episode_0085

Around afternoon.

I ran through the hot summer streets and arrived at the Swordsmanship Association.

According to the original plan, I would have visited in 2 days, but the situation was such that there was no other choice.

A bald, muscular giant was sitting at the Swordsmanship Association reception desk.

Killa.

He was the second-in-command of the Swordsmanship Association.

Jeong Yu-shin approached the reception desk.

“Vice-chairman, thank you for your hard work.”

“Hmm? Scar, weren’t you supposed to come in 2 days?”

“I thought I should get hit sooner rather than later.”

Killa chuckled at Jeong Yu-shin’s answer.

“What kind of trouble did you cause again?”

“Well, I did accomplish something.”

I buried all the assassins in the southern forest.

Hasn’t it reached Ashur’s ears yet?

Maybe the clown makeup was effective.

Killa shook his head and opened his mouth.

“Unfortunately, the chairman has gone to the central district. I heard he has something to discuss with the Labyrinth City Committee.”

Labyrinth City Committee.

Ingrid Redtail.

Luke Wiseman.

Those two briefly flashed through my mind and disappeared.

Jeong Yu-shin scratched his head.

“Then, should I come back later?”

“Since you’re already here, why don’t we spar? Ashur will probably come while we’re facing swords.”

“Good.”

Jeong Yu-shin readily nodded at Killa’s suggestion.

I’ve been through several fights. It was a good opportunity to check how much I’ve grown.

Killa is the second strongest person in the Swordsmanship Association.

In short, the second-in-command of the “eat, poop, and train” group.

I don’t think I’ll win.

But.

It was hard to suppress the rising competitive spirit.

Killa smiled as if he had read Jeong Yu-shin’s expression.

“Scar, are you itching for a fight? You want to see whose sword is stronger, is that it?”

Jeong Yu-shin’s expression hardened.

“Vice-chairman, your words have a sexual undertone. Please refrain from that.”

“…I don’t know what you mean, but I apologize.”

Killa stood up and apologized.

Jeong Yu-shin went out to the training grounds with Killa.

Despite the hot summer sun, people with their upper bodies exposed were sweating and wielding various weapons.

The association members saw Killa and Jeong Yu-shin and flocked around.

“Vice-chairman, are you sparring with the new recruit today?”

A muscular elf came forward to ask on behalf of everyone.

The members grasped the situation instantly without anyone saying anything. Their insight was sharp.

“That’s right. Watch if you want.”

As soon as Killa finished speaking, people plopped down on the dirt floor.

They were tough, not caring about the scorching sun.

Soon, a round circle was formed. The young association member who visited the inn last time brought two training swords.

Blunt but iron longswords.

‘It’s been a while since I’ve used a longsword.’

Recently, I’ve only been using the arming sword, which is a one-handed sword.

Jeong Yu-shin grabbed the sword with both hands and swung it a few times.

Doubt arose on Killa’s face.

“Why? Is something not right?”

“It’s nothing. I’ve just been using the arming sword all the time. It’s heavy and feels good. I guess this is why people use longswords.”

“Is that so? Take your time.”

Killa put his sword on his shoulder and continued.

“But Scar, I heard you run around the courtyard every day?”

“That’s right.”

“Did you run today too?”

“Yes.”

“Then, just loosen up your body lightly.”

“Understood.”

Killa watched Jeong Yu-shin warm up while holding the iron sword on his shoulder.

A young mixed-blood Barbarian.

The only guy who can get the lazy chairman to react.

Even if he did a great favor by saving Del, the youngest sibling of the Startree family, it was excessive for a Sword Master to stick so close and teach him like this.

I guessed there was something about him that drew people in.

Is it this guy’s talent?

Or fighting spirit?

I should test him.

Jeong Yu-shin, who had finished warming up, was looking at Killa.

A smile formed on Killa’s lips.

Although he sits at a desk because of the Swordsmanship Association’s business, he was still a swordsman.

“I’m going in.”

“Come on.”

Killa gripped his sword.

Kwaak!

The ground caved in.

The muscular giant stepped on the ground and shot forward.

Switching from the middle stance to the upper stance and striking down.

Swaeeeeeeeek!!!

Killa’s strike, which seemed to split the head in two.

Jeong Yu-shin’s eyes lit up as he took a step forward.

He raised the longsword, tilting it diagonally.

Deflecting.

Will it be possible?

Kaaang!!!

Sparks flew as sword met sword.

