Swordsmanship Training # 3
Swordsmanship Training # 3
I finished my meal and headed back to the classroom. There was a little time left before the bell, and soon we'd head to the training hall for sparring class.
This was my first time sparring with classmates, so I was excited.
"Si-hoo. Don't go easy on me or anything just because we know each other. That's an insult to a warrior."
"You sound like a warrior. Geun-cheol, you don't have enough experience to be one."
"Ha. So you're saying you have plenty?"
"Well... I mean, you can tell by looking at my skills. Honestly, I have a little."
"A veteran!"
It was true.
"I received training, or rather, discipline, from a young age. That was around when I awakened too."
"So you're a purebred superhuman?"
"Purebred? Then what's a true bone?"
"Someone born superhuman."
"I've never heard of a case like that... well, anyway. During sparring, you'll get a clear sense of your own skill."
"Heh heh, I'm looking forward to it."
How "strong" exactly was I? I was dying to find out. Well, that was a joke, obviously. I'd never even picked up a sword, so there was no way I could fight well. Most of the kids here had been training since childhood.
I was no match for them.
But that was just for now.
From here on out, I'd raise my stats, learn how to swing a sword, get the hang of it—wasn't that enough? We hadn't even finished the first semester of our first year. Right now was the time to learn about myself and build a foundation. Nobody starts out perfect. I was going to grow from today onward.
"Kim Geun-cheol? Did you eat well?"
Leona approached while I was talking to Si-hoo.
"Yeah. I ate well, thanks to Ryu Cheon-hwi."
"Wait, shouldn't you be thanking me for that?"
Leona frowned.
Of course, I'd decided not to use Leona's meal tickets.
"I told you, I'm not using the tickets you gave me. Hurry up and take them back."
"Ugh! Now you're making me want to force you to use them no matter what. I should just bombard you with snacks like a night raid."
What was she saying!
"No! Please forgive me! I mean, the Fire Tribe stuff was delicious, but if you keep doing this I feel terrible! Do you have some kind of disease where you can't help but feed me whenever you see me!"
"Hmph, I'm just pitying poor Kim Geun-cheol. How could I walk past a starving child and do nothing? That is the noblesse oblige spirit of the Kainus Family."
So freaking noble!
"Don't suddenly radiate that blinding radiance...!"
"Witness my radiance until you go blind, Kim Geun-cheol!"
I really might go blind!
Anyway.
"Well, let's put that aside. Anyway, Leona. Thanks for the Fire Tribe meal last time. I fucking devoured it. But I feel bad just receiving stuff. So if there's anything I can help with, say the word."
That was what I'd wanted to say.
Leona kept treating me like a pitiful charity case, like some mom fussing over me. It was a little much, but I was genuinely grateful. Down to my bones.
"Something you can help with? Hmm."
Leona tapped her lips with a finger, thinking. Speaking of which, her lips were really red. At a glance she looked like a demure young lady, but she was so damn boisterous.
"Well, in that case, Kim Geun-cheol? Make some time this weekend."
"This weekend?"
"Yes. You'll accompany me in my noblesse oblige-ish hobby."
"What the hell kind of hobby is that!"
A noblesse oblige-ish hobby!
The only things I could imagine were horseback riding or golf!
"You'll find out when we go. Then, see you this weekend."
"Uh, sure."
Whatever it was, it probably wouldn't be too hard.
"Geun-cheol? This weekend?"
Si-hoo looked at me and spoke.
"Hm? What?"
"Weren't we supposed to go out on the weekend?"
"We will. And I'll see Leona too. The weekend has two days, right."
One day for Leona.
"Hmm."
"I owe her a lot. I don't know what it is, but I need to help."
"Okay. Well, that figures. Then should we meet on Saturday?"
"Let's do that."
Just then, the bell rang, and soon Instructor Lee So-ra entered.
"All right, this period is sparring. Everyone follow me."
