Chapter 20: The profession of an assassin

“Except for a few talented individuals, most of this class is considered useless.”

The trainees around him trembled with fear at Instructor 16’s words.

Some had trembling fingertips, others shaking legs.

The children, barely fifteen years old, seemed to accept the words of a master as absolute truth.

But I was different.

Although this body is fifteen, I’m a reincarnated soul with memories of a past life.

I knew how to think critically.

What suddenly came to mind was a training camp from my previous life.

It was just like those training centers and schools in rural mountain areas that were created to squeeze money from parents.

Every year, during training camp, the teachers would open their mouths and recite, “You guys are the worst,” “This is the worst class we’ve ever had.”

If you only listened to them, every school in Korea was the ‘worst school,’ and a new ‘worst grade’ was born every year.

Later, when I looked online, it wasn’t just our school.

Similar things were happening all over the country.

I heard that it’s gotten better recently.

Anyway, this must be something like that.

I nodded inwardly.

It was highly likely that it was a trick to dampen the spirits of the new trainees and establish military discipline.

“Everyone, take your seats.”

Instructor 16 said in a cold voice.

All the trainees, including me, quickly returned to their seats.

The conflict with Hwangwol was glossed over as if it had never happened.

“Come out one by one as I call your name. I will tell you the weaknesses of your martial arts. First… Yeonbok.”

The called girl, Yeonbok, immediately stood up from her seat. Her gait was full of confidence.

As soon as she drew her sword, she mixed and matched the basic footwork and basic swordsmanship of the Thousand Slaughter Valley and showed them off.

Yeonbok’s movements were quite elegant.

Smooth movements like flowing water continued.

Since I was learning the same martial arts, I could tell that her skills were above average.

But Instructor 16 just shook his head.

“The foundation of your martial arts is wrong.”

“The foundation is wrong?”

“That’s right. An assassin is someone whose profession is killing. Looking pretty isn’t important. Each of your movements must be deadly. But you’re just dancing.”

It was an evaluation that reminded me of a famous line from a certain comic: more dance than martial arts.

Yeonbok’s lips trembled, but she couldn’t say anything in the end.

What could a second-rate young martial artist dare to say in front of the evaluation of a master?

After that, the students’ swordsmanship demonstrations continued, and Instructor 16’s harsh criticism continued as well.

Some children ended with just receiving posture corrections with evaluations such as “The wrist angle is wrong” or “The footwork is clumsy.”

But for children whose skills were really terrible, relentless evaluations poured out.

“I don’t know how this kind of guy got into the Ghost Guard. I have nothing to say to you. It’s so messy that I don’t even know where to start pointing out.”

Children who received such worst-case evaluations accounted for almost half of the total number of people.

I wondered if this kind of harsh criticism was really educational.

This kind of teaching had not produced good results in my previous life either.

What on earth are they thinking doing this?

Do they just want to vent their anger?

While trying to figure out Instructor 16’s intentions.

“Nan Cheong!”

My rival and friend, Nan Cheong, stood up from his seat.

Nan Cheong, who walked out gracefully, drew his sword.

Nan Cheong’s swordsmanship was accurate.

Almost every movement was aimed at a fatal wound.

Even though he was just doing stances, I could strongly feel that he was aiming for the neck or forehead.

It was swordsmanship that was faithful to the basics of the Thousand Slaughter Valley swordsmanship, which aims for vital points.

“Stop.”

But Instructor 16’s expression was still cold.

“You have the basics.”

“Thank you.”

“There’s no need to thank me. It’s your swordsmanship. But you only have the basics. You’re too honest. It’s good to aim for vital points, but if you only aim for vital points honestly, the opponent won’t let you hit them. Unless it’s an opponent lying in bed.”

Having listened to Instructor 16’s words, it seemed like that was the case.

Nan Cheong’s sword was accurately following the stances, but he couldn’t show anything more than that.

“I will keep that in mind.”

“Still, that’s enough… I can give you 7 out of 10 points.”

It was the highest score among the evaluations I had heard today.

After that, a few more children passed by. However, no child received a better evaluation than Nan Cheong.

Therefore, most of the children were looking at only one person.

The only child among the remaining children who could receive a better evaluation than Nan Cheong.

“Hwangwol!”

When Instructor 16 called her name, she came out with a confident gait.

Hwangwol’s face was full of confidence.

In a group where everyone except herself was second-rate, she seemed to think that there was no reason for her, the only first-rate person, to fear such an evaluation.

But her combat skill stats scanned through the status window were pathetic.

It was definitely lower than Nan Cheong, whose level was lower than hers.

And this was not a place to evaluate internal energy, but a place to evaluate martial arts.

“Hey!”

In an instant, the sword light cut through the air.

The sword energy imbued with internal energy filled the classroom.

Some trainees gasped at the pressure.

But I could see it. The fatal flaw in her swordsmanship.

If Nan Cheong’s swordsmanship was like a viper aiming for a deadly blow, Hwangwol’s swordsmanship was like a bison charging with its horns.

