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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: bchen3
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The next day, during 7th period.
When there were only about 5 minutes left until the start of the advanced weaponless class.
“It has decreased considerably!”
“That’s right.”
I looked around while chatting with Lim Gang-cheol.
As he said, the scenery inside the small training room was clearly different from the first class.
Above all, the number of people had greatly decreased.
‘To think that already about 30 people changed their weapons.’
Unlike the first day when there were about 70 people, now there were only 40.
I seemed to understand the reason.
‘If they’re going to change anyway, they must think it’s best to do it early to minimize the damage.’
It seemed they found the condition that Instructor Go Tae-sik had set forth as the minimum qualification to participate in his class unreasonable.
The directive to achieve 20 strength stats within the period.
This was especially true for cadets who were handling weapons for the first time at the academy.
‘From the first semester finals, it’s actual combat practice.’
Based on what I had indirectly experienced through virtual combat.
Except for a few naturally gifted individuals, combat was all about absolute time investment.
So they were feeling anxious about being excluded due to strength stats.
‘Perhaps the instructor’s strange personality also played a part.’
Because of this, their choice also felt somewhat rational.
‘Though it’s a bit different from my thinking.’
As I was having such thoughts.
“Tsk, still 40 people remain.”
Along with a rough voice, a face that had become familiar in just a day appeared in the small training room.
It was Instructor Go Tae-sik, who was in charge of the advanced gauntlet class.
Without saying anything, he simply beckoned to the cadets.
“Come get your strength stat check, and those with 20 stats or more line up over there, those below over there.”
Indeed, proving that his warning was not empty, he started the class by categorizing the cadets.
After that division.
“Seven people. Quite a few.”
Only 7 people had over 20 strength stats.
Sim In-wook was naturally included among them.
While Instructor Go Tae-sik gathered the 7 separately, he merely waved his hand indifferently at the remaining 33, including me.
“You guys can do whatever you want as long as you don’t leave the small training room. However, anyone who engages in combat on their own will face quite severe disadvantages under my authority, so keep that in mind.”
From his actions to his content, his manner of speaking was truly nasty.
But when told to do something, there was no choice but to comply.
‘Because he has complete authority over performance evaluations and final exam content.’
Each weapon had its own instructor, and naturally, there were big and small differences in the curriculum.
Because of this, the practical combat test, which was a practical subject for the first semester final exam, had quite a bad reputation. Everything from the specific test content to the grading criteria depended entirely on the dedicated instructor.
‘If you don’t like it, you can just change weapons.’
I had good reason to willingly endure this.
Apart from being fascinated by the destructive power of gauntlets, there was one more thing.
“Just you wait! We’ll soon join that side too!”
Unlike other cadets who grumbled in dissatisfaction, Lim Gang-cheol was burning with fighting spirit.
Instead of joining in their complaints, I put on the strength training vest I had prepared in advance.
“Hey, Il-han! When did you prepare that?!”
“Yesterday.”
“Damn it, why didn’t you tell me!”
“You only need to raise 2 stats.”
“That’s not important!”
“?”
“I can’t lose, I’ll bring one after school too!”
“······Do I need permission?”
After dealing with Lim Gang-cheol, I checked my strength stats.
-Strength Stats 14
‘Yesterday it was 12 stats.’
It had increased by 2 stats in just one day.
This was thanks to my dedication to strength training throughout personal maintenance time yesterday, and additionally.
‘Shadow guy, it’s good that you followed along obediently.’
It was thanks to the shadow guy wearing the strength training vest and training all night.
He had listened to my polite request.
‘At this rate, reaching 20 stats should be quite achievable.’
With a smile, I recalled my memories.
It was to recall the shadow guy’s actions that I had confirmed through recorded video in the morning.
‘Anyway, I didn’t expect him to start something new without warning.’
Unlike how he had been focusing on mana breathing in the magical force training room until now, yesterday he headed to the weapon training room.
