Chapter 18
Chapter 18
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 18
Chapter Title: Schlurp Schlurp Schlurp Schlurp Schlurp Schlurp SLUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUURP!!!!!!
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Ark Community Akgal was burning peacefully as always.
📌 Announcement) Guidance Committee Recruitment Sparring Info Share — Official Notice Location: Athletic Field Time: This Saturday at 2 PM Host: Ark Guidance Committee Matchup: Kim Taeyang VS Kang Ju-hyuk Rules: No artifacts or personal weapons. No Constellation assistance. No Stigmata use. Pure swordsmanship duel using only wooden swords. — Much Interest ↳ What the hell is this? ↳ Winner joins Guidance Committee lol ↳ Recruitment sparring? LMAO hilarious ↳ Wait, so Kim Taeyang in Guidance Committee? ↳ Guidance Committee dooomed ↳ Nah, Ju-hyuk's great at swordsmanship. Trained with Seol Harin since kids. Always second cuz of her, but top-tier pure sword skill. ↳ Taeyang's hype finally popping. ↳ Dude's got no record... Beating Harin was Constellation carry, tanking Cloé's whip was artifact cheese. ↳ Artifact confirmed? ↳ Nah just my headcanon. ↳ ? ↳ But tbh sick of that thug showboating. News of the duel between Kim Taeyang and Kang Ju-hyuk spread far and wide.
Public opinion sided heavily with Ju-hyuk.
Some students looked forward to Taeyang's performance, but this matchup was too obvious.
Kang Ju-hyuk, with countless tournament podium finishes.
Kim Taeyang, with zero credentials.
Sure, he'd taken down Seol Harin and Cloé recently, but...
Harin was beaten by Pomi, not him, and he hadn't even properly fought Cloé.
Once eyewitness accounts piled on, the tide turned completely.
— Saw Kim Taeyang sword training This guy's just a muscle lump lol Beating Harin was pure Constellation luck from the start Watched him train—zero sword skill? Just whooshing around like whoosh-whoosh- lmao ↳ With those muscles, one whoosh and everything shatters? ↳ Info) Wooden swords can kill too. ↳ Why so many Taeyang simps? They dodge him irl lol ↳ No rules then maybe, but pure swordplay = Ju-hyuk win ↳ They wouldn't set this up if they thought he'd lose, idiots. Guidance Committee's elite. ↳ Newbies underestimate Guidance Committee so cute lmao babies know nothing kekeke ↳ Wanna punch their dentures out. ↳ Ju-hyuk's such a good guy! Ju-hyuk fighting! ↳ Time to school that thug~~~ Either way, the recruitment duel was clearly shaping up to be a massive spectacle.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Hey. Slave. That all you got?"
"...You. What the hell technique was that?"
Seol Harin was trembling.
She'd lost way too much mana to me.
Truth be told, Love Gel was a powerful artifact, but not this powerful.
I figured it out thanks to a sudden message.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Playtime 3,000 hours breakthrough bonus applied!] [Hidden artifact performance adjusted!] Bonus effect.
Some items get these boosts, apparently.
"Did you use some kind of artifact...?"
"Hah? No way. Rules say only wooden swords for recruitment anyway!"
Love Gel's great cuz no one suspects artifact.
Just apply it discreetly where it won't show, and boom.
Where? Use your imagination...
"So, pure skill of yours?"
"Duh? Ancient family sword art!"
"Family heirloom sword art...? I know most styles' names and traits, but never heard of this."
"Secret technique, obviously...?"
Hmm. Yeah.
Better name it something to dodge suspicion.
Something cool. Mana drain, so like Mana Absorption or whatever.
Mana Suck Art?
Mana Harpoon?
Soul Drain Blade?
While I pondered, my mouth moved on its own, like it wouldn't let me lose momentum.
"The technique's called Sucky-Sucky!"
Fuck.
"S-Sucky-Sucky...?!"
"Sucks opponent's energy dry, slurp slurp! Kekeke."
"......"
"Hey! Say something! Too cool for words?!"
What the hell.
So goddamn cringey, you freak...!
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Internship lasted just a week.
Not long.
But to Kang Ju-hyuk, it felt like a year.
'Tough... But gotta train more...!'
He pushed himself to the limit.
To rescue childhood friend Seol Harin.
To live up to senior Cloé's expectations, who kept catching his eye.
To crush Kim Taeyang and restore normalcy...!
This was how the eroge protagonist, Kang Ju-hyuk, grew stronger.
"Yo, ease up or you'll drop dead. Take breaks."
"Planchel. Thanks for worrying, but... thinking of Harin, I can't stop."
"Well, if you're sure... But even if you win her back, no sex, got it?"
"......"
He knew he couldn't go there.
Three Constellations watching hawk-eyed.
'Maybe... I could dodge their eyes.'
But Kim Taeyang's influence had changed Ju-hyuk too.
