Chapter 137
Chapter 137
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 137
Chapter Title: Taekhwi Festival Competition
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This situation was so predictable that Choi Il-hyun couldn't help but chuckle.
As he stepped inside, he saw countless books. And photos.
There were pictures of past academy presidents, photos of memorable school events, and group shots of alumni.
It seemed like a hall of fame space capturing the academy's history.
Choi Il-hyun scanned the alumni photos until he stopped at the 2006 graduates' picture.
A handsome male student was smiling. Next to him was a beautiful female student.
And between them, his own face—less striking in appearance but beaming brightly.
"Il-hyun, you're here?"
Choi Il-hyun turned at the deep, resonant voice from behind.
"I figured you'd come straight to me when you said you were joining as an external instructor. Tsk."
"Professor."
"How long are you going to keep calling me that?"
"What should I call you then?"
Choi Il-hyun asked with a small smile.
"Call me President."
"I'd rather not."
"Tsk. You stubborn punk. Even after all these years, that pigheadedness hasn't changed."
Jang Bong-jin, president of the Mage Academy, muttered.
Choi Il-hyun chuckled and left the room.
Jang Bong-jin poured some tea and handed it to him. Choi Il-hyun took a sip.
"The Taekhwi Festival has everyone buzzing."
"Yeah, pretty much. Lots of outsiders here to watch. News crews, reporters, all sorts of weirdos."
Choi Il-hyun gazed out the window.
The sports field was packed with people. They were preparing for one of the Taekhwi Festival events: the running race.
"Speaking of which, you surprised me. Never thought you'd come here to teach. What happened to all that research you were doing? Dropped it?"
"No, just taking a break. There's a student who's caught my interest."
Choi Il-hyun looked out the window again.
There, Kim Sun-woo and Lee Seo-jun were getting ready for the race. They were chatting nonstop, looking like close friends.
". . . This second-year class is interesting, huh. They're called the greatest generation in history. Keep an eye on them. It'll be fun."
Choi Il-hyun smiled at Jang Bong-jin's words.
"The greatest generation. That's what they called our class too. Guess they slap it on anyone these days."
"Hmph. Yours was the worst generation, not the greatest."
The worst generation.
Choi Il-hyun chuckled.
"But this generation overlaps weirdly with ours."
"Lee Seo-jun, Yoo Ah-ra? My daughter too. Ah, she's got her dad's personality down pat."
Jang Bong-jin fell deep in thought at Choi Il-hyun's words.
Choi Il-hyun watched the race outside. Lee Seo-jun and Kim Sun-woo neck and neck at the front. It was too close to call.
"The vibe does feel similar to back then. Coincidence or not, a bunch of kids from that generation ended up here. The big difference? No punk like you around."
No student like me.
Choi Il-hyun smiled quietly.
"No punk, maybe, but there's one who reminds me of my younger self."
—Finish line!
Lee Seo-jun and Kim Sun-woo crossed into the goal area. It ended with Lee Seo-jun's victory by a hair's breadth.
Kim Sun-woo looked disappointed. For a manifestation wizard, he'd really thought he could win.
Choi Il-hyun stared intently at Kim Sun-woo's face.
In some hidden cabin deep in Gangwon Province, fifteen people sat with tense expressions.
"Fifteen people. Nice turnout."
"Yeah, surprisingly. And some pretty impressive ones too."
Jeong Kyung-won, an S-Rank mercenary, glanced around and addressed the man with dark circles under his eyes sitting across from him.
"You're that guy, right? Sword Demon?"
". . . Yeah."
"Man, Han Se-jin is something else. Even dragged you here. What'd he promise you?"
"Doesn't matter."
These people were the secret Jaun Subjugation Squad that Han Se-jin had quietly assembled from wizards.
Every mercenary here was a top earner in the wizard world.
"Hmm. I recognize some, but you in the hood—who are you?"
The hooded figure turned at Jeong Kyung-won's question.
