novelraw Chapter 5 : Chapter 5
Chapter 5 : Chapter 5
Chapter 5. The First Plausibility (1)
Arriving at the training room, I had no choice but to be surprised by an unexpected meeting.
"Oh? Yu-seong!"
"Kim Su-hyeok?"
"Seeing you again here. Nice to see you, hey!"
Why is he here?
I wasn't surprised by the fact that he came to the training room.
Because Kim Su-hyeok, befitting a protagonist, always shows himself moving forward without rest.
What surprised me was a different part.
'To think I would overlap with Kim Su-hyeok among so many training rooms.'
This is harder to meet than one might think.
As proof, right now in this training room, there were only the two of us, Kim Su-hyeok and I.
Since it was the beginning of the semester, there weren't many people using the training rooms, but considering there weren't none, it was an astounding coincidence.
'Still, I feel good.'
I hadn't been feeling very good because of the upcoming Virtual Combat Training, but it all cleared up.
Is this that thing called protagonist buff or whatever?
While I was thinking such useless thoughts, Kim Su-hyeok spoke to me first.
"You came to train, right? What training did you come to do? Vitality? Strength?"
I couldn't answer Kim Su-hyeok's question hastily.
Because this body right now was a total mess.
There was nothing usable, so I couldn't pinpoint exactly what I needed to train.
But it seems Kim Su-hyeok understood that in a different meaning.
"Ah, sorry. I was too nosy, right? This isn't good manners. Haha."
As expected, our protagonist is too kind.
I should clear up the misunderstanding here.
"No. I was thinking of doing it overall, so I couldn't answer."
"Ah, really? Then shall we do it together?"
"Uh... I don't think I can follow the intensity you do?"
"Ah! That's fine. I'll do it while watching over your training too, Yu-seong."
At Kim Su-hyeok's words, I briefly thought, 'Is it okay for an extra like me to take up the protagonist's time?' but eventually, I nodded.
Thinking I could train together with the hero I admired, I couldn't refuse.
It's a bit of selfish greed, but please forgive me!
It was when I was thinking that.
A system notification suddenly rang at a completely unexpected timing.
[You have acquired 100 Influence Points.]
'Huh?'
You're throwing points at me like this?
Of course, I would have gained points someday, but I never imagined I would gain them like this.
'...But is this really positive influence?'
Somehow it feels like negative influence generated by taking up the protagonist's time.
Looking at that, I wondered if the price for my selfish greed might be bigger than I thought.
However, such thoughts did not last long.
"Good! Then shall we start with strength?"
Because of Kim Su-hyeok, who brought over a barbell as if excited not long after... But wait a minute.
The weight written on the barbell is a bit strange...?
Hey, dude. Wait a minute. Not that.
"It's not that hard if we do it together!"
"Uh, uh......."
When Kim Su-hyeok said that with shining eyes, the words of refusal that rose up to my throat did not come out.
When the protagonist likes it that much, how can I refuse.......
Eventually, I had no choice but to grab and lift the barbell Kim Su-hyeok handed over.
Ah, the price for selfish greed comes too quickly.
...Like that, several hours passed.
"Ku, kuheuhk! T-Tiiiime!!"
"Just 3 more from now! You can do it!!"
"Grrrrk! Euheuhk!!"
"See! You said you could do it!"
Even the words "save me" didn't pop out of my mouth anymore.
When I heard "just 3 more" for the 9th time, I really thought the string of my reason was being pulled out.
Fortunately, I endured it with the transcendent tenacity cultivated while learning Kendo.
Having finally succeeded in ending the hell of 3 like that, I dropped the barbell as if throwing it away.
"Heuk, heuheuk...!"
"Phew! It's nice to sweat together, right?"
At Kim Su-hyeok's words, I glanced at him to check.
Certainly, sweat was flowing.
Unlike the flood I was shedding, sweat like drizzle.
He's mocking me right now, isn't he? That over there?
'I must endure. That is the protagonist. I must not curse.'
I seriously choked up and curses rose, but I swallowed them down.
Perhaps this patience was cultivated for this day?
"Then, since strength is done now, shall we move on to vitality?"
"Oh, fuck......."
***
"Now! Today is the day of the Virtual Combat Training as mentioned before. Everyone has prepared properly, right?"
"Yes!!"
At Im Seong-cheol's question, the cadets answered with loud voices.
Everyone seems confident.
