I Entered an Academy in a Ruined Game

Chapter 145 : The Plot (1)

Though he was pushed back heavily by Su-hyeon's first attack.

'His strength is impressive. I'll give him that.'

Gong In-seong still hadn't revealed his true skills at all.

Swoosh!

He once again launched a slash from a distance.

'That's right. Block it just like that.'

As he watched Su-hyeon raise his sword to deflect the slash, Gong In-seong charged in with a time delay.

'Take this!'

Drawing out the opponent's defensive move and then striking at their weak point was a tactic Gong In-seong frequently used.

'Going for the lower section!'

Su-hyeon avoided Gong In-seong's attack by retreating as the latter bent low, attempting to shatter Su-hyeon's shins with his iron mace.

Swoosh!

Gong In-seong used a strange, snake-like movement technique to close the distance and swung his sickle in an irregular trajectory.

Clang!

Though Su-hyeon blocked the attack in time, he almost had his skin cut by the sickle, which was longer than expected.

'Hmm, the unique trajectory and distance sense of a sickle is trickier than I thought.'

Whack!

At extremely close range where the sickle and sword were pressed against each other, both the iron mace and fist simultaneously struck each other's ribs.

"Ugh!"

But it was Gong In-seong who retreated.

'A Mana Shield. Good application and reaction speed.'

Gong In-seong endured the pain that resonated to his liver by gritting his teeth.

The irony that the one hit by the iron mace was fine, while the one hit by a fist was in pain.

'It's alright. This damage is bearable.'

Gong In-seong thought.

Moreover, since Su-hyeon had been hit by his iron mace, his damage couldn't be zero either.

'Indeed, he's skilled enough to warrant the Chairman's attention. And this is just a 17-year-old boy.'

But this wasn't the first time he had met a swordsman of this caliber.

'I'll show him the difference in our skills.'

...It would take a bit more time for his delusion to be shattered.

Clang clang clang!

Hwang Ji-su, watching the ongoing exchange, was inwardly amazed.

'Chief Kim seems to favor him quite a bit. He's more impressive than I thought?'

Gong In-seong's movements as he unleashed fierce attacks using weapons with different properties were extraordinary.

With that level of skill, even she might not be able to guarantee victory now.

'Well, I wouldn't lose though.'

Moreover, she knew very well that Su-hyeon still had a lot of reserves left.

'That guy. He seems much stronger than when he fought Hae-na-sunbae.'

She knew the effects of the mandrake were significant, but to think it would be to this extent.

'Damn, don't keep going ahead alone.'

Grind.

Hwang Ji-su clenched her fist tightly.

'I'll catch up somehow.'

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'As expected.'

I inwardly nodded at the skill difference I felt every time I crossed weapons with Gong In-seong.

'The difference is too great.'

Compared to fighting Min Hae-na.

This was truly nothing more than a warm-up.

'My body feels light, quick, and yet overflowing with incomparable vitality.'

At this rate.

It seemed there wouldn't be much difference compared to when I first used [Liberation] against "Crusher" Lee Yong-ju.

'But in this state, I could fight all day.'

It was a moment where I freshly realized how much stronger I had become.

'Gong In-seong is full of openings.'

Despite that, I had no intention of ending this fight easily.

This is the first sparring match after eating the mandrake and obtaining the Moonless Sword.

It would be better to test properly.

There was one more reason.

'This fight. Hwang Won-jae is probably watching too.'

Hwang Yong-jae, Hwang Ji-su, and even Hwang Ji-ah.

Literally, the entire royal family gathered in one place.

Hwang Won-jae couldn't be unaware of this fact.

'He might even be watching live. Even if not, he will try to obtain the footage of this in some way later.'

Whatever Hwang Yong-jae can see within this organization, Hwang Won-jae can see almost the same.

That's how absolute his grip on the organization is.

'I need to make Hwang Won-jae misjudge me. Otherwise, the difficulty will only increase exponentially.'

Therefore, I had no intention of showing my true power in front of him.

And for that, it was better to refrain from too quick an annihilation.

"Getting distracted!"

Bang!

I deflected the iron mace Gong In-seong brought down with my Moonless Sword.

Blocking an iron mace with a sword is truly absurd, but it wasn't difficult for me.

'He's aiming for the wide-open midsection. Textbook move.'

I blocked the sickle that was sharply slicing toward my side with my left arm.

"Hup!"

Gong In-seong's move of closing the distance and delivering a headbutt was pretty good, but I turned to the side, bounced off his shoulder.

Whack!

And sharply struck his forehead with my recovered left elbow.

'Hmm. His reactions are still alive.'

I struck with the intention of collapsing his nose bridge.

But Gong In-seong instinctively tucked his chin and blocked the elbow with his forehead.

