I Entered an Academy in a Ruined Game

Chapter 27 : Cockatrice (2)

"Here it is."

The interior of the sparring room was quite pleasant.

'When I see things like this, I sometimes get confused about what game genre this is.'

The sparring room also supported sci-fi features like hologram and virtual reality avatar settings.

It worked by retrieving the user's physical and mana data to create an avatar with similar specs, enabling virtual combat.

Of course, it couldn't compare to real combat, but its significance lay in allowing sparring using characteristics freely without risk to human life.

'The setting was that this kind of mana engineering had developed greatly over decades after the Gate Era began.'

Meanwhile, in individual training rooms, besides simulation training, one could also face actual training dummies.

They looked similar to the dummies I met during the entrance exam.

But their hardness was incomparably greater.

'Considering all these elements, the tuition that cadets have to pay is really just a drop in the bucket.'

The cost of raising one Execution Force member was truly astronomical.

"This must be your first time coming in here too."

"Yeah."

Lee Yu-jin answered.

"Usually I hone my sword alone in the individual training room, fight with dummies, or engage in virtual reality combat."

But that must not be enough.

"Since it's our first day, shall we take it easy?"

"I'm fine with whatever."

We agreed to meet once every two days.

Lee Yu-jin would get sparring with me, and I would receive sword instruction.

'Boxing and swords are different after all.'

Hands are parts of my body attached to me.

So the process of directly acquiring combat methods and techniques in my mind doesn't require a long time.

But handling a sword was somewhat different.

'Bare hands alone aren't enough.'

I needed to train to be effective in any battlefield by utilizing both weapons and unarmed combat.

'The Execution Force has too many restrictions.'

Subduing is much more difficult and complicated than killing.

It's somewhat similar to the dynamic between police and criminals.

Subduing Ma-in and then transferring them to specialized detention centers after going through procedures.

That was the punishment method that human society agreed upon for beings who were once human.

Following this trend, the Execution Force emphasized the importance of martial arts focused on neutralizing enemies, such as unarmed combat and staff techniques, as well as bladed weapons like swords and spears.

'Hunters don't have such considerations.'

For demonic beasts, they just pour out their abilities unreservedly to catch them, and that's it.

Anyway.

I too, according to such restrictions, established the optimal direction through trial and error in each playthrough, learning various weapons like guns, knives, fists, and spears.

In this context, for my combat style that uses both sword and fist, a one-handed sword was a more suitable weapon than a two-handed sword.

"Su-hyeon, just a moment."

Clatter clatter.

Lee Yu-jin took out several swords from a large bag that looked like a cello case.

"This is a wooden sword made of ebony. I received it as a birthday present from my grandfather when I was 12."

Lee Yu-jin showed the dark-colored wooden sword with a proud face.

"It looks sturdy."

"Yeah. That's why I still use it often, even though I received it when I was young."

Her gaze showed attachment.

"And this is a masterpiece made by processing branches cut from a plant-type demonic beast that my grandfather hunted himself. Among sword practitioners......"

Lee Yu-jin, who was excitedly showing off, seemed a bit embarrassed and cleared her throat before showing another sword.

"Ahem. And this is a blunt sword. Lately, I've been training a lot with this."

A blunt sword refers to a sword without a sharpened edge.

Since possession of real swords is not licensed to anyone except those with Hunter licenses or Execution Force members in principle, Lee Yu-jin's weapon had to be a blunt sword for now.

'Of course, if you coat it with sword energy, it becomes an excellent lethal weapon.'

Being able to manifest sword energy is universally recognized as a qualification of an outstanding swordsman in any world view.

In the Edge of Gate world view, the level at which one can manifest sword energy is considered possible from C-rank onwards.

'Even I can't do that yet.'

It's a level impossible without deep understanding and utilization ability of mana.

'This body still lacks training in that aspect.'

It was a separate issue from me being a veteran player.

"Then let's check the basics first."

Lee Yu-jin handed me the ebony wooden sword.

'She doesn't give this to just anyone?'

I was a bit taken aback.

Does she think she owes me that much for what happened during the entrance exam?

"Understand that what I can teach you is two-handed swordsmanship."

"Of course."

Lee Yu-jin's school is basically based on the martial art of kendo, which has its origins in Japan.

