Chapter 93
Chapter 93
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 93
Chapter Title: Final Rankings
-----------------------------------------------------------------
[That aura and mana similar to Jin Cheonwoo's must be because his blood flows in your veins.]
Lee Seojun's eyes widened at the Tower's words.
Time flew by. The three-day final exam had come to an end.
It was now Friday at 3 p.m.
The Tower's mana enveloped all the students, gathering them into a single space somewhere within it.
"That was seriously tough."
"Yeah, we really suffered."
"I bombed this exam. I ran out of meds at the end."
The students began sharing their experiences from the exam.
"Wonder who got first place?"
"Not Lily Rose, anyway. She got robbed at the end."
"I saw that—it was brutal. So, first is Yoo Ara?"
"Yeah, probably Yoo Ara. Lee Seojun never even showed up on the leaderboard."
"Whoa, Yoo Ara's first ever? She was always second."
As the chatter grew louder among the students,
A voice echoed from somewhere.
[Students, you all worked hard over these three days.]
[Now, announcing the final exam rankings.]
A massive screen above their heads lit up.
[Final Rankings]
[1st: Lee Seojun - 30th Floor Cleared]
[2nd: Yoo Ara - 10,115 points]
[3rd: Kim Sunwoo - 8,225 points]
[4th: Louis Brown - 7,995 points]
".....What?"
"Whoa, insane! What's Lee Seojun?!"
"He climbed to the 30th floor? That's crazy."
"Hey! What's Kim Sunwoo doing in third?"
The rankings sparked another wave of uproar.
A new name had reached the top of the Tower, a feat only one person had achieved in fifty years. Everyone buzzed with excitement and shock.
Yoo Ara stared up at the rankings from amid the crowd, her heart a tangle of emotions.
He'd actually conquered the summit. She felt nothing but sheer bewilderment.
Honestly, she'd thought she might beat Lee Seojun this time with her own strength.
He was impressive, sure, but scaling the Tower's peak was something only one person in history had ever done.
Yet Lee Seojun had scaled it flawlessly and claimed first place.
Even with her high second-place rank, a profound sense of powerlessness filled her.
And Lily Rose, standing off in a corner, felt much the same.
"......He really reached the 30th floor?"
Even if Kim Sunwoo hadn't stolen her points, it had been a lost cause.
She pondered how to process that fact when the third-place name caught her eye.
"Kim Sunwoo......"
Because of that guy, her final ranking had ended at 34th—the worst she'd ever gotten in her life.
And what happened that day? She could never breathe a word of it to anyone.
Kim Sunwoo.
Ranked 60th overall at the Korean Magic Academy.
If word got out she'd lost to someone like that, it'd be a national embarrassment.
"Ha......"
Lily shot a venomous glare at Kim Sunwoo, who was staring up at the rankings from afar.
His blank expression didn't scream joy.
How the hell was he ranked 60th overall......?
"......What the hell is that guy?"
News of the joint exam between the Korean and British Magic Academies spread like wildfire.
When word got out that Lee Seojun had summited the Tower, people showered praise on his genius.
Conversely, Lily Rose—who'd targeted him only to end up at 34th—faced criticism and mockery.
Koreans swelled with national pride, hailing Lee Seojun.
He'd become a national hero, fresh off his victory in the national prelims.
Of course, there were a few minor articles about the newcomer who'd snagged third: 'Kim Sunwoo.'
[Korean Magic Academy Theory #1, 'Kim Sunwoo,' Takes Overall 3rd in Finals. A Rising Star?]
The reporters' interest in me probably stemmed from the documentary filming.
It netted me some pocket points.
['Final Exam 3rd Place' achievement unlocked.]
[Reward: 5,000 points acquired.]
['Lily Rose' feels powerless against you.]
[Reward: 1,000 points acquired.]
[8,200 people feel astonishment at your improved grades.]
[Reward: 5,000 points acquired.]
[8 key characters view you with suspicion.]
[Reward: 4,000 points acquired.]
I checked the messages I hadn't seen inside the Tower.
The exam had earned me a whopping 15,000 points.
And this wasn't the end.
As time passed, more articles would spread, bringing even more points.
"Heh heh."
Lying on the hotel bed, I chuckled quietly to myself. Lee Seojun, fiddling with his smart student handbook on the bed next to mine, turned to me.
"What? Why are you laughing alone?"
"Oh, no. Just saw something funny online."
"......Yeah?"
He bought my lame excuse and turned back to his handbook without suspicion.
Even on our first free day in England, Lee Seojun wasn't going out—just holed up in the dorm.
I had a pretty good idea why.
It had to be the story about Jin Cheonwoo from the 29th floor hidden stage, 'The Administrator's Land.'
This would spark Lee Seojun's interest in the man.
I stared blankly at him for a bit, then turned back to my handbook.
"Oh, right. Sunwoo."
His sudden call made me turn my head. He looked straight at me and said,
"......No, I mean, you got third this time. Must feel good. Congrats."
"Oh."
So that's what it was.
The unexpected congrats lifted my mood, but I played it humble.
"Congrats? You're first. You deserve it more."
He shook his head at my words.
"......I'm always first anyway."
