Chapter 301
Chapter 301
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 301
Chapter Title: Okay, Let's Bet
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The training grounds were filled with laughter.
What? Aren’t training grounds supposed to be full of sweat and shouts of determination?
Nah.
You can train plenty hard while laughing.
“Huhuhuhuhu.”
“…….”
“Heheheh.”
Swish!
Even when executing practical techniques to swiftly subdue an opponent with a dagger.
Whoosh, whoooosh!
Even when dancing nimbly and striking with capoeira martial arts.
Shwick! Shwick!
Even when twin sectioned staffs painted the air.
Kwarung!
Even when unleashing the ‘Cracker Volley,’ heavy iron balls tied to strings.
“Huhuhuhu.”
I couldn’t stop laughing.
“You little punk!”
Finally, the old man watching could take no more.
“Doing nothing but basic training every day has finally driven you insane? If you’re gonna go mad, at least do it quietly. What’s with this endless giggling?”
The old man’s eyebrows twitched as he barked.
He was worried.
Worried that the all-arts master he’d raised so diligently might have lost his mind.
“Speak up! Is it because you want to go to the dungeon that badly? If you want it that much, I can give you one day!”
“Nah, what dungeon? This disciple is plenty happy just learning these new techniques.”
“You? You’re happy?”
The old man finally stuttered.
“Hey! Get a grip! You can’t let your head go weird!”
Ignoring the old man’s shout, I extended my arm.
Kwarung!
The iron balls struck the target with exquisite precision, just as I willed.
‘Good.’
This means I’ve laid the basics solid.
Alright.
What technique next?
‘Hehehe.’
The reason I was laughing.
It was simple.
‘Demir a constellation? A constellation?!’
I hadn’t been this thrilled even when Arin took a step closer to becoming the constellation ‘Ancient Magic’ (SSS Grade).
Why?
Because that felt like a distant future tale.
But Demir?
He’d become one soon.
If he could just melt down that Destruction Dragon’s fang and forge a masterpiece, I’d have a constellation-grade summon.
‘Of course.’
It wouldn’t be on the level of the ‘Ancient Magic’ constellation Arin aimed for.
Constellations varied in power and presence, after all.
Still, it was hugely significant.
It meant all my summons could one day reach constellation grade!
“Hahahahaha!”
Just thinking of that moment filled me with power.
No matter how much I moved, my energy never waned—it overflowed.
But.
That joy didn’t last as long as I’d hoped.
* * *
“Master.”
“Hm?”
Demir suddenly appeared, his face hesitant.
“Huuuuh.”
He let out a sigh deep enough to cave the ground.
“Master…….”
“What, what, what? Tell me. What’s wrong.”
Urging my uneasy self, he scratched his head with a bitter look.
“Well, about that Destruction Dragon’s fang. No matter how hard I try, it won’t melt.”
“Huh?”
My eyes widened.
What did he just say?
So we can’t make it right now?
“I can melt it! I can handle pretty high temperatures, you know. Or Arin? Arin’s from the Eloise family! Or maybe the essence guy…….”
“Master, calm down first.”
Demir placated me with a troubled expression.
Ah, right.
He must be just as disappointed as I was.
“Urgh.”
As I groaned, Demir spoke.
“It’s not just melting. Concentrating, refining, and forging it into shape… Hmm, my hammer has its limits.”
“Then? Should I do it?”
Fwoosh!
I transformed my Godslayer-grade item into a hammer.
“This should overpower even a Destruction Dragon, right? I’ve actually cut dragon hide and shattered bones with it.”
“I know, but…….”
Demir shook his head.
“Seeing this would be faster.”
Rustle.
Demir held out something.
A blueprint, seemingly extracted via alchemy.
Snap!
I snatched it and unrolled it urgently.
[Item: Destruction Dragon Set]
[Grade: SSS]
[Type: Blueprint]
[Description: A design plan for crafting the ‘Destruction Dragon Set.’]
[Effect 1: Allows crafting of weapons and accessories with the prefix ‘Destruction Dragon’s.’]
[Effect 2: Requires 1 ‘Refined Destruction Dragon’s Fang,’ 50 ‘Adamantium,’ 50 ‘Mithril.’]
[Effect 3: Boasts superior performance due to complex crafting difficulty.]
