บท 41: 455
[Chapter 129]
[Nothing is Impossible (3)]
"Beat it. Beat it hard."
"...Ugh..."
There's so much I want to say.
But I had to move quickly, unable to even utter those words.
Eun-hyeok had to grit his teeth and pound the dough he had fermented the day before with a club to spread it flat.
"Why do I have to come all the way here to make jajangmyeon..."
"Hey, you talk too much. Are you going to hold onto the dough all day?"
I feel like I'm going to cry.
However, it was her belief that jajangmyeon made with tears doesn't taste good.
If I made a mistake, I might have to start over from gathering ingredients.
I can't start over from the beginning when I can almost see the end.
In the end, Eun-hyeok held back his tears and pulled out the jajangmyeon noodles.
"Hmm... The thickness isn't even, and why is the noodle length like this?"
It was two days ago.
The owner of the small restaurant suddenly told Eun-hyeok that she would teach him swordsmanship.
<Sword Empress> Hwang Jin-hee.
Upon learning her name, Eun-hyeok naturally prostrated himself and asked for her teachings.
However, contrary to saying she would teach swordsmanship, she abruptly started teaching him how to make jajangmyeon.
"Start over from the beginning."
"Hey... You're telling me to start over from the beginning again!?"
"Do you think someone who can't even handle a kitchen knife properly can wield a sword?"
"I think I can..."
"Take it or leave it."
It was only delicious when I first ate it.
Eun-hyeok, tired of jajangmyeon after just one day, was angry at learning a jajangmyeon recipe he didn't understand while eating the jajangmyeon he made.
So he spoke his mind.
Of course, she wouldn't have it.
Eun-hyeok found her annoying for saying to just quit if he didn't like it.
"No, Choi Eun-hyeok. They said you shouldn't hate people. Seo-na said so too. Saying you might end up like the captain if you do. Yeah, Eun-hyeok. You can do it. You can definitely do it!"
Negative thoughts suddenly came to mind.
Snapping back to his senses, Eun-hyeok slapped his cheek hard with his hand.
Then he gives himself a pep talk.
Hwang Jin-hee watched him with a satisfied smile.
"Just remember this. Never make food with negative emotions, okay? Even the slightest emotion and thought flows into mana and changes the nature of magic, so be careful."
"...Ugh..."
It was incomprehensible to him.
Eun-hyeok focused on making the dough while half-listening to Hwang Jin-hee's advice from behind.
Coming all the way to Marado for this!
Why do I have to make jajangmyeon while the others are training comfortably...
Master should give me some proper training like Parang hyung or Min-ho...
Eun-hyeok, who barely received Hwang Jin-hee's approval, decided to take a short break.
Looking out at the store, Bae Su-bin and Seo-na are training hard.
Although not visible nearby, Mok Min-ho and Jin Pa-rang must be training somewhere too.
Probably Min-ho is struggling against monsters with tree branches by now, and Pa-rang is racking his brains to build the tallest stone tower.
It seemed like proper training.
Eun-hyeok was secretly envious of them.
"Alright, break's over."
"...Master. I feel like I just rested for a moment..."
"Hey, my disciple sure talks a lot. Now, let's start teaching you swordsmanship in earnest..."
"Yes! I've rested enough! I'm ready to learn now!"
Hwang Jin-hee dropped a tempting hint.
The moment he heard those words, he jumped up from his seat.
She gave a bitter smile at her 17-year-old disciple, as if she couldn't help it.
☆
It was a duel that couldn't be taken back.
Many of those present had already witnessed Hikigaya Hayato's rude behavior.
If either side were to back out of the duel, it was natural that the person who backed out would be looked down upon, no matter what reason they gave.
Moreover, the duel between the two promising students, Noh Eun-ha and Hikigaya Hayato, was directly linked to a duel between nations, not just between individuals.
It was a matter of national pride. The people present couldn't have been unaware of this fact.
"Ahaha! Isn't it too romantic to fight over one woman? This will be really interesting."
Above all, Kaguya had given permission.
She, the only one qualified to stop this duel, burst out laughing and approved the duel between the two.
"Sure, go ahead. I was disappointed that the planned Korea-Japan exchange event was canceled... It's not bad for the two of you to compete against each other. Of course, Hikigaya Hayato will have to take responsibility for his diplomatic discourtesy."
Hikigaya Hayato.
He was a promising student that Yokohama Academy was proud of, with a bright future ahead.
Kaguya had allowed the duel, confident in his skills. Separately, she decided to hold him accountable for his diplomatic discourtesy.
"And... I'm also curious about Noh Eun-ha's skills."
