chapter 104

A question mark appeared over Park Muyeol’s head. The message in front of him made him lose focus for a moment. What did it mean by a constellation all of a sudden? His thoughts didn’t last long.

“Hiyaaaah!”

Bam! Bam!

“Kuock.”

He was hit in the arm and then the side. Fortunately, a critical hit was avoided but the situation wasn’t good. Park Muyeol gasped while on the defensive and blocked the rod that moved in a dazzling manner. Then he was suddenly kicked in the abdomen. He quickly rolled and stood up again. “Pant. Pant. You disgusting guy.”

“Huhu. Thank you for the compliment.”

“What bullshit. It isn’t a compliment!”

“It’s a compliment to me!”

Momori’s constant strikes were relentless and sharp. Park Muyeol refocused and started to block the attacks. At this moment—

[A passing constellation says it likes the way you are hitting with a wooden sword.]

‘What is this bullshit?’

Park Muyeol wielded his wooden sword and widened the distance from Momori. Then he started reading the subsequent messages.

[A passing constellation is saying it can help you win.]

“What nonsense is this? Who?”

[A passing constellation recommends ‘wearing female clothing’ if you want its help.]

“Crazy bastard. I don’t know who you are but I don’t need any help.”

[A passing constellation has burst out laughing.]

Park Muyeol ran straight forward. This time, he didn’t take the defense. The sharp tip of the wooden sword threatened Momori’s head. The other person exclaimed with a flustered expression, “Keuk! Do you really want to do it all the way?”

“Today it is me and you. We will fight until one of us is gone.”

“You crazy…!”

The two men fought again with the wooden sword and wooden rod. It was close but Park Muyeol was pushed slightly. The two men pushed at each other before widening the distance again. It was really a flashpoint situation.

[A passing constellation is looking at you with interested eyes.]

Park Muyeol’s eyes were no longer on the messages in front of him. He raised his remaining concentration and erased everything. The tumultuous training camp. The sand he was stepping on. The people supporting him. All of this was erased. Now there was only the wooden sword in his hands and Momori. In this stopped time, Park Muyeol had a thought.

‘If I can just make one gap…’

A struggle in strength was virtually unwinnable. The good news was that Park Muyeol’s technique of wielding the sword was much higher. The rise in stats only increased the body’s capabilities. Technique was something that depended on the wielder.

‘There is only one way.’

A counter.

Park Muyeol chose to rely on his speed that was just slightly faster than Momori. The problem was that the reach of the rod was long and it wasn’t easy to access. Park Muyeol strongly gripped his wooden sword.

‘How I make the gap is the key.’

Beads of sweat flowed down his forehead.

‘Phew, it’s hot. This darn sun… wait. Sun…?’

It was at this time that his thoughts were broken. Momori thrust his stick deeply and Park Muyeol just stood there in a daze. Momori shouted with a big smile, “Huhu. It’s over! Old man trainee!”

His rod struck Park Muyeol but this wasn’t serious enough that he should be smiling. Park Muyeol rotated his body and Momori was suddenly blinded by the glare of the sun.

“Ugh!”

Park Muyeol didn’t miss this moment. He brushed aside the rod and stabbed Momori in the neck.

[A critical hit! The target’s breathing has paused for a moment and he has fallen into a ‘paralysis’ state for one second.]

[You have fallen into a ‘shortness of breath’ state and became slightly confused for one second.]

It was only one second but it had devastating consequences for the duel. Park Muyeol hit Momori’s hand and forced him to release his weapon. Eventually, he dropped the rod and then it was Park Muyeol’s time.

Bam! Pak! Bam! Peeeok! Bam! Bam!

A series of ruthless attacks. He struck Momori in the limbs, stomach, and chest. Everything except Momori’s head was hit and his arms and legs became bruised. Everyone held their breaths with a wide open mouth as Momori kept being beaten. In the extreme condition of a shortness of breath, Park Muyeol fell into a complete ‘absence of ego’ state. After a while, Momori collapsed and everyone cheered.

“Uwaaaaahhhhh—!!!”

“Crazy!!!!!”

“Jesus Christ!!!!!”

“Wahhhhhhh!”

Simultaneously, the gong announced the end and a message appeared in front of Park Muyeol.

[You’ve achieved the final victory!]

[You have managed an achievement that no one will believe!]

[The title ‘Person Who Defeated an Instructor at Level 1’ has been acquired.]

[All stats have increased by 10.]

[Your fame is spreading throughout the training camp!]

[If you want, you can get a first-grade special promotion.]

“Pant. Pant.”

Park Muyeol smiled as he read the rising messages. It was a really tough match. Who would’ve believed that they fought for an hour?

[A passing constellation admires your skill with the wooden stick!]

[A passing constellation will give the ‘Stick’s Protection’ to you!]

[A passing constellation is leaving with a satisfied expression.]

‘Stick’s Protection…? What the hell is he doing?’

Ttiring~

[Stick’s Protection (Active)]

[Rating: Legend

A skill that contains the protection of a constellation who likes sticks.

-When using a stick-type weapon, physical attack power and attack speed is doubled.

-The wooden stick won’t break and its attack speed will increase by three times. This also applies to wooden swords.

-Temporarily increases your strength stat by 1.5 times your level.

*However, this skill requires permission from the constellation (There are currently three people in the world who have acquired this skill, including you.)]

‘No, why am I meeting all these weird guys? Does he like wooden sticks? Oh, it has a legend rating?’

