novelraw Chapter 44 : Chapter 44
Chapter 44 : Chapter 44
Chapter 44: Specialty Training
Zero Academy's swordsmanship training ground.
On the widely stretched wooden floor, sharp marks from training swords remained here and there.
The surroundings were an open structure.
The wind brushed past as is, and the sunlight from the distant sky was spread thinly.
Cadets in formation were catching their breath and watching the center.
In the middle, a huge shadow stood.
Kang Mooseong.
His height was well over 2 meters, and his bursting muscles were clearly visible even under the training uniform.
The training sword in one hand looked like a toy knife in front of his physique.
Sun-tanned skin, an angular jaw, and sharp eyes harmonized to emit a pressure that made it impossible to approach him carelessly.
Kang Mooseong's gaze slowly scanned the formation.
The cadets lined up in front of him stood strangely tense.
Stiff expressions, what will we do from now on?
Wariness and curiosity flowed out as if harboring doubts.
It is a common reaction on the first day of Specialty Training.
Especially cadets in the weaponry track had their own swordsmanship styles they learned, and those from prestigious families often possessed family secret techniques passed down for generations.
Everyone was bound to wonder at least once how he would embrace and train such disparate cadets.
"One guy is missing."
Kang Mooseong looked around the audience and spoke.
A reverberation arose among the cadets.
They looked at each other and exchanged silent opinions.
To think there is a guy fearless enough to be late for Instructor Kang Mooseong's training. He has some nerve.
"Well, forget it. Let's start."
Before focus could scatter, Kang Mooseong took the reins again.
"Since the techniques you each possess are different, what kind of training will we do?"
Kang Mooseong clasped his hands behind his back and moved his steps as he continued.
"You will have such thoughts. To state the conclusion first, you can throw those worries away."
Kang Mooseong's lips rose crookedly.
"In Specialty Training, I teach the method to make the frames you possess shine brighter. It is named Ohseong (悟性)."
At the unfamiliar word, a few cadets subtly frowned.
Kang Mooseong took a step forward and lowered his voice.
"Awakening Ohseong means building the 'meaning' hidden behind the techniques you use. And establishing the state you desire upon that meaning. That is called 'Achieving Mastery'."
A hand went up from the front row.
"What does Achieving Mastery mean?"
"Someone becomes a family head who establishes a swordsmanship family, and someone becomes a guild master. Or one could rise to the position of a master artisan. In a word, it is achieving the final goal you have drawn in your heart."
His gaze scanned the formation again.
"The purpose of Specialty Training is to teach the method to establish that meaning. Technique comes after that. These days, there are many bastards who chase only technique with the priorities reversed."
Kang Mooseong nodded his chin lightly and instructed.
"Right now, try delivering a strike comfortably according to your skill."
SWISH— WHIP—
Sounds of cutting wind burst out in succession from all directions.
Kang Mooseong, with his arms crossed, nodded.
"This is the starting point. However, just now, you sprinted while riding on the back of a horse. Now you have to do the opposite."
Do the opposite? Question marks floated on everyone's faces.
Seeing that, the corners of Kang Mooseong's mouth rose slightly.
"With all your might, complete the beginning and the end most slowly. However, you must not stop the movement for even a single moment."
At Kang Mooseong's words, the cadets' expressions were divided.
There were those who naturally took a stance as if accustomed, and those who tilted their heads and whispered.
"Is he telling us to swing slowly?"
"How does that help?"
"Does not stopping mean lowering it by about 0.1mm at a time? How are we supposed to distinguish that?"
They probably thought it was a quiet conversation shared only among themselves, but Kang Mooseong's ears did not miss a single thing.
"That is correct. The moment you stop even slightly, it is a disqualification. How do I distinguish it? I do it with my eyes. Any other questions?"
When Kang Mooseong grinned and answered the chatter they were having among themselves, the cadets' expressions froze in an instant.
At that moment, a cadet lifting his sword as if accustomed caught his eye.
‘Lee Junhyeok.’
The son of the Sword Emperor.
Dark red hair and clear, shining golden eyes.
Handsome appearance and broad shoulders, conviction and confidence were dwelt in his unwavering gaze.
Behind him, there was a guy striking the same pose but exchanging crooked smiles with a surrounding gang.
Seo Seungbeom.
Dark brown hair and eyes slanted upwards gave off a delinquent impression.
He was on the watch list for his bad attitude, but the training ingrained in his body and the spirit with which he held the sword were not fake.
And rough footsteps approached from afar.
The only boy who fearlessly arrived late for this class.
‘He's here. Baekseok's disciple.’
The corners of Kang Mooseong's mouth slowly curled up.
***
"Haa…… Haa……."
Thanks to running with all my might, I barely avoided unauthorized absence.
If it went beyond lateness and was processed as an absence, I didn't even want to imagine what kind of punishment I would have received from Kang Mooseong.
[Kim Doyoon]
[Surprise, Tension, Mockery]
[Park Soyeon]
[Curiosity, Wariness, Surprise]
As I entered the training ground, the names and emotions of the lined-up cadets floated up like waves.
‘I'm getting useless attention for being late.’
Inwardly resenting Jin Cheongha, I pressed my temples.
