Chapter 99
Chapter 99
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 99
Chapter Title: 1-on-1 Duel (5)
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"Ah... now I have to take first place."
I'd actually been thinking it made more sense to throw the finals to Nam Da-eun.
Diving into her route this early would complicate things too much, and picking a fight with Buyer Guild—who had her weakness in their grasp—still felt too risky.
Sure, if I mobilized all my connections, it might be doable. But was it worth the hassle?
In half a year, my position would be even more secure, and my abilities would grow stronger.
It'd be way easier to deal with them then.
But with every heroine's favorability at 1...
"That's a pretty big deal."
Right now, my heroines numbered eight: Lucy, Lumi, Nam Da-eun, Ellis, Moon Soo-rin, Im Sol, Lilia, and Baek A-young.
A favorability quest worth a whopping 8 points.
"Tch... maybe I should just win the whole thing."
Buyer Guild or whatever—couldn't I just work hard and handle it?
Acting first and dealing with the fallout didn't sound half bad...
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ A-Class Ellis cadet vs. A-Class Nam Da-eun cadet's match will begin shortly! Spectators, please take your seats. For now, I'd watch the match and think it over.
On screen, Ellis and Nam Da-eun faced each other in the arena.
They were already prepared.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ 5, 4, 3, 2, 1. Match start! The moment the match began, Nam Da-eun closed the distance with Ellis in a flash.
With agile movements, she struck first with her sword.
Ellis would probably prefer parrying lightly in close quarters before creating distance.
After all, she couldn't win a pure swordfight against Nam Da-eun.
It all came down to whether Nam Da-eun would give her an opening to cast properly—and of course, she wouldn't.
Vines burst from thin air, wrapping around Nam Da-eun's arms and hindering her movements. She sliced them away swiftly and charged Ellis.
Ellis blocked the sword while drawing a magic circle, and a pillar of flame erupted from the ground, forcing Nam Da-eun to leap back and widen the gap.
"They're on another level..."
Definitely a cut above the other cadets.
The two traded blows relentlessly.
At a glance, it looked even, but to my eyes, Ellis was headed for defeat again.
Her congenital mana deficiency would soon reach its limit.
"..."
Ellis's expression stiffened briefly as the match continued.
Her mana, charged from mana stones, had run dry.
From that point, she shifted to a defensive style.
She parried Nam Da-eun's attacks as best she could, waiting for an opening, but Nam Da-eun gave her none.
Instead, she accelerated her movements, pressing the assault even harder.
"Kgh!"
Nam Da-eun's spatial dominance quickened her reactions to everything in her domain.
The closer they got, the more Ellis was pushed back—and with her spellcasting frequency dropping, she couldn't hold out.
In the end, wounds accumulated on Ellis's body until a deep gash across her chest sealed her defeat.
⚔ MATCH RESULT ⚔ Winner: A-Class Nam Da-eun Cadet!
Ellis hung her head, trembling with frustration, before composing herself with dignified resolve and leaving the arena.
"Until she cures that mana disorder, she just can't compete."
Of course, I knew how to fix Ellis's congenital mana disorder.
It was basically the core of her route.
Confronting her sister Irene, and treating the mana disorder.
Clear those two tasks, and her route was practically done.
Her conquering timing lined up with Nam Da-eun's too.
A villain who could cure the mana disorder appeared in the mid-to-late game, so you couldn't fully conquer her before then.
It was frustrating in the game, but for me, it was a relief.
Getting too close to a heroine I couldn't fully conquer would just pile on the headaches.
I had no idea why her favorability had spiked so much—it was a bit disorienting—but if it stayed high until her route unlocked, that'd be ideal.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ The long-awaited Victoria Academy 1st-year 1-on-1 duel. Only the finals remain! A-Class Lee Ho-yeon cadet vs. A-Class Nam Da-eun cadet in the ultimate showdown! We'll begin after a break for the finalists' final condition checks. The semifinals ended, leaving about an hour break.
"What now...?"
I stepped out of the waiting room. Staying cooped up felt stifling.
The finalists' lounge was just for me and Nam Da-eun now.
The other rooms were empty, nameplates removed.
The quiet hallway had only a lonely vending machine that no one seemed to use.
Maybe head to the stands. Kim Young-han, Lucy, and Lumi might be there.
I descended from the waiting room floor toward the spectator seats.
"Hi?"
Suddenly, someone approached and greeted me.
"Oh... hi. Good match."
"Thanks. Even though I lost."
Ellis smiled faintly and continued.
Her coming over to greet me first? What was with this sudden sweetness?
★ Heroine Status ★ [Ellis] Favorability: 62 Lust: 25 Appetite: 30 Fatigue: 20 Current Status: I should consult with the Saint too. 'Consult...?'
What kind of consultation? And why think that while looking at me?
I'd ask Baek A-young about it later.
"Where you headed?"
Ellis asked first.
"Just to the stands to see some familiar faces."
"Better not. It's crawling with reporters—total chaos."
"... Guess I'll go later."
Getting snagged by reporters and slipping up once would be disastrous.
"Good luck in the finals. But don't push too hard."
"Thanks. Take care of yourself too."
Ellis waved lightly and vanished.
A pretty girl turning nice was a sight for sore eyes.
Though it was a bit disappointing. I kinda liked her prickly charm.
No reporters in the stands? Back to the lounge, then.
I retraced my steps.
As I entered the lounge for some meditation, someone stood before that lonely vending machine in the hall.
'What the...'
Spotting Nam Da-eun's profile, I instinctively ducked behind the wall.
She stared intently at the vending machine, lips pursed.
