Chapter 36
Chapter 36
Translator: Penny
Episode 36: Yoon Se-ah VS Kang Ah-yul
Episode 36: Yun Se-a vs. Kang A-yul
"Hmph... this is troublesome."
Seeing Kang A-yul's confident expression, an uneasy feeling automatically crept over me, as if it were consuming my entire being.
What if I go all out and A-yul gets injured?
That would be disastrous. We're already struggling to secure A-yul and Lee Seo-yun's election as Student Council President. If A-yul gets injured, we'll have no second-year students capable of facing the exceptional first-years like the Protagonist and Baek Sia.
What should I do? If I go all out, I don't know what might happen.
If I hold back, I'll get torn apart. If I go all out, A-yul will get torn apart.
"What's this? Aren't you going to use that gun you used back then?"
"It's not a gun, it's a staff!"
Then, a sudden idea struck me.
The earring's output limit is... 30 percent. Due to the punishment Eve gave me, my maximum power output is currently only about 60 percent of my full potential.
If that's the case... it might actually be possible.
"Miss Seo-yun, may I examine your sword for a moment?"
"...Are you planning to use my sword?"
"Oh, not at all. Don't worry about that."
I lightly gripped the still-warm Alternium Longsword Lee Seo-yun had just received from Lee Cheon-ma, not the sword I'd used in the mock battle earlier. The moderate weight, tremendous reach, ridiculously wide swing arc, and various other flaws of the longsword began to reveal themselves one by one.
If it were Lee Seo-yun, she could perfectly wield this sword with her characteristic defensive stance...
Unfortunately, I'm not her.
"Still, I've got a rough idea."
The training ground was completely sealed off to prevent any interference. The only person who could observe this duel was Lee Seo-yun.
This dagger, crafted by Baek Sia, was knife-shaped but could adjust its length when infused with mana.
Whoosh!
"Hmm... this is too long."
Whoosh!
"And this is too short..."
Swish!
"Ah... perfect."
Well, if anyone had been inside when the space was sealed, they might have been able to watch the match... but I confirmed there's no one here.
That means I can go all out.
Ah, not that I meant to destroy the earring, of course...
"Your eyes...!"
"I'm going all out, Miss Ayul."
To defeat Kang A-yul without inflicting serious injuries, this was the only way.
If I'm overwhelmingly stronger, I can take her down without hurting her too much.
If our abilities were evenly matched, the atmosphere would become too heated, like in Kang A-yul and Lee Seo-yun's first match. To satisfy Kang A-yul and end this match without major injuries, this method was the only option.
I stared at my reflection on the black smartphone screen.
For just ten minutes, I'm a swordsman with skills comparable to Kang Jin-myeong.
With that thought, I looked back at Kang A-yul. Though not perfectly, I could now roughly anticipate her movements.
After handing over the staff, I tucked it into my belt.
"I'm ready."
"Me too."
Kang A-yul and I were perfectly prepared. Lee Seo-yun slowly retreated, putting the whistle to her lips.
"Alright, the Barrier will activate... Once the Barrier is fully deployed, the watches on your wrists will flash green. That's when the match begins."
"We know that already. Do you really need to explain it again?"
"Hey, it's good to keep repeating it, like reviewing. I'm worried Miss Ayul might charge at Miss Se-a before the bracelet even flashes green."
The bracelet gradually began to glow green.
1/2.
3/4.
And at the exact moment it flashed fully green...!
BOOM!
"Alright, let's fight with everything we've got!"
In an instant, Kang A-yul, wielding his Magic Sword, teleported right in front of me.
Clang!
The sound of blades clashing echoed through the empty training ground.
Countless swords crisscrossed in unison, each aimed for the other's throat.
A blue-glowing Magic Sword lunged at the girl who scattered purple light, but I effortlessly evaded each strike with a mere tilt of my head.
"Damn it! You've been getting on my nerves since earlier...!"
The number of Magic Swords steadily increased, yet not a single blade managed to reach me.
No matter how many swords flew my way, it made no difference.
To me, who had fought thousands, even tens of thousands of Boss battles, and who had gained limited access to Kang Jin-myeong's swordsmanship skills, these swords were merely child's play.
With a single strike, Kang A-yul's Magic Sword lost its power and shattered into pieces.
"Now, let's finish this."
Kugguuuuuuung...!
"Ugh...?!"
Kang A-yul staggered, seemingly disoriented by the sudden weight.
Click
Seizing the opportunity, I aimed Silver, my gun-like staff, at Kang A-yul.
"Void."
From the muzzle, a pitch-black orb began to fly toward Kang A-yul, devouring the entire training ground floor in its wake.
Kugwagwagwang!
"Ugh...!"
