Chapter 104
Chapter 104
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 104
Chapter Title: 35. Ah, Those Fucking Bastards Are Really Screwed (2)
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During the nearly two-month vacation, Yeoreum hadn't sparred with any cadets. It was because Yoo Ji-tae wouldn't let her.
How much stronger had she gotten? How far could she go in a fight? Those questions popped into her head every day during training.
And just now. With a single movement, Yeoreum realized it. Everything was far better than before.
The weight of the earth springing up from her toes. Every strand of fine hair on her skin rippling as it cut through the wind. The shock transmitted to her fingertips the moment she struck her opponent.
All those elements made her heart pound.
'I'm... strong now.'
Moments from her training flashed by like a montage. Times when it hurt so much she wanted to quit. Nights spent crying alone in her room until she fell asleep. Blood trickling down the hilt from her torn hands. That shameful plea to her guardian, begging him not to leave her side because she thought she might die.
It all felt rewarded now.
After the fight ended. Before the sub-space summon released. Yeoreum flashed a huge grin at the artifact acting as the camera and pumped her fist high.
Then she bounced around, shouting.
"I won!"
It was her way of expressing joy to Yoo Ji-tae, but at that moment, Yeoreum didn't know.
That the footage kept broadcasting until the summon fully released, even after the fight.
"Whoa..."
PR team staffer Karlie stared blankly at the display.
"What's up, Karlie?"
"Huh? Oh, nothing... Just that Yoo Yeoreum the cadet can make that kind of face."
"Face?"
The senior PR team member reviewing the footage was startled too, letting out a hearty "Haha..." laugh.
It wasn't footage you could just marvel at and move on from.
The PR Bureau shaped Lair's public face. And that face belonged to the cadets.
Yoo Yeoreum, always pouting or angry no matter where or when, didn't fit as a character for Lair's image makeover. Her aura made her hard to approach.
But the Yeoreum in the video brimmed with vivid energy and vitality. Maybe it stood out more because it was so different from her usual self.
Her gasp-worthy beauty was secondary.
"Hmm... Nice shot."
"Right?"
"From now on, flag Yeoreum cadet clips for me."
"Got it. But why all of a sudden?"
"Nice visuals. She's already got folks talking about turning her into a character..."
"Wait, doesn't the Yoo family ban character merch?"
The PD waved it off like she was clueless.
"Nah. That's just Yoo Gaeul. Anyway, flag 'em and email them to me. I'll slip some in when the team leader reviews scripts."
The Ranking Competition allowed only one match per day, no matter the type.
It ran for a full four months, after all.
Free spars without points could happen anytime, but Yeoreum wanted to head back. Probably because of Sophia's offhand advice.
So now the two were in some alley on the way from the Colosseum to the residential district. Yeoreum glanced around and squatted by a massive dumpster.
"What're you doing? Come here."
"......"
Yoo Ji-tae crouched beside her.
She pulled out a cigarette and stuck it in her mouth.
"Hey. Be honest. Straight-up honest."
"......"
"Got it?"
"Yeah."
"Dead serious honest. I know you can't lie anyway. But like, gut-wrenchingly honest."
"...Got it."
"From your view, how much have I grown? Satisfied?"
The moment he tossed out the question, Yeoreum shook her head.
"Don't. Don't say it. Fuck."
"Why."
"You were gonna hesitate."
How'd she know?
"Sigh. Even after all this, I'm still behind... Aren't your standards too high?"
"......"
"Not that I hate it."
She grumbled like that. Was it time for praise? After pondering, Yoo Ji-tae shook his head and spoke.
"You're doing great. Way better than I expected."
"What?"
"For real. No dragon works harder than you."
"Hmph..."
Ahem. Yeoreum cleared her throat awkwardly and lit her cigarette.
In the alley mouth. She exhaled smoke leisurely. Then she bowed her head.
Was the pent-up joy finally bursting out?
She let out a sneaky "Heehee."
"Feels good."
Just then, the regressor felt that strange sensation again.
The wisps of smoke splitting and wavering in vivid detail. The cigarette scent brushing his nose with tangible texture. Her tousled bob and smiling face—what about them?
The world, once hazy like behind a filter, sharpened from the alley scenery all the way to the distant sky.
This wasn't his first time.
It felt like when Bom had pranked him before.
The sensation that came when he visibly sensed the apocalypse receding.
He took it all in without even blinking, savoring the clarity.
Mood was pretty good.
"...Anyway. Let's talk next steps."
"Yeah."
"Your goal's top of the intra-school rankings, right?"
"Yep. Can't catch Javier without it. Can't go home without it. I'm screwed."
She didn't specify, but that 'big sister' who hatched first from the egg must have exceptional talent among dragons. Maybe even lord material.
Plus, over a hundred years old? Still a hatchling in dragons' millennia-long view, but she could match 40-something Javier—or surpass him depending on talent.
"...Yeah. So I looked into it."
Yoo Ji-tae activated his watch, pulling up a hologram display. A profile appeared.
"What's this?"
"Cadets get points from individual spars, quests, and tournaments. Biggest chunks from those three."
Each roughly 30%.
"Yeah."
"But spars and tournaments especially rely on personal power. So your real rivals are set."
Yoo Ji-tae quietly shared the intel he'd gathered on top cadets.
