Chapter 93
Chapter 93
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 93
Chapter Title: Masked Man (4)
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Jeong Si-woo incurs no penalty.
"Fuck."
"Wh-what's wrong all of a sudden? Did I do something wrong?"
Azalea, startled by my sudden curse during class, clutched her chest and asked.
"No, it's just..."
I suddenly wanted to wither all the World Trees to death.
After getting pummeled by ents a few times, seeing that wooden demon thing I'd die to anyway, and being toyed with by World Trees in every way imaginable, now even seeing a tree on the way made me nauseous.
"This problem won't solve."
I brushed it off vaguely, rested my chin on my hand, and sighed.
Up front, the professor was relentlessly explaining magic theory.
"Right here, if we remove the second circle from this Mad Fire incantation. Does anyone know the interpretation?"
The classroom fell silent like they'd all swallowed honey.
"Magnarot Theory."
"Hm... Did some advance studying? Correct."
The professor let out an admiring tone at my casual answer. A murmur rippled through the classroom.
-What's up with him today?
-Guess he's studying hard.
-How many is that now?
Magic is ultimately just inputting commands. Plus the Spartan education from the Imperial Capital—how could I not know?
I was reaping the benefits of cutting sleep to ramp up my studies lately.
I stretched languidly and blinked my sleepy eyes.
Then Azalea leaned toward me.
"You... Is something going on?"
She whispered, hand to her mouth.
I kept scribbling notes and tilted my head.
"Why?"
"There's been a lot of rumors lately."
"What rumors?"
"Well... about the masked guy. There's only one person wandering the academy in a mask, right?"
Azalea stared piercingly at my mask as she spoke.
She seemed suspicious about the rumors. I got it. After seeing that oak-worse-than face before, who would believe the rumors?
"What about them?"
Azalea stared at me for a while, hmm-ing thoughtfully, then lifted the corner of her mouth.
"Good rumors. About your skills, and lots more people curious about you. And..."
"And?"
Azalea smiled happily while talking about my rumors, for some reason.
I nearly grinned along.
"Aaaand..."
Her face showed she was wondering if she should say it.
A strange feeling welled up.
She used to be ice-cold, but human relationships really are unpredictable. Before I knew it, we'd become close friends like this.
Azalea thinks of me as someone she can rely on.
She looked after Shiba when I wasn't around, after all.
"Just praise. Everyone's evaluation of you has shot up."
"Really? That's a relief."
Come to think of it, I'd been so focused on training lately that I neglected my friends.
Jeong Si-woo was like that... Azalea and Cornus too.
I hadn't talked to Cornus recently. What was she doing now?
I tilted my head to look where Cornus sat.
"...Kng. Hng."
Cornus was dozing off, pinching one arm.
A delicate snore escaped her lips. Some cadets stared at the unusual sight, entranced.
"Class ends here today. Submit next assignment via email."
Class ended just in time. I looked at Azalea packing her things and suggested.
"Let's grab food."
She tucked her laptop into her bag, pretended to hesitate, then nodded.
"Just us two?"
"Yeah."
"...Sure."
Her last reply had a slightly flushed tone.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ 【Connection with the World Tree has been temporarily severed.】 A chill seeped into my bones.
Like lush spring leaves unfurling, the magic engraved throughout my body began to flow out.
"See any differences from before?"
In the private training room reached via spatial magic, Baek Do asked casually while loosening her fists.
Power was definitely lacking. It felt a bit distant from that overflowing sensation in Purgatory.
About 40%, no, 30% of that time.
Still enough to take down anyone. But having tasted excessive power, it felt lacking.
"It'll take time to use that power again. Your body needs to adapt first."
"Yeah, looks that way."
"Today's training is simple. Spar with me."
Baek Do crooked a finger, needling me.
I knew I couldn't win, but hearing it from Baek Do—not Heavenly Capital or Imperial Capital—pissed me off inevitably.
"Handicap."
"What nonsense is this?"
"If our skills are even, won't motivation boil? Isn't it your duty as master to yield a move or two?"
Baek Do watched me, then smirked.
"Whether I yield one move or dozens, you'll get hit anyway."
This bitch...
"One arm."
"Fine, right arm should suffice. Anything else?"
"Magic power."
Baek Do retracted the magic surging behind her.
No magic, can't use right arm—basically half-crippled.
Even like this, if I can't win? I confidently assumed stance. Baek Do still grinned.
"That's all?"
Baek Do declared boldly.
"I'll add one more. During the match, if you touch anywhere except my arms and legs, I'll grant anything."
"...Anything?"
"Yes. Anything."
I seriously adjusted my stance. Then, with intent to wreck the training ground, I drew all magic into my body.
"Master really digs her own grave well."
