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After Instructor Yoo Soo-gap’s long and drawn-out push and pull, the real practical training session finally arrived.

“But… all we’ve learned so far is watching the instructor demonstrate a few times. How are we supposed to do the practical training?” one student questioned.

Fair point.

All we’ve learned are Instructor Yoo Soo-gap’s capture techniques, some of his personal experiences, and a few stories about how those techniques actually helped. It’s like showing a new boxing gym member some flashy moves, telling them your boxing stories, and then suddenly telling them to spar. Without learning the basic steps or even a jab, they’d probably just flail around like a windmill or throw some weak punches.

But hey, throwing them into the ring right away to spark interest isn’t a bad idea. Sure, if they just get beaten up right off the bat, they might quit, but we’re aspiring heroes here. We’re not the type to just gasp for air and give up.

“I don’t expect you to use proper capture techniques right away. You can copy what I did, try moves you’ve seen somewhere, or just go wild. Just focus on the idea of ‘capture.’ This will be a time to understand why capture techniques are necessary and why they were created.”

Male students with male students, female students with female students? Nope, not in Hero Academy. A villain with a knife won’t put it down just because the hero is a woman, and a monster won’t suddenly lose its appetite and leave. And none of the female heroes here would ever scream, “Oh no! Help me!” in a confrontation with a villain.

So, whether it’s training or sparring, we don’t do the stupid thing of separating by gender.

“To show you how the practical training works, the assistant instructor and I will go first. Two people pair up, one plays the villain, and the other the hero.”

The assistant instructor stepped onto the large mat prepared at the front. He was holding a model knife, so it seemed he was playing the villain.

“Step onto the mat, raise your hand when you’re ready, and I’ll give the signal.”

Instructor Yoo Soo-gap and the assistant instructor raised their hands like kids crossing a crosswalk.

“Start the spar when you hear the signal. It’s not about the villain just attacking and the hero just defending. Think of it as a straight-up fight. Let’s begin.”

As soon as Instructor Yoo Soo-gap finished speaking, the assistant instructor moved. He infused his legs with magic power and accelerated instantly.

‘Fast!’

Whether the assistant instructor was chosen from the Awakened or non-Awakened, it was up to the instructor. We didn’t know before because he always played the role of getting hit, but the assistant instructor for Villain Capture Techniques was an Awakened One.

In an instant, the assistant instructor closed the distance and thrust the knife toward Instructor Yoo Soo-gap. Half the students in this classroom probably wouldn’t even react to that speed—not just flinching or screaming, but actually dodging or deflecting the attack.

Instructor Yoo Soo-gap casually deflected the attack, which was infused with magic power, and then spoke.

“Hey, man, you gotta go slow so the kids can see. This isn’t a fight between you and me.”

“Ah, sorry… I got too excited finally getting a chance to pay you back after always being on the receiving end. I’ll refrain from using magic power.”

The assistant instructor scratched his head awkwardly and returned to his starting position.

“Pfft.”

“He’s been on the receiving end a lot.”

“Assistant Instructor, fighting!”

Clearly, as the proper practical training began, the students’ energy levels rose.

“Alright, come at me again.”

“Here I go!”

This time, he charged using only the pure strength of his legs, without magic power. Even without magic, he was still incredibly fast.

At that speed, he could probably catch most villains without even using magic.

Lately, Jeong Ha-yul has been bored because she doesn’t have a training partner. Maybe I should recommend this assistant instructor to her.

While I was thinking thoughts that could start a fight if the assistant instructor heard them, dozens of exchanges had already happened. It mostly looked like the assistant instructor was attacking, and Instructor Yoo Soo-gap was defending.

“What? Is Instructor Yoo Soo-gap losing?”

“Right! He might actually lose!”

“Hey, idiots, use your eyes. Instructor Yoo Soo-gap hasn’t moved an inch from his spot.”

“…Oh, right?”

“Now that I look, he’s not even sweating a drop.”

The assistant instructor was already starting to sweat, while Instructor Yoo Soo-gap looked completely calm.

Is that… the difference in experience?

“Did you know? The assistant instructor is also from the Academy, and after graduating, he became Instructor Yoo Soo-gap’s disciple.”

“Ah… so that’s why he’s the assistant instructor?”

“That’s cool, like ‘there’s no end to learning,’ huh?”

Not a single word of praise for Instructor Yoo Soo-gap, who taught such a person.

Isn’t this discrimination?

I admit the assistant instructor is good-looking, but this feels too one-sided.

The exchanges continued, and Instructor Yoo Soo-gap spoke, still effortlessly deflecting the assistant instructor’s attacks.

“In my case, I focus on defense, create an opening, and then instantly exploit that opening to subdue the opponent.”

As if it were scripted, as soon as Instructor Yoo Soo-gap finished speaking, the assistant instructor left an opening, and Instructor Yoo Soo-gap didn’t miss it.

