episode_0049

Yuna was good at fighting since she was young.

It was largely due to her excellent innate condition. For a woman, her tall stature and resilient, strong muscles made her an all-rounder in sports, and her personality of reacting twice as much when pressed was the pinnacle of that.

After becoming an Awakened One, it was even more so. In fact, I was more careful not to go too far, so I tolerated more trouble than before.

However, I did not think that it would be easy to win against an Awakened One, especially one who had been summoned to fight against the Demon Lord.

This is especially true when you know that there is an unknown madness deep within the Chairman.

So for the first time in my life, I trained to beat someone.

─It would be best to reach the manifestation stage quickly, but it seems difficult right now. Be thankful that you have made progress, and continue to think about it in the future.

─Can you beat the chairman with that?

─Of course, to beat the chairman, you have to do some practical training as well. Let’s divide it into two stages. Right now, my body is a bit sore, so let’s start with stage 1.

With that being said, the first stage of training that Se-ha suggested was… running.

▷▷▷▷▷▷▷▷▷▷▷▷▷▷▷

The match is over in one second.

Yuna had planned it that way from the beginning. She probably knew that if she couldn’t do it, she would lose.

So, there was something I had to do before that.

“If you look inside her skirt pocket, you’ll find a bottle of medicine.”

When Yuna said that, red-haired Erin tilted her head.

“Do you need medicine? Are you sick?”

“See the red pill? It’s a regenerative medicine, so take it.”

“… ?”

Elin looked puzzled, but she emptied Suin’s pockets.

A square medicine bottle with compartments inside came out. There was also the red pill that Yuna had mentioned.

“Assuming you didn’t tell any weird lies, why are you recommending regeneration medicine to me?”

The weakness of [Thousand-Slaughter Law] is that it requires self-harm. Considering the price that must be paid, the use of the ability is bound to be limited.

But what if it becomes clear that recovery is possible through regeneration? Since the restrictions are weakened, it naturally becomes a one-sided advantage for Elin.

It was natural to wonder why he recommended it if he wasn’t setting a trap.

“Then I can hit you without worry. If Se-ha is right, you’ll definitely be on our side, but I don’t want to cripple you.”

Normally, Elin would have taken this as a playful provocation or a serious piece of advice. She might have wondered if her confidence was well-founded, but she would not have been angry.

But now Elin… .

“… I’m the one who wants to ask. Did you take the medicine?”

When Yuna nodded, Ellin smiled coldly.

“Yeah, that sucks. You’ll probably have to experience being disabled several times.”

Yuna saw an excited Elin slam Suin against the wall. It was just a breath, but Elin’s attention was distracted, and that was the moment Yuna had been longing for.

The next moment,

There was an explosion under Yuna’s feet.

The ‘1st stage training’ repeated under Seha’s guidance was how to run.

To be precise, it was an explosive start position that jumped into top speed in a single moment from a normal position. It was a position where maintaining [acceleration] ability was abandoned and everything was exploded in a single moment.

The end result is that it only takes two steps to close the 20 meters. It takes 0.5 seconds.

Yuna’s charge was more like an explosion.

But Ellin, who was watching it, was not flustered.

[Thousand-Slaughter Technique] that cannot be evaded or defended against. It is only natural that someone with the [Acceleration] ability would try to approach it.

It was fairly fast, but not a distance that could be reached in one step. So there was plenty of time to use [Thousand-Million-Slaughter Technique].

The enemy in front of you. The enemy who might threaten Yuren. And the enemy who spoke arrogantly. It would be a shame to just hurt him.

The band wrapped around Elin’s ankles turned into blades. And in an instant, it dug in and cut off nearly half of her. She herself would lose the ability to use her feet, but it didn’t matter because she could walk using the ribbon.

When her feet touched the ground, the thought of Yuna’s expression as she looked at her two ankles about to be severed and blown away was a pain she could easily bear.

In the accelerated world, Yuna saw the sadistic light in the chairman’s eyes.

I also felt my ankle snap off in an instant without any warning. I had guessed it. I had also prepared a countermeasure.

But even if it was something I had prepared for, it wasn’t something I could bear. The reason I was able to hold back my screams was purely because of my own absurd pride. I thought that if the water man rolling around there woke up and heard me scream, my pride would be hurt.

The feet that were floating shallowly in the air touch the floor.

The chairman’s eyes were sparkling as he imagined what would happen next. But… .

“!!!”

Yuna’s feet barely managed to touch the ground and push her forward. There was a sound of something crushing, but it didn’t matter.

Erin, who was bewildered by the unexpected sight, tried to dodge somehow, but it was too late. Yuna’s knee went into Erin’s stomach, and although she tried to support herself with the ribbon, she couldn’t, and the two crashed into the wall together.

Boom!

There was a loud noise that made it hard to believe that two people had collided. Elin, who had been hit hard on the knee and had her body twisted, banged her head hard against the wall this time.

“Cough!”

Blood burst out from the corner of his mouth, and his back bent forward again. His blurred vision saw Yuna’s feet.