And that was the same for me.
'It was a hellish time.'
I recalled the training with Kim Su-hyeok over the past two days.
Just 3 more, just 3 minutes more, just 3 kilos more.
Thanks to that training, I was now at the point where I would have a convulsion just seeing the number 3.
Trainings that I might have quit long ago if not for the goal of protecting the heroes and the reward of Kim Su-hyeok's contact information.
I was so proud of myself for enduring that.
"Good. Everyone seems well prepared. Then, let's divide into groups first. Combat to the left. Supporters to the right. Move!"
At Im Seong-cheol's words, the cadets began to divide at an orderly speed.
It was an obvious matter in the first place.
It would be strange for combat roles and supporter roles to receive the same combat training.
The ratio divided like that was about 9 combat to 1 supporter.
'There certainly are a lot of combat roles.'
Talents in the supporting line belong to the rare side.
Compared to that, it was unavoidable that there were many combat talents.
"Hmm, a decent ratio. Now! Then we will conduct the test starting with the combat roles."
Following Im Seong-cheol's shout, the Virtual Combat System of the training room began to turn on.
A Virtual Combat Training ground blocked by a large wall.
It is said to be structured so that one can see inside from the outside, but cannot see outside from the inside while taking the test.
I remember the reason was that feeling gazes from outside would disturb the test.
'Personally, I'd like to take it around the middle.'
Unlike other cadets, I am completely new to this.
Even though I have the Heterogeneous Gear, it is also true that I am anxious.
So.......
"First is Choi Yu-seong! Come out."
...I have to start first.
Yup, of course. I expected it all.
Why are ominous premonitions never wrong?
I let out a faint sigh and stood up from my seat.
"Yes."
"You just need to enter inside the training ground. A monster fitting your level will be set, so don't worry."
"Understood."
As I moved my steps, mocking sounds were heard from the surroundings.
"Oh! Is it the test of the 899th rank who wanted to be 1st? I'm looking forward to it. Snicker."
"Hmph! I didn't like him from the moment he entered through the front door."
But I didn't particularly feel annoyed or anything.
Glory is a place where grades are everything in the first place.
The number 899 is a rank where it would be strange not to buy mockery with grades.
So, it will be resolved if I raise my grades later.
But setting that aside.
'Who is the bastard who keeps blabbering about front door, front door?'
Did you have a memory of getting beaten up by a bastard who came in through the front door?
I really took a good look at your face.
Later, I will implant the exact same memory in you.
It was when I was moving my steps while thinking that.
"Yu-seong-ah! You can do well!!"
Kim Su-hyeok sent cheers while looking at me.
Somehow, when the 1st rank does that to the 899th rank, it seems like teasing, but Kim Su-hyeok's cheering must be from a pure heart.
At that sight, I also waved my hand slightly and entered the training ground.
Then a voice came from the speaker.
[Virtual Combat Training System activated.]
[Cadet authentication complete. Rank 899 Choi Yu-seong. Searching for an opponent suitable for the target.]
[Monster has been set. 1 minute until training starts.]
"Oh."
So it's set up like this.
Experiencing it directly is certainly different from reading it in a novel.
It feels like thrills are springing up from all over my body.
"Anyway, I should prepare soon."
Looking around the training system for a moment, not much time was left.
It was regrettable that I couldn't use the EX-Class Talent due to lack of points yet, but it's still okay.
Because, after all, a monster fitting my level appears in this Virtual Combat Training.
[Training will start soon. 3.]
The sound announcing the countdown.
Matching that sound, I slowly drew the sword attached to my left waist.
[2.]
Simultaneously, I drained all playfulness remaining in my body and mind.
Maintaining playfulness ahead of combat is an action even the strong do not do carelessly.
[1.]
The thrill that was flowing through my body just until now fades away.
Also matching that, my senses sink coldly. My habit that comes out when engaging in a fight.
It is my first time in combat, but I have sparred with people many times.
Although sparring and combat cannot be said to be the same, my Talent is filling up the lacking parts.
[0. Training begins.]
At those words, I immediately kicked off the ground and sprang out like a bullet.
Victory goes to the one who makes the first move.
It's not for nothing that martial arts novels talk about yielding three moves.
The first attack always brings the upper hand.
'The generated monster is an Armored Scorpion. Is it E-Rank?'
A monster that can be handled without problems if one is a cadet of Glory.
