Bratislava Fecht.
Originating from Central Europe, Slovakia, Fecht was raised in an orphanage before he could even walk.
Naturally, he had neither parents nor relatives and received only basic education, lacking any environment conducive to further growth.
However, Fecht shone brighter than any of his peers.
His intelligent eyes always caught onto situations quicker than others, and his graceful hands could enhance and execute any skill he learned once.
Perfect in appearance, brains, and even physical ability.
A transcendent talent that far surpassed ordinary people.
Fecht, who even excelled in Edeya, seized an overwhelming victory in a national combat competition. Despite the event being limited to a similar age group, the swordsmanship displayed by Fecht was unrivaled.
To commemorate the emergence of a new star, Slovakia granted Fecht the honor of bearing the name of the nation’s capital.
Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia.
At the age of 18, Fecht came to carry the name of a country’s capital.
‘Dad, give me strength. Life is about leisure, right?’
Park Jinsung, recalling his father getting hit by his mother, steeled his resolve. The handsome aura Fecht exuded was dangerously calming.
“Jinsung? Were you surprised that I suddenly called your name?”
“No, no, not at all. But seeing you in a combat uniform, you must be a soldier too?”
Fecht was indeed wearing the combat uniform of the Republic of Korea Army, even holding the rank of Sergeant.
“Yes. Thanks to the capabilities of the White Jade Goblin Kim clan, as of today, I have been transferred to the Haeun High Special Education Battalion.”
“What? White Jade Goblin Kim clan?!”
Fecht did not hide the fact that he was affiliated with the White Jade Goblin Kim clan.
Instead, his confidence was so startling that it caught the listener off guard.
Only the truly strong can possess such absolute confidence.
“I know Jinsung is strong, but he’s not suitable for Seyun.”
“What? What kind of odd development is this?”
Ignoring Park Jinsung, who looked puzzled, Fecht gazed only at Kim Seyun behind him.
“Miss Seyun… I’ve wanted to see you so much.”
“Hmph. Don’t talk as if we’ve met before. We’re meeting for the first time today.”
“You’re cold. But I’m satisfied.”
As Fecht spoke, the bodies of the other female soldiers besides Kim Seyun could not help but freeze.
“I have no intention of getting involved with you. Please go back to your country.”
“I wonder if your master would think the same?”
“…”
“I’ve studied Korean for a whole month just to have a smooth conversation with Miss Seyun. Please be lenient just for today.”
“Um, um…”
Caught between Kim Seyun and Fecht, Park Jinsung finally couldn’t bear the discomfort and began to sweat profusely.
“Jinsung? Do you have something to say?”
“Me, could you please not talk over me, ouch!!”
“……”
Kim Seyun silently pinched Park Jinsung’s shoulder as they watched. Observing the scene, Fecht quietly lifted a smile.
“What?! What are you doing! Can’t you see our captain is struggling?!”
Sparrow-eyes’ eyes shot an accusing finger at Fecht first. Seeing their esteemed captain flustered seemed to slightly infuriate him.
“Oh? Nice to meet you.”
“Do you know me?! Even if you do, are you going to act like that?!”
“Are you not the one who broke through the 998 Penetration Education Brigade’s shield formation? I remember it distinctly because it was quite impressive.”
“Uh, ugh.”
Unexpectedly, or rather blatantly, Sparrow-eyes was weak to compliments. He had to struggle to keep his lips from curling up at Fecht’s compliment mixed with a smile.
Fecht, while looking at Kim Seyun clinging to Park Jinsung like a cicada, said,
“Jinsung, how about a duel with me?”
“Eh? I didn’t catch that?”
“…?!”
Those intoxicated by Fecht’s beauty were several times more startled than Park Jinsung.
As the surroundings grew as noisy as a marketplace, tired of waiting, Ahn Sungho moved.
“What’s all this commotion? Hmm. You are.”
“Nice to meet you, Ahn Sungho. I am Bratislava Fecht from Slovakia.”
“I know.”
“You know of me? Haha. That’s an honor.”
“Did you come here to take the entrance test?”
“Haha! To hear such a thing for a blond Westerner.”
“I’m not concerned about race. Especially if you’re wearing our uniform. I mean it.”
“Ahn Sungho, you are unique. Truly… remarkable… Of course, I am serious too.”
As Fecht watched Ahn Sungho silently, it was Ahn Sungho who spoke first again.
“So, what do you want? The air suggests you have something to say to the next head of HT.”
“Ha! Was I the next head of HT?!”
“As expected of our captain!”
Led by Sparrow-eyes, the zombie troop thrust their thumbs up.
Fecht’s eyes began to burn with determination.
“Ahn Sungho, I want to challenge Jinsung.”
“Within the battalion, the use of Edeya is basically forbidden without special permission from a superior.”
“Haha. But here we have the monster superior, Ahn Sungho.”
“I refuse. I’d prefer to avoid any commotion.”
Ahn Sungho noticed that Fecht was already gearing up for combat. A confrontation now would certainly cause a disturbance.
“Heheh. I’m fine with it, Sergeant.”
Whether aware of Ahn Sungho’s concerns or not, Park Jinsung chimed in with a very cheerful voice.
“Hmm?”
“Since it has come to this, we should do everything quickly, whether it’s taking the entrance test or not.”
“…I see. Then let’s proceed that way.”
Thump! Thump!
Ahn Sungho took the hands of Park Jinsung and Fecht and linked their fingers together directly.
“Eh…?”
“Ahn Sungho, what is this?”
“Finger wrestling.”
Finger wrestling.
Also known as thumb wrestling.
A game where pressing the opponent’s thumb down for more than 3 seconds results in victory.
“Ha ha ha! I didn’t expect this! You truly think outside the box! I’ve gained a lot today. Thank you, Ahn Sungho!”
