Chapter 38. A Completely Different Duel – Luna

***

ㅡSkill.

It was one of the concepts too easily encountered in numerous games and novels.

In fact, “skill” was a word that no longer gave much excitement, to the point of feeling cliché for being so common.

For example, there were ordinary skills like thrust, slash, triple slash, etc. with just average power, or skills classified as highest grade like “Meteor” or “Asura’s Thousand”, whose power varied tremendously.

Skills were techniques that existed countless times in fantasy or martial arts concepts.

However, in the Royal High Academy, commonly known as RHA, the meaning of skills was ‘completely’ different.

ㅡThe power of skills is truly overwhelming and special.

Skills cannot be easily obtained, nor can they be gained just by earnestly wishing for them.

Regardless of Talent grade, only at high levels – specifically Talent level 7 – can one awaken a single skill, and then one more skill can be awakened at each subsequent level.

Though there are said to be other ways to obtain skills, they are known to be practically impossible.

The only known method for skill creation is ‘enlightenment’.

And ordinary enlightenment was far from enough. It required an enlightenment that transcended reality, beyond normal principles.

Therefore, skills were all absolute proof of power possessed by those who had made a name for themselves, and a kind of ‘exclusive property’ representing one’s value.

And now.

Han Chunsung, unbelievably.

Had obtained a ‘clue’ to such a skill.

…

ㅡ! ㅡㅡㅡ!!

Chunsung’s appearance, lightly gesturing while spinning his spear, looked quite extraordinary to anyone watching.

As rumors had spread widely early on due to the duel with Leonhardt, Han Chunsung’s appearance in the training ground was enough to draw the attention of most students present.

Han Chunsung’s characteristic black hair and black eyes. Of course, there were other students with black hair, but generally black was rare.

But with the beautiful students Luna and Milia, who were rarely seen, also by his side. It was almost inevitable that students’ gazes would flock to him.

“There’s not really much to show, even if I say I’ll show something.”

Even as he spoke, he felt a bit strange.

Milia looking at me now with eyes shining with expectation, and Luna glancing with a prim expression.

Though I’m lightly showing them Spearmanship level 4. Literally, there was nothing to show.

Though my proficiency in wielding the spear enveloped in mana has increased greatly. It’s not like I’m demonstrating tremendous power while bursting with brilliant blue light like Leonhardt.

And Spearmanship is.

ㅡIntuitive yet strong.

That was the essence of Spearmanship as I felt it.

Its purpose is to quickly subdue the opponent by thrusting, slashing, and swinging.

Rather than being suitable for long battles with opponents… in my view, Spearmanship was closer to a Talent for bullying the weak. Wouldn’t it be stranger if such Spearmanship were flashy?

“Just seeing you wield the spear… I can really feel how strong it is.”

“Well, it is level 4.”

At the completely different reactions of the two, I smiled slightly and slowly retrieved my spear.

Then I slowly looked around. C-class students who had gathered around us at some point.

They all watched me with curious eyes, and for a moment I thought about challenging one of them to a duel, but I shook my head.

Showing Spearmanship’s strength through a duel would be best, but honestly, the students I saw didn’t look particularly strong.

‘No, should I say I’ve become too strong?’

My first duel with Leonhardt had raised my standards too high. And then yesterday’s duel with Kali.

Actually… because I had repeatedly dueled with such impossibly monstrous beings, I felt a sense of dissonance even looking for a dueling partner in the same class as me now.

Considering that the average was level 2 students, it would actually be inconsiderate of me to recklessly demand a duel.

“…”

As proof, several students who met my gaze now quickly averted their eyes as if worried, how could I possibly approach them?

“Han Chunsung.”

As Luna’s voice was heard then, I turned my head.

“Yes?”

“You. Duel with me.”

“…What?”

“I said let’s duel. Didn’t you hear me?”

As Luna spoke again as if finding my words ridiculous, curling up the corners of her mouth, I didn’t understand what her intention was for a moment.

‘Combat Healing level 2.’

Looking at just the Talent itself, Luna’s was actually quite limited, to the point of feeling like she was forcibly assigned to a combat class.

But it was also a Talent that gave special power to that extent.

No, thinking about it…

‘A Talent that gives a correction to all damage is cheating.’

The essential effect of Combat Healing. Healing power increases as much as damage dealt.

Ironically, that translated to the absurd concept of strengthening the amount of damage dealt itself. So as her Talent level increased, Luna almost became an all-around cheat character.

At the same time, it was an advantage that her Talent wasn’t restricted to any weapon.

Tap.

As Luna headed to where weapons were provided and chose a weapon, I still gave her a strange look.

‘Just what is she plotting?’

Luna’s weapon wasn’t set even in the novel.

As the eldest daughter of a count family, she received almost all support and higher education, and handles all weapons well, using most weapons according to the situation.

Sword, spear, shield, or even magic types regardless… to the point of wondering what her identity even was.

‘This doesn’t make sense when you think about it?’

How does she handle all of that? I thought the author favored her as the main heroine, but the more I thought about it, Luna’s setup was strange.

“Ah. Then I’ll go with this.”

The armament Luna picked up was a weapon beyond my expectations.

She equipped a small hammer in her right hand and a kite shield-type shield in her left hand… I asked in disbelief for a moment.

