226 – 44. Character Event – Namgoong Min
Warm up. My body feels numb.
This body has already reached its limit. While in a dream, he took advantage of the distraction of the psychic and the magician to force his way out of the restraints, and when he came out, he just ran away in a panic.
The hiding place originally used was provided by the principal. It would have been nice if I could go there, but there was no way I could go to the secret place that could only be reached at the Romance Academy’s principal’s office.
He stole a random boat that was in his dream and ran away. Halfway through, we ran out of fuel, so we lowered the lifeboat and started rowing. Luckily, we found a passing ship and were rescued.
People were friendly. They said they were on their way to Japan and took me there.
…… Have you ever wanted to survive so much in your life?
Why did you try so hard to survive?
‘To kill Namgoong Min?’
‘To become real?’
‘To restore daily life as promised by the voice?’
Then why didn’t I kill him in my dream?
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What the principal said was right. I surprised him in the best possible condition at the exchange meeting, but lost. The guy didn’t even show any signs of panic, and even though he was outnumbered, he took advantage of the small opportunity and turned the tide. My stomach was pierced with a sword.
Is that the ‘real’ Namgoong Min?
I have no choice but to be a fake in the end? Because it is infinitely inferior to the real thing?
──Failure. Clinker. Clinker.
The principal spoke, and the voice spoke.
Then my life, my life up until now, all the pain and trials I have experienced.
Are they all just experiments and failures?
“That can’t be…….”
No way.
It shouldn’t exist.
I feel dizzy. I was confused and lost.
Unlike me, I only look at the ‘real’ Namgoong Min who is in perfect condition.
“…Do you know Kaede Sasaki?”
“Well, you know.”
“I was able to get here with her help.”
Kaede Sasaki and Jinwoo Hwang.
I had arrived in Japan, but as I was wandering around without knowing what to do, the two people approached me.
They saw me as Namgoong Min. It was both wrong and right.
‘Why me……… ?’
‘Well, I received a favor, so I have to repay it!’
He canceled the flight to Romance Academy without saying anything. Since today is Sunday, they said they would follow tomorrow.
I ended up.
I was helped by what Namgoong Min left behind.
I and I have not even left any traces.
Nam Goong Min left many marks on this world.
Then the real thing is──
──It seems to me that the person you are now is also real.
‘I’m real too?’
What he said in his dream. This is what he said with a smile when I said I wanted to fight the best guy.
Why did it feel so sweet to say that I am also real?
Am I really real? Isn’t this a failure or something?
“You said I was really Namgoong Min too.”
“Do you remember what I said in my dream?”
“I remember. Of course, I remember…”
But that is.
Isn’t this something that can be said because it is ‘real’?
Rather, those words that seemed to acknowledge others made me realize an even bigger gap.
No matter how much I deny it, it seems like it’s already clear what’s real and what’s fake.
…… Complex thoughts were dismissed as one.
Fight with Namgoong Min. And win.
If I achieve what I’ve always dreamed of and what that bastard, the voice and former god, kept whispering to me.
Maybe we can get an answer.
“And I also remember the saying that I have to fight against you with all my might.”
“……You.”
“So, if you really care about me unnecessarily…”
I would rather be able to give all the answers here.
If you couldn’t come up with an answer, just let everything go.
“Fight. Risk your life, fight with all your might.”
“……….”
“That’s for me.”
“……Good.”
Take a slow, deep breath. I caress the card in my arms.
I am different from that guy. Unlike him, who had a cursed body in , I was born strong even though I was a fortune teller.
Now I know that it was all just an experiment.
For now, it was the difference between me and him.
Whew!!
This is the last time anyway. There is no need to save stamina.
I grab hold of my body, which is reeling from fatigue and wounds, and crawl into the guy’s side.
This ‘card’ that I received from the principal is not only a tool for fortune-telling, but it is also a weapon that can cut down pretty much anything.
This is an attack that would be difficult for anyone who has faced so far to take the lead.
But Namgoong Min’s eyes were clearly following my movements.
Whoosh!
“Whoosh…!?”
Nam Goong Min, who dodged the card with a reaction speed that was completely different from what he had seen before, took a step back.
He quickly grabs the card with the other hand and throws it, but he avoids it by jumping halfway.
