Ranking War Preparations: Hajieun's Predictable Request

Hajieun's request was exactly what I'd expected. In other words, it was utterly transparent.

"A photoshoot for the Lord! I want to take lots of photoshoots!"

Hajieun's eyes sparkled, and I cleared my throat awkwardly.

"Didn't I already cancel that secret photoshoot or whatever it was? Do we really have to do it?"

At my words, Hajieun clutched my sleeve tightly.

"Lady Eunha. Now's the time."

"For what?"

"Now that the secret one's canceled! If we slip a secret into the photobook... how shocked would everyone be!"

"......"

"Everyone who gets the photobook would become Lady Eunha's fan, right? It's like growing the demon army."

"Tch."

I clicked my tongue and turned my head away.

"You think I'd fall for that?"

"Lady Eunha, they say the biggest reactions come from surprise gifts when everyone's given up hope. It's perfect right now!"

"Still..."

"You said you'd grant my wishhhh!"

Hajieun grabbed my hand and shook it wildly, so I reluctantly nodded.

"Fine.... As long as it's not too many..."

To be honest, I did feel bad about working her like a document slave.

I furrowed my brow, recalling my schedule. Practice with the new Secret Transmission Dynamics of Heat would have to wait.

"Then let's schedule it for next week."

"Yes!"

I sighed as I watched Hajieun hum happily and vanish.

"In the end, I'm doing another photoshoot."

"Right?~ We get to see our little one's photoshoot again~"

I shot a glance at Monica, who was muttering while leaking black aura.

"Heh heh, this time let's put her in a Sera uniform. Top it with a beret for a fresh summer kid vibe..."

"......"

Tch. Feeling uneasy, I slipped into the completed magic tower.

*One week later.

Standing in a Seoul studio, I pointed at the ridiculous number of cameras.

"Explain yourselves, Hajieun, and Monica."

Monica raised her hand first.

"This one's my personal collection cam! And this is from the Korean Magic Tower Alliance—they want to post your photoshoot on YouTube."

"......"

Why the hell is the Korean Magic Tower Alliance involved? As I narrowed my eyes, Monica raised both hands to calm me.

"Whoa, whoa~ I didn't add work, kiddo. I just combined them."

"Combined?"

"You're debuting in the Mage League Ranking War soon, right?"

"...Ah."

"We're shooting the intro video you need for that."

My face flushed red at her words.

"You want me to prance around in a frilly skirt for a video?!"

As I flailed, Hajieun held me back.

"Let go! You jerks! This is the limit! Why do you keep making me wear these short skirts?!"

"Eek! P-Panties, panties showing, Lady Eunha!"

"Exactly! These panties! No—the skirt's too damn short!"

I explained with my face burning, but Hajieun shook her head.

"This length is barely short these days—it's not even a butt skirt, just a normal one..."

"Butt skirt again? The world's doomed!"

I yelled at the cameraman, who was filming my pleased expression with delight.

"Don't film this crap!"

"Aigoo, kiddo. Then we'd have to schedule another Ranking War intro shoot later."

At Monica's words, I glared at the camera in fury but soon accepted reality. Pros were pros because they handled all these trivial activities too.

"Haa.... Fine."

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

I hung ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠my head and eyed yet another camera. A familiar face stood beside it.

"And what's that camera?"

Park Seonggil, the Korean Mage Association President, waved as our eyes met.

"Hey~ Long time no see?"

I glared at the massive man.

"We're not exactly on chummy greeting terms, are we?"

Park Seonggil cleared his throat.

"Well, the Association needs intro photos and videos too."

I pinched my brow. He grinned sheepishly.

"Think of it as the president's final request. I'm getting booted soon anyway."

"Booted?"

"My main platform was mage population control—and I smashed it myself. So the president vote's toast."

Lifting the Association's headcount limits had strangled his own neck.

"Tch, Associations are such a mess."

As I grumbled, he shrugged.

"This'll probably be my last duty. Cool with you?"

"Fine. A man who threw away his seat to change the world—I can't blame you anymore."

"Oh, Teacher Taeyong's work?"

I blinked at his words.

"You know it?"

"Sure. Not my era, but my seniors loved it. Murim Debut, right?"

"Y-Yeah, that's it."

