novelraw Chapter 135 : Challenge Right (2)
Chapter 135 : Challenge Right (2)
After chasing Nam Tae-hoon away, I activated the skill lightly before entering the capsule.
'Resistance.'
Thump!
At that moment when my heart beat and the mana in my body rushed to a single point.
'Hmm?'
A strange status window appeared before my eyes.
[Skill [Resistance] has been activated!]
[Your cumulative skill point usage has exceeded 100P!]
[VIP Customer Bonus! Random Box has been awarded!]
"...Huh?"
Looking at the message that appeared before my eyes, I felt bewildered for the first time in a while.
"Random Box?"
A reward system that's given at a certain probability whenever cumulative points exceed a certain threshold.
But the probability was so rare that it existed only in theory, to the extent that even I had never seen one.
'It was an unwritten rule that if someone posted proof they got an item from a Random Box, they'd be accused of faking it.'
Moreover, the so-called reward wasn't particularly impressive, which made it even more so.
"My luck is quite good."
I opened the Random Box with an excited heart.
[Random Box has been opened!]
[Congratulations! You have acquired 'Charm Candy' 1EA!]
[Charm Candy: Greatly increases the charm of the consumer for one day.]
'...A dud.'
I had hoped, but as expected.
It felt like buying a 100 won lottery ticket at a stationery store as a child and winning a cheap 6th-place snack.
'What a letdown.'
What use is there in increasing something like charm?
'I might as well use it.'
[You consume the Charm Candy!]
[Your charm will be greatly increased for today.]
'Hmm.'
Regardless, feeling my right wrist ache, I carefully rotated it to check the pain.
'Looks like I'll need to re-tape it for intense exercise.'
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After finishing her visit to Seo Jun-seong, Hwang Ji-su met Nam Tae-hoon walking from the personal training room.
"Oh? Are you going to see Su-hyeon by any chance?"
"Well, among other things."
At her prim response, Nam Tae-hoon chuckled.
"But you shouldn't go now. He's chasing people away saying he's doing secret training."
"Oh, is that so? Never mind then."
'I came all the way here for what?'
Just as Ji-su was about to turn around coolly with her mood soured.
Her eyes caught the sight of Lee Yu-jin walking from afar.
'...!'
Hwang Ji-su, twitching her eyebrows, spoke to Lee Yu-jin.
"Are you going to see Jeong Su-hyeon by any chance?"
"Yes. You too, Ji-su?"
"I was, but I'm just going to leave now."
"Why?"
Hwang Ji-su silently pointed at Nam Tae-hoon.
"Well. He's now chasing people away saying he's doing secret training to face Min Hae-na-sunbae? But why am I the one explaining this?"
Nam Tae-hoon, feeling awkward, stammered his response.
"Everyone's gathered here."
Su-hyeon appeared between the three people.
"Hey, what's this? I thought you were doing secret training!"
"I am. But before that, my right wrist is a bit uncomfortable, so I was going to re-tape it and then start."
Su-hyeon's gaze turned toward Lee Yu-jin and Hwang Ji-su as he answered.
"Are you two also here to train?"
"The finals are over, why train already?"
Hwang Ji-su shook her head.
"Seo Jun-seong was so dejected, so I gave him some company and then came to see what you were up to, why?"
"You had a surprisingly considerate thought."
"What, am I someone without blood or tears......"
Hwang Ji-su, grumbling, suddenly flinched and averted her gaze after seeing Su-hyeon's eyes.
'W-what is this? Somehow I can't look him in the eyes.'
"?"
Not understanding her reaction, Su-hyeon turned his gaze to Lee Yu-jin.
"!?"
Yu-jin also hurriedly looked away.
'Huh? Today Su-hyeon seems...'
"Why are you both suddenly acting like this?"
"Ahem! Don't come close!"
Hwang Ji-su hastily retreated at Su-hyeon's approach.
"You seem strange today."
"...Do I smell bad or something?"
"No, that's not it!"
Hwang Ji-su, unusually flustered, turned her gaze to Lee Yu-jin.
'Hey, you too?'
'Ji-su as well?'
The two exchanged numerous conversations with a momentary glance before shuffling backward.
"Ahem. Anyway, you seem to be doing well, so I'll be going now."
"I-I'll go with you."
"Alright. Want to get some coffee?"
"...I prefer milk tea."
"So assertive even at a time like this."
"...Why are they suddenly acting like that?"
"...I don't know either."
Nam Tae-hoon shrugged his shoulders.
The Charm Candy that Su-hyeon used was an item that didn't work on the same gender.
Just then.
'Everyone's gathered. Huh? Where are Ji-su and Yu-jin going?'