1. Sword clan Yong family.
27 cadets enrolled from the Yong family.
Top dogs: House head Yong Jeong-guk's son and daughter, 'Yong Tae-ha' and 'Yong Dan-bi.' Adopted, of course. Yong Dan-bi even Black.
"Them, huh. Faces ring a bell."
2. Zhonggong's Erpan Guild.
510 enrollees. Watch these four: 'Zhou Ruoxin,' 'Lingling,' 'Jang Soo-young,' 'Wu Wang.'
In an era where human rights were weighed, these cadets endured hellish military training from infancy.
Zhou Ruoxin was under Professor Ha Yun's 'Moonlit House.'
"These look straight-up vicious."
3. Noblesse School.
85 enrollees. High average level, but top threat: World Rank 1 Oscar Bljenk's son, 'Tyr Bljenk.'
Everyone else in houses or clubs, but Tyr had none. Took after his old man.
Plenty more standouts. Around 10,000 first-years in Academy City. Even 1% were national geniuses.
All hitting Colosseum Lair back and forth, agonizing over rankings right now.
"So what now?"
"Build points steadily with spars for now. No high-score quests yet. Tournament's next month."
"Got it."
Yeoreum nodded seriously.
"But that kid's dad's the world #1 Oscar?"
"Yeah. International Superhuman Alliance vice-chair."
"Hmm. Stronger than you?"
"No."
Yeoreum flicked her cigarette butt carelessly and smirked.
"Fucking loser then."
After that, Yeoreum sparred daily for about two weeks straight, steadily racking points.
Most ended in one exchange—boring stuff.
Semester just started. Cadets' points low overall. Strong and weak mixed at similar scores. Her opponents were pushovers.
Of course, Yeoreum was overwhelmingly strong too.
Win points deduct based on gap. Beating a 50-point cadet at 100 got her only 5, not 10.
So in 14 days, 111 points.
Rankings posted monthly, so not up yet. But top 20 of 5,000+ cadets easy.
Lair Academy community board mentioned an anonymous 113-pointer. Probably undefeated too, just luckier points.
Once points pile up, high-scorers face off.
That's when real shit starts.
"Whoaaa! Unni's insane, insane!"
Gaeul clapped wildly, making a fuss.
Clap clap clap—Winter, clueless, mimicked her big sis.
"Unni unni unni! Can I watch too?"
"What?"
"I wanna see unni fight!"
"Why?"
"Kids talk about unni lately? I don't care about fights so I didn't know. They say unni charges like, like, a wild boar!"
"Oh yeah?"
"Yeah! Charging in like a boar!"
Yeoreum scowled, and Gaeul went oh crap.
"A-anyway! Can't I come watch?"
"Why bother. Watch on your watch at home. Why chase after?"
"Why not? Live vibe!"
"Nah, don't come. Nothing to see. Starts, smash skull, done."
Gaeul pouted. Winter echoed half a beat late.
"What do you even know to pout about?"
"...Yeah."
"Like hell you know."
"...I know too?"
"Whatever. Come when I fight tougher guys later. When crowds swarm for real."
"...You'll call?"
"Yeah."
Finally, satisfaction lit her aquamarine eyes.
Bom said nothing special, but before Colosseum, she fretfully tied Yeoreum's poofy hair. "Don't get hurt." Short hair meant stray wisps poked out.
"I'm off."
Definitely, the stares had changed.
Walking streets, cadets in spring-fall uniforms glanced at Yeoreum.
Always happened. But before, it was face-peeking. Now, like spotting a celeb. Occasional "That's her?" whispers.
"What're you staring at?"
Occasionally, she'd snap at murmurers.
Startled cadets turned away.
Some fans approached, but her reaction was meh.
"Fan? So?"
Not just that. In Colosseum waiting rooms, strangers eyed Yoo Ji-tae. "That's her guardian?"
New for him. From 5th round, everyone feared and shunned him.
No interest in fame, so he and Yeoreum brushed it off.
However...
Something poured fuel on their situation.
Two weeks into intra-school Ranking Competition.
Bored of boring cadet matchups.
Finally, a special cadet matched.
The sub-space arena: dingy urban alley. Gloomy street over sidewalk blocks.
Yeoreum arrived first, waiting.
Match confirmed; brief profile floated.
Chinese Communist 'Erpan Guild' member. Cadet from 'Heavenly Demon House,' once rival to Professor Wei Lian's Azure Dragon House.
Stats capped at display limit, so meh. Yeoreum's all 9s too. But vs. cadet average 4-5? Impressive.
109 points. Yeoreum's 111, just 2 shy. Undefeated 14 days too.
Light gathered, dispersed. Twin swords in hands: a female cadet appeared.
Lingling.
Small stature. Seemed a head shorter than 167cm Yeoreum. But not dainty—feral beast vibe.
Glassy eyes. Messy mop hair. Face, neck, arms scarred. Protruding fangs.
Only clean: issued wooden sparring swords.
"......"
Aura different from the jump.
Strong opponent. Yeoreum's eyes sharpened, gauging.
Their matchup spread somehow. Viewers from usual 50-100 exploded.
Countdown soon started.
Lingling raised her twin swords into stance.
Yeoreum closed her eyes, feeling her pulse.
Finally, the gong rang.