Arena Chapter 61:

Ch 61 The Fourth Exam Part I

Choi Hyuk’s fast combination continued .

I move both my hands like a flash of lightning .

Pa pa pat!

I blocked by stopping all of Choi Hyuk’s fast punches .

Lastly, Choi Hyuk’s right hook comes in which I dodged with weaving and retaliate with a short upper cut .

Tuk .

The upper cut slightly grazes Choi Hyuk’s chin . If it had properly landed, I am positive it would have downed him .

Choi Hyuk shook his head back and forth .

“You are incredible . There is now nothing left for me to teach you . ”

“You are too kind . ”

Today is the last of the 20 days of rest I have been given .

Without hitting him, I overpower Choi Hyuk .

Using his well mastered technique, Choi Hyuk used fast speed to impressively do a combination, and he was able to either dodge or block everything .

Have my skills improved over this time? Yes .

But have my boxing skills surpassed Choi Hyuk’s? That would be incorrect .

My technique is similar to a baby that has barely begun to walk, incapable of following Choi Hyuk .

But during this time, with the entry level 2 athleticism, lots of boxing moves have become embedded to my body and more than anything, the entry level 5 physical strength buff and newfound reflexes and reactions have really shown their light .

The reactiveness and reflexes are overwhelming .

With the athleticism, the accurate movements were memorized by my body and therefore I could react better .

With such advantages on my part, no matter how skilled and talented Choi Hyuk is, there is nothing he could do .

“There are still many things for you to learn but because I am losing so single handedly, it is embarrassing for me to teach you . ”

“Don’t be . This is all thanks to your good teaching, please continue . ”

“Yes, it would be good to see you again here, tomorrow . ”

“… I will come back . ”

It has just passed lunch .

I decided to go home early .

While I drove home in the Porsche cayenne, I gave Min-jeong a call .

Perhaps it is a man’s selfish desires .

As I think about how this could be my last day, I wanted to see Min-jeong .

I wanted to spend time with her .

No, I wanted to hug her .

-Hello?

“Hi, Min-jeong . ”

-Hi, oppa!

“I got to go home early today, you want to go out for dinner?”

-Oh no! I already have plans to meet a friend .

“Hyun-ji?”

-No, they’re friends from cooking school .

“Really?”

-They’re really skilled, they help me out a lot . I told them I’d buy them dinner as thank you .

“… well, that’s too bad then . ”

-Aw, I’m so sorry . I’ll see you tomorrow . We’ll have a good day tomorrow .

I smile gloomily .

“Okay, let’s do that . ”

-I’m sorry .

“That’s okay . ”

I end the call and an emptiness creeps in .

How could I feel so alone?

It’s definitely not because Min-jeong can’t hang out today . It’s not like today is the weekend, and it’s a good thing that Min-jeong carries on a life of her own .

I can’t see her just whenever I want .

When I get home, like always, my family will be there . Other than having to take the exam, today is no different than any other normal day .

I am not the unemployed part time guy who would return home to the tiny one room basement anymore .

And yet, I feel this alone .

The three people who have died before me, their faces flit across my brain .

‘So that’s it . ’

It’s because I have no people in life and death .

As examinees, feeling the anxiety and fear together, overcoming that together with comrades, I don’t have that anymore .

No one can share in my fear .

I have to fight alone .

A lonely fight…

And now, without anyone by my side, I have to go again to that place .

I arrived at home .

It is like it always is .

Mom and noona are out at work and will come home late, and even though Hyun-ji only has morning classes today, she still hasn’t come home yet and has probably wandered off doing something .

‘Should I prepare early?’

I still have ten hours left .

But I don’t particularly have anything to do so I just decide to prepare for the exam .

I take out the battle suit I got from the Korean Arena research center, cargo pants and tracking shoes, and I pick out other clothes suited well for the wild .

I take out the 7 . 62 mm bullets box that I had hidden in the corner of my closet .

I retrieve my item bag and tuck in the bullet clip . I also put in a water bottle filled with fresh water and an all-purpose knife .

But then .

Ring- ring-

The smartphone vibrates .

It is Min-jeong .

‘I wonder what this is?’

I am drenched in my solitude and received Min-jeong’s call happily .

“Hello?”

-Oppa!

“Hi, Min-jeong . ”

-I cancelled my plans .

“What?”

-I want to see you today .

“Why? We can see each other tomorrow…”

I asked in a slightly shaking voice . Min-jeong speaks .

-Oppa, your voice kind of sounded lonely, is there something wrong? I got worried, so I want to see you today .

Boom, a warm fuzzy feeling hits my chest .

This is the Min-jeong I decided to date without much thought .

If I don’t survive past the 4th exam, today will be the end for me . But regardless of that fact, my heart feels light…

And at this moment right now, I am so immensely thankful to Min-jeong .

I felt a hot emotion just at the fact that she recognized my solitude, having to go soon to fight to the death .

“And tomorrow?”

-I’ll see you tomorrow too, hehe .

I break into a smile .

“Okay . We’ll see each other today and see each other tomorrow too . Where are you right now?”

-I’m at cooking school .

I had been there a couple days before .

“I’ll head over . ”

-Really?

“Yep, wait for me . ”

I haphazardly shoved the items I had packed up back under the bed and left the house .

Due to how much I wanted to see her, my speed matched my haste .

I arrived in front of the cooking school and I sent her a text to come out .

“Oppa!”

Min-jeong raced towards me with an anticipatory and excited expression .

I get out of the driver’s seat and grabbed Min-jeong and hugged her tight .

