Seo Youngji focuses her attention on her laptop, leaving the observation to Oh Junhyuk.
“Typical Associate Executive… Alright, who should I be looking out for?” Oh Junhyuk strains his eyes, exploiting his superhuman powers to see better than he usually can.
While Seo Youngji has better eyesight than him, it will be his experience that is needed to produce valuable information in discerning the future of humanity.
“Kim Suho and Chae Nayun. They’re on top of their class. And I guess Yi Yeonghan and Kim Horak too.”
“Oh! Two of the top 6 are fighting here? Who are they fighting?” Oh Junhyuk shows his interest, his eyes with an expectant gleam of what the Cube has to offer.
Kim Suho and Chae Nayun are well-known even in the Association. Even Oh Junhyuk who is not into watching duels, cannot help but show interest in their match.
“Kim Suho is fighting Yi Yeonghan. Chae Nayun is fighting Joseph. Kim Horak is fighting… Hyon Hyung…” See Youngji answers his inquiry, dragging her words when she reads about Hyon Hyung.
“Other than Kim Horak, it looks like most of them choose appropriate opponents. Wait… Did you just say Hyon Hyung? That pizza kid we met?”
“Hyon Hyung, rank 1111. Yes, it is that same noisy Hawaiian pizza kid.” Seo Youngji grudgingly recalls their meeting with the peculiar youth who has nothing better to do than eavesdrop on his seniors.
“… Rank 1111? Isn’t that too low? It is four digits! What is so special about him? I remember, isn’t he involved in a scandal? And also a friend of that Kim Hajin who introduced DDT?”
Seo Youngji pushes up her glasses.
“There are bad rumors about him. My cousin in Cube told me that he’s quite… distasteful.”
Oh Junhyuk takes a wild guess. “What? Tell me if I am wrong. Is he a drunk who always goes out of Cube to go clubbing, and go at brothels? Maybe that kind of bad rumor?”
“No,” Seo Youngji’s face twists in a grimace. “Worse.”
“What? Don’t leave me in suspense.”
Seo Youngji proceeds. “The rumor is that he likes to prank.”
“That’s worse?”
“No, I am not done yet.” Seo Youngji places her hand on her chin, thinking hard about how much to tell. “The really worse rumor is that he is a Djinn who seduced Kim Hajin and that they are in a relationship. And that… Kim Hajin is helping on hiding Hyon Hyung’s Djinn identity.”
“That is a sick rumor. So Kim Horak is a Hero administering justice to a malicious Djinn. It is not funny.”
Kim Hajin. His name is making big waves, and even now, the waves he is making are yet to subside. Some say he is the second coming of the Great Sage, and a few believe he is the next top Hero, an underdog everyone is cheering for. Despite being at rank 934, his rising fame continues to surge upward.
Few even start doubting the Cube’s ranking system having foul play as someone of a genius at Kim Hajin’s magnitude being at immensely low rank sounds too ridiculous.
Oh Junhyuk and Seo Youngji also wish to see Kim Hajin in the Duel Rankings. The mysterious gunner has been the center of attention for several shaking events lately. People wonder. Just who is he?
Tak. Seo Youngji closes her laptop, deciding to pay more attention to the fight itself than read the data she has read over several times already. “It is starting.”
“…Tsk.” Oh Junhyuk crosses his arms and leans against the back of the seat. He is a little bit annoyed that the program is taking forever to start.
The first duel is between the two aforementioned cadets.
“The first duel is between rank 18, Kim Horak, and rank 1111 Hyon Hyung! How will Hyon Hyung overcome the difference in rank? Why did Kim Horak nominate such a low-ranked cadet?” The unfortunate host tries his best to hype up the match which has an obvious result.
A mana barrier goes up around the arena. It is to prevent the two cadets’ attacks from leaking out.
***
Cadets are prohibited from using their personal weapons during the exams. It is because scouts want to observe the cadets based on their ability rather than the power of their weapons. As such, I cannot use my [Wolf Fang] and [Hunter’s Dagger]. In fact, I will go as far as not using [Always Here] and [Not Here].
I will fuck him using pure stats!
In this fight, the equipment I can only rely on is my pair of training daggers and protective armor that Cube provides. There is no reason for me to be so arrogant. My hell training in Little Blue Tower has made me stronger, but not enough for me to defeat Kim Horak who will be 100% using his Gift and the Arts he has. Sure, I can floor him if use my Gift, but I want none of that.
“This is training.” I convinced myself.
This might be a valuable opportunity for me to increase my synchronization with my AI System. I remain in Waiting Room 5, patiently waiting for staff to lead me to the arena. When the staff arrives, he strangely looks at the cast on my neck. “Are you ok, cadet? What is the problem with your neck?”
