Climbing the Tower with Multidimensional Avatars - Chapter 144

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 144. Galaxy Martial God Hall – Branch Family (5)

As if remembering something, the Senior Student grinned at Cheon Ha-sung’s response.
“Oh, is it because you racked up a bunch of demerit points this time?”
At the Senior Student’s words, Cheon Ha-sung’s brow furrowed.
He was already troubled to death over it, and having that very point picked at soured his mood further.
“Hey, why the long face? Who told you to trash the dormitory like that anyway?”
Since it was his own fault, Cheon Ha-sung had nothing to say.
Then the Senior Student spoke up as if struck by a brilliant idea.
“You want to fix those demerit points, don’t you?”
Cheon Ha-sung’s eyes lit up at those words.
“How?”
“You just need to become a contestant and win the fourth-year championship. If you win, I’ll use that as a pretext to ask the dormitory supervisor on the club’s behalf to knock some points off. Then you can definitely avoid the four-person room. If things go well, you might even get a two-person room.”
At the Senior Student’s words, Cheon Ha-sung grew excited.
Even a two-person room would let him return to a single room the semester after next if he just maintained his standing in the year-end ranking tournament.
But his excitement soon faded.
“The contestants are already decided by sparring, so I can’t just volunteer like that….”
“What? Did you lose?”
“No, I didn’t! …I was just troubled, so I didn’t really volunteer.”
The Senior Student nodded as if that made sense.
Cheon Ha-sung was certain to be the club leader in the next year, an accomplished martial artist.
Even fifth-year students didn’t dare treat Cheon Ha-sung carelessly, and the Senior Student believed there was no one in his own year who could defeat him—not unless they were an abnormal prodigy like Cheon So-yeon.
Of course, looking at the ranking tournament records, he had lost once, but that was only because of someone named Cheon Ji-woo who had tricked him into thinking he’d been hit with an Internal Energy Seal, caught him off-guard, and won—so the Senior Student didn’t count it as a real defeat.
“Hmm, then there might be another way… wait, actually there is.”
“What? What is it?”
At Cheon Ha-sung’s question, the Senior Student smiled wickedly.
“You know my grandfather is one of the elders of our family, right?”
At the Senior Student’s words, Cheon Ha-sung nodded.
He flaunted it so openly that no one with a brain could help but know.
“I can ask my grandfather to get your demerit points reduced, but if you can’t participate in the competition, you’ll have to do something for me. Since you’re in Class 1….”
The Senior Student whispered his request into Cheon Ha-sung’s ear.
Cheon Ha-sung’s expression hardened as he heard the request.
The Senior Student’s request was far from fair and square, but the temptation of having the demerit points erased made him conflicted.

* * *

I let the Vice Principal’s tedious speech go in one ear and out the other while chatting with Cheon So-yeon through Transmission of Sound into Secrecy.

-Transmission. Thinking. Harder. Than. Seems.

Transmission of Sound into Secrecy was a form of martial art that conveyed sound to another person silently and discreetly.
Since it required conveying minute sounds through qi pathways so that only the target could hear them, it was classified as a Sound Martial Art.

-You’re not used to it yet. The thing is, your talent for Internal Energy is phenomenal, so most people who reach First-rank Proficiency don’t really use Transmission of Sound into Secrecy like this.

I knew that. Even though the standard for entering the Sound Martial Art is First-rank Proficiency—the ability to externalize qi—it was only the bare minimum requirement; not everyone at First-rank could use Transmission of Sound into Secrecy.
In fact, if someone lacked talent in Internal Energy, they might reach peak-level and still struggle to use it well.

-Right. Got. It.

Ugh, even trying my hardest, sending more than two syllables is way too difficult.

-Trick. Doesn’t. Exist?

At my question, Cheon So-yeon thought for a moment before answering.

-Most important is using it a lot. If there’s a trick, it’s fitting as much as you can into one transmission, I guess? The character for “secrecy” in Transmission of Sound into Secrecy isn’t the one meaning “quiet”—it’s the one meaning “dense” or “packed.” Names have meaning to them.

I thought carefully about Cheon So-yeon’s advice before asking.

“Is this the right way to do it?”
“Oh! Yes, that’s it. But it sounds like you’re speaking too fast.”
“Does it sound that way because I’m cramming the words all into one breath?”

At my words, Cheon So-yeon fell into thought again.

“When you use Transmission of Sound into Secrecy, don’t pack everything into each syllable. Think of it as carrying the pauses and gaps between words through the transmission too.”

