After the temporary stand-down ended, the battalion returned to normal operations.
The 2nd Company, 10th Platoon, had rapidly become a quasi-legendary entity within the battalion.
The adults, who would normally collapse at the mere mention of Pest, had driven it away with their own strength.
Moreover, they had not just driven away any ordinary member, but Kim Iljeong himself, the leader and core figure of North Korea, a thorn in the side of powerful nations.
The fact that they had also secured a valuable informant made their return even more remarkable.
“Wow. There goes 2nd year, Class 10.”
“Where? Where?”
Not just the battalion teachers, but even the sergeants of the 3rd Company respected the members of the 2nd Company, 10th Platoon.
In such a scenario, every squad member received respect from the entire battalion.
Except for one.
“Sigh.”
Jinsung, who was practically the main character, received no such benefits.
The only thing he got was Kim Seyun ensuring that no one else bothered Jinsung.
“I need to overcome this.”
Returning to his daily routine, Jinsung first had to suppress the anger boiling within him.
He disliked the fact that he had killed, even if it was an enemy, led by misguided instincts.
There were moments when Lee Seunghwa and Byun Kiyoung were in danger, and not cutting Kim Seyun was almost a miracle.
After all classes ended in the late afternoon, with the sunset.
Jinsung headed towards Ahn Sungho, who was always in the same place.
“Huff huff huff.”
“……”
The vast gymnasium was filled with heavy breathing.
His breathing was erratic, and his clothes were drenched in sweat as if he had been doused in water.
Jinsung had exercised with Ahn Sungho for the past few weeks, but he had never seen him this exhausted.
“Huff! Huff!”
Ahn Sungho truly epitomized hard work, adding effort upon effort, and then multiplying that effort by more effort—a real hard worker.
Just looking at his tightly packed muscles sent shivers down one’s spine.
If it were just about pure physical abilities, he would be unparalleled worldwide, especially considering he was only in his senior year of high school.
‘If it’s him! If it’s Sergeant Ahn Sungho!’
I want to overcome myself.
Such a monstrous person might be able to show me the right path.
Wrapped in a peculiar sense of anticipation, Jinsung approached Ahn Sungho.
“Hm? Jinsung? I thought I told you to take a break this month.”
“Ha-ha. I came to see you, Sergeant.”
“I’d like to get you changed and start training right away, but considering the circumstances, I’ll let it slide. Go rest.”
“Wow. Are you actually respecting me, Sergeant Ahn Sungho?”
“What are you talking about? I’ve respected you since the day you joined our HT.”
‘Our HT…’
“Sorry, but I don’t want to waste time, so let’s talk while I train.”
“Heh! Sorry! I’m totally fine with it! Why would I mind not doing it!”
Ahn Sungho began to swing his body back and forth while hanging from the horizontal bar.
“So, what’s up?”
“Wow… Can you actually have a conversation like that?”
“I’m completely serious. So feel free to ask what you want.”
“……”
Sergeant Ahn Sungho had already sensed what was on Jinsung’s mind. He had been waiting for him to come in this manner.
By training his body to the extreme, Ahn Sungho naturally strengthened his mind as well.
The true embodiment of strength inside and out.
Ahn Sungho was possibly at a stage where a clear intuition could emerge.
“I have a rough idea. It’s about how to become stronger, isn’t it?”
“Kuhp. You sound too much like an NPC.”
“Being an NPC as a fighter wouldn’t be too bad.”
“Wow. Sergeant, do you play games too?”
“I swear I’ve never played even once.”
“You don’t have to swear…”
Ahn Sungho smoothly transitioned from the horizontal bar to doing push-ups.
“So, what is it then? Did you come to request a different training menu?”
“Do you believe there are ranks to the soul, Sergeant?”
“Hm?”
His push-up motion halted with his arms bent.
“It might be a foolish question. Even I think so, you know, that thing about the world soul system or whatever it is, it’s well-organized. So, there are ranks to the soul.”
“None.”
Ahn Sungho cut him off very decisively, stopping his motions and waiting sternly for the next words.
“But you know, Sergeant! There’s a different performance shown by each rank!”
“I know. But still, there are no ranks to the soul. However.”
“……”
“However, there are ranks among its owners.”
“What does that mean…?”
“Jinsung… Don’t try to confirm through me what you already know.”
“…I don’t understand what you’re saying.”
A crazed soul, like one filled with murderous intent, cannot be considered superior to other souls.
From the age of ten to the current eighteen, for 8 years straight.
Jinsung has never acknowledged his own Edeya or the circumstances that led to its awakening.
Acknowledging the murderous intent would mean accepting that he was born a madman.
Despite having already shed much blood, Jinsung still refused to accept this particular truth.
He could never believe that murder was the essence of his existence.
“No, you already know. That’s why I told you in the beginning. To make an effort.”
“Then… please, I beg you, teach me how to make that effort…”
“I initially thought you weren’t making any effort. But you kept showing up at HT without complaints, despite grumbling. To follow this absurd schedule.”
“So, you’re saying I made an effort?! No… No, no, no!! I was just dragged along by you, Sergeant. I was just…!”
“You wanted to verify something through me.”
Ahn Sungho, who had been staring intently at Jinsung, picked up a pair of 20-kilogram dumbbells.
The way Jinsung denied his Edeya.
It was essentially denying the World Soul Grade System.
Even the weakest soul, if it harbors deep potential, eliminates any disparity.
If there is no disparity among souls, then even an aberrant soul like complete murderous intent finds its place.
Such a foolish story.
It’s logic even a kindergartener would shush.
Yet, this dumb logic was the only hope Jinsung clung to.
“Sergeant, about my Edeya…”
“So what? Do you think a person named Ahn Sungho can be your hope?”
