20 – Practical Evaluation (2)
It is an unfamiliar ceiling.
“…… “Where is this?”
“Oh, it’s a hospital room.”
When I turned my head, there was Sonia. She looked down at me with her hands somewhat clasped together.
Somehow, I feel a sense of déjà vu.
I barely got up. My whole body screams as if it will break. When I checked my forearm, there was a blue bruise.
How did this happen?
I even remember starting to spar with Rustilla.
But from the next scene onwards, it completely disappeared from my mind.
It seemed like something flashing passed before her eyes….
“Young Master was knocked out by Lady Rustilla’s blow.”
“… “Did you?”
“Yes. “After that, he passed out for three hours.”
Sonia sighed and continued her explanation.
It was said that it was a stroke of luck that it was only a minor injury, that they were worried because he didn’t wake up, that Rustilla was feeling sorry, and things like that.
Sonia must have remembered Idel’s temper before she was possessed, and when Lustila came, she generously asked him to forgive her.
Click.
They say even tigers will come if you tell them what to do.
The door opened and Seti and Rustilla came in. Jermel and Donna were also there.
Seti and Rustilla had dumbfounded expressions.
“… Hey, are you okay?”
Seti asked.
“It looks like he’s okay since he woke up… ….”
My younger brother, who was usually fierce, was nowhere to be found. The corners of her eyes lowered. Her face relaxed. It’s my first time seeing this expression.
I responded by waving my arms.
“As you can see, it’s fresh.”
“Ah….”
Seti sighed inexplicably. She then crossed her arms, giggled, and started laughing.
“Wow, if we were this far behind, it would have been a huge advantage. “I also receive death insurance money.”
“… Brother?”
“What, why, what. Whatever. “Don’t you have to pay academy tuition?”
I felt dizzy from the spicy pad lip that followed. This is a bigger blow than being hit by Rustilla.
“Lady, minors cannot sign up for death insurance.”
“Are you afraid I don’t know that? “It’s a joke, a joke.”
Seti then glanced at me. It seemed like he was watching me.
I didn’t have the energy to get angry, and I didn’t have the heart to get angry. I just sighed and rested my chin.
A subtle air current flowed.
Lu Stilla was sweating profusely and was at a loss. Eventually, she bowed her head and approached me.
“I’m sorry. “It hurt a lot, right?”
She repeated her apology like a broken clockwork. Eyes as blue as the sea wavered like candles in the wind.
I thought it was excessive, and I also thought it was pathetic.
“We also would like to apologize.”
Jermel and the other androids also bowed their heads in unison.
“We will pay for the treatment. If you need anything else…….”
“It’s okay.”
Jermel’s pupils grew so big that they seemed to eat the whites of his eyes.
“There is no need to pay for treatment for injuries of this magnitude. “I can afford it with my own money.”
I was planning on selling all the items in my room if I passed Stellarium. You can fill it in there. There was nothing to lose.
“Yes? But….”
“I said it’s okay. “Look at this.”
I tried rotating my arm lightly. Although it hurt, it wasn’t a fracture so I was able to move it. This is the level of muscle pain.
“Master. It may be presumptuous of you, but my lady hates being in debt more than anything. If you have any requests, please submit a request….”
“Um, really?”
Well, even if you’re not angry, you should ask for what you want.
However, in a direction that is helpful to both me and Rustilla.
I looked at Lu Stila and opened her mouth.
“Then, let’s spar with me one more time.”
***
Sword Saint.
A title earned by Rustilla after preventing the invasion of an S-class monster.
It is a rare experience to receive personal PT from someone of his caliber. It would be impossible without paying a considerable amount of money.
Still.
Still.
“…… “This is a bit out of form.”
I complained, snapping my practice sword with my fingers.
“There’s nothing we can do. Just in case….”
Rustilla also smiled bitterly, as if she was dumbfounded.
For safety reasons, we chose stick balloons.
That’s right. Stick balloon. That thing that people hold in both hands and wave at baseball stadiums or concert halls.
Maybe because he didn’t want me to get hurt, or because he didn’t want Rustilla to kill someone, Seti bought it from a nearby shopping mall.
“Wow.”
Even if you think about it, you look like an idiot.
[─ ‘The God of Wisdom and Curiosity’ sighs.]
Rustilla and I took our stances and pointed our swords(?) At each other. I heard people passing by laughing. Rustilla’s face turned bright red like blush.
“Okay, then let’s go…” ?”
Sparring is something I do to gauge my level of skill.
It is obvious that you will be defeated, but it is a necessary process to receive personal guidance from Rustila.
“… Come.”
I muttered with confidence.
And.
“Hundreds of millions.”
As soon as Sonia gives a hand signal.
“Oh my.”
I started getting beaten like a dog.
Pang, pang, pang. There was a sound of air bubbles bursting all over my body. It didn’t hurt, but the reaction was slow. Geomro(?) Was not visible at all.
I got hit again where I got hit. Getting hit again and again. My forearms and legs became increasingly red and swollen.
“Gwae, it’s okay…” ?”
I felt a burning sensation throughout my body. When the sparring ended, I put down my sword and looked up blankly at the sky.
It’s a shame it’s a balloon. If it had been a real sword, it would have been a cube steak a long time ago.
Lu Stila scratched her head as she looked at me becoming a Hongik human.
“I’m so sorry. I tried to swing it as gently as possible….”
Is this life?
While I was sighing, Seti handed me a towel and said.
