Training in the Snowy Highlands
“Hoo.”
Sighing at Maru’s restless energy, Wolhyang’s left eye opened a fraction. “You’re still struggling to focus.”
“It’s… hard…”
“Try a little harder, will you?”
As the late King Leyman of the Western Kingdom had pointed out, Maru lacked the very qualities of caution and patience when it came to others. Thanks to the ambush incident in Seo-Wangdo, she had grown slightly more careful, but her innate disposition was not so easily tamed. Thankfully, Wolhyang had recognized this weakness well enough to embark on training designed to cultivate Maru’s patience and composure. At an age when curiosity burned bright and personality ran wild, such disciplined practice was no real chore for Maru.
“Hee hee.”
Maru, tugging at her twin braids with a sulky expression under Wolhyang’s sternness, looked every inch like a puppy with its ears drooping. Wolhyang covered her mouth and chuckled softly, “quck quck.”
With a gentle wave of her hand, Maru floated across the air and settled lightly onto Wolhyang’s lap. The woman, whose ice ability was among the most formidable in the Seven Pillars, stroked Maru’s head and back with infinite tenderness. The girl’s mood lightened instantly; she broke into a bright smile and accepted every touch as if nothing had ever happened. Watching her, Wolhyang smiled once more.
“Then after training, shall we head to the market together, Maru?”
Wolhyang’s social circle was extremely narrow. Not only did she lack the natural sociability for easy conversation with anyone, but most people approached her either to exploit her Seven Pillars status or to melt under her breathtaking beauty. Maru, however, simply accepted her as she was, and in that innocence Wolhyang found her utterly adorable.
“Yahoo!”
Nodding, Wolhyang let Maru cheer with arms flung wide.
* * *
It had been a full month since I passed out during the spar with Ran. Since then I had continued training without pause. With Daiganji I refined my body through the goblins’ unique physical methods; with Ran I learned every nuance of using that same strength. Concentrating power in one spot, distributing and exploding it efficiently across situations, heightening senses to read an enemy’s presence—training with Ran had been genuinely helpful. Yet the difference from before was stark. Where once I had simply received his blows, now he moved actively. Each day without fail left me battered, my bones aching as though they might shatter. I finally understood why Jubern had suddenly looked years older after sparring with Ran.
A few days earlier, when I contacted Teraden, he had mentioned that the time I was unconscious would push us past five days. Still, I hadn’t collapsed again afterward, so perhaps I could use that as comfort. Time flew, and the final day in Gaya arrived.
“Today is the last day, then. Are you prepared?”
The once-steep slopes around us had been carved down over nearly a month of sparring until even a flat field would be a stretch to imagine. Ran sat on a lone tree stump, rose, and stretched his back. Another day began. The gentlest face in the world had become the harshest. The saying about not spitting on a smiling face was nonsense. After daily punishment, even seeing his smile made my stomach turn with loathing.
Slowly I lowered my stance and nodded. Ran vanished from the spot, leaving only a faint afterimage.
“Kyah!”
From behind he struck, his arm slicing the air with merciless force. “Kk…” I had been unconscious when we began, so the nature of our matches had changed entirely. Before, I had passively taken his attacks while I pressed forward. Now the positions had reversed completely. Ran held back just enough to let me dodge, yet he still poured on offense after offense.
“Your wasted power has decreased noticeably.”
Compared to when I first arrived in Gaya, my physical ability had reached levels I could scarcely believe, but Ran’s intensity had risen with it, making the difficulty almost identical. The higher the pressure, the more often Ran’s lips curved into a smile. “As days pass your movements grow sharper. Could it be because you’re a descendant of Arirang? Or perhaps your own talent is simply exceptional? Maybe both are true.”
Even at this highland that remained cold year-round, sweat soaked me to the bone. “Tomorrow we leave this place, so we’ll end today.”
After more than a full tick of sparring time—less than half the usual duration—Ran finally lowered his stance. “Shall we check the final task, then?”
The word “task” brought back the memory of earlier. “To reach a level of physical strength capable of completely blocking my single blow. That is the task set here in Gaya.” Whether the time spent in Gaya had been meaningful would be decided by this one strike.
“I understand.”
“This time I will show you a little, or rather very little, of my true intention.”
“Kyah—!”
