episode_0142

***

I can feel the heated shouts in the hall with my skin.

Rather than their cheering, the vibrations created by those sounds make me more nervous.

The stadium where the competition was held was made of stone.

Maybe that’s why I had to raise my head slightly to see the stadium from the bottom of the platform.

It looks like it’s just a few stairs, but it feels like you’re at a great height.

[Next is… the Nobel seal…]

My fake affiliation made by the ambassador comes out.

Since I couldn’t possibly have a military officer with the same name, I gave him a name that would never exist.

The ambassador asked what it meant, but I just vaguely said it was a pronunciation that came to mind.

Jump up and down to shake off the tension.

“So, your student is leaving, do you have any advice?”

I glanced at Master behind me.

“……”

The teacher remained silent, perhaps because the teasing he had made last time still lingered in his heart.

It’s a style that I secretly keep in mind. I didn’t know that he became cool after becoming the Heavenly Demon, but this is a new discovery.

My opponent is said to be from a certain Cheongpung dojo.

According to the ambassador, it is a place that has produced some good warriors.

First, the opponent who came to the stadium can be seen warming up.

He looks younger than me. Well, by the standards of this world, I am old.

They say that if you want to learn martial arts, you have to start at a much younger age or something.

Since he doesn’t seem to be holding any weapons, I’m thinking he might use a sword.

After my introduction, the audience cheered again.

I gently put my trembling toes on the stone steps.

I felt sick and my heart was pounding.

“Do your best…”

As I climbed one of the stairs, Master spoke in a voice as loud as a mosquito.

I turned my head and smiled at her.

“Of course. Whose student is this?”

Ah, I feel a little more relaxed.

I slowly climb the stairs and face my partner.

A boy who looks to be 15 years old now looks at me and grabs me.

“It is said to be the Hoyeon of the Cheongpung Dojo.”

“This is Kang In-ho of the Nobel seal.”

I also say hello to you.

The referee’s flag blocks the gap between me and Hoenn.

Now we must prepare for a fight.

Take a deep breath through your nose and hold it for a moment.

My heart is pounding

I feel my heart beating violently.

Take your right leg back and raise your hand.

It was not the posture I learned from my teacher. No, it is an attitude that has absolutely nothing to do with Yan Lun-gong.

Seeing my ready stance, Hoyeon narrows his eyes slightly and takes a horseback riding stance.

I don’t know what kind of martial arts it is, but it seems like it starts like that.

I don’t know what trick or intention there is in that posture.

It will be an unfavorable match for someone who doesn’t know much about martial arts.

“Now! Ready.”

However, there are a few things I realized while sparring with my teacher so many times that it’s hard to count them.

One, my achievements are not bad compared to the period of time I learned martial arts.

Second, no matter how much one walks the path of martial arts, one lacks experience when one is young.

“Start!”

Third, there is no need for me to be confined to the mold of ‘military skill’.

***

As soon as Namgung Soyu sat down in the audience, the match began.

With a shout of “waaah,” Inho rushed forward.

Hoyeon’s posture was disturbed by that reckless charge.

“You’re quite fearless.”

As Yeomjin spoke while fanning a fan, Namgung Soyu spoke without taking his eyes off Inho.

“Because we sparred a lot, the fear of fighting would have disappeared.”

“That’s true, but isn’t this the first time you’ve danced like this?”

Certainly, compared to when he first competed in a martial arts competition, Inho was truly fearless.

“Even if weeding is prohibited, injuries occur in fighting competitions. Inexperienced dancers tend to be afraid of getting hurt… but In-ho doesn’t have that. As if he had been hurt a lot.”

Namgung Soyu nodded at his teacher’s words.

Even when sparring with him, Inho had no fear of getting hurt.

“Look at that. The child of Cheongpung military officer is outstanding in martial arts achievements, but isn’t he being pushed behind?”

From the start, Inho did not give his opponent a chance.

Regardless of how the opponent reacted or not, first he got close and alternately struck the opponent’s head with his left and right hands.

Because of the height difference, it became an attack that extended from the top to the bottom.

Cheongpung military officer Ho-yeon avoided them at first and attacked In-ho several times, but In-ho’s defense with both hands up was not easily penetrated.

Left hand, right hand and right foot.

No matter where he sold the herbivorous food he taught him, Inho continued to stick to the same attack method.

Attack Hoenn’s thighs with your left hand, right hand, and right leg.

It seemed like Hoyeon was yelling at the attack, but it was not heard in the loud cheering hall.

“I never thought I would see the random fighting that I see on the streets here.”

Bingum’s voice was heard from behind.

When she turned her head, Bingeom and Cheongyeon were sitting a short distance away from her.

“So isn’t it interesting, Bingeom.”

“I was looking forward to it because you sold Yan Lun-gong’s name and let your squire participate in the competition, but the saying comes to mind that there is nothing to eat at a famous feast.”

