chapter 8
8 – 8. Contradiction
The place I was heading to was the sparring hall.
Thanks to Scarlett’s cooperation and burning of her will, she was able to believe and turn around.
It was clear how to spend the remaining time.
–
–
Boom!
A mana doll exploded with a loud noise.
All around, there was a lot of debris similar to the one that had just exploded.
I took out another A-class Mana doll from the warehouse and activated it.
The sparring dolls full of mana come to life, cackling.
-Let the sparring begin.
At the same time, a mass of pure mana is launched towards me.
Dolls cannot use magic. If you want to at least imitate it, the only way is to shoot the mana itself.
I turned my body to the right.
The moment it comes into range, the right hand blocks again on its own.
Instantly engulfs the energy wave fired with the force of piercing the body.
And….
“Release.”
The moment you apply strength, your right hand begins to shine.
The swallowed mana returned to the doll in the same form it came from….
–
Boom!
·
I decided that magic didn’t work, so I hit the doll that was running towards me physically to subdue it, and I hit it squarely near the head and blew it up.
This is the first time I killed it all at once.
I sighed in satisfaction and sat down on the floor.
“I broke and ate a lot.”
It’s time to stop. I came to check the mechanism for the power of my right hand, not to remove the supplies from the sparring room warehouse.
Still, I knew for sure after breaking the fifteen Mana dolls.
The reflexes of my right hand are much faster than mine.
All attacks of class A or lower that are touched by that right hand are absorbed.
It may be level A or higher, but there is no way to confirm.
S-class Mana dolls do not exist.
This ability to absorb the opponent’s attacks also had a cooldown. About 10 seconds.
Although I was completely destroyed after fighting 3-on-1, thinking it wasn’t there, it was valuable information.
Now, the opponent’s attack has been nullified and absorbed. This is already useful enough, but….
It was also possible to return the absorbed attack with its properties intact.
If you block a physical attack, it returns physically,
If hit by magic, it returns magic.
A counterattack that is close to reflection.
However, this counterattack is also not perfect and has a time limit.
About 10 minutes. If it is not released in the meantime, it will volatilize.
This was also valuable information. To the extent that the tattered uniform was not such a waste.
And the most important fact.
Growth.
I opened the status window and checked my stats.
Strength: C(+3)
Magic power: B(+2)
With this, it became clear. Depending on the type of power absorbed, the increased stats also vary.
After blocking the doll’s arm that was trying to hit me, my strength increased.
After blocking the mana beam fired at me, my magic power increased.
However, this also seemed to have limitations.
I activated the ability more than 10 times, but I saw that it didn’t increase at all from the 5th time.
It’s a little disappointing. The genre almost changed to automatic hunting.
“Let’s go quickly.”
I collected the remains of the dolls, placed them in a trash can, and then left the sparring hall.
Bright light was already coming in outside the window.
I swung the dagger I had brought with me a few times and then carefully placed it in my arms.
Today’s protagonist who slit Chris’ neck will probably be Scarlett.
It’s always a good feeling to have more cards in your hand.
—
The end of the stairs leading to the rooftop of the main auditorium.
I stood in front of him and carefully opened the door.
Squeak-
·
It’s morning, but the rooftop isn’t that bright yet.
In the middle, there was a blond instructor wearing a neat uniform that gave off a sense of reverence.
He sensed that I was popular, and as soon as he saw me, he asked with a puzzled expression.
“What on earth are you doing?”
“I fell as I was coming.”
My appearance is in complete contrast to his neat attire.
His hair was matted, his clothes were torn here and there, and he was even slightly stained with blood.
I didn’t come prepared with a plausible excuse.
I’ve come this far, so is there any need for that?
“Okay, I’m too lazy to ask anymore. “Quickly activate the gate.”
“I understand.”
I rummaged through the pile of junk and pulled out the mirror I had touched up yesterday afternoon.
Now, the fact that this miscellaneous thing is not a gate, heaven knows, earth knows, and even the omniscience knows.
“What are you doing? Without starting too soon.”
The idiot in front of me had a vision that I had never even dreamed of.
I took a breath and let the mana flow.
Wow-
·
A mirror floating in the air with the sound of magical power resonating.
