Chapter 279

The Strongest Equipped with both Light and Dark (4)

"No way! Sharper!"

Eleanor raised her voice in a shout. The freshmen at the Blackwood Training center were battling one-to-one.

"If this year's grades are lower than last year, all of you will be eliminated! If you want to wear a cloak, be prepared to go to the quarterfinals of the rookie game!"

"No, last year, the vice-captain took the Rookie King title, but what a challenge..."

"Your answer!"

"Yes, yes!"

She was shorter than 155 centimeters tall, but he was amazing at how such a rumbling sound came out. Kang Shin-hyuk stood behind her with Karen, helping supervise the freshmen, but he disregarded the glances towards him. In truth, Kang Shin-hyuk was more Spartan than Eleanor.

"It was said that the official joining would be done after the athletic meet."

"It's like everything is already done, but that's the formality. Moreover, we have to work to capture the excellent wild students who are active in the exhibitions."

"Ha, so after the athletic meet..."

Had Karen and Kang Shin-hyuk been such students last year?

"Hah, back then, I was still best friends with Shinyuk...."

Karen also was reminiscing about the previous year, her gaze vague as she went through her memories. Kang Shin-hyuk laughed.

"Why do you look like a college student who received a wedding invitation from a childhood friend? And don't call me Shinyuk."

"Don't use such a realistic example!"

Karen gloomily hit Kang Shin-hyuk, and the eyes focused on them. Do Woojin and Eleanor glanced at them from the side, so Karen carefully moved away.

"...Did the captain take it from me?"

Kang Shin-hyuk let out a sigh, still conscious of Do Woojin's gaze.

"It's because you're worried that you don't have a boyfriend."

"Wait a minute, if you're flirting, could you warn me? I also need to prepare a little bit..."

"Yes, I'm not."

"That's not it?"

Now he was even playing rival with Do Woojin in a bad way? Kang Shin-hyuk no longer needed a youthful romance.

-That's right. Now the nasty morning drama suits you...

'Be quiet.'

-500,000HP bonus!

'Now you're back to your usual self.'

Kang Shin-hyuk smiled to reassure Do Woojin, but what came back was an intense gaze. Why didn't he tell Karen he liked her? Kang Shin-hyuk sighed and looked at the freshmen.

"Kh!"

"Kah, I surrender!'

"Winner, Oh Hye-na! Jin, ten more laps!"

"Whoo... Next!"

Of course, Oh Hye-na was the most striking among the first years. She was still under the buff from Kang Shin-hyuk, and therefore wore artifacts that restricted her movement as she didn't want to achieve victory if it wasn't through her own skill. They were handcrafted by Kang Shin-hyuk as auxiliary equipment for anyone who would want to train their body.

'Winning the rookie game doesn't seem difficult now that she's not going for the Two Crowns.'

In fact, she was a talent who could win the Two Crowns battle. She had surely inherited the genes of a man who was once No. 1, and added to that; she had artifacts Kang Shin-hyuk created. The problem was that the talent level of Shinyoung this generation was going crazy. The majority of Masked Bacchus's members were Shinyoung students! Even Lee Na-hee, the weakest of Masked Bacchus, would show a good fight against her.

'In that way, it's just the wrong time.'

No, maybe she had the best luck because she caught Kang Shin-hyuk's eye and took the opportunity to grow under his influence. He was observing her carefully with those thoughts.

"...Hye-na, is it like that?"

This time Eleanor spoke up. She stepped back from the battlefield, speaking quietly enough that only Kang Shin-hyuk could hear it, but her lips were already pouting. Kang Shin-hyuk glared at her to not be so obvious.

"You're having a private conversation despite being in the middle of training them?"

"Do you have a personal relationship with Hye-na?"

"Are you worried about her now?"

"Then what?"

Unexpectedly sharp words flew in. Eleanor was looking at him nervously, and he was worried that others would notice.

"What are you thinking?"

"Ha?"

"...I'll keep watching."

Kang Shin-hyuk was a little touched by her words, but thinking about it, it was just like a stalker. Moreover, it was something he couldn't tell Eleanor about, so he just laughed a little.

"Don't worry; it's not serious. It's not worth mentioning to others."

