Chapter 10
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 10
Chapter Title: Honestly, We're Fucked
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Honestly speaking, we're fucked.
Honestly speaking, that was the first thought that crossed my mind: we're fucked.
No, well, the protagonist isn't some psycho, so he's not seriously trying to kill me.
But even if it's just sparring, pain is still pain, right?
Since it's Class A versus Class A, my loss is already a given, so couldn't I have lost with a little less pain?
Why the protagonist? Why Ja-an, of all people?
On the stage, I looked at Ja-an.
The distance between Ja-an and me was only about ten meters. The fifteen-meter stage felt awfully small.
I had two choices.
Run.
Forfeit.
The stats that affect combat can be summed up simply: five in total.
Intelligence is just rote memorization, not application, so pass on that.
There are guys with low intelligence stats who have weirdly high combat smarts anyway.
So what's left?
Strength, agility, stamina, magic power, luck.
My strength is F—no way I can win with brute force. Stamina's F too, so no long fights.
The only decent ones are agility and luck, D+ and D- respectively.
'The problem is, there's no way the protagonist has lower agility than me.'
Luck?
Ja-an's got protagonist correction, so obviously higher.
My highest stat is magic power at C, but...
'Will this even help?'
Magic power indicates how long you can sustain your ability and how much mana you have in your body.
You kill monsters, absorb their mana to raise it, then use that mana to boost your stats.
That's how ability users get stronger.
In other words, high magic power means talent.
Okay... here's a question.
How much mana does Ja-an's ability, The Road Not Taken, consume?
The answer is... none!
That's why the protagonist's ability is called the ultimate cheat skill—why he's the protagonist.
In a drawn-out fight, there's no way to beat Ja-an.
'And that's my opponent.'
This is insane.
I never planned on winning from the start... but honestly, it feels unfair. Losing without doing a damn thing.
"Ready."
Irene Rock raised her hand high from outside the stage.
She must've been fed up with the lack of action, so she decided to give the start signal herself.
Damn bitch.
"Begin!"
The signal dropped.
Ja-an kicked off the ground and vanished.
Fast.
No afterimage.
"...Go easy."
I flinched.
In that instant, Ja-an's movement stopped, and I could see him.
That was it.
Right before his fist hit me, he deliberately slowed down.
Ha, how nice of him.
Thud!
His fist sank deep into my soft belly.
"...Kehk."
Breath caught in my throat.
He seemed to have gone easy, slowing down enough for even me to see.
Why?
Pain hit late.
'Ah, this fucking hurts.'
My stomach twisted.
Vision spun, legs gave out. The white ceiling lights stretched long.
I saw Ja-an's panicked face as he approached.
Then consciousness cut out.
I opened my eyes.
"The familiar ceiling..."
I uttered the number two line I'd always wanted to say.
Two lines I'd been dying to say today, both done in one day.
Ha.
Just a sigh escaped.
A throbbing pain pulsed from my abdomen.
I reflexively clutched my stomach and sat up.
"You're awake?"
I whipped my head toward the voice beside me.
Pink monster...
The school nurse, Ritta.
She spoke.
"Impressive."
"...Huh?"
"You're the first cadet carted to the infirmary twice in one day. On your second day here, no less."
"......"
"A new record in my ten years as school nurse."
She's really trying to get under my skin.
Fine, I'll scratch back.
"Ten years?"
"...Yeah?"
"If you've worked at the academy for ten years, doesn't that make you..."
"Shh."
Ritta pressed her finger to my lips.
Killing intent.
One more word, and I might die. I felt the crisis of life in that moment.
"S-Sorry..."
"A lady's age is not an appropriate conversation topic."
"Yes."
"You'll end up like me when you get old too."
Hmm...
'Doubt that.'
I didn't say it out loud.
Just thought it.
"Hold on."
Ritta stood and headed out of the infirmary.
Soon, the door opened again, revealing a familiar face.
Ja-an.
He looked extremely awkward, avoiding my gaze.
Asking the protagonist why he hit so hard in this situation wouldn't gain me anything.
Better to rack up a little emotional debt instead.
I smiled as brightly as I could.
"It's fine. Doesn't hurt at all."
"...Sorry."
"No, really, it's okay."
"I didn't mean to."
"It's fine."
Ja-an looked up.
His mouth moved.
I beat him to it.
"I only say it's okay when it really is, you know? If it's not, I'll say so straight up. That's my style."
