I Became an Illegal Cheat User

97 – Duel Season (3)

The first match, Time Attack.

1 minute 32 seconds, seeing the record that said 1st place, I nodded in satisfaction.

‘The practice of levitating in mid-air was worth it.’

Of course, I could have achieved 1st place by other means.

Like blowing up the entire forest with a bomb.

Or bulldozing through monsters and trees with Atlas Armor and Aegis.

Or, like I did at the forward base, using telekinesis to clear everything in front of me.

There were many ways to do it.

But the reason I chose to use mid-air levitation was simple.

It was unobtrusive and concise.

The fastest way to reach the target without damaging the arena.

No matter how I thought about it, the telekinetic – mid-air levitation was the only option.

‘Still, it’s a bit disappointing.’

If I clear the forest, I could arrive much faster than the current record.

But then I would end up subjected to the forced administration of an antidote like last time.

‘Ugh…’

Just thinking about it makes my tongue feel like it’s curling up.

I shuddered at the terrible taste that automatically came to mind and used my telekinesis to reach for the flag that had bounced away in the distance.

As I grasped the flag, a blinding light enveloped me, and the scenery before my eyes shifted.

I had returned to the arena.

– Waaah─!

The cheers of the crowd echoed around me.

I looked around.

Everyone was either cheering for me or clapping their hands.

I bowed my head in gratitude. Then, as I lifted it again, I glanced at the special seating area.

The Great Saint, Gloria, was watching me with an expression full of interest, slowly clapping her hands.

And the Sword Master, Lee Joong-baek, was glaring at me with a face full of rage.

‘…Ah, I’m in trouble.’

But I had already braced myself for this.

Ever since Lee Seo-yeon showed interest in me.

Since the moment I used a gun, and when my favorability increased.

I had anticipated that Lee Joong-baek, who cherished his daughter dearly, would be furious with me.

Still…, no matter how much I prepared, fear was unavoidable.

After all, what was directed at me now was the wrath of a transcendent being.

Even if there was no intent to kill, just having that furious gaze upon me made my body tingle like a prey before a predator.

But I didn’t show it.

I held back the tremors that threatened to shake my body and expressed my gratitude to the cheering crowd.

And just as I had acknowledged the audience’s cheers for a while, a guide approached from outside the arena.

&

Following the guide’s instructions, I entered the waiting room labeled ‘1-20.’

As soon as I confirmed that the door to the waiting room was closed, I pulled out a potion juice from my inventory.

Then, I plopped down on the chair at the very front among the twenty and opened the cap of the juice, gulping it down greedily.

In an instant, I emptied the juice and tossed the empty

“Ha…, that double-faced guy, seriously….”

How can a transcendent being shoot anger at a student like that?

“Honestly, it’s probably because it’s me that I managed to hold on.”

If it were someone else, they would have crumpled to the ground, trembling uncontrollably.

“…Or maybe it’s just because it’s me?”

I asked myself the question, filled with doubt.

Then, recalling the achievements I had made so far, I nodded.

Hmm, that could be it.

But at the same time, another thought crossed my mind.

‘Whether I’m weak or strong, it feels like he just shot his anger at me regardless?’

What a strange thing; this seems more plausible.

“Sigh.”

A breath escaped me.

Thinking about the torment I would face from the Sword Master in the future, I couldn’t help but let it out.

“Ah, I’m so tired.”

Even though my infinite stamina was activated.

Why do I still feel this fatigue?

I shook my head and pulled out a golden apple. Then, crunching into it, I watched the match situation of my peers being broadcasted on TV.

But coincidentally, the ones being aired were the top-tier players.

Lee Seo-yeon, Arthur, Asuka, Noah.

They were all running through the forest in unison.

Eliminating the monsters that charged at them while searching for their target point.

“If it weren’t for my clairvoyance, I would still be running like that.”

I often thought it was a good decision to purchase clairvoyance, but today, that thought felt even more pronounced.

“I wonder who will arrive first.”

Crunching into the apple, I observed the actions of my friends swiftly traversing the forest.

Lee Seo-yeon.

True to her reputation as a genius with the sword, she was dispatching nearby monsters with her blade and taking out distant ones with her gun.

With remarkably agile movements, she darted between the trees, her keen eyes searching for the target point.

Arthur.

She, too, cut down the rampaging monsters with her sword, just like Lee Seoyeon.

But everything else was different. Despite her agility, she moved with a certain grace.

– Bang, bang bang!

Armored in a suit made of magical energy, she charged forward, shattering trees in her path.

Asuka.

Unlike Lee Seoyeon and Arthur, she danced around the monsters.

Leaping from tree to tree like a squirrel, she searched for her target.

As she did, she swung her ironwood sword, deflecting the incoming projectiles with a flicker of blade energy.

From that sight, it seemed wielding a true sword was still beyond her reach.

But that was okay.

During the break, she would meet with Gloria.

And she would ask her for the title of the Blood of the Radiant Dragon.

“You have to keep your promises.”

The promise made to Asuka at the training ground.

Now it was time to fulfill that promise.

I crunched on the remaining piece of the apple while watching the screen where Noah was broadcasting.

“…He’s burning everything to the ground.”

Noah, not just with his fists, but with his entire body ablaze, was charging forward.

