Chapter 118
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“Oh, how crude…”
Koo Myeong-hoon looked at Park Jin-woo with an incredulous expression.
He couldn’t understand why Park Jin-woo had suddenly proposed a sparring match.
“What exactly is crude about it?”
Then another voice chimed in from the side.
It was Moon Ga-eun, who had been quietly observing the situation.
Moon Ga-eun spoke up…?
I was a bit surprised too, and Koo Myeong-hoon’s expression also wrinkled at the confirmation.
“…Holder Moon Ga-eun?”
” How amusing.”
At her words, I laughed inwardly.
As expected, Moon Ga-eun is refreshing.
Since Moon Ga-eun is likely an important figure in <Royal>, Koo Myeong-hoon probably couldn’t casually speak informally to her either.
A prime example of knowing when to be strong and when to yield.
While it’s true that neither I nor Park Jin-woo are weak, Koo Myeong-hoon clearly had the intention of only honoring Moon Ga-eun with formality.
Moon Ga-eun calmly continued speaking.
“There are too many flaws in the senior’s argument. You’re fixated on career and experience, but among the people gathered here, no one has more experience with villains than Do Jae-hyun. At the academy, he’s fought spies twice, and externally he participated in the Villain Gangnam Branch Subjugation Operation during his internship with the Judgement of Fire.”
“…The, the Judgement of Fire?”
Koo Myeong-hoon’s mouth dropped open for a moment.
He didn’t seem to know that I had experience interning with the Judgement of Fire.
Well, although I’ve gained some fame recently, it’s only happened lately, and there are probably many more influential figures and events in the Holder world, so it’s understandable he wouldn’t care.
‘Even so, how could he not…’
At the very least, as the president of the circle he’s joining, he should know the career backgrounds…
Since he only thought of Yoon Ji-ah as the president from the beginning, I guess he has no foresight.
“Most importantly, Do Jae-hyun first planned the Anti-Villain circle and even personally convinced Professor Kim Myeong-hyun to be the advisor. He essentially established the foundation of the circle, so… Who else could be president if not this student?”
Moon Ga-eun relentlessly pushed Koo Myeong-hoon without pause.
‘It’s a bit embarrassing.’
Since it wasn’t anyone else but Moon Ga-eun speaking so seriously, I felt thankful but also embarrassed.
Of course, everything she said was reasonable.
They were words I would have found difficult to say directly, but they thoroughly refuted Koo Myeong-hoon’s logic.
As his arguments were gradually pushed into a corner, Koo Myeong-hoon bit his lip slightly.
But he still didn’t back down.
“Still, a first-year is…”
“The last remaining first-year is immature argument. To break that notion is why Park Jin-woo proposed a sparring match. Looking at it this way, it’s not a crude act at all, is it?”
With that conclusion, Moon Ga-eun smiled brightly.
At that sight, Koo Myeong-hoon’s face flushed red.
There were no flaws in Moon Ga-eun’s step-by-step rebuttal.
I also chimed in around then.
“Alright. Then according to member Park Jin-woo’s proposal, let’s reconcile the matter through a sparring match with member Koo Myeong-hoon. Since our circle has the potential for combat activities, I feel both sides make reasonable points.”
I looked between Park Jin-woo and Koo Myeong-hoon as I continued.
“If member Park Jin-woo wins, then member Koo Myeong-hoon will gracefully acknowledge it, and if member Koo Myeong-hoon wins, we’ll rediscuss the election of the Anti-Villain president. Senior, do you agree?”
“…….”
Koo Myeong-hoon silently nodded.
The atmosphere in the conference room was already overheated, so he couldn’t refuse, and he probably thought there was no way he could lose to a no-name first year.
“Do the other members agree as well?”
As I looked around and asked, the other members also nodded.
“Well, it makes sense…”
“Neither side was wrong…”
The second year members probably also felt some discomfort with a first year becoming president, even if they didn’t vocalize it.
Having to follow the words of an underclassman, regardless of the circle’s direction.
So it seemed everyone thought this clash of opinions was natural.
It wasn’t bad for me either.
To be honest, I was perplexed at first by Koo Myeong-hoon’s objection and Park Jin-woo’s proposal, but I thought if utilized well, it could be an opportunity to re-establish the chaotic atmosphere of the circle.
“Then let’s head to the training ground.”
***
Ippotranslation
***
Koo Myeong-hoon stared ahead with an angry expression.
The man casually stroking his sword while sporting an indifferent look, Park Jin-woo.
He was extremely displeased that this guy’s sudden proposal led them to the training ground for a sparring match.
‘A first-year upstart…’
It’s not that he lacked confidence in his skills for a sparring match.
Among the second-year warrior line, Koo Myeong-hoon was one of the top three experts.
He even possessed the [Flame] rune and showed potential as a multi-holder.
Unfortunately due to lacking understanding, he couldn’t delve as deeply into [Flame] like other mage-type Holders, but instead used his versatility as a springboard to join the Circle <Flame Dance>.
There was no way someone like him would fear the provocation of a mere first-year upstart.
‘To be humiliated in front of Ji-ah…’
The only reason Koo Myeong-hoon was angry.
