Chapter 22
Chapter 22
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 22
Chapter Title: Azalea Petals Fall (5)
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Afternoon. Duel class.
I sat in my seat, scanning the arena where swords and magic flew wildly in all directions.
Thanks to Lee Se-young's quick thinking, I'd managed to skip training under the pretext of a physical injury.
Clang! Clang!
The arena buzzed with ongoing matches. Cadets' swords clashed against each other as they frantically shifted their feet to create distance.
I etched their movements into my mind like a snapshot.
This intensity, this thrill—I pressed it all deep inside. The thick, metallic scent tickling my nose. The spirited shouts firing up the crowd.
The searing heat of rising flames, the graceful flow of cascading water. The sharply honed winds.
Manipulating my body's mana, I mentally rehearsed sword techniques dozens of times over.
A smile crept onto my face unbidden.
'My choice was right.'
Until now, my lack of experience had kept me from attempting to steal every sword art and spell outright.
But now that I'd built up some skill, it was possible.
My talent. My high potential.
I took in every sword technique and spell from every cadet here with my eyes.
A genius's gift could command mountains and leap over the heavens with ease. Just by absorbing their essences, my blank canvas began to soak up their colors bit by bit.
Red, blue, yellow.
These vibrant talents tangled together. What had been a wild, free canvas twisted into a black inkstone, stained where the hues bled into one another.
And atop it, pitch-black ink welled up. Even the vessel itself struggled to contain the power.
Inspirations flashed through my mind without end.
As I refined them into my own, my nerves burned red-hot.
Scratch.
A stinging sensation in my fingers. My right index twitched reflexively.
Mana flowed along the pain, naturally expanding the vessel.
Even the agony of injury sublimated into power.
Before I knew it, I'd comprehended every technique from everyone present.
'Even I have to admit...'
It was a violently overwhelming talent.
Hummm! Hummm!
A rough vibration coursed through my body.
I slowly lifted my briefly closed eyelids.
Flutter flutter.
Black mana danced atop my fingers.
The first ability I'd thought complete...
But even it was utterly dismantled by the me of one second later.
Gazing at the black flames blazing around my heart, I murmured,
"It's not enough."
Still a long way to go.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Reading her shoulder as it twisted, I gripped my sword in reverse and swung.
Whoosh!
San Su-yu parried the obvious attack head-on.
Just before our swords clashed, I twisted my wrist, deflecting hers.
The bent blade whipped around to smack her sword arm, sending her weapon flying from her grip.
"......!"
Bright yellow mana rippled across her skin.
San Su-yu, now unarmed, surged her mana through her body and dove straight into my guard.
Her speed outmatched mine, so I ditched the sword and blocked her fist with my elbow.
Bang!
Our manas collided and burst.
We staggered back, snatched up our swords, and panted as we eyed each other's conditions.
"Keep going?"
"Yeah."
San Su-yu, mouth agape as she heaved for breath, urged me on.
Physically superior as she was, she'd tired first—probably from the pressure of my swordplay.
I switched my two-handed grip to her style. A flicker of emotion crossed her face.
Jealousy? I could only guess. She was so pure and expressionless, it was impossible to tell.
We closed the distance toward each other.
"Narrow your stance a bit there."
I parried her sword.
"Good power, but your center's off."
After her strike, I shot my leg out at her shin.
San Su-yu retreated swiftly.
"Too far that time."
I spread my free hand wide and tapped her abdomen.
Bang!
She'd coated her belly in mana just in time, but my force still shoved her back.
First time crossing blades today, but it was plenty fun—thrilling, even.
"You've improved a lot."
"......What are you?"
San Su-yu looked shocked. Seeing cracks form in her usual blank expression was a sight.
"You're so different from before."
"Yeah."
The price of abandoning looks is always raw power.
"Still not quite enough against you, though."
I sheathed my sword with a sigh.
Not teasing—she was genuinely stronger if we went all out with full mana output.
My base stats were much lower. The gap in mana was huge. My slumped shoulders and creeping lethargy proved mana exhaustion.
San Su-yu, meanwhile, was tired but still glowed. She held her elegant form.
Her mana reserves must overflow.
"You're growing too fast."
"Huh?"
"Your growth, I mean."
But she still seemed incredulous.
Not a drop of sweat on her as she eyed me suspiciously.
"Si-heon... you're a fraud?"
"What?"
"Your mana’s fake. Your skills are fake."
Is that how it looks to others? My growth had been explosive lately.
But fraud? Coming from her?
