Chapter 48
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 48
Chapter Title: Academy Raid Incident. But with Kang Hwa-yeon
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"There's no way I could acknowledge someone like you."
Kang Hwa-yeon, frowning and muttering to herself.
She wasn't even paying attention to her surroundings, which was completely unlike her.
"Hey, isn't Kang Hwa-yeon acting a bit weird...? Was she always like that?"
"Right? She seemed so gentle, like an apostle of justice when we first saw her, but now she looks kinda sharp."
"What did Kim Si-woo do!"
"Did he provoke her like he did with Kim Shun?!"
What the hell did I do.
This is so unfair.
Kang Hwa-yeon's eyes burned like she wanted to kill me right then and there.
Honestly, it was a little intimidating.
'No, I'm already intimidated.'
What should I say.
How do I get her to cool those fiery eyes.
Yeah, even though we're cold to each other, she respects her father, Kang Young-ho.
He's the only common ground between me and Kang Hwa-yeon, so a safe greeting about him should work.
With her anger in mind, I forced the words out through my trembling lips.
"Is your father...?"
Oh, shit.
I panicked, and the "well" got swallowed up.
-Beeeep
The buzzer signaling the start of the match blared before I could even finish.
My excuse got drowned out by the noise.
"Did you see that?! Kim Si-woo, that guy's totally insane!"
"Dad-dissing the Inferno Clan Chairman right in front of Hwa-yeon?!"
"What a psycho."
"Where does he get the balls?!"
Aw.
This wasn't what I meant.
No, really, I didn't.
I'm not some dad-joke troll.
'I have nothing to do with Chairman Kang Young-ho, but it seems like you're misunderstanding something, Hwa-yeon.' That's what I wanted to say.
As the signal for the duel rang out, Kang Hwa-yeon's sword burst into blazing flames.
-Roarrr.
"My father isn't someone you can just toss into your mouth so casually, Kim Si-woo."
The flames burned even hotter than before.
Her eyes did too.
Her sword did too.
Damn.
This is so unfair.
Fine, since it's come to this, I'll make it crystal clear.
You're superior, Hwa-yeon. There's no way I can beat you!
That's the stance I'll take.
With that thought, I clumsily blocked her sword as she closed the distance in an instant.
-Clang!
'What kind of power is this...!'
The strike hit heavier than even Kim Shun's, a guy, and my guard crumbled easily in shock.
Right after, her blade slid straight to my neck, as if it were only natural.
"I lost."
My words sealed Kang Hwa-yeon's victory.
Defeat in 5 seconds?
No, it felt like I lost the moment it started.
"Kang Hwa-yeon wins!"
"Can't beat Hwa-yeon after all."
"Told you, Kim Si-woo's strong in a surprising way, but the top seat isn't top for nothing."
Honestly, even I was surprised.
I figured I'd block a strike or two before losing.
But her first attack was way heavier than expected, and I dropped my sword.
'My hand's numb.'
I could've dodged plenty with [Bunny Hop] or [Fate Intervention].
'Bunny Hop looks too obvious, and Fate Intervention has way too long a cooldown.'
After one use, I'd have to wait half a day. With the academy raid hitting this afternoon, I couldn't waste [Fate Intervention] here.
'Who knows what'll happen.'
Either way, I lost naturally in the end.
Now Kang Hwa-yeon shouldn't bother me anymore.
That was when it happened.
"What is this."
Kang Hwa-yeon seemed stunned for a moment, like she couldn't believe what just happened, then shouted.
"What are you doing."
She glared at me with fury-filled eyes.
"Why didn't you use it?"
"What..."
"You're gonna pretend you don't know right to the end, huh. Fun toying with me? Lose on purpose so you can pity me?"
Her sharp voice lashed out at me in accusation.
Kang Hwa-yeon was a girl who played the perfect leader.
That's why she always spoke softly and kindly to everyone.
For her to say something like this in front of everyone meant one thing.
'She's pissed as hell.'
Why are you doing this to me, teach.
The other students were shocked by her changed tone too.
"What is Hwa-yeon even saying?"
"She's saying Kim Si-woo went easy on her?!"
"No way..."
Go easy? On what.
This is so unfair.
My hand's numb; I can barely hold the sword.
Kang Hwa-yeon bit her trembling lip and murmured.
"Ah, so I'm not even worth the effort for you."
Blood trickled from her lips.
-Boom!
With that, she slammed her fist against the door and stormed out of the class.
