Genius Swordsman In Reverse Game

"Do-hee! Watch your step carefully!!"

" Lee Yoo-ri, focus! You're losing all the aggro!"

"Sophia, you're too fast!! I told you not to waste the heals!!!"

"Ga-eul, please…!!"

The holographic training ground at Velvet Academy. Sharp voices continuously filled the space.

Huff—

Huff—

All the party members, drenched in sweat, collapsed on the spot from the intense training.

And I couldn't hide my stern expression as I looked at them.

'What's wrong with everyone?'

Of course, I understand.

With a sudden 4% increase in strength, it's natural to need some time to adapt. And with Ichika, a special position, newly added, it's awkward to form a different formation than before.

Yeah, I know that much. Still.

'Seriously, what's wrong with everyone?'

What disappointed me the most was their concentration.

Training to form new formations and synchronize. Even with intense focus, it wasn't enough, but the whole training session felt disorganized as if their minds were elsewhere. I wondered if Ichika was the problem, but even when I took her out and conducted the training, it was the same.

It was as if they had completely forgotten how to synchronize, with Kang Do-hee rushing out on her own and getting critically injured. Sophia, missing all the healing timings and even lowering her hit rate, ended up healing the enemy monsters. Lim Ga-eul, recklessly using skills, probably didn't even know how many magic stones she had already used up. Even our reliable tank…

'…No, after returning from Jukai Forest, they've become weaker.'

It was even more frustrating because I didn't know the reason for their behavior.

"Sigh, seriously, what's wrong with you all? Can't you just say something?"

Despite having asked the same question multiple times, they remained silent. If only they could give a clear answer, I could identify the problem and fix it, but their silence only added to my frustration.

"Sigh—. Seriously, what's wrong with you all…"

As I ordered the party members to rest and sighed deeply, holding my forehead.

Poke. Poke.

'Hmm?'

I felt someone poking me from behind and turned around to see a blue-haired girl with a blank expression.

Ichika.

Seeing her slightly eased my tense expression.

Despite just having joined and still in her adjustment period, she was showing the most consistent performance.

Of course, her timing and positioning for deploying shadows were still off due to her limited vision, but it was within an acceptable range.

"Ah, Ichika, I'm sorry. We're not usually like this… And it's not because of you, so please don't worry too much."

Honestly, I felt embarrassed in front of her. I had bragged about how amazing Utopia was while recruiting her, but the performance we showed was this pathetic.

I had no excuses.

"It's okay."

Ichika nodded, indicating I shouldn't worry.

"Do you need help?"

"Hmm? Help? If you just continue as you are, Ichika…"

"No, not from me. From someone else."

"Someone else?"

"Yes, that's why I called them. A friend."

"A friend…?"

I tilted my head, puzzled by her words.

'This person is great, but their communication and sense of distance are a bit…'

Even now, Ichika stood too close to me as we spoke.

'By the way, a friend? Does Ichika have a friend here?'

Just then—

Beep—

[ Utopia Party member, Shin Se-hee, has been granted access. ]

A synthetic female voice filled the air, and the protective barrier lifted to reveal a person stepping into the training ground. It was Shin Se-hee.

Her sudden appearance took me by surprise.

'Huh? Didn't she say she'd be busy today with Ichika's enrollment?'

.

.

.

Shin Se-hee, who had received a call from Ichika, walked in with her arms crossed, her heels clicking on the floor, and her posture straight.

She let out a soft laugh as she scanned the party members.

'What a mess. Just by looking at them, I can guess what happened.'

With a quick glance at the atmosphere in the training ground and the state of the party members, she could tell that the training hadn't gone well. She could even guess the reason behind it.

'Everyone's so distracted because of Jin Yuha's favorability, aren't they?'

She understood their situation. If she hadn't heard about the others' favorability from Ichika, she might have been just as distracted and unable to focus on her work.

'Actually, the solution to this is quite simple.'

All she had to do was reveal everything.

After all, everyone except Ichika was at 4%. If they knew that, their worries about who had a higher favorability would instantly vanish.

'But this is a rare ace up my sleeve. It would be a waste to play it here.'

She wanted to find a way to showcase her abilities to Jin Yuha, solve Utopia's problem, and gain something for herself—a three-in-one solution.

As she observed the party members, her mind raced.

'Now that I think about it, that person was wearing a ring too.'

A face flashed in her mind—Baek Seol-hee, who had suddenly inserted herself between Jin Yuha and her the day before.

And Shin Se-hee hadn't missed the ring on her finger.

She didn't know Baek Seol-hee's favorability yet, and investigating her would be far more dangerous than looking into the other party members.

'If I use her, this might turn out well.'

"Jin Yuha," she called out.

"Yes, Shin Se-hee? What is it? I thought you'd be busy today."

"A friend of mine asked for help."

"A friend…?"

As Jin Yuha turned to follow Shin Se-hee's gaze, he saw Ichika, expressionless, flashing a 'V' sign with her fingers.

"When did the two of you…?"