The monsters and trees that came into contact with Noah’s flames turned to ash almost instantly, disappearing in a flash.

It was like watching a walking, no, a running sun.

As soon as I made that assessment, the situation of other main characters was being broadcasted.

Park Garam, soaring through the air, scanning the forest.

Im Dahee, wrapped in lightning, bulldozing through monsters and trees alike.

Park Seongwoo, wielding a proper sword instead of a blade, thanks to my good training.

While I was observing the situations of my peers.

Ding.

An alarm rang from my smartwatch.

I checked it.

[Time Attack Record]

[Lee Yujin: 1 minute 32 seconds – 1st place]

[Arthur Pendragon: 4 minutes 32 seconds – 2nd place]

[Lee Seoyeon: 4 minutes 34 seconds – 3rd place]

[ — : — : — ]

It was clear that Arthur and Lee Seoyeon had reached the finish line.

And that the rankings had been decided by a mere 2-second difference.

“Hmm… should I comfort her?”

Lee Seoyeon had also placed 3rd during the entrance exam due to a slight margin.

Yet here she was again, pushed down to 3rd place by just 2 seconds.

Of course, this match wouldn’t determine everything, but still, being 3rd again…

No matter how composed she was, she might be feeling a bit disheartened.

As I pondered how to offer my consolation, the door to the waiting room swung open.

“Lee Yujin!”

“Lee Yujin.”

Through the open door, Arthur and Lee Seoyeon stepped inside.

“Hmm? She doesn’t seem too downcast?”

Contrary to my expectations, Lee Seoyeon’s expression was as usual.

Her face was expressionless, yet her gaze towards me was warm.

Seeing that expression, I thought to myself, “Good, I can set aside my plans for consolation.”

I welcomed them with a smile.

“You both did well in the match.”

I pulled out two elixir juices from my inventory.

Then, quite naturally, I handed them to the two who sat beside me.

“Thanks, Lee Yujin. I’ll enjoy it.”

“Thank you, I’ll drink it well.”

Perhaps they were both thirsty, as they began drinking the elixir juice the moment they received it.

“Just as I thought, Yujin, the juice you gave is delicious.”

“I’m glad you liked it.”

In an instant, Arthur and Lee Seoyeon finished their juices and placed the empty bottles into their respective spatial items.

Then, as if it were only natural, the two of them took my hand.

I let out a short sigh at the warm and soft sensation in my palms. Suddenly, their fingers quickly wove between mine, locking together.

‘…I wasn’t planning on pulling away.’

Having done this frequently since the internship, I had grown accustomed to it.

Perhaps it was because, at some point, I had developed feelings for the two of them—no, for the three of us, including Asuka.

When they were so openly affectionate, I found it hard to refuse.

Suddenly.

“Hey! You’re leaving me out again!”

“Haha, the atmosphere is great today.”

Asuka and Noah entered as the door swung open.

Asuka, upon entering the waiting room, puffed up her cheeks at the sight of Arthur and Lee Seoyeon’s display of affection and rushed over.

She tried to wrap her arms around me from behind, but—

Thud, thud.

At the sound of footsteps in the hallway, she pouted and sat next to Lee Seoyeon.

Unlike Lee Seoyeon and Arthur, she seemed too shy to engage in open displays of affection just yet.

Noah, as always, sat next to Arthur with a cheerful laugh.

And just as the footsteps drew near, Arthur, who had been in a female form, transformed back into a male.

Having been spotted by the main cast, he revealed his true self, but he still maintained his disguise around the other interns.

…But Arthur.

“If you’ve changed back into a guy, shouldn’t you let go of my hand?”

“Oh, right.”

But before Arthur could even release his grip,

The other interns entered the waiting room.

And upon seeing Arthur in male attire, holding hands with Lee Seoyeon and me,

“”Eh.””

They looked utterly bewildered.

Seeing their expressions, I let out a deep sigh and closed my eyes.

&

“We will now begin the second match.”

As the vice principal said this and snapped his fingers, HP bracelets appeared before all the students in the arena.

As soon as I saw the bracelet, I realized what this match was about.

But since it could be different from a game, I held off on jumping to conclusions.

‘Still, it’s best to be prepared.’

I opened my inventory.

I got ready to pull out my weapon at a moment’s notice.

“Everyone, please put on your bracelets.”

Ding.

────────────────────

HP: ■■■■■■■■■■

────────────────────

The HP bar appeared on the surface as soon as I donned the bracelet.

At the same time, a chime rang out from my smartwatch.

As a result, everyone, including myself, checked the match rules.

────────────────────

【Battle Royale】

The second match is a ‘Battle Royale.’

Objective: Fight until you are the last one standing.

※ If the HP of your equipped bracelet is completely depleted, or if you fall outside the arena, you will be eliminated.

────────────────────

I confirmed that this match was indeed a Battle Royale.

“As everyone can see, this match is a Battle Royale.”

The vice principal’s body floated up slightly. And when she had risen a bit into the air,

she pulled out a starter gun from her pocket dimension item.

“Everyone, give it your all in this match.”

Bang!

No sooner had she finished speaking than the sound of the starter gun echoed.

At that moment.

“Oh, crap.”

All eyes turned toward me.