episode_0066

“What, what?!”

In front of him, Yuseha pointed to his back without hesitation.

Junayong was quite bewildered by his behavior.

“W-what is the kid saying?”

“Carry me? Carry me on your back?”

Is he planning to piggyback on him and finish the race now?

With his competitor right in front of him?

“Don’t be ridiculous! Don’t you understand the situation? This is a test!”

Failing to realize the trap, it was his own mistake.

He underestimated him too much.

He was so focused on not losing to him.

His desire to win was so overwhelming that he lost his cool judgment.

Despite his efforts to broaden his perspective, it seemed that his innate nature was not easily changed.

‘…’

It’s frustrating, but since it was his own doing, he needed to accept the outcome.

Therefore, it was only natural for Yuseha to win.

Junayong had already prepared himself to accept this outcome.

However, contrary to Junayong’s wishes, Yuseha showed no mercy.

“No, be quiet and just carry me.”

“I-I told you, leave me alone and go!”

“No, I’m paralyzed right now!”

“So just go!”

Yuseha sighed.

“Ugh… I’m so tired.”

Muttering to himself, he grabbed Junayong’s arms and forcefully pulled him.

Skillfully guiding him to piggyback on his back.

Then, he forcibly lifted him up and stood up.

Junayong’s slender, long, and firm calves were tightly wrapped around him.

“Dragon ahh?!”

Junayong was caught off guard and held by him without a chance to resist.

Feeling flustered involuntarily.

It seemed like this kind of thing happened often, as he skillfully piggybacked him without any struggle.

“What are you doing?!”

“Are you going to give up like this? We need to go in to record. You’ll fail like this.”

“…It’s my mistake-”

“-You said you wanted to be recognized by Professor Pangjin. To do that, you need scores, right?”

“…T-that’s true but-”

“-If I were the professor, I would give you extra points for not giving up. And-”

-We’re classmates before we’re competitors.

“How are you going to leave me behind?”

…”

Before Yuseha could finish his sentence, Junayong ran off.

Whoosh-!

Due to inertia, he naturally leaned his head on his back.

Junayong was taken aback as he unexpectedly ended up hugging him, his face flushed.

But he didn’t struggle.

The rough sound of his breathing was audible in his ear.

He could hear his heart pounding as if it was about to burst.

Surely, he must be in a difficult situation where he might collapse at any moment.

‘But still.’

He didn’t give up.

He didn’t abandon himself.

Despite showing such dislike and restraint…

As if it was nothing, he skillfully avoided the trap and sprinted away.

‘…Dragon…’

Junayong felt a tingling sensation deep in his chest.

He wanted to say “thank you” with every fiber of his being, but he held it back.

Instead, he mentioned something trivial.

“…Isn’t it heavy?”

“Light as a feather. Go eat something. What kind of close-range dealer only has bones?”

Bones… what about them…

Even though he looked like this, he weighed more than the average woman.

This was possible because of the balanced weight of muscle and fat he meticulously trained and calculated.

…Just a side note, it’s only 3-4kg more!

Anyway, don’t misunderstand.

“…Are you taking care of yourself?”

“Oh, really? Is that so? Is that why you secretly buy and eat the sesame leaf and perilla series?”

“…?! How do you know that!?”

“Just know.”

Yuseha replied nonchalantly.

Junayong was taken aback by the fact that he knew his long-held secret, but he quickly brushed it off.

It may sound strange to say this, but he is a celebrity.

A very well-known one…

Therefore, the trivial thing was information that could be found with a little news search.

Hoo, hoo-!

Yuseha’s breathing became rougher.

Naturally, the speed slowed down.

But the grip that held on became stronger.

As if determined not to let go.

Junayong pursed his lips.

Unable to bear the awkward situation, he muttered a useless complaint.

“…Fool…idiot.”

“Can you hear everything?”

“…Then I’ll ask. Are you, are you a fool?”

“Yes, I am a fool.”

“…”

Yuseha silenced Junayong, leaving him speechless.

A moment later, they reached the final goal of 40 laps.

He supported himself and sat down on the bench.

[1st place: Junayong, Yuseha.]

Junayong hesitated as he looked at the scoreboard.

