Chapter 46
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 46
Chapter Title: Academy Raid Incident. But with Kang Hwa-yeon Added
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"This place gives off a creepy vibe, doesn't it."
A training room that looked eerily similar to the hologram chamber where the academy had summoned Panpagia.
'Honestly, something like Panpagia should qualify as PTSD.'
Today's lecture—no, Professor Kang Geom-seon's exam, the duel tournament, was being held here.
In the center stood a large circular arena, surrounded by tall transparent barriers.
It was being used for swordsmanship exams today, but it also accommodated magic target practice, so the barriers ensured match safety and separated the training students from observers.
Of course, in an academy with LK-99, trainee safety was guaranteed to near perfection.
'About 80% perfection, anyway.'
Whether that counted as perfect was debatable.
Professor Kang Geom-seon spoke from the arena's center.
"As I mentioned beforehand, the matches will proceed in a tournament format. I've set the brackets arbitrarily."
Arbitrarily, huh.
Even if I'd mastered Flash Strike, I had no idea how well it'd fare against these students.
The best outcome would be winning the whole thing, of course.
'Yeah, that's a stretch.'
Kwak Du-pal was overshadowed by Kang Hwa-yeon, but every other student here had been handpicked by Professor Kang Geom-seon— all top-tier talents.
Taking them down with just 'Flash Strike' would be tough.
'Though Professor Kang Geom-seon probably doesn't think so.'
Still, depending on the bracket luck, I might snag a winnable match. With my skills, Bunny Hop would work great against a few of them.
In Awakening to SSS Hunter Academy, the exams that mattered most for grades were the inter-year Martial Arts Tournament during midterms and finals.
Scoring high would be ideal, but even dropping out early wouldn't hurt much.
'Plus, there's the academy raid.'
The academy raid was this afternoon.
Plenty of time left, but if possible, I'd love to conserve all my strength.
The rewards from that raid were just too juicy.
'Even so, I need to beat at least one.'
I had to show Professor Kang Geom-seon the results of 'Flash Strike.' That meant sweeping at least one opponent clean.
'Not all disadvantages are mine, though.'
I glanced at the dagger sheath on my waist.
Mura's dagger. A masterpiece incomparable to what the others wielded.
Since personal gear was allowed in these duels, mine was confidently the best.
In other words, with Mura's blade, victory was within reach.
A massive hologram appeared above the arena.
The brackets.
First opponent:
"That guy's..."
Kim Shun, just your typical blurry extra.
He definitely had three skillbooks and two decent swordsmanship skills.
Should be doable.
'Lucky break.'
Ended up avoiding Kang Hwa-yeon and Kwak Du-pal for the first round. Though winning this would pit me against Hwa-yeon next.
As I glanced at Kang Hwa-yeon with that in mind, our eyes met for a split second.
A seriously menacing glare.
'Scary.'
Did all the brains in Awakening to SSS Hunter Academy have eyes like that?
Baek A-rin and Kang Hwa-yeon both had killer stares.
Our pure souls, on the other hand... our eyes were kind. Yoon So-ah or Erina—Erina, yeah.
"Alright, let's kick off the first match. Don't just watch—find lessons for your own duels."
With Professor Kang Geom-seon's words, Kang Hwa-yeon and her opponent stepped into the arena.
"Crazy, top seat in the first match."
"Dude, isn't Hwa-yeon's skillbook magic? Opponent's screwed."
"Even so, top seat won't go down easy."
Whispers from the students.
Some hadn't seen Hwa-yeon's skills yet, so opinions varied.
'No way Hwa-yeon loses that easily.'
She'd definitely win.
Her opponent, with swordsmanship skills, might catch up someday if they honed them relentlessly.
But not now.
Hwa-yeon was a genius who'd been training since others were barely walking. Real combat experience alone put her leagues ahead.
-Beeeep
The buzzer signaled the start, and Hwa-yeon's sword burst into flames.
...
Wait, what?
"Hold up! Isn't that cheating? Cheating?!"
I blurted it out. Professor Kang Geom-seon chuckled.
"Enveloping your sword in fire is still a sword-related skill. How could I ban it? Right, Si-woo?"
Insane.
Fair my ass.
This was a corrupt exam laced with nepotism and bribes.
Looking closer, Hwa-yeon's sword had an unusual design.
'Custom job too.'
Besides magic, she used it as a sub-weapon. Tailor-made for her, from a special material that reacted to the user's skills.
'Just gear advantage.'
