Chapter 151: That’s Exactly What I Find Funny, Min-su
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 151: That’s Exactly What I Find Funny, Min-su
"...The winner is Baek Tae-yang!"
"Waaaaaaaah!!!"
How did things end up like this?
‘They definitely said this was just going to be a casual exchange event.’
Thirty minutes ago, the Rubenia side had suggested a brief sparring session to gauge each other's skills.
Naturally, I accepted. To be fair, Rubenia matched me with a knight of the same grade level.
The result was, of course...
‘Maybe I should’ve gone a bit easier on him?’
A total slaughter.
It was one of those obvious clichés. The hero performs incredible feats at home, but people abroad don't recognize his worth and insist on seeing his skills for themselves—only to get their noses broken.
Then, after a string of consecutive victories, they drop the line: "So, the rumors were true after all..."
It was a very 'protagonist-like' development.
"Urgh... Don't think you've defeated Rubenia just because you've struck me down! You've made a grave mistake!"
"Sure, sure..."
Of course. You're just the first-year representative.
I’m the student representative.
It wasn't that I was being arrogant; it was just that, objectively speaking, he shouldn't have been a match for me in the first place. Even if I was forced into this position, I was still the student representing Victory Academy.
And yet, a first-year representative from Rubenia thought he could take me on? That kind of thinking was actually quite disrespectful.
"Ah! Just as everyone expected, Cadet Baek Tae-yang has secured a refreshing victory, completely smashing the Holy Kingdom of Rubenia's pride! Wow! This is a rare spectacle indeed!"
While he said that, the truly disrespectful person was someone else entirely.
‘He’s a total lunatic.’
Kim Ji-hyuk, the 4th-year student representative.
He was one of the six Always-Active Main Skill holders at Victory Academy.
With a cheerful, active, and sociable personality, he was the ultimate social butterfly who even held the position of Student Council President. His tall stature and refreshingly handsome face made him likable to anyone—at least, until he opened his mouth.
But as soon as Kim Ji-hyuk took over as the MC for the exchange event, everyone’s evaluation of him shifted instantly.
‘When he said he didn't want to be in the spotlight, did he mean he just hated being the student representative?’
To think that a madman who turned down the representative role just because he wanted to be an MC was the Student Council President.
It was a moment where my trust in Victory Academy, the so-called 1% of the 1%, wavered slightly.
"Ah... we’ve received word from the Rubenia side. They’re stopping the practice matches here and sending out someone of equal caliber to Cadet Baek Tae-yang for a true exchange!"
Kim Ji-hyuk held the microphone like a fish in water, excitedly leading the event.
His style was to walk right up to the line without crossing it, not taking sides but teasing everyone equally. It was as if a mischievous brat had been given the mic.
"Cadet Baek Tae-yang! How do you feel right now? Honestly, are you a little scared? This will be on a completely different level from the first-years... Rumor has it that the knights of the Holy Kingdom of Rubenia have bodies of steel, even without their plate armor. It’s not too late—how about swapping out with another student?"
He had a way of subtly getting under your skin.
But since he said it with a bright smile, it wasn't particularly offensive. In fact, the atmosphere of the joint training had improved thanks to Kim Ji-hyuk.
"Hmm... Well then, maybe you could do it, Senior..."
"Ah! I have to host the event... Unfortunately... Since it seems there's no intention to swap, we’ll proceed with the next match immediately!"
A total eel, that one.
That silver tongue of his had clearly dodged many situations before.
‘But isn't the atmosphere getting a bit too heated?’
It was supposed to be a 'simple' exchange event.
Now, it had turned into a full-blown competition to see who was stronger: Victory Academy or the Holy Kingdom of Rubenia.
‘Aren't the instructors and high priests going to stop this?’
At this point, they’d completely forgotten the original purpose.
When I turned my gaze to find them, I couldn't help but be shocked.
"Baek Tae-yang! You must win! Victory at all costs! Absolute victory!"
"I'm counting on you."
"Cadet Tae-yang! Everything is about practical application! Prove the theory right!"
Kim Seok-gu, Jang Du-cheol, and Lee Jin-seok.
The representative instructors of Victory Academy—responsible for Gates, training, and skill theory—were cheering harder than anyone. Jang Du-cheol didn't even stop at just saying he was counting on me.
‘Where did he even get that flag?’
He was waving a flag emblazoned with the Victory Academy symbol, looking incredibly sincere about it.
‘The Rubenia side is just as serious.’
The priests, who seemed to be the counterparts to Kim Seok-gu, Jang Du-cheol, and Lee Jin-seok, were doing the exact same thing. Moreover, seeing the cadets secretly placing bets, it looked like a gambling ring had broken out.
It was a total playground.
‘Was I taking this too seriously?’
They called it joint training, but in reality, it felt more like a school sports day. A sports day where people fostered friendships through friendly competition.