Kang A-yul hurled Magic Swords, but even these were shattered by the Black Orb and sucked into its dark core.
"Damn it, this is just brute force!"
Chrararararak!
Immobilized by the crushing Gravity Field, Kang A-yul sensed he couldn't evade the attack. He desperately conjured countless Magic Swords around himself, attempting to divert the Black Orb's trajectory, but...
The Black Orb's trajectory didn't deviate by even a millimeter.
BOOOOOOM!
"Ugh... AAAAAAAH?!"
Everything the orb had absorbed during its flight instantly began tearing Kang A-yul's body to shreds.
BOOOOOOM!
"AAAAAAH!"
Kang A-yul was slammed into the wall, just like Baek Sin-woo had been earlier, and then collapsed limply to the ground.
"Ugh... cough!"
"Hmm... I was hoping to finish this with that attack."
To be honest, I was a little surprised.
Pinned against the wall, Kang A-yul could barely maintain her posture, blood trickling from the corner of her mouth. Anyone watching would have immediately declared victory for me, Yun Se-a, the Student Council President.
Blood streamed down her face, and her legs wobbled as if they were broken.
Despite being in an overwhelmingly disadvantageous position, with surrender being the recommended course of action, Kang A-yul gripped his sword once more and slowly rose to his feet, as if telling such considerations to go to hell.
"From now on... from now on, it's the real fight."
Kang A-yul drew the saber from his waist, seemingly having exhausted his supply of Magic Swords. Crimson mana engulfed the blade, causing it to blaze with fiery energy.
".........."
"Hah... that's more like it! Now I feel like I can do anything."
Kang A-yul's ability: Sword Saint's Blessing (S).
This cheat-like ability granted massive buffs to any action involving a sword. Even a casual swing could cleave through solid rock, and a haphazardly parried strike could deflect a bullet aimed directly at him.
Kang A-yul, who had never learned swordsmanship, possessed a ghostly talent that allowed him to defeat his father in a single exchange. His mentor, the current S-Rank Hero, saw a fragment of himself in this extraordinary ability. Kang Jin-myeong took him in and honed his talent to its absolute limit.
The strange light faded from Kang A-yul's eyes, and green flames began to burn.
It seems the Sword Saint's Blessing hasn't yet been applied to the Magic Sword.
No wonder. Kang A-yul had been taught by Kang Jin-myeong that Magic Swords were a luxury while learning swordsmanship. He likely hadn't realized that the Sword Saint's Blessing also extended to Magic Swords.
Since supernatural abilities only manifest when one becomes aware of and activates them, he would need to realize this truth himself.
Kang A-yul's remaining health bar... 2%.
If I had been at full power, it would have been game over in an instant. But perhaps I had grown too complacent.
Kang A-yul charged toward me with blinding speed, aiming to cleave me in two. I scrambled backward, trying to evade the attack, but...
Thud!
"...Haa, this is why the Sword Saint's Blessing is so useful. My foot had to twist at a time like this."
There he was, Kang A-yul, his burning eyes blazing as he reached my neck, ready to strike me down.
"...This ends here!"
Certain of victory, Kang A-yul swung his blade to sever my neck, but...
Shing!
"...!"
Unfortunately for him, it wasn't my body he had struck.
"Oh dear, since when did you think that was me?"
Behind the 'illusion' that had vanished into a swarm of shimmering butterflies, I was already aiming my staff—which had transformed into a sniper rifle mid-air—at Kang A-yul.
If I fire at maximum power, any magic would be dangerous... I'll have to use a suppression spell instead.
"Shutdown."
TAAANG!
The ear-splitting blast filled the empty arena, and when the dust settled...
".........."
Kang A-yul lay unconscious, restrained by Shutdown's net.
"...Hoo... At least one problem solved for now."
Only my figure remained, forcing down the black liquid and covering my mouth.
"Is that the Student Council President's power? Amazing!"
"J-Jian! You're being too loud...!"
Meanwhile, Seo Jian's group—Sakura, Ecclesia, Yu Eun-ha, and others—had stumbled upon the match between the Student Council President and Vice President.
"Her mana is incredible! Even stronger than Arin's!"
Some marveled at Yun Se-a's overwhelming force as she crushed Kang A-yul.
"Still... even in such pain, she fought to the end..."
Others admired Kang A-yul's unwavering will despite her severe injuries.
"Oh, what should I do? There don't seem to be any medical staff here. I should heal her...!"
Some were simply overwhelmed by the compulsion to heal the injured, unsure how to proceed.
"As expected... you're still the same as ever."
But one person glared murderously at Yun Se-a, who was feeding something to the fallen Kang A-yul, their teeth grinding with vengeful fury.