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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: bchen3
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The next morning.
Before going to school, I first gathered the notebook from my desk.
‘I wonder if the shadow replied.’
Last night, I attempted to communicate with the shadow through writing.
After much deliberation, I left four questions for it.
-What exactly are you?
-What is your purpose?
-What do you want from me?
-How far can you go for me?
Setting aside the issue of the walking style for now, I left short but essential questions.
‘Once I confirm that written communication is possible, I can ask as many questions as I want in the future anyway.’
I determined that getting answers to these four questions was the most urgent priority.
So I went to school with Im Kangcheol, right on time.
“Ilhan, let’s go!”
“Alright.”
As soon as I arrived in the classroom, I immediately took out my notebook.
Then, with both anticipation and nervousness, I opened the page where I had written the questions.
There.
“······!”
A single short, intense sentence was written.
-Everything you desire.
Not about its identity, nor its purpose.
It had simply written grandiosely, as if it knew what I wanted.
The content was far from sufficient to resolve my questions.
But somehow, a deep smile formed on my lips.
‘······Everything I desire, you say?’
From the short-term goal of safely completing the academy and fully becoming a superhuman.
To the long-term goal of acquiring the strength to face the uncontrollable threats lurking beneath the surface of the superhuman era.
If I were to take the shadow’s answer at face value, it meant it could give me all of this.
As I stared at it for a long time, contemplating, suddenly one person’s face came to mind.
‘Mother.’
If there was no lie in its words, if it was really true.
The legacy (遺志) you had cherished.
It was as good as having obtained the strength, the possibility to carry it on.
Although it wasn’t the answer I wanted, I didn’t feel too bad.
‘Well, it just answered as it pleased. At least I’ve confirmed that written communication is possible.’
Thinking this, just as I was about to close the notebook.
“Hmm?”
I suddenly discovered that the top part of the page was folded.
It felt exactly like a sign telling me to turn to the next page.
‘Could this be?’
Instinctively thinking of it, I turned the page.
Unexpected content immediately filled my vision.
‘You’ve written as many as five lines.’
While I was somewhat bewildered by the stark difference in effort compared to the brief sentence earlier.
I read down the five lines of notes it had left.
-Black Shadow Step (黑影步)
The shadow always accompanies the other side.
It is like a mirror that captures movement.
If you grasp the pulse with one step taken half a breath ahead.
No matter how dazzling, you will be able to see through the original (本).
‘Black Shadow Step, the step of the black shadow······?’
From the enigmatic term ‘Black Shadow Step’ to the Zen-like content written below.
The shadow’s notes reminded me of verses that might be found in an ancient book.
‘······Footsteps and verses.’
While repeatedly pondering these two keywords.
Suddenly something occurred to me.
‘Could this be a walking technique (步法)?’
[Walking Technique].
It was a type of skill derived from artifact relics in martial arts, along with [Martial Arts].
The reason I thought of this was not without cause.
‘From the mystical quality (玄機) felt in the movements to the inexplicable verses that exist.’
The shadow’s demonstrated walking style and the verses left in the notes.
These two things were very similar to what was known about walking techniques.
The moment I realized this, I somehow understood its intention.
‘This is something I’ll need, right?’
For a superhuman engaged in close combat, a walking technique was as essential as martial arts.
In other words, having chosen gauntlets, this was a skill I would inevitably need to acquire someday.
If I could master it properly, it would be of great help not only in ‘weapon technique’ classes and practical exams but also when I became an official superhuman.
‘I don’t know how it obtained the skill, but the fact that it wrote down the verses means I must master it.’
There were two ways to learn [Skills].
The first was to acquire it directly from the [Artifact] that was the origin of the skill.
The second was to learn the skill’s verses and movements and embody them physically.
‘In my case, it’s probably the second method.’
I already had the verses and movements.
Although I was concerned that I had never done it before and had no one to teach me, I didn’t mind too much.
Compared to the reward that would come after, these were just minor obstacles.
‘Let’s give it a try.’
*
The superhuman practical class that began at 3 PM.
As previously announced, the full-fledged weapon technique class began.
First, the instructor opened by distributing the weapons each person had chosen.
“All weapons provided at the academy level are E-grade. Most evaluations and tests must be conducted with issued weapons, so cadets who have personal weapons should keep this in mind.”
Next, he distributed manuals containing basic movements and explanations for each weapon.
Then he briefly explained the future class format.
“This week, we will focus on basic weapon operation. Fundamentally, individuals will learn through the manual, and I will provide corrections and guidance.”
Individual learning through the manual.
It was an unexpected approach, but I could understand through the following explanation.
“From next Wednesday, we will conduct ‘virtual sparring’ based on the basic operations you’ve learned from the manual. Weapon technique is combat. And combat only reveals its true value when it is learned through actual practice.”
In other words, there was no faster and more effective method than actual practice.
However, considering the level and safety, until the middle of the first semester, it seemed they would conduct classes and tests with ‘virtual sparring’.
That is, using special facilities for ‘sparring simulation’.
Additionally, he added that from the first semester final, they would learn advanced courses through dedicated instructors for each weapon.
After finishing the explanation, the instructor moved on to demonstrations for each weapon.
“Since it might be difficult to get a feel for it just from the manual, I will now show examples of how to use each weapon. Cadets who need it can record it through their smartwatches.”
The demonstrations the instructor showed were truly at an extraordinary level.
Not only was he proficient with more than a dozen weapons, but he also displayed overwhelming martial prowess.
While I marveled at the instructor’s demonstration, I was able to gather quite a bit of information.
‘So with gauntlets, the entire body becomes a weapon.’
Gauntlets weren’t simply about using fists as weapons.
