Chapter 40
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 40
Chapter Title: Flash Strike
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[Fate Intervention]
Professor Kang Geom-seon's words had barely ended when the entire arena was engulfed in a blue flash.
And at the exact same moment.
In an instant so fleeting that no word other than "simultaneous" could describe it.
Professor Kang Geom-seon's sword grazed past my body,
and I dodged the Flash Strike by the tiniest margin.
[Skill 'Fate Intervention' has been used.]
['Fate Intervention' has been depleted and its effect has disappeared.]
"Haa... haa..."
It was truly a split-second moment.
If I hadn't activated [Fate Intervention] just before Professor Kang Geom-seon unleashed the flash, I definitely would have been hit.
"W-what just happened?!"
"What's going on?!"
"That's Professor Kang Geom-seon's Flash Strike!"
"How the hell did that guy dodge it...?"
"Professor Kang must've pulled it on purpose."
"No way, that didn't look like..."
The stunned students,
and behind me, Professor Kang Geom-seon staring at me, barely holding back his laughter.
"You... did you just dodge that...?"
Damn it.
Did he think I could dodge something even Lee Dok-sa couldn't?
Why are both master and disciple so damn battle-focused?
What would've happened without [Fate Intervention]?
How far were you going to let it go?
How much of a GOAT are you, [Cursed by Fate]!!
"Truly astonishing..."
I spoke to Professor Kang Geom-seon, who was lost in admiration.
"Professor, do you realize I was almost sliced in half just now?"
I wanted to look good to him, but come on, that was too much.
"Is that what's important right now!"
"Huh?!"
Isn't that the most important thing??
"Nothing is more important than the fact that you dodged my Flash Strike! That movement... it can't be explained without calling it pure talent."
"Th-thank you."
Calming his excitement, I wondered how I must look to him now.
'The student with the greatest talent, who dodged the Flash Strike that even his prized disciple Kim Dok-sa couldn't evade.'
Yeah, something like that?
And that would definitely yield results beyond what I'd hoped for.
"How about becoming my disciple? I have confidence in teaching talented individuals."
A disciple.
What he was offering was to join his swordsmanship department after graduating from the Hunter Academy. In other words, a graduate student position.
Get lost, you demon.
"I'll consider it."
"Good, think it over positively."
As if I would.
Professor Kang Geom-seon smiled at me and continued.
"Your swordsmanship is quite unique. I know a style that's almost identical. Looks like you had an excellent teacher, Si-woo."
"Thank you."
Professor Kang Geom-seon, praising the swordsmanship he'd researched himself.
"By the way, you said if you won the bet, you'd want something. I'm curious what it is."
What I wanted from Professor Kang Geom-seon.
It was obvious.
I stepped forward, looked into his eyes, and whispered softly.
"I want to learn Flash Strike."
"Hey, what the hell happened?!"
"No way Professor Kang Geom-seon is showing that much interest in an E-rank?"
"Didn't you see? He dodged Professor Kang's Flash Strike."
"Exactly, how is that even possible?!"
"How can you not believe it when you saw it with your own eyes?!"
"That's why—it's too unbelievable."
"At this point, even 'that rumor' might be true..."
"What rumor?"
Then one student approached with a laugh.
"You fools. I knew the chosen one could do at least that much."
"Who's this guy?"
"Dunno, he claims to be some knight of Nunetina or whatever."
"Idiot, it's not Nunetina, it's Lua Nox..."
Of course,
no one paid him any attention.
Kim Si-woo still had no idea
that Lua Nox was watching him.
Most students hadn't even grasped what happened during Professor Kang Geom-seon's lecture.
Naturally, Kwak Du-pal was included among them.
"What the hell is up with that guy..."
Professor Kang Geom-seon was famous for spotting those with 'sword talent' accurately.
And not just spotting them—he personally nurtured standout students.
So, doing well in his class meant earning the title of a promising swordsman with a bright future and actual growth as a swordsman.
That was why his lectures were so competitive.
And Kwak Du-pal had believed without a doubt that he would be the standout of this class.
Until Kim Si-woo appeared.
'How the hell did that guy...'
At first, he thought it was just some punk who'd heard his weaknesses somewhere and was acting tough.
