Episode 101. 1-on-1 Duel (7)

“Tch.”

Nam Daeun attacked me as if this were her last chance.

The reason she’s acting so desperately is to lure me into letting my guard down.

She’s trying to make me think this is her final struggle and that I’ll win if I just block this one attack, thereby inducing a double casting.

Jiiiing-

The magical energy emanating from Nam Daeun’s body enveloped me. My body grew heavy. It felt like the very air in the training hall had gained weight, pressing down on me.

‘She can do this too?’

At this rate, she’s no different from Nam Daeun a year from now.

Just how much power was she hiding?

As my body grew heavier, it became increasingly difficult to fend off Nam Daeun’s assault.

However, as long as the purple blade, the signal for her preparing Spatial Rend, remained active, I had to save one more double casting to block it with Cotton Guard.

Blocking the sword strike aimed at my thigh, I summoned a fireball as a feint.

‘This isn’t going to work.’

Even with ‘Awakening’ predicting all of Nam Daeun’s attack paths, her speed and power were still formidable enough to make blocking difficult.

Kwaaang!

So far, I could still parry the attacks with Cotton Guard and counter, but Nam Daeun’s speed was increasing while mine was decreasing.

If this continued, I felt I would be defeated before I could even use Spatial Rend.

I decided to make a gamble.

The reason Nam Daeun wasn’t using Spatial Rend yet is because she’s saving it for the perfect moment.

Since it’s a skill she hasn’t revealed anywhere yet, she wouldn’t expect me to know about it.

Therefore, I had to exploit that assumption.

Although the flow of the match is currently against me, Nam Daeun must also want to end it quickly due to the strain on her mana reserves.

That’s why if I deliberately create an opening for her to use Spatial Rend, I can provoke her attack.

Spatial Rend can cut anywhere within the space controlled by Nam Daeun’s magic.

But what about the Rune Barrier?

The Rune Barrier is the most powerful among existing barrier magic.

Because it completely severs the connection with the outside, it should be able to cut off Nam Daeun’s [Spatial Domination] as well.

“Tch!”

My arm grazed the sword that exploited a gap in Cotton Guard, leaving a wound.

Even while using ‘Accelerate,’ I lacked speed because I was still within Nam Daeun’s space.

I created distance and used ‘Rune Barrier’.

The barrier expanded from my body, filling half the training hall.

“Let’s finish this…!”

Once the Rune Barrier definitively sealed off the space around me, the oppressive feeling vanished.

Realizing I was completely free from Nam Daeun’s [Spatial Domination], I shouted as if frustrated and began casting magic.

With both hands, I summoned fireballs and fire spears. It was a double casting.

Nam Daeun, standing opposite me, smiled.

“This is the end!”

Nam Daeun seemed to think I was running out of options too.

The purple light of her sword shone brilliantly as she slowly slashed the air. A sword strike that transcends space should have bisected my body, ending the match normally.

But my body wasn’t cut.

“Huh?”

In the instant Nam Daeun uttered her confused question, I unleashed a flash of light right before her eyes.

She wouldn’t normally fall for it, but catching her off guard, Nam Daeun instinctively closed her eyes.

“Kuhuk!”

Nam Daeun quickly recovered and frantically covered her body and head with her hands, but there was no way I’d miss with my magic.

The fire spears that slipped through pierced Nam Daeun’s body.

Since she couldn’t defend properly and took my magic head-on, the injuries must be severe.

It was a situation where finishing her off would end the match.

Nam Daeun still held her sword despite her battered body, but her eyes held resignation.

★ Heroine Status Window

[Nam Daeun]

• [ Affection: 31 ]

• [ Lust: 20 ]

• [ Hunger: 30 ]

• [ Fatigue: 33 ]

Current Status: I hurt, but I have to win. I absolutely must win. If I lose… there’s nothing left but to kill them all and die.

“….”

My head, heated by the combat adrenaline, cooled slightly.

Could I help Nam Daeun right now?

