After they witnessed Levy Fault, the delicate noble lady, succeed in using ‘Martial Power’, the cadets went into an uproar.

    The fact that the instructor managed to achieve such a feat already left them surprised, but he went even further and guided a girl who had only trained for a short time to do the same thing. This made them look forward to trying it, because they thought they would be able to do it too.

    Their hearts were overflowing with desires to learn Martial Power.

    However…

    “Keeeeuk…!”

    “G-Grandma…? W-Why are you here?”

    “Wake up, you rascal! Your grandmother is fine! Hell, she’ll probably live longer than you!”

    …After they actually attempted it, they couldn’t feel that way anymore.

    Some of the cadets were rolling on the dirt, groaning while holding their stomachs. They were the first people who had stepped forward when the instructor said that he’d let them feel Martial Power with their own bodies. Among them were those who were in a daze even, as if they had just gone through a near-death experience.

    Although this was a familiar sight…

    They still had gone through extreme situations ever since they climbed Vulcan.

    And yet they still ended up like this, even though they came here to learn. They simply couldn’t understand why it was the case.

    “Alright, next. C’mon, get over here quickly.”

    “…”

    “Why are you acting like this? You don’t want to learn anymore or what?”

    “…Instructor, why are you treating us like this? You weren’t like this with Levy Fault…”

    “Treating you like what?”

    “…Beating us without saying anything…”

    When the cadets first heard that he would let them experience Martial Power with a ‘kyung’, they thought that he’d do the same thing as he did with Levy Fault; putting his palm on their backs and do whatever it was that he did. However, instead of that, he just hit the center of their stomachs without saying anything.

    It was no wonder that they ended up rolling on the floor afterwards, suffering from a sense of deep trauma.

    What is this…?

    What did I do wrong?!

    Did he find the diary where I wrote all kinds of insults about him…?

    Since the cadets didn’t want to end up like the log that was split in half, they thought of kneeling down and apologizing to him right away, just in case that they had offended him somehow. They were showcasing their unparalleled survival instinct, the servile attitude that they had learned from rolling around in the dirt of Vulcan.

    “Are you guys dumb?”

    Lee Han snorted as he said that.

    “In Levy Fault’s case, her physical endurance was way beneath you guys, that’s why I guided her in a kinder way. However, you guys are different. Not only are you guys on a different level than her, your whole body’s motor skills also have considerably improved during this short period of time. That’s why I’m letting you guys experience Martial Power with the most effective means.”

    “B-But, do you really have to hit us…?”

    “Of course, how else would I get to punch the Martial Power into your body? This way, you’ll be able to fully feel the Martial Power and enter what we call the awakened state. You should be thankful, I’m the only one who can do this technique, as it needs a pin-point accuracy.”

    Energy Penetrating Attack. Experiencing Baltar’s take on the technique was a great help for Lee Han since it allowed him to develop this convenient method.

    “B-But, w-won’t we die because of it…?”

    “Of course you won’t, no need to worry about that. Well, you’ll feel as if your insides are being torn apart, but you won’t die. I guarantee you.”

    As for how Lee Han could be so confident, it was because he had experimented on—no, because he asked his one and only friend in the Knight Order, Jake, for his help in developing this method.

    Even though the method would bring a side effect such as giving the other person unbearable pain and agony, as if their ‘balls’ were being crushed for more than two hours…

    It was still more bearable than the water torture Lee Han experienced from the magic freak back in the day.

    “…Kunta think, this method very barbaric.”

    Even the barbarian warrior said that it was barbaric, and no one disagreed with that.

    However, Lee Han was firm on his stance.

    “Just try it. This is the fastest way.”

    “T-This is gender discrimination!”

    “No, I’m just being fair. How can I treat a beginner and an expert the same way? Just think of it as me trusting your endurance.”

    “…We don’t mind being treated a little unfairly, Instructor.”

    They pleaded sincerely.

    However…

    “Stop talking nonsense and come quickly.”

    “…”

    The cadets couldn’t escape their fate.

    **** * ****

    -Thud.

    “I-I thought I’m going to die…”

    “Keuuuuk!”

    “…”

    Some cadets collapsed, rolling around the ground while the others straight up fainted. It really felt like they had emptied their lifetime quota fainting in Vulcan.

    However, even as they groaned in pain, they could feel a burning sensation spreading from the center of their stomachs. What they felt was way rougher than the pulse that Levy Fault felt before, but they could feel it clearly. They also realized something as they noticed it. The true identity of Martial Power.

