The Support Ate it All

Chapter 92: Distortion

As the three of them moved outside the round arena, Kwak Ji-cheol and Song Cheon-hye who had been waiting approached them.

Dang Gyu-young gathered the four first-year students in front of her and pointed at the sticker attached to Hong Yeon-hwas hand.

Somehow, someone managed to remove it. Seeing this, it seems my efforts werent entirely in vain.

Removed it? The sticker?

Hong Yeon-hwa did?

Surprised by the unexpected news, Song Cheon-hye and Kwak Ji-cheol widened their eyes.

They had predicted that this weeks sticker duel battle would be incredibly difficult and they were secretly expecting no one to succeed.

Seeing the shocked expressions on their faces, Hong Yeon-hwa felt even better.

Ive finally surpassed her.

For the first time since enrolling in the Dragon Slayer Academy she had outperformed Song Cheon-hye.

Although it was by a mere difference of one to zero, a win was still a win.

If she could continue like this, the baseless rumor that Seong Cheon-hye is better than Hong Yeon-hwae, would completely disappear.

Hmm, hmm, but I shouldnt make it too obvious.

Hong Yeon-hwa struggled desperately to suppress the corners of her lips that kept twitching upwards.

However, given her poor ability to manage her facial expressions, this attempt was not very successful, and to others, it appeared almost as if she were offering a scornful laugh.

Song Cheon-hyes eyebrows twitched and veins popped out on her forehead.

Regardless, Dang Gyu-young continued with what she was saying.

Even those who couldnt remove it have significantly improved in close combat. Still, theres much left to improve, so it would be wise to continue with one-on-one sparring sessions in the future.

?

Huh?

What did she say we should continue doing?

The first-years gazes were all fixed on Dang Gyu-young, but she seemed unfazed as if wondering why they were surprised.

Of course you must continue. What ended is only the sticker duel battles.

She declared that it wasnt mentoring that ended.

There were still three more weeks to go, after all.

Although less frequent than before, she planned to incorporate one-on-one close combat sparring sessions during the mentoring period.

Dang Gyu-young waved her hand nonchalantly as if she was oblivious to the souring expressions of the first-years around her.

Then go and rest up, and well see each other again tomorrow.

Everyone remained rooted in their spots as they were unable to shake off the shock from Dang Gyu-youngs startling declaration, but eventually, they began to move one by one.

The first to take action was Song Cheon-hye.

Ever since she heard that Hong Yeon-hwa had removed a sticker, her mind was consumed with a single thought.

Could there still be a replay available?

Given it was a mentoring match, the chances it was kept private were slim.

She was burning with curiosity about how anyone could have penetrated Dang Gyu-youngs defense to remove a sticker.

She was eager to check the replay first thing.

Next, Kwak Ji-cheol sent an inexplicable glance toward Kim Ho before leaving, and Hong Yeon-hwa too was in a hurry to move on.

However, she had something left to say.

After approaching Kim Ho cautiously, Hong Yeon-hwa started to speak.

Um, that

She stiffened out of habit under his indifferent gaze, but for some reason, it didnt feel as bad as before.

The recent match seemed to have diluted her fear somewhat.

This gave her the courage to continue.

Th-thank you. For helping me with the sticker

Theres no need to thank me. It was all the result of your own efforts.

Kim Ho slowly shook his head but Hong Yeon-hwa knew the truth.

Without him, even the small achievement of today would have been impossible.

She had indeed put in the effort, and as a result, her skills had greatly improved.

Yet, despite her efforts, removing the sticker would have been beyond her reach.

It was solely because Kim Ho continuously kept Dang Gyu-young in check and helped create openings that it became possible.

Particularly crucial was the moment just before the sticker was removed when he closely approached Dang Gyu-young and restrained her movements.

Even if Kim Ho cited these things and claimed that it was all thanks to him, Hong Yeon-hwa would have accepted it obediently.

However, despite having every right to act arrogantly, he chose not to. Instead, he acknowledged her efforts.

Maybe

Had she been wrong in her judgment all this time?

Could he actually be a better person than she thought?

Hong Yeon-hwas mind became complicated as her previous perceptions and her new evaluations were tangled together.

And strangely enough, there was also a fluttering sensation in her heart.

Ah!

When she suddenly came to her senses, she realized she had been staring blankly at Kim Ho for quite some time.

