I Became a Genius Swordsman in the Pretty Girl Game-Chapter 299: New abilities

After the eventful day at Velvet Hunter Academy.

Late at night.

“Hmm... Jin Yoo-ha, what brings you here at this hour?”

Shin Se-hee blinked in surprise as Jin Yoo-ha entered her room without warning. Her eyes widened further as he spoke, and her voice shot up in alarm.

“What!? A Demon... among the new students?”

“Yeah, so I was wondering if I could get some help.”

This was no ordinary situation.

A Demon.

Creatures that wear human skin, blend in with humans, and hunt them.

Though things had been relatively quiet lately, everyone knew all too well how dangerous they could be.

“Is it... a particularly dangerous Demon?”

Shin Se-hee lowered her voice, her eyes now serious.

“Hm? Oh, no. Not dangerous at all. Actually, I could deal with it right now if I wanted to.”

“What? Then why do you need—”

She had assumed it was a serious threat, given that it had slipped past Director Lina's protective magic. But maybe she was wrong?

What he said next was even more shocking.

“I want your help summoning a Demon.”

For a moment, Shin Se-hee doubted her ears.

“Of course, I’ll help—wait. What did you say? Summon... a Demon?”

She asked again, unsure if she had heard correctly. Jin Yoo-ha nodded as if to confirm it.

Immediately, Shin Se-hee’s expression hardened.

‘No way... has Jin Yoo-ha been taken over...!?’

Swish!

Her decision was quick, and her reaction just as immediate.

With a flick of her arm, a dagger slid out from inside her wrist and spun into a reverse grip in her hand.

Whoosh!

Shin Se-hee lunged, her dagger aimed directly at the man wearing Jin Yoo-ha’s face.

But he blocked the blade with his fingers.

Shin Se-hee’s mind flared with heat, but her voice came out cold as ice.

“...Who are you?”

“Shin Se-hee?”

It was almost too perfect of an illusion. He was so convincing that she nearly believed it was Jin Yoo-ha himself.

“You want to summon a Demon? Jin Yoo-ha would never say something like that. You must be the Demon.”

His hair, his breathing, his voice, his gaze—everything about this man screamed Jin Yoo-ha.

But Shin Se-hee knew better.

She remembered all too well the horrors Ichika had endured at the hands of Demons.

“Tell me. What have you done with Jin Yoo-ha? No matter how hard you try to deceive me, it’s useless. You will never die peacefully. I’ll make sure you suffer more pain than you can imagine.”

“Wait, hold on! Shin Se-hee!”

The imposter tried to imitate Jin Yoo-ha’s response, even his tone.

“Don’t call me by that name with his face and his voice!!!!”

Shin Se-hee’s voice boiled over with unfiltered hatred.

The man before her looked at her with startled eyes and then, to her fury, smirked.

Even that expression was identical to Jin Yoo-ha’s, making her grind her teeth in anger.

“Ah, I guess that did come out sounding strange. Sorry, I didn’t expect that kind of reaction. Well then, let me just—”

He suddenly moved closer.

Shin Se-hee slashed her dagger across, but he dodged by tilting his head slightly, closing the distance even further.

“Calm down, Shin Se-hee. It’s really me.”

With his hands, he gently cradled her face, staring intently at her.

“How can I beli—”

Wooooong—

Suddenly, the man flared his mana. ƒreewebɳovel.com

“...Huh?”

Shin Se-hee’s mouth fell open in shock.

Mana was like a fingerprint—no matter how perfect an illusion, there were limits to how well it could be replicated. Jin Yoo-ha had been the one who taught her how to analyze and distinguish mana.

“I’m not a fake.”

He then pressed a kiss to her forehead.

“...Is it... really... Jin Yoo-ha?”

Shin Se-hee’s eyes swirled in confusion. Jin Yoo-ha released her and smiled as if he found her adorable.

“Sorry about earlier. I didn’t explain things very well.”

“Ah, ahh...”

What had just happened? Could this really be Jin Yoo-ha?

“So, calm down for a second and listen to what I’m saying.”

Shin Se-hee could only nod in response.

“O-okay...”

 Shin Se-hee’s face was bright red, as if her head was about to explode. She couldn’t even look me in the eye, her head turned to the side.

“Ah, so, that’s what you meant... I see... it’s better to deal with it before a Demon Gate opens and the Demons come pouring out...”

Then, as if remembering her actions just moments before, she covered her face with her hands and bowed her head.

“I-I’m so sorry, Jin Yoo-ha! I didn’t know!”

