“Forget Family Education—Mom Just Wanted to Torment Her Son, That's the Academic Consensus.”
Suddenly, Sung Hyun-sook tilted her head with a laugh, asking what kind of nonsense that was!
"Common sense-wise, doesn't this sight make you think so?"
No, really. Even after seeing ten moms standing in two neat rows in the middle of the arena.
Even after seeing those ten moms each gripping swords, spears, axes, crossbows, bows, and the like.
If your mental fortitude wasn't shattered to bits, you'd be a Buddha, not a human.
What bullshit? I wondered if it was bullshit myself.
But I was just describing exactly what I was seeing.
Something that looked exactly like my mom was lined up in perfect formation, staring right at me.
What kind of apocalyptic scene was this?
Had three sleepless days finally driven me insane?
"Rebecca. What exactly am I looking at right now? Is this a dream? Please tell me it's a dream."
"These are training mannequins handcrafted one by one by Messiah herself for your upcoming family education."
"So what I'm really asking is why all these training mannequins are shaped like my mom."
'Our son♡' prepared them specially in the hope that you'd take family education more seriously—Sung Hyun-sook smiles warmly!
"That answer didn't resolve a single one of my doubts..."
Hold on. So I have to fight mannequins shaped like Mom?
What the hell? It felt like I was about to become an unfilial son.
"I have a million questions I want to ask and argue about, but..."
I decided to think of it this way instead.
Instead of wasting time arguing, I'd clash with them head-on, overcome this trial as fast as possible—every minute, every second counting—and finally get some sleep.
No matter how ruthless my mom was, she'd let me sleep once the first stage was done, right?
"If I have to do it anyway, let's just get started quick."
A fine attitude—Sung Hyun-sook is pleased!
Rebecca, equally satisfied with my response, nodded.
"The title of the first stage curriculum is Eye Opening."
"...Eye Opening?"
Open eyes—that's what it literally meant.
And the first skill that popped into my head upon hearing it was obvious.
"It's different from Throw Eye. Though the name is similar."
"I was just thinking of Throw Eye—you read my mind."
"An eye that pierces the enemy's essence, right? Impressive skill. Can't deny that."
But you might end up the one pierced—Sung Hyun-sook clicks her tongue!
I thought that was just Mom making a lame joke, but Rebecca's solemn expression suggested it hit a core truth.
"Messiah is spot on. Yes. Suppose you use Throw Eye to spot the enemy's weakness and seal one of their skills or traits."
"But what if..."
Rebecca trailed off, her gaze turning icy cold and razor-sharp.
"...you face an overwhelmingly strong enemy who shrugs off such penalties like nothing?"
"......"
"An adversary who could crush young Hwang Jae-min even after you expose a weakness and seal a skill or trait."
My mind went blank, words failing me.
Because that scenario was inevitable someday.
"Would you rely on Throw Eye even then, young Hwang Jae-min?"
"...I'd probably end up pierced like Mom said. Literally."
Truth be told, Throw Eye had been a huge help so far.
Which was exactly why I couldn't grow complacent.
The moment Throw Eye became meaningless...
That's when Mom's message appeared before my eyes.
Close your eyes for a moment and open all your other senses wide—Sung Hyun-sook suggests!
"Do as Messiah says and try it."
"Uh, okay..."
Fine, I'd give it a shot.
I stood in a basic stance, closed my eyes, calmed my mind, and focused my spirit...
......
'Loving physical strike' inflicted on the agent!
Thwack!—!
"Guh?!"
Mom's backhand smack made my eyes fly open as some bizarre alien noise burst from my mouth.
Did I just black out? I had no memory of the last ten seconds or so.
I told you to close your eyes, not pass out like an idiot—Sung Hyun-sook fumes!
"If there was a deduction system, that would've been a 50-point penalty, young Hwang Jae-min."
"No, you gotta hear my side too...?"
A guy who hadn't closed his eyes for three straight days tries to meditate? Of course sleep hits first.
The backhand woke me up, sure, but it was still unfair.
"Ugh."
