episode_0033

*****

“Now, number!”

“One!”

“Two.”

“… Three, the end of the number. Is this really necessary?”

“It’s about creating an atmosphere. It’s special training.”

Monday afternoon after the weekend. The roll calls of Raon, Hwain, and Jeongyoung, respectively, echoed throughout the training ground.

The attack by two Genesis executives last week. It was decided to carry out the special training that Hwain had requested at that time today.

“Even if it’s special training, I don’t know how helpful it will be.”

“… Even so, please. Right now I feel like grasping at straws.”

Seeing Hwain’s serious expression, I also nodded.

Well, actually, even if you search the whole world, you won’t find anyone who can raise Hwain better than me!

Still, it was difficult to ask where my confidence came from, so I tried to humble myself for now.

“First, let’s start with theory. Do you remember the things you learned at school?”

“Huh? From theory?”

“Yes. In order to determine the direction of teaching, you must first check your perception. why? Did you think I would roll my body right away?”

“No, that… . huh. Honestly, I thought so.”

Not only Hwa-in, but also Jeong-yeong and Ra-on are looking at it in surprise. These people know someone with their muscle brain!

“Let me tell you in advance, battle is ultimately about weighing the cards you have against your opponent. If you don’t use your head, nothing will happen.”

“For all that, isn’t the only thing you do every time you attack and then beat them up?”

“That doesn’t mean I don’t think about it. It’s about establishing a pattern of quick judgment and action.”

The three people exclaimed, “Oh!” As expected, these guys would have been better off pushing their bodies hard first.

I opened my mouth, suppressing the urge that was creeping up from deep within my heart. Even though it is special training, the steps are important.

“Okay, then let’s start with Raon first. How are the Awakened’s means of combat currently divided?”

“Me, me first? Umm. Potential, magic, martial arts. Right?”

“Correct answer!”

A pat on the back for a special child! Raon laughed as he reached up and stroked his head. It’s a pure child.

“Of course, the big categories are like that, and in reality, they are used by mixing things together. Now, which of those three is the strongest? All three of you have to answer this.”

Which of the three is the strongest? This is a question that only elementary school students would ask, but it is an important proposition. All three thought about what I said for a moment and then answered.

“I vote for magic! Magic is very versatile, right? I often hear people say that it is the best in theory as long as it has enough horsepower.”

“Honestly, I think it’s one thing. There’s no clear superiority among the three, right?”

“Um… . I vote for martial arts.”

These were the words of Raon, Jeongyoung, and Hwain, respectively. However, Hwain hesitated to say why he voted for martial arts. I’m trying to tell you some great reason.

“Ah! i get it. Is it because Kwon Seong uses martial arts?”

“Well, I guess there is no reason for that… .”

Hwa-in hesitated but agreed to Ra-on’s unexpected comment. It’s difficult because this guy’s popularity never fades!

Still, since I was receiving special training, I calmed my expression by clearing my throat a few times.

“Actually, if you look at it realistically, what Jeong Young said is correct. In fact, each country has different main areas of operation.”

“China runs heroes with a focus on martial arts?”

“Okay. That’s the most representative example.”

In this world where monsters jump out of cracks, China’s Wulin is reaching its peak. It is safe to say that today’s China is a federal state made up of various factions.

In addition, the list of examples would be endless, such as the United States, where magic engineering, a fusion of science and magic, was developed, and Europe, where ancient magic was prevalent.

“But still, I will assert. The strongest is potential-oriented management!”

No response. I gave him a sneak peek, and only Raon noticed and clapped. Well, great!

“In fact, if you think about it a little, it is clear that it is easy to increase combat power by focusing on potential. Imagine that Raon learns martial arts, Jeongyoung uses magic, and Hwain doesn’t use fireworks.”

“It must be very weak.”

“Even if I use martial arts, I think Hwain will win!”

“Raon, your words are too harsh… , center… . … Ugh.”

Oh no, a lot of damage was done to Hwain’s mentality unintentionally. Well, it might not be entirely wrong at this point, but… .

I continued my explanation quickly, just to divert the conversation.

“Anyway, if you look at it simply, you know that it’s best to match each individual’s potential, right? Of course, other countries are probably unaware of this fact. So do you understand why there are differences between countries?”

“That must be the population. The area of the country.”

