A Beating is the Best Medicine
As expected, the old folks' saying that a beating is medicine held no flaws. I could tell just by looking at Jinwoo, who was grinning smugly right in front of me.
Just moments ago, the guy had been floundering around, clueless about what to do. Now he was smirking like he actually had a shot.
The kids were growing, bit by bit.
"Then come at me."
"I was gonna anyway!"
With that shout from Jinwoo, the air in the space we occupied shifted unnaturally.
"Sea-a!"
"Let's give it a try!"
Suddenly, without any warning, violet platforms materialized in midair. Even though I hadn't spotted them with my eyes, Jinwoo stepped onto them as if he'd known they were there all along, charging straight at me.
It was my own idea, but damn, it was a clever use of it. With Sea-a just providing support, their two-dimensional attacks had effectively turned three-dimensional.
More importantly, the platforms weren't made by Jinwoo—they came from Sea-a, the spatial mage. A normal person couldn't do that, but someone who wielded spatial magic like her could create paths more reliably and unpredictably than anyone.
In fact, Jinwoo's movements right now were beyond anything I'd imagined.
"...Sensing it with the wind, huh."
I figured out the nature of that unnatural breeze. Jinwoo was reading the wind.
He was controlling and feeling the airflow around him, predicting where the platforms blocked it and stepping accordingly.
I'd only given him a tiny hint, but seeing him adapt his ability like this proved the Character Compendium was right—he had real talent as a hitman.
Still, it was just more erratic attacks now. Not fast enough that I couldn't track them with my eyes.
I thrust my fist toward Jinwoo as he rushed me. Aiming for the jaw. I'd seen enough potential; it was fine to end the spar here. But as I swung, my fist felt strangely heavy for some reason.
"Ha. Interesting."
By now, the blue magic from Youngje that had been enveloping my body vanished, concentrating solely on my fist.
He'd called it Adagissimo, so it must be a spell that slowed its target. It couldn't fully block my swing, but focusing it like this threw off my timing.
"Uwaaaaaah!!"
I twisted my body to dodge Jinwoo's dagger. Seizing the opening, I raised my foot to strike him—but he stepped on another platform in the air, twisting to launch a second attack.
I gave up blocking with my now-heavy right arm and extended my left to parry again.
Thanks to my Midas Gloves, the dagger didn't cut me, but the impact left my palm stinging anyway.
Fine then.
I reached to grab his dagger like before, but he must've sensed something off—he flinched and swiftly pulled back, retreating.
'Not falling for it twice, huh?'
Not a bad reaction.
Jinwoo was breathing harder than usual, probably from overextending to match Sea-a's magic.
Their coordination had definitely improved, and their technique application too. Not bad. Pretty good, even. Enough that I felt confident they wouldn't go down to any amateur moves.
But.
"Still too sloppy!"
I didn't miss the gap as he caught his breath. I charged at Youngje, who was separated from the other two, and threw a punch.
"Wait, you're targeting me here?"
"Your positioning was that bad."
It was the same in the game. A mage standing far from the front line? Prime target.
Of course, an ice shield appeared to block my fist—but.
"As expected."
Good call not holding back. With a crack, the shield shattered, and Youngje's body bent into a C-shape.
His eyes said he hadn't passed out yet. I reared back for the finisher when—
"Jinwoo! Now!"
"Glasses! Hang in there!"
My fist grazed his cheek instead of his jaw. They hadn't given up till the end, huh? Looked like Sea-a had nudged my attack off-course. Jinwoo used the opening to rush me, trying to pull me away from Youngje—but.
"Too bad. The physical gap's too wide."
Jinwoo's kick wasn't nearly enough to shove me off.
I bent the arm that had grazed Youngje's cheek, slamming my elbow into his face. His pupils dilated as he crumpled to the ground.
Without loosening the momentum from that strike, I grabbed Jinwoo's face as he came at me and smashed it toward the floor.
"Jinwoo!"
He caught himself with both hands, avoiding a face-plant, and tried to trip my legs—like a capoeira sweep.
"I told you."
My body didn't budge an inch. If I'd been careless, maybe. But I'd braced for it—his attack was way too weak to topple me.
"The physical gap's too big."
"Ah... go easy—"
I dropped a fist onto Jinwoo's exposed head as he lay there.
