Chapter 53 – Combat Exams (2)

Rachel let out a slow breath as she walked out into the duel arena.

'5000 people are watching in person. And more are watching overseas and at home.'

It was an immense pressure.

While Rachel had been able to take it easy recently... and while she had felt all the weight off her shoulders spending time with Evandel...

Now that she was here, the weight of the crown was back in full.

'I have to win. And I have to win exceptionally.'

Since she was Rank 1 at Cube, this was where she proved it. That it wasn't a fluke. And that she could bear that title to the bitter end.

Obviously, as Rank 1, that also meant she went out first, since she was technically the defending champion.

During this combat exam period, she wouldn't nominate anyone. Instead, she would be the nominated by plenty.

'Just like Lee.'

It was a small irony. Although the circumstances were completely different, both of them would be facing a gauntlet of challengers today.

'But I will not lose. And he will not either.'

Rachel approached her edge of the stage to wait for her opponent, resting her hand on the hilt of her rapier.

Was it the nerves? The adrenaline?

For some reason, Rachel couldn't hear anything.

She heard the announcer call out her name. The announcer must have also called out her opponent, since a female cadet with a shield and long sword approached.

But before Rachel could even think about nerves and what would happen if she failed...

A single voice cut through the crowd. One that should have been inaudible with how loud it was.

"Go Mommy! Win!"

Evandel's bright and cheery voice.

Her daughter's.

Hearing that, all the fear, anxiety, and worry vanished.

Rachel smiled, feeling the pressure on her fade away as well.

Because how could she fail when her daughter was here watching?

"Start!"

The announcer called out the beginning of the bout.

And Rachel swung her rapier.

Golden mana bloomed, turned transparent, and then blossomed into hundreds of emerald blades. Wind magic, due to the open arena.

A combination attack built from Rachel's Elementalism, intense physics calculations to account for refracting forces, and swordplay extended to using the air itself as a blade.

Rachel's opponent, whoever she was, didn't stand a chance.

Although the female cadet desperately held her shield up to block and swung her sword to parry...

"Finish! Victor, Raaaaaaachel!"

Cheers erupted from all over.

But Rachel didn't pay attention to them. Instead, she turned, intuitively sensing the gaze of the one person she couldn't lose in a crowd even if she wanted to. Her baby girl.

Evandel waved, holding up a stuffed dragon plushy while sitting in Nayun's arms.

Rachel smiled and waved back.

...She shouldn't.

She knew she shouldn't.

But right now...

"Mommy will beat all of them for you, Eva! Keep cheering!"

...Rachel didn't care.

The crowd erupted again, probably in a scandalized uproar.

But Rachel just watched and listened to her daughter.

Evandel giggled and then cheered again. "Yay! Beat them up, Mommy! Pow!"

Rachel giggled too, just like her daughter. Then, with one final wave and salute, she walked off to prepare for her next duel.

===

Back in the stands, Yeonha, Hajin, and Nayun sat together, watching the aftermath of Rachel's duel.

Yeonha let out a long suffering sigh, covering her face. "...Rachel has lost it."

Hajin looked at Evandel with a wry smile and said, "Well. A mother's love makes them do crazy things for their child? I guess?"

Nayun laughed. "Nah, I think both of Eva's parents are crazy, Hajin..."

Yeonha rubbed her face and murmured, "The international incident... The scandal..." She paused and slowly raised her head. "...The monetary opportunities..."

Hajin sighed. "Of course you would think about that..."

Nayun looked amused and said, "Planning for your nest egg already?"

Yeonha blushed. "Stop teasing me about that! You don't see me teasing you about guys!"

"That's because I don't really have a guy who I'm into? I mean, the closest would be Lee, but he's practically an older brother, you know?"

Hajin blinked. Then he laughed. "Oh. Rest in peace, Jonghak..."

"Meh. Never liked him anyway. I mean, romantically." Nayun shrugged. "He was kind of fun to hang around... but it's been getting annoying recently anyway. He's too... young master like? You know, like walking around with henchmen and stuff." She paused and smiled at Yeonha. "Someone here liked that though~"

Yeonha blushed. "W-Well, I don't anymore! Especially since that guy never showed up to our meetings again!"

Hajin raised an eyebrow and said, "I think the only one who would have the audacity to show up at your get togethers after that sort of incident would be Lee, Yeonha."

Nayun laughed and bantered a bit more with Hajin.

But internally, she was keeping a sharp eye out.

And she noticed that Hajin was doing the same.

Rachel's comment didn't go unnoticed.