A new action had begun without any precursor.
The actions he performed there were also the same.
‘It seemed like a dance, and the mysterious movements were similar yet different.’
Amidst the usual strange feeling.
I intuitively sensed its identity.
‘It must be martial arts, right? Given the flow.’
The new behavior.
It meant that the [Martial Arts] skill was what he was practicing.
This was the second reason why I had to willingly endure Instructor Go Tae-sik’s outrageous demands.
‘Judging by the footwork and the way he swings his fists, it seems like a fist-based martial art.’
At this point, the thought of changing to another weapon was rather nonsensical.
Of course, so far, he was merely repeating clumsy, unmatched movements.
There was no specific information such as the name of the martial art or its techniques.
But I didn’t mind.
‘When the time comes, I’ll surely grasp it.’
So what I had to do was simple.
Until his next gift was completed, create an environment where I could utilize it.
Right now, that meant achieving 20 strength stats to meet the instructor’s requirements.
‘This level of obstacle is nothing.’
With that in mind, I.
Swish-
Began to clumsily follow the shadow guy’s forms that I had stored in my memory.
*
Three hours later, in the administrative office.
“Hey, Instructor Jin!”
“Thank you for your hard work, senior.”
Jin Tae-jin, who entered the administrative office at Go Tae-sik’s call, bowed politely.
“Good work. Come sit over here.”
Go Tae-sik accepted his greeting and then offered him the seat next to him.
After confirming that Jin Tae-jin was seated, he opened his mouth in a subtle tone.
“Instructor Jin. About that disciple you cherish.”
“Are you referring to cadet An Il-han?”
“Yes, that one with the strange name. Is it really him? Not that fellow named Lim Gang-cheol?”
Perhaps because he mentioned the name, two cadets naturally came to Go Tae-sik’s mind.
One was visibly weak, and the other had a large frame that was born for martial arts.
‘An Il-han, looking at his stats alone, he does fit the type of talent that Instructor Jin would prefer.’
Overall, his stats weren’t high, but they were balanced.
This was the style that Jin Tae-jin, who handled all kinds of weapons, preferred.
In contrast, Go Tae-sik was different.
‘Before other stats, the physical durability needs to support the martial art for proper synergy.’
It wasn’t just about the external problem of lacking muscles, but about compatibility.
Choosing suitable weapons according to the innate conditions, including stats, physique, disposition, etc.
That was one of Go Tae-sik’s principles.
Because of this, he…
“What weapon were you in charge of this time? Was it the sword? Wouldn’t that be better?”
Suggested a change in a subtle tone.
To this, Jin Tae-jin let out a sigh of difficulty and opened his mouth.
“You know that’s not something I can decide, senior.”
“Indeed, the choice of weapon is up to the youngsters after all.”
The choice was free, and the responsibility for that choice also fell on the individual.
This was one of the principles of the National Superhuman Academy.
“Then there’s nothing to be done. No matter how much you cherish your disciple, you know, right?”
“Yes, if he doesn’t meet your standards, the cadet himself must bear the consequences.”
Jin Tae-jin knew well.
That Go Tae-sik had three criteria for judging aptitude.
And that they applied to any cadet he taught, without exception.
So he answered in a calm tone, but…
“Hmm, you’re really rigid.”
Rather, such an indifferent response aroused Go Tae-sik’s curiosity.
Conversely, Go Tae-sik also knew Jin Tae-jin’s straightforward personality well.
“What exactly did you see in that youngster?”
The Jin Tae-jin before him was one of the few superhumans he acknowledged.
Not only for his capabilities as a superhuman but especially for his unparalleled eye for nurturing disciples.
Therefore, he couldn’t help but be more interested.
“You’ll understand if you watch······.”
“Hmm.”
“If I had to say something, visit the stat training room······. No, the weapon training room late at night.”
“The weapon training room? Late at night?”
“Yes. That should at least explain the reason for my belief.”
