The Art Of Sword

Everyone returned to the hotel without any problem and headed straight to their room to clean themselves and relax.

Sunz removed the letter from his ‘Windbreaker’ and placed it on the table before taking a shower.

While taking the shower, something crossed his mind.

(I have some bloody clothes that need to be cleaned… Why didn’t this come up sooner? I guess, I'll ask Sogae about this.)

After finishing his shower and putting on new clothes, Sunz uses his phone to call Sogae.

…

The phone rang for quite a while before someone picked it up, but it also took a few more seconds to hear a response. A weak, half-awake voice responded to the call.

Voice: h-h-hello? Who this?

Sunz: Uh, hello. This is Sunz. I’m calling Miss Sogae. Is she there right now?

Voice: Mi-iss Sogae? Me? It's just Sogae, you hear me. Sunz!?

Sunz: I heard.

Voice: Good… So why are you calling?

Sunz: So I want to talk about my clothes...

Sogae (Tired?): Yeah…ughgh… keep going.

Sunz: They are kind of bloody after every match, and I don’t know where to get them clean…

Sogae (Tired?): That's right. I forgot to tell you all about that. Give me 5 minutes, and I’ll be right theeeere.

*Hang up*

Sunz:… Sleepy Sogae, did not expect that… five minutes.

…

Two minutes later, someone is knocking on Sunz’s door, and he quickly goes to open it. Outside, it was Sogae pushing around a big, empty laundry cart.

Sogae: Sunz, sorry for not informing you and other contestants about this… Actually, I was supposed to visit all of the contestants after every match for this.

Sunz: Don’t worry about that, I don’t think anyone got as bloody as me.

Sogae: Maybe, but I’m here now. Don’t want your room to smell like a murder scene, right? Now hand me the bloody clothes and your ‘Windbreaker’.

Sunz pulls his room laundry basket out of the bathroom for Sogae.

When she opened the basket, all she had to say was: I’m going to take the basket and burn it… You still want your clothes? I can burn them together.

Sunz: Yes… I still want my clothes back. And is it that bad?

Sogae: Kind of. It looked like a gutted fish bucket.

She then threw Sunz’s ‘Windbreaker’ in the laundry cart, bagged the basket, and put it in the cart.

Sogae: That will do… Anything else?

Sunz: I think that is all... And just a question. Did I call you at the wrong time?

Sogae: Oh, that. Don’t worry. I was taking a power nap, that’s all.

Sunz: Ok… but for me, it seems like you had a really long sleep. Your response time, and especially your voice.

Sogae: What is wrong with my voice?!

Sunz: Nothing… nothing wrong.

Sogae: Oh my! Did my voice somehow charm you? The voice of a maiden awakens from her slumber.

Sunz: Yeah, no. Let's cut it right there. I thought you were gonna hit me but instead teasing me. Your voice… it sounded like you were unmotivated and tired of your job.

Sogae:…

Sunz:…

Sogae: It’s a miracle that a girl actually likes you… Anyway, I have other rooms to visit. You’ll get your clothes back later tonight or morning.

She then closed the door in Sunz’s face and walked away.

Sunz (I guess that made her mad…) standing around while thinking of what to do next.

(Dinner is a few hours later. I guess I could try talking with them for a bit. Just to pass the time.)

Sunz turns off the light, closes the curtain, then lays on his bed and begins to close his eyes (I hope this-). He was immediately knocked out.

When he opens his eyes, he sees that he is in a restaurant, a crowded one, in fact. His table was in the corner of the room, he was seated right in front of the window, and sitting opposite him were Sword in a suit and Violet in her same outfit.

Sunz: What is going on?

Violet: Don’t ask me, kid. It’s all him.

Sword: The kid wants to talk with us, so I chose this environment.

Violet:…

Sunz:…

Sword: So, I saw that you utilized the ‘Blood skill’ I taught you the other day. Great job!

Sunz: Thank you.