‘How?’
I know what ring he is wearing. Artifact . An artifact that increases physical abilities to the limit only for a pure body.
But that is an effect that can only be received by kissing the ring. In other words, you could quickly subdue the guy if you cut off his fingers or didn’t even give him time to kiss him.
So it was an onslaught that poured all of its stamina and energy into it. Even though I kept moving my creaking body and throwing cards, he was somehow dodging them all.
‘Is it a reinforcement similar to an artifact…? … ?’
I said I came to say goodbye.
Did you receive any reinforcement magic at that time? Otherwise, his reaction could not be explained.
It’s still in that state, and if Is used, this side will definitely be pushed out.
‘Quick decision…… !!’
It’s a body that can’t fight for long anyway. I had to finish it as quickly as possible.
Throwing the card like this will not be able to inflict fatal wounds on the guy. I have to approach it at all costs…… ?
Tadat!
“What?”
…… Conversely, you’re running towards me?
Is it because they threw the card and completely prevented the use of ? It seemed like he was trying to take a chance.
Actually, I didn’t understand.
Anyone can see that my body is a complete mess, close to its limit. If I just keep my distance like this and dodge the cards, I’ll be the one showing the loophole.
Why……… ?
──Fight. Risk your life and do everything you can.
──That’s for me.
No way.
Because of those words? Really?
‘……… Ah.’
The guy is running. In the meantime, I threw a card at the guy’s forehead, but I dodged it just a little, risking a cut on his cheek, and then kept coming.
If he’s really rushing in now to give his all. If you are risking your life.
Of course.
‘This too…… !’
Pick it.
Hold the card in your hand. A card with a silver finish hurts its owner equally, but that was actually a deliberate tactic.
A deep cut is made by a card, and the flowing blood splatters in front of the guy.
“………!!”
Blood suddenly sprayed into one of his eyes. That didn’t stop him, but it was enough to make him close one eye.
That’s because he used Eyes.
Now the eyes that used to shed bloody tears have closed, and his eyesight has deteriorated to the extreme.
Bet on the odds.
“Nam Goong Min!!!!”
Hold the card firmly as before. If I held it between my two fingers like I did until now, I could have dropped it without being able to cut it properly.
My palm and fingers are also dug into the card, but it actually makes me hold the card even stronger.
The cards are sharp. It’s enough to pierce the heart of anyone, no matter how professional they are.
‘What is this guy’s goal!?’
Now the distance from him is less than 2m. If I play this card, it will hit me right away.
But the guy who ran here had bare hands. Is he really going to hit me with his fist?
‘If so.’
No matter what I give up, I will put this card in your heart.
The bleeding wound and sharp pain from being cut by a card strongly awaken my spirit.
I’m fighting this guy. I’m fighting with all my might against the perfect guy.
So, am I satisfied now? Are you happy that you will soon be able to kill him?
‘I am.’
Not yet.
I don’t know──
Quad.
──Huh?
The arm that throws out the card is caught by the guy’s hand.
It seems like what he was aiming for from the beginning was that arm. One hand holds my wrist and the other hand holds my collar.
I immediately stopped running and then reversed direction.
Bam!!
“Whoop!!!”
Pick it up.
In the meantime, the card that wasn’t placed caused a scratch on the guy’s face, but it wasn’t a deep wound.
I was thrown to the floor as the force I had been using was used against me.
“………Cough.”
Now really.
I didn’t even have the strength to move.
“You……this…….”
“Didn’t I tell you that I’m a student at the police academy?”
“…What?”
“Originally, in the world, I was a reserve police officer. To be honest, I didn’t take judo classes often, but I can do this much.”
“……………….”
“Well, if it weren’t for Lucas’ strengthening magic and Lane’s superpowers, it wouldn’t have been successful.”
Somehow my physical ability was better than expected, and maybe that was why.
I didn’t even think or want to say things like cowardice and let’s fight properly.
I was the one who wanted to fight in perfect condition.
Because I had no intention of blaming a guy who was far behind in physical ability for making up for his own weaknesses.
Just, just.
“……Again.”
“Huh?”
“You lost again.”
I lost. So much so that I can’t even make any excuses.
Just like we did at the exchange meeting.
