Chapter 152: As Expected, Even Though I Made Him, He's the Best Protagonist.
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 152: As Expected, Even Though I Made Him, He's the Best Protagonist.
Before the Exchange Event began.
Kim Min-su and Chubby Ahn were putting their heads together, brainstorming.
"We need an impact."
"An impact?"
"Yeah, an impact."
At Kim Min-su's house.
Chubby Ahn and Min-su had a large sheet of paper spread out on the table, sketching out a plan in the form of a mind map.
"Since you've been absent, your image has probably taken a hit. Even if you are the Hero... it's the day of the joint training between Victory Academy and Rubenia Academy, after all..."
"Isn't it the Holy Kingdom of Rubenia?"
"The academy in that Holy Kingdom is also named Rubenia. Just keep up, will you?"
Why is he nitpicking the weirdest things?
Chubby Ahn muttered to himself as he continued writing the plan.
The most important thing was to win back public favor.
He flew off the handle and got into a fight in the hallway, then skipped the first day of joint training...
Until now, his Protagonist Share had been 100%, so he could get away with anything, but that was no longer the case.
At this rate, it wouldn't be surprising if he faced disciplinary action, like a suspension.
The only saving grace was that he still held a 60% Protagonist Share, meaning his image could be restored quickly.
"We need a powerful finishing move... The Exchange Event will be in full swing by the end of lunch... That's when the top tiers from Baek Tae-yang's side and Rubenia's side will definitely clash."
"So, I just need to step in then?"
"Yeah. But simply beating Rubenia's top tiers won't be enough..."
"Then what if I beat Baek Tae-yang?"
"Baek Tae-yang?"
Is he serious?
Chubby Ahn was deeply worried about how his face looked to Kim Min-su right now.
He couldn't let Min-su see his pupils shaking or his cheeks twitching—any sign of his anxiety.
And for good reason: Kim Min-su's track record against Baek Tae-yang was beyond pathetic; it was downright hopeless.
Total defeat.
A complete gap in skill where Min-su hadn't secured a single victory, or even a moment of advantage.
It was impressive that he could maintain his sanity and still think about fighting again after losing like that.
But willpower alone couldn't overcome everything.
Of course, it would be great if he won.
But he couldn't win right now.
Even with his Unicorn Awakening... Baek Tae-yang has his Demonization... No, wait.
Why don't I believe in Min-su?
He's the protagonist I created.
Chubby Ahn opened his eyes as wide as possible and looked at Min-su with a serious gaze.
His eyes were filled with both the question of whether Min-su could really do it and the firm trust that he could.
Kim Min-su responded with a vigorous nod.
"I know what you're thinking, but trust me this once. I'll definitely teach that Baek Tae-yang a lesson and claim the Saintess all for myself."
"Right... We didn't need a complicated plan. That's all it takes."
As expected, even though I made him, he's the best protagonist.
This is what it means to have the qualities of a Hero.
That bastard Baek Tae-yang wouldn't even be able to imagine something like this.
Chubby Ahn patted Kim Min-su on the shoulder a couple of times and left first.
Kim Min-su, the protagonist of his novel, had come up with a revolutionary plan the moment the word "impact" was mentioned.
Since the protagonist had made his decision, what use were the plans made so far?
Besides, I have insurance anyway.
However, there was one thing Chubby Ahn failed to properly consider.
The decisive reason why Baek Tae-yang couldn't imagine the same thing as Kim Min-su.
It wasn't because he was inferior to Min-su.
It was because he was competent enough to never let himself fall into a situation like Kim Min-su's in the first place.
Chubby Ahn remained unaware of this until the very end.
*
Kim Ji-hyuk was an exceptionally talented individual.
He had followed the "Elite Course" of Victory Academy: 1st-year Disciplinary Committee > 2nd-year Student Council > 3rd-year Student Vice President > 4th-year Student Council President.
Not only that, he was a perfect genius in every aspect, whether it was practical training or written exams.
However, he had always suffered from a sense of deficiency.
I am not a person who deserves this level of praise.
A mere talent of this level shouldn't be called a "genius."
In Kim Ji-hyuk's mind, a "genius" had to be a calamity, an existence that brought despair to others.
A power that crushed others' dreams from the roots, making them think, I can never be like that.
A destructive purity that didn't allow for admiration, only subservience.
That was Kim Ji-hyuk's definition of a genius, and he believed he fell far short of that mark.
