Chapter 54
Chapter 54
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 54
Chapter Title: Clash with Ma-sam
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Dokgo Clan's grand training ground.
Before long, the sun had risen, and day broke.
And noisy sounds filled the surroundings.
Waaaaah-!!
Captain! Captain! Captain!
"Whoa! The captain looks insane in person."
"Wow, she's so freaking pretty..."
"Doesn't Park Jae-ho look even more handsome than on screen?"
"Seing looks exactly like on screen."
The current time was 2 p.m.
It was finally time for the last content of the long-awaited Streamer Raising event to begin.
Countless fans had flocked to the Dokgo Clan's grand training ground to watch today's content. Roughly 8,000 people, they said.
Most of them had waited through the night. The rest couldn't even enter the Dokgo Clan grounds and had turned back regretfully.
In the center of the training ground stood a massive square arena made of stone. That was where the matches would take place.
Near the arena, tents had been set up. And right now, I was waiting inside one of those tents.
More precisely, I was calming down the rest of my team members.
"Don't be too nervous. You've all worked hard this whole time. You'll all do great."
"J-Jae-ho, aren't you nervous?"
"Nah. I'm good."
I really was fine. There was a bit of tension, but not enough to bother me. It was just right.
At my words, the rest of the team stared at me like I was a monster. Probably because I was so different from them.
"Ha, if only I could be as relaxed as Jae-ho..."
"Harin, you don't seem that nervous though?"
"Me? No way. I was pretty tense. Can you see the sweat under my arms?"
Suddenly, Harin raised her arm high. She showed me her soaking wet armpit.
As expected of a fourth-dimensional streamer? It was a completely unexpected attack.
"Kyaaah!"
"W-What are you doing?!"
"Oh! I-I'm sorry! I thought it was okay between us..."
"E-Even so, you have to hide that stuff!"
Thanks to Harin, though, everyone looked a lot less tense. She might not have meant to, but it helped quite a bit.
At that moment, Dokgo Hwayeon, who had been talking with the other team leaders in the distance, approached us.
"Ah! Captain! Is the team draw done?"
"Yes, our team prepares for the second match."
"Phew, good. The first one would've been burdensome."
Streamer Raising had a total of four teams. Two teams would face off each time, and the winners advanced to the finals.
The match format was one-on-one until a winner was decided.
However, if it ended in a 2-2 tie, there would be a final ace showdown. The best fighter from each team would step up for the decisive battle.
Obviously, I had the highest chance of going out for our team. No, it was 100%.
At that moment, a booming voice echoed from afar. It wasn't a mic; it was amplified by internal energy.
[Haha! Hello, everyone? I'm Nam Seocheon, the referee for this matchup!] The referee, Nam Seocheon, climbed onto the arena and began explaining the rules.
Of course, we already knew all the rules anyway. This was for the viewers watching the broadcast right now.
We used that time to hear important info from Dokgo Hwayeon.
"We're up against Team 4."
"Team 4...?"
"Yes, Shinbi's team."
Shinbi was the guy who tried to devour me during auditions. He was famous for his Golden Sun-like looks too.
And on Shinbi's team was none other than Ma-sam.
'The teams got matched up interestingly.'
We were facing Ma-sam's team right from the start. Excitement surged.
"On Shinbi's team, watch out for Hausik. He's the most talented opponent."
"Hm, guess I'll have to face him?"
"If we're lucky."
It wasn't like I could just choose to fight Hausik. That depended on the draw luck too.
At that moment, the quiet Jajang spoke up.
"What about Ma-sam?"
"Hm, Ma-sam shouldn't be too hard. He looks vicious, but that's all there is to him."
"I see..."
Everyone looked at me. They knew well about my history with Ma-sam.
I didn't pay it any mind. The gap in talent between Ma-sam and me was like heaven and earth anyway. He wasn't worth worrying about.
Then, out of nowhere, Harin pointed at a guy from Team 2, who was preparing for the upcoming match.
"More importantly, what about Kim Shin-hyeok from Team 2? We're not facing them, but we might in the finals!"
At her words, we all looked at the guy. He had a rugged face and wore a hero's headband.
"Hm, Kim Shin-hyeok... He's not easy."
"Whoa! That much?"
"Yes. Especially since he's been training martial arts for nearly a year."
This Streamer Raising had a training period limit. Streamers with over a year of martial arts training couldn't participate. It was to balance things out.
And among those, Kim Shin-hyeok stood out exceptionally.
He placed second in auditions. Right after me.
On top of that, he was the second-generation disciple of the massive Hanyang Sect. He'd become one in just a year.
