Chapter 732
Chapter 732
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 732
Chapter Title: The Academy's Savior
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Kim Cheon-woo stared at the holographic numbers, recalling the information Sung Yu-jin had given him about Yoo Seung-jun. Yoo Seung-jun was a demonkin.
'...Judging based solely on Sung Yu-jin's word would be hasty.'
Yoo Seung-jun and Sung Yu-jin didn't get along. It had started with Yoo Seung-jun, but Sung Yu-jin's response had been terribly aggressive too. Kim Cheon-woo viewed Sung Yu-jin—who had lashed out physically before words—even more negatively.
'But does Sung Yu-jin have any reason to lie to me? Especially a lie about a demonkin.'
Sung Yu-jin's final words resurfaced in his mind.
I hate that demon bastard. I hate anything connected to demon bastards.
He agreed completely.
"Yoo Seung-jun. Which clan do you plan to join after graduating from the academy?"
"Not sure why you're asking out of the blue like that, but I'm not joining a clan—I'm heading to the association to work."
"......"
Yoo Seung-jun's answer only amplified Kim Cheon-woo's suspicions.
'I can just check to confirm.'
The two assumed combat stances. Kim Cheon-woo pulled his greatsword back at an angle, while Yoo Seung-jun lowered his posture, gripping his spear shaft—like a beast lying in wait.
'I was planning to hide it as much as possible...'
'Holy Sword Manifestation.'
Holy Sword Manifestation
Activated subtly on greatsword
Kim Cheon-woo activated one of the abilities from his trait, Holy War (S).
Wuuuung.
The greatsword vibrated faintly. He used it so weakly that no one would notice from the outside.
Flinch.
Yoo Seung-jun shuddered. Unsure why, he furrowed his brow.
Kim Cheon-woo saw it clearly.
'...No. It might not be a reaction to the holy sword.'
Yoo Seung-jun charged with his spear. His agility evoked a weasel. Kim Cheon-woo stayed as calm as possible, swinging his greatsword at him. Any loss of composure might let something dark inside him spill out.
The spear and greatsword clashed, sending out shockwaves. The spear probed for openings in the greatsword's guard; the greatsword blocked the spear at every turn.
"Blocking my spear with that heavy greatsword... Impressive. Not the vice-top seat for nothing."
"Yoo Seung-jun... Sorry, but I need to end this spar quickly."
Kim Cheon-woo said through gritted teeth. Each block against Yoo Seung-jun's attacks surged something within him. His vision narrowed, his body tensing beyond necessity. He had to finish fast before real trouble erupted.
"You think you can just end it whenever you want? Pathetic. Sung Yu-jin, you—none of you sit right with me."
"......"
"Too bad this is inside a simulator. If it weren't, I'd have turned you into a cripple and taught you your place."
Yoo Seung-jun held his spear in one hand, straightening his back rigidly.
He activated his trait, Tengu Mask (A).
Tengu Mask (A)
All stats increased / Mask materializes over face
A mask appeared in the air, covering Yoo Seung-jun's face: an elongated nose, wrinkled red angry visage, thick brows—the Tengu mask.
Kim Cheon-woo twisted sideways, raising his greatsword forward.
Kwang!
The spear slammed into the greatsword. Kim Cheon-woo's body slid back three steps.
Yoo Seung-jun's stats had risen across the board with the Tengu Mask—even Kim Cheon-woo was briefly startled. But boosted physicals didn't change Yoo Seung-jun's spear skills.
To him, Yoo Seung-jun's spearmanship was average. Fast and flashy, but straightforward. Visible enough not to warrant much worry.
"You damn bastard! How long are you gonna just defend?!"
Yoo Seung-jun shouted. His breath hitched, exposing a gap. Finally, Kim Cheon-woo's greatsword counterattacked.
Startled, Yoo Seung-jun summoned wind to push the greatsword away. It barely grazed his right shoulder.
"Kuh?! Kraaaagh!"
Yoo Seung-jun screamed, retreating. To onlookers, it seemed like overacting. The graze drew only a few drops of blood—no hindrance to combat. Plus, the Aurora Simulator meant no real wound on his arm.
Kim Cheon-woo's eyes chilled. The holy sword was supremely effective against demons and demonkin. Even a slight cut wracked them in agony. Yoo Seung-jun was proven demonkin.
"Th, thiiiis, thiiiik...!"
Kim Cheon-woo gnashed his teeth. His body trembled. This was his first direct encounter with a demonkin since age five.
Kill him. Rip him apart. Tear Yoo Seung-jun to shreds!
Old memories flooded back: parents slaughtered by demons, himself cowering in terror and helplessness.
"I'll kill you!"
Kim Cheon-woo blasted all his mana, charging like he was shaking off the memories. His massive greatsword danced lightly like a rapier, assaulting Yoo Seung-jun.
Yoo Seung-jun thrust his spear to parry—but it flew off, clattering to the ground against the sword's erratic path. Defenseless, he backpedaled, but Kim Cheon-woo gave no quarter. The greatsword mercilessly shredded him.
"Guhk, kraaagh! Kraaaaaagh!"
Harrowing screams echoed.
I leaned against the wall, watching the monitor. It showed vice-top seat Kim Cheon-woo sparring with Yoo Seung-jun. The academy's vice-top in action. Most students were glued to their screens.
"That's the vice-top seat, Kim Cheon-woo?"
"Face is decent, I guess... but otherwise, meh."
"Heard Kim Cheon-woo picked Yoo Seung-jun? 2nd place targeting 185th... Seemed nice, but he's rotten inside."
