The EX-Class Extra of the Academy

Chapter 105 : Chapter 105

Chapter 105: Even When Defeat Is Certain (1)

Gulp.

I tried my best to maintain my composure, but it was not easy. Dry saliva kept going down my throat, and cold sweat ran down my back. The current situation was just that nonsensical.

'What, attack him?'

Was that even a reasonable thing to say? This was none other than Baek Ha-seong. It meant he was an opponent I could not defeat no matter how much I struggled. So, to tell me to attack—how was that any different from telling me to just die?

It was then.

"Mmm, perhaps my phrasing was too brief?"

Baek Ha-seong spoke softly after seeing my expression and state. He proceeded to provide a further explanation regarding what he had said.

"It seems there was some room for misunderstanding. I am not particularly saying that I want to kill you. I am not a battle maniac; why would I have a reason to do that?"

"Then what is it?"

"What I want is to see the true you."

…I had no idea what he was trying to say. He wanted to see the true me, so I should attack him? Baek Ha-seong continued his explanation while looking at me, since I clearly did not understand.

"Have you ever heard people around you say something like this? That they feel like they know what kind of person you are just by looking into your eyes."

"I have… heard that before."

It was not just something I had heard once or twice. Thinking back, I felt like I had heard it quite a lot. But what did that have to do with the current situation?

"I do not understand why you are suddenly bringing that up."

"You seemed sharp, yet you are slow to catch on at times like this."

"……."

"Well, what I am trying to say is this. Do you think the people around you are physiognomists who judge who you are just by looking at your eyes?"

Baek Ha-seong asked that, but continued speaking as if he did not need an answer.

"Of course not. The reason they said those things to you is simple."

It was because they possessed the bodies of Players. After saying that much with a face that suggested the explanation was over, Baek Ha-seong stared at me in silence. It was an explanation that seemed somewhat lacking, yet I was finally able to understand what he was trying to say.

'He means that the body of a Player, unlike that of an ordinary person, can notice even the slightest gestures.'

And this was also connected to Baek Ha-seong’s instruction to attack him. Why? Because….

'That must be Baek Ha-seong’s certain method of verification.'

It was a fact I had briefly forgotten, but in the past, Baek Ha-seong had said this to a member of the Baek Family who begged him for mercy.

'You babbled on about being a prestigious family, yet you are merely a pathetic human being in the face of death.'

'Thanks to you, I have come to realize. The true form of a human is finally revealed at the very end.'

The essence of a human is finally revealed when they face death. This was one of the beliefs held by Baek Ha-seong.

'The problem is that belief is now pointed at me.'

What was the thought I had when I first came to this world? I thought it was a comedy from a distance, but a tragedy up close. This was exactly that situation. Therefore, I needed to confirm if what was approaching me was a confirmed tragedy.

"Do you intend to kill me?"

"Did I not say it earlier? I am not particularly interested in killing you."

Baek Ha-seong answered my question that way. However, I could tell from that answer.

"That does not mean you will not kill me."

"You are quick to catch on again at a time like this."

He only said he did not want to kill me; he never said he absolutely would not.

"That is the nature of combat; there are so many variables that one could die from a stray blade."

"……."

"I have no desire to kill you. You are an important piece to me. But even so, I cannot do anything about the variables that might occur, can I?"

Is that so? He was speaking in circles, but I felt like I knew what he was trying to say.

'He means that if I am too weak and end up dying, it is just unavoidable.'

Of course, I did not know if my inference was correct. I was not Baek Ha-seong. I just knew a lot about him; it was not as if I had become him, right? But.

'Even if I am wrong, my thoughts are probably somewhat similar to his.'

A person who is more cold-hearted than anyone else when necessary. That was exactly who Baek Ha-seong was. Of course, that did not mean I absolutely had to fight him. Because….

"Is there an option not to fight?"

"Of course. I said I would be sufficiently considerate since you gave me information."

He was someone who was infinitely cold-hearted when necessary, but at the same time, he was someone who possessed consideration. Unfortunately, his consideration was not pure; it was consideration mixed with cold-heartedness.

"Instead, you will not be able to head toward your friends. That way, you will become more desperate, and then you will show an even more truthful side of yourself."

Baek Ha-seong had declared that if I chose that option, I would not be able to go to Kim Su-hyeok and the kids. However, I did not feel hatred toward him. Because….