[Effect 4: Requires ‘Crystal of the Heart’s Depths’ (SSS Grade) to fuse the metals.]
This blueprint again.
How and when did he get it?
I read through the effects slowly.
Then.
“Crystal of the Heart’s Depths?”
I tilted my head.
“What’s that?”
“You think I know, Master? It’s my first time seeing this blueprint too. So I asked Miss Arin.”
Arin.
Right, when in doubt, ask Arin.
She’s like this universe’s Namuwiki.
“And?”
“She said it’s a metal from deep in the Spirit Realm. Forget getting it—how are we even supposed to go to the Spirit Realm? It’s a whole other world.”
“Spirit Realm…….”
Sigh, of all places.
The Spirit Realm was my proxy dungeon, wasn’t it?
I could go get it, but not being able to craft it right now……
It felt like hitting a reef mid-voyage.
“So we can’t make it for a while?”
“Sorry, Master.”
“No, no, you don’t need to apologize, Demir.”
Still, it stung.
‘Funny situation.’
In the fight against Magic Tower Lord Sophia.
Our Arin would step out with just a Fire Dragon Staff.
While Sophia would wield the finest masterpiece Demir and I created.
If apologies were in order.
We owed one to Arin.
“Huu.”
I was about to sigh deeply.
- No need at all, Professor.
- Actually, it’s for the best. We have to give them that much handicap, right?
Huh?
Oh, she was nearby?
Well, the training grounds were all close.
Close enough.
- You don’t doubt me, do you?
No, no.
I trust you, absolutely.
If Kim Jin-ah’s insight was insane, Arin’s wisdom was superhuman.
Living in constant communion with ancient magic and buried in books.
Her judgment was spot-on.
Still.
Regret was regret.
* * *
After deciding to invite spectators.
The Magic Tower and Star Heaven-Earth officially announced.
[Star-Magic Battle! Event Notice!]
[See link below!]
Star-Magic Battle.
The term for the magic duel between Star Heaven-Earth and the Magic Tower.
So why Star-Magic Battle?
They could’ve called it Magic-Star Battle.
Naturally, the Magic Tower protested.
- Why Star-Magic Battle, Joo Dong-hoon? It makes it sound like Star Heaven-Earth is above our Magic Tower.
At Sophia’s bold call.
Kim Jin-ah, watching, broke into a cold sweat, but surprisingly, it passed smoothly.
- Because we’re hosting this time. Next one can be Magic-Star Battle. Though there won’t be a next.
- Why do you think that?
- Because after this, the Magic Tower won’t want to face us again.
- What? Ahahahat! Such confidence. Thanks to you, my competitive spirit is fired up.
Sophia accepted readily.
And that wasn’t all.
- Plus, since our arena’s hosting, Star Heaven-Earth takes 80% of ticket revenue. We invested in building it.
- And next Magic-Star Battle, we take 80%, right?
- See? We understand each other.
- Well, if that’s it…… Okay, deal! Nothing heals the bitterness of defeat like financial compensation.
- We’ll see the results, but anyway. It’s a promise? Thank you!
Click!
Watching the Guild Master slam down the receiver with authority.
Kim Jin-ah shivered all over.
Aaaah.
‘Guild Master, you’re too cool!’
Her eyes sparkled like stars.
It was heartwarming.
The one who never bothered with guild matters had come through big time.
It would’ve been awkward if she’d handled it herself.
But with the Guild Master, it wrapped up cleanly.
Of course, victory was the top priority and biggest worry.
But facing the Magic Tower with our name first!
And securing 80% of spectator revenue!
Against a Big 3, this was huge.
“Vice Guild Master, set and sell the ticket prices as you see fit.”
“Of course, Guild Master! 200,000 seats, sold out! Loyalty!”
Kim Jin-ah immediately set prices.
[General Seats: 500,000 won!]
[VIP Seats: 10 million won!]
[VVIP Seats: 100 million won!]
Prices so absurd someone might explode in rage.
There was controversy, indeed.
But.
[Star-Magic Battle! Tickets Sold Out in One Day! Shock!]
[Those Who Missed Out Paying Premiums on Top!]
The controversy faded as tickets flew off the shelves.
‘They had to sell.’
Kim Jin-ah thought the prices were too low.
An event to shake the world.
Beyond the matchups, the spectacle itself guaranteed hype—plus rankers clashing.