“Jeongyoung is the correct answer! This is an extension of what I said earlier about training methods being different in each country. Our country is currently training based on potential. What we are learning now.”

“… ah. Teachers provide individual guidance.”

I nodded to Raon’s answer. Potential varies greatly from person to person, and each person’s sense of use varies greatly compared to martial arts or magic. Therefore, there are limits to growth through teaching alone.

First of all, Cheonmyeong High School is making up for it with the number of teachers. As a veteran teacher, through experience, you will gain insight into potentials other than your own. Giving guidance tailored to each student is the way to foster heroes for Cheonmyeong High School and, by extension, for our country as a whole.

The advantage of this method is that the high point is high. As the focus is on each hero’s specialties, Korea has a higher rate of high-level awakeners compared to other countries. As the country is small, it is relatively efficient for Korea to rely on a small number of high-ranking awakened people.

However, this method lowers the average strength of the hero.

This is because not all awakened people have the potential to be helpful in battle.

“Of course, Hwain’s flame is powerful, but it has many limitations. If you only try to deal with flames, you’ll reach your limits.”

“… that’s right. I think it’s a pretty rare case.”

It is said that when Surt entered school early this year, he was given a pyrotechnics and swordsmanship teacher. However, Hwa-in said that even after learning from the two teachers, his skills did not improve much, and he ended up relying on the flame.

That’s not really the teachers’ fault. Martial arts like swordsmanship cannot be achieved overnight, Hwa-in’s martial arts talent is ordinary, and Hwa-in is not even a fire expert to begin with. There was no way I could teach with a similar sense.

If this were China, they would have forced it to be unmanned to an appropriate level. The same goes for the US or Europe. However, our country does not have that much know-how in martial arts.

This was also the reason why the larger the country, the narrower the direction for training awakened people. They desperately need a large number of middle and low-level awakened people rather than a small number of high-ranked awakened people.

“Then what is this special training for? I was trying to learn martial arts from you, Army.”

The painter’s expression sank slightly as he realized that I had no intention of teaching him martial arts. You lack faith.

Well, I plan to teach you that as well. It’s just important to secure your potential first. Reaffirming my direction, I said what I thought was the best maxim.

“If you get tired, you will win every battle!”

“… ?”

“I don’t know? It comes from Sun Tzu’s The Art of War. If you know your enemy and know yourself──”

“Oh, no. Although I know. What do you think of that?”

All three people have a puzzled expression. In particular, just by looking at Jeongyoung, he looks like he’s itching to say that he’s on fire.

I know! Still, what can I do when this side touches me more? The point is to recognize the current state.

“If you know, the explanation is quick. Fine, do you think you know me?”

“Huh? Well, well? Wouldn’t you know it to some extent?”

“No. I can say for sure. You still don’t know anything about me.”

Of course, he’s seen me fight a few times, but honestly, Hwain doesn’t have the talent to be able to figure out just from that alone. If that were the case, I would have trained my martial arts skills.

I spread out two fingers in front of Hwain, who flinched at my words. And one of them was completely folded.

“Now. I couldn’t manage the ground cover among all the ground cover keepers. With this, the win rate is 50%. ”

Of course, there was still one hand left. I asked Hwain with one hand open.

“keeper. Fine, have you understood yourself properly?”

“… … .”

No way. This is a guy who doesn’t even know what his potential is. Hwain lowered his head with a dark expression.

“Okay, then the win rate is 0%. At this point, you know what I want to say, right?”

“… huh. Are you saying I need to understand myself first?”

“That’s the correct answer.”

He smiled at Hwa-in, who had a dark expression. Laughter is contagious, so even though it was awkward, laughter began to appear on Hwain’s face.

“I exaggerated a little to show the importance of ground cover management. In reality, it is common for both the opponent and I to lose due to a difference in capabilities even if we know each other perfectly. But even in that case, there is a world of difference between knowing what I can do and not knowing.”

I indirectly mentioned the fact that the fireworks that Hwain uses are unusual. Now is the time to go one step further.

“So, what happened to you? Tell me something about yourself first.”

Ultimately, this is what I wanted to talk about. First of all, a person can only do anything if he or she is properly aware of his or her potential. However, I cannot come forward and tell you about potential that you do not even know about.

I needed at least a clue to guess, and to do that, I needed Hwain to tell me about himself first.

After hearing my story, Raon and Jeongyoung looked at each other. He looked a little hesitant, wondering if it was okay to say this.

