Chapter 19
Translator: True Detective
Chapter 19: Absolute Balloon Sword
Silence. The audience that had been noisy suddenly became silent.
““......””
Mocking lips closed, and wide-opened eyes are fixed on one side. Standing at the end where gazes are concentrated is black hair. A boy wearing a mask. The air inside the training ground cooled chillingly.
“......Just now, what was that?”
“What happened?”
Murmuring leaking little by little, and little by little from spectator seats. Charienne’s attack that disappeared without a trace. The fire demon blazing until just before had subsided. As if it didn't exist from the start, as if it was merely a single spark.
“Surely...”
“Blocked it? Elisha-nim’s attack...?”
Gazes concentrate. Overwhelming firepower Charienne showed.
-Huh... Is top student a top student indeed? Power is transmitted to spectator seats?
-Isn't that dangerous? Not a level a mere Class E can counter back?
-Won't he get hurt like that?
Those who mumbled at that also became mute now. Ridicule. Contempt. Worry. Even such eyes break. Numerous pupils in the spectator seats share only one scenery. Boy. Also, about the smiling mask.
“J-Just now, what happened? Anyone saw properly?”
“......Disappeared. Charienne-nim’s magic, without any precursor.”
“What? Is that possible?”
“Isn't it a mistake by Charienne-nim?”
“Does that make sense? Making such a basic mistake? A person who is Class C Top Student?”
Buzzing voices. Opinions bouncing here and there are soon derived into one answer.
“Then... did that guy block it? Blocked Charienne-nim’s flame?”
“Nonsense. It wasn't firepower to block at just Class E level.”
“Besides, didn't they say that guy is overall E-rank? How can such a guy...”
“It wasn't deflected luckily, or endured either. Literally destroyed it. Completely reverse-calculated Charienne-nim’s attack, and tore apart the mana structure itself.”
“Fuck, that’s possible?”
It wasn't just the waiting seats buzzing. Those watching the exam similarly. Cadets of other classes, and faculty members supervising the exam.
“Ho-oh...”
White-haired old man leaking admiration quietly. It was the Dean of Grandia Academy. As if discovering something fascinating, strokes his neat beard. Other professors are also seated by the old man’s side.
“As reported previously, he is a mysterious child. Truly a perfect Dispel. However, what’s more surprising is that no energy is felt even in the midst of that.”
““......””
“Not magic, martial arts, sorcery, not even black magic...”
Holding the pointer and meeting numerous children, but such a case was a first even for the old man. Power activated without any precursor or energy. To think even its origin cannot be grasped. Truly, isn't it like God’s authority.
“Certainly... entrusting surveillance to Javert was the right choice.”
Monologue chewed quietly. The Dean didn't continue his words further. Just paid a little more attention to the sparring in front of his eyes.
‘God’s authority... huh.’
Along with thoughts of unknown meaning.
Hwiiiiii—.
Opponent attacked once, and this side defended once. Short clash, but the atmosphere inside the stadium had changed. I was only laughing quietly.
Ting—!
Only mechanical sound shimmered in ears. Blue screen floating in front of eyes.
I didn't show it. Because what I have to focus on right now is the sparring in front of my eyes. I stare at the fluttering red hair.
“......”
Did she feel something ominous? Charienne’s gaze had changed completely. Beyond the sinking red pupils, ridicule wasn't reflected anymore.
“You... what kind of trick did you pull just now?”
“What are you talking about?”
“Pretending not to know is clumsy. The attack just before, wasn't a power a mere Class E Top Student could block. What trick did you pull that my magic scattered? And without making even a scratch on you.”
“I was lucky.”
“Bullshit...! Explain properly!”
“Well. There is nothing to explain really...”
I laugh. Laugh for her. My mask also had its lip corners torn grotesquely.
“Isn't it just that the magic was shabby?”
Ridicule. Just like she did until just now, just like everyone else did toward Class E.
“Seeing that it was blocked by just one finger.”
“......What did you say?”
Charienne loses her mind blankly. I laughed as if responding to that gaze. Top student of the most inferior class. All stats E-rank except theory section. Trash with specs everyone would ridicule. Such trash is ridiculing the girl, Class C Top Student.
“How dare...”
It is not easy to be unwavering in this situation. Being ignored conversely by the target one ignored. This scratches pride, and breaks mentality. Especially if it’s a person with a high nose like Charienne, the effect is bound to double.
“How dare...! How dare! How dare! A Class E trash dares to look at me with such eyes...!”
Charienne’s eyes roll back. Pupils turning red with bloodshot veins.
Hwarreuk—.
Girl raises the bow again, placing flame on the bowstring. Blazing arrow with power stronger than just before.
‘Did I scratch too much?’
But you scratched me too. You bullied my shuttles. Thinking roughly, I rummage through the inventory inside the robe.
‘Where did I put it. Clearly piled them up like a mountain...’
Although I received the first attack head-on for impact, I couldn't repeat this method. Because the stock of [Mask of the Evil God] was precious.
‘Well... if time passes, it recharges on its own though.’
