Void Princess's Gift #3
Void Princess's Gift #3
"What's the deal? You've gotten a lot stronger lately, Kim Geun-cheol."
Leona tilted her head quizzically as she said it, blades still locked. Her adorable look momentarily stole my focus, but yeah.
It was finally starting to show.
Ever since I got Blood Energy from VP, I'd spent a solid week training to use it. Obviously I didn't slack off on anything else. I'm always just grinding one training regimen after another, after all.
The one real shame is that ever since the Lion's Roar incident, Chairwoman had been dodging class, saying she needed to get her head straight. She kept running away—probably too embarrassed to face me.
Still, I practiced the Lion's Roar on my own while learning to handle Blood Energy, and I managed to get a decent feel for it.
"You feel it, Leona? My overwhelming power?"
"You're being obscenely smug about this. What exactly is it? The weight behind your sword feels different."
"Well, let's just say another one of my talents has blossomed."
"What?! Don't tell me Kim Geun-cheol had another Profound Awakening?!"
"Something like that. But technically, I guess I just got a little better at handling mana during training lately. That kind of feeling."
"Kya!"
Leona let out a cheer like she'd just slammed a beer and pressed a hand to her forehead.
"Our enlightenment freak Geun-cheol just went and realized something else again, didn't he! He really does have talent! He's already reached this level, and his growth rate is still like this!"
"Right?! Look! Witness my strengthened power!"
It's actually the power Void Princess handed over, but right now I just want to get drunk on my own "strength."
Anyway, after wrapping up that quick sparring session with Leona, I crossed blades with Yu-ri, who'd been watching from the sidelines.
And the result?
"Huh? This bastard actually seems different somehow? You got stronger?"
Yu-ri picked up on it immediately.
"You felt it too? My true power?"
"For real, if this bastard didn't run his mouth so much, he'd actually have some weight to him. No, seriously, you're growing every day? If a guy like this had awakened as a kid and gotten professional training, he'd have been insane. For real."
The Power of Blood Energy definitely seemed solid.
Especially with Yu-ri saying it just like that.
"That's right. I think about it often too. If I'd awakened younger and grown up in a more professional environment... well. That Ryu What's-His-Name over there wouldn't even be worth comparing. I might've already been Sovereign Commander-level by now."
"For the love of god, stop spouting bullshit, you goddamn Taliban bastard!"
"Ouuuuuuuuu!"
—CRASH!
Ryu, who'd just blown Brian away in a single stroke, aimed a howl at me.
"You've gone from Sovereign Commander-level now? There's a limit to how delusional you can be!"
"Hey. Ryu. Be honest, you admit it? If I'd had more time, I'd be rank four and you'd be rank five?"
"For the love of god, stop fixating on that one rank...!"
The fact that only a single rank separates Ryu and me is his eternal berserk button.
"I didn't even use a tenth of my full power against you, honestly! Goddammit! I'll absolutely take first place in the next ranking match!"
Throwing down a challenge to my friends?!
Guys!
No matter what, make sure Ryu places fourth!
While I was shouting that internally, I was analyzing my Blood Energy and gauging the power Ryu had just shown.
Blood Energy is an otherworldly power.
VP said that once the Whiters start appearing on Earth, people who awaken this different kind of ability—Blood Energy—will start showing up. Anyway, for now, that means I'm the only user.
If that's the case, I've got plenty of room to pull ahead. Maybe if I train Blood Energy brutally hard right now, I can close the gap between me and my friends fast.
Sure, if my friends awaken Blood Energy later, the gap might widen again, but if I've already caught up once, I'll be able to chase them down faster even if it does, right?
That's how I'll be able to go toe-to-toe with Ryu.
"Geun-cheol got stronger again, huh. Good! Then I'm your next opponent, Geun-cheol!"
"Heh heh heh, you bastard Lee Si-hoo. You really think a scrub like you can handle me?"
"Seriously, please stop talking like that, Geun-cheol. You sound like a lunatic."
"A lunatic only sees lunatics in others! Come!"
"Yeah!"
—Fwoosh!
Si-hoo kicked off the ground.
But in that instant, I had the thought that Si-hoo seemed just a little abnormally fast. Like my own time had slowed down... no. The opposite—a strange movement, as if Si-hoo's time had sped up.
—Boom!
Si-hoo closed the gap in an eyeblink and thrust the sword out light and sharp. Wait! If the Si-hoo Special Triple Strike comes out here, forget defense—both my flanks are getting shredded!
"Heh heh, you think I'll use it? I won't!"
"Agh!"
—CRASH!
Blade met blade.
Look at this guy hiding techniques during a spar. Anyway, I channeled mana alongside Blood Energy into my forearm and poured even more power into my sword.
"Huh?"
At the same moment, Si-hoo's blade was knocked upward. She looked flustered. Just as I thought. She'd momentarily lost her rhythm to the force born from Blood Energy.
"Take this!"
"Kgh!"
Very, very rarely.
—Fwoosh!
My thrust actually reached Si-hoo. Of course, she reacted fast and blocked again right after, but this time my sword had definitely touched her.
"I won...! That's my win!"
"N-no! What're you talking about! I went easy and blocked it right away?!"
Si-hoo shouted, face red, but honestly, against Lee Si-hoo, if I do this well it's definitely my win!
"Whoa! So I'm rank one now?!"
"More nonsense. No, but seriously, what is it? That felt a little weird just now. The force was suddenly stronger than I expected..."
Si-hoo sheathed her sword and voiced her question.
"Heh heh heh, let's just say I learned a hidden trump card. You can leave it at that."
"Oh, come on! Tell me!"
"I'll tell you once it's a bit more perfected."
"Mean! Just tell me!"
