Chapter 112: Omen
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 112: Omen
"Was Gladire today?"
"Yes, that is correct, Miss."
"Stop calling me 'Miss.' It’s not like I’m Melanie or something."
I don't really enjoy being called that.
After saying those words, Yu-min stretched lightly and checked her outfit.
She wore jeans that were easy to move in yet stylish, paired with a white off-the-shoulder crop top that perfectly suited the weather.
A white headband completed the look, coordinating perfectly with her red hair and top.
It was, as always, the quintessential 'girlfriend look' for someone going to cheer on her boyfriend's match.
After checking herself in the full-length mirror one more time, she checked the start time for Gladire.
There was still time left before the event began, so she could have left a bit early to see Baek Tae-yang, but...
‘A woman like that might be considered a nuisance.’
With other women popping up around him one by one, there was no reason to get on his bad side.
In fact, at times like this, it was better to wait for the other girls to make a mistake and then strike when she found an opening.
Even so, I’m still the cheetah here.
So Yu-min reached that pleasant conclusion and climbed into the car.
"Shall we depart immediately?"
"No, let's wait a bit. Let's head out in about twenty minutes."
"Understood."
A packed lunch and a water bottle prepared right after the preliminaries end, followed by one deep hug!
With that, Tae-yang will definitely fall head over heels for me.
"It is time. We shall depart now, Miss."
"Yes, thank you."
"It is my pleasure. Let us go."
Yu-min tapped her feet in excitement, lost in her happy imagination.
*
At the same time.
Melanie's house.
"Don't men... you know, like it when you give them something like a handmade lunch?"
"That is true, but no matter how I look at it, this is a bit..."
"...I was taught that it's basic manners to eat it with a smile, no matter how bad it tastes."
"That may be so... but how on earth did you manage to burn the inside of the tonkatsu, Miss...?"
It was all well and good that she had woken up early in the morning to prepare a cheering lunch for Baek Tae-yang, but the result was a total disaster.
Rice that had become a thick porridge because she failed to measure the water, tonkatsu that was charred to the core, and lemonade that had become nothing but sour water because the proportions were all wrong.
No matter how much affection was poured into it, there are limits to what a human being can consume.
The butler, seeing Melanie's disastrous results, simply couldn't bring himself to say anything sweet.
"...I've been busy with corporate affairs! I didn't have time to learn how to cook!"
"Then you should have let the chef do it..."
"I wanted it to be handmade."
"You should have at least called for the chef's help..."
"I wanted to make it in secret..."
"...How about we try making it again, Miss? If I help you a little, it won't take long."
"...If the butler goes that far... then I'll do it..."
The butler clenched his fist inwardly and guided Melanie back to the kitchen.
‘Our young lady shall become the main wife.’
Fram Favoris, 56 years old.
A man who knew Baek Tae-yang's popularity better than anyone.
Today, he was working harder than anyone else to secure Melanie's position as the official partner.
*
Finally, right in front of the Gladire arena.
A woman stood there, dressed in a fluttering dress that automatically brought to mind a spring maiden, paired with a chick-yellow cardigan.
Yoo Su-jin was double-checking the various items she had prepared for Baek Tae-yang.
‘This... is for when Tae-yang gets worked up, just in case... and this is...’
The lunchbox was a given, but she had even prepared special underwear and costumes for any potential situation.
When it came to cheering him on, she was confident she wouldn't lose to anyone.
So what if Baek Tae-yang was in the news with various women or if something was going on between them?
In the end, the only person who would remain by his side was her.
‘That hickey... I let it slide back then, but I need to find out for sure.’
Exactly who left such a deep mark of saliva on her property.
Su-jin made a firm resolve and stepped into the Gladire arena.
+++++++++++++++++++++++
Since the preliminaries have concluded to a certain extent, we will take a short break. Participants, please feel free to rest!
'That was straightforward.'
I thought there might be some side stories unfolding, but nothing of the sort existed.
Only combat.
The non-stop clashes kept pushing people to their limits.
As the ground shifted, if it touched the ground an opponent was standing on, a field would instantly manifest, and a battle would take place there.
Since this repeated until the announcement came out, it meant we had been fighting continuous matches for a good three or four hours.
'Most hunters wouldn't even be able to endure this.'
First, the indiscriminate combat during the selection process.
Second, the unlimited continuous combat in the preliminaries.
Even for hunters with enhanced bodies, these were two events that would push anyone to their physical breaking point.
In fact, there were very few hunters currently catching their breath in a composed manner.
'Kim Min-su and I... and maybe those Noble members I saw back then.'
