Because of their mother’s insistence, they always wore full protective gear during sparring and used wooden swords instead of real blades.
“You’re the one asking for a spar today? What’s the occasion?”
His father asked while fastening his armor, genuinely surprised.
“I just wanted to see how much I’ve improved. And… I wanted you to see it too.”
That reaction was fair. After all—
It’s always been Dad who asked to spar, never me.
In the past, I didn’t want to burden him after a long, exhausting day with clan duties.
I was afraid I might get hurt. Or worse, that I might hurt him.
Before I remembered my past life, those fears always held me back from taking the initiative.
But judging by Dad’s expression, maybe I never needed to hold back at all.
“So now that you’re in fifth grade, you finally have time for your old man?” he teased with a grin.
“This counts as spending time together?”
“Of course it does. What else do I have to look forward to after a long day at work? Spending time with your mom, playing with Ye-eun, and sparring with you.”
“…”
If I’d known he enjoyed it this much, I would’ve asked him to spar more often.
I never imagined it meant that much to him.
“So, what is it you’re trying to ask me for?”
“…How did you know I had something to ask?”
“A son who’s never once asked to spar suddenly challenges his dad? There’s gotta be something more behind it.”
“….”
“If it’s something you don’t want your mom to know about, I might not be the right person. I’m on her side, after all. I can’t grant you every wish.”
“I figured she’d say it’s too dangerous, so I thought I’d ask you instead…”
“What is it? Tell me.”
I was planning to wait for the right moment. But since Dad had already caught on, I had no choice but to speak now.
I pulled on my helmet and pointed my wooden sword at him.
“I want to experience real combat.”
“…Real combat?”
“Yes. I want to fight a monster.”
“….”
“My cousins have already had experience. But I haven’t. I’m not a Hunter, so I can’t just go out and fight one on my own. That’s why… I’m asking for your help.”
“What brought this on? You don’t need to rush into battle just because you’re a little behind.”
“Even so… I feel like I can’t stay like this anymore. I don’t want to keep being mocked for being a ‘Rabbit.’”
“…Huh.”
“I want to change.”
In five years, I’ll be in the Academy City, standing beside Kang Han-byeol—the protagonist—facing life-threatening crises.
To survive that future, I needed combat experience. I had to build my instincts now.
Other kids from the family, around my age, had already faced real monsters. Compared to them, I was lagging far behind.
I have to catch up. No matter what.
That’s why I needed my father’s help. I couldn’t do it alone.
“This isn’t about that incident at the fencing school, is it?”
“…What?”
“I heard you got into a fight with some of the kids. That they got hurt pretty bad. And that it wasn’t your fault.”
“….”
“Did that change something in you?”
So the instructor ratted me out…
Maybe he was upset that I used the family name to pressure him. Still, judging by Dad’s tone, he didn’t seem angry.
Instead, he was trying to understand me.
Does he trust me? Does he believe I wouldn’t lash out without a reason?
He never said it directly, but somehow I felt it.
And because of that trust, I felt I needed to answer honestly.
I paused, choosing my words carefully.
“I was taught that the sword of the Shin Sword Clan exists to protect and save others. That’s what I’ve always believed. That we must never forget that purpose.”
“You’re right. The reason our clan is held in such high esteem is because we’ve never failed in that duty.”
“So I believed I had to follow that teaching. Even when others bullied me, I told myself I couldn’t draw my sword just to vent my feelings. Because even they—were people I was supposed to protect.”
“….”
“But now…”
If not for the memories of my past life, I might never have thought this way.
Everything I lived through before… everything I knew was coming…
That’s what changed me.
“Before I protect anyone else… shouldn’t I protect myself first?”
“….”
“If I can’t even defend myself, how can I protect others? That thought just hit me.”
“So that’s why you fought back.”
“Yes. That’s why I fought. Not to lash out, but to stand up for myself. That’s how I want to live from now on.”
“….”
“To do that, I need to be stronger. Strong enough not to be looked down on. Strong enough to protect myself—and others.”
I have to come first.
Even if it sounded selfish, I wouldn’t change my mind.
I laid everything bare.
Dad stayed silent for a moment.
Then his shoulders shook once, and he let out a quiet laugh.
“You’re not wrong. It’s a good thing to have a reason to grow stronger. You’ve changed more than I realized.”
“So… will you help me?”
“Of course I will. I’m your dad—how could I not? But… there’s one condition.”
“…What is it?”
“Prove to me that you’ve trained enough to handle real combat. That’s why you asked to spar today, isn’t it?”
“…You’re right.”
He was already in mid-guard stance—ready for the match to begin.
I tightened my grip on the wooden sword, assuming position.
Just like he said—I need to show him what I’ve got.
If I couldn’t prove myself now, it meant I wasn’t ready for real combat. I’d just need to train harder until I was.
“Just one strike.”
“…?”
“I won’t use mana. I won’t move more than five steps. So come at me with everything you’ve got.”
“You won’t use Su-wang Style, either?”
“…Only the basic forms.”
“Understood.”
It was the usual style of sparring we did.
But I’d never landed a clean hit on him before.
Even when I had the chance, I always hesitated—afraid I might hurt him.
I’d been scared.
So stupidly scared.
“Come on, let’s see what you’ve got.”
And maybe that’s why he gave me this condition.
If I was truly ready to fight monsters, then I had to be willing to strike—without hesitation.
“…Haa.”
I took a breath.
That version of me—the one who hesitated—was gone.
Su-wang Style: Basic Form 1
Stance of the Hunt
To prove myself to him—
—I charged forward, bringing my wooden sword down with force.
Naturally, Dad blocked the blow and knocked my sword away with power.
Tak!
I didn’t resist. Instead, I used the rebound to spring backward, twisting to the side.
Then, I swung wide.
Su-wang Style: Basic Form 2
Stance of the Wild Charge
From the inside of my left shoulder to the outside—
The wooden blade drew a clean, horizontal arc.
Tak!
He blocked again. Expected.
I stepped forward, closing the distance. My right arm, thrown behind from the previous swing, was now in perfect position.
Su-wang Style: Basic Form 3
Stance of the Turn
I planted my foot and twisted my waist to the left.
Adding that momentum, I swung from the outside of my right shoulder inward.
Another horizontal cut. Target: his blade.
Tak!
There it was.
By moving in close, I had disrupted his striking range.
Now, to counter, he would need to step back—
—I didn’t miss my chance.
“…!”
As he moved backward, I lunged forward in the same beat, cutting off his space.
Then, from below, I brought my wooden sword upward in a rising arc.
Blades clashed again.
Clack!
This time, it wasn’t my sword that faltered—it was his.
His posture broke.
A brief opening appeared on his right side.
Su-wang Style: Offensive Form 3
Lion’s Iron Whip
Heavy, like a flail.
Fast, like a whip.
Channeling mana into my wooden blade, I struck his right hip.
Thwack!
And just like that—the match was over.
I jumped back quickly.
By the time Dad turned around, rubbing the spot I’d hit, I was already out of reach.
“You little… Did you have to hit that hard?”
“I wanted to be acknowledged.”
“Well, you’ve grown up enough to smack your old man without blinking.”
Even though the protective gear cushioned the blow, Dad rubbed his waist dramatically for effect.
I couldn’t help but chuckle.
Then I reached out and patted his back.
“So… does this mean I’ve earned it?”
“…Yeah, you little brat.”
Dad puffed out his lips in mock irritation.
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