As dawn broke following another night, I stepped out of my quarters into the crisp morning air.

The fresh atmosphere surrounded me as I looked around. Things I hadn’t noticed before now came into view—the chirping of birds, faint shouts carried on the wind, and the unmistakable sounds of morning activity.

“Hyah!”

“Hyah!”

The voices and movements were clearly from those beginning their early training. I focused my senses, taking a closer look.

It wasn’t much different from what I’d seen yesterday. Groups of people, who barely resembled humans, were gathered to practice their swordsmanship together.

“Higher! Don’t slack on your stance!”

At the forefront stood what appeared to be an instructor, yelling at the trainees as they moved through their drills.

Even in the midst of such sweaty exertion, plum blossoms drifted gently from the trees, an oddly picturesque scene. If it weren’t for a few peculiarities, one could easily mistake this for the Mount Hua Sect of Zhongyuan.

“Hyah! Hyah!”

“Focus on your form! No slacking!”

“Apologies, Instructor!”

“If you can’t concentrate, you don’t need that arm. I’ll take it off for you!”

“S-sorry, Instructor!”

"..."

Take what off? Surely I misheard.@@novelbin@@

“What are you staring at?”

A voice from behind caught my attention, and I turned to see Shin Noya emerging from the quarters, his face weary.

“I was just watching what’s happening over there.”

“Is watching them struggle that entertaining to you?”

“Yes. Nothing beats watching someone else have a hard time.”

“…Judging by your face, you’re not joking.”

“Don’t you enjoy it too, Noya?”

“Of course.”

Shin Noya nodded in agreement, his face calm as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

I chuckled lightly and returned my gaze to the training grounds.

“How exactly did you set up this training system?”

I was curious about the structure of their training, so I asked.

“There’s no real system. It’s just done roughly.”

“…What kind of ‘roughly’?”

“You know, the simple stuff. Train one or two properly, then have them teach the ones below them. Pass it down the line.”

“Oh.”

That was as basic as it got.

And yet…

* Yarang has moved.

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