Chapter 26
Translator - Zofu
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I'm annoyed.
At everything.
I'm annoyed we couldn't fuck properly yesterday. I'm annoyed he's been avoiding me all day today. All he had to do was what we did in the classroom, and he can't even manage that... Ugh.
I grab my head.
The anger bubbling inside pounds at my skull. I was curious. After what we did, I wanted to see how many times he'd avoid me. How many times he'd ignore me. Like a "let's see how far you'll take this" kind of feeling... I stayed quiet. In the end... I just got more annoyed. I'll save up this feeling and unleash it during outdoor sex. That fucking puppy.
I'm curious.
An emotion rising alongside my annoyance. Where the hell does that puppy run off to and what is he doing that he avoids me so often? I was curious. So I followed the puppy...
What the hell... is this...?
Right now, I'm hiding at the end of the hallway, watching the puppy.
The puppy was talking with someone I can never touch. Ije's second daughter, Lee Ah-rin. The witch, Han Seol-ah. Really, only picking people I can't touch... and laughing while talking with them.
Since when did he get close to such big shots?
That puppy?
The hand gripping the wall trembles.
Someone at that level... isn't someone you put a leash on—they're strong enough to snap the leash and put on a new one. This is dangerous. I need to... I need to go stop this right now. I need to move right this second—
Someone taps my shoulder.
Who is it? I turn my head irritably, and there—
"What are you looking at? Han Ye-rin."
Long blue hair. Skin so pale it looks white. A mineral-like, yet perfect face. Deep, emotionless dark blue eyes.
Lee Ah-rin's older sister. Lee So-cheon was there.
An emotionless doll who hasn't smiled once since entering the Academy. Perfect to the point of being constantly compared, the hardest person to approach in the Academy. The only change in expression is the sneer she gives her younger sister—
Snow Witch.
An emotionless monster is looking at me.
Wh-what? Deep, dark blue eyes are staring at me. A horrible feeling, like being sucked in. I feel fear.
Not human.
Something similar to a human wearing a human skin.
Why did Lee So-cheon... come to me?
Don't tell me... she knows... that I was trying to separate Lee Ah-rin? Where was she watching from? That I would touch Lee Ah-rin...
When exactly did she start watching?
...Ah.
Now I get it.
She was watching from the beginning.
Lee So-cheon noticed early on that I would touch her younger sister. She followed me. Not because she was worried about her sister—
She knows I'm dangerous.
Afraid her toy might get damaged. She came to warn me.
Goosebumps rise. This is insane.
I ran.
With my own two eyes, my own skin, I realized why people can't approach her.
A sadist who enjoys tormenting others. Similar to me, but fundamentally different.
Lee So-cheon doesn't realize she's a sadist.
A psychopath.
Extremely dangerous.
Even if I'm socially above her. Physiological fear takes precedence. Fear takes precedence.
Even after returning halfway, out of anxiety.
I stared at the hallway window.
For a long time.
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Ah, no, why are you running away...
You always do this. I brush my hair back in frustration.
I was just asking what you were looking at, out of curiosity...
Skin so pale it's suspicious, a face that shows no emotion. I, Lee So-cheon, am holding back a sigh at this complicated feeling.
No, really... why is everyone like this!
It's been like this before, but people avoid me too much. Even if I'm bad at expressing emotions, running away is a bit...
Isn't that too much?
It's something I've experienced for a long time.
Starting with my younger sister first, everyone says I'm scary and creepy and tries to distance themselves from me. It's been 10 years since I experienced this.
I've heard all sorts of stories.
'A monster whose expression wouldn't change even if she killed someone'
'An emotionless mineral girl'
'Psychopath'
'Someone who enjoys being compared to her younger sister'
Sigh.
All lies.
I... have abundant emotions. I'm not a psychopath, I don't enjoy being compared to my younger sister, and I don't hate my sister... rather—
I love my sister.
I love her so, so, so cute!
I want to hug her tight and pat her head like crazy, but... ever since I surpassed my sister, Ah-rin started avoiding me. She says she hates being compared, wants to go to a different school... she says she didn't want to come to the Academy but barely came after Father's persuasion.
I never knew being bad at expressing emotions could be this sad.