Kim A-yun, who had come to see Su-hyeon, spotted him and trotted over.
"Hi, everyone!"
"Oh, A-yun's here too."
Nam Tae-hoon waved his hand.
"Oh, really?"
At that moment, as Su-hyeon turned around.
"Hiccup!"
Kim A-yun suddenly hiccupped as she looked at Su-hyeon's face.
"...?"
"Hiccup. Hiccup."
"Kim A-yun?"
'W-what is this?'
Kim A-yun staggered without knowing why.
'S-S-Su-hyeon today, just what is...'
Kim A-yun felt mild respiratory distress and was perplexed.
'H-holy. What is that aura?'
"Are you okay?"
"D-don't come near!"
Feeling her consciousness drifting away, Kim A-yun fled hastily, crackling with static electricity.
"I-I'll come back later!"
"But..."
"I'm sorry, Su-hyeon!"
Toward the retreating figure of Kim A-yun, who was running much faster than during the physical fitness test.
"If you go to Paul Baguette, Yu-jin and Ji-su will be there!"
Nam Tae-hoon, who didn't know the exact circumstances, still didn't hold back on giving appropriate advice.
"Ah, okay! Thanks, Tae-hoon!"
Hiccup! Hiccup hiccup!
The sound of hiccups was fading into the distance.
"...What situation is this exactly?"
Su-hyeon asked.
"I don't know what it is, but I think I do know."
Nam Tae-hoon nodded with a puzzled face.
"What are you talking about?"
"That's just how it is, man."
❀⋆｡°✿☆❀✿°｡⋆❀
Inside the capsule, Su-hyeon was testing his new skill against a Ma-in with the 'Eye of Suffocation'.
Whoosh.
An external force that seemed to constrict his breathing enveloped Su-hyeon.
'Urgh!'
It was a tricky characteristic that deleted the 'breathing command' from the opponent's brain, causing them to collapse instantly from suffocation without being able to breathe.
'I really can't breathe.'
Su-hyeon hurriedly activated his skill.
'Resistance.'
Thump!
With a strong pulsation like a hammer hitting his ear along with his heartbeat.
'Ugh!'
The mana circulating through Su-hyeon's body was sucked into his heart all at once.
"Whooooosh."
Eventually, Su-hyeon regained his breathing.
"It works well."
Su-hyeon grinned.
"...?!"
The Ma-in was momentarily bewildered by Su-hyeon's appearance.
Bam!
With a front kick to the solar plexus that knocked the Ma-in down, Su-hyeon nodded.
"It works."
The final dagger to counter Min Hae-na had just been completed.
❀⋆｡°✿☆❀✿°｡⋆❀
"Ahem. Ahem."
Along with Kim A-yun.
Kwon Seung-yeon, who had done her personal exercise routine without Su-hyeon and then went to check on him but hastily retreated, made a total of four cadets sitting at Paul Baguette, sharing their reviews about this incomprehensible phenomenon.
"Seriously, what's up with Jeong Su-hyeon today? Did he get makeup done somewhere?"
"I thought he had sprayed perfume. There was some kind of scent."
"I thought the lighting was weird. His face was glowing."
"Well, I already knew he had a handsome face."
Hwang Ji-su, who had said that much, quickly added.
"Strictly from a general perspective, that is."
"Ahem ahem."
Even Kwon Seung-yeon, who would normally have made a snarky comment, just silently cleared her throat today.
Anyway, the four concluded that something had happened to Jeong Su-hyeon today.
"If he shows his face to Hae-na-sunbae now, could he win?"
Lee Yu-jin said seriously.
"...Surely not."
Kim A-yun shook her head as if that would be too much, but.
"No, there's a possibility."
Hwang Ji-su surprisingly took Lee Yu-jin's side.
Thus, by that afternoon, rumors about Su-hyeon spread through word of mouth.
"Hmm."
Min Hae-na, unable to contain her curiosity, saw Su-hyeon from a distance and tilted her head.
"...He just looks like the usual Su-hyeon to me?"
"Really?"
Her friends were more surprised by her reaction.
"Yes. Doesn't he look different to you?"
"There's something. How should I say this, he seems sexier?"
"No. To me, it's like some kind of gentle giant quality that was hidden beneath his usual sharp, knife-like image..."
An item that makes one mistake their ideal charm point for the opposite party.
That was the effect of the Charm Candy that Su-hyeon had consumed today.
And to Min Hae-na, Su-hyeon was...
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"Here, this is the sword I mentioned before."
Lim Eun-seo handed Su-hyeon a custom-made sword using one of the two horns he had given her.
"Thank you."
