The training hall, located on one side of a massive building, boasted a much larger scale than the one where I had trained yesterday.
It was only natural. This place was designed not just for 1-on-1 training but for large-scale battles.
In front of the training hall, I could see the members of the investment club warming up.
"Let's get started. It'll be over soon anyway."
As I entered after a quick stretch outside and turned my shoulders, the opposing club member grinned and taunted me.
"What, you didn't even bring your personal weapon? Did you leave it at home? Or maybe you couldn't afford to buy one?"
Of course, that was out of the question.
"Do you need a butcher's knife to kill a chicken?"
"What?"
"I mean, seniors like you should be more than enough without any special weapons."
"…We'll see how long you can keep that attitude, freshman."
The guy turned and walked back to his teammates, probably thinking that further conversation would only be a loss for him.
At least he has some sense.
"Boss, are you sure you're okay?"
Jin-woo, who looked worried, asked me as I handed him my jacket.
"There's no reason to be scared of these guys; they're no different from goblins."
"Right?"
"Yeah, so just watch. You'll see what happens next."
While I was warming up before entering the training hall, the door opened, and a man I had never seen before walked in.
He had prominent dark circles and wore black-rimmed glasses. The necklace and ID card around his neck suggested he was an instructor.
"…Of all times, why did it have to be during my shift? What a hassle."
The instructor, scratching his head, stood in front of the training hall's control panel.
"Hmm… Are you the freshman who challenged us?"
He looked at me, pushed up his glasses, frowned as if I were strange, and then looked at the investment club members.
"…You're really a first-year. Are you really going to spar with those guys?"
"That guy disrespected the investment club. How can we just let him go?"
"He challenged us, so it's not entirely our fault."
The instructor, having heard the guys' words, turned his gaze back to me and asked as he approached.
"Why are you doing this? And you, a freshman who hasn't even been here a week, are challenging us?"
"I just want to make my academy life a bit easier."
"…What do you mean by that?"
The investment club.
I didn't choose these guys on a whim or out of sudden impulse.
There were reasons why I needed to take them down early to have a smooth academy life.
First, to recruit Iharu.
After losing in the club tournament, Iharu was expelled from the international trade club she founded and couldn't even operate in the open anymore.
Though she had support, it was solely her skill that elevated the international trade club to a silver-level club.
I couldn't let her slip away just because of these guys.
Second, to maintain the current state of the 'International Trade Club.'
The international trade club is the best place to get the best items within the academy.
If such a shop were handed over to the 'Investment Club,' the quality of the shop would surely decline, and we might not even be able to see valuable items anymore.
Third, there was no specific reason.
I just didn't like these guys who were up to no good behind the scenes.
"I don't know why you want to fight these guys… but you should be prepared to deal with the aftermath, freshman. The other members of the investment club can hold grudges."
Contrary to the instructor's words, I didn't need to worry about the aftermath.
I wasn't the type to leave loose ends.
"Yes, thank you for the advice."
Just as I was about to turn around and leave,
"Trying to scare a freshman, huh?"
A familiar voice came from behind.
"Yujin! I brought them here!"
"Calling an instructor around like that. You're really arrogant, aren't you?"
Kim Se-a, panting, and Jisoo-hyun, looking at me with interest, were there.
"Oh, senior?"
The male instructor's expression hardened when he saw Jisoo-hyun.
"Kid, I was wondering why I didn't see you in the office. You're in charge of the training hall today?"
"Just a coincidence. But, what are you doing here, senior?"
"I came to watch when I heard that one first-year and four second-years were sparring. But, why did you allow this sparring?"
Jisoo-hyun, hands in his pockets, stood in front of the male instructor, who waved his hands frantically.
"What could I say when the freshman 'challenged' you? According to the rules, there's no problem."
Despite being much taller, the male instructor looked much smaller.
Jisoo-hyun, reaching out and putting his arm around the instructor's neck, said,
"Are you saying you allowed a freshman to spar with multiple upperclassmen because there's no rule against it? Is that what an instructor should say?"
"Well, that guy… the one who entered as the second-best this year. I thought he had some reason and wanted to learn something!"
"…You have no comeback, do you? Okay. Then, if something goes wrong, you'll take responsibility?"
"Me? I'll take responsibility?"
"Of course, kid. If you're the observer, why would I take responsibility?"
Jisoo-hyun, still with his hands in his pockets, made a motion as if to punch.
The instructor, trembling, quickly said,
"Ah, I understand! It's not like a big accident will happen. By the way, do you have any relation to that guy? Your eyes look different from usual."
"Hmm? Oh, he's the vice president of our class."
"…What?"
"First-years are trying to form a club, and as their homeroom teacher, I can help to this extent. Oh, Han Yujin!"
Suddenly calling my name, Jisoo-hyun pointed to my neck.
"Are you going to use that?"
It was obvious what he meant. He was talking about my personal weapon.
"No way."
I waved my hands and replied.
"Bare hands are enough."
Jisoo-hyun nodded and smiled.
"This should be interesting."
Satisfied with my answer, he removed his arm from the instructor's neck, looked around, and clapped his hands.
"Alright, everyone, let's go into the training hall. This guy and I will be observing, so don't worry about dying. Okay?"
With Jisoo-hyun's direction, I and the opposing side entered the training hall.
The guys, who already looked at me with disdain, were now glaring with anger.
"Cute."
To me, who had recently fought actual mafia, their glares were nothing more than a child's tantrum.
After stretching my neck and finger joints, I stepped onto the white line in the center.
Woo-!
The air around me vibrated briefly, emitting a blue light.
The sensation of the air's weight changed, and my senses felt awkward before returning to normal.
This was the sign that the protective field, set up to protect the students, had activated.
As we faced each other, Jisoo-hyun's voice echoed from the speakers inside the training hall.
[Alright, both sides… let's see what you've got.]
"You're dead, freshman────?!"
As soon as it started, I reached out and pushed the first guy who charged at me, sending him crashing to the training hall floor.
He seemed to have fainted, his body limp upon impact.
"One."
I straightened up and looked around.
The remaining three, unable to understand what had just happened, stared at me.
Even though I had entered their formation, they were frozen in place.
I shrugged.
"I'll accept a forfeit if you want to now."
"You crazy b*stard────."
The second guy charged at me.
Maybe because he was a second-year, he was more cautious. He raised his arms to guard and tried to get inside my defenses.
Good try, but…
"Your sides are wide open."
I grabbed his arm, which was trying to block my face, and kneed him in the chest.
Crack!
"Two."
The guys flinched at my count.
"Don't be scared, or it won't be fun."
The two remaining guys, seeing my actions, stepped back.
"Hey, two guys down in an instant…"
"Get a grip, you idiot! It's because they were too complacent!"
Having seen their comrades crushed right in front of them, the two guys were now more tense than before.
"Hmm."
So, they won't just take it lying down this time.
I wondered how I would crush them this time when——
"Charge!"
The guys, who had successfully surrounded me, charged at me simultaneously.
I didn't expect them to attack first.
"Interesting."
"…What?"
I grabbed the wrist of the guy who swung his fist at me first and pulled him towards me.
"Let's see──."
I hit his chin with an upward palm strike, causing his knees to buckle, but I didn't let go and threw him to the ground like a flail.
"Three."
Even though the sparring had only been going on for less than three minutes, three guys were already down.
The remaining guy's expression was clearly tense.
It's over. About 40 seconds… as expected.
But what should I do? I didn't plan to end it here.
"Hey, I came to see this 'challenge' for the first time in a while, and