45 – A Place of Exchange (3)

Deep into the early hours. The sky above the wide-open training grounds was thick with clouds.

Moonlight seeped through the gaps, barely pushing back the darkness.

Beneath it all,

A rhythmic sound echoed from the floor of the training grounds.

-Swish

-Whoosh

*Crack!*

The tip of the spear sliced through the air.

Momentarily accelerating, before refining the flow.

“…”

I breathed raggedly, retrieving the spear. And slammed it hard against the ground.

Weapons lay scattered about me in disarray.

Before the Grand Melee, I needed time for introspection.

Having obtained a Fragment and wielded Harpe, I realized something profound.

My fighting style needed a change.

A Fragment (片鱗).

It was an element foreign to me from the start.

Since my possession, I had conceived a method of intensely condensing mana into a single point to pierce vulnerabilities.

Even against demons or high-ranking fiends, I could contend by driving mana into them, compressed to its absolute limit, striking their vital spots with precision.

Perhaps if I pioneered my own distinct realm someday, there might be a newer method, but not now.

Currently, this method was the optimal means of facing high-ranking fiends or demons, even blade to blade; a technique for survival.

However, the Fragment had altered the very essence of my mana.

Whoom…

The mana drawn from my hand vibrated. A verdant jade shimmered within the dense, ashen mana, quivering.

Now, my mana possessed the attribute of demonbane (滅魔).

Piercing a single point for a mortal wound was no longer the optimal strategy.

To them, this attribute was akin to ultra-high heat (超高熱).

From the moment of contact, a searing burn would commence, as if melting away.

Therefore, inflicting a wide area of scarring was far more effective than targeting a single point.

Condensing mana into a single, piercing point had become the most inefficient choice.

Clang!

I tossed yet another weapon to the ground.

I had tested countless armaments.

And, examining each weapon, I sought out the one most suited to this new method.

First, the sword (劍).

A weapon with a wide blade, specialized for slashing.

Not a bad choice, but as I mentioned before, swords are difficult in this world. The reach is short too.

Of course, mastering the sword was possible thanks to my trait, ‘All-Person,’ (全人) but it would take some time.

Second, the spear (槍).

A weapon centered on thrusting. Slashing was possible, but the spear I used was structurally optimized for thrusting.

In other words, it didn’t align with the new method.

Third, the *ge* glaive.

A kind of spear, yet its form a combination of spear and sword.

It can cleave, and it can pierce.

That is to say, it utilizes the spear’s techniques as they are, yet boasts a longer reach than a sword. And its adoption doesn’t demand a great investment of time.

While maintaining existing spear techniques, it also allows for the adoption of new combat methods.

“…”

I took the glaive, adorned with its crescent moon blade, into my hand.

In my mind, this weapon urges itself forward as the most rational choice.

The trait of being *jeonin*, whole, leads me even in this choice to the very best option.

Without hesitation, I swung it powerfully.

*Whapwhapwhap!*

A pulse, as if tearing the air itself, rippled outward.

A spread, released blade aura tore through the practice dummy.

“…Not bad, not bad at all.”

I lightly brushed the glaive’s edge with my fingertips.

As it was, my spear had already been eaten away by *ma* after that incident, corrupting the metal.

I needed a new weapon regardless.

“Let’s go with this.”

With that small murmur, I once again gripped the glaive.

And once more,

-*Bang!*

I swung it forcefully.

*

The exchange gathering opened.

Although a large incident occurred not long ago, the academy proceeded with this event as if nothing was amiss.

An event that rotates locations each year.

This year, it was Gaon’s turn to host.

A vast plaza.

‘A lot of them.’

To the left, Kalos’s first-year students stood in formation, and to the right, Gaon’s first-year students stood side-by-side.

Gaon’s plaza was vast, vast enough to accommodate this throng.

Upon the high dais sat the chairpersons and principals of each academy.

As the academy representatives rose from their chairs, the murmur rippling through the students gathered in the plaza momentarily ceased.

“Now, we shall commence the exchange.”

Presently, a measured, yet authoritative voice resonated.

The students offered polite applause, greeting the start of the exchange.

It was then, that it began.

Students, plastering on awkward smiles, ceased their cautious eyeing, and slowly began to drift toward the opposing side.

“I’m off!”

“Hey, see you later!”

The exchange had begun.

Students parting ways with their friends waved farewells.

Some beamed, while others wore a vaguely melancholy expression.

And, in that instant.

The Kalos students parted as if a crimson sea was split.

Through the gap, a single figure emerged.

Hair like spun gold, catching the light.

Beneath the sun, the subtle sheen glittered, even more pronounced.

With an apathetic expression, she traversed the crowd.

There was no hesitation in her movements.

Beside her walked another figure.

A handsome man with a gentle yet strong presence. After offering quick greetings to his surrounding friends, he, too, moved forward.

‘Yoon Chae-ha. And Joo Seo-jun.’

The two were advancing toward Gaon.

And I, am watching this scene unfold from the dais.

Cheon Yeo-ul and Yoo Ha-na were seated on either side of me, flanking chairpersons and principals of each academy.

