Chapter 108: So, I Just Have to Win Here?
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 108: So, I Just Have to Win Here?
The lowest floor of the building where the Noble Party had been held.
There stood a magnificent stage and a podium, created for the sake of a single person.
Before that podium, countless people were kneeling, listening to the words of the man standing above them.
"I have called you all here today to discuss something very important."
He had a double chin and sagging cheeks that even a mask couldn't hide.
He looked like a poorly drawn SD character brought to life in high definition.
This was the leader of Noble, the author of Academy Pure Love Diary, and the man known as The Devil Chaos Ultra King—Chubby Ahn.
"...What are we gathered for today?"
"No idea."
"I just hope he didn't call us here because he wants to be called by some 'cool' nickname again, like last time."
"Ugh, that was truly horrific. We had to keep calling him 'The Devil Ultra Chaos King' until he was satisfied."
"And this is during the time we should be stealing even one more skill because of Gladire..."
Noble had been busy lately.
They had to pick out the weak among the late-blooming Awakeners and pluck away their delicious sub-skills, and they had to distribute bribes to various officials to prepare for Gladire.
Even during the Noble Party, they had to pull high-ranking Gladire officials into private rooms and lobby them until their bones ached.
I personally can't stand songs like 'The Accompanying Train.'
From 'The Bumblebee' to 'The Accompanying Train' and even 'V-Line.'
They had been working hard to entertain, memorizing the lyrics and choreography of trot songs that weren't even to their taste.
But because that fat guy on the podium had suddenly ended the party in a hurry, the contracts hadn't been properly finalized.
It was fine that he possessed immense power, mysterious wealth, and unknown connections.
The problem was that he always messed up at the most critical moments.
If it weren't for that Steal skill.
This wasn't just an individual grievance; it was a sentiment shared by all of Noble.
Only the fear that their own skills might be taken and the desire to grow stronger by stealing the skills of others kept them in check.
These two factors suppressed all dissatisfaction and forced them to obey the man on the podium.
"Our hero, the Indomitable Hero! Kim Min-su is said to be participating in Gladire. If you look closely... well, showing you directly will be faster than me explaining it a hundred times. I believe they call this 'seeing is believing-ish,' right? Hehehe."
Click.
Chubby Ahn operated the beam projector while spouting nonsense.
As the white screen gradually lit up, an interview video began to play.
—So, you're saying that Hunter Baek Tae-yang and Cadet Kim Min-su have applied for Gladire?
—Yes, that's correct.
—Doesn't cadet status disqualify one from participating in Gladire?
—There have been many questions regarding that. What exactly is it that separates a cadet from a hunter? Age? Graduating from the Academy? The number of Gate clears? I don't think it's any of those.
—Then what is it?
On the screen, Baek Tae-yang and Kim Min-su sat side by side, each holding a microphone and taking questions from reporters.
Most reporters directed their questions at Baek Tae-yang, constantly demanding answers.
The last question posed by a reporter was a particularly sensitive issue, causing a brief silence to fall over the room.
What was the standard that divided a hunter and a cadet?
It was a topic that provoked many thoughts.
Even if they attended the same Academy, Baek Tae-yang was called a hunter, while Kim Min-su was called a cadet.
What exactly caused this difference?
—It's skill.
—Pardon?
It was the answer everyone knew but only thought to themselves.
An answer that, if spoken aloud, was bound to cause great controversy.
Baek Tae-yang spoke it without hesitation, maintaining a confident posture.
He even glared back at the reporters with a look that asked what was wrong with telling the truth.
—I believe the standard for hunters and cadets is skill. In fact, I am called a hunter by many and possess proven skills. Kim Min-su, who is sitting next to me, might soon be called the same. Therefore, I declare here and now: Kim Min-su and I will participate in Gladire not as cadets, but with the status of hunters.
Flash! Flash!
Thousands of camera flashes went off.
Baek Tae-yang smiled confidently into the cameras, while Min-su winced, unable to withstand the blinding light.
—Ugh, the flashes...
—Oh, right! Cadet Kim Min-su! May I ask you one thing?
—Yes, yes! Please, feel free to ask anything!
As Baek Tae-yang's ambitions were revealed and the heated topic drew to a close, a reporter called out to Min-su.
Min-su's face brightened at the rare question, and he opened his mouth to speak.
—Oh, that's a relief. By any chance, are you aware of the rumor circulating on the internet that Kim Min-su went to an adult shop recently?
—Pardon?
