School Life is Fucking Spectacular # 9
School Life is Fucking Spectacular # 9
"Says his name is Ken. We talked for the first time today, too. Soon as I got here, he stuck me with this weird nickname, Scream Man."
"Scream Man... pfft!"
You laughing?
"Heh, hahaha!"
Si-hoo cracked up and lost it all over again at the Scream Man bit.
"Hey, you laughing? Don't laugh at a guy's nickname...! You do know the saying, right? The stone you toss without a thought kills the frog!"
"Ah! Sorry, sorry! I wasn't trying to laugh! It's just, suddenly hearing Scream Man! Hahah!"
—Frantically waving.
Like he genuinely meant the apology, Lee Si-hoo was waving both hands furiously. His face was turning red, too. I mean, I wasn't expecting an apology this intense. The guy seems to have a bit of a dramatic streak.
"Anyway, whatever. Ken? This is Si-hoo. You know him?"
"Of course I know him. He's that monster who fought the top-ranked Ryu Cheon-hwi to a standstill."
"A monster, huh."
At the word "monster," Lee Si-hoo's expression vanished for a second, but then came back with a smile. This Ken bastard might really get himself in trouble if he keeps slapping nicknames on people.
"Good to meet you, Lee Si-hoo. My name's Ken. I saw your match with Ryu Cheon-hwi. You were very strong."
"Haha... strong, he says. No way. I only fought evenly with Cheon-hwi because he went easy on me. Nothing about that was strong."
"Hmm, modest. Ryu Cheon-hwi doesn't seem like the type to go easy on anyone, though."
Saying that, Ken folded his arms and let his eyes drift closed like he was mulling something over.
"Hey. You've only known him for a bit, right? How would you know his personality?"
"How would I know? By doing my research beforehand, that's how. The classmates here will be my comrades—we'll train together, live together, become heroes together. Getting to know them well in advance is a clear future asset. Obviously. So isn't research just basic?"
"Ohh... is that how it is?"
Seems like the guy's got his shit together way more than I thought. Planning for the future already. That's gravitas you wouldn't expect from a high school first-year. I was wondering what was up when he suddenly called me Scream Man, but seems like he's a decent guy.
"Which is why I'm telling you this. Be careful. It won't be good for you if you get on Ryu Cheon-hwi's bad side. The guy's infamously foul-tempered."
"Hehehe, don't worry. What's there to be scared of."
If anything happens, I can just go straight to the Chairwoman.
"Brimming with confidence. Well then."
With that, Ken headed back to his seat. About time for the students to start filing in. But Ryu Cheon-hwi still isn't here.
"By the way, if his name's Ken, is he from Japan?"
"Gotta be, right? The name is Japanese no matter how you look at it. Coming all the way from Japan to Korea, though. Must've been tough."
Tough?
"What's tough about it?"
"Huh?"
"Just. Why."
Lee Si-hoo's face looked like someone who'd just had their common sense questioned. Wait, is the world actually in a state where coming from Japan to Korea is kind of hard?
"You don't know?"
"Hey. Don't react like that, just tell me, man. I'm curious. What is it?"
"Ah, no. I wasn't trying to hide it. I just thought it was common sense. Japan, well, it's ruled by the Neo Daimyo, right? So I heard they strictly prevent Awakened individuals from leaving the country."
"Neo, what?"
Did he just say Neo Daimyo?
"What's a Neo Daimyo?"
I've literally never heard this shit before in my life. Daimyo? Isn't that a medieval Japanese ruling class? I'm pretty sure they called the big landowners who commanded the samurai daimyo.
"Ah, well."
Just as Si-hoo was about to explain.
—Slide.
The door opened and Instructor Lee So-ra walked in.
"Good morning. Everyone take your seats."
"Ah, Geun-cheol. Let's talk in a bit."
"Yeah. Get to your seat."
I can just look it up on my phone anyway.
—Smooth.
I immediately pulled out my phone to search.
"Kim Geun-cheol. Do you whip out your phone the moment you see your instructor's face? Morning assembly is starting. Put it away."
"Ah, c'mon, Instructor. It's not that. Something suddenly came to mind and I was just looking it up real quick."
"Do it later."
"Yes, ma'am."
She's seriously got eyes like a hawk.
Am I the only one she sees?
"Now then, let's begin morning assembly. Hmm... just one absentee?"
