novelraw Chapter 60 : Team Match (2)
Chapter 60 : Team Match (2)
"So you're Su-hyeon."
Son Ji-gwang extended his hand for a handshake as I entered the reception room.
"I've heard a lot about you. Though young, your achievements were truly heroic."
"You're too kind."
I couldn't help being inwardly surprised by the feeling of the handshake.
Son Ji-gwang's hand had such rough calluses embedded everywhere that I wondered if there was any soft skin left at all.
'So this is the hand of a man who has held weapons his entire life.'
"Young-hwan has told me a lot about you. Very promising, intelligent, and knows how to fight."
"He seems to have viewed my modest skills favorably."
"What's most impressive is this."
Son Ji-gwang smiled a clean smile that didn't match his age.
"That you're a 17-year-old boy who, despite experiencing the tragedy of the Samcheok Incident, has the reason not to burn yourself with revenge."
'Indeed.'
This was exactly the kind of story Son Ji-gwang would like.
"Jun-seong, it's been a while."
"It has been a while, Uncle."
"Hmm. In the short time I haven't seen you, you've become quite a fine young man. I heard you made great contributions this time. Your father would be proud."
"...It would have been impossible without this friend who made the appropriate judgments."
"No need for modesty. Right judgment and right implementation. Neither can be missing."
Though he had retired somewhat early.
As friends who had brightened the same generation together, Son Ji-gwang was set up to regard Seo Jun-seong like a nephew.
'Bloodline privilege, as always.'
"Now, both of you, please sit down."
Son Ji-gwang offered seats and then took the head seat himself.
"The reason I arranged this meeting is that I have something I want to tell you both."
"What might that be?"
"Let me get straight to the point. I'm most interested in you two from this year's class."
'As expected.'
"As you both know best, after the midterms and final exams are over, intern selection begins."
Only a small number of cadets can enjoy the privilege of being dispatched as interns.
And among them, cadets with higher grades have priority.
Therefore, what he was trying to do, strictly speaking, was less about recruitment and more about...
Laying groundwork.
"I really like promising talents. Moreover, speaking of our 2nd Unit, it's an elite unit that has consistently had top-ranking cadets pass through."
"I'm aware of that as well."
"Especially last year, Min Hae-na, the top student in second year and mentioned as the next President, went through the internship process at our 2nd Unit."
"...!"
I could see Seo Jun-seong's eyebrows twitching slightly.
'This is having the opposite effect.'
Seo Jun-seong had suffered quite a bit from Min Hae-na, who was a neighborhood boss and troublemaker in childhood.
Considering the instinctive awkwardness he felt toward Min Hae-na.
'He won't be going to the 2nd Unit.'
Son Ji-gwang, who hadn't guessed such circumstances, continued speaking.
"The top spot will probably come from either Su-hyeon and Jun-seong, or one of Yu-jin and Ji-su."
'Has my evaluation risen to this level already?'
I could freshly feel my changed status.
"But I would like one of you two, Jun-seong and Su-hyeon, to come to our unit."
"...I will give it deep consideration."
Seo Jun-seong answered while hiding his reluctance, and.
"I think it's something to think about after reaching that position first."
I tactfully took a step back.
"Haha. That's right. Counting chickens before they hatch isn't a good habit either."
Son Ji-gwang nodded as if he had no intention of pressuring us.
"But if you come to our unit, I promise you my definite help. Not that I'm trying to take credit."
"I'll keep that in mind."
I said.
"Yes, first will be the upcoming midterms."
"Yes."
"It won't be easy. I'll be watching you both with a pleasant heart."
❀⋆｡°✿☆❀✿°｡⋆❀
An indispensable part of the midterm scoring is the 'Gate Practical Class' scheduled as a performance evaluation subject.
As a single class carries 10 percent of the midterm score, it was definitely not a class to be prepared for carelessly.
"As you know, gates occur randomly, but modern mana engineering can detect their precursor phenomena with high probability, much like weather forecasting."
Kim Cheol-han, standing in front of a large screen in a spacious auditorium commonly called the 'Virtual Combat Practice Room,' said.
