Martial Arts Tournament – 4

The intense roar of the crowd vibrates through my skin.

More than their cheers, the vibrations created by those sounds make me more nervous.

The arena where the competition is held is made by stacking stones to form a platform.

Perhaps because of this, I have to tilt my head slightly to see the arena from below the platform.

It feels like a dizzying height, even though it’s just a few steps stacked up.

“Next… from the Nobel Dojo…”

My fake affiliation, created by the Grand Master, is announced.

I gave a name that would never exist, just in case there might be a martial arts gym with the same name.

The Grand Master asked about the meaning, but I just brushed it off, saying it was just a sound that came to mind.

I bounce up and down to shake off the tension.

“So, I’m going out as your disciple, don’t you have any advice?”

I glanced back at my Master.

“……”

I guess she still holds a grudge from when I teased her last time, as Master remained silent.

She’s the type to hold things in. I didn’t know she was like that after becoming the Heavenly Demon, I thought she’d be cool, it’s a new discovery.

My opponent is said to be from the Cheongpung Dojo.

According to the Grand Master, it’s a place that has produced some decent martial artists.

I can see my opponent, who came up to the arena first, warming up.

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

They say you have to start learning Martial arts at a much younger age.

Judging by the fact that he doesn’t have any weapons, I’m guessing he uses fists and kicks.

After my introduction, the cheers of the audience rang out again.

I gently placed my trembling toes on the stone steps.

My stomach churned and my heart pounded.

“Do… well.”

As I climbed one step, Master spoke in a voice as small as a mosquito.

I turned my head and gave her a grin.

“Of course. Whose disciple do you think I am?”

Ah, I feel a little less nervous now.

I slowly climb the stairs and face my opponent.

A boy who looks to be 15 years old bows to me.

“I am Hoyeon from the Cheongpung Dojo.”

“I am Kang In-ho from the Nobel Dojo.”

I bow in return.

The referee’s flag blocks the space between Hoyeon and me.

Now I have to prepare to fight.

I take a deep breath through my nose and hold it for a moment.

Thump, thump.

I can feel my heart beating wildly.

I take my right leg back and raise my hands.

It wasn’t a stance that Master taught me. No, it’s a stance that has nothing to do with Yomryun Skill at all.

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

I don’t know what Martial arts it is, but I guess that’s how it starts.

I don’t know what the secret or intention is behind that stance.

It will be a disadvantageous match for me, who doesn’t know much about Martial arts.

“Now! Get ready.”

However, there are a few things I realized while sparring with Master so many times that I lost count.

One, my progress is not bad compared to the length of time I’ve been learning Martial arts.

Two, even those who walk the path of a martial artist lack experience if they are young.

“Start!”

Three, I don’t need to be trapped in the framework of ‘Martial arts’.

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

With a roar, Inho charged forward.

Hoyeon’s stance faltered at the reckless charge.

“He’s quite fearless.”

As Yeomjin unfolded his fan with a flourish, Namgung Soyu said without taking her eyes off Inho.

“He’s sparred a lot, so he must have lost a lot of his fear of fighting.”

“That’s true, but this is his first time in a martial arts competition, isn’t it?”

Certainly, compared to when he first entered a martial arts competition, Inho was fearless, really fearless.

“Even if Deadly move are prohibited, injuries occur in martial arts competitions. Inexperienced martial artists tend to hold back because they are afraid of getting hurt… Inho doesn’t have that. It’s as if he’s been hurt a lot.”

Namgung Soyu nodded at her Master’s words.

Even when sparring with her, Inho was not afraid of getting hurt.

“Look at that. The child from the Cheongpung Martial Arts Center has better Martial arts skills, but he’s not being pushed back, is he?”

From the start, Inho didn’t give his opponent a chance.

Regardless of how the opponent responded, he first got close and took turns hitting the opponent’s head with his left and right hands.

Since there was a height difference, the attacks came from top to bottom.

Hoyeon of the Cheongpung Martial Arts Center initially dodged them and unleashed a few moves on Inho, but Inho’s defense with both hands raised was not easily broken.

Left hand, right hand, and right foot.

I don’t know where he sold the moves I taught him, Inho continued to stick to the same method of attack.

Left hand, right hand, and right leg to attack Hoyeon’s thighs.

Hoyeon seemed to be shouting something at the attack, but it couldn’t be heard in the arena, which was filled with cheers.

“I never thought I’d see a street brawl here.”

Ice Sword’s voice was heard from behind.

Turning her head, Ice Sword and Cheong-yeon were sitting not far from her.

“So isn’t it interesting, Ice Sword?”

