-Prologue-
2017 National Sports Festival, Seoul High School Division Kumdo¹ Representative Selection.
[Qualification Round 1: Kim Hyun-soo (Seongman High) VS Seo Baek-ho (Samjung High)]
Kim Hyun-soo, a senior at Seongman High School known for its Kumdo prowess, is a talented player who recently ranked third in the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism's competition.
If his skills were considered, it wouldn't be strange to put his name directly as a representative of Seoul without going through the qualifiers, but unfortunately, due to recent changes in the competition rules, he had to participate from the first round of the qualifiers, where he wasn't even seeded.
As a result, the players assigned to the same group as Kim Hyun-soo were doomed, and those assigned to other groups breathed a sigh of relief.
In the qualifying round, Kim Hyun-soo's existence was literally an ecosystem disruptor.
"Ugh!"
However...
Kim Hyun-soo, who everyone thought would easily pass the qualifiers, is now confused.
The reason is simple, it's because of the opponent he's facing in the first qualifying round.
'Am I struggling against this unknown guy? And he's just a freshman!'
Seo Baek-ho, a first-year student at Samjung High School, a school Kim didn't even know there was a Kumdo club.
Until the start of the match, he sneered at Seo's overly strong-sounding¹ name, but as soon as they crossed swords, Kim's expression quickly hardened.
From the 'Spinning Overhead strike³', 'Overhead parry and waist strike⁴', to the 'Wrist Overhead strike ⁵'.
He repeatedly allowed hits with sword movements that were difficult to follow with his eyes.
Although his attacks were not recognized as valid hits by the referees, had the referees been generous in their decisions, the match might have already ended.
-Thud! Thud!
"Head!!!"
"Ah!!!"
And in the simultaneous head strike, Seo Baek-ho's speed overwhelmed Kim Hyun-soo, eventually stealing 1 point.
It was an attack worthy of admiration, like a lightning strike.
'Where the hell did this guy come from?'
Kim Hyun-soo, who ranked third in the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism's competition, had a fierce speed sword, but compared to Seo Baek-ho's fast sword, it felt rather ordinary.
"Second round!"
A Kumdo match is won by the first person to score 2 points.
Now, if Kim Hyun-soo gives up one more point, he loses.
This is just the first round of the local qualifiers.
If he loses to a freshman here, it may invalidate his entire career.
If that happens, it might create problems for his goal of going to university.
'Damn it!'
That's why Kim Hyun-soo gritted his teeth and fought.
This match is not just a simple regional qualifier first round.
It has become a match where his future is at stake.
Kim Hyun-soo fended off Seo Baek-ho's attacks and carefully searched for an opening.
'Damn! I can't see an opening!'
But it wasn't easy.
If he just defended, he would risk a dangerous blow.
"Head!!!"
-Thud! Thud!
Seo Baek-ho's 'Perry and Overhead strike' was splendid.
'Wha, what's the judgement?'
Fortunately, the referees did not recognize this as a valid hit.
'That was close.'
Kim Hyun-soo breathed a sigh of relief, but it was brief.
He soon fell into a sense of self-loathing.
That's because he had come to recognize the fact that his opponent was far stronger than himself.
-Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!
"Ugh!"
He can't win.
Despite knowing that, Kim Hyun-soo hated himself for not being able to give up.
At that moment, something no one expected happened.
"I concede."
"What?"
Suddenly, Seo Baek-ho declared his forfeit.
The tide had completely turned in his favor.
The skill gap was so great that it made Kim Hyun-soo feel self-loathing.
Kim Hyun-soo couldn't help but question.
"Why?"
Well, suddenly my stomach hurts... Uh, I need to go."
And with that absurd reason, Seo Baek-ho threw down his bamboo sword with a pale face and left the venue.
"..."
"..."
"..."
Not only Kim Hyun-soo, but even the three referees had to blink their eyes in confusion.
"Blue wins."
Is this what you call a turnaround?
Kim Hyun-soo passed the first round of the qualifiers thanks to his opponent's sudden stomachache.
But he couldn't be happy.
That's how overwhelming the performance Seo Baek-ho showed was.
'We'll meet again soon. The Kumdo world is surprisingly small.'
Kim Hyun-soo vowed to avenge his humiliation next time.
However...
After that day, Seo Baek-ho never appeared in the Kumdo world again.
*****
TL Notes:
1) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kumdo
2) Seo Beak-ho means White tiger
3) https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=2279771878699705
4) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IOq5YhCkHAY
5) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8GTDHFOo1tU&pp=ygUM66i466as7LmY6riw
6) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=plAGsul8Xb8