"......"
"It's really fine. Don't make that gloomy face."
He replied softly.
"Thanks."
"No, thank you."
"Huh?"
"At the end, you slowed down on purpose, right? I saw it."
"Yeah..."
This guy's still moping?
I've seen worse on the front lines!
I know exactly what scenery you saw in the tutorial, you punk.
Ha, no helping it.
I bolted upright from the bed.
Ritta tried to stop me from the side, but I ignored her.
My body is fine now.
I declare it so!
I strode straight toward Ja-an.
And in the next moment.
Someone placed a hand on my shoulder.
Turning, I saw Ritta's face.
"Ivy."
"Yes?"
"There's something I haven't told you."
"...?"
"Ja-an's fist hit your uterus dead on."
What bullshit is this?
"What does that mean...?"
"My ability, Ship of Theseus, replaces damaged tissue by reassembling and transplanting organic matter."
"And?"
"But the uterus..."
"Yes?"
Ritta covered her face with both hands.
Behind me, Ja-an looked like he was about to cry.
"Kuhp... Kehk..."
"...?"
"Sorry, just kidding! Pfft... Puhaha!"
"You... crazy...?"
"Crazy?"
"Are you insane?"
The serious mood shattered in an instant.
I was genuinely startled for a second.
Wait, wait, why was I startled?
I'm not planning on getting pregnant anyway. Not dating any guys.
Guess I lost my mind for a bit.
Ja-an spoke up right away.
"Please don't make jokes like that."
"Ah, sorry. Just trying to lighten the mood."
"...It's unpleasant."
Wait, no need to say it that strongly.
I quickly stopped Ja-an.
"It's fine. I get the gist."
"But..."
"The person involved says it's not unpleasant? You gonna keep pushing?"
"......"
Ja-an shut his mouth.
I turned to Ritta.
"My body's okay, right?"
"Huh? Yeah. Fully treated."
"Just bruises? Or internal injuries too?"
"No internals. Minor stuff."
"Thanks for the treatment."
Ritta glanced slyly between Ja-an and me, twirling her left ponytail with a finger.
"No, I... um... sorry too."
"It's fine."
"Still, sorry."
I turned back to Ja-an.
He checked my expression, then bowed his head to Ritta in apology.
"I'm sorry."
Ritta visibly panicked, her face flushing slightly.
Hmm.
攻略 complete already?
'Her攻略 condition was two infirmary visits, right.'
Irritatingly easy.
It's all about the face, huh? Two visits and done? What kind of event is this?
Blood pressure rising for real.
I grabbed Ja-an's hand and dragged him out of the infirmary.
Thud.
Right away, I collided with someone.
Han Ye-seo.
"Oh? You two...!"
"No idea what misunderstanding you're having, but Ja-an just dragged me out of the infirmary right after treatment."
"Really? Hmm..."
Her gaze felt oddly sticky.
Han Ye-seo looked at Ja-an and me.
It took a while before she spoke.
"Whatever, fine. Convinced!"
Somehow glossed over naturally...?
Honestly, couldn't predict how the main heroines would act.
As the sub-heroine 'Ivy Lane', getting too close to Ja-an... might get me killed.
The main heroines' jealousy is no joke.
'Of course, no direct fights in front of the protagonist in the story, but it leaked out subtly.'
The key was keeping an appropriate distance.
Too close, and the other heroines start checking me, making academy life hell.
Too distant from the protagonist?
Instant death.
Out on practicum later, run into monsters, ambushes...
The 'top educational institution' has so many holes. Tsk.
How many times do students face death?
This is deliberate design to cull numbers.
Wait, why's she here so early anyway?
Sparring should still be going on.
Can't hold back.
Ask her.
"But... how are you here already?"
"Huh? Saw you and Ja-an heading to the infirmary, got curious."
"...And?"
"Started off going easy, but I was too curious...! So I ended it quick!"
No wonder she's the main heroine—insanely strong.
Jealous.
So jealous.
Just looking at you tanks my stats.
Still tanking now.
Han Ye-seo spoke up.
"So... what now?"
"Huh?"
"Didn't check the schedule today? Nothing after sparring! Let's hang out!"
Han Ye-seo grabbed Ja-an's and my hands, dragging us along.
Her strength was so much, I couldn't resist properly.
Am I that weak...?
I slipped my hand into my pocket.
Thankfully, the syringe hadn't broken.