Chapter 58
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 58
Chapter Title: Academy (9)
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Si-woo had just arrived underground when Kang Su-ho went flying through the air and slammed into the floor.
Whatever the guy had touched, a three-meter-tall beast was now glaring down at them.
It was a monster that resembled a werewolf.
'Damn it for real. Useless punk.'
Kang Hyun-ah glanced around, assessed the situation, and began drawing the monster's attention.
"I'll hold it off, so take Su-ho and run! And hurry up and get a professor!"
"You forgot you're weaker than me, sis?"
Ignoring her words, he started observing the monster. It was a troll variant, like the ones he'd seen in the martial world. This one looked weaker than those.
This body had almost no mana, but he had a mana core, so it seemed manageable.
'I could probably take it down even without the mana core...?'
But this dumb beast wasn't even paying attention to Si-woo. It was ignoring him completely, fixated only on mana.
"Ha... this is ridiculous."
Kang Hyun-ah drew up all the mana in her body. At the same moment, the monster's focus shifted entirely to her.
It couldn't even tell who the real threat was.
Si-woo clenched his fist tight. It would be weird for the martial artist Park Jin-gu to suddenly swing a sword, after all.
'Time to test my magic resistance.'
Kang Hyun-ah glanced at Si-woo, who still hadn't run away.
An shameless, clueless guy.
Back at the cafeteria, she'd tossed out empty flattery to manage her image, and he'd taken it seriously. That had pissed her off.
The nerve, trying to mooch off her like a beggar.
She barely regained her shattered composure.
There were people watching from behind; she had to maintain her image.
Forcing a smile onto her souring face, she walked away.
But then...
She'd heard that trash had hit her precious little brother, and she couldn't hold back.
She demanded an apology from the thug, but he didn't get it. He needed to be taught a lesson.
On her way to the training room, she started looking forward to beating him up.
Thwack!
"Kyaaak! Hnggh...!"
What the hell had he done to her lower belly...? It felt like every nerve in her body was on fire. One kick, and the world spun.
When she came to, the guy was trying to leave.
She blocked him without thinking.
That was the start of her hell.
For the first time in her life, she felt utter humiliation. Her mind went blank with unwanted pleasure, but she couldn't admit it.
'You pervert...!'
On top of that, because of him, she had to clean on the weekend, which was unfair enough. Now she was facing a monster too.
Kang Hyun-ah gritted her teeth and glared at the beast.
Peak 4-star. Maybe even 5-star.
Only a 5-star warrior could take down something like that. She had to make noise and hope a professor showed up.
She worried about her brother collapsed on the floor, but there was no choice.
The Choi Si-woo next to her seemed decent in a fight, so he'd be some help.
'Wonder if he can pierce the beast's barrier.'
But he looked like he had so little mana that she didn't expect much.
Fighting people was totally different from fighting monsters.
Krunch!
Kang Hyun-ah dodged the monster's slashing claws and countered.
"Hah...!"
Boom!
A mana blast she'd been charging since the monster appeared.
A full-power strike from a 4-star warrior.
"Grrr..."
It hit the monster square in the head. The beast shook its head dizzily, but that was it. The barrier was still intact.
This was why combat in this world emphasized overwhelming firepower.
Monster barriers were thick and tough; minor attacks meant nothing.
"It didn't work! Take Su-ho and run, quick!"
Now she had to play the attrition game. Hold out until a professor arrived.
Fortunately, the monster ignored Si-woo. His mana was too low to register as a threat.
She prayed he'd grab her fainted brother and leave.
"I said go!"
She glared irritably at the guy who wouldn't listen, and suddenly he vanished from sight.
'Huh...?'
Thud!!
The man who'd disappeared reappeared, driving his fist into the monster's gut.
Her eyes widened. The beast's belly caved in like it had been hit by something massive—not a mere human fist.
The mana gathered in his hand was barely a fraction of hers, yet the barrier shattered completely.
'How in the world...?'
Boom!
"Kyaaack!!!"
The monster tumbled across the floor, then staggered to its feet in rage. But the barrier was long gone. Whatever the reason, it looked like they could win now.
She gathered mana for a follow-up. Comparing the monster's state to their own power...
'Five more minutes... and we can take it.'
Hope filled her eyes. The guy she'd thought was human scum suddenly felt reliable.
As Kang Hyun-ah watched Si-woo, he let out a small whistle, and heat haze began rising from his body.
Steam-like vapor emanated from him, distorting the air around his frame. It felt like staring at scorching asphalt—an eerie heat.
Even the monster now eyed Si-woo warily.
Then he vanished again.
This time, she was focused, but still missed his movement.
'Wh-what...?'
Splat!
Concentric ripples spread from his fist buried in the monster's tough hide.
Splurt!!
The flesh rippled like waves, and the monster's back exploded open.
