599

 [Chapter 161]

[Those Who Oppose Noh Eun-ha]

The academy cultural festival opened.

As Noh Eun-ha made a name for himself in the industry, the number of visitors that had been increasing every year showed an increase over previous years this year as well.

Among them, the program that showed the biggest increase was the comprehensive division competition.

"It wasn't like this last year, what's going on?"

"All seats sold out from the first day, and they're adding more broadcast rooms? Is it the finals day?"

Generally, the popularity of the comprehensive division competition wasn't that high on the first day.

So even though it was sold out, tickets could be obtained until right before the competition started.

But this year, not only were advance reservations flooded before the competition started, but people who visited the academy timed with the cultural festival opening immediately bought up on-site tickets as well.

Though there were still 3 hours left until the first round of the main tournament started, it quickly sold out.

"It was less last year... This year is really no joke. I barely got a ticket."

"Only the scouts are suffering. Those who couldn't make advance reservations are probably dying trying to buy tickets on-site?"

"It seems the recognition of the Noh Eun-ha squad is no joke. Even regular people know about them."

"Regular people don't know much about the Noh Eun-ha squad. It's just that <Quick-witted > is graduating next year, so they came to see the last performance he'll show as a student. The squad members are getting attention along with that."

"To have this much popularity before even making a player debut, he's really something else."

Noh Eun-ha and the Noh Eun-ha squad.

That was the reason people including regular people and industry officials came to see the first day of the main tournament, which was essentially no different from preliminaries.

Scouts from each clan clicked their tongues seeing the packed spectator seats.

"Let's see, then how far can <Quick-witted >'s friends who were only rumored about go? Hey, which match should we pay attention to among today's matches?"

"The match between 031st class Bae Su-bin and Hoshimiya Kaede. One of them will probably face Noh Eun-ha in the last match today."

"Sounds interesting."

30 minutes before the comprehensive division competition started.

The scouts who took their seats smiled once looking at today's bracket.

Bae Su-bin and Hoshimiya Kaede.

A match between a caster and a ranger.

Those who knew remembered Bae Su-bin winning in the competition two years ago.

So─.

"─Let's see how much they've both grown? Will the caster win against our expectations like two years ago, or..."

Will the ranger win.

The thoughts of high-ranking clan scouts who came to watch the competition from the first day to check the skills of the Noh Eun-ha squad were all the same.

Thus, amidst people's expectations─.

[─We will now begin the main tournament of the comprehensive division competition.]

The comprehensive division competition opened.

☆

I lost to Bae Su-bin two years ago.

So I can't lose this time too.

"─Quietly admit defeat. There's nothing that will change even if you keep fighting here."

"Hoshimiya Kaede...."

At first, Bae Su-bin had the upper hand.

She used the mountain spirit's eyes to drive Hoshimiya Kaede into a corner.

But that was also part of Hoshimiya Kaede's plan.

She acted like she was being overwhelmed by Bae Su-bin while secretly setting traps all over.

"Hmph, looks like you did some research on me? To think you'd try to avoid my eyes by laying magic formulas under the ground..."

"I may have lost once, but I can't lose twice."

Of course, Su-bin's mountain spirit eyes would have been able to read the magic formulas of the traps she secretly set.

That's why she set traps underground where she wouldn't divert her eyes to catch her off guard.

Thus, when the traps she set formed a net covering the entire arena.

She activated the traps and reversed the situation.

"Okay, I'll admit that. I'll say it was my mistake for not considering underground."

"If you admit it then hurry and accept def..."

Su-bin's feet were tied by traps.

It was structured so that if she activated magic, the area where traps were set would immediately explode.

It was a very fatal trap for her as a caster.

Nevertheless, Bae Su-bin snorted.

"But it's not over until I say I've lost? Don't talk like you've won already."

"What are you going to do now...!"

"If I can't win, you can't win either. Let's both die."

"You crazy bitch!"

"Yeah, I'm a crazy bitch. Crazy about winning. Why did you try to beat me?"

Snap.

Bae Su-bin snapped her fingers.