Knowing my sister feels uncomfortable when she sees me, I'm avoiding her out of consideration too... but it's a bit hard when she won't even make eye contact when we meet in the hallway sometimes.
Even though I smile when we occasionally meet to show I don't think that way...
Everyone misunderstands and says 'the older sister is sneering at the younger sister.'
No... that's not it...
I was just... smiling...
I was just smiling because I like my sister...
Hehh...
Maybe because I take after Mother, expressing emotions isn't easy. Father and Mother, who know my original personality, don't misunderstand, but for some reason, my sister thinks this appearance is my true self. We can't even have a proper conversation normally.
Ever since my sister entered the Academy.
We haven't had a proper conversation!
It's sad... The older sister loves the younger sister...
Sigh.
No matter what I do, everyone misunderstands. Even if I argue that it's not like that.
'She said it's not like that'
'Is she dissatisfied?'
'She said she likes her. Is there a problem?'
This stupid mouth. It ruins everything.
Maybe because I'm embarrassed, my tongue refuses to obey even when I try to say something right.
It just creates more misunderstandings.
I like effort. But the one thing even I can't fix is my stiff expression and way of speaking.
Sigh.
Then.
I see it. My sister, talking friendly with someone.
Like she's talking in front of her boyfriend. A bright face.
It's been a while. Seeing that kind of face. But the problem is...
The person she's talking to is a strange person.
Kim Tae-ho.
I heard he caused a big commotion recently.
He forced someone in the hallway and ran away, suddenly went to the infirmary during class, missed the Academy for more than 3 days. If I remember correctly... he was definitely a model student. Suddenly he changed and came back strange.
A strange person.
And that kind of person... is laughing and talking next to my sister?
I'm not that interested so I don't know what his personality is like, but looking at his appearance and behavior... it's not a good sign.
Ugh... super suspicious!
And somehow, it's familiar. I've seen that appearance somewhere before...
"...Ah!"
At my voice, people passing through the hallway flinch in surprise. They glance at my expression and immediately run away. Hehh... always the same. Anyway, that appearance is...
Geum Tae-yang.
I've seen him in lewd manga. The role he usually plays is... forcibly taking women who have owners... uh...?
This is extremely dangerous, isn't it?
My eyes widen. This is, this is extremely dangerous, isn't it??
No, but I heard he was a diligent and clean student before... wait.
Don't tell me, is that Kim Tae-ho's true nature?
Did he change his appearance now that he's decided to forcibly take girlfriends?
W-wait... Our Ah-rin has a boyfriend...
"...Ugh."
No.
No way.
Absolutely not!
I need to stop this right now. I need to stop him, but...
I don't have confidence.
Wh-what if... Ah-rin hates it...? She looks so happy... What if it's a misunderstanding? Then I'd be embarrassed...
I-I can't approach!
I hold back a sigh about to escape and hide behind a wall to watch my sister.
Later, later I'll tell her to stop... For now, let's hide and watch!
Since he might do something strange...
From now on... just a little, let's watch.
Don't worry, Ah-rina.
Your sister will definitely protect you!
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What the hell... is this?
The ice dragon roars.
My ears ring from the overwhelming volume. A house-sized monster is behind Lee Ah-rin. I gather mana flowing through my veins into my fist. Opening my clenched fist, I spread a blue magic circle. Lee Ah-rin begins to wrap her body in pure white armor. She covers her body in ice armor, creating a spear and shield in both hands.
Lee Ah-rin looks at me.
"Shall we?"
Then right before my eyes, Lee Ah-rin.
Disappears.
Only the ice dragon remains before me. The ice dragon that was growling gathers a chilling cold in its mouth. Fuck, is that a breath? But Lee Ah-rin is...
"Hehe."
Lee Ah-rin pops out in front of me. Fuck, I knew this would happen. Lee Ah-rin swings her shield at me. I quickly raise my hand and block it with a magic circle. As the magic circle and shield collide—
I generate dozens of black iron thorns from the magic circle, embedding them completely in the shield.
"What the?"
I detach the iron thorns from the magic circle, and as I try to move my body to avoid the breath that's about to hit me—
"Where do you think you're going?"
Lee Ah-rin blocks me. No.
A yeti created by Lee Ah-rin blocks me. No, fuck, when did you even make this?
Kwaaaaah—!
