Chapter 60

EP.60 Is He Really an Intern? (3)

Shinyuna barely managed to dodge three daggers by using the movement rune, but she couldn't avoid the last dagger aimed at her thigh.

“Grit...”

Unfortunately, that dagger was the winning lottery.

It was a magic-infused attack.

I didn't miss this opportunity and charged at her with my sword.

The sword, driven by the principle of [Piercing Sword Technique], moved relentlessly.

Kagakang-!!

Shinyuna, maintaining her focus even in this perplexing situation, blocked my sword with her knuckle.

After blocking my thrust with her knuckle-clad fist,

she tried to move her body again.

A combat technique utilizing high speed.

It was similar to what happened earlier.

‘Will I fall for it again?’

This time, I didn't let my guard down.

I prepared to use [Piercing Sword Technique] and also readied to channel mana.

‘I need to use the magic rune too.’

Until now, I only used magic-based mana attacks when I was alone in a dungeon, but now I can't afford to be picky.

My opponent is a melee-type holder skilled in combat, and the most vulnerable point for melee types is always magic attacks.

I decided not to hide my abilities in this sparring match.

If I don't gain recognition here, there won't be much I can gain from being an intern at <Fire's Judgment>.

Winning the sparring match was my top priority.

Whoosh- Whoosh-!!

Flames burst from the tip of my sword.

[Flaring Flame].

It wasn't a skill yet, but it was a clear mana attack.

The fiercely rising flames spread along the sword and knuckle, reaching Shinyuna's wrist and causing damage.

I don't know how much fire resistance Shinyuna has, but my [Flaring Flame], which has reached level 5, is not something to be taken lightly.

“What...?!”

Shinyuna, startled, tried to quickly get away from me.

“Not yet!”

No way.

Giving her time to pull out her knuckle like before is a mistake I won't make again.

I changed my stance and used the principle of [Flowing Water Sword Technique].

Smooth sword strikes, like flowing water.

And [Sword]'s derivative skill, [Consecutive Strikes].

My transition from thrusting to slashing was light, and [Consecutive Strikes] cleanly executed three slashes.

‘Ah, what a pity.’

Unfortunately, none of them were effective hits.

Shinyuna's high speed and the use of the movement rune gave her time to escape from my sword strikes.

However, I managed to slash her thigh, where the dagger had previously embedded, twice.

“Haa... Haa...”

Shinyuna, who had moved away, was panting heavily.

She looked at me with disbelief.

“You, what the...”

“I told you, you talk too much.”

I preemptively blocked Shinyuna's attempt to start another conversation.

Three daggers immediately shot out from my hand.

It was a throwing technique, using the daggers she had dodged earlier.

I couldn't use [Quarter Knife] again due to cooldown and the lack of daggers, but this throwing technique alone was enough to harass her.

A relentless barrage of attacks.

If she wasn't angry, she must be a saint.

‘It hit.’

As expected.

Shinyuna, with a frustrated look, dodged and deflected the daggers.

Honestly, I wanted to use a [Bow] to make things even more annoying, but using a weapon with low proficiency would only hurt me.

After the barrage of attacks ended,

Shinyuna, while removing the knuckle from her right hand, said to me,

“You have too many tricks up your sleeve.”

“Are you giving up? I can count it as a forfeit.”

“...Shut up.”

Shinyuna, growling, placed her right hand on her injured thigh.

Then something amazing happened.

A pale green light seeped from her hand, and it began to heal the wounds inflicted by my sword and daggers.

The bleeding stopped, and the wounds began to close.

A familiar sight for anyone who has seen combat holders in action.

It was the use of the holy [Healing] rune.

“...A paladin?”

“Call me a martial priest.”

“You have too many tricks up your sleeve.”

“Why do you keep repeating that...”

The aggressive Shinyuna couldn't continue her sentence.

From the moment she removed her knuckle,

I had been preparing [Rush] and [Ruthless Charge].

It seems Shinyuna is a multi-holder who combines the holy and warrior classes.

But...

‘If I attack before she heals, it's over, right?’

I'm not the one who was caught off guard like before.

There's nothing left to surprise me.

Asking if she was a paladin was just to make her let her guard down.

Just like what happened to me earlier.

I charged at full speed and slammed into Shinyuna.

As a result, Shinyuna had to move her body before her healing was complete.

“Eek... Since the beginning, you've been...!!”

A hollow laugh escaped me at her flustered words.

Why do we need words in a sparring match?

The one who gets caught talking is the fool.

I continued my relentless attacks.

A multi-holder who combines the holy class?

If I don't give her time to heal, it's over.

* * *

“...It's almost over.”

A faint smile appeared on Kang Juyeon's lips as she watched the sparring match with a blank expression.

The favorable outcome was spreading across the training ground.

