Victory in the Blink of an Eye
The match was decided in the blink of an eye. The winner: Hura. The loser: Sap Gisa.
Murmurs rippled through the crowd, the shockwaves spreading far and wide.
"…What did I just hear?"
"I think he said he'd surrender. That right? Or did I imagine it?"
"Nah, I heard it too. He definitely said surrender."
People doubting their own ears.
"Out of nowhere? Without even fighting?"
"And from Sap Gisa, of all people?"
Mouths agape in disbelief.
"…No way. Did he get psyched out before it even started? Figured he couldn't win and surrendered preemptively?"
"No chance. This is Sap Gisa we're talking about. The guy's a lunatic who'd charge in even if it killed him."
Debating the outcome in heated discussion.
"Boss…!"
"Why surrender before the fight even begins…?"
The Sapjaru-dan stared at Sap Gisa in stunned horror, unable to process it.
"Woooah!! Lord Hura subdued Sap Gisa with just a glare!"
"Kuhahaha! Look at that mad dog tucking tail! Serves him right!"
"ShovelIkoPath finally met his match! Uhahaha!"
The Tteokbokki Cult mindlessly trashed Sap Gisa while cheering Hura on.
Caught in the middle, Uijang and Gwisinigo Kalroli blinked in bewilderment, glancing back and forth between Hura and Sap Gisa.
"…Gwisinigo Kalroli. What… what the hell just happened?"
"I… have no idea."
The Panwol Emo Jjomo reporter and cameraman exchanged wide-eyed looks, too terrified to even whisper lest their voices be caught on mic. SearchingForMyNiece conveyed 'Don't look at me—watch the damn camera screen, idiot!' with bulging eyes and frantic gestures, and the cameraman replied with an 'Got it, sis' glance before peering intently into his viewfinder.
Dahyun and the disguised Molrangkau behind Hura stared at his back with saucer eyes, then flicked to Sap Gisa. They'd figured he was prepping something, but this? Winning without a single blow? Right in front of everyone, no less.
How the hell did he pull that off?
The murmurs were swelling into outright chaos.
And at the epicenter of it all, Hura stood tall and composed. Ears tuned to the surrounding buzz. Eyes locked on Sap Gisa. Smirking like a villain, one corner of his mouth crooked up as if everything had gone exactly to plan.
Sap Gisa, the man he was staring down, stood frozen like he'd been struck by lightning. The pink glow in his helmet quivered wildly.
Clang—
The shovel slipped from his grasp, hitting the ground.
Sap Gisa fumbled under his helmet, pawing at his mouth.
What… what did I just say?
He rewound the moment in his head.
Surrender.
Hura's abrupt demand. Sap Gisa grumbled inwardly.
Surrender? Hilarious. I'd never surrender—not even in death! Sap haha! That way I can fight to the bitter end!
He chuckled at his own dumb joke and opened his mouth to retort.
Or tried to.
What came out instead: "I surrender."
Sap Gisa, still groping his mouth, stared blankly at Hura's villainous grin.
"You… you. What did you do to me?"
Hura deepened his smirk and shrugged nonchalantly.
"Do to you?"
Utterly shameless, like he had no clue.
Infuriating.
"Just now… my mouth moved on its own. Like someone was puppeteering it."
"Huh? No idea what you're talking about."
"Don't lie! It was you!"
Hura scratched his chin, muttering irritably.
"Jeez… what are you even on about?"
Sap Gisa exploded.
"What do you think?! You hijacked my mouth! Made me say I surrender!"
Hura scowled, utterly calm.
"That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard."
"Wha…?"
"Dunno what you're yapping about, but hey—the match is over, right?"
"What?!"
"Come on. We agreed the one who declares surrender loses. You said it yourself, loud and clear."
"…!"
"Pretty honorable, if you ask me. We had a deal."
"This is insane…!"
Maddening beyond belief.
Hura sighed deeply, like scolding a child.
"Alright, let me spell it out for you. Listen up."
"You wanted a duel. It's done. I'm the winner, you're the pathetic coward who lost. End of story."
"That's not— The duel isn't—"
"Shh—I'm not finished. Everyone here saw it clear as day. Gotta own up."
Hura swept his gaze over the crowd—then locked onto something.
"Oh, hey. Panwol Emo Jjomo's here too."
"…!"
SearchingForMyNiece clutched her chest, heart pounding.
"Gasp…! You know us?"
Hura had interviewed with them ages ago, back in Genesis Village slinging tteokbokki. He remembered? Did that mean he'd seen their videos? Was he… a subscriber?
She fought to steady her racing pulse.
"Hey. Hey, calm down. Don't shake. Camera'll blur."
"…You calm down, sis."
Hura pointed at the Panwol crew and told Sap Gisa:
"It's all on video. No backing out."
To the stammering, speechless Sap Gisa, Hura shot a cold glare.
"…Tch. Don't be so pathetic. Forgot what happens if you don't admit it?"
"Uh… no, that's…"
"You really wanna be a cowardly sneaky-shit pants-shitter?"
"N-no! I'm no such thing!"
"Then admit defeat quietly and scram. I'm a busy man."
Hura turned away with icy indifference, done with him.
