—Before we start sparring, I’ll set one condition.
Joo-yeon held off revealing the condition until the afternoon class before smoothly continuing the theory class.
Many speculations and guesses circulated within Class 1.
As soon as the afternoon class began,
Joo-yeon appeared in the gym dressed in her usual suit.
Sensing that the students’ gazes were more intense than usual, she gave a composed smile.
“Did everyone have a good lunch?”
“””””Yes!”””””
Though they answered energetically, no student would have eaten enough to feel overly full.
Lunch was merely to replenish the energy they’d need for the physical class.
“Sit down.”
Joo-yeon’s voice rang clear across the spacious gymnasium.
And the students sat down while holding their weapons. Rohan was holding the standard sword hanging on the wall.
“You all look eager for this sparring session. It seems like you’re more focused than during the practical lessons I usually put so much effort into preparing.”
They understood it was Joo-yeon’s attempt at a joke.
The students of Class 1 showed faint smiles as they focused on their instructor’s words.
“Before we get to the main event…”
Joo-yeon placed the black training journal she had been holding onto a chair.
“Over lunch, I discussed some opinions with the other instructors who oversee different classes. I’d like to explain a bit about that.”
Rohan silently observed her.
He felt that she was taking her responsibilities as an instructor seriously and giving her best effort. For now, the only way he could respond was by focusing fully.
“There are instructors who say that sparring between students is the best form of training. However, the founding philosophy of Orion Academy is to cultivate forces capable of fighting against monsters. Because of this, there are still many differing opinions on that training method.”
The students roughly understood what she was getting at.
From her past actions, Joo-yeon seemed to lean toward being cautious about conflicts arising from sparring.
Her practical lessons focused on the efficient use of magic in extended battles, or things like unspoken commands and formations to avoid overlapping attacks when fighting large monsters as a group.
These were areas the students found rational and felt demonstrated a clear sense of professionalism.
“This instructor believes there is a clear difference between killing monsters and fighting people. However, after exchanging views with other instructors, I came to agree on certain aspects regarding the efficiency of sparring lessons.”
The next words she spoke would undoubtedly be decisive.
Every student listening could feel it.
“Like Instructor Carrot said… there is indeed trash among humans who are no different from monsters. When you dig into the ways of the world, it’s inevitable that you’ll encounter such individuals.”
Those with power are bound to get involved in a variety of incidents eventually.
Since no further explanation was necessary, Joo-yeon took a step forward to begin the class.
“I’ll explain the condition I mentioned before but didn’t finish discussing. You can think of it as a simple game between this instructor and the students.”
Noah’s tail curled into a round shape as if to form a question mark.
Likewise, many of the students wore puzzled expressions.
“I won’t use any weapons, and I won’t launch any attacks. I’ll stand right here and only use the index and middle finger of my left hand.”
From watching Joo-yeon teach, one could guess she was right-handed.
There was a theory that she might be ambidextrous, but people also wondered what the significance was of using only two fingers.
“Because of time constraints, I’ll give each student two minutes. You can use any kind of attack. If you manage to push me one step back or force me to use anything besides my index and middle finger, I lose. In other words, Class 1 wins.”
Joo-yeon emphasized that this was not an individual victory but a victory for the entire class.
“If I lose… hmm, nothing particular comes to mind. I’ll buy Class 1 something delicious.”
Hearing this, Noah shot her hand straight into the air.
When Joo-yeon shifted her gaze over, the girl perked up her round ears and asked,
“What if we lose?”
That was probably the main point.
Joo-yeon lifted the corners of her mouth, as though she had been waiting for this.
“Noah Frozenheart and the rest of Class 1, make sure you work hard not only in practical skills but also in mastering theory.”
“Th-Theory classes…?”
Even though it was a light condition, Noah stammered in confusion.
Her tail lost its energy and plopped onto the gym floor.
“Is that condition too difficult? All you need to do is try. I won’t expect anything like specific grades.”
“……”
“Maybe you’ll fulfill the condition and still get to eat something tasty. I don’t mind if you eat enough to bankrupt me.”
Encouraged by the instructor’s willingness to treat them, Noah tapped her tail lightly on the floor.
She glanced at Ichinose, who was sitting beside her and focusing her mind, then spoke up confidently.
“Even if I lose to you, Instructor, don’t you think I might just rationalize it and laze around because you said to try?”
“I don’t.”
At that firm statement, Noah’s eyes went wide.
Rohan and Ichinose were inwardly amazed by Joo-yeon’s words but kept their expressions normal.
“I don’t want to prepare for the possibility that you might not keep your word. The condition is already vague… Noah, are you not going to keep your promise with me?”
“I’ll definitely keep it!”
“Then I believe you.”
From Rohan’s perspective, that was exactly how the situation looked.
It seemed Joo-yeon had already grasped Noah Frozenheart’s personality perfectly and knew how to handle her.
True to Noah’s confidence, even without a special condition, she would not break her promise with Joo-yeon after losing.
“All right. Let’s get the class started. Who’s first?”
“Me!”
Noah jumped up from her seat.
The girl marched forward with quick strides and stopped in front of the instructor.
“From the moment you attack, you have two minutes. Show me your full strength.”
