<strong>Central Area, Small Gymnasium Inside the Clubhouse.</strong>


    This ce, frequently used for training by the Taehogwon club, was now preparing for a duel.


    As a member of a righteous faction, Jin Jeong-muk, known for his martial prowess, always had a crowd when he requested a duel in public. His duels were usually attended by many spectators.


    Students of Eungwang High, who loved watching fights, would likely not want to miss this, but there weren’t many people here.


    <em>‘There are people who enjoy watching Jin Jeong-muk’s duels, but seems like they’re missing out.’</em>


    This duel wasn’t initiated by Jin Jeong-muk, though. It was something Han-yi requested in exchange for helping Jin Jeong-muk with midterm exam preparation.


    Thanks to Han-yi and Jin Jeong-muk quietly setting up the duel, word didn’t spread much.


    Therefore, the turnout was low, but the ones I expected to be here were present.


    They were Han-yi’s self-proimed close friends.


    “Han-yi, fight well! I’ll be watching!”


    “Hahaha! I’m excited to see what kind of fight my friend will show!”


    Dokgo Miro and Hwang Ji-ho had secured the best seats and were waiting.


    Even though an old tiger can use his clone skill while being busy, I wondered if it was really okay for Dokgo Miro to be here.


    <em>‘Though the schedule hasn’t been finalized, he’s probably busy with his uing new song release. Still, he’s likely been busy, so taking a break wouldn’t hurt.’</em>


    Since midterms had just ended, no one wouldin if he took a break.


    There were more of our ssmates here as well.


    “Since you two are cheering for Han-yi, Uram and I will cheer for Jin Jeong-muk!”


    “That sounds fair.”


    Sa-wol Se-eum and Mo Guraem, who hadn’t been involved in club meetings or extracurricr activities and weren’t skipping school, sat on Jin Jeong-muk’s side.


    So, it seemed best for Kim Yoori and I to remain neutral.


    Perhaps thinking the same, Kim Yoori cheered for both.


    “Both of you, do well! Fight hard!”


    After waving their hands toward us, Han-yi and Jin Jeong-muk took their positions.


    For reference, the referee was Teacher Ham Geun-hyeong.


    It was probably Jin Jeong-muk who had called Teacher Ham.


    Teacher Ham, who had been troubled by Jin Jeong-muk’s frequent duels, had suggested he call him to referee each time, and Jin Jeong-muk had epted.


    “Take your positions.”


    At Teacher Ham’smand, the members of the Taehogwon club stopped practicing and turned to watch.


    Among them was Gong Cheong-hwon.


    If a famous duelist and their disciple were to have a duel, one might expect some concern, but seeing Gong Cheong-hwon’s calm face, he was clearly someone who had weathered many storms.


    Just before the duel began, Jin Jeong-muk spoke.


    “I remember you mentioned yourck ofbat experiencepared to mine. As a senior, I will forfeit three moves. Please, go ahead first.”


    “…?”


    This introduced an unspoken rule of martial arts where masters typically do not counterattack until the opponent has made three moves, an unwritten rule followed by martial artists.


    Unfortunately, Han-yi seemed to have no experience with martial arts stories and didn’t understand Jin Jeong-muk’s words.


    Most of the people here probably didn’t understand either.


    Perhaps Han-yi thought Jin Jeong-muk meant he would give him three seconds.


    “Good! Knock him out in three seconds!”


    “That’s not what he meant. But it’s a good idea to try to knock him out in three seconds.”


    Although Han-yi wasn’t facing them, his so-called friends were enthusiastically offering advice.


    Teacher Ham Geun-hyeong, who was watching the scene from the center, had aplex expression on his face, with a shadow cast across his stern features.


    Nevertheless, Teacher Ham dutifully carried out his role as the referee.


    “…Begin!”


    Teacher Ham, likely trying to make it easier for Han-yi to understand, triggered a wave of energy with his ability as the signal to start.


    Han-yi immediately charged forward, swinging his uniform, while Jin Jeong-muk drew the sword hanging at his waist.


    When the punch aimed at his sr plexus missed by a paper-thin margin, Han-yi smoothly moved his hand to strike Jin Jeong-muk’s throat with the edge of his hand.


    <em>ng!</em>


    But before that couldnd, Jin Jeong-muk’s sword blocked the strike.


