novelraw Chapter 56 : Chapter 56
Chapter 56 : Chapter 56
Chapter 56: Pain (2)
‘......Did I see wrong?’
Around lunchtime, Seol Hayun leaned against the window, lost in thought.
She had definitely seen it. The Magic Power Grass Ryu Jinwoo held had changed.
The stem swelled thickly, petals sprouted, patterns were engraved, and it even emitted light.
As if the characteristics of all categories had appeared simultaneously.
But a little while ago, when she made him hold it again, nothing actually happened.
It remained a pure white flower.
“......”
Looking down out the window, Seol Hayun shook her head.
‘Was it an illusion?’
There was no need to drag out doubts while clinging to an uncertain memory.
The Magic Power Grass was merely a simple measuring tool, after all.
The transformation could have been caused by various magic powers flowing in from the surroundings, not from Ryu Jinwoo.
Or perhaps it was merely an optical illusion.
‘No. It definitely wasn't an optical illusion.’
An uneasiness remained in a corner of her heart.
And that uneasiness soon turned into curiosity.
Perhaps it could be a clue to the enigmatic uniqueness felt from Ryu Jinwoo.
Regardless, it was a fact that her eyes kept going to him.
Just as her thoughts were about to lengthen unnecessarily, Ryu Jinwoo’s image suddenly came to mind.
The face of him looking troubled, holding a white flower in one hand.
“He must have been flustered.”
It felt awkward to realize, but from Ryu Jinwoo’s perspective, he must have wondered why she was suddenly acting like this.
Slowly, heat rose to her cheeks.
“Hayun! What are you doing?”
Do Haru, who had returned before she knew it, asked her.
“Huh? What, where are you going?”
“Just a sec, I’m going to the convenience store.”
“What are you going to buy? Training is starting soon.”
Leaving the surprised Do Haru behind, Seol Hayun stepped outside.
***
“Training is indoors today, not outdoors.”
“Maybe we're doing something different? Swinging at empty air is getting boring.”
In the afternoon after lunchtime, swordsmanship specialty training time.
The inside of the dome-shaped indoor training ground was filled with the students’ whispers.
The ceiling grid poured down bright light, and devices lined up along the walls emitted a whirring sound.
On the central ring, a rectangular simulator covered on all sides with transparent reinforced glass was placed.
The kids’ eyes shone as they looked at the massive device.
It was evident they wanted the instructor to come quickly and explain.
As the noise filling the surroundings grew louder.
The smartphone in my pocket vibrated briefly.
[Seol Hayun: Wait, look toward the entrance.]
‘......Seol Hayun?’
When I lifted my head and looked at the entrance, she was standing there.
“Here.”
As I approached wondering what was going on, she handed me a small PET bottle.
It was a cool sports drink.
“Sorry about earlier. I feel like I needlessly put you in a difficult spot.”
Seol Hayun murmured low, turning her gaze away.
I lightly accepted the bottle.
I happened to be thirsty anyway.
Of course, the cause of the burning thirst was none other than her.
Seol Hayun had caught the change in the Magic Power Grass, and I ended up being dragged to the planetarium for additional verification.
I managed to get through it somehow, but cold sweat poured down my back.
“I’ll drink it well.”
“Yeah.”
A brief silence passed.
“......Electrolytes.”
“What?”
“Electrolytes are important. Especially for people who handle swords, muscle fatigue accumulates quickly. Water alone isn't enough. Sodium, potassium, magnesium...... if the mineral balance is broken, performance drops.”
A lengthy explanation followed.
Anyone watching would think she came to advertise the drink.
“So, drink it.”
Ah, she meant drink it now.
I opened the bottle while reading the room and gulped it down.
“Good.”
She nodded as if satisfied and turned around.
“Then, work hard.”
Leaving a short remark, Seol Hayun left with quick steps.
‘What was that about in the end?’
It seemed the Magic Power Grass incident had been glossed over somehow.
The emotions captured by the Eye of Deception had changed from [Skepticism, Surprise] to [Confusion, Sorry, Embarrassment].
I had averted the crisis for now, but seeing that she was still confused, it seemed she hadn't completely moved past it.
‘I need to be more careful in front of Seol Hayun.’
Just as I organized my thoughts and returned to my spot.
“Wasn't that Seol Hayun just now?”
“Looks like it? She seemed to hand something over. Is it a drink?”
“Is it really Seol Hayun? Wow, what the heck. Is there something going on with her?”
“Ha, I'm so jealous......”
A commotion arose from behind.
