I Became an Illegal Cheat User

101 – Duel Season (7)

Gloria.

A first-generation transcendent, like a god, and the great woman who banished the foreign gods beyond the world.

People referred to her as the Great Saintess.

In addition, she had many other titles: Daughter of the Divine, Mistress of the Temple, Guardian of the World, and the Sovereign of Authority.

However, since becoming a mother, the title Gloria cherished most was not Sovereign, but “Mother of Noah.”

To her, Noah was a treasure more precious than her own life, the last memory left by her beloved.

That son had made a friend.

Lee Yoo-jin. The top student of Arena Academy.

Every time a letter arrived from her son, his name was always written on it. Along with details of his exploits.

Though he had only been at the academy for a day, he had already led his peers to resolve a rift that occurred during their first outdoor class.

He had not only rescued people from a rift on Alchemy Workshop Street but had also single-handedly dealt with a high-ranking corruptor.

During the mid-evaluation, he commanded his peers against a rift of extreme danger on a deserted island, showcasing his prowess against the allure of the enemy.

Finally, during his internship, he had not only held back hundreds of thousands of corruptors attacking the first extermination unit’s forward base but had also annihilated them, facing down greed until Kalli arrived.

These were achievements that would have been hard to believe if they hadn’t come from her son’s letters.

Thus, beyond gratitude, she found herself curious about this child named Lee Yoo-jin. She wanted to meet him just once.

So, in time for the academy’s duel season, she left the temple. And she was moved to see her son after such a long time.

Oh my, her son had greeted her first. With a bright smile, no less!

Overwhelmed with emotion, Gloria decided to meet Lee Yoo-jin during lunch to express her gratitude and repay him.

But then… the second match began, the grand brawl.

Gloria sensed it.

A familiar, yet once thought to be forever lost, sinister energy.

The foreign gods. The energy of those she had banished beyond the world was emanating from Lee Yoo-jin.

She couldn’t believe it.

Why was she sensing the energy of the foreign gods from that child?

Questions arose.

Was the energy she sensed truly that of the foreign gods? Had too much time passed, and was she misinterpreting it?

Yet, with every piece of equipment Lee Yoo-jin summoned from the air, the energy of the foreign gods became undeniable.

…It had been a long time since she felt such rage.

Towards that sinister presence so close to her son.

Towards her sister, Yu-hwa, who was holed up in the temple, doing nothing.

No, how could she just leave that sinister thing be?

I understand that others, especially the swordsman watching the match beside me, might not sense it.

The aura emanating from Lee Yu-jin is so faint that only someone like a first-generation transcendent, who has fought against external forces directly, could detect it.

But Yu-hwa, my sister, is a transcendent of such high caliber that one could even consider her a demigod. There’s no way she wouldn’t notice.

Could it be that just because the aura is weak, they’re letting the fallen ones live after dealing with them? Evil is captured by evil, is that it?

If so, I would like to say that’s a reasonable approach.

But that’s just from the perspective of a transcendent; as a mother, I cannot accept it.

I cannot stand to see that vile creature near my precious son.

So, I had my son summon that being to where I was.

In return for awakening my son’s emotions, I decided to grant him his wish.

“Please, let me speak to the chairman just once!”

That vile creature unexpectedly asked to speak with my sister Yu-hwa.

&

Fortunately, Gloria agreed to my request.

However, perhaps doubting that I could be trusted, she called the chairman on her own smartphone.

Well, it doesn’t matter to me. As long as I can talk to the chairman, that’s all I need.

Click.

The call connected, and I heard the chairman’s indifferent yet warm voice.

– Gloria, it’s been a long time.

“Sister, it’s been a while. I hope you’ve been well?”

Before getting to the point, Gloria exchanged pleasantries.

– Yes, I’ve been well. How about you?

“I’m doing well too.”

A perfectly ordinary exchange of greetings.

Yet seeing transcendent beings greet each other like that felt strangely fascinating.