Park Muyeol was well aware of the legend rating. The tutorial said it was the highest rating. He was looking dazed when Kunta’s voice was heard.

“The winner is Trainee 72!”

* * *

After the fierce fight, Park Muyeol recovered his health. Then he was called by Kunta. Park Muyeol’s current location was Kunta’s barracks and Kunta was smiling at him.

“Hahaha. It was a duel that really made me sweat. Congratulations on your victory.”

“Thank you.”

“It was a really amazing sword technique! I’ve never seen someone handle a sword so well!”

“Well, I have been swinging it since I was a child.”

“I feel like there’s a lot to learn from the elderly these days.”

“Indeed.”

Park Muyeol wasn’t happy with Kunta in front of him. He was curious about the outcome of the bet but this person kept speaking nonsense. Kunta opened his mouth like he had noticed. “Are you worried about that bet?”

“Yes, I’m worried he won’t follow through with it.”

“Don’t worry about that. I kept my promise. I ordered the other soldiers to shave Instructor Momori. However, there is one thing…”

“What…?”

“I don’t know if you know but Instructor Momori is bald.”

“Really?”

‘That’s why he was so sensitive.’

Thinking about it, that person had become angry at the comment on his hair. The word he spat out earlier contained a common feature. Park Muyeol felt sorry about this.

Kunta continued, “Still, don’t worry. A bet is a bet. The upper part can’t be shaved according to the promise but the lower area will be shaved.”

“R-Really?”

“Yes, I will ensure it.”

‘It is pitiful for some reason.’

Park Muyeol felt sorry when he thought about how Momori would be shaved in the bottom area as well. That guy’s skills were quite good…

Kunta opened his mouth, “In fact, there was an anonymous report about Instructor Momori. It talked about the cruel act of shaving the hair of the trainees. I was going to scold him but you taught him a lesson for me. Hahaha.”

“…Don’t scold him too much. He is pretty skilled.”

“Haha. I understand. By the way…”

Park Muyeol cocked his head as he watched Kunta pause at the end of his words. “Do you have something to say?”

“Yes, there is actually something I want to request of you.”

“A request? What is it?”

Kunta smiled. “Please be the swordsmanship instructor here.”

* * *

There was the sound of crashing waves. The white foam that occurred every time the ship moved and the wide sea horizon were in harmony. It was a day later and today was the day before I arrived at Fortren. I was currently watching Gyeonso Dragon train. He was fast. The sleeves of his clothes moved with the wind.

I marveled at the movements that were faster and more flexible than I thought. Did he say it was Wing Chun? I thought it would be okay to learn from him for a while. I had time anyway. We would arrive in Fortren in two hours but there was nothing to do until then. “Gyeonso Dragon.”

“Yes, Brother.”

“Can I learn Wing Chun?”

“…Huh?” It was an unexpected request and Gyeonso Dragon’s fists stopped from where he was punching the air. Then he looked at me and asked, “Are you serious?”

“Do you think I’m lying?”

“I’m not at the level for you to learn from me.”

“That is in kicking. This is using the fists.”

“…It is like that. I understand. Come here, Brother.”

He explained to me the principles of Wing Chun. “Wing Chun is a martial art called Chinese boxing in the West. In fact, its origin came from a woman called Yim Wing Chun…”

“…Forget the origin. Let’s get straight into the action.”

“I understand. I’ll teach you from the basics.”

I started to learn the principles of Wing Chun from Gyeonso Dragon. Looking closely, this martial art was based on super close combat. The distance was narrower than any other martial arts and it pursued short attacks. Still, weaknesses seemed to exist.

There was a lack of ground skills and destructive power. The insufficient destructive power was solved by a continuous barrage. The surprising thing was that injuries were minimized by not rotating the fist and applying force. Of course, it was more flexible than any other martial art.

I nodded. “I think I roughly know it now. We should get straight into it.”

“Do you really want to learn this?”

“Yes, I learn quicker this way.”

“Um. Then I will use half my power.”

“Yes, I understand.”

A short time later, we stood against each other with the wind blowing. His fists cut through the air and I also swung my fists without losing to him. Our fists crossed and stretched out.

Left, right, right, up, down. Left, back right. Right.

Soon, he grabbed my wrist and I grabbed his wrist as well. The spar stopped and Gyeonso Dragon’s eyes widened. “Brother, have you ever learned Wing Chun?”

“No, this is my first time learning it.”

“These aren’t the movements of a first-time learner?”

I told him, “Do you know the meaning of ‘A thousand flows return to one’?”

“I know. It is quite famous in China. All flows are united. It is what we often see in martial arts.”

“Yes. In fact, I’ve been exposed to quite a few martial arts since I was five years old. The person who raised me when I was a child was an instructor who raised North Korean spies. I was raised there as a killing weapon. It used to be the navy but now it is called the UTD.”

“Oh, there was such a story…”

“In any case, the principles of Wing Chun are similar to the martial arts I learned at that time although I see weaknesses in it.”

“As expected, Brother is truly great.”

“Why are you so serious?”

It was at this moment…

The fishing Kim Sujeong suddenly rushed over here. She stood in front of me while gasping. “Father, it is a big problem!”

“What’s going on? Take a breath and tell me.”

“Pant, Windia… pant.”

“Why about Windia?”

“I think it’s in danger.”

What?

She spoke urgently, “The volcano is going to erupt!”