Chapter 375
Chapter 375
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ace
Chapter: 375
Chapter Title: Heavenly Demon's Daughter
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Lee Soo-hyuk, who had been watching the match, smiled.
His opponent, Dreigon, was far from weak. Not only did he display impressive skill on screen, but he was also a high ranker who had built his reputation long ago.
Unhyang handled his attacks with skillful ease. Though she hadn't ended it decisively, if it were a decision victory, it would have been hers.
Above all, the most notable improvement was in her mentality.
"Looks like she's not holding back anymore."
Jin-un nodded at Soo-hyuk's words.
"Of course. What crime did she commit that she had to hide it?"
In this fight, Unhyang had used the Heavenly Demon Divine Art without hesitation. Though the Heavenly Demon Ultimate Technique hadn't been fully unleashed, it was clear she no longer cared about others' opinions.
The biggest weakness Soo-hyuk had lamented about Unhyang was now gone.
Whoosh-.
Unhyang returned after finishing the match.
She smiled brightly as if nothing had happened, back to her initial cheerfulness.
"It ended safely. It was my first confrontation in a while, so I was tense."
Like a true manager, Unhyang approached Soo-hyuk first and greeted the viewers.
"Hello? Let me greet you again. I'm Unhyang, who cut ties with the Heavenly Demon."
Her greeting was bright, but the content was savage. Heavenly Demon, cut ties—truly an unimaginable combination of words.
Soo-hyuk checked the chat reactions. Donations kept pouring in, and the viewer count was the highest yet.
Fifty thousand viewers.
It was a number hard to believe even seeing it with his own eyes. Had there ever been this many viewers? He wondered if there ever would be again.
Well, with a grand archmage appearing, followed by the Heavenly Demon's daughter—it was a broadcast packed with spectacles.
But this number didn't carry only positive implications.
Even with Unhyang's existence confirmed, some still nitpicked in chat and donations alike.
Whether positive or negative, people loved drama. Unhyang's presence was like pouring oil on the already blazing Blue Eyes.
Fortunately, Unhyang's handling of it was solid. No, it was perfect.
Such responses were possible only because of her handling.
What's being the Heavenly Demon's daughter a crime? No guilt by association in this day and age?
While such reactions existed, extreme ones persisted too.
Linking the Heavenly Demon and Blue Eyes together—this was the reaction everyone feared most.
Blue Eyes had gained its top reputation because Soo-hyuk defeated the Heavenly Demon. The moment they were tied as one, the guild soaring on wings would crash back to earth.
Soo-hyuk's gaze turned to Kim Il-su, watching from afar.
This was probably the exact reaction that guy wanted. Only then could Blue Zone continue carrying Blue Eyes' legacy.
But.
'Enjoy it while it lasts.'
Soo-hyuk soon turned back to the screen. Ye-ryeong's match was starting.
'Soon, everything will return to normal.'
Ye-ryeong, Si-woo, and even Hyeo-min. The three took their trials in succession.
Kim Il-su had braced himself inwardly. One of them might point him out. They could have another fierce clash here.
But none of them selected him. As if thoroughly ignoring him.
As the confrontation progressed, Kim Il-su kept monitoring reactions.
'The backlash is weaker than expected.'
Normally, Unhyang being revealed as the Heavenly Demon's daughter should have tanked their reputations.
The war with the demon legion commanders at Blue House, the deaths of the Poison King and Jin Do-ha—all should have been tied to the Heavenly Demon, painted as sinister plots.
Yet the reactions differed from his expectations.
'That woman...'
Kim Il-su's gaze shifted to Unhyang chattering away beside Soo-hyuk.
'Intentional response? Dropping the bomb first and staging it to soften the backlash?'
Even if so, would it really work?
It looked easy, but it wasn't. Unhyang proved her superior skill while sincerely apologizing to someone who bore a grudge against the Heavenly Demon. More astonishingly, the apology landed.
Dreigon, who lost family to the Heavenly Demon, reacted that way, naturally quelling public outrage.
"Guild Master."
Then, Jang Se-ri's voice came from behind.
"There are many eyes watching."
Kim Il-su didn't know what expression he was making. He'd always managed his face in public. Especially after half his face was ruined, he'd been even more careful.
At Jang Se-ri's warning, Kim Il-su smiled again. It was his usual mechanical expression, but natural. Wearing a mask one's whole life made it one's true face.
But that brief change shocked Jang Se-ri, who was always like a shadow at his side.
"Are you alright?"
It was the first time she'd seen him lose control of his expressions like this.
"I'm fine."
