Episode 38〉 S-Class Gate Clear
"It's been a while since I've seen a result like this."
A man was looking at a results sheet in the weapon supply room.
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[Test Subject] Baek Taeyang
[Test Result] You have the most ideal body an awakened one can have.
If the average awakened one's physical abilities form a small hexagon, yours is a full hexagon.
A notable part is the lower body's *$)!#^
[Recommended Weapons] There's nothing special to recommend.
You should be able to perfectly utilize any weapon you want.
If something doesn't fit your hand, it's just a matter of proficiency.
You don't need to doubt your aptitude.
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"It's like seeing my physical exam results from my prime."
Even Kim Minsu, famous as a hero, didn't get such results.
It only said he would become a hero who handles swords.
"There's an error too... It's peculiar."
It wasn't a trace of someone intentionally erasing it.
The machine really malfunctioned and couldn't analyze it.
To think the analysis machine that had been continuously developing since Victory Academy was established would break down.
"I'll have to meet him in person."
The man looked around the half-empty weapon supply room.
It should normally be full of firearms and cold weapons, but Baek Taeyang had taken them all.
Even with no limit on weapon possession, he didn't expect him to take this much.
He really started to wonder what kind of cadet he was.
"Then I'll now..."
"Chairman!"
"What is it? I'm not deaf, Ducheol."
"The F-rank gate that the 1st year Class D was supposed to go to has changed to an S-rank gate!"
Jang Ducheol's footprints were deeply imprinted on the floor behind him, showing how urgently he had come.
"Have you contacted the Opener?"
"Yes, he said he'll come right away."
"Tell him to come to the site immediately, I'll pay him later."
With those words, they didn't talk anymore.
Shortly after, two large holes appeared in the ceiling of Victory Academy.
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"You scoundrel! You're not a knight!"
"No, I am a knight!"
"How can a knight handle such vicious weapons!"
Don Quixote approached, actively trying to close the distance.
Suddenly Rocinante emerged from under his feet, displaying skilled horsemanship. If it came to close combat, it would be extremely difficult to deal with.
Every single aspect of this was designed with Kim Minsu in mind.
It was probably destined for him to wield a spear while adjusting distance with Kim Minsu, who held a sword with perfect horsemanship.
He might have rolled a few times and then used the power of [Hero] to defeat Don Quixote with an explosive strike.
"Put down that weapon! If you're a true knight, take up a sword!"
"These are all knight's weapons too."
[Self-Pole activated! Enhancing bigger, more powerful weapons!]
Bang!
The knight's magic wand slung over his shoulder spat out a shell, emitting sparks.
If it were an ordinary firearm, it wouldn't stand a chance against monsters, but this was a weapon exclusive to awakened ones.
Its killing power was incomparable to ordinary firearms.
Plus, the firepower was enhanced by the effect of Self-Pole.
In terms of power alone, it was on par with Melanie's ability.
'I'll pass on the stupid act of giving distance from the start.'
He recalled the condition window that appeared when he challenged Don Quixote to a duel.
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You have drawn out Don Quixote's true form.
He is very different from the character we knew in the novel.
But now that you've challenged him to a true knight's duel!
You might be able to return him to his original state.
An honorable one-on-one match!
You must win!
[Restrictions]
1. Only Baek Taeyang can face Don Quixote.
2. Rocinante can intervene.
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He thought it would all be over with just a finishing blow since Don Quixote was in a dying state.
But as soon as the condition window appeared, he armed himself with shiny armor and sharp weapons.
His wounds weren't fully healed, but he was recovered enough for color to return to his face.
'Coercion doesn't work properly either.'
He had raised it to maximum output to end it instantly from the start.
But even at maximum, it was only about 50%, and that wasn't enough to suppress Don Quixote's movements.
He had to be satisfied with just making his body heavy.
He thought about removing the bracelet but gave up because if he couldn't control it, others might get involved.
Using the process of elimination to find usable means, all that was left was the use of weapons.
"Face me in battle, knight!"
"I'm already fighting."
"That's not what I mean!"
It was stupid to go straight into close combat when there were long-range check options.
It was right to use weapons that could hit from as far away as possible first.
'It's a shame there's no time to reload.'
The disappointing thing was that Rocinante was too fast, leaving no time to reload.
As a result, he was discarding all firearms like disposables as soon as they ran out of ammo.
It was very disappointing because it would be easier if he could accumulate damage when possible.
"Oh, you've finally taken up a spear, knight!"
Don Quixote was in a state of having lost much of his power.
This was evident from the fact that he could no longer create monsters.
'But Rocinante is too tricky.'
It wasn't even treated as a living being, so Coercion didn't work on it either.
It was clearly treated as Don Quixote's skill.
Trying to kill Don Quixote while ignoring Rocinante wasn't as easy as he'd like.
No matter how much he shot, its dodging skills were too excellent.
'So in the end, I can't deal proper damage from a distance?'
It could be natural since it was a monster Kim Minsu had to face.
Even now, he was throwing javelins hard, but they weren't even grazing a hair.
"You've finally realized that your petty tricks don't work on Don Quixote de la Mancha!"
He had realized that quite a while ago.