They’re human too, I thought.

As I pondered this, Gloria began to speak seriously.

There’s a child named Lee Yu-jin who possesses the aura of an external force. But why are they allowing that vile creature to live?

She cannot tolerate that being being near her son. So she intended to kill it, but it sought out her sister.

As soon as she finished speaking, the chairman responded immediately.

– …Gloria, release it at once.

Indeed, Chairwoman. I knew I could count on you!

But Gloria, as if she couldn’t understand at all, questioned the Chairwoman with a hint of accusation.

“Sister, the energy I feel from this creature is the energy of the foreign entity. It’s the energy of the comrades who all died, the one we fought for with our lives.”

– I know.

“No, then we must…!”

Shouldn’t we kill it? Gloria tried to continue her thought.

– Gloria.

Before she could finish, the Chairwoman interrupted.

“…Yes, sister.”

– I understand how you feel. The foreign entity that took the lives of our comrades, the one that nearly brought destruction to this world. It’s only natural that you would want to eliminate the one who carries its energy, especially if they are near your precious son.

“Exactly. I want to snap the neck of this creature right now.”

As Gloria said this, she glanced at me. In that gaze, I felt a seething rage.

– But that child, while carrying the energy of the foreign entity, is also a guardian like me.

This time, she didn’t just glance away; she turned her head to look at me directly.

“…This creature is a guardian like you?”

Gloria asked back, her voice laced with disbelief.

– Yes, it’s hard to believe. But it is an undeniable fact.

“…I can’t believe it.”

Her expression suggested she didn’t want to accept it, as if denying its existence.

Her hatred for the foreign entity must run deep.

I understood Gloria’s feelings.

Of course, I only understood; I had no desire to die. So, Chairwoman, please save me quickly.

‘I’m going to get killed at this rate!’

It seemed my wish had been conveyed.

– Then trust me. Trust in my existence that believes in Yoo-jin.

The Chairwoman urged her to trust in her. At that, Gloria stared at me intently.

As if she were trying to confirm something.

And after a moment.

“…Alright. Then I’ll trust my sister, and I’ll trust this child too.”

The way Gloria referred to me changed from “creature” to “child.”

It means, quite literally, that I lived.

– Yes, thank you. And Lee Yu-jin, I’m truly sorry for putting you through this.

“No, thank you for saving me.”

Gratitude, overwhelming gratitude!

– What gratitude? When you have time later, come visit me in my office. I have a gift prepared for you.

A gift, you say!

I wanted to say I would go straight to the word that makes my heart flutter, but unfortunately, the duel season is ongoing, so I couldn’t.

“I’ll come by as soon as the duel season ends!”

I decided to finish the duel season and the onslaught of the Fallen first.

‘Ah, I wonder what the gift could be.’

Is it a potion like last time? Or maybe some equipment?

‘Whatever it is, since it’s the chairman’s gift, it must be something good.’

As I thought this and my happiness circuit ignited,

– Then Gloria, let’s make sure to see each other later.

“Yes, sister. I’ll see you later.”

The chairman and Gloria exchanged farewells.

Click.

I heard the sound of the call ending.

“…….”

Gloria lowered her hand that was holding the smartphone.

Then, with a short sigh, she removed the knuckles she had been wearing.

“…I’m sorry for the misunderstanding.”

She bowed her head deeply as she apologized.

At the same time, the divine ropes that had bound my body vanished.

I was free to move.

I let out a sigh of relief inwardly and spoke to Gloria, who seemed like she would keep her head bowed until I accepted her apology.

“It’s alright. It’s understandable to misunderstand.”

I was glad I hadn’t died. In fact, I felt it had turned out for the better.

Having almost died due to a misunderstanding, I could now ask Asuka for her help as a trade.

‘Surely, she wouldn’t refuse.’

&

“Is that really all?”

Perhaps it’s because she possesses such immense divine power.

When I asked Gloria to grant Asuka’s wish, she looked at me as if to question my sincerity.

