Exam Period # 10
Exam Period # 10
"Kyaaaap!"
"Oh! Nice! Kim Geun-cheol! Keep pushing like that!"
"Guaaaaaaah!"
I launched a furious chain of attacks!
Yu-ri was blocking and deflecting everything, but I kept bringing my sword down relentlessly.
She seemed pleased.
With a confident smile, she stepped back, absorbing my strikes.
Seeing that, I threw a knee kick.
"Yes! That's it! When they block high, you hit low! That's how you do it, you little shit! You do know what you're doing!"
It just made her more excited. And seeing her fired up lit a fire under me. I poured my soul into the sparring match.
We sparred until I was completely gassed.
"Huff!"
I sprawled flat on my back. I'm so exhausted I could die...! I'm seriously gonna die. I feel totally drained. Even an Awakened runs out of fuel if you go all out.
"Oh, Kim Geun-cheol? You're actually getting better as you go."
Yu-ri looked down at me, holding out a water bottle.
"Right? I told you I've got talent. Heh heh."
Oh man, drinking this cold water is heaven. Absolute heaven. As I talked about my talent, Yu-ri chuckled.
"That sounded like bullshit before, but I kind of have to admit it now. You've got a certain sense. Keep at it and you'll get even better."
"If Instructor Yu-ri says it's fact, then it's fact."
Apparently, my talent really is the real deal.
"Hey, Kim Geun-cheol."
"Hm?"
"I get why Leona works so hard to teach you."
"What do you mean?"
"You work hard at learning."
"Of course I do."
My friends are pouring their hearts into teaching me. If I half-assed it, what kind of person would I be? It's not just my time I'm spending. I'm spending my friends' time too.
"..."
Yu-ri gave me an odd look.
"So it's because of that, huh?"
"What?"
"You know, Kim Geun-cheol... you grew up in an orphanage, didn't you?"
"Why are you walking on eggshells? People can be orphans."
She spoke like she was trying to say something difficult, but I'm not an actual orphan to begin with. My parents are doing fine back in the other world. So it's no big deal.
"I'm not sure what you're trying to say, but Yu-ri, is there anything awkward between us? Just spit it out, man."
"Look at this guy's sense of distance. Anyway. Kim Geun-cheol... your parents died in a tragic incident, right?"
"Yeah, that's right."
"So, aren't you working so hard to get revenge or something?"
"Revenge, she says. That's not it, so don't worry about it."
A snort of laughter escaped me. What a ridiculous misunderstanding. I told her it was fine and got up, waving my hand.
"Let's spar some more."
"...See."
"What? Get up already."
"Yeah. I have to work harder. Now's the time to work hard. Let's go, Kim Geun-cheol. The ranking matches are coming up, so let's push even harder."
"Right. Mun Min challenged me."
"I can't tell if you two are getting closer or drifting apart."
We're definitely getting closer.
On days I trained with Yu-ri like that, I was dragged off by Leona after school to study.
"Here, here! Kim Geun-cheol! English is super important! As you go through life, you'll work with foreign Awakened a lot, so a foreign language is a must!"
Today's English!
"Can't I just not work with foreigners?"
"In this day and age, do you think you can?"
Leona frowned, pretending to flick my forehead.
"Open your textbook."
"No, but seriously. Math is at least in Korean, so it's okay, but English is total bullshit."
"You still have to do it."
"English just seems way too hard. I'm just gonna scrape by and forget about it. I won't need English when I grow up."
I said that.
"What?!"
Leona yelled!
"Kim Geun-cheol, are you gonna speak Korean when you come to Europe to see me?!"
"Wait, you can't?!"
"In Europe, you speak English! It's Awakened etiquette! You use the language of the country you're in!"
That's a real rule?
"If a European Awakened ran around casually using English in Korea, he'd get wrecked. He'd get an earful: 'Are you looking down on us?' Likewise, Kim Geun-cheol, if you use Korean in Europe, you'll get wrecked."
"Whoa, that's a real culture?"
Fascinating as shit.
"Of course. It's a matter of national pride. How dare an Awakened use their own language in another country? They'd get their ass beat. I also only use Korean here, right?"
It really is different from where I used to live. So it's common sense to use the local language.
"What about Brian?"
"He barely passes."
"Oh. I can see that."
"Then let's start studying."
Yep.
"Today, we'll memorize some vocabulary and practice reading passages. Honestly, that's the most important part. You should read quickly, but since your target score is a 65, we'll focus on accuracy."
"Fine. I'll follow along as best I can."
"I'd like to teach you well enough to get by in Europe, though. Kim Geun-cheol? You'll do that, right?"
"Leona...! I am gonna work hard, but that seems kinda tough!"
"Seems like one Jjamppong Magic would fix it, huh?"
"Just let me study first!"
And so, extreme studying commenced with Leona.
Would I ever have a reason to go to Europe?
* * *
The day of the class ranking match arrived.
From this morning, we gathered in the gymnasium, strapped on protective gear, and listened to the instructor's briefing.
