Chapter 33
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 33
Chapter Title: Sudden Rise (1)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
A brief silence fell.
I'll admit ityou're smart, your judgment is sharp, and you were a better vanguard than I expected. Honestly, you've changed my mind.
one of my teammates said with a sigh.
But you're not saying you're going to face the guardian alone, are you? If this is about your pride...
It's not about that.
I cut him off.
I knew what he was getting at, but did he really think I was crazy enough to face a guardian alone out of pride?
This is just the best option we have.
The best option? The recklessness of an F-rank trying to take down a guardian by himself?
I shrugged.
I never said I'd take it down alone. I said I'd handle it.
What?
Even if it was a fake, it was at least C-rank. How could I possibly defeat it by myself?
In short, I'll be the bait.
Bait?
But with the Pinnacle of Weaponry, Master of the Weapon, and Predator's Bloodlust, I should be able to buy some time.
Even I can stall it for a while.
...Is that what you meant?
His expression softened slightly.
It seemed he understood.
Wait, but if you're the bait, isn't your role the most important? If you go down, we're all wiped out. No matter how I look at it, it seems better to let Shin Jia handle the Red Haechi alone.
A good point.
At first, I thought so too.
No. I'm better suited for it than Jia.
Why?
Simple. The key to defeating the Blue Haechi is the 'fire attribute.' It goes crazy for flames made of mana and will follow them blindly.
What does that have to do with you being the bait?
Without a word, I focused my mana into the shaft of the spear I was holding.
*Fwoosh-!*
In that instant, red mana flickered like flames along the spear shaft.
...Are you kidding me?
The three of them stared, their eyes wide.
That's what it has to do with it.
* * *
The academy's control room.
Numerous instructors were watching their respective monitors.
Team 17 is wiped out. Requesting the medical team.
Each monitor displayed a team currently attempting to clear a virtual ruin.
Team 2 has completed the objective. Overall evaluation: C+. Commencing individual assessments.
Everyone was glued to the screens, their eyes sharp. It was partly to prepare for any unforeseen accidents during the training and partly to evaluate each team's performance.
Team 21 has engaged the guardian, a Rock-Armored Sphinx.
While everyone was busy,
an assistant instructor on break yawned and spoke.
Ugh. A Rock-Armored Sphinx? They put in a really annoying one. The instructor who chose that must be Satan, right?
Perhaps.
Pi Jinho answered nonchalantly.
The guardians that appeared in the virtual ruins were chosen and deployed by the instructors in charge of that particular simulation.
Satan for something like that? Compared to the one I set up, that's practically a bonus stage.
The assistant instructor asked with trembling eyes.
Instructor Pi, what kind of guardian did you set up...?
Curious?
Yes. Very.
Hmm. It's nothing special.
Pi Jinho gave a faint smile.
The Taegeuk Haechi.
...I'm sorry, I don't think I heard you right.
I said, the Taegeuk Haechi.
The, uh, twin guardians?
Yes.
Wow. So the real Satan was right here.
You're overreacting.
It's not an overreaction...
Just as the assistant instructor was shaking his head,
Team 7! They've engaged the Taegeuk Haechi!
an instructor shouted.
The Taegeuk Haechi?
Someone actually put that in?
Wow. Whichever instructor did it, they're merciless.
Hearing this, the assistant instructor grinned slyly.
Seems like everyone thinks the same way I do. What are your thoughts, Instructor Pi Jinho, the Satan?
Everyone exaggerates. They're easy if you know how to handle them.
But 'if you know' is a pretty big condition, isn't it? Most of us instructors only learned about them from the guardian list this time. How are cadets supposed to know about the Taegeuk Haechi?
Then they haven't studied enough.
Wow... You really are a devil.
The assistant instructor looked at Pi Jinho with eyes full of awe.
I feel sorry for the cadets in Team 7... Let's see who these poor souls are... Huh?
The assistant instructor's eyes widened as he turned to the monitor.
Shin Jia and Kang Seoyul? Is Team 7 from your class, Instructor Pi?
They are.
...Wow. I can only imagine the resentment you'll face later.
I don't know. I think they'll be grateful.
Grateful? Why?
Instructor Pi Jinho chuckled.
Because the more difficult the guardian, the more bonus points they can earn.
Well, that's only if they succeed... Ah. Could Shin Jia actually do it?
He thought that someone of Shin Jia's caliber might just be able to pull it off.
Well, if they do manage to clear it, it's a huge win. But then, only Shin Jia will hit the jackpot.
