1v1 Duel (6)

Nam Da-eun had finished the medical check with Baek A-young and lay her body on the waiting room sofa.

And she was reflecting on her recent actions.

'Why did I do that...?'

Showing the call to her younger sister was the first time in her life.

It was a sudden whim, and she still didn't quite understand why she did that action.

Perhaps she wanted to rely on someone a little, even if just a little.

"Haa..."

In the quiet waiting room, Nam Da-eun looked at the ceiling and organized her thoughts.

'She was such a kind person.'

It was clear she was kind at the mart, at the vending machine, and everywhere.

But after this finals, when the rankings are out and the groups change, it would end.

Nam Da-eun felt a bit of regret.

"First place..."

Of course Lee Ho-yeon would want to be first. He had come this far to the finals, after all.

But no matter how good a person is, they can't yield first place.

To Nam Da-eun, her younger sister was more precious than anything.

Knock knock knock

"Enter."

"Excuse me..."

Baek A-young entered the waiting room with a cautious look.

"Why are you coming in so cautiously, A-young-ssi?"

"Just... there's not much time left."

Less than 20 minutes until the finals start.

Of course, there was time to do it quickly, but... I wanted to enter the finals in the best condition.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

"First, please do the medical check. Since time is short, I can't do anything else."

"Got it..."

Baek A-young did the light checks one by one, glancing at me.

Clearly wanting something, I gave her a little leeway.

"Sigh... My body feels a bit uncomfortable."

"Eh, where?!"

"Ah, my mistake."

"Uh..."

Baek A-young looked dejected and continued the checks.

'This is ridiculous.'

How much does she want?

After teasing Baek A-young, I finished the medical check.

"Check complete. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Do your best in the finals."

"Thank you."

Seeing Baek A-young's dejected expression cheering me on, I felt a bit the same.

"A-young-ssi. Are you going to volunteer this weekend?"

"Yes, if nothing comes up, I should go."

Good. It was awkward to find time to meet, but we can meet at the orphanage.

"Then I'll go with you too."

"R-really? But don't do anything weird there again."

"Got it. I won't do anything too weird."

"Uh..."

Baek A-young's dejected expression when I said we'd meet on the weekend melted.

The "won't do anything weird" didn't seem to bother her much.

She really hates taking photos.

Should I really not take any now?

Well, since there's no blackmail material now, it might be okay.

She's the type who comes looking to be raped without any material. Do I really need material?

I need to head to the player waiting area now.

"Alright. I hope for a good result."

"See you on the weekend, A-young-ssi."

I greeted Baek A-young and headed to the player waiting area.

[This 1v1 Duel is unusual in that there's so much interest in the 1st year's match! The two students at the center are facing off! A match between Nam Da-eun, who has never lost first place in practical exams, and the rising star Lee Ho-yeon!]

Listening to the commentator's exaggerated talk about our careers, the staff came over.

"Now, you can go up."

"Yeap."

The path to the arena was hot with the audience's reactions because it was the finals.

Nam Da-eun was also seen coming up from the opposite side.

Amid the cheers and big commentary, I stood in the arena.

Swoosh-

The mana barrier rose, blocking the surrounding sounds, and Nam Da-eun standing in front also met my eyes.

"Give it your all."

"Got it. I'll definitely get first place."

Nam Da-eun smiled at my encouragement and replied.

[5, 4, 3, 2, 1, Start!]

Even after the starting signal, we didn't move towards each other.

So far, Nam Da-eun had always taken the initiative in matches, but this time she seemed to want to operate slowly.

I had no choice but to raise my mana first.

Thump. Thump. Thump.

My heart started beating rapidly, and I felt blood circulating through my body.

When I got into combat stance, Nam Da-eun also drew her sword.

Thump. Thump. Thump.

Just a moment.

Thump. Thump. Thump.

The moment Nam Da-eun ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠got into combat stance, my body grew hotter.

... Is this much?

It was faster than against Felix and heavier than against the ogre.

The Combat Sense I thought I had mastered was still insufficient, filling my body.

My senses sharpened dramatically as time slowed, and my whole body was honed for combat.

"... It wasn't a matter ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠of surrendering or anything."

Nam Da-eun was the strongest opponent I've ever faced so far.