Violet: Blood skill?

Sword: The skill that allows the user to communicate telepathically with others by having their blood on the opponent's weapon.

Violet: Oh that’s… So you only taught him a fragment of that skill?

Sword: He only asked for an easier way to communicate with opponents without having to move his lip. So I gave him that.

Violet: So now, you just give him anything he asked for?

Sword: Of course not, I have to teach him first, and if he can’t learn that skill, then move on.

Violet: That’s good, then.

Sword: Ok, then, enough about that. I know that we had quite an amusing event happen today.

Violet: I stole your student body and caused a minor horror scene… sure.

Sword: Sunz, you want to talk about it?

Sunz: Sure, I would like to know bits and pieces of it.

Sword: So, when you used up too much of your energy and fainted. I can choose to switch places with you in order to make sure you are not dead. While I possess your body, you can still see and hear everything around you.

Sunz:… Wait what? See and hear everything. I don’t remember that happened.

Violet: That’s right. He didn’t know what actually happened.

Sunz: What?

Sword: So… Violet is not your real teacher. She is like a substitute one. So she can’t easily switch places with you, like me. So while she was possessing your body, I was tying you to a tree with a blindfold and all.

Sunz:… Wow, that is something.

Violet: He just accepted it without having any major reaction. Is it normal?

Sword: It is. Some have this, others don’t. Part of this is learning how they act and finding a way to teach them.

Violet: Ok, understand.

Sword: Well buddy, do you have anything else you want to talk about?

Sunz looked around the restaurant, seeing the people attending, and asked:

“Am I the weakest one you’ve ever taught?”

Sword: I know you don’t like beating around the bush, so I’ll answer bluntly. You’re definitely the weakest. You wanted to use today's match to improve your skill, and what you gain is less than what you'd have gotten if you actually fought like normal.

Sunz: Yes, I notice, and that’s the reason I want you to give me extreme training for the next few days. I want to win that match.

Sword: Look like someone is all fired up. Also, I’ll make sure you win, and we won’t switch places.

Sunz: I’ll do my best.

Sword: That’s good to hear. Just a reminder, make sure to have someone watch over you. The training will wear you out.

Sunz:… Got it.

Sword: It looks like you have nothing else to ask. Ready to leave?

Sunz: Just one thing. Why are we inside a restaurant?

Sword: I like to choose new places to talk.

Sunz: I guess staying here long enough gave you the power to manipulate dreams.

Sword: Close enough. Your ride is here!

Sunz: My ride?

Suddenly, something broke the window behind Sunz and pulled him out of said window into the emptiness.

…

Violet: You sure love doing this.

Sword: It’s part of the job.

Violet: You sure you can bump him that much without cheating?

Sword: Cheating, how?

Violet: Like giving him every ‘Elemental Skill’ you have.

Sword: Yeah, no. He will overdose on that.

Violet:…

Sword: Come on, choose some food. I want you to try the outside flavor.

…

*Back to outside*

Sunz returns to reality (That scared me!) then checks his phone (Wow, I was in there that long. Better get going.)

Sunz goes to his closet to put on cargo pants (just to have something to keep his phone and not go down there in short).

Sunz taps his outfit and pockets to make sure he didn’t forget anything: There, that,… ok, nice and tight.

In a quick and swift movement, he turns the light off, gets out of the room with his sandal, closes the door, then double-taps himself to make sure everything is there.

…

Then suddenly, something sneaked up behind him, lifted him up, and spun him around.

Sunz frantically looked around but couldn’t see the thing clearly: Ok, this is not funny. Put me down!

The thing obliged and put Sunz down. He turned around and took a step back to see who or what it was. Turn out, it was just Grace messing with him.

Grace: Hello!

Sunz: Uh… hi? Where did you come from?

Grace: Wow, not only are you light as a feather, you are blind like one too.

“I was just standing here waiting for you. When you opened the door, it perfectly blocked me from your view. But when you closed it and did your little tap dance. You didn’t even turn and just walked away.”

