Chapter 51
Chapter 51
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 51
Chapter Title: Asuka (1)
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Lee Seo-yeon dragged me along with an expressionless face.
At the sight of her, I let out a deep sigh inwardly.
'No, it's not like I'm some cheating boyfriend she's hauling off...'
Part of me wanted to say, 'Aren't we not even at the hand-holding stage yet?'
But the moment I imagined saying that, a strong premonition hit me that something big would go down in the training room.
So, what could I do?
I had no choice but to obediently let her lead me.
Clack.
Only after entering the training room did Lee Seo-yeon finally release my hand.
I massaged my throbbing hand and asked,
"...So, how are we doing this duel?"
"No weapons other than guns."
With that, Lee Seo-yeon pulled a pistol from her subspace ring.
She walked about twenty steps, stopped in place, turned to face me, and stood ready.
In response, I drew my training pistol from my inventory and took up a shooting stance, prepared to fire at any moment.
We fine-tuned the rules as we went.
"What should the win condition be?"
"First to land three hits wins."
"Limit reloads to one?"
"Yeah, that sounds good."
"Rubber bullets, obviously?"
"Does Yoo-jin want to use live rounds?"
"Uh... no?"
"Then rubber bullets it is."
"Alright, before we start, let's put these on first."
With that, I pulled two tactical vests and two pistol magazines loaded with rubber bullets from my inventory.
I slotted the magazines into the vests and transferred them over to Lee Seo-yeon.
"They're not live rounds, but rubber bullets still hurt like hell on impact, so let's aim only for the vests. Sound good, Seo-yeon?"
"Yeah, perfect."
Lee Seo-yeon agreed and slipped on the tactical vest.
Once I confirmed she had it on properly, I asked one last thing.
"What about engagement range?"
When I asked if we were doing close-quarters, Lee Seo-yeon shook her head.
"Ranged only."
I nodded at her answer, thinking to myself.
She really wanted to mimic my marksmanship.
'...But she can't copy it.'
Sorry, Seo-yeon, but my outlandish shooting skills weren't a talent—they were a cheat.
And as the system messages had explicitly stated, this cheat was my exclusive privilege.
But I couldn't just tell her, 'You'll never be able to copy my marksmanship.'
So, all I could do was play along until she gave up on her own.
"Rules are set, so I'll apply them to the training room now."
I said that and operated my Smart Watch.
And shortly after.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Duel Rules] [...] [Do you agree to these rules? YES / NO] Lee Seo-yeon and I both pressed YES at the same time.
A hologram materialized in the air.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Consent confirmed from both parties.] [Duel will begin in 5 seconds.] [5] [4] [3] [2] [1] [Duel start.] At that signal.
Bang!
Two gunshots rang out simultaneously.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ As expected, the duel with Lee Seo-yeon ended in my victory.
And the result of her desired mimicry?
⚙ TALENT MESSAGE ⚙ [Lee Seo-yeon's Talent 「Sword Gun Prodigy (S+)」 says it's shocking.] ⚙ TALENT MESSAGE ⚙ [Lee Seo-yeon's Talent 「Sword Gun Prodigy (S+)」 says it's too advanced a technique.] ⚙ TALENT MESSAGE ⚙ [Lee Seo-yeon's Talent 「Sword Gun Prodigy (S+)」 says it's too depressed because it can't imitate Lee Yoo-jin's marksmanship.] Talent messages kept popping up in my vision.
In contrast, Lee Seo-yeon was...
"......"
Biting her lip, she sat quietly through class.
Of course, staying silent during class was proper.
But seeing her maintain that silence even after the duel ended, it must have been quite the shock—just like her chattering talent.
'Hmm... I feel a bit bad now.'
Maybe because I could see the talent messages.
Her blank expression carried a hint of depression.
'Should I have let her land a hit or two?'
Of course, that wasn't why she was depressed.
But during the duel, I'd deflected every shot she fired and beaten her one-sidedly, and it was nagging at me.
'Tch... I should have gone easy on her.'
Too excited checking out my new talent, I hadn't held back.
'Sharp Senses of the Lowly Shooter (A+)'
I'd thought an 'A+' rating would be nice, but it was even more incredible than I'd imagined.
For one, one of its effects was 'Visually perceive the direction of enemy attacks.'
True to the description, it let me see the attack paths visually.
Where 'Keen Eyes of the Aged Gunslinger' had sent electric-like signals through my sense of touch to indicate directions,
'Sharp Senses of the Lowly Shooter' not only signaled my body but displayed attack paths like laser points on the gun.
And its derived skill, 'Live Focus'.
Fitting for a fused talent, it was another slow-motion effect like 'Moment of Insight'.
Unlike the time-limited 'Moment of Insight', however, 'Live Focus' consumed mental power and mana, allowing sustained use.
