episode_0018

“Forever… Are you saying you’re going to keep your mouth shut?”

Artemia fell into deep contemplation.

Engaging in a direct confrontation with the dragon known as the “Eternal Beast” would result in significant losses. The participants in front of her had not only failed to cooperate but had also become meals for the dragon. Given the numerous constraints that followed trying to subdue them first, it was a difficult situation.

Perhaps it was best to quietly let things pass as they were, in order to minimize the damage.

As time passed, after much deliberation, she reached a conclusion.

“It’s still not possible.”

…Naive.

Even in a situation where a single wrong move could lead to the destruction of the workshop, she adhered to discipline.

After considering it dozens of times, she decided to break off negotiations.

She did not explain the reasons; her eyes were filled only with determination.

It seemed she harbored something different from mere conviction.

“…I’ve often been misunderstood.”

Workshops are commonly known as places where artisans come together to create masterpieces. However, the current workshops undoubtedly serve as hubs where skilled individuals from various regions gather to lead the modern era.

…Externally.

However.

Most views are simply ignorant. It is a misconception that has spread widely.

The workshop is not a place for artisans.

Nor is it a place to create deadly weapons.

The workshop.

It signifies a fair and just place that transcends any worldly standards.

It is the continent’s sole sanctuary amidst daily violence, hatred, murder, and threats, symbolizing peace.

That was the original meaning of the workshop, Daisy’s ideology.

“…For example, it’s like everyone took the test under equal conditions.”

“Are you so knowledgeable because you’re an administrator, knowing things not found in books? But even when you speak, it’s not amusing, right? Seeing the current state of the workshop battle and other aspects, they all seem to contradict that noble ideology.”

A scene from the entrance suddenly came to mind.

Power capable of severing a large body in a single blow.

Speed so great that it’s hard to even discern what was struck.

Precise target settings and the optimal direction for delivering power.

All backed by innate magical abilities.

In short, it was clean without any frills.

Just like now.

“Yes, that’s correct. The current workshop is indeed like that. It has deviated from my father’s intentions.”

“Father…? Rather than that, attacking us now means they’re about to go all out, right?”

Artemia narrowly avoided the strike.

A blade deeply aimed at her throat from an angle.

Had Chaesola not pulled her back, her shoulder might have been cleaved in an instant.

The attack, without a hint of hesitation, clearly reflected her intentions.

“…The workshop must change.”

Daisy, the one who originally founded the workshop.

If her words were true, Artemia’s identity surprisingly turned out to be his daughter.

Moreover, instead of following his intentions, she seemed to be opposing his ideology.

…The workshop must change?

Muttered softly while biting her lip.

The exact meaning was unclear, but one thing was certain.

“Beep! Beep beep!”

This person is genuinely trying to kill us.

“No matter how young he may be, Dragonkind is still formidable.”

Making false statements without a hint of fear on his face.

Artemia unleashed shockwaves from the Golden Dragon while simultaneously launching fierce attacks towards us.

It was then that we discovered her weapon was none other than her bladed legs.

Stronger and faster than a typical sword wielded using upper body muscles, it was a formidable weapon.

With steps too swift to follow and sharp blades coming in relentlessly, it approached smoothly like a dance.

Both I and Chaesola were barely able to dodge.

It seemed as if she had completely transformed into someone else, confident that she could easily overpower any dragon.

“Gulp…!”

“Hanul!!”

With magic sealed, there was no chance for a counterattack, not even an escape.

Whether it was due to reaching the limits of evading or for some other reason, although she narrowly avoided being hit, she couldn’t withstand a direct kick.

The force that seemed to distort his insides struck accurately in his abdomen, instantly shattering his ribs.

…Damn it.

If only his magic hadn’t been sealed.

But why did his body move on its own like this?

What’s so great about this stalker guy?

“Hey, are you really okay? Maybe we should close the workshop starting today.”

“No matter what you say, it won’t work. The test will proceed as planned with you caught up in questionable thinking, and ‘my’ workshop is still intact.”

“I don’t understand what you’re saying, but if something hurts, take a break.”

A wooden sword primarily used in swordsmanship training.

Wooden sword.

It may not be considered a sword in the traditional sense, but there was no difficulty in swinging it.

