Episode 23 Week 1 Battle (1)
Lee Soo-dok was a very good interpersonal teacher.
Even I, a veteran among veterans, see it this way.
Since graduating from Yongsal Academy, he has caught and killed countless villains.
Because those experiences were organized and explained systematically, it was bound to be a useful class.
If there was one drawback, not a single drawback, it was that the stories were all incredibly gruesome.
“… … When I looked at the boss, his eyes didn’t look like they were going to give in. So I grabbed his spine and pulled it out. Next, I grabbed the vice boss. Now that you’re the boss, you all have to kneel down. Otherwise, I’ll find the next boss… … .”
The students in class 3 trembled.
The tone of the story was everyday, like, ‘I woke up this morning, took a shower, and had breakfast.’
If you listen closely, it is full of ominous sounds like someone’s head was blown off, someone’s throat was crushed, someone’s throat was cut off.
I guess that could be the case since that’s a daily routine for that person.
After telling the story of how he wiped out a gang of bandits, Isu Dok checked the time.
I end the class realizing that I will soon run out of paper.
“That’s all for today’s class. Before we end, I’d like to make an announcement. Starting today, you can play against other players in the arena.”
As Lee Soo-dok made a slight gesture, letters appeared on the blackboard.
MAP:[random]
RULE:[Deathmatch][10 minute limit]
“From now on, the PvP environment will be determined randomly. The time limit has also increased from 5 to 10 minutes, so please manage carefully. First-year students must play PvP at least 3 times during this week. If you do not participate, your score will automatically decrease, so be careful. That’s all.”
While I was explaining, it seemed like Lee Soo-dok’s gaze kept on me.
Could that person possibly be interested in me?
Since I couldn’t figure out what it was right away, I just assumed it was my imagination.
After Lee Soo-dok left Class 3, I took a closer look at the quest I had just arrived at.
[Sub Quest: Week 1 PvP Battle]
▷Goal: Complete 3 rounds of PvP. (0/3 rounds)
▷Deadline: ~Sunday midnight.
▷Reward: Paid differently based on the number of wins. (0/3 wins)
‘I have to win this one.’
It may seem like a simple quest, but the reward for completing it three times in a row is very generous.
[Cube of Life] There is a high chance that an item that shortens the crafting time will appear, so I plan to win them all unconditionally.
I called Go Hyun-woo.
“Let’s go to the arena.”
“Are you talking about now?”
“It’s better to get this sorted out early. Replays tend to sell better on the first day.”
Since it is a full-fledged interpersonal battle that begins after the placement test, everyone is cautious on the first day.
Because I think it is more advantageous to go in after watching replays with similar scores.
After a period of passive observation, people will start flocking to the arena in earnest starting around Friday.
For that reason, the replays of the PvP matches being played now are in greater demand.
Go Hyun-woo nodded readily at the mention of earning points.
“Then there is no reason to delay. Let’s go.”
As I was about to head straight to the arena, the calligrapher gently grabbed my sleeve and pulled me back.
He makes eye contact with me and says this.
“I have time today.”
“… … ?”
The aspiring heroes who had keen ears responded immediately to the calligrapher’s words.
The girls cover their mouths and whisper among themselves quickly, while half of the boys look sinister and half look envious.
Go Hyun-woo looks at me to see if he should let this go.
If you cut off everything and say it like that, of course you’ll misunderstand.
In times like this, it is necessary to fill in the missing words.
“Do you want to practice magic bullets together?”
“huh.”
“I don’t know if I’ll have time today. I think I’ll know for sure by the evening, so let’s talk about it then.”
“okay.”
My top priority right now is to finish the cube by Friday.
If the 3-win reward comes out as I expected, the cube will be made faster, and then I’ll have some time to devote to the calligrapher.
I guess we can decide after seeing the results of the match.
* * *
We expected to be the first ones since we went straight to the arena right after class, but surprisingly there were other passengers.
I guess the other class finished a little early.
One boy holding a long spear, the other holding a thick two-handed sword.
Judging from the shape of their weapons and the air flowing through their bodies, both are assumed to be unmanned.
Among them, the window sill seemed to recognize my face.
“The author… … .”
“Do you have a one-sided view?”
“That’s the guy who told Song So-jeo to abstain.”
“Ah, the author is such a coward.”
“This is disqualification for a man. It is truly shameful.”
He was openly criticizing me, but I didn’t really care.
