Episode 122 Week 7 Mentoring, In-person Battle (7)
Let’s briefly summarize the first match from Cha Hyun-joo’s perspective.
He chased after me after stealing the crystal, and after a brief melee, he was hit by Windforce and thrown far back.
I quickly returned and engaged in a second melee, but this time I was hit by Windforce and bounced far away.
He was so angry that he fired arrows at me recklessly, but I just avoided them all with annoying tricks.
Then the crystal charge runs out and the game ends.
It was hard to believe, because it didn’t seem like a proper battle.
That’s why I came here and suggested we have a revenge match.
‘There are two more games left in this week’s quota.’
For me, as long as I can fill my quota and clear the sub-quests, it doesn’t matter who I face.
However, there is no reason to simply accept Cha Hyun-joo’s demands.
So my answer is,
“You don’t like it?”
“what?”
I scratched the back of my head as if I was dying from annoyance.
“What does it have to do with me whether you’re convinced or not? If you’re not convinced, do I have to keep sticking with you until you are?”
“… … !”
“Anyway, everyone acts like they’ve left something up to me. People need to have some shame.”
Then, Cha Hyun-joo gradually began to show a gloomy aura.
“… … I think it would be better to fight face to face.”
If you don’t accept the rematch, it means that you will fight even if it is against the rules.
Of course, I was the type who didn’t even blink at such threats.
No matter how we fight, I win.
So I responded strongly.
“If you’re confident, then go ahead and do it. Then I won’t let you do it either.”
“… … .”
On the outside, Cha Hyun-joo was still glaring at me with a gloomy air, but inside, she seemed to be quickly typing away on a calculator.
Even though I wasn’t convinced by the first match against me, if you look at the result, it was a perfect game.
They did not allow a single attack throughout the game.
Unless you have a good grasp of my abilities, it would be burdensome to pick a fight without thinking.
As if thinking about it this far, Cha Hyun-joo asked, slightly softening her stance.
“Let’s just have a go? Is that difficult?”
“It’s not that it’s difficult, but I just don’t want to do it. You come to ask me for help and your attitude is not good.”
“My attitude has always been like this. You probably heard from Shin Byeong-cheol that I have a bad temper.”
I see, you know that.
I had no words to say when he said with his own mouth that his temper was bad.
Cha Hyun-joo continued speaking.
“What should I do? Should I get on my knees?”
“I don’t really want to see that, and if you want to stick with me that much,”
I held out one hand.
“Show your sincerity. Your dues.”
Cha Hyun-joo blankly looked down at my hand, then let out a gasp of disbelief.
“A prize? Why are you accepting a prize?”
“What did I say that was wrong? Now, listen.”
I explained it one by one.
“First of all, I made yesterday’s match private. You could have sold the replay and earned points, but your mentor asked me to make it private and said he would be grateful if I did.”
“… … .”
“If I get a rematch, this will also be private. Then I won’t be able to sell the replay, so I’ll lose points again.”
“… … .”
“Is there a reason why I should stick with you instead of matching with someone else, even at the risk of losing money? If there is, then tell me.”
“… … Okay, I see. What do you want?”
In the end, Cha Hyun-joo couldn’t stand the barrage of facts and gave up.
I paused for a moment and then said what I wanted.
“Rank up E. It would be profitable to receive an item of that level.”
“Rank up E? Are you kidding me?”
Cha Hyun-joo’s face distorted.
[Rank Up] is an item that instantly raises the rank of a skill or trait by one level without any effort, simply by using it.
Therefore, even an E-rank has considerable value.
It’s ridiculous to ask for that in exchange for a rematch.
But I answered with a serious expression.
“No. I’m extremely serious. Don’t hate me.”
“… … .”
“Ah, I’ve been standing still for so long, my body is starting to hurt. I think I’ll go have a fight.”
– Puddle,
Cha Hyun-joo ground her teeth until they broke.
He quickly took out a rolled up piece of parchment from his inventory and threw it at me, tossing it on the floor.
And I took it lightly and confirmed it.
[Rank Up (E)]
‘They’re really giving this to me.’
I was thinking of making a big purchase and getting a slightly less valuable item, but I ended up getting a rank-up right away.
As expected, promising players are different from the distribution point onwards.
On the one hand, I wonder what that guy’s pride is.
Yang Ji-hong is like that, and so is Mok Jong-hwa.
These weren’t items that were going to be released all at once during the re-release.
Perhaps it was a shame to lose the rank up, but Cha Hyun-joo showed even more murderous intent than before and started walking ahead.
“Follow me.”
“Let’s do that.”
You have to work as much as you receive.
The revenge match was held.
* * *
We deliberately chose a time slot when there would be fewer students in the arena to set up the match.
Since Cha Hyun-joo and I have similar scores, this greatly increases the chances of a rematch.
As expected,
[Kim Ho 543 points] vs [Cha Hyun-joo 508 points]
Their names appeared on the scoreboard.
I remember Cha Hyun-joo’s score was 510 in the first game, but I think she lost to me and won the next game.
“… … .”