Not that I could talk.
-Clang!
Before long, the opponent's sword flew out of their hand, Hwa-yeon's blade at their throat.
"I-I lost."
"Kang Hwa-yeon wins the duel."
The opponent conceded, ending in Hwa-yeon's victory.
Partly the fire, but their base sword handling was worlds apart. Even if swordplay wasn't their specialty, no one matched Hwa-yeon's 27-hour daily grind.
Pity the poor soul who drew her first.
"Next, Kim Si-woo."
No time to worry about others.
"Hoo..."
Stepping into the arena, I spotted my opponent across from me.
'The guy bragging about good materials last time?'
No special abilities, just strength-enhanced sword, from the looks. Flashy exterior, though.
'Meh.'
Expensive materials wasted on ornamentation. The dark sheen screamed high-end 'Polishing Horn.'
And Polishing Horn was...
'Mostly decorative.'
That sword's innards were trash.
No need to mind it.
Then my opponent smirked at me.
"Don't feel too hard done by. Even without my sword, you couldn't beat me."
He'd noticed me eyeing his blade and got the wrong idea.
What nonsense was this clown spouting?
"Don't worry. I doubt it'll be unfair."
"Told you out of kindness, and you act all rude."
How was every line from this guy so extra?
I drew the dagger from my left hand.
Kim Si-woo's old one.
The watching students murmured.
"Told you, that's effort for trash like him."
"Kinda tragic, in a way."
"Be grateful he's even in our class."
"You guys braindead? Didn't you see Kim Si-woo last time? That's plenty for him."
"No way..."
Shut it with the trash talk, idiots.
And you, last one—are you in my fan club or what?
I drew Psyche's Blade from the sheath on my right hip.
[Psyche's Blade's unique effect activates.]
[Corruption applied to Rusty Dagger.]
'Working perfectly.'
The students fell silent as I drew Psyche's Blade.
"Yo, that's..."
"What? Just a sword. Kinda unique-looking..."
"Dude! Can't you tell? Total custom job! Master smith using top materials—my dad's a blacksmith, I know."
"What? How's that guy got it?"
"Kept telling you! He's no ordinary scrub. Hiding something big!"
Yeah, I'd be shocked not to react to this blade.
"That..."
Kang Hwa-yeon looked stunned.
Or more like, her face twisted.
Wonder why.
"Pfft."
My opponent snickered at my sword.
Snickering?
Had he cracked after realizing the sword gap?
"Two worthless blades, huh."
"..."
This guy was driving me nuts.
How was a sword user in Professor Kang Geom-seon's class blind to this masterpiece?
"Tragic. How'd that happen."
I shot him genuine pity, but he scoffed.
"Ha, what'd you plan with trash like that? That's your problem."
"No wonder, lugging around that shiny toy—ruins your eye."
The words slipped out, pure sympathy, no malice.
But facts were facts.
His face flushed beet red, expression crumpling.
"Y-You bastard...! Insulting my dad's sword?!"
Oh. Daddy issues, didn't see that.
"Hey, should've said so sooner."
"You mocking me?!"
Misunderstanding snowballed.
I was innocent!
Had to offer sincere advice, sorry as I felt.
"Look, that sword's straight garbage. You scavenged it, right? Ditch it for any old pickup—you'd be better off."
"You bastard!!"
Professor Kang Geom-seon watched us.
"Settle grudges in the duel."
-Beep
The buzzer blared. My opponent charged with his toy sword—er, daddy's shiny blade.
"You!!!"
Completely lost his reason.
I'd planned to bait first strike anyway. Just didn't expect him to bite so easily.
'Better for me, actually.'
Not that I'd meant to roast his dad.
For real.
"Stand still!! I'll kill you!!"
"Dude, if I freeze just 'cause you say so, that's match-fixing."
"Bastard!!!"
Dragging it out was risky.
His skill: 'Berserk Fury.'
The longer the fight, the stronger he got—no fatigue.
Perfect for sustained warrior combat.
So end it now, while rage made him dumb and rushing.
"Die!!"
He closed to two meters.
The moment he was sure of victory.
[Bunny Hop]
-Clang!
"Wha—Huh?"
My opponent stumbled, losing balance.
Professor Kang Geom-seon smiled, satisfied.
"Kim Si-woo wins the duel."
-Beeeep
"What happened?!"
"How?!"
"What did I just see?! Kim Si-woo actually won?!"
"I'm not hallucinating, right?!"