As Yeomjin spoke while fanning the bill, Bingeom snorted.

“……”

Contrary to her teacher’s reaction, Cheongyeon was quietly watching Inho.

Namgung Soyu did not like that behavior for no reason.

Trying to suppress his unpleasant feeling, Nangong Soyou turned his gaze back to his student.

Ho-yeon seemed to have gradually adapted to In-ho’s attacks, and seemed to be responding with ease.

“Now the attack is starting to stop working, so what should I do?”

Maybe it was because he was nervous, but Soyou was worried about Inho.

It was clearly Inho who showed creative attacks while sparring. But Soyu was frustrated as to why he didn’t attack like that.

“Huh?”

It was the sound that came from Soyou’s mouth as he watched In-ho’s attack.

Unlike before, it appeared that a lot of strength had been exerted on the disciple’s left shoulder.

Unlike the previous left-hand attacks that were lightly used as a check, the left-hand attacks came out with quite a bit of force.

Hoenn’s center of gravity was slightly shaken by the attack.

Then, he attacks with his right hand, lowering his body slightly and aiming for Hoenn’s chin.

As always, Ho-yeon slightly pushed away In-ho’s right hand and protected his chin.

“Ah….”

Cheongyeon’s exclamation was heard from behind.

Cheong-yeon also saw the same thing as So-you.

It was Inho’s foot attack, which was always aimed at Hoyeon’s thigh.

However, this time it was aimed precisely at Hoenn’s face.

“You were aiming for this…?”

Although this does not apply in the world of experts, it is a fight between the inexperienced.

If you keep inflicting the same attack, your body will react first.

Sigh!

Hoyeon’s face defense was empty as he tried to block Inho’s right hand, and Inho’s foot struck directly there.

Hoyeon, hit by a kick that put a lot of force on his back, fell flat and was unable to get up.

The referee came running, looked at Hoyeon’s condition, and then raised his hand and pointed at Inho.

“Winner! Kang In-ho of the Nobel Dojo!”

Even though there was little to show, it was still a victory.

The people cheered, and In-ho took the gun and showed courtesy to his fallen opponent.

Inho passed the first preliminary round.

Soyou wanted to go to Inho, but held back.

Her clenched fists were soaked with sweat.

The second round started after the first round of qualifying was over.

The opponent put pressure on In-ho from the start to avoid being targeted by In-ho.

As he circled around In-ho with light movements and attacked, In-ho curled up like a hedgehog and was attacked.

“What are you going to do this time? Inho.”

Soyou chewed his lower lip.

At that moment, Inho bent down.

The opponent’s kick aimed at the neck split the air.

Although he couldn’t hear because of the distance and noise, Soyou could tell what Inho’s mouth was saying.

[Gotcha.]

Inho rushed at his opponent, who was somewhat lax as he was focused on attack, and planted his shoulder into his stomach.

Then he stuck it in the ground and climbed on top of it.

The oppressed opponent punched In-ho in an attempt to somehow escape, but In-ho caught the opponent’s fist under his arm and continued punching him in the face with the other hand.

Although it was barbaric and cruel, its destructive power was certain.

In-ho’s fist struck from above and down did not miss, and before he knew it, his opponent’s face was covered in blood.

The referee gasped and removed the seal, signaling the end of the game.

***

“Modern martial arts… it’s the best. Fuck.”

My whole body ached. I was prepared to get hit, but it hurts.

I thought I had achieved my goal just by winning the first game, but it feels good to win the second game and advance to the finals.

Today, the finalists will be selected for the finals, and the finals will begin the next day.

If the schedule were to hold the first and second rounds and then go straight to the finals, it would be ridiculous.

Anyway, I suppress the urge to go back to my dorm and lie down, sit on the small chair provided for the finalists, and watch the draw.

There were two people like me who passed the preliminaries and advanced to the finals. The remaining 10 people, like the teacher, are starting from the finals.

It’s unfair from a modern person’s perspective, but what can we do? This is the world.

And since they are all excellent martial arts people, it cannot be said that it is unfair.

“The finals will really not be easy.”

My strategy worked in the preliminaries, but I have a feeling it will be a real disaster in the finals.

What if you meet Master as your first opponent in the finals?

It’s a 5 second cut.

“1 game in the finals. Yan Lun-gong’s possession of Nangung!”

Those worries were for naught, and Master ended up with someone else.

At least I no longer have to get beaten up by my teacher. thank god.

In this way, the matchups for the 3rd and 4th games of the final were decided.

“5 games in the finals. Kang In-ho of the Nobel Dojo!”

Finally my name was called.

“And Bingryun-gong’s Cheongyeon!”

…uh?

My eyes automatically turned to the VIP table where Master was sitting.

Master’s face was no different from mine.

“……”

Then, the gaze of Master and I turned to Cheongyeon slightly above us.