novelraw Chapter 8 : Chapter 8
Chapter 8 : Chapter 8
Chapter 8. The First Plausibility (4)
A certain room in the female cadet dormitory of Hero Academy "Glory".
There, Ha Eun-ha was rolling around on her bed while hugging a large teddy bear.
"Ugh! I'm bored, isn't there anything fun to do?"
Ha Eun-ha momentarily thought of Kim Su-hyeok but soon shook her head.
"He's probably training, so it would be a bit much to interrupt him..."
Even though she likes playing pranks, she's not senseless enough to go and prank a kid who is training.
Thinking that, she thought of other candidate locations.
'Ryu Jin-oh is annoying, so pass. Ju Ha-yeon is too cold, so pass.'
After excluding them like that, there were no friends left.
Was she actually a loner?
Why is it that only three friends come to mind?
A cadet popped into Ha Eun-ha's head, who was dying of boredom like that.
"Was his name Choi Yu-seong?"
The guy she had talked to for the first time a few days ago.
She hadn't exchanged words with him since then, but he suddenly came to mind out of nowhere.
"I wonder what he's doing?"
A kid whose first impression seemed somewhat cold, but who was fun when they actually talked.
She didn't view such a Choi Yu-seong in a bad light.
Her not viewing Choi Yu-seong in a bad light was partly due to the fact that he got along well with Kim Su-hyeok, but the decisive reason was something else.
"Because his eyes were fine."
Ha Eun-ha recalled a past event.
The past where she had no choice but to become obsessed with people's eyes.
Ha Eun-ha's eyes sank deeply as she thought of that past.
'It was really annoying.'
The humans around her who treated her as nothing but a tool after she awakened her abilities.
In order to filter out such people, she had started obsessing over people's gazes.
Because human eyes contained various emotions such as greed, jealousy, and selfishness.
In the end, after filtering and filtering, the friends left around her were just the three she had mentioned earlier.
Still, it had been a while since a fourth friend candidate appeared.
Upon reaching that thought, the brilliance returned to Ha Eun-ha's eyes that had sunk deeply.
"I didn't see any bad emotions, so pass!"
She didn't really know what the emotion she saw from Choi Yu-seong was.
Because it was definitely an emotion she was seeing for the first time.
But what was certain was that there was no negative feeling whatsoever, only a favorable feeling.
That alone was enough for her.
"I should try talking to him again later. Hehehe."
And when we get close, I should play pranks on him whenever I'm bored.
If Choi Yu-seong heard it, he would spit out a sigh of dismay, but what could be done?
It was the fault of Choi Yu-seong, who wasn't here.
Ha Eun-ha thought that and rolled around on her bed again.
***
I paused for a moment while checking the Artifact.
That was because of the System notification that just popped up.
[You have acquired 300 Influence Points.]
"What is this? I haven't really done anything..."
I really don't know the reason why such a notification popped up.
I was curious about the reason why points were suddenly earned, but right now there was something more important than that, so I had no choice but to divert my attention.
"Because this comes first."
Thinking that, I turned my head toward the Artifact again.
Then, the information of the Artifact, which had disappeared while I briefly took my eyes off it, started to output again.
[Suppressing Blade]
Rank: C
Category: Sword
Information: A weapon where the handle disappeared and only the 'blade' remained after a long time had passed. However, one cannot find any traces of time on the 'edge', seeing how sharp that blade is.
Ability 1: Mana cannot interfere with wounds made by the blade.
Ability 2: It is impossible to shroud the blade with Mana.
"......"
A truly simple and clear explanation.
Looking only at the abilities, it's an ability where I can't even understand why this is a Tier 4 Artifact.
Because even I, who faced it right here, right now, was left speechless by the absurdly powerful penalty.
'But that penalty was ultimately an answer.'
Mana cannot interfere.
In a way, one can only think of it as a penalty for the user.
Because talent is also Mana in the end, it meant one couldn't inflict wounds with talent on the place attacked with the blade.
That was the reason why it was in the exhibition hall, despite being an Artifact of the C-Rank belonging to the upper tiers among the Artifacts divided into 7 stages.
Usually, the exhibition hall only gathered Artifacts that had some sort of flaw.
'And the masterminds aimed for that gap.'
Who would have imagined?
That they would mangle their own bodies with that and then come attacking holding the blade.
