Tutorial (2): Dakein's Deadly Straw Dolls

The straw dummies lined up inside the training hall.

Typically, newbie players fresh into the game test their skills on those dummies or grind repetitive swings to build stats. And while other players breeze past them carelessly, the protagonist pulls ahead with a cliché grind of 10,000 grateful swings for stats!

But the scene unfolding in the training hall right now was a far cry from that.

"Argh, time out! Time! Time, you bastard!"

"Why the hell is a dummy using sword techniques?!"

"I'm done with warrior... I wanna switch to priest..."

Instead of the players hitting the dummies, they were getting pummeled right back! I watched the spectacle with curious eyes.

Nothing like that back in my day?

Maybe tech advanced over the 30 years? Either way, it looked incredibly useful for training. Sparring against a sword-wielding opponent beat hacking at a motionless haystack any day—it was common sense for real improvement.

As I stepped inside, a bearded man with a limp approached, dragging his right leg.

"Welcome. I'm Philip, the instructor here at the training hall. And you are?"

"I'm Yuri. Nice to meet ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠you."

I replied politely, but a nagging sense of familiarity tugged at me. Where do I know this from?

Philip, Philip? Common name, but the face feels... ah!

A sudden memory hit me, and I inwardly exclaimed. That's right—the kid from the Sword Tower back in the day! Pure-hearted boy overflowing with passion for the sword. His eyes sparkled whenever he saw me; I even gave him a few pointers because he was so cute.

That little squirt's all grown up already?

The bushy beard made him hard to recognize at first, but imagining him clean-shaven matched the young Philip perfectly. Never expected to run into someone I knew right after returning.

Still, seeing he'd grown up without dying somewhere filled me with a warm gladness. As I looked at him with appreciative eyes, he seemed to sense something off, furrowing his brow before pointing to a wall with one finger.

"Grab a sword from over there and face the dummy. But first, let me teach you basic swordsmanship. Oh, if you'd prefer a different weapon..."

"No, I'll stick with the sword."

"Haha, perfect. I can teach other weapons too, of course, but as a swordsman myself, the sword's my specialty."

Satisfied with my answer, Philip smiled and began demonstrating grip techniques, stance, and a few basic swings.

But...

I frowned slightly watching his movements. He'd limped over earlier too—was his right leg injured? He wasn't walking properly, and from the familiar posture and motions, it didn't seem temporary.

Permanent disability, probably. And that wasn't all that puzzled me. Why was a Sword Tower graduate slumming it as an instructor in this backwater hall? Even with the limp, he had the skills for a prestigious imperial dojo.

As I pondered, he finished his detailed demo.

"...Keep your lower body firm—no losing your center. Common newbie mistake. If you get pulled off-balance by your own swing, you're wide open for a counter."

"Got it. Understood."

"Good. Now go face the dummy. Doing it once beats watching a hundred times."

With that brief lesson done,

the skill notification popped up.

Meaningless to me.

What use did I have for basic swordsmanship or movement corrections? I ignored it effortlessly.

I checked the quest alert, then gripped a sword hanging on the wall.

As expected, the sword's quality was mediocre. But a true master could cleave mithril with a twig. No need for a legendary blade to chop a hay dummy.

I approached an empty one without a care.

- Creak. Whirr.

The dummy turned toward me with an eerie hum. Its info window appeared overhead.

They even stuck a magic stone in it? Those aren't cheap. Fancy material for a training golem. Prices drop in 30 years?

I shook off the stray thought and took position opposite it, sword tip casually lowered—not aimed at it.

- Whoosh!

The dummy's eyes glowed red as it lunged. True to the info, pretty fast. Its joints rotated smoothly mid-air, slashing down.

Well made.

I simply raised my sword into its path.

- Thud.

The golem's head sliced clean off painlessly. One strike. I twisted aside as its body crumpled past harmlessly.

"...Huh?"

"What was that?"

"Did the dummy just suicide?"

Nearby players murmured in confusion. A pathetic end compared to the beatings they were taking.

Their eyes locked on one spot.

- Click.

I sheathed the sword silently at the center.

Easy.

As I checked the system messages, Philip approached with a stunned look.

"I was going to advise on your weak points... Have you trained with a sword before?"

"No formal teacher—self-taught."

Not a lie. I'd never learned from anyone. If anything, from the foes I'd slain.

"Even so, that level means no need for basics... Should've said something."

Oh.

I inwardly winced. Not a big deal, but he might feel tricked. I'd been lost reminiscing about the kid whose eyes lit up at my lessons, now teaching others myself.

...Have I been alone too long? Social skills rusty? Need more chit-chat practice.

"Sorry. Wasn't intentional—just slipped my mind."

I bowed my head sincerely.

"No need to apologize over nothing... Anyway, since you beat the dummy, wait a moment? Got a simple test coming up."

"A test?"

"Yes. Pass, and you'll get a special gift. Not mandatory, of course. You can leave now and still get full training completion."

A system alert appeared simultaneously.

I nodded at the message.

"I'll wait."

Curious about the test. Gift? Meh.

...So I sat in the corner, watching players get thrashed by dummies. Philip observed quietly, then jumped in to correct stances and give tailored advice.

"Can't do it, give up. Switching starting points."

"Priest for me... Can't handle combat jobs."

Some logged out in frustration, but

"Finally broke it, fuuuuck!!!"

"Thought I was dead, you shit..."

the rest succeeded one by one, thanks to his tips. I smiled warmly watching.

Good teacher, Philip.Learned well from me. That's how I taught at the Sword Tower—beat 'em till they improved. Philip took plenty of hits too...

Anyway. Time passed.

Only dummy-victors remained when Philip finally spoke.

"Time for the test. Note: Failing still counts as full completion with a small bonus reward. But if you pass..."

He drew his sword.

"...I'll give ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the top scorer a recommendation letter for the Sword Tower."

...Wait, what?