Leona's Secret Hobby # 1
Leona's Secret Hobby # 1
ㅡShhhhhwing!
Eyes locked, I stare down the blade flying at me!
"Faith...!"
I have faith!
"Faith that Woo Yu-ri won't actually hit me...!"
"What are you muttering about?!"
"Hey! Honestly, I'm kinda scared, I have to self-hypnotize here!"
ㅡShat!
The blade hurtling at intense speed stopped dead right in front of my eyes!
"Hoooh!"
I know she won't hit me, but that doesn't make not flinching any easier.
Unity of Sword and Mind. That means the sword and the mind become one. Your sword and mind are steel. Sword, body, and mind fused into one.
But I'm not that. My mind might know it, but my body doesn't follow. When I see a sword rushing in with that much force, my eyes naturally want to close.
So I have no choice but to glare, like in a staring contest.
ㅡShhhhhwing!
ㅡShat!
That's how I keep training my nerve, glaring at the incoming blade. Whoa, but damn, Woo Yu-ri is seriously amazing at this.
"How do you stop it 0.1 centimeters from my eye? How are you so good?"
Her swordsmanship is no joke. She stopped it at exactly the right point. I probably couldn't even do that with my fist, and Woo Yu-ri is doing it with a sword.
"You think I couldn't do at least that? I've been learning since I was a kid."
"Keh. You got that gifted-child training from your family."
It's been a while since the first-generation Awakened appeared. Naturally, this world has a lot of Awakened people with grown-up kids.
"You really are impressive, I'll admit."
"Ah..."
"Hm? What?"
"No. Nothing. Let's rest a bit."
"Cool."
I drank some water I'd brought and lay down on the ground.
This whole staying tense and glaring at a sword thing is seriously exhausting.
"Hey. Kim Geun-cheol."
"Yeah. What."
"What's the schedule for training gonna be?"
"Whatever works for you."
"Then roughly three times a week. After class. I'd like to do more, but I have my own schedule."
"Three times a week! That's a damned blessing! I dunno about anything else, but if I learn from you three times a week, Yu-ri, I'll be a master in no time!"
"What master, just from that? You're overdoing it."
"You call this overdoing it? Woo Yu-ri. If you say you're gonna teach someone three times a week, what do you think happens to them?"
"What? Well, naturally since they learned from me—"
"Exactly. Once I learn something, I intend to become a proper master. Woo Yu-ri. Don't you think so?"
I said that.
"Ah."
Woo Yu-ri paused for a second, then nodded.
"Kim Geun-cheol. You're taking this way more seriously than I imagined."
"Of course. It's not just anyone, it's a friend teaching me."
"..."
Woo Yu-ri hesitated for a moment, then.
ㅡPlop.
Sat down next to me.
"Hey. You know."
"Yeah."
"You said you had a reason you had to get stronger."
"Yeah. I absolutely have to."
To survive here, obviously I have to get stronger. I don't want to waste this time either. Whatever it is, building up superhuman abilities is a net gain for me.
"When did you awaken?"
"Last year."
"That's a bit on the late side."
"So I gotta work harder. Anyway, thanks, Yu-ri."
"What's to thank... Let's start again then."
"Yes!"
Awesome training resumes!
"For this week, we'll keep it like this. Once I think you've got a bit more nerve, then I'll teach you some actual sword-use stuff. Make sure you review what I've shown you."
"Yes, ma'am!!!"
That's how I got swordsmanship lessons from Yu-ri. What a grateful friend. Affection for Yu-ri is just gushing up inside me... At this level, even if she's not an Archangel, she's at least Angel-level, right?
* * *
So, training finished, and I was heading back to the dorm.
ㅡDing.
Along with a familiar sound.
[Skill increased by 1]
My skill went up!
"Ah-ha! A stat boost here!"
Guess my senses sharpened a bit training with Yu-ri!
Yeah. Tracking the blade with my eyes, I started to get a rough feel for it. It's just a tiny insight, but seeing my stats rise visually is really fun.
"Status."
―――――――――――――――――
[Status - Kim Geun-cheol]
[Rank : F]
「 Strength : 14 」
「 Skill : 14 」
「 Stamina : 12 」
「 Durability : 10 」
「 Magic Power : 11 」
―――――――――――――――――
"Keuerghh!"
The moment I opened my Status for the first time in a while, the overwhelming visual flash hammers my eyeballs! No, isn't my growth too dazzling?! It's so dazzling it's painful to look at my Status!
"But still small-fry, I see."
Good.
I was gonna skip the gym today, but now that my stats are up, I can't skip it. When your growth is visible, how can you stay still? I will advance.
Thus, I headed straight for the gym.
It feels empty today without Si-hoo.
I went in. There were a fair number of peers working out. I immediately got changed and climbed onto the treadmill.
"Relax."
First, I spend a few minutes walking slowly to feel the mana inside me. It's generally easier to sit still or lie down to feel it, but Instructor Lee So-ra said to train yourself so you can do this kind of mana meditation even while exercising.
"Hrmmm."
ㅡStep, step.
Walking slowly, I move my mana. No more cramping up and stuff. But well, doing it while moving is definitely hard.
"It really is tough."
I acutely feel that I'm still a beginner. Well, I worked out hard and did mana meditation on the side, and after finishing my goals, I returned to the dorm.
Got back, and—
"G-Geun-cheol...!"
"What on?!"
The hallway was teeming with people!
Not just that, all the students in the dorm are out in the hall!
"We've got a real problem, Geun-cheol!"
The cause was right in front of my room!
"What's with all this cola!"
Goddamn cola boxes! They were lined up all along the hallway!
"Hey! What class are you in! What's the big idea ordering this much cola!"
"Think about where to store it before you order!"
