Chapter 10
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 10
Chapter Title: Training and Classes (2)
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Thud―
Running while consciously taking each step, but it wasn't natural at all.
Like a baby just learning to walk, my body wobbled without finding its center of balance.
-Lee Seongmin. What’s the other side doing?
“The other side? Just swinging a tree branch around while moving.”
Swinging the branch was closer to playing around with a stick than any real swordsmanship.
The problem was that even that motion, when combined with running, was starting to turn into pure flailing.
-You're doing great. That's how you rack up proficiency like crazy.
I barely steadied my posture and spoke to Lee Seojun.
“Seriously, Absolute Clone needs like 100 copies to break even.”
It wasn't a joke. With all my abilities, I was struggling this much, so Absolute Clone really needed about 100 clones to make it worthwhile.
On the flip side, if I maxed out Absolute Clone's proficiency to 100% and could freely control 100 of them, this hardship would be totally bearable.
-Uh... 100? It's EX-rank, so maybe it's possible?
It sounded like empty flattery meant to boost my morale.
But since Lee Seojun knew just as little about Absolute Clone as I did, I didn't say anything.
“More importantly, the distance is pulling away.”
I couldn't run properly, so the gap between the instructors and students was widening.
Fortunately, Lee Seojun seemed to know something about it and told me not to worry.
-It's fine. They give points just for finishing.
“Now that's music to my ears.”
Absolute Clone's proficiency aside, points were always a good thing.
Anyway, as I pushed on, I spotted someone standing blankly ahead.
‘Cheon Seo-yun?’
For some reason, Cheon Seo-yun was standing there up front.
Lee Seojun noticed her too and sounded surprised.
-It's Cheon Seo-yun. Maybe she's waiting for you, Lee Seongmin?
“Why would she wait for me?”
Anyway, as I approached, Cheon Seo-yun stared at me steadily and opened her mouth.
“I'll help you.”
“Help me? With what?”
“Running.”
I paused for a second, wondering how she planned to help with running.
‘Support me from the side or something?’
While I was thinking, Cheon Seo-yun shook her head as if to say no.
“But I don't think I need it.”
“Suddenly?”
“You're not tired at all.”
Cheon Seo-yun seemed to have figured out I wasn't fatigued in the slightest.
So I nodded in agreement and resumed running, at which point she naturally fell in beside me.
“You can go ahead.”
“Is your body like this because of your innate ability?”
“......Think whatever you want.”
Now that I thought about it, it seemed like she'd been waiting to satisfy her curiosity.
And sure enough, as we ran side by side, Cheon Seo-yun kept glancing at my face.
“......”
Already distracted from controlling two bodies, her stares weren't helping my focus.
Thud―
‘Huh?’
The moment I got distracted by Cheon Seo-yun, my foot slipped again.
In my current state, regaining balance was tough, so falling was pretty much inevitable.
Whoosh―
In that instant, Cheon Seo-yun wrapped an arm around my waist and caught my chest with her other hand, preventing the fall.
“You okay?”
“Yeah, but... you don't have to do that.”
“You would've fallen without me.”
She was right—I would've fallen—but it wouldn't have been anything serious. No scrapes or anything.
At worst, my gym clothes would've gotten a bit dirty, and that was easy enough to fix.
-Lee Seongmin. Looks like Cheon Seo-yun wants something from you.
Wants something?
If anything, it wasn't like she had a crush on me or something.
Lee Seojun's guess—that she wanted something—seemed far more likely.
“Do you want something from me by any chance?”
I asked her point-blank.
Cheon Seo-yun stared at me blankly for a moment before nodding.
“Yeah.”
Figured as much.
“What is it?”
“Help with my training.”
Her request caught both me and Lee Seojun off guard as we looked at her.
It wasn't like Seo Ji-ho yesterday, challenging me to a spar. Asking for training help was unexpected.
‘She knows she can't beat me yet, so she's asking for training help instead.’
Obviously, any spar between me and Cheon Seo-yun would just replay yesterday.
She hadn't even been able to block the sword I'd tossed her way.
“Training with me won't help you.”
“Just throw weaker strikes than yesterday.”
Weaker...
It wasn't impossible, but I had no reason to take her word at face value.
‘What to do.’
To be honest, Cheon Seo-yun's talent was tempting.