“Are you really fine with me doing whatever I want?”
“Yes. Don’t worry about damaging the gym. If we had to fuss over such things, it wouldn’t be Orion Academy.”
Joo-yeon kept her right hand in her pocket and watched Noah.
Noah rolled her shoulders in circles. She was already wearing a bright, mischievous smile.
“You know, I think I already understand why my dad told me to go out and see the world.”
“Oh?”
“My dad’s not good at teaching, you see. I’m glad I got to meet you, Instructor-nim.”
“I appreciate that… but I’ll be cautious about agreeing too readily.”
It was only natural that Noah, being the daughter of such a figure, could speak so lightly about the Snow Tiger Emperor.
“Students who are waiting, move behind me. Make sure you keep a safe distance.”
Once the students of Class 1 finished moving in a clump to the designated spot,
Noah, having finished her warm-up, began channeling her magical power.
Shoooaaaa—!!!
A hazy chill flowed out across the girl’s entire body.
The opponent, while not on par with her father, was still a powerful figure whose true capabilities were difficult to gauge.
Noah had no intention of conducting this lesson with bare hands, as she usually might.
She would give it her all.
“Fimbulvetr.”
Noah Frozenheart’s right index finger glinted.
The ring on her finger began to shift with a sharp, grating sound.
What materialized in her grasp was an axe made of ice.
Though it was large enough to require two hands to wield, Noah spun it effortlessly in one hand.
“Hoo.”
She drew a short breath.
At the same moment, boom! The ground shattered and Noah vanished.
Whoosh—!!!
The pure white frost cleared in the gale of their collision, revealing the two figures.
Noah’s menacing axe was caught between her opponent’s fingers.
“Your destructive power is already far beyond the average student. The way you unleash your magical power is particularly impressive.”
“!”
“But drawing a breath as a prelude to your attack isn’t good. From your tail to your muscles, you give away too much.”
She exuded an air of ease as she calmly pointed out her flaws.
Even so, Noah adapted quickly and used the immovable axe like a bar to deliver a series of kicks.
“Your composure and swift responses are commendable as well.”
“Ugh!?”
Noah’s foot missed when Joo-yeon slightly shook the axe she was holding.
Noah let go of the axe, spun around, and landed on the ground.
She recalled the weapon to its ring form and then summoned it again.
Wham! Whoosh! Whirl!
The moment she swung the axe again, aiming for a decisive strike, Joo-yeon once more attempted to catch it with her fingers.
But this time, Noah leaped backward and took a stance.
“……”
Resting the axe on her shoulder, she crouched low in a stance reminiscent of a four-legged beast.
Her gaze on her opponent grew sharper and her eyes were intense.
Her bared canines gleamed visibly.
“You truly resemble a wild beast.”
Noah didn’t respond to Joo-yeon’s remark. Instead, she let out a low growl as frost began to spread around her.
Crack!
A thick layer of ice formed around Joo-yeon, yet her immediate surroundings remained untouched.
With her thighs tensed, Noah propelled herself off the ground.
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
The gymnasium thundered as she bounded swiftly from one spot to another.
Noah moved in a straightforward line, but her incredible speed made it almost impossible for the students to follow her with their eyes.
Frost bloomed and ice froze the ground wherever Noah passed.
The frost trembled, forming jagged spikes that shot toward Joo-yeon like arrows.
Bababababam!
A cold wind swept across the gymnasium.
Noah continued her relentless assault, alternating between lunging forward to swing her axe and throwing it with precision.
Each time the axe moved, the gymnasium shook, and deafening booms echoed.
As she darted around fiercely, she seemed to sense an opportunity.
Noah landed behind Joo-yeon and swung her axe with ferocious force.
“Every move you make is driven purely by instinct.”
“!!!”
Joo-yeon caught the axe mid-swing with her fingers, just as it was about to graze her side.
The sharp blade hovered dangerously close to her suit, but Noah didn’t consider this a loss.
To her, it simply meant things had played out according to Joo-yeon’s will.
“Tch!”
Noah summoned the axe back into the ring, then threw punches and kicks in rapid succession.
The vibrations from her strikes shattered the surrounding ice into fragments that scattered like snow. Yet Joo-yeon casually parried her attacks, as if she was merely playing with a child.
“Your focus is so fixed on your target it’s almost too much. You should first learn to use that as a diversion.”
“…….”
“Think about whether you’ll refine your instinctive movements further or develop them into a structured system.”
With Joo-yeon’s final words—
Beep! Beep! Beep!
The two-minute alarm sounded and Noah stopped her movements.
Joo-yeon placed a hand on Noah’s head.
“Noah, were you satisfied?”
“Yes!”
The girl’s flushed face was tinged with excitement, and frosty breaths escaped her lips.
She looked utterly delighted. She had been able to let loose for the first time in a while after all.
Her tail swished back and forth as if to say that she valued the joy of the moment far more than the fact she hadn’t pushed Joo-yeon back even a step.
“I’ll study theory just as hard!”
“Excellent.”
Joo-yeon who was satisfied with the result smiled and patted Noah’s head.
She then used her magic to shatter all the ice in the gym into small pieces and organize the space.
Joo-yeon’s gaze shifted to the students.
“Next.”
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