Chapter 81

〈 Chapter 82 〉 Yusera (5）

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‘I really can’t figure out this guy’s intentions.’

If there were a Divine Seat, would it have known?

For some reason, even the Divine Seat probably wouldn’t have understood this guy’s true nature.

Who could possibly comprehend a Hero Candidate who would bet on swordsmanship?

Of course, it was also true that her feelings for the Divine Seat had already closed off.

The moment she threw herself off the rooftop, her relationship with the Divine Seat ended there.

In the end, all that was left for her was this bet.

‘But what’s the point of this bet?’

She agreed with Sung Yoo-rang.

The position of the Divine Seat, which held no coercive power, was meaningless.

Thus, this bet was pointless, regardless of the outcome.

Yet, she was curious.

Why did he propose such a meaningless bet?

Why was the choice swordsmanship?

The guilt she felt towards Sung Yoo-rang, who had thrown himself to save her.

And her curiosity about his wager.

That was why she decided to follow him.

“Then draw your sword.”

Sung Yoo-rang said with a smile.

She had felt it for a while, but what was with his nonchalant attitude?

When they ran into each other at school, he sometimes seemed clueless, but once the battle started, his demeanor completely changed.

‘He’s not even that strong.’

He had just the strange ability that had saved her and a weaker overload compared to her.

His overall physical abilities and archery skills were below standard even within the Archery Class.

Yet, in battle, he maintained a calm demeanor while holding his own against stronger Candidates.

‘So what does he think he’s doing this time?’

To Yusera, Sung Yoo-rang may not appear cold-hearted, but he had his own brand of strategy.

Though during mock battles, he got overshadowed by Professor Setia.

So what could he possibly be thinking this time?

‘In the end, I’ll just have to check it myself.’

She picked up her sword as Sung Yoo-rang suggested.

However, when Sung Yoo-rang saw the sword she held, he smiled awkwardly and said, “That sword isn’t your full power, is it?”

The sword she held wasn’t a Relic.

Well, since Sung Yoo-rang himself was holding a regular sword that didn’t look like a Relic, she thought he’d match her.

She was confident she could win against someone like him without even having to wield a Relic.

“I told you, the condition of the bet is giving it your all.”

…Oh, whatever.

For now, she had to follow his lead.

After all, giving it her all wouldn’t hurt her.

“Is this good enough?”

She drew the Sacred Relic, the Relic Sacred Replicant.

It wasn’t a particularly special sword, but since the original was known to be a legendary sword, there was no other blade that could match its durability or sharpness.

Seeing that sword, Sung Yoo-rang nodded.

“Then let’s get started.”

Sung Yoo-rang held up his ordinary-looking sword.

She had no idea what he was thinking, but Yusera faced him, sword at the ready.

However, it didn’t seem like Sung Yoo-rang intended to strike first.

‘Is he actually willing to give me the first move?’

She still couldn’t understand, but it felt exhausting to question him further.

She could just show him that she could win against him without using overload.

With that in mind, she took the opportunity to strike first.

In an instant, she closed the distance between herself and Sung Yoo-rang.

There was already a massive difference in their physical abilities.

Without using overload, she swung her sword at him.

‘Huh?’

But to her surprise, Sung Yoo-rang blocked her attack.

Not just barely, but he seemed to have ample room to spare.

She knew that the Archery Class was focusing on the basics, and they weren’t teaching supplementary swordsmanship classes.

Even so, his swordsmanship seemed to have already become second nature to him.

‘Has he learned swordsmanship from somewhere?’

But just mastering the basics wouldn’t be enough to stop a series of attacks.

Indeed, while Sung Yoo-rang blocked her initial strike, he didn’t seem to be countering.

Yusera pressed on and continued her assault.

However, Sung Yoo-rang defended against all of her follow-up attacks, unperturbed.

It was then that Yusera felt that something was off.

Finally, Sung Yoo-rang spoke up.

“I told you to give it your all.”

She had been expecting that.

She utilized overload to enhance her blade.

She only had ten attacks to deal with.

If she couldn’t finish within those…

‘No, that wouldn’t possibly happen.’

He was in the Archery Class, and she was in the Swordsmanship Class.

It made no sense that she, who had beaten even the ace of Swordsmanship Class 1, couldn’t defeat him.

Still, his calm demeanor was somehow unnerving.

‘Why?’

Sung Yoo-rang was indeed absorbing all of her attacks enhanced by overload.

And in his swordsmanship, she felt a strange sense of familiarity.

It was definitely a style similar to the one she had faced not long ago.

‘Could it be?’

It happened just like before.

On the fourth attack.

Suddenly, Sung Yoo-rang’s demeanor shifted.

“Do you really think this is your best?”

He deflected her sword and switched to offense.

At that moment, Yusera realized.

‘This swordsmanship is…!’

It was the same as the one used by the girl, Elsie, who had utterly defeated her.

No, it felt different in some way.

Sung Yoo-rang’s swordsmanship lacked the madness she had sensed from that girl.

‘What kind of ability is this?’

It was a clean sword style she had never seen before.

Executing necessary movements at the precise moments.

Despite this, every movement was so flawless that she couldn’t find an opening to slip through.

‘Why is someone like him in the Archery Class?’

At that moment, Yusera finally understood why he always seemed so calm.

He was actually strong.

Strong enough to beat any Candidate who came at him.