Pauses and gaps, she’d said.
Ah, so she meant I should send the natural breathing that falls between words through the transmission as well?

“Like this?”
“Yes! Exactly like that. But your breathing gaps got too long in the middle. I’d say they’ve shrunk by about a third, but ideally you want them half of what they are now.”
“This is damn difficult.”
“Oh! The spacing between words just tightened a bit. It’s about a third shorter than before, and I think half of what you’ve got now would be perfect.”

I started to answer, then pressed my fingers against my solar plexus.

“Ah, I’m running low on Internal Energy. Well, Transmission of Sound into Secrecy is a Sound Martial Art, so it does burn through a lot of Internal Energy.”

Especially now, with the Internal Energy Seal placed on me, the amount of Internal Energy I could actually use was negligible.
Unfortunately, there was no way to remove more of the seal.
If I broke through a third or more of the seal, even a reckless expenditure of power could trigger a complete release of the seal.
So to break the seal, I needed my body alone to reach peak-level power.
I’d probably need an average physical stat of fifty.

“Still, practicing Transmission of Sound into Secrecy will help you get comfortable with First-rank Proficiency a lot.”

I nodded.
The moment Cheon So-yeon and I seemed to exchange words silently with just glances, Cheon Myeong-tae, sitting in seat six—three seats to my left—glared at me.
But what does he expect to accomplish with that kind of look? He should just talk to Cheon So-yeon himself.
Here he was, openly showing his interest in Cheon So-yeon, yet he couldn’t even manage a proper conversation with her, and still he glared only at me.
Not that he’d try to attack me privately—he’d just get scolded by Teacher Kim Do-hwa and earn Cheon So-yeon’s contempt—so instead he was the type to persistently challenge me during sparring practice sessions.
Of course, since I made a point of rotating evenly through sparring partners, I hadn’t actually sparred with Cheon Myeong-tae that many times.
Hmph, is this bastard going to cause trouble trying to show off for Cheon So-yeon?
Just as that thought crossed my mind, Cheon Ha-sung—who’d been gone to the restroom for quite a while—returned and took the seat to my right, seat number two.
I asked Cheon Ha-sung a question.
“That took a while. Is the restroom far?”
He answered my question somewhat sharply.
“No, it was my first time here so I got a bit lost. Why?”
“Why? Because I need to go too. Which way is it?”
He still seemed distressed from getting the demerit points.
Come to think of it, he must’ve drunk way too much beverage on the bus.
“Ah, go out through gate eight and head right for about fifty meters.”
“Thanks.”
As I stood up from my desk, Teacher Kim Do-hwa spoke.
“There’ll be an inter-class exchange event in part two coming up soon, so hurry back.”
“Yes!”

* * *

Needing to urinate, I hurried into the restroom where a student in a different school uniform was already using one of the stalls.
The student glanced sidelong at me and asked a question.
“Cheonmu Elementary School?”
“…Yeah.”
At my answer, he subtly began to raise his aura, seeming intent on pressuring me.
At this level of aura, he’s around third-rank, maybe early second-rank?
I don’t know what year he’s in, but I’ll need to work harder.
Everyone who learns martial arts seems to have their testosterone all messed up—they’re built like oxen and look decades older than they should.
Well, I suppose I’m a bit bigger than my peers anyway, though I figure it’s just because I lack talent in that department.
Still, judging by their level, fourth-graders aren’t bad at all, but sixth-graders? The competition for advancement must be brutal.
“Hmm, nothing special.”
When I didn’t react to his cheap posturing at all, the arrogant bastard just smirked and walked past me without a second thought.
I couldn’t help but let out a silent laugh at the sheer absurdity of it.
“What an insufferable little brat.”
But I suppose that just shows how cutthroat the competition is between schools.
I had no desire to get angry at kids.
Dealing with someone who can’t even properly assess their opponent’s strength would just be a headache—not worth my time.
After finishing up in the restroom and heading back, I received a text from Teacher Kim Do-hwa.

-I’d appreciate it if you could keep an eye on Cheon Ha-sung.