The chairpersons and principals of Gaon and Kalos, with the three of us in the middle, ceaselessly exchanged words.

Each busy with a subtle barb, a veiled jibe.

The Gaon side emphasized Yoon Chae-ha and Joo Seo-jun’s choice of Gaon, scratching at Kalos’s pride.

While Kalos retaliated, bringing up the Mind attack, scratching at Gaon’s.

And we, we were caught in between.

“Tired,” a murmur.

The reason for being here was simple.

Only two students had dealt with a Morass solo: Chun Yeoul and Yoo Hana.

And I, I had taken down Medusa.

Today, this gathering was to award them.

I sat between Chun Yeoul and Yoo Hana.

Seeing as they were holding the award ceremony within this social circle…

*‘Gaon has students like these.’*

It felt like showing off, didn’t it?

Though, before showing off, I wished they’d just get their ducks in a row.

-Haahm.

Beside me, Chun Yeoul quietly brought a palm to her mouth and yawned.

She had kept talking to me at the beginning of the event, but now she seemed sleepy.

Yoo Hana also kept shifting her posture, as if her body felt stiff.

I pulled out a small piece of candy, neatly wrapped in paper, from my pocket.

And as I unwrapped it, I spoke.

“Want some?”

In an instant, both their gazes focused on my hand.

A small, brown candy.

Their eyes widened slightly.

This wasn’t actually candy, but one of the elixirs I had gotten from raiding dungeons during the school closure.

Nothing grand.

Just something to help circulation in the body.

It was said to have beauty effects and other good things for women…

I wouldn’t know. I’m a guy.

I already ate one myself.

And Kang Arin… she’d be getting plenty of the good stuff, so there was no need to give her some trivial elixir like this.

“Me, me! I’ll take one.”

(sound of movement)

Yu Hana reached out without hesitation, accepting the candy.

“Break it with your teeth and eat…”

-Suck, suck.

She didn’t even listen until the end of my words, carefully placing it in her mouth.

And as if it were some precious tonic, she began to slowly dissolve it.

It’ll be pretty bitter when it melts.

As expected, she bit her lip slightly, seeming to taste the bitterness.

Even so, she didn’t stop sucking on it.

Then, she turned her head towards Cheon Yeoul.

She, too, wore an interested expression. But she didn’t extend her hand to receive one.

Slowly, so naturally—

Her lips parted just a little. A faint breath escaped.

Her gaze drifted downwards briefly, then back up.

And she pointed to her lips with a finger.

‘Put it in.’

Not a single word was spoken.

She just looked at me, mouth slightly open.

“….”

I remained still.

Cheon Yeoul then offered a light eye-smile, and slowly, ever so slowly, stuck out her tongue.

Little by little, just a little bit. As if coming out to greet it….

-Thunk.

I placed the medicine in her mouth and closed it.

Her eyelids lowered.

A movement as if rolling the candy around inside her mouth. The corners of her lips subtly stuck together, then parted, again and again.

And then—

-Suck.

The soft sound of gently sucking the candy.

Her lips closed and opened, ever so slightly, softly.

I couldn’t watch anymore, and turned my head.

“Just because we’re a little closer, she’s making a fuss. This is her true nature, isn’t it?”

Even in the source material, early on, once she overcame her… distaste for men and her comfort level rose, she’d show this side.

Then, the emcee standing at the podium, holding the microphone, announced,

“Now, we will continue with the presentation of awards.”

Someone brought the certificates from the back. I raised my head and looked towards the stage.

We walked towards the podium.

The Headmaster’s lecture droned on.

-Thwack.

The Headmaster handed over the certificate.

I accepted it and gave a light bow.

Cheon Yeoul and Yoo Hana received their awards in turn. The supplementary prizes, apparently, would be distributed separately later.

Just then, a quiet whisper from the guide reached my ears.

‘Please return below the platform.’

Finally, it was over.

I folded the certificate I received and stuffed it haphazardly into my pocket, descending from the platform.

Cheon Yeoul and Yoo Hana followed close behind, side by side.

At that moment, Headmaster Gaon grabbed the microphone.

His voice echoed throughout the plaza.

A few words of advice and, student unity. The usual platitudes.

Then. He said,

“With this, we will conclude this exchange event.”

The students cheered.

“Until the upcoming interschool competition, I hope that you will learn much in this new environment, and that you will show us your changed selves.”

-Clap clap clap clap!

The sound of applause continued.

One by one, the figures on the platform began to rise from their seats.

The students, too, began to leave, orderly, in succession.

Just then, I felt a gaze.

I turned my head.

Golden hair. Hair with a subtle sheen, as if holding the sunlight, swayed lightly in the breeze.

Yun Chae-ha.

She regarded me quietly.

Beneath long lashes, orange eyes that seemed to smolder glowed serenely.

A fleeting moment, our gazes tangled.

Then—

A soft turn.

As if nothing had transpired, she gracefully averted her gaze.

The motion was fluid, seamless. An unconcerned, natural movement.

Yet, even in that brief, intersected moment, I could be certain.

‘Done.’

Yun Chae-ha had stepped into the current I’d created.

And the destination of that current, too, I would decide.