Late at night, the weapon training room.
Go Tae-sik immediately understood what he meant.
“Effort······.”
Effort, of course, was an important value.
But effort without the backing of talent was futile.
Especially in the sense that it couldn’t produce proper results.
Nevertheless.
“If Instructor Jin says that much, I guess it wouldn’t hurt to watch.”
Go Tae-sik nodded with that much consideration.
*
The next day, in the small training room.
“Those with 20 strength stats or more, line up here.”
At Go Tae-sik’s instruction, a total of 8 cadets gathered.
One new cadet had been added to yesterday’s number.
“Il-han, I’ll wait for you!”
“Yeah, you’re doing well.”
None other than Lim Gang-cheol.
He was the cadet who had caught his attention from their first meeting.
Go Tae-sik thought inwardly without any change in his expression.
‘Increasing by 2 stats in a day means his talent is somewhat usable.’
At least, he revised his evaluation to say that the cadet’s muscles weren’t lagging behind his outward appearance.
As he was about to turn his head with such a somewhat stingy evaluation.
Suddenly the youngster named An Il-han caught his eye.
‘I wonder if that guy isn’t bothered by the gap that’s opened up with his friend?’
The youngster didn’t seem to show any emotion at all.
He was just focused on his task, putting on the strength training vest like yesterday.
At that sight, Go Tae-sik sneered.
“Hmph.”
Whether he had deep composure, or he was just indifferent by nature.
‘His personality is similar to Instructor Jin’s, is that why he’s sheltering him?’
A trivial thought naturally came to mind.
But that was as far as it went.
“The remaining 32 people, same as yesterday. The 8 who passed, listen carefully, from now on······.”
He continued the class, having withdrawn his attention.
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The behavior of the youngster named An Il-han was the same during Friday’s class time.
‘Consistent.’
He remained unaffected by being left out, even in an environment where one or two people were decreasing day by day.
He was just wearing his vest and focusing on his task.
Additionally, there was one more thing that was subtly concerning.
‘That’s definitely martial arts.’
Repeatedly changing the position of his feet, struggling to find the center of gravity of his body, adjusting the angle of extending his fist, and so on.
It was all incredibly awkward.
It was as if he was learning by merely looking at a textbook or something.
But what was clear was that the youngster’s clumsy movements were the forms of a specific martial art.
From his perspective as an expert, it was tormenting just to watch, but.
‘Well, I didn’t tell him not to train.’
He dismissed his interest with that thought.
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That night.
As Go Tae-sik was about to leave after finishing his delayed work.
-Visit the stat training room······. No, the weapon training room late at night.
Suddenly Jin Tae-jin’s words came to mind.
‘Effort, it’s important, but it’s just the basics, the most important thing is talent.’
Although he couldn’t shake off that thought, Go Tae-sik decided to take his chances and headed to the weapon training room.
Inside, which was brightly lit as it operated 24 hours a day, one cadet was deeply engrossed in something.
It was An Il-han, one of the youngsters who had stepped into his class.
“Really, so consistent.”
Go Tae-sik unconsciously mumbled as he looked at the youngster.
From the fact that he was wearing a strength training vest to the fact that he was silently dedicated to training.
‘I’ll give him credit for consistency,’ he thought, when suddenly.
“······!”
He felt something strange in the youngster’s movements.
‘······When did he improve his level to that extent?’
The movements he saw in the afternoon and the movements the youngster before him was performing.
He felt a considerable discrepancy between the two.
‘Although the movements are all stiff and unnatural as if hastily learned······.’
The position of the feet, the consistent posture with the body’s center, and even the way of thrusting out fists.
It couldn’t be called perfect by any means.
But it was also true that it was fundamentally different from the sloppy movements shown in the afternoon.
“An Il-han.”
The youngster before him hadn’t even passed the first gate of his three criteria.
Nevertheless, just a little bit, it seemed interest was growing.
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Stamina or Strength, choose one!