"Blocking demonic beast waves is the job of hunters. However, the Execution Force must also be dispatched to the scene. Do you know why?"
"To prepare for contingencies."
Seo Jun-seong raised his hand.
"Specifically."
"First, when the demonic beast wave exceeds the hunters' control, and second, when Ma-in emerge among hunters and cause confusion."
"That's right. The performance evaluation coming soon is designed to test your ability to respond to these two situations."
And.
"Today's class can be considered a rehearsal to check your practical capabilities before that performance evaluation."
It was a class where teams of two cadets competed against each other.
The rules allowed unlimited use of characteristics and mana.
Therefore, to avoid serious injuries, they would fight in virtual reality, just like during practice with Ma-in.
'This is pretty unforgiving in actual practice too.'
Since they were still not accustomed to fighting using characteristics, this was an essential measure to prevent accidents.
"The compatibility between characteristics is subtle and complex. Just having four Awakened with different abilities split into teams creates a collision of numerous variables and strategies."
Kim Cheol-han said, looking around at the cadets.
"You should have already learned this fact through our academy's curriculum and through the recent Ma-in attack incident. I'll be watching to see how much those experiences have expanded your thinking."
"Understood!"
Kim Cheol-han nodded, seeing the faces that had become much less soft and more cadet-like in just a month.
"Then I'll announce the list."
"Wow, several big matches lined up."
The cadets whispered as they looked at the confirmed list.
"Jeong Su-hyeon and Ahn Jun-tae as a pair, against Kang Geon-woo and Hong In-hyeon."
"Isn't Hong In-hyeon's side stronger?"
"Seems that way. Jun-tae is strong too, but those two have both been in the top 10 since enrollment."
Ahn Jun-tae, who was paired with Su-hyeon, was a pyromancer who handled flames.
Compared to Hwang Ji-su and Kim A-yun, his output was clearly weaker, but he had the advantage of having developed various applications.
But their opponents were Were-Ape Kang Geon-woo, a close combat specialist with one of the top physical abilities in Class 1 who had deeply mastered judo.
And Hong In-hyeon, a top-tier cadet with the highest balance and proficiency apart from the three mentioned as top students.
No matter how much Su-hyeon's stock was rising, it was obvious which side had the advantage in terms of weight.
With Kang Geon-woo's close combat abilities, he could certainly hold out against Su-hyeon, and Hong In-hyeon greatly surpassed Ahn Jun-tae in both compatibility and combat power.
If attacked by both of them simultaneously, it seemed like a situation where even Su-hyeon would find it difficult to guarantee victory.
Moreover.
"Jeong Su-hyeon. You are prohibited from using weapons. Can you accept this penalty?"
Kim Cheol-han's words made even the cadets think it was a bit too much.
"That's a bit..."
"Without a sword too, it'll be even more disadvantageous."
"Do you think it's harsh?"
"No."
Su-hyeon calmly denied it.
"If that's the capability Instructor Kim wants to see, I'll just follow accordingly."
Kim Cheol-han smiles softly.
"This will make Hong In-hyeon and Kang Geon-woo feel quite bad. Isn't that right?"
As he said.
The two had hardened their expressions with wounded pride.
"...Whether he has a sword or not doesn't matter."
Kang Geon-woo answered, and.
"If not having a sword becomes an excuse for defeat, I respectfully decline."
Hong In-hyeon also spoke with a serious face.
"That won't happen."
Su-hyeon said.
"Whether victory or defeat, if one has done their best in the given environment, there should be no excuses."
"Hmph."
Hong In-hyeon snorted, and.
"Good opportunity. I've wanted to properly face you."
Kang Geon-woo quietly burned with fighting spirit toward Su-hyeon.
"That's what I was hoping for."
But from the cadets' perspective, the balance of power was clear.
"If I had to bet money, I'd bet on the Hong In-hyeon and Kang Geon-woo team."
Seo Jun-seong said.
"Kang Geon-woo's weight class is clearly heavyweight or above. Moreover, judo as a martial art performed in clothes is very powerful. The toughness unique to Were-Apes will make it not easy for Jeong Su-hyeon, a striker of middleweight build, to inflict damage on Kang Geon-woo."
