I Became an Illegal Cheat User

14 – Majesty (1)

“As I mentioned earlier, don’t worry about fatal injuries and fight your best.”

Yiseo-yeon and Asuka nodded in response to Kang Cheol-su’s words.

“Now, we’ll start the match, so get into position.”

Yiseo-yeon firmly grasped the hilt of her sword, standing in a dignified posture.

On the other hand, Asuka extended her right foot slightly forward, lowered her posture, and crossed her hands, raising both sword hilts above her hands.

Kang Cheol-su, checking if they were ready by looking at the two alternately, nodded and opened his mouth.

“The match begins.”

At that moment, Yiseo-yeon gracefully drew her sword.

And Asuka…

“What, what is this…? She, the atmosphere suddenly…”

“…seems completely different.”

The moment she gripped the sword hilt, Asuka’s expression changed as if to say, ‘When was she ever so carefree?’

Asuka’s expression was as chilly as Yiseo-yeon’s.

In the audience seats, the sudden transformation of Asuka elicited reactions as if they were witnessing an entirely different person.

Watching those reactions, I wanted to say:

Such a change is merely a trifle.

‘That ‘talent’ Asuka possesses is impressive, but…’

The drawback is that it changes people too much, like a dual personality.

Still, if the other person is Yi Seo-yeon, it shouldn’t be a significant problem.

That’s how strong Yi Seo-yeon is.

I had no doubt that Yi Seo-yeon could easily handle Asuka’s rampage.

&

Swish!

“…!”

The moment Asuka drew her sword, Yi Seo-yeon’s eyes widened in surprise at the sharp momentum that burst forth.

Yi Seo-yeon, who had not been particularly surprised by the transformation of someone she thought was always cheerful, couldn’t help but be astonished this time.

Zing, zing.

A force she hadn’t felt even when facing Arthur in the third test.

It prickled like electricity running through her body.

‘…Qi of combat (鬪氣)?’

No, Yi Seo-yeon immediately denied it.

This force was not the kind she was familiar with in martial arts.

‘This force is…’

…the force of a predator.

The fierce aura when a predator targets its prey.

When she was young, she had hunted predators as part of her training.

The aura emanating from Asuka now was exactly like the aura of the predator she had encountered back then.

But it was not only similar; Asuka’s aura was even more ferocious than that predator.

And the emotion she sensed was only one: the intent to kill, nothing else.

‘…Talent?’

Yi Seo-yeon immediately grasped Asuka’s state.

Asuka, she is currently unable to control her talent.

Not only is she unable to control it, but she is also being dominated by it.

‘In that case…’

Even if it’s for her sake, I have no choice but to give it my all.

Seoyeon’s gaze sank deep.

“…!”

Asuka was startled.

The moment she unsheathed her sword, consumed by talent, her rationality submerged, leaving only instinct. Yet, in the aura emanating from Seoyeon, Asuka instinctively recoiled, body tensing.

Ironically, with only instinct remaining, her reactions became even more sensitive.

But only for a moment.

Thud!

As if infuriated by being likened to a beast, Asuka, pounding the ground, charged towards Seoyeon.

Facing Asuka’s reckless charge, Seoyeon remained motionless, raising her sword.

And they collided.

clang!

Asuka’s twin swords clashed against Seoyeon’s sword.

The sharp noise of metal meeting metal resonated across the arena, reaching even the spectators’ seats.

clang-clang-clang…!

Following the sharp noise, the splitting sound of metal rang out in succession.

Asuka, maintaining the force from the clash, was pushing against Seoyeon.

However, Seoyeon stood firm, not budging an inch.

Moreover, she overwhelmed Asuka.

With just one hand.

Snap!

As if deeming strength ineffective, Asuka deflected Seoyeon’s sword.

Then, with eyes no longer pink but a blood-red hue, she began wielding her twin swords in earnest.

clang!

The left-hand sword from top to bottom.

clang!

The right-hand sword from bottom to top.

snap, clang!

From left to right.

From right to left.

snap-snap!

Diagonally, from diagonal.

Chae Ae-ang!

Stabbing with the left hand, slashing with the right.

Gradually, Aska’s breath becomes as rugged as a beast.

Gradually, Aska’s movements with her hands quicken.

From a strong sword to a flowing sword.

From a flowing sword to a heavy sword.