“Woah, oppa! People will see . ”

“Who sees . ”

“The friends I mentioned earlier . ”

“Huh?”

Only then do I see the friends that came running out following Min-jeong .

The two girls about the same age as Min-jeong look surprised at our public display of affection .

“Um, hello . ”

“Hello . ”

I awkwardly exchanged greetings with her friends .

“I am sorry I’m stealing Min-jeong today . ”

“No, no . ”

“You must have really missed her . Can’t help it, I suppose, haha . ”

They giggled and teased us .

I am embarrassed but the resilient Min-jeong brazenly waved her hand .

“Okay, well I’ll be off first . My oppa looks to be in rather a hurry today . ”

Her friends giggled and laughed some more .

I persisted through my reddening face and seated Min-jeong in the passenger car .

We take the car and naturally headed for Min-jeong’s place .

Min-jeong looked at me with a sweet face .

“Are you in a rush?”

“Oh, sorry . ”

“Hmph, guys always get so lonely when they want to do it . ”

“I just want to be with you . Let’s not do anything, just be here with me . That’s all . ”

“Yup yup, you really think we won’t do anything?”

“Eh?”

“A guy should know how to be more forward . ”

I’m at a loss for words and Min-jeong got out of the car .

“Come on, come up with me, I’ll make you some food . ”

“Oh, uh, okay . ”

How is it Min-jeong is already playing me like a puppet .

We get up to her unit and I eat the food she makes me .

A bowl of rice that’s hot and sticky, dwengjang jjigae with tofu, kimchi, dried seaweed, and a fried egg make for the sides .

I can’t tell if it’s because she has learned well or if she was talented to begin with, but every single thing is delicious .

I finished the meal and we go to the bed .

Strip, hug, touch lips…

As if trying to fill a hole in my chest, I endlessly desire her .

And to me, she ably matches me, and she keeps stroking my hair .

It’s a strange feeling .

I roughly indulged myself in her, but instead I feel snug from her protection .

I spill out all my ambitions, and we pass the time, holding each other, still .

The heat lingeeds, and with a blushed face, Min-jeong asks me .

“Oppa, is something wrong?”

“No . ”

“Then why are you like this today? You’re different than usual . ”

I reply kiddingly .

“It’s because guys get lonely when they want to do it . ”

“You want to get hit with a $860 present?”

An $860 present, that would be the luxury Japanese knife set I got for her from Denmark .

I laughed and hold her tighter .

“Geez, I can’t breathe . ”

She reprimands me while she snuggles in closer . We hug like we have been one from the beginning .

“This is a big problem . ”

“What is?”

“I think it’s all going as you said it would . ”

“…?”

“I think I’m going crazy for you . ”

She must have felt good at my words because Min-jeong giggled .

“Didn’t I say so? This is how it goes . ”

“I know . What to do . ”

“Starting now you’ll have to do well by me . If you don’t, later when you can’t live without me, I’ll get my revenge . ”

At Min-jeong’s cute threat, I can’t help but laugh out loud .

“I’ll do well by you . When the time comes, go easy on me . ”’

“Hmph, I’m going to pick you up and shake you and put you down and lift you up . And have you give me expensive presents as offerings . ”

“Aw, don’t do that . ”

“I’m going to bluff and say I’m going to the club and make you worry . ”

“That’s too much . I’ll stalk you . ”

We exchanged this joke and that joke and laugh together .

I can’t even tell the time is passing by .

Somehow it’s already 10 .

There is only one hour left .

I should have gone back way earlier and prepared, but Min-jeong kept insisting I stay later and I wasn’t able to head back .

And honestly, I just wanted to stay with her too .

Every minute and every second is too precious and pitiful .

“I really have to head back now . ”

“Let’s just be together until tomorrow . Please?”

It has become the situation where now Min-jeong is holding onto me .

I feel like I’m coming off as the **** whose behavior has changed because my desires have been fulfilled and I feel bad .

“Min-jeong, I have something important today . I’m really sorry . I really want to stay too . ”

“Hmph, you’re going to be like this?”

“I’m sorry . Tomorrow after work, I’ll come racing here straight away . Okay?”

“Whatever, wait and see what happens later . I’m going to have you beg me to play with you . ”

Thankfully she isn’t actually sulking, Min-jeong is joking .

I kissed her in what could be our last, and I put on my clothes and leave .

I returned home and finish my preparations and lay down in bed .

When the time arrived, my mind became fuzzy .

***

“Did you get a good rest?”

The baby angel flapped his wings and welcomed me .

“Indeed . ”

“Starting today you will have to clear the exam alone, but your expression is brighter than I expected?”

“You have a problem with that?”

“Yes, I expected a somber expression as if you were carrying all the sins of the world . ”

“Why, I ought to . ”

I do a hook but the **** deftly avoided it . He’s like a **** fly .

“How dare you call an angel a **** fly? You want to get hit with the lightning of holy contempt?”

“…”

Don’t read other people’s thoughts without permission . You just like to tease other people .

“The exam?”

“You can check it on your board . ”

I retrieve my board .

-Name: Kim Hyun-ho

-Class: 7

-Karma: 0

-Mission: During your time limit, help the brown mountain elf .

-Time limit: 30 days

‘Elf?’

It is one of the species I saw in the files that Cha Ji-hye gave me . To help an elf, this really is ridiculous .

“Give me a hint . ”

“Didn’t you already get the hint?”

“What?”

“Come on now, you should hurry and get going . ”

The baby angel brings up the exam door .

I took a deep sigh and opened the door and went through . A bright white expanse of light blankets my eyes .