Sit still, and Taeyang steals all the girls.
Couldn't just watch the women he'd one day call his own get defiled.
'First, master the technique...!'
Crackle-crackle!!
Ju-hyuk perfected Vice Head's "Whirling Sword."
But he kept drilling Heavenly Martial Sword's "Vermilion Bird Sword."
Vermilion Bird was Whirling's advanced form, concentrating far more sword ki.
"Heavenly Martial Sword, Second Form! Vermilion Bird Sword...!!"
No need to shout the name, but he wanted to.
Felt perfect this time.
His blade sliced the air.
Boom────────!!
"Oh?"
Planchel let out a light whistle.
And then.
Clap clap clap─
Dry but sincere applause echoed.
Vice Head Shin Hye-won was in the training hall.
"Genius of effort."
"Vice Head...!"
Shin Hye-won smiled, deeply pleased.
"Didn't expect Vermilion Bird Sword this quick."
"All thanks to you!"
"Good. Time to excise Ark's tumor."
Squeeze─
Shin Hye-won hugged Ju-hyuk tight.
"Good boy. Victory's as good as yours. Might even name you next Guidance President."
"Th-thank you...!"
Next Guidance President...!
Way above a freshman's paygrade.
Amid it, Ju-hyuk felt her ample chest first.
'Breasts... bigger than I thought...'
Inevitable for an eroge protag.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ D-Day.
Weekend, yet athletic field packed with students.
"Ju-hyuk wins, right?"
"Duh? Swordsmanship vet."
"Not street brawl—pure duel, no contest."
"Hidden by Harin, but Ju-hyuk's a sword genius too."
Victory predictions everywhere.
Unlike Akgal, few cheers for Taeyang.
His fans mostly online ghosts.
"Kang Ju-hyuk! Kang Ju-hyuk!! Kang Ju-hyuk!!!"
"Kang Ju-hyuk!! Guidance hope!!!"
"Show that big dumb thug true swordsmanship!!!!"
Guidance Committee cheer squad dominated.
But then...
"Hey! We can't lose either?!!"
Mohawk chicken-crest thug, Rebel Nam, showed up—tide evened.
He'd brought every school thug...!
"Kim Taeyang!!! Kim Taeyang!!! Kim Taeyang!!!"
"Thugs' hope!! Thugs' light!!! Thugs' pride!!! Thug incarnate!!!! Kim Taeyang's the ultimate thug in the universe!!!!"
"Boss!! Show thug power!!! Make Ark thug world!!!!"
"Wooooooo!!!!!"
"Who're they... scary......"
"Taeyang's crew..."
"Gangster's son, already got minions..."
Fearsome visuals amped tension.
Not just students spectating.
"Ah, Vice Head's here?"
"Yeah. Ju-hyuk, condition?"
"...Peak!"
"Good fire. Go smear him."
"Yes!!"
Academy Head arrived with Vice Head.
Live-streaming.
"Tomo-tan here! Vice-tan! Wave to camera!!"
"Don't call me Vice-tan."
"Hye-won-tan then?"
"......"
She waved at camera, then scanned for Taeyang.
No yellow head in sight.
"Heee? Gundan-kun late even today?"
Right then.
Commotion—Taeyang emerged from crowd.
Usual beach full gear.
Bedhead like he just woke.
Yawning huge, shambling over.
"Gundan-kun! Greet Tomo-tan's fans!"
"Hah? Too annoying, scram."
"Eek! Meanie!!"
Taeyang passed Tomo-tan, headed to Guidance side.
"Yo. Mini dark piglet."
"What? Muscle boar?"
Taeyang's taunt, Cloé just grinned.
That confident.
"Aang? Cocky face? Think you can win?"
"Obviously. You'll lose ugly. Don't cry too hard. Guidance'll investigate soon, make you tons of slave pals~"
Taeyang-Cloé clash drew eyes.
Tomo-tan shoved camera between with "Eek!"
"Kekeke."
"Why laugh?"
"That confident? Wanna bet?"
"Bet...?"
"Yeah. Bet something you'd drool over."
"What's th─"
"Hey! Pomi!!"
Taeyang's shout.
Pomi burst from crowd with a "Woof!"
Unaltered, cool-cute husky form.
His next words? Shocking bomb.
"I lose, I forfeit Pomi's hero contract."
"?!"
Forfeit hero rights.
Meant goodbye to Pomi.
Ownerless Constellation? Back to old master, duh.
Harin's chance to reclaim her.
Guidance had to ante up too.
"I win, you forfeit your Constellation!"
"Th-that...!"
Cloé gripped Rasha-ra's handle reflexively.
'Lose her to him? Life over...!'
No way she'd accept.
Risk too high.
Vice Head intervened.
"As Guidance advisor, question: Aim's stealing Rasha-ra?"
"Kekeke. Duh?"