Whoever contributed the most to defeating the Taegeuk Haechi would surely receive a massive score. Most likely, Shin Jia would monopolize those points.
No. To borrow your phrase, the one hitting the jackpot won't be Shin Jia. It'll be Kang Seoyul.
The assistant instructor tilted his head.
Why Kang Seoyul all of a sudden?
Because the key to defeating the Blue Haechi is 'flame'.
What does that have to do with Kang Seoyul...?
Just then,
Ooooh!
My god!
gasps of astonishment erupted from in front of the monitors.
Fire-attribute Ganggi!
Kang Seoyul awakened attribute mana too?
He's the second one after Ha Siyeon! What's with this year's freshmen!
The corners of Instructor Pi Jinho's mouth curved into a grin.
That's the connection.
The assistant instructor's jaw dropped.
...Whoa. Incredible.
On the other side of the monitor,
Kang Seoyul was battling the Blue Haechi, his red Ganggi flickering. And he was doing it alone.
Although he was focused on evasion, his movements were incredibly clean and precise.
Gasps of admiration continuously escaped the instructors' lips.
Wow. The 1-to-3 split, luring out only the Blue Haechi with fire-attribute mana... It looks like they knew about the Taegeuk Haechi, don't you think?
Must be Shin Jia. Her knowledge is immense.
All the instructors' attention was now focused on Team 7's battle.
Shin Jia is living up to her reputation. The other two aren't bad either. And as for Kang Seoyul... he's skilled with a spear, too?
His technique is still excellent, but his stats are a definite flaw.
The assistant instructor looked at Pi Jinho and asked.
By the way, did you know Cadet Kang Seoyul could use a spear? Wasn't he a dagger and bow specialist?
Yes. He started using it yesterday.
Pi Jinho's casual remark sent a hush through the control room.
...Wait a minute. Did you say yesterday? That? That's his spear skill after just one day?
Kang Seoyul's spearmanship on the screen was far from a beginner's. The way he completely compensated for his lack of stats with pure skill was almost beautiful.
He also awakened his Ganggi yesterday.
...My god.
The murmuring grew louder.
Awakening Ganggi was surprising enough, but that level of proficiency was from just one day of practice?
It was hard to believe.
But it was Instructor Pi Jinho who said it, so they had no choice but to believe him.
His eyes were more accurate than anything in the world.
How is that possible?
It happens sometimes. Students whose genius begins to bloom late. My wife was like that.
A faint smile played on Instructor Pi Jinho's lips.
Ah. Come to think of it, what did you say earlier while watching Cadet Ha Siyeon?
Huh? What did I say?
Something along the lines of this year's number one spot being decided between Ha Siyeon and Shin Jia.
Ah, yes, yes. I did say that.
Personally, I think it will be difficult for either of them to take first place. They'll probably be fighting over second and third.
...You mean?
Pi Jinho said no more. He simply watched Kang Seoyul on the other side of the monitor.
But there wasn't a single instructor who didn't understand his meaning.
...Kang Seoyul.
It was the moment the instructors' perception of Kang Seoyul changed completely.
* * *
Team 7! Overall evaluation: A!
We had successfully cleared the virtual ruin.
Individual assessment scores. Shin Jia: A. She handled all the offense by herself. In particular, fighting the Blue Haechi at close range with an arrowhead was truly brilliant.
As expected of Jia.
She received a high score.
Seo Inryang, Kang Hobin, you both get a B-. You made the necessary moves at the right times, but there were many minor mistakes in between.
The two of them seemed satisfied.
After all, a B- would likely place them in the top 10%.
Finally, Kang Seoyul.
Four pairs of eyes, including the instructor's, turned to me.
Individual assessment score: A+!
*Yes!*
I cheered inwardly.
Your vast knowledge of the Taegeuk Haechi, something even the instructors were unfamiliar with, and the excellent strategy you built upon that knowledge. And finally, your one-on-one engagement with the Blue Haechi using fire-attribute Ganggi. It was brilliant.
The instructor in charge of evaluating our team smiled playfully.
It's a shame your stats are so low. If you had defeated the Blue Haechi on your own, you would have earned an S for your individual score.
...Haha. I'll try my best next time.
Good. Your stats seem to have improved quite a bit since enrollment, so I'll be looking forward to your progress.
The instructor smiled brightly and patted my shoulder.
Thank you.
This concludes the virtual ruin clearing training!
Thank you for your hard work!
* * *
That night,
the dormitory caf was buzzing with talk about two people.
