A Changing Era (1)
Of the 32 participants who entered the 47 rounds of the Foundation League, only five managed to walk out unscathed on their own two feet.
Excluding the two who forfeited, that leaves just three survivors, huh.
Reporter Kang Pyeongho clicked his tongue. Sure, they were kids under fifteen, but was it right for a competition to leave them with broken bones and damaged organs?
Though as a citizen scraping by on the scraps of those mages' worth, it's not my place to complain.
Pyeongho headed back to the press seats, his respect for mages deeply etched into his mind. Still, just in case, he might get a shot of the champion on their way out. He didn't forget to loop around toward the winner's exit route.
As Pyeongho cautiously slipped into a side corridor, a dejected voice drifted out.
"Sorry... I, I did my best, but... do you think the three of us can really make it...?"
"What nonsense is that?"
A boy and a girl's voices. The girl's was unmistakably Yu Eunha's.
"Isara and Hong Jiyeon are both injured and can't compete, and even if that Hyunho guy's kinda famous, I'm... "
Pyeongho pressed against the wall, narrowing his brows. Kang Jinwoo. The one who suddenly turned pro this time.
He'd been a promising mid-to-upper tier talent in this Foundation League, but that didn't mean he had pro-level talent.
Probably just got lucky surviving without running into the real contenders and scraped into fifth place.
This year, there were a lot of early exits among the powerhouses due to the executioners, so it made sense.
I wonder what she'll say.
As Pyeongho waited, Yu Eunha's voice rang out.
"You won fifth place by luck. Is that what you want to brag about?"
"Huh?"
"That spot you're standing in—the one Seong Jiho and Byeol spent a year risking their lives for."
"Uh, yeah..."
"You devised a wiser strategy, and that's why it's yours now. It wasn't handed to you."
"Ah..."
"Become someone worthy of that position. You're a pro now, aren't you? Pro Kang Jinwoo."
"......"
She even knows how to boost others' spirits?
Chuckling at this unexpected side behind her tough persona, Pyeongho jotted the exchange into his phone notes. Guess I don't need to worry about an interview.
Come to think of it, she'd even opened her Bundang Training Ground for free use—a kind-hearted kid through and through.
I can see the future she'll lead.
Just because she was called the Demon Lord didn't change that she was a mage willing to lay down her life for others. She'd surely walk the same path as Lee Han.
Or so I thought...
Seated in the press area, Pyeongho let out a hollow laugh at Yu Eunha's relentless barbs. The two newly promoted pros flanking her like screens fidgeted uncomfortably.
"The system's the problem. Promoting just five people a year through a luck-based survival match? Does that even make sense?"
She barreled on, clearly dissatisfied.
"Why does getting pro status have to go through such a narrow gate? It has nothing to do with national competitiveness—it's just protecting the pros' vested interests, isn't it?"
Shutters clicked nonstop amid her words. The Demon Lord's tirade showed no mercy. She looked ready to declare all-out war on the Pro Mages Association.
"Half the pros barely raid Abysses anyway. It makes no sense to keep promotions closed off for their sake."
With each statement, rapid keystrokes echoed. As Pyeongho typed up the article following her lead, unease crept in.
If this goes out as is, she'll get absolutely hammered.
This was a powder keg. With interests at stake, they wouldn't spare a seven-year-old. The Korean Mages Association, long entrenched as a profit cartel, would attack her regardless of right or wrong.
So the safe play was a neutral piece—or better yet, one criticizing her. That would keep his magic bureau reporter gig secure.
But is that right...?
Korea's pro league had stagnated for years—that much was true. Just like she said, it was infamous for its ills and ironclad gates. That was why third-army mages who didn't raid Abysses pulled 300 million won salaries.
"Stagnant water rots. Let it rot and get weeded out. I hope the Association looks ahead and takes the right path."
Watching her small back as she wrapped up and left, Pyeongho tweaked the article. At least he had to show there were adults backing her.
"Does this even make sense?! We can't even control one junior mage who's barely seven!"
Park Seonggil, president of the Korean Pro Mages Association—KPMA—hurled the newspaper across the room.
"Hey, contact the papers right now and meet with the Tower Alliance heads."
Those tower lords wouldn't miss this chance—they'd surely start biting soon enough. Better to negotiate before it blew up.
"Uh..."
His secretary standing before him mumbled.
"What?! Get on the phone with Haryeong!"
"They've already issued a statement."
"...What?"
Yu Eunha's presser was just three hours ago, and the Tower Alliance had already released a position statement? Coordinating all those busy tower lords and hammering out a unified response that fast?
"Did they coordinate with the Tower Alliance in advance? Rumor has it Yu Eunha's building a new tower."
"You saying a seven-year-old cut a deal with the Tower Alliance?"
"W-Well, there's Monica..."
Park Seonggil slammed the desk. Bam!
"First... gather the elders. Exclude those in the Tower Alliance—only Association independents."
"Yes, sir."