"Alright, it's time for the enjoyable ranking matches. Spar with your classmates and objectively evaluate your own standing. Interpersonal combat is a very important subject, so I hope you gain insight through practice. That is all. We will now begin the matches."
The students immediately went up to their assigned rings as their names were called.
Naturally, my opponent was—
"Hey. Kim Geun-cheol."
My opponent was Mun Min.
"What's this? I think I hear... the voice of a weakling?"
"You're dead meat! Prepare yourself today! I'll make mincemeat out of you!"
"Heh heh heh, you think you can?"
"No matter what, I have to beat Kim Geun-cheol. Watch your neck."
ㅡFlare.
Fighting spirit blazed in Mun Min's eyes. Of course, to me, who's beaten him down several times, he just looked like a rookie.
"Quit yapping. I'll show you the gap between us."
Anyway.
"Mun Min. And Kim Geun-cheol. Step onto the ring."
"Yes, Instructor!"
"Yes."
We both stepped onto the ring. The instructor already knew our history. She didn't say anything in particular.
ㅡBzzt.
I activated the impact-reduction aura and aimed my sword.
"Begin."
ㅡBeep!
With that, the first match of the ranking tournament started. There was no way I could lose. I captured every single movement of Mun Min in my sight.
"Kim Geun-cheol... I'll definitely take you down."
"Think you can? Don't just stand there, come at me. You'll see the unbelievable gap between you and me."
"Drop dead!"
ㅡWhoosh!
Mun Min immediately stepped toward me. I compared him to Yu-ri. He was no match. Yu-ri would've attacked ruthlessly from the start. But Mun Min showed no sign of that.
ㅡBoom!
I immediately used a stamping step to shoot my body forward! Now, while he was cautiously inching forward, that was my chance. I'll push aggressively to secure the win!
"Whoa!"
"Letting your guard down is out of the question, you bastard!"
ㅡCrash!
I unleashed an aggressive assault. Stepping forward, swinging my blade, pressuring him. Preemptive strike, no matter what. And I couldn't let the initiative slip. I had to swing from start to finish to end this.
"Ugh!"
Unlike last time, Mun Min was just busy defending as he backpedaled. I could clearly feel he was stronger than me the first time we fought, but not anymore.
Compared to Yu-ri, Mun Min's level fell way short.
"Hup!"
The moment I infused mana and launched a low kick at him.
"Whoa!"
He lost his balance and staggered. Not a foul, by the way. We've got shin guards on. Anyway, the instant Mun Min lost his footing.
ㅡBoom!
I brought my blade down!
"Gahk!"
Mun Min completely lost his balance and toppled over.
Match over.
I won.
"N-no! What the hell! Who are you! How could you win so fast!"
"I practiced to end things swiftly and quickly."
No matter what, the training time invested was different.
I figured Mun Min would be extremely wary of me. So he'd act cautiously. That's why I came up with the strategy to push with full force right from the start.
I had to finish it as fast as possible.
In a drawn-out fight, I would've lost.
"You think I'd lose to a guy I've already fought several times?"
"You're actually insane...! Hey! You only won because you learned from Woo Yu-ri!"
"Yep. You're right. The power of friendship chance."
"Gaaaaah! This is so unfair!"
Mun Min cried injustice, but what could he do? The power of friendship was that strong.
"Kim Geun-cheol? Victory. You did better than expected. Your onslaught had some openings, but you finished before they could be exposed. Excellent. And Mun Min. Mun Min needs to step up. Perhaps due to nerves, your body was stiff. You failed to properly handle Kim Geun-cheol's surprise attack and relentless assault. You were swung around from start to finish."
Immediately, the instructor gave us brief feedback.
"Keuh, I see."
"Indeed. However, Kim Geun-cheol. If you hadn't finished it, you would have been counterattacked through that opening and fallen. Keep that in mind."
"I was aware of that. Heh heh heh. I was betting on it, actually."
"The same goes for Mun Min. If you had calmly targeted the opening, you would have won."
I listened to the explanation as we stepped down from the ring. And at the same time...
"Geun-cheol-"
Just as Si-hoo was about to wave to me.
"Whoa! Kim Geun-cheol! You won!"
Leona.
"Hey! Of course he won! I taught him!"
And Yu-ri charged at me fiercely!
I stopped mid-wave to Si-hoo and got snatched up by the two of them!
"Kim Geun-cheol, you did well! You worked hard on both studying and swordsmanship!"
"Honestly, I was worried you'd fall behind since you were focusing on studying. But you were working hard at both, you little shit? I'm damn proud of you!"
The two of them were absolutely ecstatic as they smacked my back hard.
ㅡThwack! Thwack!
ㅡThwack! Thwack!
"Kchaaak...!"
"When did this chump even grow this much!"
"Hoo hoo hoo, right?! Ah! So proud! We raised Kim Geun-cheol very well!"
"Right?"
The two kept smacking my back, overjoyed, saying over and over that they'd raised me well. I mean, it's true, but damn, cut my back some slack...!
"Anyway, Woo Yu-ri? Shall we keep raising him well together?"
"Ke ke ke, yeah. Let's raise him well."
ㅡWhoosh!
Only then did the two women stop smacking my back and team up.