“Very severe stiff neck, sir…”
The staff nods understandably. “Let’s go.”
“Yes,” I follow. The other Cadets from Waiting Room 5 show me pity as they finally realize my presence. I can feel their sympathy. With the cast on my neck and the so-called stiff neck, I cannot really turn my head around. Like a horse, I can only see the straight and narrow.
The current planet Earth has technology so far superior from the 21st century I know. The funny thing is… even to this day, there is still no cure for balding and stiff necks. The staff leads me by my reigns (figuratively) and helps me to the stage.
I take a good look around me, my body turning around. A translucent mana barrier surrounds the arena with thousands of spectators looking down. Both indescribable pressure and excitement overwhelm me.
While I am shaking from this strange sensation, Kim Horak walks up from the other side. He sends me a strange look. “What happened to you?”
I lie. “Got hit by a truck. I am lucky I was not sent to the afterlife… or any fantasy land with goblins and elves…” At this point, I am already a habitual liar.
“That doesn’t matter. I shall show the world your true nature, Djinn!” Kim Horak proudly announces. He is not merely a loyal dog to Shin Jonghak. He is someone with a conviction. At least as a person, he has the right to act on what he feels. Judging by how he looks at me, he must be fairly convinced that I am Djinn.
“What? Aren’t you picking a fight with me because I tripped you back in the cafeteria? That is a long time ago though. Still, aren’t we friends?” I try to appeal to Horak’s conviction.
It looks like some kids are still sticking to the idea that I am a Djinn. I should have asked Jonghak to resolve this matter. Ugh… This is disgusting.
Kim Horak equips his gauntlet. “Friends? I am not like you. I am friends with Jonghak because I sincerely admire him. Prepare for a throw down, you sucker-up-leeching gold digger.”
Ouch. Now, I am disgusted with myself.
“Counting down! Three!” The host proceeds with the countdown thinking that the two cadets are ready.
Crack— Crack— I can hear Kim Horak cracking his knuckles from all the way where I stand.
“Two!” The host does his job splendidly, giving me a microsecond more free time to devise how I should act from here. I truly feel bad for Kim Horak.
Kim Horak ignites his magic power, drawing it above the surface of his body. Layering magic power around one’s body is a technique called qi reinforcement. I should be able to penetrate it with my daggers, but he might die. Or get injured like amputated, broken bones, or bleeding a lot from dangerous lacerations.
“One!” The host finishes the countdown.
For this fight, I decided to utilize my [AI System] to its fullest.
Kim Horak’s center of gravity leans forward, and he digs his feet into the ground. I measure precisely 152.13 meters from him to me. Kim Horak will close the distance at approximately three seconds.
Kim Horak immediately charges forward like a savage beast. “This is for tripping me on the fourth day of class.” He begrudgingly swings his enclosed fist at me, reminding me of Cheok Jungyeon’s sneak attack.
I recall instructor Kim Soohyuk suggesting I skip the Combat Exam. He even goes as far as to discourage me from attending Cube and quit. I should do at least the bare minimum of what is expected from me.
Of course, I will do it in a way that I can have fun. A little bit of experimentation will also be fun.
I wonder what happens if I combine [Parrying Art] and [Throwing Art].
“Watch your step…” You might get tripped. I don’t know about martial arts or sports, but that doesn’t stop me from reading about them in this life and the past life.
Using both the principles of Aikido and Tai Chi, I am able to invent a new move. This is the first time I am using them in actual combat. This time, I will see if they are usable enough for me to add them to my usual roster.
“Martial Art: Heaven Meets Earth.” I smugly pronounce the new move’s name, still trying to think of a better name. It has such a grandiose name but it is basically just flipping Kim Horak to the ground.
I let go of one of my daggers, freeing my right hand. I grab Kim Horak’s wrist from his fist glowing with iridescent magic power, and flip him.
***
Kim Horak blinks his eyes in surprise, his back is on the ground, and Hyon Hyung’s face is above him. Despite his advantage in weight, he is still flipped so easily.
When Hyon Hyung drops his dagger, Kim Horak initially thinks that the poor guy must be giving up.
Kim Horak feels his cheeks heating up from shame. He cannot let this be! He rouses his fighting spirit and pulls his hand to throw Hyon Hyung, however, Hyon Hyung immediately lets go of his wrist as if reading his mind.
This sends a chill to Horak. This suggests that Hyon Hyung might be a superior martial artist to him, which leaves a bad taste in his mouth.
Kim Horak wants to restart, chase Hyon Hyung, and pay the humiliation back tenfold. However, he ends up tripping and slipping on the dagger’s hilt lying around just adjacent to him.
Hyon Hyung smirks, and whispers to him. “It is all according to plan.”
To Hyon Hyung’s actual credit, it is all just a coincidence.