Who was she? The exalted San Su-yu, bathed in elixirs since birth.
True to her talent, she'd perfectly incorporated my feedback into her swordplay.
Even with my technical edge, I was getting pushed back little by little. Her genius was peerless.
"Good is good, right?"
So I said it.
For both of us, this spar had been a fateful encounter to break through to the next realm.
San Su-yu, pouting sullenly at me, pursed her lips before murmuring,
"......Acknowledged."
"Right?"
Sparring ended there.
This much growth meant I wouldn't get crushed anywhere.
To improve further, I'd need higher stats—but no time for that.
For now, all I could do was recruit allies.
'People who can protect Azalea.'
Jeong Si-woo. San Su-yu.
Irregulars both—they'd sweep away any foes that appeared.
Lee Se-young had vouched for it.
-Top two first-years? They hold their own against active heroes.
Raw output aside, they needed to stick close to Azalea.
I could spike my power temporarily, but it'd overheat fast.
Question was how many seconds that near-complete technique would last.
Like slapping a cheap cooler on a top-tier CPU.
For max-output strikes, I'd have to hit-and-run.
Too risky for me to guard Azalea directly.
'Complicated.'
"Si-heon. What're you thinking?"
"It's Si-heon, not 'Si-on.'"
"......Si-heon."
I turned just my head to look at San Su-yu. Her bright yellow eyes blinked.
"You know Azalea?"
"Who?"
"Azalea, uh... pink hair?"
"Pink... Ping-chang? Think I've seen her."
I flinched.
"Where'd you hear that?"
"Internet."
"Where?"
"Tree Side? Tree Inside?"
"H-how'd you end up on that site...?"
"......Ji-ho showed me comics. Saw it in the comments. Pink hair's Ping-chang."
Secretary...
My internal rating of the secretary just dropped.
"Don't go on that site."
"Why?"
"Listen to your friend."
"Friend..."
San Su-yu pondered inwardly, then tilted her head up at me.
"...So what do I do for cultural experience?"
"Huh?"
"Si-woo said learn modern kid culture, watch sometimes. What if I don't?"
"Uh......"
I rubbed my chin, thinking, then thumbed toward the training grounds' exit.
"Wanna grab food first?"
"Said no eating out."
"Parents' rules are made to break."
"They are?"
Chicken and beer for times like this.
We ditched the grounds for two hours and hit a nearby pub.
Sun still high, but daytime drinks are the real deal.
Beer and chicken arrived. San Su-yu eyed them curiously.
"Beer."
"Yeah?"
"First time."
I tore off a drumstick and offered it while she watched.
"Eat this?"
"No chopsticks. Hands."
"Hands?"
San Su-yu gingerly picked it up and bit in. Crunch crunch as she chewed.
"Different from home."
"Outside food hits different. National rule. Try the beer too."
She gulped it down, set the glass down, and let out a short burp.
Pfft.
Cute little leak of air.
No embarrassment—she looked unfazed.
I savored mine with chicken. Bubbles hit the throat, bittersweetness lingered.
"Happiness ain't much. Chicken and beer—that's it."
"Happiness?"
"Feel it?"
"Dunno."
She shook her head, staring at her glass.
Droplets slid from the rim to her wrist.
I'd seen it plenty, but no clue what she was thinking.
Did she feel emotions? Or just grew up that way? Clearly Azalea kin.
If Azalea was oversensitive, San Su-yu was numb.
"Anyway, drink up. Fake it till you make it. Okay?"
"Okay..."
"Lemme teach you green onion chicken. Stuff your mouth like this."
"Ah—"
I shoved chicken in. She worked her jaws, then squinted.
Spicy kick registered, at least.
"......Nose hurts. Tongue too."
"That's spice. Korean culture."
She chewed diligently, wiping tears with her finger.
"Not bad... this culture?"
"Yep. That's culture."
Tree Inside's off-limits. Peeked once since arriving here—ruins people.
Pure souls like San Su-yu get tainted easy.
Gray-born folks blend in black fine. White loses essence with a speck.
Crunch crunch.
"Hurts."
Crunch.
"......Hurts."
Devouring green onion chicken nonstop, she groaned repeatedly. Hooked on the burn.
"Good, right?"
After eating, I checked in.
"Yeah."
She nodded blankly, teardrops beading at her eyes.
Watching her, I broached it.
"Got a favor to ask."
I explained the situation with some metaphors. She agreed readily.
Friend's request must be honored, she learned from the secretary.
My internal rating of him shot back up.