Cha Hyun-joo checked the scoreboard, gave me one last murderous look, and then disappeared into the stadium first.
As I stepped onto the teleportation magic circle, my vision changed rapidly, and the next moment, I was standing in the middle of a lush forest.
‘Here it is again.’
They say it’s random terrain, but I keep getting stuck in the forest.
[3]
[2]
[1]
[Start!]
[Kim Ho 100%] vs [Cha Hyun-joo 100%]
[Crystal 0%]
‘The crystal is over there, or maybe somewhere around there.’
I also trusted the experience and intuition of the old man and started moving towards where I guessed the crystal would be.
The first match with Cha Hyun-joo and the rematch taking place now.
Although they may seem similar at first glance in that they are private matches, there is actually a very crucial difference between the two.
The first match was played behind closed doors after the match.
This time, the match was played after agreeing in advance to keep it private.
Since you don’t have to worry about your skills being revealed to the world, you can freely use the cards you’ve been hiding from the beginning.
By now, Cha Hyun-joo will be wandering around the forest somewhere, holding a bow instead of a dagger.
‘I don’t have to worry about what others think either.’
A crimson flame burst out from his clenched fist.
The blazing flames were absorbed into my body, granting me immense strength.
[Inferno Fist]
[Overheat]
Thanks to the [Random Rank Up] obtained from Game Center, Inferno Fist’s rank has risen to B.
Not only did its power become much stronger, but the increase in physical ability when it was absorbed through overheat also increased accordingly.
That means my speed has also become faster than before.
– Pot! Pot!
The surrounding scenery passed by in an instant.
In an instant, we arrived at the place where the crystal was supposed to be,
‘It’s not here.’
This time, luck seems to be not on my side.
It kicks the ground and moves on to the next location.
Again, the surrounding scenery passed by quickly, and in the second location, a crystal was placed on a makeshift altar.
I thought as I approached the altar.
‘Then, at this point… … .’
– Kiriririk!
‘… …An arrow will fly.’
I quickly picked up the crystal and kicked it on the ground.
The next moment, a thick beam of light passed through the altar, shattering it and blowing a large hole in the tree behind it.
‘100%. Of course it’s bait.’
While I was wandering around the wrong place once, Cha Hyun-joo could have easily retrieved the crystal.
But even though we arrived a little late, the altar was still intact?
There is a very high possibility that it is a trap.
Judging from the fact that he’s throwing out crystals as bait and thinking of sniping, it seems like Cha Hyun-joo doesn’t even care about charging.
It’s just a plan to take me down somehow.
– Kiririririk!
The rays of light keep shooting out.
I avoided them by moving my body left and right, and briefly glanced toward the sanctuary.
‘Let’s charge the crystals a little later.’
First, I need to beat up that bald, bald punk.
Kick the ground and aim towards where the arrows are flying.
– Pot! Pot!
The distance between me and Cha Hyun-joo, who had been sniping from afar, suddenly narrowed.
“… … !”
Cha Hyun-joo looked a little surprised when she saw me appearing nearby.
Based on my experience in previous matches, I guess he guessed that I would run straight to the sanctuary as soon as I picked up the crystal.
The surprise was short-lived, but soon he began firing arrows with even greater force.
– Kiririririk!
Five rays of light flying in succession.
It draws curves that are not like arrows and targets various parts of my body.
I pretended to thrash around desperately and anxiously.
– Pot!
He kicked the ground hard again.
And the next moment, he appeared behind Cha Hyun-joo.
“… … !”
Cha Hyun-joo immediately turns around and responds by swinging the arrow in her hand like a dagger.
‘The reaction speed is good.’
But unfortunately, it is still only at the first grade level.
If you link Inferno Fist with Overheat and Thief Step, you will achieve a speed that even Black Ark or Dang Gyu-yeong will have a hard time keeping up with.
It goes without saying that Inferno Fist has now risen one level in rank.
So, Cha Hyun-joo was subdued in an instant without even being able to exchange a few words with me.
The wind gathered and compressed in my hand in that state.
As if anticipating what would happen next, Cha Hyun-joo’s pupils shook from side to side.
“Okay, then make sure to fasten your seat belt.”
“Ha, don’t do that. I warned you.”
“Let’s go, poopoo~”
– Boom!
“This son of a bitch—”
The compressed air exploded, and Cha Hyun-joo quickly disappeared into the distance, echoing throughout the forest.
I glanced at her, who had become a small dot, and leisurely walked towards the sanctuary.
[Crystal 1%]
[Crystal 3%]
… … .
A pleasant crystal charging without any disturbance.
For a long time, I just stared at the scoreboard and watched the charge level go up.
… … .
[Crystal 68%]
‘I think it’s about time to come… … .’
-Phewing—
As expected, a single, bright ray of flame streaked across the sky, creating a sharp crackle.
The flames flew quickly into the sky above my head,
– Kwaaaaaaa—!
It exploded and rained down fireballs all over the area.
I stood there motionless, in the middle of the firebombing, thinking.
‘Elemental damage.’
