chapter 127

Park Muyeol was convinced that the young man in front of him was his grandson. He could tell just by the way this person wielded his sword. It was none other than him who taught his grandson the sword.

“What happened? Why are you approaching my trainee?”

“Ah. That…”

The owner of the voice was Keyas, instructor of Group 4. He was one of the instructors who didn’t approve of Park Muyeol, although he didn’t outright hate Park Muyeol like Momori and Tarmo. Park Muyeol opened his mouth to explain the situation but a window popped up in front of his eyes, forcing him to close his mouth.

[The user ‘Raybelt’ has registered you as a friend.]

‘Raybelt? Did I see it incorrectly?’

However, he didn’t see it wrong and a whisper soon arrived.

-Raybelt: Grandfather, you are right.

-Park Muyeol: You…

-Raybelt: Go back first. I’ll explain it all in the whispers.

Park Muyeol apologized to Keyas in front of him and returned to his original position. On the stage, the fight between Group 5 and Group 6 was going on. Once he returned to his seat, Haeba questioned him, “Chairman-nim, why did you go to that young man?”

“He is someone I know.”

“Huh? Do you know him? He doesn’t seem like someone your age.”

“You also know him well.”

“Me?”

“It is Seongchan.”

“Huh?”

Haeba’s eyes widened. He never dreamt that Seongchan would appear here. It was the same for Park Muyeol.

-Raybelt: Grandpa, aren’t you too much? It was the capsule you gave me but Uncle Gitae keeps using it.

-Park Muyeol: Don’t you have to go to school?

-Raybelt: I’m on holiday.

-Park Muyeol: Kendo…?

-Raybelt: It’s been a while since the tournament ended.

-Park Muyeol: Ah… Indeed. I see.

As he got older, he often forgot things. It was the moment when he thought he had aged.

-Park Muyeol: Where are you connecting from? There isn’t a spare capsule.

-Raybelt: I’m at a friend’s house.

-Park Muyeol: …Why are you training here?

-Raybelt: Shouldn’t I be the one asking that? Why are you teaching here?

-Park Muyeol: Cough. It happened by chance…

They were talking like this when the match ended in a flash. The winner was Momori’s Group 5. Momori was staring at him with crossed arms and a triumphant expression. What was he doing?

[The winner of the third single combat is Group 5!]

[Group 5 has made it to the top 4.]

[The fourth single combat will begin!]

“It is our turn this time.”

They would be going against Group 8, which was led by Tarmo. On the other side of the stage, his fierce eyes were visible.

“We will start the match between Group 7 and Group 8! Trainees, please come forward!”

Park Muyeol turned and examined the faces of his group. There were only four people but they were the elites. He didn’t think they would lose to Group 8.

“Who will go out first?”

It was Haeba who stepped forward. “I will go, Chairman-nim.”

“…Okay.”

He walked out proudly and chose a weapon. It was also a wooden sword. The moment the trainees took the stage, many young people shouted. On the other side, a tall foreign user was coming up. A moment passed and the gong rang.

“Ahhhh!”

The foreign user attacked. Haeba calmly blocked the attack and seized the opportunity. The sound of wooden swords colliding resounded through the training ground and created tension. The winner and loser was decided in an instant.

“Ugh!”

The foreign user showed a gap in his movements and was hit in the stomach. What followed was a series of strikes from Haeba.

“Haaayaahh!”

It was a really one-sided attack. It was instantaneous.

“The winner is Group 7!”

[Your trainee has won!]

[A small amount of experience has been acquired.]

[Your level has risen!]

‘Oh. I leveled up.’

Park Muyeol contemplated his status window before investing his points into strength. For now, agility wasn’t an important factor for him. He already gained a lot of agility through various training exercises and what he needed was strength. Once again, the gong rang and the ensuing fight was won by Haeba. This time, it ended faster than before and it was a bit boring. The trainee who lost the match was being severely scolded by Tarmo and his shoulders drooped.

Park Muyeol smiled.

[Your trainee has won!]

[A small amount of experience has been acquired.]

[Your trainee has won!]

[Additional experience has been acquired.]

‘Hrmm. There is extra experience if it’s consecutive wins.’

It was an unexpected achievement. If possible, he hoped the person on the stage would keep winning. However, it was in vain. Haeba lost the next match.

[Your trainee has been defeated!]

[The winning streak has been thwarted.]

[Send your next trainee onto the stage.]

‘Tsk. It can’t be helped.’

The defeated Haeba walked over. He spoke in a listless voice, “I’m sorry, Chairman-nim.”

“…No, you fought well.”

“We aren’t going to lose, right?”

“Of course. This guy.” Park Muyeol smiled. “Aren’t you the weakest one here?”

Haeba was the weakest of the remaining trainees.

* * *

[You have won the fourth single combat!]

