Training Camp # 10
Training Camp # 10
"Guhk...!"
Mun Min, hurled from the second floor, lay sprawled on the ground groaning. He'd landed flat on his back, so breathing was probably a struggle.
In other words, the perfect window to deal some damage!
"Hup!"
Without hesitation, I jumped through the window!
—Whump!
Once a fight starts, you see it through. Half-assed endings only breed bigger grudges. You have to smash them so thoroughly they never even think about messing with you again!
—Boom!
I landed smoothly on the ground. No jarring sensation in my legs. I'd expelled mana at the moment of impact to absorb the shock.
Right now, in this moment.
I was growing.
"You, you underhanded bastard—gahk!"
"Heh-heh-heh, the only underhanded one here is you, jackass."
Anyway, the bastard was trying to get up.
—Wuum.
So I switched off the training sword's impact-dampening aura. I raised the now-plain club, hoisting it high.
"Hup!"
And fucking walloped the bastard's head as he tried to rise!
—Crack!
"Gyahk!"
Sure, he was wearing training headgear, but getting whacked with a raw wooden club still hurts like hell. He flopped onto his back again. I focused my beating on every patch of flesh the armor didn't cover.
—Thwack!
—Thwack!
—Thwack!
"You son of a bitch! How dare you say that shit to me!"
"Gahk! Gaaaahk! Hey! The armor! Bare skin—gaaaaahk!"
Completely flattened, he curled up and tried to cover himself, but all that did was make him a better punching bag.
His screams were music to my ears.
I kept swinging the club two-handed, over and over!
—Thwack!
—Thwack!
Like an Indian cop beating a criminal!
"Gyaaaaaahk! Aaaaaahk!"
"That's right! Take your beating!"
"Stop—stooooop! Save me, save me—gahk! My bones! My boooones! That hit bone! Gahk! Gahk!"
He was blubbering something, but right now the only communication between us was a fusion of screaming and exertional grunts. When wood meets flesh, only screams come out.
I deliberately and relentlessly aimed for the spots his armor didn't protect.
"I'll fix your goddamn attitude! You sneaky little shit!"
"Kuhak...!"
"I fucking hate bastards like you who pull this creepy solo shit! If you've got a problem, use your goddamn words instead of this crap!"
"Gahk, gahk! Guuuhk!"
—Thwack!
—Thwack!
Merciless violence.
Truly merciless violence. But this was necessary violence. The way I see it, if creeps like this get superhuman powers... they're guaranteed to become evil villains.
"I have to educate you before you become a villain...!"
"What the hell are you—gahk! Gyaahk! Gyaaaaahk!"
"With the heart of a teacher! A teacher's grace is like the heaaaaavens!"
—Crash!
I brought the club down with all my strength!
"Gyaaaaaaahk!"
If I don't correct this bastard right now, he'll definitely become a villain and wreak havoc on society! I have to beat the attitude out of him now!
Guys like this can never be corrected with words!
Only primal violence can serve as medicine!
—Thwack!
—Whack!
"Say it! Say you're sorry! Apologize to me, now!"
I said that while beating Mun Min with the club.
"Gyaaaahk!"
"Stop just screaming and apologize, you sack of shit!"
"Sorry! I'm sorry! Gahk, guaaaahk!"
"There's no sincerity in that apology!"
"What—gahk!"
—Whack!
I clobbered him over the head again.
So refreshing! Bastards like this really do need a good beating! And besides, this guy isn't a civilian, he's a superhuman. And what's a superhuman? Beating them doesn't kill them. Their baseline durability is different, so you can hit them more freely.
This is the punching bag I always wanted!
"Sorry! I said I'm sorryyyy! Gaaaahk!"
"Heh-heh-heh, finally feeling apologetic, are we? There. Now that you've apologized, thank me."
"Thank...?"
I paused the violence for a moment.
Looking down at Mun Min, curled up and leaking tears and snot, I spoke in a low voice.
"Today, I guided you with the heart of a teacher. Be deeply grateful. If you don't bring me a gift every Teacher's Day from now on, you're fucking dead."
"Hic, sniff...! What the hell does...!"
"I fixed your shitty attitude with physical therapy. So you should respect me as your teacher. Can't you understand that? Then you keep getting hit until you do!"
—Whack!
"Gyaaaaahk!"
The violence continued.
Looking at Mun Min's gear, I saw his armor had registered a death a while ago. But this isn't teabagging. I'm the only one who pronounces the death sentence here.
You mustn't assume an enemy is dead. You beat them until you're satisfied. I refuse to have an enemy I thought was dead get back up and attack me.
"Hoo."
I pounded the bastard vigorously until I felt refreshed, then sat down.
"Seriously, this pathetic little shit. Don't push your luck, dumbass."
"Huuuurk...!"
"A guy without the skills to back it up, getting all jealous. What business is it of yours if I hang out with my friends? Why the fuck would you cross the line over that?"
"Hurrk, huuurk... urk, uuurk...!"
