Chapter 118
Chapter 118
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 118
Chapter Title: 21. Fate
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Until Hansu arrived, I killed time reading web novels on my phone. Ardell didn't really talk to me.
Hansu showed up soon after. He started talking to me but frowned slightly when he saw Ardell. I frowned too at his blatant show of dislike. Ardell, however, greeted him calmly with an indifferent expression.
"Hi, Hansu."
"...Hey, hi."
Hansu replied half-heartedly and looked at me.
"Where are the others?"
"Over there."
"Oh... yeah, I see them."
Just then, the three of them turned our way. Minhee and Hyunho waved excitedly at us. Inha turned to look at us soon after. She gave us a rare gentle smile as she gazed at me and Hansu. Even though I'd seen that smile countless times, I couldn't help but marvel at it again.
'As expected, a beauty's smile is a lethal weapon!'
Look at all the boys around blushing. No joke. Everyone, guys and girls alike, had been staring only at Inha since earlier. Sure, now a few were looking at Hansu or Ardell too....
I beamed at Inha and gave a little wave. Her face lit up with joy.
Even from this distance, I could see it all clearly. I used to wonder how my dynamic vision let me catch all that, but now it felt completely natural.
Inha smiled at me for a moment before turning back to chat animatedly with Minhee and Hyunho beside her. Soon, with Minhee's help, she tied her hair up into a single ponytail. Even that looked picturesque, leaving everyone around in a daze.
"Inha's so pretty~."
With Hansu next to me, I felt safe saying it. I grinned, my face full of delight. Hansu nodded casually.
"Yeah, she's pretty cute."
"Right? Super pretty, huh?"
I enthusiastically appealed to Hansu for once. As he nodded vaguely, Ardell suddenly shouted firmly at me from the side.
"Eunha's pretty too!"
I whipped around to the kid in surprise. The one who'd been sitting quietly next to me had suddenly changed and said that—I couldn't not be startled. The child stared at me with a very serious expression.
"Eunha's super pretty too!"
"Huh? Uh, y-yeah...?"
His expression was so earnest that I nodded without thinking. Wait, but what did that have to do with anything?
Ardell scanned me up and down again, then nodded as if convinced by his own words.
"Yeah. Pretty."
I was at a loss for words. Hansu next to me seemed baffled too. What was with this kid? Flustered, I sneaked another glance downward.
Below, aside from the kids here for the matches, several high school seniors had gathered—judges and staff managing the event. Moments later, a voice came over the gym speakers.
[We're starting the friendly matches soon! Students, please gather at the stage!]
The kids moved toward the stage as instructed.
Our eyes stayed glued to our friends from start to finish. With a decent crowd and the gym's size, three or four matches often ran simultaneously.
Inha was in the first round. Minhee and Hyunho were next, so Hansu and I sighed in relief that their matches wouldn't overlap and watched Inha's.
The match ended quickly. Her opponent was top-tier among other elementary schools. But both his defense and attack shattered instantly under Inha's light magic. Her mana overwhelmingly outclassed his.
Inha stared at him with her usual cool expression. He was a boy who'd been momentarily dazzled by her, but after taking a solid hit from her magic, he refocused and attacked steadily. None of it worked on her.
"Heh. Up close like this, she's kinda...."
Hansu looked impressed. But Ardell snorted beside him.
"Of course. What did you think our kids' skills were?"
His confident attitude left us staring at him oddly. Ardell smirked boldly.
"Honestly, one of Inha, Minhee, or Hyunho will win. There's no one here on your level."
Hmm.... I felt a twinge of dissatisfaction at that and looked elsewhere. The boy I'd thought was about as strong as my friends was also in the first round. From Yuran School, he went by the surname 'Choi' since they didn't reveal full names. His mana was dark green, but the shadow magic made it black.
'My guess was right. Shadow magic.'
Like Inha's, the boy's match wrapped up fast—maybe even a bit quicker. They entered the stage almost together, but start times varied by judge. Inha went first among them, he last. Yet they both finished around the same time, right after Inha's.
I waved at Inha as she looked our way. Then I spotted the boy talking with his friends. Staring curiously, I tilted my head.
The glasses-wearing girl chatting with him looked familiar.
'Where have I seen her...?'
I thought for a bit but drew a blank, so I turned away. Soon Minhee and Hyunho's matches began.
They both won quickly too. Minhee's was literally one hit. I thought she'd shoot first for initiative, but no—she charged and kicked right between his neck and jaw. A vital spot!
That ended it. Her opponent looked like he wouldn't get up for a while.
