NOVEL NEXT Chapter 42
Every Wednesday, the Cradle’s Duel Committee holds official duels.
On this day, the ward is packed with students. Every so often, students are transported out with injuries that put their lives at risk in the duels.
The students at Cradle are young wizards with immense power that they can’t quite control at their age. As a result, they frequently cause crashes and troubles all over the place.
Since conflicts will continue to arise anyway, it’s better to contain them in a regulated environment rather than in the shadows. On the bright side, it also offers a chance for students to gain some experience in personal combat.
For that reason, the administration of Cradle imposes harsh punishments on those who engage in private dueling. However, they’ve maintained a positive attitude toward official duels registered through the Duel Committee.
Duels are also one of the most popular pastimes among the students. With applications pouring in year-round, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say the Duel Committee is one of the busiest organizations at Cradle.
The audience seats at the Dueling Grounds are never empty. Each student steps into the duel for their own reasons—be it a deep grudge, a petty quarrel, a test of strength, or even just to prove something.
“Yena~”
“…”
A female student, Sera, just climbed up to the audience and spotted someone, waving her hand. Her gaze focused on a girl with light brown hair and a sprinkle of freckles.
“Is that you, Yena?”
“…”
Despite the noticeable attention, the girl continued to stare blankly ahead. Sera let out a small sigh and sat beside her. Then she leaned in and whispered in her ear.
Hoo~
“Wha, what!?”
Only then did the girl snap out of her daze, eyes wide like a startled cat. Sera found her intense reaction quite amusing.
“Geez, do you have any idea how many times I called you?”
“Did you? I-I’m sorry…”
Yena awkwardly smiled as she apologized. Sera checked where Yena had been staring moments before and spotted a masked male student at one end of the Dueling Grounds, preparing for a duel.
“Seriously? You’d ignore your friend just to watch some guy? The innocent Yena has finally fallen…”
“W-What are you talking about!? Stop saying weird stuff…”
“Hmm? I was just commenting, but your reaction is too suspicious…”
“N-No, I told you it’s not like that! Just be quiet!”
Yena’s face turned bright red, practically on the verge of crying. It certainly raised some suspicion. Rumors were circulating that the masked male student was dragging Yena around against her will, but with her reaction, that didn’t seem credible. The true freckled girl pouted and said,
“…I hate Sera. But where’s Yeoreum…?”
“She said she’s still recovering and that it’s a bit awkward to be in crowded places. She told me to cheer for you instead.”
Sera and Yeoreum had both faced a crisis after being attacked by monsters during the last exam. Fortunately, it was a non-standard examination, and they were recognized for their considerable progression, earning top-tier ranking.
But the sight of the masked male student who had unexpectedly shot ahead into the monster-infested area to claim first place remained vivid in their memories.
“Really?”
Upon hearing the word ‘cheer,’ Yena’s expression brightened considerably. Worry crept into Sera’s mind; she was stifling her laughter inside.
“Yep! I owe him, you know? He did help during the exam in his own way… and based on what you said, he doesn’t seem like a bad person.”
“Of course! I told you! Hyun isn’t a weird person!”
Though doubts lingered in her mind. She couldn’t shake the thought that he might just be a creep trying to lure in naive rural girls. However, bringing that up didn’t seem necessary.
As Sera contemplated this, her gaze returned to the Dueling Grounds.
At the opposite end, there was a fierce-looking female student waiting for the duel to begin.
Dueling between mentors and mentees didn’t happen that often. A duel between a freshman and a second-year student who had been through harsh experiences was generally impossible. Thus, today’s duel was attracting a lot of attention.
Although it had ended ambiguously, it was, after all, the duel of a recommended student who had received the highest score on their first exam. And the person he personally nominated as a mentor was Yeon Minha.
The duel conditions were kept confidential, but it was unlikely that the senior was there to offer some friendly training under the guise of a duel. If that were the case, they’d just arrange some private sparring instead.
Instead, most speculated that there might be some unresolved issues between the two. Several witnesses had seen Yeon Minha leave early with a displeased expression during the mentor nomination ceremony.
“But even if we’re cheering, it might still be tough to win…”
Yena’s expression darkened instantly, prompting Sera to stop mid-sentence.
“I… believe.”
Yena muttered, pouting. Sera desperately thought of ways to comfort her afterward. The vast majority of those present seemed to expect nothing less than an overwhelming victory for Yeon Minha.
Soon, the preliminary bell rang, signaling that there were fifteen minutes left until the duel began.
Lee Hyun and Yeon Minha stood across from each other in the center of the Dueling Grounds. Yeon Minha’s eyes burned with the cold hostility directed at the one who caused her unnecessary trouble.
Lee Hyun opened his mouth, seemingly unfazed.
“I have something to say before the duel. Is that alright?”
“Why? Are you trying to back out now? Sorry, but…”
“Why would I back out when I’m going to win anyway?”
Lee Hyun swiftly interrupted Yeon Minha’s words.
“I’d like to add one more condition to the duel.”
“What do you mean…”
Not immediately understanding, Yeon Minha frowned and asked back. Lee Hyun paused for a moment and then whispered in a voice meant only for Yeon Minha’s ears.
“If I win, I was thinking of moving into your dormitory. What do you think?”
*
“What…?”