'Ah...'
It looked like a simple punch, but the power was insane. Not the strength of an ordinary 1-star cadet.
Thud!
The pulverized monster collapsed to the floor.
"Ptoo."
She stared blankly as the man spat out dark red phlegm. The low-mana trash looked different now.
Suddenly, the training room flashed in her mind, and her lower belly throbbed. Memories of clinging to him, moaning...
'Hng...!'
Something trickled from her most precious place. She clamped her thighs together instinctively.
Kang Su-ho opened his eyes to find himself in a hospital.
He'd definitely been cleaning the old faculty basement...
"Ah...!"
The moment he'd touched some jar, his mana got sucked away. He couldn't even resist. All his mana drained, then a monster burst from the jar.
A sharp impact, and he'd woken up here.
He vaguely remembered his sister rushing toward him before blacking out.
Her outfit had seemed odd in his blurring vision, but the head injury made it hard to recall clearly.
Kang Su-ho shook his head. That wasn't important.
"S-sis?"
Worried, he called a passing nurse.
"Don't worry. You're the only injured one."
The nurse was all smiles for his handsome face. It felt like the world was back to normal.
'That's more like it.'
Ignoring his aching body, he looked out the window.
"Huh? Sis?"
There was his sister, entering the hospital in a flowing dress.
Not her usual neat uniform—casual clothes. She looked stunning today.
'What's up with her?'
He sat up in bed and waited. A knock, and Kang Hyun-ah entered. Seeing him awake, she smiled brightly and approached.
"Su-ho! You're up? Thank goodness. Feeling okay?"
"Yeah. I'm fine."
After exchanging concerns, curiosity struck Kang Su-ho.
"By the way, sis, where you headed?"
"Huh? Why?"
"Just... you look different from usual."
"Weird?"
She pulled out a hand mirror and inspected her face meticulously. He'd never seen that expression.
Something strange stirred in his chest. But pride made him afraid to face it. He was the cool, stylish Kang Su-ho.
"N-no... you just look pretty."
"Really? Good."
Her beaming smile made his chest tighten uncomfortably.
Su-ho averted his gaze. Staring at her face might plant dangerous seeds.
Calming himself with the view outside, he spoke to his sister.
"Sis. What happened anyway?"
"Huh? Oh, when you collapsed?"
Su-ho grimaced. He'd felt the jar calling him, picked it up, and it drained all his energy.
Then blackout, and hospital.
He'd heard a simple explanation, but wanted details from her.
"Yeah. So..."
Her face flushed as she recalled.
'What's with that creepy expression?'
"Si-woo saved you. Thank him when you see him. He's crazy strong. Took down a near-5-star monster in one hit? Totally... haa..."
Jealousy flared at her dreamy exhale. He knew it wasn't that kind of feeling, but it still bugged him.
"That Park Jin-gu saved me? No way."
"Huh? Park Jin-gu? I said call him Si-woo."
Her face hardened.
"Ugh... fine. Anyway, that Si-woo guy..."
"Tsk!"
With hands on hips, scolding pose—he had to watch his mouth.
"...Si-woo saved me? How?"
Now satisfied, she smiled.
"He has body reinforcement traits. Way stronger than his mana suggests. And he saved me too, not just you. Definitely thank him."
It annoyed him, but he couldn't snap at his visiting sister. He forced a smile and nodded.
Still, he needed her advice on something. Girl stuff, so he hesitated. She got touchy about women.
But he needed input.
'She'll say Ann's not pretty, right?'
"Oh, sis, I've got this worry lately. Suddenly this girl Ann..."
-Bzzz!
As Su-ho started venting, her smartphone vibrated.
"Oh! Hold on."
Kang Hyun-ah checked it and smiled faintly. Eyes sparkling, she fiddled with the screen, then said apologetically,
"Su-ho, sis has to go. What to do?"
"What...? Already?"
"Yeah, emergency. Sorry!"
"Uh..."
She was gone before he could respond. Even mid-girl-talk, she left—totally unlike her.
Alone, Su-ho's face hardened. Irritation boiled.
'What's with her lately?'
Since entering the academy, the world felt off-kilter.
Like the center of the universe had shifted.
Middle-school syndrome, sure, but he saw himself as the protagonist.
From childhood, he'd gotten everything he wanted. Good things always happened.
Minor setbacks were just life's spice—quickly resolved, sweet rewards following.
His biggest hurdle: no progress with crush Amelia.
That's why he obsessed over her.
'Nothing's going right.'
He sighed in frustration. Then the nurse who'd been hovering approached, and her words lifted his mood a bit.
"You're an academy cadet, right? Mind taking a photo with me?"
"Haha! Of course. Come here."
Yeah, this was how the world should be. He flashed a charming smile and grabbed her smartphone.