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Chapter 115: Academy Heroine's Right Diagonal Back Seat

Chapter 115



Yoon Si-woo was absentmindedly recalling what had happened during lunchtime.


Honestly, he had initially just followed Captain Martina with the simple hope of seeing Scarlet’s face.


However, thanks to the unexpected help of Marin, whom he had met at a matchmaking event and decided to become friends with, an unforeseen event occurred.


"You're not planning to just sit around after coming all this way, right? I'll set up a chance for you to talk with Scarlet alone, so hurry up and finish your lunch."


A friend who was willing to set up an opportunity to be alone with the girl he liked. 


It was the first time someone encouraged him to succeed romantically, rather than being jealous, so he felt embarrassed, but how could he turn down such an opportunity?


“Si-woo, why are you daydreaming? They’re calling you from the front.”


When the two friends who had set the stage for him left the scene, leaving him alone with Scarlet, he didn’t have any grand ambitions.


He simply wished to talk and spend time with her, nothing more.


"Not long ago, there was a really tough class... During that time, I thought of you and managed to get through it."


Maybe that’s why.


The moment he heard her say that, he felt as if his heart had stopped.


His heart was racing so fast that it felt like it wasn’t beating at all.


"Yoon Si-woo, thank you. I was able to keep going thanks to you."


She said it.


Thank you, I was able to keep going because of you.


“Si-woo, can’t you hear me? They’re calling you from the front!”


He had always dreamed of this.


Wished for it.


He wanted to become someone that she could trust and rely on, and he had consistently worked towards that.


Although he always said he did it because he wanted to, there were times when it was undeniably hard.


There were times when he was burdened by the pressure to meet others' expectations and plagued by doubts about whether he was making the best choices.


"So, you should also hang in there. I believe in you more than anyone else in this world."


That’s why her words of acknowledgment felt like a reward in themselves.


With her words and smile, he could forget all the struggles he had endured.


Even a single drop of dew in the desert couldn’t offer the same dizzying sweetness and happiness.


He never imagined he would hear such words, so for a moment, he was confused, wondering if he was dreaming.


But the voice of the Sword of Truth kept telling him that her words were true, making him realize this was reality.


She had truly said that she believed in him more than anyone else in this world.


He was just so happy that—


“Si-woo!!!!!”


With Lucy’s shout, he snapped out of his daze, startled.


Wondering what was going on, he quickly looked around and saw the children staring at him with curious eyes. Si-woo cautiously asked Lucy.


“Hey, Lucy? Did something happen?”


In response to his question, Lucy answered in a voice full of exasperation.


“...Sigh, your superior was calling your name just now. She told you to come to the front.”


It was true, as Martina stood at the front, arms crossed, waiting and looking his way.


Before it was too late, Si-woo stood up and walked forward. Martina muttered with a slightly displeased expression.


"...Yoon Si-woo, even if you’re just attending as an assistant for the class, isn’t your mind too distracted?”


“...I’m sorry, Captain.”


After apologizing to Martina for her reprimand, Si-woo, feeling embarrassed, grumbled at Lucy.


“You could have called me a little sooner…”


“I called you several times, but you didn’t respond. It’s pathetic to be so flustered over just one girl.”


Of course, he didn’t get away with it and was criticized for being pathetic.


Eventually, while admitting his mistake and quietly apologizing to Lucy, Martina’s voice reached him.


“Anyway, Yoon Si-woo, you’re sparring with this student here. Make sure to adjust your strength, but make it as realistic as possible to gain experience. Understood?”


Upon hearing that, Si-woo looked at the student standing next to Martina and blushed.


The red-haired girl he had been thinking about was staring at him intently.


His heart felt like it might burst just from meeting her eyes, and now he was supposed to spar with her?


He was momentarily flustered but realized he had no choice.


He couldn’t possibly say to his direct superior, “Captain, whenever I see her, my heart races, so sparring is a bit difficult.”


So, he nodded and realized he was starting to worry.


He had unpleasant memories of sparring with her in the past.


Once, during a spar, she had injured her hand badly, leaving him hesitant until Martina smirked and said.


“Teacher Eve will assist, so there’s no need to worry about actual injuries. Go ahead and have an intense fight.”


Those words eased his worries.