Looks like Si-hoo's kinda pissed off.
"Ah, I said I'll tell you later. Later."
But it's really fascinating.
Is this what happens with true experts?
All my friends I crossed blades with during the sparring class had apparently vaguely sensed the strangeness of Blood Energy.
Blood Energy, in simple terms, flows through the blood and can be used instantly according to my will.
It's different from the force generated by mana. An art that simply adds destructive power with a genuinely magical feeling. When I swing a sword using Blood Energy, mana and muscle and speed—and on top of that, a new layer of destructive power is added.
A true expert could roughly gauge an attack's power just by looking at the concentration and speed of mana. But they know nothing about Blood Energy. When I add Blood Energy on top of that, unexpected destructive force occurs, they feel the strangeness, and it throws off their rhythm.
Si-hoo just now is a perfect example.
Of course, since I'm minimizing the power I use while sparring with friends right now, I'm not creating any huge variables, but if I polish this and use it as a hidden ace...
My enemies will never walk away unscathed.
They'll take a hit that defies all expectations and collapse.
—Clap, clap, clap.
At that, the instructor clapped to draw our attention.
"Right, sparring class is over. Everyone's level has improved overall. An excellent achievement. It's enough to make me look forward to the next ranking match. Anyway. The next class is Combined Squad Combat Theory."
Ah.
We're doing combined classes again, huh?
"Starting today, combined classes have resumed, so... Kim Geun-cheol? Make sure you don't cause any more incidents."
The instructor's eagle-eyed gaze locked onto me.
"Heh heh heh, come on, Instructor. Why do you worry about me like that? Don't you know me? Kim Geun-cheol of the Trust? Kim Geun-cheol of the Trust, I said?"
"Be quiet, you troublemaker. Whatever it is, I hope you'll minimize conflicts with cadets from other classes. That is all. After the break, assemble at your designated locations."
"Yes, ma'am."
Alright, time to move.
"Shall we go grab a drink first?"
"Sounds good. Guys. Let's go."
"Yeah."
"How about we spar right here and the weakest one buys?"
"For the love of god, let's just do rock-paper-scissors, Yu-ri!"
Seriously, just pick a fight!
Once I master Blood Energy, you're the first one I'm crushing, Yu-ri!
* * *
So there I was pushing the door open while sipping the drink I'd paid for. Couldn't believe I got obliterated in rock-paper-scissors. But when I walked in, a girl with a bit of a slouch was waving at me in greeting.
"Ah... Geun-cheol... hey."
"Ma-O-Ha!"
"Ca-can you please drop the 'Ma'...!"
"Long time no see, good to see you! How is it?! Having a supporter in front of you?!"
"It's just a little... oh, and the Ma-O-Ha, I mean. Ma O-hun's here too..."
"Is he?"
I looked over and Ma O-hun was sitting on the window ledge with earbuds in, staring outside.
"Hey! O-hun, Ha-yul! How've you two been?!"
At my question, Ma O-hun glanced at me and spat out a reply.
"Annoying concern. Don't do it. Trying to dig into my private life."
"Pig. Quit the bullshit. Shut it."
"Calling me a pig again!"
"You wanna bring out the Flügel? Want me to show you the power gap again?"
"Tch...! Fine!"
Looks like they're doing well.
"Oh? That's the council prez."
"The Student Council President's here."
"Yo! When are you running for office?!"
The Mage Class guys looked like they were doing well too.
Everyone was waving at me with bright faces—those are my supporters right there. First, I laughed and waved back to show I'd been doing well too, then scanned the faces. And in that far corner, I caught sight of Ahn Do-min and those assholes huddled together.
Perfect!
"You! You over there! Ahn Do-min!"
"Hurk!"
The moment he saw me, Ahn Do-min flinched and his mouth dropped open!
"Get over here! Fast! Hey! I said get over here!"
"N-no! Why the hell are you after me again...!"
"It's still break time! Let's have a little chat! Hurry up!"
"Agh!"
Ahn Do-min, looking freaked out, walked toward me while checking everyone's reactions. At the same time, every eye in the Mage Class turned to Ahn Do-min.
Definitely not friendly gazes.
Look at this.
Ever since that incident, this bastard still hadn't managed to blend into his class. But who am I? I'm Kim Geun-cheol the Kidnapper. After I declared the great first-year unification in front of everyone last time, I can't allow this kind of toxic class atmosphere.
—Clap.
I slung my arm around Ahn Do-min's shoulder as he approached.
"Now then. Let's go somewhere quiet and have a wholesome conversation, just the two of us."
"Y-you! That incident's already over! But if you mess with me again like this, no matter what kind of backing you have...!"
"HEY!!!!"
"Gyaak?!"
No, wait, this bastard!
"Who said anything about messing with you! I said let's talk! Don't twist people's intentions! This is exactly why you ended up like this—because you act all crooked like that!"
"S-somebody save me!"
"I'm not gonna kill you! We're just going to talk! My voice is loud because I'm just a little overflowing with energy and fighting spirit, that's all!"
I plan to go have a wholesome talk now, so establishing dominance is important. Let's go make productive use of this break time.
"Kim Geun-cheol! Doing that makes it look like some kind of school violence! Talk a little quieter, please!"
"I said it gently. Gently. Delicious, even. Alright, I'll be back!"
"Just say what you need to say and come back quickly! Why is 'delicious' coming up, anyway?"
The talk I need to have is simple.
First, Ahn Do-min has the karmic debt of acting like a total dick in the Mage Class all this time, so I'm gonna make him apologize for it. Class unification starts with reforming the jagged-edged bastards like him.
"Ugh!"
Ahn Do-min whipped his head away.
Probably awkward for him to look at Leona.