Moreover, in the process, he even sliced my thigh, cutting through my training uniform with his sickle, which was undoubtedly a commendable attack.

'He seems a bit stronger than the Gong In-seong at this point that I remember. Was there some kind of motivation?'

"Haha. Had it not been for the training uniform, there would have been bleeding."

Gong In-seong boasted, disregarding his already heavily bruised forehead.

"You fought well, but this is the end. Now your reactions and timing are visible to me."

"Haha."

I couldn't help but chuckle at his confidence.

"Do you really think so?"

Kiing!

I activated Eye Power and closed the distance with Gong In-seong.

Swoosh!

After easily deflecting the incoming slash, I thrust my sword straight in.

Gong In-seong tried to block the thrust by swinging his sickle.

'Got him.'

I wedged the blade of my sword between the handle and blade of the sickle, at the right-angled part, and twisted my wrist.

"Ugh!"

Gong In-seong grimaced at the pain of his wrist turning and dropped the sickle.

It was one of the weapon-disarming techniques I had suffered endlessly from Lee Ho-seung.

"Chiik!"

Seeing the dismayed look appear on Gong In-seong's face, I slightly raised the corner of my mouth.

Whack!

Then I kicked the fallen sickle away.

"!"

"That won't do. Shouldn't you cherish your weapons?"

"You bastard!"

An infuriated Gong In-seong injected a large amount of mana into his left-hand iron mace and swung it horizontally.

'Let's use some strength here.'

Chaaang!

I gripped the Moonless Sword with both hands and cut the iron mace in half.

'It feels good in the hand.'

The sword made of adamant was indeed different.

'As expected of Eun-seo. She made an incredible sword.'

"Crazy!"

A iron mace cut by a sword? Even though it's just a training sword with mana applied!

Looking at Gong In-seong's face that seemed to say such things, I said.

"You've lost both your weapons now, will you continue?"

"...Damn it!"

Gong In-seong threw away the cut iron mace and took an upright stance.

'So stubborn.'

In front of the Chief of Staff and the Chairman.

Above all, in front of Hwang Ji-su, he couldn't lose so helplessly.

"To protect the Chairman and agents, hand-to-hand combat is a natural skill."

"Ah, I see."

At my nonchalant response, an irritated Gong In-seong lowered his stance and charged in.

'How foolish. To be this reckless.'

Having trained for a long time, his technique itself might be better than most first-year cadets.

But just by seeing this, the limits of his skills were clearly revealed.

'If he wasn't a match with weapons, what will change by showing spirit with bare hands?'

It was a naive idea unique to those who had built their skills in a greenhouse without crossing the line of death countless times like Execution Force members or hunters.

Whack!

I used my advantageous range to hit his thigh with the back of my sword.

"Urgh!"

As his foot stopped with his face distorted in pain, I struck the area near his right forearm with the back of my sword.

Crack!

Then I closed the distance and struck his collarbone.

"Arrrgh!"

Gong In-seong yelled, unable to endure the pain.

"Did you think I would put down my sword and fight you?"

"Damn it!"

Gong In-seong, thoroughly agitated, retreated and extended both palms forward.

"Uaaah!"

Fully utilizing his characteristic of Mana Emission, it was an attack that drew out a large amount of mana from his body and fired it.

'What is this, an energy wave?'

I thought.

'His mana quantity is considerable.'

However, the amount of mana dissolved in my body now, and the efficiency of the meridians circulating it within my body were already far surpassing Gong In-seong's.

Therefore, this was also possible.

I clenched my left fist wrapped in a Mana Shield and strongly struck with the back of my hand.

Bwang!

Even just that was enough to deflect the mana wave, which then severely damaged the wall.

Craaaack!

"......"

Gong In-seong had a dumbfounded look as his maximum firepower attack was so easily neutralized.

Swoosh.

I approached him and sheathed the Moonless Sword.

"Well, since you wanted it so much, I've put away my sword."

"You son of a bitch!"

A taunting provocation that he had to fall for even knowing it.

Gong In-seong, falling straight for the provocation, rushed in and threw a straight punch without setup.

A fairly fierce and fast punch, but that's as far as it went.

'Just fodder for a counter.'

I easily avoided the straight with a ducking motion.

Whack!

And precisely landed a right uppercut, sending Gong In-seong's consciousness far away.

Thud!

Looking down at Gong In-seong who had stretched out on the floor like a frog, I bowed my head.

"It was a good match."

That was only speaking for myself, of course.

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"Wow, Su-hyeon, what the hell are you?"

Kwon Seung-yeon said incredulously.

"No way. You seem much stronger than when you fought Min Hae-na-sunbae?"

He didn't even use his doping technique.

"...I guess the mandrake had a good effect."

Though she had never particularly thought about relying on such elixirs.