Does it mean that guy is the one fitting my current level under the assumption that I have no Talent?
Thinking that, the senses that had sunk coldly sank even more frigidly.
'The road to go is so far.'
I will protect my heroes.
It is a dream too vain for the current me.
A dream that feels so far away that I wonder if I can reach it.
Therefore, there is no time to rest.
"Karrrrk!!!"
The guy made a grotesque cry and flew its tail toward me.
With my current physical abilities, I don't have the confidence to dodge.
So I have to block.
As soon as that thought occurred, I lifted my sword.
Clang-!
A heavy sound ringing out.
The stinging sensation in my grip.
These are good sensations that make me face reality.
'The target is the eyes.'
The guy's body is entirely surrounded by armor.
Therefore, the weaknesses are the abdomen or eyes where the flesh is fully exposed.
Since there is no suitable way to attack the abdomen right now, attacking the eyes is the correct choice.
Kigigiging!!
The more I moved the sword toward the guy's eyes, the friction sound of clashing with the tail filled the training ground.
If it goes like this, I will be able to stab the guy's eye soon.
However, that scorpion is not a scarecrow either.
Although it is a virtually created existence, it was strictly created based on a real monster.
The guy immediately swung its body and whipped its tail.
"Tch!"
What is needed right now is instinct rather than thought.
I entrusted my body to instinct and twisted my body.
Simultaneously, the tail embedded deeply into the spot where I had been standing.
"Now!"
Perhaps because it swung so strongly, the tail stuck in the ground didn't seem to want to come out.
Don't they say the enemy's mistake is my opportunity?
Using the recoil of twisting my body, I immediately moved the sword toward the bastard's eye.
"......."
For a moment, my eyes met with the guy's.
Red eyes shaking slightly.
But I cannot hesitate.
Because this world I have to live in from now on is absolutely not soft.
But to hesitate because of a mere monster; that is something that should not happen.
Squelch!!
"Kyarrrrrruhk!!"
Therefore, I drove the sword into the guy's left eyeball without hesitation.
A terrible scream heard one beat later than that.
It seems it worked properly.
However, there is no time to rejoice.
Splatter!
I immediately pulled the sword out of the guy's eye.
Then, a turbid liquid burst out.
'...It's Virtual Combat, but the implementation is greater than I thought.'
Well, that's not what's important right now.
Anyway, after retrieving the sword again, I continued the attack from the guy's left side.
Attacks coming only from the left would be quite troublesome for a guy who lost vision on the left side.
As if proving that, the scorpion's attacks were heading only to strange places.
Still, without letting my guard down until the end, I pulled up extreme concentration until the very last moment and chewed the guy apart thoroughly.
***
How much time passed like that?
"Krrrruk......."
"...Phew."
The guy who was rampaging insanely had stopped its meaningless struggle and was looking at me.
Seeing the scorpion looking at me with its last remaining eye after losing one eye left me speechless.
"...It's absurd."
Do monsters actually have eyes like that?
It is on a different track from the shaking pupils earlier.
Pupils that look as if begging, please save me.
'Does this mean novels and reality are different?'
Because when reading the novel, such detailed scenes were not described.
Ah, of course, that doesn't mean I have thoughts of sparing it.
Because I am not a fool enough to forget reality by getting drunk on emotions.
Therefore, I held the sword in a reverse grip and stood on top of the scorpion.
Puuk-!
Then I immediately plunged the sword into the guy's heart.
As expected, it is not a good sensation.
Although it is Virtual Combat Training, it felt like a real living being.
However.
"What can I do."
A path already chosen by myself.
I made the choice to fight, and I know that path will never be a flower garden.
From now on, this moment will become ordinary daily life.
This is merely the start of that rugged path.
So.
"I have to get used to it."
[You have defeated the Armored Scorpion!]
[Training has ended.]
***
When Choi Yu-seong had just finished the Virtual Combat Training.
"He fights better than I thought? Though he's just rank 899."
"He fought a death match like that with just an E-Rank monster? Kahaha! That's hilarious."
Seeing his fierce battle, the surroundings made countless sneers.
However, unlike such a general atmosphere, there were some who did not laugh.
One of them was precisely Instructor Im Seong-cheol.
'Not bad.'
In his eyes watching Choi Yu-seong plodding out, a peculiar light was dwelling.
It was a gaze as if looking at a pearl buried in mud.