Seo Youngji focuses her attention on her laptop, leaving the observation to Oh Junhyuk.
“Typical Associate Executive… Alright, who should I be looking out for?” Oh Junhyuk strains his eyes, exploiting his superhuman powers to see better than he usually can.
While Seo Youngji has better eyesight than him, it will be his experience that is needed to produce valuable information in discerning the future of humanity.
“Kim Suho and Chae Nayun. They’re on top of their class. And I guess Yi Yeonghan and Kim Horak too.”
“Oh! Two of the top 6 are fighting here? Who are they fighting?” Oh Junhyuk shows his interest, his eyes with an expectant gleam of what the Cube has to offer.
Kim Suho and Chae Nayun are well-known even in the Association. Even Oh Junhyuk who is not into watching duels, cannot help but show interest in their match.
“Kim Suho is fighting Yi Yeonghan. Chae Nayun is fighting Joseph. Kim Horak is fighting… Hyon Hyung…” See Youngji answers his inquiry, dragging her words when she reads about Hyon Hyung.
“Other than Kim Horak, it looks like most of them choose appropriate opponents. Wait… Did you just say Hyon Hyung? That pizza kid we met?”
“Hyon Hyung, rank 1111. Yes, it is that same noisy Hawaiian pizza kid.” Seo Youngji grudgingly recalls their meeting with the peculiar youth who has nothing better to do than eavesdrop on his seniors.
“… Rank 1111? Isn’t that too low? It is four digits! What is so special about him? I remember, isn’t he involved in a scandal? And also a friend of that Kim Hajin who introduced DDT?”
Seo Youngji pushes up her glasses.
“There are bad rumors about him. My cousin in Cube told me that he’s quite… distasteful.”
Oh Junhyuk takes a wild guess. “What? Tell me if I am wrong. Is he a drunk who always goes out of Cube to go clubbing, and go at brothels? Maybe that kind of bad rumor?”
“No,” Seo Youngji’s face twists in a grimace. “Worse.”
“What? Don’t leave me in suspense.”
Seo Youngji proceeds. “The rumor is that he likes to prank.”
“That’s worse?”
“No, I am not done yet.” Seo Youngji places her hand on her chin, thinking hard about how much to tell. “The really worse rumor is that he is a Djinn who seduced Kim Hajin and that they are in a relationship. And that… Kim Hajin is helping on hiding Hyon Hyung’s Djinn identity.”
“That is a sick rumor. So Kim Horak is a Hero administering justice to a malicious Djinn. It is not funny.”
Kim Hajin. His name is making big waves, and even now, the waves he is making are yet to subside. Some say he is the second coming of the Great Sage, and a few believe he is the next top Hero, an underdog everyone is cheering for. Despite being at rank 934, his rising fame continues to surge upward.
Few even start doubting the Cube’s ranking system having foul play as someone of a genius at Kim Hajin’s magnitude being at immensely low rank sounds too ridiculous.
Oh Junhyuk and Seo Youngji also wish to see Kim Hajin in the Duel Rankings. The mysterious gunner has been the center of attention for several shaking events lately. People wonder. Just who is he?
Tak. Seo Youngji closes her laptop, deciding to pay more attention to the fight itself than read the data she has read over several times already. “It is starting.”
“…Tsk.” Oh Junhyuk crosses his arms and leans against the back of the seat. He is a little bit annoyed that the program is taking forever to start.
The first duel is between the two aforementioned cadets.
“The first duel is between rank 18, Kim Horak, and rank 1111 Hyon Hyung! How will Hyon Hyung overcome the difference in rank? Why did Kim Horak nominate such a low-ranked cadet?” The unfortunate host tries his best to hype up the match which has an obvious result.
A mana barrier goes up around the arena. It is to prevent the two cadets’ attacks from leaking out.
***
Cadets are prohibited from using their personal weapons during the exams. It is because scouts want to observe the cadets based on their ability rather than the power of their weapons. As such, I cannot use my [Wolf Fang] and [Hunter’s Dagger]. In fact, I will go as far as not using [Always Here] and [Not Here].
I will fuck him using pure stats!
In this fight, the equipment I can only rely on is my pair of training daggers and protective armor that Cube provides. There is no reason for me to be so arrogant. My hell training in Little Blue Tower has made me stronger, but not enough for me to defeat Kim Horak who will be 100% using his Gift and the Arts he has. Sure, I can floor him if use my Gift, but I want none of that.
“This is training.” I convinced myself.
This might be a valuable opportunity for me to increase my synchronization with my AI System. I remain in Waiting Room 5, patiently waiting for staff to lead me to the arena. When the staff arrives, he strangely looks at the cast on my neck. “Are you ok, cadet? What is the problem with your neck?”
