Ch.26Chapter 26: Sparring (1)

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After breakfast.

Following Shizu’s lively footsteps, I arrived at the special training ground exclusively for awakened individuals.

“I’m nervous…”

Standing in front of the massive metal entrance door painted the same shade of green as Director Belpheus’s hair, my voice betrayed my nervousness without me realizing it.

And for good reason.

‘This entrance door. No matter how much force someone without qualifications applies, it won’t open.’

When I couldn’t make proper rational judgments due to my inferiority complex in the previous timeline.

I still vividly remember how I recklessly tried to open this entrance door using only my sturdy body inherited from my family as a weapon, only to end up hurting myself badly.

The training ground for awakened individuals is, as the name suggests, a place prepared for promising students who can continue as heroes after turning 18 years old.

Special awakening that allows one to manifest transcendental abilities.

Superhuman certification received from the Cradle’s officials after successfully breaking through barriers by training one’s martial arts and body to the extreme.

This facility, which can be used if one meets either of these two conditions, is also protected by a barrier that doesn’t even allow those without qualifications to open the entrance door.

And although this doesn’t apply to most who have these qualifications, making it almost nominal.

There is a restriction that prevents those who lack the mindset befitting a hero from opening this entrance door, no matter how excellent their qualifications may be.

I miraculously awakened my super-regeneration ability and knowledge related to another lesser-known swordsmanship used by my family’s ancestor, Lumen Ranos, before turning 18, qualifying me to use this place by just one day.

“Huff…”

The bitter memories from the previous timeline made me unconsciously let out a rough breath.

Can I do it? Even though I’ve awakened special abilities and met the conditions, can I, who couldn’t properly rid myself of the inferiority complex in my heart until just recently, open this door?

Though not severe, hesitation that made me shrink inside was gradually raising its head.

It was proof of how tense I was standing in front of this entrance door that demonstrates a hero’s proof.

But that tension didn’t last long.

“It’s okay.”

With a warm voice, Shizu’s gentle touch wrapped around my trembling right hand, instantly relieving that tension.

“With what Kal showed yesterday, this will open easily.”

It was strange.

It was just a few words conveyed to me.

But hearing those words, the hesitation that had been raising its head became faint.

And as that hesitation fell away, what newly filled my heart was courage.

This alone was more than enough.

“Let’s open it together.”

Shizu lifted her left hand while still holding my right hand, pointing it toward the entrance door.

It was a warm consideration to lend me strength in case I found it burdensome to open it alone.

“Thank you.”

All I could say was a small expression of gratitude.

My right hand, guided by Shizu’s touch, went up to the handle of the exclusive training ground’s entrance door.

Click

I was able to turn the handle with force.

The barrier on the entrance door had accepted me.

Soon, the door opened smoothly, without even the sound of hinges turning, as they were well-maintained.

As if welcoming me on my first step into this place.

“Let’s go in.”

“Okay.”

Steps toward an unknown place always contain both excitement and fear, but.

Perhaps thanks to being with Shizu, who cherishes me.

Strangely, my steps entering the training ground were filled only with excitement.

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And so I took my first step into the exclusive training ground for awakened individuals.

I felt gazes from various directions focused on me as I first revealed my presence here.

Since most of these gazes were filled with curiosity and interest, they didn’t feel burdensome despite their number.

Moreover, one of those many gazes was familiar.

“Oh, what’s this?”

A cheerful voice from the owner of the familiar gaze reached me along with the sound of approaching footsteps.

When I turned my head toward where the footsteps stopped, a welcome face greeted me and spoke.

“So you really awakened your ability. I thought Professor Grace was lying.”

Excel, who seemed to be in the midst of physical training as he wiped the glistening sweat from his forehead, was the owner of the voice expressing both delight and surprise.

From what he said, I gathered that he must have heard about my successful ability awakening through Professor Grace, though I couldn’t specify whether it was yesterday or today.

Even though there was a hint of skepticism in his voice, I could clearly feel that he was genuinely happy to see me enter this place.

“The professor might play pranks on students, but she wouldn’t lie about something like that.”

I simply responded normally to his puzzlement.

Seeing me step into this place and respond naturally to his words, he seemed to finally accept that I had successfully awakened my ability.

“Hehe. That’s true. Until yesterday, I thought the sight of you at the martial arts competition would be the last I’d see of you at the Cradle.”

He delivered words that, despite his characteristic sarcasm, didn’t feel malicious.

“Thanks for the kind words, you jerk.”

When I graciously interpreted his sarcasm, which was cleverly balanced between malice and kindness, as well-wishing.

The others in the training ground began to chat among themselves or with those next to them, using the conversation between Excel and me as a starting point.

-Huh? That guy succeeded in awakening his ability before his birthday?

Those who knew my situation—that I couldn’t stay at the Cradle if I failed to awaken my ability after turning 18—expressed their surprise.

-I wondered why he collapsed from exhaustion in the middle of the training ground after the martial arts competition yesterday. Isn’t Kal also involved in what happened yesterday?

-If you’re curious, why don’t you just ask him?

-We’re not close enough for me to ask. It’ll come to light eventually as time passes.

-You’re really carefree, aren’t you?

Some calmly expressed their opinions, connecting my presence here with what happened yesterday.

While everyone showed various forms of interest in me as I first appeared here, it didn’t last long.

Before long, they set aside their interest in me and focused on their own tasks.

As the small commotion that arose after my arrival subsided.

