Swordsmanship Training # 7
Swordsmanship Training # 7
"Ugh, I'm dying of sleepiness. Seriously."
Maybe it was because I pushed myself yesterday, but during theory class, a wave of drowsiness kept washing over me.
Theory class mostly covers the history after the Dimension War, when the massive gates first opened, and all the combat capabilities and political tensions between the various factions. Basically everything a hero absolutely needs to know.
Which means there's a shitload to memorize.
Even so, lunchtime always comes around.
"Haah! Si-hoo! Let's go grub!"
"Wait. Before that, we're training over lunch today."
Si-hoo said it with a firm expression.
"The hell! Training before we eat?"
"Just for about 20 minutes. We can eat afterward, right?"
"Heh heh, fine. Let's do it. I was planning to hit the snack bar today anyway."
"Heh heh, nice. So it's Don-gapnaegi today?"
"Obviously."
Our classmates, who had been sitting in the room, filed out one by one. Now it was just me and Si-hoo left.
ㅡShing.
I immediately drew the sword I'd propped up beside my desk and took the stance Si-hoo had shown me.
"Ooh. Geun-cheol. Your form's better than yesterday."
"I practiced in my room. I even did it naked to maximize training efficiency."
"Wha, whaaaaat?! Naked?!"
"Yeah. I'm alone anyway."
"What difference does that make!"
Si-hoo shouted, face turning bright red. This guy apparently doesn't know the benefits of naked training: when you're done, you can go straight to the shower without even having to take your clothes off.
"Geun-cheol, please...!"
"Anyway, let's move on. Should I do the next move?"
"Yeah. Go ahead."
I transitioned into the next stance immediately. Stepping forward with one foot, I raised the sword overhead and executed a downward cut.
ㅡWhoosh!
The blade fell swiftly, like a guillotine.
"Good. Your form is holding well."
"Heh heh, practiced a lot, didn't I?"
"You still need more work, though."
Obviously.
Anyway, as Si-hoo corrected my form, I got a lecture on swordsmanship.
"Geun-cheol. First, Modern Hero Swordsmanship's motif is taken from medieval civilian swordsmanship."
"Is there a reason to pull from civilian swordsmanship? Didn't people in the medieval era usually fight wearing armor?"
I don't know much about it, but when you think of medieval times, the image of armor comes to mind. Is there a reason they deliberately used civilian swordsmanship as a motif?
"That doesn't matter. You never fight in real combat without coating your blade in sword aura. To deal damage to a monster, you absolutely have to use sword aura. And if you're wrapped in sword aura, whether it's armor or a monster's shell, it all becomes meaningless."
"Ah, so to a hero wielding a blade, everything in this world is basically 'civilian clothes'?"
"Exactly, Geun-cheol. You catch on fast."
"Heh heh, I'm naturally pretty smart."
"That damn confidence of yours. Anyway, Modern Hero Swordsmanship is premised on fighting while wielding sword aura. Always keep that in mind."
"Gotcha."
Twenty minutes passed in no time. Well, that wasn't bad. An honors student was supposed to use their lunch break productively, after all.
"Alright, Si-hoo! Let's go grub!"
"Let's go!"
We headed toward the snack bar.
Today, I planned to fill up on a Don-gapnaegi, some spicy beef soup, and a zero-calorie cola. I'd also add a hot bar for extra protein.
Even though I got the meal ticket, I had a feeling I'd definitely have to get a part-time job or something if I thought about the future.
ㅡStep.
On our way to the snack bar—
"Huh?"
I witnessed a bizarre spectacle.
"Is, isn't that Ryu Cheon-hwi?"
"Huh? Yeah, that's him."
Ryu Cheon-hwi was standing in front of the vending machine outside the snack bar, arms crossed. And he was glaring at the vending machine. Then, as if dissatisfied, he tapped his card against the machine.
ㅡBeep.
He bought a drink.
That drink was...
"Ryuuuu, Ryu Cheon-hwi, you bastaaaard!!!! Did you just buy a cola!!!"
"Gahk?! N-No! You bastard! Don't tell me you were stalking me! You Taliban terrorist bastard!!!"
