Chapter 32: Chapter 32: Breaking Namgoong
"Dieeeee!!"
"Aaaaaaah!!"
Yoo Eunchae screamed as she ran.
Her body felt heavy.
It was the first time she felt this much weight.
She wasn't drunk—there was no one to drink with!—maybe this feeling was similar.
Goong!!!
While lost in thought, she felt an enormous wave of magical power from behind her.
It must be because Shin Yura, Seon Woohyeon, and Nam Hyerin were fighting.
'Seriously, how did this even begin?'
It wasn't like this when the race first started.
Before, they just didn't trust each other enough to run together.
But then.
In this race, Yoo Seolrang and Jo Gaeun had the best compatibility.
This caused the two to receive intense checks from the others.
Seon Woohyeon launched an attack during that process, and Wi Gunak was knocked over.
「Do you want to fall behind?」
「Wait, just a moment…!」
「Fall behind, will you?」
The two ended up fighting, and others had to intervene.
Thanks to that, she managed to gain somewhat of a lead.
Swoosh!
Hearing something swiftly passing by, Yoo Eunchae clenched her teeth.
She saw Yoo Seolrang, neatly dressed in a uniform and with green hair.
Whoosh!
The wind blew.
That wind soon became a whirlwind, starting to tear everything apart.
And the wind turned into blades, flying towards her.
Wind, among the traits, is considered a rare attribute.
Yoo Eunchae quickly ducked and ran.
'How can I escape?'
The master said,
That one should embed mana in nature to sense the surroundings.
Yoo Eunchae had been learning that recently.
'No matter how I think about it, it seems like the first stage of the Wind God's technique.'
A technique designated to be learned if she cannot master Glacial Heavenly Moon and Brilliant Blazing Fire in the future.
Wind God.
It is literally like riding the wind. It's a trait that lets the user manipulate the wind.
It suits Yoo Seolrang the best, but there's something that suits her even better.
The Wind God carries mana on the wind to sense most of the surroundings.
'Even without fully understanding the trait and its limitations, using it with it as it is has its advantages.'
The system is absolute.
However, it has its limits.
Awakening a Unique Trait along with a few traits can produce tremendous synergy, but,
The number of traits that can be contained varies depending on the person's capacity.
Though that doesn't apply for Yoo Eunchae.
Because she possesses the Infinity trait.
That is the true power of Yoo Eunchae.
'But even traits have synergies.'
It's not good to learn just anything because you can.
Because some traits have disadvantages, and traits without synergy are not that good.
But she's confident in handling all of them.
Sigh.
She steadied her breath.
Brilliant Blazing Fire.
Red Flame Sphere.
She created one Red Flame Sphere and threw it at Yoo Seolrang.
"Ha! Too obvious!"
Yoo Seolrang sliced the Red Flame Sphere with the wind.
While doing so, she maneuvered to dodge.
At the same time, she was trying to use the surrounding wind to attack Eunchae.
She quickly drew her sword.
Han Seojin says she has no talent for the sword.
But that's just because Han Seojin sets his standards too high.
Eunchae threw the sword straight.
But it missed its target. The weight of Yoo Eunchae's body felt much heavier than usual.
'Damn this iron ring, if only it wasn't there!'
She gritted her teeth and moved.
She had to rely on magic. But this cursed iron ring could even block magical power.
Tsk, is there no other way?
It's a move too precious to use here, but she needed that elixir.
'Acting cute won't make me give it to you.'
On the contrary, if she showed skill, he might feel proud enough to give her something.
[Trait, Harmony of Heaven and Earth is activated.]
Suddenly, her body felt lighter.
As if everything had been elevated by one level.
'Red Flame Sphere.'
Flare.
As the flames blaze, the Red Flame Sphere, now five times larger, splits into three.
"Wait, wait, how did you…!"
"Goodbye."
She sent off Red Flame Spheres.
Being mentioned as one of the Golden Generation, Yoo Seolrang managed to cut through one of the Red Flame Spheres, but…
Boom!
She couldn't cut through the rest.
With a tremendous roar, Yoo Seolrang fell.
Then, Yoo Eunchae remembered something.
Students shouldn't attack each other with dangerous moves.
'…It should be fine, right?'
What's done is done.
Worrying is pointless anyway.
So, Yoo Eunchae trusted Yoo Seolrang's endurance.
'I feel like I'm going to die.'
Her body was heavy.
She also has to worry about the after-effects of the Harmony of Heaven and Earth.
The iron rings were too heavy.
