"I'm sorry for calling you out so suddenly." "I always welcome martial arts training."
Yudum had been traveling on a journey of martial asceticism to master his combat techniques. We had also made a verbal promise to spar sometime. Even if that promise had just been part of his cover story for infiltration, it suited my purposes perfectly. I had summoned him under the pretext of wanting a training partner. And so, we stood facing each other in the courtyard, both unarmed and in our everyday clothes. ...Of course, as was usually the case, my "everyday clothes" were actually a full set of equipment meant for emergencies. I was wearing a stab-resistant inner layer made from tough Sticky Slime thread, an Iron Slime concealed as a belt-sword, and safety boots. I was prepared for anything. "No weapons or offensive/defensive magic allowed. Strengthening magic and the use of Qi are both fair game. Sound good?" "That works for me. Let's begin."
I relaxed my body into a natural stance, and almost the moment I finished speaking, Yudum moved. Standing about three meters away, he raised his lightly clenched fists. It looked like a boxing stance, but his feet were spread wide, planted firmly on the ground. "Here I come!" He closed the gap in an instant, lunging forward without losing a bit of momentum. I didn't sense any mana or Qi, however. Despite us allowing strengthening, he wasn't using it. Was he testing the waters, or just holding back? The thought crossed my mind for a split second, but... "That’s quite a punch to throw at a kid," I said. "You’ve got a lot of nerve, talking while you dodge so casually!" He had the speed and power of a professional fighter from my previous life. The punches came in a barrage, his rotation speed increasing and his combinations growing more complex. I used backsteps to stay just out of reach, evading the fists aimed squarely at my face. As he pulled a fist back, I seized the opportunity to close the distance and move into his guard. Naturally, he threw his other fist to counter. I pressed my right hand against it, diverting the trajectory. I pivoted my body, turning sideways to reduce my profile, and thrust my left fist forward. "..." I had slipped into the gap between his attacks, launching a counter as I parried. It was a strike delivered at a timing where he couldn't possibly defend, but Yudum calmly widened the distance to reset the engagement. For a while, we continued to trade hand techniques. If I pushed, he pushed back; if he pushed, I countered. Occasionally, he mixed in a kick, but never anything flashy. He avoided big moves that might leave him open. It was a solid, honest exchange of offense and defense—a contest of reading the opponent and deciding how to react.
Then, Yudum's movements shifted. He dropped his center of gravity slightly and opened his fists. A moment later, he pounced like a beast on its prey. "Whoa!" I reflexively grabbed both of his reaching hands, locking us in a "four-hands" clinch. He tried to use his superior size to crush me from above, but I did the opposite and relaxed. I took a half-step back, absorbing the pressure of his arms while twisting his wrists and elbows outward. I quickly dove beneath him to gain leverage. "Ngh!" Close. I was a hair's breadth away from locking his joints and ending the match, but Yudum managed to wrench his hands free and leap back. "...I was genuinely trying to pin you that time," he admitted. "I have a bit of experience with grappling and throws as well." "You really are the perfect training partner." The atmosphere around him changed. Synchronized with his deep breathing, I felt Qi—the raw energy of the physical body—wrap around him. I showed my intent to resist by coating myself in Qi as well, which earned me a smile from Yudum. "Here I go!" From then on, his movements became protean. He would transition from strikes into grapples or throws, then weave strikes back into his wrestling maneuvers. His variety of techniques and combinations was staggering. It was genuinely fascinating to deal with. To have mastered that many moves, he must have put in years of grueling practice. I was now certain that his background as a traveling martial artist and his passion for the craft weren't just part of his cover. To honor that dedication, I fought back with everything I had. Sometimes, I would sink my weight to collapse his posture. Other times, I would hook the leg he used for a low kick to trip him. I utilized every bit of the martial prowess ingrained in my body from my past life. As a result, Yudum was deflected, thrown, and sent rolling across the ground time and time again. Yet the light in his eyes never dimmed, and he never stopped moving. And then— "!?" Right after we separated from a flurry of strikes, the presence of Qi in Yudum's fist intensified. A punch that shouldn't have been able to reach hit my shoulder. It wasn't particularly powerful or painful, but it was enough to make me realize I had been "hit." The shock of an attack connecting from such a distance created a momentary opening. Naturally, he didn't miss it; he nearly tackled me to the ground. I managed to escape with a Circle Throw, but I couldn't stop thinking about that inexplicable attack. As we continued, I realized the secret. It was a technique that projected Qi through the air—something like a "Qi Bullet" from the manga of my old world. My interest and excitement peaked, and before I knew it, I was completely absorbed in the fight.