Startled, Ryu Cheon-hwi tried to change the subject while shoving the cola into his pocket. But that wouldn't work on me!
"Terror my ass! You just bought a cola!"
"Wh-What of it...!"
His face was beet red.
That wasn't a face, it was a radish.
"Heh heh, guess it was pretty good, huh? The cola."
"Go to hell! I was merely disposing of an explosive device!"
Explosive device disposal my ass!
"Pffahahahaha!"
Finding that absurd excuse hilarious, Si-hoo burst out laughing, clutching his stomach.
"Lee Si-hoo! Are you mocking me! Fine! Now we settle this with a rematch right here!"
"N-No! Cheon-hwi! I wasn't mocking you, I just laughed because it was funny!"
"What!!!"
"Hey, hey. Ryu Cheon-hwi."
ㅡStep.
"Stop bullshitting and let's have some cola."
I walked right up next to him and bought a cola.
ㅡClunk.
"I'm telling you, it was explosive disposal...!"
"Yeah. Bullshit."
I grabbed the cola and opened it. Then I took a sip.
ㅡGulp.
"Ahh! Now that hits the spot. What are you doing? Aren't you going to drink it?"
"As if I could drink something like an explosive...!"
"Then why'd you buy it?"
"Could I leave hazardous materials unattended! Hmph!"
His embarrassment clearly at its limit, the guy turned to leave.
Wait.
If he likes cola, he'll definitely like this too.
"Hey. Ryu Cheon-hwi. Wait up."
"What!"
"Si-hoo. Hold onto Ryu Cheon-hwi for a sec."
"Okay."
I left him to Si-hoo and went into the snack bar. I immediately picked out three Don-gapnaegis, paid, and put them in the microwave for 1 minute and 20 seconds.
ㅡBeep. Beep. Beep.
With that, the ultimate food was complete. I took out the heated-up wrappers and went back outside.
"Yo. Let's eat Don-gapnaegi."
"Ah, Geun-cheol. I'll pay you."
"It's today's lesson fee. Hey. Ryu Cheon-hwi. You take one too."
I held a Don-gapnaegi out to him, but—
"Ha! What sort of explosive is this! It looks just like a plastic bomb!"
What the hell is wrong with your eyes. As expected, the reaction wasn't good.
"I'm not a beggar receiving charity; do you think I'd take something like this from the likes of you! I'd sooner accept a begging bucket from a homeless man!"
"Heh heh, bullshit and typhoid."
ㅡRip.
I immediately unwrapped a Don-gapnaegi and started eating.
The perfectly fried bread. The sauce. And the beautiful minced meat mixture. I bit into them all at once, feeling the juices explode in my mouth.
This is the true flavor.
"Now this is an explosive... a flavor explosion. Ryu Cheon-hwi. You're not gonna eat it? For real? It's on the same tier as cola."
"Th-The same tier as cola...!"
A flicker of interest appeared on his face.
"If you're not gonna eat it, get lost. You're getting in the way of me appreciating the taste."
"Shut up! You Taliban bastard!"
ㅡSnatch!
Ryu Cheon-hwi violently snatched the Don-gapnaegi away.
"If you wished to commission an explosives inspection, you had only to ask plainly, rather than resort to such petty tricks! Ryuseong Group handles explosives, after all!"
Then, holding the Don-gapnaegi, he spouted some more bullshit, turned around, and trudged away.
"Look at this crazy bastard and his commitment to the bit. I'm telling you, he's a born comedian."
To think he could make use of the explosive joke that well.
"Heh heh, so Cheon-hwi wanted to eat it too."
"He secretly has cheap taste."
"You know, Geun-cheol. Watching you, you seem to have incredible people skills. Sort of like a capybara?"
"No, that guy Ryu Cheon-hwi, he's easy."
ㅡ...
I looked at Ryu Cheon-hwi's retreating back.
He might be a bit of a rich young master and therefore a little disrespectful, but seeing as he gave me that meal ticket, he's fundamentally a good guy. So isn't it only natural I'd want to be friends with someone like that? Honestly, my affection should be a bit high because of the meal ticket.
* * *
The long-awaited dismissal time.
"Si-hoo. Take care."
