I’d heard that before, too.
But back then, whenever I saw girls who hadn’t dated me because I didn’t like them at the time later dating other guys, for some reason my heart would ache like crazy.
I remember feeling all sorts of pathetic emotions like, She used to like me first—
─Wow. Hyung-nim, you’re saying the exact same thing as my friend lol. But I don’t think I’ll regret it much
─Of course you feel that way now. I’m telling you, it’ll happen later. And first of all, you said she’s been on your mind, didn’t you? That chicken rib of yours.
─A little. Just a tiny bit.
A little. Just a tiny bit.
From that message, I sensed a pride that hated to lose. Sometimes, you had to let yourself lose so you wouldn’t regret it later.
─Whatever it is, the fact that she’s been on your mind enough to make you sleep late means she’s not a chicken rib anymore, doesn’t it?
─What? Uh······ Come on. Still. That’s a bit
─It’s true. I went through something like that before too, you know? Starting today, you’ll probably only start seeing her good points. But later, once she gets something like a boyfriend, it’ll already be too late.
After sending that, I waited for the next reply.
One minute. Three minutes. Five minutes······.
No matter how long I waited, there was no reply.
“Did he fall asleep?”
Tsk. I’m really curious about what happens next, though.
I brought up the clock in front of my eyes. It was already 3:40 a.m. At this point, I needed to hurry up and sleep too. I quickly took off my helmet and lay down on the bed.
End
The inter-class match at noon on Saturday was archery.
Because of that, the archery range located on Cube’s grounds was packed with as many people as a soccer match. That was because archery in this world was quite the extreme sport.
Simply hitting a target far away was boring. What fun was there in hitting, all by yourself, a target 1km away that ordinary people couldn’t even see? In the sports of this world, things like “records” no longer had any meaning.
For that reason, archery had countless magical effects and phantom beast effects that interfered with the archer. Those effects provided spectacles and thrills for the audience, and more honor and wealth for professional archers.
“······Mm.”
And right now, I was sitting comfortably in the waiting room, watching the archery match taking place outside.
The rules of today’s match were simple.
Two representatives would shoot arrows in two lanes, each 75m wide and 500m long. They only had one chance, and the farthest shot would become their final score.
However, one shouldn’t misunderstand. It wasn’t a tournament format. Archery was, unexpectedly, a sport that cost a lot of money, so the final scores obtained from a single match would determine the rankings from 1st to 12th place.
─The match between Self-Cultivation Class and Refinement Class has ended. Currently in 1st place is Eustatz Heim, who hit the 325m target.
The fifth match was over.
However, 1st place so far was only 325m. The reason for that would probably become clear from here on.
“Last up. Representatives of Truth Class and Diligence Class, please come out.”
A staff member called me. Truth Class’s representative was me, Kim Hajin, and Diligence Class’s representative was the Frenchman “Ber Moreng.”
Moreng was someone I knew as well. A marksman whose archery skills were among the best even within Cube. An opportunist who would later join the Creator’s Sacred Grace, clash with Kim Suho over every little thing, and ultimately side with Kim Suho. His pure archery skill would probably surpass Chae Nayun’s.
I glanced at Moreng, then checked the grade of my talent.
===
▶「Sharpshooter」
[Intermediate] [Permanent] [Growth-type ─ Proficiency Grade 6] [Proficiency Experience 27%]
===
It was stagnating at grade 6, and the proficiency experience wasn’t that high either.
I was slightly worried, but even so, I had no confidence.
No confidence that I would lose.
“Yes, yes. The representatives are entering now. Cadet Kim Hajin, Cadet Moreng. Both of you, please proceed to the arena.”
I slung my bow over my back and stepped out onto the field.
* * *
Noon, when the sunlight fell straight down and cast no shadows.
Chae Nayun sat down in her seat with popcorn and cola in hand.
“······Why are there so many mages?”
Chae Nayun muttered as she looked around. She had been idling outside and had returned with snacks when it was about time for Kim Hajin’s turn, but what was this? When she looked, there were an incredible number of mages wearing robes.
