Entering the Game with a Cheat Physique

If You Don’t Want to Die (3)

If You Don’t Want to Die (3)

A suffocating silence falls over ‘Golden Apple’.

Apollo, who had caused a commotion in the store with his rough entrance.

He was currently trapped, my hand gripping his wrist.

“……”

I can feel the strength in the hand holding his wrist.

Apollo tries to shake free, flailing his arm this way and that.

*Crunch*… He can’t break free from my tight hold on his wrist.

Truth be told, it’s not that I’m necessarily stronger than Apollo.

Like in arm wrestling, where the person grabbing the wrist has the advantage, I simply created the same situation.

‘I still can’t beat Apollo in raw strength.’

Even though I raised my stats quickly, I’m still around 2.2 points.

Apollo was in the late 4-point range in the original story, so originally I shouldn’t be able to overwhelm him like this.

But of course, that’s not the important issue.

“Let go.”

Apollo already must find this situation uncomfortable.

The top student from the Knight Department, being overpowered by the magic department’s last place.

He’s already earned a dishonorable title.

It’s embarrassing enough to be at a disadvantage just by giving away one handicap.

His lips tremble.

I try to wrench my wrist free, any way I can, but it’s impossible.

My grip, strengthened by the body-enhancing cheat, doesn’t allow even the slightest twitch.

Finally, the b*stard lets out a roar.

“Let go of me!”

His face, all red and blotchy, is already stained with shame.

He’s showing his ugly side to so many students in the cafe.

But I can’t back down either.

“You let go first.”

“What?”

“Put Berry down. Aren’t you a little old to be bullying a girl?”

“……”

Apollon’s other hand is still gripping Berry.

More than half his strength is being used to fight against me, so his grip on my collar has loosened significantly.

But Berry still looks pained.

If that’s the case, then I can’t let it go either.

“……crack.”

He finally releases Berry’s collar.

She falls to the floor, barely managing to stand and catch her breath.

Cough, cough. Seeing that Berry looks better, I ease up on my grip too.

“Tch!”

The moment my grip loosens, he flicks his hand.

But the difference is obvious.

My hand is pretty much the same as always, while his wrist is a bright red.

Apollon massages his wrist, snarling.

“You don’t know your place. You commoners are all the same.”

The words he spits out are filled with blatant contempt.

He’s trying to break my spirit by mentioning the difference in our social standings.

“I am Apollon, son of Marquis Simon. Show some respect to one of noble birth.”

“Look who’s talking. And you, is it really okay for you to be acting so arrogant with Penel?”

“……Shut up!”

If Apollo’s arrogance were set against the backdrop of the Duke’s estate.

Wasn’t treating the Duke’s daughter, Penelope, so carelessly illogical?

That hit the nail on the head, and Apollo’s face contorted in a grimace.

A crude reaction from the guy who got called out.

He takes a few steps back.

Apollo, now further from me, grinds his teeth.

The look he’s giving me isn’t good, he seems seriously pissed.

Considering his personality, he won’t let this slide.

But he can’t just start a brawl here.

No matter how top student and noble he is, he can’t get away with acting like a thug any more than this.

Apollo’s options are limited.

“So, you’re that confident in your skills, substitute? You dare commit such rudeness to me, Apollo, the top student, and you’re confident you can get away with it!”

“Well… it wasn’t because of confidence.”

That’s not a lie.

The reason I saved Berry wasn’t solely due to a kind and righteous heart that wanted to help her.

That was part of it, but it was primarily for my own purposes.

‘Because 【Werewolf Lung】 processing can’t be delayed.’

Berry is alchemizing an item at my request.

It’s a crucial item for the first act boss battle.

If we were to lose due to even a minor error in that battle, the academy would be doomed, so time is of the essence.

It’s not like I said ‘you’ll die if you don’t’ to Apollo for no reason.

‘Well, truthfully, it was also because he pissed me off.’

He was harassing a girl, and it annoyed me, so I intervened.

“Fine. If you’re so confident, I can’t just sit still.”