‘You want me to beat this?’

Was there any more absurd bet?

Winning against this was impossible.

In the blink of an eye, the exchanges numbered ten, and her sword was destroyed.

‘It’s over.’

She finally realized.

The swordsmanship she had been so confident about…was absolutely nothing.

Rather than feeling upset, it felt oddly refreshing.

Nothing remained for her now.

That certainty emerged.

If this were reality, she wouldn’t have cared if she got pierced by Sung Yoo-rang’s sword.

‘Just finish it already.’

However, contrary to her wish, Sung Yoo-rang did not end it.

Instead, he lowered his sword and spoke into the air.

“Please restore Yusera’s sword.”

In that moment, her destroyed sword reformed.

“Why? This is a virtual space. The sword will be restored once we leave anyway.”

“Because the bet isn’t over yet.”

“What do you mean…”

The outcome of the bet was clearly determined.

It was an undeniable fact that she couldn’t win against him.

So, what on earth was he talking about?

“I told you. The condition of the bet was to give it your all.”

Upon hearing that, anger boiled up due to her sense of injustice.

Clenching her fists, she almost shouted, “It seems you have some strange misconception about me. This is really my limit! I’m not as talented as you!”

It was impossible to win.

She had genuinely given her best.

What he was doing felt like mere deception.

“Talented, you say?”

But he spoke with a bitter smile.

“Who would’ve thought I’d hear that one day? Hearing it from you feels like an honor.”

That didn’t sound like a deception; it somehow felt too genuine.

Even she, who had been angry moments ago, found her mood settling at the sight of his bitter expression.

“Honored? What does that even mean?”

“Do you genuinely believe that’s your limit?”

She nodded.

“Then for now, can we consider it a temporary win for me in this bet?”

“Why yes.”

Though she felt a bit uncomfortable, she had no grounds to argue.

Then he said, no, ordered.

“Then as the Divine Seat, I command you. Have a bit more confidence in yourself.”

“Excuse me?”

“What you lack isn’t speed, power, or skill. It’s confidence.”

He pointed at the Relic Sacred Replicant.

“Normally, you would distribute your durability over ten strikes to strengthen a Relic, right?”

She nodded.

“That shows a lack of confidence. Why prepare for the next strike?”

What was he talking about? It was absurd.

“But what if that attack misses?”

To that, Sung Yoo-rang tilted his head and swung his sword diagonally with great force.

“If you swing like this, it’s impossible to miss, right?”

That was an obvious statement.

But at the same time, it was nonsensical.

“That kind of attack is easy to block.”

“No? I don’t think so.”

What was he getting at?

“As far as I know, overload has the downside of consuming durability, but it is the strongest enhancement ability in this world.”

“So what?”

“If you divide that power into ten strikes, it may give you a slight advantage over others, but what if you concentrated it all in a single blow?”

In reality, the idea of breaking a Relic with overload was already an unrealistic thought.

Because of that, she had never attempted it.

Of course, it would be powerful. But…

“What about after that?”

“Why think about what comes next? After all, that one strike should end everything.”

“Everything, you say?”

“Yes, although with your current 2-star Relic, there might be a slight limitation. But I doubt there’s anyone among the Hero Candidates who can withstand it.”

He stated confidently.

At that moment, she grasped the meaning hidden in his words.

“Does that include you?”

He smiled.

That smile looked oddly joyous.

“Well, I suppose that’s something I’d have to find out. We could give it a try, couldn’t we?”

He was right.

After all, this was a virtual space.

Such an opportunity didn’t come often.

There was no reason not to give it a try.

She overloaded the restored Relic Sacred Replicant.

Different from usual, it was only a strength that could manage a single strike.

Then, a level of power she had never felt before began to flow from her sword.

‘This is…’

Sung Yoo-rang was right.

Maybe with this… she could cut through anything.

Even that Sung Yoo-rang, whom she thought was absolutely unbeatable.

“Then, I’ll go.”

She recalled the move Sung Yoo-rang had shown earlier.

A diagonal swing, making it impossible for the opponent to dodge.

She truly felt that would be enough.

‘Just need to give it a shot.’

Taking a deep breath.

She stepped forward.

And then, swinging her sword wide.

A stroke filled with dark aura as if tearing through space cut diagonally.

In the midst of it all stood Sung Yoo-rang.

Even he, who had been overflowing with composure until now, now wore a serious expression.

‘This is it…!’

At that moment, she realized.

The sword strikes of the High-ranking Hero she had seen that day.

She was keeping up with that strike using only a 2-star Relic.

“Exactly… this is it.”

A gust of wind surged from Sung Yoo-rang’s sword.

Simultaneously, the shape of the sword he was holding distorted strangely.

And then…

‘Time stopped?’

In that frozen moment, he moved.

The sword strike that seemed to split the world in half slowly got sucked into his sword.

And then, finally… it vanished.

‘What…?’

When all was said and done, her sword was destroyed.

And there stood Sung Yoo-rang, completely unharmed.

Of course, he was drenched in sweat, breathing heavily, but the fact that he survived that vicious attack was the true anomaly.

“If you had held a 3-star Relic, blocking it would have been impossible.”

He said it as if it was nothing.

“However, since today’s limit was your 2-star Relic, I declare myself the winner of this bet.”

What a scoundrel he turned out to be.

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