Chapter 252: NTR Event
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 252: NTR Event
“Ugh, seriously—I get that you guys are amazing, so just end it already!”
Rio grumbled as he watched the two still locked in combat.
Since he was shouting at a screen, there was no way they could hear him, but he couldn't help venting his frustration.
With exams starting tomorrow, the teachers had shortened classes as a courtesy to the students, but that gesture was wasted thanks to the duel between Seo Yeon-woo and Akito.
Everyone—and "everyone" was the only accurate way to put it—associated with Yggdrasil was currently watching their battle.
Students from every year had gathered in their respective hangouts, and even the teachers had abandoned their work to watch with intrigued eyes.
The teachers only had to worry about proctoring during the exam period, so it didn't matter much to them, but the students had assignments to submit within the deadline. For them, every second was precious.
“If it bugs you that much, just don't watch,” Masayoshi said without looking up. He was sitting in front of the TV but was busy typing a paper on the laptop balanced on his knees.
Rio scowled at him. “Do you know why trashy soap operas are so popular?”
“…No? I’ve never watched one. Don’t people just complain about them?”
“Exactly! It’s frustrating, it’s stifling, and you want to curse at the screen, but you’re so curious about the next episode that you can’t stop watching.”
Despite the mountain of assignments looming before the exams, the students couldn't tear themselves away from the TV.
The fight had dragged on so long it was exhausting, but the level of the duel was so high that just watching it was educational.
Ultimately, the reason they obsessed over grades was to improve their skills and gain recognition, so even as they grumbled, the students kept their eyes glued to the screen.
Every TV tucked away in the corners of Yggdrasil was broadcasting the duel, and every spot with a screen was packed with students huddled together.
It wasn't just pure frustration, though.
Whenever the duel dragged on long enough for the students' concentration to waver, Seo Yeon-woo would start doing something bizarre.
“Kyaaa! What is that?!”
“That crazy bastard! Is he using a dildo as a weapon now?!”
“No!! Not my brother’s beautiful face…!!”
When Dildo MK.5—the item Seo Yeon-woo had looted from the ancient ruins—appeared in his hand, the previously quiet students erupted into a frenzy again.
There was Seo Yeon-woo, swinging a dildo that was an eyesore just to look at, and Akito, calmly counterattacking even as he took hits to the face from said dildo.
With constant spectacles like that, there wasn't a single boring moment.
Of course, it wasn't just grotesque scenes of dildo-swinging.
Rare spells were cast, and as Seo Yeon-woo poured out hundreds of magical attacks, Akito would pull off magnificent maneuvers to escape the predicament. These cool moments kept the students anchored to their seats.
It was a duel of such length and caliber that it likely had no precedent in Yggdrasil’s history.
No one knew who would emerge as the victor, but by the time this duel ended, everyone—students and teachers alike—would have no choice but to acknowledge their strength.
* * *
“Pant… pant…”
“Whew…”
This is driving me crazy. Why is Akito so persistent?
Just as I’ve sealed my Counter and Magnum, it seems Akito doesn't want to show his true trump cards in an official sparring match either.
Anyway, if we assume we’re even because we’re both holding back, then everything else is pure skill, right?
He’s definitely on a different level compared to Akane.
Things I thought would surely land are reacted to in an instant. I’m running out of tricks.
We’ve been fighting for so long that my Etiquette Infuser literally snapped in half, so I’m fighting with a dildo instead. Is he not even scared of this thing?
Even if it deals double damage to female characters, I feel like I wouldn't be able to stand getting hit in the face with this.
Actually, it’s not even about enduring it; if I saw a guy holding this, I wouldn't even get close to him.
Anyway, I’m at my limit.
A full-throttle Akito really is strong.
Still, I feel a bit proud that I’m holding my own against him right now.
It’s funny how that pride made me greedy, thinking, ‘Just a little more, just a little more,’ until I ended up here.
How many hours has it been?
Unlike the previous exams held in the illusion space, this time the flow of time is the same as the outside world since people can spectate.
I don't know the exact time, but it feels like we’ve been fighting for nearly half a day.
I’m sure I’ll be excused from classes, but I don’t have time to write my paper…
Wait, I don't have time to worry about that.
Akito seems determined to end it this time; an unusual amount of mana is flowing out of him.
Look at that stamina. I’m out of mana and just winging it with my physical body, but he was still saving that much?
Akito slowly swings his sword through the air as if checking the blade.
Huh? That…?
The sword cutting through the air didn't seem threatening, but a massive amount of mana remained in the path the blade traveled, swirling around Akito.
Hey, hey—using something you were sealing is cheating!
I remembered it because every time a character used an ultimate skill in the game, there was a unique animation.
Sword of the Sky.
It was a cringy, arrogant name, but true to its title, it was Akito’s ultimate skill with devastating power.
I used to wonder why enemies in the game didn't attack Akito while he was putting on a show swinging his sword at nothing, but now I see why.
The massive mana surrounding him was a summoning ritual, but the mana itself acted as a protective barrier.
As a colossal amount of mana gathered in one spot, the surrounding wind was sucked toward Akito as if by a vacuum.
Is there a way to block that…?
There is, but I can't use it because I’m out of mana.
On top of that, Akito has been nibbling away at my mana barrier this whole time, so there’s nothing left.
Having finished his preparations, Akito grips the ornate holy sword with both hands and raises it above his head.
Shhh—
Once again, the sword is swung down toward the empty air.
Simultaneously, the mana surrounding Akito vanishes, and the wind that was being pulled toward him stops.
When the noisy elements suddenly ceased, the area was crushed by a silence so heavy it felt as if time itself had stopped.