Since it was the first day, they might have intentionally created this atmosphere to help everyone get close as quickly as possible.
If an accident happened during a dungeon raid or Gate practice because people were awkward or didn't trust each other, it could be dangerous.
Right, in an atmosphere like this, it was only right to play along.
"Now... the next opponent! Ah, his determination to not let the fight drag on is truly striking. Rubenia's vice-representative is stepping up! Baelson Batter! Despite his young age, he’s a highly promising prospect with experience clearing S-Class Gates multiple times. People say he’s so skilled he’ll become a 1st-Grade Hunter the moment he graduates!"
Thump, thump.
"Whoa... he's huge..."
A giant stepped onto the stage, causing me to mutter to myself involuntarily.
With every step he took, he had an aura that made it feel like the sound effect 'THUMP' from a manga would appear near his feet. He looked to be about two meters tall, with a frame that looked like four people merged into one.
And his hands were the size of pot lids.
He was a Western powerhouse.
"Cadet Baek Tae-yang... I’ve always wanted to meet you. I’m very glad to have this opportunity."
"With me?"
"Yes. Who wouldn't want to meet the most outstanding cadet from the academy called the best in the world?"
Why was he flattering me so much?
‘It’s not like he’s getting anything out of it.’
Actually, I’m only thinking about ruthlessly taking your church’s Saintess. And preferably right in front of Kim Min-su.
I definitely didn't want to say that, but my mouth was itching.
"Thank you for the kind words. I would have preferred to talk over a drink at a more relaxed pace..."
"No, I—"
"The conversation between the two players is progressing smoothly! We’ll start the match immediately!"
"...I’ve always wanted to test myself against you."
As soon as Kim Ji-hyuk finished speaking, Baelson charged at me.
I could see his massive thighs bulging like the engine of a runaway train, propelling his body forward. Even a rampaging wild boar wouldn't be that intense.
"We're keeping it light, right?"
"I will give it my all!"
Baelson declared his full commitment.
Normally, I would have used Baelson's momentum against him and slipped to the side. But since I’d decided to play along, I couldn't give such a boring response.
Boom!
"Whoa... they’ve clashed! Cadet Baek Tae-yang isn't small by any means, but standing against Cadet Baelson, he looks relatively small! However, despite that, he isn't being pushed back at all!"
Strength against strength.
It was a battle of male pride, so I couldn't avoid it or be pushed back.
Even in a casual arm-wrestling match between men, you find yourself pulling out strength you didn't know you had. To lose a power struggle in a 'casual' exchange event with the Academy's name on the line?
That was absolutely out of the question.
"You can let go if it's too hard. I haven't even started putting in real effort yet."
"Is that so... Then I shall give it my everything."
After exchanging a bit of childish banter, I immediately channeled power through my entire body.
As I unleashed the full force of Alpha Male and Single-Point Concentration, Baelson began to be pushed back step by step.
‘Our strength is similar, but...’
In terms of pure physical strength stats, Baelson was likely my equal or perhaps even my superior.
However, in terms of how to use that strength, he couldn't keep up with me yet. It was a realm of talent unrelated to physical ability.
The reason why Fat Boy Ahn hadn't used Baek Tae-yang after creating him...
"Ohhh...! What is this? Cadet Baelson is on the verge of being forced to his knees! Wow, this is getting exciting!"
...was because he was too overwhelming.
Whether it was pure love, a harem, or a harem-pure love story.
What if a villain character created to add tension to the romance was too strong? What if he was a being with settings so excessive that the protagonist could never win?
‘I would have scrapped him too.’
It was incredibly easy to handle Baelson once his lower body balance was broken.
Using my left foot as an axis, I twisted my body slightly and kicked Baelson's calf as if hooking his leg. Even for an Awakener, the physical structure of the body doesn't change, so the calf kick was perfectly effective.
"Urgh... huff...!"
"If you were wearing armor, the result might have been different."
After whispering a small consolation in his ear, I pulled my core strength upward and drove my knee directly into Baelson's chin.
"Ah, and that's it! It was short but intense! As expected of the hot friendship between men... wait?"
The match ended quickly, and just as Kim Ji-hyuk was about to deliver a line to hype up the crowd...
Step, step.
An unexpected face appeared on the stage.
"You seem quite high and mighty, Baek Tae-yang. I will defeat you right here, for all the times you've mocked me."
"....?"
"Uh... Cadet Kim Min-su has appeared from the Rubenia side... haha..."
Kim Min-su, who had been absent, was now spouting nonsense in a confident pose.
Looking at him, I gave him my usual bright, mocking smile.
"That’s exactly what I find funny, Min-su."
What the hell are you doing right now?
Do you have a literal talent for ruining the mood?
As expected, he was a protagonist who could never be underestimated.