“They said an 8-star mage was coming today. I guess they gathered to catch even a glimpse of her face.”
Yoo Yeonha pointed toward the VIP observation deck set up in the distance.
“Ah, Mage A Haein?”
A Haein. A French-Korean who had naturalized in Korea at the age of 11, and a highly honored 8-star mage.
She was one of only 300 8-star mages in the entire world, and because she was beautiful and also extremely young—though there was a strange question mark attached to her personality—she reigned as an idol among young mages.
“I heard people were making a fuss about her coming, so it was here. No wonder. The earthquake reached all the way over there.”
Earthquakes were the most basic effect in archery. There were various other things as well, such as monster phantoms and plant traps, so Chae Nayun was rather looking forward to it.
Just how much would Kim Hajin suffer?
─Next up, Truth Class representative Kim Hajin. Diligence Class representative Ber Moreng.
“Oh. It’s our class’s turn.”
Chae Nayun looked down at the archery range while chewing popcorn.
Kim Hajin and Ber Moreng came out side by side. They shook hands once, then split off toward their respective lanes.
“Hm······.”
Yoo Yeonha rested her chin on her hand and observed Kim Hajin’s movements.
Kim Hajin had just climbed onto the archery platform. Confidence dripped from each of his steps and gestures, so he certainly looked reliable.
“We don’t have to worry about this one.”
The inter-class matches were events that carried the cadets’ pride to some extent. On top of that, Truth Class had a lineup where taking 1st place was only natural. Because of that, if they lost even once, the bad mood lingered for quite a long time. It was because of the pride and sense of belonging that came with being a member of Truth Class.
In other words, it was similar to the feeling one got when South Korea lost in an international match.
“······But what does he keep yapping about?”
At that moment, Chae Nayun frowned. Yoo Yeonha also looked that way.
Indeed, Ber Moreng was saying something to Kim Hajin.
“Could it be trash talk? There are rumors that Ber Moreng has quite a sinister and eccentric personality.”
“Oh, really?”
Rumors from Yoo Yeonha were the truth itself, so Chae Nayun believed her completely.
Actually, watching him like this, it did seem like he was getting on his nerves somehow. That bastard’s just a bad guy.
*
Meanwhile, this was the VIP observation deck where A Haein was seated. To welcome the highly honored 8-star mage, the observation deck had been adorned with various banners and foods.
“······Grand Duchess A Haein. Is that child your nephew?”
During a brief break, a 5-star mage who had volunteered to attend her carefully spoke up.
“Unofficially. Officially, I am the progenitor of the A clan, so I have no relatives.”
A Haein chuckled as she looked down at the arena. She had come partly out of convenience, and as expected, her nephew had grown up quite well. Perhaps because he was standing beside some half-formed-looking fellow, the contrast seemed even starker.
The mage looked at A Haein with reverent eyes, then spoke in a trembling voice.
“······Ah, they’re starting now.”
“Are they?”
A Haein quietly grasped the orb placed on the support in front of the observation deck.
“Do I just do it like before?”
“Yes. As you did before. Please begin lightly with an earthquake.”
“From the 350m point onward, I can do as I please, right? In any case, no one has made it to 350m.”
“······Yes. However, the obstacles must be equal on both sides.”
At the mage’s words, A Haein burst into a laugh. Then she turned to look at him.
“Do you think I can make them equal? Do you know how much I adore my nephews?”
“Uh······ Ah, ahaha······. It’s not an exam anyway, and it’s just a simple festival, an event for the cadets. However you do it, it honestly doesn’t matter. Please do as you wish, Your Grace. The cadets will consider it an honor that you attended at all······.”
The subordinate mage was excessively loyal.
There was a reason for that. In truth, an 8-star mage was an aristocrat among aristocrats, of whom only 87 existed even in the Republic of Korea. The title “Grand Duchess” was by no means empty bluster. Among the many events in the inter-class matches, no problem would arise just because they offered up a trifling little archery event like this as a bribe.
