Chapter 15
That’s just how I am.
Once I’ve made a decision, I act on it immediately. Hesitating or overthinking things isn’t my style. If I didn’t say anything, that would be one thing, but if the words have left my mouth, then as a man, it’s only right to see it through.
The very next morning, as soon as the sun was up, I set about establishing my club.
“Park Ki-hyuk, over here. Please fill out this application form and submit it. You’ll need to write down the club name, purpose, and check the relevant sections.”
Club Name: No Escape from Hell
Purpose: Infinite Sparring
A club for the true strong, where greetings start with a punch.
Once you step through the door, you’re already strong! Why? Because the door is going to be ridiculously heavy. Minimum 200 kilograms? Weaklings won’t survive. Get stronger, you punks.
I wrote it down exactly as I envisioned it.
Ha! Just writing it down made my chest swell with pride.
“No Escape from Hell. Ha… ha… That’s quite an intense club name. And the purpose is… infinite… sparring?”
“Exactly as the words imply. We spar, infinitely.”
The staff member’s pupils dilated in shock as they understood the concept of infinite sparring, and they visibly flinched at the idea of a door weighing over 200 kilograms. It looked like they were about to object, raising concerns about noise and safety regarding the sparring courts, but come on—I’m not the type to overlook such things.
I handed over a document.
A little something I like to call the “Mom’s Card.”
“We’ll be using the same specialized sparring courts currently employed by Optimum. The protective gear inside will also be top-notch. All of this is sponsored by Optimum.”
“Haha… haha…”
When the staff member saw the document confirming unlimited support from Optimum, they seemed to realize this was beyond their control. With a resigned expression, they got back to work.
What could they say when I was covering all the costs and taking full responsibility?
“Your application is submitted. Now, all you need to do is get approval from the student council and submit an official document from your supervising professor.”
Surprisingly, despite the importance of clubs at the academy, starting one wasn’t that difficult. But a bit of thought quickly revealed the reason why.
What students want most from clubs is networking. Through these connections, they aim to navigate their academy life and prepare for their future in raids or team memberships.
Networking heavily relies on history—having senior members to guide you and junior members to push you forward. A new club is just that—new, with no established history. Naturally, it offers little appeal to those looking to build connections.
In my case, this worked in my favor. The hardest part of starting something is getting it off the ground, and things were already looking smooth.
After submitting the application, I headed straight to the student council. As I entered, I noticed the hundreds of soju boxes stacked against one wall. I wondered if the people drinking that awful stuff knew it was shrinking their muscles… I quickly pushed the thought aside and went to get approval.
The only problem was the attitude on the other side.
Every time I spoke, they hit me with, “That’s difficult. We can’t allow that. What reason do we have to trust you?” acting as if they were in charge.
I’ll admit, I got a little riled up.
Maybe I’ve been too nice lately. My hands were itching, and here was the perfect chance to scratch that itch.
I silently prayed.
Come on! Get more worked up! Don’t hold back!!
But in the middle of our verbal jousting, when they heard my name, “Park Ki-hyuk,” they hesitated for a moment.
Internally, I cheered them on. “Don’t back down, you idiots! Uphold the honor of your seniors!”
Fortunately, a few of them weren’t intimidated and continued to push back, claiming they couldn’t recognize my authority and needed to see my skills.
That’s it! That’s exactly what I wanted!
Feeling a surge of excitement, I followed them.
And as for what happened next? Do I really need to spell it out?
“Kyaaa!!”
“Gah!”
“S-Spare me!”
The satisfaction of those sweet punches.
Getting approval from the student council was a breeze, and now all that was left was to get the official document from the supervising professor.
But as everyone knows, I don’t have the best relationship with the professors.
If I just barged in and asked, they’d surely refuse. Honestly, if that was all they did, I’d consider myself lucky. There’s a good chance they’d find every excuse to string me along, giving me hope just to mess with me.
Adults’ jealousy can be petty and persistent.
The problem is that this was beyond my control. The professor has the authority to approve or deny, and I can’t exactly forge the document.
For a moment, I considered holding back. They say a gentleman’s revenge can wait ten years, so maybe I should just grin and bear it for now.
But I’m neither a gentleman nor a saint.
I’m a demon king.
If they started that crap in front of me? I’d snap their spine in two.
