Chapter 124

Chapter 124

However, it was not the time to be caught up with such ideas. Kim Olim, who sensed that the atmosphere had gentled, broke into our conversation with a short sigh, "So, without having to level up, I've been thinking about self defense methods where you can protect yourself or create exploitable gaps. They left the training program-and the role of coach-to me."

"Training?"

"That's right. No matter how clumsy you may be, I can at least teach you the correct way to fall in two weeks."

"...Why are you already expecting me to be clumsy though?"

However, Kim Olim did not pay much attention to my grumbled complaints and instead immediately brought forth a system message before my eyes.

[A description of 'Training Program 1' has arrived from Servant 'Kim Olim.' Do you confirm, thus moving onto the message contents?]

Left without a choice, I accepted the incoming message and checked Kim Olim's program. The content was similar to a Powerpoint, filled with pictures and illustrations; it took quite a long while to scroll down to the bottom because of the overall length.

Terrified by the amount, I stuttered, "......We're doing this in just two weeks?"

"What are you saying? I've enclosed a total of 10 training modules. This means that it'll take two weeks to learn all 10."

"W-What!"

"For your information, training starts today. Since breakfast should be digested by now, we should start moving." With that said, Kim Olim smiled somewhat ominously. "I look forward to your cooperation. It'll be good for you to learn while I can still be strict with you."

"Mmm... Can I watch, noona?"

"Actually, I was going to ask something of you first. There's no one else who can help spar without harming Choi Lee-kyung."

"Oooh... Well, I guess it's safest if I do it."

"W-Wait a minute...What do you mean 'spar'! There's no way I could beat Jung Garam!" I cried.

"Do you think anyone here is expecting you to win against Jung Garam?"

However, my cries of protest were cut short.

In the end, I was thoroughly trained by both Kim Olim and Jung Garam, slammed into an exercise mat-when was this even ordered?-in the living room of this fancy house.

"Choi Lee-kyung, how many times have I told you? I've said that there's a preferred direction for joints to bend?" Kim Olim shouted.

"Argh! It hurts! Hurts!!"

The training was...much more degrading than I expected.

"So, I've said you need to use more strength in the opposing direction in order to release the force you've been storing."

"Ah! I said it hurts!"

Damn it...

Again and again I screamed my surrender because of the pain that arose from my bent wrists, but Jung Garam didn't stop. He released his arm that bent my own behind my back, used a new arm to strangle my neck. Bound by both arms, I experienced a new pain when he squeezed.

"This technique is called 'chicken wings'" Jung Garam said.

"Nnnghh!"

"It hurts, doesn't it? Try to escape in 3 seconds."

Kim Olim, who should be stopping this situation, was simply typing notes on my conditions and was not imposing any restrictions upon Jung Garam's sadistic pedagogy.

Jung Garam was even more excited as he overpowered me through my screams and tears. Even now I dealt with the pain of being squeezed everywhere as the sadistic teacher wrapped his legs around my waist and dragged me backwards into a submission hold.

Bastard! Who on earth would rely on submission holds while fighting me in the Hub?!

Half resentful and half delirious from pain, I thoughtlessly tapped on the floor. Of course, Jung Garam, who threw away all thoughts of fair-play, ignored the taps and did not loosen up on his forceful hold.

Zzzzt-!

"Ah! It stings!"

Out of nowhere, something that looked like a blue electrical current flowed from my body, and Jung Garam, who clung onto my body and tightened until it was hard to breathe, fell off. While I rubbed at my throat, I guessed that Seo Dawon, sitting next to Kim Olim, had solved my problem for me; I looked at him, thankful.

"Ah, I didn't turn it off." However, Seo Dawon said something quite strange.

Jung Garam, behind, grew annoyed, "Honestly, you should have turned off the link while we're training."

"Ah-ah. I just forgot since we just recently added to the linked skills. I turned it off, so you can try again."

"I'm not going to go easy on you, Choi Lee-kyung. Now."

"W-What are you saying?! What did I do?!"

