Chapter 89
Chapter 89
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 89
Chapter Title: No Forfeits
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Though a dazzling buffet of various dishes welcomed the mages in the training camp’s cafeteria, the majority of them had their minds on something other than the appetizing food.
Their gazes were fixed like arrows on Lee Si-woo, who was leisurely enjoying his meal in the center of the dining hall.
As if the gazes burning with hostility were giving him indigestion, Yahalong hiccuped and put down his fork.
But Lee Si-woo, regardless of whether they were glaring as if to kill him, simply continued to indulge in his food with ease.
“This steak is a work of art. You should try it.”
Yahalong muttered with a face that looked like he was about to bring up everything he’d just eaten.
“…You eat it.”
“Oh, really? Then I’ll have this?”
Watching Lee Si-woo snatch his steak, Yahalong shook his head, looking utterly fed up.
Did this guy have nerves of steel?
He seemed completely unfazed despite having become a public enemy overnight.
However, it wasn't that Lee Si-woo was completely oblivious. He spoke to the mages who had begun to surround him like fans spotting a celebrity.
“Since the theory evaluation was canceled, there will most likely be a practical evaluation tomorrow.”
At Si-woo’s casually tossed words, the mages, who looked ready to pounce on him like a horde of zombies that had spotted their prey, froze.
Lee Si-woo roughly cut his steak with a knife and said.
“So if you’ve got a problem, let’s settle it tomorrow. Don’t cause a scene here today and get points deducted. Or what? Are you not confident enough to take me on alone?”
As soon as Si-woo finished speaking, curses and the sound of grinding teeth could be heard from all around.
But it was also true that there was no flaw in his logic.
Soon, the mages, realizing that making a fuss here would only be to their own detriment, dispersed.
Even amidst the chaos, Si-woo spoke to a certain member of the Falcon Tribe who was stubbornly trying to stay off his radar.
“Schizo, what are you doing over there? Come here. We have something to talk about, don’t we?”
Flinch.
Like a student caught trying to skip class, Schizo’s shoulders trembled slightly before he sat down in front of Si-woo with a sigh.
He then fired off a rapid-fire speech, trying to get the upper hand.
“Let me say this upfront. A bet is a bet, so I will try to honor my promise and grant your request. However, that doesn't mean I'll do something unreasonable like fighting Ixion for you.”
Lee Si-woo smirked and retorted mockingly.
“For a slave, you certainly have a lot of demands, don’t you?”
Schizo bristled at Si-woo’s tone, but his face flushed slightly, perhaps out of shame for going back on his word despite losing the bet.
“Fine, you’re the winner, so run your mouth all you want. I know I’m being a coward right now. But I can’t help it. I want to perform well in the evaluation, even if it means being shameless and cowardly.”
Schizo was so worked up as he spoke that steam seemed to be rising from his head.
He felt pathetic for having to suffer such humiliation after losing a bet to a mere human, and he was frustrated by the reality of not being able to honor the outcome like a member of the proud Falcon Tribe.
But on the other hand, he also felt a little proud of himself for at least trying to keep his promise to a lowly human.
‘Hmph, well, this is about all I can do as a member of the Falcon Tribe. Yes, who but a man of my character would even try to keep a promise with this inferior species?’
Whether he knew what was going through the self-justifying Schizo’s mind or not, Lee Si-woo stabbed a piece of steak with his fork and said.
“Don’t worry. I never expected you to do anything that would harm your own evaluation score, even if you lost the bet. So, I’ll ask for just one thing, and it’s a very easy request. If you do this one thing, we’ll call the bet off.”
“…What is it?”
Lee Si-woo spoke to Schizo with a strange smile, and after hearing Si-woo’s terms, Schizo tilted his head.
He couldn't understand why Si-woo would make such an odd request.
Schizo asked for confirmation.
“Are you serious? You’ll really call the bet off if I just do this?”
Lee Si-woo nodded with a crescent-eyed smile.
