“Umm…”
After a while, I woke up and realized that it had become dark outside.
And when I followed a light seeping out from somewhere, I could see the back of Skolla, who was manipulating something.
Inside the workshop filled with flames and the loud noise of machinery, it seemed that Skolla had not noticed that I had woken up.
It didn’t seem like they were a bad person by nature, nor like they specifically wanted to chase me away…
‘Thinking about it, falling asleep was a poor judgment.’
Suddenly, I thought that I had treated them too familiarly, remembering only the content from the game.
I wonder if it’s because I’ve only been surrounded by kind people during this time.
It didn’t seem like they had any intention of harming me, but if they were a person with a not-so-great personality…
And my small hand caught my eye.
“…”
Despite having poor behavior, this body is undeniably that of a girl.
I don’t know how others would feel, but I must be careful in my actions.
Of course, if someone likes this small body, then they would be a thoroughly messed-up human.
There’s probably no downside to being cautious.
Since there seemed to be no reason to disturb Skolla, who was working diligently, I opened the door to the workshop and went outside.
The moon had already risen in the sky.
“Are there… any buildings turned on?”
The current time was 9 PM.
I don’t know how long I had slept, but it seemed that the fatigue and injuries transferred from the bracelet had plunged me into a deep sleep.
Yet, true to the reputation of the central academy, some buildings were lit even at this late hour.
And unfortunately, most of them were buildings where people served as assistants to professors.
It might not be the unpaid slave life like in real universities, but the workload must surely be no joke.
The reasons they were assisting weren’t explained in the game either.
Perhaps it was unnecessary or too bothersome to explain.
In fact, it’s most likely that it was useless information that players wouldn’t find relevant, thus it wasn’t described.
And among the other buildings with their lights on…
“Training room?”
If it’s lit at this hour, it’s obvious that someone is using it, but would anyone really be using it this late?
I don’t really like exercising, so I’m not sure.
Therefore, two people caught my eye as I entered the training room.
A person with red hair—surely, that must be Philia Professor.
And the person on the opposite side is none other than… Yoon Si-woo?
“Well, I shall be going.”
Before I could even ponder their presence, Yoon Si-woo charged at Philia with a sword.
***
“Haa.”
Recently, my thoughts have been getting more complicated and difficult.
The root of these events is that girl named Aesha, but… the more I try to get close to her, the more the world seems to create encounters that prevent closeness.
“What should I do?”
In such moments, wielding a sword has always helped.
I swing the sword to erase my thoughts.
Sweating, I shake off my worries and concerns.
By doing so, if I think with a clearer mind, I might find a better way.
[Virtual Simulation: Level 10]
The highest level training room’s virtual simulation.
It is the academy’s holographic combat AI that implements the best movements Yoon Si-woo can perform.
Swish.
A robot on the opposite side, with a physique and height similar to Yoon Si-woo’s, poses with a sword resembling the one in his hand.
While there wouldn’t be any actual impact, the design allows for a very subtle sensation when hit, so in Level 10, being hit just once results in a death penalty.
Thus, what is necessary is…
“Perfect.”
[Start!]
Swish!
The sharpness of the thrusting sword reaches Yoon Si-woo’s eyes in an instant.
However, by merely shaking his head once, he evades it, extending his sword to the shortest distance.
Whoosh.
However, the Level 10 AI was tough enough not to break in just one hit.
It prioritized the optimal actions that Yoon Si-woo could take.
“Dual-wielding?”
The small sword in his other hand deflects the attack.
The AI of the dual-wielding small sword and large sword.
In contrast, Yoon Si-woo, putting all his strength into a single sword, made his decision.
‘I will break through with strength.’
Before the other hand could attack, he targets the head first.
Amidst the roaring sound and friction, the AI’s long sword clashed with Yoon Si-woo’s sword.
Clang!
Even though it had been perfectly implemented by AI, this virtual simulation felt so vivid that the force entering the sword clearly gave the sensation of confronting someone.
“Weak.”
There was no way a single hand could defeat the strength of both of his arms.
Feeling the AI’s left-hand dagger approaching his head, Yoon Si-woo pressed down on the long sword forcefully, smashing it into pieces.
Crash.
The Level 10 AI shattered far too easily.
There was no next step, so he had been putting it off for a while, but seeing an AI that couldn’t even serve as a proper opponent made Yoon Si-woo wipe the slight sweat that had flowed down his forehead.
Perhaps more stages could be implemented, but those beyond that were AI designated for lethal purposes rather than training, which the academy hadn’t easily introduced.
