Chapter 19
Chapter 19
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 19
Chapter Title: Dignity (5)
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"......"
"......"
Arthur and Noah stood silently, watching the arena automatically clear itself without saying a word.
But perhaps the five minutes outside felt boring.
Without turning his head, Noah parted his lips to speak.
"What did you think of that match just now?"
At her question, Arthur answered with his eyes still on the arena, his mouth the only thing moving.
"Impressive."
A concise reply.
But it was so fitting that Arthur saw no need to add anything else.
Noah nodded in agreement with his words.
"Indeed. Quite impressive."
And with that, the conversation ended.
Neither of them were particularly gifted with words, so it couldn't last long, and silence returned once more.
One minute before the match was set to begin.
Noah broke the silence again, addressing Arthur.
"Lord Arthur. Do you know of the 9th Subjugation Unit?"
"...I know what kind of unit it is, but not the details."
Britain's massive guild and national guardian force, the 'Round Table'.
As the next heir to the 'Round Table', Arthur had access to all sorts of classified information.
Thus, he knew that the '9th Subjugation Unit' was a Fallen extermination squad created and unofficially operated by the Korean Superhuman Association.
But that was all he knew; he had no idea who its members were.
At Arthur's response, Noah turned his head from the arena to face him and continued.
"Then you probably don't know this either. That Lee Yoo-jin's fighting style matches the 9th Subjugation Unit's."
At those words, Arthur turned to meet Noah's gaze as well.
"...Number One, you're saying Lee Yoo-jin uses the same style as the 9th Subjugation Unit?"
"Yes, that's right."
"How do you know that?"
"I've seen them fight firsthand. The 9th Subjugation Unit in action."
"......"
Arthur didn't ask how.
Noah.
A first-generation transcendent and son of the Grand Saintess Gloria.
A man brimming with devout faith and divine power, just like his mother the Grand Saintess.
But that was merely the common knowledge spread far and wide.
His true identity, as recorded in classified files, was that of an 'Inquisitor'.
From a young age, under the pretext of pilgrimage, he had traveled the world, judging heretics—that is, the Fallen.
Now that he was at the academy, he no longer went on pilgrimages himself, but his direct unit, the 'Judgment Squad', roamed the world in his stead, purging evil.
He was called a 'Saint' in the Grand Temple and had been designated as the one to lead it after the Grand Saintess.
Would a man like that simply watch?
No, an Inquisitor who trembled at the sight of evil wouldn't just spectate.
'He fought alongside them.'
Otherwise, he couldn't have instantly recognized that the fighting style of an obscure unofficial unit matched Lee Yoo-jin's.
As Arthur pondered this, Noah turned his gaze toward the arena where their duel would soon take place and continued.
"And do you know this? That everyone in the 9th Subjugation Unit shares one common trait?"
"...No idea. But from the intel, they're obsessed with exterminating Fallen, so maybe something related to them."
"Correct. They're all connected to the Fallen."
As Noah nodded and said this.
"Arthur Pendragon, Noah. Enter the arena."
The arena had finished clearing, and the promised five minutes had passed. Kang Cheol-su called their names, ordering them to enter.
Arthur and Noah stepped side by side toward the arena stairs.
Just before climbing them.
Noah glanced back and spoke.
"The 9th Subjugation Unit's common trait... They all lost what was most precious to them to the Fallen."
Arthur followed her gaze as he listened.
And there he saw Lee Yoo-jin looking awkwardly at Lee Seo-yeon.
"......Hmm."
Only then did Arthur understand why Noah had brought up Lee Yoo-jin and the 9th Subjugation Unit.
"Family, lovers, friends... The sorrow and sense of loss from having one's most precious thing taken away is beyond measure."
Noah's calm voice carried a note of pity as her eyes fixed on Lee Yoo-jin.
He then turned back to the arena and ascended the stairs.
Continuing as he did.
But this time, his voice.
"Therefore, all evil must be eradicated."
Was filled only with rage.
Watching Noah's dual nature shift between 'Saint' and 'Inquisitor', Arthur reached a conclusion about everything he'd heard and understood from him.
Number One pities and feels sorry for Lee Yoo-jin.
And all Fallen must die.
A truly straightforward conclusion.
With that thought, Arthur made a vow.
Best to avoid one-on-one conversations with Noah whenever possible.
Noah was a fine man.
But at the same time, an exhausting one.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Arthur and Noah's duel was splendor incarnate.
Holy flames blazing from Noah's fists—sacred fire.
Golden mana flowing from Arthur's sword.
Each clash of fist and blade unleashed thunderous explosions like bombs detonating.
