Chapter 378

**Pazik-**

**Pajijijik-**

Every step sparked around her legs and body.

Emika grimaced at the tsunami of pain crashing over her.

When operating an alien aura, the body typically exhibits a fierce rejection response.

Emika, who mimicked Name’s unique aura, barely endured severe dizziness and nausea.

At the point where all cards were laid bare, she made a gamble to overturn a fight with no chance of winning.

It was to imitate Name’s swordsmanship learned over her shoulder.

Name showed an oddly effortless ability to receive his sword during the comprehensive training.

When training in swordsmanship, she often fell into a trance and unintentionally narrowed her field of vision.

Therefore, approaching someone in the midst of executing a technique is deemed so dangerous that it’s taboo within the Katsuhata School.

However, Name always stopped Emika’s sword with ease.

[Name, could you show me your swordsmanship just once?]

A question thrown out of curiosity.

[It shouldn’t be difficult.]

A sword technique she had never seen before.

If she hadn’t said that one line then, would she be standing here now?

It was too soon to be optimistic.

Mikhail staggered as he pushed himself up, resting on a vicious axe.

“Did you have that kind of trick…?”

“…”

“Well, you’ll understand if I hit you harder! Hwaaaaah!”

Mikhail shouted as he wielded a massive wand.

As soon as Emika realized this, she materialized her mental image.

Wooooo-

The echo of the Demon Lord’s horn reduced the pain.

Still, it felt like her head would split.

It was too late to control a new aura now.

‘I have to follow my body as much as possible!’

It was more important than anything to hold no doubts.

Finding the most natural sword path and swinging the sword was Emika’s specialty.

Clang-!

With every clash of metal, blue sparks flew.

A thin katana effortlessly absorbed the weight of a gigantic battle axe.

Kakakak-

The two weapons crossed and for a brief moment, their faces brushed past each other.

Emika read the bewilderment reflected in Mikhail’s eyes.

She became more confident in her sword path.

The pain lessened.

Thanks to the mental image of executing her sword technique being materialized.

However, the natural sword path Emika found differed slightly from what Name had shown her.

‘The person who used this swordsmanship must have been at least a palm taller than me. The movements are generally large and flashy, so they must have had long limbs. Each movement focused on heavy strikes, but I don’t think they were extraordinarily big. Considering agility and flexibility, maybe they had a delicate and slender build?’

The unknown swordsmanship Name demonstrated was far more destructive and bluntly linear compared to the Katsuhata style.

However, when combined with aura, it required precision that could be perceived as obsessive.

Even a simple thrust was no exception.

In a fleeting moment, Emika infused her thumb with aura and spun the katana at high speed.

She bit down hard on her teeth against the pain of her finger dislocating.

The katana, designed for cutting, struck the side of the axe properly.

Thung-!

The giant axe that had frustrated Emika flew into the air, spinning.

“Ugh!”

Four pairs of eyes chased after the wand.

Mikhail jumped, attempting to grab the wand.

Without a moment to think, Emika opened her left palm and created a lightsaber.

Emika hurled a red spike to the other side of the training hall to prevent Mikhail from retrieving the axe.

The Tokyo Dome filled with cheers from 60,000 spectators.

The roar was so immense that the sand on the training hall floor vibrated.

Emika’s cold heart thudded uncontrollably.

Mikhail spat out harsh curses in his native language.

The situation had long since overturned.

Her mouth felt dry, and she tightened her grip around the katana.

The moment she realized there was only one step left to victory.

“Hwaaaaaaaaaaat!”

With a desperate scream that resembled a wail, Emika’s body shot forward immediately.

Mikhail’s eyes were bloodshot as he tracked Emika’s movements.

As she raised her sword, she extended her fist with aura wrapped around it to the limit.

Bang-!

A sound reminiscent of cannon fire echoed throughout the Tokyo Dome.

Mikhail’s eyes widened in shock.

Before she knew it, Emika was enveloped in her red aura.

‘Remember, one technique of the Katsuhata School’s Omotenotachi of four forms, the first strike of Kasumino is Hachō.’

Information etched in her brain countless times before the match resurfaced vividly.

As if anticipating the enemy’s counterattack,

Emika sidestepped her body diagonally,

and slashed at Mikhail’s exposed upper body.

Chwaaaak-!

“Haa… haa… whew.”

Clack-

Emika expertly sheathed her katana with fluid movements.

Loud cheers were uncontrollably filling her ears.

Exhaling a breath she had been holding, her shoulders rose and fell.

Despite the war-like situation, the sky above was utterly peaceful.

Emika stared at the display board with a blank expression.

**[Final Match 63]**

**[LOSE: Mikhail Balabanov (Russia)] [8%(☠️Complete Destruction) | 23%]**

**[WIN: Katsuhata Emika (Japan)] [22% | 13%(⚠️Irrecoverable)]**

The moment she had dreamed of was approaching.

“I won… I won, I won, I really won, huh…”

People from the Katsuhata School dashed out from the training hall entrance at full speed.

Only then could Emika let her pent-up tears flow freely, savoring the joy of victory.

—

**“The Katsuhata School maintained their dignity, after all.”**

With the victory at the national exchange match and the affirmation of aura swordsmanship, they had achieved all their goals.

Regardless of the journey, they concluded with the Katsuhata sword technique.

Leading the way, Dangju Akitaro and the Katsuhata School group descended to celebrate in the training hall.

The Russian coaching staff exited the VIP lounge as soon as the results were confirmed.

The once raucous Sky Lounge was now empty.

