novelraw Chapter 65 : Chapter 65
Chapter 65 : Chapter 65
Chapter 65: Determination
Thwack-!
Puck- Thud-thud-thud-!
The first training session after returning to the Academy.
The sparring arena was already crowded with dozens of cadets.
Training wooden swords sliced through the air, creating sharp sounds, and dull impact noises burst out consecutively.
Mixing with the sounds of blanks firing, the noise inside the training ground was reminiscent of a small battlefield.
No real swords, and magic power was also partially restricted.
It was strictly a mock battle, but the rough breathing bursting out and the sharp fighting spirit were definitely not a joke.
In the air tangled with the smell of sweat, the metallic scent of iron, and a faint smell of gunpowder, everyone was giving their all.
I was also one of those countless spar partners.
Thwack-!
The wooden sword in my hand clashed head-on, transmitting a heavy recoil.
Then, the opponent opposite quickly dug into the briefly revealed opening.
A girl of medium height, with bobbed hair and innocent eyes, but her expression was more serious than ever.
Finely honed lean muscles were revealed on her forearms, and every time she swung her fist—Paaang- Pang—rupturing sounds burst out as if the air was exploding.
There was no equipment in her hands.
Bare hands, not even wearing the allowed wooden knuckles.
It was a fighting style that deliberately disadvantaged herself.
The more restrictions applied, the greater the effect of growth.
Ultimately, everyone was struggling to become a better version of themselves.
In my case, honestly speaking, I'm a minimalist.
Just do what needs to be done and live comfortably usually. That’s my principle of action.
Since I know the flow of the main story too.
I planned to just rise up to a certain trajectory, grab a suitable position, and coast through.
[Task: Proof]
[‘Bremen’ wants you to become a top-tier hero (S-rank, A-rank).]
[Reward: Survival]
[Failure Penalty: Death]
Now, I can no longer engage in Academy life with such a complacent mindset.
‘……Proof my ass.’
I glanced at the glove on my hand.
A white glove engraved with a chain pattern.
It was a curse resistance artifact handed over by Kang Mooseong.
A device that lightly puts a brake on the flow of Pain so it doesn't run wild.
Thanks to it, my heart won’t stop for the time being.
But that was all.
A situation where I’m merely barely controlling the power.
Ultimately, the current me was still close to a failing grade.
‘Not enough. Far from it.’
If I aim for the top…… I must be able to handle a larger amount of power, more stably.
“Don’t look away!”
At that moment, a fist flew in with a shout.
A strike extending like a javelin.
The sound of tearing air brushed my ear.
Reacting to it, a current spread, brushing through the nerves of my entire body.
[Pain: Swiftness]
Crackle-!
Intense electric pain arose.
A sensation as if waking up in an instant from the crown of my head to the tips of my toes.
Muscles reacted as if expanding momentarily, and my vision opened up clearly.
Breathing became light as a blade, and movements became half a beat faster.
I immediately twisted my body to let the rushing fist flow past.
Then, I hooked up the opponent’s front foot with the tip of my left foot as if scooping it up.
Her body, with its center of gravity leaning forward, floated into the air just like that.
I swung the wooden sword lightly vertically and pressed it down firmly against the opponent’s back.
Kuduek-!
With a short rupture sound, her body slammed into the ground.
Sand surged up as if exploding, vibrating the air of the sparring arena.
“……Phew.”
I caught my breath briefly and looked down at the opponent.
It’s not perfectly smooth yet.
But the principle of utilizing Pain to boost physical abilities was definitely becoming familiar.
[Ryu Jinwoo]
[Agility: 18(+6)]
Stats increased due to the conversion of Pain, but there was absolutely no abnormality in my body.
The glove put a brake on so I could utilize power just up to the point where it wouldn't strain me.
The aftereffects were close to zero.
Until now, it was a fight where I barely held on with mental strength while gnawing away at my body.
In a desperate moment, that method might be correct.
Because there are battles where you have to bet everything to survive.
But if I really aim for the top, I must raise it from the low point.
An unshakable, solid foundation, that is.
‘The problem is how to raise that.’