He grabbed the assistant instructor’s sleeve, who was thrusting with the knife, and tried to throw him over his shoulder, stepping deep. The assistant instructor, not wanting to be thrown, lowered his center of gravity and pushed Instructor Yoo Soo-gap’s back with his free arm, resisting.

To anyone watching, it looked like the throw had failed.

“What, he couldn’t throw—”

*Thud*

Before the student could finish, the assistant instructor was slammed into the floor.

“…Huh?”

“…What?”

“…How?”

“…Wait?”

Even though we were watching, we didn’t see it.

Instructor Yoo Soo-gap seemed to have failed the throw, so the assistant instructor took the back position. Naturally, we thought it was the assistant instructor’s turn to counterattack… but why was he suddenly on the floor?

The students were speechless, mouths agape.

I was the same.

‘If I knew this would happen, I would’ve infused my eyes with magic power!’

I didn’t think—no, I didn’t expect—that there would be movements I couldn’t follow with my bare eyes since he said he wouldn’t use magic.

I’m surrounded by so many incredible heroes, and I’m also someone who’s A-Class at a young age, soon to be S-Class. Maybe I’ve been underestimating others a bit.

I thought I could see everything without infusing my eyes with magic power.

I was shaking at my own stupidity.

“Instructor!”

I didn’t hesitate to call out to Instructor Yoo Soo-gap. It was the first time I’d ever raised my hand to ask a question, so he looked a bit surprised.

“…Jeong Gyeoul? This seems to be your first question. What is it?”

“I didn’t infuse my eyes with magic power, so I missed the last technique you used. I’m sorry for being so foolish, but could you show it one more time?”

“…That’s a technique even second and third-year students would struggle to see properly. Don’t be so hard on yourself. I’ll break it down slowly. Assistant Instructor.”

“…Here I go…”

The assistant instructor looked like he was about to be slammed into the floor again because of me, but what can I do? I can’t miss a technique like that!

“Alright, to get back to the position, it was almost a textbook throw, but the assistant instructor perfectly defended it.”

That’s the part.

Fights, when broken down, are almost turn-based. At that moment, it was clearly the assistant instructor’s turn. How did he do it?

“The method is actually very simple. I just threw him again.”

“…Huh?”

Instructor Yoo Soo-gap’s answer was baffling.

Did he think I didn’t see that?

‘…I mean, how did you do it?’

As I furrowed my brows, Instructor Yoo Soo-gap looked a bit surprised.

“…Did you actually see that I threw him?”

“I’m not blind, why wouldn’t I see that… I just want to know how you managed to throw him again from that failed position.”

“…Lee Sin? I don’t know what that is, but look to the side.”

Is he just not wanting to teach me? He keeps saying weird things.

But I looked to the side as he said… and the students were staring at me the same way they had been staring at Instructor Yoo Soo-gap earlier.

“…Why are you all looking at me?”

“How did you see that?”

“Are you lying?”

“You must’ve infused your eyes with magic power!”

“If Gyeoul saw it, then she saw it! Why are you doubting her?”

“Trying to create another rumor, huh?”

I have no idea what nonsense they’re spouting.

They didn’t see it?

“Hayan, you didn’t see it either?”

“Nope, I just saw the assistant instructor suddenly on the floor after a quick movement…”

“…?”

What the hell is this?

Is there something wrong with my eyes?

I was sure I wasn’t using magic power in my eyes.

Just to be sure, I checked again, but my eyes were definitely normal.

“Is this some kind of hidden camera?”

“…”

Judging by the students’ expressions, it’s not a hidden camera…

“Alright, enough of that. Let’s continue. From this position, you just bounce back. Like this.”

*Thud*

This time, it was a bit weaker, but the assistant instructor, who was in a defensive stance, was thrown again.

“Ah, geez… Come to think of it, you told me to go slow earlier so the kids could see.”

“That’s why I’m doing it again.”

“…”

This time, since I was focusing magic power in my eyes, I could clearly see Instructor Yoo Soo-gap’s movements.

He really just slightly lifted his heel, transferring the force to his knee, and used that elasticity to slam him into the floor…

“The key is the explosive movement using muscles, tendons, and ligaments.”

“…You didn’t secretly use magic power, right?”

“How does that even work? Does the force still transfer in that position?”

His knee was extended, and his waist was even half-bent. The students couldn’t believe it, but the result was right in front of them. They had no choice but to believe.

“You’ll naturally understand when you take the plyometrics class in your second year. Anyway, let’s start the practical training.”

Plyometrics, I’ll remember that.

Jeong Ha-yul didn’t even teach me this. What has she been doing?

Since the class is for second-years, I’ll ask her about it when I get home.

‘Could that be the secret behind the Demon King’s flick and the Demon King Punch?!’

I’ll look into that over the weekend.

Now, finally.

It’s time to relieve my stress.

 

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