Confession 2

She lost.

It was an undeniable, complete defeat.

‘…I ended up losing. Me.’

In the infirmary, reeking of disinfectant alcohol.

With the pure white ceiling as her companion, Baek Da-eun lay listlessly on the hospital bed.

‘Honestly, I didn’t think I would win.’

The odds of winning were low.

Baek Da-eun was somewhat certain of this even before entering the duel.

Both S-class awakened.

However, their experiences differ.

The one-year time difference is like heaven and earth for a growing sprout.

Moreover, Michaela is the first-ever foreign student.

She didn’t mean to put herself down, but compared to that, Baek Da-eun was no different from a flower in a greenhouse.

Above all.

‘Because she was the woman that child relied on, setting me aside.’

Han Seoyeon’s first.

The senior that brave and kind girl first trusted and relied on.

The difference was already there from that point.

‘I didn’t expect there to be such a big gap in skills, though…’

Baek Da-eun had made her own efforts.

She increased her training more than before and also mastered her ability to handle her power.

Everything was for that child.

It was to be of even a little help to that child.

‘At this rate, I have no choice but to accept defeat for now.’

Yet she lost.

It’s frustrating.

Baek Da-eun was so frustrated that she gripped the bed sheets tightly.

At least for now.

Michaela was more suitable to be by that child’s side.

‘But only for now.’

She had no intention of just losing like this.

Baek Da-eun was a shameless person.

Even though she had once done something terrible to that child.

Now, she prided herself on loving her more than anyone else in the world.

“Someday, surely…”

“Found you.”

Just as she was about to steel her resolve.

“You were here.”

The girl’s voice tickled her ear.

“Are you okay? I heard you were injured.”

“…Miss Han Seoyeon.”

Han Seoyeon.

That child sat down beside Baek Da-eun.

“Why are you here…”

Although it was clearly a joyous occasion.

The first words that flowed from Baek Da-eun’s mouth were these.

The winner is Michaela.

The loser is Baek Da-eun.

Where the goddess of victory would turn should be decided, and yet.

This time.

It’s too soon for her to have met Michaela first and then come here.

“Well, I came because I was worried.”

“…”

If that’s the case.

It meant the girl came to Baek Da-eun’s side first.

Setting Michaela aside.

“Is that so.”

It was strange.

There should be no doubt that Baek Da-eun is the loser, and yet.

“What’s with that? I came all this way because I was worried─!”

“I’m happy.”

Baek Da-eun unconsciously raised the corners of her mouth.

As if she were the winner.

“Thank you for worrying about me, Miss Han Seoyeon.”

“Of course I’d worry. We’re best friends.”

Best friends.

Despite being called by a term so close to the highest, Baek Da-eun felt thirsty.

“By the way, why did you participate in the exhibition match?”

“Because of who the opponent was.”

Baek Da-eun has no interest in showing off her strength.

She didn’t place much meaning in the exhibition match either.

Usually.

“I wanted to win against Miss Michaela at least once.”

“Against the senior…?”

“Yes.”

However, she couldn’t back down.

It was an opportunity to clash with an opponent she wanted to defeat somehow.

“In the end, I ended up losing so miserably like this.”

She has no regrets.

It’s not like everything is over.

“But I don’t intend to give up like this. I’ll challenge her as many times as it takes. Again and again.”

She will challenge her countless times.

Until she finally achieves victory.

“Can you cheer for me?”

“Of course!”

Using today as a stepping stone, Baek Da-eun will move forward.

“But it won’t be easy, you know? The senior is incredibly strong!”

“I know that.”

She’s a formidable opponent.

The odds of winning are infinitesimally small.

“I know that, but.”

When she defeats that formidable opponent with those infinitesimally small odds.

“That’s precisely why the victory I might achieve someday will be so sweet, don’t you think?”

The single lily that will finally be within reach and plucked.

It will be so luscious and beautiful.

“…She went to that woman’s side after all.”

Her heart still aches.

Michaela tried hard to suppress it.

“I knew it. You’re kind. Rather than congratulating the winner, you’d want to comfort the loser.”

Han Seoyeon is a kind girl.

She’s not the goddess of victory.

She has the compassion to embrace even the loser.

“However.”

Michaela declared.

“I have no intention of yielding, ever.”

That was a human thought.

It was thinking as a human.

“The one you whispered love to was none other than me.”

Michaela learned a new emotion.

It was a sticky jealousy that a mere scabbard should never have.

The Hero Festival proceeded without any issues.

There were no gate or monster attacks, nor any terrorist threats.

There wasn’t even the development from the original work.

Originally, this would be the time when the conflict with Lee Ha-yul would reach its peak.

But for some unknown reason, Lee Ha-yul was completely quiet.

As if she had become a different person.

Whether it was because of the distortion of the original work.

Or because of the yuri aura, I’m not sure.

“That’s it!”

The peace was good in its own way.

“Winner, Han Seoyeon!”

Defeating her opponents one by one, Han Seoyeon advanced through the tournament.

There’s one unsurprising fact.

Han Seoyeon was a munchkin protagonist.

Her level exceeds 80.

The ability she possesses is even Ex-class.

It was natural for her to win.

Not just among students, but even among active hunters, those who could match Han Seoyeon were rare.

There wasn’t even a proper match.

It ended with one iaijutsu technique.

The students, unable to even follow with their eyes, acknowledge defeat upon seeing the blade suddenly at their throats.