'She's strong.'

Nam Da-eun thought, looking at Lee Ho-yeon whose eyes were now golden.

It was different from ordinary students.

To win for sure, it seemed I couldn't hide my strength.

After deciding, Nam Da-eun focused mana on her sword.

The skill she hadn't revealed anywhere yet.

[Space Domination]

It was her unique skill expressing her authority [Space Domination] directly.

She spread mana throughout the arena.

In this space, distance no longer meant anything to Nam Da-eun.

'It's better to end it quickly.'

The space flickering around Nam Da-eun and the purple aura on her sword.

Lee Ho-yeon's mouth opened in preparation for Spatial Slash, which he had seen too many times in the original game.

'No way, Spatial Slash is possible?'

She revealed the hidden power.

It was an intent to read the momentum of my Combat Sense and quickly decide the winner. It seemed like she wanted to prevent an unexpected situation by dragging out the fight long.

'She recognizes me that much.'

I don't know if I should like this or not.

I had no idea how much strength she had been hiding.

Spatial Slash appears in the latter half of the story.

Meaning, around the end of 1st year or early 2nd year, when she steals first place from Nam Da-eun. But I was already using it.

Lee Ho-yeon slowly crouched and held his breath, preparing for the attack.

[Space Domination] was a skill with absurd effects and very high mana consumption.

It was advantageous to drag out time.

Meanwhile, facing a magician was Nam Da-eun's long suit. Magicians couldn't handle her speed and destructive power.

But Lee Ho-yeon was different from ordinary magicians. He used skills similar to his Acceleration and showed agility unlike a magician, and his shield magic was unusually solid.

Nam Da-eun slowly moved her feet to look for an opening in Lee Ho-yeon.

Lee Ho-yeon took a defensive position to counter Nam Da-eun's movements.

At the moment he threw a flame orb as a probe.

Nam Da-eun's sword thrust at Lee Ho-yeon.

Boom-!

In an instant, the distance closed, and Lee Ho-yeon reacted by deploying Cotton Guard, blocking the sword and countering with magic.

The flame pillars erupting from the ground and explosions bursting in the air made Nam Da-eun retreat and reorganize her stance.

Lee Ho-yeon, who thought it wouldn't connect anyway, continued the magic without panic.

Countless flame orbs and flame walls were shot at Nam Da-eun.

'She still isn't thinking of using Spatial Slash.'

Nam Da-eun was trying to read Lee Ho-yeon's thoughts.

At the point where she was sure there was no ranged attack for Nam Da-eun, the idea was to finish with Spatial Slash.

But Lee Ho-yeon was aware of the existence of Spatial Slash.

That's why he left one slot of double casting to always be able to defend.

Nam Da-eun was also surprised by Lee Ho-yeon's non-stop use of double casting.

'Lee Ho-yeon can do double casting. Why is he only using one magic?'

She had been looking for openings to win, but Lee Ho-yeon gave no openings at all.

Perhaps he had figured out that I had one hidden move.

If I approached, he would distance himself and shoot magic, and if I forced my way through, Lee Ho-yeon also had instant Acceleration type skills, making counterattacks burdensome.

'What to do. I have to break through.'

The longer [Space Domination] is used, the less chance to use Spatial Slash.

Spatial Slash was a sure-win when used at the right time.

So, I need to create an opening.

I need to launch an offense that can't be endured without double casting.

Nam Da-eun split the incoming flame orbs in half and jumped in between.

In the blink of an eye, blocking Nam Da-eun's sword strike, Lee Ho-yeon smiled.

The relaxed Nam Da-eun suddenly launching an offense meant it was starting to become burdensome.

Of course, it was also a burden for Lee Ho-yeon in terms of mana, but Nam Da-eun didn't know that.

It was the disadvantageous one who was desperate: Nam Da-eun. If she came like that, Lee Ho-yeon had a trump card.

'I should try it, but... it might work.'

Nam Da-eun had been preparing for Lee Ho-yeon's Acceleration and Spiral throughout the fight.

That's why she didn't counterattack deeply like against ordinary magicians.

But if it's a skill she hasn't revealed once, even Nam Da-eun couldn't prepare.

Lee Ho-yeon lifted the corner of his mouth and continued the exchange with Nam Da-eun.