Wrapping Up the Semester (6)
In the Diamond Training Room, I asked about the ultimate technique I'd come up with in the previous loop.
"Ultimate technique?"
"Yeah, smashing him one good hit while Kang Juwon's off guard."
"Suddenly saying that... You think it'll just work? Idiot."
Watching Kang Minji mull it over, it looked like she'd given it a shot herself. But it probably hadn't gone well.
"That won't just work out of nowhere! I don't have some special power or anything!"
"You've had your second awakening too."
"Wha... How do you know that?"
Completely flustered, Kang Minji even started stuttering. She'd tried to keep it under wraps, so she was shocked I knew.
Truth be told, I hadn't known about her awakening until I'd seen her sparring match either.
'Even if I told her I regressed... she wouldn't get it, right?'
No one would buy it anyway, and with the duel fast approaching, there was no point wasting time on explanations.
"I was just throwing it out there—did you actually try it?"
I feigned surprise right back at her. She nodded, looking like she'd been the one tricked.
"Eh? Well... yeah, I did..."
"Iron Wall Queen Kang Minji~"
As Kang Minji sheepishly admitted it, Yoon Seoa, who'd been watching from the side, perked up with interest and drew closer. I'd thought she ignored everyone else, but apparently not this.
"What kind of ability?"
"Explosion ability..."
"Explosion ability...?"
Yoon Seoa's sleepy eyes widened as she started feeling up Kang Minji's body.
"Seoa?"
"Stay still..."
Whenever she stood in front of Yoon Seoa, Kang Minji shrank back and quietly endured the touch.
'What the heck is she doing?'
With her eyes closed in concentration, Kang Minji and I could only stay quiet.
"The circuits are still unstable..."
"Yeah, it's only been a little while since I awakened."
Yoon Seoa's chilling mana began seeping into Kang Minji's body. Kang Minji shivered slightly, as if feeling the cold.
Time passed like that until Yoon Seoa finally opened her eyes.
"Want me to help...?"
"Huh? Help with what?"
"Ultimate technique."
Yoon Seoa murmured it as she turned toward me.
"In exchange... spar with me."
'Sigh... holding Minji hostage like that.'
The duel fanatic Yoon Seoa really wanted to spar with me.
'Not much time left before the duel anyway... and she's probably better suited than me.'
It was something similar to her own techniques, so she'd probably wrap it up quick. For Kang Minji's sake, I could handle this much.
"Fine. Deal."
"You promised...?"
"Just help Minji properly."
"Yeah."
Kang Minji watched our back-and-forth with a baffled look.
"What... what about my opinion?"
"Why, got a problem?"
I threw her own words right back. She let out a deep sigh.
"God, whatever..."
Yoon Seoa approached Kang Minji.
"Focus on my mana."
"Huh? Got it! Seoa..."
As Yoon Seoa channeled her mana into Kang Minji's body, Kang Minji jolted at the icy sensation—but she closed her eyes and started focusing too.
I couldn't exactly tell what was happening from the sidelines, but they'd handle it.
Before long, a tiny ice crystal formed over Kang Minji's right fist.
'Guiding her along the mana circuits, huh?'
"Focus on this feeling."
"Yeah..."
The moment Yoon Seoa cut off her mana, the ice crystal vanished.
"Give it a try. Just a little mana."
"R... right now?"
"Yeah."
Yoon Seoa stepped back. Kang Minji looked unsure.
"Thing is... when I practiced alone, I ended up hurting myself sometimes..."
During spars, every explosion had damaged her own barrier. She'd only forced it out because she couldn't just take hits, so her worry made sense.
'Can't have our Minji getting hurt for nothing...'
"Trust me."
Yoon Seoa declared it confidently. No exaggeration—just a clean, straightforward line. Her blank expression somehow made it believable.
The academy's top student had spoken, so Kang Minji gave in and followed her instructions. Yoon Seoa watched her mana flow and offered pointers from the side.
"Not that way... a bit slower..."
"Ah... yeah."
Mana gradually gathered in Kang Minji's right fist, and soon—a small explosion.
"It... it worked!!"
"Ooh... looks promising."
Kang Minji beamed at her first-try success. Was Yoon Seoa just a good teacher, or was Kang Minji a quick study?
'Could be both—Minji's got an A-rank fate grade too.'
"Keep that sensation... and release a massive burst of mana all at once."
"But is it okay to practice like this? Not much time before the duel."
Kang Minji fretted. Mana was a finite resource, after all. It recovered over time, but no guarantee it'd be full by duel time.
"I've got something from Kim Siu, so mana potion's on me..."
Yoon Seoa magnanimously fetched a mana potion—she'd gotten it from me, after all. Potions restored mana, sure, but not infinitely.
"Recovery has limits... be careful."
"Seoa! Thank you!"
Her tone with Yoon Seoa was worlds apart from how she treated me, but it didn't bother me much.
'Can't expect her to treat guys and girls the same.'
I just watched the two of them with a warm smile. Kang Minji hugged Yoon Seoa tight in genuine delight, leaving the girl flustered by the sudden skinship.