Still, if this was the path to getting stronger, I'd shut up and bear it. What choice did I have?
I etched the character for endurance (忍) in my mind three times, then closed my eyes again.
I chased away the drowsiness creeping in as expected.
In the pitch-black darkness, I slowly sharpened my senses.
"......"
The scent of wind tickling my nose.
The sound of wind brushing my ears.
The wind seeping into my skin.
...Wind?
Something's off.
There were plenty of things around me.
Like the coliseum itself.
Or the ten mannequins modeled after Mom.
Or Rebecca.
Or even myself.
Each had its own distinct smell. Obviously—they had form.
Sounds too. I could hear Rebecca's unconscious breaths or the rustle of her clothes if I tried.
My developed stats made it possible.
But why...?
Out of all those things with form,
Why was the formless wind assaulting my senses most vividly?
It wasn't that I couldn't smell or hear the others.
Just that the wind was overwhelmingly intense, drowning everything else out.
Maybe I could even grab it with my hand? It felt that tangible, that alien.
I hadn't noticed at all until I focused.
Sharpening my senses more keenly than in battle made it clear.
The wind in this sanctuary was extraordinarily special.
Amazed by the indescribable mystery, I opened my eyes and asked,
"The wind here... it's different, huh?"
Constellation Sung Hyun-sook is satisfied with 'Our son♡''s response!
Rebecca opened her mouth as if she'd been waiting, confirming I'd asked the right question.
"To be precise, it's the atmosphere—the air itself—that's different. Which means the wind, as airflow, has to be too."
"So 'different air' means the elements making up this sanctuary world are completely unlike Earth's?"
Isn't 'Our son♡' too smart?—Sung Hyun-sook is surprised!
What's with the surprise? You're hurting your son's feelings.
"Exactly. The sanctuary is where all constellations across spacetime reside. Of course the air is different."
"...Suddenly I'm worried if a mere human like me belongs in a world with air like that."
"Normally, no. A non-constellation stepping into the sanctuary would crumble like a sandcastle in no time."
But 'Our son♡' and I receive absolute system protection thanks to our absurdly high affinity, so we're fine—Sung Hyun-sook adds!
Affinity buff again? Talk about everything working out perfectly.
As I thought that, Rebecca lowered her already soft voice even more gravely.
"Think about it."
"Training your mind and body to the limit in a world whose very essence is different could unlock new senses. It's not impossible."
"New senses..."
"Have faith and press on. You have ample time and opportunity, young Hwang Jae-min. You can tread this sanctuary soil—denied to all other mortals—forever."
"......"
About 500 million awakened on Earth, right?
Then this was a privilege only one in 500 million could claim.
And I was that one.
My fist clenched tight, my heart pounding fiercely against my chest.
Sleepiness vanished, my mind sharpening crystal clear as a bonus.
I turned to Rebecca with confident resolve.
"I'm ready. Let's start."
"Understood."
No sooner had I finished than Rebecca darted toward me.
She rummaged in her bosom, pulled out two sandbags, crouched gracefully—
Click.
—and tied one to each ankle.
"Sandbags for what...?"
"Now, spar with those mannequins."
"......"
I knew what ankle weights were for. Classic training from wuxia novels and shonen manga.
And these weren't normal sand—felt heavier than iron.
Just walking would have sweat pouring.
Yeah, this Spartan level is what's needed to awaken new senses.
Good.
But...
"Where's my training weapon?"
Why tie the weights and then step back?
Did she forget something?
I shot her a subtle look, and she replied,
"Weapon? There are none."
"......"
"The goal of this sparring isn't counterattack or parry—it's dodging. From now on, evade the mannequins' attacks for the allotted time."
That wasn't sparring—that was turning me into a walking sandbag!
...I wanted to protest, but I tested one foot lightly first.
Sure enough, it felt like hidden arthritis had kicked in.
"Bare-handed, no weapons, just my body dodging attacks in this state?"
"Yes."
"And not just one mannequin—but all ten at once?"
"Precisely."
My resolve from ten minutes ago—no complaining, just do it and finish—was already wobbling.