Rumble—
With a low, unsettling vibration, the sky splits open, and a giant sword reveals itself.
Wow… seeing Akito’s ultimate skill with my own eyes is something else.
I couldn't help but be moved by the grandeur and scale of a sword the size of a skyscraper—something that shouldn't exist in reality—cleaving through the heavens.
Except for the part where the tip of that slowly emerging giant sword angled itself toward me.
BOOOOOOOOM!!!
The skyscraper-sized sword fell like a bolt of lightning, and my vision turned pure white.
Since my mana barrier was already in tatters, it was hard to measure the full power, but it was incredible.
And that’s an ultimate skill without Tyran Energy? I finally understand why Akito could solo the Masterminds who crushed the 12 Zodiacs.
If Tyran Energy were added to that, it wouldn't be just one sword; he’d be dropping dozens of them, turning it into an area-of-effect attack.
Actually, while it was a single-target skill in the game, the power right now is enough to call it an AoE. Once he awakens, he’ll be a literal human weapon.
I stared blankly at the white space before standing up.
This was a safety zone designed to prevent things like seizures from the shock of "dying," even though the pain settings were turned down.
“I’m exiting.”
No one answered me, but the white space began to crack as I returned to reality.
Pshhhhh—
I heard the sound of the capsule opening. I sat up, peeling off the various sensors and machines attached to my body.
I checked the time… insane. We fought for about seven hours.
“Yeon-woo!”
“Brother!!”
As I tried to get out of the capsule, the door burst open and a crowd of people rushed in.
The followers naturally ran to Akito, but plenty of people ran to me as well.
There were Yukina and Angelica, whom I hadn't seen in a while, plus Bukgeuk-jwa and Akane.
Following them were Mary, Jade, and even Park Yu-jeong.
I thought I saw three guys with dicks in the back too, but were they important?
Still, it felt good to have people worrying about me and praising me.
But… Angelica, I appreciate you hugging me with such a moved expression, but I really need to use the bathroom…
The atmosphere was such that I couldn't possibly say I had to take a shit, so I had to endure it while sweating bullets.
The next day, I woke up to an unfamiliar ceiling.
I fought with Akito for way too long.
Because I had to write my paper, I couldn't even go home; I pulled an all-nighter in Rio’s room in the dormitory.
It must have been a legendary duel, because the way people looked at me had changed.
Even though I acted like a menace during every exam, I usually got along well with everyone, but they never exactly respected me or thought I was amazing.
But after the duel, the gaze of the public was completely different.
Respect was the baseline. Some looked at me with eyes full of competitive spirit, wanting to challenge me, and thanks to my handsome face, the number of adoring looks I usually received seemed to have tripled.
Heh.
Man, I’m going to look so pathetic if I enjoy this too much.
So this is the kind of attention Akito deals with while maintaining his composure.
I tried to hold it in, but the corners of my mouth kept twitching upward into a smug grin.
You rascals… you finally recognize greatness when you see it.
“Hey, you’re being creepy. Stop smiling at the wall by yourself.”
“My face is so handsome it’s almost offensive, isn't it?”
“Sure, whatever you say.”
Used to this pattern, Rio ignored me and went into the bathroom.
The Thug was slumped over his desk, sleeping as if his brain had glitched from trying to think too hard, and Masayoshi was silently typing away at his laptop, working on the paper.
Seriously, God Sayoshi.
While looking after me (who lacks basic knowledge), the idiot Rio, and the brain-dead Thug, he was still getting all his own work done.
If it weren't for God Sayoshi, I wouldn't have even finished half of this paper.
Actually, we haven't even finished a quarter of it yet, so we have to keep grinding, but without God Sayoshi, we wouldn't have even started.
Your affinity is already maxed out, but I’m going to gift you a ton of adult magazines.
After taking turns using the bathroom and getting ready, we headed to school. The students all looked haggard.
You guys pulled all-nighters too, huh?
They might act like idiots normally, but they’re elites; when it’s time to put in the effort, they’re terrifyingly diligent.
But among them, I’m the guy who ranked 8th last semester and can go toe-to-toe with Akito.
As I was feeling smug, remembering yesterday’s events, the Comedy Duo suddenly stopped.
“We’re gonna be late. Let’s move.”
“Hey, hey. Look at that…”
What is it now?
The super-genius elite mage who fought Akito to a draw is right here; you should be paying attention to me.
However, when I looked in the direction the Comedy Duo was pointing, I froze just like them.
All the students were whispering, staring at two people.
Under-the-Bed and Samurai.
Under-the-Bed had his arm around Samurai’s shoulder.
Calling it "putting an arm around her" was a generous description; the way that bastard was doing it was clearly groping her breast.
And Samurai was taking that sexual harassment without a word.
She wasn't resisting, but her head was bowed low, her expression one of utter humiliation.
Under-the-Bed smirked slyly as if showing off to the crowd, kneading Samurai’s breast to his heart’s content.
…So it’s finally happening.
His reason for existing. The NTR Event.
Under-the-Bed, you’ve got some nerve.
Maybe in the game, but you saw Akito drop a skyscraper from the sky just yesterday, and you’re messing with one of his followers?
I was too scared to even touch them.
To be honest, I had been ignoring Under-the-Bed.
The condition for Under-the-Bed to trigger an NTR event with a heroine was that Akito had to reach a certain level of affinity with them.
But since I intervened, Under-the-Bed had held a grudge against me and only targeted me.
I thought he wouldn't touch Akito’s group, but I guess what’s meant to happen will happen…
As I watched blankly, Akito and his other followers appeared through the crowd.
Whoa… that’s terrifying.