Kwon Ohjun, who was watching the training ground with her, blushed with embarrassment.

“Why didn't you tell us he was a multi-holder?”

“...I didn't think I would receive a report.”

“I'm sorry.”

“It's fine. Kwon Ohjun's suggestion was reasonable.”

The sparring match in the training ground was completely one-sided.

Do Jae-hyun.

Initially, he was momentarily caught off guard by Shinyuna's feint, but he quickly regained his composure and relentlessly pursued her.

When holders with similar endurance engage in a sparring match,

the one who gets tired first is the one being attacked.

Shinyuna tried to counter Do Jae-hyun's attacks using her combat rune, but...

Sword and daggers, slashing and thrusting, physical and mana attacks.

It was not easy to block the continuous and varied attacks.

Moreover, in such a prolonged battle, the use of her holy rune had little meaning.

She had no time to heal after getting injured.

Kwon Ohjun watched the one-sided sparring match and quietly marveled.

“His abilities make me doubt if he's really an intern. His stats, rune usage, and combat sense. He excels in every aspect. Just looking at his stats, he's above a regular C-rank holder.”

“...Did you attend Shin Yu-na's final interview?”

“Yes. I attended at the request of the recruitment team leader, Jo Gyuhyuk. At the time, I thought she was a genius who could perfectly use both the holy and combat runes simultaneously... Compared to the friend this lady brought, she's just a drop in the bucket.”

Although he said this, Shin Yu-na is indeed a talented individual.

A multi-holder who combines the orthodox combat style with the holy rune, giving a feel similar to a paladin.

She has a high understanding of runes and decent stats, making her growth rapid.

Among the recent new members,

Shin Yu-na was evaluated as the first to potentially reach B-rank.

It's just that today's opponent was not favorable.

“Especially that fire. The fire rune that fits our clan so well is impressive. A melee holder who can handle a sword, daggers, and a shield simultaneously, and also use mana-infused ranged attacks. It's like...”

“...Seong Nayeon.”

“Yes. It reminds me of Seong Nayeon from the Royal Clan.”

Seong Nayeon, an A-rank holder of the <Royal> clan,

is famous for being a magic swordsman who can handle wind magic and a sword simultaneously.

While multi-holders who can handle multiple weapons are not uncommon, a multi-holder who can handle both mana and physical attacks simultaneously is rare.

‘...It's amazing.’

Kang Juyeon was also seeing Do Jae-hyun's fire rune for the first time.

Although Do Jae-hyun is known as a multi-holder in the academy, the fact that he can use magic runes was not publicly known.

However, as always, Do Jae-hyun had no difficulty using his runes.

He showed a considerable level of proficiency with the new rune.

Although he hasn't learned the arrangement yet and couldn't cast special magic,

he skillfully used fire to create a favorable combat situation for himself in melee combat.

This was the reason the sparring match was tilting in his favor.

Do Jae-hyun, handling fire.

His amazing appearance made Kang Juyeon feel a sense of kinship.

“Anyway, I apologize again. I was too hasty, thinking only of what I could see.”

Kwon Ohjun slightly bowed his head and said.

Although he is usually a playful team leader, he is a holder who can objectively view himself and his surroundings when the situation demands it.

Kang Juyeon lightly nodded at his apology.

“It's fine. But...”

Her gaze turned to the center of the training ground.

“Do Jae-hyun... Please welcome him properly. I brought him here with considerable effort, and somewhat forcefully.”

As the daughter and successor of the clan master,

Kang Juyeon, who has considerable influence in the clan, is bringing in her first talent.

Although he is an intern clan member, the attitude towards Do Jae-hyun earlier was rude, both from Kwon Ohjun and Shin Yu-na.

It was too cold and indifferent for how one should treat a fellow clan member.

Therefore, Kang Juyeon was indirectly asking them to consider her reputation.

The perceptive Kwon Ohjun understood and bowed his head even more in embarrassment.

“...Yes. I'm sorry. I'll talk to Yu-na as well.”

“Deploying him in the hunting operation won't be a problem. He has a lot of experience.”

“That seems to be the case. His combat sense during the sparring match suggests he's not just a holder who received training at the academy.”

Kang- Kagakang-!!

While they were talking,

one of Shinyuna's knuckles finally came off.

Feeling the limits of evasion, she tried to block the sword with her knuckle, but it eventually wore down and came loose.

In that moment,

Do Jae-hyun's sword approached Shinyuna's neck without missing the opportunity.

Swoosh-

A position where any movement would result in a beheading.

Shinyuna, trying to counterattack, eventually gave up and removed the remaining knuckle.

A declaration of defeat, equivalent to a forfeit.

Seeing this, Kwon Ohjun descended to the training ground and announced briefly.

“Match over. Do Jae-hyun, win.”

The victory of the intern clan member, Do Jae-hyun.