Korea University
Hayan went into the Kumdo dojang.
Inside the dojang, there were hundreds of trainees swinging swords. Men who seriously focused on swinging wooden swords while proudly wearing the dojang uniform.
She came during afternoon, while it was sword skill training time.
Usually, they would show a casual side of themselves, but when holding a wooden sword, they would become as serious as if they had met a life threatening enemy. They were people who dedicated their lives to the sword.
Choe Jongbeom who was teaching trainees saw Hayan and approached.
“Come on in. But your brother already left, after finishing his morning training.”
“I’m not here to meet my brother.”
“Then why?”
“I have something to discuss.”
“Really? I’ll listen. Wait in the lounge. I’ll go as soon as their training ends
Sure.”
Hayan headed to the lounge where guests could wait. Immediately after, Jeong Ilhun, who only has his strength to trust, dropped his wooden sword.
“Master.”
“What?”
“I don’t feel good today so...”
"........"
“Can I rest in the lounge for a bit?”
As if he’s dizzy, Jeong Ilhun held his forehead.
It had never happened before. Then, other trainees started to speak up.
“Ah, nowadays I feel like crying just from watching a leaf fall.”
“Since even a gust of wind can shake this body, the sword cannot find its path. Master, can’t we rest for a bit?”
“I think I now understand what the sword is trying to tell me. In order to listen to its story, I want to rest my head inside the lounge for a bit.”
“Actually my body’s a bit weak...”
Their eyes burned with passion!
The trainees made excuses, wanting to get to the lounge no matter how!
Hayan would be surrounded by 500 males in a moment.
In the end, Choe Jongbeom personally brought Hayan to the instructor’s room.
Jeong Illhun prepared tea for her.
“Here.”
“Thank you.”
In the instructor’s room, other than Hayan and Jeong Illhun, three other instructors and 20 trainees have gathered.
Because the trainees liked Hayan like their own little sister, they didn't want to be left out.
Hayan finished the tea.
“The tea’s very tasty.”
“A former student of mine sent me this. Before that, you had something to say?”
“Yes.”
“Could it be about Lee Hyun?”
Jeong Ilhun asked sharply.
Ahn Hyun-do was thinking of taking Lee Hyun in as a disciple.
Then, next after Jeong Ilhun, Lee Hyun would become the youngest disciple.
But, since it would mean they would become like family, he was sensitive towards it.
Hayan nodded.
“That’s right.”
“What happened?”
“It’s because of brother’s birthday.”
“Birthday?”
“Yes. Brother’s birthday is only a month away. I want to hold a birthday party for him.”
"........"
Hayan was planning her brother’s birthday party and came to the dojang to get assistance.
Lee Hyun never cared for his birthday before. With their difficult life, remembering his birthday itself was a luxury. But his sister and grandmother never forgot his birthday and even prepared a small gift.
This time, Hayan wanted to prepare a surprise birthday party for Lee Hyun.
Jeong Ilhun, Choe Jongbeom and Ma Sangbeom’s eyes became huge.
“Birthday party? Like the ones on television?”
“Don’t you just celebrate your birthday by eating Seeweed soup?”
“After I became eight, I never did anything special on my birthday.”
“Birthday is, when the insurance company makes a thank you call....”
Those who dedicated their life to the sword!
They almost never have spent their birthday in a proper manner.
Even Jeong Ilhun, who looks after members as the eldest, was being pessimistic as well.
“Celebrating birthdays doesn’t suit us.”
Choe Jongbeom agreed.
“True. Rather than a birthday, victory in a sword skill competition is a better reason to celebrate.”
Ma Sangbeom nodded.
“Winning a competition is more important than one’s birthday. Since you can show off the sword skills you trained by yourself to the whole world.”
Everyone spoke their opposition.
Although Hayan, whom they liked like their own sister, was making the request, celebrating an occasion like that didn’t fit them.
It was an example as for why they weren’t popular with girls.
Like this, it seemed the birthday party plan would end as nothing.
But after Hayan´s next sentence, everything changed.
“I will introduce you to my Unni´s when I get into college.”
“A F-Female college student?”
