Chapter 42
Chapter 42
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 42
Chapter Title: Practical Magic Defense Training
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Thanks to that, a whopping 1 billion won appeared in my brokerage account.
Now, with this money, I'll buy a bit of Dawn's Blade stock...
"Alright! Looks like everyone's here. Let's begin the lesson."
About 10 meters away from the Wizard Academy's main building was the multipurpose comprehensive training ground.
Jang An-cheol's characteristically booming voice rang out from the front.
I jumped in surprise and quickly bought 80,000 shares of Dawn's Blade stock with swift movements.
[Ending smart device usage.]
After that, as if nothing had happened, I dismissed the external aid perk that had the securities app screen open and turned to look at Jang An-cheol.
Man, this is incredibly convenient. I can secretly browse the internet without anyone noticing.
"Before we start the lesson, let me explain why we're doing this class. As you all know, there have been a lot of disturbing incidents lately. Two days ago, a demon attacked the school, and yesterday, there was a magic terror attack in Incheon."
The students nodded with tense expressions.
Jang An-cheol looked at them and continued.
"That's why we need to train our own defense techniques in case of a demon attack. So today, we're doing practical magic defense training."
"Whoa, awesome."
"Isn't Practical Magic Defense a third-year subject?"
Excited voices rose around me at the announcement of new training. As the atmosphere grew a bit rowdy, Jang An-cheol hardened his expression.
"I see some students already approaching the class with a light heart. If you're thinking of taking it easy, you'd better drop out now. This magic defense training will involve attacker-defender role sparring that's close to real combat."
Attacker-defender role sparring.
It refers to a training where two students assign roles of attacker and defender, spar for a few minutes, then switch roles and spar again.
In simple terms, it's training where you alternate between attacking and defending.
"So, for the magic defense training, we'll do attacker-defender role sparring... Is there anyone who wants to volunteer as the representative to go first?"
Jang An-cheol said, scanning the students.
But the response was lukewarm. Even I stayed quiet, lacking much confidence in magic defense.
With no one stepping forward, Jang An-cheol showed a disappointed reaction.
"No one confident enough to step up, huh. Alright..."
Jang An-cheol slowly scanned the students. His gaze stopped in front of someone.
"Park In-hwan, come forward."
At Jang An-cheol's call, Park In-hwan walked out with steady steps.
The students' eyes focused on his confident stride.
"Is there a student you'd like to recommend as your sparring partner?"
Park In-hwan scanned the students, as if searching for someone, until his eyes met mine.
"Kim Sun-woo."
Me?
Murmurs rose among the students at Park In-hwan's nomination.
"Kim Sun-woo?"
"Didn't he do pretty well in the last exam?"
"But the rank difference is huge, right? 5th place versus 150th."
Jang An-cheol turned his gaze to me and said.
"Yes, Kim Sun-woo. Come forward."
Caught off guard by the sudden call, I stepped forward.
I could feel the 48 pairs of eyes on me. Some expectant, some sneering. Among them, Yoo A-ra and Yoon Ha-young's gazes were particularly noteworthy.
"Good. Now, get on the field and face each other."
Park In-hwan and I faced each other. Though he stared at me with a composed facade due to the watching eyes, I could sense the malice deep in his gaze directed at me.
"I'll assign the roles. Park In-hwan defends, Kim Sun-woo attacks. No other actions allowed. Perform your role for one minute, then switch and do it again."
"Yes."
Park In-hwan answered with a smile.
His true intentions were crystal clear.
He was planning to beat me up when the roles switched next.
'This guy's asking for a beating.'
That personality that finds pleasure in bullying others.
Definitely a problem.
I took a short deep breath and asked Jang An-cheol.
"Does the attack method or means matter?"
"No."
"What if the opponent is inexperienced in defense and gets hurt?"
At my provocation, Park In-hwan chuckled.
"Funny. You think your lame magic will even faze me?"
Park In-hwan glared at me and said.
"Park In-hwan, don't get cocky."
Park In-hwan shut his mouth at Jang An-cheol's firm words.
