—————————————————————–
Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: bchen3
—————————————————————–
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
The weekend passed by in a flash, and Monday arrived – time for the final filtering of the chaff.
Because of this, Ko Tae-sik conducted a stat check right at the beginning of the 7th period.
As a result.
“A total of 32 people. Quite a lot remained this year.”
Out of 40 people, 8 had been eliminated, and 32 had passed his first criteria.
Among them.
“Here it is.”
An Il-han was also included, holding out his smartwatch with the same unwavering, indifferent tone as always.
The display clearly showed figures proving that he had met the qualifications.
-Physical Stat 22
22 stat – the moment he confirmed it, memories of the rookie before his eyes flashed through Ko Tae-sik’s mind.
‘It was definitely 12 stat before.’
From 12 stat to 22 stat.
Growing by 10 stats in just five days was an improvement that even the harshest evaluator, Ko Tae-sik, couldn’t help but acknowledge.
Of course, it was merely acknowledgment.
“Go line up over there.”
Though his curiosity from Friday evening had grown slightly, there wasn’t even the slightest change in Ko Tae-sik’s expression.
It was because he had only passed the first condition so far.
After completing the classification, Ko Tae-sik finally began the class in earnest.
“First, I’ll briefly explain the performance assessment that will take place a month from now and my teaching method. I won’t repeat myself, so clean your ears and listen carefully.”
He cleared his throat once and opened his mouth again.
“First, the performance assessment will be sparring with me. The scoring and deduction criteria are based on my judgment.”
At the mention of sparring with the instructor, there were some notable reactions.
This was because a month was an absurdly short time, while the difficulty level was extremely brutal.
But Ko Tae-sik didn’t care in the slightest.
He had seen the same reactions every year.
“Of course, there is one definite criterion. If you can land even a single hit on me by any means necessary, you get a perfect score. Even if it’s just a graze.”
This time, as if they had rehearsed it, everyone gulped down dry saliva.
This reaction, too, was the same every year.
Because of this, he quickly moved on to talk about the class.
“There are three courses in my class. Well, you can think of them as customized. The beginner’s course, the advanced course, and the hell course.”
He skipped explaining the first two courses as their names were self-explanatory.
Instead, he began talking about the last course, the ‘hell course,’ which could be considered the core.
“The hell course is, well, exactly what it sounds like. It wouldn’t be a bad choice for those who want to become stronger even if it means experiencing extremes. Now, line up for the course you want!”
The moment Ko Tae-sik finished speaking, the cadets began to move hesitantly.
22 chose the beginner’s course, 8 chose the advanced course, and in the midst of this.
“I have a question, Instructor.”
One rookie who hadn’t yet chosen a course suddenly raised his hand.
His name and face had become familiar somehow.
‘An Il-han.’
But his question was completely beyond expectation.
“If I choose the hell course, will I definitely become stronger?”
The moment he heard the content.
Twitch-
A thin spasm occurred at the corner of Ko Tae-sik’s mouth.
At the same time, as if finding it interesting, he slowly opened his mouth.
“I guarantee it. Well, that’s if you can endure it.”
“Thank you for your answer.”
With the response, he immediately moved.
Towards the hell course, which had been empty until now.
Just as his attitude showed not even a hint of hesitation, in the moment when the corner of his mouth kept twitching.
“As expected of Il-han! A manly choice worthy of my acknowledged rival!”
Following that, another rookie named Lim Kang-cheol also joined An Il-han.
At that moment.
‘Look at these guys?’
Ko Tae-sik finally couldn’t hold back and twitched his lips.
This was Ko Tae-sik’s long-standing habit that only appeared in fleeting moments – when destroying villains, beating monsters, or discovering something he liked.
At the same time, he thought.
‘Both of them have passed the second criterion as well.’
*
After the class officially began.
‘At first I thought he was just mindlessly brutal.’
I had to revise my thoughts about Instructor Ko Tae-sik.
Proving that the choice he had presented earlier was not just empty words, he actually conducted customized lessons.
First, for the cadets who chose the beginner’s course.
“Samjaebo and Yukhapkwon.”
He threw them manuals for two skills that were provided as basics by the academy.
