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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: bchen3
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At the moment the 9th period, the magic power class, ended and all classes were over.
‘Let’s go right away.’
I headed straight to the small training room on the second floor.
I was headed to the tiger’s den where an instructor with the nickname “Fierce Tiger” was lurking.
As I entered, Instructor Go Tae-sik greeted me with a twitch of his lips.
“Seeing how you rushed right over, I can tell your head is screwed on properly.”
As I gulped down a dry swallow, he asked me something unexpected.
“So, they say you have the ability to foresee the future?”
“……Yes.”
“Well, it’s more and more surprising to think about it. The ability of foresight.”
His response was closer to disbelief than admiration.
After muttering for a moment, Instructor Go Tae-sik soon got to the point.
“Well, that’s not important, so let’s move on. So how did you come across martial arts?”
Instructor Go Tae-sik was asking about how I had encountered martial arts, not their source.
After thinking for a moment.
“I’ve been having dreams every night. With blurry visions……”
I repeated exactly what I had told Instructor Jin Tae-jin.
After thinking about it repeatedly, I couldn’t come up with a better answer.
‘He might have heard my story from Instructor Jin Tae-jin.’
To my carefully considered answer, Instructor Go Tae-sik nodded as if satisfied.
“So that’s why. I was wondering why your movements were so stiff.”
Movements that were stiff.
Those words immediately piqued my interest.
‘So that’s what he meant by unnatural?’
Since I was just mimicking what I saw in my dreams, it was bound to be unnatural and stiff.
That’s how I interpreted it.
“Then we should start from there.”
Instructor Go Tae-sik once again muttered something incomprehensible to himself.
Swish-
He suddenly widened his stance and took a specific posture.
At the same time, he said to me in a serious tone.
“I’ll only show you once, so keep your eyes wide open and watch carefully.”
The moment he finished speaking.
Whoosh-
Suddenly he threw a punch.
It was just a strike thrown at the air.
But the killing intent that emanated from it was enough to make my whole body tingle.
‘……This seems completely different from the martial arts he used during class.’
Then his movements transformed dynamically.
The moment the second strike hit the air, I realized.
‘Could it be the Demonic Suppression Nine Fists……?’
That the martial art before my eyes was indeed the Demonic Suppression Nine Fists.
Having realized his intention, I focused all my senses.
Whoosh- Bang!
Fists extending with different movements.
They were disciplined and fierce.
It was on a completely different level from when I had encountered it in visions.
‘……At this rate, it seems like it wouldn’t just subdue demons but completely shatter them.’
Not just subduing demons but fists meant to destroy them.
Six forms with such intensity followed in succession.
While I watched with bated breath.
“These are the first 6 forms.”
Before I knew it, the demonstration of the first 6 forms had ended.
‘If these are the first part, are the remaining three forms different in feeling?’
As I was contemplating this.
Swish-
Starting with a single step forward, Instructor Go Tae-sik’s demonstration continued.
Each movement flowed seamlessly, before transforming into an even more vicious offense unleashed into the air.
Each form seemed like three different methods to subjugate demons.
“These are the last 3 forms.”
Instructor Go Tae-sik called these the last 3 forms.
As they ended in the blink of an eye, a deep sense of regret washed over me.
Only then did a question arise.
‘How did the instructor perfectly recreate that?’
The Demonic Suppression Nine Fists. While my mind might not know, my body remembered.
Perhaps that’s why I instinctively realized.
That the fist technique I had just witnessed was the true Demonic Suppression Nine Fists.
As if looking into my thoughts, Instructor Go Tae-sik added a simple explanation.
“At my level, I can roughly grasp a martial art after crossing hands once, so don’t ask unnecessary questions.”
He said he could understand after crossing hands.
‘Is he really an A-class superhuman……?’
I accepted it as a high-dimensional skill that ordinary people couldn’t comprehend, and moved on.
‘Well, it’s actually a fortunate thing for me.’
Unlike footwork where foot positioning was key, martial arts were a complex interaction of various movements.
That’s why it was difficult to even imitate it based on just visuals and the memories left in my body.