But Hwain looked like he had already decided on something.

“It’s okay if it’s you. I’ll tell you everything.”

After a while, the story from the beginning of the ‘original work’ was told from Hwa-in’s mouth with a serious expression.

Fortunately, the process wasn’t much different from what I was used to. Mountain near the orphanage. Ra-on and Hwa-in, who were training in the vacant lot there, one day come across a girl who has collapsed completely.

Hwa-in and Ra-on took care of the girl at the orphanage who did not want to talk about herself. The girl who rejected the two at first gradually began to open her heart to the two who were accustomed to taking care of someone.

But that happy time soon came to an end. The identity of the girl whom the two people named Sarah is an ancient spirit. While running away from Genesis, he met Hwain and Raon.

Of course, there is no way Genesis would let that happen. Hwain and Raon, who were training in the chase team sent to retrieve Sarah, are overpowered, and Sarah is also in danger of being captured… .

“And in that situation, Sarah comes to dwell in Hwa-in, and Hwa-in awakens as an awakened person through that. He used that power to defeat Genesis’s pursuit party. Right?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

It is said that after that, they both happened to be awakened, and in order to divert Genesis’ attention from the facility, they both took the entrance exam for Cheonmyeong High School. As you can see, the result is.

“After that, there were occasional attacks by villains targeting Sarah. Until now, we were somehow able to defeat it on our own… .”

Since the time of the Sword Demon, it has become difficult to deal with just these three people. In fact, the attack was something that did not exist in the original work.

When I asked more closely, it seemed like I was following the flow of the original to some extent until the first semester. Something like being caught up in Genesis’ chase team with Jeongyoung during the entrance exam was an opportunity for us to become close friends, or something like that.

hmm. Timing-wise, it feels like the flow has been distorted by my arrival. … Just a coincidence, right? Anyway, Genesis has changed a lot from before.

“Now. This is everything I’ve done as a hero so far. Starting from the second semester, I won’t bother talking about it because you already know.”

As Hwain said that, a cool expression and an anxious expression coexisted. I understand it’s cool, but why are you feeling anxious again?

“Even if you don’t believe it, I think there’s nothing you can do. But I really only tell the truth──”

“What are you talking about? When did you say I didn’t believe you?”

“Huh? Yeah, really? I thought he had a sullen expression. Sorry if it was a mistake.”

Was I making that face? I was curious and looked at Raon, who nodded and agreed with Surt’s words.

I wasn’t aware of it, but if I was making that kind of expression, there would be one reason. What I do from now on will be a major twist on the original work. This is because it awakens the painter’s own abilities from the beginning, which were originally only realized in the mid to late stages.

Of course, that in itself is not a hesitation. The original work has been destroyed more than once so far, so why come now?

still… . As always, I can’t help but feel this uneasy feeling.

“If I’m upset, isn’t it because you didn’t tell me properly?”

“… I told you everything properly.”

“It’s not a lie, it’s probably true that I said everything. But that’s not what I asked for in the first place. This is Sarah’s story, not yours, right?”

“It’s not my story… .”

Perhaps because of the sudden introduction, Hwa-in was unable to properly understand what was being said and was embarrassed. Let’s take a little detour here.

“Then let me ask you something. Raon, Jeong Young. What do you two think Hwain’s potential is?”

“? Yeah, it’s a firework, right? Extremely strong. Or do you deal with the spirit of flame?”

“… understood. If it’s a blind spot, it’s a blind spot.”

It seems that Jeongyoung, who had nothing to do with the incident with Sarah, was easier to notice. Jeongyoung opened his mouth while avoiding the gaze of the two people asking for an explanation.

“Until now, we thought Hwain’s ability was to control flames. But the actual flame comes from a spirit named Sarah and is not used by the painter himself, right?”

“Uh… . That’s right. But Hwain was awakened by Sarah entering his body, right? Then, can’t Sarah herself be seen as potential?”

Raon’s point of view now is the perception of the main character, Party, around the beginning and middle of the work. In fact, there is no major problem in handling flames at this level.

However, now that there is already a big difference from the original, I cannot figure out how much power Hwain should have.

So, wouldn’t it be okay to skip a few steps of what is already done?

In other words, I’m trying to force Hwa-in’s realization after the middle of the original work.

