Chapter 97
Chapter 97
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 97
Chapter Title: 1-on-1 Duel (3)
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⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ The quarterfinals will begin soon. Please take your seats, spectators. "Looks like it's starting now. I'll head back. Good luck in the main rounds."
"Yes. Thank you. I'll stop by the lab after today's exam is over."
"Sure. Got it."
Im Sol headed back to the stands at the announcement that it was about to begin.
In the heat of discussing magic research, I'd gone and promised to visit her lab today.
Time for me to get ready too.
There weren't many matches left now.
Four quarterfinals, then straight to the semifinals and finals after that.
The quarterfinals would probably wrap up, followed by lunch, then semis and finals.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ The first match is between A-Class cadet Kim Young-han and A-Class cadet Jeong Yeon-joo! Give them a round of applause! The first match was Kim Young-han's.
Mine was next, so if he won, we'd face off in the semis.
I hadn't gotten a good look at his abilities in the round of 16 against a weak opponent, so it would be nice to see them now.
The match began, and Kim Young-han used a peculiar skill.
Thorns sprouted from his sword, overwhelming Jeong Yeon-joo throughout the duel.
"That sword looks pretty cool and all... but it feels kinda off."
It was solidly upper-mid tier cadet material—nothing more, nothing less.
Strong among average cadets, but a different league from top-tiers like Nam Da-eun or Ellis.
'I could beat that level easily.'
I shook off my worries and prepared for my match.
After Kim Young-han's match, there'd be about ten minutes' rest before mine, so I needed to warm up and head to the athlete waiting area.
Knock knock knock.
"Cadet Lee Ho-yeon. Time to prepare for your match~."
"Yes. Understood."
The staff arrived right on cue.
I followed them to the athlete waiting area for my next match.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Match over! The winner is A-Class cadet Kim Young-han! The match ended with Kim Young-han's straightforward victory.
And now it was my turn...
"Of all people, it's this asshole."
The bracket listed Do Jin-hyuk's name.
These days, I was too famous for him to mess with me directly, but he was that A-Class punk who'd picked pointless fights before.
We'd been ignoring each other while chasing girls, but of all places, we end up matched here.
Winning wasn't an issue; it was just annoying and a hassle.
"Cadet Lee Ho-yeon. Your match is up now."
"Yes. Understood."
Ten minutes had flown by already.
I headed to the arena for the duel.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Next up! A duel between A-Class cadet Lee Ho-yeon and A-Class cadet Do Jin-hyuk! Both are incredible prospects. This is going to be an exciting match! The announcer's hype mixed with the crowd's cheers, making my ears ring.
I scanned the first-year cadet section, spotted Lumi, and waved.
She shyly raised her hand in a quick wave before shrinking back under the stares.
Glancing at the VIP seats where the professors gathered, I saw Im Sol's face.
I waved to her too. She nodded slightly in return, and the cat-like beauty next to her waved both hands enthusiastically.
"Who's that?"
She was pretty, but a stranger.
Im Sol seemed to say something to her, but she was too far to hear.
Time to head up to the arena anyway, so I turned and climbed in.
Do Jin-hyuk stood before me, radiating hostility.
"Don't get cocky just 'cause you're famous lately. I'm gonna crush you."
"..."
Why was this guy like this?
Thinking about it, I'd never done anything to harm him.
Jealous of my success, maybe?
In the original story, he'd pick fights despite being weak enough to barely make A-Class, but I'd been A-Class from the start.
"Hey, you hate me, right?"
"Yeah. I do."
I spoke to Do Jin-hyuk while the commentator droned on about our careers and winner predictions.
"Why? Did I hurt you? Trash-talk you behind your back? That was all you."
Do Jin-hyuk fell silent.
"Or do you just hate me for no reason? Wanna kill me just looking at my face?"
"...I won't deny it. Seeing your face just pisses me off. Can't stand it."
"Hm."
His reaction seemed genuine.
Was it because he was scripted as a villain?
Do Jin-hyuk was a villain in the original.
Even with the story derailed, fate made him my antagonist.
Like how Moon Soo-rin, the easiest heroine to win over, gains affection just seeing me—same deal, different direction.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Quarterfinal 1-on-1 duel, second match—beginning now...! The commentator finished listing our careers, and the duel was about to start.
"Yeah. Give it your all."
I had no intention of saving him, pitiful or not.
Overwhelm him, and he'd realize he was outmatched and back off.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [5, 4, 3, 2, 1. Duel start!] Mana surged from Do Jin-hyuk's body.
His materialized mana enveloped him, forming a full-body shield.
Brutal close-quarters combat leveraging immense defense and physical prowess—that was his specialty.
He kicked off with force, charging at me at a decent speed, but it was easy to predict.
Thump.
My heart beat a bit faster.
Even so, Combat Sense reacted slightly to this famed prospect.
'Clairvoyance.'
I readied for battle to meet him head-on.
Finishing quick would best show the gap in our levels.