Seeing such a power-up right before her eyes, even Hwang Ji-su was feeling a bit conflicted.

"Hahaha. This wasn't even a fight!"

Despite his direct subordinate being overwhelmingly beaten, Chairman Hwang Yong-jae laughed as if pleased and praised Su-hyeon.

"As expected of Su-hyeon! Truly impressive! The difference in class between users was far greater than the quality of the weapons."

"You're too kind."

Su-hyeon nodded calmly.

"Hmm, it was a very interesting match."

"I'm glad you think so."

"Haha. I hope you won't be too displeased. He's just a young man full of vigor, and I was having trouble with him! Thanks to Su-hyeon, he might grow up a bit."

There was no way Gong In-seong would have done such a thing impulsively without his instruction or tacit approval.

Yet no one among them could refute Hwang Yong-jae, who calmly spoke words that no one would believe.

'That's power.'

Su-hyeon bowed his head.

"If you have no further business, I will continue with my exercise."

This young man before him feels no displeasure, no resistance, no fear, even in his presence.

[Clear as a Mirror activates!]

An opponent his abilities still don't work on.

An opponent whose emotions he can't read even with his experienced eye.

That's why Hwang Yong-jae found Su-hyeon quite interesting.

"Alright. Let's meet again. Chief Kim?"

"Yes, Chairman."

"Let's go now."

"I'll escort you right away."

Chief Kim Jin-hyung, who had bowed his head, spoke to the security personnel standing nearby.

"Send Assistant Manager Gong to me as soon as he regains consciousness."

"U-understood."

The security personnel gulped at Chief Kim Jin-hyung's cold voice.

'He's going to get chewed out.'

Su-hyeon thought.

[You have won the sparring match against Gong In-seong.]

[You have left a deep impression on Hwang Yong-jae and Hwang Ji-ah.]

[Achievement points 200 awarded!]

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After Hwang Yong-jae left.

"I should go too."

"Take care on your way."

"Yeah. And don't be too upset. Father is always like that."

Su-hyeon simply gave a calm smile to Hwang Ji-su, whose expression was a complex mix of apology, embarrassment, and annoyance toward her father.

"It's okay. Thanks for your concern."

"...!"

Her face slightly reddened from the unexpected ambush, Hwang Ji-su quickly turned her back.

"I-I'm going."

"Unni! I'll go with you!"

Kwon Seung-yeon giggled as she watched Hwang Ji-ah following her, pitter-patter.

"Ji-ah seemed quite surprised by you. She probably didn't know you were this strong."

Even I was surprised, Kwon Seung-yeon said as she poked Su-hyeon's side.

"Let's just focus on exercising."

"Sheesh, you're such a machine."

Kwon Seung-yeon smiled, not unpleasantly.

"But Su-hyeon."

"What?"

"You looked pretty cool today."

"Is that so."

"I probably would have had a hard time beating that person."

"Hmm."

After serious contemplation, Su-hyeon said:

"You'd probably be at a 60% disadvantage at this point."

Instead of asking what that made him, who had overwhelmingly crushed such a person, Kwon Seung-yeon just smirked.

"I see. I still have a long way to go."

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Two days later.

"Just one day left, huh."

After checking the calendar, I confirmed what was soon to come.

Tomorrow.

Tomorrow, an event that will turn the entire country upside down will occur.

'The peaceful time ends here.'

One thing.

There was something only I could and should do.

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"We've found two branch locations of [Sword of Belphegor]."

In the academy campus, which had become quiet due to the vacation.

Vice Principal Gong Gi-jeong, who had come to work for administrative processing, clenched his fist at the call from the Execution Force.

"Finally!"

"Yes, Vice Principal."

It was the moment when the joint investigation of the Execution Force and the academy finally bore fruit.

"A discreet and swift strike will be necessary."

"Yes. I'm calling to request your cooperation regarding this."

"Of course. I'll confirm the list as quickly as possible and send it to you."

"Thank you."

Gong Gi-jeong, who had hung up the phone, immediately called for an assistant.

"Assistant Kang."

"Yes!"

"Summon all the Instructors currently on duty."

"Understood!"

And so, 20 minutes later, the academy finalized the list of Instructors to be drafted for the strike operation.

"I'm going. Vice Principal, you have no objections, right?"

"If it's you, I'd rather request it myself."

Lee Ho-seung.

"I'll go too."

"If Instructor Kim is going, then so am I."

"For this kind of operation, I'm the most suitable."

And then Kim Cheol-han, Oh Chang-seong, and Kang Jun-man as well.

With four of the academy's proud Instructors volunteering, there was no one to oppose.

"With you all, I'm at ease. Show those Ma-in bastards our anger."

"Don't worry."

Instructor Kim Cheol-han's cold eyes blazed with anger.

"We will definitely succeed."