Chapter 382

The Eastern Empire, particularly the Hwan Empire, places a significant emphasis on “face,” which is as important as conservatism in various fields.

If you ignore or tarnish your family or your own face, you might as well declare someone a sworn enemy and chew them up.

This culture surrounding face is both a shortcoming and, conversely, a strength of the Hwan Empire.

The reason there are many people who refer to each other as brothers compared to the West stems from this cultural aspect.

With a culture that values face so highly, what about the families that serve as pillars of the Hwan Empire?

If a family’s reputation is stained, even a child with extraordinary talent will be mercilessly cast aside.

On the flip side, if another family tarnishes their reputation? It could easily lead to war between families.

Because of this, families might secretly gossip about each other, but publicly ruining someone’s face is extremely rare.

In such a culture where face is highly valued, turning your back and fleeing from an enemy is seen as shameful.

“Shame is shame.”

Namgoong Seokdae thought this without looking back. Although he could hear all sorts of sounds coming from behind, he did his best to ignore them.

The first plan had failed, so the only thing left was the second plan—running away.

The plan was to escape somehow, drag out time, and cause them to lose their victory.

The wheel battle was also part of the second plan. The purpose of dragging out time was the same.

“Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be in danger.”

The enemy was far stronger than the Eastern masters, while he himself felt utterly weak.

Even though Namgoong Seokdae was a standout among geniuses, it didn’t matter in front of a genuine monster.

Shame from turning his back and fleeing? He didn’t feel that at all.

Humans are perpetually powerless against natural disasters, no matter how much they prepare.

Sivar was, quite literally, an unavoidable disaster. Hence, the escape.

“When the ears of my family get wind of this, I’ll have an excuse ready.”

If this got to the ears of his proud family, it was clear they would blow their top.

In the worst-case scenario, he might receive an order to return to the family instantly. But Namgoong Seokdae didn’t care.

He could proudly say, what’s the point of fighting a losing battle anyway?

As long as he scores well, that’s all that matters. As you can see, he could endure such humiliation for the family, and so on.

“……It feels like only my rhetoric is growing.”

Namgoong Seokdae forced a bitter smile. His power wasn’t increasing, but his speech was only getting more elaborate.

But that’s that, and this is this. Namgoong Seokdae worried about the immediate future.

According to the broadcast earlier, there were only 30 minutes left. He had to hold out for another 30 minutes.

“If I knew it would be like this, I should’ve practiced the lightness skill more.”

It was too late for regrets. Namgoong Seokdae simply ran, sticking to his plan.

Avoiding that beastly human—no, that demonic human. No matter how many times he thought about it, that strength was unfathomable.

First and foremost was their physical strength. Even with nearly 30 people clinging to him, Sivar didn’t budge an inch.

It was as if he simply shook off a few bothersome insects—bang! It was truly astonishing power.

“I heard he lived in the wilderness, so it’s not that hard to understand.”

What kind of place is the wilderness? It’s where creatures and beasts, much stronger than humans, fight over territory.

Moreover, I’ve heard that the inside of the Chaos Forest is far more perilous than typical wilderness—a true place of the inhuman.

If he survived in a place like that, his very bones must be different. Namgoong Seokdae could see the logic in it.

“Is there anyone in the Academy who can beat him, excluding the Sword Saint…”

He had heard such rumors. Sivar is under the protection of the Sword Saint, but at the same time, he is also being supervised.

Since ancient times, people tend to submit to those much stronger than them.

Namgoong Seokdae figured Sivar would be similar.

Of course, in reality, they were just close, and more often than not, Sivar would tease him and get hit back.

—Ahh!

A pitiful scream pierced Namgoong Seokdae’s ears. By now, such screams had become numb to him.

He had only one intention: to escape and make the outcome favorable for everyone. That was all there was to it.

“Haah… haah…”

However, unlike others, his stamina wasn’t infinite. Namgoong Seokdae panted, glancing around.

While running in opposite directions with a student who had also received a ring, they reached a village.

With no map and the time being twilight, he decided to take a breather.

“I should rest in that house for now.”

[3 minutes left until the test ends.]

Just one minute. He only planned to rest for a minute. Just in time, the test would soon be over.

Thinking that, Namgoong Seokdae forced his burning legs to move.

Just as he picked a house and opened the door—

“Hello.”

“…?”

Sivar was right in front of him.

His left hand adorned with numerous rings, and he wore a green necklace around his neck.

Namgoong Seokdae could only doubt his own eyes. Was he seeing things because he was too exhausted?

He rubbed his eyes and looked again. Whether it was a mirage or not, Sivar had vanished without a trace.

“Hah. Have I not been sleeping well these days…”

He mumbled softly and moved forward.

—Thud!