Impossible.

I gritted my teeth.

My hands, holding the sword, were tingling from the light contact.

A different level of swordsmanship than the Dark Elf, an ordinary person with a rapier.

As expected of the vice-chairman of the Swordsmanship Association. His strength is not to be ignored.

Kkaaang!!!

Kkaaang!!!

The sound of swords colliding echoed sharply through the training grounds.

The people in the training grounds watched Jeong Yu-shin and Killa and began to share their opinions.

“Hey, look at the new recruit. Is he twisting his sword there?”

“Extremely bold. Even if he’s a mixed-blood, is he still a Barbarian after all?”

“Look at the new recruit’s stance. His parry and thrust are amazing, aren’t they?”

“Vice-chairman, show some strength.”

The people who were watching with their arms crossed said something each.

Kiiing!!!

Killa deflected Jeong Yu-shin’s sword and thought.

‘Innate combat sense. His stance is upright, but there are some improvisations. He’s already pioneering his own path. Is he compensating for his lack of experience with instinct? He’s like a beast.’

Killa, who had finished analyzing in an instant, extended his sword.

This type is weak against feints.

If you get tricked by feints a few times, you start to distrust your own senses.

Killa’s sword path changed in an instant.

From a downward strike to a thrust in an instant.

Jeong Yu-shin hesitated to raise his sword to block.

Killa’s sword was thrusting towards his chest.

I think I can do it.

I made a quick decision.

One. Two.

Three.

Sweeeeeeeek!!!

Twisting my body in time, I dodged it by an inch of my pinky finger.

“Wow. Crazy. Even if it’s just a spar, how can he be so fearless?”

Someone muttered as if dumbfounded.

I thrust my sword forward one step ahead as it was. The target is the Adam’s apple. A weakness-striking technique honed in life-and-death battles.

Killa’s body turned sideways in an instant, dodging Jeong Yu-shin’s sword.

Paak!!!

“Cough!”

Killa lightly hit Jeong Yu-shin’s neck with the pommel.

Jeong Yu-shin’s strength left his entire body because he was hit properly on the neck, and he knelt on one knee.

Killa put his sword on his shoulder and opened his mouth.

“Scar, this isn’t a life-and-death battle. Be reasonable.”

“…I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay.”

Killa revised his evaluation of Jeong Yu-shin.

‘His bloodthirst is strong. Ashur needs to guide him well.’

People started talking again.

“But where did the chairman go?”

“Who knows? He’s probably lazing around somewhere again. He might be lying down on the roof of the association.”

Just as Jeong Yu-shin was about to open his mouth, Ashur suddenly appeared from one corner of the training ground.

“Is there a spectacle? Only those who want to roll around, stay behind.”

People grumbled and scattered.

Jeong Yu-shin stood up and bowed to Killa.

“Vice-chairman, I learned a lot today. Thank you.”

“Keep up the good work.”

Killa smiled and patted Jeong Yu-shin on the shoulder.

There were some things that bothered him, but he was polite and talented. He was becoming an increasingly likable new recruit.

“Killa, you’re walking into the bear’s mouth on your own.”

Ashur said with a sneer.

“What do you mean?”

Killa asked.

“If you lose to this guy, you’ll be eaten. Even if he’s a mixed-blood, he’s a Barbarian.”

Killa’s eyes widened, and his neck snapped around.

“Re…really?”

“It’s not true.”

Jeong Yu-shin glared at Ashur and said.

“Please don’t come out of nowhere and spread rumors. Where on earth does such a ghost story come from? Tsk.”

“It’s true. What did he say? Did he say the loser is the female? Did he say the one who shows his back is the female? I don’t remember very well. But I heard something similar.”

“I’m not. Isn’t it time you believed me now?”

Jeong Yu-shin protested in a resentful voice.

Regardless, Ashur pointed at Jeong Yu-shin and looked at Killa.

“Killa, you have to be careful of guys like this. He’ll say ‘I’m harmless. I’m innocent,’ and then stick his dick in you as soon as you let your guard down.”

“…Chairman, I don’t think Scar is that kind of friend.”

“If you say ‘uh-oh,’ you’ll miss your chance. Just like your hair. What’s the point of regretting it? The hole’s already been made.”

Killa became serious.

“Ashur, please keep it to yourself.”

“Okay. That’s enough joking around. The vice-chairman should return to his duties.”

“It’s not really my job, but I’ll go back. Scar, good work.”

