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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: bchen3
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When I spoke teasingly, I reached out toward the kid who was looking up with an indignant expression.
Of course, they glanced at it and ignored it as if pre-arranged, getting up by themselves.
“Your answer?”
“…I’ll keep the promise.”
As Japanese lunch kid was cute following the bet’s result obediently while making an indignant expression, I messed up their hair.
Slap!
“Don’t… don’t touch my hair!”
Their face turned bright red as they swatted away my hand, probably not wanting to be treated like a child by someone they disliked.
The fierce aura from earlier when they were charging at me with killing intent had greatly diminished.
‘It’s really true that with kids, establishing hierarchy through actions works better than words.’
Often, the world of children had stricter hierarchies based on ability and strength than the adult world.
Just like how in their young years, they tend to be rebellious against authority and fear seniors who directly affect them more than teachers.
Japanese lunch kid definitely had sense.
Because of that, while they were a bit… no, very arrogant in this situation, with their talent, they must have learned a lot from the recent betting match.
During that long exchange, while they inflicted many superficial wounds on the surface, there weren’t any that could be called effective hits.
Without having defenders or vanguards as escorts, fighting 1-on-1 against a priest as a samurai class that’s second only to ninja and kunoichi in agility but not landing a single effective hit – they should understand well what that means.
Seeing how they still had plenty of rebellious spirit, they’d likely need to be put in their place periodically, but it might be good if they take me as their goal and use it as motivation for growth.
I was quite familiar with that kind of role too.
I looked at the kid who still wore a sullen expression, their indignation not yet subsided.
‘Though they’ll be hard to handle, it’s fortunate their talent is certain. With this, dealer-tank-healer. Have we gathered all the core talent we need?’
When I looked at them with a satisfied expression, they scrunched up their delicate face mercilessly with an expression like they were going to vomit.
I snickered at their childish behavior fitting their age and turned to Luna saying:
“Well, since it seems to be over, shall we head back? I’m tired after causing such a commotion in the middle of the night.”
“Honestly, I was nervous until halfway through because it looked like you were losing. There was a lot of blood too.”
“It really did hurt. If it was someone else, it would have ended early for real. It was only possible because it was me.”
If it had been someone else, when the blade grazed their body, they would have frozen up and that would have been the end.
I was able to get used to it quickly because I had experienced pain rolling around with the knights.
When I spoke proudly, Luna laughed “heeh” and said:
“Honestly, it looked cool like a shounen manga protagonist fighting.”
“For saying that, you were too harsh on me when I won, weren’t you?”
“…Are you angry?”
“Not really, but I’m a bit hurt? It really did hurt me.”
“Hmm…hmm…”
Luna cleared her throat then with a slightly embarrassed red face.
“Pain, pain go away~”
“…Aren’t you embarrassed? Luna-nim must be in your mid-twenties.”
“…It’s a sign of apology. And don’t talk about age in front of women.”
“If you’re going to be that embarrassed, you shouldn’t have done it.”
“…I won’t do it again next time.”
Though it was cringe-worthy even watching it, because it was a beauty’s aegyo, it was somewhat bearable.
I heard people who watch female streamers donate tens to hundreds of thousands of won at once just to see something like this.
Honestly, it didn’t seem worth that much, but I took it positively thinking it was Luna’s way of showing she was sorry.
Of course, if Goddess Hespa did something like that when I was hurt, I would be willing to open my wallet.
We started walking back after this happening that was worth Luna kicking her blanket a few times while sleeping at night.
“Aren’t you coming?”
“…I’ll go alone.”
“What for? We’re going the same way anyway. Don’t put on useless pride just because you lost. Come along, and don’t cry about it being scary with no lights on the way.”
“Who’s crying…!”
“You did cry. Because you lost to me. But don’t be too heartbroken. Your opponent was me after all.”
“Ugh-!”
“That’s right. Kudo-kun might not know, but Kid-nim is an incredibly amazing pro gamer outside. I’m actually more surprised that Kudo-kun could fight with Kid-nim at that level. I’m looking forward to our party’s future.”
Japanese lunch kid who had been having a fit at my words fell quiet with a red face at Luna’s words.
‘They might be unexpectedly easy to handle.’
I smiled watching the kid quietly listening to Luna’s words.
◈ ◈ ◈
Lost.
Completely.
Kudo Ren thought while feeling an ache in their wrist that had already been completely healed from being crushed nearly to the bone.
‘…To think I’d lose to a novice, even if it’s Dead End.’
Of course, they too were just a novice at this point, but inside they were a hero who had survived 8 years in this Elysium.
…While they weren’t that great of a hero, just riding on their party’s reputation, considering the reality where less than half of the heroes survived after 8 years, it was enough to call them a veteran.