“…Wood? How long can something made of just wood hold up?”

“It’s better not to underestimate it. Even though it looks like that, it’s incredibly sturdy.”

With the wooden sword she had been carrying on her back, Chaeseol-ah pushed him away.

Although it wasn’t a direct hit, he seemed surprised by the momentary push even though there was no magic imbued in it.

Of course, this was just a one-time feat; even Chaeseol-ah would find it nearly impossible to subdue Artemia with a wooden sword.

“Oh, I see. Boyfriend? Did you come out because your lover got hit?”

“Hey, it’s not like that, so don’t think weird things.”

“That’s right. That’s all. The reason you’re about to die.”

“…That’s assuming the wooden sword holds up.”

With a shout that breaking it would stop him, he began to charge in earnest.

While completely blocking the young dragon’s sound waves, there was not a single gap in the flawless unity of offense and defense.

Although Chaeseol-ah had blocked several attacks, the momentum was clearly shifting towards him.

The only fortunate thing was that it wasn’t an ordinary wooden sword.

When Chaeseol-ah first arrived at the room, what she held in her hand was none other than a wooden sword.

It wasn’t strange for her, who had originally learned swordsmanship, to have it, but the problem was where she had picked it up.

When asked this question, Chaeseol-ah smiled and replied.

Spoils.

There was no particular reason.

Simply because unlike Kim Taekang, who was fragmented by the flow of numerous magics, it remained unscathed.

Blade and wooden sword.

Wooden sword and blade.

When dozens of moves were divided.

The outcome of victory or defeat became starkly clear.

“…Honestly, I was surprised. I couldn’t have imagined that a mere wanderer armed with a branch could endure this much.”

“……”

“You… This bastard…”

In the end, Chaeseol-ah couldn’t win.

The once steadfast wooden sword was now lying on the ground.

Her usually calm breath was now labored.

She was in a state where simply standing was difficult.

To defeat a different opponent with a completely different experience using just a sturdy wooden sword was almost like a trick.

However.

Even in the face of imminent death in a desperate situation, there was one thing she never wavered on.

The eyes filled with determination finally discovered it.

“Hanul, I found it.”

The entrance on the first day.

The first blow revealing her identity.

The battle that had unfolded until now.

The commonality in the three scenes was the ‘right leg.’

She had been insisting on using only her right leg in all instances.

Considering that the opposite side was perfectly capable of supporting her weight, it was unlikely due to a physical defect.

Even if it was originally a painful leg, the fact that she concealed it to that extent indicated that there was something more.

For example.

“Oh, when did you…!”

“Finally caught some prey. It’s nice to see you in this situation.”

Suppressing magic systems or something similar.

At Chaeseol-ah’s words, she gathered all her remaining strength and charged at him.

With all her might, her fist reached the side of the blade on his left leg.

As she destroyed the protruding mechanism, she began to feel magic flowing throughout her body.

“Chaeseol-ah!! This is your last chance!!”

Controlling magic with magic.

In this world’s system, it may not be entirely impossible, but it would certainly require relative strength.

No matter how excellent the administrator may be, it would be difficult to control all the mana of numerous participants.

So the only remaining option is to utilize the collection of remarkable combat techniques.

“Goodness…!”

Black currents, as if impatiently waiting to emerge from the world, surged out in all directions.

It created an illusion that a personality intent on killing her had emerged.

The depth of increased offense and defense, along with unfamiliar techniques and heightened power, overwhelmed Artemia completely, unlike anything before.

Seol-A’s mana, now even more potent, made it impossible to even evade attacks, let alone compare to previous encounters.

“Do you understand?”

“Gasp…! What, what…?”

“Even without mana, you would have died in the end.”

“Ha, arrogance.”

“I’ve already done everything I could. You wouldn’t have agreed to date me otherwise, so I decided to make you mine just now.”

This was new information for her.

“And when I cut your throat and turn back, I’ll give you something much stronger than a kiss.”

“You crazy woman.”

“Oh, right. That’s why you’ll die.”

The swordsmanship she would hear about later.

A technique that killed Kim Taekang, a sword that anyone facing it for the first time would inevitably fall victim to.

Even if all attacks miss, the sword leaves traces.

Exploiting those traces, the sword strikes from behind in a series of ten continuous strikes.