RE: Player again

381

[Chapter 112]

[If It Doesn't Work, Make It Work]

The final evaluation for 3rd year middle school academy 1st semester was announced.

Students will undergo individual survival for three days in Bukhansan.

It's said that not only taking down monsters, but PvP battles will also take place.

Therefore, students who started majoring in divisions in earnest focused on internalizing class content.

Since it's individual survival, the only thing to rely on was techniques specialized for their division.

"...Kuk...!!"

"Raise the shield higher! Put strength in your feet, and shift your weight forward!"

Meanwhile, as May began, division lectures changed to be more practical.

In beginner shield technique class, two people called had to compete as attacker and defender.

The defender had to hold the shield until the end, and the attacker had to swing a wooden club to break the defender's posture.

Grade evaluation was determined by exchanging roles in turns and seeing who broke the defender first.

In other words, it was a game where enduring longer wins.

...He'll lose.

Eunha watched the two people competing while kicking up sand dust, mixed among the students.

A male student with a huge build was pushing Kang Sihyeong.

Kang Sihyeong holding a shield in front of the male student was no more than a dwarf.

Although he was somehow enduring now, Kang Sihyeong was being pushed back every time the male student swung the club.

"Wow... Sihyeong is really pitiful. Did you see? He's panicking as his feet are about to leave the ground just now."

"...I saw, me too."

Lee Cheonsu giving a live commentary on Sihyeong's appearance.

Eunha ignored him chattering beside him and watched Kang Sihyeong's desperate struggle.

It was certainly dangerous just now.

He almost flew away with the shield when he tried to make a change to look for an opportunity.

"I went around and saw other people's reactions, and everyone says Sihyeong is pitiful. He happened to face the tallest kid here."

Lee Cheonsu's words were right.

A battle between the tallest male student and shortest Kang Sihyeong.

Eunha who looked around could tell all students had no doubt about Sihyeong's defeat.

"Hey! Stop and come out! You did well enough! It's because you're small!"

"Sihyeong! Just give up! You've lost no matter what you do anyway!"

Among mean people, there were those jeering at his struggle.

Mainly people with large builds.

They were people who received some treatment in the guardian division due to physique despite having skills that couldn't do this or that until last year.

Even so, they weren't up to Eunha's standards.

"Sihyeong... He was so proud saying he trains with you every evening Eunha... The kids must have been waiting for this."

"...Did he ever brag?"

"Of course. Naturally."

In the end, Kang Sihyeong was pushed back.

The opponent showed a satisfied face and recklessly rushed at him.

Eunha turned his head while watching Kang Sihyeong enduring while coughing up breath.

Lee Cheonsu who crossed his arms whispered to him as if it was a secret.

"A few days ago in class without you Eunha, he got into an argument with the kids. Sihyeong got upset then and blabbed about receiving separate tutoring from you."

"So?"

"Everyone wants to get close to you, but Sihyeong is your mentee, and hearing that you even give separate training on top of that, how could they not be envious?"

Lee Cheonsu spoke excitedly.

Eunha who heard those words frowned at how pathetic they were.

They're jealous while not even training late into the night themselves.

It was ridiculous.

Eunha extremely disliked people who had no special talent and moreover didn't even try.

Even more so when such people tried to give advice.

The appearance of those trying to curse Kang Sihyeong under the guise of advice and criticize him was exactly like that.

"But honestly, doesn't Sihyeong not match with guardian?"

"Why do you think that?"

"Sihyeong may have good stamina, but his other conditions are really not good. He's short and has a small build so he lacks strength. Moreover, didn't you say before that Sihyeong doesn't have much internal mana either Eunha? Doesn't he not match with guardian?"

"...He doesn't match."

"Right?"

Eunha affirmed Lee Cheonsu's words.

Perhaps thinking he sided with him.

Lee Cheonsu raised his nose and acted proud. Then he boasted that he was quite tall among the grade while also having unusual strength.

Eunha didn't listen attentively.

Kang Sihyeong lay sprawled on the ground.

The opponent who got on top of Sihyeong's stomach excitedly swung down the club.