"What of it. Handling you is like dealing with an infant. Know what they call guys like you in the world?"
Baek Do smiled elegantly.
"Trash."
Tra...sh?
I knew it, but hearing it echoed in my head repeatedly.
Trash. Trash... Trash.
My head just went blank.
"What if you lose and karma bites?"
"Your breathing's ragged. Can't handle one provocation and call yourself a fighter?"
"...If I win, you won't know what I'll do. Remember my trait is Lewd Demon."
"Ha. Not a scratch."
"Like a beggar in rags."
A vein bulged on Baek Do's forehead.
"...What?"
"Why eat that crap? Better gnaw a radish."
"Y-you, youuu."
Baek Do clenched her fist in fury that could flip heaven and earth. Her arm muscles swelled, veins popping—like one hit would end me.
"You've crossed the line."
"Can't handle one insult... how'd you climb that high?"
Her killing intent spread, making my body shudder.
Clear malice prickled my skin.
"No way... Nah."
Still, I pressed on, steadying my uneven breath.
"Pissed?"
"...!"
Baek Do's form vanished.
Simultaneously, a vivid image flashed: my body flying from a gut punch, like prophecy.
'What is this.'
Before grasping it, instinct twisted my body aside.
The armor-like magic cloaking me vibrated like living flesh against the airflow.
My body bent, Baek Do appeared before me. Dodging the first attack widened her eyes slightly.
Improved senses? Intense focus brought another image.
Like foreseeing seconds ahead.
Hunters sometimes experience this in extreme situations.
-Whoosh!
I thrust my left hand at Baek Do's shoulder. Touch a finger and I win.
But seconds later, another image: her fist changing trajectory, me flying undefended.
-Boom!
Dizzying.
Pain once as lungs contracted, twice from the instinctively raised arm blocking.
Body slammed into the wall.
"Cough!"
Moved slower than foreseen, took the hit.
"Get up quick, what're you doing?"
Baek Do, arms crossed at a distance, chuckled mockingly.
"You pissed now..."
"Planned this from start."
Lies every time she opens her mouth. I stood, deep breath.
Black magic slowly spread from my back.
Black Tao.
Magic of Heavenly Demon quality—proof I could inherit it, symbol of power—burst uncontrollably.
"Now it's fun."
As Baek Do spoke, I charged.
Black crescent from my back assailed her.
A blade of terrifying destructive power from near-100% aptitude. Realizing no-magic limit, she twisted away.
I rushed the smiling, breathing-steady Baek Do.
Fist-to-fist brawl.
All limbs engaged.
She widened distance, I closed it.
Black Tao-boosted strength barely matched her. Now pure skill clash.
Her toe grazed my jaw barely.
I punched, she deflected with palm lightly.
"Talent's certainly there."
Baek Do quipped lightly amid fight.
Hard to even breathe steadily swinging fists. I panted.
"No talent... Hoo... why'd I be here?"
"True, but... that's all?"
"I've trained... less than two months."
"Half a year more to graze my skin."
I'll touch somehow.
Grinding teeth, I pulled right arm back long.
Attempting first secret technique on Baek Do, she closed in, sensing it.
"Predictable."
Face filled my vision. Instant penetration.
Intense gut pain. Gathered magic disrupted, veins screamed.
"Cough."
Dry cough, I refocused and retreated.
Pain familiar now; steady breath and bearable.
'Just need to touch somehow.'
One idea amid worry.
'Wait.'
"Not coming?"
"Shut up and wait."
I maxed disrupted magic. Forced limit-body to move.
Body creaked like unoiled scrap, but hitting limits? Experienced plenty.
Mind mapped scenarios, predictions.
Black Tao made reading Baek Do sharper.
'Going.'
Step and clash again.
Fist-fist, foot-foot.
Baek Do moved untiring, her leisure would be her downfall—I believed.
Just create one opening to touch.
I retreated, reset stance.
Arm back, all magic to one point.
'When the white flower blooms—'
"Predictable, I said."
'—now.'
Faces closest. No magic, headbutted full force.
Perfect move, no killing intent.
-Thud!
Gut pain nearly brought tears, but endured and flew.
-Crash, bang!
Breath caught.
"Kuh... Uh. Heh heh heh."
Pain-mixed groan, but I laughed rising from floor.
"Master."
Baek Do's face crumpled.
"Just grazed."
Nose? Lips? Cheek?
Not sure, but shoved face in. Felt a sensation etched in mind.
Minor contact accident occurred.
"How 'bout it?"
Baek Do said nothing.
"......"
"Anything?"
After wait, subtle words.
"What... nonsense?"
Conscience-free. But didn't matter.
In her mind, witnesses would confirm.
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