episode_0016

*****

It is said that it has not been long since the title ‘Enterprise School’ was actually used at Cheonmyeong High School. It is said that the conflict between students who are sponsored by companies and those who are not has been growing little by little, and has surfaced since around last year.

The corporate group is not an actual organization, but a general term for students who receive corporate support at a level that will have an impact on their future. Among them, Steelball──Park Jeong-seon seems to be one of the few cases in which he is particularly active.

The potential of the iron ball is telekinesis. If you have telekinetic potential, there are usually limitations in areas such as output or target, but in the case of Cheolgu, it seems to control a spherical object. The power of the iron ball he handles is said to be enough to easily pierce even an iron plate.

Telekinesis is a potential that has great versatility and usability. If he has the support of a company on his back, he can actually be seen as a very promising player.

This was the information about steel balls that I heard from Hwain. There are a lot of things I want to talk about, but the first thing I should ask is this.

That bastard,

“Your real name wasn’t Cheolgu!?”

“Yes. Cheolgu is a nickname given by teacher Sia after seeing the hero name Steel Ball. Teacher Sia, you don’t really like corporate kids.”

It was a nickname he couldn’t believe, and on top of that, the person who gave him that nickname was a teacher he didn’t have a good relationship with.

That’s enough to hate it! I felt a little sorry for calling him Cheol-gu again. Of course, I’m not saying I won’t call you that just because I’m sorry.

“Still, it’s better than calling me by my real name. Because he really hated his name because it sounded like a girl’s name. I heard that’s why they insist on using hero names.”

“Oh. I know it pretty well.”

“We talked to some extent until the beginning of the first semester. Actually, he’s not that bad even now… Think about it. It gets a little heated when it comes to companies.”

I think it’s amazing that you can evaluate the other person as a good person even after receiving a lot of verbal abuse. Well, I will repay that verbal abuse right away.

When we got to the designated location, Cheolgu was already waiting at the training barrier. The sight of him adjusting his glasses while saying, “Ugh,” is strangely goofy.

“It looks like they got some information about my potential. If you think you can beat me based on your analysis through watching games, you are mistaken.”

“… ? I’ve never seen your sparring before.”

“… Pfft! Let’s see how long I can relax like that.”

During the game, I was busy analyzing Fine’s power. I had even forgotten about half of the argument I had made during self-introduction before I came back.

Thanks to this, it seems like he unintentionally accepted the provocation.

“But why is everyone looking here?”

“That’s to see what your skills are like. Putting a half-mage into the weakest leader team who can’t do anything right? Unless the teachers are idiots, there must be a good reason.”

Although the sarcasm mixed in every time was annoying, Cheol-gu always answered every question I asked. Basically, I guess I’m the kind of person who likes to teach things. There is no need to show off as a glasses character in this area.

Plus, there was one thing I learned as a bonus. The main character team, the external evaluation is very low!

It is understandable that Hwain’s evaluation is low. If you think of it as a game, the current Hwain removes all active skills and fights only with basic attacks and passive skills. It is said that things will change later, but it would be impossible to predict that without cheats such as knowledge of the original work.

But why Raon? When it comes to magic in the story, the only potential greater than Raon’s ‘talent equivalent to 10,000 demons’ is Odin, the dark side and final boss. Even that witch, one of the Four Heroes, has to be put off by her level of potential.

However, it did not mean that his actual skills were poor. Decent chanting speed, types of magic that can be used, and even the amount of magic power that can actually be used. It’s a little lacking in combat sense, but in my opinion, it’s good enough for B rank, so why is it treated as half-baked?

I’ll have to ask this later. To Raon, or even to Sia if you don’t know.

“Are you all ready?”

As we were about to start, one of the teachers came forward. However, this time, it is not the muscular old man who appeared before, but Sia.

Before saying “start─. Everyone is quite excited. Of course, the teachers know very well what is bothering you. But this is a school, so if you come here, you have to study, right? So, try to concentrate on class as much as possible during class time.”

The exciting atmosphere in the classroom subsided as if cold water had been poured on it. There were some kids who said, “Eh~!”

Are you trying to prevent me from watching my mock battle? no way. I don’t think Sia would make that choice.

“However, after talking with the teachers, we decided not to include this mock match in the evaluation. Whether it’s your attitude score or skill score, nothing is included in the evaluation, so feel free to play the mock battle. Go for it! Well then, it’s a start!”

Look. I knew it would be like this.

