Everyone is Young Except for Me

 “A-Above and below?”

The instructor wearing a helmet immediately moved his attention to his groin area. Then he spat out in a furious voice, “Keuk, daring to fight against an instructor? This is my last remaining pride!”

The instructor continued to say harsh words but Park Muyeol didn’t listen. His eyes were currently focused on the quest window.

 

[Hidden Quest - Defeat the Instructor!]

[Difficulty: B-

Mulan’s training instructor, Momori, is trying to shave the hair of you and your colleagues, who aren’t mentally strong. (Momori = hairless head) You rebelled against him! If you win a duel with him, you and your colleagues can avoid the ‘shaving.’ However, be careful. Momori is disgusted with you.

-Completion Conditions: Win a duel against Momori. 0/1

-Rewards: Exemption from the hair shaving, increased goodwill with the chief of the training center, Kunta.

Failure: All your hair will be shaved off. Above and below.]

 

‘Was his name Momori? It is a strange name. However, why will the goodwill of the training camp chief increase?’

“This will be interesting.”

Everyone turned around to see a middle-aged man with dark skin and large muscles. The training camp chief, Kunta, stood there. Park Muyeol had briefly seen him when they entered the training camp. Kunta walked toward Momori. “Let me be the referee.”

“C-Chief, are you serious?”

“Why? Don’t you have the confidence?”

“That’s not it... how can I beat an old man?”

“Instructor Momori, don’t ignore old men!”

“S-Sorry!”

Kunta’s sudden roar caused Momori to stand at attention. He looked tense and disciplined.

“Don’t forget. Who is the Hero of Mulan?!”

“I’m sorry!”

Kunta walked past Momori.

This time, he asked Park Muyeol, “What is your name?”

“Trainee 72.”

 

* * *

 

Mulan’s hot sun shone on the many trainees gathered at the sandy beach. They were surrounding a circle made by someone and Kunta’s voice was heard from the middle.

“The duel will use a three games, two wins system! Skills and magic can’t be used. You can only compete using physical force alone. Armor can’t be worn but helmets will be worn to protect your lives! if one party surrenders or it is impossible for them to continue the fight, they will lose! Are there any objections?”

Momori shook his head. “No.”

It was the same for Park Muyeol. “Me too.”

“Then start!” Kunta stepped back and the gong rang.

The trainees shouted. There were Koreans among them but many were foreigners. However, as the country Arkstar was made in, the Korean voices were the loudest.

“Grandfather, fighting~!” 

“I don’t expect you to win but I’ll be cheering for you!”

“I’m looking forward to the collective shaving!”

‘They all think I’m going to lose.’

It was natural for them to think like this. Momori in front of him was level 10 while Park Muyeol was only level 1. Even so, he wasn’t going to lose easily.

“Old man, you will regret it. I will beat you with one hand and humiliate you.”

“Oh, really? Can you actually win?”

“Kuock, stubborn to the end!”

Momori’s weapon was a long rod made of wood. It was a weapon with a long reach that could block the enemy’s access. On the other hand, Park Muyeol held a short wooden sword. The reach was short but this weapon was the best. Kim Gitae stood behind Park Muyeol nervously and Park Muyeol opened his mouth, “Haeba.”

“Yes, Chairman-nim.” 

“Do you think I’m going to lose?”

“...No.”

“Then don’t make a long face.”

At the same time, Momori aimed at his head. It was an attack to the head but Park Muyeol avoided it easily. 

‘It is a bit heavy but it’s pretty good.’

It was a bit slower than his body in reality but it was inevitable. Park Muyeol was just getting started.

“Your movements are pretty good for an old man.”

Momori stated as he pulled back the rod. Then he spun the wooden rod in one hand and aimed it. The smile on his face looked really ugly.

“You cropped-haired fellow.”

“What? Bald? Kuock! I can’t forgive you!”

‘I didn’t mean that... why is he so sensitive?’

Nevertheless, he couldn’t afford to think about it. The wooden rod in Momori’s hand struck at Park Muyeol’s entire body. The sound of wood and wood colliding resonated through the training ground.

Clack! Clack clack! Clack!

It was fiercer than he thought. The exclamations of the trainees burst out.

“Isn’t this grandfather better at fighting than I thought?”

“Where did he learn kendo?”

“His use of the wooden sword isn’t ordinary.”

Park Muyeol thought it was worth a try. Momori really only used one hand as he said—he swung his rod with one hand which affected the speed of the swing. He was only using one hand but there was no reason for Park Muyeol to stop this. There was nothing to lose from his point of view.

‘Thank you for one win.’

Bam! Bam bam! Bam!

Momori suddenly started to be hit in the arms and sides. Momori looked flustered. “W-What?”

Park Muyeol rushed faster. He didn’t want to give his opponent a chance to adjust the weapon. The short sword struck a heavy blow to Momori’s head.

“This crazy old man!”

Momori failed to regain his composure and continued to be beaten. Shouts started to erupt from the trainees. The reaction was the opposite of before.

“This is amazing. Who is that grandfather?”

“Will he win? Hey, are you shooting the video?”

“Uh. Look at that. It’s crazy.”

Clack! Pak! Pak! Momori allowed Park Muyeol to get close and was beaten to the ground. This was the weakness of a weapon with a long reach, while Park Muyeol relied on his agility. His movement speed might be slower than it was in reality but the wooden sword in his hand was realistic. He had the right attack speed to reproduce his real ability.

In the end, Momori couldn’t stop the series of attacks and screamed. “I-I surrender!”