Hong Yeon-hwa mumbled a hasty explanation, letting the words tumble out as they came.

Anyway, th-thank you! See, see you tomorrow? Lets meet!

Then she quickened her pace and every now and then she slowed down to take a quick glance at Kim Ho.

***

While I was watching Hong Yeon-hwa glance back this way while moving away, something kept poking my side insistently.

When I glanced sideways, I saw Dang Gyu-young with a sullen face, repeatedly jabbing me with her index finger.

Poke, poke, poke.

I deliberately ignored her and continued to gaze in the direction Hong Yeon-hwa had disappeared until Dang Gyu-young shifted her position to alternately press down hard on both my cheeks.

Then she pinched slightly and tugged up and down.

Senior-nim, my cheeks arent rice cake mochi.

Why are you in such a bad mood again?

You know well what your fault is.

I was well aware of why Dang Gyu-young was acting this way.

Throughout the sticker duel, I had persistently tormented her with Wind Force.

It was only natural for her to be angry.

Though I understood why she was angry, I didnt believe it warranted feeling guilty so I started defending myself.

I told you, this is the only skill I have thats any good.

Hey, but that doesnt make sense. If youve graduated hundreds of times, why do you only have that one skill? Shouldnt you have like 50 more?

Everything resets when you re-enroll.

How does that even work?

Im not happy about it either.

Perhaps it was the smooth flow of my responses that made Dang Gyu-young narrow her eyes slightly.

Hmm, youre slipping out of this quite well. No holes in your story.

Its not a story, thats why.

Yeah, right

And it seemed she decided to shake her head and let it go once again.

The truth was, I had already received the rewards for graduating hundreds of times.

The skills [Copy], [Amplification], and [Monarch] that I began with under the name of Reincarnation Quest Perks were precisely those rewards.

Of course, this was just as much a secret as the fact that I had entered a world inside the game.

Dang Gyu-young stretched herself out fully.

Ah, finally, the week is over. Mentoring is quite the extreme job, isnt it? No weekends, no holidays.

Its probably better than cleaning sewers, though.

If she hadnt taken up mentoring, she would have had to face all the penalties that were due.

Despite that, Dang Gyu-young seemed somewhat skeptical.

I wonder if I should have just accepted the penalties. Its one thing to be a bit tired but this. Anyway, lets go.

Dang Gyu-young started to move while thinking of getting some rest.

But

Senior-nim, where are you going?

Huh?

My week isnt over yet.

The duel battles might have ended, but the one-on-one sparring session between us needed to continue.

At least until I learned [Distortion].

Dang Gyu-young wore an expression of utter exhaustion.

Come on, let me rest a bit. Dont you feel sorry for your senior who works without even a weekend bonus? Mentors have rights too, you know.

Were almost there. Just a little bit more.

How much is a little bit more?

Just a little bit more.

Of course, since that just a bit more came with no promises attached, Dang Gyu-young eyed me with very suspicious eyes.

I met her gaze with the most innocent smile I could muster.

Haah, why did I even make such a pointless promise? This is the last time, really.

Dang Gyu-young entered the round arena with me while grumbling and complaining, but she still believed that a promise was a promise.

No sooner had we taken our positions than she began hurling clusters of shadow daggers into the air.

Whizz, whizz, whizz!

The black blades narrowly missed me.

Then, a handful of shadow butterflies were summoned before joining the chase after me.

I said while busily moving my feet.

You seem to be in quite the hurry today.

If were doing this, might as well get it over with and rest.

Boom, boom, boom!

The shadow butterflies exploded in unison, releasing a variety of shadow weapons into the fray.

The arena quickly turned into a battlefield of chaos.

However, both Dang Gyu-young, who unleashed her attacks incessantly, and I, who deftly dodged them, maintained a surprisingly relaxed demeanor.

She also improved.

Just at the start of the week, Dang Gyu-young would exhaust herself in the middle of her relentless attacks and would have to stop.

Trying to catch me as I darted around like a slippery eel inevitably led to both of us becoming mentally and physically exhausted.

However, after a week of sparring in a similar manner, we gradually grew accustomed to the rhythm.

Now, we were able to continue our actions as smoothly as flowing water while showing no signs of fatigue.

