episode_0047

A meticulous Korean-to-English translation preserving tone, nuance, and formatting.

—

“Impressive. Not tired at all?”

It’s rude to strike up a conversation with someone in the middle of intense training.

When exhausted, even listening to words—let alone formulating a response—places immense strain on the brain.

But this girl looks perfectly at ease, so maybe it’s fine.

Judging by her energy, she could probably debate, not just chat.

Serena swept her hair aside, glanced at me, and replied.

“Still got plenty of room to spare.”

Seeing her answer without so much as a labored breath made self-doubt coil up inside me like smoke—yet I forced it down.

She’s always been like that.

Anyone who saw Serena would feel the same doubt gnawing at them.

“You run that well—guess you trained hard in the past?”

Her expression stiffened for a split second before settling back into a smile.

“Well, I did train diligently when I was younger.”

As expected.

So she did have motivation back then.

“Also, I am an elf. My baseline strength and stamina naturally outclass most other races.”

“True. Elves are superior in many ways. Which races even match them specs-wise?”

“Hmm… Good question. Might need to think about that.”

Serena trailed off, pensive.

The sight looked even more surreal considering she was sprinting on a mana-boosted treadmill.

“Aside from outliers like angels, devils, or dragonkin… vampires, maybe? Though even they’ve grown rare lately—especially after humans like you, Jeong-hyun, started dwindling.”

As she said, vampires can stand toe-to-toe with elves.

Robust physique, vast mana reserves, peerless regeneration—they’re stacked with traits any race would kill to have just one of.

But after the First Cataclysm, 90% of human territory—Legacium—was devoured by the Corrosion. Their numbers plunged exponentially.

Naturally, vampires, who rely on periodic human blood intake, dwindled too.

In that sense, Rachel’s existence is a miracle.

A pureblood vampire surviving in an era where even humans are scarce?

“Ah, did that sound like bragging?”

“Nah. I asked.”

Phew~, she replied breezily.

Seizing the relaxed mood, I casually tossed out a question I’d been itching to ask.

“So why’d you quit traini—”

“Haah~”—

“—Anyway, this kind of workout isn’t terrible sometimes.”

My question (Why did you stop training?) got hijacked mid-sentence by Serena’s perfectly timed interruption.

Or was it really perfect timing?

Serena isn’t rude—just indifferent to most things.

But she hates inconveniencing others above all.

In short, she’s not the type to cut someone off just to blurt her own thoughts.

This was her way of saying: I refuse to discuss this. Even if it means being impolite.

‘Too soon, then.’

I’d have to save questions about her past for another day.

“Fine. Just show up here on your own sometimes—no need to wait for me.”

“Ugh, subtle pain in my pinky toe… Wait, what was that, Jeong-hyun?”

Her deadpan deflection was art.

“Never mind.”

Sighing, I stepped back onto the treadmill.

Chatting with Serena had restored some stamina—time to resume.

If she, with all her gifts, trains this hard, slacking off won’t get me anywhere.

Alright.

I can do this.

Setting the speed higher than before, I whipped my body back into motion.

Immediate aches, pounding heart, ragged breaths.

Wow, this sucks.

“Huh? Did you just speed up—or is it my imagination?”

Serena, still jogging beside me, tossed the question casually.

Shut up.

You think everyone’s a monster like you?

Wanna watch me die?

I shot her a look loaded with that sentiment. She scratched her cheek awkwardly.

“Ahaha, my bad. I’m fine, so I assumed you were too.”

Sarcasm or genuine remorse?

Whatever.

Just run.

—

I… I can’t… keep going.

As my legs gave out, I frantically slammed the treadmill’s stop button.

“Haaah…”

Close call.

A second later, I’d have faceplanted onto the floor.

Wobbly legs barely carried me off the machine.

Dabbing sweat with a towel, I turned toward Serena’s treadmill—

Huh? Where’d she go?

Scanning the room, I spotted her quickly.

Serena stood further away, gazing blankly out a window.

Curious, I crept closer—but only Providence’s usual skyline greeted us.

“Done already? Just zoning out for a bit.”

Noticing me, she turned with her trademark languid smile.

“So you get tired too.”

“Obviously. I’m not a machine. You always stare at me like I’m a monster.”

You are.

A stamina monster, mana monster, swordsmanship monster.

“Please. Let’s head back—10 minutes early won’t kill us.”

“Hmm… Sure, but how about one thing first?”

What now?

Rare for Serena to propose anything proactively.

“What?”

“A quick spar before we go. Let’s make it interesting—small wager?”

Did she hit her head?

Why suggest more exercise when she usually bolts ASAP?

“Is the goal sparring or gambling?”

“Oh~ You know.”

Leaning in with a sly grin, she made her intent clear—

She wants something. But rather than ask outright, she’s framing it as a fair bet.

“What’s the wager?”

“If I win, I pick tomorrow’s menu.”

Ah. Dietary dictatorship.

Classic Serena.

“And if I win?”

“Hmm… Didn’t think that far.”

“Because you assume you can’t lose?”

“Pshaw. The student council president ranks you above me. Underestimating you’d be idiotic, no?”

My teasing bounced off her flawless logic.

No comeback here.

“Then you decide. What do you want if you win?”

“Hmm.”

She lobbed the choice back at me—

Perfect. I’d been wondering how to broach her past.

“If I win, you owe me a favor.”

“A favor… Deal. I pick the menu if I win; you cash in a favor if you win.”

“Fine. But—now? I’m wiped.”

My legs trembled like cooked noodles.

One stiff breeze, and I’d topple.

Serena eyed my shaky limbs, then walked toward—

A capsule.

Wait, was this here before?

Definitely not last week.

“Virtual reality means no strain, right?”

“True. Odd, though—this spot was empty.”

“Huh? Thought you’d know.”

“Had I known, I wouldn’t’ve stalled.”

“Ah, right. I figured you were chickening out.”

Her playful jab came with a smirk.

Oh?

A challenge?

“Underestimate me, and you’ll regret it.”

“A little complacency is healthy.”

“First I’ve heard.”

“Obviously—I made it up.”

Opening the capsule, I lay down.

The world melted away, replaced by a vast sparring arena.

Moments later, Serena’s avatar materialized opposite me.

“One round—easy on the fatigue?”

She spun a dagger like a toy.

“Sure.”

Her posture oozed casual—no, careless.

But I wasn’t confident.

Could I really beat Serena?

Realistically? No.

Her physical specs dwarf mine.

Her swordsmanship might surpass my past-life self.

But—

I have Persona Lease.

The power to borrow possibilities from across parallel worlds.

Too soon to surrender.

With Trial penalties gone and my base stats grown…

Even slight growth strengthens the “vessel” housing borrowed personalities, letting their power flow smoother.

If my past self (borrowing the Artist) fought my current self (same persona), this me would scrape by.

By a thread.

A paper-thin margin.

Yet that margin decides life or death on the battlefield.

[ 3 ]

That razor-thin edge—forged by relentless effort.

Could it overcome Serena?

[ 2 ]

Only one way to find out.

[ 1 ]

The countdown ended.

[ MATCH START ]

I lunged.

—

End of EP.47 (Formatted to mirror original line breaks, dialogue structure, and pacing.)