Chapter 127 – Training (1)

“It was a lot of work. They said the witch did a good job.”

“I didn’t do anything great.”

Next day.
I was called by the principal and came to the principal’s office.

“You must have heard from her about her reward. If there is anything you want, tell me.”

“What can you give me as a reward?”

“If possible, I will listen to everyone. Whether you want cash, GP, or artifacts. If you ask for a reward that pays off, I’ll do anything.”

It’s a well-deserved reward.
Since I don’t know how high the principal, Jang Young-shik is measuring this incident, I couldn’t figure out what the appropriate reward would be.

If you say no anyway, just ask for another reward.
I opened my mouth with the intention of stabbing him once.

“Tell me the martial arts.”

“It is impossible. I’m too busy to teach you martial arts and I can’t afford it.”

“Is that so too?”

For a day, I thought about the reward I would receive from him, and the conclusion was martial arts.

I am still not used to using a sword, drawing a bow, or stabbing a spear.
However, martial arts were different.
Unlike other weapons that use weapons, they wield their own bodies.

Having rolled my body several times already in this world, I realized that I knew how to handle my body to a certain extent when I dealt with Stonewing the other day.

Also, whether it was a sword, a spear, or an arrow, if it was overlaid with demonic energy, it would definitely show through.
But the fist was different.

I was able to pour demonic energy at the same time as I inserted my fist.
Just like the last time against Stonewing.

“Tell me something else.”

“Then, please introduce me to someone who can teach me about martial arts. Of course, I will pay for the tuition.”

I thought about getting money or artifacts for a while, but the only artifacts I could get from him would be epic.
And most of the abilities that can be obtained as artifacts can be obtained by consuming regularity.

“Hmm… I get it. I will find the right person and contact you, so wait for me.”
“All right.”

“And one thing. Was it just a coincidence, as she said?”

He looked at me with eyes that would not allow lies and asked.

“You don’t believe the witch’s words?”

“… Good.”

I don’t even have to answer.
Mention Riel once and you’re done.

And the moment I speak honestly, I die.

∴

A week has passed.

I haven’t heard from the principal yet, and the midterm exam day is approaching.

“Did everyone return the Cube Watch?”

“Yes.”

“You know that cheating is immediately expulsion. I hope everyone gets good grades.”

After the homeroom teacher’s words, the bell announcing the start of the exam rang.
The first period subject is the history of hunters.

The students quickly turned over the test papers and OMR cards they had covered and started reading the questions.

I also turned the test paper over with a relaxed mind.
If it was me in the past, I would have been racking my brains for a while trying to recall my memories to solve the problem, but it was different now.

‘Is it easy?’

Thanks to the memory ability, I was able to check the answers and write down the narrative at the same time as reading the passage.

After completing the answer sheet, the OMR card was compared with the test paper to make sure that it was properly marked.

After all 5 subjects were over, lunch time came.

“Did you do well on the test?”

She asked the naturally gathered women.
It seemed that everyone was studying for the test until late at night.

“I think I looked fine as usual.”

“I think I did as well as I studied.”

“Yes.”

It seemed that everyone had taken the test satisfactorily, and they seemed satisfied with their tired expressions.
After lunch, I took the practical exam.

Of course, I was the first in the practical test.

∴

-Go to the training ground number 13.

Today, 3 days have passed since the midterm exams and 5 days are left until the field trip.
A text message came from Garden’s number.

-Who are you.

-It’s the principal. The person who will teach you martial arts is waiting in the 13th arena.

“Hmm…”

I didn’t have anything to do, but I thought the timing was good, so I headed straight to the 13th training ground.
The location is a bit further inside the restaurant.

After arriving at the training ground, I looked around and saw a familiar face.

“How are you, student Kim Si-woo?”

A macho old man wearing sunglasses.
He was the instructor who was in charge of me when I first transferred to this world and received F-level special classes.

“Yes, I was fine. Instructor, your muscles seem to have gotten bigger.”

When I first received swordsmanship training, the memory of the assault pretending to be training came to mind.

“Hmm, do you know? You have good eyes.”

“Thank you.”

As expected, he seemed satisfied with what I said.
But even for a moment, he put on his cool expression as usual and crossed his arms with bulging muscles.

“But there is one correction that needs to be made. I am not an instructor. From now on, while I train you, I am your teacher.”

“Yes? But the instructor…”

“Teacher.”

“…Isn’t Master a swordsmanship instructor?”

Apparently, even at the time of our first meeting, he taught me the sword.
I beat him for a day, but

“I think you’re misunderstanding, but I don’t use swordsmanship, and I’m not an official garden instructor. I am a self-employed person who runs a small cafe, just helping out for a while at my brother’s request.”

“That’s why I’ve never seen him in the garden. But older brother… Are you the principal’s younger brother?”

“Okay.”

He nodded and replied.
The fact that he was Jang Young-sik’s younger brother did not make me feel particularly impressed.
I already knew that he had a younger brother.

There was nothing more surprising than that.

‘Even if it’s the gym president.’

With that muscle and stature, he is the owner of a small cafe.
I’m not trying to discriminate based on appearance, but honestly, it didn’t suit me too much.
Same with those heavy sunglasses.

“Anyway, I thought he was weak, but I liked him because he seems like a man, and he has his own personality. I’ll tear you apart from the head and fix it.”