"Yes, ma'am."
* * *
"Oh."
The training hall was sleek and futuristic. It was spacious and white. There were three rings. And various kiosk-like devices placed around.
—Beep.
Instructor Lee So-ra operated the device, and the floor split open cleanly, a rack rising from below with organized protective gear and weapons.
"Now, each of you pick a weapon and protective gear to your taste. There are no particular restrictions, so feel free to choose three-sword style, twin spears, three spears—even Four-Sword Style."
"Four-Sword Style!"
How would you even do that!
Do you just spin them like Infinite Four-Sword Style!
"Of course, if you make a fool of yourself with some clumsy freak build, you'll be severely scolded. What are you waiting for? Not choosing?"
—Swoosh!
I dashed over and picked out a practice sword and protective gear. Safety first, obviously... well, not exactly. I still needed to consider mobility.
"Good."
A practice sword, a helmet,
plus gauntlets and greaves.
This practice sword kind of felt like a cross between a lightsaber and a tonfa. Still, the weight and grip were similar to my own sword, so it didn't bother me much.
"The training weapons have safety measures, so they only deliver a slight impact and shock. Even if you get hit, it doesn't hurt much. Well, someone excessively dramatic might scream, but it's basically safe, so you can relax."
Hearing that boosted my confidence. Wait, though—how could you get hit by this and not feel pain? I was curious, but I let it go. They must've integrated some tech I didn't know about.
"Then I'll begin class. I'll assign the groups, so wait."
I stood in place, and Instructor Lee So-ra tapped away on her laptop, calling out names.
"Group 1. Lee Si-hoo. Ryu Cheon-hwi."
They were split up.
"Si-hoo. Go mop the floor with that Ryu Cheon-hwi."
"Hmm, Cheon-hwi is kind of strong though."
"I can hear you, you insolent bastards! Lee Si-hoo! It's time to settle this! Get up here!"
Ryu Cheon-hwi climbed into the ring, radiating fighting spirit.
"Hahaha, looks like I'm hated. Well then, Geun-cheol. Do your best, okay?"
"Yeah, yeah."
Please mop him good.
Looking at it, though, Si-hoo seemed a bit stronger than Ryu Cheon-hwi.
"And Group 2. Ken. Brian. Last, Group 3. Kim Geun-cheol. Woo Yu-ri. Everyone head into the rings."
Huh? Who?
Woo Yu-ri?
Does she like milk?
I moved toward the ring, and a girl with striking blonde hair in a ponytail followed, hands in her pockets. Who was she again? The look in her eyes was fierce—she seemed like she had a temper.
Her outfit was a little delinquent too. She wore the uniform blazer on top, but on the bottom, instead of the uniform skirt or trousers, she had on tight black training pants that looked like leggings. And slightly oversized sneakers.
Total bully style.
"Ah."
I remembered who she was. The one who was always sleeping in the classroom. Anyway, I climbed into the ring for Group 3, and Woo Yu-ri followed me up.
"Hey. Woo Yu-ri? You're not wearing any gear?"
But this girl wasn't wearing a single piece of protective equipment. Just holding one practice sword. Was she seriously planning to spar without gear?
Against me, the Sword Expert Kim Geun-cheol?
That seemed dangerous.
"Not really. I don't need it."
A sharp voice.
"That so? Well, don't complain if you get hit then."
"Huh? What? Hit?"
She suddenly glared at me and said that.
She seems like a delinquent older sister, and it's way too scary.
"No, hey. Why are you talking so scary. It's sparring, you can get hit. If you're not wearing gear, getting hurt's a possibility. If you don't want that, then go get some gear now. Without it, it's kind of awkward for me to hit you."
Isn't wearing gear during sparring just common courtesy? I'm not some sadist who enjoys hitting people, so if she's got no gear, of course I'm going to hesitate.
"It's fine, just do it."
"Uh, okay."
So fucking chill.
