Chapter 10: Kim Ara
TL/Editor: looloo
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"Ah, what is happening? Someone's about to duel with the top student?"
"Park Woonhyuk? Isn't he kind of weak without his weapon?"
Lee Seoha calmly heads towards the dueling field. Across from him, Park Woonhyuk stands.
He's tall, over 190 cm. His muscular physique, trained from a young age, seems more intimidating than Lee Seoha, who's just slightly over 180 cm.
"So, Park Woonhyuk is a physical-type, right? The top student, according to rumors, deals with magic. Plus, he got a pretty nice Moonblade during weapon selection, which might be scary, right?"
"Really? So, does Park Woonhyuk stand a chance?"
"I'm not sure. The top student is quite a mystery."
Seo Gayeon agrees with the final statement.
The opponent she encountered during the entrance exam was an orc warrior. Its immense physical strength coupled with a powerful blow still scares her.
If it were Lee Seoha, he would definitely have faced a tougher enemy.
'Mages find it difficult to defeat warriors.'
This is a common saying. Mages have unlimited power, and their existence seems to be centered around 'firepower'. However, Lee Seoha brought down that creature in an instant.
Additionally, during the dungeon exploration, he moved as if he was simply taking a walk in his living room.
Seo Gayeon was with him then, but she still couldn't understand the true nature of Lee Seoha. Maybe in this duel, she might see a glimpse of it—she had such an expectation.
"The weapon is selected by a fair match. You can't use mana. And, put on this bracelet. It's a mana-suppressing bracelet. If you attempt to use mana, the main instructor will step in right away."
The instructor stressed again and again that if Lee Seoha lost, he should accept defeat gracefully, and he shouldn't use his talent.
"It seems the rumor about Instructor Park favoring Park Woonhyuk's faction is true."
"Poor Lee Seoha."
Lee Seoha lazily nodded. Park Woonhyuk grumbled with a displeased look, whispering something to the instructor. The instructor then gave the signal to get ready for the match.
"Let's begin."
As the instructor concluded his words, Park Woonhyuk made his move.
‘I'll end this match quickly.’
Park Woonhyuk thought while staring at Lee Seoha, a strange being that fell from the sky.
His aim had always been Kim Seohyun.
A person who consistently ranked above him and whom he was never able to defeat.
But now it was different.
Kim Seohyun, who he had never seen before, was bursting with a fighting spirit. It was daunting.
Despite the numerous restrictions set by the instructor, he didn't believe he could win.
Thud!
He hit the ground.
The weapon he got from the selection was a kind of halberd. He swung it. Lee Seoha stepped to the side.
'His movements are big.'
The top student isn't good at close combat. His lack of stamina had shown in training.
He didn't train his body.
He twisted his wrist, lifting the halberd from the ground to the sky. Clang! The halberd was blocked by a black sword.
Park Woonhyuk pulled the halberd back.
Then, he thrust. Even though it wasn't a spear, he made good use of the weapon's length.
But the top student evaded again.
'Is he an evasion expert?'
There was no way he'd never fought up close before, Park Woonhyuk quickly thought.
Swinging the halberd, slashing, thrusting.
All his attacks were fruitless. It was as if his opponent had mana and moved quickly.
But that was impossible.
If that were true, either the instructor or the bracelet would have reacted by now.
Screech!
The halberd and the black sword crashed into each other. Park Woonhyuk was smiling until he stopped.
The halberd was pushed back. The power transfer isn't as good with a spear as it is with a sword. Still, it was pushed back.
But he was a warrior.
Different from the mage who was the top student.
'Time for a new strategy.'
Park Woonhyuk, looking confident, deflected the sword. If his power was superior, he'd decide the match with martial arts.
Then he'd win.
...that's what he thought.
'What the...’
As the fight got hotter, the top student's hair dampened with sweat. A sign that he was getting tired. If it turns into a long fight, Park Woonhyuk's chances of winning will go up.
'What in the world?'
Despite everything, Park Woonhyuk couldn't convince himself he could win.
He was confident in close combat.
He had trained non-stop to master the spear from the age of five, making it feel like an extension of his body. That hard work had never failed him.
But the top student, Lee Seoha, seemed to be getting used to his movements.
Weapons clashed. Grappling occurred.
He was undoubtedly pushing his opponent.
Yet, the fight was exasperating.
Just a bit more pressure and he could win. But the image of 'victory' against Lee Seoha was becoming blurred in Park Woonhyuk's mind.
Lee Seoha's eyes kept focusing on his spear.
Swish.
The spear swung. But with a slight tilt of the head, he dodged the spear, as if he knew the attack was coming.
His attacks were becoming smoother. His defense was getting better. His footwork was becoming more and more unpredictable.
As if there was a master guiding him,
As if growing alongside something that was feeding off him. No, that was slightly off. It was more like regaining power──.
Clang!
The Black Heavenly Demon Sword and the spear collided. As Park Woonhyuk withdrew his spear, Lee Seoha made his move.
He dropped his stance, bending at the waist.
He swung his spear.
Lee Seoha's Black Heavenly Demon Sword moved.
