Chapter 74
Chapter 74
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 74
Chapter Title: Striving to Win the Bet with the Shady Teacher (8)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The Hero Tournament was an event. An event and festival for the people of South Korea. Folks got a thrill watching the academy cadets clash in battle.
"Who do you think will win this year?"
"Gotta be Han-seol. I heard she's already getting clan offers."
Han-seol was pretty famous. She was just a first-year, but she'd already landed clan offers.
On top of that, she was ranking high at Infinite Hero Cultivation Academy. Pretty much everyone in South Korea knew her name.
"Isn't that Han-seol over there?"
"Nah."
"Ugh, she looks so ordinary, can't tell them apart."
Of course, no one recognized Han-seol. Hardly anyone paid attention to a plain-looking female cadet.
It was like one of those famous athletes whose name everyone knows, but no one spots on the street. Even if Han-seol paraded around the stadium, they'd miss her.
Han-seol had zero entertainment value. Lucky for her, she only cared about being a hero—otherwise, she'd be pretty hurt.
The male cadets were a different story. Even the average-looking ones drew a different kind of attention from Han-seol.
Especially Juyeon-woo. Thanks to his handsome looks, he was building a name for himself in ways that went beyond her.
"Isn't that Juyeon-woo over there?"
"Yeah, looks like it. That's Juyeon-woo!"
"Whoa, he's tall. Seeing him in person, damn, he's no joke."
The people who'd come to the venue for the Hero Tournament had some interest in academy cadets. Naturally, they knew the cadets' levels and stats.
And Juyeon-woo's info was all over the place.
"You hear about that thing Juyeon-woo cadet did?"
"Yeah, it's all over."
Two weeks ago, cadet Juyeon-woo had made a mistake that injured academy teacher Eum Ji-hye. A total accident.
Accidents at the academy weren't rare, so people didn't dwell on it. What caught their interest was something else.
"They say lightning's infused in Juyeon-woo's mana."
"A first-year with an attribute? Insane."
"If it's true, that's huge."
A powerful hero emerging meant South Korea got stronger. No one could hate that. It was good news for every citizen.
"Lightning? Isn't there already one?"
"Yeah. Mid-level hero Yoo Yeon-ho."
"Yoo Yeon-ho?"
Mid-level hero Yoo Yeon-ho. A hero with the rare lightning attribute. Mid-level wasn't low, but it wasn't top-tier either.
Mid, middle of the pack. Yoo Yeon-ho's fame came more from looks than skill.
"...Kinda looks like him."
"Nah, cut the crap."
The whispering women craned their necks and shot glances at Juyeon-woo. They quickly pulled up Yoo Yeon-ho online to compare as he walked off somewhere.
"......"
There was a rumor going around: mana attributes were hereditary. Not proven fact, but treated as truth on the down-low.
Not everyone bought it, though.
"No way."
"...Juyeon-woo's parents..."
People held their tongues. A quick search would reveal how his parents died.
"Probably just a random manifestation."
"Good for us, right?"
"If he'd popped up in Japan or China, it'd be a nightmare. Thank god he's from our academy."
People trickled into the stadium. Seats started filling up.
Thirty minutes to the round of 32. Everyone settled in with eager faces.
"They doing one-on-one starting from the round of 32?"
"That's why it runs all day."
First day for first-years. Second for second-years.
All-day battles. Superhuman showdowns from hero hopefuls.
Nothing beat it for powerless civilians.
"Hero Tournament killed UFC."
South Korea wasn't the only one doing superhuman tournaments like this.
Other advanced nations followed suit. Best way to showcase and brag about their hero prospects.
Dig around, and you could watch superhuman fights all day. Content overload.
Human MMA? Popularity fading was inevitable. Who'd pick plain punches over mana-wreathed flames?
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ — We will now begin the Hero Tournament.
At 9 a.m., the scoreboard lit up with the bracket.
Round of 32. No exaggeration to call these South Korea's strongest first-years.
Group A, Group B. Tournament-style Hero Tournament.
First place got the title of South Korea's top cadet. Every participant glared with that prize in mind.
All but one.
'Quarterfinals... Smooth sailing.'
Juyeon-woo checked his opponent and let out a relieved sigh.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
C Class cadets sat in their assigned seats, overlooking the arena. They marveled at the field, way bigger than standard sparring grounds.
"Gonna need a ton of space."
"Who ya got for first? I'm on Han-seol."
"Hope it's someone from Infinite."
They weren't competing, but they were enjoying it purely. Feeling that Infinite Academy pride, cheering them on.
They hoped for great results all around.
"Shut up, Infinite kids."
"......"
Cadets from other academies shot them dirty looks. Minor staring contest ensued.
"Okay, okay, focus on the matches. First one's Class President Mi."
Eum Ji-hye calmed her C Class cadets. No point showing infighting.
Prep done. Two cadets entered the arena.
First match: Class President Mi. Better to take the hits early, so she was up first.
"Check out the class president's face. She's tense."
"Duh, everyone's watching nationwide."
This wasn't some Infinite Academy spar. Whole nation tuned in. Same moves drained way more stamina under pressure.
'You got this, Mi.'
Cheering inwardly. When a winner emerged, she wanted it to be one of her class.
— Hero Tournament round of 32, Group A, to determine South Korea's strongest cadet.
"Woooooo!"
"Win, whoever!"
The announcer's voice boomed, crowd roar swelling. Cadets looked like dots from up high, but the big screen showed Class President Mi's face.
"Class President Mi! Class President Mi!"
Even C Class cadets who didn't get along with her cheered her on.
In this stadium buzzing with near-manic heat, feeling that Infinite bond, they genuinely wanted her to win.
This moment united them. Eum Ji-hye felt a swell of pride watching her cheering cadets.
— Begin! 5!
Numbers on the screen. Countdown started.
Whole nation watching.
Class President Mi and her opponent crouched low, glaring daggers. Killing intent in their eyes.
Full throttle to win. Their resolve pulsed.
— 1!
With the announcer's zero, both cadets lunged. Weapons swinging, they collided.
Mana clashed and exploded.
Kaboom-!
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
The round of 32 flew by. Single-elim, quick and brutal.
Cadets poured everything out. Hold back here, and you're done.
I was no different.
"Please prepare for the next match."
"Got it."
A staffer poked into my waiting room to fetch me. They wanted me ready before Group B kicked off.
Stadium arena was wrapping Group A's last match.
"Han-seol..."
Waiting room monitor showed Han-seol. Tense face locked on her opponent. Her foe wore the same expression.
Han-seol had the nation's eyes on her. Famous for skill, not looks or charm.
Her opponent had every reason to be nervous.
I tore my eyes from the monitor and stretched. Body'd handle itself, but warming up couldn't hurt.
Kaboom-. Bang!
Explosion from Han-seol's sword. Not an explosion attribute—just raw mana colliding physically.
Crowd cheered. Losing it over cadet battles.
Superpowers straight out of movies or anime hooked them. If I weren't a cadet, I'd be glued too.
— Winner: Han-seol! Han-seol of Infinite Academy. Congrats on advancing to the round of 16!
Han-seol's match ended fast. Her overwhelming skill saw to that.
Opponent was probably top dog at their academy. Still no match.
"Juyeon-woo?"
Staffer came to get me. Group A done, heading to Group B, so off to the arena.
My match: second in Group B. Perfect timing.
I followed the staffer to the arena.
Quarterfinals advancement. And risky bareback creampie on her dangerous day.
I repeated it in my head. My dick throbbed hard.