Chapter 19
Chapter 19
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 19
Chapter Title: The Price of the Duel Seems Very High (3)
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They charged at each other with their strongest techniques, unleashing them at point-blank range.
Lightning-like sword aura shot from the tip of Philia's blade, while an explosive surge of mana erupted from In-hyeok's sword in a blaze of tremendous light, clashing head-on.
-BOOM!- Kurrrghhh-! KABOOOM!--!
As their powers collided, a deafening roar echoed through the training grounds shrouded in smoke. Even the watching students and Professor Eris couldn't tell who had won.
The chaotic noise faded into silence, and the smoke gradually cleared from the training field.
The students, curious about who was standing amid the settling haze, began to make out a silhouette.
"...!"
Everyone stared in shock at the center of the training grounds. Despite the clash of such massive techniques, two figures remained standing—an astonishing sight that left all the students frozen like statues.
The spot where they had collided was utterly demolished, their clothes torn to shreds, blood streaming from their wounds.
"Looks like you put everything you had into that. Why not just give up and fall already?"
"Hmph. You look like you've poured out all your strength too. Just collapse quietly."
Philia gripped her sword with trembling hands, assuming her stance.
In contrast, In-hyeok stood motionless in the exact same pose, not even shifting his footing.
I won!
Philia screamed it inwardly.
In-hyeok looked like he'd burned through all his mana—even in her current state, where lifting her sword was a struggle, she could still take him down.
He hasn't moved a muscle while I've been getting into position. He must not even have the strength to twitch.
If I can just get rid of this guy, Ruane will snap out of whatever weird spell he's cast on her...
Philia advanced slowly, sword in hand, careful not to waste any energy unnecessarily.
With each step, she scrutinized In-hyeok's face. But his expression showed no change whatsoever.
Why? He knows he's lost... Something feels off, but it's probably nothing.
She took another cautious step forward. They were now less than ten paces apart—no room left for footprints on the shattered ground. Suddenly, In-hyeok slipped a hand into his chest pocket.
What...? He couldn't move before?
He pulled out a vial shimmering with rainbow light. In an instant, In-hyeok gulped down the iridescent liquid inside.
".........?!?!!?!"
Philia could only gape in disbelief. In-hyeok, who had clearly exhausted every ounce of power, now looked perfectly fine—as if the fight hadn't even happened.
"W-What the hell did you do!!!!"
The guy who'd been ragged from training earlier had recovered in a flash, radiating an even stronger aura than before.
Just like now...
"There's no rule against drinking an Elixir mid-duel, right?"
In-hyeok actually had three Elixirs on him.
But even he hadn't expected to use two here.
Philia had been far stronger than anticipated.
He'd thought Nova Impact would finish it, but her ultimate technique had exceeded expectations.
That's why he'd held one back as a last resort...
Seeing Philia's despairing expression as she stared at him, In-hyeok couldn't wipe the grin off his face.
"Cheating... That's cheating..."
"Cheating? An Elixir is part of my abilities. You should've prepared more thoroughly, Philia."
"Ah... Aaaah... Aaaaaah!!!!!!!"
"Screaming won't change anything."
She swung her sword at him in desperation, but it fell short.
Too heavy to wield, she discarded it and hurled chunks of debris from the ground instead.
She really doesn't give up easy... But it's time to end this.
Gathering mana lightly in his palm, In-hyeok drew Philia's dazed gaze.
A sphere of magical power formed in his hand, growing steadily.
Seeing it, Philia's legs and arms went limp; she could only stare at the orb in helpless fixation.
"This ends it, Philia."
With those words, he launched the mana sphere like a missile straight at her.
Upon impact, it detonated in a compact explosion.
Sword Saint Philia Venezia collapsed on the spot.
Utterly crushed by that trashy commoner man.
I thought I'd won, savoring victory as he stood there unable to move, staring at me.
But step by step, as I closed in, it all shattered in an instant—was that his plan all along?
I'd poured everything into that attack, yet he brushed it off like nothing, recovering fully and finishing me off.
