Chapter 155: Student Council Election (5)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 155: Student Council Election (5)
The first spar was a bloodbath. Entrails spilled out, and limbs were torn to shreds.
The second was a slightly better fountain of blood. As Leon's blade slashed diagonally, his opponent's head was cleanly severed.
Of course, it was only "better" compared to the first; until the subspace cleared, they still had to watch a spurting crimson fountain show. Manager Seong let that much slide.
He wasn't a combat agent, but he had seen more than enough blood-soaked scenes to grow sick of them. By now, he could easily empty a bowl of ox blood soup while staring at fresh blood.
But now, just as the third spar had ended, Manager Seong was utterly appalled.
If it had been a scene of chaotic carnage, he wouldn't have been this shocked.
The third was the cleanest scene out of all three so far. Nevertheless, Manager Seong swallowed down a rising urge to gag.
Manager Seong stared blankly ahead. On the sparring stage, where the purple subspace barrier had yet to clear, every eye was fixed on a single spot.
The figure standing in the center, and another body collapsed messily on the ground. It was Kang Geomma and Sion.
Manager Seong's shoulders trembled slightly. That black-haired boy brought a bloody battle to mind.
Though he didn't know what trick she used, Sion had rushed him at supersonic speed. She thrust her sword, aiming for his blind spot.
But now, Sion was growing cold, her complexion dull like a fish with its gills pierced by a harpoon.
Manager Seong shifted his gaze to Kang Geomma. He was casually wiping the blood off his Sashimi. Manager Seong thought:
Can that cadet really be called a hero? Come to think of it, he was the talent that best fit the motto of Joaquin Academy.
He was numb to taking lives, and his skills were beyond question.
However, applying the word "hero" to him made his throat tighten.
Kang Geomma was too mechanical. It was the same when he killed the ogre instantly with a heart attack, and it was the same now. His blade only severed the signs of life.
That is no longer in the realm of technique.
Manager Seong looked at the folder in his hand. He had written down the estimated Hero Points of the candidates so far.
『Name: Den Range ▶ H.P.: Estimated 500』
『Name: Leon von Reinhardt ▶ H.P.: Estimated 800』
『Name: Kang Geomma ▶ H.P.: ...』
Tap, tap. The pen tip left sparse dots on the paper. While his mind was racing, his pen moved slowly.
Based on the Sword Emperor's 1,669 points and the Spear Saint's 1,653 points, Kang Geomma's estimate was...
At least 1,650 or more. Or...
Manager Seong felt his head spin.
...
Meanwhile, Kang Geomma looked into Sion's hazy pupils. A dull, lifeless gray. He considered poking her head just in case, but decided against it.
Kang Geomma had intended to play along with Sion to some extent in this spar. A single slash would have guaranteed Sion being cut in half, which would make it impossible to confirm whether she was a villain or not.
His plan was to squeeze her dry and "force her to unleash her last bit of strength," but...
As soon as the starting bell rang, Sion rushed forward with unexpected speed. Kang Geomma instinctively knew: that was her full power.
But he didn't feel even a trace of magic power. If so, there was only one conclusion: Sion was not a villain. In that case, there was no need to hold back anymore.
Kang Geomma scanned Sion's figures and quickly picked out the real one. It was because one of them, in particular, radiated killing intent.
In the end, she would try to confuse his vision and aim for the back of his head. It was a cliché tactic.
To Kang Geomma, who had fought countless villains, it was nothing more than child's play.
Still, her eyes, gleaming with greed, were too annoying for him to send her off gently.
So, he countered at the exact moment Sion launched her surprise attack. An upward thrust. With that, Sion died instantly, her head skewered like a rice cake skewer.
However, looking at Sion, who now had gills around her neck, made his stomach turn. Kang Geomma averted his eyes from her.
His eyes, scanning the arena, suddenly stopped. Sitting where his gaze landed were the current president and vice president.
Is it one of those two?