The breath approaches me. Fuck, it's so damn fast. Trying to trap me and freeze me to death? That won't happen.
I release the magic circle in my hand, quickly cramming as much mana as possible into my legs and waist. Crack crack, the feeling of mana squeezing between muscles. In an instant, the muscles consume all the mana.
Thud—!
A single shadow. Soars high into the sky above the pouring breath.
"I won't let you go!"
The ice dragon forcibly stops its breath, spreads its wings, and then charges at me. Insanely fast speed. Seeing it open its mouth to the limit, I can tell it wants to bite me to death. I release the mana the muscles consumed back into my bloodstream. Right, let's try this. Fuck.
I gather the mana circulating in my veins to my feet, incanting floating magic. I add agility magic to the limit, and—
"Huh?"
I dodge by a hair's breadth.
Haha! Didn't think I'd dodge that, did you?
At the same time, I release all magic, instantly releasing mana into my bloodstream, quickly spreading it throughout my body, concentrating the remaining mana at my fingertips—
I wrap a powerful adhesion magic around my palm and stick to the ice dragon's body.
"Wow, fuuuuck!"
It's really, extremely, fucking cold.
My mind grows hazy. I can't lose consciousness here. The ice dragon flails, trying to remove me stuck to its neck. I must not fall off. This is my only chance, I release the adhesion magic on my right hand and create a long spear. As the black iron piece is about to embed in the ice dragon's neck—
My spear collides with an ice spear, and I lose my grip on the spear from the impact.
"Bullseye!"
At the same time, Lee Ah-rin approaches before my eyes. She raises her fist—her fist approaches my eyes insanely fast. I squeeze my consciousness, release the adhesion magic, and tilt my head back as far as possible.
But I couldn't dodge.
Kwaaang— the sound of ice and flesh colliding rings out.
"Huff—"
...I lost consciousness for a moment. Seriously, it fucking hurts. Ignoring the blood flowing from my nose, as I try to quickly get up, the ice dragon is before my eyes. Fuck.
The ice dragon opens its mouth. Is this the end?
No, it's not over yet. I place my hand on the floor and create a magic formula. At the same time—
The ice dragon and Lee Ah-rin slip in place.
"Uh, ugh, fuck!?"
Kuooh—!?
A magic I don't use because it consumes a filthy amount of mana. A magic that makes the floor's friction coefficient 0. I create a scarlet magic formula in both hands and detonate it. I quickly escape between the two.
Now I should start dealing some damage...
Unexpectedly, the guard is too solid. I return the friction coefficient to normal.
Lee Ah-rin is collapsed. Now, it's finally time to use 'that' magic. A magic I've practiced for a long time and failed thousands of times. Now it's time to use it in real combat.
I accelerate the mana in my veins.
The world slows down.
In an instant, the distance between Lee Ah-rin and me narrows.
"Huh? Ugh— cough!"
Kwajik— a creepy sound echoes all around.
A simple straight punch. Target: the face. The response from earlier. Lee Ah-rin's neck snaps instantly. Her balance breaks. I must not miss this. I take a short deep breath and drive in a low kick. Targets: Lee Ah-rin's shin. Abdomen. Thigh. I can't knock down Lee Ah-rin like this. The armor is too solid. To this extent, it doesn't even show damage. No, it's this solid? Did she only practice making armor? Or... did she pour all her skills into the armor?
As I continue hitting, I give up.
This won't work with fists. I need a spear. Should I make one now? No, I can't. If I forcibly pull out the mana circulating in my veins, I'll become half-paralyzed. Spear... where is the spear. Time is too short.
I spot a spear stuck in the ground far away.
It's too far. I spent too much time. At that distance, the magic will be released before I can make a round trip.
Let's give up.
My heart pounds like crazy. My vision reddens, making it hard to see ahead. Veins all over my body protrude through my skin, asserting themselves. Time's up. Target... let's change the target.
I turn my gaze to the ice dragon. Our eyes meet. Right, you were here too?
You...
know about acceleration magic... right?
I draw out all the strength in my body to the maximum. I wrap a slight protective magic around both fists.
I drive countless straight punches into the ice dragon's face.
Before it can even perceive it, the ice dragon's face shatters into tiny pieces against my fists.
Now, only about one-tenth of my mana remains.