Swinging from the inside out, the Black Heavenly Demon Sword clashed with the spear. Then, accompanied by a sting in his hand, the spear was knocked away.
---
Raei Translations
---
'I've won this.'
I was in disbelief.
I had defeated Park Woonhyuk.
Despite appearances, he would be in the top tier if we considered the entire Korea Hero Academy. If he had used mana, I probably wouldn't have lasted 30 seconds.
[Strange. His weapon skills are rather good, but how could he have improved so rapidly?]
The Heavenly Demon hovered in the air, looking puzzled. Was it because it was a spiritual entity? No one else could see the Heavenly Demon.
Ignoring the Heavenly Demon, I turned to the instructor. If I tried to talk to her about it now, I would just come off as crazy.
"The victory is...Lee Seoha!"
The instructor's announcement slowly morphed the stunned expressions on the students' faces into ones of shock.
"Hold up, did anyone get that on video?"
"A growth-type talent? Insane, he really did it all by himself!"
"If that's a growth-type, what kind of talent is it? This is ridiculous..."
Everyone was misunderstanding. I had simply circulated the power and speed from the Body Against Heaven within me, following the advice of the Heavenly Demon.
It seemed to belittle my abilities.
Looking at the Heavenly Demon this way, it laughed.
I walked off the training ground. As I descended, I saw Kim Seohyun. His sky-colored eyes were sparkling.
"Seo-ha, that was really impressive."
"Eh, it was nothing."
"I was really nervous at first, but you adapted so quickly and pushed forward! But how did you manage the power? Is it a talent? Or a skill? Looking at the bracelet's lack of reaction, it seems like you have a high stat or a continuously active talent..."
Kim Seohyun is a good person, but he talks too much when he's excited about something.
As I was vaguely answering Kim Seohyun's questions, I noticed Kim Ara and Seo Gayeon.
"...When will you teach me?"
Kim Ara quietly asked as she approached me. I had been negotiating with her about how to break free from the Suzerain.
"Let's talk about it later. It feels a bit awkward to discuss it here."
At my words, Kim Ara nodded. Next to me, Kim Seohyun was blinking, 'What's going on? You two seem odd?'
Stop making such alarming noises.
Dating a girl who can split a mountain and toss it aside? Would I risk dying while dating?
---
Raei Translations
---
The character known as the Suzerain is terrifyingly strong.
An apex brute who reigns supreme over the world, but does not lead any faction.
To be more precise, he doesn't possess a faction. There are 'followers' who submit to his power, but they are merely followers.
The Suzerain is a complicated character. He is neither a hero nor a villain.
Neutral.
And he despises the Mines. This might make him seem like a character for good, but there's a specific reason he isn't.
Let's set that story aside for now.
"Escaping the Suzerain is simple."
It's a very simple proposition.
"You just have to kill the Suzerain."
"......"
Kim Ara looked at me with a flabbergasted expression.
"The Suzerain?"
"Yes."
Actually, if Kim Ara manages this, Kim Seohyun will also die, making the method pointless.
"Well, that was a joke. There's another way."
As Kim Ara glared at me as if she wanted to kill me, I quickly amended my statement.
"Why do you think the Suzerain is fixated on you?"
"......Because I'm his only heir."
I laughed.
Aside from when he's fighting with the Mines, the Suzerain is just a charismatic figure.
He also portrays himself as a doting father.
The successor has already been decided. It's not Kim Ara, but the eldest son.
The eldest son has adequate ability, just enough ambition, and knows his place.
"The issue is really simple. You just have to become strong."
"I have to?"
"You're struggling to control your power now, aren't you? Even in spars with children, you're just barely holding back your power, afraid that you might seriously harm or even kill them."
"......"
"I'll help you. I'll also teach you how to properly use your power."
"Thanks, but what does this have to do with the Suzerain?"
"The power of the Suzerain is inherited through blood. And you've inherited that power fully, no, even more powerfully."
"......Me?"
"Yes."
It's a really simple issue.
"If Kim Ara becomes aware of her own power and walks the straight path, the Suzerain won't be able to suppress her. The reason for his suppression is simple.
The Suzerain has many enemies.
Not just an average number.
He's a character who advocates for the annihilation of the Mines, and in this process, he indiscriminately kills anyone related to the Mines.
If the Suzerain believes his daughter can defend herself, he'll likely be content to just check in on her occasionally.
"So, all you need to do is grow independently here at the Korea Hero Academy."
"......"
Kim Ara fell silent, lost in thought. I watched her.
Her violet bangs fell over her face, obscuring her expression. Bangs covering half of her face.
She's pretty attractive in the illustrations. Of course, not quite as much as my favorite character who's currently in the second year......
"That's why I'll help you grow from now on."
I said, extending my hand with a smile.
Of course, in doing so, I also secure a high-speed 'bus driver' named Kim Ara.
With Kim Ara's power, exploring dungeons will be a breeze. And to avoid hard feelings, I'll also prepare a reward.
"......Alright. I'll trust you this one time."
Kim Ara quietly took my hand.
I flashed her a bright smile.
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is the harem being set up⁉️⁉️⁉️
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