I Became an Illegal Cheat User

17 – Dignity (4)

“…”

Seo-yeon stared at her sword with a blank face.

A sword with only the handle and a portion of the blade remaining.

Seo-yeon let it fall from her hand, powerless, extending her arm.

“I lost.”

Not just a simple defeat.

She was overwhelmingly defeated.

“I never even touched him.”

She didn’t think it would be an easy victory.

Although she hadn’t seen his true strength, her opponent was someone who entered as a top student.

There was no room for complacency.

But…, even though he didn’t manifest his sword, even though he didn’t use his skill.

Lee Yu-jin never once touched him.

“When was the last time I lost like this?”

As far as I can remember, it must have been when I was seven years old, about three days after discovering my talent for the sword.

Back then, my little cousin, three years older than me, mercilessly struck me while teaching me the ways of the blade.

I still remember that day vividly.

“It hurt so much…”

There wasn’t a place that didn’t ache.

I cried a lot because it hurt too much.

But the very next day, I asked my little cousin to teach me again.

And… I returned the knowledge I gained.

At first, I followed the swordsmanship.

In the middle, I perfected the swordsmanship.

And then, I took it away.

I broke my little cousin’s wooden sword and returned the pain of the knowledge I received, just as equally.

No, I returned it twice as much.

Because I learned that it’s customary to return what you receive twice.

However…, this time, I don’t know.

“Why did I lose?”

There’s no learning.

There’s no pain.

Just… overwhelming defeat.

Lee Seo-yeon raised her head and looked at Lee Yoo-jin.

Then, she lowered her gaze a bit to see the weapon he was using.

A gun.

A firearm.

A weapon a transcendent being wouldn’t use.

However, Lee Yoo-jin handles firearms.

Not just proficiently but almost magically.

Although she shot back the bullets reflexively, she was actually astonished to the point of shivering.

Even though she shot with trembling hands, the bullets flew in the wrong direction.

In the blink of an eye, the bullets changed direction and flew towards her hands and head.

And that happened in an instant, even at close range.

If he hadn’t been honed by rigorous training, he would have dropped his sword defenselessly, completely unaware, and been shot in the head, falling to the ground.

That’s how exceptional Yi Yujin’s marksmanship was, beyond the realm of ordinary skill.

“…Is this his innate talent?”

Otherwise, bullets wouldn’t have curved sharply and moved too fast to be caught by sight.

Hence, Yi Seoyeon became curious.

“I want to know.”

Why did Yi Yujin think so poorly of himself?

Why did Yi Yujin use a fever gun instead of a cold gun?

I want to know.

No, I will find out.

“If there’s no learning.”

It creates learning.

Yi Seoyeon’s gaze at Yi Yujin flickered strangely.

&

&

&

She won.

Even though it wasn’t with Yi Seoyeon’s Dayne’s Life but a training sword.

She used magic, but refrained from using sword techniques.

Anyway, she won.

And overwhelmingly so.

“hahahaha, cheating like crazy!”

Sure, having purchased talents helped, but honestly, easily defeating Yi Seoyeon was undoubtedly due to the ‘Super Accuracy’ skill.

“There wouldn’t be an issue winning even without cheats, but…”

Winning in just a minute like this was impossible.

Suppose she faced Yi Seoyeon without any cheats…

Roughly…, it would have taken about 7 minutes.

No, precisely, it would have taken between 7 to 10 minutes.

Then, holding a sword and shield, initially, to figure out the pattern of Yi Seoyeon’s attacks, she would have dodged diligently.

Once you figure out the pattern, you would have dealt with it promptly using the corresponding countermeasure, inflicting precise damage.

It’s like the games in the Souls series, renowned for crushing players’ mental resilience.

However, thanks to cheats, I could skip such cumbersome processes.

Suppressing the laughter that was about to burst out with immense satisfaction, I proceeded to conduct a safety check on my pistol.

Afterward, as I switched it to the “safe” position and holstered it in the tactical vest.

Clang.

[The talent of Lee Seo-yeon, “Genius of the Sword (S),” pioneers a new path.]

“…?”

A message appeared before my eyes.

‘…What is this?’

Sometimes, when a main character grasps or realizes something new, the system informs them like this.

But… I’ve never seen this before?

‘Lee Seo-yeon’s Genius of the Sword pioneers a new path?’

The identity of Lee Seo-yeon, virtually the genius of the sword, pioneering?

‘Not bad, though….’

Suddenly?

What did she realize?

I couldn’t figure out what Lee Seo-yeon had learned from our fight; it had never happened before.

But since talent pioneering a new path was a good thing and not bad, I decided to view it positively.

‘No way, it’s not about the sword genius opening a path toward fever mode.’

Thinking that way, I chuckled and dismissed the idea.

Why would Lee Seo-yeon, known as the sword genius, be interested in a fever mode instead of her sword?

As I thought about it and was about to turn my head toward Lee Seo-yeon.

“Quarterfinals Group A, the match between the top seed Lee Yoo-jin and the third seed Lee Seo-yeon goes to Lee Yoo-jin’s victory.”

Kang Cheol-soo approached, announcing the match results.

Clang.

– Quarterfinals –

[Group A]

[01] [Lee Yoo-jin] [Victory]

[03][Lee Seo-yeon][Fail]

The tournament results flashed on my smartwatch.

And the updated content of the event quest.

