Chapter 24
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 24
Chapter Title: Clang!
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Actually, even if I lose, there's no real loss.
It's a fight between the second- and ninth-ranked entrance exam students.
No one would expect the ninth place to win.
But since we're fighting anyway... I want to win.
I ended up thinking that without realizing it.
The gymnasium.
It's bustling with other Class A students lining up for spars.
I scan the faces of the students waiting for Irene Rock.
The moment they see my face, they tilt their heads in surprise.
Dana pushes through the other students and steps forward. The line turns into chaos in an instant.
The others start cursing, but the moment they realize it was Dana who shoved them, they shut their mouths.
Ranking was power here.
No one in the academy would dare challenge the second-ranked entrance student's line-cutting—except maybe the top student or Han Ye-seo, who beat Dana in the last spar.
A few of them look at me with pity.
I've felt it in my previous life too, but cheap sympathy is just unpleasant.
Irene Rock doesn't stop Dana from cutting in line.
"What?"
"A spar. With him."
Dana grabs my wrist and points at my face with her other hand.
Irene Rock falls silent for a moment, then nods.
It means do whatever you want.
"First spar decided. Everyone, back up."
Soon, a massive square arena forms in the gymnasium.
It's called an arena, but it's really just an open space.
The watching students, keeping their distance from us, are like the crowd around a boxing ring.
I unzip my guitar bag and pull out the spear.
I swing it lightly once, and a few students in the spectator seats let out gasps of admiration.
It's probably less about my skill and more about my looks.
It doesn't feel that great.
Dana still has her hands in her pockets, glaring at me.
I don't remember doing anything wrong.
'Did I stick too close to the protagonist?'
No, that's probably not the reason.
Dana wasn't the type to get into a catfight over a heroine spot, and besides, I've been suspecting her of being the killer who murdered Han Ye-seo in the previous loop.
She's the woman in the hood.
'Suspicion? More like half-certain.'
It'd be great if I could confirm it right here, but that's probably not happening.
I take my stance.
I've never formally trained with a spear, but I know it's a thrusting weapon.
If I use my agility to keep a certain distance, I should manage somehow.
That's the complacent thought I was having.
Dana's ability lets her set up traps that slice anything within a certain range.
That's why it's called Severance.
As long as I don't enter that range where the traps are set, she can't deal major damage.
'Even so, the reason everyone thinks I'll lose... is because her raw physical abilities outclass mine.'
Unlike Ivy Lane, with her F-rank strength and stamina, Dana was a proper main heroine.
Her combat prowess was on a whole different level from a sub-heroine like me.
Think about why someone with the cheat ability of regression had such little screen time in the game. The answer's obvious.
Gulp.
I swallow hard.
Irene Rock gives the signal.
"Begin."
The word barely leaves her mouth before Dana charges at me.
Trap-setting abilities like hers are usually most effective when the opponent comes to her first.
In other words, she figures she can beat someone like me without even fully committing to her power.
She definitely knows the basics of my ability.
'Either she's certain it's useless in combat, or she already knows it's regression.'
Once suspicion starts, it snowballs endlessly.
Dana doesn't use any weapon.
Her bare fist comes flying at me purely.
Thud.
It's heavy.
Our fist clashes with my spear shaft, but it's my arm—the one holding the spear—that vibrates.
My palm feels like it's splitting open.
My joints tingle.
'I shouldn't block.'
The gap in physical ability far exceeds my expectations.
One clash, and my strength is already draining.
I grip my fingers tight and step back.
I don't drop the spear.
"Fast reaction."
"......"
She smirks.
She kicks off the ground, leaving an afterimage in my vision.
I track the afterimage quickly.
It's not as fast as Han Ye-seo or Ja-an. I can handle this speed.
A straight-line charge?
Thrust?
No, I'm still slower.
Swing?
Even a thrust is too slow! A swing would get blocked for sure!
I abandon the spear's range advantage, grip the shaft short, and raise it horizontally.
Adjusting distance.
Whoosh.
Dana's fist grazes past my ear.
The important thing is, I dodged it.
Agility C+.
The only stat worth relying on right now.
My body reacts before my brain even gives the command.
I can see it.
"Ha...?"
Dana's eyes narrow.
She unleashes a barrage of attacks.
Her pride must be hurt.
