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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: FusionX
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The second match, the free-for-all, ended.
The result, as with the first match, was first place.
Now, if I secured first place in just one of the remaining two matches, I would successfully defend my top student ranking.
‘I wonder what the next match will be.’
The Tower of Trials (Boss Rush)? Or perhaps Point Capture?
‘Honestly, it doesn’t really matter what it is.’
Still, I hoped it would be the Tower of Trials.
Since the matches were held individually in a virtual reality space, I could activate Speed Limit Removal the moment I entered each floor and instantly obliterate the boss. Or, like I did at the outpost, I could pull out a massive amount of explosives and cause a huge explosion.
I could do whatever I wanted without restraint.
Of course, I could achieve first place in Point Capture as well.
‘But it’s such a hassle.’
Point Capture, held in an urban area, was, as the name suggested, a competition where individuals had to compete against many others to capture points. Just like the free-for-all I had just finished.
‘If the next match is Point Capture… they’ll all target me again.’
Classes C and B might not, but Class A would definitely focus on eliminating me first.
Unlike the arena, where there was no room to hide, the urban setting would provide ample opportunities for ambushes and traps.
They would use every tactic they learned from me, specifically during villain response training, to ensure my elimination.
So, I hoped the next match would be the Tower of Trials.
I preferred fighting all-out, using every ability at my disposal, rather than holding back to avoid inflicting critical injuries.
With that in mind, as I exited the coliseum, I manipulated my smartwatch and sent a message to Arthur and Asuka.
[Me]
Arthur, Asuka.
Let’s have lunch together.
[Asuka]
Okay, sounds good!
(｡˃ ᵕ ˂ )b
[Arthur]
Sure.
[Me]
Then I’ll wait for you at the left entrance of the coliseum.
[Asuka]
I’ll be there as soon as my treatment is finished!
(❛▿❛ )੭೨💨
[Arthur]
I’m almost done with my treatment too.
By the way, Asuka.
[Asuka]
Yes?
[Arthur]
Emoticons? Or should I say special characters?
Anyway, how do you use those? Can you teach me?
[Asuka]
Oh, of course!
Here’s how you use them…
The messages stopped there.
It seemed Asuka was explaining it to Arthur through a private chat.
‘…Should I sit down and wait until they arrive?’
Arthur and Asuka said they’d be here soon, but since their treatment wasn’t completely finished, I didn’t know when they would arrive.
So, I decided to sit on a bench and rest for a while.
I walked over to a bench I had been eyeing and sat down.
“…This is much better.”
Unlike the other benches, which were scorching hot from being exposed to the sunlight, this one was shaded by a large tree.
So, it was much cooler. Actually, it was quite comfortable.
“……”
I leaned back against the bench.
I watched people passing by.
“Mom, Dad. Did you see my match today? Did you see how much better I’ve gotten?”
“Of course, we saw it all. Our son, you’ve improved so much.”
A classmate walking with his family.
“Honey, are you okay?”
“Yeah, I’m fine. I fainted right away, so I’m not that hurt.”
A classmate engaged in a public display of affection with his lover, despite the sweltering heat.
“Hey, I heard the food at the Academy cafeteria is amazing.”
“It is amazing. After you eat here, you’ll definitely regret enrolling in any other academy.”
A classmate heading towards the cafeteria with a friend or acquaintance.
Everyone had bright expressions. Everyone was laughing happily.
Their happy auras made me smile.
But that smile soon faded.
‘…The attack, it’s going to happen, isn’t it?’
I looked up.
A clear, cloudless sky greeted me.
Normally, such a sky would have been refreshing, but…
Today, it felt suffocating.
‘When the Named Fallen attack, this sky will change too.’
Just like when Enchantress attacked.
Greed would appear along with a Rift.
And these people’s bright expressions, their happy laughter, their joyful auras…
‘They’ll all change.’
Bright expressions would turn to fear.
Happy laughter would become screams.
Joyful auras would transform into anxiety.
Everything would become bleak.
“Sigh.”
A heavy sigh escaped my lips.
The Fallen, who could appear at any moment. And the people, who were completely unaware.
Honestly, I wanted to tell them.
I wanted to tell them that the Fallen would attack today. I wanted to tell them to evacuate.
But I couldn’t.
They wouldn’t believe me, and even if they did, it would cause mass panic.
[Master, that’s why you made preparations, isn’t it?]
‘…Right, I did.’
As Terra said, I had made as many preparations as possible.
The Chairman, the Principal, Instructor Kang Chul-soo, the main characters, and others.
I had informed those I could trust, those who would believe me, about the impending attack.
Despite that, I felt a heavy weight on my chest.
– Lee Yu-jin, the Duel Season cannot be canceled. No, rather, it must not be canceled.
– Think about it. Just a few months ago, all the major institutions in this country were infiltrated by Fallen worshippers. And we were completely unaware.
– Of course, with your help, we’ve apprehended most of them, but people are still anxious. In such a climate, if the Academy’s annual event were canceled because of a Fallen attack, what would people think?
– Yes, they would be terrified. They would believe that nowhere is safe. So, while we must prepare, the Duel Season must proceed.
I recalled the conversation I had with the Principal, and a bitter feeling washed over me as I looked at the people around me.
The fact that I couldn’t completely eliminate the possibility of these people, my classmates, dying…
It was a bitter pill to swallow.