Then I'll just do it.
"Ah... right. You."
"Hm?"
"You're that Kim Geun-cheol, right? The noisy one?"
"You know me?"
—Begin the spar!
At that moment, Instructor Lee So-ra announced the start of the spar.
—Vwoom.
At the same time, a green sword aura wreathed Woo Yu-ri's blade—oh, fuck!!!
"Hey, shithead!!! Sword aura!!! Don't pull out a sword aura during sparring!!!"
"What?"
"Instructor Lee So-ra!!!! Is this allowed!!! She's using a sword aura in sparring!!!"
—Swoosh!
I immediately used High Jump to leap out of the ring! And sprinted! No, wait, was she insane! Who uses a sword aura in a student spar! Is she trying to hack my limbs off!
—Tap tap tap!
Anyway, I bolted behind Instructor Lee So-ra and hid!
"Instructor Lee So-ra! Please stop her!"
"...Haah."
But this woman just sighed and placed her hand on top of my head. And she spoke while gently patting it.
"Kim Geun-cheol, does that look like a sword aura to you?"
"Huh?"
"The practice sword. Hand it over."
"Yes, ma'am."
I immediately handed her the sword. The instructor took it and turned something near the guard with a click.
Then.
—Vwooom.
A green sword aura wreathed the blade.
"And this?"
"It's just a safety device. Think of it as a kind of force field that reduces damage on impact. Getting hit by this doesn't hurt much."
"Oh."
"Don't scream—just climb back up... I didn't expect you not to know this."
In that instant.
—Whoosh.
Heat rushed to my face.
I'd completely misunderstood.
"Kim Geun-cheol! You made a scene again with your hysterics! Get up there right now! It's more embarrassing for me to watch! Do you honestly need me to spoon-feed you every single little thing!"
"...Shit."
Trudging.
I climbed back into the ring.
"Pfft... hey. You think I'd pull out a sword aura during sparring?"
Maybe my yelling was pretty funny, because Woo Yu-ri laughed.
"S-sorry. I misunderstood. Woo Yu-ri? I'm sorry."
"You're a real weirdo. Anyway. Hey. Hurry up and turn yours on. We've got to spar."
"Okay."
—Click.
I turned the guard and the force field wreathed my blade.
"Come at me."
I assumed a kendo stance I'd seen on the internet and leveled the sword. As seriously as I could. I had to test how well I could fight. I'd mobilize every ounce of my ability.
The very moment I thought that.
—Swoosh.
Woo Yu-ri tapped the ground lightly.
—Shoooooooing!
Suddenly she charged with terrifying momentum—urk?!
"Aaaaaaack!"
I tried to raise my sword and block her attack, but godfuckingdammit, why was her sword so fast! What kind of speed swordsmanship was this bullshit level of fast—no, that wasn't even enough, her blade coiled around mine, pushed it aside, and came straight for my face—
"Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuck!!!!!"
My face is splitting awaaaaaaay!!!!!
"You crazy...! Hey! Keep it quiet!"
"Huh?!"
When I opened my squeezed-shut eyes, everything in front of me was just green.
The force-field-wreathed blade had stopped right in front of my eyes.
I seriously thought I was dead.
"H-hold on! That was way too fast! I thought my face was getting split open!"
"What? Why are you being so dramatic about this... hey. Stand up straight. I'm doing it again."
"Fine."
Let's go again.
I'd let my guard down this time.
So this was real combat. I, a swordsmanship beginner, probably couldn't handle it. But if I stayed on high alert, I could at least react somehow.
—Step.
Woo Yu-ri went back to her spot, and I reset my stance too. I focused as hard as I could and stared straight ahead. Her blade was fast. I had to see it properly and respond.
"Woo Yu-ri. Let's start."
The instant I said that.
—Swoosh!
That earlier slaughter replayed! Woo Yu-ri charging in at high speed! I thrust my sword forward, trying to block somehow.