‘Dead End… was a monster from this period.’
Even though their previous job wasn’t a dealer class, they never thought they would genuinely lose in a duel between samurai and priest, and to a novice at that.
[Name: Kudo Ren]
[Main Class: Hero[S] – Ashigaru[F](Takemikazuchi)]
[Sub Class[0/2]: None]
[Life – 15.5] – lv1
[Earth – 20.7] – lv1
[Strength – 16.3] – lv1
[Agility – 35.7(+5)(+101)] – lv1
[Circuit – 7.3] – lv1
[Magic Power – 4.1] – lv1
[Divine Power – 0] – lv1
Skills(4/15): ■■■■■■(?), Language of Babel(EX), Hero’s Destiny(S), Bushido(A)
[Exp: 31]
[Achievement: One Who Came Back]
‘These stats would have been unimaginable before.’
Among all heroes, there probably wasn’t anyone with stats this high at this point in time.
Plus, they had used all their Up points to strengthen their stats for today’s duel.
But even with these stats and a job advantage, they couldn’t win against Dead End.
When they first inflicted wounds, they actually thought they could end it quickly.
Most heroes in what was commonly called the novice period, shortly after being summoned, often couldn’t adapt to pain and would freeze up or panic at even small injuries, unable to show their true strength.
There were even heroes who died to goblins in actual combat because they panicked.
But just 1 week.
In just that short time, Dead End had become accustomed to Elysium.
Even if you could recover quickly, it shouldn’t be easy to be unfazed by the pain of your body being cut.
But Dead End remained calm even when the blade grazed their body and blood flowed from wounds to soak the ground.
Not a berserker or other vanguard class used to being wounded, but just a novice priest of only 1 week.
Though they seemed momentarily flustered at first, after getting used to their opponent’s movements, their responses were straight and perfect in the duel where blades flew.
Not a single fatal wound was inflicted.
Kudo Ren watched Dead End walking leisurely ahead while half-listening to Saionji Luna’s chattering beside them.
‘…Now it would be hard to expect even a lucky break if I attacked.’
There was something outstanding heroes used to say.
The phrase ‘Download complete.’
Among heroes, those excellent at analyzing opponents would get the same result no matter how many times they fought someone they had beaten once.
As if they had grasped everything about their opponent.
Unlike the slightly shaky early phase in the recent duel, from the middle phase it felt like all their moves and thoughts were being read.
‘However.’
Kudo Ren knew some things about the future.
The opportunities that were called ‘Level Up Events’ among heroes that everyone sought out.
If they could preempt some of the early known ones.
‘Before Dead End grows stronger, I’ll nip it in the bud.’
The potential shown at this point, just about a week in.
Moreover, considering Dead End’s composure throughout the duel, this somehow didn’t even feel like their full power.
They could understand why they were called the ‘Strongest Hero.’
If such a Dead End grew even stronger from here.
‘…There’s no way I could stop them.’
No, even before regressing, the forces that could stop Dead End after they turned to the heretics’ side could be counted on one hand from humanity’s side.
It wasn’t for nothing that they were called the terminus of all beings they encountered (Dead End).
‘If I couldn’t win right away anyway, joining their party isn’t a bad choice.’
Secretly grow stronger with future knowledge. Watch for opportunities while being together as Dead End’s party member.
And…
‘When the opportunity comes. I’ll definitely kill them.’
Kudo Ren thought while watching the back of the head walking ahead with seemingly good spirits.
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A man was standing firmly on the earth.
The area around the man was filled with corpses.
Not discriminating between monster and human corpses, they filled everywhere in all directions, and the ground was dyed black like it was cursed with blood that flowed from the corpses, just like the man’s priest robes.
The priest robes that would have been made with quite expensive materials originally looked like black robes from the dried blood.
The man was blankly staring ahead holding something that could have been a spear, staff, or cane.
In front of such a man, incongruous with this hell-like background, stood a lone statue.
Looking at the statue, the man talked to himself.
The man who had been muttering to himself toward the statue seemed to become increasingly emotional until he expressed his rage toward the statue.
And when those emotions reached their peak.
The man laughed madly.
Toward such a man, shadows bearing evil and eerie energy began approaching, using the ground blackened with dead blood as their curtain.
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“…Maybe I’ve adapted too well to this place.”
I scratched my head after waking up.
And then sighed from embarrassment.
This isn’t the birth of the Dark Flame Master or anything.
“What kind of weeb dream is this at my age?”
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Ohh, feeling some kind of regression effect, huh. Honestly, if the situation of Kid growing is so dire that he feels the need to kill him no matter what, I’m surprised the high schooler hasn’t just tried to kill him in his sleep or something.