Episode 155 Presidential Election (5)
The first duel was a sea of blood. My guts were overflowing and my limbs were torn to shreds.
The second was a somewhat better fountain of blood. Leon’s sword’s blade bent diagonally, slicing off the opponent’s neck smoothly.
Of course, it was better than the first time, but until the subspace cleared, we had to watch the surging red fountain show. Manager Sung was okay with it up to that point.
I’m not a combat soldier, but I’ve seen enough bloody scenes to be sick of them. Now, I can finish a bowl of Seonjitgukbap just by looking at blood.
But now that the third sparring session has ended, Manager Sung is feeling discouraged.
If it had been the scene of Abigyuhuan, it wouldn’t have been this shocking.
The third one was the cleanest of the three so far. Despite that, Manager Sung swallowed back a queasy feeling.
Manager Sung looked ahead with blank eyes. The smoke troupe was still before the purple subspace curtain opened. All eyes were focused on that one spot.
The new body standing in the middle of it and another body that was messily torn apart. It was Kanggeomma and Sion.
Manager Sung shook his shoulders slightly. That black hair brought to mind the idea of blood clots.
Although he didn’t know what trick he was using, Zion charged forward at a speed faster than sound. He aimed for Cognitive’s blind spot and swung his sword.
But now, Zion was cooling down with a murky complexion like a fish whose gills had been pierced by a harpoon.
Manager Seong turned his gaze to Kang Geum-ma. He was wiping the blood off the sashimi. Manager Seong thought.
Can we really call that cadet a hero? If you think about it, he is the person who best fits the motto of Joaquin Academy.
He is indifferent to harming life, and his skills are second to none.
However, when I applied the word ‘hero’, I felt like my stomach was going to explode.
The swordsman was too mechanical. He had killed the ogre instantly with a heart attack, and this time too. His swordsmanship only cut off life responses.
‘That’s no longer the realm of technology.’
Manager Sung looked at the file in his hand. He had written down the hero points of the candidates so far.
『Name: Den Range ▶HP: Estimated 500.』
『Name: Leon Van Reinhard ▶HP: Estimated 800.』
『Name: Ganggeomma ▶HP: … … .』
Tok-tok- The tip of the pen made dots on the paper. While my mind was busy, the pen moved slowly.
Based on 1,669 points for Geomje and 1,653 points for Changseong, Ganggeomma’s estimated value is.
‘At least 1,650 or more.’
Manager Sung felt dizzy.
… … .
Meanwhile, Kang Geum-ma looked into Zion’s dim pupils. They were a dull gray. He was about to poke her head just in case, but stopped himself.
In this duel, Kanggeomma would have been a good match for Sion. With one swing of the sword, Sion would be cut in half – that would make it impossible to tell if she was a villain or not.
The plan was to strip her of all her strength and ‘see her unleash her last bit of strength’…
As soon as the bell rang for the start of the duel, Sion charged forward with unexpected speed. Kanggeomma had a gut feeling. That was her true power.
But I didn’t sense any hint of magic at all. Then there’s only one conclusion. Zion is not a villain. Then, there’s no need to look at him any further.
Kanggeomma quickly scanned Zion’s new forms and quickly extracted the main body. This was because one in particular showed murderous intent.
In the end, it would just blur your vision here and there and then aim for the back of your head. It was a tired tactic.
For Kang Geum-ma, who had fought countless villains, this was nothing more than child’s play.
But I was too annoyed by his eyes sparkling with greed to send him detailed information.
So he counterattacked at the exact moment Zion made a surprise attack. He stabbed upward. Zion died instantly with his head impaled like a skewer.
However, looking at Zion with gills around his neck made him feel uneasy. Kanggeomma turned his gaze away from Zion.
His eyes, which were sweeping around the room, suddenly stopped. Where his eyes landed, the current chairman and vice chairman were sitting there.
‘One of those two.’
Should I cut off the sprout now? Kang Geum-ma thought briefly and then took a step forward.
The purple curtain has opened, and the strong scent of blood has melted away in the wind.
* * *
“… Chief Ha.”
Manager Sung grabbed Ha Na-eun’s shoulder as she tried to get up from her seat. Perhaps because of the shock, his eyes were filled with concern.
Looking back, it was like sending a subordinate I cared about to the front line. Moreover, Chief Ha’s opponent was the current chairman. He was a cadet who was famous for having a few screws missing.
Manager Ha tried to smile brightly at the worried expression on his boss’ face.
“The person who was talking about bonuses to me just now is making that kind of expression? And, Manager, I feel embarrassed to say this myself, but he’s a senior-level hero.”
“I know… but Chief Ha, your specialty isn’t combat, so that’s why.”
“Hey, but I’ll do the basics! It’s my first time sparring in subspace, so I’m a little nervous, but I’ll try my best! Please cheer me on, Manager!”
Chief Ha saluted. A faint smile appeared on Chief Seong’s lips. He saluted in return.
“Okay, Chief Ha. Tonight’s dinner is for Korean beef just like last time. Work hard and come back.”
“yes!”
Chief Ha walked briskly and confidently. She stood on the dance floor. Across from her, Woojin Kim stretched his stiff neck from side to side.
Kim Woo-jin put his barbed knuckles, which did not match his lanky physique, into his pockets. He said.
“The staff member from the association said his name was Chief Ha, right? I guess I am not very knowledgeable about ‘Dalian’, so I will be lacking in many ways. Please take good care of me.”
“…ah?”
Contrary to the rumors, his tone was very polite. Chief Ha nodded.
“I, I am the one who needs to be treated well.”
As the formal greetings were exchanged, a line formed on Chief Ha’s retina. A slanted smile appeared on Woojin Kim’s lips.