The faces of the championship candidates that Jang Du-cheol had shown me a while ago.
I had only caught a glimpse, but I remembered their faces clearly.
'They match exactly with the guys who didn't look flustered when they heard about the championship candidates and the selection process.'
This couldn't be a coincidence.
It was easier to assume that everyone among the top candidates, except for me and Kim Min-su, were members of Noble.
A situation where everyone except me was essentially an enemy.
Not that I felt particularly pressured.
I hadn't used Demonization yet, and I hadn't even gripped the Club of Greed in my hands.
I was told to hide about thirty percent of my strength to keep a trump card, but I was currently hiding closer to seventy percent.
The confidence that I’d be fine no matter what came my way.
Relying on that alone, I stood up from my seat.
Knowing that Noble members were crawling all over the place, it was impossible to rest easy.
It would have been nice to have at least one person I could trust nearby.
But as the saying goes, you can't find a cure when you need it most—I looked around to approach Min-su, but he was nowhere to be seen.
Where did that guy go? He wouldn't have just vanished into thin air, and there's no way he got eliminated here.
Since the rules allowed free movement during the break, I decided to go look for him.
Whether I stayed still or moved around, my back was equally exposed anyway.
'But isn't it getting darker?'
It might have been my imagination, but the Gate felt a bit darker than when the selection matches first started.
Since it was an artificial Gate, they should be able to control things like the weather at will. Was this intentional?
Ah, ah! Since there are many participants who have sustained minor injuries before the main tournament, we will allow you to exit the Gate to rest.
Why the sudden change of heart? Earlier, they told us to just rest comfortably inside the Gate.
Still, there was no downside to going out.
In fact, staying inside with those Noble bastards was more dangerous.
'Kim Min-su will be fine regardless of where he goes.'
Whether he was among Noble or not, Min-su was the protagonist, so there was no need to worry about him getting into serious trouble.
In times like this, it was quite convenient that Min-su was the protagonist.
Blare! Blare!
—The participants are now coming out of the Gate after finishing the preliminaries!
—Ah, it was truly incredible! Those repeated bouts and fierce battles! Even I wanted to keep watching.
—In particular, Hunter Baek Tae-yang's combat ability using that weapon case was phenomenal.
—To show such power without even properly swinging a weapon yet... He hasn't even deployed it, right?
—He is a hunter with a lot of expectations on him. Even though he hasn't even graduated from the academy yet!
The fanfare announcing the completion of the preliminaries and the conversation between the commentator and the caster echoed throughout the stadium.
Having praise plastered all over my face so blatantly made even someone as thick-skinned as me feel embarrassed.
It was even more so because it's rare for strangers to give such direct, high praise, unlike people you know.
'Now, where should I rest...'
I tried to find a place to rest, but nothing suitable came to mind.
From the moment I realized Noble was everywhere, I couldn't feel at ease.
Seriously, what is Kim Min-su doing at a time like this that he’s nowhere to be found?
"No, why would I come to cheer for you? Delusion is free, but keep it within limits!"
"No, but no matter how I look at it, there's... no one else here but me..."
"Tae-yang is here!"
"Eh...?"
A familiar voice and a tone that suggested someone was counting their chickens way before they hatched.
What, he was out here before me?
Just how much information does he have?
It seemed Kim Min-su had been outside the Gate even before the announcement was made.
Otherwise, he couldn't have been spouting such nonsense so quickly.
"Hey, Kim Min-su. Do you still want to do something with Melanie that badly?"
"Tae-yang!"
"Baek Tae-yang? You're out?"
"Yeah, step aside for a second."
I placed my hand on Kim Min-su's shoulder and pushed him back firmly.
After moving Min-su far enough away that I could stop him if he suddenly lunged at Melanie, I looked at her.
"Did you come to cheer for me? All the first-years should be in school. You skipped all that?"
"Hah! Please... I just came to monitor whether you're tarnishing Victory's honor or not, okay?"
"Oh, really...? For someone who says that, you're dressed quite nicely."
I walked slowly with Melanie, sharing trivial conversation.
If things continued like this, I’d be able to rest peacefully while also restricting Min-su's actions.
'This is perfect.'
I thought it was the best possible situation.
That is, until two more voices were heard in succession a few seconds later.
"Tae-yang, I came here to cheer for you, so wouldn't it be better to come over to where I am?"
"I'll take it from here as your senior, so I think you two should head back to the academy."
Not just Melanie, but Yu-min and Su-jin as well.
'This is the worst-case scenario.'
The tigresses who should never meet had all appeared in one place.
There was no way out.
'I have to keep my head straight.'
I must never let them find out I'm building a harem.