Some guys looked at me as if giving me the side-eye.
Even attention itself was uncomfortable, but with the Eye of Deception scanning all those emotions, a slight headache began to rise.
And amidst all that.
An intense gaze was felt from one side.
The moment I lifted my head and our eyes met, my head throbbed.
Because the guy was feeling particularly intense emotions.
It was Seo Seungbeom.
His gaze scanned back and forth between me and the drink bottle.
The guy who had been picking fights since last time.
After being beaten in the game and thoroughly thrashed by Jack in the back alley, he hadn't taken any special action.
However, the emotions he felt toward me were continuing to intensify.
At this rate, I wondered if something would happen.
‘Getting attention for no reason is tiring too.’
Though it was too late for regrets now that I had already attracted attention.
While it was noisy in various ways.
“Hmm, it's noisy this time too.”
A heavy low voice resonated through the training ground.
Simultaneously, the murmuring voices cut off abruptly.
“Do you bastards like chatting that much?”
Thud-!
Instructor Kang Mooseong walked into the central ring.
As the shadow of his huge build cast over the floor, the air that had been excited until just now settled coldly.
“Fine. If you want, I will make it very noisy for you.”
The moment he grinned—smirking, the blood drained from the kids' faces.
Only the sound of them gulping—swallowing their breath could be heard.
Kang Mooseong’s words that he would make it noisy meant that he would make screams ceaselessly erupt from their mouths.
After the silence continued for a long while, he crossed his arms as if satisfied.
His bursting muscles twitched menacingly.
That movement made the kids even quieter.
“I will explain today’s training.”
Kang Mooseong opened his mouth amidst the silence.
The kids held their breath and focused their gazes on the center.
“For those who wield a sword, what is needed above all else is speed and precision. Not the arm strength to swing blindly, but the power to cut the required location at the required moment.”
When he gestured with his chin, the simulator on the central ring operated with a loud mechanical sound.
Inside the transparent reinforced glass, afterimages of light gathered, and several round targets floated up.
The targets were rotating at high speed in place, floating in the air.
“This device is a Target Simulator. The speed and difficulty vary by stage. A total of 5 stages. As each stage goes up, the movement of the targets becomes faster, and the trajectory becomes more complex. If you fail to properly cut the target......”
The moment Kang Mooseong clapped his hands, a disk at the edge flashed and shot out.
A moment later, it hit the reinforced glass wall with a bang sound and bounced off.
Although the wall didn't break, it was an impact that would leave a person dazed for a while if hit.
“Like just now, you will be hit directly. Because these targets are set to aim for you inside.”
“……”
While the kids’ expressions sank and tension hung in the air, Kang Mooseong continued with a smile.
“You must pass at least Stage 3 in this training. That is the passing standard.”
Kang Mooseong held up three fingers.
“If you fail to pass Stage 3, you will receive training under my personal guidance.”
The kids’ faces hardened in unison.
Because his personal guidance meant training akin to ‘Hell.’
“Conversely, those who complete Stage 5 to the end are exempt from similar training afterward. I don't care if you use that time for self-training or sleeping. Such privileges are rare, you know?”
As Kang Mooseong finished speaking, a small buzz spread among the kids again.
Some had discouraged expressions, while others’ eyes flashed with the desire for the challenge.
At the moment when each person's emotions intersected.
“Good. Who will go first?”
Simultaneously with his question, the air tightened slightly.
The kids’ gazes wavered, conscious of each other.
Going first would be an act of proving one's courage.
And in the center of it all, one cadet raised his hand.
“Lee Junhyeok.”
Ooh- The training ground stirred.
“Isn't the boss coming out from the start?”
“He's the Sword Emperor’s son. A model example.”
“Won't the next person be compared for no reason? The next turn is screwed.”
A reaction mixed with admiration and anxiety.
The flashy modifier ‘Sword Emperor’s Son’ was on everyone's lips.
Lee Junhyeok headed to the center with neat steps, unconcerned by such reactions.
With movements without superfluity and an expression without even a tremor.
“Good. Go in.”
Kang Mooseong stroked his chin and nodded.
The moment Lee Junhyeok approached the simulator.
‘......What is it?’
I felt a gaze.
The guy was looking at me.
Too clearly to dismiss as just a feeling.
When our eyes met, Lee Junhyeok nodded slightly. Smiling gently.
‘Huh?’
Have I ever talked to Lee Junhyeok?
I could understand Seo Seungbeom glaring at me since we even fought.
But Lee Junhyeok was different.
