Chapter 55
Translator 8uhl
Chapter 55
Chapter Title TugofWar Supremacy
Somehow, it feels like its been forever since we were on the same team?
You that desperate to rely on me?
If they saw you armwrestling, theyd all be thinking the same thing.
Kang Siyoon slipped on his red vest and shot me a wink.
Normally, I wouldve let out a light scoff and played along just right.
But soaked in this status ailment, I didnt laugh lightlyinstead, a short, contemptuous chuckle escaped me.
Well, they all look so utterly pathetic. No wonder theyre clinging to me like that.
TThis guys ego is getting more bloated by the second!
I wanted to rein in this bloated ego somehow, but it had slipped from my grasp long ago.
At least the noise around us probably drowned out that exchange, so no one caught it.
Please, if we just jump straight into the game, even lines like that wouldnt seem out of place.
The draw for blue and red teams was taking a bit since it was by lots.
As my rational thoughts were pacing anxiously in worry.
Karis!
From not far off, the most dangerous person of all came running over, waving her red vest.
Seeing Yu Minhas utterly bright and innocent face, I plunged into despair.
The current Karis von Walden, steeped in arrogance, was extremely vulnerable to flattery from those around him.
And in that sense, Yu Minhathe comic book addict who was practically a Karis fanaticending up on the same team?
Disaster five minutes away.
I missed you so much! No, I really thought deep down wed end up together for the second team round. Ive always believed that if you pray hard enough from the heart, it comes true. But then the machine sent me back to the year 2020? Anyway, your stage was so cool, and that armwrestling earlier was insane! As expected, those basketball reflexes havent gone anywhere!
No one else combines skill and stamina like I do. Its only natural youre amazed.
Of course! My heart races like crazy every time I see you, Karis!
This time, lets join forces and crush those idiots in one go. Got it?
Yes, sir!
Normally, I wouldve cut off Yu Minhas machinegun fangirling at the right moment.
But Karis von Walden nodded in satisfaction, actually egging her on full throttle.
Both teams players, if youre ready, please come to the center! The match is about to start!
The trainees all donned leather gloves for hand protection.
The red team members lined up at the rope and immediately took their positions.
Shouldnt the strongest guy go first?
Then...
They all turned to look at me in unison.
Obviously Karis first?
Armwrestling king and all.
If he holds the front, well win easy.
Sounds good!
Yeah, the lead runner was important.
But Karis von Walden, with his exceptionally sharp strategic mind, rejected the idea outright.
You fools. No matter how crucial the lead is, the best man belongs at the end. Even if the front runners lose balance and fall, if the one at the rear holds firm, we wont lose right away. Plus, only from the rear can you read the overall flow and make the right calls. Therefore.
The crown princes confident voice dropped low.
The most capable commander heremestands at the rear.
HHearing it like that, yeah, holding firm is the key.
Then the next strongest goes first after Karis?
I sighed inwardly.
Fortunately, once strategy came up, the arrogance didnt spill out toward them.
But once the real tugofwar started, who knew what extreme words might fly from this mouth.
And when the longawaited first round began.
Keep that stance low!
The second your arms go slack, youre all dead! Pull!
Sure enough, Karis von Walden shouted at his teammates with more fervor than anyone, yanking the rope.
My consciousness was definitely in the drivers seat for this match, but the words coming out after passing through my head were entirely different.
An uncontrollable surge of power and the crown princes haughty ego kept invading my sanity.
Grrraaah!
Pull! Pull! Follow the cadence!
One, two! One, two!
Influenced by me, the red team trainees pulled with every ounce of strength they had.
They even called cadence on their own, giving it their all.
I tied the rope around my waist and held firm like a rock.
Using my height to observe the trainees ahead, I gauged the situation.
The ropes inching our way bit by bit.
Good pace.
If we kept this up, the blue team would tire out on their own.
I matched my teammates speed, stepping back one foot at a time.
Thats it! We cant yield victory to those pathetic worms!
The longer the status lasted, the more outrageous lines flowed out naturally.
Still, with both sides burning with competitive fire, it probably didnt look too weird.
After a solid stretch of this tugofwar.
Hm?
Something suspicious caught my sharp eyes.
Pull, pull! If we lose, its patbingsu!
Roughly fifth in line, Yu Minha was straining with all her might.
