Chapter 105
Chapter 105
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 105
Chapter Title: 35. Ah, Those Fucking Bastards Are Really Asking for It (3)
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"Hey, hey. Hey, hey. It's starting."
Colosseo. Underground level 3, in one of the waiting rooms. The cadets had gathered in a huddle in front of the display.
14-win streak vs. 14-win streak. A massive matchup that might happen only once a day, if at all.
Just like yesterday's clash between Yong Tae-ha of the Yong family and Sophia Borcova with her 13 wins, the cadets were buzzing with excitement at the prospect of witnessing another epic duel today.
"Whoa, Lingling and Yoo Yeoreum? That's gonna be insane."
"Aren't both of them inside the top 30 rankings?"
"Yeah. Top 30? Comparing last year's scores, they could even take on 20th or 10th place."
"Who do you think wins? Both look ridiculously strong."
Two weeks into the semester. Cadets interested in getting stronger had been watching footage of high-point cadets' battles, live if possible, or recordings otherwise.
So they spectated with the same thrill as if it were their own fight.
"Screw it, whoever wins is my fave."
"Dude, you're Korean—root for the Korean for once."
"My mom's Chinese."
"Oh..."
One of them would hit 15 wins. The other would see their streak snapped. With points so close, a loss would create a 20-point gap—huge even early in the semester for the defeated cadet.
One day's loss demanding two days' wins to recover.
The round-glasses cadet chewed his lip.
"The fight might end quick. Both have super aggressive styles. Less about fight management and more..."
"Shut up."
"Okay."
Tension built. The room fell silent.
But as the countdown began, the cadets stirred again.
Lingling held her sword reverse-grip, arms crossed.
"What? Why's she doing that?"
"Huh?"
The cadets watching Lingling's fight were puzzled.
Ding—
Right after the bell.
Lingling slammed her sword down, pushing off the ground.
Like planting a ski pole. Her small body bounced like a flea. 'Whoa!' exclamations erupted. In an instant, she'd closed 15 meters, spinning like a blender as she slashed with dual blades. A strike too fast to follow. But Yeoreum blocked it. Boom-kaboom-boom! Unbelievable explosive sounds from wooden swords. Dust flew from the alley stage.
"Grrrraaah!"
"What the hell! They're nuts!"
Arms seemed to move along body and shoulders, but from elbows down, they blurred—swords invisible.
The fighters and spectators operated on different timelines.
Yeoreum, blocking the strike, launched off the ground. A menacing thrust. Lingling crossed swords to parry, but Yeoreum's mana burst out, shattering a wall. The follow-up slash aimed for her head. One sword tried to block, but it wasn't enough. Splat! Lingling's head exploded. The barrier didn't fully hold—scalp tore, blood flowed. HP visibly dropped. Meanwhile, Lingling's other sword grazed Yeoreum's lower abdomen. But Yeoreum, trained in Mana Local Operation with Ji-tae, had gathered mana in her gut for protection.
Yeoreum flew back ten-plus meters, hit the ground supine, then sprang up. Lingling gave no gap. Her tiny body pole-vaulted again. Flames erupted from both swords. Her specialty, Flame Sword (B+). Twin flaming blades stabbed down like beast fangs.
Kaboom! A pillar of fire shot up. Their forms vanished in flames.
"Hey, hey! What is that! What?!"
"Arrrgh!"
Hysterical screams mixed with awe.
Splat! Something charred flew from the flames. Hit the ground prone, then stood. Lingling. Mouth punched, her fangs bloodied.
And Yeoreum strolled out of the fire leisurely. Face full of disgust.
—You fucking bitch. Where do you get off trying to bite my ear?
"Kyaaah!"
"She's cursing! Cursing!"
"Yoo Yeoreum's pissed!"
Blood on Yeoreum's left fist.
Seemed she'd taken a hit. Nosebleed streaming. She wiped it roughly with her left hand. The mic caught her growling.
Lingling charged again. Like a wildcat in a deathmatch. Overlapped swords slammed down. Next instant, her arm bent impossibly. Yeoreum's sword had snapped it.
"Urgh...!"
"Ugh, shit!"
But Lingling didn't quit. Dropping her sword, the little monster flicked her broken arm to grab Yeoreum's hair. Splat! Headbutt sent Yeoreum rolling. Lingling mounted the falling girl. Fangs bared again. Hand on Yeoreum's uniform chest.
Arm bitten. Tore through barrier, blood sprayed. Nails ripped at chest protector. Her own nails shattered and bled, but no hesitation. Lingling fought dirty to win.
Yeoreum startled at first.
—What are you...?
Lingling grinned.
—You crazy bitch, you're fucking dead!!
Yeoreum's eyes rolled back.
She unleashed Kodong of stand-up combat arts to max.
Splat! Fist smashed jaw sideways. Lingling's hands grabbed Yeoreum's neck desperately. But Yeoreum overpowered with neck strength, seized the messy hair. Then pummeled her face. Nose exploded. Lips tore. Blood flowed wild.