Of course, if I mobilized all my connections, it might be solvable.

Im Sol, Baek Ahyoung, Moon Surin, and even Alice.

There are so many capable women; if they just help, it should be possible.

But getting help from heroines to pursue other heroines… no matter how I think about it, that’s not right.

Of course, I had planned to use the Iris Guild Leader commission I received from Alice on Nam Daeun, but that’s not direct help.

Given my current growth rate, I could save Nam Daeun in half a year.

Both in terms of skill and influence. Right now, saving Nam Daeun would require forcing help from others, but by then, that won’t be necessary.

So, it’s right to step back for now.

Honestly, I did have a slight desire to teach that rude Nam Daeun a lesson… but she’s also pitiful.

For now, conquering the heroines is the top priority.

Watching Nam Daeun prepare her attack with her sword, I started drawing a magic circle, but then canceled it, clutched my chest, and dropped to one knee.

“Gggaaah!”

I can’t forfeit here… I have no choice but to pretend my mana is depleted.

Now, Nam Daeun just needs to seize the opportunity and cut me down… but she remained standing still, watching me.

‘What are you doing?! Come and cut me!’

★ Heroine Status Window

[Nam Daeun]

• [ Affection: 31 ]

• [ Lust: 20 ]

• [ Hunger: 30 ]

• [ Fatigue: 33 ]

Current Status: Mana exhaustion with no warning…? Could it be… she’s doing this on purpose because of me… Surrender. I have to shout surrender. But then Dahee…

Perhaps it was too sudden an act, but Nam Daeun seemed to have caught on.

But I thought Nam Daeun’s concern for her sister would override everything, making her cut me down without hesitation even if she noticed… but she didn’t.

Her image management became her undoing.

Just then, Alice suddenly descended from the stands and rushed to the front of the training hall, starting to cause a commotion below.

“R-Referee! Lee Hoyeon’s condition is bad! Stop the match quickly!”

Seeing Alice’s flustered expression made me even more bewildered.

‘Why are you suddenly doing this?’

The referee, looking perplexed by Alice’s sudden appearance at the edge of the training hall, called for a staff member.

Nam Daeun still hadn’t decided whether to cut me down, her pupils dilated as she stood there, lost in thought.

“Referee!!! Stop the match!!! If he dies, it’s your responsibility!!!”

Below, Alice was causing more chaos than I was.

“Lee Hoyeon student, if there’s an issue with the match proceeding, please tell me so I can take action.”

The referee, looking perplexed by Alice’s sudden appearance at the edge of the training hall, called for a staff member. The referee finally asked me directly.

I don’t know either. I didn’t intend to forfeit, but since Alice is making a scene, it’s probably fine.

“I, I forfeit.”

For method acting purposes, I closed my eyes and sprawled out flat on my back.

“Emergency patient! Emergency patient! Call an ambulance!”

‘…Is this right?’

I was carried out of the training hall on a stretcher.

Loaded into what looked like an ambulance, I arrived at… the infirmary.

“We meet again. Ahyoung-ssi.”

“…There’s nothing wrong with you, so why did they bring you here in an ambulance?”

Baek Ahyoung, who had rushed over upon hearing the words ’emergency patient,’ tilted her head.

She must have been even more surprised that it was me being carried in on a stretcher.

“…I’m sorry.”

★ Heroine Status Window

[Baek Ahyoung]

• [ Affection: 87 ] (+0.4)

• [ Lust: 73 ]

• [ Hunger: 30 ]

• [ Fatigue: 35 ]

Current Status: C-Could it be… he came to see me…?

‘If I came to see you, why would I be carried in on a stretcher….’

I still couldn’t comprehend this person’s thought process.

---

After Lee Hoyeon was carried away on the stretcher, the final match concluded.

Due to Lee Hoyeon’s mana exhaustion, Nam Daeun took the championship.

However, Nam Daeun felt no joy.

‘He lost on purpose for me.’

I knew Lee Hoyeon’s acting skills were terrible from the time he bought me a drink.