The seat behind me was empty. Ryu Cheon-hwi was the only one who hadn't shown. Did this asshole catch wind that I might report him and not show up? But reporting him and being absent have nothing to do with each other. Well, whatever, I'm still going to lodge a complaint. Drawing a sword in the classroom—I will absolutely not tolerate that.
"There's nothing in particular to announce, and as it happens, first period is my class, so let's just start the lesson now."
You've got to be kidding me!!!
"Whaaaaaaa!"
"Aaaah, Instructor."
"Ah."
The students groaned, but this iron-blooded instructor was about to start class like nothing was wrong.
"Quiet. We need to move to an outdoor location for this lesson."
Outdoor lesson?
Can't hold back the curiosity.
Just gonna ask.
"Outdoor lesson, you say? Instructor. What are we doing today?"
"Today we'll be conducting a body enhancement class using mana. You could call it the most fundamental training that turns an Awakened into a superhuman."
"Ohhh!"
I absolutely, unconditionally must do this!
A class that directly uses mana to physically enhance the body! If I just follow along well in classes like this, will I be able to become a superhuman?!
"You've got a face full of motivation. Alright, everyone. Let's move."
"Okay, everyone stand up. And please follow me in an orderly fashion."
Leona, who'd stood up all naturally, took it upon herself to lead the students. For someone taking charge, she sure plunked herself right next to the instructor, though. Does that even count as leading?
Anyway, I stood up.
"Geun-cheol. Let's go together."
"Sure thing."
Lee Si-hoo stuck to my side.
"Hey, Si-hoo. So what the hell is a Neo Daimyo?"
"That's what you were about to search just now, wasn't it?"
"The instructor blocked me. This is an act of tyranny infringing upon my right to know."
"Right to know, tyranny... heh! Hahaha!"
Why is this guy's laugh so cheap?
"No, seriously, Si-hoo, man, why do you laugh so easily? You gonna grow up and be one of those professional laugh-track audience guys you see on TV?"
"Kuh, kuh-heh... what is a laugh-track audience even. I think the way you talk is just too funny, Geun-cheol."
"The hell you mean funny. If I was really funny I'd have been a comedian. Anyway, guarantee my right to know here. What's the Neo Daimyo?"
"The Neo Daimyo are a group of high-level Awakened who rule Japan."
"Ohh?"
The Seven Neo Daimyo.
They were also first-generation Awakened and war heroes who saved Japan during the Dimension War, but some incident drove a wedge between them, and now they've split Japan into seven territories and rule them separately. Compared to Korea, which is dominated by the autocratic Sovereign Commander, Japan's a way more oppressive medieval feudal society, apparently.
And that "incident"? Supposedly, they fought over who would become the Emperor. It was so bizarre and astral that I couldn't even comprehend it. So, basically, the seven Neo Daimyo all wanted to be Emperor and fought each other over it, and ended up carving Japan into seven pieces.
"This is practically like some yakuza bastards grabbed power, huh?"
"The culture's pretty much exactly that, they say."
Seems like this Ken guy had it pretty rough.
* * *
"Utilizing mana is the most basic of the basics. If an Awakened cannot use the mana they possess, they're no different from an ordinary person. To become a superhuman hero, you must be able to freely control mana."
With utter seriousness.
I was focusing hard, listening intently to Instructor Lee So-ra.
Her class!
I'll make every bit of it my flesh and bone!
First of all, one thing was certain: I possessed mana. If I learned the technique, I should be able to become a superhuman too. No kidding, how could I not concentrate when I was genuinely about to become one?
—Sparkle, sparkle!
As I was practically radiating a bright-eyed stare at the instructor.
"..."
We locked eyes for a moment. Of course, the instructor just made a little "hm" sound and turned her gaze away. And then she started explaining again. Did you feel it? My passion? That's the kind of student I am.
"Anyway. What you'll be learning today is a method for using mana to physically enhance yourselves and produce superhuman strength. I'll give you a demonstration. Like this. Concentrate mana into your feet, and take one step."
—Leap!
In an instant, the instructor's body soared into the air!
"Wow!"
With a single step, she'd lightly jumped nearly ten meters high! And she even did it with her hands in her pockets, showing off that swagger!
"Ooooooh!"
"As expected of the Instructor!"
"To jump that lightly!"
Cheers erupted. I guess they're still students after all? Watching the superhuman cadets express admiration means that jumping that high is a sign of a pretty serious level of skill.
—Pat.
The instructor, having soared upward, landed gently. The landing felt so soft it was almost as if gravity had been slightly weakened.