...I knew what this hell was for.
I recalled my conversation with Rebecca three days ago.
—What I just did? You can do it too, young Hwang Jae-min, if you follow the curriculum faithfully.
—What you did was...?
—Predict the opponent's attack a few seconds ahead.
As I replayed it, Rebecca's dry voice reached my ears.
"Even against foes Throw Eye can't beat."
"......"
"Dodging attacks doesn't guarantee victory, but it skyrockets your survival odds."
Solid logic.
Avoiding was the surest survival over blocking.
"The sanctuary's wind will show you the path through battle. Follow it."
"...It appears just because I want to see it?"
"You've breathed plenty of this sanctuary wind these past three days, haven't you?"
"Ah."
True.
When sleep nearly overtook me, I'd go outside for walks or runs to clear my head with the wind.
"Unbeknownst to you, your body has adapted to this environment to some degree."
"So the no-sleep policy was..."
The more you push to extremes, the faster adaptation happens—obvious, right?—Sung Hyun-sook adds!
You could've at least explained beforehand.
For 72 hours, self-loathing wouldn't stop because I didn't know why.
I slumped my shoulders in injustice, and Rebecca said,
"Your mind is sharper than ever. Plus, you've felt the wind's nature firsthand, so now's the optimal state for Eye Opening."
Eye Opening...
I was curious.
Seeing an opponent's attacks ahead?
Was that even possible?
***
A moment later.
Thud.—
I dragged my leaden feet to the arena's center.
Silence hung heavy as I glared at the ten moms—no, damn it. Felt so weird.
The ten mannequins glared back.
That 'path the wind shows' won't appear right away.
I had zero precog now, but this much I could predict for sure.
Won't see it till I've been beaten and rolled till I puke all night...
Damn, darkness loomed already, but I steeled myself viciously.
I couldn't squander this golden opportunity, even if it meant puking all night.
As I reaffirmed my resolve—
"Begin!"
Whoosh!—!
At Rebecca's signal, three mannequins gripping spears, swords, and axes charged simultaneously.
"From the start...!"
Three at once? Overkill much?
And these mannequins had S-rank player-level mobility.
Swoosh!—!
In a blink, their assaults closed in from point-blank.
It was a given—I'd be skewered like a kebab if I stayed put!
The wind's path my ass...!
All I saw was a massive death (死) kanji.
And their mom-like faces amped my terror too.
This is why they designed the mannequins like...!
I saw no 'path,' but I wasn't about to stand there like an idiot and take it.
Step!
To create some distance, I stepped back.
Ascendant's Flight would waste too much time unfolding wings and ascending.
Simple move, but these ankle weights feel like they're ripping my calves.
As I grimaced mid-air—
Rustle!—!
The three charging straight split to both sides.
Through their dispersal, I spotted the bow-wielding mannequin loosing an arrow.
"...What?"
Wait, so the first three were a feint to hide the archer?
But by the time I processed it—
Twang!—!
The arrow was already inches away!
Shit...!
Feet not yet grounded—no path correction possible.
But twisting my torso to snatch it barehanded? Maybe.
I did just that.
Grab!—!
Lightning-fast, I snatched the arrow right before my face.
Whew, 0.5 seconds later and it'd be a headshot—
Whoosh.—
Then it happened.
The arrow in my grip turned to smoke-like gas and scattered.
"What the...?!"
As confusion hit from my empty palm—
Rustle!—!
The three that split were scattering the same way again, and
Twang!—!
The archer fired another identical shot!
Crunch!—!
Too stunned to dodge, the arrow nailed my forehead.
"Ow!"
But the pain was barely more than a hard flick.
Thanks to the sanctuary system—no death from any attack.
The forehead arrow pixelated away.
"......"
But that wasn't the issue now.
...What just happened?
I thought I grabbed the arrow, but it was an illusion.
About two seconds later, the real one hit.
As if I'd glimpsed two seconds into the future first...
"......"
...No way?
...Too easy?
High Sense
High Sense proficiency adjusted to 1.
Yeah, exactly.
System text appeared in the air, as if agreeing.