'Still, it's okay.'
[Your strength has increased by 1.]
Suddenly, her body felt lighter.
It was worth running just to see the increase in stats.
And one more reason.
Because the professor was running alongside her.
'How many iron rings is he wearing, exactly?'
He's wearing one on each limb.
But they are at least 1.5 times thicker than what the students are wearing.
"Huff. Huff. What are you looking at?"
"Are you, okay?"
"What."
Yoo Eunchae took a moment to observe.
Han Seojin looked like he was going to die. His limbs were trembling, and sweat was pouring down like rain.
Yet, his eyes were still bright and clear.
'And it's dangerous.'
It's bad for the heart.
Despite having a beauty that surpasses most women,
His body is also better than anyone else's here.
A body that seems to have been meticulously crafted, stitch by stitch.
Yoo Eunchae peeked furtively at it.
She, who had been stealthily observing her master's body, saw him sigh deeply.
'Was I, was I caught?'
Even though she was careful to look secretly.
Crackling.
An icicle, elongated like a skewer, appeared out of thin air.
And then it flew backward.
"Aaah!"
The sound of a scream.
Yoo Eunchae smiled.
'Serves you right.'
Because it was Yoo Seolrang's scream.
"Why do we do this kind of training? Aren't you going to ask?"
"I think I'm starting to understand."
It deliberately made the students compete against each other.
Now, she can see how this man intends to teach them.
'He's trying to minimize the variables.'
There were so many variables when she fell into this world.
Yet, when she watches Han Seojin, those variables during the battle vanish.
Flawless movements or ending it cleanly with combat techniques.
'Perhaps what he intends to teach us is something like that.'
The most perfect combat method.
There's so much to learn and observe.
This must be one of those things.
"Die with honor!"
"Get lost!"
Han Seojin chuckled as screams came from behind.
…Surely, he's doing this to reduce variables for his students.
However, a tiny bit of Yoo Eunchae's heart wavered.
Crack.
After finishing the race, I was stretching at the finish line.
The outcome was more surprising than expected.
'I thought those who couldn't properly block variables would be last.'
Seon Woohyeon.
I had somewhat high expectations for him because he seemed promising.
But he finished last.
"…"
"…Pfft."
The woman next to him was splitting her sides with laughter.
This time, Yoo Eunchae was the top scorer.
Second place was Nam Hyerin.
Third place went to Seo Boram.
I distributed the elixirs to everyone.
In order of their ranks.
"Yay!"
"Thank you."
"…Thank you."
The order was Yoo Eunchae, Nam Hyerin, Seo Boram.
Come to think of it, I need to take care of that one sometime.
"Everyone worked hard in today's class. Those who wish to leave may do so. Nam Hyerin, you stay."
"Are you talking to me?"
"Yes, you."
"Ah, this is discrimination! What are you trying to do to our Hyerin!"
"You, out."
I used telekinesis to drag Yoo Eunchae out.
There was a shriek, but I ignored it.
The other students were curious, but soon they all left their seats.
"Why am I…?"
"Namgoong's Internal Arts. You haven't learned it yet, have you?"
"…Could it be?"
"I'll teach you."
"Do you know about Heavenly Thunder Imperial Godly Technique?"
"I do indeed."
I skimmed through most of their books.
Those Namgoong rascals might have been rotten to the core, but the swordsmanship they had built up wasn't.
'It was quite useful, too.'
Transforming swordsmanship with momentum was a relatively fresh perspective.
I took Nam Hyerin to a separate training room.
Then, I met a professor.
A martial arts instructor, one in Chinese-style clothing, and one student in a school uniform.
"…Nam Hyerin."
The murderous intent is thick.
Eyes like seeing someone who cannot coexist under the same sky.
'Sisters?'
Their eyes resembled each other.
Nam Hyerin flinched, and the one who seemed to be the instructor was smiling unpleasantly.
"You've come to this place carrying your lowly blood."
Her voice is full of hostility.
Looking at the badge, she seems to be a third-year, picking a fight with a first-year.
"Student Namgoong Miryeo."
"…I'm sorry."
Namgoong, huh?
'She has problems with being a lowborn too?'
Seems like her family situation is quite complicated, too.
Looking at Nam Hyerin, she was shrinking back.
"I'm sorry. You had to see such an unsightly side of me."
"That's enough for me to know."
"…"
The person, who seemed to be a martial arts instructor, raised his eyebrows with a displeased expression.
"Are you two sisters?"
"Yes, we are."
"Really? I didn't notice because your last names are different."
