Chapter 192
Chapter 192
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 193
Chapter Title: The Champion's Return Match
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"Wow."
Entering the massive circular arena, I couldn't help but gasp in admiration.
It was said to hold up to 70,000 people, boasting an enormous size.
"So many people."
The stands were packed solid without a single empty seat.
Not just Koreans, but a ton of foreigners from all sorts of races stood out too.
Seeing this really drove home just how insanely popular magic tournaments—or "Magic Brawls"—were worldwide.
Of course, today's match being the comeback fight of the top draw, the "Champion," was probably boosting the hype even more.
I glanced up at the arena's giant scoreboard.
[Won Hyuk-jin VS Jung-wi]
Instead of Liang Liang's name, it listed "Jung-wi."
"Jung-wi" was the alias he'd cooked up for his activities.
He couldn't use his underground arena name anymore, so an alias made sense.
Looking at it now brought back memories of the day I'd seen Liang Liang in the underground arena.
Back then, he'd been a rookie debutant facing the champion, just like now.
Débuts like fireworks, then and today.
"Kim Sunwoo! What are you doing over there?"
Lost in thought, I heard Lee Seojun's voice.
Turning my head, I saw him already seated, looking my way.
"Coming."
I walked over to Lee Seojun and took my seat.
Lee Seojun sat next to me, Jeon Min-gi next to him, then Shin Young-jun and Lee Hyun-joo.
Settling in, a sudden question popped into my head.
"But why'd you join our group?"
I asked Jeon Min-gi.
According to the original story, he wasn't supposed to be here today.
"Oh! To get closer to you seniors!"
Jeon Min-gi answered energetically.
His 50-something uncle face made his polite speech and "senior" calls still feel off.
"......Yeah. Okay?"
I nodded and scanned the arena interior.
In the player waiting area visible to the crowd, Champion Won Hyuk-jin was warming up.
His face radiated total confidence, like losing to a rookie was impossible.
Even from afar, he looked ridiculously handsome.
His skills played a part in his popularity, but that killer looks helped a ton.
I shifted my gaze to Liang Liang.
He was chatting with a guy who looked like his manager, his expression unreadable.
I stared at Liang Liang for a bit, then activated Person Appraisal.
Name: Liang Liang
Age: 23
Race: Human
Status: Calm
Mana Grade: B+
Interest Level: 0
Mana Grade B+.
As expected, not super high.
At this point in the story, Liang Liang hadn't been formally training in magic for long.
Still, hitting B+ so soon after starting officially proved he had serious talent.
Plus, in the original story, Liang Liang was infamous not for mana grade, but for his innate cruelty and dirty fighting style—that was his real strength.
"What're you thinking about?"
Lee Seojun asked as I sat there stone-faced.
"Bored waiting around."
I made up some excuse, and he nodded without a second thought.
"But when are you gonna start gathering materials for necromancy? After exams, right?"
"Necromancy? Oh......"
Right, the necromancy from Jin Cheonwoo's diary—I'd planned to summon his soul with it.
I'd totally spaced on it.
"Think after break starts. Kinda busy now."
"Doing what?"
"Just, bunch of stuff I've been putting off."
"......Gotcha?"
Lee Seojun shot me a side-eye but nodded.
He didn't pry about what "stuff"—from experience, he knew I wouldn't spill.
I leaned back in my chair and looked around.
"Those guys" had to be lurking here somewhere.
Jaun's members, Baek Eun-seong and Natasha.
In the original story, they'd hidden their identities and come to this arena too.
That's when I was scanning the crowd's faces one by one with Person Appraisal, even though they blended in.
Footsteps approached from beside me: thud, thud.
Turning, I saw Choi Seoyoon heading my way, arms loaded with food.
Chicken, popcorn, snacks, drinks—the works. Enough for three guys barely.
It made me uneasy just watching, so I stood and took some off her hands.
"Ah! Thank you."
"What's with all this food? We won't finish it."
"Didn't know what you seniors like."
She dropped that drama-line so casually. I stared at her blankly.
"No, come on. Still."
Choi Seoyoon gave a small smile and sat next to me.
"What're you doing? Sit."
"......Yeah. Okay."
As I sat, she grabbed a piece of popcorn and snuck it into my mouth.
"Mmph!"
"How's it? Good?"
Choi Seoyoon stared at me with expectant eyes.
I chewed and swallowed the popcorn, then nodded.
"......Yeah. Tasty."
"Hehe. Good."
She smiled once, then popped some in her own mouth.
Choked on it wrong and scrunched her eyes.
"Cough cough."
"......Jeez."
I quickly unscrewed a drink lid and poured it into her mouth.
Meanwhile.
Jaun's core members Baek Eun-seong and Natasha sat in the stands opposite Lee Seojun's group, faces hidden behind invisibility masks.
They'd used their week off to enjoy some leisure time here.
"Wow, tons of people."
"Dude, that's not the point. This popcorn sucks ass."
Baek Eun-seong grimaced and chugged water.