In response, I wanted to say, “Then please take care of it even more,” but the wish I was asking for was the curse of the dragon that had been passed down through the Shuhei family for generations.

No matter how great a saint she is, granting a wish tied to a dragon’s existence is no easy feat. So, I decided to be content with this level of compensation.

“Yes, all you need to do is grant Asuka’s wish.”

“…….”

Gloria gazed silently into my eyes.

Then, with a sharp sound, she set her teacup down.

“…I can’t believe I was going to kill such a child.”

She murmured with a voice heavy with guilt as she rose from her seat.

Click, click. She approached me. Then, with arms wide open,

“I… I’m truly sorry.”

“……!”

With those words of apology, she pulled me into her embrace.

Suddenly, my face was buried in the vast expanse of her divine power.

‘W-what the!’

What is this overwhelming warmth?

It was warm yet gentle, a kind of embrace that made me want to stay like this forever… no, it was a maternal power.

[Click, photo captured.]

…What just happened?

For a moment, something appeared in my line of sight and then vanished.

But such thoughts were fleeting.

“Yujin.”

Gloria, still holding me close, called my name in a voice that was on an entirely different level of softness than before.

“I’m truly sorry for doubting you and wanting to kill you. Will you forgive me?”

As she spoke, Gloria’s hand gently stroked my head. I felt a surge of vitality coursing through my body.

Ding.

With the sound of an alarm, a system message appeared.

“The Blessing of the Great Saint”

A blessing imbued with Gloria’s heart.

– Mental +10, Divine Power +30.

– Divine Power Resistance +10

– Mental Resistance +10

– 10% additional damage to the ‘Evil’ attribute.

– Yujina, will you accept my gratitude and apology?

────────────────────

Yes, Mama.

&

Asuka’s amulet.

The blessing of the Great Saint.

And even assistance for defense against ambushes.

Though these were things obtained at the cost of nearly losing my life to Gloria, honestly, this much was worth the near-death experience.

Ah, and on top of that, we had a meal together and exchanged numbers. She said I could call her anytime.

‘I’ll have to reach out when I go to the Duel of Champions later.’

It shouldn’t take long. I have plans to go to America in the second semester.

Feeling fortunate about the unexpected gains I received today, I headed towards the Colosseum.

There was still an hour left until the next match, but I thought I’d go early and rest.

But, as always.

“Is this Yujin Lee?”

“…Who are you?”

“Lord Swordmaster is looking for you.”

“Ah.”

Plans never seemed to flow smoothly.

&

&

&

“This is the place.”

The place the Sword Master’s secretary guided me to was an upscale tea house.

“Please, go in.”

The secretary said this as he opened the door to the tea house.

As I stepped inside, I could see that only Lee Seoyeon and the Sword Master were present in the spacious tea house.

“Yoo Jiin, come here.”

As soon as Lee Seoyeon spotted me, she set down her teacup and approached.

Then, without hesitation, she took my hand and led me over to the Sword Master, who was quietly savoring his tea.

“Dad, say hello. This is my friend.”

At the same moment that Seoyeon spoke, the Sword Master placed his teacup down with a soft thud.

Clatter.

He rose from his chair.

“……”

The Sword Master gazed at me intently. Then, he slightly lowered his head to look at my hand.

Following his gaze, I too lowered my head to look at my hand.

“Ah.”

I noticed that Seoyeon was interlocking her fingers with mine.

I hurriedly tried to pull my hand away, but Seoyeon showed no intention of letting go, remaining completely still.

Her actions made me chuckle awkwardly as I glanced at the Sword Master.

Our eyes met.

At that moment, the Sword Master spoke.

“Nice to meet you.”

He extended his hand.

What is this? Why is he greeting me so casually?

Questions swirled in my mind, but I kept my expression bright and shook his hand.

And just as I shook it up and down a couple of times—

– I will kill you.

The Sword Master’s ominous threat echoed in my ears.