First Visit to the Research Club Room
3:00 PM sharp. Min-woo and Ji-eun carefully walked down the stairs leading to the basement level 1 of Building 3. Since students rarely came to this area, the corridor was eerily quiet.
"Is this really the right place?" Ji-eun asked, looking around. "It's so creepy."
"Senior Kim Chul-su said room B-12..." Min-woo replied, checking the room numbers. "Oh? Here it is."
When they arrived in front of room B-12, Min-woo noticed a small sign attached to the door. 'Defective Martial Arts Research Club' was written in handwriting, but beneath it were also carved some strange ancient characters.
[Special Pattern Detected]
Classification: Ancient Chinese variant script
Estimated Period: 300 years ago
Meaning: [Unable to decode - insufficient level]
Notable: High possibility of relation to the Infinite War
'What's this? Why is the system reacting?'
When Min-woo knocked on the door, Kim Chul-su's voice came from inside.
"Come in!"
The moment they opened the door and entered, Min-woo and Ji-eun simultaneously dropped their jaws.
"This is... a storage room?"
It was completely different from the narrow storage room they had expected. The entrance was small, but as they went deeper inside, the space became surprisingly vast. It was as if a massive library was hidden underground.
[Special Space Detected]
Actual Area: About 660 square meters (10 times the entrance area)
Structure: Estimated use of expansion technique or spatial distortion
Martial Arts Aura: Powerful preservation magic detected
Security Level: High (multiple layers of concealment barriers)
The ceiling was high, and huge bookshelves lined the walls. Hundreds of martial arts texts were systematically organized within them. Most had labels saying 'defective martial arts,' but here they were being carefully maintained like precious treasures.
"Surprised?" Kim Chul-su approached with a smile. "Everyone has that reaction at first."
"How is this possible?" Ji-eun asked with an amazed expression.
"Our research club has a deeper history than you'd think. This space has been used since 300 years ago." Kim Chul-su explained. "I don't know the exact principle either, but it seems like some special spatial expansion technique was used."
Min-woo looked around in awe. The martial arts texts on the walls were perfectly classified by grade and category. Sword techniques, blade techniques, spear techniques, internal force methods, movement techniques... every type of defective martial art was represented.
[Martial Arts Library Scan Complete]
Total Collection: 847 types
Average Grade: Mortal-tier Mid Grade ~ Earth-tier High Grade
Rare Arts: 3 Heaven-tier Low Grade discovered
Special Arts: 23 unclassified martial arts
Combination Possibilities: 2,847 combination patterns detected
'This is... a treasure vault!'
"Are all of these defective martial arts?" Min-woo asked in amazement.
"That's right. Collected over our research club's 300-year history." Kim Chul-su said proudly. "People in the world throw them away as useless, but we know their true value."
Ji-eun carefully took out a martial arts text from one of the shelves. "These martial arts... they're all really analyzed."
Each martial arts text had a small card attached. Defect details, danger levels, combination possibilities, etc. were recorded in detail. It seemed like analysis similar to Min-woo's system had been done manually.
"This is the result of our predecessors' research over hundreds of years." Kim Chul-su explained. "It's not perfect, of course, but it has its own system."
Min-woo moved deeper into the space. Then he discovered something strange in a corner. Unlike other places, there was a fine crack in the wall, and faint light was seeping through it.
[Hidden Space Detected!]
Access: Special conditions required
Security Level: Maximum
Internal Aura: Powerful martial arts-related energy detected
Estimated Contents: Important documents or high-grade martial arts repository
"Over there... there seems to be something?" Min-woo called Kim Chul-su.
Kim Chul-su approached and looked at what Min-woo was pointing at, his eyes widening.
"Huh? That's strange. I've never seen anything like that before." Kim Chul-su said in confusion. "It was definitely just a wall..."
Just then, voices of several people could be heard from deeper inside the research room. Kim Chul-su gestured and guided them.
"Ah, the other members are here. Let me introduce you."
Going deeper inside, they found 5 students sitting around a large circular table. They all appeared to be 2nd-4th years, each looking at different martial arts texts or research materials.
"Hey everyone, these are the new members I mentioned today." Kim Chul-su waved his hand.
One by one, they introduced themselves.
"Hello. I'm Lee Hyun-jun, 2nd year. I mainly research sword-type defective martial arts." A neat-looking male student stood up and greeted them.
