The Support Ate it All - Chapter 125: 7th Week Mentoring and Duel Battle (10)

“Ah… I’m really dizzy.”

Dang Gyu-young pressed her forehead as if she was feeling dizzy from all of this.

It wasn’t surprising when you consider that she had received two blows in a row: a public confession and a conditional request for a date.

“First, let’s separate business and personal matters. We’re in the middle of mentoring. Why involve the kids?”

“…That’s a valid point.”

Kim Gap-doo nodded his head in agreement.

Both sides have the same number of people, and the more combat experience the martial arts and mage classes have, the more helpful it would be for the students.

So the intention behind staging a duel battle is good.

However, if the one who benefited from this was the mentor and if those benefits were personal and emotional like love games, it was inevitable that there would be gossip afterward.

“And there’s no way this will be motivating. So, I’ll make a proposal to you all.”

Kim Gap-doo paused for a moment before making his proposal.

Though the others didn’t know what he would offer as a reward, it seemed precious to him.

Taking a deep breath to steel himself, he slowly looked around the room and made his declaration.

“Today, I’m turning over my inventory. The winning team gets an elixir party.”

“……!”

“……!”

The effects of the elixir were outstanding.

The martial artists who had been looking at Kim Gap-doo with pity immediately became fired up.

Martial artists were a simple lot; their eyes would turn red at words like “fortuitous encounter”, “elixir”, and “mystic weapon”.

Even Go Hyeon-woo was like that.

And this wasn’t just one elixir or a single spiritual herb but an entire elixir party.

“Namo Amitabha…”

Ilgong was still reciting his prayer with a calm expression, though a slight smile had formed on his lips.

Maybe he’s not really a monk.

Our side was slightly tempted by Kim Gap-doo’s declaration of an elixir party as well, but we were more inclined to side with Dang Gyu-young on this.

Being forced on a date if we lost? That was ridiculous.

Only Kwak Ji-cheol seemed excited, but he shrank back under Song Cheon-hye’s glare.

As the mood calmed down, Kim Gap-doo continued.

“And Dang Gyu-young, I know you wouldn’t even consider this bet under normal circumstances. You’re a calculating woman.”

“Yeah, you know me well.”

“Even so, I don’t mind! Now listen to the conditions I’m offering. I’ve prepared something tempting enough. If you win…”

It was expected, considering he was the mentor for martial arts students, but Kim Gap-doo was also the president of the martial arts club.

As president, he began listing all the benefits he could hand over.

These included a season pass for the special cultivation room in the second semester and a Crafting VIP Ticket.

“He’s betting all that on a single wager?”

I changed my opinion of Kim Gap-doo.

Just giving away his collection of elixirs was already a big sacrifice, and handing over so many privileges could jeopardize his position as president.

This meant he was very serious about this bet.

In summary, he was a pathetically impressive toad.

Of course, aside from that evaluation,

This isn’t something I can just pass up.

Such an extraordinary wager was rare.

Dang Gyu-young seemed to have a similar thought and instead of rejecting it outright as she had before, she crossed her arms and fell into deep contemplation.

I whispered to Dang Gyu-young.

“Accept the bet.”

“If we lose, it’s a date for me, you know?”

“Then we just have to win.”

“If it were that easy, I wouldn’t be worried.”

“I know. But we do have a sure-fire card.”

That sure-fire card was of course, me, who had won against promising students in the previous two matches.

The other side didn’t know this, which made it even more effective.

Dang Gyu-young looked at me with surprise.

“Showing off your skills? You’ve kept them well hidden until now.”

“Just enough. In return, I’d like to receive some shares as well.”

In exchange for putting effort into winning the bet, I wanted her to hand over some of the items Kim Gap-doo had staked.

Dang Gyu-young nodded slightly to show her approval.

“Then let’s consider one win secured. What about the rest?”

“We have two promising students on our side, so what’s there to worry about?”

“Still, what if we lose by any chance?”

I signaled towards Kim Gap-doo with my eyes.

“If we lose, you go on a date with him, and I join the club.”

Dang Gyu-young’s face crumpled at the word “date”, but brightened at the word “join”.

“Really? Join? Our club, not another one?”

“Yes, the thieves’ club.”

This seemed to alleviate much of Dang Gyu-young’s worries.

If we win, there will be an elixir party and plenty of rights, so it was a jackpot.

If we lose, even if she has to go on a date with Kim Gap-doo, she can still bring me into the club, so the gains outweigh the losses.

“Alright, let’s accept. But why are you bringing up joining the club first?”

“Because we’re going to win.”

“…Sounds like you have no intention of joining at all?”

“…….”

When I smiled silently, Dang Gyu-young pouted her lips.

“Ahem!”

Perhaps annoyed that Dang Gyu-young and I were whispering to each other with our faces close together, Kim Gap-doo cleared his throat loudly to get our attention.

“Dang Gyu-young, I’d like to hear your answer soon.”

“Yeah, we’ve decided to accept.”

“Very well thought out!”

Kim Gap-doo momentarily became a happy toad and he flashed an awkward smile.

Dang Gyu-young pretended not to notice and quickly moved the conversation along.

“What are the rules?”

