Episode 73
At the retreat, my work starts a little earlier than other spiritual leaders.
4 a.m.
Without even making the bed, I sit cross-legged and focus my consciousness on the spirit prison.
“… … .”
Now I feel a familiar warmth.
It’s just the right temperature to make you feel tired, but the energy it contains is enormous.
It can be said to be a sufficient achievement just to absorb the warmth that gently leaks out like this.
However, neither I nor the Sanghyeolgong who gave the spirit prison are satisfied with that much.
I held the spirit jade so hard that it left marks on my hands.
At the same time, I raised the fire accumulated in my body and hit the spirit prison head-on.
Grumbling… … .
How should I express this work… … .
It seems like melting fire with fire.
Although it is a realistically impossible phenomenon, there is no abstract sense of internal power or the operation of true energy in the first place.
Even when faced with the same energy, what comes to mind is different for each person.
Anyway, I was confident that my method was correct.
The warmth of Yeongok has now become heat, but at this point it feels hot rather than warm.
‘This is it.’
My fire and the heat of spirit prison.
The two yang energies were mixed together and ran through the bloodstream of the whole body as if circulating.
This flow was similar to the most basic internal attack operation to build internal strength, but it was several times more efficient than that.
Not only did the internal strength improve, but the effect of the Chloride First Ball was also maximized, making recovery and training more resilient.
This may be the reason why I feel fine even after only two or three hours of sleep at the retreat.
“Fuuu… … .”
I finished my training when it was getting dark outside the window.
I was very satisfied with today’s luck, but… The size of the spirit jade held in my hand was not much different from the first time.
There’s no need to rush.
First of all, I am looking at this work in the long term.
Wouldn’t it probably take at least half a year to completely dissolve the spirit prison?
“Uhm… … .”
I thought for a moment while massaging my stiff neck joints.
Should I go out to the vacant lot and warm up like this?
Or should I pay closer attention?
As usual, I would choose the former, but today there is a special test.
Even the early morning canter, which was not missed even for a day, was enough to give me a break, so I could feel the instructor’s intention to take the test in the best condition possible.
‘Let’s just sleep.’
The moment I laid down on the narrow bed again, I felt a vibration.
Not Youngok,
The Seven Deadly Sins Sword left on the bedside table was trembling slightly.
‘Mushin?’
[…] … .]
Judging by his reaction, it doesn’t seem like he’s woken up… … .
I stared at the Seven Deadly Sins Sword for a moment, and soon realized that the sword was moving little by little to a certain point.
It is in the direction of the vacant lot.
‘What’s out there?’
After thinking briefly, I stood up holding the Seven Deadly Sins Sword.
I carefully go down the creaky stairs, pass through the lounge, and leave the building.
Hwioo-.
A cold wind sweeps through the dim vacant lot.
A time when there are generally few people around.
In fact, I have never encountered anyone while relaxing in the vacant lot at this time, but today there was a passenger.
A kid swinging a large hammer under the setting moon.
Only then did I realize why the Seven Sins Sword was shaking.
“What are you doing there?”
“… Blonde Badnicker?”
Mir looked at me with a surprised face.
As I continued to look at him without saying anything, he slightly averted my gaze and responded.
“… hmm. “I was just warming up.”
This guy was the type of person who wasn’t as bad at lying as he appeared.
“okay… … .”
It looks like there’s something going on, but it doesn’t suit my temperament to ask too many questions.
I ignored Mir and decided to relax while I was out in the open space.
As I was doing exercises to slowly loosen up my sore joints, I felt eyes on me.
“… “What exactly is going on with you?”
“I’m going to warm up too.”
“Yeah, I see.”
Silence again at my short answer.
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But for some reason, I felt Mir hesitantly approaching me.
‘There are signs that something might become troublesome.’
I’m about to stop doing gymnastics and go back.
“… “Aren’t you nervous?”
Sure enough, Mir caught me.
I asked back in a hesitant position.
“What tension?”
