Volume 6 Chapter 4 The Torture Called Gym Class
The afternoon class was 'Gym.'
It was a workout focused on building the body without using skills, and no matter how powerful your skills were, everyone was equal in gym class.
Elk and the others changed into the school's common 'gym clothes' instead of their battle outfits and gathered in the training area.
The gym class was supervised by the gym teacher, Jacob.
He wore a tight running shirt because of his muscles, camouflage pants, and boots with metal plates. He had a fire-pattern tattoo from his right arm to his back, burn marks on his shaved head, and an eye patch over his right eye.
Whether from a tan or something else, his full body was dark... to be honest, he was a really scary teacher.
Jacob glared at the lined-up students and said,
"Good job on the dungeon practice."
His voice was deep. It had a rough tone.
Jacob twisted his mouth as he spoke.
"You should have learned something from the dungeon practice. What are you all missing? ...You there."
"Uh, yes?"
Jacob pointed his index finger at Elk.
Elk thought for a moment and said what came to mind.
"Is it about what to do when you get lost?"
"Wrong!!"
"Then... the dungeon map?"
"Wrong!! What you all need is stamina!!"
"Stamina..."
"That's right!! No matter how powerful your skills are, it's humans who use them!! Especially, enhancement and weapon skills depend on physical strength. No matter how strong your 'swordsmanship' skill is, if the user's stamina runs out, that's it!! In other words, what you all lack is stamina!!"
"I see."
Elk nodded as if to say, "That makes sense."
Jacob lifted one foot and stomped the ground. Just that caused a vibration, and cracks appeared in the ground.
"During gym class, I will thoroughly push your bodies to the limit!! You will develop strong lungs that don't get out of breath, steel muscles, and the skills to use techniques, all in one year!! Be prepared!!"
More than half of the students turned pale at Jacob's intensity.
By the way, no one except Elk knows that every year, many students leave the academy because they can't keep up with Jacob's 'gym class.'
Jacob shouted.
"First, run 100 laps around the training ground at full speed!! If you can't do it, there will be penalties!! Now go!!"
With a loud thud, Jacob stomped the ground, causing cracks to form.
The students hurriedly ran out of the training ground at full speed.
* * *
Elk was running around the outer edge of the training ground at full speed.
At first, everyone was giving it their all. But within a few minutes, more than half of them were down... their speed was now like jogging.
Only a few were able to keep up with Elk.
"Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!!"
"He he he he, hee hee he hee!!"
"Fu fu fu fu fu fu fu fu fu!!"
"Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha, phew!!"
"Haah, haah!! Haah!! Haah!! Haah!!"
It was Gambo, Fine, Elwood, Yato, and Kaya. All of them were breathing heavily and sweating a lot. When Elk looked back, they stared at him in disbelief.
Elk's breathing was hardly disturbed.
(Too easy)
In the first place, expecting Elk to have stamina was a mistake.
For several hundred years, Elk lived his life focused on marathons and sprints. Even just the experience of his soul reflects in his body. A full sprint of just a few minutes is like walking for Elk.
By the way, if all the training from 2,000 years were to show in his body, he would turn into a terrifying creature, so Pipina made sure he kept a normal physique despite his gained stamina.
"Wow... this new student has some potential. No skills used, just pure stamina. And... his pace is slowing down, but those who are still pushing through are impressive too."
Jacob smirked and stroked his chin.
Then, Elk was the only one sprinting at full speed, while all the other students were completely exhausted, and the outer lap dash ended.
Elk headed to the training area without breaking a sweat.
Then, Gambo, who was sweating heavily and breathing hard, said,
"Hey, seriously, what's going on... haah, haah... your stamina is, weird."
"No, I've always been good at marathons."
"This isn't on that level, you know..."
Even with that said, Elk didn't look tired.
When he looked at the other students, their expressions showed disbelief, like "I can't believe this..."
Seeing the exhausted students in the training area, Jacob said,
"These guys are pathetic. For upperclassmen, this is barely a warm-up. Hey, you over there... Elk, right?"
"Uh, yes."
"You have potential. Now, let's move on to the next thing. We'll do sparring!! Pair up, and it's hand-to-hand combat without skills or weapons!! Listen, this isn't a brawl, it's martial arts!! If you aim to be an adventurer, you should have some knowledge of martial arts. Use it!!"
The students, feeling wobbly, took their stances.
Then, Jacob spoke.
"Elk. You're with me."
"What?"
"You have some martial arts skills, right?"
"Yes, sort of..."
"Heh, interesting... Alright, this is martial arts without skills. Give it your all!!"
"...Understood."
Elk takes his stance.
"Here I go!!"
Jacob raises both arms in front of his face and runs towards Elk.
Elk puts his left hand forward and positions his right hand in front of his chest to meet him.
"Ha!!"
Elk knocks Jacob's left jab away with his left hand.
"Mmm... Ugh!! Ugh!! Ugh!!"
"──Haa... Haa..."
Elk's left hand swats away Jacob's jab.
As he knocks away the third jab, Elk slips into Jacob's space, spins his body, and strikes Jacob's chest with a right elbow hit, then raises his right hand to slap his face. Jacob closes his eyes.
Elk lowers his stance and delivers a left high kick to Jacob's temple.
The moment Jacob's body sways, Elk follows up with a series of punches to Jacob.
"Ugh, ugh... No way!?"
Jacob steps back. He shakes his head, grimacing in pain.
Elk gets ready, preparing to face Jacob.
"...This is it."
"Ah, yes."
Elk easily drops his stance.
When he looks around, the students are glued to the demonstration between Elk and Jacob.
Jacob is sweating heavily.
"Who's your master?"
"Um... a god."
"Hahaha! Well, I didn't think it would be that easy to ask. I never expected you to take me down so easily... I want to go all out, but that would go beyond the lesson."
"Y-yes."
"You all!! Don't just watch, fight!! Push yourselves!!"
With Jacob's shout, the students start to fight.
* * *
Watching the fight between Elk and Jacob, Yato and Kaya...
"Yato... what was that just now?"
"Yeah. That movement... it's 'Eishuken (Eternal Fist Style)' from Yamato."
"Has Elk ever been to Yamato?"
"...I don't think so. I mean, using 'Left Evasion' perfectly at that young age. It's not just talent..."
"Does that mean his teacher was really good?"
"...I don't know. Kaya, we need to keep an eye on Elk. We might need to report this to the Yamato government."
"...I was thinking the same thing."
Elk has been doing "bare-knuckle fighting without using skills" with Pipina for over a hundred years. During that time, he learned all kinds of martial arts from around the world. Of course, he also studied the martial arts of Yamato.
Since Jacob went to teach the students, Elk was alone.
Then, Elwood came over.
"Hey, if you don't have anyone to fight, I'll be your opponent."
"Sure, sounds good."
The two got into position and started a light spar.
Elk dodged Elwood's punch easily. Elwood said,
"By the way, have you read the letter from the Duke Kinesis family?"
"Oh."
Elk dodged the punch and kicked.
Elwood blocked it.
Elk realized he hadn't read the letter from the Duke Kinesis family.
"You should really read it."
"I know. I'll read it when I get home."
Elk caught Elwood's kick and threw a counter punch.
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