Did I graze her ego?
Fist, kick, fist again.
I retreat, duck, twist.
I'm dodging her attacks by the width of a sheet of paper.
My breath starts coming in gasps.
Stamina F.
Dodging just a few attacks has my lungs burning like they're tearing apart.
My legs are shaking.
If this keeps up, I'll tire out.
And then she'll grab me.
I need a counterattack.
Reacting to her attacks lets me move faster.
But what if I consciously try to attack?
'She'll read my gaze and muscle twitches first and grab the spear. Or dodge.'
That's when it happens.
Dana suddenly swings her hand through empty air.
A meaningless motion?
Déjà vu hits me.
That back alley, the day Han Ye-seo's head fell—the move the hooded woman made.
Trap.
Instinctively, I stop my retreating foot and lean my upper body forward.
Snip.
The tips of my hair are cut.
An invisible blade set in the air.
"...You know my ability?"
"I saw it roughly during your spar with Han Ye-seo."
"Hmph..."
I'm certain now.
It's her. The killer from the previous loop who murdered Han Ye-seo.
Fighting spirit surges.
I don't want to lose helplessly.
I want to win.
I grip the spear.
I channel mana.
The shaft turns blue in an instant.
Dana sees the color and hesitates for a moment.
"...You have that."
I don't know why, but this is my chance.
I thrust the spear with all my might.
Aiming for her stomach.
Dana reflexively raises her arm.
'The thrust is a trap.'
I pull the spear back, slam the butt into the ground, and launch my body into the air.
I figure Ivy Lane's light body weight should make it possible.
My guess is spot on.
It works.
Pole vault.
In midair, I swing the shaft down at Dana's head with my full weight behind it.
Clang!
A metallic ring echoes.
No impact.
Dana catches the shaft with one hand.
"Fun."
She yanks the spear.
Still airborne, I'm pulled into her embrace.
"That's it."
No escape.
Her other hand grabs my collar.
She slams me into the ground.
Thud.
Ringing fills my ears.
"Kuhk..."
My back shatters. Breath catches, no scream escapes. Vision spins.
Dana mounts me.
Blue eyes.
They're looking down at me.
Her fingers brush my neck.
Chills run through me.
I glare at her face, gasping.
I want to spit, but my mouth is bone-dry.
"Stop."
Irene Rock intervenes, declaring the fight over.
"Dana wins. Fight ends."
Tsk.
Dana clicks her tongue and gets off me.
Of course, no gentle hand offered to me.
I stand alone, using the spear as a crutch.
My legs limp.
Blood flows from my nose.
Hot.
Irene Rock asks.
"You okay?"
"Yeah..."
"Want me to call Ritta?"
"No."
She's in a wheelchair herself, calling for Ritta—who the hell does she think I am?
Can't call Ritta right now anyway.
Far off, Han Ye-seo and Ja-an are running toward me.
I blink once.
They were clearly distant, but now they're right beside me.
Insanely fast.
Enviable.
So jealous.
Ja-an speaks first.
"You okay?"
"Yeah."
"But... a sudden spar? What happened?"
"Got dragged here the moment our eyes met this morning."
"Why didn't you refuse?"
I answer honestly.
"Wanted to win? Didn't go as planned."
Ja-an glances at Han Ye-seo for a second.
Han Ye-seo stares at my spear and me with a serious expression.
Is something wrong?
"What's up?"
"Nothing? Just thought it's small!"
"...Suddenly? And you're shorter."
"You're the only one around my height."
Poking at my sore spot...
If I were a guy, I'd lift you with one hand, punk.
'Feels awkwardly tense.'
Han Ye-seo speaks again.
"Your mana color is blue."
"Huh? Yeah."
"Know what it means?"
"Ja-an said it's calm?"
"Calm, yeah. Right."
Han Ye-seo shoots Ja-an a look.
Ja-an averts his gaze.
A weird vibe flows between them.
'...Is Han Ye-seo finally realizing her feelings and joining the catfight?'
Where was that "I'll help you" talk from before!
Her mind flips fast!
Same frontlines build camaraderie, huh?
Ja-an notices my stare and says.
"Want tips on spear fighting?"
"...Yeah."
Han Ye-seo bites her lip beside us, like she's holding something back.
A bit scary.