Climbing the Tower with Multidimensional Avatars - Chapter 49

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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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Chapter 49. Galaxy Martial God Hall – Clubs (4)

“So there are only six clubs that wish to train alongside Cheon So-yeon without any ulterior motives?”
At her words, the club presidents averted their gazes.
They seemed ashamed of the fact that they had only wanted Cheon So-yeon for their own benefit.
Of course, I had no way of knowing how many of the club presidents who had stepped forward truly desired Cheon So-yeon’s talent and skill purely for their own sake.
Even if they claimed they didn’t seek additional support, the mere fact that Cheon So-yeon had joined their club would benefit them in some way.
Gorilla Number One—no, Sword Arts Club President Cheon Jeon-il—looked simple-minded at first glance, but who’s to say his mind didn’t work quickly despite his appearance?
Most likely, the majority of sixth-graders who hadn’t even graduated elementary school yet simply failed to grasp this fact immediately and got flustered, which is why only six of them had stepped forward.
Teacher Kim Do-hwa spoke firmly to prevent any further objections.
“Then only these six will remain, and the rest of you will return to your classes.”
At Teacher Kim Do-hwa’s gesture, the other teachers ushered out all the students except the six who remained.
The remaining clubs were Sword Arts, Boxing, Spear Arts, Grappling, Blade Arts, and Secret Blade clubs.
“Club membership is not mandatory. Club activities only have meaning when pursued through a student’s voluntary will. Otherwise, I would have forced all of you to withdraw from your clubs immediately.”
At Teacher Kim Do-hwa’s words, the six remaining sixth-graders swallowed hard.
“When I say will is respected, I mean that Cheon So-yeon’s own intention to join is the most important factor.”
Cheon So-yeon had already expressed her intention to establish a new club, and she had the support of Teacher Kim Do-hwa, who was both her homeroom teacher and club advisor.
Yet they were still being stubborn—they clearly understood they were being unreasonable.
“However, out of consideration for Cheon So-yeon, I’m willing to give you all one opportunity.”
At the word “opportunity,” the six senior students’ eyes gleamed.
“The strongest student among you will have a match against Cheon So-yeon. If you lose, both Cheon So-yeon and Cheon Ji-woo have promised to join that club.”
At Teacher Kim Do-hwa’s words, Gorilla Number Two—no, Boxing Club President Cheon Hae-woo—asked a question.
“Then, if more than two of us defeat the junior Cheon So-yeon, which club do we join?”
At his question, Teacher Kim Do-hwa frowned.
“Didn’t I say the strongest student would have the match? Are you planning to have multiple matches with a first-grader?”
“Oh! I misunderstood. I thought we might have one match per day….”
His comprehension was lacking. Despite his appearance, he was every bit the elementary school student.
Or rather, should I say he lived up to his simple-minded looks?
“Then should we first determine who among us is the strongest?”
At the question from the Grappling Club President, who looked rather cunning overall, Teacher Kim Do-hwa nodded.
“Yes. I’ll create a bracket now. We’ll finish everything today, so draw your numbers.”
There were numbers one through six. Numbers one through four would need two wins to reach the finals, while numbers five and six would only need one win.
Under Teacher Kim Do-hwa’s supervision, the six seniors drew their lots.
Yes! It’s time for an entertaining fight!