The fact he had lost face in front of his idol, Yoon Ji-ah.
To Koo Myeong-hoon, Yoon Ji-ah was an object of admiration.
From the first moment he met her after joining the <Flame Dance> Circle, he was immediately smitten. Then he fell for her again because of her gentle personality, warm heart, and firm leadership in guiding the circle.
Yoon Ji-ah was Koo Myeong-hoon’s ideal Holder that he aspired towards.
‘It’s absurd for Ji-ah to be under anyone.’
In Koo Myeong-hoon’s view, Yoon Ji-ah should always shine in the top position.
With this creed, he couldn’t even imagine Yoon Ji-ah being beneath another.
That’s why he forcibly pushed for her appointment as president despite knowing that I was the one who first planned the <Anti-Villain> circle.
The primary reason Koo Myeong-hoon joined the <Anti-Villain> Circle was to follow Yoon Ji-ah, so this kind of blind devotion was natural.
‘I have to defeat this first-year upstart and make Ji-ah president.’
While things hadn’t gone according to plan, if he could just win this sparring match, they could rediscuss the president appointment.
It was something all the members had agreed to, so it couldn’t be easily denied.
With that outcome in mind, Koo Myeong-hoon smiled and looked at Park Jin-woo.
“Why do you smile so grimly?”
“Huh…?”
But at Park Jin-woo’s response, Koo Myeong-hoon wrinkled his brow again.
‘This brazen punk…’
As expected, his way of speaking every word was irritating.
Park Jin-woo chuckled and lifted his sword, saying,
“If you’re ready, let’s begin.”
“Anytime.”
No special signal was needed for a sparring match between two of the warrior-type.
Once the first attacker moved, the battle would commence immediately.
Pad, pababat-!
Park Jin-woo began rushing in fast.
Seeing him approach, Koo Myeong-hoon laughed inwardly.
‘So he has movement runes…’
A Holder’s swift speed.
Sometimes this couldn’t be understood simply by looking at speed stats.
Park Jin-woo’s current motion was like that.
At minimum [Agility], or the rare-grade [Agile Agility] rune.
He needed these to demonstrate such movement.
Just from that, Koo Myeong-hoon immediately realized.
‘This guy definitely wasn’t an average C-grade.’
There’s a tremendous difference in stats between C-grade and B-grade.
Normally when an average C-grade Holder’s weapon clashes, it would feel light.
The opponent should have faltered against his strength.
But he felt powerful strength behind the clashing blade.
While Koo Myeong-hoon was certainly superior in abilities, he instantly knew this was no ordinary foe.
Kang- kang- kagang-
Kakagakgang-!!
Their swords collided repeatedly, emitting intense metallic sounds.
Within that, Park Jin-woo’s speed was tremendous.
Clearly Koo Myeong-hoon had the higher speed stat, but the opponent received considerable assistance regarding speed itself, as if he had speed-related runes.
‘As expected. He didn’t step up for no reason.’
When a no-name first year had stepped up initially, Koo Myeong-hoon thought it was presumptuous, but…
He had to acknowledge what deserved acknowledging.
Park Jin-woo was definitely one of the top contenders among the first years.
‘But that’s not enough to beat me.’
However, that was it.
He has decent skills, that’s true, but still lacking.
Even if he’s close to B-grade, in the end he’s a C-grade Holder.
The difference in experience between a first and second year student.
The outcome of this sparring match couldn’t escape the logic Koo Myeong-hoon had asserted.
Koo Myeong-hoon thought it was about time to wrap this up and gathered his magic power.
‘The weakness is obvious.’
If there was one glaring weakness for damage-focused warrior-type Holders, it was their particular vulnerability to magic attacks.
Unlike tankers who utilize shields, these Holders focus solely on attacking, so while they can defend against physical blows with physical strikes, they are quite susceptible to unexpected magic attacks from the side.
This was something Koo Myeong-hoon understood better than anyone as a damage-focused warrior-type Holder himself.
And…
‘I’m a holder who can use those magic attacks.’
Koo Myeong-hoon was a damage-focused warrior-type Holder who could also utilize [Flame] runes as a versatile multi-holder.
Amidst the intense focus brought by exchanging blows…
A sudden fire-attribute magic attack would surely drive Park Jin-woo into defeat.
“It’s over!”
Sensing an opening, Koo Myeong-hoon activated [Flame].
The flames that suddenly shot out from Koo Myeong-hoon’s sword swiftly stretched out to engulf Park Jin-woo’s shoulder.
The flames proceeded to cover Park Jin-woo’s entire body and…
“Huh?”
The flames that should have covered his whole body…
Disappeared?
Seeing the unbelievable situation, Koo Myeong-hoon made a stupid expression and blurted out.
Meanwhile, Park Jin-woo…
Lightly brushed off the lingering embers with his sword.
Then grinned smugly at Koo Myeong-hoon.
“Oh my. Senior, your flames are a bit weak, no? Taste bad?”
That was definitely obvious.
Magic defense that couldn’t be displayed without the special stat known as ‘Fire Resistance’, not possessed by ordinary Holders.
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