“I had expectations because you sold the name of Yomryun Skill and entered a seed into the competition, but the saying ‘a famous feast has nothing to eat’ comes to mind.”

As Yeomjin fanned himself with his fan, Ice Sword snorted.

“……”

Unlike her Master’s reaction, Cheong-yeon was quietly watching Inho.

Namgung Soyu didn’t like that action for no reason.

Forcibly suppressing her unpleasant feelings, Namgung Soyu turned her gaze back to her disciple.

Hoyeon seemed to be slowly adapting to Inho’s attacks, and he was dealing with them more easily.

“Now that your attacks won’t work anymore, what are you going to do?”

Perhaps because she was nervous, Soyou was worried about Inho.

Inho had clearly shown creative attacks while sparring. But Soyou was frustrated as to why he wasn’t using those attacks.

“Huh?”

It was the sound that came out of Soyou’s mouth as she watched Inho’s attack.

Unlike the light feints of the past, his left shoulder was tense.

Unlike the previous left-handed attacks, which were light feints, the left-handed attack was launched with considerable force.

Hoyeon’s center of gravity wavered slightly from the attack.

And a right-handed attack, lowering his body slightly and aiming for Hoyeon’s chin.

Hoyeon protected his chin by slightly deflecting Inho’s right hand as he always did.

“Ah….”

Cheong-yeon’s exclamation was heard from behind.

Cheong-yeon had seen the same thing as Soyou.

It was Inho’s foot attack that had always been aimed at Hoyeon’s thighs.

But this time, it was aimed directly at Hoyeon’s face.

“He was… aiming for this?”

It’s something that wouldn’t work in the world of experts, but it’s a fight between those who lack experience.

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

Smack!

Hoyeon’s face was unguarded as he blocked Inho’s right hand, and Inho’s foot struck him directly in that spot.

Hoyeon, who was hit by a kick that was full of waist strength, collapsed and couldn’t get up.

The referee ran over, checked Hoyeon’s condition, and raised his hand to point at Inho.

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

Although he didn’t show much, it was still a victory.

The cheers of the people rang out, and Inho bowed and showed respect to his fallen opponent.

Inho passed the first preliminary round.

Soyou wondered if she should go to Inho, but she held back.

Her clenched fist was soaked with sweat.

The second round, which began after all the first preliminary rounds were over.

The opponent pressured Inho from the start to avoid being caught in Inho’s trap.

With light footwork, he circled around Inho and launched attacks, causing Inho to curl up like a hedgehog and take the attacks.

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

Soyou bit her lower lip.

Suddenly, Inho lowered his body.

The opponent’s kick, aimed at his neck, cut through the air.

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

[Got you.]

Inho rushed at his opponent, who was somewhat lax because he was focused on attacking, and slammed his shoulder into his stomach.

And then he slammed him into the ground and climbed on top of him.

The subdued opponent punched Inho to get out of it, but Inho put the opponent’s fist under his armpit and continued to punch him in the face with his other hand.

It was barbaric and brutal, but the destructive power was certain.

Inho’s fist, which was slammed down from above, did not miss, and before he knew it, the opponent’s face was covered in blood.

The referee hurriedly pulled Inho away and announced the end of the match.

“Modern mixed martial arts… is the best. Fuck.”

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

I thought I would have achieved my goal if I just won the first match, but I feel good because I won the second match and advanced to the main round.

Today, they will draw the matchups for the main round, and the main round will begin the next day.

It would be ridiculous to have the first and second preliminary rounds and then the main round right away.

Anyway, I suppress the urge to go back to the accommodation and lie down, and sit on a small chair prepared for the main round participants to watch the drawing of the matchups.

There are two people who passed the preliminary rounds and advanced to the main round like me. The other 10 people, like Master, are starting in the main round from the beginning.

It’s unfair from a modern person’s point of view, but what can I do, this is the world.

And since everyone is skilled in Martial arts, I can’t just say it’s unfair.

“The main round won’t be easy.”

My strategy worked somehow in the preliminary rounds, but I have a feeling I’m going to get destroyed in the main round.

What if I meet Master as my first opponent in the main round?

5 second cut.

“Main round 1st match. Namgung Soyu of Yomryun Skill!”

Contrary to my worries, Master will face someone else.

At least I won’t get beaten up by Master. That’s a relief.

The matchups were decided up to the 3rd and 4th matches of the main round.

“Main round 5th match. Kang In-ho of the Nobel Dojo!”

Finally, my name was called.

“And Cheong-yeon of Bingryungong!”

…Huh?

My gaze automatically turned to the VIP seat where Master was sitting.

Master’s face was no different from mine.

“……”

And Master’s and my gaze turned to Cheong-yeon, who was slightly above us.