In the auditorium where real-time duels were being watched, sighs of relief flowed from all directions as Hamin surrendered. Their expressions were all absorbed in the recent duel.
Even though it was just watching through a screen, the momentum of the two dueling individuals could be distinctly felt, making Sihyun swallow hard. His palms, which he didn't realize he had been clenching, were damp.
"You lost, but you fought well, kid."
It wasn't about giving praise with a hidden agenda. After toppling everyone, Hamin, rising from his seat with a grimace on his face, firmly grasped the hand that Russ extended for a handshake. He held it with such strength that even in the video, Russ's expression seemed indifferent.
No, rather, he seemed pleased, smiling at Hamin as if finding him quite charming.
"If you were a bit bigger, would you join IRS? We don't just accept anyone."
Scouting openly at someone else's school and causing a commotion. The teachers who were listening were shocked at Russ's sudden remarks, and Hamin wore a bewildered expression. Letting go of the hand he held, he spoke up.
"Do you not know IRS under Redem?"
"Huh?"
Seeing Hamin politely declining the scout with awkward honorifics, Gunwoo and Haru were called out as the next candidates. It was said that the number of participants would increase to four as there were not many people left waiting.
Sihyun briefly glanced at their backs as they headed to the field and then looked back at the screen. Haeun was entering the dueling ground where Hamin had just left without showing any signs of tension. Her expression, lit up on her bright face, was quite cheerful.
"I wonder how Kang Haeun will do."
"Oh? I can guess how she'll turn out."
"......?"
At Najik's whispered words, Seowoo, who was beside him, replied. He didn't say what he expected. He just kept quiet and smiled silently, a look that said you'll know when you see.
While others were locked in the training room studying Russ's tactics, Kang Haeun was also there. Sihyun observed Haeun in the video, who would be participating in the regular duel as a support-type Awakened. The boy with an innocent expression was swinging his sword as if he had no sense of the evaluation of danger. Seeing this, his strength seemed to diminish.
As he waved his sword around and inspected it, he said he was ready with a smile.
Beep!
The horn sounded, and Haeun stood awkwardly. Russ, who had been provoking him several times as he showed no intention of attacking, took the initiative. A man rushing at him so fast that it was hard to follow with the naked eye was about to strike Haeun with his sword.
Thud.
Haeun, who had dropped his sword, quickly raised his hand.
"I surrender!"
The confident proclamation echoed through the field.
Russ, who had stopped his sword just before hitting Haeun, looked at the boy in front of him with a puzzled expression. Looking at the sword pointed right next to his neck without batting an eye, Haeun calmly spoke.
"Oh, that's a shame. It's considered foul play to strike a surrendered opponent."
"....."
A chilling silence fell over the room as the words resonated clearly through the speaker. Seowoo, standing beside him, remarked, "Well, look at that," while Sihyun could only grin sheepishly, feeling dumbfounded.
He had forgotten how obvious it was, but even amidst the chaos, Russ was still Russ, and our school's troublemakers were just that—troublemakers.
"Is this guy for real?"
Even Russ, who one could argue was a bit cowardly, seemed taken aback by this unexpected turn of events. After a moment of being dumbfounded, he burst into laughter. It was a face both cowardly and audacious. Flustered by the unexpected praise, Haeun, with a smile that seemed out of place, joked that there weren't many people like him. It was shameless bravado.
"Oh, come on...."
The sigh of the teacher watching over was audible even through the video. While everyone else was dumbfounded and bewildered, the two seemed passionately engaged. It seemed to strike a nerve with the supervising teacher, who shook his head in dismay.
"... Student Kang Haeun has surrendered. Please let him out."
With a weary expression, the teacher ushered Haeun out and welcomed the next student. It was Down's turn.
And then, even Seowoo, who had been standing by Sihyun's side until the end, was called onto the field.
At his invitation to meet at the stands, Sihyun looked around, feeling a bit out of place. Just before the end-of-month evaluations, the area around me, bustling with students from other classes not too long ago, had suddenly become deserted. With only students from other classes stealing glances at me, Sihyun furrowed his brows. Letting out a sigh, Hamin, who had walked over, looked at Sihyun with a puzzled expression.
"What's wrong? Why the long face?"
"Why..."
"....?"
"Why is it always the last one..."
During class tests, during partner competitions... why is it that whenever it comes to things like this, it's always the last turn?
The attention focused on the last turn, even though it wasn't a competition, wasn't exactly pleasing. Hamin, who wore an exasperated expression, placed his hand on Sihyun's shoulder. After hesitating for a moment, his hand, which had been resting, awkwardly patted Sihyun's back.
"...Hang in there."
"...Yeah."
Responding briefly to the short comfort, Sihyun closed his eyes in resignation. But then, the sound of awe and excitement from the kids made him open his eyelids and check the screen.
A brown mane swayed in the wind. Despite her innocent appearance, Down's eyes were filled with a formidable spirit.
Clutching her fist, Down, waiting her turn, seemed to have depleted the oxygen around her, causing Russ to exclaim in surprise. Even though she might not be able to breathe without oxygen, her complexion remained unchanged. Puzzled by the first-time reaction, Down furrowed her brows.
