Episode 40 Duel (2)
A duel request that seems to have been greatly influenced by Mok Jong-hwa.
The picture is roughly drawn.
This will be a revenge match to restore the honor of the Emerald Tower.
But if there’s one thing they’re missing,
“You don’t like it?”
“what?”
There is no reason for me to accept this duel.
I leaned back in my chair with an air of annoyance.
“What have you left for me? If you tell me to go, I go. If you tell me to come, I come. If you tell me to fight, I fight.”
“A duel is… … honorable.”
“Did two of you who love honor attack me like that?”
“that!”
The incident where Kwak Ji-cheol and Jeong Su-ji attacked me and were defeated left an indelible stain on the Emerald Tower.
The problem is that we lost 2 to 1, and the problem is that our opponent is a ‘coward’.
No matter how my evaluation changes later, what matters is that I am called a coward now.
To cover up that stain, you have to show me in a formal setting, defeat me in a duel, and leave a replay.
So, somehow, they want to drag me into the ring.
From my perspective, there’s nothing to regret.
“Anyway, I have no intention of receiving it. I already won, so why waste time on this?”
“… … .”
“If you do something, I’ll treat you like a fool, so you can brag about it.”
He said he lost to a coward.
Emerald couldn’t possibly be convinced to that extent.
However, Gwak Ji-cheol probably can’t think of a good way out of this situation.
He asks Mok Jong-hwa for help with his eyes.
Mok Jong-hwa glared at Gwak Ji-cheol as if he were a useless piece of trash, then spoke to me.
“It’s truly cowardly to run away after barely winning once. Are you afraid of losing?”
“You’re a coward. I’m so scared.”
Mok Jong-hwa used the provocation skill of the gamblers, ‘Jol?’, but I didn’t even blink.
This is convenient when your reputation is already at rock bottom.
Mok Jong-hwa must have thought that this wouldn’t work either, so she changed the method and threw bait at me this time.
“I said I wouldn’t waste time on useless things. If there’s a stake, would you accept it?”
“If it’s worth it.”
Honestly, I would like to accept the duel right now and beat up Kwak Ji-cheol.
The reason I persisted in continuing to let their provocations pass is.
‘Because it’s more profitable that way.’
Emerald is in a position where she must get revenge at all costs.
They will try to force a duel even by offering bait.
And the bait will be so tempting that I can’t help but bite it.
Of course, we’ll have to wait and see whether it was me or Mok Jong-hwa who actually took the bait.
Mokjonghwa took a small ticket out of his inventory and slammed it down on the table.
“I’ll take this.”
Park Na-ri and Ha Soo-yeon, who had been observing the situation without interfering, showed signs of surprise.
That means that Mokjonghwa has been putting in a lot of effort.
[Production VIP Ticket]
The craftsmen at Yongsal Academy do not easily accept production requests.
Because demand is far greater than supply, they only accept very limited quantities, and even then, the waiting line is long.
Using this VIP ticket will allow you to bypass the queue and craft items with top priority.
It was one of the many privileges of Yongsal Academy, such as the special performance studio season pass.
‘I have nothing to be thankful for.’
We were already short on equipment, and yet you prepared such a precious ticket.
“But only if you win.”
“Is it okay to do something like that?”
“It doesn’t matter. As long as you win, that’s it. Will you accept it?”
“Okay. Let’s consider it a success.”
When I accepted the duel, Mok Jong-hwa crossed her arms and Gwak Ji-cheol stepped forward again.
“Set a date.”
“Two days later would be good.”
“… …Why two days later?”
I slowly shook the [Blank Skill Book] I had just traded.
“I have to learn this.”
“what?”
“… … ?”
Everyone had a dumbfounded expression.
It’s difficult to create skills using a blank skill book, and it’s not the end just by creating it and learning it.
Rather, it should be seen as the beginning from that time.
You have to get used to the skills you’ve created yourself, and raise your rank to a level where you can use them in real battles, but you’re doing all that in just two days.
How absurd that might sound.
“Kukukuk… … .”
Mok Jong-hwa wiped his face with a low laugh.
He had a ferocious smile on his lips, as if he was quite excited.
I guess he interpreted that he could win against someone like Kwak Ji-cheol with skills he had learned in two days.
“I don’t know how long it’s been since I’ve looked down on an emerald like this.”
“I am confident in my abilities.”
I can’t say I don’t have any thoughts of looking down on others.
“Kwak Ji-cheol.”
“Yes, bro.”
“If you lose to this guy, you’re out.”
“… … I will definitely win.”
Kwak Ji-cheol lowered his head with a stern expression.
Now that the matter was over, there was no reason to continue sitting in that uncomfortable seat.
One by one, they rise from their seats.
“Don’t wait two days. Try to learn as much as you can.”
“You can look forward to it. Please keep your tickets safe.”
“… … .”
Even at the moment of departure, Mok Jong-hwa was giving me a fierce look.
“I, I’ll go too. See you next time!”
“Meow.”
Park Na-ri stammered a greeting to me, and the cat Beom-i waved his front paw in the air a couple of times.
‘I guess I should go to the training center right away.’
I need to go and quickly create some skills.
As I was about to down my half-empty iced coffee, Ha Su-yeon spoke to me.