No matter how great a global institution they are, they couldn’t lightly ignore the mutual agreements of the cities.
“What should I do now?”
However, Yoon Si-woo felt an endless thirst, having come to train and eliminate distractions.
“Wow, impressive!”
At that moment, he turned his head at a voice that came from behind.
A red-haired ponytail.
With slightly tanned skin, she always wore different sportswear to the academy, a peculiar person.
It was Philia Professor.
“Professor?”
“This broken thing… hmm, aside from my time, it’s the first time I’ve seen it. Well, this intake has many extraordinary kids, so I said others would also do it someday…”
She looked at Yoon Si-woo and smiled brightly.
“Indeed, you’re amazing! Especially this arm is completely practical compression…!!”
“Ah… yes.”
Seeing her nervously fiddling with his arm made Yoon Si-woo feel somewhat intimidated, causing him to pull his arm back.
“Then there are no more combat devices for training here, right?”
“Ah, yes… it seems so.”
“Hmm… okay, then let’s have a proper fight! We’ve never truly fought, have we?”
Suddenly, the professor proposed a duel.
Honestly, Yoon Si-woo couldn’t grasp the professor’s strength very well.
It was certain they were impressive, but he didn’t know how far his own strength could reach.
“Then, I request a duel.”
“Haha! Alright, you won’t be able to win unless you come at me with full power, okay?”
“… Yes.”
Suddenly, Yoon Si-woo thought about it.
What would happen if even the professor lost to him?
“Are you ready? Ah, and I’ll need to impose a penalty.”
She confidently waved her hand, just draping a ragged outfit over her body.
Moreover, as a self-imposed penalty, she wrapped something like fabric around her eyes, making it impossible for her to see straight ahead.
I always knew she was the type who didn’t bother with formalities, but I hadn’t expected this level of it.
For some reason, Yoon Si-woo wanted to win this fight.
“Then, I shall begin.”
He starts the fight with something akin to a scouting match.
[Characteristic, Tree of Genesis (EX) explores the path of great ones.]
With his eyes, he chooses the next action of the woman standing before him, the impacts of that action, and the direction he should act.
[This is the flood of water; the burning ember becomes a pillar of flame that scorches the world. This silences the screams of the sea. The one who stands serenely above the surface. The public righteous deed…]
[Passive,
“Ugh.”
Kugugugugu…
And what Yoon Si-woo saw was.
The myriad paths unfolding behind her smiling face.
At the end of all those paths awaited options for his defeat.
No, he had not perfectly understood the professor’s movements even in his characteristics.
Perhaps it was largely his own deficiency, but until now, he had never faced an opponent that this wouldn’t work against.
‘It can’t be.’
At least for now, realizing that he could not catch up with the gap between him and the person before him was quite a shock, but that did not mean he had given up.
What is important to win against an opponent is not ability.
It is only believing in oneself.
Thus, even after seeing an impossible path, he wields the sword.
Kuwakawack!!!
With the swing of the sword, the shockwave that split the air caused a tremendous noise as the walls of the training room burst apart.
“Tch, don’t mind it? I’ll just fix that anyway.”
“····!”
However, the professor nonchalantly grasped the tip of the sword.
With just one hand.
In this situation, Yoon Si-woo recalled the movements of the AI he saw earlier and swung his foot in the air to disarm the sword.
Then, in an instant, he moved at an angle to strike from behind.
He didn’t shout like a third-rate villain saying, “Die!”
While there wasn’t any killing intent, he thrust his sword sincerely to land a solid hit.
Kwang!!
“Gah…!”
“Good attempt! It was a shame that a little sound of air could be heard.”
This crazy professor, after hearing only the sound of moving air, seized the sword between her shoulder and side and threw a punch.
It felt like a light jab.
However, the destructive power was far from being light.
Even he, who prided himself on being fairly durable, couldn’t help but drool from his mouth.
“Ugh, indeed, first-year students aren’t quite there yet.”
He tried several times to attack quietly, yet was blocked each time and hit back.
This was the gap between an academy professor and a student.
He realized how arrogant it was to think of defeating her at this point.
And it seemed she had figured out a good method as she removed the cloth from her head with a smile that showed she had a great idea.
“Oh, Yoon Si-woo! How about you have a duel with her instead of me?”
“Uh… yes? Who…”
Yoon Si-woo, touching his aching stomach, turned his head to see a familiar face behind him.
She had the expression of someone who had just heard something they definitely shouldn’t have.
