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Translator: Vine
Chapter Title: Hell Training (4)
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Clang! Clang! Clang! CRACKLE—!
After that, Jin Yu-ha and Baek Seol-hee's sparring continued for about another hour.
The relentless sword energy carved deep sword marks into the sparring arena floor, as if a wild beast had clawed at it.
Even as the battle continued, Jin Yu-ha wielded his sword without losing focus for a single moment.
Grrrind—
Jin Yu-ha gritted his teeth, his mouth bleeding and staining them red.
He wielded his sword with desperate ferocity, determined to land even a single blow.
His appearance was utterly desperate.
Shick.
Shick.
Shick.
Nevertheless, the difference in their skill was clear, and small red wounds began to bloom on Jin Yu-ha's body.
"That's enough."
Finally, Baek Seol-hee announced the end of the sparring session.
"Th-thank... you for your hard... work."
Jin Yu-ha, who had been wildly thrusting his sword, stopped it just before Baek Seol-hee's face, then bowed his head with an exhausted expression.
As the brutal sparring session concluded.
Whirr—
Shin Se-hee, who had been clenching her fists with a grave expression, quickly activated the life support device.
At once, the wounds healed as if they had never been there.
"Mmm..."
Jin Yu-ha closed his eyes, letting out a low groan as he felt his body recover.
The Utopia party members now understood why Jin Yu-ha always went straight to his room without even looking at them on the days he trained with Baek Seol-hee.
Although all the numerous stab wounds covering his body had healed thanks to the life support device,
the traces of the fierce battle remained.
The clothes he wore were tattered rags, dyed bright red as if by his own blood.
...
It was then, as everyone stared blankly at Jin Yu-ha, speechless.
"You all have other classes, so our training for today will end here."
With that, she suddenly swung her sword.
CRACKLEEEEE—!!!
The sword energy unleashed from her blade created a circular sword mark with a radius of about 3 meters around her.
"Frankly, you lot are utterly pathetic, but for the sake of my disciple, I'll give you a chance."
Next, she plunged her sword into the ground before her feet.
"For one week, starting now. I will stand here. Any time, any moment is fine. Come to me and take the test. And only those who pass will I acknowledge as my disciple's comrades."
Baek Seol-hee's chilling gaze pierced through the Utopia party members.
"I will observe whether you truly have the right to cross the line between life and death."
Thus began Baek Seol-hee's test, Day 1.
Baek Seol-hee told them to go to their classes, but no one there nodded in immediate obedience to her words.
Only Jin Yu-ha, exhausted and collapsed from the sparring, returned with Shin Se-hee's support.
The first to challenge her test was Kang Do-hee.
"...So, it means if I step inside that drawn line, by any means necessary, I pass?"
She tied her red ponytail tighter and muttered to herself.
The life support device was turned off again.
In other words, it was a test under the same conditions as Jin Yu-ha's.
'I thought it was just nonsense to assert her authority...'
When that instructor first told her she wasn't qualified, she secretly scoffed.
She had pride in the strength she had built herself, and she prided herself on having trained harder than anyone else until now.
However, the moment she witnessed Jin Yu-ha and that instructor sparring.
Such petty thoughts shattered instantly.
At the same time, she profoundly realized how Jin Yu-ha's incomprehensible growth rate had been achieved.
'No wonder he got strong so fast, doing this kind of insane training.'
She had always thought she pushed herself to the limit, but *that guy* trained by pushing himself to the brink of life and death.
Every time he trained, it was like crossing the line of death once. Naturally, there had to be a difference.
'...That damn mutt. He was doing this kind of training by himself, leaving me out? Is that it?'
Honestly, the most intense emotion she felt while watching the sparring wasn't fear, shock, or shame.
It was purely 'jealousy'.
If she had continued training in that manner,
If that instructor had chosen her instead of Jin Yu-ha from the start,
If she had questioned Jin Yu-ha's growth rate a little more and paid closer attention.
Wouldn't she be much stronger than she was now?
But it was too late to regret what had already passed.
If it couldn't be undone, she just had to run from now on.
'Yes, I'll prove it. That I am worthy.'
Thud.
As the other party members watched, Kang Do-hee stepped forward.
Baek Seol-hee nodded indifferently, as if she had expected it.
"As expected, you're the first to step up."
"You said I wasn't qualified?"
"Yes, you are not qualified."
Grind.
Kang Do-hee gritted her teeth.
"No words needed!"
Fwoosh—!
As she drew forth her mana, a red aura flared up around her body like a will-o'-the-wisp.
Whoosh—!
A sonic boom reverberated, and Kang Do-hee, transformed into a red flame, launched herself towards Baek Seol-hee.
The distance wasn't great to begin with, so nearing the line drawn on the floor took only an instant.