“You can see it that way too. But potential is a unique ability of the soul, right? I think it’s awkward to use a being different from yourself as your unique ability.”

Jeongyoung looked surprised, as if he hadn’t even thought about this part. While receiving the gaze of three people, I continued the setting of the novel under the mask of speculation—the truth of the world.

“I would rather think like this. Hwain didn’t awaken because he accepted Sarah. He had awakened just before and accepted Sarah with his potential after awakening.”

A contract for an external being.

That is the effect of Lee Hwa-in’s potential in the original work.

Anyway, if I told you that much, it would go beyond the realm of speculation, so I didn’t mention it. Still, this alone will significantly reduce your wandering time.

“… Anyway, isn’t that going too far? It’s not that I don’t trust you, but… .”

“There is no basis.”

Hwain and Jeongyoung looked a little puzzled. It’s not like there isn’t a leap in logic. For now, it is enough to recognize that this is a possibility.

“That’s right. But first of all, Fine, your potential is not to use flames, but to deal with Sara. Do you understand up to this point?”

“Yes. If that’s the case, whatever.”

After hearing exaggerated speculations, smaller things become relatively easier to accept. Something like Door in the Face.

“I didn’t know the details, but I still had some idea that your own ability was not flame.”

“Really?”

“Potential is a unique expression of one’s soul. So, there is almost no damage to the soul just by using potential. Hwa-in may have quite a self-destructive tendency, but Hwa-in doesn’t have that kind of personality, right?”

“Ah… .”

In fact, I just added the description of when Hwa-in’s potential was revealed in the original work as I remembered it. Anyway, since it was true that it made sense, Hwa-in nodded in agreement.

“So, I’ve been thinking about the contents of the special training to some extent!”

Clap clap clap. This time, all three people applauded. That gaze was filled with trust, without any trace of the doubtful feeling from before.

Hehe, praise me more! Admire! The feeling of this magical power boiling over is really great!

“Hmm, hmm! So, Fine, the first training you will do is.”

I cleared my throat to keep the corners of my mouth from twitching wildly, and told Hwa-in the training method I had come up with.

“Now. Grab this ball. And pour in the magic power.”

“Good.”

As the painter poured in his magic, mist flowed out of a fist-sized ball. Well, it worked.

“Chicken, pizza, hamburger. Which one do you prefer?”

“Suddenly!? Uh, um… . Am I on the chicken side?”

The traces of the painter’s worries were reflected in the fog. The pink mist moved around and created a lump that could be considered chicken.

“Oh!”

“Did you see it? This fog can create any shape you think of. Creating human shapes out of this fog is the first training I give you.”

They said they had to go to Sia to make this device. Well, Sia must have had someone make this device, so if you look at it that way, it might be Samsam.

“It’s harder than I thought… .”

Hwain whined and tried a few times, but the fog was forming like something closer to a snowman. This seems like a long way to go.

“Is this training really helpful? In the first place, Hwain can’t put out the flame to that extent yet.”

While Hwa-in and Ra-on were playing with the fog, Jeong-young sneakily approached them and asked. This guy is also really worried.

Of course, it is not a difficult question to answer.

“You shouldn’t use that flame in the first place. So this isn’t using fireworks. I’m trying to be able to summon Sarah.”

“Ah… . So you’re practicing the human form.”

In the first place, the problem was the uniqueness of the spirit named Sarah.

It’s good to bring out the flame and use it. But the flames are so strong that even Hwa-in’s soul, which is the conduit for the flames, is damaged.

If the contract had been made with an appropriate spirit or demonic beast rather than Sarah, there would have been no problem at all with using only the power separately as now.

However, it would be a different story if he could summon Sarah, the source of his power. Of course, you will take damage when summoning Sarah, but once summoned, you will not suffer any additional pain.

… This is the appearance of Hwain in the middle and latter part of the original work. This is to shorten the road to get there even a little.

“You’re not really a student, are you?”

“Are you saying that again?”

“Even after looking at your fighting skills and listening to the lecture just now, I can’t believe it. Why? Be honest. How old are you?”

Look at how this guy, Raon, and Hwain are rudely saying that they don’t look at this place.

But if you are old, you can tell me as much as you want. What’s there to hide in the first place? I confidently declared, taking out my ID card and showing it to me.

“Seventeen pics.”

I responded by giggling to Jeongyoung, who sighed while rubbing the area around her eyes with one hand.

*****