477

 [Chapter 133]

[The Snake, Flower Petals, and Winter (4)]

"—It's a sword thoroughly made for killing."

<Sword Empress> Hwang Jin-hee, invited as a guest instructor at the academy, evaluated No Eunha's swordsmanship with disapproval.

It was a combat style that only knew how to kill things, ultimately driving even himself to death.

In her experience, such people usually lived with nothing to lose and had broken personalities.

"I wonder what kind of life he lived at that age to be able to display such swordsmanship."

She clicked her tongue.

She too could affirm how amazing No Eunha was, like others thought.

That's why it was only regrettable.

That at an age where he still had room to grow, he was displaying swordsmanship that would drive even himself to ruin.

On the other hand, it also pained her heart.

Because of the resentful world that made him walk the path of tyranny.

"The more I look, the sadder it is."

People are excited watching No Eunha not yield at all to the Blaze Clan members.

On the contrary, she watched the duel with a cool head.

She could assert.

That the monster called No Eunha was a being created by a ruined world.

So how could she be excited? She should lament how desperate the world must be to create such a monster.

Hwang Jin-hee realized that her decades of traveling the country to set the world right had not achieved much meaning.

His handling of dual wielding is natural. According to information from my disciple, he had been using only one sword all along, but does it make sense to use dual wielding in such a short time?

Anyway, a prodigy is a prodigy.

Soon she stiffened her face watching No Eunha leap into the flames without hesitation.

People booed at first when he used dual wielding. Then when he handled dual wielding perfectly, they flipped and were busy praising his skills.

To those who didn't know better, No Eunha swinging two swords must have looked cool.

But not to her.

"—If you think that's cool, you should gouge out your eyeballs. It's a style perfect for dying."

A mango in the left hand.

A one-handed straight sword in the right hand.

She harshly criticized No Eunha handling dual wielding.

The reason he chose a mango instead of a shield means he gave up on defense.

Would someone full of intent to attack quickly really care about their own safety?

That's why his swordsmanship was thoroughly a sword for killing.

"My disciple seems to have been greatly influenced by that child. I must teach him never to imitate that from now on."

She had long grasped the relationship between No Eunha and her disciple Choi Eun-hyuk.

Hwang Jin-hee repeated as if making a resolution.

Then she frowned.

She closely observed how No Eunha moved his feet.

"But no matter how I think about it, that—"

—Resembles Baek Seo-jin.

The form that had faintly shown in Choi Eun-hyuk was strongly evident in No Eunha.

Of course, No Eunha's style wasn't perfectly imitating Baek Seo-jin.

The basic foundation was Baek Seo-jin's style, but what constituted No Eunha's style must be what he achieved himself.

Even so, she couldn't help but be concerned about the relationship between No Eunha and Baek Seo-jin.

He doesn't seem to be Baek Seo-jin's disciple, but it's certain that guy taught that child.

That guy... What was he thinking creating such a monster?

Hwang Jin-hee sighed.

She couldn't understand Baek Seo-jin's intentions.

That's why she couldn't like him even more.

"Hooh..."

At some point.

A woman with impressive blue-green hair broke through the barrier and intruded into the arena.

Soon the flames that had filled the arena disappeared as if a lie and a world of fluttering snow arrived.

"...Seong-un's disciple?"

Hwang Jin-hee moved her lips.

A spirit not losing to No Eunha.

And skills not yielding at all even while facing five people.

Hwang Jin-hee changed her mood watching the blue-green haired woman swing her spear.

Judging by her skill using the spear, she must be Nam Gung Seong-un's disciple.

"She seems cold but closely resembles Seong-un, that child."

Hwang Jin-hee laughed.

Intruding into the arena without warning.

It was like seeing Nam Gung Seong-un's past.

As a result, she really liked the woman dominating the world of snow.

Come to think of it, it was strange.

"—Clearly someone using such a sword should have a broken personality... Yet it seems people are constantly around him."

My disciple too.

Nam Gung Seong-un's disciple too.

From what she had glimpsed of No Eunha's surroundings while living as a guest instructor.

There always seemed to be people around No Eunha.

And the people around him all had happy faces.

"Does he have good fortune with people... He was born with something that can never be obtained through skill and luck."

With Ryu Yeon-hwa joining in.

The aspect of the duel greatly tilted.

It will end soon now.

Hwang Jin-hee wore a benevolent smile while predicting their victory.

☆

Ryu Yeon-hwa joined in.

Eunha was surprised for a moment seeing her suddenly intrude into the arena.

When their eyes met, he exchanged intentions with her through gazes.

One round?

One round.

It was now something from years ago.

