Only Weapon Master

The tournament progressed quickly.

[Son Ga-yeon advances to the Round of 16 first!]

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[Ah… unfortunately, player Ki I-hyun is eliminated… It’s okay. You fought well!]

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[Um. Player Chae Eun-ah is also eliminated..]

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[Well. Yes, this means that only Son Ga-yeon has advanced to the Round of 16, and only Kang Ara’s match remains.]

All three Koreans who had survived to the Round of 32 besides Son Ga-yeon were miserably defeated.

— But what’s the point of so many advancing anyway lol

— Agreed, isn’t that right, Owukang?

— I just checked Sayaka’s Instagram, is it okay if I cheer for Sayaka?

— You bastard, are you into ping-chang?

But the atmosphere in the chat wasn’t down at all.

This was because the logic that Ara’s competitive edge might have dulled due to her 1.5-year hiatus had been dismissed after seeing her skill.

Plus, no one could claim she won because her opponent was easy, considering she destroyed a player who had reached the semi-finals in the World Championship in less than 10 seconds.

— Anyway, Kang Ara will win lol

— Japan’s Sword Saint (fake) VS Korea’s Sword Saint (real)

— I believe… I believe!! A-men..!

That’s why the chat remained confident despite the numerous Japanese players in the Round of 16.

— Ah. Having Kang Ara on our side is so reassuring.

Since Kang Ara was an extraordinary monster, and while Gojo Sayaka was also exceptional, Ara’s impact was so powerful that everyone was just watching the broadcast casually, waiting for the finals.

[Now, Round of 32 Match 16, our Kang Ara player versus Nakama Tomodachi player—snort. I apologize.]

[It’s fine. Feel free to laugh, Caster Lee Hyun-tae. After all, only the victors remain in the records of history. No one will criticize you for mocking the opponent’s name…(omitted)…]

— Is this guy crazy? Is the commentator about to lose his composure?

— Is it okay to mock a player’s name?

— Ah. This old dude is starting to act up

— ? What’s starting?

— This person is a famous dad

— What dad? Is he married?

— Ara’s biggest fanboy. Check Nemuwiki Baek Kumdo incidents/controversies

[Ahem. Since I messed up, Commentator Baek, please continue with the match commentary…]

The caster apologized to Baek Kumdo for being unable to contain his laughter at the Japanese player’s name, trying to escape the accusation of ridiculing the opponent’s name.

[Honestly. I can’t explain Kang Ara’s swordsmanship. It just goes swoosh swoosh thwack and ends instantly. How am I supposed to commentate? I’ve tried to explain since Ara’s early tournament appearances, but what can’t be done can’t be done. Just relax and enjoy. It’s unfortunate for the Japanese players, but they should consider today as a chance to tour Korea rather than compete……]

Baek Kumdo very confidently declared that he couldn’t comprehend Ara’s swordsmanship with his expertise and decided to just enjoy it, refusing to provide commentary.

— This is insane lololol

— If the commentator can’t commentate, what’s the point of him being there?

— He’s like Lupin! Officer, there’s a salary thief here!!

— This is so funny, crazy old man lolol

With Baek Kumdo’s reckless commentary, now assured that Ara’s skills hadn’t rusted, the chat became chaotic while Caster Lee Hyun-tae was sweating profusely.

Round of 32 Match 16 Kang Ara VS Nakama Tomodachi begins!

The final match of the Round of 32 between Kang Ara and Nakama Tomodachi began with the announcement.

— Thwack

“Wrist!”

“Wrist. Ippon!”

Ara’s swing was clean and neat but incredibly fast, striking the opponent’s wrist and cleanly securing the first point.

But then.

[Hmm? Commentator Baek Kumdo, that…]

[No~ This isn’t disparaging the Japanese player, it’s just that Kang Ara is so… Huh? What’s wrong, Caster Lee Hyun-tae?]

