Public Brawl (6)
"A public brawl, huh. You could put it that way. The only difference is that a real brawl gets you disciplined, while this is perfectly legal and even earns you points."
"Um... Yes..."
What I had proposed to Han Min-ha was the PVP Combat Evaluation, one of the practical exams given at the end of the semester. It was a form of sparring where you used every technique you'd learned to incapacitate your opponent by any means necessary. There were no rules. Tools were off-limits, but anything else was fair game. If the professors determined it had become truly dangerous, they would step in. Other than that, you simply pushed your combat ability to its absolute limit.
It was the signature evaluation of Graford Academy, designed to forge strong heroes by measuring students solely through their fighting power. And I was currently suggesting that Han Min-ha name Song Do-yun as her opponent in that very evaluation.
"The PVP Combat Evaluation is a golden opportunity. Every year, not only academy officials but also television stations and headhunters from famous hero agencies attend the freshman evaluations. If they witness a lower-class student crushing an upper-class elite, what do you think they'll think?"
To be honest, I was slightly more interested in the end-of-semester evaluation than in Song Do-yun's personal revenge. Her vendetta was nothing more than an excuse, a source of motivation for the upcoming test. That was why I had kept persuading and encouraging Han Min-ha to pursue revenge.
Anyone would agree that I'm going to crush the bitch who humiliated me is far more powerful fuel than I need to study hard to get good grades.
"I understand what you mean, Professor."
"Then name Song Do-yun. According to the evaluation guidelines, if a student in the bottom ten percent defeats an upper-class student, they receive bonus points. On the other hand, the upper-class student suffers a heavy penalty and could even be demoted to a lower class. So the advantage is entirely yours, Min-ha. This is your chance to rise while dragging Song Do-yun down with you."
"Yes... I understand everything."
Han Min-ha nodded slowly, but her face was clouded with anxiety. I knew exactly what she was worried about.
"You're probably afraid you won't be able to beat Song Do-yun. But don't worry. Based on what I expect her abilities to be, she has no chance of defeating you, Min-ha."
No one knew Song Do-yun's primary ability yet, but I had narrowed it down to either telekinesis or taming. When I'd asked the other professors, they confirmed she hadn't revealed any notable powers so far, but it was definitely one of those two. I believed she had used that ability to attract or tame birds and then terrorized Han Min-ha with them.
Taming was practically meaningless in an evaluation and could be ignored. The real threat was telekinesis. As an upper-class student, her telekinetic strength was likely considerable. So I had decided on a counter that could completely nullify it.
Han Min-ha's heavy, dense aura.
"Telekinesis is the ability to move objects without physical contact. Your aura is exceptionally heavy, Min-ha, so telekinesis won't work on you."
"Is that because both abilities use aura?"
"Exactly. Techniques that manipulate aura are best countered with aura. The optimal response is to neutralize the telekinesis with a dense aura field and then strike with a long-range Eye Race in a single decisive blow."
"Does it have to be Eye Race? If I miss, it would be really embarrassing..."
She had a point. A trump card that failed to land would be disastrous.
"There are other options. You could force an aura clash or switch to close-quarters combat. Just adapt organically based on how the fight develops."
Han Min-ha could win. When considering ability matchups, Song Do-yun was at a severe disadvantage, and Han Min-ha's aura was overwhelmingly powerful. If she could neutralize the ability and turn it into a dogfight, victory was possible.
"Anyway... let's do this right. There's not much time left."
"Understood, Professor...!"
Han Min-ha answered with fierce determination in her eyes.
After tasting success at the shooting range, Han Min-ha threw herself into training with incredible fervor. For someone who had achieved nothing until now, the rush of accomplishment must have felt like a drug.
Yoo Hee-won spoke harshly but helped Han Min-ha diligently. Her guidance especially shone during close-combat training.
"Ugh...! It hurts...!"
"Get up! If you can't even dodge this, you'll never get a good score!"
Yoo Hee-won grabbed the collar of Han Min-ha's fallen uniform and yanked her back to her feet.
"If I'd wrapped my aura around that strike, your ribs would be shattered. Fix your stance. Stop looking around and watch my feet!"
"Y-yes...! I'm watching...!"
"Your feet have to move before your fist or anything else. If you watch the opponent's feet, you can predict their next move. Now, pay attention!"
Yoo Hee-won's leg shot forward in the blink of an eye. Han Min-ha barely blocked it by pulling her arms tight against her body. A loud thud rang out, but she somehow managed to stay on her feet.
"Urgh..."
"Head up! Lower your head and you're dead!"
"Got it! Ugh!"
As Han Min-ha twisted her torso sharply, Yoo Hee-won's fist whistled past her ear. Even Yoo Hee-won looked slightly surprised by the successful evasion. Her eyes seemed to say, Not bad.
"Good. Now let's try it with aura."
