Chapter 13
Chapter 13
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 13
Chapter Title: Top Student (3)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"As I mentioned earlier, the sparring will proceed in a tournament format. I'll send the brackets to your Smart Watches right now, so take a look."
Kang Cheol-su said that as he fiddled with his Smart Watch, and an alert chimed on mine and everyone else's, notifying us of a new message.
At that, we all opened the holograms on our Smart Watches to check the brackets.
But something was off about the brackets.
I narrowed my eyes and scrutinized them carefully.
No matter how many times I checked, my name wasn't there.
I immediately raised my hand to call the instructor.
"Instructor, my name isn't on the brackets."
The moment I said that, Asuka, who was sitting next to me, shot her hand up too.
"Instructor, mine's missing too!"
"Mine as well."
"...Me too."
Hands went up here and there.
The faces of those raising their hands alongside me—all of them were familiar.
"You lot will get a separate bracket. I'm putting it together now, so hang tight."
Saying that, Kang Cheol-su fiddled with his Smart Watch hologram this way and that.
A moment later, a new set of brackets arrived on the Smart Watches of me and the others who'd raised our hands.
I opened the hologram right away to check the new brackets.
⚔ TOURNAMENT BRACKETS ⚔
[A]
[01] Lee Yoo-jin
[07] Park Sung-woo
[B]
[03] Lee Seo-yeon
[04] Shuhei Asuka
[C]
[02] Arthur Pendragon
[08] Kim Woo-min
[D]
[05] Noah
[06] Park Ga-ram
Main characters like Arthur, Lee Seo-yeon, Asuka, and Noah.
Supporting characters with talents rivaling the mains, like Park Ga-ram, Park Sung-woo, and Kim Woo-min.
It was a flashy bracket straight out of Arena Academy's major events—the duel seasons that determined rankings.
But why was the order like this?
The moment that thought crossed my mind, Kang Cheol-su chuckled and spoke up.
"What's this? The order weird you out? Everyone's got that 'what the hell' look on their faces."
Guess I wasn't the only one thinking it.
"The random order? That's on purpose."
Kang Cheol-su said that and manipulated his Smart Watch again.
A blue, translucent dome perfectly sized for the circular arena sprang into existence.
This mana-made dome protected spectators outside the arena.
The faculty and commuting students at Arena Academy were all superhumans.
When those superhumans clashed, the shockwaves from clanging weapons, mana fragments, or stray magic could spill outside.
Even we, sitting in the tiered seats overlooking the arena, were superhumans—but 'just in case,' they erected this mana dome to prevent any accidents.
For the record, the Principal made it, and no ordinary power could shatter it.
Not even Arthur or Lee Seo-yeon.
To break the training arena's dome, you'd need at least Kang Cheol-su-level strength.
Truly the work of a grand archmage.
>Effectively foolproof.
"I randomized the order on purpose. Sure, entrance rankings are set, but these matches aren't official. It's just to gauge your actual skills." And, Kang Cheol-su added. With one corner of his mouth curled up, he continued. "Honestly, you all might not say it, but you're unhappy about it, right? You all took the same exam, and rankings got decided by a measly score."
A fair number nodded at his words. Frankly, the instructor was right—there was dissatisfaction. This was the world's top academy, so no one voiced it outright. We all passed the same tests. Yet rankings were based solely on points from the third exam. Even in competition-obsessed Arena Academy, deciding rank by points alone felt unfair. After all, third exam points came not just from knocking out fellow examinees, but from finding hidden items or slaying mana beasts. Good luck alone could net you items for points, and since you'd made it that far, handling beasts shouldn't be an issue. If ranks were set by tournament-style skill clashes like this, it'd make sense. So, the entrance rankings were wrong! …That's what they'd think.
'Pathetic bunch.' I inwardly sneered at those nodding along to Kang Cheol-su's 'stoking the fire' speech. Entrance ranks based purely on third exam points? Unfair? Good luck lets you snag items and beasts for big scores? What a stupid, pathetic way of thinking. 'Luck is part of skill.' They still didn't get it. Luck wasn't something to scoff at. In the life-and-death fray of battle, luck was practically another skill of yours. The higher your skill, the more crucial luck became in do-or-die fights—it could mean living or dying. And they dismiss it as 'just' that? No wonder their ranks were low.
"Hmph, idiots."
I wasn't alone in that thought. Asuka beside me wasn't smiling anymore—she eyed them with contempt. And it wasn't just Asuka; all the main characters shook their heads pityingly at them, while the near-main supporting talents looked displeased too. 'Rough count...' The top 30 seemed fine with how entrance ranks were decided. Meaning everyone from 31 to 100 was griping.
"Then, Instructor, shouldn't you redo the brackets?" One complainer said that, staring at me. "Chief Seat, second place, all the way to eighth. They're not on our bracket."