“Wow, Emika was amazing, right? I think I’m going to be a fan starting today!”

In the meantime, Adella took the seat of honor.

I approached the glass wall and looked down at the arena engulfed in cheers.

The audience had been applauding continuously for ten minutes.

In a Japan where magical duels had become a common sport, hymns praising Emika echoed in parts of the crowd.

**[27th National Exchange Match Champion, Katsuhata Emika]**

A large airship floated over the Tokyo Dome, fluttering congratulatory banners.

“Wow, they’re doing everything. What a disaster it would have been if we hadn’t won!”

“It’s been 10 years since we reached the finals, and 13 years since we last won. The emotional levels must be different.”

“Does Korea have trophies?”

“The most recent one was 11 years ago.”

“Oh… that’s so long ago.”

While everyone was absorbed in the afterglow of victory, I sent a congratulatory message to Emika.

With the award ceremony and interviews keeping her busy, I figured she wouldn’t check it for a while.

“Older sister, would you like a bite of churros?”

This time, Adella, who had appeared from the back row, gave me a back hug while handing me churros.

I took a big bite of the sugar-coated part.

“Thanks. But where did you get this?”

“From the unmanned convenience store up front. Older sister, that sword technique Emika used at the end, is it the one you used to use in Moonao?”

“Did I? Oh, now that you mention it, I did use it when I fought Mephistopheles.”

“I thought so! It looked familiar! Back then, it was a game so the sky split and all!”

“It wasn’t quite like that.”

I denied it while using my ring finger to brush off the sugar on my lips.

‘Even if she looks silly, she has talent.’

After seeing it once or twice, she could already replicate the Kaizen-style sword technique.

Of course, the opponent was no pushover.

If not for the first psychological battle, Mikhail had maintained an advantage in every aspect.

“How was it for you? Was the match interesting?”

“Well, it was fun. But since I was busy betting, I couldn’t watch it comfortably, so I’m planning to watch the video later.”

I pinched my lips, deep in thought.

‘Their skills were roughly similar. But why was there such a difference in the earlier rounds?’

In truth, considering the match alone, Emika’s ability to endure until the later rounds was a miracle.

Moreover, Emika hadn’t learned a little from me.

Unique Magic “Adella,” “Demon Lord’s Horn,” “Surrounding Sword,” and although it was roughly visualized, she also knew the Kaizen-style swordsmanship and used external manifestation and multiple auras.

She had used every cheat key imaginable yet only managed to win by a hair.

Could it be due to the difference in pool size?

In her past life, the population was at most 500 million.

Modern times are estimated to be at least 8 billion and up to 10 billion, meaning there’s a 20-fold difference.

Furthermore, entering an information society has made it an era where one can easily confirm their talents.

“Looking at this vast Earth, I can’t help but feel that even the timid cat in Moonao seems insignificant.”

“What? Are you targeting me with that?”

Even if the world of Moonao is vast, it hardly exceeded the size of Dobong District in Seoul.

“Without the talent bestowed by the heavens, I got chased out from the academy in Dobong District, demons descended to conquer Dobong District, and the World Tree is just a big tree in Dobong District.”

“I-I was practically brainwashed! I’m way smarter than those foolish robots!”

“Don’t take it seriously. I’m just saying it casually. Let’s go down now.”

“Hmm? Aren’t we going to meet Emika? What about the clan recruitment talk?”

“Oh, that?”

Name descended the stairs with a cryptic smile.

—

Dangju Akitaro pondered deeply.

[It seems the questions will end during my turn. This last bet will be whether Katsuhata Emika ends with the Katsuhata sword technique.]

Emika, who had discarded the Katsuhata School’s style entirely, overwhelmingly pressed her opponent.

Even the head of the Katsuhata School, who had placed infinite trust in Emika for 30 minutes, couldn’t help but feel a bit deflated seeing that.

Objectively, it would have been impossible to expect to use the sword technique that hadn’t worked during the match.

But the head was responsible for the school.

[But I think she will.]

[Is that so? I think so too.]

Even Name, who had harshly criticized the current aura sword techniques, changed her opinion.

[The strongest weapon is the one most familiar in one’s hands. What Emika practiced the most during this training was not external manifestation, but that Kasumino Tachi. I wish the head would realize that.]

The training of the successor had long been entrusted to Koizumi.

What style she liked to use, what she excelled at, was known far better by Name, who had only observed her for about a month, than by the head, Akitaro.

[Emika’s opinion is the most important regarding the clan. If she agrees, I will persuade the council even if they oppose me.]

Upon seeing Emika surrounded by bouquets, Dangju Akitaro felt a surge of mixed emotions.

The Katsuhata-style aura swordsmanship was only half-successful; in other words, half a failure.

This match had earned her unignorable renown worldwide, but someday, noise would inevitably arise.

‘If only Emika could learn that swordsmanship…!’

Perhaps it could be developed to fit the Katsuhata School.

The debate over the successor’s position was limited to one generation, but the head must always consider the next generation, the next century.

“Katsuhata Emika, do you have any thoughts on following Name to Korea?”

The question came after much deliberation.

Emika, who had previously been beaming from her victory, suddenly wore a droopy expression.

“Ah… I’m sorry for hiding it…”

“Hiding? What do you mean?”

“Pardon?”

“Hmm?”

“Did you not know when you asked?”

Dangju Akitaro received shocking news.

“During the comprehensive training last summer, Name told me that if I want to learn external manifestation or anything, I need to sign first…”

She had recommended thorough stamping on the document.