"Stop! Both of you stop!"

From the point he lay on the ground, there was already no possibility of recovery for him.

The instructor ran to Kang Sihyeong who was now pathetically protecting himself with the shield flipped over.

Perhaps he clenched his teeth too hard.

Blood was flowing from the corner of his mouth even though he defended with the shield.

Besides that, Kang Sihyeong's appearance was truly terrible.

There was no place without dirt.

"Tsk... He should have given up earlier. Looking at that, he must be covered in bruises under his clothes. If it was me, I could have defended well..."

"I'll have to ask Eunwoo later. To heal him."

"Huh? You're thinking of asking Eunwoo? As expected of Noh Eunha! This means you take care of your people properly right?"

Regardless of what Lee Cheonsu was saying.

Eunha walked towards Kang Sihyeong while passing through the students.

Kang Sihyeong's face who met eyes with him was about to twist.

Perhaps ashamed of himself for losing so miserably despite enduring desperately, he couldn't raise his head.

He doesn't match with guardian.

Eunha recalled the words he muttered earlier watching Kang Sihyeong passing by with his head lowered.

Kang Sihyeong didn't match with guardian.

He could have said it certainly before.

But now he couldn't say it certainly.

It was ambiguous and vague.

Uncertain.

He doesn't match, but... that doesn't mean he completely doesn't match.

In Eunha's eyes, Kang Sihyeong had guts that showed what the saying "small peppers are hot" means in exchange for being small.

He had good stamina, and his movements were fast. His internal mana was moderate.

Above all, he had a Gift suitable for guardians.

Of course, Gifts depended on how they were used.

At least he was in the closest position to the guardian Eunha wanted.

Even more than Lee Cheonsu.

"Sihyeong."

"......"

Eunha called Kang Sihyeong passing by him.

It seemed he stopped walking behind him.

Eunha stepped forward without looking back at him who would be in a pathetic state.

"I'll tell you one important thing. Watch carefully."

He had no intention of waiting for an answer.

Eunha found the male student who was triumphant after beating Sihyeong while surrounded by students.

""""......"""""

Students looked around and stepped back.

Eunha looked up at the male student two heads taller than him.

At first, the male student who received his gaze had a flustered expression.

But soon the male student smiled awkwardly as if thinking he received recognition.

"E-Eunha, why...?"

A gaze full of expectation.

Eunha still kept his mouth shut.

He who looked the male student up and down suddenly turned to the instructor.

"Instructor."

"Oh, yeah, what is it."

"I want to play a game with him."

"...What?"

"I'm saying I want to face him."

The instructor's mouth gaped.

As if saying what nonsense is this out of nowhere.

But Eunha stared at the instructor's eyes with a grumpy face.

The instructor groaned at the expression of intention saying he wouldn't withdraw until he answered.

Eunha's position at the academy was very special.

The 031 class was called the tragic class.

And Noh Eunha was the promising rookie who would refresh the image of 'tragedy'.

Moreover, he was receiving sponsorship close to a direct descendant from Sirius Group, and also showed skills equal to Ryu Yeonhwa.

"Hah... Alright. But we need to check the opponent's intention too."

"Yes, that's right."

If Eunha caused trouble.

An unimaginable disaster would occur at the academy.

Noh Eunha had become a person of caution second only to Choi Gain for instructors.

No, depending on the instructor, as a ruffian needing more caution than Choi Gain.

In the end, the instructor decided to accept his advice conditionally.

"How about it? Want to have a match with me?"

"...Since you Eunha are saying to do it, of course I should. Go easy on me."

It seemed the male student was thoroughly mistaken.

That Eunha proposed a match to check his skills.

The male student who smiled as if his cheeks would rise to heaven nodded with satisfaction at Eunha's proposal.

Watch carefully.

Regardless, Eunha silently spoke to Kang Sihyeong who was blankly staring at him from far away.

☆

Many people's gazes were felt.

Before he knew it, even the instructor was looking at Eunha with interest.

Eunha who received their gazes chose attacker first.

"─Kuhuk─!!"

""""......"""""

