‘No, what on earth is going on? I feel like I’m about to lose my mind.’
After the live combat battle with Kang Ayul, I should have noticed something was off when she returned with an unsatisfied look on her face.
However, who would have thought she’d lose her temper to the point of grabbing the new transfer student by the collar?
“You two need to work together to save the world. This kind of fighting is troublesome!”
What is this situation?
“Ayul, don’t you think it’s a little inappropriate for someone of your position as vice president to be grabbing a transfer student by the collar?”
“B-but, it’s not like that. First, she took my seat…!”
“?!”
Just then, I finally noticed the unfamiliar bag sitting on Kang Ayul’s seat.
It wasn’t the guild bag from Kang Jin-myung’s prestigious ‘Myeonggeom Guild’ that Ayul usually carries but rather an old school bag. Why was it there?
“Hold on, that bag…”
Then it hit me. It looked just like the bag Teacher Lee Cheon-ma used whenever he carried elixirs.
“Finally, we meet.”
As she said this, the half-closed-eyed woman quickly grabbed both of my hands.
“Um, excuse me, but who are you…?”
“I’m a direct disciple of Teacher Lee Cheon-ma, the Sword Demon. My name is Lee Seo-yoon.”
“So, you’re Seo-yoon. You’re the one from the original story who only made a brief appearance to highlight the Sword Demon’s tragic fate.”
Lee Seo-yoon – the very reason the Sword Demon became obsessed with swords and the fundamental starting point for her later manipulation by Sheena that caused her to turn into an S-rank villain.
Is this why Eve said she’d be shocked?
‘The owner of that tremendous aura I sensed before was… this person.’
<><><><><><><><><
<Info>
<Name: Lee Seo-yun>
<Age: 19>
<Personality: Good, Lawful>
<Skill List>
<Sword Song (S)>
<Greatly enhances understanding of swords. Can integrate senses and magical power into the sword>
<Acceleration (A)>
<Reaction speed, physical damage, and movement speed greatly increase for 30 seconds> (Reuse after: 120 minutes)
<Flash Step (A)> (5/5)
<Can teleport short distances. Can be used consecutively by consuming stacks> (Recharge: 15 seconds)
<Frail Body (F)>
<Hasn't fully recovered from injury. Defense, health, strength, agility reduced by one level>
<Attributes>
<Strength: B>
<Defense: C>
<Magic Power: C>
<Health: B>
<Agility: A>
<Luck: F>
<><><><><><><><><
'Considering the one-level decrease... If we factor that in, her Agility must be A+!'
To think such a character, who was originally killed off in the story just to provide a tragic backstory for the Sword Demon, is this strong. The world really is cruel.
'We have such a powerful protagonist, and even this nameless extra, Seo-yoon, is this strong... It's good, but...'
It's almost as if I'm being warned that this story would fall apart without such strong supporting characters.
'Well, anyway, I can just feed the karma I know about to strengthen the kids, so they'll be easy to handle.'
By the time I realized I'd been silently musing while Seo-yoon was talking, it had been too long.
"If it wasn't for Seon-ah, I might still be dying in bed..."
"Let's not talk about such dark stories anymore. Welcome, Seo-yoon."
"Nice to meet you, Seon-ah. May I call you President?"
"No, you can call me by my first name."
As we shook hands in welcome, I could feel an intense gaze from the side.
"..."
When I turned my head, sure enough, Kang Ayul was glaring at me.
"Hey, so what are you going to do about her seat?"
Ayul asked me with an expression that clearly wanted me to take her side.
'...Complicated.'
If I take one side here, I won't gain the affection of the other party.
'The fairest and most certain method...'
Indeed, the surest way is...
"Let's decide by duel."
What else besides a duel? Since ancient times, the duel has been the most sacred form of contest... (omitted)
...
...
...
At Raon Academy's training grounds.
The audience seats were packed with people who had heard the news that the vice president and the rumored transfer student were going to duel.
"I didn't expect so many people would gather."
I had only borrowed the training ground for a little practice, but I didn't expect the reservation name would make it into an advertisement where all the cadets gathered.
"The loser might end up having a hard time showing their face, but if you surrender now, we can agree to move to a nearby spot."
"...It's said the side making such offers is usually surrounded by more tension..."
In the waiting room, the two of them were glaring at each other, wooden swords in hand.
<><><><><><><><><
<Info>
<Name: Kang Ayul>
<Age: 19>
<Personality: Good>
<Skill List>
<Heroic Sword (S)>
<Can create and wield a physical magic sword>
<Foresight (A)>
<Can see 2-3 seconds into the future>
<Blessing of the Sword Saint (S)>
<All actions related to swords receive additional bonuses>
<Attributes>
<Strength: B>
<Defense: C+>
<Magic Power: B+>
<Health: A>
<Agility: B+>
<Luck: B>
<><><><><><><><><
'Who would think these stats belong to someone who's 19?'
Both of them are at a level where they could enter the gates without any issue right now.
Will Ayul's <Blessing of the Sword Saint (S)>, which gives bonuses to all sword actions, win? Or will Seo-yoon’s <Sword Song (S)>, which allows her to understand swords and project her magic power, prevail?
‘Either way, it’s going to be entertaining.’
If Ayul wins, there might be reactions like “Of course the vice president would win. We trusted you.” And if Seo-yoon wins, we might see reactions like “A monster rookie has appeared” or “The vice president was all show.”
But it’s none of my business.
If there’s someone around, it’s the perfect time to ask them to bring popcorn since there’s nothing we can do anyway.
“Have you decided on the rules for the match? Proceeding like a live combat class…”
“Right, we’ll go with the rule that makes the opponent’s health bar reach zero to win.”
“A barrier that protects against even fatal attacks… How I wish we’d had something like this during training with Teacher…”
When the duel begins, a huge dome-shaped barrier will spread across the training ground.
In there, even if limbs are severed, you won’t die, and the AI will accurately assess the damage dealt and deduct the corresponding amount from the cadet’s health bar. Once it reaches zero, the match automatically ends.
‘My <Recovery (S)> becomes rather useless in this context, so personally, I’m not entirely satisfied.’
I remember feeling quite frustrated when I just barely lost to Ayul in the live combat class by a hair, despite using Recovery to restore health. The deducted amount couldn’t be recovered, so this system is rather regrettable.
‘I could have won if only my abilities weren’t restricted.’
Fighting with restricted abilities is quite challenging. It takes too much time to prepare the Void, and I’m just dodging Ayul’s attacks. Also, Star Magic takes too long to cast.
‘If it weren’t a 1v1, but a 2v2, I could definitely use Star Magic… Too bad.’
Since a Striker or Defender isn’t going to fall from the sky to buy me enough time to use Star Magic, I’ll have to change myself.
“Then, please watch from the audience seats, Seon-ah.”
“What are you going to watch when I’ll be flying at you in the blink of an eye?”
Looking from afar, these two who appear to be just bickering rivals…
-CRACK! CRACK!
“You… your arm…?!”
“Seon-ah?!”
Who would have thought they’d attack each other so fiercely that I’d have to sacrifice both my arms to block it?