    “It’s a technique to handle ‘mass’… Ridiculous…”

    Combat Technique was a technique that allowed its user to amplify the ‘vitality’ or ‘energy’ in their body. Depending on their skills, the technique could increase the user’s capability by ten or twenty times once they learned it. There was no need to explain how great of a technique it was.

    On the other hand, the technique they had newly awakened, Martial Power, was something close to ‘enlightenment’. Rather than amplifying their physical capabilities, it allowed them to deal with the ‘mass’ that every human in this world possessed.

    Arno nodded his head in admiration at this unique approach.

    I see, so that’s why he was able to do such absurd things.

    Splitting that massive tree?

    Certainly, it was something surprising to see the first time, but after understanding the theory behind it, Arno realized that it wasn’t such an impossible thing to accomplish.

    For example, Levy Fault…

    As long as that young miss has awakened her Martial Power, theoretically speaking, she’d be able to split that tree.

    Assuming that the young miss weighed around 39 kg, it would definitely be possible for her to do that. As for how she would be able to do that with such a weak body, the answer was the way her mass would be utilized.

    The art of freely distributing the mass of one’s entire body to any part of the body. Martial Power is such a technique…

    An object weighing 39 kg couldn’t be considered light in any way, it was only when it came to weight if a person that it could be considered light. But that was only because the mass of the body wasn’t concentrated in one place, but instead, divided into smaller parts of the body.

    But what if all the mass that was spread around in one’s body could be moved and concentrated in one place? For example, on one’s feet, fists, or legs?

    An attack from a 39 kg iron ring is no different than an attack from a lethal weapon…

    Now, what if one were to take into consideration the average person’s grip strength and the acceleration of their fist into that mass?

    It’ll turn into a 39 kg slingshot… Strong enough to break through a castle wall…

    Even Goliath died instantly from a mere stone sling, let alone a normal human. If this concept could be realized, there would be no technique in this world that was more terrifying than this.

    “Theoretically, this technique could allow even someone like Levy Fault to split the thick trees… However, this technique could put a huge burden on the body. A careless usage of it could easily lead to self-destruction.”

    “I think I understand why the instructor trained them like that now. Because if their bodies aren’t strong enough, there’s no way they’d be able to use it in the first place.”

    “Used wrong, the sprouts and chicks bodies will burst. Like balloons. Kunta think it’s better to be careful with it.”

    “…But still, this technique is extremely efficient. As long as someone is able to utilize this technique, their potential to grow stronger is endless.”

    “…”

    Roen’s surprising remark interrupted their conversation. But it was an extremely valid remark that made them shut their mouths.

    Indeed, as he said, ‘Martial Power’ would only continue to grow in relation to how diligent its practitioners trained and developed their physical capabilities. One could easily increase their weight as long as they eat well and train well. Besides, Martial Power didn’t solely deal with one’s weight, as it could allow its user to convert their heartbeat into energy.

    As long as someone was skilled enough, they would be able to properly concentrate all the mass that made up their entire body.

    And at the end of that road…

    “When it comes to ‘utilizing’ the energy that our body possesses, this technique is quite similar to Combat Technique. However, even if the process is more arduous and requires one to put in more effort, if they are able to reach the end of this path… They will probably be able to reach it.”

    “…By it, did you mean the superhuman level…?”

    “Why are you asking something you already know?”

    “Huu!”

    He basically stated that Martial Power was a path for humans to become superhuman, just like Combat Technique. No one there dared to deny it. Also, if that assessment was correct…

    Haa… Does that mean we are in the presence of the founder of a [school] right now?

    Crazy. Who would have thought that there would be someone like this other than the old man?

    Great warrior?

    Each of them thought about such things and couldn’t help but feel astonished by the revelation. Then, they all turned their gaze toward their instructor, holding a whole different kind of gaze than before.

    “You guys really entertain that idea well.”

    However, Lee Han, who had heard their conversation from the beginning, just shook his head, letting out a sigh with an expression that said, ‘When will these guys finally grow to be human?’.

    Why are they overinterpreting the smallest things and making a big deal out of it?

    “This is just an inferior version of Combat Technique. It isn’t something notable enough to be recognized by the world yet.”

    “D-Don’t you think it’s a little too much for the person involved to say all that…?”

    “I’m just giving an honest evaluation on what I had created.”

    “…”

    Lee Han was right. He was just evaluating what he created, it was just his evaluation was rather harsh.

    “What you’re talking about is ultimately a dream and a theory. I mean, I’ve been practicing hard like you guys, but even I can’t say anything definitive. What superhuman? Seriously, you guys should try writing a play with that kind of imagination.”