And it’s not like I’m about to give up on creating a club just because of that.
You don’t know me by now?
I’m Park Ki-hyuk.
Giving up isn’t in my vocabulary.
Just as Park Ki-hyuk had anticipated, the professors began to move as soon as word spread that he was creating a club.
“We must take this opportunity to put him in his place. What good is strength if his character is garbage?”
“Indeed. Even if the academy prioritizes strength, a brat like him needs to be tamed.”
“Back in my day, students wouldn’t even step on their teacher’s shadow. Tsk, the respect for teachers has fallen so low.”
“Still, forcibly restricting a student’s autonomy like this…”
“That’s right. We’re not here to teach academics. On a battlefield where blades fly, aggression is a must. It’s problematic if we don’t tolerate at least this level of spirit.”
Due to the unique educational style of the Korean Academy, the role of team leaders was crucial, naturally lowering the authority of the professors compared to other academies.
In this context, the occasional monstrous student like Park Ki-hyuk only further undermined the already shaky authority of the professors.
There’s precedent for this.
Park Su-hyuk. The monster among monsters who, in his first year, went around challenging all the professors and beating them.
The professors fell silent, but one of them, Hwang Jun-yeop, who had a deep grudge against Park Ki-hyuk due to the evaluation incident, raised his hand to speak.
“Our academy values autonomy as much as cooperation. If we block Park Ki-hyuk’s club without reason, it could backfire.”
“Ugh, right. And the Witch of Optimum is backing him.”
Optimum is the academy’s largest sponsor. Naturally, they had to tread carefully.
“That’s why we need a different approach. If they’re coming at us with justification, we’ll counter with justification.”
“What do you mean?”
“I will be the supervising professor.”
“Oh ho! This man has a clever plan.”
“Tsk, is that really necessary?”
The more experienced professors quickly grasped Hwang Jun-yeop’s intent.
Hwang Jun-yeop planned to become the supervising professor to torment Park Ki-hyuk over time. There were many ways to do this—piling on work, delaying approvals, rejecting event requests.
In these kinds of battles over justification, professors hold significant power.
Some professors smirked at the pettiness, while others frowned in distaste.
But no one objected.
Even if they differed in degree, they all agreed on this point.
“We need to put a leash on that tiger before it gets too wild. I’ll take the lead. Lend me your support.”
The meeting seemed to be wrapping up.
The professors would put the leash on, Hwang Jun-yeop would get his petty revenge, and everyone would be satisfied.
Then a teaching assistant entered the room, and at their first words, “Of course,” the professors visibly relaxed.
“Park Ki-hyuk has submitted the application.”
But that relief was short-lived.
Because the assistant’s next words made their faces twist in surprise.
“But… the supervising professor is said to be Yggdrasil.”
Yggdrasil.
The pinnacle of the academy, untouchable even by the president.
Some say that Yggdrasil is the academy.
That the Korean Academy only exists because Yggdrasil exists.
There’s some exaggeration in that, but it’s not wrong.
Many nations want to have academies, but only eight countries actually have them.
What they all have in common is the presence of a guardian spirit.
Without a guardian spirit, there’s no academy. In other words, without Yggdrasil, the academy couldn’t have been established in the first place.
But despite her immense fame, meeting Yggdrasil isn’t difficult. Any academy student can encounter her by simply walking into the ‘Forest of Wisdom,’ a gate used as a leisurely walking path.
Because of this, students don’t find her intimidating. They freely share their concerns with her, sometimes even seeking her advice.
When they do, she always offers a kind smile and wise counsel.
But now, despite being such a great and wise entity, Yggdrasil found herself utterly flustered.
“Hey! Yggdrasil! Let me see your face!!”
This man, who had barged into the forest and summoned her so brazenly.
Park Ki-hyuk was the reason.
“Could you be my supervising professor?”
His response was as arrogant as it was straightforward. And that only made him more intriguing.
Most humans would be awed by her presence and naturally lower themselves, but Park Ki-hyuk didn’t just refuse to lower himself—he was completely confident. Unfazed.
He looked her straight in the eye, as an equal.
‘When was the last time I encountered someone who could meet me so confidently?’
As she sifted through her near-immortal memories, she realized the futility.
There wasn’t anyone. No human had ever treated her so casually, except for this Park Ki-hyuk.