A chill—
...
At that moment, Kang Do-hee's eyes shot open.
Because a jet-black sword was flying towards her from her blind spot.
The sword was aimed directly at her neck.
What would happen if she continued forward like this?
'...I'll die!'
Screech—
Sizzle—!
Her hands frantically braced against the floor.
White smoke rose from the friction heat, and her body screeched to a halt as if making an emergency stop.
Kang Do-hee was sprawled awkwardly on the ground.
And her hands had stopped just before the line.
Kang Do-hee raised her head, looking up at Baek Seol-hee with trembling eyes.
Baek Seol-hee looked down at her with an indifferent expression and spoke.
"Do you understand now? Why I said you weren't qualified."
Kang Do-hee's shocking first failure.
After that, Lee Yu-ri, Sophia, and Im Ga-eul took turns challenging.
However, all the Utopia party members failed to step over the line drawn on the floor.
Now, only one person remained.
It was Ichika's turn.
"You have already been acknowledged by me, so you don't necessarily need to take this test."
Baek Seol-hee said, resting her sword on her shoulder.
"I'll do it. It's fair."
"Hmm, is that so. Very well, proceed."
Unlike the other party members who had lunged forward with explosive force.
Ichika walked with light, soft steps, as if she were simply out for a stroll.
And as she reached the line.
The usual swift sword shot powerfully towards her.
Yet, Ichika's expression remained unchanged.
Swoosh—!
The moment the sword was about to slice her neck.
Shadows suddenly surged up from beneath her feet.
Pop!
Pop!
Pop!
Pop!
Pop!
The black shadows scattered like bursting balloons as soon as they appeared.
Ichika frowned, experiencing a subtle mental shock as the phantoms were simultaneously unsummoned.
Step.
She didn't stop, pushing her foot forward.
And her foot firmly stepped onto the area inside the line.
Trickle.
Baek Seol-hee's sword lightly pricked Ichika's neck, and bright red blood trickled down her throat.
"Ichika, student, you pass."
Baek Seol-hee withdrew her sword and declared her pass.
"Yay."
Ichika raised both hands in the air with a completely unenthusiastic expression.
The party members wore indescribable expressions as they watched her.
* * *
Ultimately, the successful candidates on Day 1 were Ichika and Kang Do-hee.
Those two were the only ones.
When Ichika passed first, surpassing her, Kang Do-hee challenged relentlessly as if she had been set on fire.
Finally, with only a short time left until midnight, she managed to pass with tattered arms.
"...You pass. But remember, you are only at the starting line."
To that, Kang Do-hee uncharacteristically nodded silently.
Then, Day 2 and Day 3.
No one passed.
Day 4.
Sophia passed.
Fwip-fwip-fwip-fwip-fwip!!!
She fired healing arrows wildly into the air until the last moment her magic allowed,
then endured the attack by allowing the arrows, which bent downwards and rained like a deluge, to strike her.
"A shallow trick, but... hmm. There's no reason not to let you pass. You pass."
And on Day 6, another successful candidate emerged,
Surprisingly, it was Im Ga-eul.
—Ufufufufu, I'm not afraid of death at all! The only thing that can keep up with my speed is the darkness within! Come on, let's play? Super Acceleration!!!
It was truly an absurd method.
Im Ga-eul brought an enormous amount of magic stones.
She revived the memory of using Black Magic Stones and tricked herself!
She summoned the personality from that day and masked her fear with bravado.
—Kyaaaah! Ow, it hurts! It hurts so much!! I-I'm going to dieee!! Juniorrr!
Of course, even with the acceleration, she couldn't avoid the accident of having her waist violently severed,
but she was able to recover thanks to the life support device immediately activated by Shin Se-hee.
"I did say to use any means necessary, but... I didn't expect this."
Baek Seol-hee wore a rare expression of bewilderment.
However, since she was the one who said she would allow anyone to pass if they entered the line by any means, she ultimately had no choice but to declare her pass.
And then, the long-awaited Day 7.
Even though all the Utopia party members had passed, there was just one person. One person who still hadn't passed.
That was none other than
Lee Yu-ri.
'...Why.'
Lee Yu-ri clutched her shield tightly, glaring at Baek Seol-hee.
Dozens of times already. No, hundreds of times.
Lee Yu-ri, who had skipped all her classes and was challenging alone.
However, she continued to taste frustration.
Lee Yu-ri knelt right before the line.
'...Why, *why*!!!'
Her mental fortitude was strong.
While the killing intent Baek Seol-hee emitted was indeed terrifying, it was certainly not unbearable.
Despite this, Lee Yu-ri could not take that single step forward.
"As expected, you have the least talent."
Baek Seol-hee's cold voice became a sharp dagger, plunging deep into her chest.