The sign they exchanged every time they dueled in the mornings when she was attending the academy.

There was no need to speak.

The two who knew each other's skills matched their breathing quickly, belying that this was their first collaboration.

Hanmae Style

Monsoon Rain

Ryu Yeon-hwa swings her spear down greatly.

Dozens of icicles appear in the air.

The icicles that make one tense just by facing them fly towards the Blaze Clan members all at once.

Ice shatters.

Amidst the sound of ice breaking into pieces, intermittent sounds of pain are heard.

But even those sounds are soon buried under the sound of ice shattering.

Cheonbo

Smoke containing cold air rises.

Eunha ran into the space filled with cold air.

Burst Counter

Cold air exploding sporadically.

Those who hadn't secured their vision yet screamed and were caught in the storm.

When the storm cleared, only two of the Eight Hells were standing.

One person lost consciousness and collapsed, and the person who had soared high and fallen couldn't even control his body properly.

The last person seemed to have barely minimized the impact.

But the common point of all five people was that they were frozen stiff as if standing in the middle of a snowy field.

They must all have frostbite somewhere making it hard to move their bodies.

They probably can't even breathe properly.

Their lungs must feel like they're freezing.

Eunha quietly watched them carefully breathing while receiving Yeon-hwa's protective magic.

Frenzied Dance

Hanmae Style

Icy Road

Their movements slowed significantly.

The two advanced forward without missing the opportunity.

Ryu Yeon-hwa faced <Destroyer > Lim Chae-seong head-on, and Eunha faced <Red Iron> Hwang Seok-ha.

Nevertheless, they were of the Eight Hells.

Each attack possessed power that couldn't be ignored.

Cheonbo

Mana Crusher

But what does that matter?

The tide of victory has already clearly turned.

Eunha who distanced himself from Hwang Seok-ha infused mana into his mango.

The image of a black snake appeared again on the surface of Winter Crawling Through Snowflakes.

"—This doesn't just go in a straight line."

"...What?"

<Red Iron> Hwang Seok-ha who charged in avoiding Mana Crusher's slash.

But Eunha didn't move from his spot and slightly twisted Winter Crawling Through Snowflakes.

Hwang Seok-ha's eyes widened.

Because the slash he had clearly avoided was now attacking him from behind.

The characteristic of Winter Crawling Through Snowflakes is quite useful.

Eunha was satisfied seeing the flustered Hwang Seok-ha.

The characteristic of Winter Crawling Through Snowflakes.

Being able to wield the mana infused in the blade like a whip.

Eunha whipped with Mana Crusher and knocked back Hwang Seok-ha who was trying to close the distance.

Meanwhile at that time—

—Hanmae Style

Birdcage

Ryu Yeon-hwa deployed large-scale magic.

The snow thickly covering the ground roughly whirled at her command.

A huge birdcage was created.

Lim Chae-seong trapped inside the birdcage swung his sword trying to somehow escape the harsh winter world.

But the snow broke and returned, and the cage became more solid each time its range shrank.

—Hanmae Style Ultimate

Snow Dragon

Finally when Lim Chae-seong's movements were completely blocked.

She drove in the final nail.

A dragon covered in snow opened its mouth and swallowed Lim Chae-seong trapped in the birdcage.

One of the Eight Hells was defeated.

"—Then shall I finish up too?"

Meanwhile, while Hwang Seok-ha was dumbfounded seeing Lim Chae-seong fall in an instant.

Eunha chuckled as if teasing him.

Don't worry.

I won't kill you.

☆

The snowfall is fierce.

The situation that seemed like it would flow evenly was completely tilted by <Snow Spear> Ryu Yeon-hwa's intervention.

In the end, the duel ended in defeat for the Blaze Clan members.

"Isn't that unni too cool!? She's totally the female version of No Eunha."

"Female version of No Eunha... Well, you're not entirely wrong, but you might get scolded if you say that to Yeon-hwa unni later."

Ariel jumped up and down in her seat waving her hands towards the two.

Minji stopped Ariel with a face that said she couldn't be helped.

"That person is... Yeon-hwa sunbae?"

"That's right. Yeon-hwa unni is also friends with Eun-a unni."

Meanwhile, Yoon I-byeol looked at Ryu Yeon-hwa and No Eunha chatting.

As she did so, she organized the information about Ryu Yeon-hwa that Minji had just told her.

Their relationship seemed too close to be just simple seniors and juniors.

"She seems... very close with Eunha."

"It's because she's friends with Eun-a unni so they've known each other since childhood. 6th grade of elementary school? I think they've known each other since then so it's been 4 years already."

I know I shouldn't, but.

