Combat Arts Training (1)
Combat arts class was a Friday ritual — the entire grade, every week. I changed in a hurry with Yu-ra and Anaru, then assembled out on the athletic grounds.
The two of them had slipped into the academy's sharply tailored combat uniforms. Unlike the school uniforms, these were solid black, with the look of formal wear.
"Oh... Yu-ra really does look cool in that. Must be the height."
"She's right, Yu-ra-san. You look cooler than most of the guys."
"Really? Hehe, thanks. You two look pretty in the combat uniforms too."
The combat uniforms were, per the setting, battle dress issued to academy students in their capacity as paramilitary personnel — mana-woven fibers layered with an array of protective coatings. A far cry from the school uniforms, which had looked more like outfits for a night on the town, these were genuinely expensive pieces. That said, the miniskirt and stockings were still a bit much...
Still, standing there in matching uniforms, lined up in neat rows and columns, stirred a familiar feeling in me.
...Never thought I'd miss those days.
If I could go back now, I'd plant myself there for good... wouldn't I? If it weren't for Yu-ra and Anaru, I probably would have.
I was smirking at my own private thoughts when a small voice rang across the grounds. It sounded like iron scraping on iron — an unsettling, grating timbre. And yet it carried with a clarity that seemed to brand itself into every ear present.
A scar-covered swordswoman stood on the athletic ground's platform. A sheathless blade hung at her hip, and a frayed duster coat hung off her frame; the students stirred at the sight of her.
"Kalia?"
"The Sinister Sword?"
"Has to be, right? But my dad said she's—"
"Silence."
Kalia put a finger to her lips, and the murmuring of four hundred students died in an instant.
She looks even colder than Annelise...
The only swordsman on campus who could hold a proper duel against Arthas. A woman who'd been called the Sinister Sword on the battlefield. The NPC who'd given Arthas — with his sword-focused build — the most help of anyone; a hidden piece for sword-type characters, you could say. The problem was her personality was as vicious as that icy voice.
By now she should've been half-crippled — her mana unusable after being eroded by a Rift.
The Rifts opened by this world's enemies, the Otherworld deities. And the erosion-spawn pouring from those Rifts, otherwise known as monsters. When something of Earth is eroded by a Rift, that part ceases to be of Earth.
Unfortunately, her heart — the core of her mana — had been eroded.
That was probably why Kalia had come to the academy. Talent and skill like hers were far too precious to throw away just because she'd retired.
Kalia continued, looking like she'd rather be anywhere else.
"From this moment, you will proceed to the combat arts training facility on the Gaema Plateau."
Typical of an academy that had swallowed the entire North Korean territory — even the training grounds were built on a massive scale.
"Your homeroom teachers will handle instruction. I'll be looking after the ones who show promise. All of you, board the buses."
The tone was coercive, but most of the students complied. Of course, there were always a few young hotheads who had to mouth off — the type who wanted to take a bite out of a fallen hero.
"Instructor Kalia. I have a question."
"Save it for later."
"How exactly do you determine who has promise? Don't tell me it's just whatever you feel like—"
SKRAAAK!
Before the snide student could even finish, a long sword-scar was carved through the air. His combat uniform, sliced cleanly in half, fluttered in the wind. Mana fibers, defensive coatings — none of it had mattered. Even his pants had been cut through. His face flushed red as he started to shout.
"Hey, what the hell are you—"
"That one right there is a kid with no promise. And this one."
The tip of Kalia's blade pointed to the very front of our class. There stood Arthas, his sword drawn halfway from its sheath. An identical long sword-scar had been carved in the air in front of him.
At that blood-chilling delivery, the students scrambled over each other to board the buses.
"...Instructor Kalia."
"What is it, teacher."
"...Please restrain yourself."
"Well... if I can."
As vice class president, I'd been standing at the very back of our class, so I overheard that exchange.
Crazy psycho woman...
Maybe she felt my gaze — just before boarding the bus, my eyes met Kalia's. Thankfully, those red eyes of hers only brushed past me.
Terrifying...
Not the gemstone-beautiful red of Yu-ra's eyes, but a deep crimson that called to mind thick, clotting blood. Please, just write me off as a kid with no promise.
Once I boarded the bus, I was treated to another scene of chaos.
"I'm sitting next to Arthas."
"Why you?"
"I should be the one—"
And then the bus went quiet the moment I stepped on.
What? What's with them?
I looked around, wondering what was going on, and caught a few of the girls avoiding my eyes. Occupying the entire back of the bus like a clique of bullies on a school trip sat Annelise's crew. Annelise met my gaze, snorted, and turned her head away.
...What is her problem.
I was about to ignore it and look for Yu-ra and Anaru when a massive presence loomed behind me.
"What are you doing, Oh Na-ho. Find an empty seat and sit. Quickly."
"Ah, yessir!"
The moment Park Ji-bo appeared, the whole class sat down ramrod-straight. I spotted Anaru and Yu-ra sitting together.
These traitors...
In the end, only one seat was left.
"...Mind if I sit?"
"Of course."
I sat down next to Arthas.
Ah, shit... this is probably going to be a permanent arrangement.
It'd be like this every Friday, so yeah, this was definitely going to stick. Having this giant next to me every single Friday — even sitting down, his shoulder came up to my eye level.
