Chapter 38 - Are You Scared?

"Let me ask just one thing."

I spoke while looking at the person who challenged me. He looked like a thug. Not overtly like Park Hosoo with his 'I'm a thug' outfit, but if you watched him quietly, that feeling would creep up.

"Hm? What is it?"

He speaks with a smile like he really doesn't know, but is he really clueless? If he really doesn't know, he should get his IQ tested.

"Why use your challenge right on me...?"

I was going to speak rudely because it's so ridiculous, but being in front of someone thuggish made me unconsciously keep using polite speech. Maybe this is what they mean by fear encoded in genes.

Get it together, Seonghoon. This guy's the same age.

No. Come to think of it, aren't I older? I'm 25 (real)? Good. From now on I'll speak casually.

"Ah~"

While I was thinking that, the thug raised the corner of his mouth in a smirk.

"Know what confidence charging is? It's adjusting your condition while playing around. If you go all out from the start, you'll retire before finishing."

So you're saying you'll beat up someone weak. Nice way of making excuses.

There's nothing more trashy than exercising violence against someone weaker than yourself. Though he's laughing like it's fun, I couldn't even smile. Well, since I'm the one getting hit.

[Kim Sehun Rank 520]

High rank too. A bad guy who's quite strong yet comes to beat up the lowest ranked person. Though I'd like to teach him a lesson out of spite, since that's impossible, only one option remains.

[Ready. 5. 4. 3. 2. 1─]

I prepare while listening to the referee's countdown voice.

The method is simple. Raise my hand before getting attacked as soon as it starts. Then just shout one thing.

Two syllables.

Surrender.

[Start!!!!!!!]

Pheeeeeeeee─!!

With the whistle sound, my hand went up. The moment I opened my mouth.

I saw it.

Today was the first time I learned you can somewhat understand what someone's saying just from their lip movements.

The moving lips, one syllable at a time. One syllable at a time burned into my eyes.

Though it was just arranging the syllables that burned in. My opening mouth stopped opening.

'Are you scared?'

The completed words. I twisted my lips.

"You're dead."

The words that came from his mouth were unacceptable to a 21st century Korean man.

***

'Scared?' or 'Are you scared?' Words absolutely unacceptable to a 21st century Korean man. Magic words that make you do anything.

I twisted my lips up and took out [Practice Scythe] from my [Inventory]. Shouldering it, I glared at him.

Though it started a while ago, neither of us has moved a single step.

So I'm staying still too.

Actually though I'm pretending to be tough, cold sweat is pouring down. Well, there's almost a 500 rank difference. Normally I couldn't win no matter what I did, but I have to win.

Why? Because he asked if I was scared. I'll win no matter what. You see, men are creatures who. Sometimes have to fight even knowing they'll lose. That's now.

Twitch twitch.

Kim Sehun moved first in our standoff. A movement like he's giving me the first move.

No need to be polite. Well, since I'm weak? I need to do everything I can.

I gripped the scythe and raised it up. Pulling my arm back and leaning forward like throwing a shot put with all my might─

I threw it.

Simultaneously, a blue window covers my view.

[Correction activated for "Scythe Mastery" due to specific action.]

[Correction: Throwing]

[Throwing attempted. Correction activated.]

[Correction: Throwing(Accuracy)]

[Throwing attempted. Correction activated.]

[Correction: Throwing(Boomerang)]

It flies in an arc. The scythe flying with tremendous force along with loud friction noise, naturally

Clang─!!!

Made a crisp sound as it bounced off Kim Sehun's sword. Well, of course. What else would happen when I threw it?

But that's fine. I never thought it would work anyway.

"Hmm. That was quite a decent attack. Seeing you throw so perfectly, you must have some expertise with scythes─?!"

Kim Sehun's words didn't continue. Or rather, couldn't continue would be the right expression.

Well, the scythe was just to block his view.

[Post-it with Rune Inscription(Explosion): This item has been enhanced by Lair(Benia). Explosion power increased(Medium). Range increased(Small). Resonates with nearby runes causing chain explosions.]

Along with the long blue window, what blocks the view is post-its.

The yellow ones everyone knows. Each one has letters inscribed.

The identity is the rune language I just learned.

The written letters translated to Korean simply mean explosion.

What does that mean? It means explosion post-its are fluttering and scattering around him.

How many did I scatter? Don't know. Just scattered as I felt like it. Maybe about 50?

"What the?!"

He looked around in confusion. Probably wondering whether to cut these, dodge them, or charge at me.

I'd be the same. Anyone would be confused if something like this suddenly appeared in the sky.

But as expected of a 500-rank student, he quickly erased his confusion and gripped his sword toward me, so I opened my mouth too.

You know.

I saw this in manga.

You know that manga with magic users who pretend to be ninjas?

It was in that.

So there's only one thing for me to say.

"KATSU!!"

Explosion is art.

This was one of my Top 5 lines I wanted to say in life.

***

Kim Sehun is currently extremely confused. To the point of wondering if he's ever been this confused in his life.

He's weak. That's what he thought. At first.

