Chapter 117: Stardust
'What the hell is with this girl...'
Isara stared at Yu Eunha in a daze. For someone who'd only been learning magic for a year to have this level of skill—it was mind-boggling. Even if she'd internalized ether from the womb like Isara had, a year? Isara's mind spun in confusion.
'Come to think of it, she first stepped onto the stage at the Busan Dynamic battle a year ago...?'
The 1-level test would've been around then too, so it wasn't impossible.
'But all that... was just first-year skill?'
As Isara pondered, a sudden thought struck her, and she spoke up.
"Hang on, Eunha. You tied with Unnie Jiyeon at the Busan Dynamic tournament, right...?"
Hong Jiyeon jumped up at Isara's words.
"Ack! Then! That was right after ya first learned magic? Don't lie to me! Ya! Back then! In the Abyss...! Argh!"
As Hong Jiyeon sputtered incoherently, Yu Eunha calmly folded her fingers, counting off the timeline.
"That was around two months in, or maybe three...?"
"Hahaha! Three months?! You little cheat! I ain't believin' it."
"Believe it or not, it matters not."
Isara felt a chill. It was hard to accept that the girl before her was human, just like her.
Unaware or uncaring of Isara's mood, Yu Eunha gravely took her wrist and muttered something.
"But what're you...?"
"Focus for a moment."
Yu Eunha closed her eyes and began manipulating the ether near Isara's heart core.
This is ether I refined in my own heart core? How's she moving it...?
Ether refined in one's own heart core shouldn't be manipulable by others.
Is this Mage Hunter technique?
The thought sent a thrill through her. The encounter with the Mage Hunter she'd longed for was happening through her daughter's hand.
As Isara gazed at Yu Eunha with flushed excitement, the girl tilted her head.
"Hm, this won't cut it... What's the issue? What's the key...?"
Yu Eunha murmured as if recalling something. That's when Seong Jiho tilted his head.
"But is it okay to do this here? Don't you have a match tomorrow, Yu Eunha?"
"Hm, match tomorrow..."
Yu Eunha froze mid-mutter.
"Ah! Tomorrow's the purple tentacle lady, right?"
She muttered blankly, then said gravely,
"Maybe skip the match and focus on this..."
Isara bolted upright from her bed.
"What kinda nonsense is that?! Get to practice now, Eunha!"
"Huh?"
"You too, Unnie Jiyeon, and Eunbyeol. For now—cough!—after the main prelims—cough!"
Blood surged up, spilling from her mouth.
"......"
A heavy silence fell over the room.
"You'll still be alive after the ranking war ends, right? This ain't the last time, is it?"
Everyone stared at Isara with worry. Hong Jiyeon started to say more but shot to her feet.
"A-hem. Since the room's owner says go, we're goin'... Take care o' yerself! Yeah?!"
Face red, she flung open the door and yelled,
"S-see ya next time! Good thing Eunha can help! I'll dig through them Mage Hunter files too!"
Isara nodded.
"Yeah, thanks."
Eunbyeol scrambled up too, watching them. She had to fight Hong Jiyeon, so urgency gripped her.
"I-I'll go practice too. Unnie Jiyeon's strong... Can't fall behind."
As the two left, Yu Eunha rose from her chair. Standing daintily on her small frame, she glanced up at Isara with her usual indifferent gaze.
"I'll head out too. If Reverse Flow won't work, no ideas come to mind right now..."
"Yeah, it's fine. I'll keep looking."
"Right, off I go."
With friends gone, only Seong Jiho and Isara remained.
"......"
In the sudden quiet, Seong Jiho spoke worriedly.
"Sera. Wanna rest a bit?"
Isara flopped back, staring blankly at the ceiling.
"Isn't it amazing?"
"What?"
"All my 11 years of effort, even using augmentation methods... equals someone's one year."
Dazed, bewildered, or sad—Isara just lay there.
Seong Jiho gripped her hand, her breaths raspy like dry twigs.
"It's okay. We can catch up. Slow and steady, effort pays off eventually."
"Yeah..."
Isara smiled faintly, eyes sparkling.
"Ah! Gotta investigate Eunha more. Then maybe I can get that strong in a year too? Cough! Cough!"
