Chapter 100
Chapter 100
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 100
Chapter Title: Midterms (3)
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Flashes erupted inside the arena.
-Click! Click!
Kim Hyung-jun frowned at the burst of light, but as he recalled the scene he had just witnessed, he soon let out a scoff of disbelief.
‘Lee Si-heon.’
The promising star of this field that the alliance was watching closely.
‘What the hell?’
He was a divine servant assisting the World Tree and an executive in the Forest Keeper selection tournament. He had actually come to this event half out of mere curiosity.
Since anyone who stood out would advance to the main round anyway, he figured watching the most mysterious match would be far more worthwhile.
But...
It was a match on a completely different level from his expectations.
Kim Hyung-jun stroked his chin thoughtfully.
Did the man in the mask have any weaknesses at all?
‘Nothing lacking.’
The density of his magic power, the precision. The variety of spells unleashed in such a short time.
He had taken a few shots from the gun, but that seemed clearly intended to test its power.
And then, after confirming his advantage, he quickly judged the situation and closed the distance.
At the final moment, the barrage of spells to neutralize the gun was a technique that even he had to admire.
‘Bead, was it? Never heard of her... That girl’s no pushover either. Her fundamentals are on a different level from the riffraff.’
Though the match had ended on a somewhat deflating note, it looked entirely different to experts with discerning eyes.
‘That’s a scary girl.’
A seasoned hunter.
The kind of presence that couldn’t be gained without years on the front lines was somehow visible in a mere cadet.
To outsiders, she might look like a skillless woman who realized her defeat and surrendered. But recognizing one’s own defeat in that moment was actually incredibly difficult.
It wasn’t some impulsive decision born from powerlessness and despair.
Her surrender was the result of precise calculations and foresight.
The timing made it clear why.
‘The moment the gun was first aimed at her, and she realized it wasn’t functioning normally.’
Bead had rolled her eyes and reached for her pocket before hesitating.
She must have brought countless tools prepared for this match. In fact, magic reactions had flared dozens of times inside it.
Yet she had gauged what might work and, in that brief instant, determined that nothing would.
Even with a fist charging fiercely right before her eyes.
“Interpreting a dream is better than the dream itself. But just now, that wasn’t it.”
Few fighters could maintain composure even in the worst situations.
Even knowing no such person would be at the academy.
This time, he wanted to concede the impossibility.
A capable person recognizes another capable one.
The current situation was exactly that.
‘The problem is why a woman whose name I’ve never even heard possesses such skills.’
Everything from one to ten was suspicious.
The trait of infusing magic into bullets and firing them was practically unprecedented, so there was no way he wouldn’t have heard of it.
‘Lee Si-heon too.’
A blank slate with absolutely no past.
‘Damn, both of them are total weirdos. A couple?’
He’d heard Lee Si-heon was handsome without the mask. A handsome pair in looks too.
Talents like that always stirred up scandals and ended up on shows like We Got Married.
With their great talents, he hoped they wouldn’t do something like that.
-Why hit me then?
-Because I felt like it.
-Fine, then I’ll hit you too. Take this! Hey, don’t run!
Kim Hyung-jun sighed as he watched Si-heon and Bead bickering.
Regardless of anything else, they were clearly extraordinary talents.
If asked who was superior, both were excellent, but right now he wanted to focus more on Bead.
Lee Si-heon had exceeded expectations as well, but Bead’s veteran poise was astonishing regardless of the outcome.
His opinion might change after seeing another match someday... but that would be a matter for then.
Kim Hyung-jun chuckled as he surveyed the now-noisy surroundings.
Guild members frantically contacting someone somewhere. The instructors and religious overseers looking utterly shocked. It all seemed ridiculous.
Bead and Lee Si-heon would probably be hounded by guild recruitment offers for a while.
“What a mess. Alright, which match to watch next...”
He pulled out his smartphone, swiped through the screen to check the bracket, and paused at one spot with a grin.
[Lee Si-heon H]
[Jeong Si-woo G]
“This one.”
Lee Si-heon versus Jeong Si-woo.
If they both advanced to the main round like this, they’d face each other.
Feeling his blood heat up, he stood.
The bracket for that yet-to-unfold main round match, one that might cause quite a stir, seemed to flicker faintly in his pupils.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ -Bzzz.
The door to the contestant waiting room slid open. Staggering footsteps echoed down the hall before abruptly stopping.
My body, now changed into casual clothes, showed no trace of the blows it had taken—as if they’d never happened. Not a hint of fatigue.
‘Always such a sturdy body.’
The Healing World Tree... Wonder if she’s doing well.
The face of that tree who had once raped me floated into my mind. Now, I could probably give her a good flick on the forehead.
I’d endured the brutal training so far thanks to the authority I’d stolen from the Healing World Tree.
“But the more I think about it, the angrier I get.”
That crazy bitch Bead.
I’d beaten the soul out of her, and she just up and surrendered like it was nothing.
Sure, I’d thrashed her good right there, but no matter how much I hit her, the anger wouldn’t subside.
What an embarrassment.
I’d cornered her pride completely, only to take hits myself. If word of this reaches Baek-do’s ears...
-Kuh, kuhaha! Hahaha!! Isn’t he a total scrub?
Imagining Baek-do laughing uproariously without even covering his mouth.
Too pissed.
Gonna deck her once when I get back to the dorm. She’ll hit me back dozens of times, but it’d be worth it.
“Good job!”
A bit further down, Azalea came down from the upper seats, waving happily.
She held out the ion drink clutched tightly in her hand, and I accepted it gratefully.
“Thanks.”
“Hehe. But today you were super, super cool. Totally different from the first time I saw you.”