Naturally, his starting point was worlds apart from ours.
They said the other three on our team, excluding me, had zero chance of winning.
"Park Jae-ho trainee might have a shot... but Kim Shin-hyeok has tons of matchup experience. That's what worries me."
Dokgo Hwayeon's face clouded with concern again. Like the face I'd seen at dawn.
But she quickly returned to normal. Good thing I'd comforted her so hard at dawn.
Still, the mood sank a bit because of Kim Shin-hyeok. We'd all seen Dokgo Hwayeon's worried look, even if briefly.
Then, the usually quiet Seing raised her voice loudly. It was the first time she'd shown such spirit.
"W-We can all win! L-Let's all shout fighting together!"
"Shall we?"
"Yeah!"
"Sure."
It was kinda corny, but we all put our hands together. And shouted loudly.
"Team 1 fighting!"
"Fighting!!"
It felt a little embarrassing, but the effect was definite.
The tension vanished from everyone's faces.
Dokgo Hwayeon was no exception.
I smiled faintly at her like that.
Sometimes she felt like a big sister, other times someone I wanted to protect. Dokgo Hwayeon had all kinds of charms.
And for her sake too, we had to win no matter what.
'Yeah, gotta win.'
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Hup!"
"Guhk!"
[Kim Shin-hyeok's victory!] Waaaaah-!!
In the end, the match between Team 2 and Team 3 went to Team 2. And Kim Shin-hyeok's contribution to their win was huge.
Should I call it a solo carry?
'Impressive.'
I was genuinely admiring as I watched.
Team 2 was Go Woosan's team, with a Joseon-era concept. Go Woosan favored the spear, so naturally, he taught spearmanship.
And by coincidence, Kim Shin-hyeok's sect, Hanyang Sect, also used spears. So Kim Shin-hyeok had learned spearmanship there too.
Of course, it wasn't coincidence. Go Woosan had picked Kim Shin-hyeok with this in mind.
Anyway, spear in hand, Kim Shin-hyeok put on an insane performance.
Overwhelming, one might say?
'Can't take him lightly.'
Even I felt a bit tense.
Of course, it wasn't time to worry about Team 2 yet. More importantly, I needed to focus on Team 4, up next.
[The match between Team 1 and Team 4 will begin soon. Both teams, please come up to the stage!] Soon, our Team 1 vs. Team 4 match began.
Before it started, we stood side by side and exchanged greetings.
Of course, Ma-sam was still glaring at me. He even smirked like something was off.
I ignored him. Best way to deal with a crazy guy(?).
[Now, let the match between Team 1 and Team 4 begin!] Waaaaah-!!
Captain! Captain! Captain!
The match began with the referee's booming voice.
Both teams had submitted their lineup to the referee beforehand. He called out the names accordingly.
[Now, who will be the vanguard for each team...?] The referee dragged it out on purpose, heating up the atmosphere. No wonder Dokgo Hwayeon had recruited him as referee.
[Oh! A big matchup right from the start!] Soon, the referee's mouth opened, and the names for the first bout flowed out.
[Team 1 sends out this man as vanguard! The guy who's shocked everyone with his unbelievable talent lately. None other than Park Jae-ho! Waaaaah-!!
Park Jae-ho! Park Jae-ho! Park Jae-ho!
Suddenly, massive cheers poured toward me. Anyone would think the whole audience was on my side. It was that huge.
'Well, right now it's Dokgo Hwayeon's team.'
This was Dokgo Hwayeon's content. And I was on her team. Her ace, at that. Of course there'd be tons of cheers for me.
Of course, the audience didn't cheer for the opposing team.
They booed instead.
Boooooo-!!!
It was well-deserved.
[Team 4 puts forward an unexpected pick! The broadcasting genius known in Streamer Gallery! Ma-sam! It was because Ma-sam had stepped up for the opposing team.
Ma-sam's public image was already poor. And this place was packed with Dokgo Hwayeon fans. Boos raining on him was natural.
Ma-sam didn't seem to care, though. He climbed onto the arena looking quite relaxed. Like he'd already won.
'A sacrificial pawn?'
They seemed to have anticipated me as vanguard. Sending your ace first to seize momentum was a common choice.
And they'd countered with a throwaway. Shinbi, the enemy captain, had used his head.
'Well, nothing to be done.'
I wasn't worried.
Our team just needed to win once. That would drag it to the ace showdown. And that meant our victory.
'Hm? But he seems prepared for something?'
I eyed Ma-sam curiously.
Even as a throwaway, he had something up his sleeve. Seeing that annoying face of his made me think so.