BOOM!!
Foam bubbled from his mouth as he passed out.
That left just Sea-a.
"Uwa... C-could you spare me, Eugene?"
Maybe seeing the other two get knocked out cold right in front of her? Sea-a was trembling as she backed away.
"Gotta see the spar through to the end."
Of course, I'd knock her out gentler than the others.
"If you're that scared, just forfeit?"
Her shaking stopped at my words. Then she shook her head.
"Instructor Ji Suhyun said last time... that struggling to the end would've been better."
Had she steeled herself after hearing that from our last spar? Or maybe seeing the other two fight till the bitter end sparked something? Probably both.
Anyway, even in this hopeless spot, she didn't give up. She spread her arms, her signature weapons at the ready, and stared me down.
"So... I'll struggle till the end... Gahk?!"
I swung full-force at Kim Sea-a's face as she psyched herself up in front of me.
I stopped the punch right in front of her eyes. The wind from it tousled her hair, her eyes rolled back white, and she collapsed in a heap.
"What's the point of psyching yourself up with the enemy right there? They won't wait for you to power up."
With that, all three were out.
The forest where our four-way battle had raged looked like a warzone—smashed trees everywhere, craters in the ground.
If this were outside, I'd be stressing over repairs. Lucky for us, it was the academy's training field.
As the fight ended, the surrounding forest warped and dissolved, reverting to the original training ground.
"Whoa, I figured you'd go easy since it was club training, but you wiped 'em out no mercy."
With the field back to normal, Ji Suhyun entered through the door, grinning ear to ear like she'd loved every second.
"I went plenty easy."
She nodded at my words and approached the fallen kids.
"Yeah, sure. I heard all the advice you gave each one."
She snapped her fingers in the middle of the trio, and their bodies vanished in an instant. A glance back showed they'd been teleported outside the field.
"So, why show them mercy the whole time, then crush 'em at the end to drive home the gap? 'Despair and give up' vibe?"
"...I just wanted them fired up seeing what I can do."
Your club president is on this level. Step up your game. If you wanna beat me, grind even harder.
That was the message I wanted etched into their heads. Best way to do it, in my book.
"Hmm, fair enough. Worked like a charm, I'd say. Kim Sea-a especially—didn't expect her to keep fighting that long. Made me think 'good kid' without realizing."
I agreed there.
"Oh, and that linked play you wanted from them? Didn't see spatial magic used like that coming... You been planning that?"
She'd overheard my mid-fight tips to Sea-a and Jinwoo.
"Just scouting my clubmates' potential. President's job."
Honestly, it was just me passing on my go-to game strat. Seemed pretty innovative here, though.
"Smooth talker. I moved the kids to chairs in the lounge—they'll wake up soon, so grab 'em. And... thanks for the show?"
"A deal's a deal."
While we sparred, Ji Suhyun had blocked external views to keep our strength hidden. That was our trade.
With a big fight looming, flashing our cards wasn't smart.
"Other clubs should take notes. Training field empty on a Monday morning? Ridiculous..."
She clicked her tongue and turned away.
...Who’s gonna rein in that battle maniac?
"Ranger Club. Confident you can get Familia kids to beat 'em by next week?"
She asked over her shoulder.
"Yes. Very."
I had no doubt.
"Huh. Figured... Yeah, with you, it's probably doable. Hit me up if there's more fun to watch or favors needed."
"Will do. Thanks."
With that, Ji Suhyun left. I turned to the three slumped side-by-side on chairs.
Jinwoo, Sea-a, Youngje. They'd exceeded expectations in just one spar.
But still plenty short. Stamina, judgment, fundamentals.
No biggie.
"They'll get strong from now on."
I'll make sure of it. Grow the club. My Familia.
"...No mercy right after vacation. A mission already."
Right. Can't forget.
I'm Familia's president first, but Calione heir above all.
Today, I'd send the kids off, then head to the mansion.
The moment I got home, Parnello—who'd been waiting—led me straight to the meeting room and dove into the briefing.
"This mission: Suppress and educate a certain group."
Straight to briefing on arrival... Wait, why the rush on details?
"Suppress and educate a group? What'd they do?"
I raised my hand to ask. Parnello grimaced before answering.
"That's... They ordered a hit on you, young master."
"...Huh? On me?"
Suddenly?