Chapter 69
Chapter 69
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 69
Chapter Title: Duel with the Influencer
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While I was spending intense time training with Jeong No-hun, Han Sang-ah kept up her own workouts while handling all sorts of preparations. And this afternoon, at the event she'd set up, I'd be sparring with So Hwi.
"You okay? Must've been pretty tough getting everything ready."
Han Sang-ah brushed it off with a casual look.
"Until I was fifteen, I was being groomed as the heir to take over Geumyang Group. Putting together a simple event like this is nothing."
Lucky her. Probably had private tutors and everything.
"How's the public reacting?"
"So Hwi's a pretty well-known influencer. And his opponent? That's you—the guy who's been grabbing all the attention lately."
Yoo Seo-eun set down the tablet in her hand and chimed in.
"Tons of companies want to run ads, and interest levels are sky-high. Oh, and we got a call from Geumyang Group too."
"If you're good with it, so am I."
Who'd turn down free money, especially when it's basically them duplicating my cash?
"Just so you know, I quoted them a slightly lower price than the other companies."
Going for that family connection perk, huh? No big deal. I hadn't even expected to make money like this anyway.
As long as it generates enough buzz, taking a bit less is fine.
"But even at a discount compared to others, if they advertise, someone might complain about favoritism."
"You've been getting regular shipments of elixirs from Geumyang Group, right? They're cheap knockoffs, but the volume's huge. Factor that in, and no one should have real gripes."
"Really?"
Han Sang-ah replied to my question.
"More precisely, they won't be able to raise any formal objections."
Anyway, Han Sang-ah handled everything perfectly. We pulled off the whole setup without spending a dime, loaded with sponsorships.
Even the car taking me to the venue was sponsored, and the drinks inside were too.
"Money ghost. Bet Chairman Han Sang-cheol was pretty bummed when you said you wanted to be a hunter."
"Grandpa doesn't cling to investments without returns."
We chatted like that as Han Sang-ah, Jeong No-hun, and I rode to the venue.
"Damn, nice ride."
Jeong No-hun let out a quiet whistle, then looked at me.
"But seriously, Chan-seok, you sure it's cool to take it easy today?"
"Yeah."
Jeong No-hun's body was at its limit now. He needed a full day off. I wasn't tormenting him for no reason—I was training him.
If his condition worsened from training, it wouldn't be training at all.
"Just kick back today, munch on the free food and drinks, and do nothing."
I finished and stared at him seriously, adding,
"I'm dead serious. Don't sneak in extra sessions later. You'll just wreck yourself."
"Got it. You think I'm some training maniac like you or Sang-ah?"
I shot back,
"I told you to sleep last night. But this morning, ten trays of eggs were gone."
"I was hungry, so I boiled 'em, you punk."
Jeong No-hun answered, glanced out the window, then muttered, damn it.
"Fine, I won't. Why's your nagging worse than my mom's?"
"Yoo Chan-seok's a guy, so shouldn't it be 'Dad'?"
Jeong No-hun scowled at Han Sang-ah, then sighed in exasperation.
◁◁ Come to my channel for 30k sebets (negotiable Mon-Sun), no sub needed—everyone gets it!
Not a scam, try it first. Tons have already claimed.
Filtering out the nonsense from the nonstop chat flood, about sixty percent of viewers were betting on Yoo Chan-seok's win, while the other forty were rooting for So Hwi.
Truth be told, a lot of So Hwi's supporters seemed to just want Yoo Chan-seok to slip up this time.
"…."
So Hwi clenched his jaw, scanning the vibe through his smartphone. His fans didn't really think he'd win.
They were just contrarians, cheering the underdog because everyone else was on Yoo Chan-seok. Classic underdog effect.
"Why me."
So Hwi didn't love being the underdog after years as a hunter. He pulled a vial from his pocket, stared at it, and took a deep breath.
The spar would go five rounds. Not best of five—just five straight matches.
"Just once."
Win even one, and it'd be enough. Being the underdog meant the crowd would be lenient with him and harsh on Yoo Chan-seok.
One loss for Yoo Chan-seok, and the backlash would hit hard. So Hwi could recover all the damage from his last video—and prevent future hits.
"Hunter So Hwi, ready?"
The waiting room door opened, and a staffer called him. Showtime. So Hwi pocketed the vial and stood.
"Whoa, first time seeing you in person, I think."