Why was he able to take a second step even though his ankle had been cut off? The answer was there.

Yuna was wearing thick safety boots, and the boots were completely secured to her feet with black bandages and gaiters similar to those of a racing suit.

Although it was not visible, the feet and ankles were probably wrapped and secured tightly inside the safety shoes.

Even if my ankle is cut off,

So that I can take just one step.

In this case only, ‘inertia’ was on Yuna’s side.

Thanks to this, she was able to move forward while crushing her own feet. The inertia of the thought of carelessness took hold of Elin, making evasion impossible.

This was the result, but it wasn’t enough.

“… !”

The chairman’s eyes were vivid and alive.

Here comes the counterattack.

Yuna recalled the contents of the second stage training in her head.

─It would be best if we could close the distance and knock him down with one blow, but that probably won’t happen. The chairman isn’t particularly tenacious, so we definitely have to knock him unconscious.

Seha said so and stated the conditions for the second stage to be established.

It’ll be super close.

You will be in a state of mental excitement.

If possible, it would be a bit of a blow to the head, which would limit the use of awakening abilities.

All three passed.

─The chairman has considerable experience in martial arts, so he is not easy to deal with in close combat. However, after clearing those three conditions, you will be able to predict his actions.

That’s what it means to be skilled at something. To be so accustomed to it that you can do it perfectly, even without being conscious of it.

The Chairman is an expert, so even if he loses consciousness, he takes optimal actions based on movements that are perfectly familiar to his body. So, on the contrary, his actions can be predicted, and if that is possible… .

─You can counter all of them. If you can predict patterns with the [Acceleration] ability, you’ll be able to hit a finishing counter.

“… Oh, really you… .”

The moment the chairman’s right knee flew up, Yuna moved in amazement at Seha’s prediction. This counter combination alone was something Yuna had trained so hard that she could use it even if she lost consciousness.

He blocked the chairman’s knee with his left elbow.

Avoid the incoming hook by bending down and at the same time hitting the tip of the chin with a short uppercut.

The chairman’s twisted left arm failed to counterattack as expected when it hit the wall, but instead, ribbons flew in and attempted to grab Yuna’s limbs and block them.

“… !!!”

But it was already too late.

At the moment the ribbon wrapped around, Yuna’s short hook struck the chairman’s chin from the side.

It would not be an exaggeration to say that the combination utilizing the [Acceleration] ability was almost simultaneous. It was an ultra-fast cross combination that shook the brain with strikes from both the vertical and horizontal directions, intentionally aiming for concussion.

The effect was proven by the ribbons that had been wrapped around Yuna’s arms and legs losing their strength and sagging.

Yuna finished what she had been saying slowly. Seha, you, really… .

“You’re so good at playing with people… .”

As Yuna pulled away, the chairman fell to the floor. Yuna almost fell as well, but she barely managed to hold on by leaning against the wall. She slowly counted while enduring the pain from her severed ankle that was really coming on.

“… six, seven, eight… .”

Since it is a duel without an observer, the participants have no choice but to rely on their own conscience to determine whether the rules are fairly followed.

So I counted slowly enough to be able to show my pride to anyone.

It seems that he had not completely lost consciousness. The chairman was staggering as he got up. However, even though he had not completely lost consciousness, it was clear that he had suffered serious injuries and that his body was not responding at all.

“I’m… waiting… . I’m still… .”

Yuna quietly responded to the chairman’s words as he tried to get up somehow.

“Then get up. This time I’m going to really knock you unconscious.”

An ominous light appeared in Elin’s eyes.

I can’t accept losing like this. My defeat doesn’t end with just my defeat. When I think about what might happen to Yuren…

The belt covering Elin’s body reacted to the killing intent and took a stance. The cervical spine and the heart. If you dig just a little inside, the opponent will die or, if you’re lucky, become paralyzed.

He’ll take a hit too, but what does that matter?

The important thing is to eliminate anything that might hurt Yuren. I can do anything for that. If only I could atone for the wrong I did to Yuren even a little bit…!

Yeah, that’s right.

There is nothing in this world more joyful than being able to die for Yuren…!

“… nine… .”

As she listened to Yuna’s countdown, the band inside Ellin’s body changed its shape. It became like a sharp awl, trying to pierce through the spinal cord and heart…

─Wake up… Chairman… You’re not that kind of person… .

Suddenly, the words I had heard earlier came back to me.

As I was pushed to my limit, my reason became clouded, and my mental barrier was weakened by the [Fragment of the Jomakyung], the effects of the hypnotic drug I had taken earlier returned.

That moment of stiffness brought Elin back to her senses.

He lost a fair fight. He lost to Yuna, who was certain that he would win, rather than Se-ha, who was anxious about the unknown. He even had a hard time against Su-in.

Isn’t this the crushing defeat we were hoping for?

Elin said, unable to deny herself the thought.

“No need for a countdown. I lost.”

Yuna sighed as she watched Ellin’s red-dyed hair return to its original color. She thought that those were truly kind words.