Maybe it was because of something a former comrade had said about it.
[That contract you made with the Creator God. Couldn't someone else fulfill it instead?]
For reference, my contract with the Creator God required ascending to the Creator God's position in a human body.
The issue was that with my average talent, it was tough, so the gist was to recruit someone overwhelmingly gifted.
“......”
But was it right to offload my burden onto someone else?
I didn't like the idea of shoving my problems onto another just because they had talent.
Swish―
‘Hm?’
While I was lost in thought, Cheon Seo-yun suddenly stepped back a pace.
I gave her a puzzled look, and she replied with guarded eyes.
“You had that look like you were debating whether to devour me or not.”
“......Devour you? Come on.”
With potential at 99, her perceptiveness was no joke.
‘At that level of potential, she can read expressions too.’
I kept running while thinking that, and Cheon Seo-yun gradually relaxed her guard and drew closer.
Probably preparing in case I fell again, but it was impressive she approached at all.
“Weren't you just saying I might devour you? You can come closer now?”
“You can run away.”
She meant that in my current state, I could definitely bolt if I wanted.
She wasn't wrong—right now, with Absolute Clone active, I had no confidence in grabbing her physically.
‘Anyway, since Cheon Seo-yun can read expressions too...’
I glanced at her as she approached again and picked up my earlier train of thought.
She shot me another wary look, then suddenly swung her hand.
Crack―
Cheon Seo-yun smacked the back of my head.
Running was hard enough; dodging hadn't even crossed my mind.
“Don't make that face.”
“If you don't like it, go on ahead.”
“......”
She didn't seem keen on leaving first, though, and said nothing more.
More precisely, she seemed half-resigned and dropped the subject of my expression.
“Your innate ability—controlling swords. Six is the max, right?”
“More's possible, but the power drops off sharply.”
To be exact, six was the limit.
Controlling more required using Telekinesis instead of Warlord's Weapon.
Naturally, swords controlled by telekinesis were drastically weaker.
“If we don't pick up the pace, we might miss lunch.”
“Doesn't matter to me. Go ahead.”
I needed to save points, so I had no intention of eating at the cafeteria.
Even after I said that again, Cheon Seo-yun silently matched my pace.
‘Hm?’
Then I noticed the students who'd been running with the instructors had already hit the turnaround point and were heading back.
“Whoa. We have to do this stamina training every day?”
“Wasn't even that hard.”
“It's the first day. Give it a month, we'll be running 40-50km.”
The students were chatting idly as they jogged back casually.
Seeing me stumbling along with Cheon Seo-yun running steadily beside me, their eyes widened in surprise.
“Huh? Isn't that the top guy? What's up with him?”
“And Cheon Seo-yun's right there too?”
“Seeing him run is more shocking than her.”
They passed by with blatant looks of shock.
The rest of the students followed suit, eyeing me curiously on their way back—except for one.
“......What are you doing here?”
It was Seo Ji-ho.
Seo Ji-ho asked what I was doing, wobbling like this.
“Running.”
“Must be unwell. I'll support you.”
Seo Ji-ho approached, apparently planning to help me back up.
I waved him off—I didn't need any support.
“No need. Do I look tired?”
He stared at me for a moment before nodding.
“Definitely no signs of fatigue.”
“Right? So don't worry about it.”
“No wonder—you're running at a turtle's pace.”
“......”
This guy had a habit of ignoring what people said.
“Anyway, I'll help. Can't have it affecting our spar today.”
For the record, the spar was all his idea.
‘Points on the line anyway, so whatever.’
Still, his pushiness was a bit much.
Either way, Seo Ji-ho turned around without regard for my opinion and started running alongside me.
“By the way, Cheon Seo-yun. What are you doing next to him?”
“Catching him every time he stumbles.”
“Yeah, looks like he took a spill early on, judging by the uniform.”
Seo Ji-ho commented after spotting the marks from my fall right after the run started.
‘I wish they'd both just leave already.’
Ignoring my thoughts, Lee Seojun floating beside me marveled.
-Whoa. You're already buddy-buddy with Cheon Seo-yun and Seo Ji-ho? Took me months to get on their good side.
Meaning I'd accomplished in one day what took Lee Seojun months.
“......”
It was turning into a total circus with both of them.