"What are you two, my moms? What do you mean, 'raised'?"
"We did raise you."
"Well, yeah... Anyway. Thanks, both of you. Even so, the win today was more thanks to what I learned from Yu-ri."
"This brat knows what's what. You fought well. Honestly, it still looked lacking to my eyes, but for that level, you did good."
"Today's for compliments only. Compliments."
That's how I shared the joy of victory with the two of them.
Leona said we should focus more on studying now, and Yu-ri said we should use today's experience for intensive training to rapidly improve my skills further.
"No way! A win means more studying!"
"No way! On the contrary, more swordsmanship!"
"What?!"
A confrontation...!
ㅡWhoosh!
I immediately slipped out between them and went to Si-hoo!
If you stay in the middle when those two fight, you'll get caught in the crossfire.
"Hey, Si-hoo!"
"Uh, yeah."
Si-hoo looked up at me from where he was sitting.
"I won!"
"Yeah."
Wait, but what's with this guy?
"What? Lee Si-hoo? Why's your reaction so lukewarm? Hey. I said I won. Is that the best expression of joy you can give?"
"I... I won too, you know?"
"Well, that's a given. It's only natural you'd win."
There's no one Lee Si-hoo could lose to here except Leona, Yu-ri, and Ryu, and those three haven't fought yet.
"So come on, let's see a little performance. Like, leap! Pull off a backflip and go, 'Hooray for Geun-cheol!' Show me something like that."
"Wha... why would I do something like that? You really are insane."
Si-hoo turned his head away, embarrassed, as I explained.
"Heh heh heh, you little brat. You embarrassed? Hey. Hey. Stop fussing and do it. I want to be congratulated by you."
I said that, grabbing his shoulders and shaking him.
"J-just ask Yu-ri or Leona to do that for you!"
"What?"
"I'm kinda tired, I'm gonna rest!"
"Huh? Hey! Hey, man! Si-hoo!"
ㅡWhoosh!
Si-hoo bolted up from his seat and sprinted away!
The kid actually ran?!
"Aigo, this brat got sulky!"
Seems he got mad that I ditched him and got snatched up by Leona and Yu-ri earlier!
* * *
ㅡTap tap tap!
Running on autopilot, she soon reached the dorms. She didn't feel like going back. Should she just skip class without permission? Seeing how hot her head was, she figured she could just pretend she'd felt sick to begin with.
So Lee Si-hoo went into her room.
"Seriously...! Geun-cheol, what am I supposed to do?!"
The moment she went inside, she felt suffocated. It was all Kim Geun-cheol's fault. Feeling the heat rising in her body, Lee Si-hoo took off her clothes.
"Haah."
Only then did she feel a bit of relief.
"What the hell! Throwing away a friend!"
Sitting on the bed, Lee Si-hoo grumbled.
Kim Geun-cheol... lately, he'd been tossing his friend aside like an old shoe and only hanging out having fun with Leona and Yu-ri. Thinking about it, her heart felt restlessly uneasy—no, it was pounding hard.
Recently, he only hung around with Yu-ri and Leona, leaving her completely out in the cold. That bastard Kim Geun-cheol.
"So girls really are better than friendship? Huh? Geun-cheol. Is that how it's gonna be?"
After saying that for no real reason, Lee Si-hoo.
"Aaaaaah!"
Burying her face in the pillow, she kicked the bed with a thud-thud-thud as she screamed.
"Haah."
Sighs kept escaping. Throwing away friendship just to hang out with girls. This isn't anything else—Kim Geun-cheol was definitely in the wrong. That's what Lee Si-hoo thought.
"Argh! I can't take it!"
She sprang up from the bed.
Then she pulled out the box she'd hidden under the bed. As she grabbed and opened it, Lee Si-hoo's flushed face carried a curious sense of anticipation, and her eyes held a faint hint of madness.
"Throwing away friendship for some girls?"
ㅡSlide.
She opened the box.
"Throwing away your friend?"
She took out the girls' uniform stored inside.
"Geun-cheol, do you like girls that much?"
Lee Si-hoo, as if possessed by something akin to madness, unwrapped the bandages and put on the girls' uniform. It was a uniform she had obtained due to an impulse even she couldn't understand.
"I said, do you?!"
Wearing the uniform, Lee Si-hoo shed every constraint she had maintained to imitate a male. Every single one, from head to toe. She'd put immense effort into pretending to be a man. But she didn't want to right now.
And so, for the first time in her life, Lee Si-hoo looked like an ordinary girl.
An ordinary girl who made no attempt to hide that she was a woman.
"...!"
A powerful impulse struck Lee Si-hoo's brain. Right now, she wasn't just without her male disguise—she was in the state of an ordinary girl.
She wanted to check this appearance.
She wanted to see how she looked.
She wanted to stand in front of the mirror.
That's what she thought.
ㅡGulp.
Swallowing, she slowly approached the mirror. The moment she stood in front of it.
"Gasp?!"
Lee Si-hoo swallowed her breath.
Looking at herself in the mirror, she thought.
"N-no, this is..."
Seems way too lewd...