The next moment, my body slid down and I fell to the floor. Even though I was wrapped tightly in bandages and leggings, blood was still flowing out of my safety shoes.

Rather than praising myself for holding up well, I felt discouraged by myself.

In the first place, I wondered if he was really an opponent I had to fight. I hadn’t really talked to the chairman, but he was someone I would often greet and talk to whenever I met him. Se-ha said he could easily win, so it wasn’t like I had no choice but to fight him.

It was an opponent who didn’t give me the will to fight.

but….

I couldn’t figure out why Se-ha was so sure he would win easily, but he must have some kind of strategy.

That’s okay. There’s something I have to protect by winning at all costs. I don’t mind doing anything for Saya and Seha. At least Yuna could forgive.

But there are so many cases in the world where things don’t go as planned. It would be the same no matter how much Se-ha sees the future. Didn’t she even know that her period was coming?

I often see smart and talented adults grabbing each other by the collar because they can’t do it. When things don’t work out the way you want them to, you end up having to resort to primitive means.

When that time comes, Yuna’s help will also be needed.

I participated in the duel to prepare for that time. And… it was hard, but I won anyway.

I felt like I had figured out something, even if it was just a little bit.

The essence of oneself. The original scenery.

Could it be the ‘will to escape’?

Why do I feel like I’ve gotten closer to my true self in these seemingly unrelated situations, from when I helped Suin to now when I fought Elin?

Well, I’ve decided not to think about it anymore for now.

I decided to just be thankful that it ended before I got to Seha.

Even though he knew better than anyone in this world, Se-ha’s plan must have been incredibly vicious.

<>

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Although Yuna won, it was the chairman who walked down to the first floor on his own two feet. He supported Suin and Yuna with a ribbon.

It didn’t matter since Suin was completely asleep, but Yuna was biting her lip as if the treatment was humiliating. However, even if regeneration had begun, it would be best not to walk on her own feet for the time being.

Senior Saya hurriedly ran to the two people. The chairman put the two people down in front of the seniors and bowed his head slightly.

“I’ve kept you waiting for a long time, Miss Saya, Miss Seha. As you can see… I’m sorry, but I lost.”

“It’s completely different from what I saw… . I knew it because I saw them fight.”

We set up traps with Suin and installed cameras.

The result was our victory, but considering what happened in between, at least I felt like I lost. … Well, I’ll reflect on it later.

I checked on the condition of the two people with Senior Saya.

In Su-in’s case, the wound where her tongue was cut off was severe, but since it had already completely healed, all that was needed was to wipe away some blood. In Yu-na’s case, it was a bit more gruesome. Since she was in constant contact with the cut surface, she would probably return to normal within a while… .

The problem was that this was something I had expected. … I felt deep in my bones that doing it myself was not at all the same as watching someone else do it.

… I’ll reflect on this later.

“How’s the chairman? Are you okay?”

“Yes. Yuna taught me the recovery potion. This is very effective.”

The chairman speaks calmly.

Even if everything else were the same, Yuna’s jumping knee must have seriously damaged his internal organs, but he seemed unfazed. This must be because he has experienced many self-destructive fights.

“I’m glad you’re okay. Then I’d like to exercise my rights as a winner… .”

“Oh, that’s right, there’s something that’s a bit of a headache.”

The chairman spoke with a genuinely troubled expression.

“On our side… Actually, there are only two of us, my brother and I.”

“I know.”

“And actually, I’m not even a master.”

“I know that too. The chairman’s younger brother is a master, and he pretended to be a master to hide it. I will keep my promise to protect the defeated master. Of course I have to do that if I want to use the chairman well, right?”

The chairman showed a very obvious expression of relief for a moment. Then, as if he was embarrassed by his own behavior, he quickly changed his expression and said.

“Then, the remaining issues seem to be very minor technical issues… I admit defeat. I think we lost by a huge margin. But… Your master, Saya-yang, right? I don’t think you can become Saya-yang’s slave. It’s a bit weird to say it myself… Even though my body lost, my mind hasn’t surrendered yet… That’s the feeling. ”

“… .”

“I know… I know. You won’t believe it, but I’m trying really hard in my heart. From now on, Sayaya Yang is my master and I’m preaching hard, but it’s not easy… .”

“That can’t be it.”

He said this, trying hard to suppress his laughter.

Of course I know you’re not lying.

“You think there’s only one true master. That’s why losing a duel doesn’t change your mind. It’s been like that since before there were masters and slaves.”

“That’s true. Sometimes I get cold and it’s hard, but he’s really cute and lovable… .”

“Well, don’t worry about that. I’ll make sure you surrender both physically and mentally.”

Now seems like a good time.

As I called his name, the door to the classroom next to the hallway opened, revealing a secret weapon that had been hidden away.

Yuna made a face as if her doubts had been resolved. Yes. It was only natural that I would win.

He approached her and kissed her neck, caressing her chest through her clothes. His words overlapped with the chairman’s voice.

“Okay, tell your sister.”

“Yuren?!”

Yuren looked at the chairman, Elin, and her older sister and said.

“[Obey this person, Sister].”