"I'll say it clearly: this isn't real combat. We're just splitting roles briefly to hone your magic defense senses. Injuries from mistakes are unavoidable, but you mustn't approach the training with emotions. Understood?"
"......Yes."
"Then prepare for the spar."
I pondered how to handle this attacker-defender role sparring.
Of course, I'd fully recovered the mana spent on magic training earlier.
The problem was my innately low mana capacity.
If I used too much mana on this attack turn, I might not have enough for the next defense turn.
I had to avoid that at all costs.
Park In-hwan would surely attack in earnest when the roles switched.
How should I do this?
From my memory, Park In-hwan's main defense technique was a magic barrier that blocked by generating mana waves around him.
Of course, if I used the Heart of Great Nature, I was confident I could pierce any barrier, but it was too wasteful to use it in a mere spar like this.
Plus, with the story derailed, who knew what situations might arise.
'I should stick mainly to low-mana reinforcement spells.'
Park In-hwan looked at Kim Sun-woo.
Kim Sun-woo was casually stretching to loosen up.
He exuded a leisure that made it impossible to believe he was the 150th facing the 5th.
'Arrogant bastard.'
He had stood out in various ways recently, but Park In-hwan was brimming with confidence.
In the midterm exam battle against the green giant he'd seen, Kim Sun-woo's magic itself wasn't that strong.
He was certain Kim Sun-woo had just defeated the green giant more easily thanks to some inexplicable combat sense and intuition.
His own magical ability was superior.
"Everyone ready? I'll count down. 5, 4, 3, 2, 1. Begin!"
At Jang An-cheol's shout, Park In-hwan gathered his mana.
He already knew Kim Sun-woo's fighting style from before.
Aggressive charges uncharacteristic of a manifestation wizard.
Then, disorienting the opponent with elusive movements before blasting magic at vital points.
That was Kim Sun-woo's style.
"Hup!"
As expected, Kim Sun-woo reinforced his body with mana and charged at high speed.
But Park In-hwan specialized in reinforcement too.
If he matched the body reinforcement and didn't give ground, Kim Sun-woo would have no other options.
He could hold out until the one-minute mark, then pretend it was a mistake and pummel the guy when roles switched...
"Huh?"
But Kim Sun-woo charged faster than he anticipated.
He knew Kim Sun-woo was fast from the reinforcement running test, but this was on another level compared to then.
"Ugh!"
In the blink of an eye, Kim Sun-woo closed in, forcing Park In-hwan to hastily release mana and deploy his magic barrier.
Pang—!
A blue-tinged circular magic barrier spread widely around Park In-hwan.
At the same time, Kim Sun-woo's body bounced back.
"Urk."
Park In-hwan bit his lip. That was close. If he'd been even a bit slower, he'd have eaten a solid hit from Kim Sun-woo.
"......What kind of manifestation wizard is that?"
Fighting like a reinforcement wizard. And his specialty was manifestation? What nonsense...
No, before that, Kim Sun-woo's movements were faster than most top reinforcement students. It made no sense that someone with that skill chose manifestation as their specialty.
"Heh."
Then Kim Sun-woo smirked.
'......What?'
For a moment, a chill ran down Park In-hwan's spine.
He didn't know why he felt that way. But he'd felt this same sensation before.
Last year, during the midterm sparring in the second semester against Lee Seo-jun.
He'd felt this then too.
'Me, to a guy like that......'
Park In-hwan clenched his fist.
The opponent was 150th place, the school's weakest.
It was unbelievable that he, the 5th in the school, felt fear toward such a guy.
'Focus.'
The Kim Sun-woo in front of him wasn't that impressive.
Sure, he was exceptionally skilled for 150th, but even accounting for that, his raw magic ability wasn't outstanding.
He, in the top 5 elite ranks, had no reason to tense up.
Just block a few more attacks like this until the minute passed and roles switched, then beat the crap out of him.
"Come on."
At Park In-hwan's words, Kim Sun-woo kicked off the ground and charged again.
"Hup!"
Dodging was pointless. He had to block the approach with the barrier.
Pang—!
The blue barrier spread wide once more.