The very person who drew an A⁺ in comprehensive combat ability with a B⁻ grade Edeya.
He always demonstrated it.
Showing his continuous improvement and development.
“The truth about my Edeya is…!”
Jinsung confided in Ahn Sungho all the secrets he held within.
He shared the facts that he had managed to hide even from adults, with someone barely a year older than him.
About the complete murderous intent.
He didn’t reveal everything about his past, but he consulted about the issues he had been contemplating for a long time.
“So, you don’t want to be dominated by your Edeya. That sudden change was indeed due to the Edeya.”
“Do you really believe me? That an F-grade is actually claiming to be an S-grade?”
“You didn’t make it up. Did you?”
“Thank you…”
“Stop the nonsense and get to the point.”
“Lately, it’s been uncontrollable. Thinking back, even our first duel was dangerous, and recently, when I tasted blood, it felt like the little rationality I had flew away.”
“Huh. Do I look like a weakling that’s a dime a dozen to you?”
“Why would you say that all of a sudden?”
Absolutely not.
Jinsung had never met anyone who fit the term “monster” as well as Ahn Sungho.
“No, absolutely not. I swear.”
“Huh. No need to swear. I assure you, you’re not a weakling that’s a dime a dozen either.”
“Then please teach me how to make an effort! I don’t want to be swayed by myself anymore! Do you know why I continue to participate in club activities I don’t even like?! It was all to hear your secret! To control myself perfectly like you…!!”
“I thought you were doing it because you wanted to.”
Ahn Sungho looked disappointed at that part.
“So, please!”
“Come on. You’ve already been making an effort. And for quite some time, too.”
“……”
Thud.
Ahn Sungho dropped the dumbbells and shook off his body.
“Jinsung, even I can see your physical abilities are among the top tier. What have you done to achieve that physique?”
“Obviously, I exercised…”
“Exactly. Everything you’ve done here, and even before that.”
“Are you really a martial artist NPC from the mountains? Why do you speak so cryptically?”
“In a healthy body resides a healthy mind.”
“Ah.”
Jinsung couldn’t help but exclaim in realization.
“And within a healthy mind resides strong power. This is the philosophy I firmly believe in and promote.”
“The mind resides?”
“The exercises we’ve been doing… they would have been more beneficial for you than for me. Yes, especially for you, Jinsung.”
“Me…?”
“There are people who cannot control their Edeya, those who cannot love themselves cannot wield their own soul. If you can’t like yourself, you can’t claim to have a healthy mind.”
“How can I possibly like something like a murderous impulse!”
“Love the Jinsung who can handle the murderous intent rather than the one swayed by it. That should do it.”
“It’s not something you can just say so easily…”
Sssrip.
After hours of soaking in sweat, Ahn Sungho’s top eventually tore apart like a rag.
Ahn Sungho often ripped his clothes like this, sometimes several times a day, within six hours after battalion classes ended.
“I wanted to be the best. But my talent was not the best.”
“……”
“Even with relentless effort, I couldn’t even skim the bottom of the top tier, let alone reach the top. Kim Seyun doesn’t remember me because I was simply weak. In middle school, I never made it to the higher rounds even once.”
“That’s a lie.”
“My Edeya seemed efficient at first glance, but it was utterly ineffective in real combat.”
Jinsung recalled Ahn Sungho’s Edeya in his mind.
[Be Sure To Catch You]
World Soul Grade System (Edeya): B⁻
Ensures the capture of a designated target.
Limited to a certain distance, and the user must physically reach the target’s location to capture them.
The time taken to travel the distance is omitted.
The Edeya Jinsung once scrutinized, as Ahn Sungho said, wasn’t anything remarkable.
“Back then, I used to fight focusing on striking. But what’s the use of getting close? It only gave armed opponents a chance.”
“…So, is that why you exercise so desperately? To somehow bridge that gap?”
“I just changed the method. From repeating efforts to repeating desperate attempts.”
Having tasted despair in close combat throughout middle school, Ahn Sungho decided to completely change his style.
He chose to view his B⁻ grade Edeya as if it were a B⁻ grade Edeya.
[Be Sure To Catch You] was akin to approaching a heavily armed opponent without any weapon.
What would be the most efficient pattern in close combat?
Smashing the target into the concrete floor could inflict unimaginable damage.
With this thought, Ahn Sungho began training to slam any opponent into the ground.
He exhausted his muscles through endless repetitions of jiu-jitsu, wrestling, judo, and more, all day long.
He had been training his body since middle school; he just had to unreasonably increase the intensity.
Fainting multiple times during workouts.
Before he knew it, his B⁻ grade Edeya had transformed into A⁺ level combat ability.
“I surpassed myself. And I’m still surpassing myself.”
“……”
As Jinsung listened, he realized he had become rigid. Goosebumps stiffened his entire body.
Just imagining the efforts Ahn Sungho had made for a moment made him unable to move.
“I will become the best. Jinsung, what will you do?”
“Hehehe. That question?”
With such an excellent mentor before him.
Having run away so much until now, it’s time to move forward.
“Your expression has improved. For now, continue with what you’ve been doing. Keep growing as an F-grade, and eventually, you might be able to handle that detestable murderous intent.”
A healthy body is indeed the first step towards a healthy mind.
“Hehe. Is it really okay to teach me all this in such detail? You might lose your top spot.”
“Hmm. I didn’t expect such a change in attitude. I’ll ask again. Do I look like a weakling that’s a dime a dozen to you?”
“Just become a teacher, Sergeant. You’re more suited to be that than a fighter.”
“I’ll consider it when I’m older.”
“Oh my. You’re already quite the old soul.”
“Shut it, middle school syndrome. This is advice.”
[Son, life is all about taking it easy.]
With a newfound ease, Jinsung began training alongside Ahn Sungho.
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