I wanted to avoid the situation of exhausting all stocks. Since recharging one stock takes 48 hours. In the first place, knowing what situation might occur, would I use all this. Since my body is frail, I would die pick even if hit by a surprise attack somewhere.
‘Stock must always be maintained at two or more.’
Thinking so, I take out an item from the inventory. Following that, a colorful stick comes out. Guy with light and chubby grip feeling. Charienne watching this mutters.
“......Balloon?”
“Correct.”
Yes. It was a balloon sword. What I made plenty of previously. I aim the bouncy sword tip at the girl.
“Weapon containing my soul. I will deal with you with Absolute Balloon Sword.”
“......”
Well, it’s because there is no usable weapon yet. Because what I intended to carry around originally is still going through the refining process. Today I plan to use this guy as a substitute. Fluffy thing had good texture too. Feeling would be less bad if hit by this.
“You...! I will make you regret!”
Does she not recognize my consideration like this. That side seemed to accept it as just a scratching move.
“I will make you beg crying, make you a mess...!”
Piiing—.
Slender finger releases the bowstring, arrow shot. Fiercely blooming flame rushes tearing the air. I raised the sword tip quietly.
‘Shall I try.’
I take out a watch from the inventory. Item provided basically even in the original work.
From earlier I was repeating storing and taking out this guy. Continuously. Inventory, hand, inventory, hand. So this process repeats. Starting up to activate a specific bug. And, that warm-up was already finished long ago.
‘Now.’
Click—.
Press the button of the watch. The next moment, the flow of time slows down. It is not particularly an abstract expression.
“......”
The world slowed down. As if setting exactly 0.2x speed in numerical value. Rushing arrow, spectators’ reaction, even other movements... Scene flows as if in slow motion, only I recognized that fact.
‘Slowdown Bug.’
Bug where the overall speed of the game slows down. Character, of course, monsters, effects, even sound slows down. Utilizing watch control like just now, I could manifest it for roughly 5 seconds each. I glare.
‘I see it.’
Saw everything. Every scene is clear. My body also slowed down together, but perception transcended the moment. Trajectory of the shot arrow, angry girl’s expression, heat, even a speck of flying dust.
‘Possible.’
Quietly raise the sword tip. Even slowly exhaled breath is just a distraction of the moment. Beyond opaque colorfulness, I saw the world.
Sseuk—.
What I will unfold from now on is the most basic combo mixed in this bug. Swing sword toward the arrow approached right in front of nose. Exact timing, exact position, exact angle. Since experienced time was slow, I could react sufficiently.
‘Done.’
Chijik, chijijik—.
Immediately after, faint noise gets caught on the surface of the balloon sword. Sword blade waving like haze, swings brushing the arrow as is.
‘Parrying.’
Colorful sword blade brushes the flame.
Piik—.
The next moment. Trajectory of the arrow twists minutely. Attack touching this side or not, then missing. Not a soot existed on my body.
‘Good.’
Parrying. Technique intercepting opponent’s attack and flowing it as is. This is closer to a petty trick than a bug, but it seems to receive bug judgment when implemented in reality. Since an effect similar to when a bug occurred shimmered.
“J-Just now what...?”
Shaking hands, agitated murmuring is heard. Charienne. Her red eyes were shaking. Astonishment is revealed as is on her expression.
“Deflected it? My arrow, with th-that balloon sculpture...?”
“Sculpture. Isn't it a sword at a glance?”
“Nonsense... How, that is...!”
This is the combo. Extreme of parrying utilizing slowdown. I smirked teasing her on purpose.
“Oh my... Was our amazing Class C Top Student a person who couldn't pop even a single balloon?”
“N-No. That can't be...”
“This is just an ordinary balloon? Even that, a balloon held by the unprecedented man of Class E Top Student, overall stats E-rank. Not being able to make even a scratch on it, is it due to terrible capability as expected?”
“Shut up! Shut up...!”
Gritting teeth, Charienne pulling the bowstring taut. I just returned the words she said earlier as is. Don't know why she is so heated up. Boiling mana heats the air above the sparring ground.
Ting, swaaa-aek—!
Arrow shot once again. This time not one, but attack spreading into dozens of branches.
“If you are trash, act like trash! Fall out obediently...!”
Bright red flames fill the vision. It was a brutal scenery, but I didn't retreat my steps. Rather advancing confidently. Inside the palm, the watch was already entered. I press the button once more without hesitation.
Click—.
Slowing vision. I take a step, and another step. Swing sword at every step taken.
Piik, pik, piiing—.
Arrows bouncing off with weak bursting sounds.
Keeping the order, missing trajectory one by one. Behind back, derailed flames explode.
“Hmm.”
Kwagwang! Kwang, kwaaaang—!
Even in the aftermath storming from behind, I didn't turn my gaze. Smiling mask only stared at the girl from beginning to end. Like that after striking away the last arrow, the gap between us two was reduced to half.
“This isn't the end, right?”
I asked implicitly. Putting ridicule on the tip of the tongue, as she did.
“If so, it seems too boring.”
“......”
I smiled. Charienne’s eyes were dyed with fear, albeit a little.