I haven't even exchanged words with him.
[Lee Junhyeok]
[Composure, Curiosity, Competitiveness]
Curiosity toward me amidst the coolly settled composure.
And even a subtle sense of rivalry.
‘......Why me?’
The question was brief as Lee Junhyeok entered the simulator.
The door closed, and the grand noise of the simulation operating began to resonate.
“Then, Stage 1. Watch closely, everyone. You guys have to do it too.”
Along with Instructor Kang Mooseong's words, a blue light spread inside the simulator.
Three targets shot out from the air.
A basic pattern flying only in a simple straight line, head-on.
Slice-!
As Lee Junhyeok’s sword smoothly cut the air once, the three targets were simultaneously cut in two.
An unshakeable posture, movements without waste.
It was exactly the standard worthy of being in a manual.
Following that, Stage 2 began with a whirring sound!
More than twice the number of targets appeared in the air.
They rotated roughly and moved as if taking their positions.
Pishook-!
With firing sounds, they rushed in simultaneously from diagonal, vertical, and frontal directions.
A difficulty significantly increased from the relatively simple Stage 1.
Normally, one would be flustered, miss a few, and end up getting hit.
Slash-! Swish-! Slash-!
Only three movements were needed to cut all those targets.
Fragments scattered lightly.
The following Stage 3.
The situation became more complex.
Over a dozen targets flew in irregularly, each drawing a curve.
The speed also became much faster.
Nevertheless, Lee Junhyeok was not shaken at all.
His toes shifted subtly, but his center of balance did not collapse.
The blade moved like a wave, and all targets were cut away in unison.
“Wow-!”
“Crazy. Seriously!”
Admiration erupted from the surroundings.
They realized that the fame of being the Sword Emperor's son was not an exaggeration.
The simulator operated without stopping.
Entering Stage 4, dozens of targets rotated.
Targets flying in from all directions.
While rushing rapidly, some mixed in feints.
Like approaching fiercely and then abruptly stopping—in mid-air.
If one failed to grasp the pattern properly and fell for the feint, their breathing would be disturbed, and they would inevitably collapse.
Crash-! Slash-!
Lee Junhyeok’s sword swung like a storm.
The ceaselessly rushing targets and the flow of the sword responding to them.
In the midst of that, the last one changed speed while drawing a curve, aiming for his side.
Slice!
Lee Junhyeok cut it just in time.
Short breaths rose, yet he still maintained his stance.
“As expected of Lee Junhyeok.”
The exclamations grew louder.
Even applause broke out.
“This is the last one now. Will you go straight away?”
At Kang Mooseong's question after Stage 4 ended, Lee Junhyeok nodded immediately.
The final, Stage 5.
Instantly, the entire space flashed, and an uncountable number of targets were summoned all at once.
Straight lines, curves, acceleration, deceleration, feints...... all patterns mixed, reminiscent of a storm.
Kwa-ga-ga-gak-!
Lee Junhyeok’s sword flashed ceaselessly.
It was closer to grinding than cutting.
Countless fragments were cut smoothly, fluttering behind him.
While all the targets that rushed in were being neatly dealt with.
Thud-!
His sword was late by a single beat.
The two remaining targets collided with his shoulder and side, creating a roar.
Soon, the simulator announced the end with a red light.
“......”
Lee Junhyeok touched his wounds, exhaled deeply, and sheathed his sword.
A regrettable failure.
But no one doubted that he had already proven enough.
“Wow, clearing up to Stage 4.”
“He was just about to succeed in Stage 5 too!”
“God-Junhyeok as expected......”
Voices mixed with respect and admiration continued.
Amidst this, Seo Seungbeom crossed his arms, clicked his tongue lightly—with a tch—, and turned his gaze away.
Instructor Kang Mooseong uncrossed his arms and nodded.
“Not bad! Then next is......”
At the moment Instructor Kang Mooseong dragged out his words and looked around the audience.
Lee Junhyeok sheathed his sword, caught his breath, and immediately turned his gaze toward me.
The moment our eyes met.
The guy grinned—and jerked his thumb—backward, pointing at me.
“......Me?”
As I asked back in confusion, the surrounding gazes also focused on me.
Then Lee Junhyeok nodded lightly.
‘No, why are you passing it to me?!’
My head spun at the unexpected invitation.
And Instructor Kang Mooseong's gaze also turned to me.
A heavy gaze landed on me silently like an order.
The meaning of that gaze was clear.
‘Come out.’
It was the moment the next turn was naturally decided.