Convenience Store 24: The Tower of the End 1st - Chapter 85



Only Krnovel

Episode 85: Visiting the Strategist Training Academy

I burst out laughing when I saw the text on the flyer.

‘I was wondering what it was and it turned out to be an advertisement for an academy.’

Since the appearance of the Tower of Doom, there has been a large increase in schools that teach these types of practical martial arts.

‘Survival tips from a veteran, how to subdue your opponent without being intimidated? Hmm, would this be helpful in the tower?’

In a world where swords and magic are considered human rights rather than fists, and where all kinds of abilities reign supreme, will something like this really work?

‘Well, it’s better than going in with a completely blank slate… … .’

Honestly, I doubt that something like that would be of much help to aspiring attackers.

The irony is that these schools are secretly popular.

‘Maybe he’s learning something like that to gain psychological stability. Maybe it’ll be different if he learns it for a few years. Well, that has nothing to do with me.’

I was about to crumple up the flyer, but then I unfolded it again.

‘But I’m curious about how it’s taught. Is it possible to observe this?’

After a moment of hesitation, I saved the number written on the flyer to my phone.

* * *

In the afternoon of the same day.

I found the Lee Jong-do Academy.

The entire building was used as an academy, and it was larger than I expected.

‘I guess it hasn’t been open for long.’

I looked at the wreaths placed at the entrance and then went inside.

“hello.”

“Welcome.”

An old man who looked quite old greeted me.

“I called you earlier… … .”

“Oh, are you Mr. Kim In-seong?”

“yes.”

The old man takes off the glasses he was wearing, smiles, and offers to shake hands.

“This is Lee Jong-do. Welcome. You said you wanted to observe, right?”

“Yes, before that, I would like to know how the training is conducted.”

The old man held out a schedule with class times written on it in front of me.

“Our academy emphasizes physical and mental strength more than anything else. So in the morning, we conduct various theoretical education such as mental education and survival techniques, and in the afternoon, we teach combat methods that can be used in the field as much as possible, such as practical martial arts.”

“I see. What is the teachers’ career history?”

“All of our teachers have actual combat experience. Some of them are from special forces, and others… … .”

I thought as I watched the old man proudly explaining.

‘Hmm, now that I hear it, it doesn’t sound too bad, does it?’

Although it may be lacking compared to the monsters inside the tower or the raiders with excellent abilities.

Anyway, aren’t the teachers here also veterans who have experienced battles outside?

‘Rather than just banging your head against the wall, it definitely seems like a good idea to go in and get some training.’

The training you receive in places like this will probably slightly reduce your chances of dying on the tower.

“I understand.”

When I nodded.

Lee Jong-do looks at me intently and then opens his mouth.

“This is a bit off topic, but may I ask why you want to observe our class?”

“yes?”

Lee Jong-do laughs heartily at my question.

“There is no other meaning. However… … I don’t think that entering the tower is a decision that ordinary people can easily make. However, since he made that decision after much deliberation, I think it means that he has the determination to do so.”

“Oh, yes, uh… … .”

“Why do you want to enter the tower? Oh, this is the same question asked to prospective students.”

I asked a question to Lee Jong-do, who was staring at me.

“Does the decision to enroll in the academy depend on the answer?”

“yes.”

Lee Jong-do answers forcefully.

“The Tower is a hell where you cannot survive without a strong will. So wouldn’t it be right to only accept those who have made up their minds?”

“oh…….”

I was inwardly amazed again.

‘The ideology is great. But even though the ideology is good… won’t it fall apart quickly?’

In a way, it was the same as saying that they would not accept anyone who was not prepared.

I smiled and nodded.

“I think it’s right for people who are determined to go in. I agree with that. But I don’t have any plans to go to the top yet.”

“Is that so?”

Lee Jong-do smiled brightly at my answer.

“That’s fortunate. I can’t say for sure that this world is a bright world, but I still like our world better than a place of chaos.”

“Looking back, there is no place like home.”

“Haha, that’s right.”

Lee Jong-do gets up from his seat.

“Would you like to come this way? I will give you a brief introduction to our academy.”

“Is that okay? Like I said before, I have no intention of going up to the tower.”

“It’s okay. In addition to those who are determined to get into the top, many other people come to our academy. Now, come this way.”

I followed his directions and entered a room.

“Put the pressure down!”

“Stronger! That one blow won’t cut down even a scarecrow!”

Several students wearing hogu are swinging wooden swords following the instructor’s shouts.

In addition to that.

“Haaaaaah!”

I continued to observe by going around to various training centers, including judo, wrestling, and boxing.

“How is it?”

I answered Lee Jong-do’s question with a smile.

“The atmosphere is hot. I can feel that everyone is sincere. The school’s policies and facilities also seem great.”

“I see. Then, since you’ve come all the way here, why not try some simple training?”

“Training?”

“There is a big difference between simply seeing it with your eyes and experiencing it with your skin. So, it would be a good experience to experience it with your own body.”

‘Experience… … Well, I guess it won’t be so bad.’

I gladly agreed to his offer.

“Yeah.”

“Is there any martial art you would like to try?”

“Well, I’d like to try kendo sometime.”

For me, who almost exclusively used my fists even at the top, swordsmanship would be a very new experience.

