Chapter 106
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 106
Chapter Title: Entangled (1)
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Monday morning.
No classes today.
Or rather, it was a day for make-up classes.
[Regular Ranking Match: 14th Rank Kang Seoyul VS 83rd Rank Gi Minseong]
Today was the day of my first ranking match in a while.
Seoyul. Good luck.
Seonjonim. We'll see you when you get back.
I'll be back in a flash.
I left the waiting room, sent off by Siyeon and Jia.
I couldnt remember the last time Id been to the Colosseum.
Many of the regular ranking matches had been canceled due to various incidents.
And unless it was my own match or a major one, I had no interest in watching, so I had no reason to come.
Hmm.
Walking the path to the Colosseum.
It felt strangely nostalgic.
Last time, I was the challenger. Now, being the one challenged felt strange.
From rank 498 to 14.
Id really worked hard.
I couldn't help but feel proud.
I passed through the tunnel and stepped into the brightly lit interior of the Colosseum.
Woooooah!
Kang Seoyul is so handsome!
The first thing I heard was the roar of the crowd. Among them, I could pick out a few familiar voices.
Final check on the cameras!
He's a top-tier prospect! Don't look away for a second!
I could also hear the heated voices of what looked like industry professionals mixed in.
At first, it was just burdensome, but now, it was kind of enjoyable. I recalled a celebrity once saying that attention and popularity were like an addictive drug.
Definitely... a strange feeling.
I chuckled and trudged toward the center of the Colosseum.
My opponent, who was already there, was staring me down with a tense expression.
It was obvious he was extremely nervous.
There was no desire for victory in his eyes, yet his expression was filled with some kind of resolve.
Aha.
*I probably can't win, but I need to make a good impression on the industry people here.*
*So that's what he's thinking.*
A logical assessment.
In reality, that student, Gi Minseong, would have a hard time beating me.
His stats were average for a C-rank, but that was it. As a textbook spearman, he was no match for me.
I could probably handle him easily with the Path of the Wind alone.
It's a rational thought, but
Its a very shallow one.
Theres no way he can perform well with a mindset thats already accepted defeat.
Both combatants, final equipment check.
As we took our positions, the instructor acting as referee spoke.
We briefly checked our sparring gear.
System check complete. Combatants, to your positions.
After the Colosseum's safety settings were fully checked, we moved into position.
The regular ranking match will now begin!
With the instructor's shout, a holographic message appeared in the center.
[Regular Ranking Match Start.]
[10]
*Alright, let's wrap this up quickly and go rest.*
I lightly drew the dagger hanging from my waist.
In that instant, the scenery around me changed.
The Path of the Wind unfolded.
A world felt not with the eyes, but with the wind.
In that world, I could feel Gi Minseong's weak fighting spirit.
As I thought, he had no intention of winning.
[9]
This would be it for today's classes.
There were more ranking matches scheduled for the afternoon, but attendance was optional, so I could just go back.
*I'll win this quick and go learn how to use magic from the princess.*
I lowered my center of gravity, preparing to charge.
It was then.
*Shudder-!*
A chill ran down my spine.
Goosebumps erupted all over my body.
My body trembled, and a cold sweat beaded on my forehead.
What is this?
It was as if the wind itself was wailing.
As if it were screaming at me to run, that I shouldn't be here.
[8, 7]
I felt something from the stands.
Something dark.
An unknown, formless terror seemed to take shape, becoming a tangible aura that bound me.
I turned my head.
[6]
...!
The moment I identified that dark something, the blood drained from my face.
The wind was screaming.
An overwhelming charisma.
A presence that made one want to fall to their knees.
A monster that seemed to be the very embodiment of such things.
I was certain.
There was no other being who could exude such an aura.
Unknown.
The leader of the Seekers of Truth, Unknown.
He was staring at the stands on the opposite side.
A smile on his face, as if nothing could be more amusing.
* * *
[5]
...Mr. Seoyul, what's wrong with him?
I'm not sure.
Meiden and Yuhwa, who had postponed their work to watch Kang Seoyul's ranking match in person, tilted their heads as they watched him looking away.
From where the two were sitting, they couldn't see Kang Seoyul's face since he had turned his head.
He was looking at the section of the stands exactly opposite from where Yuhwa and Meiden were.
But even without seeing his face, they could tell. Kang Seoyul was tense. The leisurely aura he always exuded was completely gone.
Is there something about his opponent?
I don't think so. From what I can see, he's just an ordinary rank 83 cadet.
That's what I thought.
To Meiden and Yuhwa, the 83rd-ranked Gi Minseong looked like a perfectly ordinary cadet. For *the* Kang Seoyul to be nervous in front of such an opponent?
It was unthinkable.
[1]
[Start!]
Before they could solve the mystery, the ranking match began.
His movements are good, though.
He effortlessly dodged Gi Minseong's fierce thrust, which came the moment the match started.
The epitome of simplicity.
A beautiful movement of one and a half steps.
Whoa.
Ooh.
Gasps of admiration erupted from all around.
A slash following a series of thrusts. An upward strike initiated from the slash.
He evaded them all as smoothly as flowing water.
The difference in skill was, to anyone watching, overwhelming.
Those are the seasoned movements of someone who's anything but a cadet.
Are you recording with the special camera? Calculate his speed.
We are. Based on his top speed, it's roughly D-rank.
...Are you sure?
Yes, I'm sure.
The jaws of the surrounding superhuman industry professionals were slowly dropping.
...That's unbelievable.
But with D-rank stats, he'll eventually hit a wall. There's a chance he won't be able to grow any further...
Voices tinged with half-baked jealousy could be heard here and there.
