Ch.2121. One-on-One Duel

Seol Yu-hwa had taken time out of her busy schedule to visit the beach with the children.

After completing her morning and afternoon duties and classes, evenings were usually reserved for homework or personal maintenance.

But she had a family. Children living in a shabby house without parental support.

Seol Yu-hwa worried about these younger siblings.

That’s why, despite the difficulty, she frequently visited their home.

Today, while they were about to have dinner together, the children started whining.

“Sis, I want to go to the beach. It’ll be nice there.”

“The beach?”

It was unexpected, but as their older sister, it was hard to refuse the children’s wish to go to the beach.

Fortunately, she had money. It had been a month, so she’d received her salary.

Compared to reality, it was like being a cadet at a military academy—getting paid while receiving education.

The salary of a Jaeger was more than twice that of an average office worker.

With her paycheck just in, there was no reason not to grant their request.

“Alright, your sister will treat you properly. Where do you want to go?”

Several beaches were nominated. Usually they wouldn’t be open so they couldn’t go, but they could enjoy the scenery and have dinner nearby.

“Incheon.”

At that moment, Jun-hoo spoke decisively.

“You want to see Incheon?”

“Incheon Songdo Beach.”

When the specific location was mentioned, Seol Yu-hwa nodded.

So they came to Songdo Beach, ordered delicious seafood stew, and enjoyed the scenery.

After the meal, Seol Yu-hwa took a walk around the area.

“We’ll head back before 10 PM at the latest. Don’t wander off.”

Seol Yu-hwa noticed her brother Jun-hoo intently staring at the beach.

Though only about 12 years old, the mature boy pointed in that direction.

“Sis, if you go that way, you might find a good relationship.”

“What are you talking about?”

Seol Yu-hwa was puzzled by Jun-hoo’s words. It seemed strange, but this was the age of Jaegers.

‘Could it be some kind of prophecy?’

It was possible if he had the aptitude.

“Jun-hoo. Why are you suddenly saying such things?”

“Just… I think it would be nice if you got a boyfriend…”

“What?”

But Jun-hoo once again wore a mischievous smile.

“I saw it on TV, where people meet their destined partners on empty beaches like that. Wouldn’t that be nice for you too?”

“This kid…”

Seol Yu-hwa sighed in relief. It wasn’t some premonition, just something he’d seen on TV.

‘Come to think of it, isn’t there a current Wednesday-Thursday drama centered around beaches?’

A drama starring a famous idol who was also a Jaeger. Her brother must have seen it.

“I was wondering what you meant. Stop worrying about my love life.”

“Sis! Are there any nice guys at school?”

Yeon-hee clung to her side with expectant eyes.

Just as she was about to answer that there weren’t any, one man suddenly came to mind.

It wasn’t the cocky, show-off Geum Do-hyun.

It was Do Jong-hyun.

‘Why? Do Jong-hyun was just a simple cooperative relationship.’

They’d only taken tests together a couple of times. So why was she thinking of him now?

Even Aerial was appearing in her mind.

Aerial and Do Jong-hyun. Seol Yu-hwa shook her head vigorously amid these complicated feelings.

But trouble struck just before they were about to return.

A monster break occurred.

“Kids!”

She hurriedly took the children toward a shelter.

While taking care of her four siblings, Seol Yu-hwa suddenly realized one was missing.

“Jun-hoo? Jun-hoo?”

Her heart sank.

Seol Yu-hwa left the children at the shelter and frantically searched.

She utilized Brisingamen. This Brisingamen had the role of amplifying mental abilities.

Seol Yu-hwa used Brisingamen to find her brother’s location.

The beach.

She sensed her brother’s mental presence at the beach he had mentioned earlier.

Seol Yu-hwa ran, and once again, she was shocked.

Over the corpses of monsters, a black creature resembling a winged insect combined with a human stood before Jun-hoo.

“Jun-hoo!”

Her voice rose to a terrifying pitch as she unleashed her ability.

Monsters kill people.

Recalling this obvious premise, she activated Brisingamen from quite a distance.

