44. Hug Me. The Ability Analysis Begins.
I began analyzing the ability.
Can reverse only one target. This statement is a lie.
Judging from how he turned his own cigarette into a weird pipe shape, it's a bit more comprehensive ability.
Can designate two targets simultaneously.
Reversing the cheap price of the cigarette to an expensive one?
Changing his own gender was just a bonus?
Can activate on things directed at himself, things associated with himself, or objects he owns?
While I was lost in thought, Gun-seok changed his appearance back to male. The pipe changed with him.
Sighs and groans erupted from the students' side.
"Tsk."
Gun-seok clicked his tongue.
There's one strange thing.
If he could designate two targets, he could reverse both Han Ye-seo's restraint and our attacks at the same time.
Yet he didn't.
Because one was already active?
...No way, his original gender is female and he's been pretending to be male?
No, that's too far-fetched.
A retired A-rank hero unilaterally beating up academy cadets doesn't paint a good picture, so he's going easy on us, holding back.
The reason he said the target is only one?
One is enough? He'll take us on with just one?
That must be it.
...?
Suddenly, the opponent smiled.
Gun-seok looked down at his feet, at Han Ye-seo's hand gripping him, and lifted the corners of his mouth all the way.
A creepy smile.
"You're not the only one who was lying, huh?"
Han Ye-seo's hand trembled. Just a little, but it shook.
Cave Allegory, ability to turn into ink. Or not?
What lie...?
No, suspecting and deducing a comrade's ability right now is pointless.
What I need to do immediately is prove to everyone that my skills are worthy of Class A.
And win.
I'd stood here thinking it'd be fine to go easy, that losing wouldn't matter.
But seeing that attitude up close, it pissed me off... I wanted to win.
Ja-an must feel the same.
Gun-seok spoke up.
"Here's one more hint. I can't counter this cadet's ability at all."
Meaning he can't move from that spot right now.
Why? No, don't think about why.
Just accept it.
Thinking is a luxury.
If it were important, Han Ye-seo would've said so already. Just trust her.
Gun-seok's ability reverses something. Targets he can designate are directly or indirectly related to himself.
I sorted it out in my head.
In that moment, Ja-an moved first.
He hadn't used any options, so a few inefficient motions mixed in.
Interest flashed in Gun-seok's eyes.
Right now, that teacher wasn't paying me any attention.
He didn't think my attacks would land as effective hits.
I was being ignored.
Ha. That kinda pisses me off.
Reorganizing my thoughts.
Ja-an's attacks kept bouncing back. The direction of the attacks was reversing.
It looked like perfect defense.
But nothing in the world is perfect.
I'd been a person like shattered glass shards, and every time I looked at those around me, I thought they were flawless glass sculptures.
They weren't.
Everyone lives with scratches, wounds, cracks.
No one has a smooth, perfect life.
Even people who seem rich and carefree on the surface... carry some kind of flaw.
That's why they consume fiction to fill the void.
So, find it.
The opponent's crack.
One of the activation conditions for the ability. Reversing concepts, directions, or objects directly or indirectly related to himself...
He couldn't bounce Han Ye-seo's restraint.
Because it's not a specific direction, not recognized as an attack.
In other words, it depends on how he perceives it?
Aha. Got it.
What if my attack doesn't look like an attack?
He declared he'd reverse only one concept at a time, so that teacher is definitely planning to bounce "attacks."
His goal was to avoid effective hits.
An attack that doesn't look like an attack... easier said than done.
Gun-seok was still exchanging blows with Ja-an.
Even with his legs bound, he was holding his own against a retired A-rank hero.
No opening for me to slip in.
...My stamina is E+. Strength is D+. Strength higher than stamina. Meaning I can inflict damage on my own body.
The strategy clicked.
I understood.
The countermeasure. I could see it.
I dropped my weapon to the floor.
Gun-seok still wasn't looking at me.
He was admiring Ja-an's movements.
"Hah! Forcing the direction back every time it reverses? Are you insane?"
"I thought it was the only way."
"It's not the only way."
He grinned. Still that enigmatic smile.
For a split second, his gaze flicked to me.
He was aware of me now.
I spread my arms wide and charged at Gun-seok, weaponless.
I said calmly,
"Mind giving me a hug?"
"...?"
Gun-seok froze for a moment.
Ja-an seized the opening, but the attack direction reversed.
