Episode 36: Yun Se-ah vs. Kang A-yul

 

“………Sigh, this is troublesome.”

Seeing Kang A-yul’s confident expression, an ambiguous unease began to creep through my entire body as if it were being invaded.

‘What if I go all out and Kang A-yul gets injured?’

That would be problematic. I already need to use every ounce of strength to ensure Kang A-yul and Lee Seo-yun become student council presidents. If Kang A-yul gets hurt, there’ll be no second-years to handle first-year anomalies like the protagonist or Baek Si-ah.

‘What should I do… If I go all out, who knows what might happen.’

If I hold back, I’ll get torn apart. If I go all out, Kang A-yul will get torn apart.

“What’s wrong? Not going to bring out that gun from last time?”

“It’s not a gun, it’s a staff.”

Then, a good idea suddenly came to me.

‘The earring’s output limit is… 30%. With the penalty Eve gave me, my current maximum output is about 60% of full condition.’

Then… it might be possible.

“Seo-yun Yang, may I borrow your sword for a moment?”

“……Are you planning to use my sword…?”

“Ah, not at all, so don’t worry.”

I lightly gripped the still-warm Alternium alloy longsword Lee Seo-yun had just received from Cheonma, not the wooden sword from the mock battle. The appropriate weight, ridiculous reach, excessively wide swing radius, and various flaws of the longsword began to reveal themselves one by one.

‘Lee Seo-yun could wield this sword perfectly with her defensive stance, but…’

Unfortunately, I cannot.

“Still, I’ve roughly grasped it.”

The training ground was completely sealed to block outside interference. The only spectator was Lee Seo-yun.

The dagger Baek Si-ah made for me was knife-shaped, but its length could be adjusted by channeling magic power.

-Vwoom!

“Hmm… This is too long.”

-Vwoom!

“This is too short…”

-Swish!

“Hmm… Perfect.”

‘Well, if anyone was inside when this space was sealed, they could’ve watched this match… but I confirmed no one was here.’

Then, I can go all out.

Ah, of course not by destroying the earring…

“Your eyes…!”

“I’ll go all out now, A-yul Yang.”

To defeat Kang A-yul without major injuries by any means necessary, this was the only way.

‘If I’m overwhelmingly stronger, I can defeat her without going too far.’

If our abilities were similar, the atmosphere would become too heated like Kang A-yul and Lee Seo-yun’s first match… To satisfy Kang A-yul and end this match without serious injuries… this was the only method.

I looked at my reflection in the black smartphone screen.

‘For about 10 minutes, I’m a swordsman with skills comparable to Kang Jinmyeong…’

Thinking this, I looked back at Kang A-yul. Though not perfect, I began to vaguely see her movements.

After summoning my staff, I holstered it at my waist.

“I’m ready.”

“Me too.”

As Lee Seo-yun slowly stepped back with a whistle in her mouth.

“Now, the barrier will activate… Once fully deployed, your wristwatches will flash green – that’s when the match begins.”

“We know, do you really need to explain?”

“Hey, repetition helps! I figured A-yul Yang might charge at Se-ah Yang before the bracelet even flashes green.”

The bracelet gradually turned green.

1/2.

3/4.

And the moment it fully flashed green……….!

-Boom!

“Alright, let’s fight seriously now!”

Instantly, Kang A-yul wielding a magic sword blinked before me.

…

…

…

-Clang!

The sound of clashing blades echoed through the empty training ground.

Numerous swords crossed paths as they aimed for each other’s necks.

The blue magic sword charged at the girl scattering purple light, but I perfectly dodged all strikes with slight head movements.

“Damn it, you’ve been pissing me off since earlier…!!”

The number of magic swords increased. Yet not a single blade reached me.

It didn’t matter how many swords came.

With my experience from thousands of boss battles and Kang Jinmyeong’s swordsmanship temporarily borrowed, these swords were merely cute.

With a single strike, Kang A-yul’s magic sword shattered, losing all power.

“Now, let’s end this.”

-Groooaaar…!

“Ugh…?!”

Startled by the sudden pressure, Kang A-yul faltered.

