episode_0029

Tap, tap!

Her relentless attacks continued like flowing water, fierce and unyielding.

“Kkuk.”

A single misjudgment could lead to irreversible mistakes in such a situation.

=========

[Time until the user’s match opponent, Ju Hwaryin, burns her last life: 12 minutes 28 seconds]

=========

I realized that I needed a solid blow as time continued to dwindle.

Although it may seem presumptuous to think this way in the face of such a skill gap, continuing this confrontation without a decisive strike would make it impossible to finish the match with her on time.

Despite the strong element of chance, a definite strike was necessary.

So, I taunted her as best as I could.

“…But now that we’re actually fighting, you don’t seem like the best swordsman in the world.”

Upon hearing this, she suddenly wore a menacing expression.

“…I don’t know why you’re provoking me like this, but let’s see if you can handle my obvious bait.”

With that, she assumed a stance for a powerful move.

I, too, tensed my body, preparing to receive her attack.

“Hoo….”

I recalled the teachings I had received from Alia over the past few days.

.

.

.

=========

“Is it impossible to defeat an opponent with a significant skill gap? Well, it’s a very obvious statement, but it’s still quite impossible to achieve with ordinary means.”

“…Is that so?”

“However, it’s not entirely impossible, my friend. If you can lure the opponent into complacency and exploit that opening, then there might be a chance.”

Her sword strike that pierced through the gap I didn’t know I was showing.

Interrupting my attack flow, she said, “Of course, whether you have the ability to exploit the openings of an opponent who is complacent due to the skill gap is another matter.”

“So, if it’s as easy as you say….”

“Yes, my friend, it’s not easy. It’s a difficult task. That’s why we learn, isn’t it, intuition. I call it intuition, but you can call it whatever you want. If you can grasp what I’m saying now, and understand this strategy completely, then even against an opponent with a skill gap, it may not be impossible to stop their attack and counter. Especially since you have a keen eye compared to others.”

=========

.

.

.

What I saw was her sword approaching with precise form.

Having endured each of her strikes so far was challenging, but now I had to interrupt her relentless attack and strike back.

=========

[Imperfect Divine Swordplay Lv.4]

=========

With a determination to achieve what seemed impossible, I took a step forward.

But I was still far from reaching her with just that.

=========

[Visual Nerve Enhancement (E)]

=========

Despite widening my field of vision as before, I still couldn’t see any openings in her stance.

‘What am I supposed to target….!’

=========

[Keen Sensory (E)]

=========

And then, at that moment.

I caught a slight hesitation in her movements through my clear field of vision.

It was a momentary gap that I could see because her body was not in a normal state.

Through that gap, Alia’s teachings penetrated like a sense.

=========

“My friend, do you doubt what you saw was correct?”

“If you doubt, then just go for it. You doubt yourself too much.”

“Even if it’s difficult for a child who has just started walking, once they start running, it’s not that difficult, right?”

“It’s the same with what I’m teaching. Once you learn it, it won’t seem as difficult as you think.”

=========

“….!”

Tap! Swoosh!

As my sword plunged into her chest through the clear field of vision, her surprised expression and the shocked look on her face were visible.

Her sword, which had not achieved any results, was split in half.

Looking at the outcome of her sword clashing with mine, she said with a surprised expression, “You, that strike just now was quite….”

I didn’t even bother listening to her words and immediately shoved the potion I had prepared in my arms into her mouth.

“Enough, drink it. Quickly, drink it!”

Her lifespan was visibly decreasing even now!

=========

[The user’s match, Ju Hwarin, has used her innate ability.]

[Ju Hwarin’s life begins to diminish at an even faster rate.]

[6 minutes 07 seconds (-3 minutes)]

=========

“What is this… Ugh!”

Without knowing whether she was choking on the potion or losing consciousness, I pushed the mouth of the potion into her mouth while she made a refreshing face.

=========

[Low-grade Elixir (D): A potion that can treat minor external and internal injuries (D). This elixir, diluted 1000 times from the miraculous potion elixir, may cause long-term damage and sequelae (C~B) if consumed for a long time.]

[10pt]

=========

“This, this is…”

“Save your words for later and drink it quickly. Don’t leave a drop behind, lick the bottom clean and drink it all!”

“Ugh, ugh.”

Once she started taking the potion, she quickly began to accept the medicine well.

=========

[The user’s match, Ju Hwarin, has consumed a low-grade Elixir (D).]

=========

=========

[Temperament, Positive: The effect of the Radiant Phoenix (C) disappears.]

=========

=========

[Temperament, Negative: The negative effects of Ju Hwaipma (A) are partially alleviated.]

=========

=========

[A slightly mended broken soul.]

=========

=========

[Temperament, Negative: Mania – Damage Delusion (C) has been significantly alleviated.]

=========

=========

[The user’s match, Ju Hwarin, has extended her life by 15 days.]

[Temperament, Negative: The Death Sentence (SS) has taken a step back.]

=========

=========

[Various diseases have been cured, raising the user’s match, Ju Hwarin’s power level to Grade 1.]

[D -> C]

After swallowing all the medicine, Ju Hwarin asked me.

“Sir, what is this medicine exactly? It seems to have the same effect as the petroleum jelly I used to eat…”

“Is that important right now? You almost died just now!”

She suddenly lost her confident attitude and started mumbling.

“Well, I have no regrets in life anyway… I had already given up on my life, thinking it would be better to die than live trapped in this body forever…”

“…That’s why I said I would treat you.”

I had said it several times before, was it even necessary for her to say it herself!

Honestly, I was dumbfounded.

Then she continued to open and close her mouth as if she didn’t know what to say, before finally speaking.

“…No, I didn’t really think it was true. I’m a soulless being with nothing but a body, did I really not know my own physical condition? The ailments I had until just now were things that wouldn’t be strange even if I died at any moment, unless they were elixirs worth their weight in gold.”

With various negative temperaments up to the Death Sentence (SS), her body was on a direct path to death until just now.

“So I was going to die anyway, and I had already given up on my life, thinking it would be better to die than live trapped in this body forever… Did you really save my life?”

In the end, she seemed bewildered by the situation.

“…”

“Well… um… anyway, thank you for saving my life. If it weren’t for you, I would have died by now. I don’t know why you saved my life, but I received your grace of salvation. Of course, I still don’t know why you saved my life using this potion…”

So if I leave here, I will definitely repay this favor.”

Then she smiled and asked.

“But I’m really curious, why did you save my life? I mean, ultimately, I was trying to kill you, even using this potion…”

Ah, I don’t know. Where is the reason for one person to save another?

It’s not like I had no other choice.

And the app decided that they were my dating partner.

They say even just brushing past someone’s clothes can be fate, so how could I just leave the death of the person chosen as my dating partner?

If we really want to get technical, my life was already on the line the moment I started using the app.

Honestly, I didn’t feel any bad feelings about getting hurt twice.

After all, I had something to gain from her as well.

“Just because.”

But it was too much of a hassle to explain all these complicated circumstances, so I mumbled, and she frowned before speaking.

“There’s no such thing as just or free in this world. You must have something you want from me. Don’t hesitate to speak up. I may not know what it is, but my life is not cheap, so within my limits, I’ll give you anything.”

No, I really don’t want anything from her.

I just didn’t have any big desires as long as I could raise her satisfaction score.

In reality, her satisfaction often led to material rewards.

In that sense, there is one thing I want from her.

“Your heart?”

“….”

No, really, no matter how much I think about it, this is the only thing that comes to mind….

But why are you looking at me like that?

Just a moment ago, she was grateful for being saved, but now she was looking at me with a disgusted expression.