“No, it’s my fault for not explaining clearly. And honestly, it’s good that you reacted the way you did. We should probably come up with some kind of signal or mark that only we know, so something like this doesn’t happen again. Don’t you think it’s a good idea?”

“I-I suppose so?”

I then hardened my expression.

“Still, you need to be punished.”

Shin Se-hee shrank even further, looking even more mortified.

“Yes... I’m truly sorry for pointing a knife at you, Jin Yoo-ha...”

“No, you’re still not understanding what you did wrong. Look at me.”

Shin Se-hee clearly had no idea what her actual mistake was.

“If you were acting like your usual self, this wouldn’t have happened.”

“Huh?”

“The Shin Se-hee I know would have pretended to go along with the situation, then waited until later to think things through and plan an attack. But instead, you charged at me head-on. What if I had really been a dangerous Demon?”

“...Ah.”

Shin Se-hee hung her head in shame, clearly at a loss for words.

“From now on, never do that again. Even if I’m in danger, you’re the one who’s supposed to step back and strategize.”

“...Yes.”

“You’re the brains of our party. If you lose your cool, we’re all in danger.”

Shin Se-hee nodded at my words.

Honestly, it was a relief to find out now that this could happen. For Shin Se-hee to lose her mind and charge at me like that... well, it made me feel a little strange, but not in a bad way.

“Got it. You always understand when I explain things, right?”

“Yes, Jin Yoo-ha. I’ll never let this happen again.”

Seeing the determined look on her face, I decided there wasn’t much else to say.

I smiled, lightening the mood.

“Well, that’s that. I appreciate your concern for me, though. Anyway, let’s get to the main point.”

“...Yes.”

“So, how do we summon this Demon? And under no circumstances can any of the students be harmed in the process. If that’s not possible, we’ll have to kill it now.”

This was something I couldn’t compromise on. I wasn’t going to sacrifice the new students just to summon and kill a Demon.

“Oh, actually, I think I have an idea.”

Once again, Shin Se-hee exceeded my expectations.

__________

A little later.

I found myself inside Ichika’s room.

“Oh, so this is Ichika’s place.”

Since it was my first time here, I looked around curiously.

The room was simple and neat, though you could also call it barren. Ichika seemed like the type to only keep things that were absolutely necessary.

“It’s embarrassing when you look at it like that.”

Ichika said, her expression entirely unembarrassed.

“Savior.”

Her voice as she addressed me was unusually soft.

“Yeah?”

“Twice.”

Ichika held up two fingers.

“What?”

“You kissed Shin Se-hee’s forehead twice.”

“You saw that?”

Ichika nodded.

I hadn’t realized she had seen everything. I felt a bit embarrassed.

Ichika then brushed her bangs aside and leaned her forehead toward me.

So, she wanted the same thing?

“Uhm, well, Shin Se-hee’s father used to—”

“Savior.”

Ichika cut me off.

“I want to be kissed like a father would.”

“...What?”

“I don’t even remember my father’s face.”

Ichika spoke bluntly, her face completely expressionless.

Now I felt like a real jerk.

Smooch. Smooch.

I had no choice but to kiss her forehead twice before we could continue ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ our conversation.

“Hm, I’ve gained something new. Satisfied.”

Ichika rubbed her forehead, looking pleased.

“So, uh, let’s get to the business at hand. Shin Se-hee said you’ve recently grown stronger as a succubus and awakened a new power. Is that true?”

Ichika nodded at my question.

“Yes, it’s been quite popular.”

“...Popular?”

“I’m taking reservations.”

Ichika showed me her phone, where a list of names was displayed, neatly organized by date.

────────────────

March 1 - Shin Se-hee

2 million won, Secret Course.

March 2 - Lee Yu-ri

300,000 won, Karaoke and Food Tour Course.

March 3 - Kang Do-hee

500,000 won, Joint Training Course.

March 4 - Sophia

1 million won, Full Course.

March 5 - Im Ga-eul (Problematic - Teacher and Student Concept)

800,000 won.

March 6 - Alice

100,000 won, Taster Course.

────────────────

‘What the hell is this?’

Secret Course? Karaoke and food? Joint training? Full course?

Im Ga-eul is listed as problematic...?

And why is Alice’s name on here?

It felt like there were a lot of deals going on behind the scenes that I hadn’t been aware of.

‘But why am I left out?’

I stared at Ichika in disbelief.

“It’s a power that lets me enter people’s dreams and control them.”

Ichika explained in her usual flat tone.

“With this, we can run a ‘Let them dream pleasant dreams’ strategy.”