It was instantaneous that magic that couldn't inflict any damage pulled the fuse of the traps.

Hoshimiya Kaede exclaimed.

Bae Su-bin cackled.

─Boom boom boom boom boom boom!

The traps laid underground all exploded at once.

Kaede, who was with Su-bin urging her to accept defeat, couldn't be safe from the explosion either.

Nevertheless, Kaede used her wits to minimize the damage as much as possible.

She drew her bowstring.

─Star Plucking

It was a race against time.

Would she be consumed by the explosion.

Or would the trajectory soaring into the sky finally escape the explosion.

"...Kuk...!"

Kaede entrusted her body to a gambling-like method.

Fortunately, the gamble succeeded.

She was able to escape the explosion at the cost of her uniform being singed by fire.

On the other hand, Bae Su-bin's gamble─.

"─Damn it..."

If one person succeeded in the gamble.

She failed the gamble.

As soon as Kaede escaped, Bae Su-bin hurriedly used magic to try to block the explosion.

But her gamble ended in failure and she collapsed on the ground.

[─Winner, Hoshimiya Kaede.]

Soon the speaker sound was heard.

Hoshimiya Kaede turned her back on Bae Su-bin being carried away by supporters and headed towards the entrance leading to the waiting room.

There was one person.

""..."

Noh Eun-ha.

He who was waiting for his next turn was looking at her.

She didn't avoid his eyes.

No, she approached him.

I wanted to face you once.

In her first year, she had trained together with On Tae-yang.

She tried to find a way to oppose Noh Eun-ha against the dealer On Tae-yang.

That's how much Noh Eun-ha was an opponent she wanted to fight at least once.

No, a person she wanted to prove herself to.

"Where─."

"Huh?"

"─Prove if you can have me."

"What?"

Previously, she had promised Eun-ha she would join the party he would create.

But apart from the promise, she wanted to directly confirm Eun-ha's skills.

She didn't want to be under someone weaker than herself.

So she uttered as she passed by Eun-ha.

"─See you later."

"Okay."

Noh Eun-ha responded.

☆

Perhaps because it was the main tournament, unlike the preliminaries, the opponent didn't forfeit.

So Eun-ha also provided an opportunity for the opponent to demonstrate their skills to scouts for the opponent's sake.

[─Winner, Noh Eun-ha.]

Nevertheless, Eun-ha won.

Eun-ha, who shook hands with his opponent, checked the situation of his other friends.

Everyone won except Su-bin. Su-bin just had a bad matchup...

Except for Bae Su-bin, his friends would advance to the 2nd day competition.

No, one person wouldn't be able to advance.

Hoshimiya Kaede.

She was Eun-ha's remaining opponent for today's matches.

"─Didn't you say to prove if I can have you?"

"Baba?"

"When I saw earlier, you had a face saying you'd take me down.... I'm looking forward to seeing how much stronger you've become."

Eun-ha eagerly anticipated facing her.

A promising talent he wanted to recruit for his party.

He was very curious what kind of growth she had achieved.

So time seemed to pass slowly, but─.

"─Are you okay? You seemed quite injured earlier."

"This is nothing. You don't need to worry about me."

Time passed quickly.

Eun-ha, who came out to the arena, was standing facing Kaede.

"Then that's good. It wouldn't be good if you got injured and couldn't fight properly. You have to show everything."

"I plan to show everything, so watch carefully with those eyes."

Receiving the gazes of the spectators.

The two conversed.

"I'll only use this one sword to face you. Is that okay?"

"...Okay, fine. Though it's frustrating, I have to acknowledge the skill difference between you and me. But don't make excuses later if you lose."

"That won't happen so don't worry."

Eun-ha then pointed to Winter Blooming Coldly.

It was his own handicap.

He had no intention of using other devices or artifacts in this match.

The same went for Buldak.

This isn't a match.

It's a place to see how much they've grown.

Just as students appeal their skills to industry officials using the comprehensive division competition as an opportunity.

For Eun-ha's friends including Kaede, it could be said to be a place to appeal their skills to Eun-ha.

Their goal was to show growth that exceeded his expectations even a little.