"Whoa, tough~."
Poor guy. Hope he's okay. That had to hurt bad—with mana loaded in too.... I sighed. Minhee's ruthless.
Hyunho won with his main magic. One shot again. He seemed to play around, but he was solid.
All three won their first rounds. Before long, the second round started. But here's where trouble hit: Minhee vs. Hyunho.
"Ugh...."
They didn't hold back. After a fierce fight, Minhee won. She just had more raw talent in combat—especially martial arts. No peer could match her there.
Otherwise, it was like the first round. Inha swept all hers. Hyunho and Minhee one-shotted their next opponents too. As the matches dragged on, Hansu muttered boredly.
"Eh. Nothing to see here."
"What? They're awesome."
"Yeah, yeah."
Dishonest guy. I chuckled inwardly. Petting his head, he accepted it casually now—no blush even. Kinda disappointing.
Second round ended. Lunchtime.
"How was it?"
Over lunch together, Minhee beamed brightly. Hansu frowned slightly.
"What? You KO'd them with fists, not even magic."
"Psh~ But I train martial arts! Gotta use it!"
"Cool."
Minhee lit up at my words.
"Really?!"
"Yeah. Super cool."
I praised her, petting her head. Friends only act cute around me. Minhee giggled as I petted her. Hyunho leaned in with a spoiled whine.
"Me? Me too!"
"Yeah. Cool and cute."
Sure, sure. I petted Hyunho next. Wait, cute? Why'd cute slip in? Hyunho tilted his head but settled down. Ardell watched us with a weird look.
Then I remembered Inha sitting quietly beside me. She stared down at her food, silent. Tilting my head, I checked her face. She seemed lost in thought.
I blinked. Not sulking—just deep in thought. Staring at her face a while, I plopped my hand on her head.
"Inha?"
She jerked up. Unconsciously glancing around, her eyes met Hansu's—she bit her lip and whipped back to me.
"...Yeah? What?"
I watched her actions quietly, then smiled brightly. Petted her head more.
"You were awesome today."
Her cheeks flushed. Ahem, this shy face is still my exclusive privilege!
I cheered inwardly and focused on food. Eating styles varied: Ardell elegantly, Hansu and Inha neatly, Minhee and Hyunho messily picking, me moderately.
Except Inha cutting my pork cutlet when it wouldn't slice—otherwise, ate well. ...Yeah.
Post-lunch, we strolled around school chatting about the matches.
"Third round, win once and you're up? Losers fight for two more spots."
"Yeah."
"How many advanced to round three?"
Minhee, who'd brought it up, sighed at Hyunho's question.
"Sixteen. Kinda disappointing, though. They said only strong kids from school, but everyone's weak. No real powerhouses? All one-shotted. Hope we rush to finals and fight each other! That'd be tense! Hehe."
I looked at Minhee reluctantly.
'There are. Kids as strong as you guys.'
The boy was, and his two teammates were decent too. I debated saying it but decided not to.
"Why? I kinda like fighting others. And we've sparred you plenty, so not that fun...."
"But~! It's boring! Everyone's weak!"
I eyed Minhee's bold shout uncomfortably. 'Cause it rubbed me wrong.
I wondered: If it were me fighting them, could I win instantly?
No, no. Timid me couldn't.
They're naturally gifted in battle—true. But taking wins for granted, calling losers weak, the complacency—it bugged me.
Aiming for battle mage means no slacking. This is sparring, combat training. I haven't felt or seen everyone's full strength. Yet she spoke like it was obvious. I didn't like that.
Stronger people exist aplenty. Novel/manhwa geniuses claiming 'I'm the strongest' baffles me.
We're talented—agreed. Else we wouldn't exceed age averages. But the world's vast, unknowns endless.
Adults stronger? Obvious. Even peers. We're not the strongest kids or uniquely gifted. Stronger peers could appear anytime. Doesn't bother me—it's as natural as our lucky talents.
Confidence good, but that arrogance? Needs a reality check. Minhee knows her talent's special, so a equal peer would shock her.
She works hard too—daily martial arts. But complacency's creeping.
Meeting equals outside us... might humble her. Better as surprise than warning—more effective.
'Plus, she loves equal spars anyway.'
Hiding my scheme, I grinned playfully. Inha noticed, looking puzzled.
"...? Why the sudden smile?"
"Seeecret~!"
I teasingly pressed a finger to my lips. She tilted her head at my antics, but I kept my plans secret and just smiled.
Whether it worked or not, third round: that boy vs. Minhee. Bound to happen eventually, but now it tensed me up. Clasping hands, I watched them.
