Chapter 47
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 047
Chapter Title: Academy Raid Incident. But with Kang Hwa-yeon Added
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"The match goes to Kim Si-woo."
Kang Geom-seon, the professor, gazed at me with a faint smile.
He must have figured it out.
I did use [Bunny Hop], but I dialed it back just enough.
Even with Professor Kang Geom-seon covering for me, the risk of blatantly using it in front of this crowd was too high.
So in that split second, I mimicked [Flash Strike] with a super short hop over a tiny distance.
In just two weeks, I'd turned [Bunny Hop]—a skill that was basically a gamble praying you'd land on the enemy—into something I could control for both direction and distance.
Of course, the skill's core performance hadn't changed, but honestly, getting this level of mastery was thanks to Professor Kang Geom-seon's guidance.
'Well, Erina deserves some credit too, I suppose.'
I could buy her some clear country soup later—she'd love that.
"Did he just say Kim Si-woo won...?"
"No way, it hasn't even been five seconds! How does that make sense?"
"Did he let his guard down?"
"Was that his 'pure strength' thing or whatever...?"
The students erupted in reactions, clearly baffled by what they'd just witnessed.
"I figured the underdog Kim Si-woo would drag it out, not go on the offensive first. Was that luck, or...?"
"Nah, total fluke. Or maybe Kim Shun went easy on him."
If they didn't know the opponent's skill, they'd probably assume my only shot was dodging until he wore himself out.
"Dude, either way, losing in five seconds is brutal."
"Eh, probably a slip-up. No way does it make sense for a guy like Kim Si-woo to win."
"Yeah, you're right."
I don't care how you all see it, but why the lukewarm reaction when I actually won?
I had no choice but to end it right at the start.
Knowing the opponent's skill, dragging it out would only hurt me—I didn't want to stall.
In other words, the surprise attack at the outset was my one sure path to victory.
"Th-this can't be happening!"
The defeated student pounded the ground with his fist, shouting as he lay there.
'Here we go with the cliché routine. How deep does this go?'
He's not gonna go dark side and start hating me, right?
Making enemies is scary.
For my future prospects, it'd be smart to stay on his good side.
I'd accidentally pulled off a Tulluru vibe too.
With that in mind, I approached the guy gritting his teeth in defeat.
'What should I say?'
I pondered words that wouldn't scratch his pride as the loser, something to keep him from harboring grudges against me. Then, extending my hand, I said,
"Good match. Your swordsmanship was way better than mine. I just got lucky."
The students murmured at my words.
"See? He admits it was luck."
"Even so, saying it like that..."
Did I mess up?
At that moment, the defeated student clenched his fist and spat out bitterly,
"Damn it! Luck? Are you insulting me, Kim Si-woo?!"
?
What's his deal?
"I've known from the start. I knew the sword my father left me was worthless in real combat. I knew your blade was superior. But I wanted to win with my father's keepsake! And I thought my skill was enough to pull it off."
It was a family heirloom?
How was I supposed to know that backstory?
Me trash-talking it unknowingly makes me the asshole.
"But I was wrong. It wasn't the sword. I realized it in that first clash. Even if I'd braced myself, I couldn't have kept up. It was no fluke."
"Uh, yeah... Get up first."
I wasn't sure how this was unfolding, but at least he didn't seem to hold a grudge against me.
Thinking that, I offered my hand again, and he let out a hollow chuckle.
"I looked down on you, yet you..."
His face twisted with emotion as he grabbed my hand and stood.
Then he stared intensely into my eyes.
Why's he looking at me like that? It's creepy.
I did everything right. What does that gaze mean?
Chills ran down my spine involuntarily.
"You're a true swordsman, acknowledged by Kim Shun himself. Kim Si-woo."
Kim Shun spoke with eyes that seemed like they should be gazing at a sunset.
? What the hell.
Turning over a new leaf all of a sudden?
At his words, Professor Kang Geom-seon boomed with a voice thick with emotion,
"Hot-blooded! Truly scorching! This is the rivalry I dreamed of! Everyone, applaud these two youths burning brighter than flames!"
Awkward, off-beat claps followed his declaration.
This is embarrassing.
What even is this?
"With skill like yours, it makes sense my sword looked laughable. My rage at you insulting my father's blade was just me venting for not giving my all. I sincerely apologize."
He bowed his head to me as he spoke.
No.
I seriously didn't mean to Tulluru you.
It was totally unintentional.
I wanted to protest, but the mood wouldn't allow it.
'I have no idea how it came to this, but... it worked out, I guess.'
I offered him a handshake.
"Good match."
Applause erupted in unison.
