Chapter 18
Chapter 18
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 18
Chapter Title: 17. The Duel's Price Seems Awfully High (2)
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"F-fucking... bitch...? How dare a lowly commoner like you talk like that..."
"You called me a fucking bitch first—what, got a problem with it?"
"..."
Seeing her unable to say a word now that I'm doubling down even harder, I can't help but think I should've gone this aggressive from the start...
"Quit dragging your feet and let's just duel already."
"There it is—the real you coming out. Fine, whatever. I don't know what you did, but I'm still winning this."
I can clearly see the haughty Philia trying to act tough to the end is actually feeling extremely uneasy right now.
Earlier, even when I wasn't fully recovered, she'd stared me down with the look of someone eyeing trash, her gaze burning with fury.
But now, she can't even meet my eyes properly, and that blazing anger has been replaced by bewilderment.
We stand in the center of the training grounds, facing each other at a distance.
The other students hang back, watching as spectators.
"In-hyeok! We've got faith in you!!"
Ruane's loud cheer from afar gives me a boost, while Philia looks utterly despairing, her face paling.
"Ruane..."
"Why the long face? I'm giving you the duel you wanted."
"That trash Song In-hyeok...!"
I know exactly why she's upset, but I keep needling her to make her even angrier.
"Ruane... Ruane would never cheer for a commoner like you. What... what the hell did you do to her?"
"What'd I do? It's 'cause you're a fucking bitch... right?"
"You damn commoner...!"
"Is 'commoner this, commoner that' the only insult you know? Learn some new ones, or are you too much of a noble to even swear properly? Heh."
"Uwaaaah!! Just come at me already, you trash!!!"
Keep trying to out-talk me, huh? In this world, a native Korean's trash talk is invincible—Koreans are gods at it...
Philia finally loses it, roaring without a care for the onlookers.
A little anger fuels greater power, but that level of rage just blinds you in a fight. I'll make you even madder, Philia. Heh heh heh...
"Looks like you're pretty pissed, huh? Rule number one: the strong don't rush the weak. Come at me first, Philia."
Her eyes bloodshot as she glares at me, Philia assumes her stance.
- Receives bonuses to all taming actions. - Gains partial stats from taming targets based on their favorability.
[Hidden ability unlocked via Crystal.]
- Favorability over 70 triggers status: [Heat]
- No taming target assigned.
Philia might be a terrifying existence to noobs with her quicksword style, but she's not that dangerous to me right now.
Even comparing our total stats, mine are overwhelmingly higher. All my combat stats outclass hers—there's no way I'd lose to Philia.
-Shwooooooo
Mana swirls around Philia in her stance like a raging storm.
She's channeling mana to lunge at max speed for a one-shot kill. I can read her like a book.
Taking such a straightforward stance and burning mana like that is basically screaming "I'm about to charge!" Even a Sword Saint, raised like a flower in the duke's greenhouse, looks so textbook.
"Venezia Style, First Sword: Flash!"
That technique Professor Eris used in class... It's the same one, just loaded with more mana—nothing else.
How does she pull the exact same shit even after Professor Eris warned her?
'An impressive attack, but it only looks straight ahead.' That's what Professor Eris said yesterday while blocking it.
Well, I did fill her head with rage to tunnel-vision her, so maybe it's unavoidable.
Still, blocking that pure sword technique might not cut it, so I rapidly condense mana and activate Magic Guard.
-Kiiing, krrrkrrrrrk
The moment she sees Magic Guard activate, she charges and swings, but her attack is completely shut down by the barrier and my sword.
"Venezia Style, Second Sword: Slash!"
"What...?"
I barely block the strike piercing through Magic Guard and quickly create distance.
"Urk..."
Thinking I've put some space between us, Philia charges again in a flash.
Damn... Was I too complacent? A Sword Saint really is no joke—she's strong.
"But..."
I cast three buff spells in an instant and parry her attack.
-Kiing, ki-kiing
After blocking her sword, we clash blades several times before I land a debuff on her.
"...!"
As her vision darkens from the Blind spell, I hurl magic at her while closing in.
Even sightless, she senses my presence and aura, slashing the spells aside and parrying my sword.
"Hoo... impressive. Guess the Sword Saint title isn't just for show. Pretty damn good even blind."
"...Shut your mouth."
I compliment her, and all I get is "shut up"... Philia, even you get hurt by words?