I grinned wide and stepped closer.

"You read it? Just Murim Debut? Or Hwasan Debut too? What?! Even Return of the Heavenly Demon? Whoa!"

We lost ourselves chatting about Teacher Taeyong's novels. Then the cameraman raised his hand.

"Cut! Great job!"

"Huh?"

The cameras began dismantling one by one—shooting over.

"What? Our talk's not done."

"Ah, shooting's wrapped. Shame. I'll head out then."

As Park Seonggil hurried off, I grabbed his sleeve.

"Where you going? We haven't even gotten to Return of the Heavenly Demon."

"Ah, haha.... Still president for now—tons of backlog. Gotta go, Lady Eunha."

"Oh..."

I nodded glumly.

"Got it. Next time, we must talk Heavenly Demon."

I tilted my head at my changed outfit.

"But did I change clothes?"

"Yup~ That was your third."

Hajieun beamed.

"They all suited you surprisingly well? Sera uniform, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠school uniform, hanbok."

"Right? Hajieun, you've got real talent. You could go pro in this."

"Aha. I was into fashion back in the day."

She murmured, glancing at the floor.

"Four-year colleges have surprisingly high cutoffs for fashion design..."

I approached them, arms out. Monica handed me ice cream like always. I unwrapped it and asked,

"This is really it for the photobook? I just talked Taeyong the whole time."

"Yeah, it's fine."

"It was surprising—you can smile so innocently."

"Huh?"

"Next time, read Taeyong or whatever and come back."

"...What does that mean?"

I narrowed my eyes, but Hajieun shook her head.

"No, just—the photobook's gonna be great."

"Hmm."

I licked my ice cream and nodded.

"If you say it's good, then it is."

Hajieun giggled.

"Guess I need to order not just the reserved copies, but sales ones too."

"...That much?"

"Yes. This'll go down in history as a masterpiece."

"That's a problem..."

*After clumsily finishing the photoshoot,

I dove into serious Ranking War prep.

The Ranking War—first Mage League tourney starting in March. To use Secret Transmission Dynamics there, I needed to wield it without my staff.

"I still can't use Secret Transmission Dynamics without the staff, and no holy artifacts allowed in the tourney."

"True."

In the Foundation, where a massive spaceship was being dismantled, Monica stood alone in a bikini, swinging her staff.

She gathered ether briefly and nodded.

"Whoa, with this ether support, I get why you can't use it without."

A massive wave surged into the air, and the staff screamed.

"Hmm, why? It has to support this much to be a holy artifact."

The staff squealed.

Monica jammed the grumbling staff into the sand and turned to me.

"Alright, kiddo. Ranking War's right around the corner."

"Yes."

"While you cleared floor 11, Isara officially hit 5-level mage."

"In just a month or so..."

"Yup. But Hong Jiyeon's 4-level now too?"

"......"

"Seong Jiho swept every January junior league, declaring this the Year of the Crown Prince."

I cleared my throat at Monica's rundown.

"Everyone's been busy."

"But our kid's got zero info."

Monica grinned.

"Get why everyone shoved cameras at your shoot now?"

"Hmph, I've been busy with Guide duties."

"Sure, sure."

Monica leaned in with her blue eye—one of her mismatched pair fixed on me.

"I want a disciple I won't be ashamed of. For your debut Ranking War, snag Second Army at least."

"First Army too tough?"

She blinked.

"You think you can beat me, kiddo?"

"......"

I racked my brain, but no clear odds. With the staff at Secret Transmission Dynamics' limit, maybe—but uncertain.

"I've been retired forever. Heck, prosthetic arm and eye."

"......"

"Even in Korea, active 6-levels and 7-levels aren't pushovers."

"Got it."

So Second Army's the goal... I clasped my hands, unhappy but resolute.

"Let's start then."

I drew a deep breath, gathered ether, and focused. By March's Ranking War, I'd master light and heat in Secret Transmission Dynamics.

Master it, and I'd handle Second Army 5-levels easily.

I grinned, picturing the pros I'd face.

Pros, huh. Pros...

If luck held, I'd reunite with those guys after ages.

Last prey from my Mage Hunter days. Time to smash 'em.

The thought of hunting mages again had my body trembling in excitement.