When he was ranked number one and was constantly on everyone’s lips, he was often met with criticism filled with jealousy and envy.
After experiencing so many things like that, I no longer care much about words like coward.
I tried to pretend not to hear it and just pass by, but Go Hyun-woo, who has no immunity to such things, got angry as if it was his own business.
“What a bunch of incompetent people. How can you speak so carelessly in front of the person involved?”
The two drones who were about to lose their temper at the word “incompetent” stopped.
I recognized Go Hyun-woo’s face.
He is somewhat of a famous person because he was the top scorer in the strategic battle placement test.
As if he intuitively sensed that this was not an opponent to be treated lightly, he retorted with a slightly timid air.
“Hmm, hmm, did we say something wrong?”
“Even now, he’s hiding behind you and not saying a word. Think carefully about who is the most incompetent.”
“… … .”
I stepped forward before Go Hyun-woo could open his mouth again.
It’s not that I’m angry, it’s that I feel a sense of intuition.
I have a feeling that our scores will be similar.
I pointed to the window sill.
“How many points do you have?”
“… … It’s 300 points.”
“I’m tied with a coward?”
As he scratched gently, a cold sneer appeared on the corner of the spearman’s lips.
“Do you think you’re on the same level as a loser like you just because the scores are the same? If I hadn’t met Song Cheon-hye in the second game, I would have started at 600, no, 900 points.”
“Song Cheon-hye?”
Listening to it, I felt like I had seen this spearman somewhere before.
Song Cheon-hye, second match, interpersonal match, placement test… … .
As I was thinking back, something came to mind.
“I remembered. The one who was struck by lightning and taken away, was that you?”
“… … !”
I gave up on Song Cheon-hye, and Song Cheon-hye’s next opponent, who was very upset, was this Changjab.
As soon as the match started, Hummingbird’s body was paralyzed, and then he was struck by lightning, which decided the match in an instant.
And because they were carried away as is, they were unable to play three games and were defeated without a fight.
“Can I just say one thing?”
“… …Say it.”
“If you’re going to collapse in one room, I think it’s better to abstain.”
Not only Go Hyun-woo, but also the male student holding the sword in both hands expressed silent agreement with these words.
The spearman’s face hardened.
“… … It’s not one room, it’s two rooms!”
“I’m bragging, you newbie. Anyway, you got 300 points?”
“… … .”
A blind man who nods his head silently, thinking that opening his mouth any further would be a loss.
I gestured toward the stage with my chin.
“Since we’re the only ones here right now, I think we’ll get caught right away if we try matching. Should we go head-to-head with the cowards?”
“Okay. I’ll make you feel the wall.”
The male student Yangsondo also challenged Ko Hyunwoo to a match.
Perhaps because there was no great ill will between them, their tone of speech was relatively mild.
“600 points?”
“exactly.”
“That’s a good thing. If it’s okay, I’d like to ask you to teach me a trick.”
“Okay. Let’s get started.”
I scanned my student ID at the terminal set up near the stage.
Based on our respective scores, I, with 300 points, was matched against Changjabi, and Go Hyeonwoo, with 600 points, was matched against Dogaek.
As I moved through the teleportation magic circle, my vision changed drastically.
It was not a circular arena like yesterday, but a field overgrown with bushes.
The blowing wind shakes the weeds, and the swaying weeds tickle my legs.
[Kim Ho 100% vs Yang Ji Hong 100%]
[10:00 remaining]
That friend’s name is Yang Ji-hong.
I held [Earth Staff] in one hand.
Yang Ji-hong, the spearman who appeared from the opposite magic circle, also held a spear in both hands and glared at me.
[3]
[2]
[1]
[Start!]
“I’ll finish it in one breath!”
As soon as the match started, Yang Ji-hong charged straight at me with his spear blade in front.
It seems like he has practiced a lot, his posture is good and his movements are quite quick.
The problem is that you are underestimating me too much.
“Okay, let’s finish this in one breath.”
– Phagec!
“… … !”
Yang Ji-hong’s speed suddenly decreased just before he reached me.
I looked down at my side and saw small sparks flying.
[Hummingbird] was hit.
“This… this… is… this… is…!”
“Am I going to experience this again?”
Since you took the placement test just yesterday, you probably haven’t prepared a proper response method yet.
However, since it is rare to find a brain-attribute magician, I think I approached it with a complacent attitude, thinking, “Who else but Song Cheon-hye could learn Hummingbird?”