"…It should be on the student roster."
Namgoong Miryeo said.
I shrugged my shoulders.
"I don't look at that kind of stuff."
"Is that so because you're the eldest son of the Iron-Blood Sword Clan? You're overly confident. And you have the title of the youngest professor too."
"Not really."
"Pardon?"
"It's not excessive. I have confidence in my abilities. Ah, it's typical for the inferior to not understand, my apologies."
"…"
Namgoong Miryeo's mouth was agape.
She looked bewildered.
"It's interesting."
"I don't find it interesting."
Crack.
And the martial arts instructor was wearing an angry expression.
This is kind of fun.
"Do you know that a unity meeting is coming up soon?"
Unity meeting.
I heard it's where students and professors join forces to fight.
"This time, the competition will probably be decided between the third and first years."
"Isn't that too disadvantageous for the first years?"
"That may be so, but the momentum of the first years right now is outstanding. Above all, the principal has also approved."
It was obvious.
I think I hear murmurs somewhere along the 'This will be fun~' line.
'It seems he also wants to gauge my full strength.'
The professors said it's an opportunity to show the students how great they are.
In other words, it's also a chance to embarrass a professor they don't like.
'He must be confident in his skills.'
It was different with the first-year professors.
Even within the same rank, there are divisions.
And the one before me is on the verge of reaching a higher rank.
So at their level, they're probably at their peak of confidence.
They might even think of themselves as a genius.
I looked at Namgoong Miryeo.
She's quite skilled.
At her age, it wouldn't be strange to call her a promising talent.
'A trainer who thinks of himself as a genius and a student with even greater talent.'
It's a setup I like.
The expressions on their face when they get crushed will probably be very amusing.
"The unity meeting is a month away. I'm looking forward to it. Wondering if you'll be able to say the same then."
"Really? If you're so confident, how about we make a bet?"
"A bet?"
"Yes."
"What kind of bet?"
"Which of our students will win."
"Of course, I would choose Namgoong Miryeo. Ah, don't tell me you also want our Namgoong Miryeo…"
"I don't need her. I'll set the condition that Nam Hyerin wins."
"Isn't that too disadvantageous for you? Although Nam Hyerin is a promising candidate known as the Sword Monster,"
The instructor looked at Namgoong Miryeo.
"Our Miryeo is far superior to her, you know?"
"Is that so?"
Seems like she's below Seon Woohyeon anyway.
'But still.'
He has a lot of secrets, so it's understandable to be mistaken.
"We'll think about that when the time comes."
"What will the bet be then?"
"Well."
I'd like to leave him penniless if I could.
'But he probably won't agree to that anyway.'
Still, it seems like I could take a decent bite.
People like him tend to set up the board nicely on their own.
"Let's make the bet an apology."
"An apology?"
"Would it be a good idea for the loser to bow and say, 'My eyes are like knotholes'?"
"Sounds good."
"You're more agreeable than I thought. I was going to go easy, but now, I'll give you a proper challenge."
Could it be that at the unity event, she's going to fight me and give me a proper challenge?
This is ridiculous.
Smirking and giving a noncommittal agreement, I looked at Namgoong Miryeo.
Eyes brimming with confidence and arrogance.
Her face was etched with the certainty that she would never lose.
'Interesting.'
I was looking forward to the moment her face would contort.
I entered the training ground.
A quiet place with no one around.
This would be a good spot to teach the breathing technique.
Nam Hyerin approached me with a worried look.
"Are you sure about this?"
"About what?"
"About fighting me and my older sister… Namgoong Miryeo"
"Are you not confident?"
"To be honest, I'm still a bit lacking."
Nam Hyerin's eyes darkened.
"Miryeo is really strong."
"That's true."
It's because of her age that she has confidence. If it were someone else, she might have been a woman who made others feel like they hit a wall.
A first-year beating a third-year.
That saying does come up often, but it's also the result of the bottom of the third-year class going up against the top of the first-year class.
'It seems like there might be quite a turnaround by the end of the first year, though.'
Most of them are characters in their growth spurts.
The difference of a year is bigger than you'd think.
"It's okay."
Still, I told her it's okay.
Was it Namgoong Miryeo?
I don't think Nam Hyerin will lose to her.
'After all, she made it to the top ranks without Internal Arts while using incomplete sword techniques.'
If it's about talent, this side overflows and flows more than that side.
Was it Namgoong Miryeo?
'Isn't it going to be tough if you're not desperate?'
Because you might lose and cry your eyes out after a while.
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