Chapter 1402

<Chapter 1402> 1402. The Savior of the Academy

“…Sung Yoojin is strong.”

“I know, he’s my son.”

Seong Hali continued.

“And there aren’t many people stronger than Yoojin.”

Seong Hali’s expression was serious. She didn’t seem like she was going to back down at all.

But just for an exchange match between Korea and Japan Academy, it doesn’t make sense for Seong Hali to participate. If in Japan, the moment Seong Hali enters, the media would go wild. It’s obvious what kind of articles they’d write—putting Seong Hali down while uplifting Japan.

Of course, Gang Ji-young wasn’t worried about Japan’s reaction but rather about Seong Hali getting riled up by Japan’s behavior. She was uneasy about Seong Hali who always seems to stir up trouble.

“Dean Kang Ji-young.”

Choi Jung-hwa, who had been silent, finally spoke. Wearing a blue velvet dress and sitting with her legs crossed arrogantly, she didn’t flinch even in front of Dean Kang Ji-young.

“We’ve already decided to go to Japan. If the dean refuses, I’ll personally go to Japan. There are plenty of ways to get there.”

“You must have told them that the government and Hero Association won’t allow it.”

“Does she look like someone who cares about that?”

Choi Jung-hwa pointed at Seong Hali with her chin.

“…….”

Gang Ji-young couldn’t refute that. Seong Hali was a woman who does what she says she’ll do. She thought hard. If she rejects Seong Hali and Choi Jung-hwa’s proposal and sends them away like this, they will definitely follow the Japanese Academy at their own expense. She was almost 100% sure.

‘In that case…’

It might be better to send them along with the students participating in the exchange match.

“…Understood. We will consider your proposal positively. However, since I’ve stepped back, you’ll have to listen to some of my requests as well.”

Seong Hali’s mood seemed lighter than before.

“As long as it’s not an unreasonable request, I’ll accept it.”

“First of all….”

BOOM!

A thunderclap echoed, and the office lit up. Their gazes turned toward the window, toward the stadium where special events were held when necessary. Currently, first-year students were taking their practical exams there.

BOOOOOM!

Lightning struck again.

As Gang Ji-young watched the lightning strike from the sky, she turned her gaze toward Seong Hali.

“…Why are you looking at me? I didn’t do anything.”

“I know you didn’t. But someone related to you probably did. And I’m not blaming anyone anyway.”

“Did Yoojin do it? Did a mage summon the lightning?”

“There’s no first-year mage who can summon lightning on that scale.”

“Our Yoojin really is amazing, huh.”

Seong Hali chuckled heartily. She felt good whenever her son got even a little praise. Though she knew she was too soft on him…she couldn’t help it. Just hearing compliments about her son made her smile reflexively.

BOOM BOOM BOOM KA-BOOM!

The lightning kept striking.

The view outside the window flickered.

Gang Ji-young asked Seong Hali with a narrow-eyed glare.

“There’s such a thing as moderation, even for extraordinary things… How exactly did you raise your son? As an educator, I must know.”

“Educate…? Pfft, I think it’s pretty normal… Yoojin is stronger than expected, though. Has he grown so much already…?”

Seong Hali tilted her head, genuinely seeming clueless.


The body tilted its head in confusion.

BOOM BOOM BOOM KWAH KA BOOM!

Majinbai collapsed forward after being struck by consecutive lightning bolts. This happened only 10 seconds into the 1-on-1 duel. Initially, I thought I could finish him with a single strike, but his tough physique allowed him to withstand the lightning. When he endured even the second bolt, I unleashed seven consecutive lightning strikes.

“Enough!”

The supervisor intervened. He quickly signaled to the waiting staff. They carried the unconscious Majinbai to the medical room. Even though he was knocked out, there wouldn’t be any injuries thanks to the Aurora Simulator installed in this arena.

“Sung Yoojin, return to the waiting room.”

“Yes.”

I have another match in an hour. Returning to the waiting room, I watched the next match through the monitor.

Ishi En vs Bae Seona

Bae Seona is a magician from Class 4 of Grade 1. She mainly uses fire magic and ranked 54th in the entrance exam.

Bae Seona confidently smiled at Ishi En. She had definitely done her research on Ishi En. Energy controllers are generally considered inferior to magicians, so she probably assumed victory.

‘If it were an ordinary energy controller, that would be true.’

The supervisor blew the whistle signaling the start of the duel.

Bae Seona moved by the book. First, she created distance while casting her spell, then attacked without hesitation after completing the incantation. She didn’t stop there but immediately began casting another spell.

Ishi En gestured toward the incoming fireball. The fireball’s trajectory sharply reversed, flying back at Bae Seona. Startled, Bae Seona couldn’t react in time. That was her mistake. She got hit by her own fireball, followed by Ishi En’s electric shock.

The battle ended as simply as that.

‘Bae Seona’s overconfidence was significant. Still, even if she hadn’t been overconfident, Ishi En probably would’ve won.’

Magician Bae Seona couldn’t defeat Ishi En. Perhaps if she were an experienced magician, things might’ve been different.

‘Seeing this, I don’t need to worry about Ishi En.’

My next opponent was Kim Cheonwoo.

I looked around. The arena was filled with first-year students watching this match. It was a rare big match between the number 2 and 5 ranked students in the entrance exam.

Kim Cheonwoo gripped his greatsword with both hands, pointing it at me.

“I know I can’t beat you. But I’ll give it my all. I’ll put everything into this duel. So please do the same.”

“Sure thing.”

Peeeeeeek!