On stage, the guy opposite greeted him—sort of. Yoo Chan-seok.
Black racing-suit-like gear, spear slung over his shoulder, eyeing So Hwi with the calm of someone who'd already won.
"So Hwi."
"Yoo Chan-seok."
Yoo Chan-seok scanned him up and down. So Hwi did the same. No overwhelming power. Yoo Chan-seok's mana felt... modest.
'About a fifth.'
Impressive for less than a year as a hunter. But raiding Bratsk's fridge solo with Han Sang-ah on that mana alone?
'No way.'
He could handle it. Hell, maybe dominate. Confidence swelled in So Hwi.
"Dual blades, huh."
So Hwi crossed his drawn swords in an X, staring down Yoo Chan-seok.
"Hope you're at least half as good as the hype."
He taunted boldly. Yoo Chan-seok spun his spear once, saying nothing.
The first round began. The second the signal ended, So Hwi charged fiercely.
Yoo Chan-seok's spear shrank from full length to shortsword size.
'Hah, gimmick gear.'
So Hwi slashed with whirlwind dual blades. Full power every instant. Mana-infused body transcended mind, driven by instinct and fury.
'This is it!'
Two years off, but his hunter days reignited his edge. Like a dormant engine shedding rust, roaring back to life.
So Hwi had seen Yoo Chan-seok's videos sparring applicants after his Grade 1 raid presser. For some reason, his mana never dropped.
'Then I end it while my mana pool's bigger.'
Years of experience guided his body unconsciously.
Watching it all, Han Sang-ah spoke up.
"So Hwi's gonna lose."
"Yup."
Jeong No-hun munched popcorn, eyes gleaming. Han Sang-ah casually snatched some.
"Hey, that's mine."
"I got it sponsored."
Jeong No-hun shut up and refocused. Seemed like Yoo Chan-seok was on the defensive. But no. After nights of beatings, Jeong No-hun had reached the state Yoo Chan-seok wanted.
Pulling unconscious experience into conscious control.
'Yoo Chan-seok's way works.'
Totally different view now. Pre-sparring, he might've picked So Hwi.
Unconscious moves can't match deliberate control.
Blue trails lingered on Yoo Chan-seok's spear path. Quadruple Spear, was it? The trails repeated attacks along their arcs.
"Insidiously clever."
"I still can't break it."
Han Sang-ah replied curtly to Jeong No-hun. Those trails weren't random. So Hwi's typhoon assault slowed, crushed by them.
Like an anaconda hunt. You wake up coiled, squeezed, swallowed whole, digested over time.
"Strategy's sound. To beat Chan-seok, hit him hard while your mana's ahead."
"If that worked, he'd have lost to me ages ago."
Han Sang-ah's icy line. Only way to beat Yoo Chan-seok, really. Endless mana or not, pool sizes differed.
Strike while you have more—but he never let it end there or yield momentum.
"Even Lee Se-eun took forever to seize initiative from him."
So Hwi wasn't that level, and his mana wasn't massive like hers. If So Hwi's was a candle, Lee Se-eun's was summer asphalt-melting sun.
Nothing would. That's how Yoo Chan-seok fought. Han Sang-ah and Jeong No-hun thought it simultaneously.
So Hwi's 30-minute gale assault slowed. More like... suppressed.
"Aw man."
Jeong No-hun sighed pityingly. Over. Yoo Chan-seok had crushed So Hwi's momentum. As the offense waned, he went on the attack.
Spear flashed three, four times. Floating blue trails struck too. Seconds later, So Hwi took nearly ten hits and dropped to his knees.
"He won't even know what hit him."
Jeong No-hun nodded at Han Sang-ah's words. Popcorn forgotten.
No way to see it. Obsessed with his own frenzy, hot blood and twitching muscles carrying him wild.
So Hwi snapped to kneeling on the ground. Jeong No-hun and Han Sang-ah could guess his thoughts.
'I was winning?'
Kneeling, So Hwi coughed, spat blood, clenched fists. He'd hammered nonstop; Yoo Chan-seok looked shaky on defense.
Then suddenly lost. Him down, Yoo Chan-seok standing.
'What? What's happening?'
So Hwi glared at the floor in disbelief. Yoo Chan-seok, looking down, had zero advice to give. Why would he?
"Phew, close call."
Instead, he muttered that, igniting So Hwi's resolve for next time. Pure evil—like a card shark stripping a mark bare.