At this moment.

The last place in this game was decided.

Not long after the game started, the male student flew far away while holding the shield.

Eunha who jumped from his spot swung the club widely to the side.

Just with that.

The male student fell to the ground coughing kkuluk kkuluk.

The male student hugging a shield much smaller than his height had a dumbfounded face.

"Your leg strength is lacking."

"......"

"Sihyeong endured well though."

At that moment.

The male student's face turned bright red.

The male student who put strength in his eyes stood up and faced Eunha.

"Let's see how well you do. What? Kang Sihyeong blocked this? Do you think I don't know you're trying to defend him because you're his mentor?"

"Think as you like."

The male student showed hostility.

Eunha who faced him snorted and let his anger flow away.

Tension flowed among people.

A chilly atmosphere circulated around.

"Start role exchange! Begin!"

In that situation, the instructor shouted loudly to the students.

Eunha and the male student exchanged the club and shield they were holding.

"Just wait and see. Don't cry when you get hit."

"Kang Sihyeong. Watch carefully."

Eunha didn't listen to the male student's voice.

Rather, he showed boldness by speaking to Kang Sihyeong standing right behind him.

The male student's face was wrapped in anger. Red blood vessels popped up on the hand holding the club.

Students swallowed in fear at the appearance of swinging the club while making noise before starting the match.

Generally, tall people had strength that couldn't be ignored.

"─Start!"

Soon the start signal was heard.

The male student who was somewhat far away rushed in like an enraged bull.

Eunha took a defensive posture.

The male student much taller than him swung down the club bent behind his head.

Pajik

Eunha who read the direction the club was coming down raised the shield diagonally.

A fierce sound arose.

The wooden shield dented.

Eunha who blocked the attack by bending his knees gritted his teeth making a kuk sound.

On the other hand, the male student opened the corners of his mouth and laughed heartily.

"Did you see? Do you still say that?"

"What are you saying?"

"What? Ak...!"

Eunha grinned.

Wooden club and wooden shield.

Eunha who started a contest of strength immediately kicked the male student's knee.

The male student was startled. He stepped back from the sudden impact.

"This─!!"

Then he rushed in again.

Eunha protected his face with the shield and let the flow of the club passing by flow away.

He just had to protect important parts.

There was no need to block the entire attack. He just had to let flow what should flow.

Protecting isn't everything.

The core of guardians is protecting.

But Eunha didn't agree with people's opinions.

The core of guardians is enduring.

He thought the quality guardians should have was how long they endure attacks while creating a path for party members to live.

Eunha continuously avoided the dully moving male student like bullfighting.

And he struck with the shield aiming for gaps when the male student's posture collapsed.

The male student's eyes widened as if he hadn't thought at all that he would receive an attack.

"T-This is cheating...!"

"I'm saying the core is enduring?"

Eunha snickered at him shouting as if making excuses.

Then he covered his head with the shield and rammed his head into the male student's stomach.

Thanks to putting mana in his toes, Eunha could make the male student step back.

The male student's posture collapsed again. He bent his body complaining of pain in his abdomen.

"Sihyeong. Look."

And Eunha waited for this moment─

"─Attack is the best defense."

He raised the wooden shield vertically and struck down on the male student's lower back.

The male student made a pained sound.

There are many ways of protecting, so why try to limit it to one?

It's not like the guardian fights alone. Aggro management ability to induce the opponent to focus attention only on me is also a quality of guardians.

""""......"""""

The male student fainted.

Eunha let out a long breath refreshingly and looked around.

Students had dumbfounded faces.

Students who had only learned techniques for blocking with shields so far didn't seem to think he would hit with the shield.

That seemed to be the same for Kang Sihyeong, as he couldn't open his mouth for a while.

Soon he moved his mouth haltingly.

"It seems like only you can do that..."

Eunha's movements were certainly unusual.

He jumped around well while holding a heavy shield and induced the opponent's attacks.

Eunha replied indifferently.

"You can do it if you try. If it doesn't work, you have to make it work."

"...Are you an old fogy?"

Kang Sihyeong didn't watch his words.