Chapter 307: 2nd Semester Ranking Tournament. But Now, More Serious Than Expected (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 307: 2nd Semester Ranking Tournament. But Now, More Serious Than Expected (2)
Well, it wasn’t like I had planned to go easy on him from the start, but there was a very specific reason why I had to take down Cheon Yu-hak so excessively.
To put it simply—since a long explanation would get complicated—it was because of a request from the Chairperson.
Apparently, the person hired as the new professor for the Academy was a total psycho. He had requested to hold guided sparring sessions with the top-ranking students of each grade during this tournament. The Chairperson said that while he didn’t seem likely to cause serious harm to the cadets, I should be careful just in case.
…What does that have to do with me absolutely wrecking Cheon Yu-hak?
Well, that crazy new professor said he wanted to fight me last, which meant the other kids would have to fight him first.
And they all seemed pretty excited about the prospect of a good fight.
But that’s when my gut instinct kicked in.
It might have been an overreaction, but the way this guy was acting felt exactly like a certain villain I knew.
To resolve this suspicion, I needed to face him myself, but I wanted to make sure my friends didn’t have to cross paths with him if possible.
So, I thought about it. The kids had already asked me to test their skills anyway, and the ranking tournament wasn’t going to end in a single day. What’s the harm in them spending a day or two in a hospital bed?
If all the top students were stuck in the infirmary on the first day, the professor would have no choice but to fight me.
If the new professor turned out not to be the guy I was thinking of, then great. But if, by some slim chance, he was…
…I mean.
I didn’t even want to think about it, but if the War Demon Seo Tae-ho had actually infiltrated the Academy, it would be better for me to monopolize his attention.
“Personally, I really hope I’m just worrying over nothing.”
— No, your intuition is likely correct. It is rare to find someone who doesn’t even bother to hide such a vast and violent aura.
Regrettably, with Sun Wukong’s confirmation, the possibility of this being a needless worry had all but vanished.
And that meant I had to take down Lilac and Ha-ni a bit excessively as well.
“…Since it’s come to this, I might as well make sure to hammer their weaknesses home.”
Looking at Cheon Yu-hak’s face as he was carried out, he seemed somewhat satisfied. So, it should be fine, right?
* * *
Now, a brief pause.
Before we witness Lilac getting thoroughly thrashed.
It is necessary to look at how Kang So-hyun was being perceived outside the Academy.
To be honest, in the world beyond the Academy walls, Kang So-hyun was a highly unusual figure, shrouded in various suspicions.
His sudden surge in grades brought about allegations of special treatment or, conversely, theories that he had been hiding his true power for a dramatic reveal.
While the rumors regarding special treatment were mostly settled once the data from the previous ranking tournament was released, the suspicion that he had been hiding his strength remained.
In fact, it had only intensified.
The day he got drunk and ground Flash’s face into a desk.
Common sense dictated that an ordinary cadet shouldn’t be capable of such a feat. The rumors blazed even brighter, and among those who enjoyed gossip, the stories surrounding Kang So-hyun grew more exaggerated by the day.
Some called him a delinquent who frequently showed up to class drunk; others called him a villain who manipulated the Academy to his whim using the power of the Yuseong Group.
As if that weren’t enough, there were even claims that he was a psycho who monopolized every beauty in the Academy and was even raising a child in the dormitory.
In short, malicious rumors with zero evidence were spreading like wildfire.
Usually, once such rumors take root, they are incredibly difficult to clear up. However, at this very moment, Kang So-hyun unintentionally succeeded in silencing the nonsense directed at him.
The performance he displayed while taking down Cheon Yu-hak left such a powerful impact that those watching felt the rumors didn’t even matter anymore.
In fact, most guild leaders of hunter guilds or private heroes would likely decide that it didn’t matter if the rumors were true.
The power he had just shown was clearly in the realm of S-rank—something a mere cadet, and a first-year at that, should never be able to display.
Even if this society was more stable than those of other countries, it was still a society of superhumans.
In a world where the strong rule, was there any method more definitive than this?
From this day forward, those who claimed he had cowardly ambushed Flash or that a mere cadet was being too arrogant were all forced to shut their mouths.
Unfortunately, it would be quite some time before Kang So-hyun realized this.
Had he known at this point, he might have realized he was overdoing it and chosen to hold back. But that was merely a hypothetical.
