The Exchange Match
"I didn't expect to run into you here."
"Same here."
"First of all, thank you for your help."
"Think nothing of it. I know who you are, so there was no reason for you to go through the trouble of turning back."
Thanks to Park Eun-ho stepping in, the situation had been resolved smoothly. Because of his guarantee, Kim Ilshin was able to finish the investigation without any unnecessary procedures. Judging by the look on Seong Ji-woon’s face right before Ilshin stepped forward, it would have been difficult to convince him without a lengthy explanation. If it hadn't been for Park Eun-ho, Ilshin would have broken a sweat.
"Were you always with the Wind Guild?"
"Did I not mention it? I haven't left the Wind Guild since I graduated from the Academy. My team hasn't changed, either."
'So that’s why he trusted me right away.'
Seong Ji-woon had seemed difficult to convince until the very end, but he clearly decided that Park Eun-ho’s word couldn't be wrong. Through their long history of working together, they had built a deep, unshakable trust. Enough to believe the claim that an Academy student possessed the strength to take down a Rock Spirit single-handedly.
"Honestly, if I had only heard the Mayor’s report, I wouldn't have believed it either. But seeing you standing next to him, I understand everything now."
Park Eun-ho, standing with his arms crossed, scanned Kim Ilshin from head to toe. It was the same look he’d had when they first met—the gaze of someone gauging an opponent's skill.
"You’ve become incredibly strong. I had some expectations, but... I didn't think it would be to this extent. It seems I underestimated you."
"You’re too kind."
"Not at all. From your composed aura to your more solid musculature, I see no flaws. And..."
Park Eun-ho’s eyes landed on the Hyeonwol sword strapped to Ilshin's waist.
"It looks like you’ve acquired a fine sword, too."
'...Hmm.'
While Park Eun-ho’s words were clearly filled with nothing but goodwill and admiration, Kim Ilshin felt a small sense of threat. It was true that Park Eun-ho possessed sharper senses than most. Even Seong Ji-woon, the team leader who commanded him, hadn't been able to discern Ilshin's true skill just by looking. But that didn't make it a good thing to have his strength laid bare by a single glance. Concealing one's power was a massive advantage in any situation. Just off the top of his head, it allowed for baiting an opponent's carelessness and creating opportunities for surprise attacks. If his strength was exposed before the fight even began, he would lose those inherent advantages. And in the future, there would be countless enemies who possessed senses even sharper than Park Eun-ho’s.
He decided it was time to consider using concealment techniques.
'I can just ask Hana Lin to make a scabbard for the Hyeonwol... so I only need to worry about my own body.'
A method immediately came to mind. It wasn't a technique circulating in the public sphere, but a unique, original one of Kim Ilshin's own design. The common method was to completely block the energy flowing out of the body. But if he used that, it would be easy for others to realize he was actively using a concealment technique. Kim Ilshin took it a step further. What he wanted was to perfectly regulate the aura he emitted to the outside world.
There were many factors used to gauge an opponent's skill, but the biggest ones were the size and density of the mana leaking from the body. The method Ilshin devised to hide it was perfect control.
'The most important thing is naturalness.'
He left his circulating mana circuit as it was and adjusted the mana that leaked outward. It was an organic regulation that accounted for everything: breathing, pulse, and the contraction and relaxation of his muscles. The fact that his attempt succeeded on the first try was evident from Park Eun-ho’s subsequent reaction.
"You, just now...? ...Huh, wow."
Park Eun-ho, unable to finish his sentence, turned his head away as if he were dumbfounded. He knew Ilshin’s talent was monstrous, but witnessing such rapid growth right in front of his eyes felt different. He had intended to advise Ilshin to learn a concealment technique and even offer to teach him if he wanted, but that was useless now. The concealment technique Kim Ilshin was currently using was far superior to his own.
'I don't even feel like I could learn it.'
Even if he knew the operating principle, he wouldn't be able to use it. He had never heard of someone regulating the flow of energy itself rather than just hiding it completely.
"I’d love to spar with you, but because of my team, that’s going to be difficult. They’re waiting for me over there, you see."