Golden aura flared from Yoo Hee-won's body, wrapping around her like armor. Not to be outdone, Han Min-ha summoned her own purple aura. Until recently she hadn't even known how to manifest it, yet now she could raise it at will. Her growth rate was astonishing.
The purple and golden auras collided, sending violent sparks flying through the air. Since the raw power of their auras was evenly matched, the atmosphere grew fiercely intense.
"Here I come."
"I'm going to fight seriously now too, Hee-won. So... Haaah!"
The moment Yoo Hee-won's attack connected, Han Min-ha was sent flying straight across the training hall.
Han Min-ha's special training continued without pause. Both Yoo Hee-won and I poured everything we had into forging her. It was a brutal regimen, practically dragging her by the collar to make up for all the time she'd lost before awakening her aura. If she didn't produce good results this time, her future would be bleak.
In Yoo Hee-won's words, it was a fate of wallowing in the gutter until she was weeded out. So I pushed Han Min-ha hard, even when it seemed excessive.
Yet despite the overwhelming difficulty, she never gave up. Her burning desire for revenge against Song Do-yun and the newfound confidence from awakening her aura became the fuel that kept her going.
Even during all this, Song Do-yun continued secretly harassing Han Min-ha whenever Yoo Hee-won wasn't looking. I had strictly instructed Han Min-ha never to respond or resist.
"Always back down. There's no need to react to her at all."
"Understood, Professor."
"The further you pull a bowstring, the more powerful the arrow. Let her get complacent, then drive an arrow straight through her heart."
"Yes...!"
Her eyes were ringed with bruises from the relentless sparring with Yoo Hee-won, yet Han Min-ha answered with perfect clarity.
"Good. Then let me teach you one useful trick."
I created a small square basic physical barrier in the air before her.
"This is a basic physical barrier. It blocks ordinary attacks and, when struck by something powerful, shatters while absorbing part of the impact like a cushion. Stack several of them and they can even function like body armor."
"I see. Is this the tip you mentioned?"
"Not yet."
I tilted the barrier that was facing her directly, angling it slightly.
"By adjusting the angle of the barrier, you can deflect attacks that would normally be impossible to block. You're essentially redirecting the force. It's incredibly useful in a pinch."
Han Min-ha studied my barrier carefully, then created one of her own with a similar angle.
"Excellent. A basic physical barrier is exactly what the name suggests. It's quick to create and has limitless applications. Always think creatively. On the battlefield, a hero trapped in rigid thinking won't survive."
"Understood, Professor. I'll keep it in mind!"
Han Min-ha answered energetically as she created a second barrier and linked them together.
Very good. Outstanding.
As the end-of-semester evaluation drew near, the academy's atmosphere grew noticeably tense. It was a sensitive period that could be a golden opportunity for the lower classes or a crisis for the upper classes.
The faculty began the process of creating the bracket for the PVP Combat Evaluation. They would compromise between Plan A, in which the faculty created balanced matchups based on student levels, and Plan B, which incorporated the students' own requested matchups, to produce the final Plan C.
Every professor worked overtime for days, sweating blood to create the optimal bracket. There could be no one-sided matches caused by too great a power gap.
In that regard, Han Min-ha's requested matchup had become an enormous topic of discussion among the faculty. It wasn't unheard of for a lower-class student to challenge an upper-class one, and in such cases it was customary to honor the challenger's wishes. But of all people, it had to be Han Min-ha...
"Professor. Did Min-ha... really request this herself?"
Jin Se-yeong, looking at the bracket, whispered to me.
"She did. She told me she absolutely wants to advance to the upper class next semester."
"Is that so? It's admirable, but... are you sure this is okay? Song Do-yun is rather intimidating."
Professor Yu Hyeon-ju, who had been listening, spoke up.
"Song Do-yun? You mean that girl who follows Yoo Hee-won around like a secretary?"
"That's the one. I know she's skilled, but... doesn't she seem a bit scary?"
"She does have that side to her. Honestly, I'm worried about pairing her against Min-ha too."
I smiled and shook my head at the two professors' concerns.
"No, I believe this is the right decision. This is an opportunity for Min-ha. We can't take it away from her just because we're worried."
"Well... that's true."
Professor Yu Hyeon-ju nodded in understanding while Professor Jin Se-yeong still looked uneasy. But what could we do? This was my plan.
A few days later, when the bracket was posted in the lecture hall lobby, the students' reactions were nearly identical to the professors'.
"Han Min-ha...? Who's that?"
"Isn't she that lower-class kid who fainted during the basic evaluation?"
"What?! That girl is fighting Do-yun? Isn't that a mistake?"
Behind the murmuring students, Yoo Hee-won stared at the bracket with a wicked smile.
"Hah? This should be fun. Hey, Song Do-yun. What the hell is this?"
"Who knows."
Song Do-yun's expression as she looked at the posted bracket froze into icy stillness.