Training Camp # 1
Training Camp # 1
We went straight into the hotel and enjoyed a fierce meal. The meal followed Leona's philosophy of proper nutritional replenishment before hard training.
After that, we grabbed our gear and headed outside. Then we caught a ride in Leona's car straight to the training center.
"Whoa."
Awe slipped out the moment I saw the training center.
"Even the name says 'General Training Center.' Why the hell is this place so huge?"
It was so big that a youth training center couldn't even compare. If a youth center was, true to its name, at a fresh-faced youth level, then this place was on a whole different weight class—you could call it a middle-aged man's training center.
"A training center needs breadth on the x-axis, y-axis, and z-axis. Building it big is inevitable. Let's head in."
"Yep."
Leona paid the fee as expected, and Si-hoo and I entered the private training center with gratitude in our hearts.
"Ooh."
The inside was considerably spacious.
In terms of size, it was bigger than the training center at school. Of course, it didn't have things like hologram facilities, but various rental equipment was on display, and there were some kind of devices up ahead.
Plenty of room to train.
But it kind of felt like a bowling alley? Like they took out all the bowling supplies and stretched the ceiling way up.
"Let's start by loosening up a bit first."
"Loosen up a bit, shall we?"
Seeing Leona and Si-hoo start stretching, I followed along and started stretching too.
"Alright. Since we're skipping school anyway, I'm really gonna wreck myself properly today."
"Good enthusiasm. But before that, Kim Geun-cheol? I'm going to do some light dash-attack training first. Watch closely and get a feel for it."
"A dash attack. Heh heh heh, I'm looking forward to this."
"It's a technique used when you need to quickly eliminate an enemy at mid-range. Or when you need to launch a preemptive strike during a standoff. But why just talk about it? Just watch."
Leona went straight to the computer on the side and started configuring something. Then the scoreboard up front lit up.
[10]
[9]
[8]
"Is something starting?"
"Yes."
—Shiiing.
Leona took her position and drew her sword. Then she stepped forward with her left foot and let her sword arm hang down.
The moment the counter hit zero.
—Beep!
A beeping sound rang out, and with a pop up front, some kind of ball shot up. I could tell right away. That was the target ball.
That moment!
—Fwoosh!
"What the?!"
With a single step pounding the ground, Leona executed a sudden-acceleration dash, charging toward the target at high speed. And as she did, she thrust her sword forward with intense force.
—BAAANG!
The target exploded with a cheerful sound!
—Whoosh!
A gust of wind blasted out at the same time.
It was the wind raised by Leona's dash.
"Whoa!"
Freaking impressive! A person can move like that? That was a truly ferocious rush. How could she cover that distance in a second and strike precisely?
"Unbelievable!"
If you got hit by an attack like that, you'd be helpless. You couldn't counter it unless your reaction speed was exceptionally fast. No, countering it would still be a problem. Could you even block an offense that initiates with a preemptive strike like that?
"Huu."
—Swish.
Her attack finished, Leona walked back, her hair swishing.
"Did you see?"
"Damn! How are you so fast?!"
"The result of training since childhood. Anyway. That's a dash attack. You explosively launch your body forward using instantaneous acceleration and channel that kinetic energy into your sword. It hurts if it hits, no?"
"It feels less like it'd hurt and more like it'd shatter you to pieces."
"Exactly how effective an attack it is. For now, Kim Geun-cheol, you're a beginner, so practice a straight-line dash like that."
"Will do."
A straight line, huh.
"Mastering the straight line first is the basic, I guess."
"Yes. Exactly. The thing about these superhuman movements is, they're usually... linear. Like this."
Leona immediately demonstrated.
—Swoosh!
She dashed forward in a straight line and then returned. A literally 'linear' movement.
"Moving powerfully in clean lines. That's the basic. Because that's how force works."
"Right. It would work that way."
"But once you're skilled, you can draw curves too. Like this."
—Boom!
The moment Leona forcefully kicked off the ground.
—Screeeech!
"What the—?!"
Like a high-speed car drifting, Leona dashed to her target point while drawing a curve!
"A single step."
In just a single step!
"Moving explosively while drawing a curve. Responding to that kind of movement isn't easy. Isn't that right?"
"Ooh...! Definitely!"
Coming at you while drawing a curve like that? It'd be hard to handle precisely because of the irregular movement.
"Leona. Seriously, what are you? Pretty. Kind. Rich. And strong. How is this possible? Even for a goddess, isn't this a bit much?"
"Hmph. That bullshit never gets old with you, does it? Well, it's nice to hear, so I don't mind. Anyway, Kim Geun-cheol! Start your dash training now!"
"Yes, ma'am!"
Let's get started!
—Schling.
I drew my sword and took my position.
Then I settled into a stance.
"Leona. Launch the target."
"Got it."
—Click clack.
Leona worked the computer. And the countdown started appearing. Obviously, there's no way I'd succeed on the first try. For now, this was the stage of getting a feel for it.
[0]
The moment the countdown finished.
—Swoosh!
I concentrated the mana I'd been managing beforehand into my feet and released it!
"KRAAAAP!"
—Boom!
I took a single step simultaneously with the release. The moment I stomped the ground.