"But it would be a bit much if this were just a threat."

"That means……."

"If you are truly a fellow who can form a cooperation of equals with me, I swear that I will fulfill at least one thing you want, no matter what it is."

The words that followed from Baek Ha-seong were sweeter than anything else.

'Baek Ha-seong’s oath.'

He would fulfill at least one thing I wanted, no matter what it was. This was by no means something to be taken lightly. These were words coming from the mouth of Baek Ha-seong, none other.

'I can use Baek Ha-seong wherever I want at least once?'

In this world's setting, Baek Ha-seong was among the strongest of the strong. In fact, it meant he was like a master key in areas where martial force was required. Therefore, I asked again to confirm.

"Is that for real?"

"Hmm, was I a character who was not very trustworthy in the future you saw?"

"…No. Rather, you were someone who always kept your word once you said it."

Even if that path led to death.

"That is a relief. It seems the future me is not a piece of trash who lost his initial resolve."

Baek Ha-seong spoke and looked at me with serious eyes.

"As you said, I always keep the promises I make, so do not worry."

"……."

"If that is not enough, then… yes, this would be good."

He wore a very faint smile as if a good idea had occurred to him. And at the words that followed, I had no choice but to agree. The idea Baek Ha-seong had come up with was one that would make it impossible for me to refuse in this situation.

"After you fight me, you probably will not be in a good state, even as a polite understatement."

"……."

"So, if you only prove your value, I will also help your friends over there. How about it?"

Those words pierced right through the core of my dilemma.

'Apart from granting what I want, he will also resolve this current situation.'

I had nothing left to say at this point. In fact, it was a checkmate, was it not? There was no longer any justification to refuse that proof.

'I do not even intend to refuse in the first place.'

Just as Baek Ha-seong said, if I were to fight him, I would definitely not be in a good state. In fact, I might even end up half-dead. But what of it?

'That kind of thing is not very important to me.'

What was my goal? A future where the heroes could be happy; that was my number one priority.

'For that, this final exam incident must end with minimal damage.'

In that process, was my safety really important? Of course, it was important, but it was absolutely not more important than the future of the heroes. A human being can only live when they have a reason for living. Therefore, I threw the training sword I was holding onto the ground and pulled the Blood Wish Sword out of my spatial storage.

"Have you finally made a decision?"

"The conditions are more than excellent, after all."

"Those conditions only come to fruition when you are a valuable existence. You have not forgotten that, have you?"

"I remember."

"And that you might die during that proof?"

"…Yes."

I had not forgotten any of it. I had not forgotten that he was an opponent I could never win against, nor that he could kill me. Yes, I had not forgotten. Sometimes, even when one knows they will lose, there are times when they cannot retreat. Sometimes, even if one might die, there are times when they must move forward.

'That is the mindset of a hero.'

The appearance of gates that could not be handled, and the resulting acceleration of global chaos. In that bleak reality, the author described the heroes like this:

'The world said: a Player must always be able to judge the situation calmly.'

'Yet, paradoxically, the world desired: a hero who would set themselves on fire to protect the world, leaving calmness behind.'

'Therefore, Kim Su-hyeok and his group could not become the Players the world spoke of, but they could become the heroes the world desired.'

'The brilliant heroes everyone wished for.'

The author who said that heroes were reckless, but beautiful for that very reason. I also agreed with that thought. That was why even now, when defeat was certain and death was a possibility, I was not running away.

'Of course, that does not mean I am a hero.'

I knew very well myself that I was not a person worthy of being called a hero. So, in short, what I wanted to say was this. Even if I might not be a person suited for being a hero.

"I at least want to be someone who can protect them."

"Judging by your words, it seems your heart is ready."

Whether he took my resolve as a signal to start, Baek Ha-seong immediately took a combat stance while looking at me. Electricity surged and fluctuated around him with a crackling sound.

'One of Baek Ha-seong’s talents.'

The fact that he had pulled that out meant he intended to engage with some degree of sincerity. If so, should I not match that as well?

'Embodiment of Admiration.'

Therefore, I immediately used Embodiment of Admiration. And the amount of points I would use was….

'All of them.'

Even that was not enough. I had to gather all the penalties as well.

'Mmm, it has been a while since I used the penalties too.'

Honestly, it was not that I was not afraid of the aftermath of the penalties. It was a kind of pain I truly did not want to experience. But.