Hwang Ji-su supplemented his words.
"Even if Jeong Su-hyeon fights with outfighting, if Kang Geon-woo just avoids critical hits while approaching and grabbing him, it could end in one move."
"Well, as Ji-su says, that's the typical pattern of a grappler overwhelming a striker."
Kwon Seung-yeon carefully agreed, but only Lee Yu-jin denied it.
"That's not necessarily true. Su-hyeon is also quite skilled in martial arts techniques. I often get caught off guard when sparring with him."
"Oh really?"
Kwon Seung-yeon tilted her head.
"So he's not just good at boxing?"
"Yes. He's also good with his feet."
"Hmm. Then he's almost at the level of mixed martial arts."
Hwang Ji-su didn't miss Seo Jun-seong's eyebrows twitching slightly at the change in atmosphere due to Lee Yu-jin's rebuttal.
'Hmm? What's that?'
Hwang Ji-su, who had been trying to figure out why Seo Jun-seong would feel bad about Lee Yu-jin defending Su-hyeon, soon smiled.
'That guy, maybe it's that?'
Hwang Ji-su's sharp intuition was detecting something.
But.
That wasn't what was important to her right now.
'Finally.'
Because the match-up she had been waiting for was approaching.
❀⋆｡°✿☆❀✿°｡⋆❀
Boom!
The spear wrapped in flames drew red pictures in the air like playing with a field fire.
"Kuuuh! This level is far from enough!"
Charging forward while taking Jeremy McGarr's spear with his body was Kwak Dong-ho, who had awakened 'Healing Factor.'
"Damn it! I don't like men being this pushy!"
Kwak Dong-ho's fighting style of closing the long distance, the spear's greatest weapon, while taking hits, was making Jeremy's hands and feet chaotic.
'In terms of pure fighting skill, Kwak Dong-ho is no match for Jeremy. Well thought out.'
Su-hyeon, who was watching, nodded.
'But Jeremy McGarr will win.'
As he thought.
The battle that continued for 5 more minutes ended with Jeremy McGarr retiring Kwak Dong-ho by piercing his solar plexus with a lightning-fast thrust.
"Match over! The winners are Jeremy McGarr and Yang Dong-min!"
"Good work!"
Jeremy McGarr, who finished connecting, shared a warm hug with Kwak Dong-ho.
"Damn, that last moment was close."
"Haha, I was sweating bullets too!"
Now everyone's interest turned to the upcoming third match.
"Hwang Ji-su and Kim Yi-geon, Lee Yu-jin and Woo Jong-won. Step forward."
The four stepped forward to their respective capsules.
"Wow. This is a real big match."
Hwang Ji-su and Lee Yu-jin.
Not only these two top-tier cadets.
The characteristics of the other two were also quite interesting.
Kim Yi-geon, who became Hwang Ji-su's partner, was an Awakened who fought by freely extending and manipulating his body hair.
Woo Jong-won, who became Lee Yu-jin's partner, was an Awakened who fought by converting his internal mana into poison and injecting it into opponents.
"I wonder how they'll fight? Kim Yi-geon is specialized more in binding and subduing opponents rather than attack power. Woo Jong-won can turn the tide if he lands just one hit."
'This is interesting. I wonder who will win?'
Su-hyeon also crossed his arms with an interested face.
But the third match deviated from everyone's expectations from the start.
[Begin!]
As soon as it started, Hwang Ji-su and Lee Yu-jin began running, avoiding each other.
"Huh?"
"What are they doing?"
The question that appeared on the faces of those watching the screen was brief.
Bang! Boom!
With a single blow from each of them, the opposing cadets were immediately retired.
"...?"
"...!"
While everyone was surprised by the unexpected development.
Hwang Ji-su and Lee Yu-jin faced each other with somewhat chilling smiles.
"Well then."
Lee Yu-jin readjusted her grip on her sword.
"I guess we should settle things between us?"
Hwang Ji-su cracked her fingers.
"Those two."
Kim Cheol-han sighed.