The personnel cap had been the key promise that got him the KPMA presidency. Failing on pro promotions would vaporize his position.
That's why I prepared concessions for times like this. Greedy bastards...
Grinding his teeth, Park Seonggil—the shining 6-level mage who'd competed in Olympia, the ironclad guardian—fumed inwardly. His goals had drifted far from national honor, humanity's fate, or Abyss management.
What mattered was securing another term as president. More crucially, clinging to the perks and prestige for another year.
"Gyahahaha!"
The pink-haired pint-sized woman laughed oddly, slapping her belly. In just an oversized T-shirt, she looked less like the Korean Tower Alliance chairwoman and more like a kid sprawled in her room.
But she didn't care, propping her skinny legs on the chair.
"Ahh~ Feels like I ate without eating. Thanks to our little one, huh? Landing a huge blow on those mage association clowns."
I shrugged at Haryeong's words.
"They're calling me a kid, but the height difference isn't that much anymore."
Her brows shot up to 10:10. Basically, 😠.
"Fine, ahem. You've grown a ton this year. Still shorter than me, got it?"
Beating a seven-year-old's just a big loss for her anyway.
I decided to humor her mood.
"So the Association's in chaos, but is it okay for the Tower Alliance to just sit this out?"
Haryeong grinned wickedly.
"They've been gutting themselves like they wanna die. They'll split for sure. We've been pushing to expand pro slots, and they didn't charge in."
She flapped her giant T-shirt with her hands.
"Hey, what kinda move is that?!"
As I averted my eyes, she beamed.
"What, weak to this? Even the Demon Lord? See, that's why they called me the Magic Flower back in the day."
"Wasn't that just 'cause liking that body type would've been social suicide?"
Her eyes welled up.
"Huh?"
She actually looked hurt, curling into the big chair.
"Yeah, that's why I'm single at this age, never even held a guy's hand. Happy now that you mocked me?"
"......"
She seemed genuinely wounded, so I bit my lip.
"You... I'm a living magical girl, y'know? From the '90s? How much... ugh, forget it."
Propping her chin, she eyed me.
"So. What's your next move?"
"What do you mean?"
"You flipped off the Korean Pro Mages Association, where you should've signed up. Set up a tower with ether mining rights, and everyone'll think you cut a deal with the Tower Alliance."
"......"
Hm, yeah, it looks bad. Anyone would think I'd gotten something from the Alliance to bite the Association.
Gripping my warm mug, I smiled faintly.
"It's fine. I won't be the tower lord anyway."
"Oh, really? Fair enough, that works."
As I stared, she nodded.
"So who? Monica's not a bad pick."
"......"
"Or, hmm... North Sea's Park Seongwoong wouldn't be bad."
"......"
"Or maybe... you'll bring in Hellfire's Kang Jaeho with Hong Jiyeon?"
"......"
As I stared silently, she broke into a cold sweat.
"No way? You're not seriously asking me, your auntie, to be tower lord? Me, who punched through the ether business rights?! You punk! Hey! Know some limits!"
Fuming, Haryeong shot up from her chair.
"You punk! If I sit as tower lord, how ridiculous would that look?! My name! It'll be on Wikipedia~! As the avatar of greedy corruption!!!"
"Aha..."
Her ten fingers trembled as she continued.
"Aha?! Laughing?! This funny to you?! Wanna see the president summon me?! 'Haryeong? Is politics a joke? You wanna go to jail for real?' That's what he'll say! You little shit! I just got off a deal for that! Don't make me tower lord, you punk!"
I smacked my lips and said,
"Got it. But you'll still be auntie, right?"
"Yeah! I'll do the auntie stuff. I said I would!"
"You already stamped it."
"Right, I'll auntie a bit! We signed the contract! But tower lord? Hell no, you brat!"
I nodded.
"Then if you don't wanna be lord, protect me good?"
She blinked at my words.
"...Huh?"
"'Cause I'm getting attacked too much."
Pretending to sob with a quivering voice, I said,
"Boo-hoo, the real tower lord was Auntie Lee Haryeong. I just did what she told me. I'm a figurehead. Look at me—I'm just a seven-year-old kid who only knows magic."
"...Pardon?"
"Don't wanna deal with that? Got it?"
For a moment, Haryeong stared blankly. Savoring that delicious expression, I smiled with my eyes.
"So back me up—media, whatever it takes."
Sipping my cocoa quietly, I watched her round eyes fixed on me.
"Say it. Just say it! You're no seven-year-old! You punk! No way someone thinking like that is seven!"
I smiled faintly at her rampage.
"Fine, I'll go meet the Association president today instead. That work?"
"And quit the casual talk sneakily, you punk!"
"Tch... Got it."
After my private chat with Haryeong, I told Monica,
"I'm heading to the Korean Pro Mages Association headquarters now."
Her face paled as she pointed at herself.
"Huh? With me? Right now?"
I grinned wide at her.
"We go to hell together, Master."
"Hey!!! Only calling me master at times like this!"