Baek Kumdo, who had been chatting with the viewers with his inhibitions lowered, stopped talking when Lee Hyun-tae called him and looked in the direction Lee was pointing.

— What’s that?

— Did the bamboo sword fly that far after hitting the wrist?

— How strong is she;;

— This is crazy, Kang Ara… just take me already!

— Are you talking about organs (kidneys), teacher?

[Uh..well. Um. The opponent, player Nakama Tomodachi, has requested a time-out.]

The reason Nakama requested a time-out was none other than.

“…My wrist is too swollen..?”

The camera zoomed in to show her wrist, which had turned dark blue with bruising where Ara’s bamboo sword had struck.

In the end, Nakama forfeited, and Ara made an apologetic gesture to her opponent before returning to the waiting room.

♦♦♦

[….Nandayo.. ano bakemono wa…]

(…..What the… that monster…)

[Kimura kaisetsu. Ochitsuke. Ochitsukedesu yo.]

(Commentator Kimura. Calm down. Please calm down.)

— Um. That player is too strong, wouldn’t you say? Was there ever such a player in Korea?

— Kang-san…? Eh… I don’t recall seeing her at the World Championship…

— Could Gojo-san win against her? I’m not convinced.

— Still, let’s believe. In the samurai spirit.

The Japanese broadcast team began to feel fear as they watched Kang Ara sweep through the Round of 16 and Quarter-finals. What was even more terrifying was that despite exerting such dynamic movements and power, her breathing remained undisturbed.

Though they had their own genius in Gojo Sayaka, and the chat showed messages claiming Sayaka would win…

Their chat had a very different feeling from the Korean chat.

The Korean chat was filled with absolute belief: Kang Ara will definitely win.

The Japanese chat was mixed with belief and doubt: Gojo Sayaka will win… probably.

— Heh… 27 Japanese players made it to the Round of 32, but only 2 are in the semi-finals wwwww

— Kang-san is impressive, but ano Son-san mo suge…

— The phrase ‘quality over quantity’ comes to mind.

— Aah. It’s certainly a field of quality, but?

— Japanese men. Shine (die).

[….Korea is indeed a country of elite few. Overall, their average might not match Japan’s… oh, maybe that’s not true anymore. Ara-san suge tsuyoi kara… hahaha]

[Eh… Commentator Kimura.. the match isn’t over yet. It’s too early to give up……]

[Haa? Nanio iteruno (What are you saying)? Look at the Japanese cheering section now. Even the fans who were shouting about fighting spirit are silent, so who are you to tell me whether to give up or not……]

When Commentator Kimura made his defeatist remarks, Caster Yoshika looked at the PD nervously and started to say it was too early to give up, that they still had player Gojo Sayaka, but before she could finish—

Commentator Kimura flew into a rage and began cursing at her. He yelled that even the Japanese cheering section was silent, so what difference would it make if he didn’t give up?

Yoshika briefly wondered if what she said was so wrong that she deserved to be cursed at, but then thought, “Why do I have to take this abuse?”

[….Commentator Kimura gives up quite quickly. That’s probably why you never won a championship during your competitive days.]

[What? Championship? Why the fuck are you bringing that up here!]

[What! While the players are fighting hard, you’ve given up, and seeing your level, I can understand why you never won a championship as a player—I’m just stating facts! Is that so wrong?!]

— Eh, why are they suddenly fighting?

— Um, is this a comedy show? Eh?? I came to watch a kendo match

— wwwwww We lost the match but gained some laughs. Japanese commentary team wins~wwwwwww

The two were having a massive argument, and even the chat was in complete disarray.

♦♦♦ * *

Ignoring the noisy Japanese commentary booth, I finished my quarter-final match and returned to the waiting room.

Upon returning to the waiting room, I found that out of the 32 people who were there before the tournament started, only 2 remained, including myself.

“Ara, good job.”

It seemed Son Ga-yeon didn’t have infinite stamina either; after finishing her Round of 16 match, her talkativeness had decreased significantly.

