Chapter 11
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 11
Chapter Title: Training and Classes (3)
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Anyway, by running non-stop, I somehow managed to reach the mountaintop.
On the way, I ran into Oh Ye-rin, but perhaps because Cheon Seo-yun and Seo Ji-ho were with me, she just said "good luck" and we parted ways.
"You've finally arrived."
Choi Ji-an, the instructor who seemed to be waiting at the summit, said calmly.
"All sorts of cadets show up for physical training. But there hasn't been one quite as extreme as you."
Instructor Choi Ji-an went on to explain why she'd said that.
"What if we ramp up the intensity of physical training in the future? At your current speed, you wouldn't make it back in time for meals, let alone the first class."
Running wasn't a problem for me, but the time it took was.
With that, Instructor Choi Ji-an got straight to the point with her proposal.
"After some thought, I've decided that if you want, I can exempt you from physical training. I'll award you 3 points a day under my authority. The condition is that you maintain a top-10 ranking."
Since she was talking about top-10 rankings, she must know I'd beaten Cheon Seo-yun in our spar yesterday.
If I accepted, I wouldn't have to waste time on this physical training and could reliably pocket 3 points a day.
'But there's that top-10 condition.'
With my abilities and Lee Seojun's experience, it wouldn't be hard.
But the reason I'd joined physical training wasn't just the points—it was also the proficiency gain for Absolute Clone.
'This run bumped it up by 0.004%.'
Compared to about 0.001% per two hours, that was a pretty good gain.
I couldn't give up on Absolute Clone's proficiency either, so I turned down Instructor Choi Ji-an's offer.
"Thanks for the offer, but... I'll keep going as long as I can."
"So that's your answer."
I couldn't tell how she interpreted my response, but Instructor Choi Ji-an gave a faint, warm smile.
Lee Seojun's voice chimed in from behind, mentioning the favorability increase.
In the meantime, Instructor Choi Ji-an pulled a card from her pocket.
"Everyone, hold out your watches."
Cheon Seo-yun, Seo Ji-ho, and I extended our watches, and she tapped the card against them.
Beep―
You have acquired 5 points.
It seemed we got points the same way as always.
Cheon Seo-yun received her 5 points too, then looked puzzled as she asked Instructor Choi Ji-an.
"We didn't even run all the way back."
"You'll have to head back to school anyway, so it doesn't matter. If you want to eat breakfast and get even a little rest, you'll have to run hard."
With that, Instructor Choi Ji-an turned toward the school.
"The first finishers should be arriving soon. I'll head back first."
Whoosh!―
The moment she finished speaking, Instructor Choi Ji-an shot down the mountain like a bullet.
She was probably hurrying back to award points to the completing students.
"Alright, let's go too."
I said to Cheon Seo-yun and Seo Ji-ho, but Cheon Seo-yun just stared at me.
"What?"
"You're slow."
I was caught off guard by the sudden comment, but Lee Seojun explained.
If they matched my pace, breakfast might be tight.
I had ways to eat separately, but they didn't, so I decided to send them ahead.
"Come to think of it, there is breakfast. Go on ahead and eat."
"What about you?"
"I don't eat breakfast anyway, so I'm good."
I told them to go first, but Cheon Seo-yun didn't seem to like that and made a different offer.
"Want a piggyback?"
"I said go first."
"I'll carry you."
Cheon Seo-yun actually stepped forward like she meant it.
Her self-centered behavior made me glance at Seo Ji-ho beside us.
I hoped he'd talk her out of it, but no such luck.
"Not a bad idea. We need to hurry if we want time to spar."
"..."
They were dead set on dragging me along.
Obviously not keen on a piggyback from Cheon Seo-yun, I let out a small sigh and said,
"Grab some sturdy branches nearby that could work as weapons."
"Branches?"
"You want to get back fast, right?"
"Ah."
Cheon Seo-yun instantly got it and fetched some branches.
They were thick enough to bash a person with.
"Good ones. Grab one each."
Then I activated Warlord's Weapon.
Hum―
Like in yesterday's spar, the branches floated up into the air.
Cheon Seo-yun grabbed one with both hands and hung on without a word.
"You planning to fly on these branches...?"
"Yeah. If you don't like it, run on your own."
"Not sure if the branches can handle it."
Seo Ji-ho grabbed one without refusing and hung on too.
I gripped mine and immediately steered us toward the school.
Swoosh!―
We sliced through the wind faster than Instructor Choi Ji-an, who had left first—I'd stake my life on it.
Glancing at Cheon Seo-yun, she looked thrilled by the flight itself.
'But isn't Seo Ji-ho supposed to be all about upright honor?'
Given his personality, I figured he'd hate shortcuts like this, but apparently not.
'Or maybe there are reasons.'
He'd climbed the mountain twice, gotten points from the instructor, and probably valued sparring more.
As Lee Seojun said, we got there in no time.
I went only as far as near the school and released Warlord's Weapon.
"We're here. Go eat."
Cheon Seo-yun eyed the now-normal branch, then tossed it aside without a second thought.
"You?"
"Like I said, no breakfast for me."
Cheon Seo-yun wasn't pushy enough to drag someone who skipped breakfast, so she nodded.
But they still had business with me and lingered outside school to say their pieces.
"When are you helping with my training?"
"No breakfast? Perfect, let's spar right away."
"...">
Yeah, might as well settle everything now.
I decided to grant their requests.
Of course, not without some minor conditions attached.
[Points: 130] (+30)
I checked the points from sparring Seo Ji-ho and felt reasonably satisfied.
I'd wanted to bet 50, but considering I'd helped him out of obligation today, I settled for 30.
'Still almost two days' worth—not bad.'
The spar with Seo Ji-ho naturally ended in my victory.
Like Cheon Seo-yun, he couldn't deflect my flying sword, so it was inevitable.
Lee Seojun, who'd been watching, asked about Cheon Seo-yun.
It was because of the condition I'd set for helping with her training.
"You said I had to bring her along no matter what."
"If she doesn't like it, she'll refuse."
The condition was simple enough.
I'd help with the training she wanted so badly in exchange for a one-minute kiss.
Of course, Cheon Seo-yun had frowned the moment she heard it.
"Either choice works for me."
Accepting was fine, refusing was fine.
But I figured she'd accept—it seemed more likely.
'Solo training has its limits.'
Besides, other cadets wouldn't even make good practice partners.
Seo Ji-ho today was about the right level.
"By the way, what rank is Seo Ji-ho?"
"2nd? No wonder his skills were decent."
Even he hadn't gotten close to me, but I could gauge his level.
Beep beep beep―
"Hm?"
Then my watch blared an alarm again.
Lee Seojun knew what it was and called it assembly.
"Assembly?"
"Picking classes means there are multiples."
Looking at my watch as Lee Seojun spoke, sure enough, it said to assemble.
[Auditorium. By 10 minutes. Mandatory assembly. Class briefing and selection.]
"What kind of classes are there?"
"The rest?"
The watch said 10 minutes too, so I nodded, changed into my uniform, and headed to the auditorium.
The other cadets were pouring out from the dorms after eating and resting, all heading the same way.
"Pretty standard. No special ones?"
"With around 30, can't take them all."
Lee Seojun didn't deny it.
"No way."
Frankly, attending classes was a loss for me.
I wasn't staying here forever—once my business was done, it'd be on to the 16th world.
If I had to take classes, better pick ones useful for future worlds.
'Wonder if those exist.'
With 30 classes, a few might fit the bill.