[Now, the competition between symbol number 1, Woojin Kim, and special number, Eunha Han will begin.]
… 30 minutes later.
[The final competition has ended.]
[Congratulations to the winner, No. 1 Kim Woo-jin.]
* * *
The contest was over. The winners, the selected candidates, were given a few instructions. Nothing else.
“That concludes the explanation. You may return to your classes or your dorms, or do whatever you want today. Everyone worked hard. Get some rest.”
As the senior instructor concluded his speech, I looked at Kim Woo-jin. He had tired eyes and a wide-mouthed yawn. To anyone who saw him, his face looked like he had just woken up.
I frowned at that peaceful look. The content of the last competition just a moment ago came to mind.
The sparring between Kim Woo-jin and Chief Ha lasted for 30 minutes. The previous three sessions had averaged about 5 minutes, so it took an unusually long time.
But during those 30 minutes, it was clearly imprinted on me what a delicious guy Kim Woo-jin was.
He wasn’t as strong of a cadet as I thought. His strength and speed were above average. His protection and weapons weren’t anything special either.
However, Kim Woo-jin won against Ha-na Eun, a senior-level hero.
Kim Woo-jin’s fighting style was what is called a dogfight. He would rush forward with his tongue dripping until his opponent’s stamina was depleted.
And he took all the hits, dislocated bones, sunken bones, all kinds of injuries, smiling.
To the extent that most of the blood scattered throughout the troupe at that time was Kim Woo-jin’s.
Chief Ha, who had been leading the match with an advantage in the beginning, eventually calmed down. He was unable to avoid being beaten by Woojin Kim in the 10th minute of the second half.
‘That person is the type who enjoys fighting itself.’
I looked at Kim Woojin and thought, Why, isn’t there a character with that kind of attribute in every game? A crazy guy who can’t use his legs in battle.
For example, a battle maniac. That’s exactly what Kim Woo-jin was. And he was also the current student body president.
If you just look at his mentality, he’s clearly a villain, but I really don’t understand how he got into that position.
‘I can’t figure out what that kid is doing.’
In the official history, when Leon was a second-year student running for the student council president election, Woojin Kim had already graduated, so he was only occasionally mentioned as the former president.
‘I’m a little worried.’
It was jarring. It was like a thorn stuck in my throat. It was a warning from my sharp intuition. It was an ominous omen.
In fact, I had no obligation to catch the villain. The Association had set up shop in the Academy for that purpose.
Even I found it funny that I took off my shoes and went out. Since when did I become so righteous? I don’t hesitate to jaywalk if there’s no car. The association employees at least received a salary, but I was paid for nothing.
But I can’t ignore the situation. What I’m afraid of isn’t villains. It’s something beyond that.
Those who are flicking their tongues in the Demonic Realm of Gehenna and trying to invade the human world. 4th Corps Commander Permish, 3rd Corps Commander Vesna, and 2nd Corps Commander Kuarn.
They have been suspiciously quiet since the death of 5th Legion Commander Agor.
Are we just going to let this slide? That was nonsense.
The Demon Tribe may not have a strong bond, but they are a people who never forget revenge.
They are people who have been harboring the humiliation of the First World War for over 700 years, so how could they possibly overlook the death of their own people?
By now, they must be continuing to attempt to descend into the human realm to avenge themselves.
That’s why we have to pull out the roots of the villains that are growing like weeds. Because the role of the villains is to help the Legion Commander descend.
I turned my head and looked at Leon. And I recalled the time when I was playing.
Looking back, the villains only appeared briefly every quarter, and Leon’s main enemies were not villains, but demons and the devil.
Even that was resolved by Auditorena or another assistant who showed up just in time. Leon rarely killed villains. No, it was almost as if he never did.
First semester midterms, deserted island survival training, final exams. All the plots and secret maneuvers were carried out by villains.
“…under.”
Suddenly, a burst of laughter broke out. It seemed as if someone inexplicably knew why I had fallen into this world.
‘Shit.’
I left the stadium. The sky was covered with dark clouds.
The damp smell of rain filled my nostrils. My skin stung from the dreary air. It was the kind of weather that would bring a thunderstorm.
I stared up at the silent sky and quietly closed my eyes. Then I expanded my mental field as much as possible.
This is a kind of whim. There is nothing like meditation to clear away distracting thoughts.
Ss …
The sky in my imagination was dark, whether because my eyes were closed or because it was a projection of the dark reality.
‘Still, I’m getting pretty used to the realm of imagination.’
I concentrated my thoughts. I eliminated physical intervention. I erased each and every stimulus that touched my skin.
Then, the outline of a piece of sashimi materialized within me. It freely walked through the realm of my imagination, just by my will.
‘This is the first time something like this has happened.’
Against the pitch-black background, with the blade shining pure white, I put more determination into the sashimi swinging through the air. I made the image concrete.
Soon, the sword that had been flying through the air like a butterfly aimed at the pitch-black sky. In response, I grabbed the hilt of my inner sword and lowered it.
Crunch!
The sound of cutting flowed faintly into my ears. The dim air cleared, and a warm lukewarm air lingered.
I opened my closed eyes. At the same time, my pupils contracted and became round.
The sky splits left and right. The sun comes out through the gap. Not fully understanding the situation, I just accept the pouring sunlight.
A gentle breeze caressed the back of my neck. A piece of fallen leaf landed on the tip of my nose. My gaze was drawn to the center and focused.
I was surprised again. All the fallen leaves on the road were cut artificially.
“… … .”
A realm that only appears in martial arts novels. A swordsmanship that only the best swordsmen can master. And a true swordsmanship of the heart.
“Igigeeogeom (以氣馭劍).”
