Why Only to Me (3)
"…."
I stepped into the quiet alleyway. Naturally, I was wrapped tightly in a Rune Barrier. I stayed on high alert, ready to react the moment an ambush hit, but no enemies appeared.
Thud. Thud.
The deeper I ventured into the alley, the thicker the lingering traces of mana became. In the eerie silence, broken only by my steady breathing and footsteps, I pushed my Mana Resonance to its limits to pinpoint the opponent's mana.
The fight itself was stacked against me. They'd strike from hiding, and I was the fool walking right into the trap.
That's when a dagger conjured from mana hurtled straight at me from the front.
Clang!
From the front?
Clang! Clang! Clang!
The opponent wasn't dumb enough to reveal their position. Almost simultaneously with the frontal strike, mana blades came from above, the right, and behind—three directions at once.
The incoming mana blades were simple but fast and powerful. Even trying to trace their owner via the mana threads attached to the daggers was futile; they severed the connections instantly.
The attacks are weak.
It felt like they were tapping a watermelon to check its ripeness—probing the strength of my barrier with light jabs.
Clang! Clang!
Every time I advanced, more mana daggers flew at me, and I focused even harder.
The hidden foe was definitely stronger than me. To have any shot at winning, I needed to force a face-to-face. Strong or weak, I had to engage first to stand a chance.
It was a race: finding the stealthy bastard first, or them breaching my Rune Barrier before I could.
Clang!
After deflecting dozens of mana blades with my Rune Barrier, I halted for a moment.
"…Something's off."
It was weird. Too many things didn't add up.
For starters, this alley. No matter how far I walked, the end never came into view. I had the entire academy shopping district memorized—for escape routes in case of an ambush like this.
Over twenty minutes had passed since I started blocking blades and pushing through. I should've hit the main street by now… but the dark alley ahead stretched on endlessly.
The sun was setting, and nightfall would favor the hider even more. But the endless alley wasn't the biggest issue.
The killing intent radiating from them was real. The oppressive weight of their mana screamed elite-level. The intruder's power was top-tier—no contesting that.
Whether in mana quality or sheer level… they outclassed me completely. It was the same gut reaction I'd felt facing Im Sol or Rebecca—the instinctive response to a body-honed superior.
Yet the attacks hitting me were feeble. Weak spells from such refined mana? Possible for an amateur, but not someone who'd reached this rank. Balance like that would've kept them from the top.
Like how gathering regional number ones still yields a new top dog, only the genius among geniuses become Im Sol-level monsters.
And while the attacks were weak, the follow-ups were masterful. Severing mana trails to stay hidden? Pro-level finesse.
Are they holding back?
A villain trope, sure. The cliché where they go easy and get reversed by the protagonist.
But that shit doesn't fly in reality.
"…."
I racked my brain fast.
A ridiculously strong ambusher dragging this out instead of finishing quick, despite clearly aiming for my life.
They wanted something from me. Or they were some psycho thrill-killer… but no one that strong matched the world's pleasure-killers, at least not in my knowledge.
And the timing. Rewind recent events, and suspects narrowed.
Pandemic's skull masks first. Recent attack, targeting me and Moon Sulin blatantly. But they'd end it fast, not stall.
Rebecca next. First meeting was an ambush, but no reason to hit me now.
A monstrous powerhouse connected to me…
Digging through memories, one hypothesis clicked.
Iris Guild.
Two days ago, I'd given Ellis that massage. I'd sidelined Scarlett out of worry her doting guild master dad might spy on me.
Isaac, Iris leader, wasn't a big player in the original story. Strong, sure, but not the type for a harem game heroine route. Hell, he barely showed his face.
So I hadn't expected an actual ambush…
"…."
Hah, no one else fit. My rap sheet was long—Moon Sulin's grandpa the academy chairman scared me a bit, and the association I'd stolen Baek Ayoung from probably hated my guts. But they wouldn't jump me.
"Hoo."
If they wanted me dead, they'd have gone all-out already. No assassin drags their feet.
Best assume Isaac and play accordingly.
I dropped the Rune Barrier cloaking me.
And then.
Blood Beat.
Thump-thump-
I expanded my mana circuits. Flows smoothed out, mana density around me thickening.
In this state, I could react and block instantly. Risky against most, but if it was Isaac…
I knew two solid facts about him. Insanely doting dad. And pride so fragile it'd shatter at a slight.
Even if not him, pissing them off to force a reveal worked for me. Track their mana if they ramped up.
Not bad.
Risky, but stalemate got me nowhere. Time to bait them out.
I surged mana for reactions and pressed deeper into the alley.
*
"Whoa, blocking like a pro, huh? They weren't kidding about the genius mage—impressive stuff."
Clang- Clang-
Isaac nodded as he flung mana at Lee Ho-yeon.
"…."
Crazy bastard.
Time to ditch this guild and jump ship to Ho-yeon.
Scarlett stared at Isaac's back, masking her thoughts. He was like a boy getting revenge, screaming Touch my toy and this happens!