“Isn’t there a special test today…?” … . “I thought, ‘What if I don’t achieve results here?’
And then, after hesitating, he adds.
“… Blonde Badniker, aren’t you also treated as a heretic in your family?”
You knew about me.
Looking at the way he speaks, it seems like he has a vague feeling of sympathy for me.
“I’m similar to you… … . Even though they are giants, they were born this small. Not only his brothers but also his fellow countrymen made fun of him, calling him a small guy and the size of a pea. Even my parents considered me a shame… … .”
Mir’s voice began to tremble slightly.
“and then… “At some point, when I met someone bigger than me, my body stopped moving well.”
“What does that mean?”
“That’s literally it. The bigger your opponent is, the more your head becomes a mess and your body freezes… … . “I feel like I am no longer myself.”
Suddenly.
A teardrop fell from the tip of Mir’s chin.
“… It’s just as the whirlpool woman said. I won’t be of any help on this test. I’ll just be your luggage. therefore… “If this happens, just leave me.”
“… … .”
I guess I kind of understand.
Why Mir’s performance was the way it was despite being so strong.
Even the reason why he had no choice but to show a pathetic appearance in the fight with the giant centipede.
The wind blew again.
The early morning wind in the middle of winter was cold.
Mir, who had been standing blankly, trembled and hastily wiped his face.
“Mo, pretend you didn’t hear!”
“what?”
“For me, a proud giant and the horse of Ymir, to show myself like this-.”
“Hey, you know what?”
Ymir the frost giant.
I opened my mouth, pulling out the words that had been buried deep in my memory.
“An anecdote about the frost giant Ymir becoming small due to a curse.”
“… Yes?”
Mir rubbed the corners of his eyes and looked at me.
“When I was young, I read a lot of mythology and hero books. I also saw the story about Ymir back then. “This is one of the anecdotes: One time, Ymir became smaller because of a mischievous god.”
“If it got smaller… As much as me?”
I answered with a smile.
“As much as you.”
“Oh oh… … .”
“Ymir was lying in the field, heartbroken, when an ant spoke to him.”
– Great frost giant. A typhoon will come soon, and all these fields will be swept away. Can you please stop it?
“Ymir shook his head.”
– Your situation is unfortunate, but now I am much smaller than my fist. I don’t have the confidence to stop a huge typhoon.
– but… I think it’s still huge.
Mir tilted his head.
“What does that mean?”
“From an ant’s point of view, whether it’s a human or a giant, it looks really big. Who cares to know which of the peaks beyond the clouds is the highest? “Anyway, I just know it’s high.”
“Uhm… … .”
“It’s not a big relationship, but Ymir suddenly realized something after hearing those words.”
– I have definitely become smaller now. So what is it? In the eyes of ants, I am still big. That said, size is ultimately relative, and what matters is what you think of yourself.
– Although I have become smaller, my heart has not become smaller.
Mir followed my words in a dazed voice.
“… “It’s not like my heart has become smaller.”
“And then he ran out and tore the Typhoon apart with his bare hands. “As expected from a mischievous god, he became smaller, but his strength was still the same.”
Mir’s eyes were suddenly shining brightly.
“You withstood the giant centipede’s tail strike with your bare body, right? All alone, without mana or protection. “That’s something no one in this retreat can do.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes, even if we include all instructors, right?”
I said with a grin.
“So let’s show it in this special test. “You and me, the cheerful rebellion of Ethan, who was ignored at home.”
“Joyful rebellion… … !”
Mir waved both hands.
He looks like a kid who can’t contain his excitement.
“thanks! Blonde badnicker!”
“My name is Luan.”
“ah… … !”
Mir said with a bright smile.
“I am the Mir Giant!”
“know. Anyway, now go to your room and get some sleep. “You couldn’t sleep at all, right?”
“How did you know?”
“Dark circles have gone all the way down to my chin.”
“Uh, um… … ! I will! I will sleep and wake up with all my might! thanks! blond hair… “No, Luan!”
