Chapter 45: Place of Exchange (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 45: Place of Exchange (3)
Deep in the predawn hours. The sky above the wide-open training ground was blanketed in thick clouds.
Moonlight seeped through the gaps in the clouds, barely managing to drive away the darkness.
Beneath it, a rhythmic sound echoed across the training ground floor.
Swish.
Whoosh.
Crack!
The tip of the spear sliced through the empty air.
It accelerated in a burst of speed before I refined its flow.
“…”
I gasped for breath, withdrawing the spear before slamming it violently onto the ground.
Countless weapons lay scattered around me.
Before the Place of Exchange, I needed time to reflect on myself.
After obtaining the Fragment and trying out Harpe, I came to a definite realization.
My combat style needed to change.
The Fragment.
It was an element that originally had nothing to do with me.
After my possession, I had devised a method of strongly condensing mana into a single point to pierce vital spots.
Even against a Demon or a high-ranking Mine, I could fight back by hammering in mana, compressing it to its absolute limit, and striking a vital point with precision.
If I were to pioneer my own unique realm in the future, there might be a new way then, but not now.
For now, this method was the optimal way to cross swords with high-ranking Mines or Demons—a technique for survival.
However, the Fragment had changed the very nature of my mana.
Woooong—
The mana I drew up from my hand vibrated. A jade-green light swirled within the deep gray mana, which trembled faintly.
My mana now possesses the attribute of Demon Slaying.
Piercing a single point to inflict a fatal wound was no longer the best approach.
To them, this attribute is like an ultra-high heat.
The moment it touches them, an incinerating heat begins to melt them away.
Therefore, it's far more effective to leave wounds over a wide area than to aim for vital spots.
Condensing mana to strike a single point had now become the most inefficient option.
Clang!
I tossed another weapon to the ground.
I tested countless weapons.
And as I examined each one, I searched for the weapon most suitable for my new method.
First, the sword. A weapon with a wide blade, specialized for slashing.
Not a bad choice, but as I've said before, swords are difficult in this world. Their reach is short, too.
Of course, mastering the sword would be possible thanks to my ‘Whole Person’ trait, but it would take some time.
Second, the spear. A weapon centered on thrusting. Slashing is also possible, but the spear I use is structurally specialized for piercing.
In other words, it didn't suit my new method.
Third, the halberd. A type of polearm, a weapon combining the forms of a spear and a sword's blade.
It can both slash and thrust.
This means I can utilize my existing spearmanship while having a longer reach than a sword. It also wouldn't require much time to adapt.
I can apply my new combat style while maintaining my current spearmanship.
“…”
I held up the polearm fitted with a crescent moon blade.
In my mind, reason urged that this weapon was the most logical choice.
The ‘Whole Person’ trait guides me to the best option, even in choices like this.
Just like that, I swung it hard.
Fwoosh!
A wave that seemed to tear through the surrounding air spread out.
The widely spread sword qi tore into the scarecrow.
“…Not bad.”
I gently ran my fingertips over the halberd's blade.
My old spear was already corroded by demonic energy from the last incident anyway.
I needed to get a new weapon regardless.
“Let's go with this one.”
With a soft mutter, I gripped the polearm again.
And once more—
Wham!
I swung it with all my might.
*
The Place of Exchange began.
A major incident had occurred not long ago, but the academy proceeded with the event as if nothing was wrong.
An event held alternately each year.
This year, it was Gaon's turn to be the host.
A vast plaza.
So many people.
To the left, the first-year students of Carlos were lined up in rows; to the right, the first-year students of Gaon stood side-by-side.
Gaon's plaza was large enough to accommodate such a crowd.
On a high platform sat the chairman and principal of each academy.
When the academy representatives rose from their chairs, the murmuring of the students gathered in the plaza briefly subsided.
“We will now begin the Place of Exchange.”
Before long, a calm yet authoritative voice echoed out.
The students offered polite applause, marking the start of the exchange.
That was the signal.
Students, who had been exchanging awkward smiles and sizing each other up, slowly began to move toward the opposing camp.
“I'm heading over!”
“Hey, see you later!”
The exchange had begun. Students parting from their friends waved goodbye to each other.
Some smiled brightly, while others wore somewhat somber expressions.
And in that moment, the students of Carlos parted like the Red Sea.
A single figure emerged from the gap.
Golden hair that seemed to reflect the light. Beneath the sun, its soft, shimmering texture stood out even more.
She crossed through the crowd with an indifferent expression.
There was no hesitation in her movements.
Beside her was another person. A handsome young man with a gentle yet strong, likable impression. He exchanged brief greetings with the friends around him as he walked.
Yoon Chae-ha. And Joo Seo-jun.
The two of them were heading toward the Gaon side.
And I was looking down on them from the platform.
Cheon Yeo-wool and Yu Hana were seated on either side of me, and next to them were the principals and chairmen of each academy.
The chairmen and principals of Gaon and Carlos were constantly exchanging words, with the three of us stuck in the middle.
They were busy taking jabs at each other.
