Chapter 49
Chapter 49
Translator: Penny
Episode 49: Why Are You Here?
Episode 49: Why Are You Here?
"Look, it's Thomas Andrea!"
"Why would the United States' strategic weapon come here?"
"Probably looking for promising talent."
"Guild Master, Thomas Andrea..."
Despite the murmurs around her, a woman in the stands continued to devour chicken from her bowl, completely unfazed.
"Mmm... Korean yangnyeom chicken really is the best."
As Andrea wiped the sauce from her lips with a napkin, she watched Yun Se-a's entrance fill the empty arena with light. She marveled at the sight.
"She seems even stronger than when I last saw her."
"Master, are you referring to Miss Yun Se-a?"
"Yes. Look at that mana—the difference in quality is overwhelming. It's a world apart from when we last met!"
"The quantity has decreased since last time, but... you're right."
Thomas Andrea, Louis (Vice Guild Master of the Vultures Guild), and the countless Heroes and Cadets around them gazed at the young woman currently delivering her speech, her powerful aura dwarfing them all into mere "extras."
Yun Se-a, with her lavender hair cascading to her waist and her sculpted, flawless beauty, held the microphone, drawing all eyes to her. Her appearance was nothing short of genius, and as she began explaining the competition rules, she commanded the audience's undivided attention.
"The competition rules are simple. The latest combat system, a fusion of Raon Academy and YS Technology's technologies, has been implemented. It features simulation devices and barriers that automatically disconnect upon receiving a fatal attack..."
"So, what's this system called?"
"Hmm... It's easier to understand if you think of it like a virtual reality game. Even if an arm is severed in the simulation, the cadet's actual arm remains intact. However, the pain is said to be fully transmitted."
"Hmph... The academies in the United States haven't adopted such technology yet. Look up information on the company that developed this system."
"Yes, sir."
Louis, impressed by South Korea's technological prowess, decided to investigate YS Technology, the company behind the newly explained system.
"I had some suspicions when I heard it was YS..."
"...So that company... it really belonged to Yuseong all along?"
"...Yes, it was recently acquired by the Yuseong Group. Though the official narrative credits President Kim Deok-bae's leadership..."
"Haa... I knew something was up when he showed up unannounced with that potion last time... He's practically a god of business."
If he weren't a cadet dreaming of becoming a Hero, I'd hire him as a Vultures asset manager right now, Andrea thought.
["Since you're not here to listen to my speech, I'll keep the explanation brief. It's probably faster if you see it for yourselves."]
Watching Yun Se-a effortlessly conduct the proceedings, even cracking jokes amidst the assembled multitude of Heroes, a smile began to spread across Thomas Andrea's lips.
It was the same look he had once worn—the gaze of someone who had discovered a raw gem, a prodigy displaying overwhelming talent at a young age.
"Every time I see her, I can't help but wish she would join my Guild..." he muttered.
As if hearing his murmur, Louis swiftly manipulated his tablet and began researching something.
The tablet screen displayed Yun Se-a's image, alongside a live feed calculating the quality of Mana emanating from her surroundings to determine her rank.
"Even as a cadet, her mana signature rivals that of a B-Rank Magician."
"That bracelet on her wrist is a mana-suppressing restraint. Recalculate the readings accounting for its effects."
"If we assume the restraint is removed... I estimate she's already at the upper echelons of A Rank. Should we make contact?"
Currently, Yun Se-a is neither the heir to any guild nor receiving sponsorship from one.
Naturally, if you asked anyone at Raon Academy to name the most outstanding talent, a hundred out of a hundred would unanimously say Yun Se-a. To Thomas Andrea, who sought to elevate his guild to the pinnacle, Yun Se-a was an exceptionally alluring prospect.
Andrea wanted to immediately establish a Korean branch of the Vultures Guild and even appoint Yun Se-a as its leader to recruit her, but...
"Well, still... if I take that girl, the old hag at the Academy would probably make a fuss."
She quickly abandoned the idea.
"Frankly, if the Master had seriously pursued recruiting Miss Se-a, our friendly relations with Korea would have been shattered instantly."
"I know, I know."
Her position was Student Council President of Raon Academy.
Most people here knew that one of the Student Council President's privileges was direct access to the Chairwoman. Historically, over half of Raon Academy's Student Council Presidents had joined the Golden Guild, so most assumed Yun Se-a would follow suit.
Naturally, Andrea and Louis felt the same way. Thomas Andrea knew very well that one shouldn't touch a pie in the sky.
