46 – Evaluation Match (8)
“What, what did you say? Taehoon Kang and I are having an evaluation match?”
It was around the time the lectures ended. I told Arna about what happened yesterday at the military administration office.
Arna narrowed her eyes slightly upon hearing the news.
“Why on earth would you do such a thing…”
Out of all the students, it had to be Taehoon Kang with whom I would have an evaluation match. Regardless of the difference in skills, there was a risk of someone getting seriously injured. Arna seemed a bit concerned about that aspect.
However, there was something I couldn’t give up on.
“It was too much money to refuse.”
“M-Money…?”
I showed Arna the screen of my smartphone. It was precisely the banking app screen.
“W-What is this money…?”
With just one deposit, the account had bulked up. Arna’s mouth hung open in disbelief.
I chuckled softly and said, “It’s a fee.”
“A f-fee…?”
It felt like suddenly we were in some kind of evaluation, but it all came down to money. Arna shot me a look of utter disdain.
“You’re already collecting a fee before we even start… Don’t you have any pride?”
Receiving the treatment fee upfront was akin to declaring, “I’ll be your punching bag.”
It meant showcasing a pitiful sight in front of many spectators. For an average person, enduring such humiliation would be challenging.
But I’m different.
“I’m accustomed to defeat. It’s always been that way.”
“…”
Arna would know better than anyone else. She’s witnessed it in front of her eyes countless times—the defeat of a third-rate villain.
It’s just repeating the same cycle.
“But this time, the opponent is different… If you make a mistake…”
As the opponent is Kang Tae-hoon, Arna cautioned that I should be careful.
“I’ll take care of my body. It’s none of your concern.”
But there’s no need to worry. There’s absolutely no danger of getting hurt. I plan to raise both hands in surrender as soon as the evaluation begins.
“No. I can’t just stand by and watch. Let me help too.”
“H-Help with what?”
Suddenly, Arna’s eyes began to sparkle. She seemed determined.
A sense of foreboding slowly started to creep in.
“Preparing for the evaluation. Even if you can’t win, you should at least try to trip up your opponent. You weren’t thinking of just taking hits, were you?”
No, there’s no need for any preparation…
Besides, I have no intention of just taking hits…
“This weekend, train with me.”
“What… training…?”
“Yes, starting from basic exercises, dietary management, to custom strategies for the upcoming evaluation match. I’ll take care of everything step by step right by your side.”
Preparing for something like this now, just a week before the assessment match, would it really make any difference?
Seems like a waste of time.
“Not needed. And as for dietary management, you can handle that yourself.”
“Hoho, suit yourself.”
Arna grabbed my arm firmly and began dragging me somewhere.
“Let’s start with the fitness training room. Before fighting, it’s necessary to build the body first.”
This person…
Seriously, I said I don’t need this.
Is he deliberately doing this to mess with me?
“It’s better to be prepared.”
Perhaps he’s right.
***
After various training sessions with Arna, the day of the evaluation match arrived before we knew it.
I entered the outdoor stadium as planned. Stepping into the center of the stadium, I felt the gaze of numerous spectators upon me.
Coincidentally, Kang Tae-hoon was already there, looking remarkably cheerful.
“Oh, you’ve… come.”
As soon as Kang Tae-hoon saw my face, he quickly suppressed his laughter. Then, he sent a gaze that seemed genuinely concerned.
“Why do you look like that?”
“….”
As he said, I had a miserable appearance. My face looked sunken, and various muscle pains made my whole body ache.
I barely managed to open my lips.
“I had… a lot going on.”
“What…?”
“It’s tough, really.”
Never in my dreams did I think I would be complaining to Kang Tae-hoon. It was such a challenging time. Despite being just a few days of training, it felt like hell to me.
I tried to escape several times in between, but each time, Arna subdued me with force. As a result, over the weekend, I spent almost all my time confined in the fitness training room.
It was all about intense exercise.
Of course, there was absolutely no change in my body. Just unnecessary muscle pain had emerged for no reason.
“It’s time to show the results of our training!”
Arna shouted in the distance.
That darned milk-monster. Results of training, my foot. Why is he laughing so cheerfully like that again?
I never expected to be humiliated in reverse like this by Arna. I’ll remember this and pay him back many times over later.
Anyway.
Right now, the evaluation match looming in front of me was the priority.
First things first, I had to finish this evaluation match unharmed.
“Ugh…”
But even walking forward was a struggle. My legs trembled with every step I took.
“Hey, you! If you keep whining like a dying fish, what do you expect to achieve? You won’t taste good if you’re so pitiful!”
The inelegant Kang Tae-hoon yelled.
To enjoy a good meal, you must choose a fish with beautiful colors and good seeds. But I was nothing more than an old and sick fish right now. Even as a meal, I wasn’t worth it.
“Fine… if I’m not good enough as a meal, I’ll just make a spicy stew.”
Regardless, the plan to pay him back remained unchanged. There was no other way. After all, I’d paid him a hefty deposit for all those antics.
“Is everyone here?”
As the time approached, a woman entered the arena. She was Assistant Instructor Seo Dan-a. She was assigned as the referee for this evaluation match.
“Could you all come over here for a moment?”
Following Seo Dan-a’s instructions, we gathered at the center. Subsequently, we received safety regulations and instructions related to the evaluation match.