Rather, if this became an opportunity for her to give a lecture at Cube later, that would truly be “giving a little and receiving a lot” in a good sense.
“In that case.”
A Haein smiled with satisfaction.
* * *
“Ugh. Damn.”
There was a reason 1st place had only been 320m.
I had only passed the 250m point, but my legs were aching. It was because of the earthquake that had just shaken the ground I was standing on.
“Wow. Still, you’re quite good. I guess aptitude talents aren’t a lie?”
Moreng spoke to me from the side. But that Moreng looked rather comfortable. Because of that, I was currently harboring a certain suspicion. A perfectly reasonable suspicion. When I shot the bow, and when that guy shot the bow, the level of the interfering effects had seemed clearly different.
“Tsk. Hey. You seem kind of comfortable, don’t you?”
“Isn’t it just that you neglected your training?”
“······Ahh.”
Since he kept needling me with a smiling face, how could I not feel wronged?
I opened my eyes wide and looked toward the observation deck where the mage would be.
Inside that observation deck, some Westerner was casting magic. A Westerner whose snow-white skin and uncommon red hair formed a certain harmony. The black cloak she wore had eight golden stars embroidered on it, and beside her, a lackey mage was earnestly flattering her.
“Hmm······?”
I knew one woman with that kind of setting.
A Haein.
But if I remembered correctly, that woman had some sort of relationship with Moreng······ I quietly opened the settings on my smartwatch.
······Aha.
“Hey, man. Your aunt is over there. Are you going to greet her when this is over?”
“Pardon? What are you talking about?”
Moreng’s voice and face were perfectly innocent, but the corners of his mouth had just slightly risen. One hundred percent. This bastard knew.
“Your aunt’s only harassing me.”
“What are you talking about? It sounds like you’re spouting nonsense because you don’t think you can hit it, so please just shoot already. Please.”
“······Tsk.”
I raised my bow. Then the earthquake came. It wasn’t only the earthquake. Suddenly, hail began pouring down from the sky.
Now it was the 300m point. The beginning of a new trial, I suppose.
The hail struck my shoulders and fingers and obscured my vision. It was cold and painful.
But the more it did, the more my stubbornness surged.
I concentrated all my senses on the bow and the target.
Tang!
The arrow sprang out as if shooting upward and finally struck the target.
“······Phew.”
“Oh. Congratulations.”
Next was immediately Moreng’s turn. However, the hail pouring down on Moreng was so slender and soft. If my hail had been a Hulk 228cm tall and weighing 521kg, then what was his? Evandel?
Moreng hit the target without much difficulty.
“Now, shoot.”
“······.”
The favoritism continued afterward as well, but I simply endured it with a forced smile and painstakingly, painstakingly hit the targets.
And at last, after tearful effort, I reached the 350m point.
─Both of them have now surpassed the previous 1st-place record! From the 350m point onward, the target’s speed will be 50% faster than before, and the order will switch. Now, it is Ber Moreng’s turn.
Moreng let out a sigh and raised his bow. Even he seemed a little nervous now.
What would the next obstacle be?
As I watched with half anticipation and half worry—
All of a sudden, enormous vine plants shot up over the lanes.
“Whoa! What is this!”
Moreng was startled and flinched. Huge plants about 10m tall surged up as if occupying the entire lane. Among them, several plants especially close to Moreng roamed around him, and then, bang!
They struck down right beside him.
Even so, Moreng calmed himself. The first quality of a marksman: composure.
As long as he didn’t step down from the archery platform, there was no reason for him to get caught up in the plant’s attacks.
In fact, the plants were unexpectedly warm. They merely swayed like reeds, no, they even seemed to be fanning him so he wouldn’t get hot.
“······Ah!”
Even so, Moreng failed.
With the earthquake and hail still ongoing while the target’s speed had increased by 50%, Moreng’s limit was probably here.