────────────────────

Event Quest

【Dignity】

Win in a confrontation with a leading character to display the authority of the Chief.

□ Win against Lee Seo-yeon. (Completed)

□ Win against Arthur Pendragon.

– Reward: 10,000 points (additional rewards based on performance), B-grade item selection voucher, B-grade talent and skill selection voucher, 3 random cheat usage vouchers.

– Failure: Decrease in favorability of all main characters.

────────────────────

Without so much as a hint of celebration, I smirked at the quest window that appeared and closed it.

As if on cue, Kang Cheol-soo, who had been waiting nearby, spoke up.

“Chief, I’ve been watching your combat style, and I couldn’t help but think…”

With a clouded expression, Kang Cheol-soo suddenly generated magical energy and cast a magic barrier that blocked sound and perception in the surroundings.

Then, with a serious look, he addressed me.

“Do you have any connection with the 9th Punishment Division?”

In response to his question, I immediately nodded.

“No connection at all.”

Not yet.

“…Is that so?”

Kang Cheol-soo stared at me with eyes filled with doubt.

Well, it’s understandable.

My current combat style closely resembles that of the 9th Punishment Division.

No, rather than resembling, it’s identical.

It’s just an improved version of the same thing.

So, what is the ‘9th Punishment Division’?

It’s an unofficial division operated by the Superhuman Association for the extrajudicial execution of corrupted individuals. A gathering place for avengers who have lost family, lovers, and friends to the corrupted—revenge ghosts.

Given the nature of the people gathered there, they employ bold methods without hesitation when dealing with corrupted individuals.

For instance, throwing a bomb where corrupt individuals gather.

Or firing a small railgun from a long distance.

Creating a fake village that corrupt individuals would fall for and detonating it all at once.

However, it doesn’t mean their abilities are weak or inferior.

Most of those in the 9th Punishment Brigade are mid to high-ranking heroes. And the commander of the brigade is a top-tier hero approaching the level of a transcendent being.

The reason individuals like them, belonging to the brigade, primarily use firearms like me is to inflict suffering upon the corrupt.

Even if firearms are weapons that might not penetrate superhumans, when their powers wane, unless their physique is invulnerable, they will feel pain without necessarily being pierced by a bullet.

The same applies to the corrupt.

And the heroes of the 9th Punishment Brigade are veterans when it comes to dealing with the corrupt.

They don’t use standard firearms but rather specialized ones tailored for the corrupt.

For example, weapons forged with gold, infused with salt, or made with holy water, and so on.

They focus on using things effective against magic.

When I say, “I have no connection,” what I really mean is “not yet.”

It’s because during the upcoming summer internship, I plan to join the 9th Punishment Brigade as an intern.

I aim to acquire a certain skill.

“Evil begets evil.”

Not becoming evil to eradicate evil.

But becoming a blade to eradicate evil.

Literally, that skill deals additional damage to everything related to magic.

And that skill can only be obtained within the 9th Punishment Brigade.

That’s why I must go there.

To confront the corrupt and extraterrestrial beings.

“…Well, for now, let’s leave it at that.”

Kang Cheolsu lightly tapped my shoulder with a serious expression still on his face.

From his gesture, I realized that Kang Cheolsu wasn’t trying to solve doubts but possibly misunderstanding something.

He probably thinks there’s a connection between the 9th Punishment Brigade and me.

Or maybe, since I’m an orphan, he might think my parents had a connection to the 9th Punishment Brigade and perished while in service.

Anyway, if I explain, thanks, but there was no need to clear up any misunderstandings.

“Hmm, hm.”

As Kang Cheol-soo adjusted his collar, he released the magical barrier that had been muffling sound and sensation.

“…There won’t be any feedback this time either.”

Without the need for advice, Kang Cheol-soo added, “You did well, no need for guidance,” and continued speaking to Lee Seo-yeon.

He offered various suggestions about what went wrong and how she should have acted.

Then, he manipulated his smartwatch, initiating automatic restoration and cleaning in the arena.

“Senior Yi Yujin and 3rd place Lee Seo-yeon, please return to the audience area now. Also, B Group’s Arthur Pendragon and 5th place Noah, your match will begin in five minutes. Come down to the arena in advance and prepare.”

“Yes.”

Arthur and Noah spoke in unison, rising from their seats in the audience.

Lee Seo-yeon and I ascended the stairs toward the audience area.

As we passed by, Arthur and Noah nodded as if acknowledging our efforts, then moved on.

Thus, I sat next to Asuka, who was enthusiastically sharing her impressions of the match, saying, “Senior, you were amazing!”

Lee Seo-yeon…

“…”

Sat beside me, much like Asuka.

Left, Lee Seo-yeon.

Right, Asuka.

The two most beautiful girls in the province sat beside me.

Perhaps because of that… I could sense the piercing gazes from all around.

‘No, why…?’

With a puzzled expression, I glanced at Lee Seo-yeon.

At that moment, our eyes met as she happened to be looking at me.

She grinned.

Lee Seo-yeon merely tilted her head slightly, seemingly unaware of any issue.

Internally sighing deeply at her demeanor, I turned my gaze toward the arena.

And I thought…

The initial plan to avoid contact and occasionally assist Lee Seo-yeon quietly, it all went out the window.

Ah.

Fearful.

Arising from contact with Lee Seo-yeon.

The endless interference of the Sword Star.