Her exaggerated gestures were pretty cute.
Her hesitant steps, the way her pink hair swayed with her movements.
Good to see her looking bright. Her slightly flushed cheeks suggested her worries had eased a bit.
“How’d you do?”
“Obviously won. Gotta run a wrecked company—can’t afford to lose here.”
“Fair enough. Glad it went well.”
“What’re you saying, the top guy? I was relieved with my own progress... but then there’s someone even better.”
Top guy, huh. Felt awkward coming from someone who’d just been getting pummeled. I shifted the topic to Bead.
“By the way, does Bead normally use guns?”
“...Oh, that. Honestly, I’m not sure either. She knows swords and bows too.”
I’d thought she knew her well from occasional meetings back in military academy days... guess not.
“Is it possible to use a gun like that?”
“Possible, but... I dunno.”
I could mix magic into projectiles too. Bullets being small would make it tricky, but channeling magic through a medium was doable with enough time.
But boosting power to that level definitely required some trait’s help.
‘Not the point, though.’
I’d won, end of story.
Obsessing over unknowns just brings stress and frustration.
“Gonna go train.”
“Me too, busy with prep.”
“See you tomorrow.”
I wrapped up the chat and parted with Azalea. On the way to the dorm, I chugged the ion drink I’d gotten earlier.
For some reason, it was perfectly chilled with bits of shaved ice floating, like Azalea had cast a spell on it.
“Phew...”
One-gulped it and tossed the can into a trash bin. It bounced once and landed perfectly inside.
-Clink.
Past matches are past.
Now... yeah, time to get more serious.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Before training, I headed to the cafeteria for dinner and spotted a familiar face in the corner.
“Hey, isn’t that Si-heon?”
Jeong Si-woo. Caught off guard by the unexpected encounter, I froze—then he smiled and spoke first.
“Here for food?”
“Yeah.”
“Sit. Just ordered—let’s eat together.”
I’d planned to scarf it down and bounce, but maybe because the dorms were close.
I sat and ordered my share.
“Didn’t expect to run into you here. Exam go well?”
“Written and practical were fine. Tournament’s the issue.”
Written and practical depended on the professors’ whims and biases, so results would come later.
What mattered were the heavy hitters like the guy in front of me for the main round.
“Yeah. You’re overflowing with talent. Bet your rank shoots up this time.”
“Flattering me again.”
I brushed off the flattery he tossed out like breathing—obviously a joke.
Propping my chin, I eyed Si-woo’s slightly tense face and casually broached the topic.
“We’re matched up in the first round of the main bracket, right?”
“Really?”
Si-woo looked genuinely surprised.
I could tell he’d been charging ahead without a glance at the bracket. Astounding.
Why was he so hardcore?
My life was on the line, sure—but this guy was proactively hurling himself into danger, brimming with passion to build his strength.
“You look beat, man.”
“Do I?”
Up close, the dark circles were noticeable. Yet he was still wired, like a candle flickering on its last wick.
“Take a breather.”
Not like me to say, but sincere advice. Si-woo gave a wry smile and shook his head.
“Still good.”
“Why push so hard? Top spot? Failing the quest just means fewer training hours anyway.”
“Nah, it’s not that... Kinda personal.”
“Whatever then.”
No interest if he didn’t wanna share. Everyone’s got circumstances.
I set my mask aside and stirred rice into the arrived soup.
With my face out, I felt subtle stares from around.
“Hmm...”
Jeong Si-woo stared at the ceiling lights like they were distant mountains, then seemed to steel himself and spoke.
“Dunno where to start.”
I’d said I wasn’t interested.
Glancing at him half-lidded, he already looked lost in thought, dazed.
An expression like forgetting something huge—like one I might’ve worn ages ago.
“It’s really nothing big. ...I’ve got a sibling I got separated from as a kid.”
I quietly took in his low murmur without interjecting.
“More precious than my own life. Just wanna find them.”
“Got it. Winning gives a hint or something?”
“You knew...”
I’d vaguely suspected as much.
Lost family reunion. Sounds straight out of a drama protagonist’s arc.
Not mocking... Jeong Si-woo just felt so perfectly crafted—pure good, effortlessly cool.
Noble goal, diligent without a shred of malice.
No compromises in his process, a guy you couldn’t find in any world line.
Overly bright types usually hide agendas, but he was so straightforward it bordered on gullible—and that’s why I liked him.
Tries not to wallow in self-pity.
The more I saw, the starker the contrast to me. But it was an irreconcilable gap, eternal difference—not unpleasant.
World’s got guys like this, huh... something like that.
Sudden thought hit: If Jeong Si-woo’s the drama lead, where’s my spot? Mob? Mid-boss? Shadow villain?
‘Sounds nice.’
I risked death on failure; he risked a lifetime shot.
Both pawns in fate’s joke.
Who knows. Maybe the World Tree’s machinations.
The World Tree decides all. Like bold text in a game release note. The absurd notion made me chuckle inwardly as I looked at Si-woo.
“Ah. Uh... not asking you to forfeit or anything. You know?”
Startled, he added hastily—his face dawning with regret at oversharing, laced with embarrassment.
“Don’t count chickens.”
I had plenty on the line too.
“Feels kinda relieved telling you.”
“Huh?”
“Nothin’.”
Now I got why he’d trained to the point of hospitalization.
And thanks to that, I could go all out.
“Soju?”
Glancing at the menu, I asked. Si-woo pondered long, then flashed a crooked grin.
“...Sure, why not.”
No grudges, whoever wins.
And... this time, really show everything I’ve got.
That day, we shared drinks.
No deeper meaning—just a casual round between academy cadets who’d become friends this year.