Chapter 39
“May I ask why you’re doing this?”
Sehyun asked in a low voice. As if he could see right through her, Jungwook replied with a relaxed expression.
“When I first investigated, I thought I should report it to the higher-ups. There were many suspicious aspects. Especially your ability, Trainee Kim, it’s a special case, so I thought I should report it.”
“…”
“But as I listened to your testimony, I changed my mind.”
At first, he had thought their survival was due to luck.
The boss monster was weaker than expected, and they were inside the sparring center, a building known for its sturdiness and safety.
But the moment he heard their testimonies, he changed his mind.
How she had used the flashlight as bait to subdue the unruly C-grades.
How she had quickly closed the door and taken action when one of them tried to escape.
And how she had gone out to face the boss monster.
Of course, he was curious about her motives.
Nevertheless, Jungwook highly valued Sehyun’s actions.
Humans easily lose their rationality in the face of fear. It was normal to try and escape the building immediately after being plunged into darkness, but she had used strategy to endure.
And more than anything…
Sehyun could have escaped at any time. She could have used the others as bait and run away.
But she had stood before the boss monster and pierced its eye with a sword, prepared to die.
Unlike someone who had cowardly run away in the past.
A look of regret flickered across Jungwook’s face.
“You’re smarter and braver than I thought, Trainee Kim.”
“…”
“I like smart people. And I like brave people even more.”
“…”
“So…”
Jungwook slowly leaned forward.
Skill: Sound Blocking
Skill detected. Sensitivity increased by +1.
His dark, calm eyes stared intently at Sehyun. It felt like his gaze was holding her captive. Sehyun froze, staring back at him like a rabbit before a predator.
“Don’t reveal what you have, just like you did today, until you can fully protect yourself.”
“…!”
“This place isn’t as righteous as you think.”
“…”
“I’ll cover this up. Your ability too, Kim Sehyun. This is how I’ll repay your righteousness. I hope you won’t refuse.”
Jungwook slowly straightened his back.
At that moment, the ‘Sound Blocking’ skill disappeared, and Sehyun felt as if an invisible barrier around her had vanished. She stared at Jungwook, realizing she had been holding her breath.
“So, when are you being discharged? Preferably within a week.”
“…”
“Trainee Kim Sehyun?”
Sehyun, coming back to her senses, let out a breath she had been holding and swallowed hard. She felt pressured, even though Jungwook hadn’t done anything.
“…Tomorrow.”
“Will you return to the training center immediately?”
“Yes.”
“Good. How are you feeling?”
“I’m fine.”
“Then come to the instructor’s office when you arrive tomorrow. I’ll be there.”
“…May I ask why?”
“You’ll find out tomorrow. I’ll be going now. Take care of yourself.”
Jungwook disappeared before Sehyun could reply. It happened in a blink of an eye.
Sehyun stared at the spot where he had been standing and touched the back of her neck.
She was sweating, even though she hadn’t done anything wrong.
That’s what a strong person is like.
Sehyun clenched her sweaty hand.
Sehyun rejected all the suggestions – a discharge party, faking illness to get a vacation, doing interviews – and returned to the training center.
She unpacked her belongings and immediately went to the instructor’s office.
Jungwook was sitting at his empty desk, his feet propped up, looking out the window.
“Welcome.”
Jungwook greeted her without any surprise.
He had sensed her arrival.
She had heard that strong individuals could sense energy from afar, and it seemed to be true.
“Hello, Instructor.”
Sehyun bowed, and Jungwook waved his hand dismissively and told her to follow him.
He led her to the west sparring room. He stood on the sparring ring without a word and pointed to the opposite side.
“Aren’t you coming up?”
“Why are we here…?”
“Why else would we be in the sparring room? We’re not here for counseling.”
“You might need a more detailed statement about the incident.”
“I don’t need that anymore.”
Sehyun looked at him, puzzled by his strange words, and Jungwook stared back at her impatiently. Sehyun reluctantly stood on the opposite side, and Jungwook took a deep breath.
“Now, let’s begin.”
“What?”
As she asked, two swords appeared in Jungwook’s hands. Before Sehyun could react, a blue light flashed towards her horizontally.
If it hits, I’ll be sliced!
Dodge!
Sehyun rolled to the side.
“Ugh!”
She didn’t have time to ask what he was doing.
Skill ‘Imbue Sword with Holy Energy’ confirmed.
Do you want to create ‘Imbue Sword with Holy Energy’ as a skill?
Create!
