Chapter 93 – Masked Man (4)

Jung Si-woo doesn’t receive a penalty.

“Shit.”
“W-Why are you suddenly like this? Did I do something wrong?”

While attending the class, he suddenly blurted out a curse, startling Azalea, who asked with her heart racing.

“No, it’s just…”

Suddenly, he felt the urge to wither and kill all the World Trees.
After being beaten by Ents a few times, seeing a deadly-looking tree that could kill upon encounter, and being toyed with in various ways by the World Trees, he had grown sick of just looking at trees along his path.

“I can’t solve this problem.”

Circling around the issue, he rested his chin on his hand and sighed.
The professor was in the middle of an uninterrupted explanation of magical theory.

“Now, right here, to remove the second circle of this Mad Fire spell. Does anyone know the method of interpretation?”

Inside the classroom, everyone fell silent as if they had eaten honey upon hearing the professor’s question.

“The Magnarot Theory.”
“Hmm… Did you do any pre-study? That’s correct.”

As I gave the answer nonchalantly, a voice filled with admiration flowed from the professor’s mouth. A stir occurred within the study room.

– Why is she like that today?
– She must be studying hard.
– How many times has it been?

Magic, after all, is inputting commands. Add to that Zodiac’s Spartan education, and it’s no surprise she knows.

I was reaping the benefits of increasing my study time while reducing my sleep. I stretched, blinking my sleepy eyes.

Just then, Azalea tilted her head toward me.

“Do you… happen to have some sort of issue?”

She whispered her question, bringing a hand to her mouth. I tilted my head, still playfully moving the hand that had been taking notes.

“Why do you ask?”
“There have been a lot of rumors going around lately.”
“What kind of rumors?”
“Well… It’s about someone wearing a mask. There’s only one person in the academy who goes around wearing a mask, right?”

Azalea stared intently at my mask while speaking.
It seemed she was doubtful about the rumors, but I understood. After all, having seen a face that wasn’t even as good as that old orc’s, how could she accept those rumors as truth?

“What’s the matter?”

Azalea gazed at me for a long time, then, with a thoughtful “hmm…” she soon raised the corners of her mouth.

“It’s a good rumor. There’s talk about your skills, and the number of people curious about you has increased. And also…”

“And also?”

Azalea was smiling happily for some reason while discussing my rumors.

The sight almost made me burst out laughing.

“Furthermore…”

She hesitated, unsure whether to speak or not. Such feelings were clearly evident on her face.
For some reason, I had a curious feeling.

In the past, she had been a cold, icy woman, but it’s true that one never knows where relationships might lead, and before I knew it, we had become such close friends. I consider Azalea someone I can rely on.

After all, she was the one who took care of Shiba when I wasn’t there.

“It’s just a compliment. People around me have been giving much better evaluations lately.”
“Really? That’s a relief.”

Come to think of it, I’ve been so consumed with training recently that I neglected to care for my friends.
Jung Si-woo was like that, too… as well as Azalea and Cornus.

Cornus hadn’t had a conversation in quite some time. What is she doing now?
I tilt my head and look at the spot where Cornus is sitting.

“…Mmm, sniff.”

Cornus was dozing off with one arm pinched.
A delicate snore escaped her mouth. Several students were captivated by the unusual sight.

“Alright, we’ll end today’s class here, and submit the next assignment by email.”

As class finished, I looked at Azalea packing her things and invited her.

“Let’s go grab something to eat.”

She placed her laptop in her bag, pretended to think for a moment, and then nodded her head.

“Just the two of us?”
“Yeah.”
“…Alright.”

The last response was a somewhat heightened voice.

* * * * * *

【 Connection to the World Tree is temporarily severed. 】

A cold chill seeps into the bones.

Like the vibrant leaves that unfurl in the crisp spring air, the magic power etched throughout the body begins to flow.

“Do you notice any differences compared to before?”

Inside the private training room, accessed through spatial magic, White Peach, who was unwinding her clenched fist, asked nonchalantly.

