First Day of Class (1)
We headed to a nearby pavilion and sat down. It felt less like a university lecture and more like a grandfather gathering his grandchildren around him. A staff member following the principal appeared out of nowhere, set down some tea and coffee, then vanished. What was he, a ninja? His stealth technique was truly impressive.
“Make yourselves comfortable,” Dokgopae, the principal, gestured.
Cheon Hayeon and Han Yeoreum chose tea, while I went for coffee.
“I didn’t expect the principal himself to come all the way here,” I said, taking a sip of the warm coffee before setting it down.
“Is that so? Teaching talented children is one of my pleasures. And it just so happened that the hand technique class was open.”
Of course, that was probably only the surface reason. He must have already known that the Young Heavenly Demon would be participating in this class, so he might have come to observe. The exact truth was something only Principal Dokgopae knew.
Cheon Hayeon had been staring intently at Principal Dokgopae since earlier.
“Neither I nor Han Yeoreum are at a level worthy of your attention, Principal.”
The two of us were essentially no different from children who had just fallen into the Murim world. Since possessing the Martial Soul was a secret, no matter how I looked at it, there was no clear reason for the principal to pay us any special attention.
“The judgment is mine to make. There are also things I need to tell you about your bodies.”
“...It should be fine for the time being.”
“Hmm, so there was some method after all. If any problems arise, tell me anytime.”
“Yes.”
Principal Dokgopae nodded and shifted his gaze to Cheon Hayeon.
“Cadet Cheon Hayeon, let me see… are you settling in alright?”
“It’s alright… I apologize, Elder. It’s a bit different from the Divine Cult, but not bad.”
Cheon Hayeon, who had almost spoken casually out of habit, quickly corrected herself with an apology. It seemed that someone of Dokgopae’s stature deserved respect even from the Young Heavenly Demon of the unorthodox faction. Well, considering the hierarchy, the principal was indeed higher in standing than the current leader of the Divine Cult. At his age, it wouldn’t have been strange if he had already retired to live out his remaining years in peace.
“Hmm? Divine Cult?”
“...These two already know that I am from the Divine Cult.”
“Hehe, is that so? Then we can speak a bit more comfortably here, can’t we?”
“Yes, I will follow your words, Elder.”
“Elder? No need for that. Just call me Principal. Professor is fine too.”
“Understood, Principal.”
The current strongest under heaven and the future strongest under heaven. As a veteran gamer, I felt a strange sense of excitement. It was like watching characters from a game I loved breathing and living right before my eyes. It must be similar to a fan finally meeting their favorite idol in person after only seeing them on a screen. For a gamer, this was nothing short of blissful.
“Good. Then let’s begin the class. Since today will focus mostly on theory, you may listen comfortably. What do you three think hand techniques are?”
“Aren’t they martial arts performed with the hands?”
“Then, excluding foot techniques, does that mean everything else is a hand technique? Look here.”
Principal Dokgopae raised the edge of his hand. The shape of a sword formed above it.
A sword of pure energy materialized above his hand.
“Formless Sword…?” Cheon Hayeon muttered with wide eyes.
“If I swing this, is it swordsmanship or hand technique?” Principal Dokgopae asked calmly.
“Haven’t you already reached a realm where such distinctions are meaningless, Principal?” I asked, the question rising immediately. Ordinary martial artists couldn’t create something like that.
“That is also correct. However, fundamentally, the majority of hand techniques in the Murim world have a slight problem. The truth is, a significant number of them weren’t born as hand techniques themselves but were created with roots in weapon techniques.”
He paused mid-sentence and lightly swept his hand outward. With what looked like a casual, almost playful gesture, the distant clouds in the sky split apart. Everyone stared blankly at the unreal sight. The title of Invincible War God was by no means empty. Even Cheon Hayeon, who had seen the Heavenly Demon—the absolute being of the Divine Cult—countless times, widened her eyes in shock.
“In many cases, hand techniques themselves lack distinct characteristics. There are categories like joint-locking techniques, but aside from law enforcement, martial artists didn’t particularly favor them. The truth is, joint-locking techniques aren’t well suited for utilizing inner energy.”
Joint-locking techniques could be seen as grappling moves. Even the Blood Hand Demonic Art I had learned didn’t include any joint-locking forms in its techniques.
“Even the great sects all have some hand techniques. But they’re generally considered a transitional stage, so except for a few, hand techniques aren’t very popular. The fact that only the three of you are here proves that.”
It was almost identical to the explanation in the game. The development of weapons had also played a role. Thanks to the mana stones that came from the Gates, the technology here surpassed even modern standards. Even a mass-produced sword of no particular value would have been called a divine blade if taken back to the past.
“Aren’t fist techniques and palm techniques still mainstream?” Han Yeoreum asked the question I had been wondering about.
“A good question. In the end, everything depends on one’s mindset. The difference in mindset was the most decisive factor. Most people viewed hand techniques merely as supplementary martial arts, so they didn’t put in the effort to learn them separately. On the other hand, many people delved deeply into fist and palm techniques.”
Even I had been a fist fighter in the game. In the early stages, my reach was short and damage was low, but as time went on, I could deliver incredibly powerful blows. It was a classic late-bloomer type.
“Of course, that’s just the general atmosphere. There are also supreme martial arts that stand on their own. Shaolin’s Great Strength Vajra Hand, the Blood Hand Demonic Art, and the Small Hand Demonic Art are representative examples. The latter two have difficult conditions to learn, so they haven’t been properly passed down to the modern era….”
...Huh? Did he just mention the Blood Hand Demonic Art and the Small Hand Demonic Art?
“Isn’t that because they’re demonic arts?” I asked cautiously.
