It Would Have Been a Perfect Plan

It would have been a perfect plan...?

*Jin Baekryong bounced like a skipped stone across the ground several times before slamming into a tree, his body embedding itself there before his momentum finally ground to a halt. I gave him a quick once-over and could tell right away. This guy's level 199.

Just one level shy of S-rank hunter status. But without enlightenment, he'd never cross that wall. I'd been stuck in the same spot myself until I became the Heavenly Demon's direct guard and broke through it via intensive spars with Ha-yeon.

Ah... this hurts like hell. Only after checking his realm did the searing pain radiating through my entire body hit me full force. It was the backlash from forcibly activating Brain Deification.

A secret technique of Mukroe Byeokryeok Singong that normally required 7-star attainment to use—but I'd forced it out based on my previous enlightenment, and now my body was paying the price. Still, even in this state, I could easily handle some green kid who'd never touched the Fire Realm.

As I pulled my body free from the tree and stood, assuming a stance, he spoke up to me.

"Hold on. Just one word."

Sure. Curious what excuse he'd spit out, I nodded. It was also a good chance to buy time for the backlash from Brain Deification to settle.

But what he did next was way off from what I'd expected. Jin Baekryong bowed deeply toward me and Ha-yeon.

"I'm sorry. If I'd known you had a lover, I wouldn't have done it. I've never fallen for anyone before, so I got ahead of myself. Can you forgive me...?"

Way more reasonable, normal, and willing to own his mistake than I'd thought. I'd figured a 10 Great Families heir would be all arrogant bluster, but this was a surprise. Thinking back, all he'd done was fall for the stunning Ha-yeon and confess without knowing she was taken. That was it, right? And we'd settled the confession with one punch. So what reason did I even have to fight him?

None...?

"No one ever confessed to me back in the Heavenly Demon Cult, so this is a novelty. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Thanks to you, I got to see a new side of Yu-won, so I'm fine with it."

Even the person in question, Ha-yeon, was forgiving him, so there was nothing left for me to do. Hell, I almost felt bad for popping him right off the bat.

"Yeah, I jumped the gun with the punch too."

With the boiling anger in my chest gone, a sense of calm settled over me.

"No. I fully understand why you'd be angry at me. If you ever visit the Jin Family estate, I'll make sure you're treated with the utmost hospitality."

What the hell? I'd heard heirs from China's 10 Great Families were all hot-blooded types who smashed anything that pissed them off, but this guy was being so humble. Anyway, things seemed settled for now—until he piped up again.

"That's enough apology. Now it's exam time, so let's focus on that. Jin Baekryong of the Jin Family. I humbly request a lesson from you."

Challenging me like a martial artist requesting a spar back in the Murim world.

Uh... I don't wanna fight? Apology accepted, anger cooled, and we'd survived long enough without collecting badges to score decent points—I was planning to forfeit.

"I'll forfe—Ow!"

The moment I tried, Ha-yeon pinched my back.

"Forfeit...? I must have misheard something."

—Ha-yeon...?

I sent her a mental message.

—Does it make sense ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠for a Heavenly Demon Cult warrior to refuse a sincere spar challenge like that? Especially from a guy who just tried to steal you from me... It's been a while since I saw your skills. Go on.

When the hell did he try to steal you...?

Forfeit now, and I'd never hear the end of it from Ha-yeon outside. No choice—I'd have to face Jin Baekryong. No one else had shown up yet, so plenty of people left. Beat him, forfeit to Ha-yeon, and we'd both land in the top ranks. I didn't know how many badges he had, but forfeiting them to her would halve my score, putting me comfortably in the upper mid-tier. With others still testing, they'd just think I was the guy who ambushed and took down an "exhausted" Jin Baekryong.

A perfect plan. I'd found the sweet spot—no scolding from Ha-yeon, no stealing the spotlight.

"Alright. Kim Yu-won accepts your challenge."

Jin Baekryong looked visibly confused by my response. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Seizing the opening, I dropped ink-black lightning from above his head.