There was undoubtedly a deficiency in strength. It was slightly removed from the sensation of overflowing power she had felt in the Purgatory. Perhaps it was about 40%, or maybe 30%, of that time. Nonetheless, it was sufficient power to knock anyone down. However, for someone who had once experienced such an abundance of strength, it was inevitably disappointing.

“It might take some time to utilize that power again. First, your body needs to adjust.”
“It seems you’re right.”
“Today’s training is simple. Strike and grapple with me.”

White Peach playfully flicked her fingers, sending a shiver down my spine. I knew all too well that I couldn’t win in a fight against her, but it was infuriating to hear such words from White Peach, who was neither Heaven nor Zodiac.

“Handicap.”

“What nonsense are you spouting out of the blue?”

“If our skills are on par, wouldn’t the desire to improve surge within us? It’s only proper for a master to hold back a little, don’t you think?”

White Peach watched me with amusement and let out a derisive laugh.

“Whether I hold back a single move or dozens, you’ll end up defeated anyway.”

This wench…

“One arm.”

“Fine, just the right arm will do. Is that all?”

“Magic.”

White Peach reined in the magic that had been surging behind her. Deprived of magic and unable to use her right arm, she was essentially half-crippled. Despite this handicap, White Peach confidently took her stance, still beaming with a smile.

“Is that really all you need?”

White Peach declared with unwavering confidence.

“One more condition. During our match, if you touch any part of my body, besides my arms and legs, I will do anything you want.”
“…Anything?”
“Yes. Absolutely anything.”

I earnestly corrected my posture and, with the force to shatter the training ground, I channeled all my magical power into my body.

“Master, you really excel at digging your own grave.”
“What? Dealing with you is no different than dealing with a newborn. Do you know what the world calls someone like you?”

White Peach offered an elegant smile.

“Pathetic.”

Pa…thetic?

Although I knew the word, I never expected to hear it out loud. The term echoed in my head repeatedly.
Pathetic. Pathetic… Pathetic.
I suddenly felt a throbbing headache.

“And if you lose, what will you do with all the consequences?”
“Your breath is getting heavy. How can you hope to be a fighter if you can’t withstand a single taunt from your enemy?”
“…If I win, I have no idea what I’ll have to endure. Just remember that my nature is that of a lascivious demon.”

“Ha. Not a single scratch.”
“A caterpillar-like beetle.”

Vivid veins bulged on Baekdo’s forehead.

“…What?”
“Why would you eat that? I’d rather nibble on a radish.”
“Th-this-“

Baekdo clenched her fist in anger as if the world was turning upside down. The swelling of her arm muscles and the protruding veins suggested that even a single blow could shatter bones.

“You’ve crossed the line.”
“You can’t endure even one insult from an enemy… How did you reach that position?”

I felt my body tremble in response to the spreading aura of hostility. The palpable enmity sent shivers down my spine.

“No way… Forget it.”

Nevertheless, I didn’t stop and continued to speak, steadying my uneasy breathing.

“Are you mad?”
“…!”

Baekdo’s figure vanished.
Simultaneously, a vivid scene formed before my eyes. It was astonishing.

My body, struck squarely in the abdomen and sent flying, flashed through my mind as if foretold.

‘What is this?’

As I recalled its nature, I instinctively twisted my body to avoid the blow. The armor-like magical energy enveloping me trembled amidst the surrounding currents as if it were my own flesh.

My body contorted, and White Peach appeared before me. Her eyes widened slightly as I evaded her first attack.

Had my senses sharpened? When I focused intently, the same scene resurfaced in my mind, as though glimpsing a few seconds into the future. Hunters were said to occasionally experience such moments when pushed to their limits.

– Hwoong!

With all my might, I reached out my left hand toward White Peach’s shoulder. If my fingers so much as grazed her, I would win.

But mere seconds later, the vision appeared before me once more. Unable to deflect White Peach’s fist as she altered its trajectory, I saw myself sent flying.

– Kwaang!

My head reeled.

Pain struck once as the lungs contracted, and a second time from the arm instinctively raised to block the attack.

