeah. It is."

"Hehe. What do you think of me?"

"What do I... think?"

The real-life Colorless Bird was, well...

'She really lives up to her name.'

Her hair shimmered in a light pink hue, with two prominent goat horns poking out.

Her bewitching eyes curved seductively, and—

'This is the dignity of a seduction queen...?'

As if proving why she was the queen of seduction.

Certain parts asserted their presence powerfully.

But I was a man who'd survived this brutal dystopia.

With ironclad composure, I fixed my gaze.

"Hehe, aren't you staring too hard?"

...Okay, I looked a little.

Couldn't help my eyes wandering naturally.

Anyway.

"Nice to meet you. I'm the newbie mod."

I bowed politely.

Despite appearances, she was someone who'd lived an unimaginably long time.

Even as a gallery member, facing her in person made it hard to be totally casual.

As I bowed, Colorless Bird grinned widely.

"Nice to meet you too, newbie!"

"Yes. So, how should I address you?"

Calling her Colorless Bird to her face felt off.

"My name? It's Eirene Noctua. I have other nicknames, but feel free to call me Ei!"

"Got it, Eirene-nim."

"...I said call me Ei casually?"

"That feels uncomfortable for me..."

"..."

Couldn't help feeling awkward about it.

"Sigh, fine. Whatever. That's not important right now!"

Thankfully, the seduction queen dropped it and moved on.

"Anyway, as promised, I'll teach you the martial art. But first, there's something we need to do."

"What?"

"Check your aptitude."

"Aptitude?"

"Yeah!"

Coming from the succubus seduction queen, it sounded oddly suggestive, but Eirene's expression was dead serious.

"Simply put, it's your talent for martial arts. Also called natural gift or aptitude. People with exceptional talent learn martial arts faster than others."

"Oh... really?"

"Why?"

"Just... unexpected."

Honestly, I figured Martial Gods wouldn't care much about talent or aptitude.

They were the pinnacle among the talented, after all.

No matter how gifted someone was, they'd all ended up beneath their feet, so I thought they'd be indifferent to talent itself.

But,

"No. That's exactly why they value talent even more."

Eirene shook her head gently but firmly at my words.

"Walking the martial path is like climbing a mountain. Us Martial Gods in the gallery are the tallest peaks across all dimensions. Sure, you could say the countless other summits look small from the top. But that's not the case."

"Why not?"

"Because we're proof that those highest peaks exist."

Countless geniuses in the world.

And the Martial Gods at their apex.

"Denying talent would be denying our own existence. At least, every Martial God I know in the gallery started from a different point than others."

The peak someone climbs their whole life might be the starting point for some Martial Gods.

No, that was usually the case.

"I was born with the Supreme Yin Body. Some liken it simply to the moon, but it's more than that. It grants superior resistance to all yin-cold energies, and even yang-hot energies."

"Huh? Aren't those opposites?"

"That's the common view. But as I said, Supreme Yin isn't just a yin-cold attribute. It means more. Similar to the Heavenly Sword Body Black Sky has, or Anger Control Expert's Blood Burning Body. Ah, of course, it's hard for you to understand right now."

Hmm, yeah yeah.

I don't get a single bit.

Felt like I got an overview of some insanely profound stuff, but zero details sank in.

But Eirene seemed fine with that.

"Hehe. No big deal. The Supreme Yin Body is an incredibly rare constitution—you'd be hard-pressed to find one even searching all dimensions. Since I already have it, the odds of you having it are basically zero. Same for the others."

"Understood. So how do we check for those constitutions?"

"We'll have to examine you, of course."

"How? There's no measuring device here..."

"Psh, don't worry. I'm a Martial God too, you know? I'm more accurate than any machine!"

"Ooooh!!"

Sudden surge of excitement.

"What do I need to do?"

"Just stand still, newbie! I'll teach you everything with my body!"

The phrasing was weird, but I stood blankly as instructed.

Then Eirene came behind me and extended her hands.

"Now, I'll infuse my internal energy."

"Be gentle since it's my first time."

"Of course! I'm an expert at this!"

She thumped her chest confidently.

Next, a cold energy flowed from her outstretched hands.

And then,

"Eeeek?!"

"Hieeek?!"

I couldn't hold back a scream, and Eirene let out a shrill yelp too.

"W-what was that noise?!"

"S-sorry. I tried to hold it... but it was too cold..."

"Gah! Try to endure it! We're just starting!"

"Huh? Just starting...? Sigh, okay. I'll endure properly this time."

It felt like my entire back was freezing solid, but this was just the beginning?

But no reason for Eirene to lie, so I entrusted my back to her again.

And, as if to prove her words, she unleashed an even stronger chill.

'Th-this! It's way stronger than I thought?!'

This wasn't whining.

Not exaggeration.

A bone-chilling cold genuinely climbed up my spine!

'Deep! Too deep!!'

I felt my waist bend like a bow, unable to endure.

"Ogohgohgohgoook!!!"

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