—Ah! Moreng, unfortunately, fails.
My turn came around. To be honest, I was worried. I picked up the bow with trepidation.
Sure enough.
Those damn plants had grown unbelievably ferocious. Last time, they had just waved around carelessly, but now they were dancing violently. Were they breakdancing or what?
"······."
I stopped thinking for a moment.
The favoritism was obvious. But all I had to do was break through even that. Besides, I had an incredible backer called luck on my side.
I nocked an arrow on the bow and pulled the string.
At that moment, the plants’ movements became even more bizarre. They moved with a passion as if they had been dumped by their lover just yesterday······ Their excitement and rage reached all the way here.
Then I would have to get serious too.
I activated Bullet Time. In an instant, the world slowed down. At the same time, far in the distance, a target rose up at the 350-meter mark.
But no matter how I thought about it, I couldn’t hit that target.
It was an impossible angle.
The target glided this way and that in the air, while the grotesque plants moved cunningly, blocking the straight trajectory between me and the target.
But there was no time.
In the blink of an eye, the target would disappear downward.
I gripped the bowstring tightly. I bit my lip.
In a situation where I couldn’t use magic power, would such delicate control be possible, enough to get past that enormous mass of plants?
······Just as I wondered if I should give up like this.
Something suddenly occurred to me.
"Recognition."
I murmured quietly.
The targets were the bow and arrow. The numbers engraved on them were 40 and 41, respectively.
At that moment, the concept itself was enhanced. The concept that encompassed the elasticity of the bowstring and the flexibility of the arrow itself······
I opened my eyes wide and stared straight at the target beyond the obstacles.
I accurately tracked the target’s predicted path and nocked the arrow slightly to the right.
Then I pulled the string.
Whoosh—!
The arrow that left my bowstring curved strangely. It bent sharply to the right, evading every obstruction, then corrected its course back to the left and shot forward like a bullet.
The result was simple.
—······Kim Hajin of the Truth Class! Succeeds at 350 meters!
"······Wh-What in tarnation? Why’d the arrow curve?"
A rich dialect burst from Moreng’s mouth as he blankly watched the arrow’s trajectory. He glared at me with a face that clearly couldn’t believe it.
"You used magic power, didn’t you?"
"If I had, do you think your aunt wouldn’t have noticed?"
"Then how······."
I threw the bow onto the grass. First place was already confirmed to be mine anyway, and the favoritism had been obvious, so I figured I should at least make a show of it.
"This is what you call a difference in ‘class.’"
As I turned around, I checked my smartwatch.
Just now, I had definitely felt something.
This was 100%.
In other words, some kind of gift had surely arrived.
"······As expected."
Several notifications had appeared on the smartwatch.
[By using a curving arrow, the proficiency experience of the talent ‘Sharpshooter’ has increased by 15%.]
[The sub-talent [Curved Shot (曲射)] has been added to the talent ‘Sharpshooter’.]
===
□Curved Shot (曲射)
—Long-range attacks curve according to the shooter’s intent. (The degree of curvature varies depending on the talent’s rank and the type of weapon.)
===
"······."
The corner of my mouth twitched on its own.
Curved Shot (曲射).
Another sub-talent had been added to Sharpshooter.
Let me say this once again: the good thing about my talent lies in its ‘range of application.’ I can handle a bow with proficiency gained from guns, and I can apply a talent gained from the bow to guns as well.
In other words, it was now possible to make bullets curve like the arrow just now.
End
If they had been ordinary people, perhaps they would have been too absorbed in the visual spectacle to notice.
The plant vines that rose up as if to encircle the sky were overwhelmingly enormous, and in comparison, Kim Hajin’s arrow was as insignificant as a single needle.
However, all of the cadets could see it. They saw it very clearly and slowly—the arrow bending through the air.
Perhaps it would have been nothing unusual. If it had been a magic arrow, that is.
But magic power had not been involved in Kim Hajin’s archery.
Because of that, its trajectory was visible to the eye