His body slammed against the wall.

“Ugh!”

He ultimately allowed the attack because he moved later than expected.

“You have to get up immediately, what are you doing?”

From a distance, White Peach stood with her arms leisurely crossed, smirking and taunting him.

“I’m infuriated right now…”

“That was the plan all along.”

Every time he spoke, he lied. He got back up and took a deep breath. Dark magic slowly began to spread from behind him.

Black Peach.

The magical power possessing the same nature as the Heavenly Demon, proof that he could succeed the Heavenly Demon, and a symbol of strength; he couldn’t control it and it burst forth wildly.

“Now things are getting interesting.”

As White Peach’s words fell, he got up from his spot and charged toward her.

A black crescent moon emerged from behind him, rushing towards White Peach.

A blade with astonishing destructive power, crafted with nearly 100% aptitude. As if realizing that it was impossible without magic, White Peach twisted her body to evade it.

I charged at White Peach, who was smiling while catching her breath.

A fierce exchange of fists.
Both hands and feet were employed.

When she increased the distance, I closed the gap.
The expanded strength of the Black Blade barely managed to keep up with White Peach, and now it was a true contest of skill against skill.

Her toes barely grazed my chin.
When I threw a punch, she lightly tapped it away with her palm.

“You certainly have talent,” she said.

White Peach continued the battle while casually asking questions.
It was difficult to even catch my breath while swinging my fists. I gasped and replied.

“If I didn’t, would I, *pant*, be here?”
“That’s true, but… is this all you’ve got?”
“I, I’ve only been, *pant*, learning for less than two months.”
“It’ll take another half a year to even touch my skin.”

I must find a way to reach it.

Gritting my teeth, I extended my right arm as far back as possible. As I attempted to use the first secret technique, the White Peach, she noticed and swiftly closed the distance between us.

“It’s predictable.”

Face to face, my sight was completely filled with White Peach’s visage. She invaded my space in an instant.

A sharp pain emanated from my abdomen. The magical energy I had been gathering twisted, and my entire vascular system cried out in agony.

“Ahem.”

Coughing weakly, I barely managed to regain my composure and retreated. The pain was now familiar, and as long as I controlled my breathing, it was bearable.

‘I just need to find a way to reach it.’

As I pondered my options, an idea struck me.

“Are you not coming any closer?”
“Stop talking and just wait.”

I mustered my disheveled magical energy to its full capacity, forcing my body to move despite having reached its limit.

My body groaned like a heap of unoiled scrap metal, but I had experienced this feeling of reaching my limit several times before.

The myriad scenarios unfolding in my mind. Anticipated landscapes.

Using the Black Sword seemed to make White Peach’s movements more readable than before.

‘I’m going.’

I lifted my feet and collided with her again.
Fist to fist, foot to foot.

White Peach moved gracefully, as if not exhausted at all. I had no doubt that her complacent view of me would be her undoing.

All I needed was to create a single opening and make contact with her body.

I retreated once more and assumed my stance.
Drawing my arms back, I focused all my energy into a single point.

‘The blooming of the white flower—’

“Didn’t you say it was obvious?”

‘—is now.’

Our faces were as close as they could be. With all the strength I could muster, I lowered my head without using any magic.

A flawless motion, devoid of any malice or aggression.

*Thud!*

I nearly shed tears from the pain in my abdomen, but I endured it and flew away.

*Kwadang, bang!*

My breath was stifled.

“Khuh… Ah. Hehehe.”

A pained moan escaped me, yet I grinned and lifted myself from the floor.

“Master.”

White Peach’s face was contorted.

“I just grazed it.”

Was it the nose, lips, or cheeks? I didn’t know for certain, but I pressed my face against it. Then, I etched the sensation into my mind.

In short, a minor contact incident had occurred.

“How was it?”

White Peach remained silent.

“……”
“Anything?”

After waiting a while, an enigmatic word emerged from her lips.

“What, are you saying?”

It was a heartless remark. But it didn’t matter.

Undoubtedly, within her awareness, there must be a living witness.