Academy's Silver Gatekeeper-Chapter 70

My arms and legs feel like they're about to break. No, they might already be broken. They no longer respond to my commands. Even gritting my teeth doesn't make them move an inch.

The thought that I'll die if I collapse here fills my mind, but there's nothing I can do. This is it. Yes, that phrase perfectly describes this moment.

'Well... at least I succeeded.'

In the very last moment. As Elder Kwak Hyuk's spear was flying toward me, I saw the wind path that Kang Minseong had shown me with perfect clarity.

I didn't overthink it. I didn't doubt it. I simply moved my body according to my memory of that moment.

The technique Kang Minseong showed me was as simple as a gentle breeze. Yet it was also powerful. The swordsmanship Lee Hyunwoo displayed before me was stubborn yet gentle.

And Kim Suhyeon's sword was fierce like a gale, intense, and violent. I gathered all of these into one place.

In that instant, I sensed that nothing could be more perfect.

I executed perfectly what Kang Minseong, Lee Hyunwoo, and Kim Suhyeon had shown me. So perfectly that I felt refreshed even with death staring me in the face.

"Y-you bastard..."

However, it seems I couldn't reach the level of mastery he had achieved. I couldn't match the time he had invested.

Red blood was gushing from the X-shaped wound across his chest. Despite this, that Elder bastard was still approaching me with his spear in hand. With sticky killing intent that made it clear he would kill me no matter what.

I fell short. The timing and flow were perfect, but... The depth and power weren't enough to reach him.

'Damn it. Can't you just collapse already?'

When the protagonist suffers this much, the villain is supposed to fall, right? Isn't that the rule? Maybe it's because I'm not Lee Hyunwoo?

Damn it. What a dirty world where only Lee Hyunwoo gets protagonist buffs!

I bit my lip until it bled, trying to stand up.

My limbs felt like they would snap, but I tried to force them to move. However, my body, pushed to its absolute limit, refused to respond.

It doesn't seem like I'm just exhausted. My entire body feels like it's being torn apart. I suspect all my muscles and ligaments are damaged.

Meanwhile, just as the man who had reached right in front of me was about to grab my neck, something flashed and ice flowers bloomed all around.

"H-here! Y-you evil man!"

Despite even state ability users being paralyzed with fear, Kang Hana had overcome her terror and managed to cast magic.

Though it didn't inflict any damage, it was still an incredible feat. Even though she was Platinum rank, she was still just a student.

But the situation isn't good. Right now, this guy is literally in a state where his eyes have rolled back. His killing intent toward me could easily shift elsewhere. And I could see the madness swirling in his pupils.

"Get away! Run away, Student Kang Hana!"

I shouted, summoning every bit of strength I had left.

This is madness. It's like throwing pebbles at a rabid dog. But Kang Hana continued to barrage him with magic.

As if trying to draw the Elder's attention to herself. As if trying to buy me a little time to recover.

The Elder slowly approaches Kang Hana. Absolutely not. How can I give up after coming this far? I still haven't finished the evaluation. So please, please, just one more time...

"That's enough."

A chilling sensation runs down my spine. I didn't even sense a presence, but I heard another voice behind me.

A voice I'd heard before, one that lingered in my memory.

Right. Hyeon Sujin. Of all things, yet another Elder. What terrible luck.

I swallowed nervously and gripped my sword until it felt like it would break. If I launched a surprise attack now, could I inflict meaningful damage? If she was off guard, then maybe I could...

"I said stop. Do you really want me to kill you?"

The cold woman's voice penetrates my mind. A dark shadow taps my hand that's gripping the sword.

'Damn it.'

I had to admit it. In the current situation, there was nothing I could do.

Is this really the end? Like this, without being able to do anything...

"Are you alright, Seojin-ssi?"

At another voice, I reflexively looked up.

A woman standing between Elder and Kang Hana. An S-rank ability user. The only one in this situation who could handle everything.

"Professor Han Jiyoon."

"I'm glad you're okay."

Han Jiyoon points her sword at Kwak Hyuk.

"As much as I'd like to kill you, there are a lot of people here, and you're badly injured. How about we both back off? There won't be a second negotiation. If you refuse, we all die together."

"Let's all die together. Yes, that wouldn't be bad."

Wait, hold on! Ms. Han Jiyoon! Is that how you negotiate? That already half-crazed guy isn't going to leave if you talk like that.

I was startled by Han Jiyoon's unexpected negotiation style. Is this how S-rank ability users navigate the world? No wonder. I thought that Irina woman wasn't right in the head, too.

"Kwak Hyuk."

As I tried waving my barely functioning arm to convey, 'Stop it! We'll all die! Don't do this!' to Han Jiyoon, Hyeon Sujin continues with an expressionless voice.

"Weren't you planning to settle things with that crazy Blonde?"