—Clang!
She very easily struck my wrist, closed in, and swung her blade at my face agaaaaaain!
"Kyaaaaaaaaack!!!!"
"Hey! Hey, fuck! I said keep it quiet!"
"I—hey! Sorry! It's a reflex, I was startled!"
Her blade had stopped right in front of my eyes again!
I mean, whatever you say, a blade flying at your eyes at high speed—there's no way you wouldn't scream! Plus, it's impossible to respond!
"Argh, you little shit, why are you this spineless? Hey. Why do you close your eyes? Do you close your eyes in a fight? Huh? When a blade comes at you, you watch it to the end—why are you so fucking scared? Haa."
Frustrated, Woo Yu-ri started lecturing me... Yeah. Even I thought that last one was seriously pathetic.
"Oh shit, I mean... it's so fast, how am I supposed to not shut my eyes."
"Don't shut them."
"Fine. I won't shut them this time. Honestly, cut me some slack for the first two. This thing comes at you out of nowhere, so I panicked... anyway, let's go again."
"You scream, you're dead. For real."
Woo Yu-ri looked at me sharply and said something scary.
"Okay. I'll do it right this time."
Anyway, the sparring started again.
"Euk! Fuck! Euuuuk! Please! Save me!"
"Sh-shut up! You fucking—! Keep it quiet!"
"But it's—! This is—!"
I got slaughtered again!
The skill gap was so huge I couldn't help it! I couldn't respond, she was slashing at my face at an unreadable speed, so my eyes automatically shut and a scream burst out!
"Your swordsmanship is dogshit, seriously! Hey! Get a grip! Don't you get it—if you fuck up, you get hurt!"
"Hey, I'm really sorry about this. I'm trying my absolute hardest here, but it's a bit harder and scarier than I thought, so I just..."
"Haah... hey. Kim Geun-cheol? If you can't handle even this, then what are you gonna do? Aren't you gonna be a hero? You're fucking pathetic, seriously. What kind of guy is this scared? Huh?"
Woo Yu-ri started nagging me.
I was too embarrassed to say anything.
"If you're gonna become a hero, you've got to have the basics. What the hell are you gonna do with that little guts? In real combat, your ass would be dead already."
Woo Yu-ri tore into me with a disapproving expression.
But I felt a little wronged too.
What do you expect a total beginner to do against an expert?
"I mean, how am I supposed to be good at this when it's my first time? You're obviously experienced. What do you want me to do against you?"
"Even if it's your first time, you don't scream and cower like that? Get serious. You don't get it—if your combat skills suck, you die in the field. You shut your eyes for one second, and you're dead."
Woo Yu-ri spoke so earnestly that I could only nod meekly. I was genuinely, no kidding, trying my best, but screaming my head off would naturally make her think otherwise.
"Haah. For real. If you keep acting like that, just drop out of school. You might get yourself killed in real combat after becoming a hero for nothing. You're a joke."
But what?
Drop out of school?
I can't let that happen.
And as I listened, the unfairness was too much to bear. She was experienced, and I was doing this for the first time today, wasn't I? Advice was one thing. Demanding intermediate-level skill from a beginner was too harsh.
"No, what do you mean drop out! I said it's my first time!"
"Is 'first time' something to brag about! I'm telling you to drop out so you don't die, not because it's your first time!"
"Hey! I admit I'm not used to swords, but isn't that why I came to school—to learn from now on! Telling me to drop out is too much!"
"Even if you learn from now on, with skills this bad, it's already too late, dude!"
"Too late my ass, you bastard! Got a problem with my skills?!"
At that, Woo Yu-ri yelled!
"I've got a big fucking problem, you bastard! Looking at guys like you, I just can't stand it cause it's so frustrating!"
Can't stand it cause it's frustrating?
"Frustrating? Hey! Then you teach me! Swordsmanship!"
"Whaaat?!"
If it bothers you, then you teach me!