-Click

Not missing the opening, I aimed Silver’s gun-like muzzle at Kang A-yul.

“Heo (Void)”

A black sphere began flying toward Kang A-yul, sucking in everything from the training ground floor.

-Crash!

“Ugh………!!”

Kang A-yul launched magic swords, but they shattered against the black sphere, getting sucked inside.

“Damn, this is brute force!”

-Crash!!

Slowed by the gravity field crushing her body, Kang A-yul instinctively knew she couldn’t dodge. She created numerous magic swords around herself to divert the black sphere’s path, but…

The black sphere didn’t deviate a single millimeter.

-KABOOM!

“Kuh… Aaaaah?!!!”

Everything absorbed during flight began tearing Kang A-yul’s body apart.

-BOOM!

“Aaaagh!”

Like Ryu Sinwoo earlier, Kang A-yul slammed into the wall before collapsing limply.

“Ugh… *cough*!”

“Hmm… I thought that attack would end it.”

Honestly, I was slightly surprised.

Kang A-yul embedded in the wall coughed blood while barely maintaining posture. Anyone would declare my victory as student council president Yun Se-ah.

Blood streamed down her head, her legs wobbling as if broken.

Though in overwhelming disadvantage where surrender was advisable, Kang A-yul rose slowly gripping her sword as if telling such notions to go to hell.

“From now on… this is the real deal.”

Having seemingly exhausted her magic swords, Kang A-yul drew a dagger from her waist. Red magic engulfed it, bursting into flames.

“……….”

“Hoo… Yeah, this is more like it…!! I feel like I can do anything now.”

Kang A-yul’s ability, <Blessing of the Sword Saint (S)>.

An absurdly overpowered ability granting massive bonuses to all sword-related actions – cutting rocks without effort, accidentally blocking bullets with random swings.

The talent glimpsed when she defeated her father in one strike despite never learning swordsmanship. Trained to extremes by her mentor, current S-rank Hero Kang Jinmyeong.

The light faded from Kang A-yul’s pupils as green flames ignited.

‘Seems the Blessing of the Sword Saint hasn’t been applied to magic swords yet.’

Having learned from Kang Jinmyeong that magic swords were luxuries, she likely hadn’t realized her blessing included them.

‘Kang A-yul’s remaining stamina bar… 2%’

At full power, it would’ve been game over instantly… Was I too complacent?

Kang A-yul charged to bisect me. I tried dodging backward but…

-Thud!

“…Haa, this is why buffs are nice. Tripping at a time like this.”

Having stumbled, I saw Kang A-yul’s flaming eyes right before me, swinging at my neck.

“……….This ends it!!”

Confident of victory, she swung to behead me, but…

-Slash!

“………….!”

Unfortunately, it wasn’t my body.

“My my, since when did you think that was me?”

Behind the disappearing swarm of glowing butterflies that was my ‘illusion’, I aimed my staff – now transformed into a sniper rifle – at Kang A-yul from mid-air.

‘Maximum output would make any magic dangerous… Better use suppression magic.’

“Shutdown.”

-Bang!

An ear-splitting gunshot filled the empty arena. As the dust settled…

“……….”

Only Kang A-yul lay unconscious in Shutdown’s net, and…

“…Hoo… One problem solved, I guess.”

Myself, struggling to swallow black liquid while covering my mouth.

…

…

…

“……..Is that the current student council president’s power? Amazing!”

“S-Seo Jian Yang! You’re too loud…!”

Meanwhile, Seo Jian’s group – Sakura, Ecleria, and Yu Eun-ha – happened to witness the match between the student council president and vice president.

“Incredible magic power! Even more than Arin!”

Some marveled at Yun Se-ah’s overwhelming power crushing Kang A-yul.

“Still… to fight through that much pain…”

Others admired Kang A-yul’s will to fight despite severe injuries.

“Wh-what do we do? There don’t seem to be medics in the arena. Should I heal them…?”

Some panicked about treating the injured due to their healing compulsion, but………

“……………As expected, you’re the same as last time.”

Someone glared murderously at Yun Se-ah feeding something to the fallen Kang A-yul, grinding their teeth in vengeance.