Sparring (3)
She made her proposal very cautiously, yet infused with strong determination.
The response came immediately.
“No.”
“So, the favor I wanted to ask is— Huh...?”
Jin Yu-ri, who had been rehearsing her follow-up words, whipped her head around in surprise. Lee Sea kept walking straight ahead, refusing again in a voice that sounded even more prim than usual.
“We just need to decide on the group project. I don’t want to do any other bets.”
“Oh... really? Still... at least hear me out. If you win—”
“I’m satisfied these days. I don’t really want anything, and there’s nothing else I want to do here. Betting wouldn’t get me anything.”
I do! Jin Yu-ri swallowed those words deep inside. Her heart was dying for it, but the knife was in the other’s hand—she couldn’t push too hard. All she could do was glance sidelong at Lee Sea, trying to convey her intent indirectly.
But Lee Sea ignored her rival’s desperate gaze and marched on wordlessly. It was already late, so the two caught a taxi and arrived at their destination just past 6:30 p.m.
The training ground that Charlotte Tate—who had been in Korea for over three weeks already—had rented out entirely.
After changing clothes and entering the main training room, a man and woman who had arrived first greeted them.
Charlotte Tate and Andrey Ilyin. It was a familiar sight seeing Andrey Ilyin tagging along, apparently with little else to do since coming to Korea. Charlotte Tate asked, looking faintly amused.
“Why do you both look like that? Today’s training is mostly free sparring, so it shouldn’t be too tough.”
“......”
“Oh, it’s nothing.”
Jin Yu-ri explained on behalf of Lee Sea, who was even worse at making excuses than she was. They’d gotten a group project assignment in yesterday’s magic dynamics class. Their opinions had clashed, so they’d decided to settle it with a spar.
Andrey Ilyin, listening from afar, let out a snort of laughter. Charlotte Tate, even more intrigued, asked again.
“Magic dynamics—that’s Dojin’s class, right? I’m curious what the assignment was and what methods you two each chose.”
This time, the two answered in turn. In short, Lee Sea’s approach supplemented theoretical understanding with individual capabilities. Jin Yu-ri’s stuck to the standard structure and solved any shortcomings within it.
Having heard their explanations, Charlotte Tate asked teasingly.
“I bet you two thought something like this. Sea: ‘There’s a more efficient way, so why make more work?’ Yuri: ‘If you’re gonna do it like that, why do the assignment at all? Why go off on your own?’”
Lee Sea and Jin Yu-ri fell silent, pierced right on the mark. Charlotte Tate continued.
“Neither side is wrong. It’s just differences in temperament, in which talents have developed. I know someone who became a top-tier powerhouse using Sea’s method, and someone who shattered their limits with Yuri’s. So I respect that both your ways have merit... but...”
She paused briefly, then flicked her index finger.
Pew~
Two practice swords hanging on one wall of the training ground shot toward Jin Yu-ri and Lee Sea like arrows, stopping right in front of them. As the two gripped their swords, Charlotte Tate taunted.
“I can’t guarantee you’ll reach that level. So prove it right here. I don’t know about the future... but at least right now, my way is right.”
The method was simple. Use the knowledge and power they’d originally trained in. The gains from training under Charlotte Tate so far. Apply them according to their own logic in the spar.
“Twenty minutes each round. First ten for sparring, next ten for feedback and rest. No school tomorrow, right? You can go until dawn if you want. Keep going until there’s a clear winner or one of you gives up from exhaustion.”
Lee Sea resolved herself. She’d settle it decisively and win.
Jin Yu-ri resolved herself. Even if she collapsed midway, she absolutely wouldn’t give up first.
Around 9:30 p.m., I was driving Arnaud Duré somewhere.
He muttered contentedly from the passenger seat.
“I thought it’d take days, but finishing in one is a relief.”
“Sorry it got so late.”
“Nah. Analyzing the data was fun, and watching your constructs improve every time they moved to a new spot was fun too. I might not look it, but I’ve got a real thirst for knowledge.”
“Glad to hear that.”
The five locations Arnaud Duré had selected. After a marathon of over half a day, we’d visited them all. The common goal was gathering data for research. And my personal goal had yielded significant results too.
The anomaly where my black heart reacted when I activated mana absorption. Not all five places, but more than one. I had some suspicions, so I’d need to discuss with Seo Yeon-hee.
Speeding down the dim road, I asked Arnaud Duré.
“They’re still training, right?”
About an hour ago. Sea hadn’t picked up, and when Arnaud Duré called Charlotte Tate, she said they were in the middle of it.
“Yeah, Lottie was really into it. Want me to call again?”
Arnaud Duré held his phone to his ear.
“Hey, Lottie. Right now—”
Kuwaaaang!
Charlotte Tate’s voice didn’t come through clearly. Just a massive roar loud enough to reach me echoed from the receiver. After a brief exchange, Arnaud Duré ended the call with a chuckle.
“She says she’s busy, don’t bother her. Haven’t seen Lottie this excited in years. Her new disciples must be something special.”
“...Is that so?”
Who knows. From what I could see, she was teaching Sea and Jin Yu-ri with great enthusiasm, but I couldn’t view her actions as purely benevolent. I’d need to keep a close eye on this going forward.
“Ah, we’re here.”
Charlotte Tate’s rented training ground came into view ahead. After parking, Arnaud Duré and I headed to the main training room where everyone would be gathered.
Thud!Kuung!
