Ch.11Episode 3. Special Class Duel (1)

“Is it okay if I skip morning classes today?”

“You can skip them. I’ve already spoken to the teachers.”

When I asked about borrowing the training arena during the morning hours the day before the duel, the facility manager gladly gave permission.

They arranged to have only the medical team on standby in case a student got injured and restricted access to the arena.

And now, instead of attending morning classes, all the special class students were present at the arena.

The special class students, changed into their gym clothes, began gathering around me one by one.

“Today’s scheduled duels are only with Jung Iyeon and Yeon Muhui, but if anyone else wants to duel with me now, feel free to speak up.”

I said as I took off my suit jacket and placed it on a chair.

Might as well check everyone’s abilities at once while we’re at it.

The students sitting in chairs and listening glanced at each other hesitantly.

Are they planning to decide after watching my duels with Yeon Muhui and Jung Iyeon?

“But, Instructor.”

“Yes?”

“Are you going to duel in your dress shirt?”

Jung Iyeon, wearing the green academy tracksuit, pointed at my clothes. I loosened my tie slightly and replied.

“Yes. That’s the plan.”

“You won’t complain that your outfit was uncomfortable if you lose the duel?”

“I won’t.”

A man has his pride. I wouldn’t stoop so low.

“Instructor.”

Yeon Muhui, who was sitting at the far end of the long bench inspecting her weapons, called out to me quietly.

“What is it?”

“If I win the duel, accept it gracefully.”

“What kind of acceptance are you talking about?”

“If I win, leave me alone. Stop threatening me with those petty demerits.”

“Threatening? I’m just trying to help you.”

Their expressions twisted at my utterly sincere answer.

…But it’s true.

“Answer me.”

“Fine. But if I win, you’ll listen to what I say from now on. Okay?”

“Yes.”

Now that we’ve both gotten the answers we wanted, there should be no issues.

“Let’s start with Yeon Muhui. Follow me.”

I walked to the center of the arena. Yeon Muhui attached two swords to her waist and followed me.

“Stay there.”

Yeon Muhui stopped walking. I stood about ten meters away from her.

“The rules are simple. The duel ends when one of us gives up. Give it your all. No half-hearted consideration is needed.”

That way, I could assess her current level and get a sense of how to teach her going forward.

“You don’t need to tell me that. I’m already annoyed with you, Instructor.”

Bitter medicine is good for you, isn’t it?

I stretched, extending my arms and rotating my neck. Yeon Muhui drew her sword.

Looking at the black blade gleaming under the arena lights made even me a bit tense.

No matter how much of a final villain I might be, getting stabbed would still hurt.

“Lightning Release.”

Crack!

Sparks began to fly from my entire body as if there was a power surge.

“Now, if you’re ready, come at me with the intent to kill.”

As I beckoned with my hand, she stomped the ground.

In an instant, she closed the distance and swung her sword down. I stepped forward and grabbed the hilt of the sword she was holding.

“Too slow.”

“…!”

Frustration appeared on her face as she found herself unable to move against my strength.

“Ugh! Why… why won’t it budge…!”

In that moment, I placed my fist against her side. Her gaze shifted to my fist.

“If I had hit you for real just now, you’d be dead, you know?”

Provoked by my taunt, she drew her other sword from her waist with a reverse grip and swung it toward my face.

Oh, flexible response.

Since I couldn’t dodge while holding her sword, I released it and did a backflip to create distance.

Unable to contain her excitement, she immediately rushed at me and swung her sword.

“That arrogant attitude! I’ll put you in your place right now!”

Looks like she’s properly angry now.

With my momentary dynamic vision, I assessed the length of the blade and the distance, dodging all her sword strikes with minimal movement.

She’s fast and fierce.

Her sword strikes aim for vital points with no wasted movement, and I can feel killing intent from the tip of her blade.

But it’s not enough yet.

She’s still not giving it her all.

That’s because Yeon Muhui hasn’t used her unique skill yet.

“Hup!”

After dodging a thrust aimed precisely at my throat, I grabbed Yeon Muhui’s arm. I immediately moved in close and struck her solar plexus with my elbow.

Thud!

“Kuh!”

The disadvantage of a long sword is that it becomes less effective than a dagger when the distance is too close.

Now, how will she break free?

Gritting her teeth, she moved her free arm. She was trying to strike my head with the pommel of her sword.

I immediately released her arm and threw a punch toward her face.

Kwang!

“Not bad.”

My fist was cut. I quietly marveled at the blood dripping down my skin.

Did she block my fist with her sword just before it reached her face?

Even so, my skin was protected by electricity and wasn’t easily cut.

The fact that I was wounded meant she had done something to her sword.

“I was holding back, but this isn’t over yet, is it?”

Yeon Muhui, who had been slammed against the wall, got up and sheathed one of her swords. Holding the remaining sword with both hands, she openly displayed her killing intent.

“I’ll kill you for real.”

I said come with the intent to kill, not actually kill me, you know?