“Yes, I’ll call it off. To be honest, it may sound easy, but considering the conditions, it’s not something that can be easily accomplished by anyone less than yourself, Schizo. Oh, and I’ll prepare the drink you’ll need to bring then. I know the recipe quite well.”
“That’s not… poison, is it?”
“What a hurtful thing to say. If I did something like that during the evaluation, the elders would have my head. It’s nothing like that, so you can trust me. Well, if you’re really that suspicious, I can take a sip before you take it.”
Lee Si-woo’s lips curled into a smirk.
It was a smile that, even by the most generous interpretation, was hard to see as having good intentions.
***
“Yes, Chairman. Don’t worry. Preparations to recruit Lee Si-woo are proceeding smoothly. If you wait patiently, I will bring you good news soon.”
A handsome young man with charmingly gentle, drooping eyes and long eyelashes ended the call and put down his smartphone.
Next to the elven man, Allen, who looked inexplicably displeased, a cat-like secretary from the Myo Tribe twitched her feline ears and asked.
“Chairman Rios of the Dongbanhoe has some peculiar tastes. To be so obsessed with a mere human mage like Lee Si-woo.”
Allen muttered in a voice tinged with annoyance.
“I don’t like it.”
“Chairman Rios?”
“No, Lee Si-woo. Isn't the Chairman someone who has secretly sponsored me since my younger days? He's done too much for me to create friction over such a trivial matter. But Lee Si-woo, from consuming the elemental stone to getting involved with Isabelle… tsk, there are more than a few things about him that get on my nerves.”
“It seems you have no intention of recruiting him.”
“Of course not. In this Senior Magic Tower, I am enough as the sole mage with ties to Chairman Rios. That way, even the Chairman can’t treat me carelessly. Hmm… good, I’ve decided.”
Allen operated the smart pad on his office desk, bringing up the evaluation schedule.
He swiped aside all the miscellaneous missions listed at the beginning and brought up the final mission on the screen.
“The tournament. Let’s start it right away.”
At the suggestion of starting the tournament—the highlight of the evaluation—on the second day, as the very first mission, the secretary clicked her tongue and said.
“…Sir Allen, wasn’t the control skill evaluation mission on the mandatory list?”
“I can’t focus on my work when there’s something annoying and irritating me. If such a factor exists, I feel at ease only after eliminating it as quickly as possible. So let’s skip all the miscellaneous stuff and proceed with the tournament. Oh, and is it possible to rig the draw?”
“Yes. That kind of thing is never a problem for the organizers if they put their minds to it.”
“Pitting them against each other from the start might be a bit much, as a wench like Isabelle might raise objections later… having them meet in the second round would be better.”
Allen quickly drew up a tournament bracket and handed it to his secretary.
After checking the bracket, the Myo Tribe secretary spoke with a surprised tone.
“You’re putting Lee Si-woo against Ixion in the second round? Without even testing the waters?”
“Of course. Why bother testing the waters with someone I’m going to kill anyway? Besides, that Lee Si-woo fellow gives me an uneasy feeling. So let’s just kill him off as quickly as possible. Cleanly.”
“Understood. I will relay the message to Ixion. To deal with Lee Si-woo by any means necessary. Oh, and just in case, I’ll also speak to Lee Si-woo’s first-round opponent. Lee Si-woo might be weaker than expected and lose before he even meets Ixion.”
“Tell them I don’t care who does it, as long as they kill Lee Si-woo. I’ll take responsibility for the aftermath.”
***
The next day, Lee Si-woo was sitting in the stands of a circular arena with Yahalong.
In the morning, they had been briefed on today’s mission, the tournament, and had arrived at the colosseum through a portal.
It was modeled after the Colosseum of ancient Rome, but the plush seats, abundant snacks placed nearby, and the holographic screen floating high in the sky gave it a distinctly modern atmosphere.
Seeing the tournament bracket, the result of the draw, appear on the holographic screen, Yahalong nudged Si-woo in the ribs with his elbow.
“Hey, buddy. Did you see that? Did you see the bracket?!”
Lee Si-woo let out a faint sigh and said.