A technique that had instantly mulched the Murim Alliance Leader and Shaolin Abbot—both Fire Realm masters. But unlike them, Jin Baekryong was just a bit fatigued, in peak condition otherwise, and blocked it with his sword veil. Of course, caught off-guard in his confusion, he couldn't fully defend—the lightning clung lightly to his body, starting to restrict his movements.

I circulated lightning through my entire body to activate it and closed in fast. Sure, he might yell foul play, but whether he knew this was real combat or just couldn't speak, he gripped his sword and prepared to counter.

He maintained immovable mind, eyes locked on me without missing a beat. True to his prestigious family upbringing, trained from childhood, he held steady without faltering.

Still, real combat experience is lacking.

I rushed straight at him. He tried to counter with post-initiative superiority, so I slipped inside his sword range and out—the swing whiffed. Unfazed, he glared murderously at my movements this time, so I gave him a little gift.

Bang!

A flashbang-like explosion of light burst around us. I'd noticed he was boosting his eyesight with energy but not protecting against external threats—perfect. It hit perfectly; he lost vision instantly.

"Urk...!"

I ramped up speed, diving deeper than his sword range to neuter it. Quick thinker—he ditched ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the sword for hand-to-hand. But taijutsu was my specialty, and unlike him, my sight was fine. While he compensated with smell, hearing, touch, I had the edge.

His body, pumped with countless elixirs and higher level, outdid mine in raw stats and energy reserves, though.

But this ends it.

Before his vision cleared, I hammered his head to fixate him there, then dropped low for a single-leg takedown.

"Urk!"

I mounted the fallen guy. Could armbar him, but that'd just prolong the pain—I'd finish quick. His eyes were starting to refocus. Too late. I kicked his dropped sword far away.

Most of his skills needed a sword to activate. Without it, and from mount, he was done. As I pounded him until his avatar vanished, I sensed odd energy flow from behind.

Subtle energy from his hand touched the sword, levitating and maneuvering it.

Flying Sword Art.

A Fire Realm master's technique, probably forced via skill. Normally undetectable, silent—but his opponent was a veteran awakener who'd touched Manifest Realm.

The sword rocketed at my head—I tilted just enough, dodging by a paper's width.

"How...?"

"I've eaten that crap from those Nangong bastards enough times."

Not that he'd get it. I gathered all my energy into a fist and smashed his virtual avatar's head, erasing it. No gore—just vanished on lethal damage, I guess.

A ton of badges appeared where he vanished.

Whoa... over 30?

Exactly 32. Minus his own, 31. He'd single-handedly eliminated over half the exam field.

Shit, even halved that's top-tier, right?

Disaster. Including mine, 33. Needed to forfeit to Ha-yeon ASAP to halve it. No rounding—16 was safe. This way? 100% first place.

"Ha-yeon! I forfe—!!"

What...?

Bullshit. I'd only met two people total, just eliminated one, and the exam's over? No way. This couldn't be real.

"Ha-yeon, you got 17 badges...?"

"Yeah. Congrats on first place, Yu-won."

This isn't something to congratulate me on!!!!!

Ten seconds later, my avatar forcibly vanished, dumping me back to reality.

"Ah..."

Through the goggles, virtual reality faded to real life. I removed them, opened the pod, and stepped out to dozens of students watching me.

Everyone except me, Jin Baekryong, and Ha-yeon was gathered here. The instructor by my pod spoke up.

"Group A's exam ran long, so even students from finished groups watched on the screen. Incredible skill. Heartfelt congratulations on freshman top spot this semester, Kim Yu-won."

Not just him—all the students watching erupted in noise.

"Kim Yu-won! Kim Yu-won!"

"Whoa! He overwhelmingly wrecked Jin Baekryong!"

"He ambushed him... Kinda dirty, right?"

"Hey! Real combat has no 'dirty'! Wanna get your skull pierced by a villain?"

"And he dodged that Flying Sword Art without even looking."

The crowd chanted my name, evaluating me. A few negatives, but mostly praise.

Where the hell did it all go wrong? My plan to coast upper mid-tier and dump all badges on Ha-yeon. Shattered in an instant.

It would have been a perfect plan...?

Why did this happen?