* * *

I headed toward the sparring hall at Cheonmu Hall.
“The sparring rules are point-based. The first person to score 10 points wins.”
There were several forms of sparring at school, but full-power matches were rarely conducted due to the high risk of injury.
The most common was the point system, where a referee awarded points based on strikes.
There was also the speed rule, similar to fencing, where hitting a specific target area first meant victory.
And the defense rule, where you protected your wooden figure while trying to destroy your opponent’s first.
The point system relied heavily on the referee’s discretion, so if it seemed dangerous, they could quickly award points to end the match.
“First match, begin.”
Number one was the Grappling Club leader, and number two was the Boxing Club leader.
The battle between the club leaders that began was incredibly intense.
Since they were either on the verge of reaching first-class or had just achieved it, the tension rivaled that of a UFC match.
“The senior using boxing is definitely first-class, and the senior using grappling is still second-class. But the boxing senior doesn’t seem to have a favorable matchup.”
Cheon So-yeon assessed their skill levels while watching the two spar.
Indeed, against grappling, which primarily relied on joint locks, maintaining distance was crucial.
However, with boxing, it wasn’t easy to create distance, so grappling had the advantage.
Particularly, the most vulnerable moment for a martial artist was shortly after breaking through to a new level.
As one’s level rose and new techniques became possible, one inevitably neglected what had become familiar, and above all, arrogance took root.
More than anything else, arrogance was poison.
As the fierce battle continued, the Boxing Club leader, despite being first-class, hadn’t used fist energy even once.
Did he need to concentrate to use it?
Or was he conserving his strength for the next match?
The moment I thought that, the Grappling Club leader’s grab connected, flowing into a joint lock combo. Was the Grappling Club leader going to win?
“The boxing senior won.”
When I focused on what Cheon So-yeon said, I realized the joint lock hadn’t landed properly.
Joint locks are extremely advanced techniques.
Once caught, it’s difficult to escape, but the slightest mistake means it won’t land effectively.
The Boxing Club leader used fist energy as his trump card and attempted to drive his fist down directly into the Grappling Club leader.
“Stop! Cheon Hae-woo, 10 points.”
The Boxing Club leader stopped just before the strike landed, and the Grappling Club leader, sweating profusely, conceded defeat.
However, even the Boxing Club leader’s joint area seemed sore, as he grimaced slightly.
The subsequent matches were equally intense.
As Cheon So-yeon watched the seniors’ matches, the displeasure she’d felt was somewhat relieved, and she regarded the seniors as one might look at an impressive junior.
“Are you thinking about joining a club now?”
At my question, Cheon So-yeon tilted her head.
“No. I’d rather create one than join. There are fewer people that way.”
“I figured as much.”
Cheon So-yeon didn’t particularly like large groups.
Perhaps founding a club was an inevitable outcome.
Since the transfer student was part of 41 clubs, even unpopular clubs would have dozens of members as a baseline.
When Cheon So-yeon, who disliked large crowds, said she’d join a club if she lost, it was the same as saying she would absolutely never lose.
“Oh, so the Sword Arts Club leader won in the end.”
The finals match between the two gorillas—the Sword Arts Club leader and the Boxing Club leader—ended in victory for the Sword Arts Club leader.
As a martial artist’s realm advances, the advantage of weapons diminishes.
Before I learned inner energy, a bare-fisted fight against someone wielding a sword would be impossible, but as I strengthened my fists with inner energy, I could eventually hold my own against steel.
However, at merely the first-class realm, the gap between weapon and fist couldn’t be completely closed.
A sword had greater reach than a fist, and was far more durable.
Moreover, the Boxing Club leader had fought three consecutive matches with injured joints from being caught in a grappling lock in the first match, while the Sword Arts Club leader only had to fight twice—so this was the natural outcome.
“Watching a proper match like this really does help.”
The seniors had learned the same martial arts as me, so their movements and decisions were worth referencing.
At my words, Cheon So-yeon nodded.
“Right? For martial artists, actually fighting is important, but watching is equally important.”
Now came the real finals.
My opponent had fought consecutively but didn’t ask for a break.
I understood that a sixth-grader fighting a first-grader who’d just enrolled made no sense in the first place, so asking for rest time would only seem pathetic.
Though the sixth-graders had experienced being overwhelmed by the momentum Cheon So-yeon radiated, they lacked the experience to recognize that momentum as intense intent.
I only knew because my teacher Siu often showed me how to handle intent; otherwise, I might have worried about Cheon So-yeon.