It bounced off. His gaze turned to me.
Ah, because he was looking at me, he mistimed the reversal. That's why it bounced.
Ja-an realized too late and looked shocked.
Charging at the enemy defenseless, arms wide open.
In a normal situation, it'd be suicidal.
But this wasn't normal.
It's a spar.
So, the opponent can't attack me seriously. Can't kill me. Any injury would be something Ritta could heal.
No one's risking their life here.
A little pain is tolerable.
My senses are dull anyway. I barely feel pain.
No penalty.
Gun-seok opened his mouth.
The world seemed to slow down.
"You crazy...!"
Hug me. Pfft, haha.
He tried desperately to repel me.
But Ja-an caught on to my intent.
A bit late, but whatever, it was fine enough.
Second time syncing up, so some leeway was fair.
Now, Gun-seok had two choices.
Block me, or block Ja-an.
Actually, just one.
Gun-seok's goal was avoiding effective hits. He couldn't classify this "hug me" action—hardly an attack—as one.
If it were some forced "reverse everything aimed at me" nonsense, maybe, but there's a clear limit.
The ability's range and performance shift based on his perception.
That's why, in this world, the strongest are the mentally ill.
Well... the government cleans them up before they snap, or other ability users handle it quick.
Squeeze. Finally, I hugged Gun-seok's side.
Gun-seok freaked out on his face, trying to pry me off by force.
But even an A-rank hero has limits.
With Han Ye-seo binding his legs, the chance of shaking me off was gone.
I spun behind him.
From behind, it looked like I was choking his neck.
Would he perceive choking as an attack?
If so, would he reverse the choking action?
He couldn't kill a student.
I tightened my hands and arms, strangling his neck.
The attack direction reversed toward me. I was definitely choking Gun-seok's neck, but the one being choked was mine.
My face flushed red. It felt like it'd burst. Couldn't breathe properly.
"...You crazy bitch."
Gun-seok spat a curse.
"Kuh, kehuk... Is it okay to call a student that?"
"You wanna die?"
"...Cough, if you don't release the ability, yeah?"
Gradually, my vision blurred. This is a spar. Opponent's a teacher. Teachers can't kill students. He has to fight while minding the line.
Gasp—. Suddenly, air rushed in.
Empty lungs filled up, abdomen swelling hugely once.
Thud. My strength gave out, and I fell back on my butt.
"I surrender."
Gun-seok immediately raised both hands to the sky.
"Your win. More precisely, that guy's win. Never seen such a lunatic."
He pointed at me. I smirked.
Han Ye-seo burst out from the ink.
I observed her ink.
The distant ink was slowly returning to where Han Ye-seo stood. Retracting the ink to the exact spot she activated?
...Aha.
I roughly got it.
That's why the ability's called Cave Allegory.
I stood up.
Ja-an strode toward me, looking a bit angry.
Han Ye-seo was glancing between us nervously.
"What were you thinking?"
"...It's a spar. Not real combat."
"Why would you put your own body...?"
"I value it. I acted that way because I'm sure I won't get hurt."
Ja-an's gaze fixed on my neck.
Bruised red marks. Exactly the size of my hands.
My strength higher than stamina, so I can harm my own body with my strength.
That was the assumption.
The plan succeeded, assumption correct.
"......"
"Why are you mad?"
"Don't make plans that assume your own sacrifice."
"If it were real combat, I wouldn't have. I'm human too."
Han Ye-seo wedged in between us.
"Come on, everyone, stop! Sparring's over, let's hit the cafe! Yeah? Boss'll be happy to see us all together after so long!"
...Ah, right. Sure, let's go.
Ja-an's phone rang.
He pulled it out, checked the alarm, and said,
"I've got something to do, can't go. Sorry."
"Wait, you're sulking because Ivy made some crazy plan, aren't you?!"
"No, it's not that... really urgent business."
"For real?"
"Yeah."
Ja-an showed no hesitation at Han Ye-seo's words.
That statement is true.
The guy sucks at lying. It shows right away.
Whew. Han Ye-seo sighed deeply and said,
"Fine. Guess today's a bust."
Ja-an left after saying see you tomorrow.
...Who'd he make plans with?
Pure curiosity. Yeah, pure curiosity.
More importantly, how's he planning to sneak out? Reporters outside, right?
Eh, he'll manage.
Hmph. Nyah nyah.