[Your group has made it to the top 4.]

[The fifth single combat will begin!]

[Five minutes of rest will be given!]

“Oooh! You idiots! You just lost to those types of guys! Are you still trainees?”

Tarmo couldn’t admit that he lost and swore at the trainees before disappearing. The Group 8 trainees could be seen talking behind his back when he disappeared. It seemed he originally had low credibility with his trainees. The second-in-command, Rakan, shouted again, “The semi-finals will now start!

Starting from the semi-finals, it will be a group battle. Thus, all the soldiers from Group 1 and Group 4, come up!”

Many people shouted and rushed to the stage. They split on both sides and showed enthusiasm and hostility to the enemy.

In the meantime, Rakan stated, “The rules are the same. Going out of bounds is considered an unconditional elimination and surrendering or being unable to fight will also be considered an elimination. However, it is important to note that from the semi-finals onwards, it is two wins out of three matches. Are there any objections?”

The instructors shook their heads. The instructors descended and the gong rang straight away. At the same time, numerous people rushed at each other. A large number of wooden swords, wooden sticks, and various other wooden weapons aimed at each other. Someone struck, someone was hit, and someone blocked a wooden sword and fought fiercely.

The most brilliant one among them was my grandson, Park Seongchan.

“Ahh. Now I can see that it is Seongchan. He is getting better and better.”

Park Muyeol smiled along with Haeba at the sight. “He will surpass me sooner or later. Keke.”

It was a typical silly laugh directed at his grandchild and the match ended before he knew it. As expected, Group 4 won. It was the same for the ensuing matches. It was just a one-sided offensive and Group 1 collapsed helplessly. In the end, it was Group 4 who took two victories and rose to the finals.

[The fifth single combat is over!]

[Group 4 has made it to the finals!]

[The sixth single combat will begin!]

“We can’t lose. Let’s go.”

The moment it was over, we headed straight up to the stage. Our opponents, Group 5 also came up. There were more than 10 people while we only had four. Rakan frowned at the sight. “Instructor Park Muyeol, Group 7 only has four people?”

“That’s right.”

“The match will go on even if you don’t have the right number of people. Does it matter?”

“I will do as you say.”

There was no other way. I couldn’t add new trainees now.

On the other side, Momori opened his mouth in a condescending manner, “They must’ve run away because they didn’t like their old instructor. Puhaha!”

The Group 5 trainees also burst out laughing at the remark. In fact, rumors had circulated among the instructors that the existing trainees had fled.

Park Muyeol bit his lips. ‘Rotten guys… Yes, let’s see who will win.’

Once Park Muyeol and Momori descended from the stage, the gong rang immediately.

“Gazua!”

“Kiyaaaaak!”

The match was a sheer mess. There was the sound of hitting and clacking as wooden weapons kept colliding. They didn’t hesitate to kick and it was simply a battle full of tenacious perseverance. However, overcoming a numerical inferiority wasn’t easy. In the end, the first game was our defeat.

[Your trainees have been defeated!]

[The semi-finals is a three match, two victory system.]

[If you lose the next game then it will be a complete defeat.]

All the members came back and were lying on the ground. They looked exhausted.

“Uhh. Damn, it’s dirty. I thought we would win even if we are outnumbered but it isn’t easy.”

“They are also trained like us.”

“Pant. Oh, I can’t breathe.”

“Let’s start with potions.”

They each drank a potion. Their health was restored and Park Muyeol was forced to just watch. Haeba drank a potion and approached.

“Chairman-nim, I’m sorry. It seems to be difficult.”

“……”

Park Muyeol gritted his teeth and didn’t speak. It was because on the other side, Momori was hitting his bald head and sticking out his tongue. Anger filled Park Muyeol’s heart for a moment.

‘That fucking bald guy.’

If possible, he wanted to beat Momori with a wooden sword like last time. However, now it wasn’t possible. In fact, this was no different from the finals and there would be compensation from the quest.

‘I will win.’

It didn’t matter if he lost the finals. As long as his grandchild was in Group 4, he knew that they wouldn’t win even if everyone attacked. He just couldn’t lose to this person. It was a matter of pride.

Park Muyeol walked to the rest of the trainees. “Do it properly! What did I teach you?”

“Cough. We’re sorry~”

“Your eyes are really scary.”

“I’m sorry, Chairman-nim.”

“……”

Park Muyeol noticed that their discipline had become lax and they didn’t have the right spirit. He pulled out an item. The sharp teeth of the Magic Power Hair-Clipper shone eerily.

“From now on, your hair will be shaved off if you lose. I promise on my name.”

The group gulped.

“There is a song that has been appearing on TV lately. Up, down, up, down.” [1]

In the next game, Group 7 won in an overwhelming manner.

[1] It is from the song, Exid’s Up & Down