Published: August 15, 2025
“I’m sorry for calling you out on such short notice.”
“Anytime for martial arts training, I’m always happy to help.”
Mr. Eudam had been on a warrior’s journey, honing his body techniques.
Also, we had previously made a verbal agreement to have a match.
Even if that was just a cover story for infiltration, it was convenient.
Under the pretext of wanting him to accompany me in training, I called him here.
And now, we faced each other with bare hands and in casual clothes.
...Though, as usual, my casual clothes were fully equipped with:
- A cut-resistant innerwear made from tough sticky slime threads,
- An iron slime hidden in my belt as a concealed weapon,
- Boots designed as safety shoes,
all prepared for emergencies.
“The rules: no use of weapons, attack or defense magic forbidden. Enhancement magic and the use of Qi are allowed. Sound good?”
“That’s fine. Let’s start with those rules.”
As I shifted my body and took a natural stance, almost simultaneously, Mr. Eudam assumed a stance about three meters away, fists lightly clenched and extended forward.
It looked similar to boxing, but his feet were spread wide and firmly planted on the ground.
“Let’s go!”
At that moment, he closed the distance in a flash, thrusting forward without losing momentum.
However, I didn’t feel any mana or Qi.
Since enhancement magic was allowed, but unused, I wondered if he was testing me or holding back.
That thought flashed through my mind briefly, but—
“That’s not a strike you’d throw at a child…”
“Easy for you to say, dodging so calmly!”
He had the speed and power of a typical martial artist you’d see on TV from my previous life.
His punches came one after another, increasing in speed, with more complex combinations.
I retreated with a backstep to just out of reach, accurately dodging the fists aimed at my face.
Immediately, I closed in to infiltrate his defense as his fist was pulled back.
As expected, another punch came from the opposite hand, but I deflected its path by placing my right hand on it.
At that moment, I rotated my body from front-on to a half-turn, thrusting my left fist forward as if pushing it in.
“...”
Slipping through his flurry of continuous attacks, I parried his counterstrike and simultaneously launched an attack.
Mr. Eudam calmly responded by creating distance when hit with a strike that came at a timing too fast for defense, resetting the fight.
After that, we exchanged techniques for a while.
When pushed, we pushed back; when pushing, we were pushed back.
Sometimes he used foot techniques, but really only occasionally—no big moves that created openings.
It was plain, some might say, but a steady and honest offense and defense.
What kind of technique would he use? How should I receive it and respond?
The fight was shaping up like that, when—
“!”
Mr. Eudam’s movements changed.
His stance lowered his hips slightly, and his fists opened.
The next moment, like a beast leaping at its prey, he closed the distance.
“Ha!”
Reflexively, I grabbed both his extended hands, entering a “hand-four” position, like in wrestling.
Quickly, he used his larger build to try to crush me from above.
I relaxed and stepped back half a step, softly accepting the pressure while twisting his wrists and elbows outward to face upward, slipping swiftly under his guard.
“!!
”Close. I almost locked his joints and restricted his movement.
Mr. Eudam shook off his trapped hands at the last moment and took a wide step back.
“...I was serious about trying to pin you down.”
“I’m familiar with grappling and throwing techniques as well.”
“Training partners like you are truly appreciated.”
His atmosphere changed as he spoke.
I felt the energy of Qi, the physical life force, enveloping his body, synchronizing with his deep breathing.
I also wrapped Qi around my body to show my will to oppose, and he smiled.
“Here I go!”
From then, Mr. Eudam’s movements became unpredictable. Sometimes shifting from striking to grappling or throwing techniques, and sometimes weaving strikes between throws.