“I told you, right? Lou Stilla can’t stand a chance against her sister. “Thank God she didn’t get hit with a balloon.”
“… Okay. But does it make sense for it to be this fast?”
I really couldn’t see anything. Where is the attack coming from and where should I block it?
I thought I had sparred enough with Sonia, but I didn’t see anything like that.
“That’s because Sister Lu Stila made a contract with her constellation. “The speed at which she moves is different from others.”
“Ah….”
Now that I think about it, the expression ‘the sword’s strike exceeded the speed of sound’ appeared often in novels. It was a description that appeared repeatedly when Lou Stila described her sharp sword.
That wasn’t a metaphor, it was real.
We hurriedly put down the balloon and picked up the wooden sword again.
“…… “Then, from now on, I will tell you what I am lacking.”
As Lou Stilla said that, she was smiling softly like a flower just before its full bloom.
“Swordsmanship basically comes from clearing your mind. If your mind is shaken, your sword will also shake. “You have to erase all your random thoughts.”
“It’s just random thoughts….”
“Were you thinking of anything else?”
“Not… “I didn’t do it.”
Even while sparring, I was constantly thinking about other things.
What specifically should I do after admission?
What are the types of foreign media that appear according to the timeline?
What monster should be dealt with first?
From noble mtl dot com
What are the elements needed to develop a gravity bomb? Etc.
I was somehow able to put together thoughts that would not have been possible even if many people put their heads together with just my old-fashioned brain.
“Yes, it is difficult at first. But if you unconsciously focus your gaze, you will gradually begin to see my sword. Would you like to try your posture first?”
Rustilla re-taught me how to hold a sword.
If Sonia is a vegetable, Rustilla is the standard. Her recommended posture was difficult to assume, but she remained undisturbed.
“My calf strength is weak. Now, bend her knees a little more. Yeah, like that. Lower your center of gravity and keep your back straight….”
“Off.”
Really using your body is rat poison.
***
I received lessons from Rustilla for several days. This improved her posture, and her thoughts became calmer as she held her sword.
I haven’t learned a few techniques. That kind of thing is expedient. The important thing is to know why you swing like that, even if you swing a blow.
And, it is the ability to subdue the enemy.
As for whether I passed the first round, of course I passed.
I passed, and Rustilla and Seti also passed. In particular, the two people hugged each other and cried as soon as they found out whether they had passed or not.
And, in my case, the reaction was largely surprising.
Seti was surprised, Donna was surprised, and Jermel was also surprised. Rustila was the only one who smiled softly as if she knew I would pass.
“Cheer up.”
Rustila said.
“You bought three days more time than planned, right? “I’ve practiced a lot so far, so I’m sure I’ll be able to do well.”
For some reason, the academy announced the written results three days later than the announced date.
Well, it looks like there was a computer error somewhere.
I shook off my thoughts and stared ahead. A male supervisor with messy hair touched the microphone and opened his mouth.
“For procedural reasons, we would like to inform you once again. The topic of this year’s practical evaluation is a mock battle against a golem modeled after a monster.”
He continued his explanation.
“The plasma sword is placed on the right pipe stand. You must only use the sword shown above. “It is equipped with a safety device, so use it without worry, but if there is a problem, we will take immediate action.”
After that, the explanation continued hesitantly. What are the evaluation criteria and precautions against cheating?
Simply put, it deals with comprehensive physical abilities and crisis response abilities.
“Then, let me introduce you to a monster that will help you with your practical skills.”
“No, that’s…” .”
“This is ‘Cluster’, a C-class monster. It is a creature-type monster commonly seen in ‘Darwin’s Army.’ As you can see, it has three pairs of arms and legs.”
This guy has split joints like a doll. His height was close to 2m. His arms and legs are three-segmented. His face is smooth like an egg.
The guy was holding a blade like an ax or saw blade in each of his arms.
Although it is an artificially created fake, it is a threat.
The test takers who saw the shocking visuals left with a loud noise.
“There is no need to worry. Because it only looks good. “You don’t have to worry about getting hurt.”
The supervisor boasted. Only then did some students heave a sigh of relief.
“Students whose names are called, please bring swords. In our area, ten people at a time will be taken into a designated room to take the test.”
Soon, the names of the first ten students were called. There was no me, Seti or Rustilla among them.
“It’s a waste. “If possible, the first time is better.”
“What? It’s crazy? “What if I make a mistake when I’m not mentally prepared?”
“They say it’s better to sell first.”
Seti frowned as if he was displeased with my words. She took deep breaths one after another.
“Imaginary number special. “I was unnecessarily nervous on exam day.”
“Shut up.”
That was when Sethi and I were arguing and fighting.
The huge monitor screen mounted on the ceiling lit up and was divided into ten sections. In each horizontally stretched area, there was a view of the room where the monster model was waiting.
“All practical evaluation processes are made public to ensure transparent and fair screening. Please take this into consideration…….”
Wow.
If I don’t do it right, I’ll be embarrassed.
Soon the evaluation began.
Time limit is 10 minutes. If you defeat the monster model within it or inflict significant damage on it, you will receive a large score. Conversely, if you get hit once, your score will be greatly reduced.
[─ The ‘God of Wisdom and Curiosity’ shows an uncomfortable look.]
I looked at the relay monitor with eyes full of curiosity. The monster model began to move, and each test taker faced it in their own way. Among them, some students fought equally against the model, while others lost.
Anyway, the evaluation seemed to go smoothly.
…… That is, until the arm of the boy who entered room 5 was cut off.