I dispel Blind and block her frenzied sword swings, then Blink away again. Philia looks pissed.
"Tch... Stop running and fight me head-on!"
"Heh heh... Why would I, you idiot?"
"Grr... You're trash through and through..."
"Less trash than the one telling me to go toe-to-toe with a Sword Saint."
Not yielding an inch verbally, I rile her up more. Like her opener, she starts gathering mana again.
Unlike before, she's pulling it from the surroundings—sparks flying. Probably her ultimate or something.
"Planning to end it in one shot?"
"If you're not total trash, then block it."
Philia with her lame taunt... You want to win that bad, huh?
I could disrupt it and wreck her, but if she pours everything in and still loses, that defeat will hit even harder...
Fine. Full power it is...!
-Shwooooooo
-Kwooooooo
Our mana surges wildly. Who'd think this is a student spar at the academy?
To onlookers, it must look like a clash of monsters.
Both of us, primed to unleash everything for that one decisive blow, lock eyes.
Our gazes meet, and like a signal...
I'd only stepped away for a quick break, sitting in a chair, but class was way overdue by the time I rushed to the training grounds—and there my students are, dueling each other.
One's the famed heir to the Venezia Ducal Family, a Sword Saint. The other's a human commoner with absurdly top-tier combat prowess... I can't fathom why they're fighting.
I ask Ruane Elisha, the elf princess who seems close to them, what's going on.
"Hm... Cadet Ruane, what's all this about?"
"Ah, Professor Eris... Well..."
The elf princess Ruane Elisha gives a brief rundown of the situation.
"Hm... So they're fighting over another cadet?"
"Y-yes? How does that even...?!"
"It's common for males to fight over a fine female. But this fight's weird—one side's a female."
"F-female...?!"
"Oh, sorry. As a beastkin, I use 'stud' and 'bitch' more than 'male' or 'female.' Did that offend you...?"
"N-no, it's just... I'm a beastkin too, so... I was just flustered."
The elf princess's face flushes red with embarrassment. Other races get shy over something as basic as stud and bitch? Baffling.
"But why are a male and female fighting over a female... er, woman?"
"I don't really know... I get she's worried since Philia's a close friend, but why go this far to tear In-hyeok away from me...?"
"Hm... No clue even if you ask me."
"Ah, n-no! That was just mumbling to myself... Not meant for you, Professor Eris...!"
"I see."
Elves and humans have always mumbled to themselves a lot. Guess the princess is no different.
"So what's the duel at stake? They're going at it like maniacs—the price can't be small."
"Well... Philia said if In-hyeok wins, she'll drop out of the academy. And In-hyeok said... if he wins..."
"He said...?"
"He gets to do whatever he wants with her for an hour a day..."
The Sword Saint stakes expulsion from the academy—a terrifying price—while Cadet Song In-hyeok picks something so trivial...
"Pfft... Puhaha!! Hahaha!!"
"Pr-Professor Eris?"
"Kh... Hahaha!! Sorry, elf princess. Cadet Song In-hyeok's stakes are just... pfft... puhuhu!"
Cadet Song In-hyeok, with his extraordinary combat ability, could rival not just academy students but even famed warriors.
Still growing, his individual powers aren't overwhelmingly superior, but his balance is even across the board.
I even lost control mid-spar with him once, instinctively channeling mana into my fist.
I was pissed about feeling like I lost, so I gave him a D... but honestly, he might be the first since I joined the faculty to earn an A from me.
I'd taken a bit of interest, thinking he'd be a big deal... and his duel demand is just 'one hour a day to do as I please'?
What a hilariously petty request from such a promising human. Thought he had a big vessel, but in this, he's small... Funny guy.
"Cadet Song In-hyeok... I like the cut of his jib."
"Y-yes? Professor Eris? What was that...?"
"Just mumbling, Cadet Ruane. Don't mind me. Heh."
Is this why elves and humans mumble so much? Professor Eris felt she'd gained a bit more understanding of them.
"Ah, okay..."
Could Professor Eris be interested in my husband too? Nah, no way I'd dare ask.
To even seduce someone as strong as Professor Eris... Hubby, you're too cool...♡
Hot...! But I wish he'd only have eyes for me... No, no... A man as amazing as hubby naturally attracts women...
Professor Eris's words throw her into confusion, her imagination running wild, until she settles on one conclusion.
Even if he brings a harem of other women, hubby... please win...!
No matter what, her man had to win this fight.