Perhaps that’s why she agreed to his proposal.
“Alright.”
She was curious.
What kind of flower would bloom from the seed that was Park Ki-hyuk?
A smile bloomed on Yggdrasil’s face.
I have to admit it.
Things have gone even better than I expected.
Yggdrasil, was it? That lady turned out to be surprisingly agreeable. Who would have thought she’d readily agree to send out the document?
I had even planned on having a heated “discussion” with the professors, but Yggdrasil just saved a lot of people from that.
Of course, it didn’t come for free.
It would be disgraceful to ask for such a favor without offering something in return.
Do you think I’d stoop to begging? That would be embarrassing.
Yggdrasil agreed to be our supervising professor, and in return, we’d handle the tasks she assigned. Things like clearing the “Purple Gate” near the academy and other various dirty jobs.
For me, it was a win-win deal. I was already keen on getting more battle experience, and gates? They’re just opportunities. I’m more than grateful.
With the deal sealed and our first mission lined up as a down payment, we found ourselves climbing a mountain.
“Ugh… Grandpa, could you drive more… Ahhh!”
“We’ll be there soon.”
Rattle, rattle.
The vehicle bounced up the steep mountain path.
“Damn it! This is ridiculous! Why do I have to be here on the weekend?!”
“Because, we’re in the same team.”
“You said this was for the club!”
“Oh, come on, be patient. In Korean, we say… And as of yesterday, we’re in the same club.”
“This is insane! I never agreed to this!!”
“Didn’t agree? But you stamped your seal on the application, didn’t you? That’s agreement in my book.”
“That’s because you forced me to stamp it while I was passed out!!”
Can’t argue with that. She’s right.
Yesterday, during a joyous and intense Squat Day, I had her do ten sets of 150 kilograms. After she collapsed from exhaustion, I quickly stamped her seal.
Still, it’s a little unfair.
Jun-woo, who’s quietly following along behind us, also participated in the same stamp incident, so why am I the only one getting scolded?
“Isn’t it exciting? Now we can spend the weekends together. My pectorals are already trembling with excitement.”
“Get that grotesque thing away from me. And watch your language! This isn’t togetherness; it’s training.”
“What does that matter? Look, we’re blessed. Most people have to apply for a gate and get permission, but we, we have this. With this piece of paper from Yggdrasil, we bypass all that. And that’s not all. We get a stipend too, earning money while training—how great is that? Right, Jun-woo?”
“I agree.”
“Get lost! You! You! You’re all dead to… Ahhh!”
Rattle, the vehicle bucked wildly.
Merry let out a “Grandpa!!” wail, but her butler, sitting calmly at the front, simply chuckled. “We’re almost there, Miss.”
I had a feeling when I first met him—this old man isn’t to be underestimated.
“Did they say this is a level 2 gate?”
“Yeah, an ‘Orc Settlement,’ according to the note.”
“There’ll be a ‘Boss,’ then. This won’t be easy.”
Jun-woo expressed concern, but despite his words, his eyes were filled with anticipation.
A true battle maniac. I like his attitude. If only Merry could adopt even half of it…
“What are you looking at? Get lost.”
…If she won’t adopt it, I’ll make sure she’s molded into it. I’ll turn her into someone who only knows battle—I’ll take full responsibility.
And so, we endured the countless bumps and jolts as the vehicle finally brought us to our destination.
“Grandpa, next time, get us a helicopter. And why is this weapon so hideous?”
Merry grumbled as she armed herself.
In her left hand, she held a buckler, specialized for close-quarters combat. In her right, a mace with spikes that was as large as a grown man’s head.
“This will do nicely.”
Jun-woo was also ready, fully armed.
In his right scabbard, a longsword; in his left, a rapier. Strapped to his thighs were sixteen throwing daggers, and on his wrists, concealed swords.
With his body practically covered in blades, Jun-woo looked the happiest I’d ever seen him.
“Do you like it?”
“Very much. Thank you for the gift.”
“It’s nice. Please convey my thanks to your mother.”
“Same here.”
These were gifts from my mother. After having dinner with my first-ever friends, despite my protests, she insisted on providing us with this gear.
It was warm, touching, and filled me with gratitude.
As a good son, how could I not repay such kindness?
“Let’s go earn our keep.”
With my greatsword slung over my shoulder, I stepped into the gate.
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