TRPM 393

chapter 393

“Just a pastime… well, let’s set that aside for now.”

I looked at the Grand Spirit Master and decided to ask a different question.

“What kind of technique would you like to learn from me?”

Or rather, before that…

“If this is just for fun, does that mean you don’t really plan on learning any skills?”
“Since I came all this way, I thought I’d try learning swordsmanship at least once.”

Coincidentally, one of my disciples wants to use a sword by enhancing their body with spirit arts.

“You wouldn’t mind if I learn here and then teach it separately to my disciple, right?”

At the Grand Spirit Master’s question, I nodded.
I had no intention of interfering with how someone chose to use what they learned from me.

Not that teaching someone else what I teach is easy in the first place.

I had said this before about the techniques I registered with the Awakener System:

[Anyway, the techniques I’ve registered in the Awakener System are basically simplified versions of the ones I created, made to be as easy as possible to learn.]
[In other words, they’re nothing more than entry-level steps.]

If someone can’t even master that entry stage, then learning the techniques directly from me will be nearly impossible.

… Saying it like this makes it sound as if my techniques are extremely difficult, but that’s not actually true.

The techniques I create are designed based on martial artists—that is, people who use martial arts as their foundation.
And unless the Awakener System has artificially awakened someone’s martial arts ability, the only martial artists in this world are Yeon Mirae and myself.

So it’s only natural that techniques I designed would feel difficult for anyone who isn’t us.

“Then shall we start with scheduling?”
“Scheduling? Ah, I see. Since the Artist is still a minor, you’re saying it would be hard to train while attending school, right?”

… Well, school isn’t the only problem, but…

“Something like that.”

I decided not to deny it.

“Since I’m busy myself, if I ever want to adjust the schedule with the Artist… hmm, where should I contact?”
“The Ironblood Guild.”
“Then before coming to Korea, I’ll contact this Ironblood Guild and set the schedule through them.”

And with that, my “interview” with the Grand Spirit Master was concluded.

Then—

Creak…
“?”

The Grand Spirit Master casually sat down in one of the empty chairs.

“… What are you doing right now?”
“I wanted to try being an interviewer. You don’t mind, right?”

At those words, I instinctively glanced at Chairman Shin Hanji.
After all, he was also sitting next to me under the excuse of wanting to act as an interviewer.

“… Do as you like.”

Having the Grand Spirit Master join in as another “interviewer” didn’t seem like it would cause any particular problem.

“Oh, and for the next one, could you call in Taiwoo, that child?”
“?”

It wasn’t a troublesome request, though I didn’t understand why he asked it.
Still, since it wasn’t a big deal, I used telepathy to tell Chloe outside to bring in Taiwoo.

Click.
“… Uh… h-hello….”

The boy, no older than twelve, spoke awkward Korean as he cautiously closed the door and sat down.

And when the three elders sitting beside me saw him—

“……”
“……”
“……”

They smiled.

Proud.
And pitiful.
That’s likely what they were thinking when they looked at the boy.

… Same here.

Before I could say anything, the Grand Spirit Master asked the boy,

“(Taiwoo? Do you have anything you’d like to say?)”
“(Uh….)”

Asked in English, which he was more familiar with, the boy hesitantly replied.

“(I… need to learn here… right? So my little siblings… can eat… their fill?)”

Unsure if the words he used were correct, he cautiously spoke while watching our reactions.

“… Looks like I’ll need to tell Richard to carry out an audit of the Africa branch.”
“They say the African branch of the Awakener Association stopped following headquarters’ orders once chimeras started swarming the continent.”
“Hmm… so it’s become practically a different organization?”
“Not exactly, but they’re so busy they hardly listen anymore.”

The Grand Spirit Master, Chairman Shin Hanji, and Sir Sergei all exchanged looks, clearly considering how to deal with the African branch.

Watching them, I subtly spoke to Sergei.

“Sir Sergei?”
“Hm?”
“Didn’t you have something to say to the boy?”
“Ah, yes.”

Clearing his throat, Sergei leaned toward the boy and said gently, so as not to frighten him,

“(Lad. If I told you I’d take care of your whole family, would you be willing to learn swordsmanship from me?)”
“(… Willing… what does that mean?)”
“(It means….)”

With careful, simple words, Sergei explained until the boy finally understood.

“(Yes!)”

It didn’t take long for him to accept Sergei’s offer either.

“(First, we’ll need to bring your family to Korea. I’ll be working as an instructor there from next year. And then….)”
“Sir Sergei. If you want to continue that conversation, please do it privately with the child. Others are still waiting.”
“Ah, you’re right. My apologies.”

Sergei then left the room with the boy.

“… I was originally considering taking him in myself, but since he has talent with the sword, it’s better that Sergei takes him.”

The Grand Spirit Master murmured while watching them leave.

