Chapter 10: Just Not In Here
Martial arts competitions are broken down by division and age.
Among them, the Creative Sword Dance I participated in is centered around incorporating self-created moves into a dance-like performance.
You get judged on physical ability, fundamentals, creativity, and adaptability by people from the Martial Alliance or senior members from various sects serving as judges.
"It's been so long I barely remember..."
The hallway was packed with students aspiring to become martial artists and families giving last-minute pep talks.
"Deep breaths. Don't be nervous, you got this."
"Take your calming pill now. You remember the routine, right?"
"If you don't win a prize this time, you're quitting. You promised your Dad!"
With elementary, middle, and high schoolers all split by grade and category, the place was swarming with people.
That just showed how many kids dreamed of being martial artists.
‘But less than 5% of them will still be at it by the time they're adults.’
Some fail the constitution test like me. Some realize they'll never beat the real geniuses. Others get hurt or run out of money.
Plenty of them give up or get sucked into the underworld.
Back then, I saw everyone here as a rival. But coming back after twenty years, seeing these kids chasing their dreams just made me proud.
‘Hang in there, kids.’
I made my way through the crowded hallway and arrived at the waiting room.
<Creative Sword Dance—High School Senior Division Waiting Room>
The security guard stationed at the entrance blocked my path with a suspicious look.
"I'm sorry, but only participants may enter."
"I am also a participant. Here's my ID and registration slip."
A moment later, the security guard who checked my ID and receipt raised his head sharply with a surprised look.
"Gi...!"
I pulled down my mask slightly to show the guard my face.
"I want to keep a low profile."
I was pretty famous among my peers at this point in time, so it’s normal that quite a few people recognized me.
The sharp-witted guard nodded. "Yes! Confirmed. Huh? But your registered division is..."
As the guard looked at my slip with a puzzled expression, I smiled warmly.
"I've got a friend inside. Mind if I pop in to wish him luck real quick?"
The guard hesitated, then let it slide.
"Don't stay too long."
"Thank you."
He checked to make sure no one was looking and opened the door. As I walked past, he gave me a thumbs-up.
"I'm a fan. Looking forward to this competition too."
I gave him a thumbs-up back and walked in.
The waiting room is basically a spacious auditorium.
Contestants who'd arrived early had claimed their spots and were either warming up lightly or practicing their prepared sword dances.
A few glanced at me, but with my mask and cap on, nobody recognized me.
‘About thirty people? Guess everyone's not here yet.’
I scanned the area looking for Shin Gangheon.
With his size and presence, he was easy to spot.
"Huuu..."
He must have just finished practicing since he was shirtless and catching his breath in the corner.
‘It’s like watching a hungry tiger.’
Seeing Shin Gangheon up close again was different from seeing him in front of reporters. He looked so serious and focused that I couldn't tell which version of him was real. But one thing for sure is that nobody wanted to go anywhere near him with his overwhelming physique and fierce look.
‘How should I start this off?’
As I was running through a few greetings I'd thought up while walking toward Shin Gangheon—
"Hey, did you guys hear the story that Gi Muhyeok flopped his constitution test?"
"..."
I turned my head and saw a group of boys gossiping.
A sharp-eyed boy with a ponytail was running his mouth about me.
Whether on purpose or not, his voice was loud enough for everyone in the waiting room to hear.
"My dad knows a reporter. Said that bastard got his results and ran out crying."
...Gossiping about other people's misery is human nature, and they were just kids, so I ignored them.
"It is weird. He stopped competing last year. Maybe he knew it was coming?"
"Seriously? What grade did he get to run out like that?"
"If it's Grade 9 or 10..."
"Then his life is over. Doesn't matter how good your physique is if your constitution sucks."
I was going to let it slide. Until...
"So what's he gonna do now?"
"No clue. All my relatives are at least grade 6 or higher. Well, his body's good, so maybe he can make money with his fists. Thug or gangster maybe?"
"Damn, I feel bad for his parents sinking all that cash into him. Ruined their lives because they had a dud for a son."
The words are dripped with malice, but not a single soul comes up to stop them. Most just giggled or ignored it.
"...That crossed the line."
I stopped in place and stared at the ponytail kid and his crew who were busy trash-talking me.
"Hey kids."
I called them out quietly, but for some reason, they flinched as soon as they heard my voice.
"Just wondering, does Gi Muhyeok flopping his constitution test somehow help you with your lives?"
When my foot led me to them, the kids panicked and backed away.
I could feel everyone in the waiting room start looking at us.
"...Who the hell are you to start shit?"
"I'm not starting anything. I'm just confused."
I slowly took off my cap, then my mask.
The kids immediately recognized my face and gasped.
"It's... it's Gi Muhyeok..."
I heard murmurs saying my name from all around, and Shin Gangheon, who'd been quietly focused, turned his attention toward me. I spotted a few other familiar faces too.
"You shouldn't talk shit about someone when they're not around. Karma is a bitch, you know?"
I looked at Ponytail and his friends, who looked like they were about to wet themselves, and gave them some advice as a guy who’d been around the block.
"Ever heard of people getting their mouths ripped open for talking too much? It happens all the time in the underworld. Especially insults about family, they handle those really brutally over there. They burn your lips, rip them open, let them heal, and then do it all over again..."