“One person from each team comes out to compete one-on-one. No duplicate participation and the mentor decides who goes first at their discretion.”

“Is it blind?”

“Yes.”

For example, Dang Gyu-young could decide whether to send out Kwak Ji-cheol or Hong Yeon-hwa for the first round.

The key point to consider here is that it’s blind matching.

They won’t know who the other team is sending out until the match starts.

If she sends out Kwak Ji-cheol, he could end up facing Bukgung Han-seol, so we would have to operate carefully and be perceptive.

“It’s best of three, right?”

“Yes. If it ends up 2-2, we’ll discuss it further.”

Dang Gyu-young gestured towards the mentors behind Kim Gap-doo.

“How many points do your guys have?”

“Two are in the 600-point range; two are in the 900-point range.”

Ilgong and the nameless martial artist A have 600 points, Bukgung Han-seol is in the 900-point range, and one more who hasn’t shown up yet also has 900 points.

Dang Gyu-young frowned.

“What? Everyone here except one is around 600 points.”

“Isn’t Hong Yeon-hwa a promising student? Even a 900-point rating wouldn’t be surprising.”

“You have to consider the scores. This is unfair even before we start.”

When Dang Gyu-young argued like that, Kim Gap-doo became a timid toad.

“…I admit it. We’ll impose a handicap for one match. Is that acceptable?”

“Do I get to decide the handicap?”

“As long as it’s mutually agreeable.”

“Fine.”

They agreed on the detailed rules.

The two mentors entered the agreed-upon terms into their devices, and the mentees scanned their student IDs.

Soon, a large group teleportation magic circle appeared in front of the stage and started glowing brightly.

When everyone stepped onto it, their surroundings changed abruptly.

A canyon filled with strange rock formations.

Though the elevation wasn’t very high, the terrain was layered like steps which made it possible to grasp the surroundings only by climbing higher.

And among the strangely shaped rocks scattered throughout, there was one rock that stood tall and glowed like a lighthouse.

This was the sanctuary of the current terrain.

Meanwhile, we were summoned to a much higher cliff overlooking the canyon, which served as a sort of spectator area.

Kim Gap-doo’s team was probably summoned somewhere on the opposite cliff.

After surveying the canyon, Dang Gyu-young looked around at us and asked.

“Who wants to go first for the opening match?”

Then Song Cheon-hye immediately raised her hand.

“I want to go first.”

She aimed to make a bold move and break the enemy’s momentum from the beginning.

It was a good choice, considering that the other side would probably play their strong card Bukgung Han-seol first as well.

Dang Gyu-young seemed to think similarly and nodded her head in approval.

“Alright, go ahead.”

When Song Cheon-hye stepped onto the small magic circle, she vanished with a swoosh before reappearing below a moment later.

Soon, martial artist A from the opposing side, whom we had seen earlier, also appeared and their information was displayed on the scoreboard.

[Song Cheon-hye 988 points vs. Son Hyeong-taek 631 points]

“Tsk, only in the 600s.”

Dang Gyu-young clicked her tongue.

She had secretly hoped the other side would send out Bukgung Han-seol.

In terms of skill, Song Cheon-hye was about twice as strong, so it would have been ideal to start by defeating someone in the 900s but it was a missed opportunity.

A hint of disappointment flickered across Song Cheon-hye’s face but she steadied herself and resolved to do her best regardless of the opponent.

Since the outcome could hinge on the crystal charge, relying solely on the score difference could lead to a sudden upset.

[3]

[2]

[1]

[Start!]

[Song Cheon-hye 100%] vs. [Son Hyeong-taek 100%]

[Crystal: 0%]

Fzzzzzzzzt!

Song Cheon-hye dashed forward, becoming a streak of lightning.

In an instant, she reached the top of the layered cliff and surveyed the area.

Just then, she locked eyes with Son Hyeong-taek on the opposite cliff, but they both ignored each other for the moment and focused solely on scanning their surroundings.

Their priority was to locate the crystal before anything else.

“…!”

Son Hyeong-taek’s gaze suddenly froze on a spot, and he began to run.

Even though Song Cheon-hye didn’t know where the crystal was, she followed in the same direction, reasoning that the crystal was most likely where Son Hyeong-taek was going.

Fzzzzzzzzt!

Song Cheon-hye dashed forward as a streak of lightning once more.

However, by the time they spotted each other again, Son Hyeong-taek had already discovered the makeshift altar and retrieved the crystal.

“.…….”

Son Hyeong-taek immediately turned his back and ran away.

He seemed to have judged that it wouldn’t be too late to fight after connecting the crystal and the sanctuary.

Song Cheon-hye who had transformed into a streak of lightning chased after him.

Fzzzzzzzzt!

“Huh, huh?”

A sound similar to a scream of panic escaped from Son Hyeong-taek’s mouth.

Song Cheon-hye was catching up much faster than he had expected.

Even though he was running with all his might, the distance between them continued to close.

And finally, the moment the distance between the two became zero,

Song Cheon-hye who was wrapped in lightning rammed into Son Hyeong-taek with her entire body.

Fizzzzzzzz! Boom!!

“Arghhhhh!”

Son Hyeong-taek’s desperate scream echoed along with a loud thunderclap.