Unlike the last time, when they sparred in reality with protective gear, it seemed like there wouldn’t be any accidents this time.


Of course, even in a fantasy, the pain was real, but he just needed to control himself to ensure she didn’t get hurt.


As he was thinking that and looking at Scarlet, she gave him a slight smile and nodded toward him.


“Please take care of me during the spar.”


“...Okay.”


In reality, Si-woo thought he should be more concerned about his heart than the spar.


---


Standing opposite Scarlet, Si-woo looked around.


The only people inside the magic field were the two of them, so it was quiet.


Even though others were probably watching them on a screen outside, he tried to calm his racing heart, feeling like it was just the two of them. Scarlet took her stance and said.


“It will be different from the last time we sparred. I’ve worked really hard.”


It was a new feeling since he had never seen her speak so confidently before.


But right now, it was time to spar, not reflect.


Si-woo quietly told his heart to stop racing and drew a sword from thin air.


As soon as he held the sword, his wildly beating heart calmed down, and the trembling subsided.


Finally, looking at her not as the girl he liked but as his sparring partner, he spoke.


“Don’t hold back, give it everything you’ve got.”


This was not an arrogant statement.


No matter how much Scarlet had improved, Si-woo was quite strong, even compared to other heroes.


She knew that too, so without saying anything, she focused her energy.


Thanks to the Holy Sword's blessing, his heightened senses relayed various information about the opponent before him.


Normally, facing a stronger opponent would make one tense, but she was different.


Her eyes, her breathing, her aura all conveyed one thing.


I’m going to come at you with everything I’ve got.


In response to her determination, he took a middle stance and pointed his sword at her.


Eyes locked,


In the next moment, as if by agreement, they simultaneously charged at each other.


The first strike, seeing her attempt to deflect his sword with her fist, he retrieved his sword and drew another to exploit her opening.


Previously, this strike might have determined the outcome.


However, she didn’t take her eyes off the sword and managed to dodge by slightly leaning back.


She’s definitely improved.


Giving her a grin to acknowledge her progress, she also curved her lips into a smile, as if understanding.


Swinging his sword as a gesture of praise, she responded by skillfully dodging.


As their exchanges continued, Si-woo could clearly feel her improved skills.


Even though he was holding back, how many students could react to his attacks like this?


Watching Scarlet narrowly but surely evade his sword strikes, he smiled as she stepped forward to close the distance.


She wrapped her right hand in flames and aimed a punch at him, which he blocked with the flat of his sword.


As soon as he blocked the attack, he released the sword and jumped back to widen the gap.


Si-woo had a sword, while Scarlet was unarmed.


If the distance widened even a little, it would be overwhelmingly disadvantageous for her.


Wondering how she would handle this, she smirked and extended her left arm forward.


From the jewel embedded in the palm of her artificial hand, a red light flashed.


Flames, condensed and shot out, engulfed his view.


“...You’ve really become strong.”


After the flames passed, Si-woo emerged, dispelling the protective shield formed by the Holy Sword of Protection.


As he muttered in admiration, Scarlet, with a triumphant smile on her face, responded from the other side.


“I told you. I’ve worked hard because I wanted to stand by your side one day, to be strong enough to help you.”


It was an unexpected revelation.


He never imagined she was thinking that way.


Si-woo imagined a scene of her fighting alongside him.


He didn’t like the idea of her participating in dangerous battles.


Even so, how could he dislike the fact that she wanted to fight by his side and had worked hard to become strong enough to help him?


If that day truly came, all he would have to do is protect her so that she wouldn’t be in danger.


Honestly, after hearing those words, he was so happy he didn’t know what to do with himself.


At first, he was hesitant, but now he was glad to be sparring with her.


As he was trying hard to suppress the grin that threatened to spread across his face, he heard Scarlet’s voice.


“But I still don’t think I’ll ever be as strong as you. That last attack was my best shot.”


She said as she scanned her unscathed body.


His heart skipped a beat.


Before he could tell her that she was already strong enough, in case she felt discouraged, she murmured.


“I'm really glad. I’m glad you’re strong enough that even if I give it my all, I can’t win.”


Saying this, she smiled with a very satisfied expression.


Looking straight into his eyes, she slowly nodded and spoke.