Naturally, she used two-handed sword-type weapons similar to Japanese katanas.

'But its form has changed quite a bit from kendo.'

Sword God Lee Un-hak.

Until the Gates opened, he was a promising young man called a genius in the kendo world.

But the era when cold weapons played a role on the battlefield had already ended hundreds of years ago.

The sword, which had become an old relic, barely survived in the realm of traditional culture and sports.

Nevertheless, this anachronistic man's passion for the sword was truly ardent.

Lee Un-hak, who conquered the world in kendo competitions at just over 20 years of age, then took off his kendo armor.

The place he turned his eyes to was Europe.

There, Lee Un-hak studied various medieval sword techniques like longsword fencing or sabre fencing, met practitioners, sparred with them, and delved into the sword.

If the Gates hadn't opened, he might have at best set up his own dojo to gather students or appeared on TV as an eccentric, but.

The emergence of Gates completely changed his fate.

Finally finding a battlefield where he could fully express his passion, he melted down the realm he had built up over decades by cutting down demonic beasts again and again to create a school.

'That's exactly the sword technique that Lee Yu-jin learned.'

In particular, because he completely deleted techniques for scoring points that were possible "because they didn't assume real sword fighting" that existed in traditional kendo, traces of kendo are not as visible in the current Lee Un-hak style as one might think.

'It's a very aggressive and powerful sword technique.'

Because he married late due to being obsessed with swords, Lee Un-hak had quite an age difference with his children.

His three sons all followed their father's path of the sword, and especially his youngest son, 'Sword Warrior' Lee Cheong-myeong, who inherited the most of his father's talent, became known as one of the greatest swordsmen next to the Sword God, further increasing the fame of the Lee Un-hak style of swordsmanship.

'Come to think of it, it's also incredible that at that age he's still stronger than his son.'

Deepening in the realm of the sword and the aging of physical abilities are different matters.

But even at that age, Lee Un-hak still boasted a vigorous body like a young man.

"Let's start with the grip. First, grasp the bottom of the handle with your left hand like this......"

I know that well.

"Like this?"

When I demonstrated it well, Lee Yu-jin looked a bit surprised.

"Yes, you're doing well. Next is the middle stance position......"

This, of course, was also ingrained in my body.

'Well, these basic parts are nothing.'

"Oh, then next I'll teach you footwork. Push-walking is the basic, and there are methods called connected-walking, normal-walking, and spread-walking."

Lee Yu-jin said.

"Of course, these are just the basics, and the footwork established by my grandfather is much more diverse. I'll teach you that slowly."

"Good."

But I also followed Lee Yu-jin's demonstration well after watching it.

Though it has a different feel from boxing footwork, which is similar to fencing, it was a familiar method to me.

"......Su-hyeon learns extremely quickly?"

Hmm.

Should I hide it a bit?

"Su-hyeon......"

Finally, Lee Yu-jin, who had planned to teach all sorts of basics, looked at me with eyes that seemed to say, "What exactly are you?"

"I'm not completely unfamiliar, I've seen a bit over shoulders, so that's why."

"I see."

Only after I explained it almost apologetically did Lee Yu-jin nod as if she finally understood.

"Now that you've learned the grip and footwork, shall we try swinging the sword?"

Lee Yu-jin demonstrated directly.

"You swing a sword with your torso. If you swing with just your arms, it's too shallow, and you end up being controlled by centrifugal force."

"Indeed."

"But it's also problematic to use a baseball or golf-like method where you put everything into one swing starting from your lower body. You need to display continuous linked offense and defense. Therefore......"

Following Lee Yu-jin's explanation, I gripped the sword and cut down from the upper right to the lower left.

"How's that?"

"......That's really good?"

Lee Yu-jin's eyes widened.

"I've been feeling this since earlier, but Su-hyeon has considerable talent for swords. Is it because you know how to use your body well?"

"That might be it."

In any case, a sword is an extension of the hand.

If one has a high understanding of center of gravity and body balance, the starting point is naturally different from a beginner.

Lee Yu-jin seemed to accept it that way, but.

'Trying it out, I get it quickly.'

I was surprised at how easily I was getting it, more than I expected.

Indeed, Jeong Su-hyeon, the body itself is cheating.

❀⋆｡°✿☆❀✿°｡⋆❀

The two, having covered more progress than expected in the first lesson, moved on to sparring much earlier than planned.