Skill: Imbue Sword with Holy Energy
Imbues a sword with energy to inflict a powerful blow on the enemy. Stamina consumption is doubled when using this skill. Sword only.
“…What?”
Sehyun asked, forgetting that they were in the middle of a spar.
There was no “Unavailable” tag. Skills were supposed to be reconfigured to be usable only after her sensitivity increased.
While she was still dumbfounded, the blue light flashed towards her again. It struck the spot where she had been standing just a moment ago.
“Are you going to just stand there dazed even if this were a real battlefield?”
Sehyun’s gaze snapped to Jungwook at his chilling words. Sehyun regained her composure and adjusted her stance.
Bang!
The blue trajectory flew towards her like a blade again. Sehyun focused on dodging. But she could clearly feel it. Jungwook was attacking at a speed and from angles she could barely evade.
After being pushed back repeatedly,
“Gasp, gasp, gasp.”
Sehyun was drenched in sweat. Jungwook, on the other hand, was perfectly composed.
“You have good stamina.”
“Gasp, gasp, gasp.”
I should be the one saying that.
Sehyun couldn’t even speak because she was out of breath.
Suddenly, the sounds around her faded. Sehyun instinctively knew that he had used ‘Sound Blocking’, even without looking at her status window.
Jungwook spoke.
“How much longer?”
“Gasp, gasp. What?”
“Can’t you use it yet?”
“…”
“Imbue Sword with Holy Energy.”
“…!”
Sehyun flinched.
As expected, he did it on purpose…
She had anticipated it, but it still felt strange.
Jungwook, noticing the change in Sehyun’s expression, was impressed. She had already acquired his skill in such a short amount of time. Of course, she wouldn’t be as proficient as him, but the fact that she could use it was surprising.
“It seems you can use it. I expected it, but…”
“…”
“I feel both happy and strange. Well, whatever. Now, it’s your turn to attack, Trainee Kim. Don’t just do your best, attack me with all your might.”
“…May I ask why you’re doing this to me?”
“Personal reasons.”
“Instructor.”
Sehyun’s voice lowered further. Jungwook smiled faintly.
“Are you saying you’re uncomfortable with me spoon-feeding you without telling you why?”
“To be honest… Yes, I am.”
Jungwook clicked his tongue at Sehyun’s answer.
“You’re unnecessarily conscientious. If I were you, I’d be clapping and begging for more all night long. Why can’t you just take what’s given to you?”
“My mother told me not to pick up things from the ground. What if it turns out to be something bad and I get sick?”
“Ha…”
Jungwook chuckled, deflated by Sehyun’s answer.
He wasn’t happy, but she wasn’t wrong.
In fact, it was that aspect of her personality that had made him choose her.
Jungwook put down his swords and straightened his back.
He looked at Sehyun intently.
Sehyun saw a storm of emotions swirling in Jungwook’s eyes.
When all expression finally vanished from his face, he spoke calmly.
“It’s a gift.”
“…”
“A gift for someone who can use my skill better than me.”
To Kim Sehyun, who was stronger, braver, and more impressive than him.
And… it was also a punishment.
A punishment for his cowardly past self.
“So take it and use it well. Don’t feel burdened.”
A faint smile appeared on Jungwook’s face.
“Of course, on the condition that you can actually take it.”
Bang!
The spot where the blue trajectory landed caved in and then returned to its original shape.
Even though he was holding back, she would have fainted if she had been hit directly.
She was starting to wonder if this was training or just a beating.
“Lost in thought again.”
“…!”
Jungwook was right in front of her.
Sehyun stared at him in disbelief, his speed like teleportation.
Skill ‘Rapid Movement’ confirmed.
Do you want to create ‘Rapid Movement’ as a skill?
Thwack!
Jungwook’s fist flew towards Sehyun.
“Ugh!”
Sehyun was knocked to the floor.
“What are you doing? Are you planning to just lie there like you’re watching TV even if a monster appears? Well, maybe the monster will lie down next to you and keep you company.”
…That sarcastic tone.
Unlike Hye Ryeon’s, it was a tone that made her lose her composure.
Is that also a skill?
It didn’t seem like a skill, since there was no notification… I want to learn it.
There was nothing better than that for making the opponent lose their cool.
Sehyun, fueled by frustration, jumped to her feet. Jungwook, his hands clasped behind his back, looked at her with an indifferent expression.
“Are you playing with me?”
“…I don’t know what you mean.”
“Are you unable to use any decent skills during our spar, or are you choosing not to?”