Although the entire class started fighting with each other, I felt that the focus was on this side. The magic power that stirred taught me that gaze was gathering.

Although there are some concerned people like Hwa-in and Ra-on, the proportion of interest and curiosity is overwhelmingly high.

“Are you ready?”

The grinning Steel Ball was already wearing what appeared to be a hero suit. It had a practical design similar to a military uniform and had many pockets throughout. Those pockets are probably full of iron beads or something.

Looking at things like that, the hero suit is definitely important. If you don’t have a hero suit, you’ll have to carry those metal balls around every day.

Without corporate support, it would be difficult for students to purchase hero suits, so it is understandable that conflicts arise between corporate factions and other students.

“Please take care of me~.”

Any other thoughts will end here. Since I don’t know my own strength right now, I might really lose if I don’t do my best.

S─, ha─. I took a deep breath and gathered the magical energy from my entire body into one central axis.

Well, then, let’s try a round.

***

Money was very important to Hero Steelball. I wouldn’t go so far as to say that the most important thing in the world is money, but it was clear that it was at least a higher priority than other people.

If you have money, you will be happy. If you have money, you can make yourself stronger. If only I had money… , the family can live with a smile on their face. Compared to that, my own pride and reputation were probably good.

It was natural for him to receive attention from companies. Because he too was half conscious of it and acted accordingly. The conflict between the company and the association was actually a good opportunity for him.

In this way, Hero Steel Ball took on large and small tasks requested by companies. He seemed to have some talent, so he was called an action leader and all, but as long as he was paid and kept the line of work, the rest was fine.

Just like this request.

“So you’re saying we can just keep putting pressure on that transfer student?”

“Okay. It won’t be very difficult. Just being a new transfer student at Cheonmyeong High School won’t create a very good image.”

“I don’t want that transfer student to leave because of bullying.”

“Titania’s chair sister? Even jokes. And you know the personalities of the kids in your class. It’s enough to just make him think that he’s a bit like that. Anyway, the purpose of this is Titania.”

“I don’t really want to mess with that teacher… . Anyway, Kang Seo-yoon, I understand your opinion. How about Eonryeongsa Mulju?”

“… There’s nothing I really want to talk about.”

Eonryeongsa took one look at the steel ball and looked away as if he was not interested. He also shrugged his shoulders as if he had no expectations.

“You are also quite persistent. I ask him every time.”

“That’s because Eonryeongsa’s company is receiving the most support. The reason I’m listening to you is because you gave me the second most money.”

“Yes, yes. I envy the Princess of Eonryeongsa because she has a lot of money.”

The next day, the transfer student who had been announced came and started an argument with Steelball, just as he had heard in advance. However, it failed to create a negative image due to Titania’s shamelessness and shocking self-introduction that the transfer student was a man.

The next opportunity he aimed for was a mock battle class. In the world of heroes fighting villains and monsters, strength is the most important indicator. If the strength of the transfer student who skipped the entrance exam was nothing special, his image would have suffered a huge blow to the extent that it could not be compared to that of ordinary students.

The mock battle began just as they had hoped, but the transfer student in question—Fafnir—was calmly warming up right before his eyes. The match had already started, but there was no sign of making the first move.

‘Do they have a means of long-distance attack?’

The thought that came to mind was dismissed as a low possibility for steel balls. All of the battles between the Uuks and Fafnir that I received as information were conducted in close quarters combat.

If combat power had not been intentionally hidden, there would be no reason not to use long-range attacks, and if combat power had been intentionally hidden, it would not have been used in a mock battle like this.

After thinking that far, Steel Ball immediately used telekinesis to launch the iron ball.

“Are you ready?”

There was no intention of attacking that side first. Externally, he has a superior status. There was a need to show some composure.

Strangely enough, the relaxation was felt on Fafnir’s side as well, but Steelball did not regard it as bluff.

She is an awakened person who was taken in by Titania as her sister, about whom numerous strange rumors circulate like urban legends. Steelball was convinced that the little girl in front of him was a talented person.

“Please take care of me~.”

As soon as those words were finished, the momentum radiating from Fafnir increased explosively. An explosive amplification of magical power that is incomparable to the video of Fafnir’s engagement received from the company. Steelball sensed that Fafnir had used his potential.

At the same time, information about Fafnir appeared in Steelball’s mind.

‘Lee Hyeong-gye… . That’s probably true as long as you have horns on your head. Because heteromorphic worlds are greatly influenced by changing beings. If it has horns, the probability that it is an animal is high, and if so, the probability that it has overwhelming physical abilities is also high. But then what about the current magical power amplification?’