Of course, countless methods to become strong are stored in my head.
However, the problem is that all of them aren't things easily obtained like ordering a drink.
“Excuse me, can’t you release me now? I, I was wrong…….”
“Ah.”
My pondering was brief, as the voice of the opponent sprawled under me was heard mournfully.
“Round 3 ends! Take a short break!”
As the instructor’s voice rang out clearly, the sparring arena was filled with the sounds of catching breath all at once.
I helped the opponent sprawled on the floor to stand up and apologized briefly.
“Sorry. That was too much. Is your body okay?”
“No! It is correct to subdue the opponent certainly. Even I would have done so!”
She cracked her joints—ttuduk—and gave a thumbs up.
“That’s a relief then.”
“I’ve heard much about Ryu Jinwoo-nim’s reputation, but you are definitely amazing. I thought my fist would surely hit, but to dodge in that split second. As expected, the nickname ‘Swordsman of the Gale’ suits you well.”
“……Swordsman of what?”
“Yes? Swordsman of the Gale! Since you swing the sword at tremendous speed! It’s cool!”
What is this nonsense?
Swordsman of the Gale? Such a cringy word was attached to me?
I looked at her with my mouth agape.
“Uh? You didn't know? The bulletin board was in an uproar.”
She brought her duffel bag that was placed near the wall and rummaged inside to take out a tablet.
Showing the tablet to me as is, she turned on Zero’s training application and naturally pressed the buttons appearing on the screen.
“The training video from last time was hugely popular!”
All Academy training is recorded.
It is to film each individual’s movements and provide them to the students, allowing anyone to replay and analyze their own training scenes.
Since they can also refer to other cadets’ videos, the intention was to utilize it for improvement.
The video she showed was the specialty training from last time.
Target cutting training, fourth stage.
Before the training started, dozens of discs soared into the air.
In the screen, I was standing in an awkward posture while grabbing the dropped sword.
Training started like that, and soon a strange phenomenon occurred.
The discs that were rushing fiercely toward me in the screen stopped their advance abruptly in a fleeting moment.
Hovering in place as if stuck in the air, the discs only continued to rotate slowly.
In the scenery where discs were spinning surrounding me, I straightened my body.
Straightening my back and tidying up my posture.
Clank.
A moment later, the heavy sound of sheathing the sword rang out.
At that moment, the discs stopped even their rotation as if time had stopped.
And a single breath followed.
Seuseuseuk-
The discs floating around began to split all at once.
The cut fragments seemed to scatter like flowers.
Soon, they poured down from the air like heavy rain.
“This is it! You cut all of that in an instant! Indeed, befitting the Swordsman of the Gale…….”
While she continued to chatter after showing me the training scene, I stared blankly at the screen.
In the screen, I was standing stiffly with my eyes closed.
The video stopped there.
‘I did that?’
I actually have no memory.
Because the moment I ‘converted’ the Pain swirling in my body wholly, my entire body tingled intensely and my consciousness cut off.
In that short moment, my mind had completely flown away.
Nevertheless, my body moved.
I cut all of that in an unconscious state.
‘Like struggling for the last time, I moved while unconscious.’
I did hear it from Instructor Kang Mooseong.
That I showed tremendous performance and my heart almost stopped just like that.
If I had died just like that, I might have received a Darwin Award.
Nevertheless, watching this video, there was one undeniable fact.
That a potential transcending imagination is hidden in the power called Pain.
‘If my body remains safe even using the amount of Pain converted at that time…….’
I replayed the screen again.
The scene where black afterimages crossed and targets split all at once.
What if I can stably bring out that performance without aftereffects?
“So I wanted to fight you once! I was happy to be luckily matched as an opponent!”
I returned the tablet to her with words of thanks.
“Don’t mention it! Someday I want to receive a teaching in a serious match with real swords! Should I say I want to learn directly from the Swordsman of the Gale?”
“You don’t necessarily have to add that nickname.”
“Ah, is it not good? I think it’s cool though!”
It’s a style of nickname commonly attached in games, but receiving it myself felt somewhat embarrassing.
