Rumors spread among the students.
Debates broke out over who was truly the strongest in the class, but soon enough, the matter was settled.
"Who is the strongest in this class?"
A group of senior students clad in blue martial robes entered the room, calling out for an answer.
Seon Woo-baek naturally rose from his seat.
"That would be ."
The senior students smirked before nodding.
"Just as expected. You’ve beco the strongest of your class."
"et us at Yeonmyeong Pavilion after class. You know where that is, right?"
"Yes, I do."
"Good. You know what happens if you’re late, don’t you? Our esteed Baek Yeong, the top student of Baekyeong Upper Academy, hates tardiness more than anything. Keep that in mind."
"I understand."
"Then see you later."
With that, the seniors left without another word.
Now it was official.
Seon Woo-baek was still the strongest in Hyeonmu Class.
The students, now relieved, knew exactly who they needed to stay on good terms with.
This academy was like a miniature version of the martial world.
A place where even a mont of carelessness could prove disastrous.
Here, survival was everything.
****
On their way ho after class, Jang Woon turned to Yeon Woojin with a puzzled look.
"What exactly did you do to Seon Woo-baek to make him change like that?"
"I kindly persuaded him that he shouldn’t live that way anymore."
"Persuaded? He’s not the type to listen to reason."
"Well, persuasion cos in different forms. Mine just happened to work."
"Really? It’s strange. He didn’t seem like soone who’d change so easily… Oh! Right!"
Jang Woon suddenly rembered sothing and pulled an envelope from his inner pocket.
Inside was a banknote.
"One hundred gold nyang."
"Wow, turns out you’re rich?"
"No! It’s not my money!"
"Huh? Then why do you have it?"
"Jincheon Gate gave it to . As an apology."
"Oh, so it is your money."
"I don’t feel right keeping it."
"Co on. It’s compensation they offered. Just give it to your father."
"And you think my father will just take it and say, ‘Ah, a compensation fee, I see,’ and let it go? He’ll flip out!"
"Really?"
"Of course! He still thinks I got injured because I let my guard down in training!"
"Then just keep it. Use it for your wedding later or sothing."
"I’ll give you half."
"Huh? Why?"
"I got it thanks to you."
"I don’t need it."
"No! Take it. I’ll feel better that way."
"Then give it to later. So other ti."
"When? I can’t carry around this much money anymore. It makes nervous."
"Then deposit it at the bank. The interest should be decent. If you leave it for ten years, you’ll have a nice sum."
"Co with . I don’t want to go alone."
As Jang Woon glanced around nervously, Yeon Woojin chuckled.
"Alright, let’s go."
"Thanks!"
"By the way, you need to start training."
"Training?"
"A man shouldn’t be this timid. This won’t do. I’m well-versed in martial arts theory, so I’ll train you."
"Isn’t theory and actual combat completely different?"
"Just trust ."
Jang Woon eyed him skeptically.
"Don’t you want to get stronger? What if you run into another guy like Seon Woo-baek when you move up to the senior class?"
"T-That’s a good point… You really know martial arts theory?"
"You never know until you try, right? Just trust and follow my lead."
"You’re right! Let’s do it. When do we start?"
"Today."
"Today?"
"Yeah. Why wait?"
"You’re right! Let’s start today."
"Brace yourself. I won’t be as easygoing as the academy instructors."
"Yes, sir!"
Jang Woon’s enthusiastic response made Yeon Woojin grin.
There was sothing ominous about that grin.
But Jang Woon dismissed the feeling.
****
The next day.
Seon Woo-baek nearly jumped in shock when he saw Jang Woon’s exhausted face.
He recognized that look.
It was the sa one Jang Woon had when he used to get bullied.
Had soone else started picking on him?
The way he walked, sluggish and unsteady, only made it more convincing.
Seon Woo-baek wasn’t the only one who thought so.
The entire class had the sa assumption.
Worried, Seon Woo-baek discreetly pulled Jang Woon aside.
"Hey, what’s wrong? Did so other class ss with you? If they did, tell . I’ll go take care of them right now."
Jang Woon let out a chuckle.
