Chapter 71: – The Hero’s Footwork (Part 1)

About two weeks had passed since the sniping incident.

It felt like just yesterday that I… apprehended those snipers, so it was strange that two weeks had already gone by.

‘It means I’ve been busy, right?’

I wasn’t just saying that.

A lot had happened in those two weeks.

First, I learned how a coach coaches players from the coach of ML Masterpiece. I took intensive lessons for about an hour every three days, which helped me a lot in learning teaching methods.

One slightly awkward thing was that Coach Kang Seunghyun refused to accept payment.

‘He wouldn’t accept it even when I offered.’

Isn’t the head coach the busiest person among the coaches? To not accept payment after taking up so much of his precious time… I felt a little sorry.

‘He’s a really nice person.’

I fiddled with the business card Coach Kang Seunghyun gave me, then turned my gaze to the desk. There was a mountain of books. They were all about education.

For two weeks, I devoured a tremendous number of books.

A whopping 15 books!

It was the first time I had read so many books.

‘I didn’t even study this hard when I was a student.’

Would things have been different if I had studied hard back then?

“No way.”

Even if I had studied hard, it would have been useless. I doubt my future of being dragged into ‘that world’ would have changed.

“…Did I miss that broadcast because I was studying too hard?”

Whatever. I shook my head to dispel the thought.

It was something that hadn’t even happened.

There was no need to dwell on such things and make myself feel bad. After all, I had escaped that hell and was now enjoying my current happiness.

Yes.

Being happy now was what mattered.

I came to that conclusion, picked up all the books on the desk, and put them in a cardboard box. After shoving the box under the bed, I got into the VR device with my trusty kitchen knife attached.

“Now, let’s go teach.”

It was time to show the results of my hard work.

Inside a temporary private duel room.

Ji-eun entered the password Shihyun gave her and thought,

‘I have a bad feeling about this.’

A strange sense of anxiety was floating around in her heart.

It was understandable.

Ji-eun only knew about Shihyun’s swordsmanship skills, not her teaching ability.

‘She said she learned how to teach, but…’

Is it something you can learn just by studying? Then anyone could become an academy instructor or a teacher.

…Well, actually, anyone can become a teacher. If they pass the teacher’s certification exam after learning teaching methods.

‘The important thing is to teach well. ’

Right. Teaching well.

Not just anyone can become a top instructor. It requires not only tremendous effort but also a talent for teaching.

“I doubt it’s a skill you can learn in just two weeks.”

But still, the important thing was that she was willing to teach.

‘It’s instruction from the unofficial number one, after all.’

It would be helpful no matter what. Strictly speaking, thinking like this was wrong.

‘Shihyun is putting in time and effort to help me.’

I should be grateful.

Ji-eun thought so and smacked her lips.

“Well, what could go wrong?”

She wouldn’t beat me up if I couldn’t learn, right?

Thinking so, Ji-eun entered the private duel room Shihyun created. She had already set up her stream beforehand.

Whoosh!

As soon as she entered the room, Ji-eun turned on her stream and shouted,

“Alright, finally! The long-awaited Shihyun’s Swordsmanship Lesson! Let’s begiiiin!”

[Congrats  congrats congrats]
[I’ve been waiting so long]
[Finally starting!!!!!!]

“Woohoo! Everyone, applause!”

[Congrats ]
[Applause]
[Clap already lol]
[How can I clap and type at the same time?]
[Use your feet]

“Alright, everyone, stop the nonsense and focus! Shihyun’s swordsmanship lesson, it won’t hurt to learn, right? It’s a lesson from the unofficial number one!”

[Seriously lol]
[Gotta learn if we can]
[I wasn’t being nonsensical??]
[“Unofficial number one”]
[Isn’t she practically official?]

“Now, then… Huh? Where is she?”

Ji-eun blinked and looked around the duel map. It was a wide-open map with no obstacles blocking the view, so why couldn’t she see Shihyun?

“Ji-eun.”

“Eek!”

The reason was soon revealed. Shihyun was standing right behind Ji-eun’s spawn point. Ji-eun jumped in fright as Shihyun tapped her on the back without a sound.

“Hey! Make some noise! I thought you were a ghost.”

Shihyun replied nonchalantly,

“Isn’t it your fault for not looking behind you?”

“…That doesn’t justify startling me.”

Shihyun tilted her head at those words.

At the same time, the chat went crazy.

[Lol]
[It is her fault for not looking behind her]
[If Shihyun says so, then it is lol]
[Should’ve had eyes on the back of your head lol]

“Ugh, seriously. Say something that makes sense.”

Ji-eun grumbled, then turned to Shihyun.

“Now then. Greetings, Master.”

“Master?”

“Well, you’re a master now, aren’t you? You’re teaching.”

Shihyun scratched her cheek and smiled.

“It’s a bit embarrassing to be called that.”

“So, Master. What legendary swordsmanship will you teach me to reach Diamond?”

“Well, it’s not legendary swordsmanship or anything, I’m just going to teach you how to wield a sword my way. I’m not sure if it can even be called swordsmanship.”

Ji-eun blinked at that answer.

Wielding a sword like her? Did that mean she hadn’t learned any specific swordsmanship? Then what swordsmanship had she been using all this time?

Wait, it can’t even be called swordsmanship?

‘What is she talking about?’

As Ji-eun was confused, Shihyun summoned two swords out of thin air. Seeing Shihyun holding two longswords, Ji-eun held out her hands. However, nothing happened. She tilted her head and asked,

“Aren’t you going to give me a sword?”

“First, let’s learn footwork.”

“Huh?”

Footwork?

“I’ve learned that before.”

“No, you have to relearn it. I’ve watched you play ranked a few times, and with your current footwork, you won’t even get close to Diamond.”

Ji-eun clutched her chest.

[Haha, she says you can’t reach Diamond with those clumsy feet lol]
[Truth bomb ]
[How dare you ask for a sword first. Footwork comes first.]
[Isn’t that footwork Kim Kuma taught her?]
[One loss for Kim Kuma lol]

“…So I have to relearn footwork from scratch.”

“That’s right.”

Ji-eun sighed deeply. It was disheartening to hear that all her hard work was useless. She felt a pang of sadness.

“…Then how are you going to teach me, Master?”

Shihyun raised both fists in response to Ji-eun’s question.

Ji-eun tilted her head at the sight.

“What’s that pose?”

“Martial arts.”

“??”

“You learn footwork by punching.”

“??”

“That’s how I learned.”

“??????”

Ji-eun’s jaw dropped. What was she talking about? She suddenly recalled the thought she had before entering the private room.

‘She wouldn’t beat me up, right?’

Famous last words.

Ji-eun still had a look of disbelief on her face.

I was puzzled.

‘This is the correct way to learn.’

Honestly, I understood how Ji-eun felt.

‘It must be confusing.’

If someone said they would teach swordsmanship, then suddenly started talking about martial arts, anyone would make that face.

How do I know?

Because that’s the exact face I made when the person who taught me swordsmanship in ‘that world’ raised his fists.

‘But there’s no other way.’

This was the best method to learn footwork. Doesn’t boxing footwork help a lot when learning martial arts? It’s a similar principle.

…At least, that’s how I learned.

“Now, Ji-eun, from now on, you have to block or dodge my attacks.”

“S-Shihyun, what are you talking about?”

“If you don’t dodge, you’ll get hit, and it’ll hurt.”

“You, you, you said you learned how to teach from a coach! Where did they teach you to beat up your students! Which bastard taught you that!”

“So you better dodge properly.”
“You crazy!”

Thwack!