“Lastly, are there any individuals here today with health restrictions for the evaluation match?”
It was a question about whether anyone was ill. Kang Tae-hoon pointed at me with a chin jerk.
“I’m fine, so ask that guy over there.”
“Student Shin Yoon-sung, are you okay?”
Seo Dan-a looked in my direction. I nodded, indicating that I was fine.
Anyway, the evaluation match would be over within a minute.
“Understood. Please return to your positions.”
Tension began to fill the outdoor arena suddenly. The spectators, who had been loudly chattering, seemed to hold their breath, as if waiting for a prearranged moment when the game would commence.
Arna, sitting far away in the stands, was no different.
“hehehehe…”
Meanwhile, Kang Tae-hoon showed no signs of nervousness whatsoever. Holding his sword, he seemed to relish this moment, writhing with excitement.
The opponent raised their sword, so now it’s time for me to slowly take out the spoon….
Ding─!
At that moment, the quest window appeared.
─── Quest ───
: The villain shall not fall
: Survive for 30 minutes after the evaluation battle begins.
From Noble mtl dot com
Quest completion reward ＜SP Point 1＞, ＜Arna’s overall stats increased by 1＞
───
What the.
Unexpectedly, a survival mission popped up. It was a quest to endure for 30 minutes.
Is this guy crazy? The moment I read the content, I was dumbfounded.
Who the heck does 30 minutes? The person who gave the quest is undoubtedly a loser who has never fought a single round in their life.
UFC doesn’t even give 30 minutes for a whole fight. But enduring for several times that? It was like telling me to just die.
I decided to casually ignore the quest.
Ding─!
Then, the quest window appeared again.
─── Quest ───
: The villain shall not fall
: Survive for 10 minutes after the evaluation battle begins.
Quest completion reward ＜SP Point 1＞, ＜Arna’s overall stats increased by 1＞
───
Look at this. Perhaps realizing that 30 minutes was too much even for themselves, they reduced it to 10 minutes.
Well, I still won’t do it. 10 minutes is also such a long time. If you start fighting and clashing right away, even 1 minute will feel incredibly long.
Just like before, I pretended not to see it.
Ding─!
However, the quest window continued to appear.
─── Quest ───
: The villain shall not fall
: Survive for 5 minutes after the evaluation battle begins!
Quest completion reward ＜SP Point 1＞, ＜Arna’s overall stats increased by 1＞
Oh.
Now, they suggested reaching an agreement in 5 minutes. The exclamation mark at the end was quite charming. I didn’t expect it to come to this.
But I’m not someone who can’t live without a quest. There was no reason to accept it.
There’s a saying about not entering the hunting ground. Just to gain a measly SP point, I can’t sacrifice my precious body.
This time, I decided to ignore it cleanly.
Ding─!
─── Quest ───
: Villain won’t fall
: After the evaluation battle begins, survive for 1 minute!!!
Quest completion reward ＜SP Point 1＞, ＜Arna’s overall stat increase 1＞
───
The quest window appeared again without giving up. This time, it even came with three exclamation marks. This is probably the final proposal.
Just 1 minute.
Honestly, 1 minute is manageable. Now is the moment when the balance of the scales is finally even.
I decided to accept it immediately.
Beep─!
“…!”
The signal to accept the quest rang out frighteningly. It was the whistle announcing the start of the evaluation battle.
No, I haven’t even prepared yet?
“Suck…!”
Thud─!
As the whistle sounded, Kang Tae-hoon, who was the first to lift his foot, rushed toward me with a blade raised, moving like a wild beast.
“Wait.”
Before Kang Tae-hoon approached, I quickly reached out towards the front. It was a signal to pause for a moment.
“…!”
Screeech─!
Seeing my gesture, Kang Tae-hoon, who was about to leap, urgently hit the brakes.
“What’s all of a sudden…!”
“Sorry. My shoelace came untied.”
“Curses! That should have been checked before the start!”
Doing an evaluation match is seriously tough. Kang Tae-hoon grumbled various complaints, giving me a bit of time.
Still, he’s a good guy. He even gave me time to tie my shoelaces. In this moment, I quickly bent my waist and decided to tie my shoelaces.
While doing that, I counted silently.
60… 50… 40… 30… 20… 10… 0….
Ding.
With just one shoelace, I easily endured a minute. With this, I secured the quest reward for now.
Now the problem is Kang Tae-hoon. Imagining his face contorting soon, laughter burst out of me already.
I slowly got up from my seat, somehow suppressing the laughter.
“It’s over… huh…?”
After that, visible to everyone in the stadium,
I raised both arms high.
“….”
Not only tying shoelaces in the middle of an evaluation match but also unexpectedly raising both arms while sitting. At this inexplicable behavior, Kang Tae-hoon blinked his eyes a few times.
“What are you doing right now…?”
To that question, I smiled broadly, revealing my white teeth.
“If you look, you wouldn’t know. It’s a sign that I lost.”
───!
At that moment, the spectator seats turned into a tumult.
─── Quest ───
: The villain doesn’t fall ＜Clear…＞
: Quest completion reward ＜SP Points 1＞, ＜Arna’s overall stats increase by 1＞
───
The system got scammed🤣👌
Mc your dead
I hope the system doesn’t punish him for this…