Fecht burst out in delighted laughter, his blond hair fluttering.
Ahn Sungho indeed showed his adept handling.
A delicate fight where pride could be staked yet preserved, considering both parties, he had proposed this peculiar duel.
“Hmm. Surely neither will run away now?”
It was too awkward to back down now; the stage was set.
“Sergeant? What is this?”
“Win at all costs, Park Jinsung. Do not tarnish the name of HT.”
“Is it such a high-stakes battle?! Ow!”
“…Win.”
Kim Seyun pinched Jinsung’s shoulder again as she leaned her forehead against his back.
‘Oh dear. I had a bad feeling about this.’
“Please do your best, Jinsung.”
Fecht, despite his gentle voice, exuded an explosive aura.
The gym was already bustling, and now it was packed to the point of no passage.
The suddenly appeared blond heartthrob.
It was odd enough that such a figure would challenge someone out of the blue, and that someone was none other than the battalion’s F-killer.
Though the duel’s content was a bit comical, it sparked interest where there was none.
“Fecht? Should I call you Sergeant Fecht?”
“Just Fecht is fine.”
“Then… don’t regret this, Sergeant Fecht.”
“There seems to be no need for regret, haha, but thanks for the advice. Ah, and Miss Seyun.”
Fecht called to Kim Seyun, who was still clinging to him like a cicada, but she didn’t even meet his eyes.
“For Miss Seyun’s sake too, I must win. Please watch.”
“Then let’s begin the duel. It’s a single round victory, no other restrictions. Does everyone agree?”
At Ahn Sungho’s suggestion, both Fecht and Park Jinsung nodded.
Gulp!
A tense light appeared in the eyes of the zombie troop watching Park Jinsung.
Amid the intense battle of thumb wrestling, the atmosphere was thick with tension and anticipation.
“Ready, set, go!”
With Ahn Sungho’s command, Fecht burst into action.
“I will demonstrate my skills! Jinsung!”
“Argh!”
Fecht, embodying the ideal every woman dreams of, had hands that were not only large but also strikingly beautiful. His thick, large thumb aggressively pressed down on Park Jinsung’s comparatively thinner thumb.
From the start, Jinsung was at a clear disadvantage, desperately trying to avoid being overwhelmed by Fecht.
“Jinsung… do you believe in the existence of absolute talent?”
Despite his explosively aggressive thumb, Fecht’s face remained utterly serene, a blend of peace and seriousness.
“Ah! Why is this so hard? Eh? What did you say?”
“In all aspects of life, there exists something called talent, even in this thumb wrestling.”
Whirl! Whiz!
Fecht’s thumb was not only long and large but also moved with serpentine flexibility, a fierce predator ready to devour the cunning mouse-like Park Jinsung.
Click!
Park Jinsung’s thumb was completely caught by Fecht.
“-3!”
The crowd, getting caught up in the moment, started the countdown.
“…Do you think, Sergeant Fecht, that there are levels to the soul?”
“-2!”
“Just because an Edeya is weak doesn’t necessarily mean the person is weak. However, there is indeed a path that only the elite can tread.”
“-1…!!”
Squeeze!
Kim Seyun, unable to watch the duel, tightly grasped Jinsung’s shoulder.
‘…Looks like I’ve ended up in a position where I can’t lose. I was hoping for a draw at least.’
[Partial Murderous Intent]
Current activation area: Right arm
A murderous intent to harm others surged through Park Jinsung’s right hand.
The malice, swirling like a typhoon, redirected its path up to the shoulder, spinning and building momentum.
Crrrrrrunch!
His already sturdy right arm, with the tripled force from his exertion, swelled in size.
“-1…!! Fecht wi…!!”
“I have won, Jinsung. Just surrender to talent… uh, um?!”
“Csik.”
As Park Jinsung’s mouth curled into a smirk, his previously suppressed thumb also naturally rose.
Despite Fecht straining his face red with effort, Jinsung’s thumb refused to bend, as rigid as a piece of iron.
“Ugh! What strength!”
“Heheh. Having trouble pressing it down?”
Chilling!
“Could it be… is this sinister energy also yours, Jinsung?!”
As Park Jinsung and Fecht clasped hands, Fecht could faintly feel the murderous intent emanating from Jinsung. Though momentarily overwhelmed, Fecht was not so weak as to be brought down easily.
Determined not to lose, Fecht stiffened his thumb. Instead of focusing on Fecht’s long thumb, Park Jinsung applied pressure to the other fingers they were interlocking.
“Fecht, lay your thumb down towards me. If you don’t do it now, I’ll crush the other fingers as they are.”
“Don’t be absurd! I am confident in my grip strength too!”
“Countdown. One.”
“Ugh!”
“Two.”
Crack, crack!
The other fingers, apart from the thumb, seemed to scream on Fecht’s behalf.
“Grrr! Jinsung!!”
“Three…!”
Snap!
“That’s enough, Park Jinsung. Let’s not escalate things any further.”
Suddenly intervening, Ahn Sungho separated their linked fingers.
“Huff, huff. Jinsung… is this tremendous power your Edeya?”
“Csik.”
Instead of responding, Park Jinsung made an onomatopoeic sound.
“Ugh. So this filthy energy too…”
“Are you displeased? Would you like to have another contest right now?”
The murderous intent emanating from Park Jinsung bypassed Kim Seyun right behind him and focused solely on Fecht. This was reflective of his desire not to harm Kim Seyun.
“I thought you weren’t a pure swordsman, but I didn’t expect it to this extent… This is not an energy I wish to consume. That’s enough for today.”
-Wowwwwwwwwwwwww!!
As Fecht made a gesture to back off, the crowd erupted into a frenzy.
Leave a Reply