The moment the Small Hand Demonic Art was mentioned, Han Yeoreum flinched. It seemed she was thinking the same thing. This was quite important information. If the two were truly treated as demonic arts, we would have to hide them somehow.
“According to the records, they were surprisingly pure martial arts. It’s just that those who learned them often used them wrongly, which is why they were labeled as demonic arts.”
Han Yeoreum lightly grabbed the hem of my clothes. She still seemed anxious.
“It really is a shame. Too many martial arts were lost when China fell and we came to the modern era. There were great martial arts we couldn’t properly bring with us in our hasty evacuation, and great martial artists who died blocking the Gates. There were far too many.”
Principal Dokgopae spoke in a subdued voice. A shadow of sorrow crossed between his thick eyebrows.
The reason Korea was the main setting in the game was simple. It was also why the Jungwon Martial Arts Academy had been established here. Because China had been destroyed. As a result, everyone had hurriedly poured into Korea—the closest, culturally similar, and most advanced developed country. That was the setting.
Thanks to that, countless sects that originally existed in China had taken refuge in Korea. The Korean government had supported the migration so actively that they even sent the military, turning this small land into a chaotic gathering of every major sect imaginable. Just look at the Tang Clan in Sacheon, Gyeongsangnam-do. With massive government support, the entire Tang Clan had migrated, and Sacheon had grown into a major city with a population of over a million. The Chinese Sichuan and the Korean Sacheon have completely different Hanja, but well, that’s just how the setting was. What could you do?
“Principal, I have something to tell you.” After finishing my thoughts, I opened my mouth.
I had been conflicted. Whether to keep the Martial Soul a complete secret or reveal it to some extent.
“Go ahead and speak.”
But no matter how much I thought about it, there was only one answer. If the Blood Hand Demonic Art wasn’t treated as an evil martial art in this Murim world, there was no reason to hide it excessively. Given the unique characteristics of the technique, someone like Dokgopae might be able to recognize it anyway. In that case, I’d have to pretend I hadn’t learned any martial arts at all, which could delay my growth.
“Han Yeoreum and I have learned the Blood Hand Demonic Art and the Small Hand Demonic Art respectively. I cannot tell you where we learned these lost martial arts, however.”
In that case, it would be better to lay all my cards on the table from the start. I raised my hand and drew forth the energy of the Blood Hand Demonic Art. A red aura flickered along the edge of my hand.
Principal Dokgopae, who had been staring fixedly at my hand, gradually widened his eyes.
“Kim Mugong?”
Han Yeoreum was startled by my sudden action.
“Show him.”
“...Okay.”
Revealing the martial arts we had learned was essentially the same as exposing our weaknesses. However, whether it was the Blood Hand Demonic Art or the Small Hand Demonic Art, they were lost arts. If we wanted advice, we would have to reveal at least some part of them anyway.
“...The Sun Physique and Moon Yin Physique, along with the Blood Hand and Small Hand. Just what are you two….”
“We have no master. We need guidance.”
I politely bowed my head. Han Yeoreum, who had been staring blankly, quickly followed suit. Just like in fighting games, reaching the pinnacle without a proper teacher was nearly impossible. Learning martial arts just by reading manuals? That might be possible for geniuses on the level of Bodhidharma or the first Heavenly Demon, but expecting that from an ordinary gamer was simply wrong. I would make full use of whatever I could.
“Raise your heads. That is something I must do anyway as your instructor. If you’ve already reached the stage of utilizing inner energy….”
Principal Dokgopae stroked his beard.
“I understand. I will need to think a bit more about the direction of future classes. For today, let’s end the lesson here.”
It had been more of an orientation anyway, but the class ended faster than expected. At Principal Dokgopae’s dismissal, we politely bowed and stood up first.
“...Blood Hand Demonic Art. The more I learn about you, the more mysterious you become.”
On the way back, Cheon Hayeon looked at me with a subtle expression. Her large, round eyes staring at me looked exactly like a puppy’s.
“Everyone has at least one secret, don’t they?”
“That’s true.”
Since Cheon Hayeon herself had two secrets she didn’t reveal to the outside world, she readily agreed.
“I’m hungry.”
Han Yeoreum, who had been sticking close and following along, whispered in my ear.
“Alright. Let’s go eat.”
“Yeah.”
“You eating too?”
At my question, Cheon Hayeon stared at the two of us intently.
“Are you two also taking the sparring class in the afternoon?”
“Sparring class is mandatory. Of course we’re taking it.”
“Then I won’t be rude.”
Cheon Hayeon moved to walk beside us. Han Yeoreum pouted her lips, but this was a strategic choice I couldn’t avoid. It was better to build as much rapport with the Young Heavenly Demon as possible.
Thump.
I gave Han Yeoreum a light, painless flick on the forehead. The way she pursed her lips was strangely cute, making it hard to resist the impulse.
“Why did you hit me…!”
Han Yeoreum immediately glared at me.
“Because you’re cute.”
“U-uh?”
“Let’s go.”
“...Okay.”
With a face as red as a tomato, Han Yeoreum grabbed the hem of my clothes. She really was just too cute. Cheon Hayeon looked at us with a strange gaze, but there was nothing I could do. Holding back on things like this only makes you sick.
That aside, the sparring class… If I was unlucky, I might end up facing Cheon Hayeon, Seomun Yerin, or Kim Yong. Of course, even excluding them, I wasn’t sure if there were any easy opponents. ...Maybe Han Yeoreum at best? But she would be difficult in a completely different way, so I’d have to pass on that. For now, I could only pray that I wouldn’t get matched against any of those four, including Han Yeoreum.