“…Are you really going to duel me?”

“Did you think I was lying?”

Now she responded to my words quite freely, but Luna’s eyes looking at me seemed truly pure.

With truly pure malice, that is.

ㅡA look saying she really dislikes me.

So her eyes were filled with a desire to somehow get one over on me and humiliate me, and realizing that, I couldn’t help but laugh.

It’s not like a child whining about having their toy taken away.

By now, Luna’s appearance rather looked cute to me.

“Alright. Fine. Let’s duel.”

Even as I calmly accepted the duel, I immediately looked at Milia.

“Han Chunsung. Is it really okay given the difference in your Talent levels is 2 and 4? I think this duel might be a bit dangerous.”

As she spoke what I was thinking, I felt Milia was definitely more mature than Luna.

“You’re right. So Milia, could you call the training instructor? Just in case. I’d like an observing instructor to be present.”

“Okay. Got it.”

At my words, Milia immediately left her seat and soon brought the C-class training ground instructor.

The training instructor was a woman with green hair and gentle-looking eyes.
A woman named ‘Rudmina’ with a Unique-grade Talent at level 7. One level lower than Avalanche, the A-class instructor.

“I heard Han Chunsung and Luna, two students, are going to duel. Is this duel due to a conflict or dispute?”

As she asked quite calmly despite her gentle-looking eyes, I shook my head.

“No, it’s not.”
“No, it’s not.”

As Luna and I coincidentally answered together, Luna looked at me as if annoyed, but I kept finding her appearance funny.

‘She really is like a little girl.’

Not just in thought, but she really seemed like an elementary school girl? Like her mental age was stuck at about that level.

Her speech is direct, and the emotions she’s feeling are clearly visible on her body.

So rather, looking at Luna, I didn’t feel any negative emotions.

“Alright then. If that’s not the case, I always welcome duels between students. Please take your positions.”

At the soft voice of the instructor, clearly different from Avalanche who was the observing instructor last time, Luna and I distanced ourselves.

Even so, I felt the stinging gazes of the students gathered around.

Somehow… this situation itself was familiar yet completely different.

‘It’s strange.’

A few days ago, there were clearly many observers like this for the duel with Leonhardt too. A-class students gathered to watch my duel with Leonhardt, and back then, I was receiving completely different gazes than now.

I still clearly remember the voices of various A-class students looking at me with open pity or contempt, ridiculing my Common Talent.

But now, standing in this dueling ground, I was receiving completely different gazes than back then.

I could say with certainty that almost no C-class student in the training ground looked down on me, and rather, more than half were giving me looks of real anticipation.

‘Is this… the gaze Leonhardt received?’

As I slowly raised my spear, my feelings were extremely strange.

Of course, there’s no way the gazes I’m receiving could be the same as those received by Leonhardt with his Legendary Talent and undeniably handsome and tall appearance, but I felt it might be somewhat similar.

ㅡThe gaze received by this world’s protagonist.

I was now indirectly experiencing it.

“Begin the duel.”

At the instructor’s gentle voice, I didn’t take the initiative like in previous duels.

I calmly waited for Luna to charge at me first.

Right away, the difference in our Talent levels is clear. The difference between Talent level 2 and 4 is absolutely not just 2 levels.

It’s an incomparable difference.

If I take the initiative and gain an advantage, it would ruin the relationship with Luna that I’ve worked to improve.

Moreover, the difference between the duel when Leonhardt was level 2 and I was level 3, and this duel now is incomparable since not only is the opponent different, but I’ve become much stronger too.

It wasn’t that I was looking down on Luna.
ㅡI recognize the difference between my opponent and myself.
And because of that, I don’t show off. I intended to approach the duel with the concept of control.

“Han Chunsung, you’re level 4, so. I won’t go easy on you either.”

When Luna spoke confidently then, I suddenly laughed.

“Alright. Luna, you can attack first.”

As I recited the same words Leonhardt had given me in our last duel, Luna charged in without hesitation, kicking off the ground.

ㅡ!

As I stood my ground and watched, I felt anew.

Now that I clearly know I’m superior to Luna.
Controlling my heart from getting excited is harder than I thought.

And.

‘Was this how Leonhardt felt looking at me?’

Yet Leonhardt calmly proceeded with the duel without looking down on me, which came to mind again.

‘…Indeed, there are things to learn from the protagonist.’

And I too, had to do the same.

Not looking down on Luna, but treating her properly as a dueling opponent.

With that, I calmly took in Luna’s appearance as she entered my vision.

ㅡ! ㅡㅡ!

Luna, who was quickly kicking off the ground and closing the distance moment by moment, was quite interesting with her shield-holding hand.

Befitting her noble family background, there was no sense of inexperience at all. Watching that appearance, I also calmly made up my mind.

At that moment.

Rustle, my hand holding the spear undergoes a slight change.

Though I haven’t reached a skill yet.
It’s not like I’m completely stagnant just because my Talent level isn’t increasing.

A new stance I’ve come to realize, and a concept I’ve been able to pursue.

ㅡ[Pierce one point and twist]

If you can’t destroy the attack.
Twist and erase the opponent’s attack.

By demonstrating this for the first time in this duel now…