“Kk, kuh…”
A chilly aura spread around Ran. The pressure expanded moment by moment, devouring the surroundings. He had not used an ability; he had merely released a gentle wave of energy. Yet simply receiving it sent chills racing across my skin. Facing his lowered eyes drained strength from my limbs. If I blinked even once, I sensed I would lose consciousness. The sensation of his gaze carving every inch of my body was like a knife.
“I’m… ready.”
After a few deep breaths, I opened my eyes. Ran stood exactly as before, waiting for me to finish preparing with serene composure. “A fine gaze you have.”
“Flash!”
I strained my eyes to the limit, but before I could blink Ran had closed the distance to point-blank and sliced me down.
* * *
“Ran, you can reach the Imperial Capital in no time, right? Why not stay a bit longer and travel with your teacher?”
Crow’s Duck’s words carried a wealth of regret, but Teraden shuddered. The younger man, desperate to escape this place, swallowed the suggestion whole. ‘How can a few words twist a person’s insides like this?’ “Hah, do you have nothing to say to your senior, young man?” ‘Hey, my disciple Blanser is Ran, and I’m just “you” to him.’ The temperature gap made applause seem natural. Crow’s Duck’s demand had Teraden twisting his face in disbelief. ‘All month I’ve been rolling like a ball and taking hits—when does he ever want something? Does this uncle even have a conscience… well, I did learn a lot.’ Teraden’s expression brightened instantly. He stepped back and lowered his stance slowly. Crow’s Duck, thinking he might be about to bow, swelled with expectation. But his wish shattered. “What the hell!” “…” He hadn’t even wanted a bow. But a sincere greeting at least. What the—? Crow’s Duck’s gentle smile vanished in an instant, replaced by a grim, hellish scowl. If there were such a place as the underworld, Crow’s Duck would surely be its yama or sūrai. “You—!” “Udd.” “Uduud.” Crow’s Duck’s fist twisted with a sound like a branch snapping. “W-wait… gah!” Teraden fled without looking back. Even if I had chased him down, struck him, or dragged him back—Crow’s Duck merely laughed and relaxed his clenched fist. “Ran. Seeing you again will be a long way off. Tell him: if you show any shameful behavior at the Welcome Night, I’ll come myself to the National Academy and drag you out.” “Hah! Understood! Teacher! I’ll head out too!” “Be careful.” “Big brother! Come with us!” Crow’s Duck stared blankly as Teraden and Blanser vanished far down the path, then let out an awkward chuckle. “Heh heh. That guy’s a real pain in the ass.” Yet for more than a month they had grown quite close. “Your Highness.” As Teraden and Blanser left, the oldest member of the Arirang clan approached Crow’s Duck. “Yes, old man. Speak.” The old man’s worried face drew Crow’s Duck’s respectful bow. After the recent royal council, Crow’s Duck had taken responsibility for protecting the Arirang clan and treated them with utmost care. Even when he acted with perfect confidence before anyone else, before this clan he was beyond deferential. “I am overwhelmed that you are looking after the child, but I have heard that a battle called the Welcome Night is approaching. I worry whether those children will overcome such a fierce fight.” “Old man, I was merely providing a milestone for the child’s path forward. Which road they walk and how they clear it is entirely their own affair. Though I said I would fetch them if they fell, I do not believe they will lose. You may rest easy.” Only after receiving Crow’s Duck’s certainty did the old man finally let the shadow of worry lift from his face.
* * *
“Hng…!”
A chilling sound like flesh being severed echoed. Debris scattered wildly around. ‘Did you… block it?’ Ran’s strike had tested not only physical strength but the limits of mental fortitude. Could he endure an attack powerful enough to break his own defense, and then survive it through sheer willpower? I had nearly perfected my block against Ran. ‘Instinctively you twisted your body to absorb the shock. Even though it wasn’t full power, you still exerted quite a bit. This… doesn’t seem to be the realm of simple talent.’ “Ugh…!”
I blocked Ran’s blow and felt my bones creaking as though they might shatter, blood rising to my tongue. Yet despite the pain I swallowed it. My knees never touched the ground. The sight left Ran stunned. “Impressive, Haru. You didn’t merely endure my blow—you perfectly blocked it. No problems at all.” Ran turned, satisfied. “Hah.”
Receiving Ran’s recognition, I finally smiled and collapsed onto the ground.