“Then next is….”
“Greetings, sir!”

Before I could finish, a young man about my age shouted loudly as he entered.

It was… Sergei’s grandson.

“Please have a seat.”
“Thank you, sir!”
“……”

The young man looked like someone drilled in strict discipline.
No doubt an influence from his grandfather’s military background.

“Your name is Ivan Nikolaevich Medvedev… Should I just call you Ivan?”
“Yes, sir! That’s correct!”

… A grandfather named Sergei and a grandson named Ivan.
Both some of the most common male names in Russia.
Judging by his patronymic Nikolaevich, Ivan’s father—Sergei’s son—was named Nikolai, another very common name.

Not that I really cared about their naming traditions.

“Ivan, what do you want to learn from me?”
“Yes, sir! I would like to learn swordsmanship and the defensive technique that creates a wall around the body!”

A wall around the body… so he meant Protective Energy.
Though I’d never officially revealed its existence, there were moments in my battle videos where incoming attacks bounced off an invisible barrier before even reaching me.

So it wasn’t strange Ivan knew about it.

And besides, similar effects can be achieved using other types of energy, not just inner energy…

So teaching him wouldn’t be difficult, though I couldn’t guarantee efficiency.

“Do you have anything else you’d like to say?”
“… Artist, you’re familiar with my grandfather, aren’t you?”

… Why suddenly bring him up?

“My goal is to face him head-on without losing my sword. Can you make me that strong?”
“……”

That’s… a tall order.

Unlike Sergei, Ivan’s body was better suited for a softer style of sword.
We had even agreed to teach him that approach.

But if his wish was to clash directly—

“We’ll discuss that later. For now, others are still waiting.”
“Understood.”

I’d need to take my time convincing him later.
With that, Ivan left the office.

… So next is….

The next person came in immediately.

“(Oh… ohhh…!)”
“……”

This one… didn’t seem normal.

That’s the spear-user from earlier.

A Chicago-born Awakener.
For some reason, upon entering the office, he looked overwhelmed with emotion.

“(To think I’d live to see the Artist in person…!)”
“… Artist? You’re not using some kind of brainwashing skill on him, are you?”
“I know a little psychic magic, but I didn’t do anything to him.”

At the Grand Spirit Master’s question, I shook my head.

Since talking like this wouldn’t work, I decided to ask directly.

“Excuse me….”
“(Huff…! Haa…! Huff…! Haa…! Calm down, calm down…!)”
“Please relax…. Earlier, I saw you using a spear—did you come to learn spear techniques?”
“… Yes! Something like that!”

It took him a while to respond in Korean, but that was clearly because he was struggling with the language, not lying.

Then, after some thought—piecing together words—he added,

“… More precisely! I wish to learn the technique of sending a sword flying through the air!”

That was Remote Sword Technique.
I frowned slightly.
That one’s not easy to teach.

Remote Sword relies on infusing a sword with my inner energy and intent to control it. For a non-martial artist, it’s practically impossible.

While I was still thinking—

“Ah! Of course, it must be too much to ask you to teach me such a secret technique! That’s fine! I was being greedy anyway! Just spear techniques will be more than enough!”

It was as if he read my thoughts.

It wasn’t exactly a secret art, but since there was no harm in letting him believe so, I just nodded.

The rest of our conversation was straightforward: schedule adjustments, and then he’d come learn spear techniques.

… Oh, one unusual thing—

“Thank you!!!”

His voice was loud.
The profile I’d seen through Sophia’s smartphone yesterday hadn’t mentioned that about his personality.

“Only two left now.”

Watching him leave, the Grand Spirit Master glanced over some papers I wasn’t sure where he had gotten, likely belonging to the two still waiting outside.

One is a trained assassin working at Association headquarters. The other, a mercenary who fights with her fists.

Neither of them were ordinary.

“I’ll enter now.”

While thinking that, a rough-looking woman entered politely.
The mercenary.

I was about to ask directly what technique she wanted to learn—

“What—”
“Hold on. I’d like to say something first.”
“?”

She cut me off. Strange.

“Actually, I’ve taken on a commission. The request was to extract as much information as possible about the Artist.”
“……”
“……”
“… Why are you telling this to me of all people?”

Chairman Shin Hanji spoke up after both I and the Grand Spirit Master froze.

The mercenary replied matter-of-factly,

“Because they didn’t say it had to be kept secret?”

“……”
“……”
“……”

Even Shin Hanji was at a loss for words.
Normally, even without being told, you don’t say such things to the target of your job.

“If they don’t like it, they can cancel the commission. Simple as that.”

“……”
“……”
“……”

… Well, one thing was clear now.

Out of the six who wanted to learn from me—well, five now, since the boy Taiwoo would be learning under Sergei—I had thought the Grand Spirit Master was the most abnormal.

But clearly, that wasn’t the case at all.