“Apologize?”
“Okay. I apologize.”
The atmosphere grew colder as we engaged in a strange war of nerves. The moment I tightened my grip on his right hand, which had been poking me, with my left hand, Number 2's gaze shifted to the gripped right hand, then quickly glared back at me.
"Well, I don't feel like apologizing. But more importantly, let go of this!"
At that moment, No. 2's kick flew towards the abdomen.
At the sudden attack, his right hand reflexively stretched out to kick, but at that moment, with a strong impact, his head snapped to the left.
"what…!"
Using his right hand as a stepping stone to block the attack, No. 2's left foot, which was propped up on the ground, kicked No. 2's face and pushed him away, causing his left hand, which was holding onto No. 2, to lose its strength.
Number 2 landed lightly on the floor again, smiled, got up, and snapped his fingers.
"Is that all you can do? Number 1's name is going to cry."
Although the voice was low and calm, the way it spoke gradually irritated the person, and the corners of my mouth went up involuntarily.
Of course, with a little bit of heated anger.
“Okay. Sounds fun. Let’s give it a try!”
I immediately got into position and quickly kicked and ran again.
"Considering the height difference, I have the advantage in terms of brute force and range. If I can use the height difference well, I can somehow..."
His appearance, which was shorter than mine and didn't seem to have particularly trained his muscles, had been telling me for a while that I had a good chance of winning.
But what is this unpleasant feeling?
I kicked the floor first and ran, as if trying to shake off the unpleasant sensation of a spider crawling on the back of my neck.
A one-two punch with a quick inward thrust instead of a greeting.
However, No. 2 slightly twisted his upper body to avoid the attack and continued to watch me without taking his eyes off me, as if observing my actions.
I unconsciously clicked my tongue and continued to attack, as if he was telling me to come as much as I wanted because he was going to look after me.
Starting with a low kick with my right foot to block my leg movement, I followed it up with a roundhouse kick aimed at my midsection and upper body. However, No. 2 simply calmly dodged the attacks, observing my every move and taking a few steps back.
Why doesn't it fit?
Gritting his teeth, he immediately rushed forward again, swinging his fists in all directions. But each time, No. 2, his cold eyes fixed on my attacks, dodging them effortlessly as if flowing water.
No. 2, who lightly dodged the last right-hand straight with a light backstep, relaxed his posture, stood quietly without a single break in his breathing, and opened his mouth to say a word.
"It's awkward."
"Is it awkward?"
"It's like someone who has never learned martial arts is clumsily imitating the movements of someone who practices martial arts."
At his words, I unconsciously clenched my fist.
Number 2 pulled down his slightly disheveled hat and looked at me calmly with his blue eyes.
"You said you were an actor, right? And the roles you always played were just extra combatants."
"...What is that?"
"No, it's nothing. Just."
Number 2 slowly bent down, placed his left hand on the floor, and looked at me with a low posture as he ran towards me.
"I realized once again that this position doesn't suit you."
what?
The moment he opened his mouth to ask back, No. 2's body moved first.
"-!"
I cringed in fear as I saw him rushing towards me with his blue eyes shining and his body crouching low, almost as if a wild dog or wolf was charging at me.
Even though he was shorter than me, I instinctively reached out my fist at him as he bent down even more and rushed at me.
The clumsy fist extended, aiming for him as he dug in low, passed by him, and No. 2's right hand quickly reached out.
A right hand that seems to be holding nothing but a secret grip.
However, the moment I saw a flash of light from my right hand, which had been empty, my pupils dilated and I took a few steps back without realizing it.
Shhh-
Before the sound of cutting through the air, a blade flashed past my eyes.
A karambit suddenly appeared from the empty right hand and was held in the hand.
I clearly wasn't holding anything, so how?
As if he didn't want to give me time to think, who was startled by the sudden appearance of the secret weapon in his hand, he put a ring on his index finger and began No. 2's fierce attack.
As his right hand moved rapidly, the knife in his hand traced a trajectory in the air and passed by.
"Honestly, it's cowardly! There's no way to stop it without a weapon!"
"If you feel wronged, equip it. Even if you do that, you won't be able to defeat me."
"No, if you're talking- whoa!"
Even though I wanted to refute his sharp provocations while he was attacking, all I could do was move my body around and dodge his attacks as if trying to silence me.
The sight of me maintaining my breathing and posture to some extent loosened, and I unconsciously rolled on the floor to avoid him, or tried to change my trajectory by striking his wrist, but I was increasingly unable to maintain my original posture, and blood flowed from the small wounds left by his blades grazing here and there on my body.
"Ha...haa..."
"..."
Same attack and defense exchanged, same number of attacks.
But the results were completely different. No. 2 was standing there, breathing perfectly still, and I was kneeling on the floor, catching my breath.
Number 2 looked at me intently and then put down the knife in his hand.
"Let's stop. You can't beat me."
"What are you talking about, it's not over yet!"
"Can't you see it now? The difference between you and me."
The knife that No. 2 dropped from his hand soon disappeared into his shadow, and No. 2 slowly approached me as I was catching my breath.
