Episode 100. 1-on-1 Duel (6)

Nam Daeun finished her medical check with Baek Ahyoung and lay down on the waiting room sofa.

And she reflected on her actions from just now.

‘Why did I do that…?’

Showing the phone call with her younger sister was the first time in her life.

It was a sudden whim, and she still doesn’t really know the reason why she acted like that. Maybe she wanted to lean on someone else, even just a little.

“Haa….”

In the silence-enveloped waiting room, Nam Daeun looked at the ceiling and composed herself.

‘He was a nice person.’

Like at the mart, and at the vending machine, he was definitely a nice person. But after this final match ends, and the results come out, and the teams change, it would be a relationship that ends. Nam Daeun felt a little disappointed.

“First place….”

Of course, Lee Hoyeon would want first place too. He made it to the finals, so it’s natural. But no matter how nice a person he was, she couldn’t yield first place. For Nam Daeun, her younger sister was more precious than anything.

*

Knock knock knock

“Yes. Come in.”

“Excuse meeee….”

Baek Ahyoung glanced nervously and came into my waiting room.

“Why are you coming in here looking so nervous? Ahyoung-ssi.”

“Just… there isn’t much time left.”

Less than 20 minutes remained until the final match started. Of course, it was enough time to do it quickly once, but I also wanted to compete in the finals in peak condition.

“For now, just do the medical check. Since there isn’t much time, I can’t do anything else.”

“Okay, got it….”

Baek Ahyoung kept glancing at me while doing the light checks one by one. It was obvious she wanted something, so I playfully gave her an opening.

“Swoosh… I think my body feels a little uncomfortable.”

“Huh? Where?!”

“Ah, it was just my imagination.”

“Nnngh….”

Baek Ahyoung, looking dejected, continued the examination.

‘This is ridiculous.’

Just how badly does she want it?

After teasing Baek Ahyoung, I finished the medical check.

“The check-up is done. Good luck in the finals.”

“Thank you.”

Seeing Baek Ahyoung’s crestfallen expression while she was cheering me on, I also felt a bit strange.

★ Heroine Status Window

[Baek Ahyoung]

• [Affection: 87] (+0.4)

• [Lust: 73]

• [Appetite: 30]

• [Fatigue: 35]

Current Status: So you’re not going to do it after all…

“Ahyoung-ssi. You’re going to volunteer this weekend, right?”

“Yeah, if nothing comes up, I should go.”

That’s good. Our schedules were awkward for meeting, but it seems like we can meet at the orphanage.

“Then I’ll go with you.”

“S-sure. But don’t do anything weird there again.”

“Okay. I won’t do too many weird things.”

“Okay….”

Baek Ahyoung still brightened up at the thought of seeing me on the weekend, her dejected expression fading. She didn’t seem to care about my comment, “I won’t do too many weird things.”

★ Heroine Status Window

[Baek Ahyoung]

• [Affection: 87] (+0.4)

• [Lust: 73]

• [Appetite: 30]

• [Fatigue: 35]

Current Status: Orphanage, perfect…! But I hope you don’t take pictures….

She really hates pictures. Should I really stop taking them now? Then again, blackmail material might not even be necessary now. She comes looking to get raped on her own accord, so why would I need the material?

[In a moment, the 1st-year 1v1 Duel finals will commence. Spectators, please take your seats and maintain order.]

“I have to go to the waiting area for contestants now.”

“Okay. I hope you get a good result.”

“Yes. See you on the weekend. Ahyoung-ssi.”

I said goodbye to Baek Ahyoung and headed to the contestant waiting area.

[This 1v1 Duel, despite being a 1st-year match, is drawing unusual attention! The two cadets at the center of it are facing off! Cadet Nam Daeun, who has never once lost the top spot in practical exams, against the rapidly rising supernova, Cadet Lee Hoyeon!]

While I waited, listening to the commentator’s cringe-worthy explanation reciting my and Nam Daeun’s careers, a staff member approached.

“You can go up now.”

“Yep.”

On the way up to the sparring arena, as expected for the finals, the crowd’s reaction was intense. I could also see Nam Daeun coming up from the opposite side. Hearing the crowd’s cheers and the loud commentary, I stood in the sparring arena.

Shhhk-

A magic barrier rose, blocking out the surrounding noise, and Nam Daeun, standing in front, also met my eyes.

“Good luck.”

“Yeah. I’ll definitely get first place.”

Nam Daeun replied with a smile to my encouragement.

[5, 4, 3, 2, 1, Start!]

Even after the starting signal rang, we didn’t move towards each other. Until now, Nam Daeun had taken the initiative in every match, but this time she seemed to want to play it slow. Since I had no choice, I first drew up my magic power.

Thump. Thump. Thump.

My heart started beating fast, and I could feel the blood circulating through my whole body. Nam Daeun also drew her sword as soon as I got into battle stance.

Thump. Thump. Thump.

Wait a second.

Thump. Thump. Thump.

As soon as Nam Daeun got into battle stance, my body grew hotter and hotter.

… This much?