Dorm students, furious at the blocked path, yelled at me.
"Ah, sorry! I don't really know what's going on either right now... Huh?!"
No way!
"Is it that bastard Ryu Cheon-hwi!"
"Geun-cheol! Hurry! I've been cleaning this up for you! Hurry up and help me sort this out!"
"Alright! Sorry, Si-hoo!"
Ryu Cheon-hwi, you son of a bitch, did you seriously send a mountain of cola over that thing earlier? You're driving me nuts, seriously!
When am I ever gonna clean all this up!
* * *
Anyway, another week passes like that.
Getting semi-hazed by Instructor Kawar, diligently attending classes, carefully checking my balance and remaining meal tickets to use the snack bar. And after class, training myself with Yu-ri or Si-hoo.
A repetitive routine.
But isn't this kind of repetitive routine exactly the correct school life?
Compared to my high school days, well, it's a lot different, but school life is still school life.
Anyway, today is the long, long-awaited Saturday.
The day I have plans with Archangel Leona.
"Let's depart, then."
Leona spoke haughtily and opened the limousine's rear door.
"Whoa. Unbelievable."
We're moving by limousine?
Honestly, this is a first in my life?
"Kim Geun-cheol? Lee Si-hoo? What are you staring blankly for? Get in. I won't charge you a fare."
Leona, already inside, patted the seat next to her... Yeah. I should get in. When else am I gonna ride in a limo if not now? But I can't help being a bit nervous.
"Shall we board, then."
ㅡSlide.
I got right in and sat down next to Leona.
"Ah, Geun-cheol. Scoot over a bit."
"Got it."
And Si-hoo got in next to me.
"Good. All aboard. Driver? Let's go."
"Understood, miss."
The driver answered gravely.
"Whoa. Miss, he says. So you really were a young miss, Leona?"
"What else did you think I was?"
"An angel come down to earth."
"You never tire of that angel drone, first thing in the morning. Anyway, put your seatbelt on. Don't you know you put your seatbelt on first when you get in a car?"
ㅡSlide.
Leona grabbed the seatbelt and handed it to me.
"Hey, hey. I can do this myself."
I mean, I can do this on my own.
So Si-hoo and I put our belts on.
"Whoa. But this is my first time in a limousine. Si-hoo, what about you?"
"U-um... it's my first time too."
Si-hoo also seemed a bit nervous, glancing around and looking out the window.
"Heh, so it was your first time riding in a limousine? For a Kim Geun-cheol like you, I have a special explanation, so listen well."
"What are you planning to explain?"
"This limousine is capable of flight."
No!
"You've gotta be kidding me! No matter what, I'm not buying that! Just because you're an angel doesn't mean the limo can fly!"
"Ho-oh. You don't believe it?"
"Hey. Logically, does a car flying make any sense? Do you not know what happened to Icarus, you dolt?"
"Stop hitting me with that same old joke! Driver! Flight mode, quickly!"
"Yes, miss."
That moment.
ㅡVrmmmmm.
"Holy motherfucking shit!!!"
A bizarre floating sensation hit, and the limousine actually started to lift off!
No, it really does fly?!
"Kyaaaaaah! Si-hoo! What's going on! Look at the window!"
"Geun-cheol! Calm down! We're in someone else's car!!!"
"The car's flying, does it look like I can calm down! Leona! Is this for real!"
I asked!
"Do you think it's fake! The pride of the Kainus Family! This is a special limousine equipped with an anti-gravity engine using other-dimensional new tech!"
Leona shouted excitedly!
"So, Kim Geun-cheol! Hold on tight if you don't wanna fly off!"
"Hey! Wait a sec—!"
"Well, we'll literally be flying anyway!"
This is seriously amazing!
But if it's like an airplane, no real need to hold on tight—
ㅡWhirrrrr.
And the roof opened.
"Whaaat theee heeeellll!!!!"
ㅡShwooooooosh!
The surging wind was trying to rip my hair out!
"Hyaaaaaaa! The roof! Why'd you open the roof!"
"Don't you know about style, style! Going topless is standard when you fly, man! Driver! Full speed!"
Full speed?!
"Yes, miss."
ㅡVrrmmmmm!
"Uwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaack!!!"
Sudden acceleration, and the back of my head slammed into the headrest! How was this so fast?! Never in my life did I think I'd go topless in a car and fly at super-high speed...!
Truly a surprising experience!
"My mouth—!"
My mouth was getting ripped apart! Gyaaaahhh!!!
* * *
Thus, after a few tens of minutes of flight, we landed.
"Keuerghh...!"
It was such a bizarre sensation, my whole stomach was queasy.
"There, there. Kim Geun-cheol. There's no time to be like that. Come on, get up."
"Ugh."
ㅡPat, pat.
Leona patted my back.
"No, but where the heck are we, anyway? And what'd we come here to do?"
"I told you, didn't I? The hobby of nobility."
"Just tell me already. Before I decide it's boar hunting."
"Boar hunting, what. That's got nothing to do with it. Well, the hobby of nobility. That would be noblesse oblige, you could say."
And what that means is?
"This is the location of a volunteer organization owned by the Kainus Family. Now, let's go! To do volunteer work! It's time to relieve the poor and the orphans!"
"Wh-what? Volunteer work?"
"Leona... don't tell me you do volunteer work on weekends?"
"Of course. It is my hobby."
Now even the word Archangel isn't enough!!!!!!
"You're a goddess!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
"You're only figuring that out now! Your enlightenment is slow, Kim Geun-cheol!"
ㅡGush!
Water burst from my eyes.
Tears of emotion.
"No, Geun-cheol! What's with this flood! How can a person cry pouring tears like that!"
"You cry with me, dammit!!!!"
This is a thing all humanity should weep over!