“It’s okay if you don’t hold back now. Let’s do this like it’s real combat.”


As soon as she finished speaking, Scarlet charged toward him.


As she suddenly rushed forward, he swung his sword, using the difference in reach as before.


An attack that would force her to either evade or counter to defend herself.


But her response was different this time.


Neither defense nor evasion.


Without slowing down, she charged right into the attack.


“Ugh...!”


If things continued like this, she’d lose at least an arm, so he withdrew his sword, ceasing the attack, and drew the Holy Sword of Protection to block her attack.


A loud boom erupted as her flame-wrapped fist collided with the barrier.


He used the recoil to fling himself backward and shouted at her, who had taken such a reckless action.


“You... just now...!”


“I told you we’re doing this like it’s real combat.”


Scarlet responded in a nonchalant voice.


Then she tilted her head and asked him, with a puzzled look on her face.


“You wouldn’t stop or hesitate like this in a real fight just because you’re worried I might get hurt, would you?”


“What on earth are you talking about...”


“You know, you can’t do that.”


As soon as she murmured this, she charged at him again.


With a clang, he blocked her attack, and as she stood close, she looked him straight in the eyes and said.


“In a real fight, you can’t hesitate or waver.”


As she swung her fist again, she murmured.


Her eyes, her breath, her aura all told him.


That if he only defended, she would not stop.


“That way, I won’t stop.”


Scarlet advanced, closing the distance.


He couldn’t understand why she was suddenly behaving this way.


While he was bewildered, Scarlet, who had drawn close, whispered softly enough for only him to hear.


“You remember the promise, right?”


His heart dropped with those words.


A promise they had made sometime before flashed through his mind.


Then, with a bang, a shockwave spread over the barrier.


He blocked her follow-up attack.


Defense, defense, defense.


But she didn’t stop.


Continuously charging forward, she was demanding something from him.


He realized what she wanted from him.


But to do such a thing...


As he was thinking this, she murmured in a sad voice.


“I’m trying to keep my promise. Aren’t you going to?”


He recalled the conversation they had during lunch.


Her words about trying her best to keep their promise and be happy.


At the same time, Scarlet’s murmuring voice echoed in his ears.


“I don’t like people who make promises they can’t keep.”


At those words, he clenched his teeth.


Then he withdrew the barrier and swung his sword forward.


Blood spurted from her hand where the blade had struck.


However, Scarlet smiled with satisfaction, her eyes forming crescent moons.


“Yeah, like that. But it’s not enough.”


Scarlet charged forward.


He swung his sword to stop her.


Blood sprayed from her arm.


But she didn’t stop.


“More.”


He swung his sword.


She stumbled as her leg was cut.


But she didn’t stop.


“More.”


The red-haired girl, her whole body dyed red, walked toward him.


His sword trembled.


No, it was he who was trembling.


As she took a step toward him, she spoke in a small voice.


“If it’s difficult, let’s practice. I’ll show you how it’s done.”


One more step.


Pointing to her own chest, where the source of life resided.


“You have to stab here. If you stab here, you can stop me.”


Another step closer.


Her trembling spread, gripping his frozen hand.


Using the sword he held, aiming it at her own heart.


“You can do it, right?”


The final step.


With the whisper echoing in his ear, the sword she guided pierced with a thunk.


The sensation of piercing something


The feeling of someone’s heartbeat slowly coming to a halt


Something warm and red like the girl


Flowed down his hand.


Yoon Si-woo blankly stared at his hand, turning crimson, then lifted his gaze to look at the girl.


To him, the girl whispered.


With a radiant smile.


“See, you’re a reliable person.”



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Comments

  1. Left bro traumatized

    ReplyDelete
  2. Trial practice for when the witch of range shows up and overtake scarlet.
    Bro is real good at traumatizing someone

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I wouldn't be shocked if he was a soldier in his past life, maybe even a veteran

      Delete
    2. FYI: South Korea has mandatory conscription like Israel. He was in the military.

      Delete
  3. Girl is really good at traumatizing people.
    Just a trial run for the real deal

    ReplyDelete
  4. Brother got that trauma deluxe pack with little extra heart wrench lol

    ReplyDelete
  5. She's training him to be able to kill her

    ReplyDelete

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