I Became the Martial God's Youngest Disciple Episode 68

Episode 68

If experts from every field were to convene and debate for three days and nights on how to use twenty-four hours most efficiently, wouldn't they devise a titable like the one for this training camp?

The training camp's schedule was so grueling it bordered on absurdity. Were it not for the occasional evening breaks, several hero disciples would have already fallen ill.

"Sohow, the day is over..." Evan murmured, his voice heavy with exhaustion.

Charis slumped on the table and added, "Ti really drags on."

"It hasn't even been a week yet?"

"No. I crave sweets," Evan groaned.

"I want at—sothing fatty, generously spiced," Charis chid in.

Evan sighed. "I'd be content with just one beer."

"I think I'm going to die. Seriously," Charis moaned.

"But you're not dead yet," I quipped, still engrossed in my book.

"Huh?" Their eyes turned toward .

"What nonsense is he spouting now?" one of them asked.

"He's at it again," another muttered.

"Evan, aren't you going to rein in your roommate?" soone teased him.

Over the past few days, I'd grown closer to these bastards, and the filters on our words had vanished entirely.

I closed the book and patiently explained, "What nonsense? I'm saying the instructors here are remarkably competent."

They blinked at in confusion, so I elaborated, "It feels like they're working us to death, but none of us has actually collapsed. That ans they have a precise grasp of our limits. They know exactly how much they can push us and when to ease up."

"Is that so?"

"Well, it is just speculation," I said.

"Is it really speculation?"

It was speculation, but it felt almost certain. Perhaps because I'd endured sothing similar on Spirit Mountain, I could sense the instructors' intentions.

Just as I was about to resu reading, Evan asked, "Is the book interesting?"

"It is alright. Would you like to read it?"

"What's it about?"

"A history book. It is about the twenty-one heroes who founded the Great Families."

"Ah... No thanks," Evan replied with a smile.

I wasn't surprised. Soone from a Great Family lineage would have grown up reading about the twenty-one heroes. The sa was true for , though my mories were hazy from my ti on Spirit Mountain. Reading the book felt like revisiting those blurred recollections.

"Hey, Skull is over there," soone said.

Of course, Skull wasn't his real na. The individual passing by the lounge was painfully thin, with deeply sunken eyes that made him resemble a skeleton. Soone had dubbed him Skull, and the na stuck. Rumor had it he ca from a noble family, though I couldn't recall his actual surna.

"Hey! Skull!" Charis shouted, waving.

Skull flinched, glanced around, and bolted up the stairs as if fleeing.

"W-what's his problem?"

"Leave him alone. He lost points today. He'd be down even if you didn't say anything."

"Shouldn't he be angry, not depressed?"

"That's how you'd react, single-celled as you are."

"What did you say, you bastard?"

I glanced up from my book to watch Skull's retreating figure. He moved as though he were being chased, his steps hurried and awkward.

Sothing felt off—more than just awkward. It slled fishy.

***

Bam!

I felt the shock on my shoulder and staggered.

The world spun montarily, and I couldn't tell the sky from the ground. However, I couldn't afford to stay still. I forced myself to duck, narrowly avoiding the next attack. My opponent's sharp toes brushed past , sending a shiver through my body. Every hair stood on end.

Is he slowly losing his sense of restraint? I wondered.

If that attack had landed, I'd be done for. Not that I was scared, of course. I pretended to stumble, but the mont I regained my balance, I shifted to the offensive.

The Hunting Master had restricted himself today by sealing his right leg. It was natural for to target his right side. In fact, most would aim for his right side. But I decided to twist things.

Instead of targeting his weaker side, I deliberately struck his left, where his defenses were strongest.

Tanko didn't look surprised but was a fraction too slow to react. In that brief opening, I swung my arm like a blade and struck at his throat.

My hand connected, but it felt more like hitting a log than a neck. Bracing for the counterattack, I tightened my core just before the pain arrived.

Baaam!