“Thank you. You should catch your breath too, unni, win the semi-finals, and face me in the finals.”

“Heheh. I’d like that too, but it’s really tough. I can’t guarantee I’ll win.”

As I was thinking about what to say to this vulnerable side of Son Ga-yeon that I had gotten to know today, she patted my shoulder.

“Still. Having you here has made me feel more at ease when competing. Anyway, Kang Ara will win, right? Hehe”

Just this shows how exceptional this player’s character is.

Of course, it’s natural for a competitor to aim for victory, but how could she speak so freely about someone else winning instead of herself?

“….Still. Do your best. I want to face you, unni.”

Gojo Sayaka seemed interesting too, but I genuinely wanted to experience Son Ga-yeon’s fighting spirit, so this was absolutely not empty talk.

Perhaps she sensed that herself. Her friendly smiling eyes disappeared.

“….Okay.”

With eyes like a hunter slowly targeting its prey,

We will soon begin the first semi-final match. Each player please proceed to the arena …….

Son Ga-yeon left the waiting room as the announcement was heard.

Out of respect for her attitude, for the first time in this tournament, I watched Son Ga-yeon’s match with full concentration.

♦♦♦

At the entrance to the arena.

“Phew… this is tough.”

While she also wanted to face Kang Ara, she had already reached her physical limit.

Unlike Korea’s straightforward kendo, Japanese styles varied by player, forcing her to adapt after losing the first point and adjust to each opponent’s style, which took a tremendous physical toll.

Moreover, semi-finals consisted of 3 points out of 5 matches, making her win probability about as likely as dirt under a fingernail, she self-deprecatingly thought, given her already depleted stamina.

Semi-final Match 1, players Son Ga-yeon and Gojo Sayaka please come to the arena.

Hearing the announcement, she stepped onto the arena floor.

“”Son Ga-yeon! Son Ga-yeon! Son Ga-yeon! Son Ga-yeon!””

“”Unni!! Fighting!!””

With a mindset to repay the audience cheering for her, she looked at her approaching opponent.

‘Gojo Sayaka…’

Japan’s next-generation Sword Saint.

In a way, she seemed pitiable.

While acknowledging her exceptional talent that earned her the title of genius in Japan,

‘Against Ara….well..’

Kang Ara was simply on another level.

“Both players, bow.”

“Pleased to meet you.”

“Yoroshiku onegaishimasu.”

Semi-final Match 1, Son Ga-yeon VS Sayaka begins!

As soon as the match started, Gojo Sayaka rushed forward quickly.

Son Ga-yeon tried to deflect the first attack and engage in a nose-to-nose fight to slowly wear her down, but.

— Tak-tak!

“Do! (Waist)”

“Waist. Ippon!”

“Heh..”

Whether Sayaka had read her intentions or was just acting on instinct, her bamboo sword, which had been aiming for Son Ga-yeon’s head, changed direction to cut left and struck her waist, securing the first point. Seeing her take the point, Son Ga-yeon couldn’t help but give a hollow laugh.

“Hoo… I envy geniuses…but still… yeah.”

“”Son Ga-yeon, fighting! Go!!””

With such enthusiastic cheering, she couldn’t lose without scoring at least one point—that would be too undignified.

She returned to her position, refined her stance, took a deep breath, and focused on the opponent’s wrist and feet.

—Beep!

As soon as the whistle sounded, Sayaka leaped forward just like in the previous round.

‘Don’t be deceived by the sword’s direction… wrist… watch the waist…’

Exerting tremendous concentration, she successfully blocked Sayaka’s first attack.

However…

— Ta… ta-da tat… tak!

“Kote! (Wrist)”

“Kote. Ippon!”

She had blocked the first attack and tried to block the following combination, but her body wouldn’t respond as needed.

“Time!”

To gather her waning mental and physical strength, she requested a time-out and kept strategizing in her head about how to score a point.

