Ch. 71 True Intentions (2)
by AfuhfuihgsChapter 71 – True Intentions (2)
“Can I reach him? And if so, when?”
This was something I’d been deeply curious about.
When Jung Chan-soo asked if I could handle his mirror image, my pride stung—but honestly, I also felt anticipation.
‘Maybe the current me, strengthened by peeking into my fan gallery and absorbing their strategies, can surpass him—something the original me could never do.’
‘It’s fine if I get serious, right? You’re the one who planned this thinking I was weak anyway.’
Mirror images grow stronger as their originals do. If I went all out against Chan-soo’s copy, my copy would also grow stronger for him to face.
Objectively, the smart move was to stall, conserving energy while fleeing his copy—letting Chan-soo crush mine and intervene elsewhere.
“You think I’ll get caught again?”
But I didn’t want to.
As battle erupted, I dodged his copy’s surging aura and smirked.
This time, I wanted to win.
[Radiance: Dance of Light’s Lash]
My afterimage shattered as his copy lunged without hesitation. I swung Telendar, unleashing its unique ability.
Even a copy of the Rank 1 challenger was formidable. Going all-out from the start was wiser than holding back.
“—!”
The attack transformed into multiple whip-like blades, slashing from all directions—enhanced by Radiance, they shredded the surroundings like golden lashes.
‘Ironblood Vault.’
Of course, his copy didn’t fall easily.
Blocking with an S-grade ability, it parried my assault.
Infuriating. The protagonist who seemed so cool in the story was unbearably annoying as an enemy.
“Tch.”
Failing to break through, I barely deflected its counterstrike.
A split-second clash—yet the force rattled my bones. Even with my recent Amplification Engraving, the stat gap was overwhelming.
Within moments, my arm twisted unnaturally, my back slamming into the wall.
‘I want to win!’
“I don’t want to lose…!”
Pain didn’t matter.
The copy’s cold expression mirrored Chan-soo’s own stoicism.
Trapped against the crumbling wall, I gritted my teeth, blood trickling as I pushed back against the blade at my throat.
[Radiance: Eightfold Carnage]
Finally breaking free, I twisted mid-air, unleashing my strongest strike—combining Radiance with Tellendar’s whip-like extension.
Eight slashes, exploding outward.
A level the original me could never reach—this was the power I’d built through the fan gallery’s strategies.
‘Did it work?’
For a moment, I saw it—my slashes tearing through his copy’s defenses, its upper body shattering like glass.
“Haah…”
It was just a copy, but I’d beaten something with his face.
As I collapsed, the battle around us neared its end.
“No fatalities. Injuries aren’t severe either.”
Mirror images were tricky, but their limits were clear. Thanks to Chan-soo’s strategic matchups, no one lost.
‘…Annoying.’
Chan-soo himself was the same.
The moment I defeated his copy, he crushed mine.
But the difference was stark.
I’d poured everything into breaking his copy’s defense in one burst.
His copy fell before it could power up, while mine—amped by my full strength—fought him at its peak.
Yet he still obliterated it effortlessly.
My copy’s Eightfold Carnage? Split apart by his flaming sword in one stroke.
Even if defeating his copy was near-miraculous for me, the gap was undeniable.
“You’ve grown stronger. Enough for the copy to reflect it.”
“Hard to take that seriously from the guy who wrecked mine without a scratch.”
“Growth rate matters more.”
After debriefing his heroines, he turned to me, unfazed by my sarcasm.
“Your recent progress exceeds my expectations. Maintain this, and your ceiling will keep rising.”
“Not planning to stop me anymore? Like before?”
“I was shortsighted then…”
When I deliberately brought up our first meeting—where he’d choked me—he flinched, avoiding my gaze.
‘Even he cringes at that memory.’
He didn’t deny it.
“I thought you’d be a hindrance. I’d met many like that—useless in the long run. I’m sorry.”
He didn’t need to explain.
As a regressor, he knew his heroines’ futures—just as I knew his story.
I’d understood his state back then better than anyone.
I only mentioned it now because his awkward reaction was fun.
“Changed your mind, then?”
“Yes. Now… I’m glad you’re here.”
He’d acknowledged me long ago, but today—after facing his copy—it felt different.
“Are you insane?”
I recoiled, slapping his hand away as he reached toward my face.
‘This damn protagonist. Even now, he’s still pulling this crap.’
‘No wonder the forums won’t shut up about it.’
I turned away, flustered.
Him recognizing me was expected—but this? Uncharted territory.
If I didn’t firmly believe he’d never care for romance, I’d have been more than just startled.
——————————————————————————————————————————
[151st Floor Dungeon – Castle of Oblivion: Cleared]
——————————————————————————————————————————
“That’s it?!”
“Seriously? That easy?”
After the mirror images, everything went smoothly. The dungeon’s Oblivion Fog—terrifying in concept—was cleared before it could take effect.
With prior knowledge, gimmick-heavy dungeons were trivial.
Even the usual troll Constellations stayed away.
Following Chan-soo’s flawless lead, the 151st Floor fell in one push.
“This was just the 151st. The time we saved goes toward the 152nd.”
While others marveled, he was already planning ahead.
“Love him or hate him, our captain’s always been like this.”
“Infuriating.”
“I thought so too at first. But don’t judge him too harshly. His mind only holds the Tower.”
As we prepared to leave, Diana approached, defending him.
“Don’t worry. I’m not stupid enough to antagonize him.”
“Though I’d prefer you got closer.”
She smiled, seeing through me.
But I’d never stand beside him as just another heroine.
‘I’d rather stay a rival forever—even if I lose—than become part of his harem.’
The thought alone made me shudder.
The only problem?
Now I’d have to endure the shipping wars on the fan forums again.
——————————————————————————————————————————
[“I’m glad you’re here?” Isn’t that basically a confession?]
ㄴ“How can we ignore it when the parties keep feeding us material?”
——————————————————————————————————————————
‘Damn it all. Ugh.’
That evening, the first post I saw was that.
Shipping debates were as heated as power-scaling ones—universal bait for every fanbase.
For a moment, the Constellations transformed into gossiping aunties, passionately arguing over their favorite pairs.
Author Note
A/N (Author’s note):
Thank you for reading.
Translator Note
T/N (Translator’s note):
She is predictable but not-so predictable, what a noob.
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