EX rank supporting role’s replay in a prestigious school - Chapter 823

A small gym at the General Club Hall.

The Taehokwon people usually use this place and now it’s hosting a martial arts duel.

With a unique individual like Jin Jungmok involved, many spectators were expected, especially with the fight-loving nature of the Eungwang High students.

But there weren’t many people present.

‘There are a lot of kids who want to see Jin Jungmok fight, but I guess not today.’

This duel wasn’t a genuine challenge but a thanks to each other for the help during the midterms.

The news didn’t seem to spread thanks to Hani and Jin Jungmok’s quiet appointment.

Still, the people I expected to see were here.

“Good luck, Hani-yah! I’m gonna watch you!”

“Hahaha! I’m looking forward to what kind of fight this body’s best friend will showcase.”

Dokgo Miro and Hwang Jiho grabbed the best seats.

That old tiger can use alter egos so it doesn’t matter how busy he is, but I wonder if Dokgo Miro will be alright.

‘She might not have a definite schedule yet, but I’m sure she has a lot to do since she’s got a new song coming out. Well, she’s been busy so I guess it’s good to take a rest.”

It hasn’t been long since the midterm exams ended too.

“Those two are rooting for Hani, so Wooram and I will cheer on Jungmok!”

“That would be fair.”

Saeum of April and Mok Wooram, who don’t have many extracurricular activities, sat on Jin Jungmok’s side.

Then Kim Yuri and I should sit in the middle.

As if she thought the same, Kim Yuri cheered for the two.

“Good luck, you two! Fighting!”

Hani and Jin Jungmok stood up and waved at us.

The referee for the battle was Professor Ham Geunhyung.

Perhaps it was Jin Jungmok who called him.

Professor Ham Geunhyung has been agonizing about the amount of battles Jin Jungmok has been having, and he suggested that he be the judge every time.

It seems like Jin Jungmok accepted.

“Take your positions.”

The members of the Taehokwon small group stopped practicing and looked this way.

One of them was Gong Cheonghwon.

I thought he’d be nervous since his student would be fighting a famous martial artist, but he looked calm.

It was characteristic of Shinin.

Before the battle started, Jin Jungmok said,

“I remember you saying that you had less experience than me. As your sunbae, I will let you have three moves. Come at me first.”

“…?”

There is a rule in martial arts that a stronger opponent would not counterattack before the first three strikes. 

Unfortunately, since Hani doesn’t have formal martial arts experience, she didn’t understand it right away.

I’m sure the same is true for the others too.

Maybe the thought he’d give her three seconds.

“That’s good! Just take him down in three seconds!”

“It’s not three seconds, thought it would be good if she could do that.”

Hani wasn’t looking at us so she couldn’t see what he self-proclaimed best friends were saying.

Professor Ham Geunhyung’s face looked dim, perhaps because he had complicated feelings about the matter.

Hani immediately rushed at him, the hem of her uniform flapping while Jin Jungmok restricted his movements.

Hani’s first attack aimed at his solar plexus missed by just a breadth of hair, but Hani flexibly moved her hands to hit his uvula.

Kaang!

Jin Jungmok managed to defend himself with his sword.

Hani’s protective gear and Jin Jungmok’s sword came in contact with each other, creating a screeching sound.

With an expressionless face, Hani said,

“Three seconds is up.”

“It hasn’t been three strikes yet.”

“…Ah.”

Only then did Hani seem to remember that Jin Jungmok was a martial artist.

Jin Jungmok kept his word and countered only after Hani gave another kick.

As the battle truly began, the kids in our class became excited.

“Woah, they’re really fast! I almost can’t see them but… did Hani just counter a sword?”

“Close. She tried to pull his sword to the floor.”

“It’s a good attempt, but it’s hard to do that. She needs to find a different strategy.”

“Hani-yah, just break his sword!”

The clashing sounds filled the gym.

Before we knew it, black smoke flowed out of the sword and mixed with Hani’s powder blue energy waves.

Hani was doing so well that Jin Jungmok had to mask his energy waves.

The fight was going differently than I expected.

‘I underestimated Hani. Jin Jungmok isn’t going easy on her. They’re moving faster than they were last year.”

Jin Jungmok is strong enough to fight the attention-seeker duo and win a close-to-victory draw against Kwak Gyungu.

Judging from the practice and sparring I had with Hani last year, I thought she was a few levels below Jin Jungmok.

I thought she was mentally shaken too because her grades dropped, but after seeing this duel, I changed my mind.

‘Maybe Hani’s grades falling is because she prioritized training over academics.’

The duel between Hani and Dokgo Miro suddenly came to mind.

Hani was completely defeated by Dokgo Miro.

She accepted the result and fulfilled their agreement to never speak of their past again.

I couldn’t tell Hani’s inner thoughts, but on the outside, she seemed like she had given up.

Now I can tell that she may have been building up her strength again.

“Hani-yah…!”
“Hahaha! Excellent. She can predict the sword’s movements and respond!”

Dokgo Miro was both delighted and surprised, while Hwang Jiho was just happy.

He must’ve realized that Hani was training her strength.