Russ, whether because his voice couldn't come out or because he only gestured with his mouth, leaped towards Down. Then, his large hand pressed down on the girl's shoulder. As Down staggered, Russ's voice flowed clearly through the speaker.
"Your waiting ability is impressive, comfortable. But."
Usually, if someone like me messes with a skill like this, it's easily undone.
Russ, who said this with a smile, then gripped Down's shoulders. Grimacing, Down bit her lips and looked at Russ. Seeing her about to use her ability again, Russ, with his tongue against his cheek, narrowed his eyebrows and opened his mouth.
"So far, you've only experienced overwhelming battles, right?"
"......"
"You're hoarding such a great ability. But what's the point? Other waiting ability awakeners will be jealous."
The man, speaking with a drawl, released his grip on Down's shoulders and slumped into his seat. A black shadow crept up from under Down's feet, restraining her movement. It was a debuff bind.
Perhaps due to the difference in strength, Down couldn't break free. Struggling with all her might, Down finally exerted all her strength against the shadows that tightened around her body.
"What's with you?"
"Oh, are you even more presumptuous than in the last duel?"
Russ was astonished at Down's lack of formalities. Sihyun once again pondered whether America was a country where they used formal language or if it was Russ's own preference.
Expressing his disbelief at the youngsters' lack of manners these days, Russ leaned his chin on his elbow.
"You shouldn't think of waiting abilities as just getting rid of air. In the first place, the efficiency is lacking in that skill."
"....."
"The proficiency might be low, making the efficiency nil, despite consuming the most mana. When facing a formidable opponent in close combat like this time, mana is just wasted, and pride is just bruised. Don't you think?"
"...What does that have to do with you?"
"I'm not getting pissed for no reason. When facing a lightning attribute awakener in a duel, you should try handling mana as a means of contest. Instead of recklessly depriving oxygen in front of a formidable opponent, wouldn't it piss me off?"
Russ poured out his dissatisfaction, criticizing Down for her lack of imagination. Although it sounded like nagging advice, it was indeed a valuable insight, considering that skills are immediately released when attacked. If you're an air attribute awakener, you can apply it to poison in the air.
Perhaps noticing this fact, Down wore a face of wounded pride, but she didn't refute or complain. Satisfied with such a reaction from Down, Russ stood up again as if to try again. At that moment, Down also concentrated to use her ability once again.
Suddenly, Russ looked up in surprise. Down followed his gaze.
That might have been Down's last memory.
Click.
Russ flicked his finger, using the sleep skill, and carried the sleeping girl to the teacher. It was a perplexing ending to what seemed like a situation that could lead to a second round at any moment.
"Don't you practice until you're furious and exhausted?"
Russ murmured with a smirk as he handed Down to the teacher. Sihyun imagined the furious Down waking up and frowned. It was evident that Down would want to kill Russ rather than practice until she was exhausted. Remembering Down, who wasn't usually angry, Sihyun subtly stepped away. It might be better not to be by her side right after she woke up.
As he entered the auditorium while still holding the teacher, the head teacher called Sihyun as the next participant. Now that he could finally get up from his seat, Sihyun straightened his hunched body and headed to the field.
Haru, Gunwoo, and Seowoo sat side by side in the stands. While seating himself, Hamin gazed thoughtfully at the field where Wisdom was standing.
A fierce flame engulfed Russ. The momentum of the greedily rampaging flames was quite impressive. Sensing a queasy feeling in his stomach, Sihyun glanced around the school's surroundings for no reason.
It wasn't long before the sound of the horn was heard, indicating the end of Wisdom's match. It seemed like she lasted longer than Down.
Who's next in line?
Stretching his neck out to confirm the person sitting in the front row, Haru, who had been idly twirling his fingers, slowly stood up.
"Well done, hyung," he cheered with a clenched fist, and then, with a shy smile, he entered the arena. Sihyun recalled Haru's past during the placement test and the end-of-month evaluation, holding his breath. Somehow, he felt like Haru would last about two minutes against Russ in a duel.
Even Hamin surrendered after about a minute of the attack starting. Leaning forward, thinking there would be much to gain from the duel, Haru, holding a slightly curved short sword in both hands, sharpened his sword.
Squeak!
As the horn sounded, the boy who had swallowed his breath slowly closed and opened his eyes. His innocent red eyes narrowed slightly, then Haru appeared in the air.
With just one leap, Haru lifted his body into the air with his physical ability. Russ whistled, signaling his use of the jump skill, but that was the extent of his composure. He hadn't even gotten close enough yet, but Haru, aside from his shoulders, swung his arm.
Swoosh!
The dagger with a red glow tore through the air sharply and flew towards Russ. Dodging the blade by a hair's breadth, Russ looked at Haru landing on the ground with a hardened expression. He seemed dissatisfied with the number of blows similar to Hamin's situation.
"Are you imitating that arrogant brat from earlier―"
Russ interrupted himself mid-sentence and quickly turned around.
The sound of the dagger falling behind him hadn't been heard yet.
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