In Seoul, at Jaun's hideout.
Jin watched the TV news in awe.
"Whoa, Berth, check this out. Lee Seojun reached the 30th floor?"
Berth glanced at the screen.
"As expected of Lee Seojun. Though, that's the bare minimum for him."
"You think? Yeah, hearing you say it, that makes sense. I'd have been disappointed if he failed."
"That lord managed it too......"
Berth trailed off, then searched something on his smartphone—the joint exam rankings.
He'd expected first and second, but third was a surprise.
"Kim Sunwoo got third this time?"
Jin turned at Berth's mutter.
"Really? That guy's got something special. He was dead last just a few months ago."
"Yeah. Never thought he'd hit third."
"He's been in the spotlight lately, so maybe he really is just a regular student? No need to investigate?"
Berth pondered Jin's words.
It made sense. If he were a plant from the Magic Association or Dawn's Blade, he wouldn't draw this much attention.
"......Just a regular student, huh."
But something felt off for a mere normie.
His growth was unreal.
A guy who'd mana-drained mid-spell just months ago, now third in a joint exam?
"Hmm...... Weird, but."
Berth sighed deeply after mulling it over.
"Ah, whatever."
Table it for now.
He pushed Kim Sunwoo from his mind. Focus on Lee Seojun.
At the top floor of the Seoul Magic Association headquarters.
World Magic Association Chairman Kim Cheoljin received Kim Deokhyeon's report.
"Sir, Seojun reached the 30th floor in this Tower climb exam."
Kim Cheoljin's face grew complicated as he stared out the window.
Even news of his prized disciple's stellar performance didn't bring much joy.
"......I see."
That short reply carried layers of meaning. Kim Deokhyeon could read the emotions in it.
Fear that history might repeat itself.
"Sir, you can celebrate more. Your disciple did great."
Kim Cheoljin whipped his head around at Kim Deokhyeon's words.
"Who said I'm not happy? Of course I'm thrilled my disciple excelled."
He trudged to his chair and sat.
"Well, I half-expected it. That he'd climb to the top. He hid it well, but Seojun's got that guy's blood, plain as day."
He paused in thought.
"But that's him, and Seojun's Seojun. They're totally different people."
"Yes, exactly. That's obvious."
"Right...... Man, I miss Seojun. Finals are over, so vacation starts soon, yeah?"
"Yes. I believe in two weeks."
"Yeah...... Tell him to visit when break begins."
Friday evening at 7 p.m., day four of the school trip.
After resting at the hotel, I headed out.
Lee Seojun and Shin Youngjun asked where, but I said I'd just look around and left.
I had a spot to hit during this free time. Time was tight, so I needed to be quick.
"Kim Sunwoo."
Stepping out of the hotel, a voice called me.
A stunning blonde leaning against the entrance wall.
Lily Rose.
Why was she here? Before I could wonder if she'd waited for me, she spoke.
"Next spring."
"Huh?"
"Make top five by next spring."
She glared at me.
"What the hell outta nowhere?"
"Enter the Star Martial Tournament."
"Oh."
The Star Martial Tournament.
Every three years, the five great magic academies gathered to compete.
True to its name—"Battle of the Stars"—only the top five overall students from each school could participate.
Lily Rose was demanding I join for revenge on her defeat.
"Who knows about the future."
"Shut up. Get top five and enter. I'll pay back yesterday's humiliation."
I chuckled quietly.
Just like the prideful Lily Rose from the original story.
"W-Well, then. See you next year."
She turned and vanished somewhere.
I watched her go blankly, then started walking.
After parting with Lily Rose, I slipped into a back alley and changed into Kim Jinwoo's clothes.
Necessary to hide my identity.
Not fully his look, though.
This errand might catch Jaun's eye, so I added a mask to obscure my face.
I headed toward Big Ben, London's landmark.
Magic-related spots in England clustered around it.
"Here it is."
My destination: a small magic tool shop, 'Mystic Curios.'
It appeared once in the original—a place with hidden gems for the sharp-eyed.
Ding-a-ling.
A bald man greeted me as I entered.
"Welcome. Looking for something specific?"
I used Character Analysis on his face.
Name: Nick Smith
Age: 42
Race: Human
Status: Calm
Mana Rank: C-
Interest: 0
It was the guy I knew.
Nick Smith.
The Outsider's Grace activated, letting fluent English flow from my mouth.
"I'm here for a trade."
"A trade?"
"Yes."
"What kind?"
"I have antiques that might interest you."
Nick eyed me suspiciously.
"How'd you know I collect antiques?"
"Trade secret."
"Then no deal."
Ignoring him, I pulled out the antiques I'd stashed in my inventory.
Looted from Jaun's hideout.
The Book of a Thousand Days, Mayan stone tablet, Sarul tribe jar, Shakan golden statue.
As they hit the table, Nick's blank face lit up.
Just like his antique-obsessed canon self. I smirked inwardly.
"Take a look."
He nodded, fetched a small magnifying glass from a drawer below.
A plain-looking item, but a special tool for appraising objects.
He examined them carefully through it, then said,
"Where'd you get these? I know they're all stolen goods."
"You recognize their value right away."