An Era of Upheaval (2)
Hajieun pressed her forehead, watching the broadcast veer into strange territory. What should have been a praise fest for Yu Eunha had devolved into talk of structural issues in pro mages and politics.
'No matter how much of a scorching icon Yu Eunha is in the magic world lately...'
"Ah..."
Her once small and beautiful broadcast was gradually getting tainted by politics. In other words, it was heading straight for the gutter. She had zero desire to debut in Yeouido or Gwanghwamun.
Hajieun started blocking the heavy political talk.
"Okay, all politics talk is banned from now on. I've put up with it long enough, honestly."
She sighed as she said it.
"Eunha-nim surely has something in mind. Let's wait at least a week, yeah?"
Supportive chats popped up in response.
'No, that's not it.'
But whatever, it was better than politics, so Hajieun swallowed her tears and decided to let the nonsense slide for now.
"So, our Eunha-nim has promoted to pro. She said she's taking a break until March, right?"
"Ah, right. When she enters the ranking war in March, she'll do great in 3rd Army. Maybe not 1st place, but top ranks are possible?"
Chats flooded in, hyped for her synergy with Isara.
"Ah, now that she's pro, she might join a magic tower. Wonder how that'll go?"
As they chatted about which magic tower the three new pros would join...
Suddenly, a donation popped up.
"What?!"
"Ah... hope it's nothing serious."
Hajieun's stomach churned. She wasn't free of anxiety that if Eunha slipped, she'd go down too.
But that wasn't all. Hanging with magic bureau reporters, she'd picked up some dirt.
'Please, anything but suspension or demotion...'
In Korea's magic world, good folks getting ousted for speaking truth was commonplace. She just hoped it wasn't Eunha's turn.
*
"Alright~ shall we sit, Eunha-ya?"
I nodded at Park Seonggil, president of the Korean Pro Mage Association.
"Thanks for agreeing to meet."
He let out a hearty laugh at my words.
"President meeting a member? Totally natural."
I furrowed my brow at his words.
'Reminding me you're the prez and I'm just a peon, huh...'
I clicked my tongue inwardly and sipped the cocoa in front of me. Loaded with sugar, it stung my tongue sweetly. Most satisfactory.
"...Tasty."
As I beamed, Park Seonggil clasped his hands like in prayer. When I smiled at the cocoa, he turned to Monica instead.
Probably pegged her as the mastermind.
He rambled long about why Korea's pro mage association couldn't be like America's.
Finally, at the end, he got to his point.
"So~ Eunha-ya, stick around a few years, no, months, and you'll see. Reality ain't kind."
His smiling last words weren't soft at all. He eyed Monica.
"Depending on how you handle the fallout from those remarks, the future environment could change big time. Would be grateful if you took care of cleanup."
'Fix your words or we'll boot you from pro?'
Monica blinked, not fully getting it.
Absurd, I cut straight.
"Hmm. Seems the president lacks authority to demote or promote pros."
"......?"
"And even if you elders convene to demote me, will the media stay quiet? Botch it, and a tax audit might vaporize the whole association."
His eyes mixed shock and bafflement.
"You've gorged plenty. Fifty years is enough. Shame it's your era."
"No... Monica-nim? That...?"
"You're mistaken. Not Monica's thoughts, nor Lee Haryeong's—mine alone."
Monica grinned awkwardly at the flustered prez.
"Everyone does that. Just know Haryeong-unnie got burned too."
"......?"
I placed the USB full of intel gathered with Lee Haryeong's help.
"You have too many enemies."
"Enemies?"
"Abyssal entities aren't the only foes. People can be too."
I blocked his hand reaching for the USB.
"Pros hogging spots without retiring, juniors getting injured chasing narrow gates, magic tech stagnating from pro-only perks."
"......"
"Enemies you've made with your own hands—plenty, no?"
Even the Korean Magic Tower Alliance was backing me with both hands.
The association had earned hate from all sides in power struggles. Fact.
'So gorge moderately when treated like heroes. Tsk.'
Overreach's consequence.
Heroes who risked lives defending the nation become vested interests if they exploit the next gen.
"So simply: from next year, quadruple promotions/demotions. Paths for retirees and amateurs to go pro. That'll inject life into magic world."
"That's easier said than..."
"Or die clinging to it."
I tossed the USB; his eyes chilled.
"Mage Yu Eunha, think long-term. Pros will be your allies and strength eventually."
I smiled faintly.
"Those, now, we shall simply create anew."
*
Monica exhaled big in the car.
"Phew~ Thought I'd die of tension."
I giggled.
"You were tense?"
"Hell yeah! Nearly pissed myself! Park Seonggil back then was scary as hell! Iron Fortress Mage! 6-level gatekeeper!"
I snorted.
"Hmph, past glory gone—just an old raccoon squatting. One that smoked too much and forgot who it is."
"What?"
"Nothing. Anyway."
I clicked my tongue, buckled up. Monica hit the gas, asked.
"But what was on that USB? Haryeong-unnie already sent KPMA corruption files?"
"Nah."
I murmured, gazing out the window.
"...Next up, though."
*
Park Seonggil let out a hollow laugh, plugging in the USB.
It held a recording of his Olympia round of 16.
'Round of 16, huh...'
His shining days. In the '90s, around 20, dazzling defense against the Japanese team.
'Yeah, cool guy back then...'
National team self hurling 6-level magic was brighter, more just than his mid-50s version.
Preferred magic practice over golf, wanted to be cool senior over prez—just mage.
"Of all the embarrassing vids to bring..."
Park Seonggil suddenly craved the training grounds.
Pro population control, policy strategies? Headache. He was a league player, not politician.
Two years as prez felt long enough.
'But elders won't sit idle.'
Thinking of the grueling politics ahead, everything felt annoying.
'It's just a 7yo kid anyway...'
As he pondered the USB, his eyes caught the small text.
"......"
His mind raced, grasping the meaning.
'Tower Alliance has tons of our secrets.'
So this USB was a mirror to his ugly side—and a warning the next one's real.
Park Seonggil scratched his head.
"A dragon's appeared. A dragon."
Just one meeting, but she wasn't coaxable like Isara. Crystal clear.
'Maybe escape on this chance...'
Even as prez, he was just a raccoon wanting out of this maze.
A slave leashed by greed, he pondered with the USB in hand.