“Can we talk for a moment?”
“… … That’s right.”
I sat my butt on the road chair.
Ha Soo-yeon opened her mouth with a sigh as she bit the end of a plastic straw.
“First, I have to apologize. I pretended not to see Manager Mok Jong-hwa sending Ji-cheol and Su-ji to you even though I saw it right in front of me.”
“Are you testing me?”
“To be honest, yes. I wanted to see how you would deal with two people.”
‘Then that’s right.’
The first person I promoted was definitely Park Na-ri, but the Daejayeon Club didn’t move and the Kwak Ji-cheol-Jung Su-ji duo came to me.
Considering the close relationship between Mother Nature and Emerald, I was certain that Ha Soo-yeon would also have a hand in this.
I never thought you would be so honest with me now.
Anyway, I gave an honest answer.
“I understand. As the head of a club, you should have been more careful. But I still feel a little disappointed.”
“I’m sorry. I don’t know if this will make you feel better, but I hope you accept it.”
Ha Su-yeon handed over a piece of parchment as a token of her apology.
[Rank Up (F)].
This item was also available as a reward for winning three consecutive matches last week.
If one just comes along, I’m grateful.
‘You’re so generous.’
It was annoying that he had his liver tested against me.
However, unlike Emerald, it didn’t cause any direct friction with me, and I even got some useful items, so I can overlook it.
“I will gratefully accept it. But… … . Wouldn’t this be a loss for the Nature Club?”
“It’s a loss. I originally planned to add it to the cube deal, but I missed the timing because Nari got involved. It’s okay though.”
Ha Su-yeon smiled softly.
There was not the slightest hint of regret at the loss.
It seems like he noticed something in the conversation we had while trading cubes and the conversation we had regarding the duel.
If I were a coward like the rumors said, I wouldn’t have been able to treat Mok Jong-hwa, who was my senior and also the club president, so shamelessly.
In that case, they probably thought it would be a good idea to establish friendly relations in advance in preparation for an unforeseen future, and the calculation was that one F-rank [Rank Up] would be cheap.
It’s a good choice.
There are still a lot of items left to trade with the four major powers other than the [Cube of Life].
“Are you confident in a duel?”
“100 percent.”
When I answered without even thinking for a second, Ha Soo-yeon looked surprised.
“… … I didn’t know it would be that bad. But I’ll warn you in advance. Chief Mok Jong-hwa and Kwak Ji-cheol have analyzed all of your replays and prepared countermeasures.”
“Isn’t that a basic strategy?”
“No. This time, Gwak Ji-cheol will receive support at the club level.”
‘I guess so.’
The way Kwak Ji-cheol applied for the duel seemed strangely confident, so I thought he had some kind of confidence.
At the club level, we prepare items that target my weaknesses.
There is a very high possibility that the equipment used by Kwak Ji-cheol will be replaced with equipment for the 2nd and 3rd graders.
Considering that I, as an independent, cannot receive any significant support, this is bound to be an unfair duel.
“I don’t think that’s appropriate. If you want, I can lend you an artifact from the Nature Club.”
“Thank you for your kind words, but that’s okay.”
I showed him the blank skill book.
“This is enough.”
“… … !”
It was true that he was able to create, learn, and use a skill in two days.
But Ha Soo-yeon asks again if he didn’t think that way.
“… … Are you really planning to compete with the newly created skill?”
I didn’t explain at length, I just smiled.
“You will be amazed when you see it.”
* * *
Training center.
I was sitting alone in the middle of a large training room.
The wooden doll in front of me could attack me at any moment if I give it a command, but for now, it is motionless and frozen.
A blue light flows out from the [Blank Skill Book] spread out in his hand.
This is a method where you can breathe in mana and think of the words or sentences you want, and they will be entered automatically.
Normally, if I were to create a new skill, I would put a lot of thought into it and put my heart and soul into each and every word, but my skill book was being filled up at a rapid pace, like a stenographer typing.
‘It’s not something that happens in a day or two.’
How many times have I used the blank skill book?
There are so many that I’ve long since given up counting.
Of course, I may have forgotten how many times I used it, but the data accumulated through countless trials and errors still remains in my head.
The optimal skill that can be implemented with a blank skill book was being written.
– Which supporter is the most useful?
There is no right answer to this question.
Because usefulness tends to change depending on the situation.
In some cases, recovery may be more useful, in some cases a shield may be more useful, and in some cases a buff or debuff may be more useful.
but,
– Who is the most difficult and annoying supporter to deal with?
– What is the number one supporter who automatically blurts out, “That kid makes the game dirty” when he gets hit?
There is a correct answer to this question.
‘Forced movement supporter.’
[Use ‘Skill Book – Windforce’.]
[Acquire ‘Windforce (F)’.]
[Windforce]
▷Gives physical power to the wind.
I stood up straight and faced the wooden doll.
A gust of wind blew through the closed space, ruffling my hair.
The wooden doll suddenly started to squeak and threw a one-two punch at me.
He tilted his body to the right and left accordingly, and lightly placed his hand on the doll’s chest.
– Bang!
The wooden doll flew to the end of the training room and crashed into the ground.
The supporters ate it all