As if the black magic power was not satisfied with just the mirror, it squeezed through the border and transformed into a circular gate.
How many seconds have passed?
What was originally shaped like a mirror became a completely different gate in both shape and size.
Its size had also increased dozens of times, so it seemed as if a high-ranking monster was about to jump out at any moment.
Well, it’s just a bright apricot.
It seemed that way to me who knew the truth,
“I’m ecstatic.”
This friend next to me was just amazed.
The reason I spent so much mana to activate this bare gate was not because it was the last spectacle I would show to my villain friend who I would soon break up with.
Any plan is even more frustrating when it seems like it will work but doesn’t work out.
I spoke to him in a somewhat embarrassed tone.
“Something happened, the gate is completely unlocked.”
“What?”
As soon as he heard those words, Chris became thoughtful and ran over.
After pushing me and going to the gate, he puts his hand inside and starts flailing.
I tried to drain my mana in a futile attempt, but there was no way the monster would come out.
Okay. I grabbed his back.
I slowly approached his half-conscious back.
I slowly took out the dagger in my pocket so as not to be caught.
“Damn, damn! “What kind of bastard would do something like this in one day…!”
Although all the circumstances pointed to me, I was not suspected.
There is no way that someone who took a month to install can uninstall it in one day.
That was common sense, and unfortunately something unusual happened yesterday.
I walked like that, step by step, and eventually I reached the point where the dagger would reach.
Not yet, not yet. I’m aiming for when that guy’s mentality is completely gone.
“Is this working properly? If it’s broken, no! No way…”
Chris is now almost mentally ill.
Exactly,
Now is the time!
Kaang!
·
The sound of metal echoed.
It was a different sound effect than expected. I really wanted to hear the squeak.
An enormous shock conveyed through the handle of the dagger I was holding.
What suddenly caught my eye was a blade shining in the morning sunlight in the air.
In one word, it’s blocked.
“……”
Chris turned around just in the nick of time, grabbed the blade of the dagger and broke it. His terrifying eyes fell upon me.
Hmm. Image training was perfect.
As expected, physical differences are difficult to overcome.
Jureuk-
However, it was not a complete failure.
He also wasn’t able to block it perfectly.
“It was you who did it.”
A dagger that cut the skin inside in half along with the sleeve of the uniform.
Chris’s arm turns bright red.
After I threw away the useless cutlery…
“Well, I can’t help it.”
I took my stance.
“Let’s take a look at that great swordsmanship.”
—
Holy Sword Baldr.
It is his exclusive weapon and a holy relic that takes the blood of the person he stabs.
You can block the blood magic surrounding the blade with your right hand, but the moment you block it, the absorption cooldown will return.
Then, the physical power of the sword itself cannot be stopped unless the ancestor helps.
In other words, the goal should be to avoid attacks other than fists without being hit.
It wasn’t difficult.
Wedge-
His sword cuts through the air in vain.
The next pattern was to dig to the left.
“Profit…!”
A blade flying with a strange spirit.
When he turns his body to the right, his body, which was aiming for the left, loses its destination and stumbles.
Just like that, it gives a punch to the people.
Puck!
It was a cute blow from Strength C, but Chris was hit while defenseless, so he flinched back.
He soon comes to his senses and throws his fist at me.
But I accept it. With your right hand.
“I feel sorry for you.”
The physical power is absorbed and returned as is.
His body stumbles heavily after being hit by his own force.
He must have realized that punching was not an option, and he took up his stance again with his sword.
“…He was hiding a strange ability.”
He spoke as if nothing had happened, but the hand holding his sword was trembling.
It was likely that way. He fought for about a minute and was hit close to four times with his own fist.
The physical condition also makes no sense.
But, Chris comes running again.
I was feeling relaxed now.
This time, after avoiding it a few times, when the right hand’s ability is reloaded, take a hit.
It was a fight where the goal was to hold on, but if it continues like this, I think I could end up beating myself to death.
“But.”
As expected, is it on the right side this time?
Then I turn to the left-
Agitated-
“…Ugh!”
For a moment, my legs felt numb.
I almost lost my strength, but I managed to twist my body to the left.
