"Ugh… delicious. Heh."
Food always tastes best when you've earned it. Even more so after taking a blade to the shoulder.
"Eat slowly. You'll get indigestion."
"It's nice having someone worry about me. Even if this place is full of lunatics, it isn't all bad."
"Just hope I'm not counted among those lunatics."
"Whoa! Wh-when did you get there?"
"Just now."
"Sinclair, did you see that man step through the door?"
"Uh… no?"
Are all these people absolute experts or something?
"By the way, Lee Sang—Otis was calling you 'Salsoo' earlier. What's that about?"
"Why am I just Lee Sang while she's still called Otis?"
"Because Lee Sang is Lee Sang, and Otis is Otis."
"Mm… I'd forgotten you're just a kid."
He'd called me a lunatic—and I'd taken it out on him. Narrow-minded youth.
"Salsoo… you want to hear what it means?"
"Not really. Thanks, it was good."
"At least pretend you're curious…"
"I am curious!"
"Thank you, Sinclair…"
Since when have those two grown so close? They look good together.
"Salsoo is—"
"A nickname within the Sword Sect for someone who cuts people down more than necessary. Right, Lee Sang?"
"Ahem… I wouldn't know."
Is he pouting because I stole his line?
They call you Salsoo because you cut down anyone who gets in your way?
"So… that means you're fierce?"
"Ahem, ahem. I was just focused on the job."
Focusing on the job and slaughtering people… he really is unbalanced.
"By the way, both of you—Otis has been looking for you. Are you sure you don't want to go?"
"…Shit, we're screwed. Run, Sinclair! Run like your legs are on fire!"
"Huh? Huh! I'm coming with you!!"
"So… how was the meal?"
"Yeah. It was good."
"Baekhyun, we're about to get scolded!"
But it was good, wasn't it? You have to call it good if it was good.
"Enough chit-chat. Baekhyun—you used [Originium Arts] in the last fight; is your specialty reinforcement?"
"Arts? No. I've never used them. They're… more like a natural disposition."
I don't really understand it either, but I noticed whenever I fight, the faster my heart pounds, the more absurdly my speed spikes. Yet this… it doesn't feel like [Originium Arts]. I sense it instinctively.
"So you're saying it wasn't Arts?"
"Yeah. It's like… Arts are supposed to be a unique technique—like moving an invisible hand. But that's not how it feels for me."
I once lived in the same district as an infected Caster abandoned after a brawl in the back alleys. Living Infected don't spread Oripathy—for that you need a corpse.
"You… cough! Aren't you scared of me…"
"No. At least you couldn't land a hit. Your arm's like that."
"Damn."
Clack!
"Ow! What is this… a shard of ice?"
"That's [Originium Arts]. I'm a Caster—someone who fights at range with magic."
"How do you use Arts?"
"I'm not sure… It's like moving an invisible hand. Most people don't even notice it…"
"So it's all just talent-based."
"Kyaa! Cough… yeah. Talent, pure talent…"
A few days later, that Caster was nowhere to be seen in the back alleys. Whether they were arrested or killed, I never learned.
"Damn… what a monster."
"I heard that so many times already."
"So… what are we supposed to do now?"
"Fight again? Who's the opponent this time?"
Is it Don Quixote? He uses that blue-and-orange thing, right?
"No. From now on, you'll learn National Sword."
National Sword—clearly the foundation of all swordsmanship within the Sect.
"Then here's a question: What's the most important aspect of National Sword?"
"Hmm… precision?"
"Surely speed?"
"Both are important, but the National Sword holds breathing as paramount."
"Breathing? You mean… respiration?"
"Yes. That breathing. Every swordsman in the Sect might tweak existing techniques to suit themselves, but that breathing never changes."
"Breathing…"
"…never changes?"
You're telling me mere breathing is enough to unleash that power? Are these people some cult?
"What's with that look of doubt?"
"Nothing… I'm just wondering how you're supposed to breathe to get stronger than I am right now."
"Draw your sword."
I drew mine and held it. The stance felt second nature.
"What are you holding, rookie?"
"A sword?"
"Right. A sword. Then tell me—what is a sword?"
"Uh… Sinclair, answer this!"
"Me? Uh… I guess… a tool used for cutting or stabbing things?"
"Good answer, rookie. Yes. A sword is that. It's something most swordsmen already know."
"Most? Then what about the rest?"
"What I'm going to teach you is swordsmanship that crushes that 'most'. Remember that."
Breathing. One of the essential actions for life and activity. Once you step into the Sword Sect, you learn a unique method of breathing.
"Exhale slowly. Never let your breathing falter at any moment. If your breath falters, your stance follows—and after that, there is nothing."
"Guhhh…!!!"
"Your breathing faltered! Correction Fist!!"
"Gaaaah!!"
"Get back up. There's no time to dawdle."
'That damn weasel… hits like a freight train…'
Right now we're training some breathing technique—holding this posture on invisible chairs while balancing a cup of water on our heads without letting it wobble.
If the cup tipped or our breathing sped up, Don Quixote's correction punch came flying immediately.
"Is this really helping at all?"
"This training is exactly what you need. No more complaining—do it."
"Fine… I'll do it…"
"Woaaah—!"
Thud! Sinclair, watch out!!
"Both of you faltered! Don Quixote's correction—!"
"W-wait…!"
"Punch!!!"
And so we took a lively beating….