Samjaebo, a footwork technique, and Yukhapkwon, which by its name seemed to be a martial art belonging to fist techniques.
Instructor Ko Tae-sik didn’t stop there and added detailed explanations.
“First, the order of learning. Understand each movement. Until it’s completely ingrained in your body. The verbal formulas come next, and attempt to master the skill when these two are in place.”
While explaining the method of mastering skills.
“Try performing each one. And keep your ears open at the same time.”
Along with practical instructions, he checked the posture down to the minutest details – the position of the feet, stride length, center of gravity, and so on.
The guidance for the advanced course that followed was the same.
“You guys pair up in twos. From now on, you’ll engage in actual combat, but mana utilization is limited to body enhancement only.”
At first glance, it seemed like he was just getting through the practical combat, but that wasn’t the end of it.
“If you’re going to show off like that, you might as well pick up a sword. That would be much more flashy!”
“I told you to remove unnecessary strength, who told you to swing your fist so weakly! You’d be useless even holding a sword!”
“How can you not know the strengths of the martial arts you possess better than someone observing? If it embodies the spirit of ‘sword path,’ you should at least pretend to be on the ‘sword path’!”
He was instructing them primarily on the utilization method and attitude of martial arts, beyond movements and posture, such as habits or tendencies.
At the same time, he managed to guide the cadets in the beginner’s course simultaneously.
‘……Impressive.’
Perhaps because I thought he would be indifferent?
I couldn’t help but be amazed at his unexpected teaching method.
At the same time, expectation naturally arose.
“Wow, his teaching method is as excellent as his muscles!”
“Indeed.”
While chatting with Lim Kang-cheol and waiting for our turn.
Thud, thud-
Instructor Ko Tae-sik slowly approached.
Then he suddenly threw something towards Lim Kang-cheol.
“Oh, whoa?!”
Lim Kang-cheol barely caught it.
It was none other than.
“Samjaebo and Yukhapkwon!”
“Yes, you heard earlier so you know how to learn it, right?”
“Yes! Should I start right away?!”
“No, do that after class on your own. There’s no rush, take your time.”
With these puzzling words, Instructor Ko Tae-sik turned his head.
His gaze moved directly to me.
“You don’t need these, right?”
“……Pardon?”
“You already have footwork and martial arts techniques, don’t you?”
I flinched the moment I heard his rough voice.
‘……How did he.’
Just as I was pondering how to explain.
“Well, do as you please.”
Fortunately, he let it slide.
Instead.
“Whether it’s basic skills or the skills you possess. It won’t matter for a while anyway.”
He gave me a very meaningful statement.
‘……Should I consider this fortunate?’
Setting aside how he knew for now, there seemed to be no immediate need to explain.
Of course, apart from that, I still couldn’t understand his intentions.
As I stared at him, Instructor Ko Tae-sik met my gaze and slowly opened his mouth.
“The first thing you two who chose the hell course will learn is how to get hit.”
“What?”
For a moment, I thought I had misheard and asked again.
But.
“How to get hit. How to take a punch, that is. Surely you’re not unable to understand what I’m saying.”
I hadn’t misheard.
Moreover, it didn’t seem like a joke but 100% sincere.
“Whether you try hard to get hit less painfully, struggle to avoid, or counterattack. That’s up to you.”
“……What kind of.”
“For reference, I’ll only use 25% of my strength, and if you manage to land even one hit on me or endure for 10 minutes, we’ll move on to the next stage. That’s enough explanation, right?”
It wasn’t enough at all.
But before I could protest, he immediately took his stance.
And then.
“Lim Kang-cheol.” “Y-Yes, sir!”
“You’re first!”
He charged at Lim Kang-cheol in an instant.
Faced with a fist rushing in at an incredible speed, Lim Kang-cheol instinctively raised both arms.
The moment he clumsily put up his guard.
Whoosh-!
Instructor Ko Tae-sik’s fist hit Lim Kang-cheol’s arms like a projectile.
Kwang!
Along with a sound that defied common sense, Lim Kang-cheol’s large body slid back.
Having moved quite far from where he originally stood, he trembled all over with his head down.
Then he barely raised his head and managed to open his mouth.
“I… endured it!”