I release the acceleration magic.
Kuoooooooh—!!!
With an enormous roar, the ice dragon's neck bends backward. The ice dragon's neck, with its face gone beyond recognition, bends backward.
This is more... amazing than I thought?
For the first successful acceleration magic, a sense of exhilaration fills my chest. Finally, finally I succeeded!
At the same time, overwhelming fatigue covers my entire body. My body staggers momentarily.
I must not collapse here. I desperately cling to a thread of will.
I lower my gaze to Lee Ah-rin.
Lee Ah-rin is trying to regain consciousness.
I create a magic formula in my right hand.
Let's omit the incantation. Using magnet magic, I call the black iron spear that fell earlier to my hand. I grab it.
Lee Ah-rin regains consciousness.
At the same time, I stab the black spear down. The quickly reacting Lee Ah-rin blocks the spear with her shield.
"Ugh, ouch, it hurts... huh?"
Lee Ah-rin is flustered seeing the collapsed ice dragon. Surprised? I was surprised too.
Yeti approach me from all sides.
Now, really, purely. I must fight with only physical abilities.
I strike the charging yeti's head with my spear, completely smashing it. There seem to be dozens of yeti. I confirm them scattered all around.
Lee Ah-rin creates a spear. At the same time, she swings it toward me.
I clash spears with Lee Ah-rin. I also bleed from my mouth as I desperately swing my spear. Lee Ah-rin's spear approaches me. I can dodge this mu—
Puk— the spear hits my abdomen.
"Ugh, cough."
No, I couldn't dodge.
It fucking hurts. I can't regain my senses from the accumulated fatigue in my body.
Looking at Lee Ah-rin, she's still vigorous. Fuck.
"Fuuuuck...!"
I force my creaking body to move and respond to Lee Ah-rin's attacks.
Yeti on both sides approach and swing their fists. I grab the middle of the black iron spear and spin it, smashing both yetis' heads simultaneously. I look at Lee Ah-rin. With the yeti dying simultaneously, her expression is slightly surprised. This is, carelessness. I won't miss it.
I swing my spear toward Lee Ah-rin's head, completely shattering her helmet.
"Kugh!"
All the joints in my body scream.
The torn muscles assert their independence, my beating heart beats out of rhythm. Sweat pours from my skin. My bloodshot eyes can't see ahead properly.
But still, I can tell that Lee Ah-rin is before my eyes.
Lee Ah-rin's spear strikes my head. Thud— my head tilts to the side.
"Kugh— ugh!"
The world spins.
I barely cling to my nearly lost consciousness. I steady my spear and strike Lee Ah-rin's face with it. It's practically a blunt weapon now. Both of us are out of our minds. I strain my eyes and look toward Lee Ah-rin's head.
It's the same. The helmet hasn't regenerated at all.
Somehow, the ice dragon shattered easily with my fists. She must have poured considerable skill into the armor.
Presumably, Lee Ah-rin can no longer create armor.
I can win.
I steel my mind.
I have a trick up my sleeve.
I wrap a magic formula around my left hand.
Lee Ah-rin blocks the spear with her shield. She raises her spear again. Lee Ah-rin also raises her spear, aiming for my abdomen.
Then, Lee Ah-rin's body staggers to the side.
"Huh?"
The iron thorn embedded in Lee Ah-rin's shield.
Due to my magnet magic.
Moves slightly.
To the side.
My eyes shine with light.
"Fuck."
Ending with Lee Ah-rin's final scream.
My spear.
Strikes Lee Ah-rin's head.
"Test over!"
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At that moment.
Han Ye-rin was watching the puppy.
"...Impressive."
To be honest, she was impressed.
Overwhelming the ice dragon with his fists, and using magnet magic. She was surprised.
Really. Stronger than imagined.
If the first match of the tournament is like this, the next person to come out should be a little... nervous.
The test proctor draws a lottery ticket.
"Class A's Han Ye-rin!"
What.
Me?
At the proctor's words, she steps onto the field.
Let me say this in advance—I'm also quite strong. It's not for nothing that I outran the puppy and took the top seat.
So, the Class B opponent coming out next. It would be good to be a little nervous.
I'm going to get serious.
The proctor draws a ticket.
"Class B's—
Han Seol-ah!"
Huh?
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