Panicked beast backed off. Mistake. Kal-Gulakwa Stand-up Combat Arts swordplay unfolded. Yeoreum's blade, wrapped in red mana, slashed impossible paths. Lingling raised sword and arm late—broken arm snapped another way. Practice sword splintered. Waist bent at right angles, flew smashing walls, building, crashed opposite wall.
Camera panned up hastily.
Lingling's HP hit zero. Dissolved into light.
Fuming Yeoreum approached where Lingling had been, bellowing at the vanished girl.
"......"
"......"
Unfathomable battle. Even more brutal sight of the two cadets.
One cadet covered her mouth, conflicted. Chills weren't hers alone.
Proving it, the waiting room stayed silent awhile.
* * *
"That fucking bitch! I'm gonna kill her!"
Subspace summon released, Yeoreum bellowed.
Level 4 artifact Goddess of Competition Statue near-fully healed injured cadets post-duel. Despite bad wounds, Yeoreum was fine now.
"Calm down, Yoo Yeoreum."
"You saw it too! That psycho tried ripping my clothes when it looked bad!"
Weapons gone post-duel. Growling, scanning around, Yeoreum grabbed a fire extinguisher, kicked open the match room door. Stomped out like she was off to murder.
Both sides understandable. Red clan valued victory and battle. Among superhumans staking lives on wins, Lingling-types abounded.
Stop her. Stop her.
The regressor couldn't find real reason to. Venting might ease her mood.
If not Colosseo, he'd have let it go.
But eyes everywhere. Thick arms wrapped the corridor-bound Yeoreum.
"Let go! Not today—I'm serious!"
Enraged Yeoreum scratched Ji-tae's arm with nails. No mark. Her nails cracked, bled instead.
No choice.
"......"
That evening.
Calmed down, Yeoreum squatted, puffing her cigarette nonstop.
"......"
No yelling why stop her.
Academy-adapted, she knew consequences.
"......"
Back at dorm, she sulked in her room all day. Not one or two days—regressor guessed her thoughts, sulk's meaning.
Wasn't worth real anger. Match heat made it temporary.
She needed time to sort mood swings.
Like now.
And as he thought, next day Yeoreum emerged scratching belly under T-shirt like nothing happened.
"Feeling better?"
"...Yeah. Breakfast?"
Yeoreum slathered cream cheese haphazardly on bread, shoved in mouth.
Meanwhile, Ji-tae recapped yesterday.
"You fought well. Yesterday."
"...Yeah. Win's a win."
"Right."
"You?"
"Huh?"
"Frustrated watching? Couldn't use what you learned properly."
No real reply. As she said, match was a mess.
Yeoreum smirked.
"Nahhh~. She went full beast mode. Got so shocked, I blanked too."
"Whatever. No need to explain past."
Accepting, she nodded sullenly.
Then stuffed bread silently.
Next words from Ji-tae.
"Lair community blew up. Lots watched the footage."
"Oh, that? Recording?"
"Yeah."
"How many views?"
"5200."
"Crazy."
Half the first-years watched.
"Everyone saw me raging." Yeoreum chuckled.
"And?"
"What and."
"Anything funnier?"
"Folks bashing that Chinese girl hard."
"What they say?"
Ji-tae silently showed Lair Community posts. Yeoreum chuckled again.
Then announcements—face brightened.
"Oh? What. She got sanctioned! This '3-day personal duel ban for foul play. 20 duel points deducted.' She's screwed, right?"
Not there earlier—Admin rushed punishment.
"Good for that psycho fuck. If fighting, just fight. Why rip clothes?"
"......"
"Same girls, wanted a peek? Well, my tits are assertive♥"
Joked, laughed genuinely. Chewing sped up.
Her joy felt good to watch.
"Anyway, PR got in touch."
"Yeah. What."
"Wanna interview top 10 personal duel rank cadets. Interested?"
"Not really."
"I'll decline?"
"Hm......"
Munching blankly, Yeoreum asked.
"Hey, that little rat coming too?"
Lingling.
"Seems so."
"Gotta go then."
"......"
"Not fighting. Mood's settled. Just talk maybe."
"...Okay."
"For real. Thinks I'm just mad."
Hard to trust, but no reason to stop.
So Ji-tae took Yeoreum to PR that day.
* * *
But at PR interviewer waiting room, Yeoreum was a bit thrown.
Kicked door in. Eyes gathered, so 'Hey sissies bros?' Casual greet. Fine so far. Impulsive. But room's vibe weird.
What's this? Look closer—someone grabbing another's collar?
Now noticed: all familiar faces. 9 cadets here on Ji-tae's key list. Top first-year ranker candidates.
They were fighting. Her entry broke the standoff.
Collar released, spit. Curses flew.
"...Look at these kids?"
Absurd, Yeoreum snickered.
"What you punks doing here?"