'They look great together.'
Beauty and beauty—a winning combo.
"..."
In the midst of her joy, Kang Minji pulled back with a worried look, wondering if she'd overstepped with an acquaintance.
"Ah... did I make you mad? Seoa?"
"...It's fine."
Her face stayed blank as ever, but she seemed to be smiling somehow. Kang Minji then started hammering the wooden dummy. Her casting speed was visibly improving. Yoon Seoa pointed out flaws, and her skill shot up fast.
She was conserving mana for the duel, so power was down, but Kang Juwon would definitely freak.
I wanted to see that parasite-lookalike's ugly mug twist in shock.
"Minji."
"Hah... hah... what?"
"Technique name's Nuclear Punch."
"What the... lame name!"
Nuclear Punch: LV1
A technique that pours all mana into the fist and thrusts forward, unleashing a powerful explosion ahead.
— Heroine Kang Minji's technique.
— Cannot be used if Anti-Magic ability is active.
Kang Juwon was finished.
Kang Juwon was stretching in the Gold Training Room when a knock echoed at the door.
"Yeah, who is it?"
He wiped the sweat from his face and headed to the entrance. There stood academy vice-top Lee Da-eun.
She was constantly compared to Yoon Seoa, but it never fazed her much.
"Oh, Da-eun."
Lee Da-eun was Kang Juwon's childhood friend. She shook out her ponytail and flashed a bright smile as she stepped in.
"Hey, Juwon?"
Her soft features and warm smile lit up the room.
"I'm gonna stink."
"It's fine. Everyone sweats after working out, right?"
In her neat outfit, Lee Da-eun smiled gently and entered the training room. One of the academy's standout beauties, her figure stood out even in modest clothes, and her nurturing vibe made her hugely popular among cadets. Even as vice-top, her fame rivaled Yoon Seoa's.
"But you can't skip meals~"
She shook the bento she'd brought.
Kang Juwon looked apologetic.
"Thanks as always... for taking care of me like this."
"No biggie. I like cooking."
They'd been together since childhood. Handsome Kang Juwon and gentle, beautiful Lee Da-eun often got mistaken for the perfect couple by outsiders, but they were just friends.
"So good as always..."
Watching Lee Da-eun dote on him like this stirred up his inferiority complex.
Kang Juwon hadn't always been poor. As a kid, he'd been the classic gold spoon, even the one looking after Lee Da-eun.
But when his dad botched a guarantee for a friend, the family fortunes tanked fast—ending up buried in massive debt.
"Your favorite, right?"
"Yeah... thanks."
To pay it off, he'd dropped out and started part-timing. His looks meant girls asked for his number nonstop—a whole truckload. And with a boss lady who laughed off his mistakes, the jobs were actually cushy. Just standing there boosted sales, so they adored him.
But no number of gigs could dent that debt.
Dating? Dream on. No money.
Even meeting childhood friend Lee Da-eun felt burdensome with money worries. He saw bothering her as a nuisance.
She knew and gave him space.
'Got here on potential testing...'
Recognized for his talent, he'd entered Daehan Academy via low-income track. Become a hunter, pay off the debt—that was his goal.
'Can't miss the scholarship...'
He scrimped on Aka Coins too, buying essentials to send home. Trading them was illegal, but the school overlooked family aid.
'No distractions!'
He trained like a maniac, turning down every girl who approached. For success. To clear the debt and rise again.
'Not the time...'
Kang Juwon stared silently at Lee Da-eun's face.
Now a chaebol heir's granddaughter, academy vice-top—she still had everything he'd lost.
Looking at her always sparked jealousy.
'I'm total trash...'
It shamed him to think this way about the one person who cared.
"Da-eun... you don't have to keep looking after me."
"Ah... did I do something wrong?"
"No... I just feel bad burdening you every time."
"It's okay! We're friends! Real friends help in tough times!"
"...Yeah. Thanks."
Most women approached Kang Juwon warmly. His looks were undeniably top-tier, and he'd benefited hugely from it.
Girls flocked to his face, then stuck around for his caring, righteous personality.
He always ranked on girls' hot-guy lists.
That let him get along with most, but not the girl in front of him now.
"Hoo..."
Kang Minji. Icy to guys except her partner Kim Siu—he'd never seen her chat with other men.
"Please take it easy today."
She just nodded silently. Kang Juwon scratched his head awkwardly.
This treatment was a first.
"Both ready? You know the rules?"
"Hah..."
"Confirm and respond."
"Confirmed!"
"Yes..."
The arena buzzed. Hottest girl vs. hottest guy.
Cheers erupted at their faces on the screen.
Used to superficial stares, they prepared unfazed.
Countdown ended. Duel on.
"Begin!"
Kang Juwon had no intention of losing. Victory wasn't everything, but for the scholarship—for becoming a high-rank hunter—he had to win.
Kang Minji felt the same. She was dead set on victory here.
'Siu beat him... I can't lose!'
Kim Siu, always trailing her, had surged ahead—now slipping out of reach.
She couldn't just stand there.
Their no-retreat clash began.