"Don't talk to me."
A young voice. The hood hid her mouth, but it was clearly a woman.
Jeong Kyung-won's eyes drifted to her hand.
"Tattoo? Wait, is that a magic circle?"
The hood didn't respond.
"Whoa, there really are people who carve magic circles into their skin. You're a support wizard, right? Barrier type?"
Still no answer. Jeong Kyung-won looked awkward.
"Anyway, impressive. Tattoo magic. Not just anyone can handle it. Doesn't it burn like hell when you cast? Most can't take the pain and get it removed."
"You can endure it if you pop enough painkillers and other meds."
The hood finally replied.
". . . You tough it out with drugs? This one's totally nuts."
Jeong Kyung-won muttered with a look of disbelief, peering at the barely visible face under the hood. Her hair was dyed red.
". . . Hold up. That's not one tattoo. And ear piercings with magic tools? You really abuse your body, huh?"
"Mind your own business."
The hood snapped irritably, but Jeong Kyung-won pressed on undeterred.
"You're from a rare clan, aren't you?"
". . . What?"
The hood flinched, turning sharply. Eyes hidden, but the glare was palpable. Jeong Kyung-won was convinced.
Rare clan, confirmed.
"Most folks doing stuff this extreme are from rare clans."
"Shut up."
The hood's voice dripped with killing intent.
". . . Uh, sorry."
She seemed genuinely pissed, so Jeong Kyung-won apologized.
[1st Place: Lee Seo-jun, 32 seconds 40]
[2nd Place: Kim Sun-woo, 32 seconds 52]
The running race results boomed through the announcer's mic.
As expected, Lee Seo-jun took 1st.
Kim Sun-woo got 2nd.
It was a predictable outcome, but the race itself had been a nail-biter to the end.
Lee Seo-jun was his usual insane self, and Kim Sun-woo proved exactly why he was the hottest rising star.
It had the whole crowd on the edge of their seats.
Worthy of being called the stars of the infamous "midterms prelude."
Han Se-yeon had watched the intense race from afar.
She couldn't miss the showdown between Lee Seo-jun and Kim Sun-woo, prime sponsorship targets for Hanseong Pharmaceuticals.
Especially Kim Sun-woo.
He'd lost, but he hadn't been outshone at all by Lee Seo-jun, the so-called greatest genius in history.
Even she, a total magic newbie, could tell how amazing Kim Sun-woo's performance was.
"Team leader, mind if we watch for a bit?"
"P-President? But our next schedule..."
"Three minutes."
Han Se-yeon headed to the sports field.
As she approached, nearby spectators stared in shock.
"H-Han Se-yeon?"
"No way, the real deal? Epic."
She ignored the whispers and kept walking.
She approached Kim Sun-woo, slumped at the finish line, panting heavily.
Kim Sun-woo noticed her gaze and looked up.
Their eyes met, and Han Se-yeon's mind blanked.
Up close, he looked even more like that person. Not just the face—build and vibe too.
No, are they the same guy? Honestly, if Kim Jin-woo just grew a beard, he'd look exactly like that.
Kim Sun-woo's face flashed brief surprise at her sudden appearance.
She assumed it was because of her fame.
"Hi. You're Kim Sun-woo, right? Great race."
Han Se-yeon smiled. Kim Sun-woo nodded silently.
His eyes seemed guarded. Undeterred, she continued.
"Sorry for approaching out of nowhere. I've actually been keeping an eye on you for a while. Enough to select you as a sponsorship candidate."
". . . Yeah, I know."
Kim Sun-woo's curt reply. His voice was ordinary. The youthful tone of a typical high schooler.
She'd imagined Kim Jin-woo's voice, so it felt a bit off.
Kim Jin-woo's was much deeper.
Then Kim Sun-woo brushed off his butt and stood.
Han Se-yeon looked up at him closely.
Standing, he seemed just a tad taller than Kim Jin-woo.