Sunz: Because of that, you decided to pull that stunt.

Grace: You have a problem with that?!

Sunz: Nope. You can do anything you want. Throw me off a bridge if you like.

Grace: And let you float to safety, not a chance. I’m not letting you off my grip that easily.

Sunz: I hope not…

Grace *blush* (Moron)

Sunz: So what made you want to escort me to dinner by yourself?

Grace: I was afraid that you might overslept. And I can technically enter your room anytime I want. Still have a copy of your room key card from last time.

Sunz: I now know who to look for if I lose my key... I think we talked long enough. Don’t want to make them wait.

Grace: They won’t mind. Let’s… continue talking like our first conversation.

Sunz: Ok… really putting me on the spot. So, what were you doing while waiting for me?

Grace: I was reading a book. The same one you’ve been seeing.

Sunz: Nice. I can’t really read books like you. I find them rather boring.

Grace: Well, they aren’t for everyone… Your outfit. Everything is breezy except that part. Explanation?

Sunz: The thing is, I have a really big – Nope! Stopping right there… I just don’t like showing that much skin in public.

Grace: Really? Does that mean you also hate getting shirtless on the beach?

Sunz: Yeah, also, my body isn’t beautiful like yours. Plus, I don’t like the beach.

Grace: Let's stop with the accidental, not accidental flirting, and get down there.

Sunz:… Agree.

Grace: Also, I don’t really have the body of a gym girl.

Sunz: We still talking?

Grace: I said stop flirting. Like, I really mean it. Years of training, cardio, swimming, hand-to-hand combat, etc… and no abs under this silk.

“Apparently you need to have a strict diet, training routine, and lift weights! It’s easier to break a sandbag, dummy, or wall than lifting a few kg every day. Then there is no sweet in their diet, what is wrong with them, don’t they want to enjoy life?”

“But who is the winner now, bitches! Never lose a match when competing with them… or they are the winner? Since all of them have gone and competed in the Olympics."

“Oh well, who cares about that. We reached the dining room, and there the group.”

Sunz: What just happened? How did we get here so fast?

Grace: Don’t question it.

Sunz: Ok, then, let’s grab our food and meet back at the table.

*After getting their food and finishing it. The group continued to sit at the table and talk for a bit.*

No Name: So, Sunz, what is your training plan to fight Grimm? Need our help.

Sunz: That’s right. I was planning to ask you guys that.

Jihu: Looks like it’s going to be a few days of pain for us, mostly you.

Sunz: Yeah, I think you guys have the wrong idea. I want you guys to watch over me while I train.

Jihu: Sure… I guess, but training alone won’t improve you that much.

Sunz: Ok, this is going to sound a bit stupid.

Jihu: Nope, nothing is going to sound more stupid than the fact that you said, “I have an aura that makes girls hate me.”

Grace: But it is true.

Jihu:…

Grace:…

Sunz: Before we sidetrack. But yes, this will be on par or more stupid than that. So I have a ‘Teacher’ that will be training me in my sleep, and I want you guys to just watch over me to make sure that nothing bad happens.

Jihu:… No, this somehow makes a lot of sense for why you’ve been improving a lot within a few months, including that accident.

Grace: I kind of knew about that ‘Teacher’ for about a day now. No Name told me.

Sunz: So does that mean everyone agrees?

No Name: Sure, I’m on vacation now.

Grace: I’m on board, but what can we do to entertain ourselves?

Jihu: The hotel has a lot of board games.

Grace: Sure, why not.

Jihu: So that’s settled. What time do we start?

Sunz: Wait, we haven’t heard Yama’s opinion.

Jihu: He agreed. He's just playing as the ‘Silent Protagonist’.

Sunz: Is it true?

Yama nodded.

Sunz: Look like everyone is on board. Also, we are starting tonight.

Jihu: Well, then, Yama and I will get some board games and meet you guys in Sunz’s room.