"If you utilize mana, you can produce superhuman power like that. Whether it's jumping high, moving at high speed, or applying force to the hand that grips a sword—all of it is possible. Likewise, you can also enhance your body's defensive capabilities."
The more explanation I hear, the more I can't wait for this class...! I want to try mimicking that right this second!
"Alright, then... let's start the class. Today, I'm going to teach you the dash."
Dash?
"The principle is the same as what I just showed you. Once you assume a forward-leaning stance like this, breathe mana into your feet and kick off the ground."
—Fwoosh!
"Ooooooh?!"
In a single step.
This time, in a single step, she instantly covered ten meters...! It was a dash in the truest sense of the word! If you can move like that, even monsters would have a hard time reacting!
—Fwoosh!
The instructor dashed right back to us.
"Maneuvering with high speed and agility is a fundamental of being a superhuman. The dash is an extremely important technique, so make sure you master it."
I will absolutely master it.
"Ohh..."
"Looking forward to this."
"Movement like that..."
The other students were also buzzing with anticipation, chattering amongst themselves.
"Today, I'm planning to look over each individual's form, but before that."
What, is there something else?
"Kim Geun-cheol? Come on up."
The instructor called my name as nonchalant as could be!
"What? Huh?! Why me, all of a sudden!"
Where is this bolt from the blue coming from!
"Come on up, Kim Geun-cheol. Everyone, watch your friend and get a good grasp of it."
"No, why not call up one of the skilled kids, why suddenly me..."
Am I the demonstration dummy?
"If you can't do it, that makes a perfect teaching aid, doesn't it?"
"Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine I'd become a human teaching aid. Seriously."
I'm basically the neighborhood patsy. A total pushover.
As I trudged toward the instructor, I could hear laughter from behind. Scream Man, Scream Man—that sort of talk was floating around. Somehow I'm getting the vibe that I've turned into some kind of goddamn comic relief character, but let me tell you, I'm a guy who's worlds apart from comic relief. I'm the serious and cool man, Kim Geun-cheol, right here.
"Quit the yapping. Just get over here and get into position."
"Yes. You mean the forward-leaning stance, right?"
—Stance.
I immediately stepped forward with my left foot and bent my knee slightly, assuming the forward-leaning stance. Thanks to my Taekwondo background, I can pull off a stance like this perfectly.
"Instructor? I've assumed it. This incredibly high-difficulty forward-leaning stance, that is."
"Why are you talking like you're emphasizing something? Stop the chatter and try shifting your mana—like you're concentrating force into your left foot."
"Uh, Instructor? I still don't know how to use mana."
"You'll all be able to use it through training. Everyone hear that? Every single one of you, initially, will be like this Kim Geun-cheol right here, unable to use mana properly. But by undergoing training, you will all become capable. So work hard."
—Yes!
The students answered.
"So Instructor, that's what I mean. If I don't know it right now, how do I..."
"Wait."
—Place.
And then.
The instructor placed her hand on my solid thigh.
"Kuh-haa...!"
"What?"
"It, it tickles! Get off!"
I get really freaking ticklish when someone touches my thighs!
"What, what kind of kid is this... it's ticklish, but bear with it."
"Yes...!"
"Hoo. This is a cadet who takes a lot of hands-on attention. Anyway. Right now, I can sense mana inside Kim Geun-cheol's body. It's small and maintaining a stagnant state. A textbook beginner's condition."
"But my heart isn't in a stagnant state!"
"Quiet!"
"Yes!"
My thighs are ticklish and I can't focus!
"To continue, it's natural that a beginner, like Kim Geun-cheol, struggles to move their mana at first. In many cases, they don't even know the sensation. So I'll help with that a bit. I'm going to inject a small amount of mana, so brace yourself."
"Huh?"
—Tingle!
A sudden prickling sensation, though not at all unpleasant, faintly pierced its way into my thigh.
"Huh? What's this sensation?"
"That's the sensation of mana passing through. Try to recall that sensation and slowly shift the mana in your body toward your thigh."
That sensation.
"That sensatioooooon!!!"
—Slide!
The moment I shouted my fighting spirit and concentrated, I felt some sort of lucid energy smoothly flow down into my leg!
"Ohh! Something's coming! I'm feeling something! I can feel it! My thigh! The power in my leg!!!"
Excitement erupting!
Something, mana, is tingl—
"My leg's crampingggggggahhhhh!!!!!!!"
I suddenly strained so hard it seized up, aaaaaahhhhh!!!!!