Seeing rankers fight live?
That was every hunter’s dream and golden opportunity!
They’d pay fortunes and throng the gates.
Sold out was inevitable.
As days turned to weeks.
Star-Magic Battle prep progressed smoothly.
Then one day.
“Hoo, look at this?”
Kim Jin-ah, monitoring reactions, widened her eyes.
“They’re taking bets?”
World Hunter Association Chair Ai recognized the Star-Magic Battle as official.
Simultaneously, they added betting pools.
A legal game for the whole world!
Bet limits scaled by hunter rank.
Gambling’s addictive.
And fun.
Crowds were a given.
“Let’s see.”
She checked the odds per match.
[Match 1]
[Emily vs. Brandon]
[6.00 1.40]
[Match 2]
[Do Ha-rang vs. Usher]
[6.00 1.40]
[Match 3]
[Joo Dong-hoon vs. Kainad]
[3.20 2.04]
[Match 4]
[Arin vs. Sophia]
[12.5 1.12]
[All Matches]
[Home: Star Heaven-Earth]
[Win Draw Loss]
[10.00 5.30 1.18]
“……What’s this?”
Kim Jin-ah looked baffled.
Five matches total.
But the odds were off.
‘No matter how favored the Magic Tower is…… how can it be this bad?’
Grit!
She ground her teeth.
She knew.
The Magic Tower had higher win odds.
But still.
She couldn’t hold back her anger.
‘Emily and Do Ha-rang, fine. Guild Master’s a hyper ranker, close enough. But Arin?’
1,250% if Arin wins?
Only 112% if Tower Lord Sophia wins?
“Haa.”
Former banker Kim Jin-ah knew better than anyone.
Money doesn’t lie.
People’s bets overwhelmingly favored the Magic Tower.
‘Don’t let emotions into investments.’
When betting, shed attachments and feelings.
But?
“Huuuuh.”
Why did she want to follow her heart?
Guild Master had said with conviction.
Star Heaven-Earth wins for sure.
Why did she want to trust him?
‘Truth is.’
She had to.
The man who vanished and returned a ranker.
Became a high ranker, now hyper ranker.
Even that insane Divine Number Dragon was mere prey before him.
‘No, still.’
Bets demand cold logic.
Clenching her fist, Kim Jin-ah searched for ‘Arin’s Training Grounds.’
She trusted the Guild Master.
Trusted Arin.
But Do Ha-rang and Emily?
‘Hmm.’
Faith lacking.
Kim Jin-ah wanted to fill it with her own eyes.
Step, step.
Rushing to the training grounds, she saw.
“Huh?”
Two mages on the brink of ruin—no, heading there.
“Huaaaaaah……!”
“V-Vice Guild Master? Vice Guild Master! S-Save us!”
W-What?
Even the great Kim Jin-ah was stunned by the scene.
These two…… weren’t they mages?
Why were mages doing that training?
“Kwaaaaaah!”
“Kyaaaaah! I’m sorry! I’ll never post on the forums again!”
The two mages hefted boulders bigger than themselves, powering through squats.
Sweat poured like rain, soaking their clothes.
And.
Looking closely, there was space between the boulder, their hands, and heads.
Meaning the boulders floated high in the air.
That meant?
“Oh my god.”
Kim Jin-ah’s jaw dropped.
Floating them with mana while doing strength training?
“What’s going on?”
Then.
A girl with flowing red hair appeared.
Gulp.
Kim Jin-ah swallowed.
Something.
Yeah.
Gave her chills.
She’d been cute before.
“Hmm…….”
After a moment’s thought, Kim Jin-ah spoke.
“Can I ask one thing?”
“Go ahead.”
“……Can they beat the Magic Tower elders?”
Despite the abrupt question.
Arin didn’t hesitate.
“Absolutely.”
Star Heaven-Earth’s wisest, Eloise Arin.
Her answer brimmed with certainty. Faith.
‘Okay.’
Kim Jin-ah clenched her fist.
This.
She’d bet.
Had to bet.
All five matches parlayed.
Full bet!
* * *
Time flowed like water.
Magic Tower’s time, Star Heaven-Earth’s time—both equal.
Days to weeks.
And half a year passed in a flash.
Whiiiing!
Chilly winter winds.
Finally, the true Star-Magic Battle day approached.