On the other hand, she was curious about Eun-ha's skills, who had defeated the 3rd-tier monster Gyuki.
And prompted by her statement.
The students from Yokohama Academy present whispered among themselves.
""""...."""
There was no way the Korean Academy students could understand what they were saying.
But they weren't unaware.
That they were confident in Hikigaya Hayato's victory.
They were filled with the belief that their country would be stronger.
"So if I win, I get his sword?" "Yes. Since I'm being wagered as a reward, it's only natural to bet something of equal value, right?"
"Even so... How can you be so calm when you're at stake in the duel?"
And receiving their gazes.
Eun-ha, standing in front of the barrier surrounding the arena, conversed with Han Seo-hyeon.
He couldn't help but admire her guts.
"Of course."
"What's so obvious?"
"I don't fight without certainty. I only fight battles I know I'll win."
"So you expect my victory?"
Han Seo-hyeon retorted arrogantly.
Eun-ha asked with a smirk.
"Why? Were you thinking of losing? If so, I won't let it slide."
As if provoking.
And as if threatening.
Han Seo-hyeon said with a smile.
Eun-ha snorted.
Of course, he had no intention of losing.
"Watch from there. Don't accidentally come inside the barrier."
"You think I'm you? I will."
"I'll come back victorious. Do you trust me?" "I don't trust you, I trust myself trusting you."
"What kind of nonsense is that?"
"Just hurry up and go."
Eun-ha finished his conversation with Han Seo-hyeon.
Then he approached Hayang, who had been quietly watching them all along.
As their eyes met, Hayang quickly put strength into her eyes.
But there was no way Eun-ha would find that sight intimidating.
"It'll be over in a moment, so please take care of Seo-hyeon in the meantime."
"...It feels like it's been a while since I've seen you, but all you talk about is Seo-hyeon unni?"
"...You're not angry, are you?"
"I don't know. You two are just having fun by yourselves..."
"I'm sorry about that. I'll try to make time to spend with you guys after this duel is over."
"Tch..."
Hayang puffs up her cheeks.
Eun-ha kept apologizing while poking her cheek.
When her anger finally subsided, Eun-ha lightly hit her head with the side of his hand.
"I'll be back."
"Just don't get hurt."
"Okay."
He finishes his conversation with her.
Now Eun-ha steps into the barrier without looking back.
In the center of the arena, someone was already standing with their eyes closed.
It was Hikigaya Hayato.
"...来たか."
...You've come.
He said, opening his eyes.
Soon, he draws his sword.
☆
The duel between the two could be fought in any way except for prohibiting killing.
They were free to use artifacts, magic, gifts, or anything else.
The outcome of the duel is determined when one admits defeat or is clearly defeated.
Seo-young noona had said.
To go easy on him.
Eun-ha felt the gazes pouring towards him as he placed his hand on the scabbard.
Hikigaya Hayato had already drawn his sword.
Now, as soon as he draws his sword, Kaguya will signal the start of the duel.
"...What is that?"
"It's a sword."
"No, what kind of sword... Geez... Are you making a fool of me right now?"
Eun-ha drew the Black Thorn.
As the two figures were displayed on the large monitor installed in the dome.
The jet-black blade was revealed under the lights.
Hikigaya Hayato's curiosity about the pitch-black blade was short-lived.
Soon, he frowned.
"What are you going to do with a cracked sword!?"
The crack was visible to the naked eye.
Discovering this, Hikigaya Hayato burst out in anger.
Soon, the monitor showed a close-up of the cracked sword.
""""...."""
From outside the barrier, jeers poured out at Eun-ha for seemingly disrespecting the duel, and sneers at what he could possibly do with a cracked sword.
Nevertheless, Eun-ha remained calm.
"What's wrong with this? It's not like I'm fighting a high-tier monster anyway."
"...Are you looking down on me right now?"
"I'm not really looking down on you. I'm just saying I can fight well enough with this sword."
"Isn't that the same thing!?"
"Oh, is it?"
His anger seemed to have reached its peak.
Hikigaya Hayato shouted, his face reddening.
He couldn't shake off the feeling of being insulted.
However, regardless of his feelings, the duel began.
"You come first."
Eun-ha yielded the first move.
He decided to gauge Hikigaya Hayato's skills from the first move.
When the blade imbued with killing intent quickly entered his space─.
─He's an impatient character.
It would have been better if he had swung his sword after taking one more step in.
Well, I would have blocked that too.
Eun-ha avoided the attack by moving his left foot back.
There was no need to block it with his sword.
Because he had swung his sword from too far a distance.
Having grasped his general fighting style with just one attack, Eun-ha now drew him into his own flow.