“Hello, Excel.”

Shizu, who had followed me, spoke for the first time since entering the training ground, greeting Excel, who was also her childhood friend.

Perhaps due to the attention focused on me?

Excel’s expression changed strangely when he heard Shizu’s voice, but it quickly returned to normal.

“Wow… Lily. Did you skip your morning sleep to come here?”

He expressed more surprise at this than at my presence here.

As expected of Excel. As expected of our childhood friend.

He knows Shizu well, though not as well as I do.

His reaction came from knowing that she never skips her morning sleep at this time, even if she skips breakfast.

“What? I can wake up early when I need to!”

Shizu responded with a slightly annoyed voice to Excel’s comment.

Seeing this casual banter between childhood friends after so long, I could barely suppress the smile trying to form at the corners of my mouth.

After exchanging playful greetings for a moment.

Excel quickly composed his mischievous expression and asked Shizu about her purpose for visiting this place.

“By the way, seeing you here with Kal, are you planning to guide him around?”

“I came to train with him.”

In response to Shizu’s straightforward statement about her purpose for visiting with me, Excel spoke with a calm expression.

“That’s quick. On your first day of awakening, you could just get a feel for the atmosphere here.”

“I awakened late, you know. I need to work hard like this to close the gap.”

“Seeing you talk like that since yesterday, it reminds me of the old days, Kal.”

His calm expression soon changed to one filled with satisfaction.

Like yesterday.

Excel seems very pleased that I’ve finally come to my senses, albeit belatedly.

“If you’re happy your friend has come to his senses, would you mind being the referee for my match with Shizu as a celebration?”

Feeling somewhat embarrassed by his expression, I turned my gaze away and asked him to serve as a referee for my match with Shizu.

Students burning their youth to become heroes at the Cradle often engage in matches to hone each other’s skills.

Anyone can have a one-on-one match in official places like this training ground as long as they don’t harm their opponent, but there was one condition for holding such a match.

Someone, whether a fellow student or a Cradle official, needed to serve as a referee to judge the outcome.

Fortunately, with Excel here, I was relieved that I didn’t have to forcibly ask another student I wasn’t close with to serve as a referee.

Although I spoke without making eye contact, Excel’s response to my request was incredibly quick.

“Alright. Let’s see your skills.”

While I didn’t sense him moving away from me during his words of acceptance, he was already holding two blunt training swords that should have been stored in the weapon rack far from here.

“…When did you…”

I was about to express my amazement at Excel’s superhuman movement, which allowed him to grab practice weapons from the corner of the training ground in the blink of an eye.

“With time, you’ll also be able to do this easily during moments of distraction, just like me.”

Excel calmly stated as if it was nothing special, handing the practice swords to Shizu and me.

“Then let’s go to the center of the training ground. That’s the best place for a match.”

As Shizu moved toward the center of the training ground immediately after receiving the practice sword, Excel urged me to do the same.

“Don’t worry. If you’re in mortal danger, I’ll make sure to stop it.”

“I’m truly touched by your kindness, friend.”

Exchanging such mock insults with Excel, we reached the center of the training ground.

Students who had been focused on their own training throughout the training ground stopped what they were doing and gathered in groups, casting curious glances at the match about to unfold between Shizu, the most talented student in the Cradle, and me, a newcomer who had just set foot in this exclusive training ground.

‘Are they here to see how spectacularly I’ll lose to Shizu?’

I inwardly joked to ease my tension, but I too didn’t think I would win against Shizu right away, so I remained calm.

The purpose of the match was simple.

To verify through Shizu how much my physical abilities had improved with the power I awakened yesterday, and how well I could now trace the ideal sword path, even if imperfectly.

That was all.

I had already neatly tucked away any expectations of winning, or even putting up a good fight, in a corner of my mind.

“If you’re ready, take your stances.”

Excel’s serious voice, devoid of his usual playfulness, announced the imminent match.

‘Let’s begin.’

I took a high stance, holding the appropriately sized sword Excel had given me with both hands above my head, a stance familiar to Excel who knows my usual swordsmanship well.

Shizu also gripped her sword, which was almost the same size as Lumen’s, with both hands, but unlike me, she took a middle stance that allowed for stable quick strikes, completing her preparation.

“Then… begin!”

Excel, having confirmed that Shizu and I were ready, announced the start of the match.

Shizu’s body, which had maintained an appropriate distance from me, disappeared at a speed that even my eyes, enhanced by body strengthening techniques, couldn’t follow.

Using my improved sense of presence to judge, I maintained my high stance but raised my sword horizontally above my head.

Clang!

As the practice swords collided with the song of steel, Shizu’s previously blurry form revealed itself right in front of me.

“Hehe.”

Her light laugh expressing admiration indicated that it wasn’t her full-power strike, but I could also understand something more important.

That the sword path Shizu had just traced was exactly the same trajectory as when she struck my head with the flat of her blade in the first round of yesterday’s martial arts competition.

‘I blocked it.’

The current result showed that I had improved from yesterday’s self, who couldn’t properly block even Shizu’s simple greeting strike.

While that alone was satisfying.

“Now, I’ll shift into a higher gear.”

The match has just begun.

I calmed my excited feelings and prepared to use all the techniques I could currently employ against Shizu, who was both a precious person to me and someone emanating the aura of an absolute powerhouse.

The result isn’t important.

Even if I lose, I’ll be satisfied if I can gain clues to become a better version of myself tomorrow than I am today.