As if sensing my feelings, Terra sent a comforting message.
[Master, didn’t Instructor Kang Chul-soo say it? The moment they enrolled in this Academy, all the students became heroes.]
Yes, I remembered.
The day I was hospitalized after the fight with Enchantress.
I learned that twenty of my classmates, whom I didn’t know personally, but could have saved, had died.
It was incredibly painful. I tried to distract myself by claiming the quest rewards, but…
The sadness only intensified afterward.
Still, I pretended to be fine. I pretended to be strong. I pretended to be unaffected.
But Instructor Kang Chul-soo saw through my facade.
– You, and all the students enrolled here, are not hero candidates, you are heroes. You are proud warriors who are prepared to face death at any moment. So, grieve for their deaths, but do not despair.
Like a true instructor, he offered rough, but sincere words of encouragement that helped me overcome my grief.
‘…Proud warriors, huh.’
Yes, he was right.
My classmates, no, all the students and instructors at the Academy, would fight, not flee, if the Fallen attacked.
They would risk their lives to protect their families, lovers, friends, acquaintances, even strangers.
‘…I just need to work harder.’
People who were willing to face death to protect others.
I resolved to work even harder for them.
With renewed determination, the bitter feeling vanished completely.
The smile that had faded from my lips returned.
“I feel a bit better now.”
The weight on my chest had lifted.
I nodded, feeling refreshed, and activated the hologram function on my smartwatch.
I was about to message Arthur and Asuka to ask if they were done with their treatment when…
“Lee Yu-jin-nim, there you are.”
“…Noah? What are you doing here?”
Noah appeared.
What? He was supposed to be with Gloria in the reception room.
“Weren’t you with Gloria-nim?”
Had she already returned to the Grand Temple?
‘That can’t be…’
I needed to ask her about Asuka’s talent, the Dragon Blood Elixir.
Fortunately, my worries were unfounded.
“Lee Yu-jin-nim, would you come with me?”
“Why?”
“My mother would like to meet you.”
“…Me?”
“Yes, you.”
Oh.
That was good.
Actually, it was great.
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[Me]
Arthur, Asuka. I’m sorry.
Gloria-nim wants to see me, so I won’t be able to have lunch with you.
[Asuka]
Not again! You abandoned me again!
[Betrayed Unicorn]
[Arthur]
If Gloria-nim summoned you, it can’t be helped.
Still, I can’t help but feel a little disappointed.
(ꀬ⏖ꀬ)
[Me]
I’m sorry, really sorry.
Let’s definitely eat together next time.
[Asuka]
…It can’t be helped.
Okay. Let’s eat together next time. ‘Definitely.’
[Arthur]
Alright.
Then let’s look forward to next time.
( ˘•~•˘ )
“…Lee Yu-jin-nim, I apologize for interrupting your plans.”
Seeing my apologetic messages to Arthur and Asuka, Noah bowed his head with a genuinely apologetic expression.
“No, it’s okay. It’s not like lunch is the only opportunity to eat together. We can do it next time.”
While lunch with them was important, meeting Gloria was more important.
Opportunities to meet her were rare.
“…Still.”
“It’s fine, really. So, is this the reception room where Gloria-nim is?”
“Yes, it is.”
Noah said, opening the door to the reception room.
“You can go in.”
“…Aren’t you coming?”
Why was he telling me to go in alone?
“My mother said to wait outside until she was finished talking with you.”
Why?
I asked, slightly bewildered, and…
“I don’t know. All I know is that she said she had something to discuss with you privately.”
…Privately?
Alone in a closed room?
‘What’s this? This kind of event never happened in the game.’
It definitely wasn’t anything inappropriate.
Gloria was a woman devoted to a single person her entire life.
“…Okay.”
I nodded and entered the reception room. The door closed behind me.
At the same time, a gentle, soothing voice, which made me feel at ease just by hearing it, reached my ears.
“Welcome.”
I walked further inside, following the voice.
I saw Gloria sitting on a chair, sipping tea.
Clink.
Gloria set her teacup down and looked at me. I felt something wrap around my body.
It was a rope made of holy power.
…Why was she doing this?
“So, my intuition was correct.”
“……?”
What intuition?
I thought, and was about to ask her what was going on, but…
‘Why can’t I speak?’
I could only open and close my mouth. My voice seemed to have disappeared.
Gloria smiled faintly at my reaction and stood up.
She slowly approached me and pulled something out of her pocket.
It was… a pair of knuckles with a cross engraved on them.
‘No, why? Why are you equipping a weapon?!’
I was completely bewildered.
Gloria, suddenly equipping a weapon and approaching me, made me struggle even harder.
“Struggling is futile.”
Click, click.
Gloria’s footsteps echoed as she approached. She ignited holy flames in both hands and continued.
“I had a favorable impression of you. After all, you were the one who awakened genuine emotions in my son.”
But, Gloria added, her smile vanishing.
“I never imagined you possessed such a sinister aura.”
Déjà vu.
I sighed inwardly, watching Gloria act exactly like the Martial God had.
I struggled even more frantically, desperately trying to speak.
“What do you want to say so badly?”
Gloria asked in a gentle voice, as if listening to a final plea.
However, her expression and posture suggested she was ready to attack at any moment.
I took a deep breath.
And when I had calmed down somewhat, I shouted,
“Please let me speak with the Chairman!”
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