Should I nip them in the bud right now? Kang Geomma pondered briefly before walking away.
The purple barrier cleared, and the thick scent of blood dissolved into the wind.
* * *
"...Supervisor Ha."
Manager Seong grabbed the shoulder of Ha Na-eun, who was about to stand up. Perhaps because the shock was so great, his eyes were filled with worry.
Looking back, it felt like he was pushing his cherished subordinate to the front lines. Moreover, Supervisor Ha's opponent was the current president. He was a cadet famous for having a few screws loose.
At her boss's worried expression, Supervisor Ha forced a bright smile.
"How can you make a face like that when you were just talking about a bonus? And Manager, though it's embarrassing to say it myself, I'm a Senior-grade hero, you know."
"I know... but Supervisor Ha, combat isn't your specialty."
"Oh, come on, I can still do the basics! I'm a bit nervous since it's my first time doing subspace sparring, but I'll do my best! Cheer for me, Manager!"
Supervisor Ha saluted. At that, a gentle smile appeared on Manager Seong's lips. He returned the salute.
"Alright, Supervisor Ha. Tonight's dinner is Korean beef, just like last time. Go do your best."
"Yes, sir!"
Supervisor Ha walked forward with confident strides. She stood on the sparring stage. Opposite her, Kim Woo-jin stretched his stiff neck from side to side.
Kim Woo-jin slipped spiked knuckles onto his fingers, a weapon that didn't match his scrawny build. He spoke.
"Association employee, your name is Supervisor Ha, right? Since I'm quite a novice when it comes to 'sparring,' I might be lacking in many ways. Please go easy on me."
"...Ah?"
Contrary to the notorious rumors, his tone was incredibly polite. Supervisor Ha nodded.
"L-likewise, please go easy on me too."
Just as formal greetings were being exchanged, a curve formed in Supervisor Ha's vision. It was the crooked smile playing on Kim Woo-jin's lips.
[We will now begin the match between Candidate No. 1 Kim Woo-jin and Special Number Ha Na-eun.]
...30 minutes later.
[The final match has ended.]
[Winner, Candidate No. 1 Kim Woo-jin. Congratulations.]
* * *
The matches were over. The winners—the selected candidates—only received a few separate instructions. There was nothing more.
"That concludes the explanation. You may return to your classes or go back to the dorms; you are free to do as you wish today. Good work, everyone. Get some rest."
As the senior instructor wrapped up his speech, I looked at Kim Woo-jin. He was yawning widely with sleepy eyes. Anyone looking at him would think he had just woken up.
I frowned at his carefree attitude, as the details of the final match from earlier flashed through my mind.
The spar between Kim Woo-jin and Supervisor Ha had lasted for 30 minutes. Since the previous three spars averaged only about five minutes, the duration was exceptionally long.
But during those 30 minutes, it was clearly engraved just how out of his mind Kim Woo-jin was.
He wasn't as strong a cadet as I had thought. His strength and speed were only slightly above average, and his Blessing or armament weren't particularly unique either.
Yet, Kim Woo-jin snatched victory from Ha Na-eun, a Senior-grade hero.
Kim Woo-jin's fighting style was a so-called dogfight. He would rush in with his tongue hanging out until his opponent's stamina was completely depleted.
In the process, he allowed every hit to land. He laughed off dislocations, fractures, and all kinds of injuries.
To the point where most of the blood splattered on the sparring stage at the time belonged to Kim Woo-jin.
Supervisor Ha, who had led the spar advantageously in the beginning, eventually hit a lull. In the final ten minutes, she couldn't escape Kim Woo-jin's beating.
That guy is the type who enjoys fighting itself.
I thought as I looked at Kim Woo-jin. You know, isn't there always a character with that kind of trait in every game? A crazy bastard who is absolutely obsessed with combat.
For example, a battle maniac. That was exactly Kim Woo-jin. And he was also the current Student Council President.
Judging by his mental state, he was a perfect fit for a villain, so I had no idea how he managed to secure that position.