Dodged the sword. Just barely.
However, it was not perfect. I lost my body’s balance.
The first gap that appeared. As I lifted my head desperately to fill that gap, what I saw before my eyes was…
“Know your subject.”
It was his fist, flying at an angle that was impossible to avoid.
Bah!
·
A sharp pain spreads across the shoulder.
I feel like my body is swimming, and then I feel a tremendous shock to my back.
…I was punched and thrown into the trash.
It was only then that I realized.
The body I am currently controlling is not Adam, but Ivan.
If you don’t have a good body, you’ll have a hard time even if you have a good head.
“You don’t think I’ll kill you gracefully, do you?”
His gait as he sensed victory.
With a wicked smile, he approaches me holding a sword.
It was then.
Kkiik-
The rooftop door suddenly opened.
The eyes of the two men on the rooftop are focused at the same time.
The person there…
“…”
It was Scarlet Rain.
—
The gate is broken, and the traitor is Ivan.
Even if you kill Ivan, the gate cannot be restored.
A walking mass of energy that appeared just in time for the situation.
The glimmer of hope that the plan could be reversed was enough to blind him.
Chris brazenly opens his arms and welcomes her.
It was the same tone of voice as always.
“Miss Scarlett! “I was waiting.”
“…I came because Ivan called me. “Why are you here?”
She slowly moves her feet and begins to move forward.
Chris standing in the center of the rooftop holding a sword.
She took turns looking at me, who was lying half-lying in her corner, and the direction she was heading towards was…
It was on the side where Chris was.
“That almost caused a really big problem. “If I hadn’t noticed in advance, I would have been hit.”
“What do you mean?”
“Listen carefully, Scarlett. The true identity of the instructor, Ivan Kherson, is a heretic who worships monsters.”
As if there wasn’t a single doubt,
As if he completely trusts him.
She moved forward constantly, at a steady pace.
“Do you see the gate behind me? It’s already half open. There is no time. If this continues, hell will unfold in Russell!”
She advanced step by step like that,
Just before entering the range of the Holy Sword Baldr.
“…Really?”
Just an inch away from her own death, she stopped.
“Scarlett? There is no time. “If you come here, I’ll tell you what to do-“
“I came to know.”
Interrupting Chris,
She answered.
“I just need to get stabbed with that sword and die, right?”
The air stopped.
His expression, which had been trying to cajole her with her loud gestures, also hardened.
In this place where conversation and action have disappeared.
Only silence remained.
“…Huh?”
A situation in which she hears thoughts that were only in her head from someone else’s mouth.
It was even the second time, so it wouldn’t be surprising for such an idiotic moan to come out.
He turned his trembling head like a rusty automaton and looked at me.
The answer I gave after observing the whole situation was simple.
“That’s stupid.”
Only then did he notice.
Ivan Kherson betrayed himself and destroyed his plan.
Nevertheless, Scarlett came ‘as planned’.
The conflicting contradictions between them.
May you live brightly, attacking yourself.
He hurriedly turned his head and tried to prepare for battle, but
It’s late.
Bah!
·
A fist of red mana that pierces his philtrum.
It literally happened in the blink of an eye.
With the sound of something breaking, he flew backwards without even being able to scream.
Scarlett left behind Chris, who had fallen and was squirming, and came towards me, who had left her body in the clutter.
“You’re such a rag.”
“That’s it.”
“What on earth were you thinking of attacking the swordsmanship instructor?”
It doesn’t make sense for me to be like that, but Chris wasn’t the reason it happened.
The reason why his clothes were torn and his hair was matted was entirely due to the automata in the sparring hall.
However, it was not the time to explain every detail.
The guy who was flying far away and squirming seems to have come to his senses.
She seemed to have noticed, too, as she fell and held out her hand to me, who was sitting at an angle.
“Even the drunkards in the back alleys are less reckless than you. “Can you get up?”
“It is not in a state that would cause concern among commoners.”
“Worried?”
I woke up holding his hand.
At that moment, the status window blocked my eyes.
With her blunt reply.
“That can’t be possible.”
–
[Information update: ‘Scarlet Rain’ has become a colleague!]
It was contradictory.