From kicks to knees, elbows, palms, and even fingertips.
With slight exaggeration, every part of the body was utilized as a weapon.
Among these, what particularly caught my eye was the instructor’s ‘movement’.
‘He clearly showed not just weapon techniques but also walking techniques.’
Walking techniques, or more precisely, the application of walking techniques.
The instructor’s position changed constantly, and movements and attacks occurred almost simultaneously.
Assuming there was an imaginary opponent, he was both evading all the opponent’s movements while seamlessly transitioning to counterattacks.
‘So that unified movement of offense and defense is what I should aim for?’
While I was imprinting the instructor’s movements in my mind.
“Now, each of you will conduct self-training. If you have any questions or get stuck, feel free to ask anytime.”
The instructor’s weapon demonstrations had all ended.
Cadets began to scatter and find their places one by one.
I also gathered with my team members.
“Ilhan, let’s practice together!”
“Yeah.”
“Cha Eunwol, Yoon Seolha! Over here!”
While everyone was following basic movements through the manual or familiarizing themselves.
‘Can I perform the basic movements in the manual while executing the Black Shadow Step? I should try.’
I alone engaged in a somewhat special practice.
*
The third weekend after the weapon technique curriculum began in earnest.
As before, I met with my team members from the morning.
“The midterm exam will be at F+ difficulty, so let’s practice stat circuit training whenever we can.”
As Yoon Seolha said, it was to prepare for the first semester midterm exams that would start in about a month.
Weapon techniques, magic power, and stat circuit training.
All were included in the practical exam.
Moreover, stat circuit training would be conducted at F+ difficulty, one level higher than the performance evaluation.
So I was a bit worried, but.
“Yoon Seolha is in the 70-point range, and the rest of us including me are in the 60s. Everyone has improved a lot.”
It was proceeding more smoothly than expected.
The upward trend in scores wasn’t bad at all.
Additionally, since stat circuit training was also a form of stat training, just practicing it increased stats.
-Strength Stat 12
-Agility Stat 11
-Stamina Stat 10
-Magic Power Stat 5
Each stat had increased by 1, achieving a total of 38 stats.
Among the overall satisfying progress was Yoon Seolha’s recovery.
Not only did she still have the highest score, but her complexion had also somewhat returned to normal.
“You look fine now.”
Yoon Seolha was silent for a moment at my words.
Then she slowly opened her mouth.
“Ah, I’m sorry if I made you worry.”
“No, not really that much.”
As I was about to move on with a simple answer.
“······But, will you be alright?”
Yoon Seolha asked me with a somewhat cautious attitude.
“Alright with what?”
“Weapon technique. Your characteristic······, um.”
Only then could I understand the context.
At the same time, I recalled her reaction at the company dinner a few days ago.
‘She seemed to be conscious of the unimplemented characteristic somehow.’
Come to think of it, she seemed a bit off since then.
Though I was curious if something was wrong, I answered quietly for now.
“Well, it’s not without difficulties.”
That was indeed the case.
However, this was due to a reason other than weapon technique.
The problem was the walking technique, the ‘Black Shadow Step’ the shadow had passed on.
‘I somehow managed to successfully take all four steps without losing my balance.’
After repeated attempts, I became able to take all four steps without losing my body’s balance.
But that was it.
When executing the Black Shadow Step, I couldn’t even properly perform a simple punching motion.
Moreover, it was also a problem that the shadow had been silent since giving me the verses.
Nevertheless, I answered nonchalantly.
“It’s fine, there’s still plenty of time.”
It had been less than a week since I encountered the Black Shadow Step.
In other words, there was plenty of time.
‘I could also ask the shadow once more during the weekend.’
If that doesn’t work, I’ll find a way to master it myself one way or another, so there’s no real problem.
Although I answered with a slightly different context from her question, Yoon Seolha nodded quietly.
“······Right, you’ll do well.”
“Yeah, thanks.”
“Then let’s practice again. We’ll go to the weapon training room in the afternoon.”
“Alright.”
With that, we ended the conversation and devoted ourselves to practice again.
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Contrary to expectations, there was no sign of resolving the walking technique problem even as the weekend passed.
The shadow also had not answered since the first written communication.
That’s when I realized.
‘······So it’s giving me the tools, but I have to figure out how to use them?’
The shadow’s somewhat unfriendly approach, that is.
But I didn’t make a big deal out of it.
‘I wasn’t planning to rely on it completely anyway.’
I could tell well enough through these past few days that things wouldn’t go as I wanted.
‘Right, it must have some purpose too.’
But the same was true for me.
It had clearly said.
That it could give me everything I desire.
If so, it would continue to present tools like now.
That was enough.
‘The rest is a matter of achieving with my own hands.’
Thus, two days before the ‘virtual sparring’ the instructor had announced, I resolved.
To solve this problem with my own hands.
That’s why.
“Instructor, excuse me.”
After school on Monday.
I personally went to find the instructor.
“Hmm, Cadet An. Do you have something to say?”
I slowly opened my mouth toward the instructor who greeted me with the same expressionless face.
“I came to seek advice.”
“What kind of advice are you talking about?”
“About walking techniques.”
“······Walking techniques, you mean the skill? How did you learn that, cadet?”
The instructor’s gaze sharpened.
It was a valid question.
Clearly, on the first day, I had explained to him that I had no background, no skills.
But.
‘It’s okay, if I just speak according to the plan, there won’t be a problem.’
So I had prepared in advance.
“I haven’t mastered it yet. Instead, I encountered the movements and verses through a characteristic.”
“Encountered through a characteristic? Could it be······.”
“Yes. I believe my unimplemented characteristic has been implemented.”
At my unflinching response, the instructor’s pupils instantly dilated.
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