But it didn’t reach. Naturally, she could use it over a much wider range during attack incidents.

Right now, it still couldn’t reach.

‘Jun-hoo…’

As she ran, emitting Brisingamen with all her might, the monster seemed to ignore her concern and just stared.

A critical situation.

At that moment, Brisingamen emitted light once more.

From a distance that should have been unreachable, the monster suddenly staggered.

Whether it was her desperation or not, she threw herself toward Jun-hoo in a hurry.

Spring beach sand covered her entire body as she quickly turned around.

The distance had shortened, now within definite range.

As she stood up to protect Jun-hoo, a strong wind blew.

Wasn’t the monster flying away quickly?

‘A monster avoiding a fight?’

Monsters do flee sometimes—when they’re overwhelmingly outmatched.

But this monster wasn’t particularly outmatched, yet it fled against its ‘nature.’

“Jun-hoo. Are you okay?”

But more important than these questions was her brother’s safety, so she hurriedly left the area.

*

If one were to describe Do Jong-hyun’s current mood, it would be simple. He felt like he’d woken up after drinking too much.

“Ugh, my head hurts.”

He never would have dreamed he’d personally experience Brisingamen’s capabilities.

When Brisingamen interfered with his mind, he suddenly felt everything was bothersome.

Fortunately, it seemed to cut off midway, allowing him to escape. Otherwise, it could have been terrible.

‘So that kid was Seol Yu-hwa’s brother.’

Though it was Do Jong-hyun’s first time seeing him, the boy looked bright and alert. True to his genetics, he had a face that promised a bright future.

Anyway, since his regression, he kept getting entangled with people he barely had connections with.

This was a positive sign.

“Hey! Do Jong-hyun!”

But a voice interrupted these thoughts. Not all entanglements were with good people.

Min Gang-su approached Do Jong-hyun with an arrogant attitude.

“Get ready today. How dare you act up without even having a summoning spirit? I’ll send you to America.”

“I don’t like traveling, but usually bastards who talk like you end up going.”

They glared at each other, and finally, the time for one-on-one combat arrived.

Following Oh Ju-hwan, they lined up and headed to the combat arena.

Like a taekwondo arena without ropes, they sat in the spacious square combat area.

Basically, they were divided by class. Naturally, if people of different ranks fought, the outcome would be one-sided.

Thanks to this, lower-class students fought other lower-class students in one-on-one combat.

Oh Ju-hwan shouted to everyone:

“Everyone pick one opponent and compete! Don’t get carried away and hurt yourselves! Understand?”

One-on-one combat was also a way to get stronger. Moreover, since it allowed students to showcase their individual skills, it was their favorite training.

And in this lower class, tension was brewing.

Like a predetermined highlight in a performance, everyone’s attention was focused on one side.

Do Jong-hyun and Min Gang-su. These two were glaring at each other.

Even as the children chose their one-on-one opponents, they kept looking at these two.

“Who do you think will win?”

“Obviously Min Gang-su. Do you think he’d lose to someone without a summoning spirit?”

People naturally predicted Min Gang-su would win. The presence or absence of a summoning spirit made an enormous difference.

Moreover, Min Gang-su was quite strong even within the lower class.

Min Gang-su didn’t believe there was even a speck of possibility he might lose.

[Got it? If you take care of that bastard Do Jong-hyun, I’ll look after you. You’ll join a good guild.]

A confrontation initiated by Geum Do-hyun’s instigation. Min Gang-su looked at Do Jong-hyun who came forward.

‘Reinforced suit? Well, without a summoning spirit, it’s the obvious choice.’

He wouldn’t drag this out. As soon as Oh Ju-hwan’s signal was heard, Min Gang-su charged.

Strengthened by the power of his serpent spirit, he jumped high and threw a punch.

But he felt something strange. As if predicting his attack, Do Jong-hyun had already moved to the side.

Not noticing and turning, but waiting as if he knew in advance.

Min Gang-su’s fist cut through the air. Now, Do Jong-hyun’s fist aimed for his chin.