From a heavy sword to an exchange sword.

From an exchange sword to a variable sword.

In the unpredictable changes of the sword path, the exhilarating swordsmanship is added, making it seem like watching a storm.

However, despite such a storm-like swordplay.

Chae-jae-jae-jae-jaeng!

Iseo-yeon’s footing does not budge at all.

In a firm stance, without a single mistake, she blocks Aska’s sword strikes.

Strong sword against a strong sword.

Flowing sword against a flowing sword.

Drawing the same path with their swords, the blades clash.

“…Huh, huh.”

“…….”

Aska’s roughened breath.

In contrast, Iseo-yeon’s breath is calm, like the eye of a silent storm.

An insurmountable wall blocks Aska’s path.

&

It’s over.

Iseo-yeon’s sword completely understood Aska’s sword.

Even in a state with a difference in ability, the swords clashed on a deep level.

Now, all that remains for Aska is defeat.

‘From the beginning, the opponent was wrong.’

Among Iseo-yeon’s S-class talents, there is one called ‘Sword Genius.’

The talent is limited to the ‘sword’, giving an astonishing adjustment.

Even if one holds a sword for the first time, if they possess the talent of a ‘sword genius’, they can skillfully wield it as if they have been training for a long time.

Anyone can perceive just by watching someone swing a sword.

In what way they swing it, what problems they have.

Just by exchanging sword strikes, one can analyze and interpret the opponent’s sword.

And create a better technique of wielding a sword.

As seen now.

Chaeng-jae-jae-jae-jang!

“……?!”

As Asuka’s sword began to be pushed back.

While gradually forming wounds.

Even though she’s left with only instincts, Asuka seems to be flustered.

It’s clearly the same sword.

Even though the stance may be different, they are clashing with the same sword.

But if you look closely, you can see that Yeon’s sword is gradually changing from Asuka’s sword.

Little by little, she draws a sword that is better than Asuka’s.

And not long after.

Chaeng-kang!

Asuka’s right hand sword was broken.

The sword swung by the strong sword broke against the strong sword.

And then, the left hand sword also broke.

“……Ah.”

Asuka, who regained her senses due to the broken sword, let out a sigh.

At the sight of such Asuka, Yeon swung the sword again.

Towards Asuka, who still held onto her sword.

Thud, thud!

“…Ow!”

Although it was struck with the back of the sword, not the blade, it was strong enough to forcefully make Asuka drop the handle of the sword, causing her to scream in pain.

“Ouch, that hurts.”

Asuka covered her face with a trembling voice.

Lee Seo-yeon looked at Asuka in that way.

Since she grasped the sword, she confirmed the change in her eyes.

Not the blood-red eyes like blood but pink eyes resembling cherry blossoms.

Seo-yeon, confirming the return of her eyes, sheathed the sword in its scabbard.

Since the opponent’s fierce aura had completely disappeared, there was no need to hold the sword any longer.

“B Team, Seo-yeon’s victory.”

Kang Cheol-su said, manipulating his smartwatch.

Ding.

[B]

[03][Lee Seo-yeon][Victory]

[04][Shuhei Asuka][Defeat]

The results of the B team’s bracket flew in.

Kang Cheol-su approached Asuka and said,

“I saw your skills well, Shuhei Asuka. It was truly the swordsmanship befitting the successor of the Twin Sword Dragon.”

However, Kang Cheol-su added with a serious expression.

“You couldn’t control your talent. And it seems like you were devoured by it, is that right?”

“…Yes.”

Asuka lowered her head with a gloomy face.

In response to Asuka’s appearance, Kang Cheol-su scratched the scar on his forehead and continued speaking.

“Talent for people like us is akin to identity. If you can’t control that identity, the only thing waiting for people like us is inevitable destruction. So, Shuhei Asuka, unless you give up that talent, you must learn to control it. If not, you too will become a fallen one someday.”

At Kang Cheol-su’s words, not only Asuka but also the atmosphere of everyone in the audience sank heavily.

If you want to become a hero, there’s something you must avoid.

That is being devoured by talent and becoming a fallen one.

Becoming a fallen one is difficult yet easy.

Simply let yourself be completely consumed by talent.

In the early stages, even if you are devoured by talent, like Asuka, if you let go of being the subject of talent manifestation, you can regain some sanity.