You fool. Two months ago, Kang Seoyul's physical stats were F-rank. That means he jumped two ranks in two months. And you're saying his growth has stopped? Don't be ridiculous.
There's also the possibility he used his bonus points early to get the highest possible price for himself, taking advantage of the attention he's getting...
Hmph. That's not possible.
The man scoffed.
Cadet Kang Seoyul's master is none other than Pi Jinho.
...You mean the Weapon Master's husband?
That's right. With that man as his master, there's no way he'd be allowed to do something so foolish. No, if Kang Seoyul didn't have potential in the first place, he wouldn't have been taken on as a student.
Watching Kang Seoyul's divine dagger skills, the man was filled with admiration.
Similar conversations were taking place all around.
...Why on earth is he so tense?
He lacks his usual sharpness.
However, Meiden and Yuhwa were different. Having observed Kang Seoyul's movements more closely than anyone, they could spot the subtle difference.
Is he not feeling well?
Maybe he caught a cold? Or maybe something happened in Gangneung...
Hmm. That could be it.
In Meiden and Yuhwa's eyes, Kang Seoyul's condition today seemed to be at its worst.
...Well, he's still so dominant that he'll probably win anyway.
Yes. His opponent is no match for him.
The two watched Kang Seoyul's movements closely.
He clearly lacked his usual composure and sharpness, but his precision was still there.
His movements were so fluid it was as if he were predicting his opponent's actions and moving in advance.
Just how much power is that kid hiding?
The more they watched, the more the disharmony between his stats and his technique stood out.
What kind of movements would Kang Seoyul be capable of if his stats matched the level of skill he was currently displaying? They couldn't even imagine.
...Well, he is strong enough to beat the Vermilion Bird on his own.
Just as Yuhwa muttered this, Kang Seoyul's movements changed.
Oh. His movements are back to normal.
They are, aren't they?
Composure returned to Kang Seoyul's movements. The already overwhelming tide of the battle began to turn even more swiftly in his favor.
About five minutes passed like that.
He won.
[WINNER Kang Seoyul]
There were no surprises.
* * *
Cadet Gi Minseong will be handled by the medical team. Cadet Kang Seoyul, you may return to the waiting room.
Yes, sir.
I gave a brief reply and turned my gaze back to the stands.
Unknown was already gone.
Sometime after the match began, the dark aura that had been suffocating me vanished. It must have been because Unknown had left his seat.
I took a deep breath, forcing my still-pounding heart to calm down.
...This is insane.
Why is Unknown showing up here?
No, more importantly, what was that aura?
How can anyone exude such an insane aura?
Of course, I was well aware of Unknown's strength.
The strongest in Part 1. An absolute being whose victory couldn't be guaranteed even if all seven executives of the Seekers of Truth attacked him at once.
That was Unknown.
I knew that, but.
Experiencing it secondhand through the novel's descriptions was one thing; facing it directly was another. It was a shock.
Not even a sliver of me thought I could win.
In fact, that was a given.
If I were to objectively evaluate my strength, I'd be around B to A-rank.
And that's only when using an Ancient Relic.
If I used a top-tier relic like Lucifer's Demonic Spear, I could probably achieve power comparable to an S-rank for a little over a minute.
But that's it.
Compared to Unknown's strength, it's a drop in the ocean.
And in the first place, one minute is far too short.
...
No, that's not what's important right now.
I knew from the beginning that I couldn't stand against Unknown at my current level.
The problem is *why* Unknown appeared here.
At first, I was flustered, thinking he might have come for me, but it didn't seem that way.
...The opposite side of the stands.
Unknown was definitely looking at the section of the stands directly opposite from where he was.
I recalled where Unknown had been looking and gazed at that section.
...!
Meiden and Yuhwa were looking at me with peculiar expressions.
No way.
In that moment, Hermit's words came to mind.
What he'd said about the Seekers of Truth's current target being Yuhwa.
Could it be that Unknown himself made a move to capture Yuhwa?
My eyes trembled uncontrollably.
* * *
I rushed out of the waiting room and contacted Meiden.
[I saw you in the stands. Where are you now?]
The reply came immediately.
[We're at Starbeans. Why?]
Starbeans that was the coffee shop near the Colosseum. I kept texting as I ran.
[I'm on my way.]
[You're coming? We were about to leave.]
[Just wanted to see you for a sec.]
Thankfully, nothing seemed to have happened yet. It seemed that even Unknown had no intention of causing a scene in the middle of the city.
[Ooooh. Since when did our little kid get so considerate?]
[Hey. Aren't I the icon of consideration?]
[Bullshit.]
Even as I sent the playful text, my face was set like stone.
Just the thought that Unknown was in this area made fear surge through me.
My pace quickened.
[Anyway, got it. And bring an ice cream bar on your way.]
I was about to text back.
*Thump-*
Ah!
Oof.
Id bumped into someone. I was in such a hurry that I hadnt been watching where I was going.
I'm sorry.
I bowed my head first. A man with a hood and cap pulled down low gave a friendly smile.
He had his cap pulled down so far I couldn't see anything above his nose.
I should be the one apologizing. Ah.
The man picked up my smartphone, which had fallen to the ground, and handed it to me.
Here. You dropped this.
The man looked up, met my eyes directly, and smiled faintly.
...!
The moment I saw the man's face, my body froze solid.
A lifeless gaze hidden behind a friendly smile.
Dark eyes that seemed to peer into the depths of my soul.
You're Cadet Kang Seoyul, right? I enjoyed your ranking match just now.
My heart pounded violently against my ribs.
Your skills are quite impressive. Haha.
Whether he knew my face didn't matter.
The man whose sinister aura, so potent it could be called evil itself, served as his identification.
Whose power was immeasurable.
UNKNOWN was looking at me and smiling.