"How 'bout this? Skip bet, swap Constellations for a week post-duel. If you're so sure, week's plenty, right?"
Cloé's side shocked instead.
"V-Vice Head?!"
"Quiet. I have a plan."
"...Yes."
Cloé respected Vice Head.
Never wrong.
Mature adult vs goofy Head.
'Trust Vice Head...'
Taeyang shrugged, no thought.
"Hah? Lame af? I'm winning anyway, why bother?"
"Then we decline too."
"Tch. Fine... Constellation swap's kinda hot anyway. Kekekeke."
Felt sleazy, but deal sealed.
Chit-chat over.
Artifact check—no hiddens.
They faced off center field.
"Tomo-tan refs! Ready?"
Taeyang, Ju-hyuk nodded.
Ju-hyuk resolute.
Taeyang smirking.
'Wipe that lowly grin!'
"Ready...... Go!!"
Tomo-tan's lame start—match on.
Ju-hyuk assumed stance.
Plan: one-shot.
Vermilion Bird not ultimate killer.
But unseen foes eat it once.
"Kim Taeyang. You crossed the line... Harin's my dearest friend, life mentor...!"
Sword tip brimmed sword ki.
Crackle-crackle-crackle──────!!
Insane volume for a first-year.
"You dare...! Not yours to toy with...!!!"
Ferocious aura.
Students backpedaled.
"Guh! First-year with this ki...!"
"Aura makes me wanna run...!!"
Ki overflowed.
Just charge.
"Wh-what's that?!"
"Vermilion Bird Sword?!!"
"True Heavenly Martial heir!!"
Eyes locked.
Taeyang's downfall imminent.
"Heavenly Martial Sword! Second Form...! Vermilion Bird Sword...!!!"
Charge moment.
Schluuuuuuuurp!!!!
"?"
Ju-hyuk felt his ki sucked away.
By the time he blinked.
'Ki's gone?!'
No trace.
"......"
Flustered.
Ki vanishing outta nowhere?
But he stayed calm.
'Mistake. Retry.'
Perfected it.
Vice Head approved.
No consecutive fails.
"Heavenly Martial Sword Second Form! Vermilion Bird Sword!!"
Schluuuuuuuuuuuuuuurp!!
"?"
Same again.
Ki gathered fine, but vanishes on move.
Like black hole pull...
Invisible ki—spectators baffled.
"What? Why no move?"
"Whatcha doing...?"
"Ju-hyuk shouted name twice..."
"Why pointless crap...?!"
"Technique ritual to amp it...!"
"Right!! True sword genius Kang Ju-hyuk!!!"
Guidance, Cloé still trusted.
'Harin, Cloé-senpai believe me! Can't falter! Focus!!'
Ju-hyuk gathered more ki. Double prior.
"Heavenly Martial Sword Second Form! Vermilion Bird Sword...!"
Schluuuuuuuuuuurp!!!
"Heavenly Martial Sword Second Form! Vermilion Bird Sword...!"
Schluuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuurp!!!
"Heavenly Martial... Second Form...! Veeeeermilion Biiiird Swiiiiiiird...!!!"
Schluuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuurp!!!
"Guh...!"
More he tried, faster the suck.
"Kekeke. Yo, what're you doing? Mistaking for manga? Shouting name ain't firing it."
"You... bastard...!"
Taeyang's taunt.
Ju-hyuk finally got it.
'Stealing my ki too...!'
Not just childhood friend—now ki too, vile Taeyang!
Fallen for his scheme from start...!
"Kim Taeyang... You think I'm a joke...?"
But eroge hotblood protag.
"But I won't give up...!"
Dumb stubborn push power.
"Heavenly Martial Sword!! Second Form...!!! Veeeeermiliiiioooon Biiiird Swiiiiiiiiiiiird!!!!"
All mana squeezed into massive ki.
Sandstorm whipped up.
'Try stealing this...! Overwhelm the drain!!'
Make too much to steal all...
─Fatal miscalc!!
"Whoa~ Jackpot pure high-grade sword ki geeeet-☆"
"Wha─?"
Schluuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuurp!!!
Schluuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuurp!!!
Schlurp schlurp schlurp schlurp schlurp schlurp SLUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUURP!!!!!!
"Gaaaaaaah...!"
Taeyang's Love Gel devoured it instantly.
Gluttony feast.
Thud...!
Massive hit—Ju-hyuk kneedropped.
"Wh-what...?!"
"Ju-hyuk collapsed!!"
One minute in.
To watchers, Ju-hyuk just stood then fell.
Crowd buzzed.
"No way... That legend...! Overwhelm foe's spirit to faint 'em...!!"
"C-Conqueror's Haki...?!!!!!"
"Real...?!!!!!!!"
"What the hell is that guy?!!!!!!!"
Kim Taeyang shock.
Terror of yellow-haired thug infecting Ark like plague.