[No title provided]
"Urgh... Dohyun? What did you do...?"
Yoon Seoa asked with her eyes wide like a rabbit's.
Right after the preliminary bell signaling the end of break rang out.
Behind me as I entered through the classroom's back door trailed the Class 1 elites, covered head to toe in dirt for some reason.
They looked like they'd been beaten senseless—cheeks swollen, once-neat uniforms in tatters, eyes red and puffy.
I glanced back at the guys cowering behind me, peeking around nervously, and answered nonchalantly.
"Oh, these guys? Say hi. They're my slaves from today on: Number 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5."
"......Huh? Aren't they Class 1 students? And that one over there is our class vice-top, right?"
Hmm, grades don't always mean fighting skill, after all.
Lee Yeji didn't bristle at Seoa's words; she just shrank back, watching my face.
Her lofty pride as Class 1 vice-top had long been shattered by my 99-reinforced tree branch (just a regular branch, of course).
"Anyway, personal circumstances came up. Right?"
"Ah, yes! Yes, sir! C-c-circumstances...!"
When I grinned and asked, Yeji jumped like a green private soldier at attention, nodding frantically.
Seoa's face twisted in horror at our bizarre master-slave dynamic.
"Such... tastes...?"
"......"
It's not like that.
I considered clearing up the misunderstanding as Seoa's gaze turned to trash-level disgust, but I shut my mouth.
No need to bother explaining every little thing.
Even if I said these Class 1 guys had surrounded me and nearly stabbed me to death, it'd just make things messy.
If I'd reported to the instructor that they'd swung real swords and scythes at me with killing intent? Attempted murder in broad daylight on academy grounds. They'd be expelled or hit with heavy punishment on the spot.
But after crunching the numbers, it'd just hurt me in the end.
What's the real gain in kicking them out just for some discipline?
At best, a bit of satisfaction. Way too wasteful.
These were genuine geniuses who'd clawed through tens of thousands of competitors to land in elite Class 1.
To navigate this brutal original story ahead, where else would I find such premium labor and meat shields?
Better to keep them leashed and squeeze every last drop from their bones. Way more profitable.
That's what this whole deal was about from the start.
"Anyway, don't imagine weird stuff. Now, everyone, sit quietly."
"Yes, yes, sir!"
At my gesture, they scattered like startled birds back to their seats.
Seoa, who'd watched the absurd farce in a daze, shook her head and changed the subject.
"By the way, Dohyun. How long do we have to sit through these boring lectures?"
"Lectures?"
"Yeah! We picked our majors before enrolling, but just sitting at desks is making my body itch."
I replied flatly to her whiny complaint.
"Probably explained in this class."
If memory from the original serves, the common basics are wrapping up, and major class announcements are due soon.
I swallowed my brief inner monologue and asked lightly.
"Speaking of, what major did you pick?"
"Martial Studies! Heh heh heh."
Seoa struck a pose, hands on hips, chest puffed out proudly.
"I handle magic, but I prefer close-quarters with that heavy impact feel. Battle mage fits!"
"Yeah, suits your personality."
"Ahem!"
She snorted smugly, then looked at me with sparkling eyes like it was obvious.
"You're Martial Studies too, right, Dohyun?"
"Yeah. No mana, no other choice."
Right as I answered indifferently.
"Martial Studies. As expected."
A cool, clear voice dropped from behind me out of nowhere.
Turning, there stood Class 1 top student Seol Eunha by my desk, silent as a ghost.
With her signature emotionless purple eyes gazing down, she stated flatly.
"As expected of Master. The noble path pursuing pure physical limits and martial extremes, shunning petty superpowers..."
"Not that."
No flicker in her expression at my instant denial.
She just blinked slowly, nodded as if erasing my words, and continued.
"Perfect timing. Teach me those extremes at lunch today."
"...Lunch today? Tough."
Flat rejection, and her head tilted with a faint creak.