It was faster than when I faced Felix, and heavier than when I encountered the ogre. The combat sense I thought I’d gotten used to filled my body as if acknowledging it was still insufficient. As if time had slowed down, my senses sharpened rapidly, and my entire body was honed for battle.

“…It wasn’t a matter of whether to surrender or not.”

Nam Daeun was, among all the opponents I’d faced so far, the strongest.

*

‘She’s strong.’

Nam Daeun thought, looking at Lee Hoyeon, whose eyes had turned golden. She was on a different level compared to ordinary cadets. To win for sure, she felt she couldn’t hold back her power. Having made her decision, Nam Daeun concentrated magic power into her sword.

A skill not yet revealed anywhere.

[Space Domination]

It was a unique skill, Nam Daeun’s divine power, directly manifesting [Space Domination]. She spread her magic power throughout the sparring arena. Within this space, distance was no longer meaningful for Nam Daeun.

‘It’s better to finish quickly.’

Centered around Nam Daeun, the shimmering space and the purple aura gathering on her sword. In the original game, something I’d seen countless times, the preparation for ‘Space Slash’ made Lee Hoyeon’s jaw drop.

‘No way, Space Slash is possible?’

Nam Daeun revealed the power she had hidden. Reading the momentum of my combat senses, she intended to finish the match quickly. She probably wanted to avoid dragging the fight out, which could lead to unexpected situations.

‘She must recognize me that much.’

Whether I should be happy about this or not, I don’t know. In the first place, I have no idea how much power she had been hiding. Space Slash is a skill that appears in the mid-to-late stages of the story. Meaning, it should appear late in the 1st year or early in the 2nd year, around the time I’d take the top spot in practical exams from Nam Daeun, but she had already mastered it.

Lee Hoyeon slowly bent down, caught his breath, and prepared for the attack.

[Space Domination] has absurd effects, so it consumes a massive amount of magic power. If we dragged it out, the advantage would be on my side.

Meanwhile, dealing with mages was Nam Daeun’s specialty. Mages couldn’t handle Nam Daeun’s speed and destructive power. But Lee Hoyeon was different from ordinary mages. Using a skill similar to his [Space Acceleration], he showed un-mage-like agility, and his shield magic was unnaturally sturdy.

Nam Daeun slowly moved her feet to find an opening against Lee Hoyeon. Lee Hoyeon prepared for Nam Daeun’s movements and took a defensive stance. The moment he saw an opening and threw a feint fireball at Nam Daeun.

Nam Daeun’s sword lunged towards Lee Hoyeon.

Pang-!

Reacting instantly to Nam Daeun closing the distance, Lee Hoyeon parried the blow with a Cotton Guard and counter-attacked with magic. Fire pillars erupting from the ground and explosions detonating in mid-air forced Nam Daeun back, allowing her to regroup. Lee Hoyeon, who didn’t expect it to work anyway, didn’t panic and continued his magic barrage. Numerous fireballs and fire spears were shot towards Nam Daeun.

‘She’s not planning to use Space Slash yet, huh?’

Nam Daeun was trying to manipulate Lee Hoyeon’s thoughts. Believing Nam Daeun had no ranged options, at that exact moment, she planned to finish him with Space Slash. However, Lee Hoyeon was aware of Space Slash. Therefore, he kept one slot in his double casting ready to defend at any moment.

Nam Daeun was also flustered by Lee Hoyeon, who wasn’t giving her openings as expected.

‘Lee Hoyeon can double cast. Why is he only using one spell?’

Although Nam Daeun kept looking for an opening to ensure victory, Lee Hoyeon gave her absolutely none. Perhaps he had figured out that she had a hidden move. Even if she tried to approach, he’d create distance and cast spells, and if she tried to force her way through, Lee Hoyeon’s instant acceleration skills made a counter-attack risky.

‘I can’t help it. I have to break through.’

The longer [Space Domination] was active, the less chance she’d have to use Space Slash. Space Slash was a move that guaranteed victory when used under the right conditions. So, she just needed to create an opening. She just needed to launch an offensive so intense that he couldn’t defend without double casting.

Nam Daeun split the incoming fireball from Lee Hoyeon in half and plunged through the gap. In the blink of an eye, blocking Nam Daeun’s sword strike that had closed the distance, Lee Hoyeon smiled. Nam Daeun, who had been so composed, launching such an offensive meant she was starting to feel pressured. Of course, Lee Hoyeon was also feeling the strain on his mana, but Nam Daeun didn’t know that. The one at a disadvantage was the desperate Nam Daeun, and if she forced her way in like that, Lee Hoyeon also had a trump card.

‘I should try it… I think it’ll work.’

Nam Daeun had been preparing throughout the fight for Lee Hoyeon’s ‘Acceleration’ and ‘Spiral’. That’s why, unlike facing an ordinary mage, she was wary of counter-attacks and didn’t charge in recklessly. However, if it was a skill she had never revealed before, Nam Daeun wouldn’t be able to prepare for it.

Lee Hoyeon smirked and continued the exchange with Nam Daeun.