"What? Rest first..."
"Mhm."
Seong Jiho donned his coat.
"Then I'll go too."
"Ah, you got a junior match, right?"
"Yeah. Watch on TV. Not as big as ranking war mains, but promising juniors."
Isara grinned at his head-scratching.
"I'll cheer."
"Thanks."
With Seong Jiho gone, Isara lay alone, feeling her dimming heart core.
She smiled broadly to herself, then slipped under the covers.
Suddenly, she felt like a castaway on a lonely isle. Her light fading alone, past complacency returning—it terrified her.
"Haa... Cough!"
Endless decline. Wingless fall. The fear of never shining again gripped her.
Eyes welling, Isara whispered under the blanket,
"Please... just one more chance... Just once..."
Time passed. Main prelims Day 3.
Day 1's main: Isara vs. Cheolhyeol—too horrific to mention.
Day 2's main: Daniel's one-sided dominance—nothing to say.
All eyes on Day 3: Kang Seohee vs. Yu Eunha. Natural, really.
I snapped my phone shut after seeing the hyped headlines and stood.
"......"
Normally Monica would've briefed me on rules or foe habits. Without her, the waiting room was dead silent.
The black-and-silver-haired boys said nothing.
"Nothing to say?"
I glanced expectantly. Silver-haired Shasha spoke first.
"Uh, four tentacles—like sea anemones. They use ether. Watch for multi-magic."
"......"
I furrowed my brow at their input.
"That's it? Combat habits? Main spells? Right- or left-handed? Casting times in seconds? Useful intel?"
Under my gaze, Jang-gil whistled.
"Ah! N-no, that's..."
Shasha's pupils shook; she bowed her head.
"D-don't know. G-Google didn't have that."
"......"
Tch.
I clicked my tongue inwardly.
"Figures. No mage broadcasts their weaknesses."
They jumped at my out.
Info not on the net, then...
Monica probably used special networks.
She's an amazing mentor, huh.
I hummed Where'd you go, Monica~ inwardly and opened the door.
A staffer bowed immediately outside.
"Mage Yu Eunha? Match starts soon. Follow me if ready?"
"Ready long ago. Lead on."
Hajieun checked the broadcast feed, gripping her hands tightly.
Hajieun cleared her throat.
"Ahem, Lady Eunha pulled strings for me..."
She'd just gotten relay rights after Eunha made a call somewhere. Hajieun did little.
"Lady Eunha called the Magic Tower Union once, and rights dropped..."
As Hajieun bantered with viewers, two mages appeared onstage.
Navy-blue bob like a night sky, four purple tentacles from her waist. 2nd Army ranker Kang Seohee, overwhelming presence, took the stage. Then the pint-sized Demon Lord.
Black-to-haneul-blue gradient hair, sharp cat-like eyes. Cute limbs on an 8-year-old girl: Black Snow Demon Lord Yu Eunha.
"Whoa, trembling already."
"Yeah, Lady Eunha's sweeter and purer than her speech or eyes suggest."
Hajieun watched the start with affectionate eyes.
Standard tournament rules: First to zero 1000pt wins.
"Upset?!" Hajieun snapped alert at "upset," rushing to betting site.
"Our Demon Lord an upset? Blasphemy!"
"The hell! For real? Y'all crazy? Our Demon Lord can win!"
"Well, Seohee's strong..."
Not raw power, but tricky, versatile magic. Not easy.
Worried if it'll be okay...
As Hajieun fretted, the whistle blew.
Match Start!
"It starts!"
Hajieun upped volume; casters boomed.
After brief probing post-start, Yu Eunha thrust her hand.
"Ah! Demon Lord's first strike! Salvo? Abyssorium? Or Stella Maris defense first?"
But not as Hajieun guessed. From Yu Eunha's hand came something alien, unseen.
Light
Reaching Light
A gleaming black beam shot straight at Kang Seohee. No magic circle, no cast—dry, mechanical feel. Demon Lord's art.
It hit; her score chunked away.
-880pt Kang Seohee
Remaining: 120pt
"Huh."
Hit for seconds, yet obliterated. The absurd sight silenced all.