Jung Garam had been subdued in less than a minute after we began our 1 on 1 tussle-it turned out that one of Seo Dawon's protective skills had been triggered. Even though I was not at fault, Jung Garam still reamed me harshly for daring to rebel.

Like that, 30 minutes flew by.

"Gasp, gasp...."

"Jung Garam, did you really only use 1/40th of your strength?"

"Of course."

No matter how desperately I struggled, I couldn't harm a single hair on Jung Garam's chin. Furthermore, he had been only using 1/40th of his strength. Jung Garam shook his head, as if to indicate that he couldn't lower his strength anymore.

Kim Olim stared at me with a grim expression, "Necromancer... Your physical strength is shocking. By my standards, you're practically at no strength at all. I'm fascinated that you've lived like this until now."

Embarrassed by her admiration-or, more likely, ridicule-I hurried to spit out some excuses, "It's just, I'm something of a...caster...and Jung Garam is an Assassin..."

"Well then, should I be your opponent?" This time, Seo Dawon stepped up.

Seo Dawon did not aggressively attack like Jung Garam; instead, he defended against my attacks. He allowed my fists to connect a few times, but Kim Olim soon told him to stop going easy on me. Soon, my arms flung uselessly through the air. My speed, compared to his, felt like I was swimming in something rather than traveling through air. I fell down exhausted at the Mage's feet.

Jung Garam, watching from the back, laughed despicably hard...I wanted to stand up immediately and rush at him, but-not to complain needlessly-I didn't have the energy to even sit up. Eventually, still collapsed, I could only clench my fists and tremble in anger.

The three servants surrounded me and had a 'pretend meeting.' The tone was quite serious and expanded on my shocking lack of ability, but it was obvious that they meant to laugh and tease me.

"Honestly, at this rate, he'll faint from just the shock of Park Hoseok's roar," Seo Dawon said.

Kim Olim nodded, "Hm...Park Ho-seok's not the problem; he'll be in danger if he's exposed to one of the security guards. It's quite shocking for me too. Sparring...I completely overestimated him. I need to revise the program completely."

"Pfft... Ah, Dawon-hyung! How was getting punched by Choi Lee-kyung's fist earlier?"

"I felt like I was being massaged."

"Right? Hey, Choi Lee-kyung! You said you were weak because you're a magic-user? Dawon-hyung is a Mage!"

"....Shut the fuck up." I groaned.

"Pffthahahahaha!"

That's how Kim Olim's ambitious sparring program finished that day. And, the next day, the program was forced to pause because, sadly, my body ached and I could hardly move.

* * *

"Haah..."

"I've placed the painkillers to the side. Take it after eating the rice porridge."

Seo Dawon and Lackey were the only ones nursing me as I was left motionless in bed. Seo Dawon made the porridge and brought it on a tray to bed; Lackey, who had been wandering near the bed, rushed to take away the tray. The Mage docilely handed it over.

Lackey stirred the stolen porridge vigorously to cool it down.

Feeling my whole body creak, I rose to check on the skeleton. I had no energy to stop it. "Tha...nks..."

[Clack Clack.]

"Ah, mn. Lackey, you too..."

I hurriedly acknowledged Lackey, who had even stolen the gratitude directed at the Mage. I turned to Seo Dawon, who was still staring at me, once more-did he have anything else to say?

Contrary to my expectations (I had thought he would leave after handing me the porridge), Seo Dawon sat on the bed and looked at me. Lackey looked incredibly displeased, but the Mage paid him no regard.

"What?" I asked.

"I've been thinking... Wouldn't it be better to use the [Possession] skill if the situation were to get dangerous?"

"[Possession].... Ah?"

A while ago, Seo Dawon had once possessed me on Owl's Ghost ship; perhaps he was talking about that skill.

I wracked through my brain, recalling my forgotten skills. Simultaneously, I remembered Jung Garam's request-his fervent desire to be summoned for this operation.

TL: Training~ Training~

For those that are now realizing how much of an unreliable narrator Lee-kyung-ie is...are you second guessing his words?