Park Eun-ho rotated his shoulders as if his body were itching for a fight. It wasn't just talk. If it weren't for his team, he probably would have thrown a punch right away, just like when they first met.
"We’ll see each other again soon enough, so let’s save it for later. I’ve been invited as an observer for this Exchange Match."
Park Eun-ho said that, gave a simple farewell, and left toward his team. Kim Ilshin began to recall the details of the next scenario, the [Exchange Match], which was about to begin.
The Exchange Match, held in the middle of the first semester of the third year, was an event where talented individuals from academies across the world gathered to interact. Here, 'interaction' meant sparring, and the person representing the academy in these spars was traditionally the top student of the third year. On the surface, it promoted a spirit of harmony, but in essence, it was closer to a battle of pride between academies. Since the proceedings were broadcast worldwide, the evaluation of each academy changed depending on the performance shown.
And among the people coming to Cosmo Academy for the Exchange Match, there were members of the Red Heaven Cult mixed in. Normally, they wouldn't do anything to hide their identities, but if the player had previously acted in opposition to the Red Heaven Cult, the story changed. They would use this opportunity to attempt an assassination of the player.
'That’s almost a certainty.'
There were many methods of assassination—poison, hidden weapons, bombs—and it was difficult to prepare for all of them. If you prepared for one, they would obviously just choose another.
'It could be dangerous if I think like that, but...'
Fortunately, there was one way to significantly reduce the number of variables.
"Did all of these people nominate me?"
Kim Ilshin asked as he scanned the documents. It was the list of students participating in the Exchange Match, and everyone had nominated Kim Ilshin as their desired sparring partner. The sparring partners for the Exchange Match were primarily determined through these nominations. If the pre-written desired sparring partners matched, the match between the two was confirmed as a priority. The remaining people would either change their nominations or, if that didn't work, be assigned among the remaining participants.
"Yes. This is the first time I've seen something like this."
Teacher Joo Chae-rin, who was sitting at her desk processing paperwork, replied. She was the person in charge of this Exchange Match.
'It must be because of what happened during the sparring exam.'
There was almost no one left who didn't know about what happened then. He was an Academy student who had not only been recognized by the world-famous Great Hero Baek Ho-san but had even received an offer to become his disciple. Naturally, attention was bound to be focused on him. Perhaps they had various reasons for nominating Kim Ilshin. Maybe they wanted to see his true skill, or maybe they wanted to defeat him to gain fame. Or perhaps they simply wanted to test their mettle against him in a pure contest of strength.
But those things had nothing to do with Kim Ilshin. He had already decided who he would choose.
"I’ll choose this person."
Kim Ilshin placed his finger on the name of his desired sparring partner. Joo Chae-rin, who looked up to confirm, wore a puzzled expression.
"It’ll be hard to deal with a mage, are you sure?"
"Yes. I’ve decided on this opponent."
The method Kim Ilshin chose to reduce the variables of an assassination attempt was simple. Rather than avoiding it, he would create the perfect moment for them to attempt it. Considering the abilities of the person he had chosen as his sparring partner, they wouldn't be able to pass up such a good opportunity.
'It’ll be hard for them not to bite with this.'
Kim Ilshin thought to himself as he walked outside. The bait had been cast; now, all he had to do was wait for them to take it.
"Master. The sparring match with him has been arranged."
At the words of Oliver, a third-year student at the Kingdom Academy in England, his master, Benjamin, wore a smile on his wrinkled face.
"It is a stroke of heaven-sent luck. It is surely a result of God's assistance."
"Yes, that is correct."
"It seems our path has been set. Oliver, we will participate in the sparring match normally. And during the match, take Kim Ilshin’s life. You will fulfill the Cult Leader’s command with your own hands."
"Leave it to me."
Oliver replied with a very tense expression. Seeing his disciple like that, Benjamin stroked Oliver’s hair with a benevolent smile.
"Do not feel too burdened. It is fine if you fail. I am behind you, so I will handle the aftermath."
"...Thank you, Master."
However, Benjamin’s words only served to further ignite Oliver’s will. Oliver firmly resolved that he would kill Kim Ilshin with his own hands, no matter what.