It felt like he was toying with me from above... Is that why Ruane changed so much? Got drunk on his otherworldly strength?
I don't understand anything anymore... I just can't beat this man.
Aaah... I can never win...
When I opened my eyes, a white ceiling came into view.
Sitting up, I scanned the room. This is... the academy infirmary...?
Was that fight just a dream? No, lying here proves it wasn't.
"Did I... lose?"
"Yeah, you lost."
"...!"
The voice belonged to the man who'd defeated me—Song In-hyeok.
"So... I lost, huh...?"
"You don't seem all that bothered, surprisingly. I figured you'd throw a fit."
Not bothered? Hardly. Rage boiled inside me at losing to the commoner scum I'd dismissed as trash. My guts twisted, my head spun.
I wanted to smash everything to pieces... But an even greater sense of defeat and inexplicable emptiness snuffed out that fury.
If a man who can break me this badly takes Ruane, maybe that's fine?
Ruane and I were never destined to be together as women anyway.
I should apologize to her... She must have been hurt bad.
The shock of defeat hit her harder than expected.
Even I'd be stunned if a game boss I thought I'd beaten suddenly healed to full HP.
"Hmm... But if you're this docile, it takes the fun out of it."
Her vacant eyes showed no spark of will, and it rubbed him the wrong way.
Well... if there's no will, then make some.
"About Ruane?"
At Ruane's name, Philia's body twitched for a split second.
"She's so innocent, I devoured her and now I'm thinking of tossing her aside. What do you think?"
Her hazy gaze sharpened instantly with murderous intent.
"That pure little elf princess... She fell for it so easily, you know?"
"Sweet-talked her with 'let's date, let's get married,' and boom—instant body and heart. What an easy slut."
"But she's getting too clingy, so maybe I'll dump her. Want her?"
"You fucking bastard!!!!!!!!!!!"
Despite her battered body, fury propelled her to grab his collar.
"And yet... for a moment after losing, I thought maybe you could have her... I'm the idiot... Hah... Ha..."
"Whoa, whoa... Calm down, Philia."
"You think I can calm down right now, you son of a bitch!!!!!!!!!"
"Depending on how you act, I won't touch Ruane again."
"...What?"
"You're stuck obeying me for an hour anyway because of the price. Cooperate nicely, and Ruane stays safe."
"..."
"You have to pay the price either way. Cooperate a little, and Ruane can be happy."
Either way, she had to pay... If cooperating helped Ruane...
"Fine... You really won't touch Ruane?"
"Of course. Doesn't matter if you believe me—you've got no choice."
"..."
"I'm just forcing you into a no-choice choice, like when you challenged me to this duel."
"And I'll keep my promise, so don't worry, Philia."
"Fine... I have to pay the price anyway... Do whatever for that hour... I'll cooperate, you fuck..."
"You accept, Philia?"
"Yeah, do what you want, you trash."
-Chup... Chuup...
"Wha... What are you doing...?!"
In-hyeok pressed his lips to Philia's, licking with his tongue. She recoiled in shock.
"Stay still, Philia."
"What...!"
"This is my time to do whatever with you... You've got an hour left today, right?"
"You have to cooperate. For Ruane."
At Ruane's mention, she reluctantly nodded and leaned in closer.
"Do whatever, you trash."
"Then, cooperate nicely for the next hour?"
He kissed her again.
-Chup... Chuup... Churup...
Forcing his tongue inside, she accepted it only because she had to cooperate—but hers stayed completely still.
Breaking the kiss, he uttered the keyword to make her move.
"Ruane."
"Eut..."
Kissing again, her tongue now entwined with his this time—awkward movements like it was her first kiss.
During the kiss, Philia kept her eyes squeezed shut, brow furrowed, clearly not enjoying it.
Well... with negative favorability and being straight, getting forcibly kissed and aroused would be the weird part, right?
Still, he didn't stop, exploring her tongue.
-Chok... Chun... Chuup... Churrup...