Not that he'd see Ellis as a toy… just loved her too much, lost his mind.
"Scarlett. What're you thinking?"
Isaac glanced back with a grin. Scarlett flinched but switched to a natural pity-party face for Ho-yeon.
"…You should probably show yourself soon. We've dragged this out long enough."
Thirty minutes of this nonsense? Scarlett was frustrated.
Strong folks always had quirks. Ho-yeon with women, Isaac with Ellis.
"Kid's not scared. Barrier's too damn sturdy for an opener. I'm shooting soft so it doesn't even sting."
Who wouldn't block flying blades? Scarlett reasoned calmly.
"…Still, hogging a public path this long could cause issues."
"Yeah? Don't folks just think Fight in progress and walk on with a barrier up?"
"Korea's got good security—rarely happens."
Unlucky, a passing high-rank hunter might report it. Bad eggs around, but weirdly many good Samaritans.
"Sigh. Fine, wrap it up. Got too into playing."
Even a student blocking his shots nonstop surprised him. He'd held back plenty, but most 'hunters' couldn't handle that.
Hate to end it like this.
He'd wanted to flex: I'm Ellis's dad.This is the father of the girl you're eyeing.Think you can handle it?
But emerging after failed potshots from afar? Undignified, against his philosophy.
Better bail if revealing anyway.
Then Ho-yeon pulled a wild move. Dropped his rock-solid mystery barrier and charged deeper.
Risked exposing the space-stretch spell if he got too close.
"What's that guy doing?"
"…."
Ho-yeon's nuts too, huh.
Scarlett gave up understanding and spectated the two crazies.
"He's provoking me, right?"
"…No idea."
For real. Why? Just pissing Isaac off more.
"Scarlett."
"Yes."
"Dragged too long, huh. Student provoking me."
"…He didn't know it was you. Calm down and—"
"Going in person. Catch him down in one minute, then talk. Follow."
"…Yes, sir."
Haa. Scarlett shut her eyes and trailed him.
I'm out.
One minute KO meant full power. Student and Ellis's friend, so no kill. Just hope not too hurt.
Scarlett prepped high-tier shield spells and followed into the alley.
*
…Wasn't this it?
Provocation worked—they charged out.
Clang!
Crackle!
Problem: too strong.
Kagagang!
I blocked the mana slamming my Rune Barrier. Alley concrete crumbled from the deflected remnants alone.
Clang!
Whoosh-
A brutal shock hit too. Something pounding my barrier relentlessly. Invisible speed.
Wide-eye.
Focused eyes to track, but nada. Felt like an insurmountable wall.
Lucky I'd met Rebecca yesterday. Her upgraded Rune Barrier held.
No barrier? No counterattack dreams.
Whoosh-
Flames trailed my hand, sticking to the ground in a 10m radius circle before shooting skyward.
My mana linked to all fire.
Crackle-
Faint dissonance. No ignoring physics—hiding meant touching flames.
I concentrated fire there fast.
Whoosh-!
Kagagang!
But something burst from the flames, hitting my barrier again. I endured the shock and stepped forward.
Mana vines from my toes chased their form.
They retreated, as planned.
Pretend-chase while drawing a magic circle.
Flames everywhere again. Forced escape meant broken stance.
10m lock—unavoidable. Gotcha.
But.
"…Fuck, seriously."
They vanished. Literally.
From the 10m-diameter fire zone, gone.
Teleported out? Nah, different vibe. Mana there just ceased.
Like Nam Da-eun slicing space—erased from existence.
Kwaaaang!
Suddenly, a blond hunk appeared before me. Teeth gritted, pride wounded but smirking amused. Swung at my Rune Barrier.
Crackle- Crackle-
Too damaged, it shattered like glass. I reeled back.
"Haa…."
A handsome blond stood ahead, Scarlett tailing like a secretary.
Isaac.
Blond alone wasn't sure, but Scarlett confirmed.
She avoided my eyes—smart, dodging exposure.
Isaac seemed clueless about us.
Huff- Huff-
I panted like post-marathon; he was fresh.
Insanely strong.
I'd gone all-out. No big spirals from no openings… but that's their skill too.
This was my max. No match, as expected. Premature to rival world-top yet—conscience clear.
Thud thud.
Isaac approached, and I finally sensed it.
"How the hell do you beat this."
Unleashed presence hit like a realm gap. Rune Barrier from Rebecca just barely held.
That wasn't a real fight. He hadn't gone for the kill—just standoff.
Thump-thump-
No murder intent from him. But the gap spiked my battle instincts, heart racing.
Any real intent, I'd die. Instinct screamed it.
Isaac closed in. Could've killed anytime, yet toyed 10+ minutes. Had words for me.
Wonder what, after pushing so hard.
Up close, his breath was slightly ragged. Pride boost.
I stared tensely.
Tsk.
Isaac smacked his lips and spoke.
"…You pass."
"…?"