Cheon Ha-sung? Not Cheon Myeong-tae?
Even if Cheon Ha-sung does love showing off, he’s not the type of idiot who’d cause trouble at an event like this.
Well, unlike me attending an Exchange Meeting for the first time, Teacher Kim Do-hwa’s been to several of these, so she might have noticed things I wouldn’t.
There’s always the possibility that rivals from other schools might try to provoke Cheon So-yeon and Cheon Ha-sung, who top the rankings at their respective schools.
I texted back that I understood, then headed back to the auditorium, where everyone was standing up—apparently the tedious speeches from each school had finally finished.
“Everyone, move out.”
With students from four different schools crammed into one large auditorium, there was no way a proper exchange event could unfold.
The Exchange Meeting was divided into three parts.
Part One was a tedious opening ceremony introducing the significance of the meeting.
Part Two was a banquet where students from each grade and class gathered to share a simple meal and socialize.
Part Three was the Martial Contest tournament for fifth and sixth graders.
Parts One and Three would take place in the large gymnasium, but Part Two was apparently being held in separate spaces so each class could gather on their own.
Following Teacher Kim Do-hwa, we arrived at a building adjacent to the large indoor gymnasium—it seemed to be a small auditorium that doubled as a space for martial arts classes.
The building layout felt oddly familiar. Whether it was because this was a Martial Arts Specialized School with a similar structure, or because it was part of the same academy foundation and thus similarly designed, it felt like I’d briefly stepped into an adjacent unit of an apartment complex.
“I thought they’d just set up some lines on the outdoor field and put a few snacks on disposable plates, but this is quite elaborate.”
Each grade and class was clearly separated, and even though the individual plates were disposable, the food was clearly prepared with care.
With the spacious classroom arranged like this, it even had the feel of a proper banquet hall.
At my comment, Teacher Kim Do-hwa let out a quiet chuckle.
“Well, it’s a regular event we’ve been holding for a long time—can’t just do it haphazardly. Besides, since the family sponsors this event from the start, they actually allocate funds, so if we did it that way, there’d be hell to pay.”
I’d noticed assistant teachers running around with cameras throughout Part One, which suggested they had reports to write up as well.
“But is it really appropriate to tell a student something so confidential?”
At my question, Teacher Kim Do-hwa chuckled again.
“Are you really asking that now?”
“Well, if I don’t make you aware of your age in some way like this, I’m genuinely afraid you’ll start treating me like an assistant teacher.”
At my joke, Teacher Kim Do-hwa coughed softly.
She seemed to have plenty of sore spots.
Not long after we arrived, students from Class 1, fourth grade, of three different schools began filing in one by one.
Even with eighty children total—twenty from each class—the spacious classroom still felt roomy.
Even though these kids were probably attending an Exchange Meeting for the first time, they looked slightly nervous as they observed each other, as if sensing a senior match looming ahead.
Once everyone had assembled and lined up, Teacher Kim Do-hwa stepped forward and infused her voice with Internal Energy as she spoke.
“Everyone, listen up! I’m Kim Do-hwa, homeroom teacher of Class 1, fourth grade at Cheonmu Elementary School. This Exchange Meeting is for you—feel free to introduce yourselves and enjoy yourselves, but keep things orderly and don’t cause any commotion! Understood?”
“Yes! We understand!”
The children, meeting Teacher Kim Do-hwa for the first time, shrank back at her intimidating tone and answered obediently.
“Then everyone, have fun!”
Teacher Kim Do-hwa exchanged light eye contact with the other school’s teachers, then made her way with the other instructors to a seating area set up in the corner so as not to interfere with the exchange.
I’d expected there might be some kind of icebreaker activity at an exchange event, but judging by the subtle atmosphere among the children, it seemed they deliberately didn’t want to give them any excuse to get rowdy.
Following Teacher Kim Do-hwa’s instruction, I kept watch over Cheon Ha-sung while loading food onto my plate.
The initially hesitant students soon began striking up conversations one by one, starting with the more socially inclined ones, once the teachers were seated quietly.
The one who drew the most attention was undoubtedly Cheon So-yeon.
Her beautiful appearance that seemed too mature for a child, her first-rank standing in the grade, and the widely circulating rumors about her Heavenly Martial Body made it inevitable that all eyes would be drawn to her.
While some children showed their admiration for her, others openly envied her.
With so many people present, a diverse array of human types became visible.
Cheon So-yeon gave off a clearly annoyed aura, but since her nature wasn’t harsh toward others, she accommodated them well enough.
Not wanting to be bothered, I suppressed my presence and just ate.
Just as I was thinking that fourth-grade exchanges probably wouldn’t see anything too rough, regardless of other grades, I noticed Cheon Ha-sung—the one I was supposed to watch—swallow dryly and shift his position.

(To be continued in the next installment)

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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