"Even though we were alternating between attack and defense, you were breathing heavily, as if you were about to collapse at any moment, while I wasn't at all. Do you know why?"
When I just stared at him in response to his question, No. 2 tapped my forehead first.
"I know in my head how you should move."
Then, a finger tapped my chest again.
"My body can't keep up."
Your body can't follow what your head tells you?
"But, that can't be. There were no problems when I fought Bang Mo-hyeok or when I fought Eunwolpa."
"Ha, do you think you're anything special just because you beat those idiots?"
Number 2 fell away from me and looked back at me quietly.
"Right now, you're only holding on thanks to your body, honed through our company's modified surgery, your reflex control device, and the power of Number One. Sure, you should be able to defeat most of the trash without a problem. But how effective do you think that luck will be against truly strong guys? Do you think you can win against truly strong guys?"
I couldn't refute his sharp criticism even if I wanted to.
Because the result is right before your eyes.
"The seat you sit in, chosen by Sister Ariel, should be occupied by someone else with more ability, a seat reserved for someone stronger than anyone else, someone who must protect Sister Ariel more than anyone else. This is not the seat you should sit in, having only met Sister Ariel briefly!"
He who had been shouting like that quietly lowered his head with his fists clenched.
"Originally, I... should be there..."
In his words, his sincere concern for Ariel was so palpable that his words felt like they were clogging his head.
For the first time, I felt like I was going to collapse in an instant after being defeated so overwhelmingly that I couldn't even touch it.
but.
"Now, even now, take that number one seat quietly-"
"I'm sorry, but I can't just give up."
"what?"
Number 2's eyes squinted, and I looked straight into his eyes and said.
"It's true that I lost. But still, I received the position of number one from Ariel. So, I want to be of some help to her."
"You, with your mouth open, do whatever you want-"
"Indeed. That's an interesting story."
At the sound of a woman's voice interrupting the conversation, both of them turned their gaze towards it.
Standing there was a woman in a purple suit, sunglasses, and orange-colored leggings, looking at us with a smile on her lavender lips.
"Vice President Kayla."
At No. 2's words, I looked at him for a moment with a surprised face, then looked back at the woman in front of me.
Vice President? That guy?
When you said you were the vice president, I thought you would be an old man.
"..."
Suddenly her gaze turned this way and she slowly approached me.
Pak-
"Ahhh-!"
This guy, he kicked me out of the blue!?
"Why are you hitting me!?"
"Excuse me. I thought you were expecting some old hag."
"You too!?"
What, do the women here have a magic wand?
"A late introduction. My name is Kayla Harris, Vice President of Black Crown, Inc."
"... Number 1, this is Jung Woo-jin."
"Yes. I've heard the rumors. I hear you're doing great."
I gulped as her cold, snake-like yellow eyes stared at me through her sunglasses.
It was like being a frog in front of a snake. It was like that with any meeting between an ordinary employee and a vice president, but the fact that it was an evil organization made me even more uneasy.
"I don't know what kind of feelings or thoughts Miss Ariel had when she handed over the position of Number One to you, but Number One is a very precious position, one that only those with the rank of senior executives can be nominated for. You know that, don't you?"
"...Yes, maybe?"
No, I understand that it's a precious position where you share abilities with Ariel, but why do people want to take that dangerous position where they share their lives with Ariel so much?
Why?
No, I have no say in that.
Perhaps the word "perhaps" bothered her, and a wrinkle appeared between her eyebrows.
But she soon sighed, took off her sunglasses, and opened her mouth, looking straight at me.
"Originally, the right to appoint No. 1 rests entirely with Miss Ariel, and as the daughter of the CEO and one of the company's heirs, our company cannot object to Miss Ariel's selection. However, as you know, Mr. Jung Woo-jin, this is a very, very rare case. The mere fact that they're appointing a new employee who knows nothing to such an important position is a serious matter."
"...I understand your hardship."
"I would appreciate your understanding."
In other words, even at headquarters, there was no one to control her impulsive behavior, and it was clear that Ariel's decision was dangerous enough to shake the company.
Of course, I can't help but feel it, right? The person who just now pretended not to acknowledge me and then played me around with his lack of skill is right in front of me.
"So, as you know, I'm going to run a test to see if you're a good fit for Number One."
test.
If I had the same mindset as before, I think I would have been a little confused as to why I had to take the test.
No, to be precise, I thought I could just let it slide. Because I had the power of Number One.
But now that I've been thoroughly manipulated by No. 2, I feel more motivated.
If I can become a little stronger through this test and be of help to Ariel, then nothing would make me happier.
"Yes, I understand. I'll take the test. What should I do?"
"It's great to see you so motivated. That's great. The test is very simple."
Kayla looked at me with her yellow eyes shining quietly, then looked at Number 2 next to her and a smile appeared on her lips.
A fleeting sense of foreboding.
What is it? What is it?
"Surviving three assassinations by Number 2 over there. That's the test."
"...yes?"
A death sentence was handed down out of the blue.