Bang!

A shock like being hit with a blunt object shook his brain, making his consciousness blur.

[Gang-su! You raise your chin too much! That makes you vulnerable to counters. Come on, follow the instructor’s words and tuck in your chin!]

The words of his former teacher belatedly came to mind as Min Gang-su landed on his backside.

An upset occurred in what seemed like a predictable match.

The surroundings were quiet. Everyone opened their mouths, unable to believe what had just happened.

*

When Min Gang-su was with Geum Do-hyun’s family, I observed him a lot.

Overall, he’s the type who enhances his body with the power of his summoning spirit and charges in.

With unremarkable abilities, he remained in the lower class.

But he’s relatively strong. There are many in the lower class who can’t even do that much. Plus, Geum Do-hyun occasionally helps him out.

From my memories before regression, his weakness was clear.

His movements are big, and his head is raised.

This was something he said his private instructor before the academy kept telling him.

[That damn teacher always told me to tuck in my chin and make my movements more compact. But I did fine without that.]

After hearing that story, I carefully observed Min Gang-su’s actions.

Like a telephone punch in boxing, he throws powerful punches with wide arcs.

His chin is indeed raised. If I could just counter in that gap?

When Min Gang-su pressures his opponent, he often jumps to apply pressure.

Recalling this, I successfully dodged his attack with the help of my reinforced suit.

I immediately threw a hook to his chin.

Similar to the fight between fighters Fedor and Arlovski.

I aimed for the moment when he staggered after being hit in the chin and fell on his backside.

As I charged, all I could hear was my own breathing. The surroundings were silent.

That’s how shocking it was.

An upset was occurring.

Though I landed a hit, my attack power wasn’t enough to KO Min Gang-su in one blow.

But now, with him shaken after being hit in the chin, was the time for effort.

In my mind, numerous combat memories of Min Gang-su flashed by.

From many memories, I extracted only the clear ones. How does Min Gang-su move when ambushed?

As soon as it entered my mind, I delivered a stamping kick infused with magical power.

“Ugh!”

Min Gang-su, surprised, immediately went on the defensive. Yes, he always did that. When at a disadvantage, he always chose defense even in situations where he could counterattack.

My magically charged foot aimed for Min Gang-su’s chin again.

To the best of my ability. But this time, Min Gang-su crossed his arms to block.

And he smiled at me.

“It doesn’t hurt as much as I thought!”

And having gained confidence, he stood up abruptly.

Certainly, while the reinforced suit increased my defense, my attack power didn’t increase as much as my defense.

Min Gang-su, with newfound confidence, swung his fist. A punch with a large trajectory.

I recalled my memories and immediately stepped back.

His fist brushed past my face.

“Running around like a rat!”

Min Gang-su was swinging his fists vigorously. But they didn’t hit.

I could see everything. From those large trajectories to the openings.

When my body became accustomed to his attacks, I prepared to counterattack.

When another large arc began, I instinctively sensed an opportunity.

Our fists crossed.

I lowered my head, while Min Gang-su kept his chin raised.

As I felt the dull sensation of my fist connecting, Min Gang-su’s fist brushed past my side.

Thud.

Min Gang-su fell. Not landing on his backside like before, but falling like a dead tree.

[M-point acquired!]

-2,000

There was a moment of silence. Oh Ju-hwan’s immediate decision and Min Gang-su regaining consciousness happened almost simultaneously.

“Uh…”

Min Gang-su’s surprised expression and Oh Ju-hwan’s solemn face were visible at a glance.

“Min Gang-su. Go in. You were briefly knocked out.”

“M-me?”

“Yes, the match goes to Do Jong-hyun.”

It was a sweet sound to my ears. I had finally defeated an opponent who was unbeatable before my regression.

As I returned after claiming victory, I noticed the gazes directed at me.

Everyone seemed shocked by this impossible upset.

Defeating Min Gang-su. Something that would have been impossible for my former self.

I felt elated. The one-on-one combat ended with my victory.