Chapter 127: Pause
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 127: Pause
There is a legendary adult video titled 1:100 that no true "gentleman" could possibly be unaware of.
The premise is simple: one person runs away from a hundred others, and if they get caught, they get fucked... If there are any gentlemen here who haven't seen it, I highly recommend it. You must watch it.
I wonder if the actress in that video felt the same way I do right now.
"It’s an exam, so it can’t be helped. Nothing personal, so just hurry up and die."
"I believe that the many oppressing the weak is not the way of a warrior, but for now, I have no choice."
Yeah, it’s definitely different.
The actress got fucked every time she was caught, but in my case, I’m getting my throat slit.
Don't your words and your faces clash a bit too much?
Shiori and the Samurai, both looking like they’re having the time of their lives, are already bursting with motivation.
It’s not just them; Park Yu-jeong is staring at me with a bright, innocent expression, and even Shizuka has a look of faint anticipation in her eyes.
What did I ever do to you guys?
More than half the people gathered here look thrilled at the prospect of beating the crap out of me.
Since the current students are in a festive mood, the transfer students—unable to understand the vibe—just tilt their heads and look at me with pitying eyes.
I’m not an outcast, okay?
"To think I’d be able to pay you back so soon. This is better than I expected."
Bukgeuk-jwa also gives a thin smile while glaring at me.
She’s so petty. She’s just like that geezer. And yet, she’s still trying to manage her image by saying cool-sounding lines to the woman next to her.
1:100 Death Tag.
August described me as the "it," but that’s not right.
A hundred people are "it," and I’m the only one who has to run for his life.
And it doesn’t end with just one catch; the scores are calculated based on how many times they manage to catch me.
Yeah, it’s basically telling me to keep dying over and over.
I thought you were a true mentor, August, but did I do something to offend you?
Even though he can feel my gaze, August remains composed.
"Since the 'it' is at an overwhelming disadvantage, the 'it' will depart first, and the match will begin thirty minutes later."
Stop calling me "it."
Regardless, if I want to live, I have to run as far as possible, so I follow August and move out first.
The setting is a ruined city, similar to the entrance exam test.
There are plenty of places to hide, but that also means my own field of vision is limited, increasing the probability of encountering an enemy.
As I follow him, constantly checking the terrain by flicking the Eye of Yullat, August speaks.
"I do not believe you can escape them all on your own."
"Oh, how brilliant of you. Did you just figure that out now~?"
"...I understand your frustration. Regardless, I will provide a bit of support to offset the disadvantage."
"Support?"
August reaches out, and a blue screen floats above his palm.
"Changing your actual abilities is difficult in a large-scale Illusion Space with so many participants due to various issues, but it is possible to provide real-world magical tools."
How generous. Truly, what "small" support.
"In the end, these are generated by human hands based on a database, so I cannot say their performance is a 100% reproduction, but there should be no problem using them."
"Do you have everything?"
"Not everything, surely. However, most well-known items are available. I can even summon the weapons used by Ms. Erin."
Even if I brought a signature weapon, it’s not like I could use it well.
If you gave me a weapon wielded by one of the 12 Zodiacs, the pinnacle of mages, the weapon would probably end up consuming me instead.
I skim through the list on the screen, deliberate for a moment, and then pack my items.
"Is that really enough? Even if you die, you will respawn with them, but I am only providing them this once."
"You told me to smash everything, didn't you? I don't know about smashing, but in the end, it's fine as long as no one wins, right?"
At my words, August lets out a faint smile.
"Yes. I hope you do your best."
After providing the items, August disappears with those final words.
I packed as much as I could without compromising my mobility, but I’m not sure how it’ll turn out.
We can all just go down together, right?
But keep this in mind: the current students and the transfers will all be ruined equally, but the teachers who created this absurd situation better be ready to write their letters of apology.
Let’s all go down in flames together.
* * *
When August returns to the administrator room, the teachers who were watching the screens welcome him.
"It’s finally starting. I’m looking forward to the transfer students' skills, but I’m also very excited to see what Yeon-woo will show us."
"He’s always exceeded our expectations, so it’s impossible not to look forward to it."
"He’s a clever lad."
The teachers show their anticipation as if they are about to watch an entertaining movie.
"By the way, what did Yeon-woo take with him?"
"Armor, most likely. From Yeon-woo's perspective, there’s no need to reinforce his attack power."
"You never know. That boy has a very unique way of thinking."