Not to receive attention from industry officials.

Therefore, Eun-ha also intended to give himself a handicap so his friends could demonstrate their skills to the fullest.

[─Match, start.]

Thus, as the signal announcing the start of the match rang out.

A match to evaluate each other unfolded.

☆

The stage was an urban area.

Buildings created by instructors' magic densely filled the arena.

Thousand Steps

It was terrain easy to take cover in.

But the meaning of being easy to take cover didn't only apply to Eun-ha.

Comet

The same applied to Kaede.

Moreover, it was a very good environment for her as a ranger.

She could attack Eun-ha from afar by climbing on top of buildings.

Usually, once you take the high ground, you can keep holding it.

He really doesn't go easy at all...!

Eun-ha was a dealer.

She was a ranger.

Eun-ha couldn't respond much to attacks falling from the top of buildings.

But when he tried to climb buildings to avoid attacks, Kaede never allowed it.

Weasel Claws

Moreover, Kaede spotted Eun-ha and was persistently chasing after him.

So he had no choice but to keep showing his back to her.

He had to focus on deflecting the falling arrows.

Crazy Dance

There was no ranger as helpful as an ally.

But as an enemy, she was really annoying.

Eun-ha clicked his tongue seeing arrows that occasionally curved violating the laws of physics among the arrows she shot.

Arrows he thought were only falling from above circled around buildings and flew in.

Thousand Steps

Though Eun-ha was holding back his strength.

Hoshimiya Kaede's strategy was quite admirable.

It's easy to say.

But is it easy to keep giving up the high ground?

She kept shooting arrows incessantly without giving Eun-ha any leeway.

As soon as he barely found a gap and tried to jump up the outer wall of a building, she immediately activated traps.

Eun-ha realized then.

That Kaede was pretending to show openings while skillfully luring him into traps.

"Then can you pressure me if I go inside buildings?"

Eun-ha had seen enough of Hoshimiya Kaede's strategy and skill.

He deflected all the arrows that followed him into the alley.

Then he took shelter in a nearby building.

Once he disappeared from her sight like that, there was no flood of arrows.

Or so he thought─.

─Storm's Poem

Even that was within her range.

Eun-ha was astonished at arrows flying in through the windows.

When did she create such magic!?

What Eun-ha saw was Kaede drawing her bowstring in the opposite building.

Then the arrow that left the string brought a fierce storm and flew in as if destroying the building.

Boom!

Of course, the durability of buildings created by instructors' magic was low.

The outer walls of the building shook greatly.

The windows shattered.

The arrow that flew into the building unleashed a storm.

Spirit Summoning

A storm raged inside the room.

Hoshimiya Kaede must have prepared magic for this situation as well.

Eun-ha inwardly clicked his tongue at her thoroughness and tried to control the storm.

But the storm caused by Storm's Poem was just a byproduct of the magic.

High-level control techniques didn't have much effect.

In the end, Eun-ha had to escape from the storm that might not stop.

And as if waiting for that moment─.

─Comet

An arrow rain poured from the sky.

Blue mana pierces the ground.

Eun-ha momentarily lost his senses at the tremendous destructive power.

One Point Breakthrough

Dodging was impossible.

It was magic Kaede had carefully prepared knowing he would come out.

So Eun-ha focused on blocking the attack rather than dodging.

Magic created from the sword tip enveloped Eun-ha's entire body and became a giant spear.

That spear nullified the arrow rain.

At the same time, Eun-ha threw himself into a nearby building.

I can't stay here long.

That magic will surely... Kuk...!

The only option for Eun-ha against Kaede who had air superiority was to quickly subdue her.

Speed was the way to survive.

So he planned to confuse Kaede by going out through different entrances and hiding in different buildings, repeating this.

While planning to approach her rear─.

─Boom!

As if she had calculated even that.

A trap exploded in the third building Eun-ha entered.

Kaede had set traps inside buildings in between attacking Eun-ha.

"She's really thorough... You won't use buildings at all, right?"

Though Eun-ha was impressed by Kaede at first.

As he kept falling for her traps, he couldn't be impressed anymore.