Apollo, as if his patience had finally snapped.

He reaches into his chest and pulls something out.

A white glove embroidered with gold.

He throws it in front of me and declares,

“I, Apollo, top student of the Knights Department, challenge Herak, the last seat of the Magic Department, to a duel.”

“……”

The cafe, which had been holding its breath, falls even more silent.

No student at Olympia Academy was ignorant of what a challenge for a duel meant.

‘A duel challenge.’

At first glance, it looks like just a fight between two students.

But beyond that, it’s a duel where they stake the pride of their departments.

They were already burning with such fierce competitiveness that the smallest trigger could set them ablaze.

To declare a duel like this draws all eyes within the academy.

A veritable typhoon shaking the academy to its core.

A matter of unprecedented interest.

Especially since, depending on the type of duel, a huge penalty could be imposed on the loser.

As much as expulsion, forfeiting all possessions, or even being enslaved.

That is the powerful weight of a duel.

“Will you accept? Or are you just another loudmouth if you don’t?”

“Fine.”

Apollo twisted the corners of his mouth up.

He must know.

That there’s no turning back, now that things are framed like this.

The moment he backs down, he’ll be branded with every kind of disgrace.

And naturally, I have no intention of doing that either.

“I accept the duel.”

“The date will be before the ‘Monster Festival.’ Do you agree?”

“Yeah.”

‘Monster Festival.’

An event that occurs at the end of Act 1.

It’s better to have the duel before that.

There won’t be any time to rest when the festival approaches.

“……Hmph.”

He scoffs and turns his back.

The one who had made ‘Golden Apple’ so noisy, turned as if he was about to leave.

-Hey. What’s going on…?

─A duel? Holy shit. It’s been a while.

─Apollo versus Heracles? Fucking can’t wait, man.

The commotion in the hall picks up, like things finally settled down.

While their whispers buzz in my ears.

Thump, thump.

Apollo, not flinching an inch, walks straight toward the door.

Is he really going to leave without looking back?

‘No.’

There’s no way.

My body, after the exchange, stays put.

Maybe it looked like I was letting my guard down to him, because I saw his hand move toward the hilt of his sword.

Apollo’s thinking is so obvious.

He wants to shame me at least once even before the duel starts.

He must think that since our last fight ended, I would be off my guard—

“That’s enough.”

“……!”

Apollo jumps back, startled.

His hand reaching for his sword is grabbed.

My hand, back on his wrist, the one I grabbed before.

And I’m pressing down, hard, on the already red mark.

“If you’re a man, shouldn’t you be saying this in the duel?… Is that all your noble honor is worth?”

“……You son of a b*tch….”

Did the students hear what I whispered in his ear?

I don’t really care.

As long as Apollo heard it, it’s fine.

If you try shit, you should be ashamed.

“……Tch!”

Apollo finally lets go of the hilt.

He slams open the door and strides out, disappearing.

“…….”

The spot where he’d been.

I stand there for a moment, scratching the back of my head.

“Tch.”

Damn, this is a pain in the ass.

*

Herak’s expression didn’t look all that comfortable.

“……”

Even for Herak, the opponent was a handful.

If it was Apollo, the top dog, even Herak’s current unstoppable momentum had to have some flaws.

That frustrated Berry something awful.

‘…It’s my fault.’

If it wasn’t for me, he wouldn’t be in this situation.

He would’ve continued on, doing well without having to deal with that piece of trash.

This stupid girl, why did she have to go and stand up to him…

“You okay?”

“Hnn!”

Herak, now beside her.

His question, tossed out casually while scratching the back of his head, made her heart flutter for no good reason.

Berry’s earlobe turned bright red as she let out an odd sound without meaning to.

“……Y-yeah, I’m fine. Yeah, I’m fine.”

She answered repeatedly, desperately trying to suppress her flustered feelings.

Her heart was pounding so hard it felt like her ears would burst.

“Well, if you’re okay, then that’s that.”

“Um…”

“Hmm?”

She grabbed Herak’s shoulder as he tried to pass, as if reassured.