'What a clown.' Does he think I lucked into chief seat? And even if I did, does he see the mains like Arthur as jokes? 'Just delete yourself, moron.'
As I thought that, Kang Cheol-su shook his head. "No, the brackets stay as is."
"...Pardon? Why?"
The complainer questioned Kang Cheol-su's firm reply. And Kang Cheol-su answered directly. "Because chief seat through eighth are stronger than you think. I didn't make a separate bracket for nothing."
"......"
Even after that, the questioner's face—and the other complainers'—still brimmed with dissatisfaction and doubt. Kang Cheol-su scratched the scar on his cheek, not his forehead. 'That's his tic when he's pissed or annoyed.' And yeah, his expression screamed 'backtalking your instructor?' to anyone looking. 'Sure, he baited them with the 'unhappy with ranks?' bit to hype class participation...' But keep sassing and sulking without reading the room? Even a kind, good instructor would get irritated.
"Hoo..."
Still, for his own students, he let out a deep sigh to cool off and offered the complainers a compromise.
"Fine, then. We'll start with the chief seat group's matches."
Kang Cheol-su's gaze turned to me.
"Group A first. Chief Seat and seventh place, come on down."
"......"
Wait, chief seat goes first?
"Hey, Chief Seat, seventh. Hurry it up."
""......Yes, sir.""
In the end, we headed down to the arena.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
"Spar freely."
Kang Cheol-su, standing between me and seventh place Park Sung-woo in the arena, explained the rules.
"Fight however you want."
But, he added, glancing at me.
"Chief Seat, most of your weapons are ranged firearms. Gotta balance it with seventh's choice."
Park Sung-woo's pick was a cold weapon.
A close-range sword, specifically.
Just the one.
Kang Cheol-su continued.
"Limit: one reload per firearm."
"...Got it."
Shame.
I'd stocked extra mags in my tactical vest and inventory.
Still, I had three guns.
Ammo counts:
Pistol: 17 rounds.
Revolver: 6 rounds.
Shotgun: 6 shells.
Total 29 shots.
Plus one reload each.
That's 58 rounds.
'Not bad.'
Honestly? More than not bad—I could win easy.
I had non-lethals too: frags and flashes.
And a sword for when ammo ran dry.
'But why pick just one weapon?'
Unlike me with four, Park Sung-woo had only that sword.
'Difference in practicality?'
Still, more weapons should be better.
I couldn't wrap my head around it.
"Step back ten paces."
At Kang Cheol-su's words, Park Sung-woo and I turned and walked ten steps.
Then turned to face each other.
"Match starts now. Take your stances."
Park Sung-woo gripped his scabbard left-handed, right on the hilt.
Right leg forward, waist slightly bent.
Classic iaido draw stance.
Seeing it reminded me: Park Sung-woo was a disciple of the top-tier hero, Swift Sword.
'Right. Park Sung-woo's the Swift Sword disciple. Late-bloomer supporting character who gets as strong as the mains.'
Supporting cast, but he'd mastered Swift Sword's techniques—strong as Asuka.
Later on, anyway.
'Current Park Sung-woo...'
Seventh in entrance ranks—strong among students.
But...
'Obsessed with draws right now.'
Deep into that 'Wind Blade ○○' anime, he'd focused on iaido from Swift Sword's arsenal.
And weird habit: after drawing, he'd resheath and draw again.
'Time to fix that habit.'
Story ramps up later, so with this matchup, I'd break his iaido fixation.
With that in mind, I readied my right-hand pistol to fire.
"Don't worry about lethal blows—I'm right here."
Kang Cheol-su said that and stepped back between us.
And.
"Match start."
Click.
"Watch closely."
Park Sung-woo intoned in historical drama voice, tensing his grip on the hilt.
"This is the draw."
Light flashed from his waist as he spoke.
Kagagagak!
The friction of blade leaving scabbard filled the arena as the gleaming edge emerged.
Bang!
A gunshot echoed through.
"......"
"......"
Silence fell.
In that hush, Park Sung-woo stared at his sword in bewilderment.
He'd tensed.
Drawn it.
Seen the blade emerge.
Yet... like a dream, it was sheathed again.
Park Sung-woo snapped to.
Dismissing it as imagination.
"...Watch."
He tensed again.
Gripped scabbard, feet planted.
Hilt hand ready.
"This is the draw!"
With a mighty shout, he drew.
Shring!
The hot scrape of steel on steel.
The sharp sword wind from the draw slicing toward chief seat.
But faith lasted a moment.
Bang!
Another shot rang out.
And.
Ting!
Click.
"......"
The blade vanished again.
Park Sung-woo gaped at me blankly.
I met his eyes and spoke.
"Why."
First time seeing it?
Bullet to the hilt?
I chuckled.