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Translator: Vine
Chapter Title: Sparring (Part 4)
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Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang—!
The sound of shields being struck filled the training ground, as attacks poured down on Lee Yuri.
"...Why, why! The gaze!"
"Why are the attacks, for heaven's sake?!"
Her taunt skill, which forcibly drew in attacks, left her opponents unable to resist, leading them helplessly forward.
"What kind of tank is this?!"
The opposing damage dealer, though aghast, swung his sword at her with full force.
He figured that if she was drawing attacks, he might as well quickly deal with the tank.
However, Lee Yuri, with an impassive expression, evaded her opponent's sword by simply stepping back half a pace.
'Jin Yuha's sword is incomparable to this.'
The sword she had seen him wield against the Blood Goblin was deeply etched into her mind.
The moment the sword was drawn from his waist, a flash of light instantly cut across her vision.
The boss monster died with its neck severed, not even realizing it had been cut.
'Could I really block that sword, back then?'
Honestly, she had her doubts.
Lee Yuri delved even deeper into the enemy lines.
Whoosh—!
Whoosh—!
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Crash—!
The enemy's team composition was three damage dealers, one special class, and one healer. Each, one by one. It was a team extremely focused on offense.
A sword, a two-handed axe, and a staff lunged at her.
And from a distance, an alchemist, a special type, threw bombs.
However, none of those attacks dealt significant damage to Lee Yuri.
As she single-handedly endured all the attacks...
Thwack!
Thwack!
Thwack!
Thwack!
Thwack!
Lee Yuri's damage dealer, who had been hidden, thrust a long spear, taking down opponents one by one.
And so, in order, they were teleported out of the training ground.
"Whoo—! Captain! You were absolutely insane today!?"
Lee Yuri's damage dealer, who had just thrust her spear at an opponent, spoke with a voice that somehow felt familiar.
'Her way of speaking reminds me of Go Yoonseo.'
She was a damage dealer Jin Yuha had recommended, almost like an upgraded version of Go Yoonseo.
Not only her, but the others also displayed notably competent abilities.
It was a shame to say it to Go Yoonseo and Choi Soyeon, but the difference in performance compared to when they were active in Carmela's Forest was immense.
"...Because next week, there's someone we really need to face properly."
Because the person had a somewhat familiar aura, Lee Yuri spoke a little more comfortably.
She had wondered if they might spar with Jin Yuha's party today, but it didn't happen.
It was a bittersweet feeling, a slight disappointment mixed with relief that she could properly prepare to face them.
At that, "Fake Yoonseo" wore a mischievous smile.
"Aha! That face genius!? Our Captain's darling husband!"
"...Hey, you!"
"It's already super famous, you know? He came all the way to the dorms in the middle of the night. 'I don't need Cheonhwa or anything like that, it was always you—.' And then, with the moonlight as a backdrop, a ki—mphmph!!!"
"Captain. My apologies, I'll keep this one quiet."
The short-haired supporter standing behind her clapped a hand over Fake Yoonseo's mouth.
"...But Captain. There's a strange rumor going around, you know?"
"...A rumor?"
"Yeah, apparently, there's a rumor that the winners of this group sparring match have already been decided to be them."
"Because of Cheonhwa and Touken? But they're wearing magic restraints, aren't they?"
"They say those are practically useless. And the bigger problem is... the rumor that they're deliberately trying to push the male quota system."
"What...? Tell me in more detail."
As Lee Yuri asked, flustered, the supporter nodded and replied.
"Because Cheonhwa and Touken are there. The win is theirs anyway, and when they incapacitate the opponents, Jin Yuha will step in and land the final blow... That's the rumor, that they're trying to elevate the newly introduced male quota system this way."
Lee Yuri scoffed at the preposterous rumor.
"Bullshit. They'll find out anyway during the public spar next week."
"Captain, but is that man really that strong?"
Fake Yoonseo asked with a doubtful expression.
"Yes. On par with Cheonhwa or Touken. Or even stronger."
Lee Yuri nodded with a serious face.
"Honestly, I can't believe it."
"Why would a man like that be part of a male quota system...?"
That's because of me.
The words rose to her throat, but Lee Yuri swallowed them back down.
"Ah, anyway! You absolutely cannot let your guard down. The one we need to be most careful of on that team isn't Cheonhwa or Touken; it's Jin Yuha. Just this once, I want you to follow my words completely."
Lee Yuri cautioned her party members like that.
"Understood."
"Got it."
"We only trust the Captain."
"Right. Our reliable gukbap Captain."
Lee Yuri ended up getting the nickname "Gukbap" here too.
***
"Ugh—!"
"Damn it!!! I let my guard down, focusing on Cheonhwa and Touken!"
The second spar ended, followed by the third.
Both of those spars unfolded in the exact same pattern as the first.
The strategy was for me to deal with the guys who were distracted by Shin Sehee and Kang Dohui.
Since this was the most certain and fastest method, there was no need to adopt a different strategy.
'Actually, that archer I first met was better.'
"Damn it all—!"
A male student, shoved out of the training ground by Kang Dohui's kick.
It was a familiar face.
The square-jawed guy who had picked a fight with me before and gotten thoroughly beaten.
'But that guy was a healer...?'
Unfitting for his build, his position was that of a healer.
He lay sprawled on the ground, his face full of resentment, looking up at our side.
"Cheonhwa-nim!!!"
"Yes?"
Shin Sehee, her name suddenly called, tilted her head with an innocent expression.