“Very severe stiff neck, sir…”
The staff nods understandably. “Let’s go.”
“Yes,” I follow. The other Cadets from Waiting Room 5 show me pity as they finally realize my presence. I can feel their sympathy. With the cast on my neck and the so-called stiff neck, I cannot really turn my head around. Like a horse, I can only see the straight and narrow.
The current planet Earth has technology so far superior from the 21st century I know. The funny thing is… even to this day, there is still no cure for balding and stiff necks. The staff leads me by my reigns (figuratively) and helps me to the stage.
I take a good look around me, my body turning around. A translucent mana barrier surrounds the arena with thousands of spectators looking down. Both indescribable pressure and excitement overwhelm me.
While I am shaking from this strange sensation, Kim Horak walks up from the other side. He sends me a strange look. “What happened to you?”
I lie. “Got hit by a truck. I am lucky I was not sent to the afterlife… or any fantasy land with goblins and elves…” At this point, I am already a habitual liar.
“That doesn’t matter. I shall show the world your true nature, Djinn!” Kim Horak proudly announces. He is not merely a loyal dog to Shin Jonghak. He is someone with a conviction. At least as a person, he has the right to act on what he feels. Judging by how he looks at me, he must be fairly convinced that I am Djinn.
“What? Aren’t you picking a fight with me because I tripped you back in the cafeteria? That is a long time ago though. Still, aren’t we friends?” I try to appeal to Horak’s conviction.
It looks like some kids are still sticking to the idea that I am a Djinn. I should have asked Jonghak to resolve this matter. Ugh… This is disgusting.
Kim Horak equips his gauntlet. “Friends? I am not like you. I am friends with Jonghak because I sincerely admire him. Prepare for a throw down, you sucker-up-leeching gold digger.”
Ouch. Now, I am disgusted with myself.
“Counting down! Three!” The host proceeds with the countdown thinking that the two cadets are ready.
Crack— Crack— I can hear Kim Horak cracking his knuckles from all the way where I stand.
“Two!” The host does his job splendidly, giving me a microsecond more free time to devise how I should act from here. I truly feel bad for Kim Horak.
Kim Horak ignites his magic power, drawing it above the surface of his body. Layering magic power around one’s body is a technique called qi reinforcement. I should be able to penetrate it with my daggers, but he might die. Or get injured like amputated, broken bones, or bleeding a lot from dangerous lacerations.
“One!” The host finishes the countdown.
For this fight, I decided to utilize my [AI System] to its fullest.
Kim Horak’s center of gravity leans forward, and he digs his feet into the ground. I measure precisely 152.13 meters from him to me. Kim Horak will close the distance at approximately three seconds.
Kim Horak immediately charges forward like a savage beast. “This is for tripping me on the fourth day of class.” He begrudgingly swings his enclosed fist at me, reminding me of Cheok Jungyeon’s sneak attack.
I recall instructor Kim Soohyuk suggesting I skip the Combat Exam. He even goes as far as to discourage me from attending Cube and quit. I should do at least the bare minimum of what is expected from me.
Of course, I will do it in a way that I can have fun. A little bit of experimentation will also be fun.
I wonder what happens if I combine [Parrying Art] and [Throwing Art].
“Watch your step…” You might get tripped. I don’t know about martial arts or sports, but that doesn’t stop me from reading about them in this life and the past life.
Using both the principles of Aikido and Tai Chi, I am able to invent a new move. This is the first time I am using them in actual combat. This time, I will see if they are usable enough for me to add them to my usual roster.
“Martial Art: Heaven Meets Earth.” I smugly pronounce the new move’s name, still trying to think of a better name. It has such a grandiose name but it is basically just flipping Kim Horak to the ground.
I let go of one of my daggers, freeing my right hand. I grab Kim Horak’s wrist from his fist glowing with iridescent magic power, and flip him.
***
Kim Horak blinks his eyes in surprise, his back is on the ground, and Hyon Hyung’s face is above him. Despite his advantage in weight, he is still flipped so easily.
When Hyon Hyung drops his dagger, Kim Horak initially thinks that the poor guy must be giving up.
Kim Horak feels his cheeks heating up from shame. He cannot let this be! He rouses his fighting spirit and pulls his hand to throw Hyon Hyung, however, Hyon Hyung immediately lets go of his wrist as if reading his mind.
This sends a chill to Horak. This suggests that Hyon Hyung might be a superior martial artist to him, which leaves a bad taste in his mouth.
Kim Horak wants to restart, chase Hyon Hyung, and pay the humiliation back tenfold. However, he ends up tripping and slipping on the dagger’s hilt lying around just adjacent to him.
Hyon Hyung smirks, and whispers to him. “It is all according to plan.”
To Hyon Hyung’s actual credit, it is all just a coincidence.