“I really hope you’ll join the club with us. Junior Cheon So-yeon.”
“I’ll do my best. Senior.”
At the Sword Arts Club leader Cheon Jeon-il’s words, Cheon So-yeon simply drew her wooden sword quietly.
Just from the size difference, it looked like an adult intimidating a child.
But no one stopped it.
I knew clearly that Cheon So-yeon’s skill was superior, and Teacher Kim Do-hwa, as her homeroom teacher, wanted to see the limits of her abilities.
“Both of you, get ready. Match start!”
At Teacher Kim Do-hwa’s declaration, Cheon So-yeon attacked first.
Using the subtlety of lightness technique to make her body nimble, Cheon So-yeon advanced swiftly and slashed upward from below.
Crack!
The wooden swords collided, producing a clear sound.
Tension crossed Cheon Jeon-il’s face as he blocked once.
He seemed to have instinctively sensed that the power behind the upward strike, which shouldn’t have been properly channeled, was extraordinary.
“That was an attack meant to warn you not to be careless. Now you can’t afford to be.”
At Cheon So-yeon’s words, Cheon Jeon-il seriously brought his sword down toward her crown.
The moment Cheon So-yeon raised her sword to meet it, she struck along the blade toward Cheon Jeon-il’s wrist.
“Ugh!”
“Cheon So-yeon, three points.”
The reason it was only three points was thanks to Cheon So-yeon’s mercy.
If it had connected properly, he would have dropped his sword immediately, and that would have been ten points—Cheon So-yeon’s victory.
But Cheon So-yeon, perhaps to give her senior a good learning experience, leisurely stepped back one pace.
As the distance opened, Cheon Jeon-il stirred his fighting spirit and swung his sword.
Though larger movements meant greater power, Cheon Jeon-il, having realized he’d been easily countered like before, didn’t move so broadly now.
His sword swings seemed deliberately restrained, ready to be recovered at any moment.
If we went with a battle of sword technique, Cheon So-yeon couldn’t possibly lose.
Cheon So-yeon lightly deflected the blade swinging toward her and struck twice at the legs and once at the ribs.
“Cheon So-yeon, 9 points. One point remaining.”
At Teacher Kim Do-hwa’s words, Cheon Jeon-il gazed at Cheon So-yeon with an expression of awe.
The age difference between them was five years—an insurmountable gap at this stage of development—yet facing imminent defeat, he offered her his respect.
“Truly flawless. This is clearly my loss.”
Cheon Jeon-il, gracefully accepting his defeat, took one final stance.
“Then it would be proper to show my full strength and leave not a shred of regret! Receive my ultimate technique!”
The aura emanating from Cheon Jeon-il as he stood motionless was extraordinary.
Teacher Kim Do-hwa moved to intervene, but Cheon So-yeon stopped her with a gesture.
“Please, go ahead, Senior.”
“Excellent! Here I come!”
Cheon Jeon-il’s wooden sword blazed with vivid sword energy, creating a draconic momentum as his ultimate technique unfolded—a killing blow.
Cheon So-yeon did not use sword energy.
She simply pierced the vulnerability in the sword energy rushing toward her, twisted the direction of its force, and let it slide along the blade’s surface.
The training wooden sword became tattered under the ferocious sword energy.
Yet she ultimately deflected his blade and drove into his embrace, pressing the shattered wooden sword against his throat.
Tap.
“…I’ve lost.”
Before Teacher Kim Do-hwa could declare the victor, Cheon Jeon-il conceded, and Cheon So-yeon withdrew her sword and bowed respectfully.
“Thank you for the match, Senior. If you hadn’t been fatigued from the previous bout, I truly couldn’t have predicted the outcome.”
No one present believed her words.
Though Cheon Jeon-il was indeed tired, the fact that he’d waited to unleash his final ultimate technique and she’d still countered it proved that even at full strength, he could never have defeated Cheon So-yeon.
“Ah, won’t you really consider joining our club?”
His regret only deepened after sparring with Cheon So-yeon.
Cheon So-yeon cut through his lingering attachment with a single stroke.
“No.”
“Is that so? I envy your friend. If you were in the same club, you could spar as much as you wanted, right?”
It seemed Cheon Jeon-il had genuinely come forward, free of ulterior motives, simply desiring to polish himself through sparring with Cheon So-yeon.
“Ji-woo and I spar every day without needing a club.”
Well, that’s true enough.
Though I’m still far from adequate, so it’s practically just instruction sparring.
At Cheon So-yeon’s answer, Cheon Jeon-il looked at me with eyes full of jealousy.
“Could I join your club as well?”
“Ah, that’s a bit…”
“That’s harsh.”
When Cheon So-yeon turned serious, Cheon Jeon-il appeared slightly wounded.
“Well then, everyone has no objections to Siu and me establishing our own club, correct?”
Cheon So-yeon smiled brightly as she spoke, and no one could object.
She’d offered opportunity through consideration that wasn’t strictly necessary and proven her worth through skill—it was only natural.
And so, Cheon So-yeon and I founded the Elixir Club.

(To be continued in the next chapter)

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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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