With his mind occupied only by the need to draw the War Demon’s attention and the desire to point out his friends’ weaknesses, Kang So-hyun was only thinking about how to cause an even bigger scene.
It was the moment he truly began to announce his power to the world.
* * *
Thus, in the following duel with Lilac.
Kang So-hyun adopted a combat style completely different from the one he used against Cheon Yu-hak.
The shadows that seemed ready to devour everything and the powerful yet ominous red lightning were nowhere to be seen.
“Divide. Ruyi.”
He merely muttered a single phrase. Just one.
But for his opponent, Lilac, the sight of countless Iron Flowers blooming in the sky was nothing short of despairing.
“Lilac. Your stats are all well-balanced, and both your defense and attack are excellent. Your combat style, which changes freely using the traits of the Holy Sword and the Demonic Sword, is quite tricky to deal with.”
“…Is that a compliment?”
“Of course.”
Seeing the grin on So-hyun’s face, Lilac grew even more tense, manifesting both the Holy Sword and the Demonic Sword in his hands.
“Lilac, the truth is, you don’t really have many weaknesses. Where would a weakness even be in a well-balanced all-rounder?”
As he spoke, So-hyun snapped his fingers. One of the Iron Flowers floating in the sky transformed into a flurry of blades and shot forward.
“Ugh…!?”
Should he block with the Holy Sword? Or pierce through with the Demonic Sword?
No, both were insane options.
Out of all those flowers in the sky, just one was producing this much power. What was there to block, and what was there to pierce?
If he couldn’t dodge, every single strike would be fatal. There was no choice but to evade.
When Lilac barely managed to dodge all the blades, So-hyun nodded with a smile, as if praising him.
“So, use this opportunity to get used to being unfairly overwhelmed.”
“Unfairly overwhelmed…?”
“Yeah. If I had to pick a weakness, it’s that you’re vulnerable to people who ruthlessly crush you with pure power rather than compatibility. And fortunately for you…”
“Wait, hold on! At least give me some detailed advice like you did for Yu-hak…!”
Because he was an all-rounder, he was just going to be crushed by power? Lilac shouted out in frustration, but Kang So-hyun didn’t seem to have any intention of listening.
“I happen to be very confident in crushing people with pure power.”
Boom! A blunt weapon extending from a blooming flower swung at him. Lilac dodged, only for another blade to aim for his neck.
As Lilac fell into despair, barely managing to evade the onslaught, Kang So-hyun continued ruthlessly.
“What are you going to do if you just keep dodging? You’re going to die at this rate, man.”
“Aaaaaagh!?”
“Oh, you still have enough breath to scream? Let’s kick it up a notch. Come on, think of something creative or awaken some hidden power and get out of this!”
“If it were that easy, I’d be a manga protagonist!”
“Well, you look the part to me, so I’m keeping this going.”
Lilac shouted back in disbelief, but his words had no effect on So-hyun.
However, pushed into a corner, Lilac truly did succeed in awakening a new level of power. By condensing the light of the Holy Sword and wrapping it around the Demonic Sword, he managed to block one of the Ruyi fragments. But the moment his concentration wavered, he was exposed to the violence of the countless other Ruyi fragments and knocked unconscious.
“See, you punk? You can do it if you try. Good job.”
Many felt a chill seeing So-hyun smile at his friend, whom he had just taken down with one-sided violence, but So-hyun himself felt nothing but a sense of pride.
* * *
Meanwhile, watching the scene in the arena, Kang Ha-ni felt a slight sense of fear mixed with a strange competitive spirit.
“Wow, So-hyun is really no joke…”
“Right? You’re up next against him, aren’t you, Ha-ni? Will you be okay?”
“Honestly, I was worried So-hyun might go easy on us since we’re his friends, but instead of going easy, he’s turning everyone into mincemeat.”
“He might be soft-hearted deep down, but So-hyun is quite thorough about things like this, isn’t he?”
“That’s true, but… why did you naturally sit down next to me, Ha-ru-sunbae?”
“Hmm? You were answering all my questions just fine, so why bring it up now?”
Lee Ha-ru tilted her head, offering Ha-ni some popcorn she had gotten from somewhere.
“No, it’s just that you sat down so naturally.”