He just didn't like recklessly rushing in with his body.
"You talk a lot."
Why are novel protagonists all so talkative like this?
Maybe because Glasses Fatty was also talkative, they all talked a lot as soon as they seemed a bit protagonist-like.
Chwarrrrr
He approached Don Quixote while slowly throwing a chain with a sharp stake at the end.
Don Quixote wasn't a fool either, so he was mainly using his spear to keep him in check.
The chain was bait, and getting rid of that spear quickly was the priority.
"A halberd! How splendid!"
Just as he was about to strike Don Quixote's spear shaft diving into his embrace with the halberd, Rocinante quickly moved backward.
'As expected.'
Rocinante was Don Quixote's skill but an independently moving entity.
Every time it moved, it deliberately rolled its feet several times to create dust clouds, an action Don Quixote hadn't ordered.
In other words, that horse prioritized its master's safety and had all its attention there.
But at the same time, it was a very contradictory being that had to follow its master's will.
Don Quixote valued chivalry above all else and wanted to taste the romance of clashing weapons.
The master wants to go forward, and the horse wants to secure distance.
Rocinante retreated to avoid the slowly flying stake chain that Don Quixote hadn't seen.
However, Don Quixote's body was leaning forward, wanting to clash with another knight.
If it went backward, Don Quixote might fall off or be hit by the halberd, and if it went forward, it would be impaled by the stake.
When forced to make a choice, naturally, there was only one thing the horse could choose.
Thud.
"Rocinante!"
A spirit that remains unshaken even with a stake piercing its body to protect its master.
For a beast, it knew style.
'But it's still just a beast.'
He let go of the chain and immediately reached out to grab the warhammer.
[Strong Hit activated! Mighty power dwells in both hands!]
With the hand holding the halberd, he continued exchanging blows with Don Quixote.
Don Quixote was using spear techniques with both hands, so he had to keep using Strong Hit to match the power balance.
"Get down now, Don Quixote."
He tightly gripped the warhammer in his left hand and swung it towards where the stake was embedded.
Neeeigh!
"Cowardly targeting a weak beast! You're no knight!"
Don Quixote revealed a big opening every time Rocinante was hurt.
Rocinante tried to cover the openings with its injured body, and that soon became the start of a vicious cycle.
The weak mindset of trying to protect each other held them back.
The spear is cut, and Rocinante can no longer rampage.
He butchers and kneads the bodies of Rocinante and Don Quixote with an axe and club.
"I'm not a knight like you said, but neither are you."
He too wasn't anything like a true knight.
He was just a madman who had fallen into ideals after reading knight novels.
Such a guy couldn't possibly fight properly.
A child who had only grown in size due to the overwhelming adjustment of being an S-rank gate, that was Don Quixote's true identity.
"Stop! Stop! You've won!"
As if knowing death was approaching, he started begging for his life uglily.
Knowing he couldn't live but still pleading, a sneer automatically escaped.
In the original work, it would have ended with laying down the sword.
If it were Kim Minsu, he might have spared him out of pity.
"I know I've won."
I had no intention of respecting the original work and wasn't Kim Minsu either.
I put down the axe and club and drew the greatsword stuck in my back.
[Strong Hit activated! Mighty power dwells in both hands!]
I could feel Kim Minsu's gaze from afar.
Maybe it was because I had used Strong Hit countless times, but his eyes held certainty rather than doubt, like during the sparring match.
'Yeah, this is your skill alright.'
So what are you going to do about it?
"Spare me! I'll never appear before you again! I won't call myself a knight anymore!"
"Shut up."
In an instant, the greatsword fell to the ground, and Don Quixote and Rocinante were split in half and died.
It was an ending that could be called anticlimactic if anything.
Compared to the initial momentum, it felt like it ended too quickly.
'Is it because it wasn't my role to play?'
Maybe it chose to end the story quickly if the protagonist couldn't do it.
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Concept :: Classic Masterpiece [Don Quixote] Gate Clear!
Congratulations.
Despite several unfair interventions, you've proudly cleared the gate!
Differential rewards will be given based on your performance in the gate!
1. Baek Taeyang
2. Kim Minsu
3. Lee Minjun
4. Melanie
5. Kim Seokgu
No others
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After the message saying the gate was cleared appeared, individual portals appeared in front of each person.
I thought everyone would rush out as soon as the portals opened, but the surroundings were quiet.
'What's this?'
When I turned my gaze, everyone was staring at me.
Being the center of attention without any sound was a very burdensome thing.
Their gazes made people cringe, and some were even on the verge of tears.
From experience, the wisest thing to do in this situation was to leave without saying anything.
If I try to act cool and end up receiving applause, it would unnecessarily waste time.
I was going to collect the weapons, but I changed my plan.
I lowered the reward window for now and moved towards the portal.
++++++++++++
"Biribiribaraburaboomba-taya gate open sesame..."
"What is this?"
"...me?"
I was trying to rest after coming out of the gate, but an incomprehensible scene was unfolding.
There were several jangseung (Korean totem poles) stuck in the ground as if a folk village had been transplanted here.
In the center, a man wearing makeup was dancing, which looked very out of place.
'What on earth is this situation?'
It was one thing after another.
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