And right in front of her was Baek Sihwa, pale as a ghost.
The two, pressed close, looked at a glance like they were just pulling normally.
But from the highest vantage among teammates, looking down.
With Karis von Waldens battlehoned dynamic vision, even tiny details jumped out.
Baek Sihwas right foot is angled way too far toward Yu Minha.
Feet matter in every sport.
Theyre the foundation for power.
Its even more critical in tugofwar. Mess with a foot, and balance crumbles in an instant, so you always watch it.
Teammates instinctively avoid kicking each others feet.
Yet Baek Sihwas foot was suspiciously intimate with Yu Minhas.
No issue right now, but...
If we yank hard and win, we all fly back. Then her foot could stomp Yu Minha.
Stepping on the top of the foot would be lucky. If it twists to the ankle?
We werent filming some other show.
We were here for Idol Training Simulation to become idols.
To chase debut dreams.
For idol trainees whose bodies are their assets, an unexpected injury halting practice would be the worst disaster.
Might be overthinking, but better safe.
Cant pull too hard or we all tumble, so control the force and guide to victory.
I prayed this judgment reached Karis von Waldens body too.
Luckily, even amid the status ailment, rationality lingeredmy arm muscles relaxed naturally.
One, two, threeeveryone lie back at once! Time to end this pathetic battle!
Ooh!
Follow Kariss call and drop!
I tensed my ankles, eyes wide.
Warming every muscle, I kept eyes locked on Yu Minha.
One, two, three!
The red team gritted teeth and fell back.
The blue team, barely holding, started sliding our waythen Chae Eungyu at the front slipped.
His strength gave out, and the rope came over easy.
Got it.
Blue didnt all lurch at once, so red kept balance.
Yu Minha, under watch, escaped unscathed without a stomp.
First round winners Red Team!
Whistle blew, and groans erupted everywhere.
Whew, Im dying.
Those guys are inhumanly strong!
My arms are toast...
We gotta do another round? Were screwed for sure.
Blue team slumped exhausted, while red crowded me, celebrating.
Having Karis anchor back there really changes the feel!
Felt like wed never budge.
Lemme feel that forearm!
Karis von Waldens ego shouldve basked in this, spouting smug selfpraise.
But oddly, no reactionjust narrowed eyes.
As if mirroring my own rational thoughts.
Baek Sihwa.
Baek Sihwa sat flat on the ground, not joining the Karis worship.
Just dripping sweat, eyes somewhere between annoyed and distant.
The empires crown prince wasnt just battlefieldsharp.
Dealing with countless people built insight piercing human nature.
Even I, dragged into the game, had schemed politics with sly nobles.
And now, that crown prince was staring at Baek Sihwa.
Somethings off. That tugofwar stance earlier. This expression now. Like... shes disappointed she couldnt pull something off.
Doubts spun rapidly in my brain.
Her overt jabs at Yu Minha.
The competitive attitude.
And now this inexplicable behavior and face.
It led to a ridiculous yet dangerous conclusion.
A new targets appeared.
I had to watch Baek Sihwa through the sports day to prevent any nonsense.
The second tugofwar ended anticlimactically.
Drained blue team couldnt keep up, handing us victory.
Mango! Mango! Bingsu! Bingsu!
Patbingsu! Patbingsu!
Red team trainees, hooked on chants, kept yelling the words even after getting their mango patbingsu.
And one beaming happiest wasnt even trying to hide it.
Karis bro! So good!
Oh, you were on our team too.
Me and Siyoon hyung just chilled in the middle! Quiet! No bothering!
Heo Yubin grinned, red bean paste smeared around his mouth.
Yu Minha inhaled her ice cream no less fiercely, mumbling.
Nothing beats food after exercise! And its a win we all earned together, with such a sweet rewardmakes me so happy! Confirms again nevergiveup spirit is the truth!
...Yeah, eat up.
Even Karis von Walden seemed worn out by Yu Minhas nonstop chatter, offering no real reply.
Once the mango patbingsu was gone, a system alert popped.
Achievement Unlocked MiniGame Dominator
Reward 8 Skill Points granted.
Tugofwar win cleared the achievement.
I checked my skill points and caught my breath.
Just win the last game, and I can finally put this damn crown prince back to sleep.
But I had no idea the final event would turn into chaos beyond imagination.