"To think you'd dare take on two masters... Do well. Geun-cheol, as your first master, I won't forgive you if you screw up."
This guy was a little sulky.
"Roger that, man. I'll do it right, so relax. Oh. You hitting the gym after?"
"No. I'm resting today."
"Heh heh, alright."
After sending Si-hoo off, I said goodbye to Leona.
"Kim Geun-cheol? Just in case, make sure you eat dinner. Don't go starving yourself somewhere."
"What are you, my mom?"
I could practically feel her maternal love.
"Well, I'm closer to a matriarch than a mom."
A matriarch... yeah, it does kind of feel like that.
"But 'matriarch' sounds too distant. How about 'Auntie'? Feels closer."
"Auntie my ass!!! You make me sound old!!!"
"Your folksy Korean's exactly like a soup-restaurant auntie."
"How can my noble visuals be that of a soup-restaurant auntie! Hmph! You just go off to your swordsmanship training, Kim Geun-cheol!"
"Yessum."
After finishing my goodbyes with my friends—
"Hey. You've got more friends than I thought?"
Milky came up and stuck to my side.
"I'm basically a corpse without my friends. So, Yu-ri, where are we doing this?"
"Yu-ri... aren't you using my name too casually?"
Milky looked back at me.
"Heh heh. You call me Kim Geun-cheol too. Who cares about stuff like that? Then should I call you by a nickname?"
"What kind of nickname are you gonna give me?"
"Since you're Woo Yu-ri, how about Milky?"
"You wanna fucking die?"
"Guh."
"You asshole. Maybe you said it as a joke, but I've heard that nickname my whole life, you know?"
"No way!"
I thought it was an original nickname, but there were probably tons of forerunners! I should apologize.
"Hey! I'm sorry! Let me off this once!"
"Wh-what's there to be so sorry for... it's not that big a deal..."
Is it really okay?
"Call me that or don't. Call me whatever you want. Now let's head to the training ground. It's easier there."
"Okay."
So it was off to the training ground with Yu-ri today. I usually went with Si-hoo or by myself, so this was a first.
ㅡSlide.
Anyway, the two of us stepped into the training ground. As soon as we got in, I booted up the kiosk, set it to individual training mode, and checked out two weapons.
ㅡWhoosh.
The same training blade we'd used in the sparring match.
"Catch."
"Yeah."
I tossed one to Milky and grabbed one myself. As soon as Milky caught the blade, she skillfully coated it in a force field.
"Alright. Starting today, we're going to do a simple drill. Follow along, okay? When I decide to teach something, I believe in doing it properly."
"Don't worry. I told you, didn't I? I have a reason to get stronger."
"..."
Milky looked at me with an odd look in her eyes.
"Right. You did say that. Then, stand in front of me."
"Yeah."
"In my opinion, you need to get rid of your fear of attacks first. Agreed?"
"Desperately agreed."
"Hmph, so you do know your own faults. That fussing and whining, first thing we gotta fix that... so, you."
"Yeah."
"From now on, don't blink even once. Keep your eyes open until the end, got it? Also, keep your mouth shut."
"S—"
The moment I tried to answer.
ㅡWhishshsh!
Milky's blade suddenly flew right toward my eyes!
"Gahk! Fuck!!! You scared me!!!"
"Hey! I said shut up!"
"What the hell are you doing!"
"I'm starting the training!"
Ah.
So that's how it is.
"I won't hit you, so stay still. From now on, I'm going to stop the blade right in front of your eyes, over and over. Every time you close your eyes, it's points off. Watch the blade until the very end. Since you need to build up your guts, we start with that training."
Understood.
So basically, I just have to stand still and watch the blade flying at me. Since she won't hit me, I just have to not scream. And also, not blink.
"Okay. Understood. Start. I'll take this seriously."
"You little shit... your eyes look good, I'll give you that. Alright, Kim Geun-cheol? Here I come?"
"Do it!"
ㅡWhishshsh!
The blade, coated in a green force field, flew toward my eyes. I stifled the scream trying to burst out and stared at the high-speed green flash.
"Hup...!"
I know she said she won't hit me!
But this is going to take a little while to get used to!