Thanks to Instructor Go Tae-sik, that problem had been solved.
As enthusiasm welled up, he coincidentally changed the topic.
“The Demonic Suppression Nine Fists, there aren’t many martial arts that so excellently fulfill the intention behind their name.”
After the demonstration, he was now explaining the value of the Demonic Suppression Nine Fists.
I perked up my ears and listened attentively.
“Do you know that from C-class skills and above, special properties and effects are manifested?”
“I think I’ve heard about it.”
“Yes, and the Demonic Suppression Nine Fists is no exception.”
Special properties and effects are manifested.
Just hearing it made my heart race.
“From what I can see, this martial art seems to be specialized in detecting killing intent or hostility. That’s why you reacted to my strike during class.”
“I see.”
“But that’s just its basic function. The effect when you thoroughly master it and add mana utilization is something we’ll have to find out. Of course, we can make educated guesses even now.”
“What do you mean……”
“It’s probably an ability or effect that can faithfully reproduce intent. Most high-level martial arts are like that.”
An ability that could faithfully reproduce intent.
‘A fist technique to subjugate demons. That means……’
Monsters, which are detestable beyond comparison.
Those creatures were the epitome of demons, the embodiment of indiscriminate hatred.
‘It’s effective against such beings.’
Just the thought made my heart beat wildly.
While I was unknowingly lost in thought.
“Well, enough about its utility. Youngster, what do you think is important in learning martial arts?”
Instructor Go Tae-sik asked me.
The proper guidance had begun.
I gathered my thoughts and opened my mouth.
“I’ve been taught to perfectly master each form and entrust my body to the chant.”
“A textbook answer. Did you learn from Instructor Tae-jin, by any chance?”
“Yes.”
“That’s correct. But my thoughts are a bit different.”
His thoughts were different?
As I tilted my head, Instructor Go Tae-sik continued.
“Have you ever thought about why Instructor Tae-jin only taught you that much?”
“No.”
“Most wouldn’t. There’s an intention behind it: that realizing something on your own makes it stay in your mind longer.”
I could relate.
‘He wouldn’t give me the answer until I figured it out myself.’
That’s the intent I had subconsciously felt from Instructor Jin Tae-jin until now.
But.
“That’s not my style. So I’ll use a different approach when guiding you. Why, you ask?”
Instructor Go Tae-sik denied the previous approach.
“If you were the type who could figure it out on your own, you wouldn’t have asked for my help in the first place. Right?”
“……Yes.”
While I thought he had a point, I also felt a sense of foreboding.
Regardless.
“If you understand, then open your ears wide and listen well.”
Instructor Go Tae-sik began his explanation in earnest.
“Mastering martial arts doesn’t just end with skill creation.”
“What do you mean……”
“Before mastery, understanding the use of each form, its applications, and the synergy between forms! Only after grasping the essence of martial arts can you truly say you’ve learned it.”
Penetrating the essence of martial arts.
Apart from understanding, that’s what I thought.
‘Is actively intervening and teaching Instructor Go Tae-sik’s style?’
From his nuance, it seemed like he intended to guide and correct even the minute details.
After thinking about it for a moment, I felt it might suit me unexpectedly well.
‘Then I’d be able to practice on my own too.’
As I was filled with anticipation.
Crack-
A familiar bone sound was heard.
At the same time, Instructor Go Tae-sik slowly approached.
“It’s important to increase understanding of martial arts. And there is a fastest and most effective way to learn this.”
“What method is that……?”
“It’s remembering with your entire body! The mind might forget, but the body never does! Well, it doesn’t matter if you forget. I’ll just beat it into you until you can never forget!”
An ominous premonition rose.
As expected.
“You are to use the Demonic Suppression Nine Fists I taught you. Use it to somehow counter my offense.”
A method very similar to the ‘how to get hit’ class emerged.
I swallowed dryly and asked.
“……And if I can’t counter?”
“Well, then you get hit. What else?”
Suddenly, everything went dark.
“Don’t worry. I’ll adjust it to be just enough to be challenging at your current level!”
With those not-at-all comforting words, he approached right up to my face.
“Ah, let me tell you in advance.”