The match finally ended when Yudum ran out of steam. It seemed that projected Qi techniques consumed far more stamina than simple physical reinforcement. Toward the end, his movements slowed visibly with every shot he fired. Yudum dropped to his knees, admitted defeat, and then collapsed onto his back to stare at the sky. He looked exhausted, but a satisfied, refreshed smile was on his face. "Yudum-san." I pulled a towel and a drink from my Item Box and offered them to him while he lay there panting. "The barrier keeps the area warm, but you'll still catch a cold if you just lie there." "...Thanks." He paused for a few seconds as if processing my words, then took the towel to wipe his sweat and downed the entire cup of water in one go. He looked a bit dazed from the fatigue. "Phew! That’s good!" "I'm glad to hear it." I took out a cup for myself and poured some water. I'd gotten some great exercise myself... the scent of the citrus-infused water was incredibly refreshing. I poured myself a second glass. I refilled Yudum's cup as well, and by the time we finished rehydrating, he had regained his composure. "Feeling better?" "Much." He suddenly adopted a serious expression and bowed his head. "Thank you for today. I'm not great with words, but that was a truly valuable experience." In his voice and posture, I felt the respect of one martial artist for another. He was acknowledging me as a peer. "The feeling is mutual. I learned a lot too, especially since it was my first time seeing those Qi techniques." "Is that so? Well, if you got something out of it, then I'm happy. "If you're willing, I'd like to do this regularly. I want to learn more about those techniques." "I'd love to! There’s a mountain of things I want to learn from you too. For example—" His tone snapped back to its usual casual lightness, but his passion for the art remained. We spent some time discussing what we wanted to learn from each other. Yudum mentioned he'd even considered asking to be my disciple, but I'm not the type to take on students, so I suggested we just teach each other as equals. He told me that was an incredibly generous offer. "Manager, for people in our line of work, combat techniques are our livelihood. They're our lifeline. Normally, you don't teach your moves to anyone who isn't a sworn disciple." At the Adventurer Guild, anyone can get basic training, but that's strictly to "improve adventurer survival rates and mission success." Even then, they only teach the fundamentals. An instructor might go further if they take a personal liking to a student, but high-level secrets or "hidden techniques" are almost never passed on. It was the same on Earth. Many ancient schools were terrified of their techniques leaking out, so they forbade matches with other styles or required students to sign blood oaths upon entry. Some teachers even taught "public forms" to hide the true techniques from prying eyes, or separated physical movements from oral instructions so the art could never be stolen. The history of martial arts is a history of information security. Thinking about it that way, modern Earth—with its books and videos explaining almost every style in detail—was basically a cheat.
I understood his point, but my sensibilities were still those of a modern person. "Just keep it in the back of your mind for now," Yudum said. "I'm genuinely grateful for the offer. It's not like open, unrestricted schools don't exist, after all." "I understand! ...Wait." "Something wrong?" Crap. I'd gotten so caught up in the fight that I'd forgotten my actual goal. "Yudum-san, I completely forgot to mention this, but training wasn't the only reason I asked you here today." "Oh?" "Yes. There's something I need to ask you." "Ask away. I'll tell you anything I can." "Good. Then here's my question: Yudum-san, you've been leaking information, haven't you? Who is your contact?" "Cough!?" I'd timed my question perfectly—right as he was trying to finish the last of his water. He started coughing violently. "How did you know—" "You might be aware of this, but the recent unrest in Gimul is manufactured. Agents of nobles hostile to the Ducal House are operating in the shadows. We cast a net to catch their operatives." "And I'm the one who fell into it, huh?" "To be honest, the person who came to collect the info from you is more important than you are." Yudum's mood plummeted. He looked regretful, then his face hardened as if he were preparing for the worst. "Um, you've got this 'ready to face my execution' look on your face, but you're probably mistaken." "Eh?" "Strictly speaking, there was a suggestion to just arrest you on the spot. But I had some personal questions, so I made this 'time to talk directly.'" "The match was just an excuse, then? Although I guess I got a little too into it myself... sorry." As I apologized, I glanced up. A monster that looked like a small owl was perched on the roof, watching the courtyard. It was Lilian-san's familiar. I'd only found out yesterday that she was a Tamer. "It's true that I was leaking information," Yudum said. "So why go to this much trouble?" "Well, the fact that you were leaking info has already been confirmed by a source I trust. I don't doubt the report. However, we didn't know where the information was going. That means you aren't necessarily an enemy." "I mean, sure, but usually, secretly leaking information makes you an enemy by default." "Yeah, you're right." That was why persuading everyone at yesterday's meeting had been such a pain. Between Lilian-san's owl, the slime sensor network I'd spent all morning setting up, my armor, and the traps hidden in this courtyard, I was taking no chances. I also had Space Magic ready so I could teleport away at any moment. That teleportation would be the signal for Hughes-san and the rest of our elite instructors to come storming in. "It was only after I layered precaution upon precaution that I finally got permission to do this. And even then, everyone was pretty reluctant." "...I'm the last person who should be saying this, but that’s the only logical way to handle it. Why go that far for me?" When he asked why, I found myself at a loss for words. "We haven't known each other very long, but I just had a feeling you weren't an enemy. To be blunt, it was a 'hunch.' I recently got some advice to stop being so logical and start trusting my instincts more." To be honest, I wasn't entirely confident. My gut feeling wasn't a lie, but my brain was still trying to rationalize it. Was I just telling myself he wasn't an enemy because I wanted to believe it? "Anyway! I'm not entirely sure myself, but I decided to follow my gut and make this chance to talk." "That's reckless, Manager..." "I've already heard that from everyone else, and I've received plenty of dirty looks for it. I'm sorry for making everyone worry, but it's too late for that now." You shouldn't underestimate the mental fortitude of a man who survived a black company. To live through that, you have to be shamelessly thick-skinned. "So, please, tell me your story. And make it quick. I know I said I didn't mind the glares, but I am currently making a lot of people very anxious. If we take too long, they might lose their patience and storm the place anyway. So, hurry, hurry, hurry!" I had kept the response team waiting for a long time. I really needed him to get to the point. "Okay, okay! Stop giving me that weird look!" Yudum sighed, muttering to himself about where to begin. "As I asked before: who is your employer, and where is the information going?" "Right. That’s easy. The person I’ve been sending information to is—" When he said the name—or rather, the title—I couldn't believe my ears. "I'm sorry, could you say that again? Who is receiving your reports?" "Elias de Reefaul. He's the King of this country."