"Why."
"Prior engagement. Sparring lightly with Kwak Taesan at Training Ground 1."
My answer barely landed before her blank gaze slid to Seoa beside me.
"I asked first."
Flat, level tone.
But peering at her expressionless face, her lips were slightly pouted.
"You're teaching her too. And I'm Number 1 disciple, yet treated worse? My priority below that Kwak Taesan guy?"
"...Never took you as Number 1."
She kept the pout even at my retort.
Might feel snubbed from her side.
Maybe I'd pushed her away too coldly to hide I'm no sword genius.
...Nah.
She'd barged into my dorm on her delusion alone, then her insane entrance ceremony declaration made me her 'top student's parachute' overnight.
I've been dragged into plenty because of her.
But for brutal academy life ahead, ditching the original's top output 'Sword Saint' would be massive waste.
"...Sigh, fine. Maybe I was too cold."
Short deliberation, compromise tossed.
"Later, separately. Teach what you want."
"......Really."
"But."
No free lunch in capitalist Korea.
Can't teach for nothing.
"One condition. Deal?"
Need your help for the Taesan spar.
"Late, Dohyun."
Pushing open the thick iron doors of Training Ground 1, a beastly growl hit amid the sweltering heat.
Turning, a massive shadow loomed through the white dust cloud.
Kwak Taesan, who'd punched a hole through a special sandbag built for three grown men, spilling its innards like a waterfall.
"Late...? Ate lunch fast as I could."
Even in this dome arena with hundreds swinging weapons, his destructive aura and metallic clashes stood alone.
Still insane strength.
Trainees nearby gave him wide berth with grimaces.
"Hahaha! The minute waiting felt like an hour!"
Cracking his thick neck, he strode over—then his gaze froze behind me.
Spotting Seoa glued to my back and Eunha tagging for backup.
"......Hoo."
"Ah, these are......"
"Splendid, Dohyun!"
No chance to explain—he cut in.
His fierce face, paused a beat, ignited with fervent admiration.
"......Huh?"
"Showing those lovely classmates your frail body breaking limits in agony! Facing your complex head-on with noble resolve... Kwak Taesan is moved once more!"
No, Seoa's just spectating, Eunha's my insurance just in case.
My honest truth rising to my throat bounced off his hot-blooded filter, vanishing.
"Today, I'll forge your scrawny frame with manly sweat!"
With a spirited shout, Taesan leaped to the central elevated square ring, the cross-shaped combat platform.
Thud! His bulk landed heavy, making Seoa behind me yelp "Eek!"
"Come up, Dohyun!"
Grabbing a wooden sword from the training rack on one side, he hurled it at me without hesitation.
Whoosh!
Tearing air like a cannonball. I kept a lazily indifferent face, hand extending casually.
Thwack.
Handle settling perfectly in my grip, zero error. Blinking not once, a flawless, serene catch of the incoming threat.
Inside, though, I was burning up.
Fuck, that scared me. What if you'd chucked that full force at my face?
Would've caved my skull before we started.
Suppressing cold sweat down my spine, Taesan's gaze from the platform darkened as he looked down.
Hot-blooded fool gone; viscous martial aura emanated.
"This spar trains your pathetic basics too, but......"
"......"
"I wanna see with my own eyes how strong you are, acknowledged by genius top student Seol Eunha."
Indeed.
Looks like a muscle gorilla swinging brute force, but sharp on situations.
Bare-fisted Taesan planted heavy, declaring.
"So, go all out."
"Whew... yeah."
Short sigh, I stepped onto the platform.
"Ready, Dohyun?!"
To his booming call, I fingered the Blue Four-Leaf Clover tucked in my pocket, replying flatly.
"Of course."
I've prepped full throttle to beat you too.
"You better look forward to it."
Scraaape! Boom!
He's holding back.
Seol Eunha's dry assessment watching the platform brawl.
