Ryu Family Trip # 5
Ryu Family Trip # 5
So we took a break like that.
Superhuman or not, going all out in the water really does tire you out. I seriously went all out, burning mana and muscle the whole time. Still, I feel like I grasped some of the subtleties of underwater combat, so I'm in a good mood.
Anyway, I crashed for a quick power nap, quietly recovered some stamina, and when I opened my eyes—
"...Hey. Ryu."
That bastard Ryu was lying in bed with earbuds in.
And he's not even doing anything. Not on his phone. Just listening to music... the nerve. I'm lying on the sofa and this guy's in bed enjoying music?
Gotta interrupt.
"Hey. Ryu."
"..."
"Ryu."
"..."
"Ohhh Mister Draaagon. Don't pretend to sleep. I can tell by your breathing pattern. Mister Draaa—"
"Silence, I said...!"
The moment I did my Brian impression, Ryu, who'd been faking sleep, shot upright.
I really gotta call Brian soon.
"Do you know how wonderful it was just moments ago! I never imagined the mere fact of your unconsciousness could be so blissful!"
"Nah, nah. Hey. That's not what matters right now."
"What other nonsense are you about to spout!"
—Fwoop!
Annoyed, Ryu chucked his earbuds. Watching him, I said, real casual:
"Calm down. Hear me out. I—yeah?—at the start of the semester, I knew absolutely nothing. But look at me now. I climbed to fifth in the year rankings. What do you think that means?"
"I have zero interest, you damned Taliban! How is it that the very instant you open your eyes, you start spewing insane bullshit!"
"Heh-heh-heh, this prick. Trying to change the subject when an inconvenient topic comes up, huh? Hey, dumbass. What it means. Isn't it that you, Ryu... are wary of my outstanding talent?"
"A broken radio would communicate better than you!"
Communicate, like a comm guy.
"Anyway, what I'm saying is, give it a little more time and catching up to you won't even be a thing. Got it? Ryu? That's how fast my growth rate is right now."
"Unbelievable. You. I'm going to speak plainly now, so listen closely."
Suddenly, Ryu crossed his arms and spoke.
What's he gonna say?
"Listen well. I grow just as fast—faster than the likes of you could ever grow. Therefore, that gap can never be closed. Understood?"
"Oh-ho, this guy's overflowing with confidence?"
"I return those words exactly... Hah. Honestly. Unless the opponent is a powerhouse on the level of Lee Si-hoo, I have no equal."
Suddenly, Si-hoo came up.
"This bastard? Lee Si-hoo is your rival, then?"
"His talent is considerable. A worthy opponent, I'd say. Taliban bastard. You seem close to Lee Si-hoo—try to gauge the gap in skill between him and yourself."
Si-hoo really is strong, no argument there.
"Hey. But what about Leona and Yu-ri?"
"That is true. However, by my estimation, Lee Si-hoo is the strongest."
"Oh. Got it. I'll be sure to tell Leona and Yu-ri all about this."
"What—!"
Panic!
"Hah, it matters not. Judging and discussing who is stronger is only natural. If there are complaints, they can voice them at the next ranking match."
Surprisingly cool about that part.
Anyway.
Well, I know full well that Si-hoo is incredibly strong. And it's true that Ryu is that strong too. Whatever the case, if I can't break through that wall, I'll never be able to stand shoulder to shoulder with my friends.
"So if you wish to spout nonsense about defeating me, at least reach the level of Lee Si-hoo first."
He really does acknowledge Si-hoo.
"..."
Ah, but every time Si-hoo comes up, I keep thinking about that bikini. That defenseless idiot. The kid's never lived as a woman, so she thinks it's fine to just show a guy her bikini.
I seriously need to talk to her about this.
If, for whatever reason, Si-hoo ever drops the male disguise but keeps the same mindset... every guy in the neighborhood is gonna fall head over heels for her, guaranteed.
Now that I know she's a girl, she actually is really pretty.
"Fine. If I want to beat you, I have to reach Si-hoo's level. Got it. In that case, let me show you a bit of my power."
"What?"
—Shoop.
I rose right up.
And then.
"Hup!"
I released mana outside my body. The image: a helmet forged of mana. A helm that wrapped around my head, made of mana.
Now, I had gear-stat boosting. Professional superhuman underarmor and combat boots. Plus superhuman gloves and the academy uniform.
The equipment itself was pretty solid, but the critical lack of head protection hurt my stability. So I visualized it: myself forming and wearing a helmet of mana.
The result.
—Tsssp.
A mana force field wraps around my head. The shape's a little half-baked still, but if I refine it properly from here, I can nail both the design and performance.
"See that, Ryu? I've self-taught myself to successfully create a Mana Helm on my head. Gotta say, this is practically Lee Si-hoo-level talent."