“Aha, that’s a shame. I thought the distance between Ha-ni and me had finally closed a bit.”
“…For now, please call me Han-hee.”
“Ah, sorry. I set up a soundproofing barrier, but if I get used to calling you that, I might make a mistake in public. I’ll do that.”
…Seriously, why is this senior so pushy with her boundaries?
They were technically romantic rivals, but Ha-ru approached her so cordially that Ha-ni felt her hostility draining away.
“Well, as for why I sat next to Han-hee… I wanted to cheer you on. You’re sparring with So-hyun soon.”
“Cheer for So-hyun?”
“For both So-hyun and Han-hee.”
…Ugh. Until recently, she called him ‘So-hyun-hubae,’ so why is she calling him by his name so naturally now?
For a brief moment, Ha-ni wondered if this senior was a mind reader, as Ha-ru seemed to pick up on her thoughts immediately.
“Ah, does it bother you that I call him So-hyun?”
“Ah, no? Why would it?”
Caught off guard, Ha-ni tried to deny it, but the senior in front of her was already smiling with a look of pure amusement, clearly unconvinced.
“Oh, come on. It’s written all over your face.”
…Is it that obvious?
“You might not realize it yourself, Han-hee, but your expressions become so rich whenever you think about So-hyun. It’s obvious how much you like him.”
…Okay, that’s a bit embarrassing.
“Honestly, I understand. Given what I said before—that I didn’t have the luxury to date—and then suddenly changing my attitude… I know you might not like it. And liking a man who already has someone is, frankly, a bit much, isn’t it?”
“I won’t deny that.”
“Mmm, I like how honest you are. I really don’t think I can dislike you, hubae.”
Well, to be honest, Ha-ni didn’t entirely dislike her either.
Her first impression had been poor, and Ha-ni felt a one-sided sense of rivalry, but that was one thing; she didn’t feel like Ha-ru was a bad person.
As if sensing that sentiment, Ha-ru naturally continued the conversation.
“Actually, if I had just come here to cheer you on, I could have remained a cool senior, but I’m not quite that noble. There’s actually one more thing I wanted to say.”
“What is it?”
“If you have time later, please watch my duel as well.”
“Me? Watch your duel, sunbae?”
It felt like a very random request, but Ha-ru’s following words were strangely persuasive.
“Yes. Even if I were to explain my circumstances in detail, it wouldn’t be a very interesting story, and I don’t think you’d enjoy hearing it. And no matter what I say, it’ll just sound like an excuse.”
As she spoke, she stroked the hilt of the sword at her waist.
“A swordsman should express what they want to say through their sword. It’s not at a level I’d call complete yet, but I’d like you to see the sword that contains my life.”
A swordsman speaks through their sword.
It was a sentiment Ha-ni liked very much.
“Isn’t that usually what people say when they’re challenging someone to a duel?”
“A duel with a junior sounds fun too, but I’d like you to just watch comfortably for once.”
…She really is beautiful and cool.
If someone like this keeps pursuing him, So-hyun might fall for her in no time.
“Well then, good luck with your duel. Even if So-hyun points out your weaknesses, don’t get too mad and try to think it over.”
“You don’t have to tell me… Huh? Why did you suddenly drop the honorifics?”
“Ah, you caught me. I thought if I just slipped into it naturally, you might not notice.”
“That…?”
“Oh, it’s nothing. I just have a feeling we’re going to become very close after I show you my swordsmanship.”
“A feeling?”
“So I thought, why not start speaking casually in advance? Do you hate it?”
…Ah, well.
“I’m not sure about the rest, but…”
“Hmm?”
“…I think if you were a man, sunbae, you’d be the same breed as So-hyun.”
“Is that a compliment?”
“…It means you seem to get close to people very easily.”
“Haha, then it is a compliment.”
Laughing simultaneously, the two stood up from their seats at the same time.
“It’s about time. Shall we go? Good luck with your duel.”
“You too, sunbae.”
“You can call me Unnie.”
“…Seriously, what is with your sense of boundaries?”
Ha-ni felt a premonition that she would eventually surrender to this senior, who was closing the distance so aggressively it made her let out a hollow laugh.
“I’ll think about it if I like the swordsmanship you’re going to show me.”
“Oh, then I’d better put my all into it!”
With that, the two headed toward their respective arenas to face their own formidable opponents.