I lost again.
“…Your arms and legs are twitching.”
“……………….”
“If you hadn’t even received proper treatment after coming out of the dream, your physical condition would already be at its worst.”
“That’s just an excuse.”
“On the other hand, I ate well, rested well, and received reinforcements from Lucas and Lane. The difference is too big.”
“……What do you want to say?”
“It’s not fair.”
…… It’s not fair?
“So what?”
“……………….”
“This is the fight I wanted. I rushed in to kill you, and I just lost ugly. This isn’t some kind of sport or anything.”
He rushed in to kill Namgoong Min. And lost.
I thought that would be enough.
These complicated thoughts, inside my head…… I felt like I could sort it out now.
“I ended up being a fake.”
“Hey.”
“What I said in the dream was wrong. I am also real? Well, I didn’t achieve anything that I really wanted… Can such a failure full of failures be called real?”
What the former Shin and the principal said was correct.
I was just a failure.
It was easier to think that way.
So.
“Kill me.”
“……………….”
“Don’t think foolishly. If I had won, I would have killed you. So, you should kill me too… And let’s end things neatly.”
Don’t bother me anymore.
Just, let’s get it over with.
“……………….”
I can’t even lift a finger, I just look up at the guy who was thrown on the floor.
Oh, I forgot one thing.
“After you kill me, take those cards too.”
“……….”
“It would be quite useful. I guess.”
With this.
With this, now I………
“Stupid bastard.”
“…What?”
“What are you talking about? Are you really going to die like this?”
“Of course it is. Because I lost….”
“So what’s your goal? To return to normal life? What about that former god who played with you, calling you a failure? Everything you’ve endured so far has been resolved in just this one time?”
“……Don’t say anything.”
“Are you going to just run away like that?”
“…Then what then? My goal was to kill you and prove that you were real! And I failed miserably in all my attempts! But what reason is there to live anymore?”
“Of course it is.”
“……What.”
“Revenge.”
Tap.
Namgoong Min walks over.
In front of me, who fell miserably.
“Do you know why I entered the police academy?”
“…I don’t know.”
“I wanted to catch the pseudo-bastard who drove my parents to death and destroyed so many others. I wanted to catch that bastard myself and put him in the dark.”
“……………….”
“I had only two goals in life. My sister and revenge. For that, I learned fortune telling from a pseudo-bastard, learned to laugh, and waited until one day to get revenge on that bastard. I endured it again and again.”
“That’s it.”
“You’re Namgoong Min too. Do you really want me to die like this?”
Sureuk.
“If you really want to die, tell me again. I will kill you with your card.”
“……….”
“Choose. Revenge or death?”
“…Speaking of revenge.”
“It’s obvious. Aren’t you that bastard from the former god who made absurd remarks about your life being a failure? I’ll say it again. You are the real Namgoong Min. And if you are really Namgoong Min.”
Hold out your hand.
Hands that tremble like mine.
“Trust me just once. We are the same fortune tellers, right?”
“……Ha, hahahaha.”
Like, a fortune teller?
Why is that saying so funny? Why am I laughing now?
‘Revenge?’
I don’t know. I don’t know.
What is a fortune teller, what is a younger sister, what is that cult? It’s just too complicated in my head.
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But.
“f*ck you, you fortune teller.”
“……………….”
“I… Can stand up on my own.”
I hit the guy’s hand away. I somehow manage to move my limbs that I don’t even have the strength to use properly.
I fall again and again, stumble, and blood pours from the wound caused by the card.
Still, it happens.
“You’re so good at talking. Have you been using that tongue all this time?”
“…Well, it’s similar.”
“Recognize your bad luck. I would have passed if I wasn’t Namgoong Min.”
Nam Goong Min.
His name and my name.
There is no reason to label it as real or fake.
The very name I should be called in this world.
“Still, you said one thing well.”
“What is it?”
“That voice…Former god. That bastard needs to be punched.”
I still don’t know. Am I real or fake? Is it a failure or something? Did my life have meaning or was it just an experiment?
But you said he went to the police academy for revenge, right?
At least I have to do that to be able to be called ‘Namgoong Min.’
Even if it is fake and a failure.
“You damn bastard.”
That was the ‘me’ I thought of.