But Kim Sun-woo, as if anticipating it, twisted his body and retreated backward.
Having blocked once, he dismissed the barrier. Maintaining the magic barrier consumed a lot of mana.
Especially against someone charging with mana cloaking their body.
Wait a moment, and when he attacked again...
That was when a flash of light blazed before his eyes.
"Argh!"
Without knowing what happened, intense pain erupted in his shoulder.
Park In-hwan clutched his shoulder and hunched over. He gritted his teeth against the sudden agony.
"Grgh!"
What the hell? What just happened?
Then another bright light flashed. Instinctively, Park In-hwan deployed the barrier again.
Boom!
The barrier shook violently. He'd blocked the follow-up attack.
The attacks stopped again.
"Urk!"
Park In-hwan dismissed the barrier once more. The mana drain was too much; he had no choice.
As the barrier vanished, Kim Sun-woo dashed toward him with quick movements.
Panicked, Park In-hwan hurriedly tried to raise the barrier again but was one step too late.
Puk!
Kim Sun-woo's mana-infused fist slammed into Park In-hwan's gut.
"Gah!"
Park In-hwan's body lifted slightly off the ground and rolled across the floor. Clutching his stomach, he doubled over in pain. Something rose from deep in his chest, and he vomited blood.
"Grgh."
The sound of approaching footsteps again.
For a moment, fear gripped him.
What if Kim Sun-woo kept beating him like this?
But the attack didn't continue. Looking up, it wasn't Kim Sun-woo but Jang An-cheol in front of him.
"Stop! Sparring over!"
['Nemesis of Someone' achievement unlocked.]
[Obtained 3,000 points as reward.]
[Character 'Park In-hwan' feels intense humiliation toward you.]
[Obtained 1,000 points as reward.]
Park In-hwan was immediately taken to the infirmary. It should have switched to his defense turn after one minute, but it ended due to his injury.
"Looks like it's not a serious injury, fortunately."
Jang An-cheol said with relief.
"And Kim Sun-woo, good work."
"......Yes."
I'd been a bit worried about getting scolded because of Park In-hwan's injury, but it blew over since it wasn't life-threatening.
"Wow, but like I thought during the last exam, Kim Sun-woo's magic itself is just okay, but his combat sense is insane."
"Yeah. But isn't he totally different from last year?"
As I returned to my seat, I overheard students glancing at me and chattering.
"Is Kim Sun-woo stronger than Park In-hwan?"
"Idiot. Park In-hwan was only defending. In a real fight, he wouldn't stand a chance."
"Oh, right?"
Students gossiping about me.
I didn't pay much attention, even hearing that I'd lose to Park In-hwan in a proper fight.
Because I honestly didn't know what would happen in a real one.
Though it would be different if I used the Heart of Great Nature.
As I sat quietly, I felt an intense gaze from somewhere.
Lee Seo-jun and Yoo A-ra were looking at me with strange expressions.
"Alright, let's continue the class! Next, Lee Seo-jun, you're up!"
That evening.
I was doing magic training with Yoon Ha-young at the magic training ground.
"Sun-woo, that attacker-defender role training with Park In-hwan earlier—your movements were amazing. You were way faster than when sparring with me."
Yoon Ha-young said while firing an ice arrow floating in the air at the target.
"Park In-hwan couldn't even handle it properly, so of course you'd beat me. Hmm. Nice one!"
"Hey, focus instead of chatting."
Yoon Ha-young pouted at my words.
"......I've been at this for two hours now, and it's getting tough."
"Sip!"
"......Hing, okay."
Yoon Ha-young stuck out her lips and conjured magic again.
Ten transparently glowing ice arrows floated above her hand. They shot toward the target, creating a massive boom as they destroyed it.
"Whoa......"
Watching her steadily improving magic, I could only think how impressive she was. At this rate, she could easily hit the top 20 within a year.
"Oh yeah. Yoon Ha-young, you free next weekend?"
"Weekend?"
"Yeah."
"......Why the weekend?"
"There's somewhere I want to go together."
Yoon Ha-young blinked.
"I do have time, but......"
"Great? Then clear your schedule. Somewhere fun