Not long ago, Seon Woo-baek had been the one tornting him.
"No, no one bullied ."
"You look awful, though."
"Why? Do I look like I did when you used to pick on ?"
"I-I an…"
Seon Woo-baek flinched, visibly flustered.
"Well… now that you ntion it, yeah. It does look like you got bullied."
"Who did it? Just say the word!"
"Really? You’ll punish them?"
"Of course!"
"Yeon Woojin."
"…Huh?"
"Yeon Woojin did this to . Go ahead and punish him."
"Y-Y-Yeon Woojin…?"
"Yep."
"W-Well… I’m sure he had his reasons."
Seon Woo-baek instantly backtracked, making Jang Woon stare at him in disbelief.
"Wow, you switched up real fast. A mont ago, you were all fired up to punish soone."
"That doesn’t apply to Woojin."
"Seriously, though. What did Woojin do to you?"
"Huh? You don’t know?"
"Know what?"
"He didn’t tell you?"
"Tell what?"
"Then… I can’t say either."
Jang Woon averted his gaze, his expression uneasy.
Jang Woon’s brow twitched.
That look.
It was fear.
And not just any fear—this was the kind of terror that couldn’t be instilled with re words.
"…Did he beat you up?"
Seon Woo-baek trembled just at the thought.
That confird it.
He had gotten his ass handed to him.
And not just a little. He had been beaten senseless.
‘So much for just being a theory expert…’
Yeon Woojin wasn’t just knowledgeable—he was strong.
Jang Woon suddenly felt like he’d been tricked.
But since he wasn’t entirely sure yet, he decided to wait until Yeon Woojin showed up and ask him directly.
Soon, Yeon Woojin strolled by and spotted the two of them.
"Huh? What are you two doing here?"
Both Seon Woo-baek and Jang Woon turned to him at the sa ti.
One looked guilty.
The other had a demanding expression.
"What’s with those looks?"
Jang Woon quickly approached Yeon Woojin and whispered,
"Be honest with ."
"About what?"
"Woo-baek told everything. You beat him up, didn’t you?"
At those words, Yeon Woojin shot a sharp look at Seon Woo-baek.
Seon Woo-baek frantically waved his hands, looking utterly wronged.
"I-I swear I didn’t say anything! Really!"
He was shaking like a leaf, desperately pleading his innocence.
Seeing that, Jang Woon was convinced.
"I knew it."
"Knew what?"
"You just glared at him. That’s not the face of soone who was convinced through re words. That’s the face of soone who got beaten half to death and is now scared out of his mind."
"Wait… Were you just bluffing?"
"Yeah."
Yeon Woojin glanced at Jang Woon for a mont before smirking and shaking his head.
"I had my suspicions when you started teaching martial arts. You were way too natural at it. That’s not sothing soone can do just by knowing theory."
"So you had the luxury to be thinking about that? I must’ve been going too easy on you."
"Wait, why is this conversation heading in that direction?"
"Alright. I’ll make sure you never have such unnecessary thoughts again."
"W-Woojin! No! Y-Yesterday’s training was more than enough! M-My legs are still shaking, you know?"
"Look forward to it. Today’s training is going to be very satisfying."
Jang Woon’s expression quickly crumpled into one of despair.
"N-no…."
But he couldn’t refuse.
This was his chance to get stronger.
An opportunity like this was as good as a divine blessing.
Seon Woo-baek, listening to their conversation, finally understood why Jang Woon had looked so exhausted that morning.
Training under Yeon Woojin.
Just imagining it was terrifying.
"Hey, top student."
"Huh? ?"
"Who else is the top student of Hyeonmu Class if not you?"
Oh, right.
He was the strongest in Hyeonmu Class.
…So why did it not feel like he was?
"What did they say at the eting yesterday?"
"Nothing much. They just gathered the top students of each lower class to introduce ourselves to the senior students and the academy’s strongest. We were given instructions on how we should conduct ourselves moving forward."
"And what were those instructions?"
"Basically, just listen to whatever they say."
"That’s it?"
"Yeah, really. Nothing much."
"I see. What about the other top students? Think you can beat them?"