"...You mustn't be swayed by a cowardly man who only ambushes from behind! And that guy...!"
The guy cried out as if he were a vassal offering advice to a king.
He seemed to be trying to warn Shin Sehee that I was dangerous, somehow...
"Ahahaha!"
His words were cut short by Shin Sehee's sudden burst of laughter.
"A cowardly guy who only ambushes? Who are you talking about? You're not, by any chance, referring to our party leader, are you?"
With that, Shin Sehee turned her head and gazed at me with moist eyes, as if dripping with honey.
'...I thought she'd quieted down a bit after her drunken antics yesterday, but she's already recovered?'
I looked at her with a fed-up expression.
"Then who else but that guy—"
"Excuse me, Student Byun Iksoo."
"Huh—! My, my name...!"
When his name came from Shin Sehee's mouth, the square-jawed guy's eyes widened.
"Of course I'd know. Student... you've been stalking me for a whole year now, haven't you?"
Shin Sehee dropped an unexpected bombshell with a bright smile.
"!"
The square-jawed guy's eyes widened as if they would tear.
"It's not like I didn't know and just stayed quiet, Student."
The temperature of her voice steadily dropped.
"It's just that... you were completely worthless, so I left you alone."
Shin Sehee suddenly linked her arm through mine and leaned her head on my shoulder.
"So. Someone like you doesn't dare speak such words to me, do you? Trailing after me for a whole year, taking pictures. It's absolutely disgusting."
At that, the square-jawed guy looked at us with a face as if his soul had left his body.
Cold glares from his own team pierced him as well.
"In contrast, our party leader—he's handsome, strong, smart, and so good at making people's hearts ache... to the point where even if I cling to him like this, he won't even spare me a glance..."
Shin Sehee reached a hand towards my face.
"That's enough, Shin Sehee."
I caught her hand and unlinked her arm from mine. She then chuckled lightly and pulled her hand away from me.
"Why? It's true, isn't it?"
"Did you change your strategy?"
"Yes. Everything's already been exposed, hasn't it? Since it's come to this, I've decided to just be honest. I want to join Jin Yuha's party, no matter what."
She said with a chuckle.
Shin Sehee coming at me so directly, unlike her usual self, was actually quite troublesome.
*Twitch—*
Kang Dohui, who had been watching from the side, shivered.
As the defeated opponents bit their lips and turned their backs, leaving, Baek Seolhee approached.
"You've worked hard in the group spars today."
"Instructor Baek Seolhee."
As she seemed about to conclude the training, I stepped forward and spoke to her.
"Hmm?"
I thought about Lee Yuri.
Shin Sehee couldn't even get a word in edgewise against Lee Yuri to begin with.
The two quota members also diligently used their skills, but their roles were extremely negligible.
Ultimately, in next week's spar, only Kang Dohui, whose power was diminished, and I would be able to contend with Lee Yuri.
A simple calculation: 5 to 2.
Normally, I would have been confident.
Even with her magic restricted, Kang Dohui was still Kang Dohui.
'But the restrictions are tougher than I thought.'
Perhaps to avoid controversy, the magic restrictions I confirmed today were much stricter than during training.
'If Gukbap let her guard down like the opponents we met today, it might be fine, but...'
No way.
The look in her eyes at the end was full of determination to win against us, no matter what.
She would pay close attention not only to Kang Dohui and Shin Sehee but also to me.
If she were to intensely mark me and her party members attacked...
I wouldn't lose, but I also didn't think I could win.
I needed to show Gukbap a decent performance as a party leader for her to feel confident in me.
But in my current state, at best, it would be a draw.
'Tsk, I shouldn't have recommended such capable people.'
I clicked my tongue inwardly.
So I asked Baek Seolhee.
"I'd like to get some advice regarding next week's spar."
*
As Jin Yuha and Baek Seolhee began discussing with each other.
"Tsk, he's clearly preoccupied with that woman, isn't he?"
Shin Sehee clicked her tongue, clearly displeased.
"...That woman?"
Kang Dohui, who normally wouldn't initiate conversation with Shin Sehee, reacted.
At that, Shin Sehee turned her head with a slightly surprised expression, then soon wore a deep smile.
"Kang Dohui. You're waiting too, aren't you? Waiting for Jin Yuha to offer you a party invitation."
"No, I just wanted to apologize first..."
"Oh, that time you treated Jin Yuha so roughly? And then, after apologizing like that? Would you really be okay even without a party invitation?"
At that, Kang Dohui pressed her lips together tightly.
"I know everything. Who wouldn't know when someone looks at a person with such yearning?"
Shin Sehee scoffed. Then she spoke in a despondent voice.
Having already made a complete fool of herself the day before, Shin Sehee was quite honest, experiencing a moment of reality check.
"Well, unlike me, you'll probably get a party invitation. Jin Yuha-ssi said from the beginning that he wanted to get close to you."
"Is that so."
At those words, Kang Dohui felt a proud sense of satisfaction welling up in her chest.
"But you know, Kang Dohui. You're still just second, in the end."
"...Second?"
"Yes, there's one woman Jin Yuha-ssi cherishes *very* dearly. He said she was his first party member."
"First..."
*Clench—*
Kang Dohui unconsciously bit her lip.
Shin Sehee, watching her, spoke with a hesitant tone.
"...So. Kang Dohui. How about we join forces just this once? I, too, covet the spot by Jin Yuha-ssi's side so much..."