"...Kuk...!"
He moves in the way I guide, resulting in matching my rhythm.
Hikigaya Hayato, unaware of this, continued to display his swordsmanship.
Of course, it wouldn't work.
Eun-ha blocked all the swords coming in the direction he had drawn them.
He has talent and skill.
Indeed, he's worthy of growing into a player known as Japan's strongest in the future.
Eun-ha secretly admired Hikigaya Hayato's skills.
If he were Korean, he would have tried to recruit him without hesitation.
So it was only regrettable.
Eun-ha licked his lips as he quietly watched Hikigaya Hayato, who had distanced himself and was developing magic.
Soon, the magic was completed.
─空を走る稲妻
(Lightning running through the sky)
Hikigaya lowered his stance and charged.
In an instant, his speed increased dramatically, and lightning flashed on his blade.
The magic dripping from the tip of his sword burned the ground black, as if tracing his path.
Finally, as the blue-glowing lightning fell towards Eun-ha's head─.
"─To use such lightning magic at that age... Indeed impressive. Not bad for a finishing move."
With just one swing of the Black Thorn above his head.
The blue lightning disappeared helplessly.
Hikigaya Hayato couldn't hide his astonished expression at seeing the magic scatter with just one sword stroke.
"H-How..."
He seemed utterly disbelieving.
He stammered as he distanced himself.
Eun-ha still only made gestures inviting him to come.
"...Kuk...!"
Hikigaya Hayato gritted his teeth.
Then he distanced himself even further and began constructing magic that looked dangerous to anyone watching.
Then he opened his eyes confidently and glared at Eun-ha.
As if saying this would definitely be impossible to block.
"...Wide-range attack magic, huh."
But that was all the reaction from Eun-ha.
Even though he recognized that the opponent's magic was not ordinary, he didn't move to stop it.
That made the opponent even more furious.
Hikigaya Hayato, unlike his usual self, cursed as he poured in more mana.
土を這う業火 (Hellfire crawling on the ground)
As if alive.
The flames that appeared around Hikigaya Hayato writhed.
Those flames rapidly swelled and surrounded Eun-ha.
However, Eun-ha─.
"─Not bad."
"What...!?"
Just once.
Eun-ha struck the ground with his sword.
That was the end.
The wind pressure spreading from Eun-ha's center swept away the incoming flames.
"ありえない…."
Impossible...
Hikigaya Hayato could only stare in dismay.
He opens his mouth blankly, unable to come to his senses.
This scene was broadcast on the monitor in its entirety.
☆
When the Korea-Japan exchange event was first canceled.
At that time, Shin Seo-young rejoiced.
It was obvious that there would be a Korea-Japan friendly match as part of the exchange event.
Although it was called 'friendly', it couldn't be said that it wasn't a fight where national pride was at stake.
In the end, as an instructor, she had a lot to worry about for the match.
But with the Korea-Japan exchange event canceled, it meant there was nothing to worry about.
Until the academy tour.
"Damn, Noh Eun-ha..."
Even the academy tour was bearable.
It was just a simple tour program arranged by the Japanese government out of consideration for the Korean Academy.
But as the tour was ending well, Noh Eun-ha suddenly received a duel proposal from Hikigaya Hayato.
"Eun-ha, please go easy..."
It was a duel that couldn't be refused.
It was clear as day that Korea's prestige would greatly fall the moment it was refused.
Moreover, Kaguya had given permission.
There was no one at the scene with more authority than her, so they had no choice but to have the duel.
In the end, it came to this.
"I'm really grateful for Player Shin Seo-young's efforts this time. So I'm currently thinking about what would be an appropriate reward for Player Shin Seo-young and Student Noh Eun-ha. You can look forward to it."
"...Yes. Thank you."
Kaguya showed great fondness when she first saw Shin Seo-young.
And Shin Seo-young ended up sitting next to her, caught by her, to watch the match.
She could only pray.
That Eun-ha would go easy as he had promised her.
"Although Student Hikigaya Hayato has some personality issues, he's undoubtedly a player that Yokohama Academy is proud of. He's also the grandson and top disciple of one of the Twelve Devas,
"Although Student Hikigaya Hayato has some personality issues, he's undoubtedly a player that Yokohama Academy is proud of. He's also the grandson and top disciple of one of the Twelve Devas, the <Dragon Slayer>."
"Ah, I see..."
"I know Student Noh Eun-ha's skills well. But it's my judgment that Student Hikigaya Hayato could also defeat Gyuki, who was missing an arm and had its movements sealed while almost drained of strength."
Kaguya boasts about Hikigaya Hayato.
Shin Seo-young nodded along while inwardly sighing.