★ Heroine Status ★ [Nam Da-eun] Favorability: 31 Lust: 20 Appetite: 30 Fatigue: 33 Current Status: Sweet Mint Choco... I want it, but if I get this, I'll have to walk to meet Da-hee... Maybe yesterday's good-guy act at the mart had worked—her favorability jumped from 11 to 31.
Sweet Mint Choco? Whatever. Time to approach.
"Hi?"
"... Hi."
Nam Da-eun blinked at my sudden appearance.
Fair enough—acting chummy with your upcoming opponent was weird.
I casually tapped my smartwatch to the payment pad.
- Please select your beverage.
Among the drinks was Sweet Mint Choco. I moved my finger toward the banana milk next to it, then "slipped" onto the Mint Choco.
"Oops?"
Clunk.
"Ah, hit the wrong one."
Clunk.
I selected banana milk next, dispensed it, and feigned embarrassment.
"What to do with this. I don't do mint choco. Want it?"
Even I had to admit, it was smooth as silk.
"Huh...?"
Nam Da-eun awkwardly echoed, caught off guard by my offer.
"I don't like mint choco, but I accidentally got it."
"... If you're giving it, I'll take it."
She blushed faintly as she accepted the Mint Choco.
Why the embarrassment?
★ Heroine Status ★ [Nam Da-eun] Favorability: 31 Lust: 20 Appetite: 30 Fatigue: 33 Current Status: Did my craving show that much...? Even pretended to slip and buy it for me... 'How'd she know?!'
My acting was flawless... She was sharp, alright.
"Sorry if that rubbed you wrong. I just wanted to treat you—no other meaning."
If she'd seen through the act, better apologize.
She might think I pitied her, which would sour the mood.
"I'll enjoy it."
Fortunately, she didn't seem upset.
"Gotta head to the lounge. See you."
Nam Da-eun moved to end the chat and leave. But something felt off—unfinished.
With only the finals left and her favorability up, more talk seemed wise.
Opportunities like this didn't come often.
"Nam Da-eun."
"Yeah?"
In the end, I stopped her just before she entered her lounge.
"We've got time before the finals. Wanna chat?"
I doubted she'd agree, but nothing ventured, nothing gained.
"... Sure? Come to my lounge, then."
Huh? It worked?
She entered first, and I followed.
As expected, the layout matched mine perfectly.
"..."
"..."
But what to say?
"Uh, good match with Ellis."
"Thanks. You did well too."
"..."
What were her hobbies again? Housework? Sale shopping?
'Can't bring that up now.'
Ding.
Nam Da-eun's smartwatch chimed—a message.
She glanced at me sidelong; maybe I was cramping her style? Could be little sis call time.
"If it's urgent, I'll head out. Catch you later."
I moved to leave first, not wanting to overstay.
"Lee Ho-yeon. You... want first place too, right?"
Her words stopped me cold.
First time she'd said my name. Sounded important.
"Y-yeah. First place would be great."
Couldn't deny it—clawing to the finals for nothing would look suspicious.
"I've never shown this to anyone... Sigh."
Suddenly, she started a video call on her smartwatch.
"Uh...?"
- Sis!
The bright voice of her little sister came through, silencing me.
I sat beside Nam Da-eun, but angled out of camera view.
Nothing wrong with being here, but it felt like I shouldn't appear.
"Doing okay?"
- Yeah! Saw your semifinal vid! You were awesome!
"Already watched it?"
Nam Da-eun chatted freely with her sister, ignoring me.
- Wanna see? I drew you winning the finals!
"Heh. Cute. That guy on the ground—is he my opponent?"
- Yup! Hot bro. But he loses to sis!
"..."
A crudely drawn girl pumped her fists in victory, while a guy lay defeated with X eyes.
Me...?
The call lasted over ten minutes.
"Gonna go, sis. Talk after finals."
- Win it! Love you, sis!
"Love you too, Da-hee."
Beep.
She ended the call, closed her eyes briefly, then looked at me.
"That's my little sister. To get her hospital bills covered, I have to take first in practicals. That's why I need to win."
"... I see."
"Sorry for not cooperating in the group project. Just... sorry."
Her opening up already? That one image management play had really paid off?
Not everything, but still huge progress.
"So... even if I take first, don't hate me for it."
Maybe she'd already hit her limit?
Hearts weren't simple. A small nudge could spark big change.
Like a butterfly's wingbeat birthing a storm—maybe that's what happened with her.
Ha, what to say to that?
Didn't want to botch it and snag things up.
Knock knock knock.
A knock interrupted my thoughts.
"Nam Da-eun cadet~ Final medical check before the finals."
"Yes, come in."
Click.
"Oh?"
"Hello, Nurse Baek."
Baek A-young's eyes widened in surprise at seeing me in Nam Da-eun's lounge.
"Y-you're here, Lee Ho-yeon cadet."
★ Heroine Status ★ [Baek A-young] Favorability: 87 (+0.4) Lust: 73 Appetite: 30 Fatigue: 35 Current Status: I was gonna wrap up quick and find him... why's he here? Coming to find me again.
Maybe to make up for what Im Sol interrupted earlier?
"Nurse Baek, since you're doing medical checks, might as well do mine too while you're here."
"Uh...? N-no, we should do them separately..."
Baek A-young's face screamed this isn't what I had in mind.
Tch. Couldn't tease more with Nam Da-eun watching.
"Kidding. I'll wait in my lounge."
"Y-yeah. Be right there."
'Wish she'd hold off till after the finals.'
I needed to manage my condition too.
When she came to my lounge, I'd tease her plenty before sending her off.