While I expected an explosive rage, Yeon Minha’s reaction was surprisingly calm and detached.
“You don’t seem to understand very well. I mean it literally.”
Her stunned expression implied her brain struggled to process such shocking and absurd words. So, I’d have to explain it slowly again.
“If someone like you is using a personal dormitory, surely you have at least one extra room, right? The first-year dormitory’s facilities don’t suit me that well. I thought I might as well experience the second-year dormitory.”
“What kind of crazy person are you…? Do you realize what you’re saying?”
Yeon Minha’s face, momentarily blank, quickly shifted back to a hostile expression. Beneath that calm exterior was a volcano of rage about to erupt.
“What you’ve done is an insult so egregious that it would spark a war between families. Even if Sa Jaehyeok himself came to handle it, that wouldn’t matter. No matter what happens, I will cut off your limbs. How dare you… it’s too late for regrets now…”
The murderous hostility intensified and began to radiate around her, as if responding to her emotions, small sparks flickered in the air near her.
“What you did is a humiliation that would leave you speechless even if a war broke out between our families. Even if Sa Jaehyeok himself came to mess up the place, I won’t care. No matter what happens, I will cut your limbs off. How dare you… now, let’s see if you can regret this…”
“Fine. I accept. But shouldn’t we start soon? At this rate, I might just lose all my strength waiting.”
Crack
I was certain one of Yeon Minha’s teeth had cracked at that moment. After adding a line and signing it on the duel agreement I had prepared ahead of time, I handed it to her.
Yeon Minha glared daggers at me, causing almost a tear in the paper as she signed it and returned it.
I passed the sealed envelope to the adjudicator next to the Dueling Grounds.
Even though the duel conditions were supposed to be confidential, if either party disputes the outcome, the sealed envelope will be opened, and our duel conditions will be disclosed.
But that envelope will never be opened. Of course, that won’t happen, but if I lose, I intend to obediently have my limbs cut off and accept my fate.
*
I found myself smiling at how well the plan was going.
Suddenly, memories of the day I first arrived in the capital came rushing back. The principal’s sudden request had been quite shocking, but ultimately, I had no choice but to accept.
I had to uphold my agreement with the principal and avoid creating any situation that would affect him or my older siblings negatively, no matter who my opponent might be.
However, I couldn’t say this was going to be easy. The damn mask, my lack of social skills, and opposing a popular figure in Cradle had taken my reputation to rock bottom.
Even though I had claimed first place in the exam, not enough time had passed to significantly impact my social standing. Moreover, terms like family and business didn’t really register with me.
Adding to the trouble was the fact that the person I was supposed to protect was the embodiment of all the traits I despised the most.
The image of me smiling and exchanging favors with her felt like nothing but a clear delusion.
Covering up Yeon Minha’s fails in my name, or trying to redeem her through orthodox means, simply made no sense.
Biologically, congenitally, and fatefully impossible.
Yet, I couldn’t just sit back and whine. I eventually found a way.
The mentoring system was merely an excuse. A way to approach Yeon Minha to initiate conversation and the duel.
I deliberately constructed insulting phrases that would provoke her. She wouldn’t be able to just walk away from a duel.
The initial duel condition I’d proposed was just that if I lost, I’d drop mentoring her without any conditions.
In her mind, that was probably the better choice. No guarantee I’d willingly walk away if she treated me harshly, and spreading rumors would also be a hassle.
But if it was a duel, things were different. I handed over a sealed document containing the conditions, so backing out later would be impossible.
The likelihood of me losing was utterly nonexistent. She was the most talented among the direct descendants of the Yeon family and had maintained an impeccable winning streak in numerous duels at Cradle.
She likely never imagined she could lose, which is why she accepted those conditions.
And even though the duel was effectively settled, I went ahead and provocatively added one more condition.
Of course, if Yeon Minha refused, it would end in failure, but based on her personality assessment so far, it didn’t seem like she would let such an affront slide.
Instead, she would probably see it as a chance to rightfully punish my rudeness, which was indeed how things unfolded.
Although the conditions were a bit extreme, all I had to do was not lose.
In that situation, I decided to do what I could do best.
Not rehabilitation, but submission.
Subject her to a hellish defeat, bringing her lofty pride and self-esteem crashing down to its lowest point.
If necessary, I could do it several times.
Thus, I could mold her into someone I could at least communicate with.
Additionally, I aimed to keep my life radius close to her, seeking ways to mitigate the excessive connectiveness with the spirits, which seemed to be a key cause of her twisted personality.
Reflecting on it again, this seemed like a garbage plan in itself.
*
I took my position at the far end of the Dueling Grounds. Yeon Minha was also waiting at her spot for the duel to commence.
Ding~
Finally, the bell announcing the hour rang, signaling the start of the duel.
And immediately, something resembling a long rectangular frame began to materialize in the air along the boundary of the Dueling Grounds and the audience area.
Then, flames began to descend along the edges of the frames, quickly enveloping the Dueling Grounds and completely blocking the view of the surroundings.
“…”
I silently stared at the blazing curtain of fire. Yeon Minha wore a cruel smile mixed with mockery.
“Whatever happens in here won’t get out, understand? You’d better be careful. You may find your hands and feet severed before the duel even ends.”
Couldn’t thank her enough for that.