Before Jin Yuha could finish his sentence, Shin Se-hee cut in, getting straight to the point. "What did you talk about with the instructor yesterday? I think there might be a solution to the current situation."

"Well, I…" Jin Yuha began, and then proceeded to tell Shin Se-hee about her conversation with the instructor the day before. She explained how she had also been affected by the ring's power and how it had caused the instructor to dislike him.

However, as Jin Yuha spoke, a strange smile formed on Shin Se-hee's lips. 'Hmm, I don't think that's why the instructor is angry…' Shin Se-hee, quick to notice, had accurately assessed Baek Seol-hee's situation.

.

.

.

"How would we know what kind of expensive gifts boys would like? You never give us time to shop, you just work us to the bone!"

"Yeah, we barely have any personal time because of all the Demon clearing!"

"I haven't been on a date with a cute guy since I joined the Demon Slayer Squad!"

"So, you've been on dates before joining?"

"Shut up!"

The previous night, Baek Seol-hee had left in a huff, determined to teach Jin Yuha a lesson with her money. However, the only person who might know about expensive gifts was Lina, and there was no way she could ask her. In the end, the only people she could turn to were the members of the Demon Slayer Squad.

But just like her, they had little to no personal time due to their constant demon-clearing missions, so they were clueless about what men liked.

'Tsk, none of them are any help…'

Just then, her phone vibrated. Baek Seol-hee frowned as she pulled out her phone from her pocket.

'Hmm? This is… Shin Se-hee?'

She was surprised to receive a message from someone with whom she had no personal contact, despite their instructor-student relationship. Curious, she unlocked her phone.

[Flower Blossom ✿]—Instructor, is it okay to contact you?

[Baek Seol-hee]—What is it?

[Flower Blossom ✿]—I'd like to propose a deal.

Baek Seol-hee furrowed her brows at the message.

'A deal…?'

She clearly remembered this person as someone with a twisted personality, though their animosity was not directed at her students. Still, Baek Seol-hee didn't particularly like this type of person. So, when they suddenly proposed a deal, she found it suspicious.

[Baek Seol-hee]—A deal?

[Flower Blossom ✿]—Yes, I know you don't like beating around the bush, so I'll get straight to the point. What I can offer is a way to increase Jin Yuha's favorability towards you.

'What…?!'

Baek Seol-hee's eyes widened in surprise.

[Flower Bud ✿]—And what I want in return is information on how much your abilities have increased. How about it?

[Baek Seol-hee]—Then, tell me how much your abilities have increased as well.

[Flower Bud ✿]—That's not part of the deal. I'm offering a way to increase your favorability, so you should offer something more.

[Baek Seol-hee]—I know Lina's ability increase.

[Flower Bud ✿]—…Deal.

.

.

.

Shin Se-hee had been fiddling with her phone for a while when she suddenly started laughing softly. "Haa, really… Lina, the Academy Chairman, should focus on managing the Academy. Did she use some kind of charm magic? 7%? What did she do to get such an absurd number? Did she receive national recognition as a hero, or is it hero worship? Or maybe—"

"Shin Se-hee?" I called out, interrupting her muttering. She quickly turned to face me, her expression now relaxed.

"Yes? Did you call me?"

"Well, didn't you say there was a way?"

"Yes, I contacted her. It's Hell training."

"Hell…training?"

I tilted my head, puzzled.

"Yes, hell training conducted by Instructor Baek Seol-hee."

"What?!"

I was truly surprised, first by the fact that Shin Se-hee had requested hell training from the instructor, and then by the instructor's agreement to it.

'Usually, no matter how much the others beg her to instruct them, she always refuses. Why would she agree to this…?'

"Yes, Jin Yuha. Didn't Instructor Baek say to prepare yourself for the next lesson?"

"Y-yes…"

"Utopia will be taking that lesson together."

"Are you sure? Her training is no joke. If she said to prepare, it must be intense…"

I asked, my voice filled with concern. But Shin Se-hee shook her head firmly.

"There's no better way to snap out of this lax mental state than her training. It really wakes you up."

"That's true."

"And all the training routines you've taught you so far are ones you learned from her."

"That's right."

"So learning directly from her will be even more effective. And…"

Shin Se-hee lowered her voice.

"It's better for all of us to take this hell training together, rather than you facing it alone, right?"

My eyes widened as I realized the benefits of her suggestion. The instructor's training would definitely snap them out of their lax mental state—after all, they'd have to focus or risk their lives. By taking the training together, they could support each other, and the focus wouldn't be solely on me.

The more I thought about it, the more brilliant it seemed

A truly effective solution.

I grabbed Shin Se-hee's arm and exclaimed, "Shin Se-hee, you're the best!!!"

"Hehehe—"

Shin Se-hee responded with a slight, embarrassed smile. She glanced at Ichika and communicated with her eyes.

'This is how you play politics, Ichika.'

Ichika nodded and gave a thumbs-up.

"Indeed. Same team, good. Good."

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