Plenty of guys had picked up his weaknesses and foolishly thought they were on his level before charging in.
And he'd dealt with them the same way every time.
He'd thought Kim Si-woo was the same.
But Kim Si-woo was different.
"I couldn't even see it with my eyes..."
Professor Kang Geom-seon's 'Flash Strike,' which even he couldn't follow.
It was his signature move, the key to his position as the top in 'swordsmanship'—no joke.
And Kim Si-woo dodged it like it was nothing.
To Kwak Du-pal's eyes, it wasn't a movement possible at a student's level.
Come to think of it, things had been off from the start.
Rumors that the Inferno Clan Chairman was watching him.
Rumors that he was a member of a secret organization.
Even rumors that he was the MVP who defeated Panpagia.
'And Kang Hwa-yeon taking Professor Kang's class? Weird... she doesn't care about swords.'
Finally, the (flawed) pieces started falling into place in Kwak Du-pal's (lacking) brain.
'Is everything under Kim Si-woo's control...?!'
Kwak Du-pal swallowed dryly, realizing he'd just been played.
A guy with that kind of power being E3.
It could only mean one thing. (Wrong.)
'He infiltrated the academy by deceiving them...'
He wasn't the only one played.
The professors.
No, the entire academy was under him.
And behind it? Inferno Clan?
Or something even bigger?
He couldn't even guess.
'Why is a guy like that hiding his power?'
So Kwak Du-pal had to choose.
Should he smash Kim Si-woo like always and shut him up?
Or cling desperately now?
The first option was already impossible for him.
He could barely lead his own lackeys; he'd be the one smashed.
'Wait... why take Professor Kang's class specifically...?'
Once the train of thought started, his anxiety fueled it onward.
Kwak Du-pal thought.
'What could Kim Si-woo possibly learn from Professor Kang's class? He already dodges Flash Strike!'
The (wrong) conclusion he reached.
Kim Si-woo was warning him, the one he disliked.
A silent threat named 'choice.'
Kwak Du-pal realized there had never been a second option for him from the start. (Of course not.)
Then someone placed a hand on Kwak Du-pal's shoulder and spoke.
"Wh-who are you!"
"What? Chill, it's me."
His right-hand man, always trailing him.
Kwak Du-pal, embarrassed by his overreaction, asked.
"Hoo... what?"
"That asshole you mentioned? Still looks off today. We should rough him up at least once..."
"Are you insane?!"
Kwak Du-pal grabbed his collar and snarled.
"Can't you read the situation?!"
"W-what's your problem?!"
"Hoo... hoo..."
It wasn't Kim Si-woo's intention, but fear of him had firmly taken root in Kwak Du-pal's mind.
And there was someone else watching Kim Si-woo, in a different sense.
"Kim Si-woo, what are you...?"
I'd thought something was off from the beginning.
Why her father, Chairman Kang Young-ho, paid him so much attention.
The greatest virtue of those 'at the top,' as he'd always said.
'Martial prowess.'
The hunter logic that true power draws followers.
That's why Kang Hwa-yeon had pushed herself to death.
To earn her father's recognition.
So her late mother could see her lead 'Inferno Clan.'
She'd pushed herself to death, literally.
To not disgrace her father's name or her mother's honor.
She believed she'd honed every virtue an Inferno Clan Chairman needed.
And she thought she was the one to succeed him.
No, she had to be.
It had to be Kang Hwa-yeon herself.
But now she realized why her father had never once mentioned her as heir.
"It was you."
After Professor Kang Geom-seon's lecture ended and I stepped out, Erina Esnatia was waiting for me.
"Wow... the stares toward you are pretty hot."
"Tell me about it."
My nape was burning.
What did I even do?
"More importantly, why are you here?"
"What?! I waited patiently! You're still rude. As always."
Erina Esnatia, whose Korean had improved another step.
"Good job!"
"What?! You punk."
She raised her fist at my gaze.
"You need to be more ladylike."
"I'm flipping you off, Si-woo."
"Watch your mouth..."
Erina Esnatia flipped me off at my words.
She doesn't back down a single bit.
"So why are you here?"
"To eat lunch together."
She said, pulling out a lunchbox.
What the...?