"Wanted to see top seat vs. vice-top."
Public opinion wasn't kind to Kim Cheon-woo. 2nd vs. 185th—too lopsided, so most rooted for Yoo Seung-jun. But the mood shifted when he activated his trait and donned the Tengu Mask.
"...That's 185th? Looks top-50 worthy right now."
"He was hiding his power. Why pull that crap? Psycho?"
"Bet he's not the only one sandbagging."
Then, when Yoo Seung-jun let out that gut-wrenching scream, the area went dead silent. Kim Cheon-woo swung wildly like a blood-mad berserker. Yoo Seung-jun's horrific wails didn't faze him.
Slicing arms, legs, torso—he kept hacking away. The simulator ran perfectly, so Yoo Seung-jun couldn't die, only suffer endlessly.
'Kim Cheon-woo's lost it.'
Not surprising. He'd rampaged in the original story too—just not this early. Original first berserk was summer break at soonest.
'My influence, probably. Works in my favor.'
I spotted a staffer rushing toward Simulator Room 5.
Hacking
Simulator Room 5: Electronic door & mic seized / 3 min control
I hacked the electronic door and mic of Simulator Room 5.
"Damn it! Door won't open! You there! Don't just stand there—get the teachers and staff! Damn it! What the hell is main control doing?!"
The staffer barked orders frantically, pulling out his smartphone to call someone.
'They won't pry the door open by force. Simulator rooms are too pricey.'
Hacking control on the door and mic would last three minutes.
Kim Cheon-woo would rampage freely for those three; Yoo Seung-jun would taste hell.
'Wish I could hack the Aurora Simulator itself... But it's magic, not machinery—impossible.'
About a minute later, a group of teachers rushed in. Already briefed, they smashed the electronic door and subdued Kim Cheon-woo. Yoo Seung-jun convulsed on the floor like an epileptic patient.
"...Crazy bastard. Never sparring with Kim Cheon-woo."
Most students shuddered at the sight of his rampage.
"Sung Yu-jin, Choi Da-yeon. Ready?"
A middle-aged male teacher approached Choi Da-yeon.
"Yes. Ready."
"Yeah."
Choi Da-yeon and I answered. Glancing around, countless eyes watched us—not just students, but teachers and upperclassmen too. Spotlights on us, basically.
"You're the last match. Head to Simulator Room 1."
Choi Da-yeon strode ahead first. Unfazed by the stares, she walked tall.
I grabbed my weapons and followed leisurely. We wore academy gym uniforms; even over hers, Choi Da-yeon's figure was killer. Would've been better with a skirt.
Just before entering, my eyes met Ryu Ha-na's from the second floor. The top-seat Ryu Ha-na had beaten An Gi-san thirty minutes ago. I looked away and entered the simulator room.
A mechanical voice announced it.
Virtual reality enveloped me and the room. Space expanded vastly. Hard floors turned to grassland; gray ceiling to brilliant blue sky. Even wind blew—thanks to the academy's top Simulator Room 1.
The holographic numbers appeared, counting down.
Choi Da-yeon nocked an arrow, poised confidently throughout. I eyed her quiver: about twenty arrows. Not many.
'Either she's confident twenty will beat me, or she doesn't need many. Probably both.'
I smirked. Given Choi Da-yeon's personality, yeah.
'Arrogant, with a superiority complex. Time to check her status window.'
Her trait was a monster. No wonder she ranked 4th on entry.
"Guess it's fate we ended up here. Shall we at least exchange names? I'm Sung Yu-jin, Class 17, seat 17—like you."
"No interest in chit-chat. Focus on the fight."
I set twelve spears on the ground and shouldered the rocket launcher. My main weapon, the sword, hung at my waist.
Guns are weak. A rocket launcher could handle low D-rank monsters at best. But that meant modern firearms could suppress low D-rank threats.
Academy freshmen were greenhorns who could barely handle mana. Even top-seat Ryu Ha-na couldn't use sword aura yet. Choi Da-yeon was no exception.
The instant 1 hit 0, I pulled the trigger. The rocket launcher belched acrid exhaust, firing its rocket. It streaked straight and exploded.
"How's that rocket taste? Pretty hot, huh?"
As I cackled, wind blew, clearing the smoke.
"Lame. How long you gonna mess around?"
Choi Da-yeon was unscathed. Not even a scorch mark on her clothes. I activated Spirit Eye (S), scanning her with golden pupils.
"Well, damn. Got duped."
The Choi Da-yeon before me was a fake. A mirage from her trait, Apollo's Sun Domain (SS).
I rolled my Spirit Eye around. Found her: transparent, standing off to my right.
Normally, she needed actual sunlight for mirages or invisibility. Impossible indoors without a view of the sun.
'It's virtual, but the sun's up there in the sky.'
Didn't expect the virtual sun to count.
"Those eyes... Not ordinary."
Choi Da-yeon revealed herself, drawing her bowstring. An arrow flew. I toed a spear from the ground. It shattered the incoming arrow perfectly and aimed for her torso.
My Playful Life app skill Shooting boosted any ranged attack—shooting, throwing, even kicking.
Choi Da-yeon leaped upward. She kept bounding midair—effect of her Aerial Maneuver (C). Flying, she rained arrows on me.
I grabbed a spear and swung wide, batting them away.
'Arrows head-on are a breeze. One-on-one in a confined space? I have the edge.'
The moment I readied a spear throw, arrows came from straight ahead, left, and right—three directions at once.