A voice that seemed squeezed out.
Though his expression was severely crumpled, a smile appeared at the corners of his mouth.
At that sight.
“Hmm.”
For a moment, Instructor Ko Tae-sik’s mouth twitched.
But that was as far as he got.
Crumble!
Eventually, Lim Kang-cheol collapsed limply.
Instructor Ko Tae-sik glanced at him sprawled out and clicked his tongue briefly.
“Tsk, still too soft.”
A sarcastic tone, but there was a peculiar light in his eyes.
Then that gaze.
“Next is An Il-han, you.”
Was directed straight at me.
Facing Instructor Ko Tae-sik head on.
Gulp-
I unconsciously swallowed dry saliva.
The eyes and aura were like those of a predator.
And on top of that.
Crack- Crack-
The sight of him approaching with bone-cracking sounds was fear itself.
Perhaps because of this.
Flinch-
I almost unconsciously stepped back.
Having barely controlled myself, I shook my head vigorously.
‘It really feels unreasonable, but there must be a reason why he conducts classes this way.’
If he were just a brutal person, he wouldn’t have bothered to categorize between beginners and advanced students.
Moreover, the words he had uttered while instructing other cadets earlier were mostly brief, but had depth to them.
So.
‘How to get hit, there must be some meaning to this as well.’
With that single belief, I suppressed my instinctive fear.
At the same time, I lightly raised both arms and took a stance.
‘Come to think of it, this is the first opportunity to go all out.’
I had been consistently engaging in virtual sparring, but at some point, it had become unsatisfying.
The dummy data only moved within the programmed range of actions.
Let alone utilizing mana, I couldn’t conduct a proactive fight.
Looking at it that way, this moment was an opportunity.
‘I happen to have quite a few things to test anyway.’
From the recently mastered skill, ‘Samjae Energy Cultivation (E)’ and its application to Hyuncheon Strengthening Ki.
To testing the power of using Heukying steps while maintaining body enhancement based on two types of mana.
It was time to test the effectiveness of all of these in actual combat rather than just training.
‘It’s a pity that I’m not yet at a level where I can use martial arts in real combat.’
Even excluding martial arts that were not yet applicable, this would be of great help to me.
Did he read my determination?
“I don’t know about your skill, but I like your spirit!”
Instructor Ko Tae-sik muttered with a peculiar gleam in his eyes.
And then.
Whoosh!
Like with Lim Kang-cheol, he rushed at me in an instant.
I bulged my eyes wide open and simultaneously deployed the Heukying steps.
‘……I can see it.’
Although I missed the movement itself, I could clearly see the shadow lingering at his feet.
Toward that, as if throwing my body, I rushed to meet him and raised the mana of Samjae Energy Cultivation.
Swoosh-
A refreshing sensation spreading throughout my entire body.
Though the output was different from Hyuncheon Strengthening Ki, it was much easier to control.
With the senses of my entire body sharpened like that.
‘Now for Hyuncheon Strengthening Ki……!’
I sent the majestic flow of Hyuncheon Strengthening Ki to both my legs.
Swoosh-!
With the fierce mana of Hyuncheon racing through, power boiled up from my entire body.
Based on this.
Whoosh-
I moved instantaneously at a speed I had never experienced before.
I had penetrated the side of Instructor Ko Tae-sik’s shadow.
‘Got it, this much should……!’
I can do it.
The side of Instructor Ko Tae-sik visible before me, his flank proved the possibility.
In that state, as I was infusing strength into my right fist.
“Not bad, rookie!”
My vision momentarily flickered.
When it recovered, I realized.
That somehow I was now facing Instructor Ko Tae-sik head-on.
Whoosh-!
A huge fist filled my field of vision.
At the same time, I felt an enormous killing intent.
It’s just a class. It might hurt enough to feel like dying, but I certainly wouldn’t die.
Despite knowing this, my spine tingled.
Frozen in place, as the fist covered my vision.
Swish-
As if reacting to something, my body reflexively twisted.
As a result, the fist brushed past my cheek.
‘……Huh?’
That movement clearly went beyond my awareness and control.
But before I could question it.
Whoosh!
This time, my fist rose up on its own.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