As she had expected all along, Kaguya had proposed the exchange event to the Korean Academy while having a strong promising student.
However, unfortunately─.
─Eun-ha, please... Go easy on him.
Kaguya didn't know.
That in Korea, there lived a very strong monster named Noh Eun-ha.
Shin Seo-young wanted to leave this place if possible.
Because unlike what Kaguya expected, the person who would win this duel would surely be Noh Eun-ha.
However─.
"─Ahahahaha! Is Student Noh Eun-ha trying to fight with a cracked sword!? Or is he looking down on us right now..."
"That bastard... Noh Eun-ha... He really should be expelled from the academy..."
The moment the Black Thorn appeared enlarged on the giant monitor.
Shin Seo-young couldn't help but curse.
She inwardly berated Noh Eun-ha while trying her best to maintain composure and made an implausible excuse to Kaguya.
Soon, the duel began.
"...Huh?"
Kaguya's face hardened.
At first, it seemed like Eun-ha was being pushed back by Hikigaya's consecutive attacks.
But as time passed, Kaguya and others realized that Hikigaya hadn't managed to land a single successful attack.
""""...."""
Moreover, while Eun-ha was facing him with a relaxed expression, Hikigaya's strained face was clearly broadcast.
The cheers of the Japanese people filling the arena gradually subsided.
"ありえない…." (Impossible...)
Suddenly, Eun-ha nullified a wide-range attack magic by striking the ground once with his sword.
Kaguya's face went from hardened to watching the match with a sharp gaze.
She was now silent.
"Um, Lady Kaguya..."
"Don't talk to me."
"Yes."
Shin Seo-young tried to lighten Kaguya's mood somehow after reading the atmosphere.
But Kaguya cut off her words with a cold voice.
In the end, she had no choice but to watch the match as if sitting on pins and needles.
Soon─.
"─な,何…!?" (W-What...!?)
The duel that had been one-sidedly in Noh Eun-ha's favor ended too anticlimactically.
Eun-ha effortlessly blocked Hikigaya Hayato's magic and deflected his sword in one motion.
"Noh Eun-ha, really..."
Looking at the dumbfounded Hikigaya Hayato.
Shin Seo-young kept cursing Noh Eun-ha while looking at the silent people.
Even though she had asked him to go easy.
Noh Eun-ha had ended the duel using only his cracked sword, without even using magic.
In contrast, his opponent had shown his full skills.
Yet he couldn't land a single hit on Noh Eun-ha.
That was the reason why the people present were feeling distressed.
Of course, the Korean Academy people had predicted Noh Eun-ha's victory from the start.
"H-How, with such a sword..."
Meanwhile, Shin Seo-young was eavesdropping on their conversation using the wind she had released in the arena.
Hikigaya Hayato, who had admitted defeat, was still talking to Eun-ha with an incredulous face.
He was asking how Eun-ha had beaten his sword with such a sword.
Eun-ha's answer was concise:
"─A master doesn't blame their tools."
"...What?"
"Ah, is this saying difficult?"
Contrary to Eun-ha's thoughts.
Judging from Hikigaya's facial expression, he seemed to have understood the saying.
"Couldn't you say it more nicely..."
Shin Seo-young could only laugh dryly.
If this conversation were to be heard by the people outside the barrier, it would surely shock them again.
They came for a friendly match, but their feelings might get hurt instead.
Shin Seo-young controlled the wind to ensure that no one else could overhear their conversation.
"...Seo-hyeon. Can you translate 'A master doesn't blame their tools' for me?"
Don't translate it, please.
Shin Seo-young inwardly shouted.
She suspected that Noh Eun-ha might actually be a spy trying to sow discord between nations.
And whether he really remembered the promise he made with her.
"Hmm..."
Meanwhile, Han Seo-hyeon, a direct descendant of the Sirius Group, seemed to be pondering.
She appeared to be thinking of an appropriate way to rephrase it.
Soon, she opened her mouth.
." (A master hand needs no tools... No.)
Shin Seo-young knew a little Japanese.
She had learned some Japanese during this semester for this final evaluation.
So she could hear that Han Seo-hyeon had said 'No' at the end.
Eventually, she─.
." (You lost because you're weak.)
Han Seo-hyeon giggled.
Hikigaya Hayato looked dazed after hearing this blunt fact.
"She's not normal either..."
And Shin Seo-young, who understood this, clicked her tongue and muttered.
She had been thinking it strange how well Eun-ha and Seo-hyeon got along.
It made sense now.
The two of them were perfectly in sync.
Shin Seo-young thoroughly controlled the arena to prevent any sound from leaking out.
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