With all the citizens of South Korea watching.

The final match was right around the corner.

“…I look forward to working with you.”

Her opponent was.

Not the student council president, nor Michaela or Baek Da-eun who didn’t participate after the exhibition match under the pretext of rest.

“Sister.”

“To think the final would be a battle between sisters.”

Han Suho.

The two sisters faced each other and spoke in low voices only audible to each other.

“…That.”

Suddenly, Han Seoyeon’s gaze turned to Han Suho’s waist.

A place that would have been empty before.

“I decided to pick it up again. The sword.”

In that place, like in the original work, a single hwando was placed.

“Does it not suit me…?”

“Of course not. You’re my sister, after all.”

Suho.

To live up to that name meaning to protect something.

Han Suho decided to wield a sword once again.

“But this is the real thing now. I won’t go easy on you like before!”

“I’ll do my best!”

The sisters placed their hands on their sword hilts side by side.

Soon, the metallic burst signaling the start rang out.

─Lightning Flash.

An iaijutsu technique like lightning.

However, Han Seoyeon wasn’t the one to strike first.

“…!”

“Surprised?”

Just before Han Suho’s sword rushed towards the neck.

Han Seoyeon barely managed to draw the Falling Star Sword to block it.

Bzzt.

Electricity was flowing through the sword.

“I applied it, you know. My ability.”

It wasn’t just speed comparable to lightning.

It was literal lightning.

“…Amazing. My sister is.”

“That’s rich coming from the sister who blocked it?”

“Of course. I am the older sister after all.”

That was all.

In a battle as swordswomen, inevitably, Han Seoyeon with the advantage in her weapon had the upper hand.

“The sword…!”

“My sister is certainly amazing, but.”

I don’t know what kind of artifact it is, but it’s probably just something from a sponsor or the like.

Such a thing couldn’t match the Falling Star Sword.

“Your older sister is no less so!”

The blade of the sword was visibly damaged.

Han Suho kicked off the ground to create distance.

“Here I come!”

Han Seoyeon chased after Han Suho.

“Then, like this…!”

Han Suho’s counter to this was simple.

Just don’t let the sword make direct contact.

A sword enveloped in lightning can bring down an opponent just by touching them.

Clashing sword against sword isn’t the entirety of the match.

Above all, she was keeping up.

Han Suho’s eyes were on Han Seoyeon’s sword.

─Horizontal Flash.

─Horizontal Flash.

Imitating the trajectory of an honest horizontal slash.

─Vertical Flash.

─Vertical Flash.

Then copying the path of a straight vertical slash.

─Omnidirectional Flash.

─Omnidirectional Flash.

Finally, she instinctively masters all these sword techniques in her body.

From the start, the sisters’ talent for swordsmanship is basically equal.

That talent is to the extent that the ‘Star Queen’ took notice and acknowledged them as worthy of the Falling Star Sword.

Han Seoyeon is a pioneer in swordsmanship.

She paved the way.

Through countless efforts and failures in the slums.

Which sword path is most efficient.

Which sword technique is most powerful.

Han Suho walks only the path already paved by the pioneer, without effort or failure.

Her body was accepting all aspects of pure swordsmanship.

Indeed, a growth rate worthy of being called the protagonist of the original work.

No, a growth rate surpassing even the original protagonist.

Well, given that her older sister is a munchkin protagonist, it would be impossible for her younger sister to be a trash novel protagonist.

The sight of them dancing with swords, looking for openings without actually clashing blades, was like a performance art.

But.

─When things reach an extreme, they reverse.

In an instant.

Han Seoyeon’s sword path rose like the waxing moon.

“…!”

“This one, you can’t easily imitate, right?”

Along with the Flower of Mortality, one aspect of godhood capable of shooting down constellations.

A counter-attack technique that responds to the opponent’s attack.

“That’s it! Winner, Han Seoyeon!”

To master this, even for a munchkin protagonist, it would take some time.

“My victory, right?”

“A complete defeat. I’ll acknowledge my loss. Sister.”

She didn’t particularly care about winning.

But there was no reason to lose on purpose either.

“It was fun playing like this after so long.”

“Me too. I enjoyed it.”

Just finding meaning in having enjoyed it,

The sisters simply faced each other and smiled.

“Congratulations on your victory, student Han Seoyeon.”

“…Yes.”

It didn’t mean much, but she received a medal from Lee Yeon.

Lee Yeon was smiling particularly happily.

The Hero Festival closed with a grand finale.

“Proud Academy students! You’ve worked hard this semester! Enjoy your holidays and stay healthy during the break! I’ll end this boring speech here! Dismissed!”

The end of a semester.

The beginning of summer vacation.

And then.

“Senior! I have something I want to tell you…!”

“What a coincidence. I also have something to tell you.”

“…Um, can I speak first?”

“No. Today, just for today, I must speak first.”

And then.

“…Seo, yeon.”

Michaela, calling Han Seoyeon by name for the first time.

“This summer vacation. Won’t you come to the sea with me?”

Invited.

Michaela did.

Was invited.

Han Seoyeon was.

Han Seoyeon pinched her cheek.

It hurt.

“…Ouch.”

It hurt so much she could cry from happiness.

“This isn’t a dream, right?”

“It’s reality.”

To emphasize again.

The one who invited was Michaela.

“I want to enjoy the summer with you.”

Han Seoyeon couldn’t believe this fact.

For a moment, she was about to faint from happiness.