—...?
Everyone except the reporter who asked the question was taken aback.
Wait, you're saying that here?
Their expressions said it all, but no one stopped or scolded the reporter.
It simply seemed far more entertaining that way.
—A post was uploaded by someone claiming to be a part-timer at an adult shop, even providing verification... Have you not seen it?
—No, this is the first I've heard of it...
—Ah, that's a relief. So it wasn't true after all. According to the post, a kid who looked like Kim Min-su came in, asked about various things, and then looked for small-sized condoms... Furthermore, it said he started ranting impulsively, began muttering to himself, and then laughed strangely... I suppose it really was just a rumor. Thank you.
With every word the reporter spoke, Min-su's face grew paler and paler.
—Ah... well... uh... yes, yes... I've really never heard...
He couldn't even answer properly, creating a volatile situation where he fell under everyone's suspicion.
Baek Tae-yang had initially intended to just watch, but realizing the gravity of the situation, he quickly spoke up.
—I believe I said we wouldn't be taking personal questions. Even if it's a rumor, I think you've crossed the line. With that, we will conclude the press conference here.
Baek Tae-yang hurriedly ended the press conference and grabbed Kim Min-su by the scruff of the neck to lead him away.
The video ended with that scene.
"What does this situation look like to you?"
"Are you referring to the matter of Kim Min-su's small condoms?"
"SILENCE!!! That's not it! That's not what I mean! The truly important thing is that those two are participating in Gladire!"
As if we didn't know that.
It was a fact everyone already knew because they had all watched the interview video as soon as it was uploaded, long before Chubby Ahn spoke.
Well, I guess since he's not in the group chat, he might think we don't know.
The other Noble members, excluding Chubby Ahn, nodded inwardly.
Power and authority were all well and good, but they really didn't want to add him to the group chat.
Even if he was the leader of Noble.
"I didn't call you here to fix the matches. I just thought... it wouldn't be a bad idea to find a way to discreetly give Min-su a few of the skills we've stolen... That is the main point. And naturally, Baek Tae-yang must be eliminated. If necessary, I will authorize the use of the 'last resort' in advance. You must prevent him from winning at all costs."
"Did you say the 'last resort'?"
"...? Ah, yes. That's right."
"...Understood."
Is Baek Tae-yang so threatening that we have to use 'that'?
It was originally something prepared to deal with the likes of Cheon Hae-il or Jang Du-cheol.
Why does he evaluate Baek Tae-yang so highly?
Clearing an S-Class Gate as a cadet? Sure, it was an impressive feat worthy of praise.
But no matter how much he flew or crawled, a cadet was still a cadet.
Non-Awakeners might worship him, but when evaluated objectively within the hunter world, he was at best somewhere between 3rd and 2nd Grade.
Did he really think a green rookie could show off in Gladire?
Even if the kid was amazing, it was undoubtedly all thanks to his main skill.
Gladire isn't about hunting monsters.
To win Gladire, one ultimately had to triumph in duels against other hunters.
And in those duels, holders of always-active main skills were forced to take a penalty.
He'll never be able to win.
There was a rule that holders of always-active main skills could not activate their main skills during clashes between hunters to minimize damage.
This rule was the very reason why Baek Tae-yang could never win.
"Give strength to Kim Min-su! Give despair to Baek Tae-yang! Let him know that no matter how much he struggles, there is a wall he cannot overcome! And track down the person who posted the rumor about Min-su, tell them to delete it, and give them a stern warning! Because that definitely isn't true!"
While Chubby Ahn delivered his passionate speech, the rest of the Noble members were busy tapping away on their phones.
[Noble Group Chat]
< Since we shouldn't mess with things beforehand, wait until the day of the Gladire tournament.
< It might be good to approach Kim Min-su instead of Baek Tae-yang in advance.
< Lay low with the Skill Hunter activities for a while. It'll look suspicious if you suddenly get stronger after submitting the Gladire application.
< We'll restart everything on the day of Gladire.
Understood. Everything for the Royal Road.
< For the Royal Road.
< For the Royal Road.
The Noble group chat without Chubby Ahn.
Noble's execution plans were always made where the leader was absent.
*
The day of the Gladire tournament.
Despite it being the preliminaries, a massive crowd had gathered, creating a sea of people.
"There are a lot of people."
That was my first impression upon seeing the massive stadium and the surrounding crowd.
So, I just have to win here?
With a deep smirk, I entered the stadium.
The Gladire preliminaries had begun.