Instructor Go Tae-sik raised his fist and added one more thing.
“From now on, there’s mandatory private tutoring after school. The duration is until I say you’re done.”
With those words, the hellish private tutoring began.
*
About two weeks later, Thursday, 8th period.
“I, Inwook, I give up!”
The shaggy-haired cadet gestured surrender.
Only then did Sim In-wook expressionlessly withdraw his fist.
One would expect him to help up a friend.
“……”
But Sim In-wook just expressionlessly widened the distance.
The shaggy-haired cadet forced a smile and got up on his own.
“Wow, Inwook is really strong. I really can’t handle it.”
Just then, two cadets who were sparring nearby approached.
“Jin Chang-sik, how many minutes did you last today?”
“Chang-sik, you’re so unlucky. Just happened to face Inwook two days in a row.”
The shaggy-haired cadet, Jin Chang-sik, was boiling inside at his friends’ words.
But he tried not to show it and opened his mouth.
“Eom Jun-tae, Son Gi-wook. You think you’d be any different?”
At this, Eom Jun-tae and Son Gi-wook looked slightly guilty, then.
“Well, it would be similar for anyone, right?”
“Of course, who could beat Inwook? Right?”
They chimed in while subtly watching one person, Sim In-wook.
In the end, all three meant the same thing.
Admiration and praise for Sim In-wook’s overwhelming skill.
He, the person in question, thought.
It’s not too bad, but.
‘Boring.’
It was tedious.
Besides the fact that he’d heard it enough to be sick of it, there was one more reason.
Namely, the difference in level.
Even though they were all in the same advanced course, the levels were worlds apart.
Perhaps that’s why Sim In-wook’s attention was drawn to something other than the class.
“Is that all you’ve got! How have you not improved at all in two weeks, youngster! Or have you developed a taste for getting beaten up!”
It was none other than the two guys who had been getting thrashed by Instructor Go Tae-sik for two weeks.
Among them, the one who particularly irked him.
‘……Ahn Il-han.’
It was Ahn Il-han.
This wasn’t just because he was noisy nearby.
He was the only rival Sim In-wook acknowledged.
The fact that he had caught Baek Yu-jin’s attention was essentially the biggest reason.
It was definitely just that at first.
‘But now……’
Now, one more thing had been added.
But Sim In-wook couldn’t clearly identify its nature.
Just as he was frowning with inexplicable hostility.
“Anyway, what have those two been doing for the past two weeks?”
“Just screaming and making no progress!”
“At this rate, they’ll never even reach Inwook’s level, right?”
Seizing the opportunity, the three chattered excitedly.
It was gossip about the two guys, especially Ahn Il-han, and simultaneously flattery directed at him.
Normally, it would have ended with boredom, but this time was different.
A deep sense of disgust washed over him.
‘……No progress, you say?’
How could they possibly see it as no progress?
Are your eyes just knotholes?
Sim In-wook, who was about to snap back, forcibly held himself back.
That’s how pathetic these guys’ discernment was.
‘How is that futile effort?’
It was by no means stagnation.
Rather.
‘In just two weeks, he’s responding to the instructor’s movements.’
It was a side that had achieved brilliant growth in just two weeks.
Ahn Il-han, in particular, wasn’t just responding.
‘Clearly, the instructor initially declared 25% of his strength.’
But the movements displayed before his eyes were clearly beyond that.
Having grown up around superhuman luminaries including his father since childhood, he could tell.
That Instructor Go Tae-sik was breaking his own word and exerting more than 25% of his strength.
30%, and even up to 35% when Ahn Il-han displayed unusual martial arts.
In other words, while it looked like one-sided beating on the surface.
‘His growth rate is continuously pulling up the instructor’s power.’
The reality was completely different.
Unable to see such an important difference, they could only view it as inferior.
The moment he reached that realization.
‘……I feel a sense of crisis? Me?’
He suddenly realized the cause of his hostility.
Perhaps that’s why a belated sense of displeasure washed over him.
It was precisely because of that.
“You guys, if your skills are lacking, at least develop an eye for talent.”
He ended up blurting out words he would normally have held back.
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