"Well, even just maintaining friendly relations would be beneficial for us. We can always team up to conquer Gates later."
"It's rare to see you abandon your usual greed."
"Shut up."
"Yes, yes."
"Now, let's introduce today's match schedule. A total of 100 matches will be held, featuring 200 cadets..."
As Yun Se-a finished the opening ceremony and the day's match schedule appeared on the screen, Thomas Andrea pushed herself up from her chair.
"Are you planning to return to the United States now?"
"No way! If I go back, those dog-like bastards from the Board of Directors and the Underground will just come after me again. I'd rather stay here and enjoy some bourbon and buffalo wings."
".........I'm not sure if they'll have enough bourbon to satisfy you, Master."
"Well, I'm fine with beer too!"
That day, the Academy cafeteria's sales reportedly hit an all-time high.
My match is tomorrow.
Still, this is pretty nerve-wracking. If I were a normal person, I'd be completely overwhelmed by the atmosphere.
If someone with Baek Sia's fragile mental state—who can't even talk about machines—were here, they'd probably be crushed by the S-Rank Heroes' overwhelming presence and blurt out something they'd regret...
Who knew my college presentation experience would actually come in handy like this?
Thanks, you scumbags who ditched our group project and ran away.
Thomas Andrea's presence here was quite unexpected, but otherwise, everyone who was supposed to be here had arrived.
From Ryu Shin-woo's older brother, Ryu Seong-ho, to Choi Won-ho, the man known as the Raging Dragon and Seong Arin's mentor; Lee Jin-a, Eve's disciple and now the Guild Master of a major Guild; and even Lee Cheon-ma and Kang Jin-myeong—they were all here.
As I reminisced about that time, a deafening roar erupted from the stadium.
"Whoa-ah-ah-ah-ah!"
Has the first match already ended?
It was supposed to be the first match... Kang A-yul against... who was it again? Anyway, it was a match between first-year cadets.
If I had to guess how the battle went... Kang Jin-myeong values fundamental skills above all else. If Kang A-yul relied too heavily on her skills, he would undoubtedly summon her to the Main Residence during the summer break for rigorous training.
Kang A-yul would have to prove her growth to her grandfather through pure swordsmanship alone.
Since her skills already grant her an immense boost to every action she takes with her sword, defeating a first-year cadet should be effortless. Judging by the cheers, she likely won overwhelmingly.
I pulled out my smartphone and tuned into the live broadcast channel. As expected, Kang A-yul was dominating the match and securing a decisive victory.
Curious about the cheers, I discovered that Choi Sira, whom I'd assumed was a first-year student, was actually the top-ranked third-year student.
No wonder they're cheering so wildly.
Listening to the commentators, I learned that Choi Sira was a cadet already scouted by the Divine Sword Guild. The prevailing reaction was shock that she had been so utterly crushed.
"Well... since I have nothing else to do, I might as well go out and watch the spectacle."
I had initially planned to relax in my dorm and take a leisurely nap, but then...
Yu Eun-ha
Sister, if you have time... could you watch the match with me?
When a text like this comes through, I have no choice but to go.
"Are you going to meet that cowardly woman?"
"Shut up. If you make any sudden moves, you'll really die."
"Understood!"
Since standing out would be a problem, I grabbed a dark hoodie and threw it over my school uniform. The uniform pants were similar in color to regular dress pants, so to others, I'd just look like "Random Person #1 wearing a hoodie at the stadium."
As Azathoth vanished, a crystal orb materialized in my hand.
For now, this should prevent him from suddenly popping out.
Azathoth's impulsive outbursts were too frequent. After racking my brain for a solution, this was the best I could come up with.
The perfect Azathoth sealing plan stemmed from the following logic:
If I use the Crystal Maker, Azathoth can't emerge.
If I'm using this ability, Azathoth can't emerge.
Therefore, if I create a crystal sphere with the Crystal Maker, I must be using this ability.
Therefore, Azathoth shouldn't be able to emerge.
Though I couldn't stop Azathoth from muttering inside my pocket, it didn't matter since I wouldn't hear anything once I put him back in my bag.
Meeting up with Yu Eun-ha happened afterward.
"Eun-ha! Over here!"
"......I thought it was just going to be the two of us?"
"Um... I thought so too. But then they suddenly showed up and asked to join us... I'm sorry."
"No, it's fine. They're Miss Eun-ha's friends, after all."
I hadn't expected the Protagonist's group to be here.