Eun-ha hurriedly threw himself out of the collapsing building.

He kept running away, avoiding the magic pouring down as if waiting for that moment.

Thousand Steps

Nevertheless, Eun-ha was gradually getting closer to Kaede.

The traps she had set were running out and showing their limits.

Eun-ha, who waited for that moment, ran wall-walking towards Kaede.

Storm's Poem

Comet

Of course, she didn't stay still.

A storm rushed in.

A comet fell.

There wasn't even cover around Eun-ha walking on the wall.

He had to choose in the end.

Go down to the ground and dodge.

Or break through like this.

Thousand Steps

One Point Breakthrough

What Eun-ha chose was the latter.

Kaede seemed to have noticed Eun-ha would make such a choice.

She desperately shot arrows.

Thousand Steps

Thousand Steps

Thousand Steps

But she couldn't stop Eun-ha pushing through with speed.

In the end, the giant spear climbed the wall and soared high into the sky.

Eun-ha was able to reach the rooftop of the building she was on.

Of course─.

─Star Plucking

She quickly ran away.

She tried to move to another building rooftop by shooting arrows as far as possible.

Thus, she tried to create distance and prepare a new attack, but─.

─Ox Walk

Eun-ha immediately kicked off.

He could see the flow of mana.

The position she moved to happened to be a position he could move to in one go.

"─You should have not used that magic either. That magic really is like cheating."

"I originally had no intention

It happened in an instant.

Eun-ha appeared behind Kaede and pointed his sword at her.

Startled as she realized his presence, she let out a sigh.

"Well done. Your strategy of using the terrain to not even give me time to think properly was good."

"Noh Eun-ha."

"What?"

"If you think it's over like this, that's a huge mistake."

"...!"

At that moment, an arrow flew in from the 9 o'clock direction.

He belatedly sensed the arrow's presence and realized his mistake.

The instant she felt his presence.

Kaede had quickly released her bowstring and sent an arrow flying.

Whoosh!

Kaede, who could also control the direction of arrows, had deliberately sent the arrow she shot just before far away.

She made it return to target him when Eun-ha let his guard down.

Of course, it was just a minor lapse in attention.

The arrow she shot feeling a sense of crisis was very small.

But even a very small arrow was enough to create an opening for her to move─.

"─If you thought I only knew how to use a bow, realize it now."

"...!"

Kaede, who broke free from Eun-ha, suddenly spread her skirt and took out tonfas from the garter on her thigh.

Quickly grasping two tonfas in her hands, she rushed at Eun-ha.

"─I'll struggle to the end."

She had learned bayonet techniques of course.

She had also learned close combat skills.

She swung the tonfas.

Eun-ha was taken aback by the sudden turn of events.

☆

Close combat skills in preparation for close quarters battle.

It was something Kaede had intensively practiced while sparring with On Tae-yang.

Among them, she had shown talent with the tonfa weapon.

I have to block with one arm.

If I block with both arms, I'll be in trouble.

Usually wearing them in a garter on her thigh.

A device of Byeokhaesoo that transforms into tonfas when infused with mana.

Grasping the tonfas, she blocked the sword flying in from the side.

"...Kuk...!"

Blocking the sword with one arm, she gritted her teeth.

While immediately thrusting the tonfa in her right hand towards Eun-ha's stomach.

There was an impact.

But that was─.

"─Didn't you say you'd only use one blade?"

"I didn't draw it from the scabbard."

"Your personality is really terrible."

"What about your personality that hid the tonfas until now."

Eun-ha blocked with Winter Blooming Coldly.

He had blocked it with the scabbard.

For her who was looking for a chance to turn the tables, she couldn't help but frown.

As the close combat continued─.

"─It's a weapon that really suits you well. Keep practicing with that."

"...Ugh...!"

Limitations were bound to show.

Though she had practiced countless times.

Since her opponent was Noh Eun-ha, the results of her practice so far weren't much help.

In the end, from some point she was just desperately blocking Eun-ha's sword.

In the midst of that─.

─You don't need to retreat a full step. Just half a step back is enough.