'...'
What in the world just happened?
How does a third-rate villain extra with zero lines pull off such a fiery gaze? It's throwing me off.
'Maybe he's actually a good guy deep down. Classic cliché, huh.'
In the world of Awakening to SSS Hunter Academy, where the chosen-few mentality around skillbooks runs deep,
resentment toward Kim Si-woo—who had just one skillbook—was especially strong at the prideful Seoul Hunter Academy.
A few like Baek A-rin, Erina Esnatia, Lee Dok-sa, and Kang Geom-seon held favorable views of him, but the mainstream opinion was naturally negative.
However, the students in Professor Kang Geom-seon's class were mostly physical brawlers who wielded swords.
In other words, the "hot-blooded" types.
The clash between Kim Si-woo and Kim Shun had ignited their gazes and hearts, setting the atmosphere ablaze.
"Damn, I knew there was something about him, but to think he'd be this manly! Kim Si-woo!"
"Doesn't seem like he cheated his way in anymore."
"Kim Shun acknowledged his skill himself."
"Whoa, those guys are burning so hot, it's getting to me!"
"Kim Si-woo. I ignored him, but he's got some real guts."
"Yeah, maybe he's not so bad after all. His skills seem solid too."
"Hey, we can't lose to them! Let's fight with fire!!!"
This was the first moment a collective positive gaze toward Kim Si-woo emerged.
Of course, not everyone could look on Kim Si-woo fondly.
First up was Kwak Du-pal.
Believing he'd marked himself as Kim Si-woo's enemy, Kwak Du-pal felt unease at how Si-woo ended the match in a mere five seconds.
'Five seconds my ass—that was a one-clash win!'
Kim Shun, his opponent, was handpicked by Professor Kang Geom-seon. Kwak Du-pal couldn't even gauge the prowess needed to beat him in one exchange.
'Fuck... I totally picked the wrong guy to mess with. Should I grovel? Nah, I haven't even done anything yet—what's there to forgive? Haha!'
While Kwak Du-pal was clutching his head and losing it over Kim Si-woo,
Kang Hwa-yeon was watching him.
'Kim Si-woo, that movement just now...'
Kang Hwa-yeon had caught it, brief as it was: Kim Si-woo's impossible maneuver.
'At the entrance ceremony, in the spar with Professor Kang Geom-seon, and now again. Unexplainable movement. And in this match, what he used was definitely...'
It was clumsy and a bit off, but the framework unmistakably resembled [Flash Strike].
And that was her uncle, Professor Kang Geom-seon's signature move.
'Just how deep are his connections?'
All the outrageous actions and even more outrageous results Kim Si-woo had shown so far—she was convinced they tied back to her father, Kang Young-ho.
'Kim Si-woo. No way... Is he the successor Dad has in mind?'
This misunderstanding was fueling her irritation toward Kim Si-woo, bordering on inferiority.
The next match was her against Kim Si-woo.
She'd see it clearly up close and hammer home the gap between them.
That's what Kang Hwa-yeon anticipated.
'I'll crush you thoroughly, Kim Si-woo. And make you understand: the sole heir to Inferno is me, Kang Hwa-yeon.'
"Next up: Kim Si-woo versus Kang Hwa-yeon."
Professor Kang Geom-seon looked our way with a subtle smile.
From his perspective, it'd be an entertaining bout.
His cherished niece against the disciple he'd taught [Flash Strike] to.
He had to be looking forward to it.
No, he definitely was.
"Kang Hwa-yeon versus Kim Si-woo? How's this one gonna go?"
"No way the top student loses, right?"
"Yeah, she's the top for a reason."
"Hey, still—go for it, Kim Si-woo!"
"Yeah! Fight like a man and lose with honor!"
Cheering? Or is telling me to lose considered cheering?
Not sure how to classify it.
This felt unfamiliar.
'Sorry to disappoint.'
I wouldn't get a proper fight out of Kang Hwa-yeon. No plans to flaunt an unrestrained [Bunny Hop] for attention either. And with the academy raid coming up, I had zero interest in wasting energy.
'Above all...'
Kang Hwa-yeon's glare right now was no joke.
She seemed seriously pissed at me for some reason.
'What did I even do?'
If I beat her now, I'd be properly etched in her bad books.
Kang Hwa-yeon was a main character in Awakening to SSS Hunter Academy and the only daughter of Inferno Clan's leader, Kang Young-ho.
Earning her enmity...
'Would be a nightmare.'
Absolutely not.
No matter what, I pass.
Here, losing to her was the smart play, no question.
'Come on then, Princess of Inferno.'
I'll lose perfectly.