It was time to say thank you.

He mustered up the courage to say, “Y-Yuseha. Tha…thank you?”

But she was already gone, disappearing from sight.

Looking around, he saw Yuseha walking back inside.

In a moment of confusion, he soon understood her intentions.

“Ugh, ugh…”

“Mm. Boraya, cheer up!”

“Cheer up, Borabora!”

“…Ugh…Don’t give me weird nicknames like Borabora!”

All to cheer on Seolbing.

Following behind Mahana, who also finished the race, she spared no effort in cheering them on.

Of course, despite the cheers, Moonbora shouted, “Please just disappear!”

Thanks to that, she was the only one among the Magician class to successfully complete the race.

Junayong couldn’t take his eyes off the three of them, even as he received medical treatment from the medical team.

No, he corrected himself.

He only looked at Yuseha.

Even as Moonbora entered the final round, he sincerely smiled at her happiness.

Junayong couldn’t understand.

Absolutely…

Absolutely.

“What is this.”

Am I really a fool?

Why go to such lengths…

For others…

He thinks it’s foolish.

He considers it foolish.

Where is the time to care and help others.

But even as Junayong harbored such thoughts, he felt a stronger stirring of emotions deep in his heart.

A lump rising…

Like bubbles rising gently.

He felt a sensation he couldn’t quite define.

‘…Ah!’

He realizes.

Yes, without a doubt.

This is, this is…!

“It’s unfair!”

At the same time, it was shame for receiving help from the enemy!

“…Just wait, Yuseha. I will definitely win in the 2nd week of training.”

And so, the 1st week competition ended with an unprecedented tie for first place.

* * *

Beep―!

The sharp sound of a whistle rang in the ears of the trainees.

After the end of the 1st week training.

The 2nd week training began after a day of rest.

Pang Jina nodded at the attention of those around her.

“Alright, everyone is here. As you know, today we start the 2nd week of training.”

Pang Jina pointed to a rock the size of a house next to her.

At first glance, it looked like an ordinary rock.

But upon closer inspection, it had dozens of protective barriers installed and was a training artifact that automatically produced mana.

In other words, it was an extraordinary ‘sandbag’ with the same durability as a natural fortress.

“You will demonstrate your best skills on this rock. The will be measured in a different way later.”

It was a test to assess the firepower and versatility of a typical Awakener’s skills.

“Now, I will call out each of you one by one. The trainee called out will come forward.”

As Pang Jina finished speaking, the trainees stepped forward one by one.

Each displayed their skills based on their [skills].

The majority of them attacked with their ‘skill tree’ skills corresponding to their own , but some also displayed skills they had learned independently.

One thing was certain.

No one who had faced the rock so far had been able to inflict any significant damage on it.

There were only a few scratches and faint marks.

“Wow, it’s so hard.”

“Is this about rocks, or does it feel like hitting a mountain?”

Even complaints and grumbles were heard.

Everyone was taken aback by the appearance of the figure that soon emerged.

A beauty with sleek crimson hair tied into a side tail.

The appearance of Junayong made the trainees swallow their dry saliva.

Standing in front of the rock, Junayong took a deep breath and assumed a stance.

“We will begin.”

“Mm.”

Junayong lightly stepped on the ground.

Flames wrapped around his arms, starting to flicker.

A rare-grade fire skill.

[Blazing Flame] further enhanced Junayong’s arms.

Boom, crackle-!

Followed by a powerful punch.

As the fist struck the rock, [Blazing Flame] spread in all directions like the wrath of a dragon.

Kugugu-! The rock shook with a sound.

A moment later.

Distinct fist marks were engraved.

Even the hit surface had molten rock flowing like magma from the burning flames.

Witnessing the truly different power, words of admiration flowed among the trainees watching.

“As expected of …”

“Wow, that’s [Blazing Flame]. They say it’s impossible to learn without the aptitude.”

“Incredible…”

.

A nickname for Junayong, the only student along with Moon Bora to have a nickname.

Junayong, with a satisfied smile, glanced briefly at Pang Jina.

“Excellent.”

“…! Th-thank you.”

At the unexpected praise, Junayong’s face brightened instantly.

He turned and gently pinched her soft cheeks.