Kim Il-su nodded lowly. It was always a reassuring nod, but today it felt oddly uneasy.
The confrontation continued for a while. Sometimes one person challenged many, other times multiple matches ran simultaneously.
Everyone tensed when it was the Heavenly Demon's turn. Only those already passed sighed in relief.
The Heavenly Demon pointed at hundreds visible at once. No great benefit for doing so, yet he did.
The reason was simple.
"You lack the qualifications to advance."
Hearing that, Soo-hyuk realized.
"Advancing" meant not just the next round of the confrontation. He was thinking of the tower's next floor again.
One opponent or a hundred—what did it matter? The Heavenly Demon toyed with the gathered hundred. A thousand swords flew in the sky, and when they fell to the ground, all lost their lives simultaneously.
Jin-un inwardly hoped the Heavenly Demon would pick him. Knowing he couldn't win, he still wanted to vent this boiling frustration somehow.
But the one who picked him was someone entirely unexpected.
"Would you grace me with a lesson?"
Green Tower Lord, Behemoth.
He approached Jin-un and asked politely. It was a question, but a challenge.
Behemoth was the pinnacle of magic circles among mages. Thus, he'd long harbored rivalry toward the master craftsman known as "Master."
And now, he faced Jin-un in this confrontation.
"Are you sure?"
Behemoth looked puzzled at Jin-un's question. "Are you sure?" Did he omit "with your inferior skill" out of humility?
But it was a misconception. Jin-un hadn't been particularly humble for a long time.
Whoosh-.
Before an answer, both vanished simultaneously. Teleported to the arena.
As they disappeared, Unhyang, who had been holding her tongue, finally asked.
"Will he be okay?"
She posed the exact same question Jin-un had.
"Who? Uncle? Or the Green Tower Lord?"
"Uncle, obviously. His opponent's the Green Tower Lord."
Green Tower Lord Behemoth was known as an eccentric. He'd devoted his life to studying magic circles, becoming the best in the field.
Not just any field—the same field as Jin-un, the top expert.
The loser would suffer a huge blow to their pride. No longer the best.
"Didn't you hear what Uncle said earlier?"
"I did. 'Are you sure?'"
Unhyang mimicked Jin-un's tone perfectly, lowering her voice just right. Soo-hyuk chuckled.
"But what does that mean?"
"What else?"
Soon, Jin-un and Behemoth appeared on screen.
"The worry you just voiced? It should be for the Green Tower Lord."
The confrontation stage always suited the fighters. For these two masters of formations and magic circles, it was a barren plain.
They faced each other at a suitable distance.
They thought this stage perfect for them. No special terrain needed for formation masters and magic circle experts. Changing terrain was trivial if they willed it.
"Shall I go first?"
Jin-un asked politely. Behemoth chuckled and waved his staff.
"Sorry, but it's already started."
No sooner said, they stood on a land bubbling with lava.
It happened in the blink of an eye. A massive green magic circle floated in the sky, Behemoth dominating his created world.
"Not hot?"
"It's hot."
"Tell me if it's too hot."
Crack-.
Then, the ground where Jin-un stood split.
Lava boiled beneath the fissure. Jin-un staggered and fell in.
Behemoth muttered, leaning on his long staff.
"Or maybe you can't?"
"Good thing I can."
Behemoth whipped around in surprise.
Jin-un stood behind him. How? He'd clearly fallen.
Shock brief. Green light burst from his staff.
Rumble-.
The lava ground shook, rocks clumping. They formed a mountain-sized golem.
Not reality, but here it was the same. Behemoth raised his staff to control the golem.
Then, the house-sized fist smashed toward Jin-un.
But.
Halt-.
The golem's fist stopped above Jin-un's head like a lie.
Behemoth poured more mana into the staff. Still, the golem stood motionless.
No choice. Behemoth summoned more golems. The lava ground upheaved, dozens rising.
Bigger than the first, dozens of mountain-sized golems.
Behemoth smiled in satisfaction. These would suffice. Then—
Groan-.
Dozens of golems turned simultaneously toward Behemoth.
Behemoth panicked at the uncommanded action. He infused mana into the staff and shouted.
"Your opponent is over there!"
But the golems glared with glowing eyes.
"I made you! Why...?"
That moment.
"Why do you think?"
Whoosh-.
Lava heat hit late. Scorching enough to melt his face. Heat impossible for this world's master.
And then, Behemoth realized.
Why his golems disobeyed. His gaze went to Jin-un emerging from the golems.
Hands behind back, calmly claiming mastery of this world, he said.
"It's too hot, that's why."