Swordsmanship that pushes with force.

The advantage was that it could overwhelm the opponent, but it was the opposite of an assassin’s swordsmanship.

It even seemed closer to swordsmanship than swordsmanship.

I glanced at Instructor 16. Based on the evaluation criteria so far, Hwangwol’s swordsmanship was the worst.

He had been seeing how assassin-like it was as the most important thing.

But when he opened his mouth, an unexpected word came out.

“Your basics are good. Continue to improve.”

I blinked. That was really all.

The evaluation ended with just two sentences.

The harsh evaluations he had given while watching the swordsmanship of others until just now were nowhere to be found.

Isn’t this a bit much…

I smiled bitterly inwardly.

The conclusion came out quickly.

Maybe Instructor 16 is from that faction.

They are just protecting their own.

If not, there was no way to explain it.

“Next, Go San!”

Instructor 16’s cold voice continued to echo through the classroom.

After Hwangwol, many students were called in turn and showed off their swordsmanship.

Everyone had a nervous expression.

I carefully observed Instructor 16’s evaluation.

“Your footwork is unstable. If it was a real battle, your neck would have been cut off already.”

“Your breathing is too rough. It seems that your internal energy training has not been done properly.”

“Your posture is falling apart. You don’t have the basics.”

Hmm… is he a little stricter with our side’s kids?

But soon I shook my head. It was just a subtle difference in nuance.

Or maybe there wasn’t even that.

Maybe I’m being too sensitive.

In the end, his evaluation criteria was only skill. Except for one exception.

Of course, it wasn’t that Hwangwol’s swordsmanship was very bad.

If I actually fought, I’m sure I’d lose in 10 seconds.

But no matter how you look at it, that’s not an assassin’s swordsmanship.

By the way, when is it my turn to come….

“Next, Hwangmae!”

“Yes!”

“Terrible. Quit.”

“Next, Hongjak!”

“Yes!”

“Hmm… Your moves are decent, but you need to train your internal energy more.”

“Next….”

So I waited for my turn.

I waited and waited again.

But….

“Okay, that’s it for today.”

I frowned at Instructor 16’s words.

My turn didn’t come until the end.

Until just now, I thought it was because the order was late, but it wasn’t.

I slowly raised my hand.

I couldn’t just let it go like this.

“Instructor. I don’t think you called my name.”

All eyes were on me.

“There’s no need for you to come out.”

Instructor 16’s answer was short. It was like he was taking it for granted.

“Why is that?”

“Because you are a Harmonious Body.”

I was momentarily taken aback. It was an unexpected answer.

“Excuse me?”

“You, a Harmonious Body, don’t need to learn martial arts. You just need to train your internal energy.”

Instructor 16’s voice still didn’t have any emotion. He was as calm as if he were reading a textbook.

“And as for internal energy training, there’s nothing I can teach you as much as you learn from Master Guhyeong.”

“I don’t understand. Even if I am a Harmonious Body, I have someone who is a master like my master.”

I spoke as politely as possible, but firmly.

Using my master’s name as a shield was a bit much… but I had no choice now.

A subtle smile appeared on Instructor 16’s lips. I could feel ridicule in that smile.

“Yes, Guhyeong’s martial arts are definitely powerful. So let me ask you. What number is your master in the Thousand Slaughter Valley?”

At those words, I froze for a moment.

My master belonged to the Thousand Slaughter Valley, but he was not an assassin of the Thousand Slaughter Valley.

“Th, that’s….”

I was momentarily lost for words.

Instructor 16’s smile deepened even more. It was as if he was saying, “I knew it.”

I bit my lip. I had to say something. But I didn’t know what to say.

“That’s right. Your master doesn’t go on secret missions. Do you know why?”

I was silent at Instructor 16’s question.

“People like you and your master are… too precious to go on secret missions.”

“Precious?”

“Assassins are ultimately expendable.”

“Ex… pendable?”

My voice trembled. The shock of those words was too great.

“If there is a master of harmony like Guhyeong, it is not difficult to raise masters. But… if Guhyeong dies? It’s like a third of the valley’s power is gone.”

I felt like I had been hit hard with a hammer.

Assassins are expendable.

Nan Cheong too…

Madam Woohee too…

And Yuhwa too…

“That’s why I can’t teach you the martial arts of assassins. The martial arts of assassins basically ignore defense. If you want to learn, learn self-defense from your master.”

His gaze turned to the entire classroom.

“You guys, keep this in mind too. Your family is good? You’re still just assassin trash.”

Hwangwol’s face hardened.

“You’re living well?”

A sneer spread across Instructor 16’s lips.

“The money you b*tches receive includes the price of your lives. Of course, you may be able to live a better life than most in these crazy times.”

His voice sank even colder.

“But our assassins are much more likely to die than ordinary martial artists.”

A heavy silence fell in the classroom.

Everyone was facing the same fate, regardless of the factional strife from before.