I leaned back against the seat and turned my gaze out the window.
"Haaawn..."
The mana-engine bus was so smooth there wasn't even a bump. On top of that, I hadn't slept a wink after masturbating through the night. Naturally... I started nodding off.
"WAKE UP! WE HAVE ARRIVED!!"
"Hah...!"
Park Ji-bo's booming voice jolted me awake. I touched the corner of my mouth — I'd been drooling, sleeping like the dead...
...Why am I leaning to the right?
To my right, there was definitely...
"...Here. A handkerchief."
"...I'm fine."
My face burned at the realization that I'd been using this bastard's shoulder as a pillow.
I hurried off the bus to find a desolate plateau stretching out to the horizon. The rest of the class and the other first-years filed off after me. We formed up in four lines — two of boys, two of girls — and I felt eyes on me from the sides and behind.
"Our Na-ho was sleeping so well, huh?"
"Na-ho-san, was Arthas-san's shoulder comfortable?"
"...Shuddup."
I was shuddering at the traitors' teasing when Kalia's voice rang out.
"Welcome to the Gaema Plateau, fledglings. From here, follow your respective homeroom teachers."
"FOLLOW ME, CLASS 3!!"
True to form, Park Ji-bo's voice was the loudest, and we marched in lockstep after him. Then he stopped in the middle of the empty plains and began channeling mana. At the same time, a massive building gradually revealed itself above the barren plateau.
"Whoa..."
"How do you even hide something like this..."
"I know. Founding Headmaster Hwang Geun-chul did it himself."
"As expected... incredible."
Wait... the founding headmaster's name is Hwang Geun-chul? Well, at least the man had the skills...
Anyway, we followed Park Ji-bo into the building.
"Well done. This is the combat arts training facility. Here, you will train in augmented reality comparable to actual combat, and for exams, we will bring in real monsters."
"...Real... monsters?"
"That's right. However, they will be monsters of low erosion intensity, so there is no need for concern."
"B-but..."
"Once you enter the battlefield, you must be prepared for any situation. Do not be frightened by mere erosion."
Erosion, huh...
Later on — no, even during our time at the academy — we'd be fighting monsters plenty. There were events like that in the game, and being an adult game... there was that kind of content too. So it'd be good to know how to neutralize the threat of erosion.
If Yu-ra or Anaru got eroded...
I shook my head hard at the horrific image.
Park Ji-bo then led us to a room that resembled a classroom. A massive screen filled the entire front of the room.
"You will observe your fellow students fighting within the augmented reality. If they are close friends, you are free to provide combat feedback. The rest of you, commit the monsters' habits, appearances, and characteristics to memory."
Park Ji-bo was being unusually talkative. But his face was dead serious, so everyone listened attentively.
"When you eventually enter the battlefield, you will operate in combat pairs. Typically one knight and one mage. This combat arts training will follow the same structure."
"Sir, I have a question."
"Speak."
One of Annelise's lackeys, her hand raised. She asked,
"Will the... combat pairs stay the same going forward?"
"They will change every Friday based on performance. An AI will randomly generate the pairings, so I will not entertain objections."
"...Yes, sir."
Park Ji-bo shut her down in one shot, as expected, and started operating the computer.
"We will now draw the teams. Team 1, step forward when called."
The giant screen at the front of the classroom spun rapidly. Then the random assignment table generated by the machine appeared.
"Ah... what is this..."
"Ah..."
"Annelise!"
"Hmph..."
The lackeys' voices were buzzing with excitement. On the combat arts Team 1 list, Annelise's name sat alongside Arthas's. And right below that, my name...
...Han Jin-hyeok?
Who's that. I'd seen the name somewhere, but I couldn't quite place it. Anyway, at least I dodged the chubby guy, so I guess that's a relief? Yu-ra and Anaru had all been split up too.
"Too bad. A mage and a knight — Na-ho and I would've been perfect."
"I'm here too, Yu-ra-san."
"Of course our Anaru too. If I get paired with either of you, I'll protect you well."
"I'll be looking forward to it, Yu-ra-san."
While we were chatting, a message appeared on the screen.
"Team 1, step forward. Equip your gear and enter."
Annelise and Arthas stepped forward and received something that looked like earpieces.
"What those two just received is an Augmented Reality Synchronizer. It synchronizes with your minds to generate a realistic battlefield in that space. Unfortunately, the pain synchronization for first-years maxes out at 50%. That said, I trust none of you are fools enough to take every hit that comes your way."
Unfortunately? What's unfortunate about that... Wait, if first-years are at 50%, that means it goes up as you advance?
What kind of training is this brutal... for an adult game.
There wasn't this kind of detailed lore. Then again, don't be too faithful to the adult game part...
Anyway, Annelise and Arthas entered the training ground. At the same time, the classroom lights went out, and the two of them appeared on the screen as if viewed from the sky.
"From this point, all of you will remain silent."
Kiiiiiiing.
With the sound of machinery whirring to life, the interior of the training ground transformed. A desolate plain similar to the Gaema Plateau. Soon, a gurgling croak echoed out.
"Gulp..."
And then they appeared — green monsters. Ominous violet eyes gleamed, marking them as beings of the Otherworld.