Well, isn't that natural? Ranking 1028 with Rank D. A score given by Justitia which fairly evaluates students. It couldn't be wrong.

So until receiving the first attack, he believed his thoughts were correct. The thrown scythe had too little power. An attack with only technique but no power, what you'd commonly call all show. It was so weak it was embarrassing to have given the first move.

So thinking this mission would be easy, life is good~ while being leisurely, but.

What kind of situation is this now?

Yellow papers filling the surrounding area.

Those commonly known as post-its.

It would be fine if they were normal papers, but Kim Sehun saw the letters written on them.

Rune language.

In other words, inscription magic. Papers with magic cast on them. Not just one but dozens. So many it would take a while to count with your eyes.

There are still people using such relics of the past?

Quickly erasing such stray thoughts from his mind, he finishes analyzing the situation in an instant. Between escape and attack, he chose attack and tried to attack quickly.

But. The opponent was faster.

"KATSU!!!"

When the energetic, booming voice was heard.

The runes shine. One shines and as if causing a chain reaction, surrounding runes start shining too.

This is dangerous.

But there's no way to dodge. The explosion happens quickly and it's too late to move.

Each individual rune's explosion was insignificant. But the problem was the explosions appearing like chain reactions.

One explodes, and each time the rune next to it explodes too, the destructive power increases.

If the first post-it's explosion was enough to just peel off some skin, the explosion happening before his eyes now had already surpassed dynamite.

The ways to survive in this inferno are either not getting hit in the first place, or deploying a mana shield using magic power.

There was only one choice.

Damn.

The explosion is too big. To the point of having to use almost all his body's magic power to deploy a mana shield to barely block it.

"Phew."

It was an incredible explosion. A destructive power impossible to achieve with rune magic, a relic of the past.

Honestly, he was impressed. Enough to think there really are ways for the weak to fight.

But that too was over.

Kim Sehun endured. Though he consumed almost all his magic power, the explosion was over, and he took almost no damage.

That was probably his trump card. A trump card to take down the opponent in one shot.

It must have taken months to write this many runes, which was a bit sad.

Trump card failed. What does he have left now? Tricks like that throw earlier? It's over. Even without magic power, he can easily beat rank 1028.

The dust from the explosion gradually clears. A smile appeared on Kim Sehun's lips.

"Ah. Really. No wonder the payment was so good."

Thinking he fought well for rank 1028. When he gripped his sword again certain of victory.

He doubted his eyes.

"Huh?"

One thought enters his mind.

What is this?

Post-its are spread everywhere. At first he doubted his eyes, after confirming it was real he doubted the identity of the post-its.

They must be normal post-its for deception.

But as if mocking such thoughts, they all have rune language drawn on them. Clearly shining with magic power, ready to explode anytime.

Haha. A hollow laugh escaped Kim Sehun's mouth without him knowing.

"How."

Is this possible? Even if it's magic that can be inscribed in advance. Having this many rune magics inscribed and using them all in one match? What, do you have a magic tank at home?

"Oh? You're fine?"

As if answering those thoughts, a voice was heard. A man laughing annoyingly, with an expression like 'what will you do now?'

He felt angry for a moment, but couldn't move. One step and the runes would cause chain explosions.

Magic power already bottomed out so he can't block chain explosions.

"Want to call it a draw?"

Kim Sehun smiled. Lee Seonghoon smiles back.

"Are you scared?"

"Huh?"

Before he could answer the question, Lee Seonghoon took out post-its from somewhere.

He still has more?

The ones spread on the ground weren't all? Goosebumps spread all over his body. And it didn't take long to realize those goosebumps were because of what he was about to experience.

Lee Seonghoon threw a post-it.

Bang! An explosion enough to peel some skin occurs.

Lee Seonghoon takes out two post-its.

Two chain explode causing a slightly bigger explosion.

"Are you scared?"

Takes out 3.

"Are you scared?"

Takes out 4.

"W-wait!!"

"Are you scared?"

5.

"St-stop─"

"Scared?"

6.

"Scared?"

7.

His body won't last through the continuous explosions. When he glares while holding onto consciousness that feels like it might fly away, he's smiling. Like it's fun. Like it's satisfying to get revenge.

Don't tell me he's doing this because of the provocation earlier─

"Scared??"

Kim Sehun realized. This guy has no intention of stopping. Right. First surrender here and tomorrow when he's out of post-its, challenge again─

"Surr─!!"

"Sur? Sur what? Not surrender right? No way? You wouldn't do something like surrender right? You, the rank 520 candidate, against rank 1028?"

Saying that, he spreads his arms to the surroundings. Then the scouts came into view. People in black suits and sunglasses scribbling something.

Already failed the mission and if he runs away losing to rank 1028─

Kim Sehun held back tears.

"No way."

"That's right!! That's what a hero candidate should be!!"

After that well.

He had to hear "Are you scared?" until he passed out.

He didn't even just throw runes until passing out. When it seemed like passing out, he'd reduce to one at a time adjusting firepower, when able to endure increase firepower again─

He's a demon.

This guy is a demon.

Beat something like this?

Kim Sehun cursed his client while hearing the echo of "Scared?" until just before passing out.