Lungmen Type Things

III: Secret

"Left! Too slow!"

"Ghk-?!"

BAM!

The kick that Ch'en gave came out from the left, but Seha was too slow to block it. The kick landed squarely on his arm that he raised to block the attack, causing him to once again fly back from the training arena grounds onto the bystander grounds. There was a loud crash as he landed on the chairs around. He gave a grunt of pain as he got back up, breathing heavily. Training? No. More like a beat-down. Ch'en had already beaten him for the past eleven times in the arena, telling him to get back up each time. Whatever the case was, she seemed to be more resilient than before.

"Get back up, Seha Lee. Are you done already?"

"You.. huff.. aren't tired yet?"

"Please. I've been training long before you even arrived. There's a reason I'm the head of the LGD even though I'm just a year or two older than you."

"... So it wasn't just to be a mascot, eh?"

"Very funny. Now get up."

"Let me.. catch my breath. We've been at this for about an hour already nonstop."

"While you be strength in your attacks, your speed is moderate and your stamina is low. You'll need to improve them both. Otherwise, you'll be easy pickings or enemies that travel in groups."

"When is this battle going to take place again?"

"This weekend. You're going to be paired against others who are stronger than you. Make sure you're not caught behind."

"....I somehow sincerely doubt your words. Compared to against you, I feel like the others would be a piece of cake."

"Maybe so, but I'm preparing you. The thing that you have to do that most LGD officers don't have the guts to do in their first mission is kill. That sounds dirty, but that's part of this job. Can you kill an enemy if it comes down to it?"

"I'll have to won't I? This job requires that I do as such."

"Big words for someone who hasn't been out since the dawn of humanity. It's a miracle your body is still this durable despite being shut away for ages."

"I'm not a complete NEET, you know?"

"At any rate, not everyone can do what's part of their job. As much as know that killing is, you might not even be able to bring yourself to do it."

"...Don't worry about me. I'll handle it on my own. Even though I was a NEET, I'm not that naïve."

"Hmph. We'll see about that. As for now, you'll have to get your body stronger. Because your body was strong once, your muscles are deteriorating from the inactivity. You're lucky you had some training back then."

"I wouldn't really call it training. It's more about staying alive. If you lose, you'll end up starving and dying."

"Regardless, be thankful for that. Had you grown up comfortable and spoiled, you wouldn't be here. Now get back into the arena for one last spar. Then I have another thing to discuss to you about."

"Oh gee, another thing?"

"Yes, Seha Lee. Another thing. Let's see how long your sarcasm will last once you're in the arena."

"....Can I at least have a handicap?"

"No."

"Ah.. well damn."

"If it helps, I'll go all out on you so your survival instincts would trigger."

"I think we both have very different definitions on the word "help." And besides, aren't survival instincts called... fight or flight?"