The Gaon side was rubbing it in Carlos's face, emphasizing that Yoon Chae-ha and Joo Seo-jun had chosen Gaon.
Meanwhile, the Carlos side jabbed back by bringing up the Mine attack.
And we were caught in the middle.
This is exhausting.
The reason I was here was simple.
There were only two students who had dealt with Moras single-handedly: Cheon Yeo-wool and Yu Hana.
And I had defeated Medusa.
Today's event was a ceremony to present them with awards.
I sat between Cheon Yeo-wool and Yu Hana.
The fact that they were holding the award ceremony during the Place of Exchange…
It felt like they were showing off. ‘Gaon has students like these.’
Of course, I just wish they'd get their own house in order before bragging.
Yawn.
Beside me, Cheon Yeo-wool quietly covered her mouth with her hand and yawned.
She had kept trying to talk to me at the beginning of the event, but now she seemed sleepy.
Yu Hana, too, kept shifting in her seat, as if she were stiff and uncomfortable.
I took a candy, neatly wrapped in a small piece of paper, from my pocket.
Unwrapping it, I spoke.
“Want one?”
Instantly, both of their gazes focused on my hand.
A small, brown candy.
Their eyes widened slightly.
It wasn't actually a candy, but one of the elixirs I'd obtained while running dungeons during the school break.
Nothing too fancy.
Just something that helps with the body's circulation.
They say it has cosmetic effects and various other good ingredients for women… but I wouldn't know. Since I'm a guy.
I'd already unwrapped and eaten one myself.
And Kang A-rin… she's probably eating plenty of good stuff, so there's no need to give her a trivial elixir like this.
“Me, me. I'll have one.”
Ssk.
Yu Hana reached out without hesitation and took the candy.
“You should break it with your teeth and eat—”
Chok, chok.
She didn't even let me finish, carefully placing it in her mouth.
Then, as if it were some precious herbal medicine, she began to slowly let it dissolve.
It'll be really bitter if she just lets it dissolve.
Sure enough, she bit her lip slightly, as if tasting its bitterness.
Even so, she didn't stop sucking on it.
Then I turned my head toward Cheon Yeo-wool.
She also had an interested look on her face, but she didn't hold out her hand to take it.
Slowly, very naturally—
Her lips parted slightly. A faint wisp of breath escaped.
Her gaze flickered down for a moment, then back up.
Then she pointed to the corner of her mouth with a finger.
‘Put it in for me.’
She didn't say a word.
She just looked at me with her mouth open.
“…”
I remained still.
At that, Cheon Yeo-wool gave a light, smiling crescent with her eyes and stuck out her tongue, very slowly.
Little by little, ever so slightly. As if coming out to greet it…
I placed the elixir in her mouth.
Her eyelids lowered.
A movement as if she were rolling the candy in her mouth. The edges of her lips subtly pressed together and parted, again and again.
Then—
Chok.
A soft sound, as she gently sucked on the candy.
Her lips closed and opened, ever so gently.
I couldn't watch anymore and turned my head away.
Now that we're a little closer, she's really something else. This is her true personality.
In the original novel, too, she would act like this after overcoming her androphobia and her intimacy level increased.
Just then, the announcer at the front of the platform, holding a microphone, spoke.
“Now, we will proceed with the award presentation.”
Someone brought the award certificates from the back. I lifted my head and looked at the stage.
We walked to the front of the platform.
A commendation speech followed.
Tap.
The principal handed me the certificate.
I accepted it and gave a slight bow of my head.
Cheon Yeo-wool and Yu Hana also received their awards in turn. They said the prize money would be given out separately later.
Then, I heard the quiet whisper of a guide.
‘Please return to your seats below the stage.’
It was finally over.
I folded the certificate I'd received, stuffed it carelessly into my pocket, and stepped down from the platform.
Cheon Yeo-wool and Yu Hana followed me down, side-by-side.
At that moment, Gaon's principal took the microphone.
His voice echoed across the plaza.
A few words of advice, a call for harmony among the students… that sort of speech.
Then, he said, "With this, we conclude the Place of Exchange."
The students cheered.
“Until the upcoming Exchange Match, I hope you will all learn much in this new environment and show us how you've grown.”
Clap, clap, clap, clap!
Applause followed.
The figures on the platform began to rise from their seats one by one.
The students also began to file out in an orderly fashion.
Just then, I felt a gaze on me.
I turned my head.
Golden hair. Hair that flowed with a soft sheen, as if it had absorbed the sunlight, swayed gently in the breeze.
Yoon Chae-ha.
She was quietly watching me.
Beneath her long eyelashes, her blazing orange eyes shone with a quiet light.
For a brief moment, our eyes met.
Then—
Swoosh.
As if nothing had happened, she naturally turned her head away.
The movement was soft and smooth. A composed motion, without a hint of awkwardness.
But even in that brief intersection of our gazes, I was certain.
‘It worked.’
Yoon Chae-ha had stepped into the current I created.
And I would be the one to decide where that current leads.