There was no answer to the last question. However, if that magic power leads to physical strengthening, it will definitely be a threat.

Therefore, Steel Ball continued to use his telekinetic powers to increase his strength.

In the end, it was the best choice for him.

Quang.

“Ah, I missed it.”

“… !”

A blow so fast that it was difficult even to see it. It’s a shame because I used all the telekinesis I had accumulated to hit the iron ball. Steelball thought with a cold sweat that if he had made a mistake, it might have ended in just one move.

Fafnir, who blocked all the iron balls flying from the side, changed his trajectory and passed through the back. Steel Ball, feeling lucky that he didn’t charge in right away, launched a second set of iron balls.

“Ho! hot! Hyap!”

Fafnir used strange hand movements to let all the iron balls fly away or bounce them away. Some even went so far as to crush them after catching them.

Steelball immediately added one line to Fafnir’s information: ‘I am learning martial arts.’

“Ha! It’s pretty good. Then how about this!”

There must be a limit to the area that can be blocked with two hands. Sigh! When Steel Ball snapped his fingers, the iron balls scattered in all directions 360 degrees, and all sixteen metal balls were trapped.

If you can’t make it to sixteen, double that amount, and if you can’t do it twice that much, double it again. Fafnir was always blocking or dodging the increasing number of iron balls.

“Oh~, the transfer student is really good at fighting?”

“Even though it’s small, it moves well. No, is it good because it’s small?”

“Martial arts, it looks like you are learning.”

“Yes… .”

“Fafnir fighting~!”

Sheesh. Steelball clicked his tongue slightly. Since it was said that it would not be included in the score, there were people who gave up on the game early and started watching.

‘Isn’t it for no reason that Teacher Titania increased the audience?’

Still, the result will not change. With that promise, Steel Ball threw the entire pouch into the air.

The option of ‘take your time and win overwhelmingly’ had already disappeared from Steelball’s mind. But that didn’t mean the odds of winning were gone. Because his sincerity started now.

128. More than three digits worth of iron balls flew at a speed that was invisible to the ordinary eye. The power of each shot was lower than before, but Fafnir was still bombarded from all directions with bullets that could easily pierce the weak body of an awakened person.

There he gave one more anomaly. As several rushing iron balls collide with other iron balls or the floor, their trajectories become irregular.

Feeling a pounding headache, Steel Ball desperately tried to use his telekinesis,

“Well, well, if all you want to do is simply increase the number, this is not enough. Bring more!”

I could see the blonde girl shouting confidently while remaining fine.

The buzzing noises around me felt distant. What about the wound? does not exist. Of course, since there is a training barrier, it is natural that there are no injuries.

However, training barriers impose a corresponding penalty on movement if an injury occurs that impedes movement. And Fafnir’s movements rushing towards the steel ball seemed no different from before.

What this means is that even the 128 scattered bullets only inflicted a scratch on Fafnir.

Maybe even a scratch──

… Steelball immediately shook his head to shake off the thought that came to his mind.

“Then let me show you something else!”

Should we mobilize more marbles? 128 was not the limit of the number he could control. However, if the number increased beyond this, detailed control was impossible.

After thinking for a moment, Steelball closed the pouch he had opened again. It seemed unlikely that simply increasing the number of attacks would work on that girl.

Of course, his skill was not limited to simply throwing iron balls. One of the advantages of telekinesis is that it can be done silently and without action. He had used telekinesis while moving his body so far, but this time he moved the iron ball without any warning.

“Now, take this too!”

At the same time, what he threw was a metal ball bigger than a baseball. There were only about 10 in number, but their power was incomparable to what it was just before. As if he could not deflect or destroy this, Fafnir’s defense also changed from deflection to evasion.

Of course, the gap got bigger and bigger.

‘now!’

Taking advantage of the opportunity where Fafnir’s posture was broken, Steel Ball did his best to send out an oversized iron ball.

“It’s pretty good, but to this extent—huh?”

Although his posture has collapsed, it is not to the point where he cannot take a defensive posture. The moment when Fafnir calculated that he could stop it at this level by taking some damage. Suddenly, Fafnir’s arm was thrown back.

Fafnir’s defense was delayed by a moment due to the restraints that felt like they were being pulled by an invisible hand.

Coo-ung

A heavy sound, like ringing a bell, rang out, unbelievable as if an iron ball and a person collided.