Completely ragged, Mun Min was streaming tears. I'd bet anything that if you took off his clothes, his whole body would be a patchwork of vivid bruises, like one of those Avatar Na'vi. No, I don't know for sure, but I'm sure of it.
Avatar 2 is coming out. Think he could get a special appearance?
"Hmm."
But.
Honestly, seeing him like this does ache a bit. Whatever else, the guy is my student; I've become his teacher.
As his teacher, seeing my pupil in this state does pain me. Still, a true teacher must guide firmly, no matter how much it hurts.
With an iron heart.
"Ah, fuck! Now I'm pissed off again just thinking about it!"
"Wha, what?! Wait!"
I grabbed the club and swung at him again!
—Whack!
"Gyaaaaahk!"
"Did I say one goddamn word to you! We talked for the first time today, and you pull this annoying bullshit! Son of a bitch!"
"I'm sorry! I apologize, I apologize! Hrrrk! I apologizeee! Gaaaahk!"
"If you're sorry, take exactly a hundred more hits."
Once you start educating, you do it thoroughly.
"This is all education that will become your flesh and blood."
There is blood, and I think his bones might be cracked, but this is education.
"If you grow up with that kind of heart, you'll one hundred percent become a villain. That's a fact. My heart tells me so."
Conviction.
Right now, I was certain.
I felt it with a weirdly definite certainty. Mun Min, if this guy doesn't receive my education, he will absolutely become a villain someday. That feeling was intense. Right now, I'm not just beating him. I'm rendering a service to prevent that future.
Like hell I'd let a classmate become a villain!
I'll stop it right here!
No matter how shitty this bastard is, I won't let him turn into a villain!
"Why would I become a villain...!"
"You fucker still hasn't figured it out!!! You're getting beaten until you die today!!! Commence!!! Yeah!!!"
"Gyaaaaaaaaahk!"
After repeating the order to myself, I raised the club again.
—Whack!
* * *
"Kim Geun-cheol."
"Yes."
Instructor Lee So-ra stared at me with a blank expression.
"Something similar happened last time. The fight with Ryu Cheon-hwi. Though it seems you two became friends after that."
"Yes."
"At any rate, what did Kim Geun-cheol say back then? Something about there being things a man simply cannot endure."
"Yes."
I just answered with my head slightly bowed... Honestly, I'm a little scared right now. No. Objectively speaking, I'm in the right. But right now, Instructor Lee So-ra felt like some kind of demon.
Was getting scolded by a teacher always this terrifying?
I'm so nervous.
"Hoo."
Instructor Lee So-ra let out a sigh and fell silent for a moment.
"Kim Geun-cheol. This warrants disciplinary action."
"I am aware."
"And you did it knowing that?"
"I believe there are things one must do even knowing that, Instructor. Yes. Causing a violent incident is certainly wrong. However, Instructor, I have no shame! Not a shred of embarrassment! I only did what had to be done!"
—Thwack!
I shot to my feet, bent ninety degrees at the waist in a show of contrition, and shouted!
"Just what... Hah. Somehow, I thought you'd say that. But, well, whether Kim Geun-cheol feels brazen or not, this is a disciplinary matter. So give your account properly. It will influence the severity of the disciplinary action. I'll hear you out."
"Understood."
Mun Min was currently receiving treatment in the infirmary. Disciplinary action... I'd really like to avoid that.
But will that bastard Mun Min even give his account honestly?
"Instructor Lee So-ra. Before that, promise me this one thing."
"What?"
"Mun Min's written statement! I absolutely must verify it!"
"Do you even think that makes sense?"
"I believe that once I've wielded violence, I must take responsibility. If Mun Min has written a false statement... then I must take responsibility for this violent incident and completely destroy that bastard Mun Min!"
"W-wait. Calm down! I can't follow this!"
Rage burst forth!
"What on earth are you saying!"
"Instructor! That's what responsibility means! Once you've resorted to violence, I believe you have to see the responsibility through to the end! Because assaulting a person, a precious individual being, carries that meaning!"
"I understand up to there!"
"If Mun Min still hasn't come to his senses and writes a false statement, then I have no choice but to take responsibility!"
And the end of that responsibility is even stronger violence!
"So in that case, I'll take responsibility and break Mun Min to pieces!"
"I stop understanding from there!"
Instructor Lee So-ra, a rare show of bewilderment on her face, looked dumbfounded. Honestly, I get why she'd think that... this is just my creed.
If he takes a beating like that from me and still doesn't wake up, still lies to the very end? That means my physical therapy wasn't effective. So I have to take responsibility for that failure and just smash him completely.
"To understand that, you need to listen carefully to my statement from now on."
"I suppose so... Honestly. You have a real talent for giving people headaches, Kim Geun-cheol."
"Once you hear the story, you'll realize Mun Min is far worse. Your head will ache more, so be careful. I recommend taking some painkillers."
"The gums, right? Anyway. Let's hear it."
—Swish.
Instructor Lee So-ra twirled a pen and began preparing to draft the document.
Alright then, let's give my statement.