“Don’t volunteer with all your might, just keep your eyes peeled… … .”
But Mir had already left.
I muttered as I looked at the dust he left behind.
“It’s simple.”
Yes.
Mir Giant was a simple guy.
And the advantage of being a simple guy is that he quickly cheers up even with insignificant consolations.
I told you that even with my messy consolation, he was able to regain his vitality like that.
But that guy was depressed all the way through the retreat.
In other words, there was no one around me who could even give me this easy encouragement.
… Maybe not just at the retreat, but even once in your entire life.
So, isn’t the confident attitude sometimes shown also acting?
Because the less you have, the louder your voice is.
I saw the place where Mir left.
If you are a descendant of Ymir, you are a giant among giants.
If I had become a hero in the future, I would have heard it at least once like the other guys.
I have never heard of a giant named Mir.
then… … .
The Mir Giant of the past probably died during this retreat.
* * *
Morning finally dawned.
The early morning run, which had never been missed even for a single day, was not like that today, so all of Yeongdo gathered in the open space in full condition for the first time in a while.
Of course, the atmosphere is still awkward.
Normally, we would chat here and there before the instructor came, but it feels like we are keeping each other in check, perhaps because it hasn’t been long since we were formed into groups.
Anyway, the instructor came out soon.
It was martial arts teacher Juan who showed up again today.
“Did you sleep well, young people?”
“… … .”
The martial arts teacher smiled brightly at the young masters who did not respond.
“haha. It’s definitely not strange if you have trouble sleeping at night. … “Then let’s get straight to the point.”
And then the martial arts teacher started explaining the test.
“First of all, there is no particular limited scope for this special test. This means that people from Yeongdo can freely go anywhere in the forest. However, this time, not a single instructor will be deployed. Do you know what I mean?”
Juan said, his signature smile fading slightly.
“It means that in the unlikely event of a situation, don’t expect help. Please keep this in mind. Badniker’s retreat becomes real from now on.”
“… … .”
“The exam period is a total of three days, or 72 hours. Also, attacking each other is against the rules, and if caught, you will be immediately disqualified from the exam and even have points deducted. Then, each leader submits his/her purchase list to me and receives distribution of goods.”
At those words, the leaders of each group stepped forward.
Most of the guys with good grades, like Charon and Hector, seemed to be in charge.
“Luan.”
Then someone called me.
When I turned around, it was Seren, but for a moment I didn’t think it was this guy.
My voice was much quieter than usual… … .
More than anything, it was awkward for a guy who always called me hey or you to call me by my name.
“why?”
“It’s real from now on.”
“what?”
Seren said something similar to what the instructor said earlier.
But the way he spoke was somehow strange.
It was clearly the same word, but somehow the meaning felt completely different.
“be careful. And don’t let down your guard.”
“Of course it will. But are you full of leisure? “I have time to worry about others.”
Seren did not react to my joke like usual, but looked at me with eyes like glass beads.
“do not die.”
“… … .”
I blinked my eyes.
Is this just a worry?
This special test is so dangerous that it could cost you your life?
Something is different.
Somehow, at this moment, Master’s words came to mind again.
There was no time to ask back.
Soon my turn came, and I submitted the list to Juan and received the items.
Anyway, when I looked back again, Seren was no longer there.
“… … .”
I looked back at myself for a moment.
For about a week, I relaxed a lot by hanging out with Evan and other young people.
It’s not just me, it’s probably most people.
– 20 percent.
– This means that out of the four of you here right now, at least 6 to 7 cannot get out alive.
… In other words, at some point, I forgot all about the warning the hunting teacher had given me.
Probably, except for Seren.
Thinking back, after participating in the retreat, Seren’s expression was always serious.
What does that guy know?
I don’t know.
I had a feeling that no matter what I asked right now, I wouldn’t be able to answer.
So I guess I have no choice but to face it directly.
Juan grinned.
“Then let’s begin the second special test.”
and.
A special test that I will never forget has begun.
fantasy,