And with them, fragments of golden holy power and mana burst forth in dazzling displays.
Amid that brilliance, their lethally precise techniques targeting vital points left everyone speechless.
About three minutes in.
The tide began tilting toward Arthur.
Arthur's cheat talent, 'Fairy Eye', had analyzed Noah's attack patterns.
With the stat difference on top, once the momentum shifted, reversing it would be tough.
Two more minutes passed, making it five.
And finally.
⚔ MATCH RESULT ⚔ - Semifinals -
[02] Arthur Pendragon [WIN] [05] Noah [LOSS] 'As expected of Arena Academy's protagonist, Arthur...'
I always thought that whenever I played the game Arena Academy.
Though I, the player, drove the story, the true protagonist chosen by the world was Arthur Pendragon.
And rightly so, since players started with randomized stats, skills, talents—everything.
But Arthur began blessed by the world itself, with everything at his disposal.
Bloodline, lineage, ability, wealth—he lacked nothing.
In contrast, I had nothing, just like now.
Of course, Arthur must have endured grueling training and tough days to hone himself.
Still, to me, his very existence embodied pure irrationality.
But now that the game had become reality, that irrationality shifted from a negative to a positive for me.
'Ah, he's so reliable.'
In the game, Arthur was someone I didn't even want to encounter.
But in reality, he was a grateful friend, like a hearty bowl of comfort food.
'Just keep growing strong as the protagonist.'
So slice up the Fallen and alien threats in my place.
But this matchup, I need to win.
So first things first, what I had to do now was...
"Instructor, mind if I swap out some consumables?"
Replace my consumables.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Luckily, I got permission to swap consumables.
And on top of that, Kang Cheol-su even allowed weapon changes.
So I swapped out flashbangs and some weapons that wouldn't work on Arthur.
"Since this matchup is between Number One and Number Two, I'll explain some new rules."
Kang Cheol-su stepped between me and Arthur in the arena and began outlining the new rules.
"First, duel time reduced from max 30 minutes to 10 minutes."
...The max was 30 minutes?
All matches had ended in under 10, so I hadn't realized.
"Second, limit use of talents and skills to two each."
'Oh, sweet.'
A very favorable restriction.
I only had one talent and one skill anyway.
'Wait, does the cheat count as a talent?'
Thinking it over, yeah, the cheat probably counted as a talent.
Bullets curving sharply or exceeding average speeds—definitely anomalies.
And skills derived from talents should count as skills too.
Even if I claimed 'Fleeting Moment' derived from a talent, no one would fully buy it.
But no problem either way.
The limit was two each for talents and skills.
My talents, including the cheat: 'Worn Gunman's Eagle Eye' and 'Super Accuracy'.
Skills: 'Transfer' and the derived 'Fleeting Moment' from Worn Gunman's Eagle Eye. Exactly two each.
For Arthur, loaded with talents and skills, it'd be a disadvantage.
'Though his core self is so broken, it probably doesn't matter much.'
The stat gap between me and Arthur was like heaven and earth.
Even without talents or skills, his raw power could overwhelm me.
Assuming no cheat and I wasn't a pro gamer, of course.
Without the cheat, beating him outright was impossible, and even winning would take way over the 10-minute limit—probably 30 more minutes at least.
But I had the cheat now.
And while Arthur could use mana, no Excalibur or sword aura.
So I could win.
To the quest's satisfaction.
"Third, lifting the one-reload-per-firearm limit on Number One Lee Yoo-jin."
"Oh."
For real?
"And permitting Number Two Arthur Pendragon's sword aura use for exactly one minute."
"...Oh."
...For real?
'Permitting Arthur's sword aura?'
Kang Cheol-su, you trying to kill me?!
I stared at him, feeling a shout rising in my throat.
He gestured reassuringly toward the benches outside the arena.
There sat the healer who'd been in the infirmary, watching us.
"I called the nurse instructor from the infirmary, so don't worry even if you lose an arm or leg."
Why talk like limbs are already flying off?
I nodded reluctantly, saying okay.
He'd understand my sour expression.
"...New rules end here. Now step back ten paces each."
At that, Arthur and I turned and walked ten steps forward.
We turned back, and Kang Cheol-su, now at a distance, alternated glances between us before continuing.
"Alright, match starts now. Get ready."
As Kang Cheol-su spoke, Arthur and I assumed our stances.
Shing.
Arthur drew his sword and raised it overhead.
I pulled the shotgun from my back.
Ah, this cool, heavy feel.
Like hearing a phantom voice.
'Go big and bold.'
Yeah.
Sounds good.
Let's win big and bold.
"Match."
*Click.*
"Begin."
*Boom!!!*