The ruthless sword stopped at the same time that the gong rang.

[You have achieved one victory!]

[It is an unbelievable achievement!]

[The title ‘Person Who Assaulted an Instructor at Level 1’ has been acquired.]

[Strength and agility have permanently increased by 10.]

 ‘What is this profit? Kuhaha.’

It was an unthinkable reward. Park Muyeol grinned and Kunta shouted, “The winner of the first showdown is Trainee 72!”

Cheers erupted around him.

"Wahhhh!”

“Awesoooome—!”

“Amaziiiiing~!!!”

Many people liked it but the ones who enjoyed the victory the most were the young people he trained with earlier. They shouted loudly, ecstatic that they didn’t have to shave their heads. Kim Gitae approached from behind and handed over a towel. “You haven’t become rusty at all.”

“I might not be as good as before but I can teach my grandchild. Keke.”

Park Muyeol turned his head and saw Momori drinking something that looked like red water. Perhaps it was the potion he learned about in the tutorial. Soon after, Momori regained his strength and spoke through gritted teeth. “...I acknowledge your skills. I won’t be merciful on you anymore, old man trainee.” 

“Originally, an empty cart is noisy.”

“Bah. You will see soon.”

After a brief break, the gong rang again. Then Park Muyeol became flustered.

‘What is this?’

Momori’s speed was higher than before but Park Muyeol didn’t know the reason. The offensive was too quick and Park Muyeol groaned as he was driven on the defensive.

“Kuock.”

Was he careless? Park Muyeol thought so but it was actually the opposite. Park Muyeol wasn’t careless. This was the reason why he could survive in the fierce world and when he was trapped and fought against 20 people.

‘I won’t lose. My nickname isn’t Supreme Bamboo for nothing!’

Park Muyeol focused and swung his wooden sword even on the defensive. It was just that God wasn’t on his side. In the end, he lost with half his health left to Momori.

 

[You have lost!]

[Your pain tolerance has increased due to the confrontation with the instructor.]

[The Fitness stat has increased by 2.]

 

‘Dammit.’

He liked the stat increase but he didn’t feel good at all. It seemed like that damn guy wasn’t bluffing. Still, it was weird when thinking about it. He didn’t seem this good before... 

Kim Gitae brought over a potion as Park Muyeol was lost in thought. Kim Gitae didn’t say anything.

“......”

“I don’t have the face to look at you.”

“No, I believe in you.”

“...I will do my best.”

“Chairman-nim has always done so.”

Park Muyeol swallowed the potion and felt the vitality in his body rising while he stared at Momori across the way. He was currently drinking a potion. Then something caught Park Muyeol’s eyes.

‘Wait, is that perhaps...?’

The identity of the red potion that Momori was currently drinking. This was one of the buff potions that he saw in the tutorial. The effect was to increase all stats by 5% for five minutes. It was a bit different from the recovery potions but it was similar and Park Muyeol had memorized it. Momori was drinking three potions, one of which was a buff potion that he drank secretly.

‘Did he become stronger by drinking that?’

Park Muyeol looked over and an instructor smiled at him. His name was ‘Tarmo.’ The two people smiled like demons.

‘An accomplice!’

It was a fatal mistake. He hadn’t thought there would be an accomplice...

Park Muyeol turned to look at Kunta but this person hadn’t noticed. Now it was too late to tell him. It was because Momori had already drunk the potion and there was no evidence.

“Coward.”

"Did something happen?”

“No.”

Park Muyeol gritted his teeth and returned to the sandy beach. At this time, he had no other method. He just had to work hard. The two men stood facing each other. He asked, “Daring to drink a buff potion?”

“Huhu. I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“You cropped-haired jerk.”

“Ahhhhhh! I hate those words the most!”

Once again, the gong was struck and the trainees shouted even louder.

Momori swung his rod. “Die! You old man!”

The end of Momori’s rod swiftly aimed at Park Muyeol’s head. Park Muyeol stepped back to dodge the attack. Sure enough, this person felt complete once he used both hands. It was harder to find any gaps than expected.

Clack! Clack clack! Clack!

Park Muyeol focused only on the wooden sword held in his hand. He didn’t care about anything else. Only this space. At this time, he was one with the wooden sword. It was if only the two of them existed and his concentration was raised. The two men roared at the same time.

“Ohhhhh!”

Sand splashed, tree shrapnel flew, and tension swelled. Everyone gulped while the trainees watching didn’t know when the match would end. It was really close. However, the balance of power quickly collapsed. Park Muyeol started to be pushed.

“Chairman-nim!”

The moment Kim Gitae called out, the other trainees frowned and sighed. They seemed to have rethought the possibility of Park Muyeol winning. Still, Park Muyeol didn’t give up. He started to focus on defending, not attacking. 30 minutes passed...

“Wow, this is really crazy. Isn’t that grandfather great?”

“He has tremendous mental strength. How can he do that?”

“Oh my god. There will be a huge player in South Korea.”

The two people stared at each other. The sun burning over them was hot. Park Muyeol was sweating profusely due to the sun that was behind his back. The sweat flowing down his back felt cold.

‘Will I lose in the end?’

This body had already reached its limits. His trembling hands proved it and Park Muyeol’s concentration was becoming blurred by the heat wave.

“Sigh. You are better than I thought.”

“That’s what I should be saying, old man. Pant.”

They couldn’t separate from each other. Once, just once. It was because they knew everything would be decided at once. Then an unexpected message rose in front of Park Muyeol’s eyes.

 

[A passing constellation feels ill at ease for you.]

 ‘What is this?’