‘Who am I?’
You would never have guessed that I copied the hummingbird from Song Cheon-hye.
He approached the staggering Yang Ji-hong and lifted up the staff of the earth.
“Okay… … Wait a minute… … .”
“I’m sorry. I can’t finish it cleanly in two rooms like Song Cheon-hye.”
– Thud! Thud! Crunch!
He repeatedly struck Yang Ji-hong’s head with the staff of the earth.
The guy held out for a few hits before eventually losing consciousness and collapsing on the floor.
[Kim Ho Win vs Yang Ji Hong Lose]
[Personal Battle: 300+30 points]
The game ended with Yang Ji-hong being knocked out and 30 points were scored.
As I was waiting after exiting the teleportation portal, Yang Ji-hong appeared on the ground, unconscious.
When Song Cheon-hye was attacked, her condition was so serious that she had to be carried away, but now it is not that bad and the faculty and staff have not shown up.
I also adjusted my strength appropriately.
“Huh!”
Yang Ji-hong wakes up with a start.
He looked around and found me, checked my grades on the back of my student ID, and finished assessing the situation.
He was so angry at the absurd defeat that he couldn’t help but gnash his teeth.
“Ugh… … .”
“I won?”
“… … I just let my guard down. If we fight again, I’ll win.”
“Really? Then stick together again.”
The revenge match that came to fruition like that.
The battle site this time was a wilderness.
[Kim Ho 100% vs Yang Ji Hong 100%]
[10:00 remaining]
[3]
[2]
[1]
[Start!]
As soon as I started, I created a hummingbird made of brain matter and sent it flying.
Yang Ji-hong, who was running towards him, kicked the ground hard and jumped to the side just before reaching the hummingbird.
I see a hummingbird fly past, and it stabs me in the face with its spear.
“It’s over!”
“Yeah, that’s it.”
– Phagec!
Yang Ji-hong’s body was paralyzed.
I turned my head, which wasn’t turning very well, to check my back, and there were sparks flying.
“This… this fucking… … .”
“Did you think you avoided it?”
Hummingbirds are not just simple projectiles.
It flies continuously according to the caster’s control until it hits its target or is shot down.
The hummingbird that passed Yang Ji-hong immediately turned around, followed him, and got stuck in his back.
The guy asked with a distorted face.
“How on earth… … did… … you… … do… … this… … !”
“Watch the replay later.”
– Thud! Thud! Crunch!
He struck the guy’s temples and crown mercilessly with a heavy wooden staff.
[Kim Ho Win vs Yang Ji Hong Lose]
[Personal Battle: 330+29 points]
I rode the magic circle again and went outside.
It seems that Go Hyun-woo and Do-gaek are still in the midst of a fight.
My duel ended quickly.
The scores were almost like vending machine scores.
“omg!”
Yang Ji-hong comes to his senses.
He holds onto his window, trembles in his seat, and opens his mouth.
“… … Let’s fight just one more time. This time, I will definitely win.”
“I don’t like it. Winning two games is enough.”
“If it ends like this, I won’t be able to save face!”
“That’s your business. I’m tired, so I’ll call it a day.”
“Ugh… … .”
“If you really want to—”
I paused for a moment.
He waited until Yang Ji-hong asked, “What do you want to do?” and then held out one hand.
“-tuition.”
“… … !”
To complete the quest, you will need to fight three PvP battles anyway.
This is also this week’s quota.
But he raised the price by making it obvious that he didn’t want to do it.
Based on Yang Ji-hong’s personality that I had figured out in a short period of time, I thought he would want to see a match even if it meant accepting the conditions I set.
In fact, winning or losing a battle isn’t something you should risk your life for.
There is no problem if you just let it go, thinking, “I lost twice because I wasn’t prepared.”
But that bastard’s pride just won’t allow it to end like this.
Yang Ji-hong took out a small wooden box from his bosom and opened it.
There is one English word in it.
“This is a spirit tablet manufactured by our family. I will give you this.”
“That’s fine. Let’s add one more condition.”
“What is it?”
“This match will be held behind closed doors. We won’t even save the replay and the content will be kept confidential.”
“Good. From my perspective, it wouldn’t be good for it to leak out either.”
The match was held.
I said as I swiped my student ID on the terminal.
“I’ll hang out with you until you’re convinced.”
The supporters ate it all