“I have eyes too.”
“Wow, how can this be? You’re up against Ixion in the second round? You have some seriously rotten luck.”
Lee Si-woo gave a bitter smile.
“I don’t know. I hope it really is just bad luck…”
“Why? Does something feel off?”
Lee Si-woo felt a deep sense of unease that today’s judge was Allen.
Given that he and Isabelle were at odds, there was a high probability that he held a grudge against him.
However, deciding there was nothing he could do about any unfair treatment at this point, Si-woo soothed his anxious heart with a neck stretch.
“No, nothing. It’s just a bit annoying that I have to face Ixion from the second round. Well… but thankfully, I finished my preparations last night, so it should work out somehow.”
Si-woo shook off his negative thoughts, recalling the item he had created the previous night using the materials he had secured through Schizo.
‘Right, it’s a mountain I have to climb anyway. It doesn’t matter if I meet him sooner or later.’
Just then, Allen called out the names of the participants for the first round of the tournament.
“First round, group one! Second-Circle Master, Lee Si-woo! Third-Circle Expert, Maejo! Step forward!”
His name called, Lee Si-woo took a light breath and soared into the air.
As Si-woo landed in the center of the colosseum arena using his wind wings, Maejo of the Cheetah Tribe rushed toward him from the opposite stands like the wind, performing a picturesque somersault.
As the two faced each other, over a hundred mages sent a mix of boos and cheers.
The thunderous roar of the crowd made the fine hairs on Si-woo’s skin stand on end, and he scratched the back of his neck.
It seemed he had really gotten on their bad side after yesterday’s mission.
In contrast, Maejo, the recipient of the cheers, was the picture of confidence.
“Lee Si-woo, you should have behaved yourself, see? In the end, this is what you get.”
“I’m not so sure. ‘Just deserts’ doesn’t seem like a phrase that suits a loser.”
“…You little bastard.”
As Lee Si-woo and Maejo snarled at each other from arm’s length, the judge, Allen, intervened.
“Enough. I will now explain the tournament rules. All artifacts and magical treasures are permitted, but leaving the colosseum using flight-type artifacts or abilities is forbidden. Additionally, casting magic towards the audience is also forbidden. The event staff and I will be protecting them with mana shields, but you never know.”
Allen glanced at Si-woo out of the corner of his eye and continued.
“As the purpose of the tournament is to test practical combat ability, forfeiting will not be tolerated. So, do not even think of giving up, and fight with all you have. Well, don’t worry. As long as I am here, unfortunate incidents like death will not occur.”
Hearing the rules, Si-woo barely managed to hold back a curse.
No forfeits, and the judge decides when to stop the match?
To put it bluntly, this meant that if the judge wanted to take out someone he didn't like, no one could stop him.
‘Look at this. Allen, this bastard… is he really trying to set me up?’
Si-woo’s expression turned icy at the absurd rules.
Like a pot that boils and cools quickly, the brief excitement that had surged within him rapidly subsided.
Unlike Si-woo, Maejo was visibly thrilled.
Si-woo’s dark eyes stared intently at Maejo, who looked like a child who had just gotten a toy he could treat roughly.
Allen quickly stepped back and shouted.
“Begin!”
As the match started, Si-woo first cast his three primary buff spells.
Iron Body increased his stamina and physical durability by 80 percent, Swiftness increased his reflexes and agility by 80 percent, and Monstrous Strength increased his physical power by 80 percent. Thanks to the elemental stone, the efficiency of his buffs had more than doubled.
Swoosh.
In Si-woo’s vision, Maejo, who had instantly created distance using Wheels of Haste, began preparing a spell.
Honestly, he had planned to take it easy at first.
As the old saying goes, one should always hide thirty percent of their abilities; showing his full hand wasn't good for the future.
But hearing the rules changed his mind.
First, he felt that if he held back, he might be the one to get devoured.
Second, he wanted to screw over Allen for his petty schemes.
So, he had to show them this time.
What happens when someone tries to pull a clumsy trick on him.