Looking up at his face, Berry asked in a trembling voice.

“Why… did you help me?”

“What? Are you starting with that again?”

“……! Idiot, that’s not what I meant!”

The way they’re looking at me with that pathetic gaze is fucking infuriating.

They’re just repeating what they used to say when I got bullied by those previous punks, so I guess that’s why.

‘You idiot!’

As if it’s that simple! They know damn well it isn’t!

“It’s Apollo, Apollo…! They’re not on the same level as those guys! Don’t you know what happens if you lose a duel?!”

“Oh, is that all.”

Herak sighed softly.

Like he didn’t feel like explaining something so obvious.

“I just wanted to do it. …No, since I also had a favor to ask of you, think of it as helping you do that job right. That’s better.”

“….Idiot.”

A favor.

He must be talking about the 【Werewolf’s Lung】 Herak entrusted to me.

‘That’s all the reason?’

What’s the big deal about delaying an alchemy schedule by one day?

There’s no way that’s it.

Logically speaking, even if he trusted Berry directly with the item, there’s no need to take such a risk.

Then.

Why did Herak, specifically, help *me*?

*I just wanted to do it.*

─That one sentence explains everything.

He genuinely acted because that’s ‘what he wanted’ to do.

No ulterior motive, like trying to get in with her by helping Berry.

Just a pure manifestation of good will and justice.

Truly heroic spirit itself.

“Idiot….”

So Berry couldn’t help but mutter.

He’s really such an idiot.

Why would he risk his life like this for some girl like me?

…Compared to me, Pennell is much more—.

“Huk!”

Right, come to think of it.

I’d forgotten Penell.

Her precious friend, right next to me, witnessing all of this!

“……You seem pretty happy. Berry?”

Look.

The young lady’s face, smiling sweetly from her seat.

So beautiful and noble, but with a sharp, icy edge dripping from her eyes!

“How did this happen? Someone said, ‘Don’t misunderstand,’ I think. Didn’t they, Berry?”

“Ah, no, Penell. It’s not that….”

In that instant, even Herak was forgotten as Berry frantically waved her hands.

However bold Berry might be, in front of Penell, she became a lamb.

That’s how precious their friendship was.

“……Well, whatever.”

Her friend’s suspicious behavior.

Penell briefly frowned, but then rose from her seat and approached Herak.

“Thank you, Herak.”

“Why are you thanking me all of a sudden?”

“Because you helped my friend. I should be grateful, too.”

“……Maybe you should thank Berry first. I only lent a hand.”

“Yes. You’re right. Thank you too, Berry.”

Penell’s gentle smile, and Herak’s calm expression.

If the story ended here, it would have been a more than heartwarming conclusion.

“Oh my! This is a scoop!”

However, there was one girl who wouldn’t allow such a finish.

A small woman wedged her way between the three, amidst their tender atmosphere.

It was Ruby of the newspaper club, with her two-sided up red hair.

“Apollo and Herak’s duel! And it was all for one woman, who happened to be Penell’s friend! Moreover, Penell-senpai has a strange relationship with Herak-senpai as well!”

“……”

“I can’t let this go. I have to write this up in an article right away. Oh, before that, shall we do an interview? Let’s start with you, Herak-senpai—Eek!”

“Knock it off.”

A bolt of lightning strikes Ruby’s crown, completely hyped up.

Heraque, who’d been listening quietly, finally delivers a knuckle sandwich.

Perfect punishment for the tomboyish young miss.

*

Having accepted Apollo’s duel challenge, a certain amount of preparation is needed.

Even rotten, a crucian carp is still a crucian carp. The top student is still the top student.

He wouldn’t have gotten there by playing ddakji*, so I needed to cultivate comparable skills.

This is exactly that preparation.

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【Twelve Constellation Fists】

2. Fist(拳) : Element Infusion (Uncertain State)

[Acquisition Condition : When you understand ‘Elemental Magic’]

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The second technique of 【Twelve Constellation Fists】, ‘Element Infusion’.