August, who had been watching the teachers chatter excitedly, checks the list of magical tools Yeon-woo took one more time before speaking.
"He only took one piece of equipment. The rest are all drugs."
"Drugs?"
"Yes. Most are accelerators, but he also included a few poisons."
"Ho ho—"
The teachers click their tongues at the unexpected list and begin a serious discussion.
"Accelerators... he won't be able to use many anyway because of the toxicity."
"He must be prepared to die a few times. He can use a new one every time he respawns."
"I see. Young people really do have good ideas. He’s making active use of the Illusion Space."
"Even so, to not even take proper armor..."
"It’s skewed to one side enough to be called extreme, so he must have an intention. If we keep watching, he’ll show us another entertaining scene."
"Still, poison... He certainly has a brain for utilizing anything, but it’s still a bit distasteful."
The teachers each offer a comment while watching Yeon-woo on the screen.
Yeon-woo, who departed first, doesn't run far and instead enters a half-collapsed building.
Originally, this was his time to flee, but since he doesn't move from there, a tedious amount of time passes until the match finally begins.
Since the rule is that no one except Yeon-woo can respawn, the current students and transfer students keep an eye on each other, but no hasty clashes occur.
"Oho, is he trying to use the 'it's darkest under the lamp' strategy?"
"He’s hiding at the starting point to exploit a blind spot in their thinking."
"But it’s clumsy. The current students might not know, but most of the transfer students are highly experienced."
Just as the teachers said, the current students start running as fast as possible, assuming Yeon-woo would have fled far away the moment it started, while many transfer students advance slowly.
"Um... Miss Elf? I don't know your name. I'm Redick—"
"Your name is of no importance to me. Nor am I so insignificant as to reveal my name to the likes of you."
Redick, a handsome blonde youth, looks troubled by Justina’s words before getting to the point.
"Uh... right... anyway, wouldn't it be better if we looked for him together?"
"Me? Why?"
"...Because that's what this match is for?"
"No. The trivial task of chasing prey is for people like you, not for someone as noble as me. I understand if you don't know such simple common sense. Humans are usually lacking in intelligence. Just because we belong to the same school doesn't mean our status is equal."
At Justina’s casual display of racial discrimination, Redick blinks, gives up, and leaves.
As if she has no interest in the match, Justina sits on an old bench she dusted off with a breeze and does absolutely nothing.
If there is a problem with the transfer students—though not all of them—it’s that they are older and have plenty of practical experience, so they don't think about learning from Yggdrasil.
Their participation in mock battles or events held by Yggdrasil is low, and some even look down on the teachers.
If they have no will to learn, why did they come to Yggdrasil?
It’s simple: many are only after the Source located within Yggdrasil.
Since this attitude negatively affects the entire school, the teachers strive every year to create a learning atmosphere whenever transfer students arrive.
This was the reason Yeon-woo ended up in this absurd 1:100 game of tag.
Of course, while there are people like Justina who are uninterested, there are also those who are diligent and want to learn a lot from Yggdrasil.
Shunya, the wolf beastkin, is the most representative example.
Sniff, sniff. "He's over there."
"There? I’ve already cast detection magic on that building and even checked it myself."
"No, he's there. I can't mistake this unique scent. He's over there, near the pile of rubble."
Shunya points accurately at the building where Yeon-woo is hiding.
The item that had driven women wild with its scent—the one that was worth every bit of its 400 million G price tag—becomes a weakness in front of the keen-nosed Shunya.
The pheromone scent, more intense than a male beastkin in heat, was impossible for Shunya to ignore even if she tried, and it pinpointed his location exactly.
"Dammit, how did they know?!"
Yeon-woo, who had been hiding in a near-death state using the Turtle Breathing Technique he learned from Frey, jumps up and bolts as the transfer students approach.
"After him!"
"Aargh! You cheating bastards! Do you feel good ganging up on me?!"
No matter how much Yeon-woo screams, the transfer students' attacks do not stop.
Because he was caught at the starting point right as it began, Yeon-woo is instantly surrounded and flees frantically while being pummeled by numerous spells.
"...The brats aren't approaching."
Kaira, a beautiful Black woman with a striking athletic build, observes the current students' movements while sniping at Yeon-woo from a distance.
His mana barrier is sturdier than expected, but he won't last long if he's surrounded like this.
And yet, they are just watching and showing no sign of approaching.
"They're too passive to be just aiming for the killing blow... Is there something else?"