Minhee stood bored, he indifferent.
'Don't lose! Don't lose...!'
But losing aside, I wanted her humbled by surprise—yet hated seeing a friend lose.
Clasping hands tighter, I swallowed. Their mana and auras flared like flames in my vision.
"Why so tense?"
Hansu eyed me curiously. The reason showed next instant.
Minhee, bored eyes in her lively face, attacked like before—instant leap, side kick at the boy. But he crossed arms to block.
"...!!"
"...He blocked."
Hansu shrugged unconsciously. Ardell's stunned voice followed.
Mana shot from the boy, engulfing Minhee instantly. She flailed in shock. Boredom vanished from her eyes, replaced by steel. She spread mana everywhere, tearing at the black haze. But it phased through her hands.
"What...?!"
I focused my senses. Her voice rang clear in my ears.
Trapped in shadows, shocked Minhee acted again—thrusting hands into the black mana. The shadow let her exert physical force on others but blocked theirs on it. She could touch him, but her attacks passed through while bound?
'...Copy it?'
Vision open, mana flows grasped. 'Shadow' suited me perfectly. I analyzed it closely.
Shadow nature, mana control, attack flows—all memorized.
Hand to air: notebook materialized. I flipped it, touched a page—text engraved.
『Shadow Magic』
All grasped as 'images' stored there. Touch anytime to recall.
Illusory notebook dissolved back to illusion. One of many in my dream world's house—'materialized' thus. Like Minhee's embodiment but different.
Minhee burst mana outward. The stubborn shadow melted in her gold-green mana—her special skill, neutral magic's nullification.
Shadows gone, she dropped. Her form changed.
"Heh. Getting serious?"
First, outfit: plain clothes to short black shorts, black top, glaring red jacket—her embodied 'armor', battle gear. Black-red gloves too.
"Your magic—shadows, right?"
She guessed from its motion.
Quickly embodied weapon: thick-bladed black sword in left. New one—tailored to foe.
"Shadow Slash Sword..."
Right hand: D-rank magic gun. Fires up to C-rank mana bullets depending on user.
"Mana Bullet Gun: Burst Spell!"
Ugh... don't name it aloud. Gives it away.... I rubbed my forehead pained. But Minhee grinned thrilled. Hyped.
"Here I go!!"
She charged, sword trailing gold-green mana. Boy tried blocking magically but flinched—shadow chunk sliced off.
He cloaked surroundings in shadows. Not fully severed. Instant embody—not perfect.
"Burst Spell!!"
She fired. Bang bang! Bullets curved, collided—boom!
Gold-green flames nullified shadows. Black faded, melted.
But then, something struck before her.
"Violet Lightning Magic."
Purple mana struck down—Minhee froze midair, slowly falling. Boy slammed her with shadows.
"...!"
Hand to mouth, I held breath. When Minhee opened eyes, match over. Clear loss.
"Huh...?"
Rising shakily, she stared at her hands trembling. Boy walked off without looking back.
"No way... Minhee lost...."
Hands clasped, I watched her. She clenched then unclenched fist, stood, walked calmly to waiting area.
Hansu watched her troubled. Ardell muttered disbelieving.
"No way. Someone here equal to Minhee...?"
Hansu shrugged bored.
"What's so unbelievable?"
"But...!"
"I know we're talented. But stronger folks exist. Nothing weird."
I kept watching below. Hyunho greeted returning Minhee worriedly. She scanned confused, then glared sharply at the boy.
Matches continued. Minhee lost one but won next to advance. Faced Hyunho there—he dropped. Next, vs. Inha—Inha won.
Final: Inha vs. the boy.
"Inha, you got this!!"
Dropped Minhee and Hyunho came to our seats. Dragged us down to watch up close from waiting area—prime view.
Not just us—his team too. Glasses black-hair girl and curly short-hair girl came to cheer. Both strong: glasses beat Hyunho once? No, lost to them but top-tier peers.
"Inha! Avenge me!"
Inha turned at cheers, nodded, clenched fist. We chuckled. Minhee and Hyunho beamed especially.
"Inha's awesome!"
"Hey! Win this!"
Hansu yelled too. Inha nodded, glared at boy. He eyed her blankly.
"Match... start!"
========== Author's Note ==========
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+Yes. All nature has its own energy per the setting. They're not yet at S-rank comparison level.
+Ugh.... ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠSorry.... I type comments manually except English ones. That's why typos.... Sorry ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ Ctrl+C/V repeats hurt fingers.