"Huh? W-well…."
"Oh? You hesitated. Are you not confident?"
"I-I an, do I have to beat them?"
"Of course, you do. If you beco the strongest of the lower class, my life at the academy will be easier."
"Their skills seem similar to mine… But the top student of Baekho Class looked strong."
"Who is it?"
"Hur Wook, the second son of Cheon-gwan Gate."
At that, Jang Woon’s expression turned serious.
"Cheon-gwan Gate is ranked sixty-fifth under Mushincheon, right? Hur Wook doesn’t have a good reputation."
"Why? Is he as bad as this guy?"
Yeon Woojin pointed at Seon Woo-baek as he spoke, making Jang Woon chuckle.
"Woo-baek, at the very least, is sane. That guy, on the other hand, turns into a lunatic when he thinks he’s about to lose. To the point where he becos completely uncontrollable."
"A lunatic?"
"He turns rabid. When that happens, he attacks everyone around him, whether they’re allies or enemies."
"The hell is that?"
"Regardless, he’s definitely a pain to deal with."
"Hmm. Then I guess we’ll have to toughen this guy up before then."
As Yeon Woojin squinted and scanned Seon Woo-baek from head to toe, Seon Woo-baek instinctively hugged himself, eyes filled with fear.
Yeon Woojin turned to Jang Woon, curiosity flashing in his gaze.
"How do you even know all this?"
"For survival."
"Huh?"
"I told you on the first day, didn’t I? This place is survival of the fittest. Information is a necessity. I gathered as much as I could to stay alive."
"I see."
"If I’ve been acting recklessly and drawing attention to myself lately, it’s only because I’ve let my guard down around you. But I prepared myself thoroughly."
At those words, Seon Woo-baek flinched again.
"S-sorry."
His apology sounded pitifully small.
Yeon Woojin looked at him and said,
"Straighten your shoulders. Do you think you can beco the strongest of the lower class with that kind of mindset?"
"Do I have to be the strongest?"
"Why ask sothing so obvious? If you don’t want to do it, I can always replace you with… what was his na? Gok Yang-woo?"
"If I’m replaced, what happens to ?"
Yeon Woojin smirked and stared at Seon Woo-baek.
A chill ran down Seon Woo-baek’s spine.
Yeon Woojin’s eyes were turning black.
"Who knows? What will happen to you?"
Terror gripped Seon Woo-baek’s heart.
It felt as if he would be discarded and eliminated the mont he was deed useless.
Seon Woo-baek quickly blurted out,
"I-I’ll do my absolute best! No matter what, I will beco the strongest lower-class student!"
"Good mindset. Make sure you never forget that. Understood?"
"Y-yeah! G-got it!"
Jang Woon hadn’t seen Yeon Woojin’s eyes turn black.
Which ant he had no idea why Seon Woo-baek was trembling so much.
‘Just how badly did he beat him for him to be this scared?’
That was all he could think about.
One thing was certain.
Yeon Woojin was much stronger than he had imagined.
‘How strong is he? I’ll have to ask Woo-baek later.’
Since Seon Woo-baek was the only one who knew the truth, Jang Woon planned to coax it out of him.
And if he refused to talk?
Well, he’d offer to let his past bullying slide in exchange for the information.
****
"Arghhh!"
"Ughhh!"
Agonized screams echoed through Baekyak Pavilion—the very spot where Seon Woo-baek used to tornt Jang Woon.
Was soone being bullied again?
"What’s with all that whining? Keep going! Ten more reps!"
It was Yeon Woojin’s voice.
This wasn’t bullying.
It was training.
Jang Woon and Seon Woo-baek were each carrying a massive boulder on their backs.
"W-we’re supposed to do more here?"
"Woojin! This is too much!"
"Why not? I’m doing it too, aren’t I?"
Yeon Woojin was also training beside them.
That made it impossible to argue.
"Say sothing too! I’m the only one complaining here!"
Jang Woon shot Seon Woo-baek a look, but Seon Woo-baek quickly averted his gaze.
"I-if it’s Woojin… this is probably nothing to him."
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