"I'm Park So-ra, 3rd year. Internal force methods are my specialty." A calm-looking female student smiled.
"I'm Jung Min-ho, 2nd year! I love movement techniques!" An energetic-looking male student raised his hand high.
"Han Ji-hye, 3rd year... researching weapon techniques..." A quiet-voiced female student slightly bowed her head.
"I'm Yoon Sung-min, 4th year. Theory specialist." A senior wearing glasses greeted without taking his eyes off his book.
"And including me, that makes 7 total. We're the smallest club in the school." Kim Chul-su laughed.
Min-woo and Ji-eun also introduced themselves. However, Min-woo was careful to be vague about his abilities.
"But the president mentioned that Min-woo has really amazing analytical abilities?" Lee Hyun-jun asked with interested eyes.
[Caution Required]
Current Attention Level: High
Exposure Risk: 35%
Recommended Response: Moderate level ability demonstration
"Oh, I just... studied martial arts theory as a hobby." Min-woo answered humbly.
"To call it just a hobby..." Park So-ra smiled meaningfully. "I've never seen the president get so excited before."
"Just show us once." Jung Min-ho pushed a martial arts text in front of Min-woo. "Can you analyze this?"
[Martial Arts Text Detected: Wind Cliff Sword Method]
Grade: Mortal-tier High Grade
Completion: 45%
Major Defects: Qi circulation instability, sword qi control failure
Combination Possibility: 85% compatibility when combined with stabilizing internal force
Min-woo thought for a moment, then began explaining while diluting the system information appropriately.
"Well... this sword technique has fundamentally excellent structure. But if you look here..." Min-woo pointed to a specific page. "The qi flow suddenly becomes rapid at this part. So if a beginner uses it, there's a high possibility of failing to control the sword qi."
The members' expressions changed. Min-woo's explanation was accurate.
"That's right!" Jung Min-ho said in surprise. "I failed several times practicing this sword technique, and that was exactly the reason!"
"Then how could it be improved?" Han Ji-hye asked quietly.
"I think combining it with an internal force method that stabilizes qi circulation would work. Or..." Min-woo thought for a moment and said, "If you modify this part of the technique to make the sword qi rise gradually..."
[Analysis Ability Exposure: 78%]
Members' Reaction: Amazement + Respect
Trust Level Increase: +15~20% for each member
Side Effect: Excessive attention focus
Yoon Sung-min completely lifted his head from his book and stared at Min-woo.
"Really... amazing. Even professors can't easily do this level of analysis."
"I was just lucky." Min-woo waved his hands dismissively.
But all the members' gazes were already focused on Min-woo. Their eyes seemed to have discovered new hope.
"But Min-woo," Kim Chul-su suddenly had a serious expression. "That wall you discovered earlier... can you show it to us again?"
All the members followed Min-woo to the corner. They carefully examined the wall Min-woo had pointed out.
"Really strange." Yoon Sung-min said, pushing up his glasses. "It was definitely just an ordinary wall until yesterday."
"Maybe..." Park So-ra said carefully. "It's related to Min-woo? It suddenly appeared after Min-woo came."
Min-woo was flustered. Could it really be related to his system?
[Special Situation Detected]
Infinite Bloodline Reaction: Resonance with hidden seal
Release Condition: Direct contact
Danger Level: Low
Expected Result: Hidden space opening
'Infinite Bloodline? What's that?'
"Could I... try touching it?" Min-woo asked carefully.
"It might be dangerous." Kim Chul-su worried. "If something happens..."
"It'll be okay." Ji-eun encouraged Min-woo. "We're all watching."
Min-woo took a deep breath and placed his hand on the wall.
Instantly, the entire wall began to glow faintly. Ancient characters appeared one by one, drawing complex patterns. Then, with a quiet vibration, part of the wall slid inward.
"My goodness..." All the members exclaimed simultaneously.
A hidden room appeared. The inside was small, but there was an ancient stone statue in the center, and around it were old scrolls carefully preserved.
[Ancient Seal Release Complete]
Discovered Space: The Infinite One's hidden study
Stored Documents: Research materials related to the Eternal Cycle Scripture
Importance Level: Maximum
Warning: This discovery expected to draw attention from major forces
Kim Chul-su carefully entered and picked up one of the scrolls.
"This is... a 300-year-old document." Kim Chul-su's voice trembled. "There are records about the Infinite War."
When the scroll was unrolled, writing in ancient Chinese characters appeared. But strangely, the content was naturally understood by Min-woo.