Although the headache caused by the Eye of Deception had reduced significantly compared to before, it hadn't completely disappeared.
Anyway, the thing I had to pay most attention to right now was something else.
I looked at the muscular man standing in the center of the training ground.
[Kang Mooseong]
[Interest, Curiosity, Enjoyment]
‘……He isn't angry?’
I was worried I would suffer something severe for being late as soon as I arrived, but for now, it seems okay.
Of course, I cannot relax.
Kang Mooseong is famous for rolling cadets as harshly as his intimidating appearance suggests.
"Late from the first Specialty Training……. You have some nerve."
A heavy voice echoed through the training ground.
SNICKER-
At the same time, small bursting laughter.
[Seo Seungbeom]
[Conceit, Enjoyment, Jealousy]
As I looked toward the side where the laughter was particularly loud, I saw a gang that seemed to be boasting about being delinquents.
Centered around Seo Seungbeom, guys who are just annoying if you get involved with them for no reason.
"Late for Instructor Kang Mooseong's time."
"He must be crazy."
"He's acting arrogant just because he's getting some attention lately."
Their chattering as if wanting me to hear was annoying, but I fixed my gaze on Kang Mooseong.
Whatever they blabbered, what mattered was Kang Mooseong's words.
"I do not remember telling you guys to make a disturbance."
Kang Mooseong recited low toward Seo Seungbeom's gang.
At that one word, the surrounding laughter subsided in an instant.
Soon, Kang Mooseong moved his gaze back to me and continued.
"Don't think about standing at the very end. Come here."
The place he pointed to with his chin was the very front row.
‘Damn it.’
It meant he would mark me exclusively throughout the entire class.
Kang Mooseong's gaze seemed to pierce through my side as I caught my breath next to him.
I feel tired already.
But there is no other way.
Since I'm late, I can't just blend in.
"For the latecomer, I will tell you again what we are doing today."
Kang Mooseong spoke slowly.
"Swing the sword. As slowly as you can. However, you must not stop for even a split second."
DING-!
[Tactical Manual]
[Special Task: Devotion]
[This is training to breathe with the sword and awaken Ohseong. Let's try swinging the sword at a very slow speed.]
[Reward: 5,000 SP, Stats according to training performance]
Kang Mooseong's voice firmly cut across the training ground.
The Tactical Manual immediately presented what needed to be done in the form of a task.
It provides a decent reward, but it doesn't seem like something to hang my neck on.
Just as I was thinking that.
"It would be a shame to just do it. Only the top 10 who endure for a long time will finish the training. The rest will have 'Supplementary Training' with me. It will be very fun."
Supplementary Training.
At that single word, the formation stirred.
"Isn't top 10 out of 42 doable?"
"Idiot, the top few are already decided."
"I saw it on the bulletin board. Avoid Instructor Kang Mooseong's training at all costs……."
"I heard he really makes you do it until you faint. What do we do?"
Leaving the noise that spread briefly to savor it, Kang Mooseong opened his mouth again.
"Silence! The rules do not change. Only the top 10 survive. Oh right, there was a separate latecomer."
Kang Mooseong smiled widely and looked at me.
"The latecomer gets Supplementary Training if he isn't 1st place. If you are 1st, I will let you off."
A declaration like a bolt from the blue struck down.
DING-!
[Tactical Manual]
[If you do not achieve 1st place in the task, 'Corporal Punishment' will be carried out.]
[Corporal Punishment: Kang Mooseong's Special Training]
[You must fulfill all penalty training presented by Kang Mooseong. If you fail to fulfill all penalties, you will receive the following penalty.]
[Penalty: Right Arm Loss]
‘…….’
A bolt out of the blue struck.
So to summarize.
If I lose the mission, I get Kang Mooseong's special training.
If I fail to complete all of Kang Mooseong's special training.
‘I become one-armed?’
The problem is, Kang Mooseong is a crazy human who presents a training amount that cadets cannot possibly complete.
Because he literally puts you through hell training until you collapse and faint.
When two facts are combined, this conclusion comes out.
‘If I don't get 1st place, I become Captain Hook.’
It didn't take that long to reach that realization.
Just as I was dumbfounded for a moment.
"Something is burning up. Right?"
Someone spoke to me from the side.
As I turned my head to the right, a boy was looking at me.
A boy with dark red hair and wearing a crisp training uniform.
It was a familiar face.
Because he was a main character of [Heroes Zero] and a playable character as well.
‘Lee Junhyeok.’
The flashy background of being the Sword Emperor's son, as well as his neat dark red hair and gentle golden eyes were impressive.
A bold spirit was felt in his powerful tone.
Right now, he was also the most problematic obstacle for me.
Because if I don't endure longer than this guy, I will receive Kang Mooseong's training as is.
[Lee Junhyeok]
[Competitive Spirit, Interest, Expectation]
A so-called 'Hot-blooded Character' who feels pleasure from doing his best in anything.
And now, that temperament is tightening around my neck.
"Yeah, but let's not overdo it. Winning is good, but they say too much of anything isn't good."
"Haha, that's a funny joke."
As expected, it doesn't work. Damn it.
"Okay, take your stances! Ready! Start!"
Kang Mooseong's shout roughly ringing the training ground echoed out.
Everyone began to slowly thrust out their raised swords.