*Jihu and Yama leave the table*

Sunz: I guess you two will now take your leave too.

Grace: We are, but I have something to ask. Did you find something strange about Sogae this afternoon?

Sunz: No? She was perfectly normal.

Grace: Really? When she came to my room today to apparently pick up my bloody clothes, she looked pretty tired. She was yawning, her movement was slow, which made her look like a grandma. But her voice was so hot, like a morning maiden.

No Name: It sounds like you are about to cheat on him with her. But I have to agree with that statement.

Grace: I’m not going to cheat on him because he was cheating on me with Sogae.

Sunz:…

No Name:…

Grace: Ok, I heard myself. I was trying to be funny, ok. I saw your ‘Windbreaker’ in the laundry cart, and Sogae’s outfit was a bit messy. So I came up with that conclusion.

Sunz: Ok, I think I kind of know what was going on. So this afternoon, I called Sogae about the bloody clothes, and I think I called her while she was napping.

“When she came to my room to pick up the bloody clothes, I mentioned her voice, and she was teasing or seducing me with that. When I told her what I thought about her voice in that moment was ‘unmotivated, tired of her job’.”

Grace: Yeah, that’s a mistake from you.

Sunz: Because of that, I think she adjusted her clothes to make it seem like something happened, as revenge.

No Name: Now the mystery is solved. Let’s all head back and meet up later.

Grace: Agree, see you later!

…

*The group split up and regrouped back in Sunz’s room an hour later*

First were Jihu and Yama, then No Name and Grace. Then an unexpected knock on his door.

Outside: Hello, this is Sogae delivering your laundry…

Sunz opens the door for Sogae, and she sees that the room is packed.

Sogae: Having a party, aren’t ya? Here, just take your stuff. A new basket for your room with your clothes and ‘Windbreaker’.

While Sogae was giving Sunz back his stuff, Grace noticed that Sogae’s outfit was messy, like how it was in the afternoon. When they done, Grace immediately pulled Sunz outside and closed the door to have a private talk with Sogae.

Sunz: What are you doing?

Grace: Quiet!

Sogae: Oh, Grace. You want your clothes back now?

Grace: Yes, please, and No-Name’s clothes too, if you have them. But before that, I want to ask you something. Should you be walking around with your clothes like that?

Sogae: What's wrong with it? I know it's a bit untidy, but I tried to make it not look erotic.

Grace: I-I… It was him, he put the thought in my head.

She pulled Sunz in front of herself, using him as a shield.

Sunz:…

Sogae:… I think I get it. No, I wasn’t trying to seduce your boyfriend, at most teasing him. And yes, I was mad at you Sunz, but I won’t make your girlfriend think that you were cheating on her with me.

Grace: But why did your outfit look like that? We always see you looking neat and tidy.

Sogae: I just made it look like this to display how hard-working I am. And I know that some details do make me look more desirable, which I still need to fix or leave that part alone.

Grace: I’m sorry for thinking about you like that.

Sogae: I can’t really blame you two. It’s your first committed relationship, and you're just afraid of losing each other. But we talked long enough. Here are Grace’s clothes, and these are No-Name’s clothes. Have fun!

She gave Grace’s clothes to Sunz, and No-Name’s clothes to Grace then walked away with the cart.

…

Sunz: I think your finger made me bleed.

Grace: Quiet, and go to bed!

Sunz: Yes, Ma’am.

Both get back inside of Sunz’s room, and everyone acts like nothing happened.

Before going to bed/training Sunz tells everyone: If any of you don’t feel comfortable sleeping here, then you can return to your room.

Jihu: Don’t worry, I’ll always be here.

Grace: I can just return to my room and bring my pillow.

Sunz: Ok, then. I saw that you guys have plenty of board games. So have fun.

With that, Sunz goes to bed while wearing his ‘Windbreaker’ and covers himself from head to toe with the blanket like a cocoon.