"Let's use blunt swords for weapons."

At Su-hyeon's words, Lee Yu-jin looked worried.

"Are you sure that's okay?"

"Of course."

"Wouldn't it be better to use capsules for virtual sparring?"

"That's true, but we're not using characteristics yet anyway. I think it's better to learn by feeling it directly with our bodies."

"Yeah. That's true."

The two were wearing functional suits that greatly prevent bruising.

A cutting-edge item showing enough shock absorption to prevent bone damage even if properly hit with a blunt sword.

"Bruises heal quickly anyway."

"If you get hurt, I'll ask Yu-ha for help."

Song Yu-ha's healing ability was at a level that would surpass the current health instructor, Jang Jin-won, in the future.

"I'd appreciate that."

But Su-hyeon wasn't particularly worried about getting hurt.

'Su-hyeon. Is he confident?'

Lee Yu-jin thought.

'Even so, the idea of improving my skills through sparring with Su-hyeon, who hasn't properly learned swordsmanship.......'

She was just following her grandfather's recommendation.

Lee Yu-jin simply couldn't think that she would lose in a match using swords, not like in boxing with bare hands.

"Complacency is a harmful emotion."

She flinched at the words that seemed to read her inner thoughts.

"......That's right. Sorry."

"No need to apologize to me."

As Su-hyeon took the sword in a plausible stance, Lee Yu-jin also sharpened her aura.

"Here I come."

Keeing!

Su-hyeon, who activated Eye Power from the start, had eyes that sparkled as if containing a galaxy.

'Those eyes.......'

Lee Yu-jin flinched.

'I can't match Lee Yu-jin in fundamentals. I'll counter with evasion and parrying based on dynamic vision and distance control.'

Su-hyeon's brain was already fully focused on combat.

"Hup!"

Closing the distance with a step slightly different from the footwork she had taught, Su-hyeon executed an orthodox downward strike, which Yu-jin easily received.

Kaang!

Despite being a collision between blunt swords, sparks flew.

'His strength is tremendous.'

Lee Yu-jin felt her grip tingle after just one sword strike.

Such a gap that power contests would be impossible without using mana.

But the technique of deflecting power appropriately while clashing swords was as ingrained in Lee Yu-jin as climbing stairs.

Chang! Chang! Chahchahchang!

After exchanging a few sword strikes as if exploring, Lee Yu-jin twisted her wrist while their swords were locked.

Kagagak!

'Hmm!'

It was an attack targeting the wrist by sliding along the blade, but Su-hyeon, who saw the movement sharply, also twisted his wrist and deflected Lee Yu-jin's sword.

"!"

Lee Yu-jin's poker face wavered a bit.

'He responds to this immediately?'

Of course, it was just a very familiar attack to Su-hyeon.

'A technique that uses the wrist flexibly to attack the wrist or face instantly while swords are locked.'

In some ways it was similar to jujutsu, in that you would inevitably fall victim if you didn't know it.

'Grandfather was right. He seems to have an unusually large amount of experience.'

Lee Yu-jin once again put aside the thought that Su-hyeon was a beginner.

"Here I come!"

Two thrusts, a downward cut while closing the distance, deflecting a counterattack and diagonally cutting at the armpit.

A series of elegant yet weighty sword strikes targeted Su-hyeon, and Su-hyeon responded precisely thanks to Eye Power.

'Every sword path is rational and powerful.'

Su-hyeon thought.

However, to an experienced person, they were intuitive enough to be adequately responded to.

'Must be because of her characteristic.'

Mana Penetration.

An ability that's no different from a cheat key in close combat.

'With every clash, mana enters the body giving impact and stiffness.'

As an opponent, the structure is such that you take damage the more you exchange blows with Lee Yu-jin.

Therefore, Lee Yu-jin also preferred tactics that would decisively finish opponents by looking for openings created by accumulating damage.

'In actual combat, it would be difficult to beat Lee Yu-jin at this point. She's not the second-ranked student for nothing.'

But.

In the current situation, sparring without characteristics and mana, such tactics actually created openings to exploit.

"I'll get more serious now."

"......."

Lee Yu-jin's aura, having completely abandoned complacency, sharpened like a blade.

"Come at me as much as you want."