Until someone placed a hand on his shoulder.

“What…?”

-Crash!

Before he could react, Namgoong Seokdae was hurled out the door.

How strongly had he been thrown that the door splintered? His pain was fleeting as he stood up in a rush.

Confusion and disbelief filled his eyes. He just couldn’t grasp reality.

Before him stood a figure radiating an aura comparable to a “monster of the East.”

“Now it’s over.”

“… …”

“What a hardship this is.”

It was Sivar—having come to take down the student with whom the rings were split.

Namgoong Seokdae stared at Sivar with trembling eyes. No matter how many times he checked, it was definitely Sivar.

“How? That long distance? Did you make a round trip in just 30 minutes?”

It couldn’t have taken long to take down the students. With just a punch, they all would’ve dropped like flies.

So, it must have only taken time to track them down, but catching up in less than 30 minutes was astonishing.

Moreover, judging by the number of rings on his right hand, he had gathered all the treasures. The only one left was Namgoong Seokdae’s blue ring.

Sivar slowly approached Namgoong Seokdae. In a fallen state, he staggered backward and barely got back on his feet.

“Hah…”

Only a resigned sigh escaped him. Had a natural disaster really morphed into a human?

There was no other way to explain this situation. However, he simultaneously resolved.

Humans cannot escape natural disasters. But they can prepare.

Just hold out somehow. Even if he shows a ghastly sight, he planned to endure.

“Could you let me go?”

“No.”

“It’s a request from a junior.”

“The one who threw sand in my eyes.”

“… …”

Well, he had no retort for that. Namgoong Seokdae forced a bitter smile and slowly drew his sword.

This would buy him a few tens of seconds. A marvelous achievement.

Realizing that time was also short, Sivar quickly moved forward as soon as Namgoong Seokdae drew his sword.

At last, with all his might, Namgoong Seokdae struck downward with his sword. He expended all the remaining magic power he had.

-Clang!

But it was blocked effortlessly by Sivar’s hand. He caught it as if it were nothing.

-Crunch!

Not only did he catch it, but he also crushed it with his hand.

Namgoong Seokdae watched the fragments tumble from Sivar’s grip.

Now, not even a wry smile emerged. He could only marvel at the overwhelming skill difference.

-Crack!

“Kyaah?!”

Of course, marveling was one thing; the test was still on. Sivar didn’t hold back and punched Namgoong Seokdae in the stomach.

With considerable force, Namgoong Seokdae’s eyes widened, and his body rolled back.

“Ugh…”

“You hid well. But it’s over now.”

Sivar approached the fallen Namgoong Seokdae and took the ring from his finger.

He slipped the collected ring onto his left hand. The colorful rings adorned his left hand beautifully.

Finally, he slowly raised his right hand, showcasing the purple glove. Namgoong Seokdae could do nothing but watch.

“I am…”

“Cough! Hah…”

“I am the unavoidable one.”

-Snap!

Sivar grinned and snapped his fingers.

Then…

“… …”

“… …”

“…..?”

“…..?”

Nothing happened at all. Namgoong Seokdae, of course, and Sivar was also bewildered.

He rechecked the number of treasures and the purple glove, but the quantity was accurate.

-Snap! Snap!

No matter how many times he snapped, the result was the same. Nothing happened.

-Screech!

[The test has concluded. There is no winner.]

Instead, only the announcement declaring the end of the test echoed.

Namgoong Seokdae stared blankly at Sivar, unable to comprehend the situation.

Sivar scratched his head, clearly puzzled by why it didn’t work.

“Wasn’t it supposed to be done like this?”

“… …”

It was a test finished in futility.

******

“What are they doing?”

This was Dis’s evaluation, who had been watching the test until the end. His face was a mix of various emotions.

The wills of Namgoong Seokdae and Sivar’s pursuit were nothing short of breathtaking. Making one sweat with tension.

Yet Sivar’s bizarre antics at the end raised questions among the professors.

“Throwing the treasure in the lake and making a wish is what you’re supposed to do. Why is he snapping his fingers?”

“Who said it should be done that way?”

“Seems like he was only tracking the treasures, completely oblivious to the proper method.”

That’s right. Since Sivar had only been tracking the treasures, he didn’t know how to make a wish.

He merely acted out a memory of something he had seen somewhere.

The professors hadn’t realized this was deeply rooted in his past life’s influence.

And this question applied not just to the professors but to others as well.

“Hmmm. That’s odd. Why didn’t he come to the lake?”

Karas, who had been waiting at the lake, had staked his claim for some good entertainment, only for it to be rendered pointless.

“…Why did I even come with you, brother?”

“Interesting things should be seen together.”

“… …”

Regardless, Diana seriously wished she could drop out.

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