    “…”

    “Look. Because of your yapping, the other guys are expecting something great coming out of it. If those sprouts were to put themselves forward and end up failing, would you guys take any responsibility for it, huh?”

    “…Ngh.”

    He criticized them harshly, but his words weren’t completely wrong. Because there were indeed quite a few sprouts who listened to their conversation and showed their excitement by looking at them with sparkling eyes.

    But, that excitement quickly died down because of Lee Han’s harsh words.

    He then continued his words by scolding the sprouts sternly.

    “Don’t listen to their nonsense. Look, there are guys who’ve been called geniuses ever since they were born and learned all kinds of fighting arts from day one, and those guys still failed to become an ‘Aura User’ until they died of old age. If a magpie follows a stork for no reason, their legs would only be torn.”

    Even though the instructor treated them especially strictly, he still ignited the anticipation in the cadets’ hearts. For some reason, all of them paid their full attention to his speech. It was a crude speech, but they could feel his sincerity in it.

    He was scolding them for their own good, even a fool knew that it was the case.

    “Martial Power is a technique with more disadvantages than advantages. How so? Because if you neglect your training even for a day, you will grow weaker. It is a technique based on physical capabilities, so you have to take that into account constantly.

    “And that isn’t all. Combat Technique will mature to a certain extent as its user ages, and it would even adapt to its user’s physical capabilities, but the same can’t be said for Martial Power. It will become a great burden on the body once someone passes their physical prime. Such is the fate of a technique that relies on physical capabilities.

    “…Also, the more you use it, the more often your bones will break and your muscles will tear. That’s why you’d need to constantly think about how to distribute your strength. If you use it ignorantly, you’ll just end up self-destructing.”

    A series of extremely harsh statements came out of Lee Han’s mouth, making the cadets lose faith in their future and their will to learn, turning them anxious and discouraged.

    However, despite that…

    “But, if there is one good thing about it…”

    Hearing his words, the cadets’ eyes lit up again. It was because the one and only good thing Lee Han was talking about was one that would resolve all of their shortcomings.

    “Even if you don’t have talent, as long as you have ‘talent’ for ‘putting effort’ and ‘perseverance,’ I guarantee that you’ll see the results of your own hard work.”

    With that, his sincere and honest speech came to an end. Sometimes, it was such a plain speech that was able to actually touch the hearts of the listeners. Because at the very least, they knew that the speaker was sincere and not trying to dupe them or anything.

    “I mean, it isn’t like it would shorten our lifespans like what those cheap Combat Techniques that the guilds or mercenary groups distribute right? That much is enough for me.”

    “We are already very grateful for this much.”

    “Just knowing that there’s a chance that I can become stronger someday is enough for me.”

    “Thank you, Instructor!”

    All the cadets bowed their backs with sincerity. They bent their heads so low that their heads almost touched the ground. Although the learning process was difficult and painful, in the end, he gave them the opportunity to catch up to those who were far ahead of them.

    That alone already made them happy and grateful to him.

    ─And their feelings were sincere.

    “You rascals…”

    After hearing their words, a tickling warmth coursed throughout Lee Han’s body. He even unconsciously glanced at the bridge of his nose because of it.

    Am I becoming more sensitive to things like this as I get older?

    Seeing the cadets bowing their heads in gratitude, his heart was moved.

    This is why I hate growing older.

    …Now I know why old people cry easier.

    And so, Lee Han decided to express his emotions in his own way.

    To do that, he expressed the best thing he could do for them.

    “Then you should get used to it by now, right?”

    “…?”

    “For the remaining ten days, every single day, we will hold a 18-on-1 sparring, between you guys and me. We will keep doing this until all of you are used to Martial Power!”

    “…”

    -Clank!

    Even though there were no glasses in sight, a sound similar to a lightbulb breaking rang in the cadets’ ears. A sound so heartbreaking that it almost made their hearts crumble. It even erased the tears that had almost fallen from their red eyes.

    What?

    That isn’t something anyone should say in this kind of atmosphere!

    “…”

    “Why are you looking at me like that?”

    “…Are you really asking that, Instructor? Could it be that you don’t realize it…?”

    “Realize what?”

    “…The fact that you have zero empathy whatsoever, Instructor.”

    “Is there a better way to empathize with you than to make you stronger?”

    “…”

    “Alright, let’s do it! Before we start our spars, go for a hundred light laps!”

    “…Ah.”

    Apparently, the statement that the cadets once heard, of those who bore the title of instructors and professors, were existences that did not understand human emotions.


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