'Now is not the time to think about the aftermath.'

One could only think about the aftermath after surviving the present, could they not? So, for now, it was an unavoidable choice.

'Then next is…….'

Which hero's talent should I borrow? In fact, this had already been decided.

'The power I will borrow will be from Ryu Jin-oh alone.'

One might ask why I was not borrowing the talents of several people. However, in this situation, the current choice was correct.

'Borrowing the talents of many for no reason is just a waste of points.'

It was not that I was saying I would save points against Baek Ha-seong. What I was talking about was a matter of efficiency. If I were to use Double the Admiration, the required points would increase even more. If I dispersed my points like that to borrow multiple abilities, what would happen?

'The synchronization rate would drop, and if that happened, it would be difficult to even hold out.'

So, that method was absolutely out of the question. What kind of proof would it be if I could not even hold out?

'Therefore, the person I borrow from will be Ryu Jin-oh alone.'

Then someone might ask this again: if I were only borrowing from one person, should I not borrow the talent of Shin Yu-hwan, who was excellent in player-versus-player combat? But.

'That is not enough.'

The weapon I primarily used was a sword. The weapon that could utilize Shin Yu-hwan’s talent to the fullest was a spear. Of course, using Embodiment of Admiration provided some correction, but….

'There are limits to that as well.'

As a result of testing Ryu Jin-oh’s talent once before for an experiment, I learned that the influence of individual mastery existed. Therefore, in the current situation, the talent of Ryu Jin-oh, who possessed sword-related talents, was the right choice.

'Of course, that is not the only reason.'

The sword was one thing, but there was a reason I borrowed Ryu Jin-oh’s talent. That was because….

'The talent I need most right now is Ryu Jin-oh’s.'

A talent that the current Ryu Jin-oh did not yet possess. However, a talent that would surely blossom in the future and represent him. This talent, which was truly worthy of being called a cheat, was the one I needed most right now.

'Is it around 46 percent……?'

The value of the synchronization rate brought by Embodiment of Admiration. It was an ambiguous figure, neither small nor large.

'Still, it is not bad.'

In the first place, was this not the power borrowed from the talent of the Ryu Jin-oh who became a hero in the future? So, even this much would be a great help to the current me. Thus, I immediately deployed the borrowed talent of Ryu Jin-oh. And it was the one I needed most.

"Declaration of Domain."

The strongest talent Ryu Jin-oh possessed. Declaration of Domain.

"That is an extraordinary power."

It was a crazy talent where a certain distance from me was declared a domain, and anyone within that domain, except for the caster, would unconditionally suffer a reduction in their abilities. Perhaps recognizing the cheat-like nature of the talent, Baek Ha-seong spoke and narrowed his eyes.

"I have to engage with everything I have to even stand a chance of holding out, after all."

"That is a good judgment. So, are the preparations complete now?"

"Not yet."

I denied his question about whether the preparations were complete. Was it because I was afraid? No, it was because my preparations literally were not finished yet.

'I will use all the abilities of the Blood Wish Sword as well.'

I had already used all the penalties when I activated Embodiment of Admiration anyway. In such a situation, what was there to save? Therefore, I immediately used the abilities possessed by the Blood Wish Sword.

"Ugh."

A stinging pain arrived at the same time I used the ability. it was the pain of my body adapting to the suddenly increased physical abilities. Well, that actually was not much of a problem. The problem was….

"Is it a cursed artifact?"

It was a matter of appearance. My two bloodshot eyes were saying that the ability I used was by no means normal.

'This was why I usually did not consider using it.'

But that was irrelevant now. There were only two people here: me and Baek Ha-seong. There was no need to worry about being watched. Therefore, I informed Baek Ha-seong that I was ready. At my words, Baek Ha-seong nodded and began to approach me one step at a time. Baek Ha-seong approached until he was just outside the range of a sword. Stopping there, he spoke in a soft voice.

"Then let us find out. Whether our meeting is fate or an ill-fated connection."

"I guarantee you. It will be fate."

"We will find that out starting now."

With those words, Baek Ha-seong’s form vanished. I immediately swung my sword toward my back.

CLANG!!!

With that, the ringing sound of swords echoed as it collided with a dagger that flew out from within the clouds.

That was right. At this very moment. A battle that could become a major turning point for the fate of the world had begun.