"Huff, huff!"
Sulu set down the dumbbells and panted heavily, big drops of sweat rolling down his face.
Beside him, Angelia frowned deeply. "Your fundamentals are terrible! Absolutely terrible. Did you skip breakfast?"
After Sulu paid and registered, Angelia had given him a quick assessment. The results had been downright miserable.
Sulu had been at a fairly normal level to begin with, but his Constitution had dropped by a third, turning him into the sickly sort.
With his Spirit at a whopping 1.6, he could clearly see the pity in Angelia's eyes.
"It's rare to see a man as weak as you. Ah, sorry... I didn't mean it like that. Don't lose heart. With a proper diet and more exercise, you can still make up for it."
Angelia made her usual blunt remark, then hurriedly waved her hands in alarm.
"I understand... So, can you teach me combat arts?"
Knowing his own situation, Sulu asked calmly.
"You picked me as your personal trainer? You've got a good eye!"
Angelia puffed out her chest, then put on a serious expression. "But right now, you shouldn't be learning combat. You need to start with the basics. Come on! I'll teach you how to exercise properly first!"
Learning how to exercise properly, avoid injuries, and take care of your body really was a discipline in its own right.
The Portley Family surely had material on this, and it was probably better than what an ordinary Combat Club could offer.
Unfortunately, Sulu had left too soon to learn any of it.
After all, children were too young to train. The best time to exercise was during the period when the body was developing; a few months of training then could be worth a whole year for an ordinary person.
Sulu knew all this, so he was humble and attentive.
Though his Constitution had worsened, his other attributes were decent. Under Angelia's instruction, he picked things up quickly, earning the female trainer's admiration.
After they finished exercising, Angelia generously massaged Sulu's muscles to help him relax. At the end, she reminded him, "Be sure to eat plenty of meat when you get home, and get a good rest!"
"Thanks!"
Though he hadn't learned any combat arts, Sulu felt that learning how to exercise properly had made the trip worthwhile.
After enjoying a hot shower and changing his clothes, Sulu left the Combat Club and headed to the university cafeteria. He steeled himself and ordered lobster gratin, a fried chicken cutlet, a vegetable salad, and some bread to go with it.
After all, intense exercise required plenty of nutrients and calories. Otherwise, he'd just be deliberately wrecking his body.
As he stuffed himself, Sulu quietly did the math.
I can't afford to keep spending like this for long. Maybe by next week, or the week after at the latest, I'll be broke for sure! Even if this is just emergency training, it'll take at least a month, probably longer, to see results... I have to find a way to make some money.
Sulu had plenty of experience with this sort of thing.
Although St. George offered special student loans for those in financial need, he was one of the few students who had paid his off while still in school.
He'd carried over the habits of his previous life and hated being in debt.
"Hey, Sulu!"
When he returned to the dorm, Sean immediately greeted him with bright eyes. "I have to admit, you've got good taste... That Molly girl is actually pretty cute without her glasses!"
Sulu was speechless.
His roommate certainly had a knack for spying on people.
"Don't you like girls like Catherine?"
"I have taste! Taste, you know? Art!" Sean retorted, then continued, "Molly's routine is pretty regular. She goes between the dorm, the library, and the cafeteria every day... If you want a chance to get close to her, you should go to your own stomping grounds! Also... I passed up a job opportunity to help you today. I think that was worth ten Toner!"
"Five Toner! Not a copper more... Keep talking, and I'll find someone else."
Sulu thought it was important to keep his expenses down.
"Deal!!!"
The next day, Sulu went to the Combat Club to train with Angelia as usual.
There were three instructors at the Combat Club, and the other two were men. While Angelia trained Sulu alone, he noticed plenty of envious eyes watching them.
After all, Angelia was a student herself. She was pretty, and her fitness training made her even more attractive.
Unfortunately, most students were short on cash and couldn't afford one-on-one lessons like this.
In fact, if he weren't trying to improve his abilities as quickly as possible, Sulu wouldn't have wanted to do this either.
But after Sulu persistently asked, Angelia finally relented today.
"Today, I'll teach you a few basic combat routines!"
She stood in front of Sulu and demonstrated a few stances. "Follow along, and pay attention to your breathing... Don't underestimate the routines. If you practice until you know them by heart and they become instinctive, then even with your physique, you'll be able to catch a thug off guard if you're ever in danger!"
Sulu agreed wholeheartedly.
Instinct was the most important thing in any martial art. When attacked, you needed to react and strike without hesitation.
"The combat arts taught at our Combat Club were passed down from the Church of the Goddess of Light. The Federation's military uses them too. They're called Krav Maga Combat Arts!"
As Angelia demonstrated, she explained, "There are many versions of this combat art. The military version attacks vital points like the eyes and throat directly. It's meant to incapacitate or kill an enemy as quickly as possible! Our Combat Club teaches a simplified version with eight basic routines, collectively called the 'Eight Forms.' They're like formulas for handling eight different combat situations. Remember them. If you run into something similar, you can use the appropriate form!"
Since Sulu had paid, Angelia taught him very seriously.
Sulu listened attentively. This was the kind of training he wanted.
These Krav Maga Combat Arts target an enemy's weaknesses and let the weaker overcome the stronger. They really are well-suited to me right now...
He trained until the class ended, just barely managing to memorize all eight basic routines and how to perform them.
"Knowing the moves isn't enough. You have to practice, and practice hard! Only when they become instinctive will you have truly mastered the combat arts!"
Angelia concluded, then noticed a strange expression on Sulu's face. "What's wrong?"
"N...nothing! I just want to practice a little more."
Sulu stared at the prompt that had appeared on his Attribute Panel, joy rising in his heart.
[ Ding! Krav Maga Combat Arts learned. Current level: LV1!] [Krav Maga Combat Arts LV1: Basic mastery of the 'Eight Forms.' Constitution +0.1, Strength +0.1!] -------------- Name: [Sulu Portley] Profession: [None] Rank: [0] Title: [None] Strength: [1.2], Agility: [1.2], Constitution: [0.7], Spirit: [1.6] Skills: [Corpse Maiden Creation LV1], [Krav Maga Combat Arts LV1] Passive Skills: [Common Hebraic LV3], [Basic Physics LV4], [Demon Hunting Lore LV1], [Ancient Hebraic LV2] Experience Points: [0] --------------
As expected, I can learn from skill books, but I can also learn skills from other people. And since I mastered this through study, it didn't cost any experience.
Krav Maga Combat Arts LV1 actually increased my Constitution and Strength!
Sulu clenched his fist. He felt a surge of warmth pass through his body, and his strength seemed to have grown a little.
At the same time, the memories of the combat art's Eight Forms took root in his mind, becoming instinctive.
"All right, show me another run-through!"
Angelia nodded.
Sulu took a deep breath and clenched his right fist. "First Form!"
"Huh?"
Angelia's expression changed. In that instant, she felt as if the student before her had been transformed. His movements flowed together with extraordinary ease, and every motion was perfectly executed.
As expected... With the Attribute Panel's help, it became instinctive right away. That's the equivalent of a year or two of training for an ordinary person. What a rush!
After finishing the set of perfect movements, Sulu felt so exhilarated that he wanted to let out a long, loud shout.
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