The Start and End of the MBS Tournament
The first time Seong Jiho used notes was because of his father.
'This damn pigsty! Nothing here suits my taste!'
Seong Jiho's home was straight out of some trashy drama. An alcoholic, violent father. A mother who'd abandoned her kids and fled to avoid the beatings. In that hellhole, Seong Jiho's daily routine was analyzing and cataloging his father's moods and states.
Groveling obsequiously to avoid a beating, soothing him, persuading him logically, and bolting at the first sign of rage. Those were the days.
The one who pulled Seong Jiho out of that inferno was a teacher from his regular school.
'Please, sir. Your son has talent as a mage. Wouldn't it be better to send him to an academy instead of a regular school?'
'What? A mage? You're crazy—my kid couldn't be!'
'He can make a lot of money, sir. And who do you think that money will go to?'
That was how Seong Jiho escaped the gutter—thanks to those words about his mage talent.
So he had to have talent as a mage. Since he hadn't been born with a better brain than others, he poured everything into records and observation.
He observed and analyzed guys who were better than him, then beat them. He copied the ether control and spell linkages of skilled mages every single day. He meticulously dissected opponents' habits and weaknesses, then hounded them relentlessly.
And that was how this was born.
"You think that's just calculation?"
Seong Jiho knew Yu Eunha would bite. Sure enough, she shifted her attitude as if offering a bit of advice.
"Can't you see the ether with your own eyes?"
"Not exactly, but even if you could see it..."
"Tch, everyone's so damn lazy these days. It's..."
And in that instant.
The spell Seong Jiho had held ready with casting hold unfurled.
3-level Control
Gravity Field
Gravity Field, a spell that freely manipulated gravity. The moment Yu Eunha's foot touched its range, her body flipped upside down.
"?!"
And all too naturally, the next spell chained in.
2-level Projection
Stone Cannon
Pumped full of ether, it sent Yu Eunha flying far off—enough to reach the edge of the out-of-bounds line.
But just as she hurtled toward it, she suddenly spun in midair.
'Tch, no luck there, huh.'
Yu Eunha showed no openings, like a battlefield veteran of decades.
'Too bad it didn't end there.'
Seong Jiho glanced at the scoreboard.
But his strategic direction was spot on. His opponent was down to a measly 100 points. The moment Yu Eunha closed in, he could whittle away at least that much.
From here on, the high ground was Seong Jiho's.
'Stone Shower? Nah, Double Shot or Guided Missile might be better.'
Seong Jiho gathered maximum ether for his next attack. Worst case, mutual destruction.
He prepped a massive area-of-effect spell.
'Just shave off 100pt.'
As if reading his thoughts perfectly, Yu Eunha's movements grew cautious.
"I must correct myself. You fight well. Far different from what I imagined."
The words "what I imagined" sparked an odd sense of kinship, lifting the corner of his mouth.
"Yeah? You're pretty much what I pictured."
"......"
Yu Eunha smiled faintly.
"You know how to push buttons too. Not bad at all."
With her words, in less than a second, the spell cast.
3-level Enhancement
Stella Maris
'...She'd already prepped the cast!'
He'd thought it was a new spell she barely knew. Seeing her wield it so fluidly left him stunned.
'A 7-year-old mastering 3-level magic? Give me a break with the scams.'
The moment Seong Jiho tried to cast his own spell.
Something invisible struck him, sending him flying out of bounds.
"??"
Flustered by the unseen blow, Seong Jiho lay on the ground, replaying the moment.
'Hidden spell? Silent casting? What the hell?'
Still sprawled, he dazedly stared at Yu Eunha.
She walked over briskly, scanned his expression, then extended a hand.
"A curious look on your face. 'Twas but a simple air blade."
"......"
Seong Jiho felt wronged.
'Air blade? This ain't a comic book. Come on.'
After the MBS finals ended, people gathered in Hajieun's stream, chattering while awaiting the winner's interview.
"But what was that last spell? Seong Jiho just got blasted outta nowhere."
"Oh, winner's interview's coming up. She really needs to nail this one."
J1-grade matches carried such weight and importance that they often featured winner's interviews like pro games. It was an honor for the victor and good news for fans, but...
The chat dumped a truckload of worries.
"Aah, hope she builds a good image this time."
Everyone nodded at Hajieun's words.