‘It failed. ‘I wanted to end it with this surprise attack.’

Unfortunately for Steelball, Fafnir seemed to have avoided fatal injuries. Of course, seeing as the arm was lowered even further than before, there would be no damage.

The opportunity is now. Steelball, having decided so, once again unleashed his telekinetic powers with all his might.

“There’s still more!”

Papabak, the pouch of the steel ball burst open, and baseball-sized steel balls came out one after another. However, unlike just before, when he had blocked it with ease, Fafnir’s movements had become even more sluggish.

The audience could see that Fafnir’s defenses were being pushed back little by little by the surge of telekinetic power as if this was an opportunity. Some people cheered at it, some looked at it with interest, and some stamped their feet in worry.

“What should I do, ARMY will lose!”

“Suddenly our defense started to fall behind. Is it really a big deal that I mistakenly blocked the attack that Cheolgu threw with all his might?”

“That may be true, but look closely at the sleeves.”

“Something is shaking… , Ah!”

Inside Fafnir’s sleeve. The beads that had been secretly inserted using No Motion’s telekinesis were using clothes to impede Fafnir’s arm movements.

The conquest of the Hero School is naturally strong enough to withstand the physical abilities of the awakened person. Now it has become poisonous and is putting pressure on Fafnir.

“Hey, you pervert! Take this out of my clothes right now! Otherwise, I will sue you for sexual harassment!”

“Byeonㅌ… !? This is a tactic! And it didn’t even go past my shoulder!”

The iron ball was rolling quickly inside the sleeve, avoiding Fafnir’s hand to catch it. Goosebumps ran down Fafnir’s spine as he felt as if there were bugs crawling inside his body.

Even if you wanted to remove the steel ball inside, the steel ball did not leave a gap. However, the things inside are too much of a hindrance to block the flying metal balls.

This was the moment when Steel Ball decided that if things continued like this, they could rush in and catch him.

“Wow, cha!”

Kwazijic!

One of the iron balls flying in the air hit Fafnir’s fist head-on and shattered.

The strength of the steel ball, the protection of the steel ball, the speed of flight, and all other adverse conditions were ignored and struck accurately to destroy it. The students watching Fafnir’s absurd skills were speechless.

However, the steel ball actually brought joy. It also meant that there was no way to block his control without forcibly opposing it in that way.

Either you make a mistake while breaking the marble and get hit directly, or you use up all your magic power to break the marble. Either way, the path other than defeat was virtually closed to Fafnir.

‘Fafnir probably doesn’t know that either. A final struggle? Or is it a game-winner?’

Of course it’s the latter. The steel ball was determined in less than a second. Sure enough, Fafnir, who had broken the iron ball to some extent and created some relief from the pressure, took a step back.

Even though the iron balls started tracking immediately, it was inevitable that some gaps would appear.

Now, how do we get out? Steel Ball did not take his eyes off Fafnir’s every move while rushing the iron ball with telekinesis.

“─!? Wait, hey!”

Immediately after, I made the most foolish mistake of covering my eyes during training.

However, his actions were not too blameworthy considering the training situation.

Fafnir, who stepped back, tore off his school uniform top with his hands and threw it away.

“Aaaah!”

“Wow!”

The surrounding audience also reflexively turned their heads, covered their eyes, or stared intently. Of course, Fafnir didn’t care whether people saw him or not.

Unique perception-impairing magic when wearing a hero suit. Fafnir wrapped it around his nearly naked upper body and rushed forward with all his might.

“… Pfft!”

When Steelball realized his mistake and tried to retrieve the iron ball, Fafnir was already right in front of him. Without even having time to think about the thought that he might not have enough magic power, Steelball moved on to his next action.

The first thing I used was telekinesis for emergency evasion. However, after realizing that most of the iron balls that were supposed to be the driving force had been released through the attack, Steel Ball urgently sent away the metal balls hidden in his hair.

Fafnir’s fist was already very close, but the steel ball’s memorization was also approaching quickly──

‘──Ah.’

He realized that Fafnir’s eyes were clearly ‘seeing’ the small iron ball.

Well.

It was almost at the same time that the small fist hit the steel ball’s face and Fafnir deflected the flying ball with his horn.

The steel ball bounced for a long time after crossing the block and was only able to stop after hitting the wall of the training ground.

“”… … .””

“Block 8, Fafnir wins~.”

While everyone stopped talking and looked blankly, only Sia’s voice, announcing the result of the match, echoed throughout the training ground.

*****