Crazy Blonde? Among villains, there's only one person referred to as the crazy Blonde. Irina. But why is Irina being brought up at this timing?

"I guarantee you'll die if you fight Han Jiyoon now. I don't know how you ended up in such a pathetic state, but your spear is broken, the bleeding won't stop, and somehow you've even lost the use of your left arm."

"Hyeon Sujin."

"If you're asking if I'll fight with you, why should I? I don't particularly feel like fighting today. I'll just watch whether you die or not. Oh, if you manage to leave Han Jiyoon with a fatal wound, I'll finish her off."

"What the hell..."

"So, if you want to fight the crazy Blonde, call it quits for today."

Saying this, Hyeon Sujin points at me.

"It's embarrassing to have the Elder title and end up like that. Fighting such a guy and getting into that state. If it were me, I'd bite my tongue and die from shame. You idiot. But you don't intend to do that, right? You want to either die fighting the crazy Blonde or kill her. So just back off reasonably. I won't try to persuade you anymore."

Wait, are you crazy? Make a proper persuasion. Why do you keep provoking him?

If you do this, that crazy water ghost won't agree to stop, would he? I was inwardly cursing both Han Jiyoon and Hyeon Sujin for being so clueless...

"I understand."

...what the hell? Why are you being persuaded by that?

"I'll leave it at this."

Kwak Hyuk, having turned around, passes by me and Hyeon Sujin with his broken spear. In that moment, his gaze locks onto mine. It sends chills down my spine.

This feeling is like when a senior colleague finally chases away a malicious complainant. Like that moment when they say, 'I'll see you next time, you bastard.'

"I told you to feel ashamed."

Just as I was tensing up, thinking Kwak Hyuk might say 'I'll kill you after all,' Hyeon Sujin, standing beside me, whirls her shadow slightly and issues a quiet warning.

"If you try anything, I'll kill you to preserve the Elder reputation."

This is the first time in my life I've been so grateful to an Elder. And it confirmed that rumor was true.

The one about Elders having terrible relationships with each other. They even said the rival relationship between Elders and S-rank ability users might be better. I thought it was nonsense, but now it makes sense.

"I'm not that narrow-minded. You keep making me out to be a strange guy."

You ARE a strange guy. And your mind IS narrow. That's what I almost blurted out. If I had actually said it, Kwak Hyuk would probably have glared at me, gritting his teeth.

"But there's one thing I want to ask. Hyeon Sujin."

"I told you to get lost. What is it?"

"What you said earlier. I hope you keep to it."

What's this about now? Hyeon Sujin seemed to share my confusion, muttering, 'What's he talking about?'

"You said if you lost to him, you would bite your tongue and die from shame."

"So?"

"It sounds like you're saying you wouldn't lose. But, you know. Not now, but later. Who can guarantee that you won't end up in the same state as me after fighting him?"

With those words, Kwak Hyuk vanished in an instant.

'That crazy bastard.'

What he just said was not only to provoke Hyeon Sujin... But also to ask her, 'Are you okay leaving him as a future threat?'

Is he telling her to kill me instead? What's with that? If you're going to leave, just leave coolly. Why say such strange things?

And Hyeon Sujin, don't look at me with those weird eyes. Why are you making me anxious? You're not going to pretend to be cool and then stab me with a shadow from behind, are you?

"Hyeon Sujin."

Sharing my thoughts, Han Jiyoon's expression turns cold. A silent question of whether she was going to backstab us after cooperating.

"I'm not the type of crazy Blonde who lacks manners."

Thankfully, Hyeon Sujin just let out a cold sneer and stepped back.

"In return for cooperating today, don't keep tracking me. If you do, my resolve not to fight today might break. We avoided a funeral today, so I'll ask a favor. Sister."

"I told you I'll kill you if you call me sister one more time."

Despite Han Jiyoon's fierce tone, Hyeon Sujin just giggled. Then she turned to look at the villains who were watching from behind.

"If you've understood the situation, get lost quickly, will you? Oh, if you want to continue, go ahead. I won't stop you."

The conclusion the villains reached was, of course, a great escape. One Elder had already fled, and the other had no intention of fighting.

On the other hand, waiting on the opposite side was an S-rank ability user they couldn't handle even if they were reborn. Unless they were insane, they wouldn't reject the arrangement Hyeon Sujin had created.

"Ah, just in case I'm saying this, but don't expect too much. Jiyoon."

Once all the villains had disappeared, Hyeon Sujin took a step back. Then she began to turn into the same dark shadow as when she appeared.

"I'm never coming back. So don't harbor hope. I'll be the bad girl forever, until I die."

"I never expected you to. Traitor."

At Han Jiyoon's cold reply, Hyeon Sujin, now a shadow, applauds. That was the end. All the villains had left.

It was the moment the field training, riddled with all sorts of incidents, came to a close.

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