He tried to calm his trembling lips.

Clap, clap, clap-!

Followed by a clear applause echoing in his ears.

Although he could feel the various praises and admiring gazes, Junayong didn’t pay much attention.

He had experienced it countless times in his life.

Most of them probably flattered him and sought to gain something from him.

But only one.

Only one voice made him react involuntarily.

“You’re truly amazing.”

The voice belonged to Yuseha.

His sincere admiration and praise filled Junayong’s ears and eyes.

“…”

Junayong felt his shoulders straighten unconsciously.

He hummed a tune in his mind, feeling proud.

Well, is that so?

Now do you feel the gap?

‘Praise me a bit more.’

He hoped Yuseha would apologize and say, ‘Junayong-nim! I’m sorry! I overstepped!’ and even give up his position as the exclusive disciple.

“Next, Yuseha.”

“Yes.”

Ironically, it was his turn next.

He walked out and met Yuseha’s eyes.

Alright, let’s keep up the momentum and deliver a cool line!

“How about Yuseha…-”

“-Junayong. Isn’t he amazing? Incredible.”

Yuseha placed his hand on Junayong’s chin and shoulder.

Junayong was taken aback, ‘Huh, what?!’ and flustered.

But he quickly regained his composure.

I-I have to fight back!

“I-I’m stronger!”

“…? Of course you are. Anyway, you were amazing.”

After his response, Yuseha passed by.

Junayong looked at him with a slightly defeated expression.

But it was okay.

He had won.

Regardless.

Look at the marks left on the rock.

No matter how great the rumors are, they won’t be able to beat him.

‘I’ll crush this second week with superior grades!’

However…

Realizing how arrogant that thought was didn’t take more than a few seconds.

“Ah…”

The sharp blade of the sword was deeply embedded in the rock in a straight line.

The sight of the sword, dug as deep as the mark left by his fist, sent shivers down his spine.

“…Gulp.”

Juna-yong briefly imagined, ‘What if I had been hit by that…?’

He wouldn’t die, but he would definitely be seriously injured.

A subtle silence followed.

Most of the students, their eyes widened in confusion, murmured to each other, ‘What…?’, ‘I don’t know either…’

Only two people.

No, two people.

“Wow! Seha-ya! Amazing!!”

“…Hana, calm down.”

Mahana and Seolbing.

Only the two of them were cheering him on.

“Amazing. Well done, Yuseha.”

“Thank you.”

Yuseha, who had sheathed his sword, bowed his head in response to Pangjina’s praise.

One more word of praise than he expected.

Juna-yong, feeling anger rising, soon understood.

Yuseha’s strike was…

Impressive.

“With this, today’s training for the second week will come to an end.”

Everyone returned to their dorms to rest for tomorrow. That’s all!

* * *

Days passed by.

One day, two days, three days, four days.

Various complex training sessions were conducted, not just carving marks on rocks.

Juna-yong silently endured all of it.

Always scoring the highest and leading the way.

But she, too, was only human and couldn’t keep running forever.

Slowly, her limits began to show.

“Yong-ah…”

Her distinctive voice flowed out.

The training was definitely not easy.

But what worried Juna-yong more was Yuseha.

More precisely, the fact that she couldn’t surpass him.

Even excelling in other training sessions, she always felt threatened.

‘Although I’m still ahead in all scores…’

But she couldn’t afford to be complacent.

The small difference could easily be overturned.

‘Tomorrow, I’ll win more decisively!’

Clasping her hands tightly, Juna-yong made a resolution.

She didn’t realize it, but Yuseha, a fellow student and rival competing for Pangjina’s attention, was becoming increasingly important to her.

She had never experienced such serious competition with her peers before.

But he was different.

He was strong.

And a hard worker.

Moreover…

He was a man who stirred up unknown emotions within her.

How could she not pay attention to him?

Thud-!

“……Huh?”

It was at that moment, lost in her thoughts, that the sudden dull sound caught her attention.

Walking towards the source late at night, Juna-yong found the training room’s lights on.

Someone was practicing inside.

Swish-!

A sharp thrust like a flash.

Simultaneously, a lightning-fast movement to retrieve the sword.

That person was…

“…Yuseha?”