The whistle blew.

I aimed the RPG-7 I was holding at Kim Cheonwoo and pulled the trigger. The rocket, spewing fire, flew towards Kim Cheonwoo. He charged forward, positioning his greatsword sideways.

KOOOOOONG!

An explosion occurred. Cutting through the explosion smoke, Kim Cheonwoo swung his greatsword at me. The sword imbued with energy slashed through the air. Due to the large movement, a gap appeared. I exploited that gap.

[Using Instant (刹那). Remaining Stacks: 6]

‘The sooner I end this duel, the more impressive I look and the higher my score goes.’

So I didn’t plan to drag it out. The spear in my hand thrust straight toward Kim Cheonwoo’s chest. Suddenly, Kim Cheonwoo’s body spun. The rotation was too fast. If I continued like this, I’d be cut by the greatsword instead. I quickly retreated.

‘It wasn’t sudden spinning. He anticipated my move inward… and started rotating from the beginning.’

I clicked my tongue. Kim Cheonwoo had prepared countermeasures against ‘Instant.’

‘He knew I use Instant frequently. Well, it’s not surprising. I used it often during practice.’

At close range, avoiding Instant is difficult. It becomes nearly impossible with a skill gap. However, knowing I’d use Instant and preparing for it changes the story. Kim Cheonwoo’s response to Instant was excellent, worthy of praise.

‘But what about the second and third times?’

[Using Instant (刹那). Remaining Stacks: 5]

I closed the widened distance again with Instant. Slowly…


In the World of truth, Kim Cheon-woo’s eyes wavered. It was an instant reaction. His greatsword trembled slightly and pointed toward me.

[Using ‘Instant’. Remaining stacks: 4]

I narrowly dodged the greatsword and plunged my spear into Kim Cheon-woo’s neck. He staggered from the shock and collapsed to the ground.

“…You didn’t even give me time to go all out.”

“So is that why you can’t accept defeat?”

“No, it’s the opposite. I admit defeat. With my current state, I can’t easily beat you. But next time will be different.”

Kim Cheon-woo’s eyes burned fiercely. To be honest, it was really annoying. When guys cling on like this, it’s just irritating. If Kim Cheon-woo didn’t have any value as a weapon for the Great Demon Lord, I would’ve crushed him completely.

“…Work harder.”

The final third opponent was Ryu Ha-na, ranked number one in the entrance exam.

It wasn’t surprising since I expected it.

“If Kim Cheon-woo, who’s ranked second, fell so easily, it’s only natural that Ryu Ha-na, who’s ranked first, should come after me.”

Even before the sparring match began, Ryu Ha-na gripped her twin swords and took a combat stance. That meant she intended to go Full Strength from the start.

‘I won’t exploit ‘Instant’ to get through.’

Just like Kim Cheon-woo, Ryu Ha-na must have prepared against ‘Instant.’ There was no reason to move according to her preferences.

The tense atmosphere of the arena turned into a breeze. Ryu Ha-na’s light purple hair fluttered, and sand dust rose from the dirt floor of the arena.

“Draw your sword. Your real weapon isn’t the rocket launcher or spear—it’s the sword.”

“Hmm. Even without drawing my sword, I think I can beat someone at your level.”

“You… You’ll regret saying that.”

BEEEEEEEEEEP!

The whistle blew. Ryu Ha-na and I acted oppositely. I ran backward while she stayed still.

‘She was definitely prepared for ‘Instant’.’

Ryu Ha-na hesitated momentarily before chasing me.

While running, I hurled a spear at her.

CLANG!

Ryu Ha-na blocked the spear with her twin blades but frowned. Her legs faltered briefly as the lightning energy coursed through her body.

‘The muscles must’ve been shocked by the lightning.’

She gritted her teeth and pursued me closely.

Continuing to flee, I kept throwing spears. Ryu Ha-na didn’t block them; instead, she dodged to the side.

‘Her judgment is quick.’

If I throw two or three spears in succession, she wouldn’t be able to dodge.

As she kept getting hit by the lightning, Ryu Ha-na’s movements slowed down. All the spears in my hand were now gone.

“Draw your sword.”

“I told you, I can win without drawing my sword.”

“…You’ll pay the price for underestimating me.”

“It’s not that I underestimated you, but rather you underestimated me.”

SNAP!

I snapped my fingers. A flash of lightning appeared and disappeared instantly. Immediately afterward, the scattered spears around the arena floated upward due to magnetism and flew straight toward Ryu Ha-na.

“Huh?!”

Ryu Ha-na panicked and danced around, narrowly dodging or deflecting the incoming spears.

I continued snapping my fingers rhythmically, accompanying her dance.

SNAP! SNAP SNAP! SNAP SNAP SNAP!

With each snap, flashes of lightning illuminated, and twelve spears moved like living creatures, attacking Ryu Ha-na.

‘This actually works.’

I was surprised myself. In the past, controlling magnetism was quite difficult.

‘Is it because I have more mana? Or simply because I’ve grown?’

Realizing this wouldn’t do, Ryu Ha-na abandoned her defense and charged at me.

“The source of power is you! If I take you down…”

“Can you really bring me down quickly with legs slowed by lightning? You can’t.”

CRACK!

Five spears flew and struck Ryu Ha-na’s back.

That was the end.

Unable to withstand the impact, Ryu Ha-na fell over.

The referee intervened, judging the match over.

Ryu Ha-na, lying on the ground, bit her lips tightly and glared up at me.

“How could I lose like this… It’s unbelievable…!”

“Heheh. Try harder next time.”