Though the consumption was no joke, it was a fantastic derived skill I could use freely until I got my cheat 'Enemy Slow Motion'.
Because of all that, I hadn't even thought to go easy on Lee Seo-yeon and won overwhelmingly again.
'I'll have to gift her a nice pistol later...'
As I thought that and tried to focus on Instructor Kang Cheol-su's class,
I felt an intense gaze from somewhere.
I turned toward it and locked eyes with Asuka.
Then.
"...Hic!"
Asuka's face flushed red, and she started hiccupping.
...Oh, right.
Because Lee Seo-yeon had dragged me off by force, I hadn't cleared up the misunderstanding.
"Hic! Hic!"
"...Shuhei Asuka, you okay?"
Hmm... maybe I could let the misunderstanding linger a bit longer?
Seeing her so adorably flustered made me want to tease her.
"Hic!"
Still, the hiccups seemed pretty bad.
'Transfer.'
I transferred a 500ml PET bottle of water right in front of Asuka.
My Smart Watch vibrated lightly with an incoming message.
When I checked it,
📱 Smart Watch Message [Asuka] - Thanks for the water! (˃̣̣̣̣̣̣བ˂̣̣̣̣̣̣) It was a thank-you message from Asuka.
'...What was that about "I'll explain later"?'
I let out an awkward chuckle and fiddled with my Smart Watch.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ ◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ ◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Once the schedule wrapped up.
"Kyaaah!"
The moment Asuka returned to her dorm, she screamed and dove onto her bed.
She then pummeled the pillow wildly with her small hands.
Pow pow pow pow pow!
"Ugh, idiot idiot idiot idiot idiot!"
Asuka was mortified.
The message she'd received from Lee Yoo-jin earlier.
It said her assumption was a misunderstanding.
That he'd just chosen nighttime because it was convenient for handing over the elixir.
That's what it read.
The instant Asuka saw it, she'd nearly screamed.
Well, she hadn't screamed, but she'd jumped up from her chair in shock and gotten scolded by the instructor.
And that was it?
Everyone in the classroom had stared at her.
Lee Yoo-jin's expression as he looked her way had been awkward.
Just recalling that moment...
"Waaah! So embarrassing!"
Asuka buried her face in the pillow.
No matter how you sliced it, hearing 'let's meet alone at night' was too much!
Th-that kind of... indecent thinking!
"He must think I'm some pervert...?"
No, he definitely thought she was a pervert.
Even she was starting to think she was a pervert.
As if Lee Yoo-jin wouldn't think the same!
"Waaah! How am I supposed to face Yoo-jin now?!"
Asuka wished she could just die right there.
But that thought didn't last long.
"...Time to head out soon."
Asuka checked the time on her Smart Watch, tossed the mangled pillow back in place, and got off the bed.
"Hng..."
Wearing a pouty frown, she opened her closet door.
And as she reached for her usual casual clothes,
"...But maybe I should dress up nice?"
Her eyes landed on the outfit hanging on the first hanger.
Her absolute favorite.
Asuka put away the casual clothes, took out the other outfit, and held it up to her body.
"It's just to pick up the elixir, but..."
B-but, you never know.
"...Gotta change my underwear too."
Since she was dressing up anyway.
She wanted to show him her cutest side.
"Hee hee."
I wonder what he'll say when he sees me?
"Will he say I look pretty?"
She hoped so.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ ◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ ◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "......"
Hmm.
I'd clearly messaged her.
That her assumption was a misunderstanding.
That I just wanted to give her the elixir.
So what was this look?
"T-top ranker... I'm hereee..."
Pink hair.
Pink eyes.
Pink dress.
A single cherry blossom had bloomed in the training grounds.
Or rather, appeared.
"Uh, um."
Asuka showed up all dolled up, leaving me speechless.
I knew she was pretty normally.
But her cuteness overshadowed it so much that even I—and my classmates—would say "cute" before "pretty" when seeing her.
Yet now, all dressed up like that, "pretty" hit me first over "cute."
Her main charm of cuteness had become secondary.
"H-how do I look?"
Asuka approached, face flushed, looking up at me expectantly.
I answered her honestly.
"...Yeah, you look pretty."
"R-really? Hee hee."
Oh.
I can't hold back.
Today's daily affection task was done, but that cute laugh was too much.
I raised my hand, thinking that.
And as I went to pat her head,
"Top ranker... not there."
Asuka grabbed my hand.
"Touch here, please."
She guided it to her cheek.
The soft, squishy sensation hit my palm.
Like a baby's cheek—supple and warm.
"...Hee hee."
Asuka smiled blissfully.
Seeing her like that, I started feeling troubled when suddenly—a dangerous vibe.
I hurriedly tried to pull my hand from her cheek,
"...What are you two doing?"
Lee Seo-yeon's voice came from behind.