“Good work to you too, Vice-chairman.”

Killa returned to the Swordsmanship Association building.

Ashur crossed his arms and observed Jeong Yu-shin.

“You, you kept twitching during the spar earlier. What’s wrong?”

Where was he hiding and watching the spar?

As expected, it was difficult to deceive the eyes of a Sword Master.

“I kept thinking of improvisations, and it was hard to control myself.”

Eye-gouging, spitting, kicking, throwing dirt, etc.

I had a hard time holding back the miscellaneous techniques used in the back alleys.

“Tsk. I don’t know what kind of improvisations they are, but I can guess.”

Feeling guilty, I quickly changed the subject.

“That’s not important. I have a concern.”

“The problem is that your arm moves unconsciously because of the branding side effects, right?”

As expected of the nasty stalker elf.

“It’s a bit late to ask now, but do I have any secrets from you?”

“No.”

Ashur stated definitively.

Jeong Yu-shin’s face contorted.

‘Damn it.’

No.

That’s strange. Even though I fought like a total mess with the assassins in the forest, Ashur wasn’t angry.

Does he not know what happened outside the Labyrinth City?

Or maybe Aldein handled it well.

Whatever the result, it means there are holes in Ashur’s information-gathering abilities.

‘That’s a relief.’

I came to my senses and returned to the main topic.

“I have something to ask about that problem.”

“What is it?”

“How can I suppress the branding side effects?”

Ashur thought for a moment and opened his mouth.

“Training. If your mind is disturbed, your sword will also be disturbed. I told you this before, right? You can overcome your unconsciously moving hand in the same context.”

“Constant training?”

“That’s right. You can swing your sword even in your dreams. That’s great.”

‘Ugh.’

I swallowed the sigh that was rising inside.

A path of hardship was unfolding before my eyes.

In the morning and afternoon, I had to take Mion’s classes.

I had to do bone-grinding training until late at night.

Jeong Yu-shin nodded.

“I’ll give it a try.”

Ashur smiled slyly.

A disciple with perseverance.

“Why don’t you just try starting in the morning? Books don’t feed you, so just do it casually.”

“That’s not true.”

Jeong Yu-shin replied seriously. Information was essential to survive in the labyrinth. I couldn’t just leave the library, which was full of honey information.

‘I won’t be satisfied until I lick it clean to the bottom like a mutt, but you’re pouring cold water on me.’

Was Lu Bu killed for nothing?

Tactics are necessary to survive.

“Ugh. Okay.”

“Thank you for your help.”

“…”

Ashur looked up at Jeong Yu-shin’s hand, which was slowly approaching his stomach.

“Is this crazy? This won’t do. Let’s put some sandbags on your arms first. Make them heavy.”

“Yes?”

Jeong Yu-shin looked at his hand and nodded.

“I was going to shake hands.”

“Enough with that, put on the sandbags and grab your sword. You don’t have anything to do today anyway. Roll around.”

“Yes.”

Jeong Yu-shin held his sword and took a stance. Ashur looked at Jeong Yu-shin’s stance and smiled with satisfaction.

* * *

The moonlit night.

Clunk!

The inn door opened, and Jeong Yu-shin entered. His whole body was covered in dirt and sweat from rolling around on the dirt floor.

“Mr. Scar!”

Tarman, who was watching the store, approached.

“Why? What’s wrong?”

“Ah, no. I was waiting because you were late coming back.”

“I was coming back from the Swordsmanship Association. I’ll be coming at this time from tomorrow, so close up the shop and go home first for the time being.”

“Yes. Understood.”

I sent Tarman away and went up to the second floor.

I took off my clothes, wet a towel, wiped my whole body, changed my clothes, and then lifted the bed.

“Squeak?”

Rin was lying in the middle of the bed, sprawled out.

“I told you it’s dangerous to lie like that on the bed, you little rascal.”

I carefully grabbed Rin and moved him to the side, then lay down on the bed.

Rin wriggled and climbed onto my chest.

“Do you want a massage?”

“Squeak!”

“Sorry. I’m too tired. I’ll give you one later.”

“Squeak squeak!”

Jeong Yu-shin patted the angry Rin and closed his eyes.

‘What could happen if I skip it for one day?’

I was too tired because I rolled around in the training grounds without rest.

Jeong Yu-shin entrusted his body to the darkness, using Rin’s plaintive squeaking as a lullaby.