“Yes. I’ll introduce pretty Unni´s. How about a blind date?”
“Blind date. The ones you can see in a drama?”
Jeong Ilhun gritted his teeth. Then, he looked around his companions.
Choe Jongbeom firmly nodded his approval.
“Instructors, let’s throw a birthday party! Can’t we do at least that much for Lee Hyun?”
Lee Indo moved his butt as if he was about to get up in excitement.
“Of course. Since it’s his first birthday party, shouldn’t we do it properly?”
Enthusiastic agreement from the instructors. And there’s nothing to be said about the trainees.
“To think I’d have a blind date with a college student during my life.”
“I don’t even need for it to go well. If I can just date for a day like others...”
The trainees were struggling with loneliness.
Since they trained in sword fighting, apart from their passion, they lived a life far from women.
Even sharing a word with girls was awkward and uncomfortable.
Rather, fighting yakuza was much more comfortable.
Others may be used to dating a girl and separating, but to them, those were moments that will remain with them for the rest of their lives.
Hayan promised.
“If you help me with the birthday party, I will set up a group blind date.”
“Ohhhhh!”
Trainees cheered. Then they started to plan for Lee Hyun’s birthday party one month later.
Absolutely in their own style!
“Welcome.”
“We welcome all newcomers.”
In front of the front gate of Korea University, there were clubs that were trying to have newcomers join them.
With his head lowered, Lee Hyun quietly headed towards the front door.
‘No time for things like clubs. The time I use for school life is a waste in itself.’
After going to school, the time he can invest in Royal Road decreases accordingly.
So, even if he’s a college student now, he can’t do club activities like others.
The job of sculptor showed many good points as time went by, but it needed more time investment.
Lee Hyun was set on never joining a club, even if he goes to a university.
Tadadadak.
With his heart set, Lee Hyun quickly walked by.
But no one stopped him.
Most newcomers got caught by the seniors, but no one approached Lee Hyun.
‘Phew! Thank god.’
Lee Hyun walked towards the main build, where a briefing for newcomers was to be held.
There he overheard a conversation.
“Unni, should we catch that person?”
“Leave him. Can’t you tell from his face? He’s probably a reject.”
At Korea University a briefing session for newcomers was held to explain the basics before entering the university.
Since it was still two months away most newbies did not attend.
But Lee Hyun took his time to come here.
‘I need to tell Hayan about this.’
Like parents worrying about their child’s education, it was purely for his sister.
The briefing took place in something like an auditorium.
A bit countryish style man seated himself next to Lee Hyun.
He talked to him first.
“Nice to meet you. Are you a newcomer?”
Lee Hyun nodded and turned to face him.
“Yes.”
“Korea University is so nice. I came from the countryside to visit the school. I’m Bak SoonJo from virtual reality major.”
“Is that so. My name is Lee Hyun. I choose virtual reality major as well. Since we’re in same major, let’s speak casually to each other.”
“Is that ok? You seem older than me.”
Bak SoonJo carefully asked Lee Hyun.
Lee Hyun shook his head.
“No way. I’m 20 too.”
“Your face doesn’t look like....”
“Hmm Hmm!”
Lee Hyun cleared his throat to show that he was uncomfortable.
Thanks to it, he could move on without much trouble.
Thanks to it, he could move on without much trouble.
“Yes, well. Lee Hyun! Let’s get along.”
Bak SoonJo lightly beat Lee Hyun’s shoulder as he said that.
Almost at the same time, people started approaching Bak SoonJo and Lee Hyun.
“I’m also virtual reality major. My name is Lee Yu Jeong. Nice to meet you.”
“Me too. I’m Min Sura.”
“I’m Choi Sang Jun. Nice to meet you.”
Lee Hyun and Bak SoonJo shared light greetings with friends of the same major.
Afterwards they listened to the briefing together.
On the first day, after attending the briefing session, they formed a “family”.
During the briefing’s break time, there was a hot debate among the friends.
“The virtual reality motion system used in Royal Road allows different level of physical movement depending on the user’s level.”
“Not only the basic five senses, but to be able to use potential above it. It must’ve used studies on brains as research basis.”
“To save such an enormous amount of data.