Sap Gisa wailed after his frigid back.
"No fight, no victory!!"
Hura glanced back, weary.
"Man, why you gotta do me like this? You surrendered from your own mouth. Who surrenders without fighting?"
"I'd have to be crazy!"
"Yeah. So why'd you do it?"
"Arrrghhh!!"
Sap Gisa pounded his chest in frustration.
"Sheesh. Loser sure talks big."
Sap Gisa's pink eyes blazed at Hura.
"Heh, heard that? I said it in my head…"
He hefted his shovel, fighting spirit surging.
"Rematch! I'll bite my tongue off before surrendering again!"
"…This is getting awkward."
Hura's face hardened, like a shopkeep placating a rowdy customer.
"How can I admit defeat without a fight?! Rematch!"
"Sir…"
Hura trailed off awkwardly. The crowd started seeing it from his side.
"Total sore loser, right?"
"Dude already lost. What's his deal?"
"Tch… pathetic."
"Said surrender himself. Now won't own it? What a baby."
Under the crowd's chill stares, Sap Gisa devolved into a tantrum-throwing jerk in seconds. He yelled and hollered, but no one listened. Eyes only grew colder.
The mood had fully shifted.
"Rematch! Scared you'll lose your spot? Sap haha, I'll even let you go first."
"Why drag this out? It's over. Ever seen a World Cup final rematch cuz someone whined?"
"That's different!"
"How?"
"…Just is!"
Hura cradled his face, sighing deeply.
"Hah… didn't wanna stoop this low."
He dropped his hands. His eyes gleamed cold as ice.
"Sap Gisa."
"What."
"Scared I'd snatch Rank 8, so you surrendered without fighting. Think anyone's blind to that?"
"…!"
Murmurs exploded outward like ripples.
"What'd he say…?"
Ha… ha… Outrage choked him speechless. Air swirled uselessly in his throat.
Jeers rained down one by one.
"Boss! Cut it out! We didn't follow you here for this!"
"Such rudeness to the chef! Admit it and let's go!"
Led by the Sapjaru-dan, the silent crowd finally spoke up.
"Boo! Pathetic! So pathetic!"
"Thought he was a reckless psycho, but nah—just cosplaying one?"
"Coward! Clinging to Rank 8!"
"How dare you disrespect Lord Hura, you slimy coward! Get lost! Get lost!"
"Get lost! Get lost!"
Sap Gisa gawked around, mind blanking.
Me… a coward?
Hura waved them off.
"Stop! Stop! Lord Sap Gisa isn't a filthy coward! No chicken either! Ow, that fucking punk-ass little shit line's too much! C'mon? Sap Gisa or Coward Gisa? Over the top!"
"Uh… who said that?"
Dahyun muttered behind Hura. Molrangkau shook her head.
"Didn't hear it."
Hura yelled over the Sap-bashers:
"Don't be too harsh on Lord Sap Gisa! He's blameless. Just confused! Probably shocked himself by blurting surrender. We gotta give him time to accept it."
Defending his foe like this? The crowd was awed.
"Ooh… sticking up for the guy even now. What a magnanimous dude."
"Great chef, strong as hell, good heart too! That's our Hura!"
"Woooah! Hura! Hura!"
Hura laughed awkwardly, calming them.
"Haha, no need. I'm just a nobody chef."
Then to the still-dazed Sap Gisa:
"So, let's call it here."
As Sap Gisa opened his mouth, Hura swiftly added:
"Unless you wanna be a cowardly sneaky-shit pants-shitter."
"…!"
"Man. I hate fighting. Did it as a favor, and this? Have some shame and bail."
"…."
Hura grumbled and shooed him off.
Then to the onlookers:
"Alright, crisis averted. Autographs? Line up."
"…!"
The parted crowd surged forward.
"Outta the way!"
"I was first!"
"No cutting!"
"~ What's your name?"
"MyLimeIsAwesomeOrangeTree! Eeee! Lord Hura! Huge fan!"
Sap Gisa watched the scene in a stupor.
Ha… ha… Words died in his throat.
So much to say, but nothing came out. First time meeting a lunatic like this. Utterly wronged.
"…Boss."
His Sapjaru-dan approached.
"Why surrender?"
"Scared of losing Rank 8, bailed without fighting."
"…Kinda disappointed, boss."
Even they lined up for autographs after a jab.
Why… why am I getting this treatment?
Rage boiled over.
I just wanted a fair fight. Why?
Frustration, injustice, and resurfacing revenge against Jeil Hura fused and popped.
"You think I'll just slink away!!!!"
His volcanic roar spun everyone around in shock.
"No more duel crap!! Fight me! Fight me now!"
Hura replied mildly.
"Tsk tsk. Why's Cowardly Sneaky-Shit Pants-Shitter whining?"
Sap Gisa's pink eyes burned hotter than ever.
"Yeah! I'm a cowardly sneaky-shit pants-shitter!!"
Kwang! He slammed his shovel deep into the earth.
"Die by the pants-shitter's hand!!"
Crack-crack-CRASH! A soccer-field-sized chunk of ground heaved up—then flipped entirely.
"Whoaaaah! Pants-shitter rebellion!"