After setting up camp, Seol Jihu who was in the middle of stretching sat down at Jang Maldong’s request.

Which technique to learn first, what training to do first.

Just thinking about the days to come made his heart pound.

“Sora, you come here too.”

That was before Jang Maldong said this.

“We’re starting right away?”

“Just get over here.”

Phi Sora trudged over reluctantly.

“He won’t understand no matter how many times I tell him, so we’ll have to fix his habits this way.”

Seol Jihu didn’t understand what Jang Maldong meant.

But he knew that it was Jang Maldong’s motto to, ‘make the body learn if the brain can’t understand’.

“Get ready for a spar, both of you.”

He dropped out a bombshell announcement.

“A spar?”

“Don’t make me say it a second time.”

After saying this with a firm voice, he added a “but”.

“You’re both forbidden from using mana.”

It was an extremely unfair condition, especially for Seol Jihu.

“It’s not just mana. You’re also forbidden from using the effects of any equipment.”

Meaning, Seol Jihu and Phi Sora were to spar with their pure physical strength and techniques.

Jang Maldong took a step back and gave the two some space.

‘…What?’

Seol Jihu was taken aback but obediently took out a javelin from his belt. There had to be a reason Jang Maldong was telling him to do this.

Phi Sora looked around and bent down to pick up a tree branch. But…

“Do it properly. Do you want to lose again?”

With Jang Maldong reprimanding her, she changed to a store-bought longsword.

“…Argh, this is reminding me of the past.”

Grumbling, she aimed the longsword at Seol Jihu.

Seeing the young man staring at her fixedly, Phi Sora sighed.

“Don’t hate me for this.”

“Excuse me?”

“No mana, no equipment effects. Do you realize how disadvantageous these restrictions are for you?”

“?”

“To use Janggi[1] as a metaphor, he’s not just telling you to take out the Chariots and Cannons. He’s telling you to take out the Horses, Elephants, Guards, and Soldiers and fight with only the General.”

If that were true, then Jang Maldong wasn’t even making them spar. He was just making Seol Jihu take a one-sided beating.

After all, the General could only move within a limited space.

“But doesn’t the same condition apply to you, Miss Phi Sora?”

“I’m...