The force sent flying. For a mont, I floated, gazing at the clear night sky above the Butterfly Forest. Then, I hit the ground, rolled, and sprang to my feet.

I bowed and declared, "I lost."

Tanko studied for a mont before speaking. "Your technique is impressive. You see through your opponent's weaknesses well."

"Thank you," I replied.

"However, your physical strength always holds you back. By the end, your movents slowed significantly."

I knew that already.

"The importance of basic physical strength can't be emphasized enough," he continued. "However, endurance can't be built overnight. Don't be conceited and keep training."

"Yes."

It wouldn't happen overnight, but in a month or so, I'd reach a level where I could fully utilize this body. The First Fire Technique had that much potential.

Tanko nodded. "You were defeated in today's spar. That's a two-point deduction, but..."

I had a rough idea of what was coming next.

"You showed grit by lasting ten minutes despite your lack of physical strength. That's an outstanding ntality. And your psychological play at the end was clever. So, you earn two extra points."

"Thank you."

As expected, my score for the day balanced out to zero. It was a pattern that had beco familiar in every sparring session, so it no longer surprised .

Once Tanko left, Charis approached and remarked, "I think the instructor really likes you."

I brushed the dirt off my body and corrected his misconception. "Not at all. He is just a Badniker."

"What do you an by being a Badniker?"

"Dark, taciturn, sinister... It can an many things, but in this case, it is about ritocracy."

"Hmm." For a mont, Charis wondered if I was joking, but I was serious.

"Don't you rember what happened to Hans yesterday?" I asked him.

"I do."

Yesterday, after yet another sparring session with Tanko in which I didn't seem to lose any points, Hans had suddenly declared, "I'm going to fight the instructor today!"

What was the result? He had been sent sprawling the mont the match started, breaking his arm in the process.

The onlookers had probably thought, So this is the "one move to defeat the enemy" I've only heard about.

Tanko wasn't cruel, nor did he favor as Charis suggested. In my view, Tanko was rational and stern. When soone lacking skill challenged him, he gave them a harsh but necessary lesson.

So people seed to think that Tanko was showing favoritism to .

What pathetic people, I thought.

If they were bitter about it, they should try lasting as long as I did. One thing was certain—I was the only hero disciple who could spar with Tanko at this level.

Hector, Seren, and even Charon would be utterly crushed if they faced him.

There were two reasons for this. First, most of them were unaccustod to bare-handed sparring without relying on mana or blessings. Second, I had far more experience fighting stronger opponents than weaker ones. In fact, I had spent more ti battling the strong than the weak.

Charon knows this. That's probably why he avoids it.

He was obsessive when it ca to his score.

At that mont, cheers erupted from sowhere nearby.

"What's that about?" I wondered aloud.

"That's where Evan was sparring," Charis said.

We exchanged looks and headed in that direction.

As Charis had guessed, Evan was there. His opponent was Charon.

The contrast between the two was striking. Charon stood pristine, without a scratch, while Evan was disheveled, his clothes and body marked from repeatedly hitting the ground.

"What's happening here?" I asked.

"It's exactly what it looks like," Pam chid in. "Evan can't even land a hit."

"Honestly, I didn't expect the gap to be this wide. I thought Evan was one of the best among the hero disciples."

He was among the best. The problem was that Charon wasn't on the level of a re hero disciple.

Just then, Charon spoke. "Evan Helvin, why don't you follow the instructor's teachings?"

"What?"

"The swordsmanship you insist on is too crude." Charon's gaze flickered toward . "Not to ntion —you won't even be able to defeat the others."

Evan fell silent.

"Let advise you," Charon continued. "As you are now, you'll never break into the top three."

Evan's expression hardened, the words landing like a final verdict.

I observed in silence. The sparring ended predictably with Evan's defeat. Throughout the match, his sword had never even grazed Charon.

***

Finally, Saturday afternoon arrived.