[Ancient Document Auto-Decode]
Title: Eternal Cycle Scripture Dispersal Sealing Plan
Author: Allied Forces General Staff
Content: Methodology for fragmenting and hiding absolute martial arts
Important Discovery: Partial location information of each fragment (defective martial arts) included
"Min-woo, can you read this?" Kim Chul-su asked.
Min-woo nodded in surprise. "Yes... I don't know how, but I can read it."
"Then can you tell us what it says?"
Min-woo began carefully explaining based on the system's decoded content.
"This seems to be a record of a great war that happened 300 years ago. There's content about dividing some powerful martial art into several pieces and hiding them..."
All the members held their breath and listened.
"And..." Min-woo continued reading. "There's also content saying that those pieces are related to the defective martial arts we're researching now."
After coming out of the hidden room, all the members gathered again around the circular table. The atmosphere had completely changed. The playful curiosity had disappeared, and a tension filled the space—the feeling of having discovered something serious and sacred.
Kim Chul-su spoke first.
"What happened today was... really unexpected. Our research club has been here for 300 years, but no one knew there was such a room."
"Then Min-woo must be special." Park So-ra said carefully. "How is such a thing possible?"
All gazes focused on Min-woo. Min-woo thought for a moment, then decided to tell at least part of the truth.
"Actually... I don't know exactly either. But after I started coming into contact with defective martial arts, I feel like I've developed some kind of special sense."
"What kind of sense..." Yoon Sung-min asked with interest.
"The defects and strengths of martial arts... I can see them? It's like looking at blueprints." Min-woo explained carefully.
Lee Hyun-jun said in surprise, "Then you can know at once what we've researched over hundreds of years?"
"I can't know everything. Right now it's just basic things..." Min-woo answered humbly.
But the members' expressions had already completely changed. Instead of suspicion or jealousy, their faces were full of anticipation, as if they had finally met something they had been waiting for a long time.
Kim Chul-su suddenly stood up and bowed politely.
"Min-woo, Ji-eun. I'm really sorry. At first I just wanted to help some juniors... but now I see that you came to help us."
"No, senior." Min-woo said in confusion. "We're the ones who need to learn more."
"No." Kim Chul-su said seriously. "I think I now understand why my father had an accident while researching defective martial arts. We didn't know the right method until now. But you might be different."
Tears welled up in Kim Chul-su's eyes.
"My father said that defective martial arts weren't just failures, but had some greater meaning. But while trying to find that meaning..." Kim Chul-su couldn't continue.
Ji-eun said warmly, "Your father wasn't wrong, senior. What we discovered today is proof of that."
The other members also began to share their own stories one by one.
"Since I was young, I loved fixing things that others gave up on." Lee Hyun-jun said. "Defective martial arts are the same. I believe there's definitely a way to fix them."
"My family has been in charge of preserving martial arts for generations." Park So-ra said. "I felt sorry watching martial arts being discarded."
As each shared their reasons and dreams, a warm bond flowed through the research room.
"Then now it's really the beginning." Jung Min-ho smiled brightly. "With Min-woo and Ji-eun here, we can actually try the things we've dreamed of."
"But we need to be careful." Yoon Sung-min said worriedly. "If what we discovered today becomes known, other forces will definitely be interested too."
Kim Chul-su nodded. "Right. Let's keep it among ourselves. And Min-woo's abilities should also remain secret for now."
[New Organizational Relationship Established]
Defective Martial Arts Research Club: Maximum trust level
Individual Member Trust Levels: 85-95%
Special Benefits: Research resource sharing, collective knowledge access
New Quest: Begin full-scale Eternal Cycle Scripture fragment collection
"Then as our first official activity..." Kim Chul-su suggested. "How about we help with Min-woo's combination experiment? We'll prepare all the safety measures."
"Really?" Min-woo's eyes sparkled.
"Of course. We're a real family now." Kim Chul-su smiled brightly.
Ji-eun took Min-woo's hand. "Finally we can do what we've dreamed of."
Laughter echoed through the research room. Now Min-woo was no longer alone. He had gained true companions who shared the same dreams, and could begin preparing for greater adventures.
Experience Settlement: +40 EXP (secret discovery +25, companion relationship establishment +15)
Current Level: 2 (63/150)
New Functions Unlocked: Ancient document decoding, organizational support system
Next Chapter Preview: The first safe combination experiment...