    The sound of the guard and sword shing echoed as they faced off, neither one moving.


    Han-yi, with a neutral expression, spoke.


    “It’s been three seconds.”


    “You haven’t seen all three moves yet.”


    “…Ah.”


    It seemed that Han-yi had finally realized that Jin Jeong-muk was indeed a martial artist.


    Jin Jeong-muk kept his word, and only after Han-yi showed a kick did he finally move.


    As the duel unfolded, our ssmates became more excited.


    “Wow, both of them are incredibly fast! I couldn’t see it, but… did Han-yi just guide the sword to break it?”


    “Pretty much. He tried to get the sword to stab into the ground.”


    “Blocking the movement of the sword is a good attempt. But getting it to stick in the ground like that would be difficult. He should find another way.”


    “Han-yi, just smash the sword!”


    The sound of the sword’s edge and guard shing filled the gym.


    Before long, ck smoke began to rise from the sword’s guard, mixing with the powder-blue energy waves.


    Jin Jeong-muk was gathering energy from the sword, and it was clear that Han-yi was holding his ground better than expected.


    The duel was progressing in a way I hadn’t predicted.


    <em>‘I underestimated Han-yi. Aside from the early part, Jin Jeong-muk isn’t holding back, and Han-yi is fighting this well. His moves are much faster and more refined thanst year.’</em>


    Jin Jeong-muk had handled the attention of the spotlight duo and, as a member of the student council, managed to reach a near-draw victory against Teacher No Yeong-mi.


    From the practice and sparring with Han-yi in our first year, I had thought Han-yi was several steps below Jin Jeong-muk.


    Moreover, I suspected that Han-yi’s grades had dropped in the second semester, possibly affecting his mental state.


    But after watching this duel, I had a change of heart.


    <em>‘Maybe Han-yi’s drop in grades was due to prioritizing training over written exams?’</em>


    Suddenly, I thought of Han-yi’s duel with Dokgo Miro.


    Han-yi had beenpletely defeated by Dokgo Miro, and he had epted the loss, never speaking of it again.


    I couldn’t know what Han-yi was thinking, but on the outside, he seemed to have given up.


    But that might have just been the surface. Han-yi might have been gathering strength for a rematch.


    “Han-yi…!”


    “Hahaha! Excellent! Now you’re predicting the sword’s movement and responding!”


    Dokgo Miro was both thrilled and surprised by Han-yi’s performance, while Hwang Ji-ho simply seemed pleased.


    Seeing Hwang Ji-ho not surprised, I realized he must have known that Han-yi was getting stronger.


    They fought fiercely, but as the duel dragged on, the tide began to turn.


    Jin Jeong-muk was able to neutralize Han-yi’s sword movements faster than Han-yi could read his own, and as the duel wore on, both their stamina decreased, but Jin Jeong-muk, with his battle experience, handled the situation more efficiently.


    Finally, Jin Jeong-muk’s de reached Han-yi’s forehead.


    “Enough!”


    When Teacher Ham Geun-hyeong decided the match was over, he stopped the duel.


    Teacher Ham, perhaps preparing for the possibility that Jin Jeong-muk wouldn’t stop, had a bow and arrow in his hands.


    Also, Gong Cheong-hwon had quietly moved to position himself between the two yers, ready to step in if necessary.


    Fortunately, Jin Jeong-muk withdrew his sword without injuring Han-yi.


    “Jin Jeong-muk wins!”


    Jin Jeong-muk, sweating profusely, performed a respectful bow.


    “It was a good duel. I never imagined there would be a student in this school capable of such excellent martial techniques. My judgment wascking.”


    For Jin Jeong-muk, who only cared about sword techniques, it was surprising that he would say such a thing.


    Han-yi, who seemed to take a moment to interpret the unfamiliar words Jin Jeong-muk used, appeared to have understood them.


    “…Thank you for the duel.”


    “I’ll look forward to your next lesson.”


    Their duel ended on a warm note, with promises of future training.


    Our ssmates came down from the stands, discussing and praising the excellent duel.


    The atmosphere felt right for a post-event dinner, but Kim Yoori and I couldn’t join.


    “Yishin, we’re about to bete!”


    “We’d better hurry.”


    Though the student council building wasn’t far, we still had to use skills to make it on time.