For a split second, Ryu's eyes flew wide open.
But as if nothing had happened, his expression reset, and he spoke in his usual arrogant tone.
"Hah...! And here I wondered what you were up to. Nothing special."
"What, jackass?"
He's still talking like that?
"This bastard Ryu... Fine, then I'll show you my training. Watch and judge."
"I shudder to think what comical display awaits. It's already staggering."
"Just watch!"
—Fwat!
I shifted my stance immediately.
"Hraaahp!"
From that stance, I draw up mana throughout my entire body and spread it precisely into every corner. This is the most fundamental—and yet all-encompassing—mana training method that superhumans use.
My proficiency: high.
At this level, I'm basically an advanced practitioner.
I very skillfully routed mana to the exact right places in my body, and I could feel every bit of that sensation distinctly. At the start of the semester it was hard, but now I can do it with total ease.
"Truly wondrous, is it not? That I, Kim Geun-cheol, starting from absolute zero, could reach this level in just one semester. I know you're feeling awed right now. I can totally tell."
Ryu grumbled something, but I ignored it and launched into the next exercise.
—Fwap!
I placed my palms on the ground for a handstand and started push-ups. Then I removed one hand, extending the feat into supporting my body with the strength of five fingers alone.
Even in that state, I spread mana not only through my fingers but through my entire body. The more difficult and strenuous the position, the more proficiency goes up. After training like that for a short bit, I launched myself upright using pure finger strength, and then—
"Hraaaaaahp!"
I grasped an imaginary sword and flowed into swordsmanship training. The swordsmanship I learned while getting beaten up by Yu-ri. You can practice even without a sword.
After completing that full set—mana, body, and swordsmanship—I looked at Ryu.
"Hah. You call that training?"
The guy, who'd been quietly watching the whole time, gave his evaluation.
"It's so pathetic I can barely stand to watch."
"Hoh, you're still saying that after seeing my training. I know you're bluffing, jackass. It's so amazing you're speechless, right?"
When I said it provocatively—
"Shut your mouth! You were talking such a big game, so I wondered what kind of incredible training you'd do...! It was just pure Taliban! Strutting around cocky after doing the absolute bare minimum! Unbelievable!"
There's the proper answer.
If I want him to critique me, I've gotta provoke him.
"Basic? Hey! Then what do you do, how do you train?!"
"Staggering! As if you'd even understand by watching? A scrub like you?"
"Scared of the comparison, so you won't show?"
"Don't talk rubbish!"
"Then show me, prick."
At that, Ryu smirked.
"Tch, fine. Then watch well. I'll show you right now what my training looks like!"
Ryu's motivation exploded. The guy naively got into stance right away. Just hype him up a tiny bit and he'll show you everything—that's Ryu for you.
"Let's see how amazing this training really is."
"Frankly, I'm delighted by this excellent opportunity. Because from this moment on, you, Taliban, will feel the true gap in talent between us and despair."
The hell?
"Once you've despaired, you won't be able to keep up your yapping. Today is the end of your insufferable nonsense!"
He's saying this crap with a totally straight face?
"Feel the difference in talent and despair!"
And then,
Ryu began his mana manipulation.
—Wooooh.
"Huhk...!"
In that moment,
Admiration burst out of my mouth.
This was absolutely no exaggeration. Genuine, pure admiration just spilled out. Maybe because he was truly serious, Ryu's aura was no joke.
The mana surging inside his body materialized and moved freely, like living clay, actively reinforcing his entire body.
"Oooh!"
My control still feels vague and blurry, but this guy is handling mana with extreme precision.
"Do you see?"
Ryu's voice stabbed into my ears as I concentrated.
Looking at his face—
"This is how mana training is done."
The bastard said it while looking supremely satisfied.
"Kgh... this prick. He really does what he says, huh? Mana materialized that concretely..."
When I gave my honest reaction, Ryu's lips practically started reaching for his ears.
"Kgh... You do have a decent eye, it seems? To recognize its magnificence. Do you understand now? That Mana Helm you showed earlier... it was nothing but a desperate, pathetic monkey show?"
"Bullshit."
I had seen something similar before, to be honest. A weapon made of mana. That was impressive too. But that was only the outcome. Right now, he was showing me the process, the high-level method in such concrete detail.
Rapidly,
While feeling Ryu's energy, I quickly absorbed everything I could learn: the movement and texture of his mana, its form, and the energy radiating from him. I analyzed it all.
I don't get many chances to observe something like this firsthand.
—Zeeeing.
Ryu eventually went as far as to summon a mana sword, and then—probably intending to smash my nose in—he even conjured a super-cool Mana Helm onto his head.
—Tsssp!
And immediately, the intense, domineering swordsmanship of the Ryu family!
"Unreal!"
S O P O W E R F U L ! ! !