“That… Is that a shield used by Defenders..?”
“It’s similar, but completely different.”
I twirled the round shield around, kindly showing Seong Ah-rin its internal structure.
“… Is that a reverse engineering device?”
“Correct! I heard you tend to doze off a lot during class. Did you learn this from your master, Ah-rin?”
Finally, Seong Ah-rin realized the true nature of my shield as I began to prepare for battle, nonchalantly equipping the round shield on one arm.
“… You told me to come with full power, so where’s your staff?”
The tone of her voice clearly indicated her wounded pride from being underestimated. I could tell Seong Ah-rin wasn’t in a good condition.
“… Is she upset?”
Though there is a reason for her behavior.
“Initially, you didn’t take Hong Bi-yeon seriously either when you fought.”
“The staff… It’s in the warehouse. I didn’t forget to bring it, but I was worried about you, Ah-rin.”
“…”
Clearly upset, Seong Ah-rin turned around and began preparing for combat.
– Roarrr…..
Judging by the amount of magical power infused into her magical construct, it seemed my objective had been achieved.
“Indeed, Seong Ah-rin.”
<><><><><><><><><>
<Information>
<Name: Seong Ah-rin>
<Age: 18>
<Tendencies: Lazy, Neutral>
<Skill List>
<Golden Eye (S)>
<<Greatly enhances magic power. Additional bonuses apply to all actions involving magic>>
<Overclock (S)>
<<For a brief moment, all magic power can be ignited to exceed limits>> (72-hour cooldown after use)
<Ability Stats>
<Strength: D>
<Defense: D->
<Magic: S>
<Health: C>
<Agility: D+>
<Luck: A>
<><><><><><><><><>
“Still, when it comes to magic power, you’re ridiculously high.”
Despite all the potions, experiments, and various efforts that barely pushed me past S-tier, Seong Ah-rin achieved it effortlessly. This must be what true talent looks like.
“Unbelievably unfair, isn’t it, this world?”
Seong Ah-rin, the one born with top-tier talent, chosen as a hero, destined to be the King of Magic… That bastard Yoon Seong-ho longed for such talent.
-Crack!
“!”
‘What are you thinking, idiot?’
Upon sharply slapping my cheeks, Seong Ah-rin suddenly turned around, startled. But that’s none of my concern. I must have inadvertently felt jealousy for her.
“Seong Ah-rin is part of the protagonist’s group. I’m just a different character.”
That’s right, if we were the same age… I wouldn’t have been able to win.
I would never have received the title of “Strongest Student Council President” if I hadn’t entered the academy a year earlier.
I was supposed to be a corrupt mid-boss who dies at the hands of the protagonist. Saving the world is the job of the protagonist and their companions, not me.
“But… that was the story when I was her age.”
By now, Seong Ah-rin and Seo Ji-an must have far surpassed the skill level I had in my first year of the academy. That much is certain.
The same age. In other words… 1 year ago, if I had managed to keep up with my growth back then, I could have used that one-year head start to achieve a level of strength beyond my peers at this point in time. That’s all I need right now.
If caught up, go further. If caught again, retreat even further.
That’s the advantage of being born a year earlier… and the privilege of being a trailblazer, opening paths untrodden by others.
-Clank!
As the numbness in my cheeks faded, I stared at the perfectly activated reverse engineering device.
Three-part structure, all green.
Magic absorption/emission port, all green.
“Why did you slap…”
“Ah, I was just distracted for a moment. Don’t worry about it.”
Finally, the moment where our gazes locked arrived.
However, I won’t look directly at Seong Ah-rin.
“You’re observing closely, aren’t you?”
In the audience, Hong Bi-yeon was watching me.
“I’ll show you, Bi-yeon.”
The method to hunt a magician.
…
…
…
“President, I didn’t know Defenders were capable of this… impressive.”
“No, that’s… a reverse engineering device?!”
“Reverse engineering device? You mean the heavy, inefficient piece of junk?”
In the audience, many began murmuring about Yoon Se-ah’s choice.
Of course, it was to be expected.
The murmurs suggesting that the overconfidence of the Student Council President might lead to defeat… were gradually rising from the audience.