His frame looked sturdier too. A subtle difference, barely noticeable.
"Anything else?"
Kim Sun-woo asked bluntly.
The tone snapped Han Se-yeon back to reality.
This wasn't Kim Jin-woo.
"Yeah? Oh, no. Just wanted to say I enjoyed the race."
Han Se-yeon smiled softly. Kim Sun-woo nodded.
"Ah, thanks. See you."
"W-Wait!"
Han Se-yeon stopped him. Kim Sun-woo looked back questioningly.
"More to say?"
"Just personally curious about something."
"Curious?"
Han Se-yeon glanced around at the staring crowd.
His family background. That's what she wanted to know.
Kim Sun-woo's file had no family info.
Seeing his face in person reignited her suspicions about his connection to Kim Jin-woo.
But with all the eyes on them, she couldn't ask here.
Then.
[Far throw competition starts in 10 minutes.]
[Participants and spectators, please gather at Field 2 promptly.]
The speakers announced the next event.
"Next event's coming up. Gotta head out."
"Huh?"
Han Se-yeon blinked.
"Ah. Yeah. Go ahead."
She was momentarily flustered but had no intention of holding him up, so she smiled and let him go.
Kim Sun-woo bowed slightly and vanished somewhere.
Alone now, Han Se-yeon thought.
'. . . Less approachable than I expected.'
Tch. Kinda disappointing.
The overt discomfort toward her, the guarded eyes.
Had she built him up too much because he resembled Kim Jin-woo?
She missed Kim Jin-woo for no reason.
He seemed gruff on the outside but was subtly kind to her.
He'd pretend to be busy but reply to messages promptly. He'd listen when work stressed her out.
And when they drank alone, his gentle tone, his tsundere cuteness...
"Ahem."
Fakes can't match the real thing, huh.
She'd call him after work.
[Mannequin rescue competition ended.]
[Ranks announced.]
[1st: Kim Sun-woo]
[Kim Sun-woo receives 600 coins.]
"Phew."
After the race, I'd joined several more events. Far throw, magic accuracy contest, mannequin rescue. Took mostly 1st or 2nd.
The "coins"—Taekhwi Festival points—had piled up nicely.
"Kim Sun-woo, our 1st place winner! A few words?"
The announcer shouted. The crowd cheered and clapped.
"Uh... Glad it led to a good result. Thanks."
The announcer gave an awkward smile at my bland response.
"Yep, straightforward! You're good to go!"
I stepped off the stage.
[Held Coins: 2,600]
[Current Rank: 1st]
I'm currently in 1st.
2nd has 2,200, so a solid lead.
The reason I placed so high was simple.
While others stuck to their specialties, I racked up points in both reinforcement and manifestation magic.
"Think I'll call it here for today."
My goal is top 5 anyway.
Stopping now is fine. Plus, tomorrow's the team hunt—a big event. I'll rake in tons of coins there, then chill on the final day. Plan's perfect.
Though I'm a bit worried my meddling might mess with the original rankings.
Wouldn't want to accidentally stunt the others' growth.
"Hmm."
I trudged toward the dorms.
". . . Already evening."
The sky was turning deep orange, growing dark. Most of the visiting crowds had cleared out.
Then I recalled my encounter with Han Se-yeon earlier. Her interested gaze had oddly made my heart race.
Totally different from approaching people who know Kim Sun-woo while looking like Kim Jin-woo.
I'll see her at the closing ceremony too. What then?
Lost in thought as I walked, I spotted a familiar face by the dorms.
Choi Seo-yoon. She saw me and smiled brightly.
"Heading in already?"
"Yeah. Made a killing on coins."
"Ooh, what rank? I saw your running race earlier."
"1st."
Choi Seo-yoon jumped in surprise.
Ranks and points were public via smart student handbooks, but names weren't revealed.
"Whoa. As expected..."
Choi Seo-yoon nodded.
"Where you off to?"