I can't figure out what kind of bastard he is.
In the canon story, Kim Woo-jin had already graduated by the time Leon ran for the Student Council President election in his second year, so he was only occasionally mentioned as the former president.
It's a bit bothersome.
It was annoying. This feeling, like a thorn stuck in my throat. A warning sent by my sharply honed intuition. It was an ominous omen.
Actually, I had no obligation to catch villains. That was why the Association had established itself at the Academy in the first place.
Even to myself, stepping up like this seemed ridiculous. Since when was I so full of justice? I'm the kind of guy who wouldn't hesitate to jaywalk if there were no cars. The Association employees at least get paid, but I was doing this for free.
But I couldn't just turn a blind eye to the situation either. What I feared wasn't the likes of villains. It was the existence beyond them.
Those who licked their lips in the Demon Realm Gehenna, aiming to invade the Human Realm. 4th Corps Commander Permush, 3rd Corps Commander Vesna, and 2nd Corps Commander Kuarne.
They had been suspiciously quiet since the death of the 5th Corps Commander Agor.
Just letting it slide like this? That made no sense.
Although demons might not have strong bonds, they are a race that never forgets revenge.
They are beings who have harbored the humiliation of the 1st Human-Demon War for over 700 years; there was no way they would just gloss over the death of their kin.
By now, they must be continuously attempting to descend upon the Human Realm to avenge their disgrace.
That was why the roots of the villains, who grew like weeds, had to be pulled out. After all, the role of the villains was to aid the descent of the Corps Commanders.
I turned my head to look at Leon. And I recalled my playthrough days.
Looking back, villains only made brief appearances in each chapter; Leon's main enemies were magical beasts and demons, not villains.
Even then, Auditore or other helpers would appear just in time to resolve things. Leon rarely slashed a villain. No, it was safe to say he almost never did.
Even though all the conspiracies and secret maneuvers during the first semester's midterm exams, uninhabited island survival training, and final exams were carried out by villains.
"...Ha."
Suddenly, a dry laugh escaped my lips. I felt like I could vaguely understand why some unknowable entity had dropped me into this world.
Damn it.
I walked out of the sparring arena. Dark clouds hung heavily in the sky.
The damp smell of rain filled my nose. A chilly sensation stung my skin. It was weather fit for a lightning storm.
Staring up at the ink-black sky, I quietly closed my eyes. And I expanded my Mindscape Domain as widely as possible.
This was a sort of whim. There was nothing like meditation to clear away stray thoughts.
Sss—
Perhaps because I closed my eyes, or perhaps because it was a projection of the dark reality, the sky within my Mindscape Domain was also dark.
Still, I've gotten quite used to the Mindscape Domain.
I focused my mind. I cut away physical intervention. I erased the sensations touching my skin one by one.
Then, the outline of a single Sashimi materialized within me. It wandered freely through the Mindscape Domain solely by my will.
This is a first.
As the blade shed pure white light against the pitch-black background, I poured more of my will into the Sashimi slicing through the air. I materialized the image.
Soon, the sword tip, which had been flying through the air like a butterfly, pointed at the pitch-black sky. In sync with it, I grabbed the hilt within my mind and slashed downward.
Slash—!
The faint sound of cutting drifted into my ears. The gloomy air cleared, and a gentle warmth lingered.
I opened my closed eyes. At the same time, my pupils contracted.
The sky split open to the left and right. Through the gap, the sun squeezed its way out. Not fully understanding the situation, I simply bathed in the pouring sunlight.
A gentle breeze brushed against the back of my neck. A fragment of a fallen leaf landed on the tip of my nose. My gaze gathered to the center, focusing.
I was shocked once again. Every single fallen leaf scattered on the road had been artificially cut.
"..."
A realm that only appeared in martial arts novels. A swordsmanship that only peerless masters who reached the absolute limit of the sword could wield. And a Heart Sword in the truest sense.
"Sword-Control Technique."