[First-Circle Dark Magic: Black Mist]
A thick black mist settled around Si-woo, swallowing him whole.
Maejo, who was about to give Si-woo a taste of a Third-Circle spell, was slightly flustered.
He needed to see his target to attack, but this made it difficult to strike.
‘What, is that guy an idiot? This way, he can’t attack me either. Is he planning to stall for time…?’
Unfortunately for him, Lee Si-woo had the 3-star talent ‘Antennae,’ which allowed him to sense the emotions of others.
For Si-woo, who could pinpoint an opponent's location through the color of the emotions they emitted, no matter where they were, the Black Mist only provided a one-sided advantage.
Slither.
Just then, a rope of shadow shot out from Maejo’s own shadow and ensnared his leg.
‘Shadow Snare?! What the hell! How? His vision should be blocked by his own Black Mist, there’s no way he could see me!’
As soon as Maejo channeled his mana to break the shadow rope, an Antlion’s Pit began to consume his left foot.
But having experienced it once before, Maejo wasn't about to be caught so easily. He kicked off the ground with his still-free right foot and leaped into the air.
With a series of flashy somersaults and tumbles, Maejo escaped the Antlion's Pit and his eyes glinted.
‘Damn it, I get it. He has some way of seeing me in the Black Mist. Hmph, it’s a bit annoying… but that’s as far as it goes, you moron. Even if you hide behind that Black Mist, what are you going to do if I use an area-of-effect spell?’
[Third-Circle Radiance Magic: Chain Lightning]
Countless zigzagging bolts of lightning poured from Maejo’s palm, invading the Black Mist.
Like lightning flashing within a dark cloud, Maejo laughed triumphantly as he watched the Chain Lightning dart through the mist.
He could clearly picture Si-woo, even without seeing him, flailing about inside the mist like he was tap dancing.
However, contrary to his expectations, Si-woo was leisurely evading the lightning bolts.
It was the result of his Danger Sense talent, which allowed him to predict where the lightning would strike, combined with the increased agility from his Swiftness buff.
[Second-Circle Space Magic: Spell Charge]
[First-Circle Dark Magic: Black Mist x 3]
As the Black Mist, which had been confined within Spell Charge’s spatial portal, was unleashed, the area of mist that had only covered a part of where Si-woo stood expanded to engulf the entire colosseum arena.
Outside the arena, Allen, who was looking into the mist through artifact glasses with a special vision function, frowned.
‘To cover an arena this large with Black Mist? The synergy between space magic and dark magic is greater than I thought.’
The mages in the audience watched the Black Mist with bated breath.
Although they couldn't see what was happening inside from the outside, the periodic flashes of lightning within the mist and the heavy sounds of something solid striking something hard…
It was clear that a fierce battle was still raging within the mist.
Just as everyone was waiting anxiously, those among them who possessed the vision, talents, or artifacts to see through the Black Mist cried out in shock as one.
And Allen was no exception.
“No! Lee Si-woo! Stop—!”
Allen shouted, waving his hand wildly.
A tempest-like wave of mana erupted from his fingertips and swept through the Black Mist.
In the center of the arena, now cleared of the Black Mist as if a wind had swept away a dust cloud…
Clutched in the right hand of Lee Si-woo, who was emitting a platinum glow from his entire body, was Maejo’s head, dripping with blood.
Lee Si-woo bowed his head respectfully as if in apology and said.
“My apologies. You didn’t tell me to stop… so I got a little carried away.”
As if dropping a soda can, Lee Si-woo casually let the head in his hand fall to the ground.
Maejo’s head rolled across the floor.
The mages in the audience fell silent, as if overwhelmed by Lee Si-woo or crushed by the oppressive atmosphere.
Lee Si-woo lightly flicked the blood from his hand and said in a soft voice.
“Honorable Judge, I believe a forfeit system is necessary after all. As is the case with human affairs, even a judge can make mistakes. And participants can make mistakes, too.”
Lee Si-woo’s lips twisted into a smirk.
“Just like now.”