Even I, who was reading the text at the time, was dumbfounded.
Just what kind of mastermind had such strong tenacity?
'Everything was a problem of the Artifact theft incident that will happen today.'
The death created by the entanglement of the small Plausibility called the 'mysterious theft incident that occurred in March', which appeared in the early part of the novel.
The larger context might be the SS-Class Gate, but it meant small Plausibilities were thoroughly mixed in between.
That was why I intended to stop that small Plausibility from now on.
"I'd like to directly kill the bastards who approached the hero, if I had my way."
Unfortunately, that's impossible.
The novel only covered the villains causing the incident, there were almost no parts that detailed where they lived or what kind of bastards they were.
'Plus, it's obvious going there in my current state would be a dog's death.'
Like any world, you need power to be able to do anything.
With this pathetically weak body right now and a background with no backing, anything I did was impossible.
Who would believe me and move if I babbled about when and where villains would appear?
I'd be lucky not to get reported on suspicion of being a villain myself.
'It's fine. There's no need to be impatient.'
I remember all the times when the incidents happen anyway.
If so, I just need to continuously repeat training in accordance with that.
I don't need to be impatient and just need to grow at my own pace.
"So first, today's matters."
I immediately checked the time.
The time was 11:30.
There isn't much time left now.
***
Approaching 12 o'clock.
First, I surveyed the surroundings.
Because I had to check the 'mysterious man who appeared while pushing away the guards' restraints.'
Tick. Tock.
Time flowed and flowed like that, eventually reaching 12 o'clock.
"You! I told you, you can't come in here!"
"Damn it! Why is he so strong?!"
At the same time, the urgent shouts of the guards were heard.
"He's here."
The bastard appeared.
A villain with his face covered by a red mask.
Just by facing him, I felt as if my whole body was freezing cold.
Proof that the gap between the current me and that bastard is large.
"It's not my goal to kill him anyway."
My goal is to buy time.
I have no intention of stepping up boldly without knowing my place.
My goal is to hold out until my hero arrives, who appeared a step late and missed the villain in the novel.
For that goal... I have no intention of sparing any means or methods.
It was when I was making that resolution.
"I told you to stop... Keuaak!!"
As the villain swung his hand, the guard who was restraining him was sliced away, scattering blood.
CHWAAAACK!!
That blood splattered right up to where I was, and a few drops even got on my clothes.
"......"
Red blood that still felt warm.
The blood of a life that perhaps might have lived if I had told him it was dangerous.
But I couldn't speak.
If I had made the choice to protect that guard, the villain's eyes would have immediately turned to me.
If that happened, even buying time would have become difficult.
"Tsk."
It can't be helped.
Because the 'value' of that guard is lower than my life and the 'value' of the hero named Ha Eun-ha.
This is a natural choice.
That's why I didn't feel any guilt.
Still, since it was my first time seeing a human die, I thought I would feel a bit of aversion, but thanks to the 'Heterogeneous Gear', there was no such feeling at all.
Thud, thud.
While I was thinking that, the villain who had dealt with all three guards attached to him was coming in the direction where I was.
To think he killed them all already when not even a few minutes had passed.
He seems to have a more impatient personality than he looks.
Then I should slowly prepare accordingly too.
CRASH!!
I immediately smashed the glass where the Artifact was being stored into pieces.
At the same time, the scattering glass shards, but without caring, I shoved my hand between the broken glass shards.
What I pulled out was a sword, not the 'Suppressing Blade'.
After picking up that sword with my right hand, I aimed it toward the villain.
"Why don't you wait a bit?"
Honestly, I was a bit scared.
However, there was something that had to take priority over fear for me.
Because the heroes I admired had a higher 'value' than anything else inside me.
"......"
The villain looks at me.
Meaning he definitely recognized my presence.
The bastard stared at me for a moment and then, without warning, clenched his fist and charged.
I hastily raised the sword to defend against the guy's sudden strike.
CLAAAANG!!!
"Keuhuk!!"
An explosive sound that was hard to believe was the sound of a sword and a fist colliding.
And at the same time, pain as if burned by fire hit my arm and shoulder, even though we had only exchanged a single blow.
"You're weak?"
However, I spat out words different from the emotions I felt inside.
Showing signs of pain when there is an enemy in front of your eyes is something not even a monster would do.
"Is that all?"