Even with good soundproofing, the impacts echoed down the hall. With worry and anticipation, I opened the training room door.
“Stop! Both of you, come here.”
Right on cue for a break, Charlotte Tate shouted, calling Sea and Jin Yu-ri over. Both looked... pretty wrecked. Their sturdy training uniforms were torn in places, faces and necks drenched in sweat, hair half-undone and plastered to their cheeks.
As they trudged toward Charlotte Tate, exhausted, they suddenly turned their gazes. Toward me, who’d just entered.
I waved with a smile at their stares. Maybe embarrassed with an audience, Sea and Jin Yu-ri’s faces flushed a bit as they listened to Charlotte Tate’s feedback.
Then Andrey Ilyin approached me and Arnaud Duré.
“Work go well?”
“Of course, Andy. I didn’t do much, but the research is smooth. Right, Jin?”
“Gotta put in the effort.”
I kept my response humble and brief. Andrey Ilyin. Currently the hero with the highest chance of being a true traitor. He was so taciturn it was hard to find clear clues right away. Probably too much for today, but I needed to hunt for leads...
As the three of us chatted idly, Charlotte Tate clapped her hands.
“Feedback’s done. Rest a bit more, then continue.”
At her words, Sea and Jin Yu-ri set down their practice swords. They shared a sports drink amicably, then shuffled over to me. Sea in front, Jin Yu-ri a couple steps behind, maybe feeling awkward alone.
Sea wiped sweat from her forehead and cheek, asking me.
“Just got here?”
“Yeah, heard you’ve got a ways to go? Might not end till morning.”
I’d planned to grab chicken with Sea after training. From what I heard before coming and from Andrey Ilyin, if Sea and Jin Yu-ri wanted, they might train till dawn. There were nap rooms here, so waiting and driving them home wasn’t an issue—but no chicken then.
But... Sea spoke with grim resolve.
“We’ll finish this spar and go.”
“Who said you decide—”
Jin Yu-ri, who’d just quietly greeted me, bristled. Sea shot back calmly.
“We just go till the end this time. Till it’s decided.”
“...If that’s how it is, fine.”
Yeah, they both looked exhausted to me anyway—good time to wrap up. I told Jin Yu-ri, catching her breath.
“I’ll drive you home too, Yuri. It’s late.”
“Oh... th-thank you, Professor...”
“Or since you’re probably hungry, Sea and I were gonna eat something. Wanna join us three? Bit late, though...”
“Huh? Oh, n-no! I’m fine!”
“Going home?”
“N-no... I mean, you said eating first is okay...”
Then Charlotte Tate called them.
“Break’s over! This spar’s the last, right? Remember what I said, and do it properly.”
“...Yes. Be right back.”
“Yes! Professor, um... that is... what’re you eating...?”
“Chicken.”
“Oh, I love chicken! Love it so much! I definitely wanna eat and go home.”
Jin Yu-ri bowed, emphasizing how much she loved chicken while staring straight at me, then followed Sea.
The atmosphere felt oddly serious. Less like a spar and more like... what to call it.
I pondered briefly, then found the word.
This feels just like back then. When Sea and Jin Yu-ri fought in the classroom. If anything, the chill was even stronger now.
“--- ----.”
“-- -- ---.”
Walking side by side, Sea and Jin Yu-ri whispered to each other, inaudible. They’d gotten closer, so maybe deciding on a chicken place. Finishing their talk, they faced off, swords raised.
“Begin!”
Right after Charlotte Tate’s call.
Kwaaaang!
A shockwave—what you’d call a roar—burst from Sea and Jin Yu-ri as they charged.
“You’re really coming?”
“...What?”
Lee Sea eyed Jin Yu-ri sidelong as she flinched but shot back. Beating around the bush wouldn’t work—she’d have to be direct.
“It’s almost ten. It’s late.”
“I called home saying I don’t know when. And the professor invited me first.”
“......”
Lee Sea was momentarily speechless. She wanted to snap it was just politeness, but she knew Lee Dojin wouldn’t say that. For some reason, he really cared for Jin Yu-ri.
But Lee Sea didn’t want to give up like this. Her plan was to end training refreshed and eat something tasty just the two of them. Three wouldn’t change much, but two was definitely better.
And a thought struck her.
“That bet you proposed.”
“Huh?”
“Before coming here, at school. You said bet and I’d grant a favor.”
“Oh, yeah... So?”
“Do that. What favor were you gonna ask?”
“......”
Jin Yu-ri hesitated. After a few seconds...
She murmured in a tiny voice.
“Um, end of the month... my dad’s birthday...”
“And?”
“Haven’t bought a gift yet, don’t know what... But professor’s an adult, so if he picked—”
“How would I pick a gift?”
“Go shopping together... Not just us two, you come too, eat, maybe a movie if time, on the weekend...”
“......”
Lee Sea weighed the gains of winning against the losses of losing on her mental scales. The verdict was clear.
Just win.
No need to worry about losses. Just win.
Decision made, Lee Sea told Jin Yu-ri.
“Fine. Let’s bet.”
“For real? No take-backs.”
“Whatever. If I win, you go home and eat instant noodles alone.”
“I don’t eat ramen late. Makes my eyes puffy.”
“...Whatever.”
“Then if I win... you do as I say?”
“Won’t happen.”
“...We’ll see.”
Jin Yu-ri replied indignantly, and the two faced each other in the center of the training ground. They wanted different things, but thought the same.
I have to win this.
And...
“Begin!”
The final spar of the day began.