Did you hear? Ha Siyeon got an S on her individual assessment.
I heard she took down a Golden Gargoyle all by herself.
One was about the rapidly growing Ha Siyeon.
But what's more surprising is Kang Seoyul. He got an A+, right?
Hah~ So if I make a move on Kang Seoyul now, I can get both looks and skills?
Yeah, and right next to him is Shin Jia.
Ugh. This bitch is hitting me with cold, hard facts.
The other was about Kang Seoyul.
But isn't it insane? Two attribute mana awakeners, of which there are only a thousand in the world, in the same year.
What's even crazier is that they're Ice and Fire, the most versatile attributes.
I heard all sorts of guilds are scrambling to recruit Ha Siyeon. Apparently, even 'The One' guild from the US is making a move.
Whoa. Seriously?
The world's number one guild, 'The One'.
Everyone was surprised to hear that the American guild, famous for not accepting rookies, was on the move.
Well, she's a so-called magic swordsman with decent physical abilities. I'd want her on my team too.
Hah~ You think the number one rank will change soon?
Nah. Beating Shin Jia still seems like a long shot, don't you think?
The two were the hot topic.
Wow~ Everyone's praising you so much. What are your thoughts, future superhuman of The One guild, Ms. Ha Siyeon?
In a corner of the caf, a group of people was listening quietly.
...I dunno.
It was Kim Cheoljin, Ha Siyeon, and Choi Jihoon.
Ha Siyeon had her face buried in the table.
Though her face was hidden, her ears were bright red, a clear sign of her embarrassment.
Heh heh.
Seeing this, Kim Cheoljin laughed as if he was having the time of his life.
Teasing Ha Siyeon was one of Kim Cheoljin's few pleasures.
By the way, Jihoon, you must have a headache, huh?
And among those few pleasures was sneering at Choi Jihoon.
What do you mean?
I'm talking about Kang Seoyul. I heard he used fire-attribute Ganggi this time. Aren't you worried you're going to get completely destroyed?
Bullshit. Even so, it doesn't change the fact that he's an F-rank.
Ehh? I can't hear you over the sound of you being a loser who got hit in a vital spot by that F-rank.
Kim Cheoljin sneered with the most obnoxious expression imaginable.
...I just let my guard down for a moment.
Pfft. Suuuure you did.
You...!
Choi Jihoon gritted his teeth.
He thought about retorting, but Kim Cheoljin would only enjoy it more if he reacted. He decided to stay quiet.
Tch.
Kim Cheoljin clicked his tongue as if his fun had been spoiled.
Siyeon, what do you think? If Jihoon and Kang Seoyul fought, who do you think would win?
...Me?
Ha Siyeon slightly turned her head, peeking up at Kim Cheoljin with one eye. Her cheeks were still flushed.
Her expression showed she was flustered by the overwhelming praise from the other cadets.
Umm...
Ha Siyeon thought.
Kang Seoyul would definitely win.
When she had subtly asked him before, he had declared he would win, so victory was certain.
*'He said he succeeded in loosening the seal.'*
He'd said he had to push himself a little to raise his rank.
Choi Jihoon's defeat was inevitable.
Ha Siyeon glanced at Choi Jihoon. His face was filled with subtle expectation.
She couldn't very well say, "I think Seoyul will win!" to that face.
*'Agh.'*
She didn't like lying, but she had no choice.
Uh, isn't it fifty-fifty? Either he wins or he loses.
Besides, that wasn't really a lie.
Fifty-fifty... you say?
However, Ha Siyeon's words were more than enough to sting Choi Jihoon's pride.
*'I'm being compared to that piece of trash?'*
The fact that it was Ha Siyeon who said it hurt his pride even more.
'...Kang Seoyul.'
Jealousy and pride swirled inside Choi Jihoon like a murky darkness.
The desire to use the power of the Soosung Group to crush him surged.
Hmph.
But he decided to endure it.
It was something Ha Siyeon despised, and more importantly, his own pride wouldn't allow it.
Choi Jihoon calmed himself.
*'I only have to wait three days anyway.'*
The ranking match was in three days.
He just had to hold on until then.
*'I'll show him what's what.'*
A murderous glint shone in Choi Jihoon's eyes.
Meanwhile,
at that same moment, Kang Seoyul was swinging his spear in Pi Jinho's private training room.
I did iiiiiit!
He was cheering with a wicked grin on his face.
Choi Jihoon, you're dead now.
Red Ganggi swirled faintly at the tip of Kang Seoyul's spear.