They’ve lived together for nearly half a year, so they must know the abilities of that "it" man very well.
Kaira observes the atmosphere of the current students, quickly judges the situation, and increases her distance.
"You are wise. Unlike those blinded only by opportunity, you have eyes that can see the whole picture. Such an ability is precious."
"Thanks for the compliment."
"I am Fei Chen. Though it’s not exactly the right timing for introductions."
"I'm Kaira. Did you figure something out?"
Fei, who had naturally started flirting near Kaira, gazes at Yeon-woo with melancholy eyes.
She has already heard plenty about him from the Comedy Duo.
The Comedy Duo described Yeon-woo as a narcissistic, self-absorbed piece of work who would charge in recklessly without a backup plan.
More than half of it was complaints and insults, but despite that, the Comedy Duo trusted him completely and believed that if it was Yeon-woo, he could pull it off.
He looks to be in a desperate crisis, but the man hasn't even used that strange space magic he used when he fought her.
"You'll find out soon."
Just as Fei was thinking to herself, 'I must look like a mysterious person now, right?' Yeon-woo’s Counter Magic activates.
"Everyone, get the hell awaaaay!!"
The uncontrolled Counter Magic spreads in all directions, and the transfer students are all blown back by the powerful force.
"Now! Attack!"
The current students, who had been waiting in the distance, quickly occupy the void left by the retreating transfer students and attack Yeon-woo.
"Die, you cockroach!"
"Aargh! You cheating bastards! Fight in turns!"
"Shut up and just die!"
"...Why is he hated so much?"
Seeing the current students, especially Akito’s followers, attacking with murderous intent, Kaira mutters blankly.
Yeon-woo, having consumed the stacks he had built up, has to flee while being beaten again, and that’s when the current students who had left earlier return.
"I knew you were hiding there~"
Seeing Park Yu-jeong leading a group of students with a bright smile, Yeon-woo lets out a hollow laugh.
They hadn't tracked him because they mistakenly thought he had fled far away; they had blocked his escape routes in advance.
Realizing he had been dancing in the palm of her hand, Yeon-woo struggles, but since he is completely surrounded, his resistance is meaningless.
At the same time, the current students who had occupied the void and were chasing Yeon-woo all turn around to block the transfer students.
"Wow, not only is she pretty, but she’s also skilled. That just makes me more excited."
Isaac, Kaira’s younger brother, licks his lips, anticipating what kind of screams the Yggdrasil women would make in bed.
The current students block the transfers, and the students led by Park Yu-jeong continue to batter Yeon-woo.
Yeon-woo can't do anything against the relentless barrage of magic.
Spells and weapons strike him continuously as if to deny him even a moment's breathing room. No matter how sturdy Yeon-woo’s mana barrier is, it eventually shows its limit as time passes.
"Agh!"
K-boom!
With a roar, Yeon-woo gives up on defense and pours out all the stacks he has gathered at once.
As the Etiquette Infuser, imbued with massive power, strikes the ground, a huge explosion occurs, pushing back the current students who were crowding him.
"You used it? So it's the end now?"
"Yeah, it's the end."
When Park Yu-jeong smirks, Yeon-woo also looks at her and grins, then grips the Etiquette Infuser with both hands and raises it.
Seeing Yeon-woo take a middle-guard stance as if practicing Kendo, the current students exchange glances.
The transfer students are continuously breaking through the defensive line, so there isn't much time.
Just as the current students, determined to finish him here even if it means some sacrifices, are about to move, Yeon-woo’s hands move first.
"Uryah—!!"
Clang!
The clear ring of a metal bat echoes, and everyone—current students and transfers alike—stares at Yeon-woo blankly.
Yeon-woo, who had released his meager mana barrier and bashed his own head, falls backward while raising both middle fingers.
Thud.
"..."
"...Suicide?"
"This bastard committed suicide again?!"
"Wait, then what happens to the points?!"
The target they had to catch disappeared by killing himself.
The current students fall into chaos at the unexpected situation, while Park Yu-jeong bursts out laughing, saying it’s just like him.
The transfer students are also stunned, apparently not expecting him to do such a thing. At that moment, the match is urgently paused, and August appears.
After staring at Yeon-woo’s corpse for a moment, August sighs and resurrects him.
"I didn't expect this either. You really are..."
At August’s frustration, Yeon-woo wipes the blood off his face and grins brightly.
"Let’s all go down together."