While I was inwardly complaining, she had already approached and was swinging her sword.

I dodged her sword strike by stepping back.

“You can’t hit me—”

Slash!

Even though the blade didn’t touch me, my shoulder was cut, and my white shirt turned red with blood.

“!”

So she’s finally using her skill.

I grinned as I looked at the reddened blade.

It was Yeon Muhui’s unique skill, “Sword Aura.”

In this world, unlike many fictional works, people don’t shout skill names, but using a skill always causes some external change, as if it’s a rule.

Like how sparks fly when I use Lightning Release.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

Every time the sword traces an arc, I feel a threat to my life.

Sword Aura’s range varies flexibly depending on the power output, making it impossible to fully grasp.

So the only way to avoid it was to read the trajectory of her sword and move away from that path.

Crash!

The ground splits each time she swings her sword.

As I observed the depth and range of the splitting ground, I noticed that the output was ‘consistent.’

So the output is constant…

Does that mean she’s not swinging wildly in a fit of rage?

Yet the murderous intent imbued in her sword was unmistakable.

Right now, she was swinging with the genuine intent to kill me. Even if she didn’t kill me, she was determined to at least take off an arm.

In that case, I couldn’t just stand still either.

With acceleration that had no preparatory movement, I got behind her. Just as I was about to strike her back with full force, the red blade was suddenly at close range to my neck.

How did she react? Was it prediction?

I quickly raised my arm to block her sword arm at the elbow, preventing her from swinging, and then used my skill.

“Nullify.”

Confirming that the red energy was draining from the blade, I threw a punch toward Yeon Muhui’s face. Just before striking her face, I eased up and lightly tapped her chin.

“I think I can say I’ve won, right?”

She remained dazed for a few seconds, then bit her lower lip.

Though she openly showed her frustration, she surprisingly nodded, acknowledging her defeat.

“…How did you do that?”

She asked while sheathing her sword.

“Do what?”

“My Sword Aura disappeared. Come to think of it, that crazy girl… what was her name? Gu Yeonhwa?”

Crazy girl…

Isn’t that too harsh for a classmate? Well, she does seem half-crazy to me too.

“You made her fire disappear too, right? Is that your unique skill, Instructor?”

“Curious?”

“Yes.”

“It is my unique skill. A skill that erases the opponent’s skill.”

Since I had already used it several times, and knowing about it wouldn’t help counter it, I told her as a sign of trust.

Originally, ability users never asked or answered questions about each other’s skills. Even asking was considered a breach of etiquette, making it one of the taboos even among close associates.

That’s why the Association Chairman didn’t ask about my ability when scouting me.

“…You really told me?”

“Yes. But since I told you this trusting you, don’t go around telling others, okay?”

“Hmm…”

She made a meaningful humming sound.

“Ah, I’m curious about something too.”

“Yes?”

“You reacted to my movement at the end, right? How did you do that?”

“…I didn’t react.”

You didn’t react, yet you accurately pointed your sword at my neck?

That final counter-attack was so fierce and precise that if my reaction had been even slightly delayed, I would have lost.

“It was possible because I was in the middle of using a skill.”

In the middle of using a skill?

Could she have already mastered “Red Flower Dance”?

Considering the consistent Sword Aura output, my prediction might be correct.

Although she still seemed to lack proficiency, her growth rate was quite fast, perhaps even faster than in the original story.

“I see. By the way, how’s where I hit you?”

“It hurts. It’s throbbing. I feel like throwing up.”

She says, rubbing just below her chest.

“Don’t throw up. Here.”

I handed her a potion I had prepared in advance.

“It has pain-relieving effects too, so drink this and go see the doctor with healing abilities over there for an examination, then rest.”

“Okay…”

She answered dejectedly. I patted her on the back.

“I was in danger at the end too. No need to feel down.”

“But I still lost.”

“You’re growing well. If you continue to work hard and progress like this, you’ll be able to achieve that goal you want.”

“…”

Her eyebrows seemed to rise very slightly at my words. Holding the potion with both hands, she nodded briefly.

“…Okay.”

“Since I won the duel, you’ll listen to me from now on, right?”

“Yes. I will.”

“Good. Now go on.”

After sending Yeon Muhui away, I called out to the others who were sitting blankly in their chairs.

“Next, Jung Iyeon, come in!”

No sooner had I spoken than Jung Iyeon sprinted toward me at high speed.

“Instructor!!”

“Uh… yes. What is it?”

“I was so surprised! I thought you were disappearing and reappearing, but it turns out you were just moving too fast for my dynamic vision to follow!”

This one’s too noisy.

I wanted to cover Jung Iyeon’s mouth as she talked rapidly and made a fuss.

“I get it, let’s just prepare for the duel.”

I was about to step away with a bitter smile when—

“I’m really glad I joined the special class!”

The strange nuance made me turn around slightly, and Jung Iyeon was grinning.

Looking at her meaningful smile gave me an uneasy feeling.

What is this sense of discomfort?