Warm-Up: One-Hit Knockout LOL
Kim Cheolsu had one childhood friend.
From the moment they first met, they just clicked in a special way. They shared the pain of losing their families to monsters, after all. They were the only ones who could heal each other's wounds. By the time they realized it, they were always together. Neither ever questioned it. She felt the same, even without words. They could just sense it was natural.
To Cheolsu, she was his salvation.
When he awakened and entered the academy, he vowed to protect her no matter what. He never wanted to experience losing someone precious again.
That had been his resolve—or so he thought.
"Ho, you're pretty cute, aren'tcha?"
It was a tragedy. Or maybe a natural disaster.
Younghee was definitely beautiful. Not just because she was his childhood friend. Even in the academy, where the nation's top talents gathered, she stood out. She got confessions twice a month. Of course, she turned them all down flat.
He never felt jealous. If anything, he was proud. That's how much trust there was between them. Seeing that troublemaker blush in her uniform made him swell with pride.
"What, you think you're my big bro or something?"
Younghee always teased him like that, but he couldn't help it.
But he never imagined her looks would make her a target for scum like that.
He first ran into the guy early in the semester.
"Don't do this. I already like someone."
"You sure? You'll regret it."
"No, I won't."
"We'll see about that."
He knew the guy was the heir to the infamous Black Heaven, but Cheolsu didn't care. He was just an academy student. At worst, he'd bring a gang of delinquents to bully him. Cheolsu had dealt with something similar before and crushed them instead. He had confidence.
Sure enough, nothing happened for a while.
Then one day, the orphanage director said,
"We've been worried about funding drying up, but suddenly some company offers sponsorship. What a windfall."
Looking back, that was the beginning.
Other sponsors pulled out overnight, and one company took over everything. It seemed good at first glance. But the reality was different. That one company now held the orphanage's lifeline.
Eventually, even the director got dragged off on embezzlement charges. All her connections vanished. Every tie was severed in an instant.
It wasn't hard to figure out the company was Black Heaven.
Neither said a word, but they both realized it. This was Kim Yujin's pressure.
And it didn't stop there.
At school, subtle ostracism began. No outright attacks, but whenever he tried to join a group, it awkwardly dispersed. People ignored him blatantly when he spoke.
Friends who'd fawned over him as "Korea's top prodigy" yesterday flipped overnight. Cheolsu felt betrayed. But he understood. Who'd want to cross Kim Yujin? They were living proof of what happened.
As the two were slowly cornered psychologically, Kim Yujin approached Younghee.
She was already burdened with responsibility. She probably blamed herself for the situation. Younghee tried desperately to persuade him. Yujin cleverly twisted it to his advantage, scheming to make her his.
"I can't let that happen. He can take everything else, but not Younghee."
In the end, Cheolsu decided to crush him with raw power. His sword—his greatest strength and only weapon. They were both hunters, after all. Especially in Black Heaven, where might made right. Even a scumbag like him would bow to superior force. He couldn't play dirty if he was getting wrecked.
"I don't want to resort to violence first, but..."
He couldn't stand seeing Younghee suffer anymore.
"Today, I'll break you with my strength and make sure you never approach her again."
With his resolve set, Cheolsu challenged Kim Yujin to a duel. Yujin didn't reply—he just started walking. His stride oozed confidence and arrogance.
Cheolsu steeled himself not to flinch.
'I've never lost to anyone my age. You're no different.'
He stared at Yujin's back, certain his determination wouldn't lose to some playboy toying with Younghee for fun.
...
'Huh? What a nice guy!'
Cheolsu seemed like a good dude in Yujin's mind.
'Didn't expect him to prepare practice gear himself.'
Though the gear was a bit odd. Yujin had pictured soccer or basketball, but nope—wooden swords.
'Guess that's normal in this world.'
Monsters roamed a fantasy world like this. Playing with weapons made sense. Back in Silla era, kids rode bamboo horses, right? They called those childhood weapon buddies "bamboo horse friends." Probably some tradition carried over.
'Bamboo horse pals, besties, popular kids... Ugh...!'
Just the sound made his frontal lobe tingle. So cool.
Yujin faced Cheolsu on the sports field.
He suddenly felt eyes on him and turned. Commuting students had stopped to stare. Even classroom kids were peering out windows everywhere.
'Whoa, this is awkward.'
Exercising during rush hour was super visible. Fine for an in-crowd like Cheolsu, but overwhelming for him. Couldn't they at least move to the gym?
"Do we have to fight right here, right now?"
"What nonsense? You're not chickening out, are you?"
No, he loved it. Really. Playing sports with a friend sounded great—just not with all these eyes. Unlike you, my skills suck, so it'd be embarrassing. For a total loser like me, one mistake becomes lifelong trauma.
"No regrets now. You started this."
Wait, the old Yujin suggested it first? Backing out would look bad. Yujin glanced at the wooden sword in his hand.
'Ah, I've never even swung a sword. Total noob who's never fought.'
Yujin was born soft and pure. Never even scrapped once. Kids in elementary called him "so innocent it's borderline murderous stupidity."
'...That wasn't a compliment at all?!'
Still, childhood was kinda happy. He had a few friends. How'd he end up this hulking mute? Thinking about it saddened him a bit.
"What're you doing? Grab your sword already!"
Good thing he reincarnated as Kim Yujin. A friend inviting him to play right away? Awesome. Exercise, sweat, lunch together, walk home—perfect.
Staring at him, Cheolsu suddenly frowned.
"What the hell are you doing? You gonna fight in that stance?"
Yujin flinched and checked his posture. Something wrong? This was his best. He'd only "learned" sword in middle school kendo class—hold tight with both hands, scissors grip with thumb and index?
Cheolsu held his one-handed, other hand to forehead—official sport stance, probably.
Should he copy? Nah, newbies mimicking pros end up half-assed. Focus on what he could do.
"This stance is fine for me."
"You'll be too slow to dodge properly."
"Eh, it'll be okay?"
'He doesn't move fast anyway. Probably just kid stuff—block, swing, stab.'
Cheolsu still looked displeased, face serious. Then he shook his head, like he'd given up.
"...Fine. Don't cry about losing 'cause you got careless."
Careless? Eyes glued, terrified of messing up. Was this starting as-is? No rules explained. Asking would look dumb. Did he even dare?
While worrying, Cheolsu explained himself.
"Fight ends when one admits defeat or can't continue. Got it?"
Yujin nodded silently. Thoughtful—maybe he forgot rules from hospital stay. What a nice guy.
"...Hah. Let's see how long that smugness lasts."
No smugness! The stares alone were killing him.
Anyway, game on. Cheolsu didn't charge. He circled slowly, like pre-fight scouting.
Yujin watched, then mirrored, sidestepping same direction.
'Oho! Not bad!'
He had street smarts. Copy opponent, you're halfway there.
"This bastard..."
Cheolsu's brow twitched. He stomped forward, slashing diagonally.
Fast move, but somehow not that fast.
'Just swing same way?'
Part of him hoped one hit would end it lame-style. But rude.
'Monster fighters see right through my noob skills anyway...'
Raised sword overhead both hands. Swung down hard.
Sharp straight trajectory met Cheolsu's slash.
Dull thunk—swords clash.
And shatter?
Ruthless and Bold Assault!
Infamy has risen.
Bonus stat acquired.
"Kwaaaack!"
Cheolsu flew several meters from the sword hit.
"Huh?"
Dropped sword, crashed clutching his arm. Yujin blinked between his intact bokken, Cheolsu's broken one, and the guy's busted arm.
...Ah, screwed up.