...
The air turned icy in an instant.
'Things went really sideways.'
The looks aimed at me grew complicated.
"Isn't Hwa-yeon just misunderstanding...? Went easy? Didn't look like that to me."
"No way Kim Si-woo went easy. He can barely keep up at full strength as it is."
"Maybe something we couldn't see was going on."
Naturally, most agreed that Kang Hwa-yeon's outburst came from a misunderstanding.
And most students were thrown off by her unexpected behavior.
That was when.
"As expected, there's no way Hwa-yeon could've beaten Kim Si-woo..."
Kwak Du-pal muttered while swallowing hard. The students around him pounced.
"No way Hwa-yeon can't beat Kim Si-woo? What do you mean?!"
"You know something, don't you?"
"D-Damn it! I don't know anything! Get off me, you bastards!"
Kwak Du-pal yelled at the students in startled panic.
His suspicious behavior only made the atmosphere weirder.
"Come to think of it, there was that rumor Kwak Du-pal bowed to Kim Si-woo..."
"Nah, no way."
"But seeing him act like that..."
...
Hey, you crazy bastard. Kwak Du-pal, what the hell are you doing.
Why are you making the mood even stranger.
"Can't be helped."
Professor Kang Geom-seon looking at me.
It must be awkward for him too. To his eyes, I might've really been pushed back, but Kang Hwa-yeon, who fought me directly, was furious.
He'd probably never seen his niece that mad before.
Looks like I scratched her sky-high pride.
'But I didn't think she'd storm out mid-class.'
Sorry, but no choice today.
Chasing her to apologize for the misunderstanding might fix it, but.
Glancing at my smartwatch on my wrist, it read 9:59 AM.
'No time to hang out more today.'
Academy raid in four hours. Too much prep to do till then.
Lots to gain from the hive today.
"We'll raid Seoul Hunter Academy today as planned. Target: Lee Seong-hyeon."
Purity Faction had hesitated to raid Seoul Hunter Academy due to the risks, but with the genius Lee Seong-hyeon emerging, they could delay no longer.
They had to nip his talent in the bud before it grew too massive to handle.
"Priority target is Lee Seong-hyeon."
"Then that top student..."
"Of course, we kill any we can root out now. No matter how lacking her talent, she's the one who beat Lee Seong-hyeon for now. Who knows how it might bloom later."
Kang Hwa-yeon, who had never taken top seat in ten regressions.
Until now, all eyes had been on Lee Seong-hyeon, keeping her off Purity Faction's radar.
But now that she was top, her fate had changed.
"For now, Kim Si-woo continues the tournament without Kang Hwa-yeon."
"Pardon?"
Hold on.
That's not right.
"But she won, so how can I..."
"She left because of you, so no choice."
Professor Kang Geom-seon shook his head.
Why is it my fault.
This guy's just itching to see more of my fights.
-BOOM!!!!
In that moment, a deafening explosion roared from far away.
-Beeeeeeeeep
"Kyaaah!"
"W-What's happening!"
"What was that?!"
The blast shook my vision for a second, leaving a sharp ringing in my ears.
This is...
No doubt about it. The explosion signaling Purity Faction's academy raid.
But there were still four hours till the incident time.
'What the hell?'
Right then, Professor Kang Geom-seon's smartphone rang.
Definitely a call summoning him.
"Looks like something's up in Building 1. This place is safe, so stay put here."
As expected.
Purity Faction hit Building 1 where Lee Seong-hyeon is. Raid time shifted for some reason, but otherwise playing out the same.
"Stay here until I return!"
Professor Kang Geom-seon shouted that and rushed out of the classroom.
"What the hell's going on?!"
"Professor's gone?"
"Dunno, SAC says something blew up in Building 1?"
"Terrorism...?!"
"No way. Who'd be crazy enough to terrorize here. Probably an accident."
Unfortunately, Purity Faction is crazy in the most solid way.
"Professor said stay here, so let's wait."
"Yeah, guess so."
The training room I'm in is far from Building 1, so no raid here.
Staying put is technically safest.
'But I need to get out.'
Time for the classic extra escape route.
I crept toward the door carefully.
Then took a deep breath.
"Hey, why's Kim Si-woo acting like that?"
"Kyaaaaaaaaaah! Save me!!"
Yeah, you guys are way too calm. It's unnatural.
We've gotta have at least one screaming extra.
I yelled that and bolted out the door.