Moreover, the fact that it was attached due to a performance not entirely mine also bothered me.
“Mei Lin! Losers move over there! Break over! We will start Round 4!”
“Ah! Then I will get going!”
Mei Lin left while giving a final greeting.
Still, thanks to the conversation with her, I felt like some hope had arisen.
I chewed over the scene in the tablet.
At least it was a performance shown by ‘my body.’
Although there was no consciousness, it was proof that there is a possibility to reach that point someday if I try.
Though it will be damn tough.
‘Ultimately, there is no choice but to struggle.’
If I have only done what was necessary until now, from now on I do everything I can for growth.
Otherwise.
[Task: Proof]
[‘Bremen’ wants you to become a top-tier hero (S-rank, A-rank).]
[Reward: Survival]
[Failure Penalty: Death]
……Because it’s death.
***
The noise of the training ground grew increasingly intense.
As the rounds repeated, the cadets swung their weapons more desperately and poured out their strength.
Hwiik- Kwagang-!
Amidst that, a girl subdued her opponent in a single stroke.
Golden hair fluttered and green eyes flashed coldly.
Her height and face were youthful enough to barely look like a middle schooler, but her majestic attitude didn't seem young at all.
Lily Evans.
Standing haughtily, she swung her hand down lightly.
Instantly, invisible force poured down as if exploding, crushing the opponent.
Kugung- Kung-
The sandy floor cracked and the opponent was embedded deep inside.
Under the crushing pressure, his expression crumpled in an instant.
“S-Surrender……!”
When Lily flicked her fingers, the pressure disappeared as if it were a lie.
A groan flowed from the mouth of the opponent sprawled on the floor.
Lily dusted off her hands indifferently and left the sparring arena.
Soon her gaze turned to one side.
The person caught at the end of her gaze was Ryu Jinwoo.
‘As expected, nothing special seems to be different.’
Weeks since receiving the observation investigation request from Ju Yeonhwa.
Lily searched through computational records, collected his traces, and finished the basic investigation.
Ryu Jinwoo’s track record was unique.
Lost parents in childhood and grew up in an orphanage.
Later, an uncle who returned from overseas took him back in and they started living together.
A few years later, the uncle left for overseas again but consistently supported living space and living expenses.
Ryu Jinwoo dropped out of middle school and applied to Zero Academy instead of proceeding to a general high school.
Passed just like that.
A unique track record, but nothing particularly problematic.
Just one thing, the existence of the uncle was slightly strange.
In the early investigation stage, he was identified as residing overseas, but at some point, it changed to residing domestically.
The information had been corrected.
Of course, considering the nature of frequently going back and forth overseas, the possibility of an administrative error occurring is highest, but even so, there was a strangely uncomfortable point.
What if someone changed it intentionally by any chance?
Such discomfort brushed past.
‘Ultimately, there is a limit to finding out like this.’
Need to approach. Preferably getting close would be good.
Had to dig out as much information as possible by asking directly.
Because Ju Yeonhwa’s demand was ‘anything related to Ryu Jinwoo.’
‘But he seems to be strangely avoiding me.’
Although she hadn't started tailing or approaching in earnest yet.
Even when meeting by chance, Ryu Jinwoo seemed to subtly avoid her.
Above all, if she gives him a look, he never meets it even once.
Is that possible?
When a cute girl is staring?
Of course, considering that Seol Hayun is often next to him…… visual appeal might be buried.
‘If that’s really the reason, I won’t let it slide, though.’
This time too, Ryu Jinwoo didn't look towards her even once.
Just when she was wondering if she should stop caring about the request or whatever from this side.
Beep-
[Round 7 - Winners Bracket]
[Ryu Jinwoo vs Lily Evans]
“Last! Starting Round 7! Find your respective opponents!”
An opportunity came.
An opportunity to face him naturally without forcing it.
At that moment, Ryu Jinwoo’s gaze headed towards Lily.
Something that hadn't happened no matter how hard she tried until now.
‘……Finally.’
Finally, their gazes crossed.
Lily felt the feeling of a person taking the first step on the moon.