Kaede entrusted her body to instinct.

As Eun-ha swung his sword, the surrounding air shook greatly.

And Kaede was able to predict the direction and strength of the trajectory by sensing the shaking air.

"...!"

It was a strange feeling.

She had only been able to avoid Eun-ha's sword by straining her eyes.

Just now she had very lightly deflected his attack.

From then on, she focused on her instincts and tried to avoid Eun-ha's attacks.

This one's a feint.

The next one's real.

The match was already decided.

But she wanted to fully understand what she was feeling.

Perhaps Eun-ha felt that too─.

"─I'll continue."

"Please continue."

Eun-ha's eyes widened.

Soon Eun-ha started swinging his sword faster while chuckling.

All Over the Place

A trajectory that could bounce anywhere.

Vertical, horizontal, diagonal, zigzag, etc.

Even seeing the irregularly moving sword, she avoided the attacks by just half a step difference.

In the end─.

─I don't even need to see with my eyes.

Because all my senses are feeling it anyway.

She closed her eyes.

Though she could get hurt if she made a mistake.

She listened to the voice her instincts, her gift was telling her.

The flow of mana.

The movement of air.

Everything was felt on her skin.

☆

Gift <Environmental Sensing>.

A gift adept at sensing environmental changes, and optimized for evasion depending on how it's used.

It was Hoshimiya Kaede's gift.

Before the regression, she who awakened her gift showed rapid growth as a ranger and was ultimately called <Divine Bow>.

And <Divine Bow> displayed evasion abilities that could avoid any attack and toyed with opponents.

This is really amazing.

I was surprised when she used tonfas, but to think she'd even awaken her gift.

While facing Kaede.

Eun-ha could only admire.

In his previous life, Hoshimiya Kaede had used tonfas as a weapon too.

But it was far in the future.

The order was wrong to begin with.

She learned close combat skills after awakening her gift.

Thus she was reborn as the flawless <Divine Bow> even in close combat.

Her growth is too fast.

At this rate, it's just a matter of time before she's reborn as <Divine Bow>.

Eun-ha was satisfied seeing Kaede's growth trend.

It was skill beyond expectations.

Perhaps she might be called <Divine Bow> in a few years.

So he helped her understand her gift process with a broad smile.

Kaede had been using her gift all along.

She just only understood that gift as a role to explore surroundings. She just didn't know she could use the gift to avoid attacks.

It was a part she had to realize on her own.

That's why Eun-ha didn't say anything to her unlike how he made other friends aware of their gifts.

And now like this─.

[─Winner, Noh Eun-ha.]

Her gift had blossomed.

Though she lost the match.

She had a somewhat excited look on her face.

"Do you think you could do it if told to do it again?"

"...It's ambiguous. I feel like I could do it but also couldn't do it."

"Do you remember the feeling?"

"I remember the feeling... But I don't think I'll remember it for long."

"Then practice until you remember."

"That's what I plan to do."

Kaede who had shed a bucket of sweat.

Kaede with her hair sticking to her cheeks picked up the bow that had fallen to the ground.

Then she turned to look at Eun-ha.

"─Thank you...."

"What's with you. Saying thank you and all."

"I'm saying thank you because I'm grateful. Until now, I just had nothing to be grateful to you for."

"Oh my...."

The audience is cheering.

On the large monitor broadcasting the arena, the scene of her avoiding his sword with her eyes closed just now kept playing.

That's how much it naturally drew admiration when other people saw it too.

Of course, Kaede's reaction was different.

She clenched her molars tightly.

"─Stup playin' dat..."

Stop playing that.

Was she flushed from the intense battle?

Or was it because she was embarrassed?

Kaede's face was red.

Eun-ha looked at her and chuckled.

"Ah, right. Remember?"

"What."

"You said it. To prove if I could have you."

"So?"

"Now you're mine? Don't say otherwise later."

"Fine, do as you please."

"Then when you join my party, is a 9:1 settlement ratio okay? Of course 9 is me, and 1 is you."

"I said I'd become your party member, not your slave."

Kaede retorted grumpily.