And a lot of people had immediately turned to look towards them when Rachel waved goodbye.

Some curious.

Some envious.

Some malicious.

But all of them stopped when they saw who was holding Evandel.

'Yeah. That's right, you assholes. Look away. Try me, I dare you.'

Nayun casually swept her gaze around, meeting a few people staring their way, causing them to flinch.

Yeonha noticed and sighed. "Well. I suppose it's a good thing that you're practically Evandel's godmother. Who would dare touch someone under the Chae family's protection?"

"Only dead men and women." Nayun immediately replied.

Evandel nodded, copying Nayun. "Deh men, deh women!"

Hajin slowly blinked. Then he said, "Should... we be teaching her that...?"

"Hm?" Nayun looked over at Hajin and said, "What? It's true. Besides, Grandfather personally approved Evandel, you know? If anyone touches her, he'll definitely move if he finds out. And if I ask him."

The moment her words echoed, the crowd went silent.

And more than a few heroes who had been leaning in to listen jumped out of their seats to run away.

Nayun noticed a beautiful woman with shadowy black hair open her obsidian eyes, wide in shock.

But before Nayun could get a closer look, Hajin stood up. "Well... I'll be heading off. I'm up next." He paused and then looked at Evandel with a serious face. "Evandel. Please, please, please don't think the world isn't worth anything because some people bothered you and decide to become a villainess to erase everything, okay? Promise uncle."

Evandel tilted her head, looking confused. But she nodded and said, "Okay, Uncle Haji! Promise! No blowing up Earth!"

"...I am VERY concerned that you responded like that. But... okay. I guess that's good enough." Hajin sighed and walked off.

Yeonha watched him leave and frowned. "...Has he been reading too many NovelFires recently? That was awfully specific... And very delusional. Our cute Evandel wouldn't do anything like that."

"Delusional?" Nayun laughed. "Pot, meet kettle."

"What?"

Nayun rolled her eyes. "Don't worry about it. Now, let's see who's next- Oh?" Nayun grinned, seeing Suho walk out. "It's our resident swordsman... and his opponent... I bet it's Jonghak. Suho probably nominated him."

And true to Nayun's guess...

A certain silver-haired spearman with golden eyes walked out.

Yeonha groaned. "...This is going to be a disaster."

Evandel giggled and said, "Choco Uncle! Fight!"

Nayun burst out laughing. "Is that all Suho is to you, Eva? Choco uncle?"

"Yes! Choco Uncle, Bestest Uncle!"

Yeonha looked curious and said, "Then what am I, Eva?"

"Rich auntie!"

"..."

===

Suho held his sword pointed to the ground as Jonghak walked out.

"Kim Suho." Jonghak came to a stop at his side of the arena and said, "Nominating me for a duel off the bat... you don't have a sense of shame, do you?"

"Well." Suho smiled. "I was worried that you weren't going to nominate me. And I've been itching for a rematch all semester. It's been a while since we've sparred, hasn't it?"

"...You've been spending too much time around that bastard." Jonghak twirled his spear and held it in his hands, pointing it at Suho. "You talk just as much as him."

The announcer started counting down, and all around them, the crowd started to cheer.

But Suho just smiled. "Well, Lee's got a good sense of it. A light heart in the midst of battle is how you win."

"Tch." Jonghak didn't bother to give a full response. Instead, he kept his spear trained on Suho, taking a proper stance for once.

"...Oh?" Suho's eyes sharpened and flashed blue from his magic power. "You're serious. Good. I'll be a bit serious too then."

Jonghak responded by wreathing his body in qi, strengthening it from the start.

"START!"

The announcer called the beginning of the bout.

But neither Suho nor Jonghak moved.

Suho smiled. "...You learned." He slowly walked forward, keeping his sword pointed on the ground. "A spear's better used to control spacing. And to punish those who advance."

"...Obviously." Jonghak's golden eyes flickered, taking in Suho's form and judging when he would attack.

But Suho didn't stop walking. Instead, he kept smiling and said, "But I learned too. You see, assuming equal skill, a sword will lose against a spear due to reach. It's impossible to escape a clash unscathed."

"..." Jonghak stared at Suho, his golden eyes narrowed in focus.

Suho stopped just outside of Jonghak's range, testing to see if Jonghak would attack like he used too and try to close the distance.

But seeing that Jonghak didn't move and instead shifted into a stance that would let him punish Suho for advancing no matter how he moved...

Suho laughed and said, "Alright. Well then. Let's see if my theory on how to beat a polearm user is correct." After that, Suho charged.