"Okay... Anytime, though, I'm fine."

After saying that, she reached out and grabbed his hand firmly for just a moment before letting out. It seemed that she was transmitting her warm heart directly to him, and Kang Shin-hyuk eventually laughed. Eleanor laughed too, embarrassed.

"Captain?"

"Ah, the captain and the vice-captain!"

"What about the vice-captain's girlfriend?"

"The captain tricked me! I was only aiming for the vice-captain!"

Of course, they were caught.

***

Klang! Klang!

The sound of the hammer filled the narrow workshop. After school, he was working with Lee Na-hee.

"So the school community is on fire again."

"Yeah."

Klang! Klang! Klang!

Kang Shin-hyuk felt calmer as the hammer rang out. However, Lee Na-hee looked at him as if he were ridiculous.

"You're stupid. Are you doing it on purpose?"

"It's not me, but Eli."

Kang Shin-hyuk raised his head as he complained, then avoided Lee Na-hee's gaze as he noticed her skimpy outfit. No matter how warm it was from afar, she was wearing only a bra top, and thanks to her radical proportions, it boasted a terrible power.

"What's wrong? Look more confident. Here, here."

"No, I asked you to dress properly. Are you doing this on purpose?"

"I was born with a pretty body; it's a waste to live in hiding."

Lee Na-hee said that and boasted about her smooth armpits and abdomen. Kang Shin-hyuk pushed her out and sighed.

"If you want to show off your body like that, do it elsewhere."

"No, it's just a pervert who does this outside."

Kang Shin-hyuk put his hammer down as Lee Na-hee made an enemy of every woman who wore a bra top.

"Dress carefully."

"...If that's what you do, then I think it'll be okay."

"I was already convinced, but you're a pervert."

She resembled Bridget at this point. Kang Shin-hyuk wondered what he should do as Lee Na-hee suddenly grew more serious.

"So, that's the main point."

"No, you mean there was a point?"

He just wanted to go back to his work, now.

"Do you have any problems with her?"

"..."

He felt an intense sense of déjà vu. He wondered what Claire had said to her. No. No matter what, Claire wouldn't do something crazy like telling others about her relationship with Shin Eunah. His eyes narrowed at her.

"There's no problem."

"No, your face says it's a woman's problem. Please be honest with me."

"Really, there isn't one with Claire."

"Ah, then with Shin Eunah."

No, after evolving her trait, did his senior become a fortune-teller? Kang Shin-hyuk shook his head.

"Let's work."

"Tell me, I'm curious."

"No."

"Ah..."

Lee Na-hee, seeing it was hopeless, withdrew with a pout. She tried to cross the line from time to time, but she knew that the really important line shouldn't be crossed for them to work together. Thinking so, he lifted the hammer again, but she continued cautiously.

"But if that happens... Should you give me a chance first? I'm fine anytime."

"...Ah."

Kang Shin-hyuk suddenly realized what Eli meant earlier. The answer was very difficult... No, now was the time for Dark Mastery to activate! His mouth moved by instinct.

"Eli made a reservation first."

"What?! She decided not to cut in!"

No, weren't you going to cut in too?!

"I'll kill her right now; then I'm number one!"

"No, we're working together now..."

However, Lee Na-hee hurriedly put on her uniform top and ran out. She seemed really intent on fighting Eleanor. While Kang Shin-hyuk looked after her, the administrator chimed in.

-With this, you drove the fox off. That's a great strategy.

"No, it looks like it'll be a big deal later."

-It's a reservation, isn't that something anyone can hang up on? Although the seats will never be vacant.

"You're strangely confident."

Why was the administrator discussing his relationship with Claire? No, there had been signs before, but these days weren't they more explicit?

-It seems that Vita is waiting at the bar. Are you going to go?

"To even blatantly dismiss it..."

However, he couldn't let go of her standing alone at the bar. Kang Shin-hyuk looked down at the metal he was beating, then sighed and stored it away. In any case, Lee Na-hee put in her rune so he could finish it later in his My Room.

As a result of dealing with light and darkness together, Kang Shin-hyuk had finally reached a new level of crafting... Beam weapon!