The mood among the hero disciples was noticeably brighter than usual. Even I, who rarely paid attention to my surroundings, could sense the change.

This was hardly surprising. Starting today, we had a two-day weekend—though this was just a general concept, as the training camp's weekend didn't always align with traditional holidays.

During this morning's class, the Martial Arts Master announced, "Weekend classes are only in the morning. In the afternoon, there will be a rankings announcent and elective selection, but it won't take long."

"And after that?" soone asked.

"Free ti, naturally," Juan replied.

"Ohh...!"

"Free ti!"

The hero disciples burst into cheers at the prospect.

Evan, who remained relatively calm and unswayed by the excitent, raised a question. "What exactly are the rankings announcent and elective selection?"

"First of all, the ranking announcent will display the current points of each hero disciple, listed from first to last. You will see exactly where you stand," Juan explained.

A commotion ensued. This outburst was typical among those around the generous Juan; they wouldn't have been so loud if Tanko were here. In any case, the ranking announcent aid to spur competition.

"Starting in the second week, we'll introduce elective courses based on your aptitudes. In short, hero disciples can take different classes simultaneously."

The thirty-nine hero disciples each possessed unique aptitudes shaped by their upbringing, martial arts training, and even their race. Although they all attended the sa basic classes, their paths diverged in advanced courses.

"The rankings will be posted in the lounge on the first floor of the accommodation building. You can check them at your leisure. Make your course selections after lunch."

With that, Juan departed.

The hero disciples exchanged glances before bolting toward the accommodation building.

I brushed off the dirt and muttered, "Impatient, aren't they? I don't see the need to rush."

"Uh... yeah," Evan replied, his voice distant. He had been spacing out more often since his sparring match with Charon.

I studied him for a mont. Then, as if trying to appease , he asked, "Aren't you curious?"

"I'm curious. However, it isn't like the rankings will disappear if we're late."

"I guess they just want to see it as soon as possible," Evan said.

"You seem pretty calm about it," I noted.

"Well... I already know everyone's points," Evan admitted.

"What? How?" I asked, surprised.

Evan smiled faintly. "The instructors have been announcing them during class. 'One additional point for so-and-so,' 'one point deduction for so-and-so...' like this. I've been keeping track."

"But what about the sparring matches?" I pressed.

Tanko's sparring class was held daily unless there was a special schedule. There had been three sessions this week. The winner gained one point in each match, while the loser lost two. Even soone as sharp as Evan couldn't possibly monitor every victory and defeat while engaged in his own fights.

"After the matches, I sit in the lounge and listen to the chatter. Most people are willing to share who won or lost if I ask," he replied.

At that mont, a chill ran down my spine as I looked at Evan. For the first ti, I began to grasp why his betrayal had earned the title of "the most painful betrayal of humanity." He was precisely the kind of person you'd never want as an enemy.

"That's... impressive. Or should I say, devious?" I said.

"I will take it as a complint. By the way, you're currently tied for 16th place," Evan added.

"I see."

"Isn't your reaction too dry?"

"I expected it to be around there. If anything, it's slightly higher than I thought," I admitted.

My performance at the training camp hadn't been exceptional. My physical stamina had always been a weakness. Even in classes where I could use mana, I deliberately relied on physical strength to maximize my training. Still, I had managed to climb the rankings by steadily accumulating points in Tanko's sparring class.

We reached the accommodation building as we were talking.

As Juan had ntioned, the hero disciples gathered around the lounge's bulletin board.

"What is this?"

"It is ridiculous."

"There must be so mistake."

I heard devastated murmurs among the hero disciples. At first glance, they looked as if they had lost their very souls.

"Why are they reacting like this?" I asked.

"Maybe the rankings are different from what they expected?" Evan suggested.

Their reactions seed excessive for re surprise.

"Excuse , let through."

I pushed my way through the crowd until I stood before the bulletin board.

When I saw the rankings, I couldn't help but exclaim, "What?!"