We had even reached a point where we could comfortably make small talk amidst the battle.

Once again, she scattered shadow daggers in all directions as we continued our conversation.

Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh!

Ive got that wish ticket, you know.

Yes, I remember.

I was thinking about how I might use it.

Dang Gyu-young also had one wish ticket as a secret reward for helping in my training.

Though it had the same name as the Wish Ticket I got from Song Cheon-hye after our bet, it had significantly different conditions.

While the former was limited to simple questions or favors, like to a minor wish ticket, the latter could be considered more powerful, like a medium wish ticket.

What wish shall I grant for you?

Do you have any plans in two weeks, aside from mentoring?

Nothing besides mentoring.

Then make some time then. Lets go somewhere together.

Where are you planning to go, even using a wish ticket for it?

If it were an ordinary place, we could simply go if she just asked me, but the use of a wish ticket meant it was for a specific purpose.

Dang Gyu-young pressed closely and answered while brandishing a dagger.

It wouldnt be fun if I told you everything now. Ill give you the details when the time comes.

All right.

It was somewhat suspicious but there was no reason not to agree.

Since Dang Gyu-young herself mentioned the wish ticket with the condition if you dont like it after hearing, you can refuse, it was unlikely that she would make a request that I would reject.

Considering the fact that she made time for training with me even after the duel battles had concluded, and the need for her help in the future, it was best for me to accommodate her as much as possible.

The exchange of attacks, dodges, and trivial conversation continued for a while.

As it began to feel somewhat tedious, Dang Gyu-young asked.

Are we still far from unlocking your special trait?

Were almost there. Just a bit more.

You said that earlier too. Dont tell me

Dang Gyu-young said with a crease of foreboding between her eyebrows.

Dont tell me youre planning to stretch this out for the entire mentoring period?

That shouldnt be the case.

Before the mentoring began, the evasion streaks I had accumulated were already a lot, and the additional streaks built up over a week with Dang Gyu-young were not insignificant either.

It was almost at the point of bursting.

No matter how unlucky I am, it should be done by next week.

But perhaps speak of the devil and he doth appear?

The moment I narrowly dodged an incoming dagger by tilting my head,

A notification message appeared at the edge of my vision.

[Distortion acquired.]

Look at this.

I told you we were almost there.

I stopped dead in my tracks amidst my frantic movements.

At that moment, Dang Gyu-young was lunging forward with her fist loaded with mana, but I decided not to dodge in order to test the new traits performance.

Since she was used to my last-minute dodges, Dang Gyu-youngs eyes widened in surprise at seeing me just stand there without moving.

Huh?

But it was too late to retract her fully accelerated attack.

Just as her mana-charged fist was about to strike my face,

Dang Gyu-youngs arm twisted like a mollusk and missed me by veering to the side.

What!

Dang Gyu-youngs face turned pale and she immediately withdrew her hand and retreated to a spot a good distance away from me.

What, what, whats this, whats happening?

She fussed over her previously twisted arm and started feeling it for any sign of injury but found it unscathed and perfectly fine.

Seemingly a bit embarrassed by her own reaction, Dang Gyu-young stopped her fluttering movements and asked me,

What was that just now?

Ive just learned that new trait.

Ah! Is this what it is?

[Distortion]

Distorts space to evade an enemys attack.

Cooldown: 24 hours

A rare space-type trait.

It allows you to dodge any attack once.

Even if you do nothing and just stand still, a dagger from an assassin or an arrow from a sniper will automatically miss.

There was a restriction of a 24-hour cooldown after each activation, but even with that, the effect was incredibly powerful.

Upon hearing the explanation of the trait, Dang Gyu-youngs expression turned to one of disbelief.

Come on, isnt this just outright cheating? Cant I learn it too?

You can.

Really? How?

You just need to do exactly what you did with me, but with the faculty members.

To quickly accumulate evasion streaks, the best strategy was to face opponents who were two to three ranks higher than oneself.

As a first-year student, I managed to evade every attack from a third-year student without getting hit once.

So for Dang Gyu-young, it would be enough to face B-rank or A-rank heroes who were basically the faculty members and dodge their attacks.

Dang Gyu-young stood there for a moment while blinking her eyes.

As if she was comparing the conditions I described with the sparring sessions she had experienced with me so far.

Then she smiled faintly.

I wont do it.