The two fought very fiercely, but as the fight dragged on, the situation started to turn.

Jin Jungmok destroyed the Taehokwon techniques faster than Hani could sense his sword’s movements.

As the fight dragged on, both their stamina decreased.

Jin Jungmok, who had more combat experience, coped with it more skillfully.

Finally, Jin Jungmok’s blade reached right between Hani’s eyebrows.

“Halt!”

Professor Ham Geunhyung judged that the winner had been decided and stopped the battle.

He had a bow and arrow in his hand as a precaution in case Jin Jungmok was unable to stop on time.

Gong Cheonghwon also moved silently and was prepared to intervene.

Fortunately, Jin Jungmok’s sword retreated without touching Hani’s skin.

“Jin Jungmok wins!”

Jin Jungmok wiped the beads of sweat on his forehead and put his hands together in martial arts style.

“It was a good duel. I never thought that I’d have a classmate who could use martial arts techniques so well. I lacked insight.”

I can’t believe Jin Jungmok, who’s only ever interested in swordsmanship, would say that.

Hani took a little time to interpret the unfamiliar words used by Jin Jungmok, but she seemed to understand.

“…Thank you for the battle.”

“Please help me again next time.”

The two’s battle ended warmly.

The kids came down from the stands and talked to the two, praising their excellent sparring.

It looked like they were planning an after-party and dinner, but Kim Yuri and I couldn’t come.

“Euishin-ah, we’re about to be late!”

“Let’s hurry.”

Although the Student Association Hall wasn’t far, we had to use our skills to make it on time.

Kim Yuri used a sprinter skill, while I used my light skill to borrow Min Geurin’s skill.

We barely arrived on time, and we were welcomed by Geum Chansol and Wang Chansol making a fuss.

“Ah, why are you arriving now!”

“Hey, don’t tell me you’re aiming to be the last ones to arrive now that you’ve moved up a grade.”

Judging from the messy atmosphere of the conference room, it seems like the sunbae-jerks are making a fuss again.

Even if Kim Yuri and I arrived earlier though, those two wouldn’t get what they wanted, which is to be the last ones to enter the room.

“Euishin hyung, Yuri noona! Eunha and I found the seniors. I thought they were hiding, but I couldn’t find them. Eunha noticed something strange on the floor so…”

Eun Seoho, who came as Class 1-0’s representative, told the story.

GeumChanWangChan were hiding below the floor but were found by Eunho even without using his light skill.

Cheon Eunha was mentioned several times, but he just sat down and watched, smiling softly and not participating in the conversation.

Instead, he reassured Cheon Dongha, who was worried that the duo might seek revenge on him.

‘Eun Seoho and Eunho seem strangely distant.’

Eun Seoho used his peripheral vision to look at Eunho as he talked to Cheon Dongha before lowering his head.

He seemed disappointed, so Kim Yuri and I listened intently instead.

Meanwhile, Yeom Junyeol came up to the podium.

“Sunbaenim is here. Let’s catch up later, Seoho-yah.”

“Alright, Yuri noona!”

Since Kim Yuri frequents the tiger mansion as Jukho’s student and Ahn Dain’s best friend, she seems to have become close with Eun Seoho as well.

I looked at the re-energized Eun Seoho sitting beside Eunho.

‘It feels awkward that we’re gonna sit in the sophomore area.’

While moving to the sophomore’s seats, my vision suddenly brightened.

I saw Joo Soohyuk and Ahn Dain sitting side by side as Class 2-1’s president and vice president.

The two were reviewing class management materials, and the sight of them talking was very beautiful.

“Jo Euishin, why aren’t you sitting down?”

Yoo Sanghoon, the vice president of Class 2-4, interrupted me with a sour expression on his face.

That guy didn’t want to be a class officer last year, but it looks like he got elected again this year.

‘I think Yoo Sanghoon might become the basketball team captain.’

I sat down as I imagined Yoo Sanghoon’s shocked face.

Although he’s so addicted to gaming that he appeared in PlayerZ’s OBT trailer, his passion for basketball has not cooled.

It seemed like the team wanted him as the next captain too.

I really hope Yoo Sanghoon gets that annoying position.

“The first quarter student representative meeting will now begin.”

The meeting began with Yeom Junyeol’s opening remarks.

Now that he’s a third-year student, he conducted it more smoothly than last year.

Regular reports from each autonomous organization and class officers proceeded smoothly too.

Class Zero incidents were included just like last year, but most people didn’t pay much attention to it.

Next, a presentation of the planned schedule followed.

“Alright. I will now present the schedule for the Korea-China-Japan Youth Exchange Exhibition.”

Although it was still a rough schedule, it was said to be held during the summer vacation.

It’s the most convenient for the three countries.

“The list of candidates was prepared last year, but there was an opinion that freshmen students should also be given the opportunity to participate. We plan to conduct a preliminary round because of that. The same will also be conducted for candidates who have already been recommended.”

Yeom Junyeol suddenly looked at me.

Not just at me, but at Joo Soohyuk and Ahn Dain behind me too.

“I especially hope Eungwang High’s student ambassadors will participate.