“Okay. Let’s go to the swordsmanship training ground.”

I was treated with courtesy and was taken to the kendo hall.

“Master Kim! Can I ask you a simple favor?”

“Yes! It was just break time, so it’s okay!”

A fairly large man approaches me.

“Have you ever tried kendo?”

“No. This is my first time.”

“I see. Then I will help you put on the helmet.”

So I stood in front of the man, wearing a helmet and holding a wooden sword.

‘Oh, this feels new.’

The feeling of holding a wooden sword is unfamiliar, but it’s not a bad feeling.

“Since you said this is your first time, I’ll keep it simple. Is there anything that feels uncomfortable or anything?”

“I’m fine.”

“But if anything hurts, please tell me right away. Then, we can begin.”

* * *

The teacher looked at the dumbfounded onlookers and thought.

‘I guess we just have to do a few rounds and then it’ll be over?’

Anyway, the opponent is a beginner.

It would be difficult to even follow his sword with one’s eyes, let alone properly receive it.

“head!”

He deliberately tells you where to hit kindly.

He brought down the wooden sword he had raised onto his opponent’s head.

Exactly-

The opponent’s wooden sword, angled diagonally, interlocks with his wooden sword.

‘Oh, you have good reflexes.’

Teacher Kim quickly picked up the wooden sword.

He shouted while slashing horizontally at the side.

“side!”

Exactly-

‘……hmm?’

The opponent blocked his blow by bending his wrist to the left and tilting his wooden sword at an angle.

‘… … I just swung it to get hit.’

“leg!”

Exactly-

“chest!”

Exactly-

As the total number of attacks increases.

“… … .”

Teacher Kim became increasingly silent.

No, I have a problem.

‘You said it was your first time?!’

weird.

Clearly the movements are close to raw.

But the funny thing is, I’m blocking all of his attacks.

‘Not only are you good at sports, but your dynamic vision is also amazing. Or are you just a black belt pretending to be a beginner?’

Is this a super fun hidden camera video that the principal prepared for him?

It could be a hidden camera where they invite an expert and have him pretend to be a beginner and spar with them.

‘Ugh!’

Teacher Kim soon found himself expressing his true feelings.

‘Since it’s come to this, I have to win by any means necessary!’

Losing is impossible.

My pride as a teacher does not allow it.

“Haaaaaap!”

Teacher Kim swung his wooden sword with all his might.

‘How about this! Even if you see this with your own eyes, you won’t be able to follow it?!’

A ‘stop bee’ with all one’s might digs into the spectator’s side.

however.

Taaah, oh my gosh-

Teacher Kim stared blankly into space for a moment.

‘What is this… … .’

The shards of the broken wooden sword scatter in all directions like stardust.

* * *

A few dozen minutes later.

“It was a good experience.”

“Don’t mention it… … .”

Lee Jong-do also gave a brief bow as he watched the man greeting him politely.

“By the way, have you ever worked out anywhere?”

“Exercise? Haha, I haven’t done anything special.”

“is it so?”

Lee Jong-do thought to himself.

‘Young man, you’re quite humble.’

The instructor he faced, Master Kim, was a former world kendo championship winner.

How could someone who could take such blows from him so easily be a beginner?

‘He may have some shortcomings in his movements, but if he polishes himself a little more, he will definitely become a great talent!’

As that thought crossed his mind, Lee Jong-do began to feel greedy without realizing it.

‘It might be a good idea to grow that talent and send it out to the world stage.’

Of course, I questioned whether the person involved had the will to do so.

“By the way, have you ever thought about learning martial arts professionally? I know it’s a bit odd to say this, but it seems like you have some talent.”

“haha…….”

The other person smiles awkwardly.

“I’m not sure yet. I’ll think about it some more and come back.”

“sleep…….”

Lee Jong-do quickly reached out his hand to the man who was going outside.

I slowly lowered my hand.

‘… … What a pity. I should have held on to him even if it meant cutting the tuition… … .’

But he soon shook his head.

‘The person involved has to have the will to do it. It’s just my greed.’

You can teach a deer to drink water.

But that is only possible if the deer goes to the water on its own.

‘What a pity, what a pity… … .’

* * *

Same time.

17th floor, eternal paradise.

A party of raiders are talking among the dense trees.

“Do I really have to do this? I’m a little nervous.”

“What are you talking about? Are you saying we should throw away all the stat quests? That’s ridiculous.”

“That’s… … I thought it might be better not to start this kind of quest. You know that, right? I’ve been a drug addict in real life. Drugs are really scary.”

“It’s different from drugs. If you just practice moderation, there’s no such sweet deal.”

“… … .”

The other raiders look at their confident colleagues with concern.

And then he finally shakes his head.

“… … I will not participate.”

“Are you crazy, Fran? Even if you drop out in the middle, all stats are 0.6.”

“I know. But… … I never want to experience that kind of temptation again in my life.”

However, other attackers seem to have different thoughts from Fran.

“You pathetic bastard. Then I’ll complete the quest first, so follow me while you watch me.”

He clicked his tongue and shouted at the fairy whose wings were fluttering.

“Bring me a glass!”

The fairy smiled brightly.

“You’ve thought it through so well! It’ll be delicious!”