“… All right.”

It seemed like it was wrong to go over nicely.

I went into the locker room and changed into my training clothes.
What should I say?
Should I say I miss it after thinking about the past?

‘Yes, let’s work hard.’

He thought he was out of luck, but he had no intention of taking it lightly.
Although his training was a bit intense, I remember that he taught me with such diligence.

“Fast. Previously it took 4 minutes and 12 seconds, but this time it took 1 minute and 28 seconds.”

Satisfied, he said, raising one corner of his mouth.
Maybe it was because of his mood that his white teeth seemed to glisten in the sunlight.

“I am Jang Tae-shik, who will teach you fighting techniques from today.”

And he suddenly started screaming.

“As you may already know, this is Siwoo Kim. I look forward to. Master.”

“Okay. First of all, run on the playground for two hours and come.”

“Yes?”

What does it mean when you come to learn martial arts and then suddenly have to run on the playground?
Even in July, in the middle of summer, when the sun shines so brightly.

“Let me ask you one thing. Have you ever trained your body through exercise?”

“Not much.”

I used to work out at the gym once or twice a week as a diversion, but not for very long.

“Of course it is. And most hunters are like that. Not only you. As you gain points and increase your stats, you become stronger, faster, and harder. But that’s all, very few people know how to move their bodies properly.”

“Hmm… So are you teaching me how to run?”

“Okay. Don’t you like it?”

“No.”

“Then start running right now. It’s okay to slow down because you’re tired. But I will never tolerate walking or stopping. Even if you no longer have strength in your feet, step forward somehow. Do you understand?”

Does fixing my mind mean that I will first train my will?
But I was confident.

“Yes.”

“The answer is small!”

“Yes!”

I immediately rolled up my pants and started running.

The hot sunlight hit me as it was, and the more I ran, the more sweat flowed from my body.
Still, I didn’t feel any discomfort.
It was a special enchanted training suit I bought for today.

[Garden Training Uniform]
Ventilation Lv1
Dry Lv1

And as I sped up, the passing wind continued to cool my overheated body.

After 100 minutes, my legs started to go numb.
After sprinting at full speed for 100 minutes, breathing became increasingly difficult.

“Don’t stop! It will keep running!”

“Uhhhhh yes!”

He vigorously waved his arms and moved his legs.
Right now, my limited-time mentor, Jang Tae-sik, was running with me behind me.

‘Am I crazy…?’

Even though he was running backwards, he was rather comfortable and faster than I was, and he didn’t show any sign of exhaustion.

Looking at the minimum physical strength, it was definitely A-class or higher.

“Ha… Ha… Ha…”

Finally, after the two-hour run, I bent down and put my hands on both knees to support my body.
Unfortunately, sweat flowed down like a waterfall on the part of my face where I couldn’t turn it on when the training suit automatically dried, and it formed on the tip of my nose and chin for a while, then dripped off.

“Stand up your back. Are you going to make all your training go to waste!”

“Whoa… No!”

I replied, straightening my back.

“Good night. Let’s rest for the next five minutes and start training again. Take it.”

And Taesik threw something at me and said.
There were small water droplets in the small water bottle, and a pleasant coolness came from my hand.
I immediately opened the lid and drank the water.

“If you drink too much water, it will interfere with your training. Drink only 200ml each time I give you water, okay?”

“Puh… I see.”

At that, I answered by removing the water bottle from my mouth.

“Master.”

“What.”

“Was Master a hunter?”

I asked for a little more break time to drag on the conversation.

“Yes, now I am just the owner of a small cafe, but in the past I was also an S-rank candidate. It’s been quite a while since I quit my Hunter job.”

He spoke in a somewhat nostalgic tone, as if recalling the old days.

“Okay. But why did you quit Hunter?”

“Her wife got pregnant. Also triplets. She had money saved up, but she couldn’t afford to take care of her by herself, her wife, who was reluctant to hire a babysitter. So I quit.”

“Oh…”

I was genuinely amazed.
Becoming an S-class Hunter in this world is the wish and goal of all Hunters.
An S-class hunter with a guaranteed future and the object of everyone’s envy and respect.
But that means he left Hunter to raise his own children.

“Are you not sorry?”

“Of course it was sad. I also wanted to become an S-class Hunter like my brother. But looking at my children lying next to each other, it seemed that none of that mattered.”

He said, looking up at the blue sky with his arms crossed.
And I somehow thought he was cool.

“Do you have a lover?”

“Yes, a little too much. They are too much for me.”

“Right. If so, don’t settle for the present and work harder toward the future. Don’t stop training and constantly ponder and think. That is…”

Then he looked at me again and opened his mouth again.

“He is the head of a family, someone’s husband, and someone’s father.”

His sharp eyes were visible through his dark sunglasses, and a cool breeze blew.

‘He has so much charisma.’

And it was fucking cool.

“Thank you for those kind words.”

“Hmm, wasn’t it like an old man? Young people these days seem to be saying this.”

“Kkondae.. What do you mean?”

“Or don’t. I suddenly said something useless. Start training again We still have a long way to go.”

“Yes!”

This is the training received from him who was an S-class candidate.
I answered vigorously with the mindset that I would pick as many mulberries as possible.