‘Should I push sideways when she rushes in… no, then I’ll get hit in the waist and lose. How can I…’

“Time out is over. Please return to the arena.”

Though it felt like only 3 seconds had passed since she started thinking, the time-out had already ended, and the referee called for her to return.

No matter how much she tried, no strategy to defeat Sayaka came to mind.

‘…..Rather… okay.’

With some kind of resolution, she returned to the arena floor and faced Sayaka.

♦♦♦ * *

[Ah…Player Son Ga-yeon.. appears extremely tired physically. Her eyes follow the direction of the opponent’s bamboo sword, but her body can’t keep up..]

— Ga-yeon noona ㅠㅠㅠ

— This brings tears to my eyes..

— So the finals will be Kang Ara against Gojo Sayaka?

— The comment above, are you f’ing serious?

[Semi-finals are 3 points out of 5 matches. Sayaka has already secured 2 points… Son Ga-yeon must be backed against a wall right now… competing under such pressure can’t be easy…]

[Still. Yes, let’s watch. The Son Ga-yeon I know won’t let go of her opponent until the end. She probably knows it herself. That this is as far as she goes. I’m not saying Son Ga-yeon’s approach is wrong, but her fighting style uses too much physical and mental energy. This drawback might not be noticeable when facing Korea’s straightforward kendo, but Japan’s swordsmanship varies by region. That’s why……]

Caster Lee Hyun-tae and Commentator Baek Kumdo were deeply impressed by Son Ga-yeon’s refusal to give up, and viewers were in tears (except for T) with the chat flooding with emotion when the match, paused by Son Ga-yeon’s time-out request, resumed.

[Now. The match is starting again…huh? Son Ga-yeon is abandoning her middle stance position? What is this? A sign of surrender..?]

— Ga-yeon noona, you’re exhausted… stop, we’ve all seen enough.

— But really, Son Ga-yeon has played full time for all 3 matches, so she’s bound to be tired..

— ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ

[Uh…hmm?]

In Son Ga-yeon’s stance, Baek Kumdo saw someone else reflected. He rubbed his eyes, wondering if they were deceiving him, when.

— Ta-da… ta da-dak… ta-dada..ta-tak!

[Whoa! Son Ga-yeon is attacking aggressively. Until now, she’s been defensive, but now she’s pressuring her opponent offensively!]

Just as Caster Lee Hyun-tae said, she was constantly swinging her bamboo sword, giving Gojo Sayaka no time to rest.

[This is completely Kang Ara’s…style.]

[Oh? Now that you mention it…]

Just as Baek Kumdo realized the peculiarity of her stance,

— Tak!

“Men! (Head)”

Son Ga-yeon gathered her remaining strength and struck Gojo Sayaka’s head with her bamboo sword.

[Wow! Son Ga-yeon has hit Gojo’s head! This means one point!!]

Everyone thought it was an ippon, and even Caster Lee Hyun-tae excitedly jumped up, saying Son Ga-yeon’s point was a foregone conclusion, but.

[The flags aren’t being raised.]

— F*ck, are the referees bribed? Why isn’t that an ippon!

— Let me stab those referees with a real sword, not a bamboo one

— What’s wrong with that head strike?

— This is ridiculous lol

There was no sign of the white flags in the referees’ left hands going up.

[Perhaps. While the kiai after the strike was good, her body wavered, and she didn’t maintain zanshin, which seems to have been a major factor.]

Despite the chat burning with anger, Baek Kumdo calmly explained why the point wasn’t recognized.

[This is…]

Caster Lee Hyun-tae didn’t hide his sympathy for Son Ga-yeon despite Baek’s explanation. He personally experienced what it meant to understand something intellectually but not emotionally.

Having used all her remaining strength on that head strike, Son Ga-yeon eventually…

(Semi-final Match 1)

Son Ga-yeon □□□

Sayaka ■■■

Easily gave up the final point to Sayaka and withdrew.