However, if that continues to happen, gradually being devoured by talent, your inherent nature twists, turning you into a villain.

Thus, becoming a villain and not repenting, if completely consumed, eventually leads to becoming a fallen one.

Once you become a fallen one, you can no longer return to your original self.

It’s as if the soul has changed, turning into an entirely different person.

Once one becomes a fallen being, their talents undergo an inverse effect.

Beyond a twisted disposition, they transform into the embodiment of evil, finding pleasure and exhilaration in deeds unfit for a human, gaining strength.

Hence, the fallen are public enemies to humanity, to be eradicated without hesitation.

“…I’ll try my best.”

“Shuhei Asuka, effort alone won’t suffice. It must be controlled. Do you understand?”

“…Yes.”

Asuka nodded laboriously in response to Kang Cheol-soo’s stern admonition.

Seeing her in that state made me truly pity her.

Even though she won the game, having known Asuka well, I understood why she felt so crushed.

In reality, her carefree demeanor is just a defense mechanism.

Her inherited talent, the ‘Mad Dragon’s Blood.’

This talent has been passed down through generations in the Shuhei family, a cursed S-class talent known as ‘Mad Dragon’s Blood.’

Her family has a unique swordsmanship technique called the ‘Dragon Slayer Sword,’ literally a technique to kill dragons.

But why would a family specializing in a technique to kill dragons be descended from the bloodline of dragons?

If you raise Asuka’s affinity level to about 80%, you can understand why the talent is called Mad Dragon’s Blood and has been passed down through generations.

In brief, a long time ago, the Shuhei family created a sword technique called the Dragon Slayer Sword and killed the guardian dragon, the Mad Dragon, bringing about the curse called ‘Mad Dragon’s Blood’ that passed down through generations due to the curse left behind by the dying dragon.

As time passed, the Mad Dragon’s Blood reached Asuka, and due to the curse, drawing the sword would drown her reasoning, leaving only the savage instincts.

So, despite undergoing harsh training from her father, Shuhei Kento, since she was young to control the Mad Dragon’s Blood, she still hasn’t mastered it.

The fear of losing herself every time she fails to control it.

Because of that fear, Asuka always appears cheerful as a psychological defense mechanism.

“I want to help her right away, but…”

It’s impossible.

Maybe in the future, but not now.

There are only three ways to control Asuka’s Mad Dragon’s Blood.

First, become a transcendent being like Asuka’s father, Shuhei Kento, and break free from the curse’s chains.

Second, consume the heart of a dragon, transforming one’s own heart into a dragon’s heart.

Third, receive the purification of the High Saintess Gloria.

These methods are nearly impossible, incredibly challenging.

The quickest solution, by far, was to receive the help of the Third Princess.

A woman so blessed with divine beauty that she was often referred to as a transcendent being and the daughter of God, Gloria’s abilities were more than sufficient to mend the situation.

However, unless it was an extraordinary circumstance, she would not emerge from the American consulate.

But there was a way to make her come out.

It was none other than befriending her son, Noah.

Though it was a bit challenging, especially considering he was a man.

Once a certain level of Noah’s favor was gained, he would send a letter to Gloria, expressing his desire to introduce me as a good friend around the latter part of the first semester, when the dueling season was set to begin.

Then, during the dueling season, I would be able to see Gloria in the spectator’s seat, watch Noah’s match, and engage in conversation with her through an event format.

So, I aimed for that time.

First and foremost, becoming close to Noah was the first step, but since I already knew most of what he liked, building his favor wouldn’t be too difficult.

“If this method doesn’t work… “

I would just have to catch a dragon or retrieve its heart, or something.

As I was making such plans, Iseo-yeon and Aska returned to their seats in the audience.

Aska, who had climbed the stairs weakly, sat down beside me with a slump.

“…I lost.”

Hm, Aska, who stammered as if she was about to burst into tears.

I was about to offer her words of comfort when I stopped myself.

Her disappointment and depression weren’t because she had lost, and it wasn’t due to advice from Kang Cheol-soo.

It was because she was struggling with the agony of not being able to control her own talent properly.

I couldn’t simply say that it was okay.

So, I just…

Gently…

“…There, there.”

I patted her head.

Upon this, Aska looked at me with a vacant expression.

“…There, there.”

She had broken down.