I-byeol became depressed seeing Ryu Yeon-hwa with beautiful blue-green hair.

Her mood sank.

There are too many women around Eunha.

And strangely, they all had beautiful appearances.

Comparing their appearances to her own made her feel intimidated for no reason.

Moreover, what made her even more depressed was—

—He doesn't show me that kind of face... How mean.

No Eunha showed a face with diverse emotions while talking with Ryu Yeon-hwa.

Also, strong trust seemed to permeate his gaze looking at Ryu Yeon-hwa.

It was a reaction she had never seen before.

"By the way, the arena is all destroyed, I wonder if Eun-hyuk and the others will be able to participate in the comprehensive division competition..."

"We've seen everything we came to see, so why don't we just go look at the cultural festival? We're coming to watch again tomorrow anyway."

"Well... That's true."

"Right? Let's go, let's go! Okay?"

In reality, people who came to see No Eunha's skills were now leaving.

Ariel clung to Minji's arm and begged to go see the cultural festival.

Nevertheless, Yoon I-byeol just sat in her seat watching Eunha and Ryu Yeon-hwa.

She focused her eyes and read their lips.

...Let's go look around together.

...Okay. Sounds good.

It looks like that's what they're saying.

Yoon I-byeol bit her lip watching the two who seemed to be heading back to the waiting room.

"I want to see it together too..."

As if complaining.

She lowered her head and muttered.

She thought about maybe asking Eunha later to look around together.

Hoping that he would nod his head then.

☆

Ryu Yeon-hwa is currently a player whose stock as <Snow Spear> is soaring.

She's that busy of a person.

So Eunha never thought such a person would come to the cultural festival.

"I'm off duty today."

"It's your day off? You should rest well at home on your day off. Aren't you tired?"

"...Now that I've warmed up my body, I'm not tired anymore. I feel refreshed. I feel good."

After thanking Ryu Yeon-hwa.

Eunha asked after her well-being.

Soon after learning it was her day off, he stuck out his tongue.

"I was originally going to come with Eun-a but our schedules didn't match."

"Ah, that's why noona said she's coming on the third day. Then did you come alone now?"

"No. I came with the Clan Lord. He heard you were appearing this time and left all his work to others..."

"Really? He's that kind of person originally. Where is he?"

"Yeah, he's over there."

He turned his head in the direction she pointed.

As she said, Regulus Clan Lord Gu Yeon-su was sitting in his seat.

He waved his hand cheerfully.

Eunha pretended not to notice him and turned his head.

The reason the Regulus Clan Lord was waving so familiarly was obvious.

He came to recruit him.

"Then what are you going to do now? Are you going back with the Clan Lord?"

"Hmm..."

Soon Eunha changed the topic.

Ryu Yeon-hwa narrowed her eyes.

She seemed to be lost in thought, unable to make a decision readily.

Somehow she looks like she doesn't want to go back.

Eunha burst out laughing seeing Ryu Yeon-hwa hesitating.

Having come to the academy after a long time, she must be reluctant to leave like this.

"Do you have anyone you're supposed to watch the cultural festival with?"

"...No. I'm alone."

"Really?"

Actually, he could have faced the five Blaze Clan members alone too.

But thanks to her joining in, he was able to end the duel smoothly.

So Eunha who owed her a debt had to repay it somehow.

He happened to have time free afterwards.

Eunha spoke jokingly:

"—If you don't have anyone to watch with, let's go around together."

"..."

"You're not going to tell me?"

Ryu Yeon-hwa hesitated.

She stared at him blankly.

Eventually—

"—Okay. Sounds good."

As if declaring the end of winter.

She answered with a bright smile.

☆

First day of the comprehensive division competition main tournament.

The duels were delayed from the scheduled time due to the arena being destroyed.

The competition that started after the instructors busily changed the stage—

"—Huh, is this all there is?"

Nearly half the seats were empty.

Jin Pa-rang, who had been planning to properly show his skills to people

It seemed like the opponent felt the same way. He looked around the stadium and then slumped his shoulders.

"─The winner! Jinpa-rang─!!!"

There is no response from people either.

Jinpa-rang, who had no choice but to fight in indifference, made a sour expression.

"─The winner! Hoshimiya Kaede─!!!"

"─The winner! Mok Min-ho─!!!"

"─The Winner! Kang Si-hyung─!!!" "─The Winner! Choi Eun-hyeok─!!!"

"─The winner! Bae Soo-bin─!!!"

It was a misjudgment on the part of the academy's instructors.

People who came to see Noh Eun-ha just went back after seeing Noh Eun-ha.

For the first time in Academy history, after all.

It is said that the general category competition's finals started off very lonely.