Thoom!! The floor cracks spiderweb-style with a roar.
Kwak Taesan's bulk explodes forward to Yoo Dohyun's nose.
Massive straight ripping air echoes beyond the platform.
But the bone-crushing fist never touched Dohyun's face. Clang!
Dohyun's wooden sword traces a simple arc, tapping Taesan's inner wrist aside.
His signature eerie defense—even deflected Cha Yura's slashes at entrance.
"Hup!"
Miss turns to Taesan twisting taut waist.
Recoil fuels a devastating low roundhouse at Dohyun's ankle.
Twaang!
Dohyun uses sword flat as shield, meeting the kick precisely.
Dull friction sends the kick flying; Dohyun's sword snaps to Taesan's shoulder in the gap. Thud!
"Hahaha! Too light, Dohyun!"
Solid counter, yet Taesan shrugs dust, thrusting heavy fist again.
Overwhelming muscle density ate the sword's impact whole.
"Dohyun... can he win...?"
Seoa muttered anxiously at the relentless exchange.
Beast-raging Taesan vs. barely parrying Dohyun's futile taps.
To gathered trainees, Dohyun seemed crushed by physical gap, defense-only desperation.
But Eunha saw different.
Neither's all-in.
Taesan, battle mage, no magic—just body.
And Dohyun......
Eunha's blank purple eyes gleamed; low reply to Seoa.
"No need to worry."
"Huh?"
"Watch close. Amid that storm assault, Master's not yielded a single step."
"......!"
Seoa gasped just then.
"Splendid, Dohyun! Try this!"
Taesan's feral grin twisted grotesquely.
Beast instinct and battle mage brain cracked Dohyun's 'parry pattern'.
"Point defense can't stop area destruction!"
Boom!! Taesan halts assault, stomps platform mercilessly.
Quake shakes whole; cracks birth dozens of floating rock shards.
Crack! Thud! He blasts airborne debris with kicks and fists.
Parry-proof omnidirectional barrage...!
Cannonball rocks swarm Dohyun like shotgun blast.
Dust blinds; perfect blindside from all angles.
Taat! Dohyun finally steps off—first movement since start.
Head, heart, throat, liver, head. Clang! Clink! Paang!
Trails too fast to track weave air. Threading debris like circus, he picks lethal chunks, parries with sword.
Rip, plink! Minor bits tear uniform, nick cheek red—but no flesh-rending wounds.
But.
"Do, Dohyun! Behind!"
Frontal debris monopolized his sight and focus.
Dust-piercing leap: Taesan bursts into the perfect blindspot behind.
Too late physically to swing sword back.
...My turn?
Recalling pre-spar condition, Eunha rose urgently—
Whoosh! Dohyun didn't turn or dodge; hurled wooden sword at Taesan behind.
"Guhk?!"
Blindside bolt smacks Taesan's face, blinds him.
Charge doesn't stop. Tank-like, he slams full-mass fist down at Dohyun's spot.
No dodge, no block.
Boulder-fist about to pulverize—
Zzt!
"......?"
"...Dohyun?"
Dohyun's body glitches short; Taesan's devastating punch passes shoulder harmlessly.
Ghostly intangibility—perfect phase.
"Wha......!"
Before Taesan's shocked grunt—
Phased punch slips in; Dohyun's right rockets to undefended jaw.
Kaboooom!!!
Platform-shaking blast. Power no-mana Dohyun's weak strength couldn't muster.
Like mirroring Taesan's killer punch 100% back at his chin—impossible strike.
"Grk-?!" Brain-shaken beast's eyes roll white.
Massive frame floats, then slams board-stiff. Thruuum!!
"""......"""
Everyone held their breath, staring at the source.
Icy, chilling silence like cold water doused.
Dust settles on platform.
Dohyun, with Taesan felled like an oak at his feet, picks up the rolling sword and slings it over his shoulder.
"Whew."
This perk is fucking broken, damn.