—Fwoom!
Fwoom?
"Huh."
Instead of shooting out like a cannonball in a straight line like Leona, I literally arced diagonally like a parabola as I flew.
"Wh-whoa!"
This wasn't a dash, and it sure wasn't a high jump! My body floated up like I was doing the long jump!
"Geun-cheol! Don't fall! Land properly and attack at the same time!"
"Land!"
I fought to control my floating body. Focusing on balancing myself so I wouldn't fall, I executed a precise landing with the soles of my feet.
—Tzing!
My legs vibrated.
"Tzap!"
Enduring that tingling sensation, I barely managed to swing my sword!
"Wow, my god! Kim Geun-cheol! What an elegant movement! Are you doing ballet?!"
"Hey! You gonna say that to a beginner?!"
"Beginners don't usually pull that off so easily either, you know. Anyway, Kim Geun-cheol? Looking at it just now, the direction of your force seems a little off. Instead of leaping diagonally, think of launching your body in a straight line."
I get what you're explaining, but it probably won't happen right away. Things usually don't work as imagined at first.
"I don't think this will work in one go. The sensation is kind of difficult. I need more practice."
"That's exactly what the training is for. For now, don't think about attacking. Just practice dashing from here, over and over."
With a teacher-like expression, Leona set me up in a spot. For the time being, more than giving me instruction, she wanted me to digest what she'd said and practice on my own.
Whatever it was, it was all good advice worth absorbing. Let's do as I'm told.
"Lee Si-hoo? Lee Si-hoo, you're fairly skilled, right?"
"Ha ha ha, I wouldn't call it skill."
"I know you fight well. I'll keep Kim Geun-cheol on a training treadmill for a bit. Why don't we, you know, make a little contest of it?"
Looking to set up a contest with Si-hoo, who was close to her in skill, she brought that up.
"A contest? Sounds good. But what should we wager?"
"Volunteer work?"
"Ha ha, I have a feeling we'll end up going whether I win or lose."
"Correct. So what should we use. Come here. It's on the computer, so let's look and pick."
"Alright."
Leona and Si-hoo started picking a training program right away. As for me, well, I practiced my dash in the spot they'd assigned.
"Okay. Going again!"
Concentrate!
—Baang!
The moment I powerfully kicked off the ground!
—Fwoom!
My body floated up just like before.
"Heh, this, seriously."
It seems like I need to properly release the mana concentrated in my foot the moment I push off the ground, but damn, it's hard.
Still, it was fun.
Of course it's fun when your body goes fwoom and springs up every time you kick off the ground. Men enjoy themselves on a trampoline even if they hit forty.
"Then again."
—Baang!
—Fwoom!
I kept attempting it again and again.
[Endurance increased by 1]
And challenges come with rewards!
"Ooh!"
This makes you wanna do it!
* * *
We trained a solid amount, and exercised a solid amount. We returned to the hotel just like that, ate dinner, washed up, and flopped onto the bed.
"Ahh. Si-hoo. It was a holiday, but don't you think we spent it pretty productively?"
"Yeah. Definitely. It was fun."
From beside me, Si-hoo laughed and answered as we lay there.
"Right? And, you know, they mentioned the training camp, but doesn't this feel like the training camp right now? We're sleeping together here like this."
"Th-that's true, but... Geun-cheol. Hypothetically, if we go to training camp, we'd go and sleep there, right?"
"I think it lasts a few days."
"Then what happens with the rooms?"
"That's, well."
Thinking back on my memories, they usually just crammed about five people into one room. But that's how it is for regular middle and high schoolers. We're hero cadets. Cadets going to actually train, at that.
Obviously, to guarantee proper rest conditions, they'll give us top-notch facilities. Maybe not one person per room, but two per room should be possible.
"I'm predicting two per room."
"Ugh..."
"Why. You don't like it?"
"Ah, no! It's not that!"
Si-hoo answered hastily.
"Uh, Geun-cheol?"
"Why are you hesitating again?"
"No... it's not that... It's just, if it's two per room..."
"You want to share a room?"
"Y-yeah. Can we do that?"
"Heh heh heh, you punk. Why are you acting all shy about it? Honestly, aren't you and I a set? If we're using rooms, of course we have to room together."
"Thanks, Geun-cheol..."
Well, it does seem like rooming with Si-hoo would be convenient for a lot of reasons. He's my closest male friend, after all.
That Ryu guy would probably just shout all day if we roomed together. Ken? He exists, though since I've only hung out with Si-hoo this whole time, we haven't gotten that close, surprisingly. And Brian... rooming with that weirdo just seemed really bizarre.
"Ah, hold on. Si-hoo."
"Hm?"
"But, you know, at the training camp, when we shower... you know."
"You know?"
"I kind of think we'll be using a communal shower."
"Wh-wh-WHAAAAAT?!"
As expected, Si-hoo yelled loudly.
Because this guy hates that stuff.
"Seriously?!"
"No. I don't know either."
"Then what the hell!"
"But I'm saying be careful. Dude, you hate even going to the bathhouse with me. Keep that in mind too."
"Grrk...!"
Well, that's something to worry about once we get there.
Anyway, the training camp.
I'm really looking forward to this.