I still don’t know why my Spatial Rend was blocked, but at the same time, his attack aimed at me clearly showed he knew my attack had been countered.

The critical damage I took then had effectively ended the match.

Nam Daeun had merely forced herself to stand and hold her sword.

Unlike Nam Daeun, who was on the verge of collapsing, Lee Hoyeon’s momentum was intact.

There was no way mana exhaustion could strike suddenly in that state.

‘I lost… Lee Hoyeon must have wanted first place too… for me…’

What made me so arrogant?

What do you mean, letting me be the runner-up.

I ended up winning the championship instead.

Lee Hoyeon, his resolve weakened by the call with his sister before the match, must have forfeited.

“Haa… I’m trash.”

It was as if I had sold out my sister to get first place.

Still, it was fortunate in the end.

Because thanks to Lee Hoyeon, I could get first place.

It was the same as him saving both my life and my sister’s.

‘I definitely have to repay this.’

Nam Daeun felt grateful to Lee Hoyeon for giving her first place and resolved to repay him someday.

---

The day after the practical exams concluded. Victoria Academy Conference Room.

All the first-year professors gathered, each gazing at a holographic monitor before them.

“Now that the 1v1 duel is over, let’s tally the scores.”

The grading for the practical exams is conducted with all professors present.

This is for fairness, and to ensure the most objective scores possible.

“Since Nam Daeun won the 1v1 duel… she’ll be first place, right?”

“Well, the points awarded for the 1v1 duel are quite high.”

“Up until now, the winner of the 1v1 duel has never missed the top spot in the practical exams.”

“Hmm… Everyone. Please take a look at this data for a moment.”

While the discussion about Nam Daeun was ongoing, a female professor brought up some data on the monitor.

“Ah… she couldn’t fix it even during this midterm exam. She was definitely pointed out during the last dungeon practical training.”

“That’s right. She shows absolutely no communication or cooperation with her teammates.”

“Instead, Lee Hoyeon, who was in the same team, seems to be the core role? Even with combat power similar to Nam Daeun’s, he doesn’t rush ahead and prioritizes the team. His situational awareness is also overwhelming.”

“Isn’t that exactly the kind of talent desired in the dungeon practical exams?”

Lee Hoyeon was already a complete talent.

Students often get carried away by their own power and disregard their surroundings, but none of that arrogance was visible in Lee Hoyeon.

Rather, his ability to piece together clues, find paths, and anticipate boss monsters was on par with active hunters.

“Lee Hoyeon student also set a new record in the practical monster training.”

“9 seconds on Stage 10 is truly an unprecedented record.”

“How strong must his mental fortitude be to shake off the nightmares shown by ‘Hamel Dungeon’s Nightmare’ in just 9 seconds?”

“It doesn’t make sense.”

“He might have skills related to mental strength.”

“In any case, Lee Hoyeon student’s score should turn out quite well.”

The female professor checked Lee Hoyeon’s scores and entered the combined total onto the holographic monitor.

“Huh? Wait a moment. Even including the 1v1 duel… Lee Hoyeon student’s score is slightly higher?”

Although the 1v1 duel carries significant weight, Lee Hoyeon also achieved 2nd place in that duel.

Furthermore, Nam Daeun fell behind Lee Hoyeon in the other two exams, causing the scores to flip.

“That’s unfortunate for Nam Daeun. To get 2nd place despite winning the 1v1 duel.”

One professor shook his head.

“The points deducted from the dungeon practical were quite significant, so it couldn’t be helped.”

“The gap is quite large compared to Alice, who is in 3rd place, but the difference between 1st and 2nd is razor-thin.”

“For now, it’s decided that Lee Hoyeon student is the 1st place winner for this practical exam.”

“We’ll announce the results after all the exams are finished, right?”

“Yes, we should announce it after next week’s exams are done.”

‘I don’t need to step in then.’

Im Sol, observing the situation among the professors, felt relieved that Lee Hoyeon had secured first place without her needing to intervene.