If I were a normal hot-blooded teenager, I probably would've punched them right away.
But I didn't want to beat up a bunch of kids who were mentally toddlers compared to me.
‘I should try my best to persuade them with words.’
If talking doesn't work, then I'd have to consider a different approach...
"S-sorry."
"We just heard rumors, that's all..."
"Really sorry! We won't do it again!"
Ponytail and his crew turned pale and apologized while avoiding my eyes.
‘Hm. Guess they aren't bad kids.’
I was worried they wouldn't listen to my gentle advice, but thankfully they seemed like good students since they understood right away.
But what's with all the whispering behind my back?
"Did you see his eyes?"
"Did he just threaten to rip their mouths open?"
"Gi Muhyeok. He's scarier than the rumors..."
When I turned around to explain it was a misunderstanding, most of the students who made eye contact quickly looked away.
And the few who didn't look away were glaring at me with annoyed expressions.
"Hey, Gi Muhyeok."
A tall boy with a lean, dancer-like build stepped forward.
"You think you own the place? Give it a rest, will you?"
I vaguely remembered his face. Plus, his name was pretty unique.
"Pi Seunghwa... right?"
He’s the same age as me and specializes in the swift sword. I think he got scouted by one of the major sects right after high school graduation and rose pretty high up the ranks later.
"But what do you mean, give it a rest? Give what a rest?"
Pi Seunghwa, with a headset hanging around his neck, stared straight at me.
"Keep it down. You're disrupting my concentration."
His sensitive personality showed all over his irritated face.
I smiled amicably and chatted with this old friend I hadn't seen in a long time.
"My bad. But that's interesting. My voice bothers you, but kids talking shit about people didn't?"
"What..."
"Where'd you get that headset, by the way? The noise cancellation seems to be selective. I'd like to try one."
"..."
Pi Seunghwa pressed his lips together, glared at me silently for a moment, then turned on his heel and headed to a corner spot.
"Pfft..."
I saw Shin Gangheon, who'd been quietly watching the situation, trying to hold back laughter with shaking shoulders.
‘I thought he'd jump in with a comment, but I guess he's behaving himself since we're at a competition.’
Instead, a new voice chimed in.
"By the way."
A boy with a small but solid build with a twin sword strapped to his back asked.
It was another face I knew.
He asked with his small eyes gleaming like a snake's.
"Is it true you flunked your constitution test? So what grade did you get?"
"You're Lee Hyeonseung, right?"
"...It's Kim Hyeonseung."
Like Shin Gangheon and Pi Seunghwa, he was a pretty famous name among kids my age.
But the fact that I couldn't remember anything else about him probably meant he retired early or died young.
"Sorry. It's been so long I got confused."
"...We faced each other more than five times in competitions."
"Oh, right. I remember winning all of them."
Kim Hyeonseung glared at me and muttered, "Asshole."
Not like I could swear back at him.
I just gave him a gentle, grown-up smile.
"...Just you wait."
For some reason, Kim Hyeonseung fumed and stomped off to a corner and started practicing.
I looked around the waiting room and addressed everyone.
"Listen up, everyone. I'm sorry if I caused a scene before an important competition. I hope you all do well and your hard work pays off. I'm genuinely rooting for you."
Shin Gangheon, Pi Seunghwa, Kim Hyeonseung, and all the other kids stared at me like I was insane.
"Hahahaha! This guy's totally nuts!"
Finally, Shin Gangheon made his move.
Unlike the others who were on guard, he walked right up to me with an excited expression.
"You're a bigger attention whore than me. You kept that mask on just waiting for someone to talk trash on purpose, didn't you?"
"...Why would I do that?"
"Dude, quit the act..."
Shin Gangheon didn't look like he believed me one bit.
He scanned me from head to toe with hungry eyes like a beast sizing up its prey before the hunt.
Shin Gangheon finished sizing me up and grinned.
"But your name wasn't on the participant list. What are you doing here?"
"Just passing by to say hi. And I am competing. Just not in here."
"...What are you talking about?"
The moment Shin Gangheon asked with a confused expression—
Knock knock.
The guard who'd been waiting outside came in with another guard.
"Contestant Gi Muhyeok. Are you here?"
"Yes. That's me."
As I raised my hand, the guard's gaze turned to me. He pointed at his watch and spoke in a businesslike tone.
"The Adult Division is starting soon. Please move to your waiting room or you’ll be disqualified.”
"Sorry. I'll head there right now."
The students who'd been listening to my conversation with the guard looked back and forth between us with blank expressions.
"...Adult Division?"
"What did he say?"
"Don't tell me he's..."
Then, I took out the registration pass on a lanyard from my pocket and hung it around my neck.
<Creative Sword Dance—Gi Muhyeok—Adult Division (Under 25)>
While it's true I entered the competition to meet Shin Gangheon, that doesn't mean I wanted to play at his level.
The place I was looking at was much higher than these kids.
I'd say I definitely made a solid impression today.
"Good luck, everyone. I’ll watch you guys if I have the time later. Show me your best effort. Fighting!"
I gave one last cheer to my stunned classmates before walking out and heading for the Adult Division.
Behind the closed door, I heard all sorts of curses mixed with Shin Gangheon's roaring laughter.