"I made it exactly as you requested."
"As expected of you, sunbae."
"You know I used really good materials for the handle and scabbard too, right?"
"It looks that way at a glance. Thank you."
"Hehehe. If you know, treat me well."
"Yes."
"That Yu-jin is really lucky. Having a friend who gives such gifts."
"I've learned a lot thanks to her. It's a token of my gratitude if anything."
"Hehehe. Make sure to leave a review of how much she liked it."
"Yes."
"Okay, good luck! Fight well against Hae-na too!"
Lim Eun-seo patted Su-hyeon's shoulder and turned away.
"Take this."
"What is this?"
Lee Yu-jin opened her eyes round like a rabbit.
"A sword. The core of the blade has an iron core made from processed Were-Bison horn, with alloy attached to the sides to achieve lightness and flexibility."
"!"
"It's sturdy, light, sharp, and has elasticity. You'll be able to use your existing sword techniques while also employing somewhat different operations."
"How did you get such a sword?"
"I asked Lim Eun-seo-sunbae."
"T-this."
Lee Yu-jin's voice trembled.
"Are you giving this to me?"
Seeing Lee Yu-jin's touched eyes, Su-hyeon chuckled.
"I thought it would help, so I requested it. Since I talked about the direction, I should at least get you a sword that fits that."
"Su-hyeon..."
"Try drawing it first."
"Okay."
Lee Yu-jin nodded vigorously.
Swoosh.
After drawing the sword and swinging it, Lee Yu-jin marveled.
"Wow."
She slowly savored the sword's weight, center of gravity, how it felt in her hand, its length, curve, and color.
"I like it. It's such a well-made sword."
"It's still a training sword, but you can sharpen the edge separately later."
Su-hyeon smiled.
"Yes."
With eyes that were not just sparkling but moist, Lee Yu-jin looked alternately at the sword and Su-hyeon before opening her mouth as if she had made some decision.
"Su-hyeon, thank you so much. Would you come to my house once this semester ends?"
"Hmm?"
"I'll talk to my grandfather and uncle to make sure you have time to learn swordsmanship."
Lee Yu-jin added with an apologetic expression.
"I'm sorry. That's all I can do for you right now."
'This is an unexpected event.'
Su-hyeon thought.
Learning from either of them would be an opportunity to raise his sword skills to another dimension.
'Lucky me.'
"No, what are you sorry for? It's an amazing opportunity. Thank you."
"I'm the one who's thankful."
Lee Yu-jin hugged the sheathed sword tightly.
"I'll cherish it."
"You can use it until you get a better sword later."
"No."
Lee Yu-jin shook her head.
"I'll keep using it."
[Lee Yu-jin is touched by your actions!]
[You have gained an opportunity to meet Sword Masters!]
[Achievement points 200 awarded!]
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After passing the weekend that held the calm before the storm, Monday morning finally arrived.
"Finally."
"Yes, finally."
At Nam Tae-hoon's words, Su-hyeon nodded heavily.
Today.
Su-hyeon, as the winner of the final exam tournament and the top student of the first year, will exercise his right to challenge Min Hae-na, the top student of the second year and student council president.
Unlike the comprehensive final exams held a few days ago, this match would only be observed by those who wished to attend among the academy's staff.
However, naturally, almost everyone was already seated in the stands to watch these two fight.
[From now on, first-year top student Jeong Su-hyeon will exercise his right to challenge second-year top student Min Hae-na. Both sides, please enter.]
Following Vice Principal Gong Gi-jeong's instructions, the two entered the circular arena.
"Woaaaahhhh!"
"Jeong Su-hyeon, fighting!"
"Do well, Su-hyeon!"
"Hae-na-unni, hang in there!"
"Show the dignity of the second year!"
With opposing cheers from both sides, the two faced each other.
"So you've finally made it to this place."
Min Hae-na, in full combat readiness, looked at Su-hyeon with a clear smile.
"I've been waiting."
"I ask for your guidance."
Su-hyeon bowed respectfully.
"Though it pains my heart."
At Min Hae-na's words, Su-hyeon tilted his head.
"Are you saying it's unfortunate to show everyone the sight of defeating a first-year junior?"
"Huh? No, that's not it."
Min Hae-na chuckled.
"Then what?"
"Because Su-hyeon is my ideal type."
She made a bombshell declaration so casually.
And her voice was clearly heard by people's ears despite the noise.
"...?"
"...!"
"..."
At that moment.
All the cadets in that place felt a chill from the mysterious killing intent felt throughout the stands.
'What is this, is it a hostile raid?'
Instructor Kim Cheol-han unconsciously looked around.