Ignoring him, Natasha eyed Won Hyuk-jin's photo on the scoreboard.
"Ah, Won Hyuk-jin's comeback. Can't wait."
Natasha was a fan of today's star, "Won Hyuk-jin."
Her eyes sparkled like a girl gazing at her favorite idol—totally different from usual.
Baek Eun-seong snarked, clearly annoyed.
"......Tch. What's so great about that guy? I could kill him in five minutes flat against Ray."
"Dude, so what? Won Hyuk-jin's hot as hell."
"What? I've been hearing 'handsome' since I was a kid, nonstop?"
Baek Eun-seong bristled.
"Yeah, right."
"No, for real—girls lined up at school."
Baek Eun-seong actually counted as a solid pretty boy.
Just not Natasha's type.
Won Hyuk-jin oozed manly charm; Baek was more boyish.
"You're too baby-faced."
"What'd you say, auntie?"
"What'd you call me?"
Natasha glared murderously at Baek Eun-seong. Realizing his slip, he cleared his throat awkwardly and changed the subject.
"But lotta students here. That's Magic Academy uniform, right?"
"Yeah, special activity day or something."
"Then Lee Seojun's gotta be here?"
Baek Eun-seong scanned around for Lee Seojun.
70,000 people, but spotting the uniform group made it quick.
"There! Found Lee Seojun!"
Baek Eun-seong pointed across the stands. Natasha followed his finger.
Pretty far—pin-sized to normal eyes—but mana-boosted sight made it crystal clear.
"Yup. Lee Seojun looks like he's having fun."
"Prime age for it."
As they watched Lee Seojun, Kim Sunwoo next to him caught Baek Eun-seong's eye.
The rising star making waves at Magic Academy, rivaling even Lee Seojun lately.
But Baek Eun-seong startled seeing Kim Sunwoo.
Kim Sunwoo's gaze was already locked on him.
Then, about a second later.
Kim Sunwoo casually shifted his eyes to the girl seated on his other side, like it was coincidence.
"......What the?"
Natasha asked at Baek Eun-seong's mutter.
"What's up?"
"Huh? Nah, must've been my imagination."
Baek Eun-seong fiddled with his prosthetic arm, mumbling.
That's when.
Flash!
The arena's dazzling lights blazed on.
The announcer's voice followed.
[Players, enter!]
Pulsing music, and Won Hyuk-jin took the stage.
The handsome, masculine guy stepped up, drawing massive cheers.
Natasha infused mana into her eyes to see him closer.
"Tch."
Baek Eun-seong shook his head and waited for the next player.
Time passed, and from opposite Won Hyuk-jin, a sharp-faced skinny guy entered.
Baek Eun-seong felt curiosity—and instinct.
The vibe off him screamed "same kind" as himself.
"Who's that?"
"Name's Jung-wi. From China. Rookies, no other info."
"Yeah?"
Baek Eun-seong eyed Jung-wi—Liang Liang—thoughtfully.
A guy with that aura should've been known somewhere, but first time hearing the name.
"Looking forward to this. Let's see what he's got."
About 20 minutes later.
Won Hyuk-jin and Liang Liang's match ended.
The unexpected flow shocked the crowd.
I'd been a bit surprised watching too.
Had the underground arena boss—S-rank Demon Ha Ryeong—taught him magic? Liang Liang was way stronger than before.
This level bordered A-rank mid-to-high.
Raw combat sense, though—his mana control was still clunky, not pure skill.
"This'll make news."
"But good thing no disaster."
Liang Liang showed pro-level skill, unbeaten in the shadows as a rookie shouldn't.
But his opponent was the light-side champion.
Sports don't care how you shine in the dark—facing daylight pros is another world.
True to his title, Won Hyuk-jin crushed with sheer mana volume and control, a massive gap.
Of course, all under the strict "Magic Brawl" rules.
Magic could kill easy, so Won Hyuk-jin held back himself.
Just as Liang Liang seemed done.
Like the underground arena, he struck when Won let his guard down.
A killing blow—taboo, instant disqualification.
Luckily, it failed. Safety team and arena wards kicked in as he lunged.
Restraint magic bound Liang Liang, dragging him off.
Same as the original story.
This revoked his public player status; he'd retreat to shadows, dominate arenas there.
Time flew, all matches done, crowds filed out.
My group too, including me. We exited chatting.
"Dude, Won Hyuk-jin almost got wrecked today."
"Yeah. That rookie's got no fear. Mana load looked kill-shot serious."
"He took so many hits, probably pissed him off."
Heading out, I felt a lingering gaze on me from somewhere.
Turning, a suit-wearing classy guy stared with odd eyes.
Familiar face.
Then it hit me.
The man from Liang Liang's waiting area. Wait—Liang Liang's area...
I used Person Appraisal on him.
Name: Ha Ryeong
Age: 62
Race: Demon
Status: Calm
Mana Grade: S
Interest Level: 0
As expected.
The S-rank Demon I'd suspected.
Owner of the underground scene.