I summoned fireballs to harass him as he closed in.
He dodged them decently and swung a fist, but...
Bam!
No way could Do Jin-hyuk pierce my Cotton Guard, which even an ogre couldn't breach.
"Urk!"
He recoiled in shock from the rebound instead.
Whoosh!
I pressed the retreating Do Jin-hyuk, but his defense was indeed top-notch.
The rippling mana shield around him held firm.
'Not a total pushover.'
But I had the perfect skill for a defense-focused guy like him.
I accelerated the mana around me, preparing a counter.
Do Jin-hyuk sensed something off and charged again, but I was ready.
I read the trajectory of his incoming right fist, ducked, and ignited a weak flame in his eyes.
"Gah!"
Instinctively, people reel back when blinded momentarily.
Using Acceleration, I pursued, condensing mana into a spiral in my hand.
Do Jin-hyuk twisted to regain balance, but with double-cast, I summoned a fire pillar behind him.
Panicking, he forced his retreating body downward.
Planning to roll away, trusting his defense to tank one hit.
But my Spiral had pierced an ogre's hide.
"Gaaargh!"
I slammed Spiral into his back as he dodged, the impact triggering the safety protocol instantly.
Outside the mana field, that would've been lethal.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Match over! The winner is A-Class cadet Lee Ho-yeon! The referee's call confirmed my win, and the pumped announcer hyped the crowd.
The arena's mana barrier faded, and cheers assaulted my ears.
"Woooaaah!"
"Lee Ho-yeon! Lee Ho-yeon!"
Glancing at the VIP seats, Im Sol stared wide-eyed.
'Professor, your student's this strong.'
Why did it feel so satisfying?
Do Jin-hyuk was still down.
No physical damage thanks to safety, but the pain was real—like his back being torn open.
Kinda pitiful.
"...That's why you shouldn't pick fights, man. Tsk tsk."
I clicked my tongue as he was carried out on a stretcher.
*
Unlike the roaring stands, the VIP seats were deathly quiet.
Lee Ho-yeon's duel had stunned even the elite guests into silence.
"What was that last spell...? Looked like a unique skill, but that power...?"
"That's not first-year mana control...! Condensing mana that precisely is one thing, but zero loss in the process?!"
"He sped up mid-motion too. Another unique skill?"
One mutter sparked chatter among the others.
The match itself was short.
Do Jin-hyuk charged, got blocked, charged again, got countered—over.
In just over twenty seconds, Lee Ho-yeon displayed insane skill.
"Did that contact I ordered go well? What? No reply? Then go beg if you have to, you idiot!"
"No official guild backing, but that skillset—we have to snag him. Yes, terms don't matter..."
"Way stronger than Nam Da-eun. Overwhelmingly so compared to what she's shown!"
Scouts frantically messaged guilds; guild masters hounded them.
Im Sol and Min Ye-ji were just as shocked.
"...Sol. Sorry, but can I hit him up about guild recruitment? Business aside."
"...Do what you want."
Im Sol was reeling from her first glimpse of her student's combat prowess.
Stronger than she'd been at twenty.
Even stronger than when she'd been dubbed a monster amid envy and jealousy.
Though her "monster" rep stemmed more from instantly grasping any magic, Lee Ho-yeon's talent matched hers.
"Wow, how'd you spot a gem like that? You really have magic talent locked down, Sol."
"I have to protect him."
"Huh? From what?"
From humans worse than sea urchins interfering and targeting him.
Im Sol didn't want him walking her thorny path.
One monster like her was enough.
"Nothing. Never mind."
"Hmm, what message would make cadet Lee Ho-yeon reply..."
Min Ye-ji clocked Im Sol's mood shift and backed off.
She knew not to poke then.
*
"So strong..."
Ellis, waiting in the athlete area for her next match, was floored by Lee Ho-yeon's performance.
He was far stronger than she'd imagined.
"Handling mana like that despite congenital mana deficiency—what method did he use?"
Even mana stones couldn't sustain heavy output without strain.
Yet he'd chained high-end skills effortlessly.
That shield wasn't basic, and the speed boost and condensed mana attack were mana hogs.
Lee Ho-yeon wielded magic like he had no deficiency.
"He has a secret."
She had leads.
Top-grade mana stone. Or the Saintess.
One of them mitigated his condition.
"Was there some top-grade mana stone use I didn't know...?"
She'd researched them.
Iris Guild poured funds into curing her own deficiency.
But results mandated mid-to-low grade stones.
She'd even visited the Saintess.
Paid the association fee for healing.
But congenital issues were beyond her magic, she'd said.
So she'd forgotten her—until now. Maybe a recent breakthrough.
"Saintess later... Time to re-research top-grade stones..."
Ellis messaged Sebastian Chan for her old top-grade mana stone research notes.
Turning back to the screen, Lee Ho-yeon was bowing to the crowd.
"Polite too..."
Ellis wanted to befriend the one sharing her affliction.