    Kim Yoori used her Sprinting skill, and I activated Gwangrim, borrowing Min Green’s leg strength.


    We barely made it on time, only to find Geum Chan-sol and Wang Chan-sol causing a scene.


    “Why are you guys sote!”


    “Did you guys think that just because you’re in the next grade, you can show upst?”


    The usual chaotic atmosphere in the meeting room suggested that, as always, the upperssmen were causing trouble.


    It seemed like they had again been obsessed with making ate entrance, but after hearing the stories, it seemed like Geum Chan-sol and Wang Chan-sol’s goals would have been achieved even without Kim Yoori and me.


    “Yishin hyung, Yoori noona! Me and Eunha found the seniors. They were hiding somewhere. I couldn’t find them, but Eunha found the spot where the floor tiles were new…”


    Eun Seo-ho, representing 1st-year ss 0,unched into a story.


    It seems Geum Chan-sol and Wang Chan-sol had been hiding on the floor and were caught by Eunha.


    Eunha didn’t even use abilities, but managed to find them.


    Throughout this story, Eun Seo-ho mentioned the name of Cheon Eun-ha several times, while Eunha sat quietly and smiled without interrupting the conversation.


    Instead, Eunha reassured Cheon Dong-ha, who was worried that Geum Chan-sol and Wang Chan-sol might seek revenge, telling him that she was fine.


    <em>‘Eun Seo-ho and Eunha seem to have some distance between them.’</em>


    Eun Seo-ho nced at Eunha, who was talking to Cheon Dong-ha, and narrowed his eyes.


    It seemed like he was feeling a bit left out, so Kim Yoori and I tried to listen attentively.


    Just then, Yeom Jun-yeol stepped onto the podium.


    “Senior, you’re up. Seo-ho, we’ll talk next time.”


    “Okay, Yoori noona!”


    Kim Yoori, who had grown close to Eun Seo-ho from spending time with Jo Du-ho’s disciples and being friends with the famous An Da-in, seemed to be especially close with him.


    Eun Seo-ho, now a bit more energized, sat next to Eunha, and I moved as well.


    <em>‘It feels a bit awkward sitting with the 2nd-years.’</em>


    While moving to the second-year seats, suddenly, the room brightened.


    The ss president and vice-president of 2nd-year ss 1, Ju Su-hyeok and An Da-in, were sitting side by side, reviewing ss administration materials, looking incredibly harmonious and beautiful.


    “Yishin, why aren’t you sitting down?”


    Yu Sang-hoon, the vice-president of 2nd-year ss 4, interrupted my thoughts with a nonchnt expression.


    It seemed like he didn’t want to be part of the ss officers again this year.


    <em>‘If this continues, Yu Sang-hoon might end up bing the basketball team captain too.’</em>


    Thinking about how he would react to that idea, I sat down.


    Yu Sang-hoon might be immersed in <em>yerZ</em> after appearing in the OBT trailer, but his passion for basketball hadn’t faded.


    The basketball team seemed to want him to be their next captain, given his skill and passion.


    I hoped that he would take on that annoying role.


    “Now, let’s begin the 1st-quarter student representative meeting.”


    With Yeom Jun-yeol’s opening deration, the 1st-quarter student representative meeting began.


    Now in his third year, Yeom Jun-yeol led the meeting even more smoothly thanst year.


    Reports from various student bodies and ss officers proceeded without issue.


    As expected, there was a mention of incidents involving ss 0, but it was quickly brushed off.


    Next came announcements about uing schedules.@@novelbin@@


    “Next, I’ll discuss the schedule for the Korea-China-Japan Youth Exchange.”


    Though still in the rough stages, the youth exchange was set to take ce during summer vacation.


    Adjusting the schedules for participants from the three countries would likely be easier if it matched the break period.


    “The list of candidates was madest year, but there’s a suggestion to give the 1st-years a chance to participate as well. We n to hold preliminaries. We will also have preliminaries for those already rmended.”


    As Yeom Jun-yeol smoothly presented the n, he suddenly turned his gaze toward me.


    It wasn’t just me; it seemed he was looking at Ju Su-hyeok and An Da-in, who were sitting behind me as well.


    “Especially, we expect the Eungwang High student ambassadors to participate for sure.”