“President, what were you thinking…”
“…”
Though the two in the arena were unaware, it seemed that Seo Ji-an and his companions in the audience were not.
“… Are you planning to return the favor for what happened to your classmate?”
Even Sakura and Ecclesia were surprised by the attitude of treating Seong Ah-rin’s main weapon as if it didn’t matter, after she had stated her disdain for half-hearted fights.
“She must have a plan.”
Yoo Eun-ha believed her sister wouldn’t make a wrong choice while silently watching the arena.
“…”
And Seo Ji-an, watching the arena with complex emotions.
“How can she possibly defeat Seong Ah-rin with such a crude device that barely resembles a shield?”
Meanwhile, Hong Bi-yeon was observing the scene closely from the special seating area prepared by Yoon Se-ah to protect the student from potential backlash of gossip.
Right after the start of the match, Seong Ah-rin launched ‘Tidal Wave,’ the third strongest magic in her arsenal, intending to knock Yoon Se-ah out immediately. However, Yoon Se-ah didn’t move even a single step.
Did she give up, realizing the overwhelming power gap? Or was this arrogance leading her to ignore such an attack?
A massive tidal wave, capable of easily toppling a ten-story building, was heading towards Yoon Se-ah. Yet, as the wave approached within arm’s reach, she still didn’t move.
-Murmurs-
“Surely, she’s not trying to reverse engineer that spell?”
Someone’s comment reverberated through the audience, unsettling the previously calm crowd.
Tidal Wave is a spell created by Seong Ah-rin’s master, Choi Won-ho, to wipe out numerous monsters at once. Each ripple in the wave contains an inscribed formula, making it extremely complex and almost impossible to reverse engineer.
Of course, if the shield on her arm is indeed a genuine reverse engineering device, it could theoretically reverse engineer the spell; however, there simply wasn’t enough time.
Calling it a shield, the device implied it had a very fragile structure.
A reverse engineering device with such fragile durability that it could shatter from a simple arrow without magical power would need adequate heavy armor to protect it fully. However, if that were the case, the weight would make it near-impossible for an ordinary magician to lift.
A normal shield wouldn’t withstand the impact, and a reverse engineering device would break before it could even begin the process.
Everyone assumed this would be the outcome.
There was one remaining possibility though.
If there was heavy enough armor protecting the reverse engineering device adequately, the system could block the water’s flow while simultaneously beginning the reverse engineering process and mapping the formula.
However, no one anticipated this possibility.
It was only logical not to consider it.
Even if the most expensive materials were used, regardless of whether ultra-pure mithril, alternium, or orichalcum were utilized, if the fragile reverse engineering device were protected with such heavy armor, it would be too heavy to lift, even for the strongest Defenders.
The tidal wave grew closer, threatening to engulf Yoon Se-ah.
At this rate, Yoon Se-ah would be washed away by the tidal wave and lose the match.
The audience thought she had lost her mind.
Her supporters thought she couldn’t possibly lose this easily.
And those who saw hope in her thought, please stop this attack and prove your previous declaration.
-Crashhh!!!
The tidal wave that swept away everything in its path engulfed Yoon Se-ah.
The massive tidal wave receded back, generating a powerful current that shook the audience seats with intense shockwaves.
With this, the audience was convinced—Yoon Se-ah was arrogant, and Seong Ah-rin was unexpectedly a formidable opponent.
However, a few noticed something unusual.
“Guild Master, the reaction…!”
“I know, that kid is incredible…”
“She’s playing with it in the palm of her hand, isn’t she…”
From S-ranked heroes, then gradually to A-ranked heroes and the upper tier heroes…
“Look… She didn’t move at all?”
“Could it be… She actually succeeded in blocking it? Surviving the water pressure?”
“No, not just that. Her clothes… They aren’t even wet!”
Like wildfire spreading through dry grass, confusion and bewilderment engulfed the audience.
As the oversized shield, which seemed larger than its original size earlier, returned to its normal size, the figure of the girl, smiling without a scratch, came into view.
More than anyone, Hong Bi-yeon, who needed to trust her the most, could see it.
Raising the shield, Yoon Se-ah mumbled as if declaring to herself.
“How was it? I said it would be easy to block.”
The pioneer who built a ladder to overcome an insurmountable wall for a lifetime…