When the bastard didn't react, I provoked him once more.
I have to stimulate the shame of being blocked by a mere novice more than his mission.
My stimulation that continued like that seemed to have fortunately worked.
Because unlike earlier, he was even holding a proper stance.
...Is it really a fortune?
PAAAT!!
The bastard flew like a cannonball, giving even inertial force to his body with his planting foot.
A speed where my arm would be shattered into pieces like the glass shards from earlier if I tried to block it head-on.
Judging that it wouldn't do as it was, I twisted the blade diagonally and succeeded in parrying the bastard's fist.
SKREEEEEK-!
Then a foul sound like scraping metal was heard.
He wrapped his fist in Mana, but is it okay to make a sound like this?
I had that thought for a moment, but the situation wasn't bad.
Anyway, I succeeded in blocking the attack, so it was a bluff I could pull off.
***
After that, an offense and defense that wasn't really an offense and defense continued.
Dodging when the bastard struck down and parrying when he thrust a straight punch for a few minutes.
"...Huu."
"Tch. How annoying."
The first word finally flowed from the villain's mouth.
It must mean I'm troublesome since I only dodge and evade without thinking of winning.
'It's about time now.'
If it was as written in the novel, it was the timing for 'him' to appear around now.
No, he had to appear.
Because if things kept going like this, I would also slowly fail to hold out and collapse.
'About two more times.'
The number of times I can take that villain's attacks.
No matter how generously I estimate, three times... no, seeing the strike he's preparing, it might be one time.
Even at a glance, he seems to be preparing an unusual attack.
'Hah, f*ck.'
A curse naturally came out of my mouth.
But what can I do? I have to try blocking it.
The bastard was charging while concentrating all his Mana with the momentum to kill me, and it was when I was clenching my teeth until they bled to block it.
BOOOOOM!!!
Along with a roar that echoed loudly enough to cause ringing in my ears, a black spear drew a boundary line between the villain and me.
I realized it upon seeing that black spear.
'He's here.'
He has finally arrived.
The man I waited and waited for.
"Boy! Good work!"
A cheerful voice with a clear tone coming from behind.
I slowly turned my head at that voice.
"I would like to take over your opponent from now on, would that be alright?"
I nodded at his words.
"Yes. It is alright."
"Right. Good work. I pay my respects to the boy's courage!"
I blankly stared at the man praising me with a gentle smile.
Light golden hair, an intonation that seemed straight out of a fantasy novel.
An A-Rank Player called the Spear God.
'Shin Yu-hwan.'
One of the heroes I admired.
I briefly set down my exhausted body and watched his battle.
"For a villain, isn't your head too high?"
A single phrase spat out lowly by Shin Yu-hwan.
He was a man who knew how to keep the words he spat out.
PUUUK!!
"Keueueaak!!!"
Because the spear that flew simultaneously with his words pierced the villain's leg.
In the end, the villain had no choice but to collapse on the spot.
And the sight of him slowly approaching the villain exactly showed the figure of the hero I admired.
To think he'd make him look like that in a moment when all I could do was barely block even though I struggled so much.
'So that is the battle of a hero.'
There were quite a few future heroes I met after coming to this world.
But it was my first time seeing one actually fighting while showing heroic dignity.
I felt something welling up inside my chest.
'I declared that I would protect someone like that.'
It's far.
Too far.
A question also arises whether I can truly 'reach that man'.
But I have to reach him.
I definitely have to reach him.
Because I also want to become a person who keeps the words I spit out now.
...It was right when I was thinking that.[The conditions have been met.]
[Shin Yu-hwan is recorded in the Embodiment of Admiration (EX).][From now on, you can borrow Shin Yu-hwan's abilities using the 'Descending Hero's Power'.]
[You have exerted a profound influence on the predetermined fate of the world.][You acquire 5,000 Influence Points.]
"...Huh?"
When the completely unexpected System notification was heard.
It was an all too sudden awakening of talent.
New Terms List
아싸 - Loner[He/Him/She/Her] (Description)
검 - Sword (Weapon)
도(刀) - Sword (Weapon)
정권 - Straight Punch (Action)
창신(槍神) - Spear God [He/Him] (Title/Epithet)
A급 - A-Rank (System Rank)
신유환 - Shin Yu-hwan[He/Him] (Character Name)
장창 - Spear (Weapon)