Others might call it ungrateful whining, but he never saw it that way.
He will surely appear.
He had briefly held expectations for Kim Min-su, who had made a name for himself since the character education period.
But by the time he realized Kim Min-su grew stronger through effort, he had already looked away.
He definitely exists.
Perfection that exists from the moment of birth.
A person who would show him the path he should walk from a very close distance.
And then, after waiting so long, Baek Tae-yang appeared.
Brilliant talent, and a violence that plunges others into despair.
When he managed to obtain and watch the footage of the pre-Awakened Baek Tae-yang fighting a 5th-Grade Hunter.
Kim Ji-hyuk was certain.
Baek Tae-yang was the genius who would lead the next generation, someone beyond even the reach of admiration.
Because of this, Kim Ji-hyuk gave up his position as the student representative and secretly arranged for Baek Tae-yang to take that role.
He believed the face of Victory Academy shouldn't be a hero who leads everyone.
Dreaming of becoming a Hunter to protect people is madness.
How reckless is it to voluntarily wish for a profession where you throw your body into the jaws of death?
It was like deciding to commit suicide just because you admired a cool scene.
It shouldn't be like that.
If the face of Victory Academy, whom everyone looked up to...
Was strong enough to crush the dream of being a Hunter.
Then not everyone who Awakened would think about becoming a Hunter.
Just like right now.
Boom!
"Ah! Baek Tae-yang! It's like watching a massive bull! Heavy! And fierce!"
When Kim Min-su first appeared on the side of Rubenia Academy.
Kim Ji-hyuk instinctively looked toward the instructors.
It was like the instinct of an MC honed by years of hosting events.
—Ji-hyuk, you have to save him somehow.
Kim Ji-hyuk accurately read Instructor Kim Seok-gu's pathetic, silent plea.
He quickly asked Kim Min-su if he had stepped onto the stage to prove his worthiness as a Hero.
Kim Min-su nodded, saying that was exactly it.
The Saintess stood up and clapped in approval, and Kim Ji-hyuk didn't miss the opportunity to start the duel immediately.
The atmosphere could have frozen over, but he narrowly avoided it.
He didn't know why the Saintess liked it, but a win was a win.
After that, the proceedings were smooth.
"Ah! Cadet Kim Min-su! He's rolling on the floor! We won't even need to clean up after the Exchange Event!"
The duel was completely one-sided.
He's like a machine built specifically for fighting.
Baek Tae-yang was thoroughly pressuring Kim Min-su.
If Kim Min-su's lead foot overextended, Baek Tae-yang immediately struck his knee. If his core wavered, he instantly kicked his ankle to trip him.
He didn't stop there; he immediately aimed for Min-su's face by slamming his fist into the ground.
To avoid it, Kim Min-su had no choice but to roll across the floor.
"He needs to show the side of a Hero! Since he intruded so suddenly, he must prove himself through action! Cadet Kim Min-su!"
Using his core strength, Kim Min-su sprang up like a coil and regained his stance.
Less than two minutes had passed since the duel began, but looking at Kim Min-su's face, it seemed as if he had been fighting for three days and nights.
On the other hand, Baek Tae-yang looked as fresh and bright as someone who had just stepped out for a stroll.
As expected, the only face for Victory is Baek Tae-yang.
Only he could beat someone up while smiling so brightly and staying conscious of the camera.
Wait, camera?
The opening ceremony was over, so why was there a camera...
Kim Ji-hyuk hurriedly turned his gaze toward the camera.
A single camera, secretly turned on, was located in a truly unexpected place.
The Saintess is holding a camera?
Regardless of what the Pope might say, the Saintess was holding a camera and filming the Exchange Event.
He figured there must be a reason since it was the Saintess, but he couldn't help but wonder why she was filming this.
They weren't even using their abilities; it was a pure physical contest, so there was nothing to use as a reference.
"Oh, is it finally a counterattack? Cadet Kim Min-su lands a clean hit on Cadet Baek Tae-yang's face... Uh...?"
The so-called "Swoosh-Bam."
It was a recent combat slang term for 'swooshing' past an opponent's attack and then 'bamming' them with a clean hit.
Baek Tae-yang performed that movement perfectly, burying his fist into Kim Min-su's liver.
To think I'd see this in a match between Awakeners.
A counter-punch that could only be pulled off by predicting the opponent's movement.
Even for an Awakener with a trained body, it was a blow of unbearable power.
"Guh... ugh... huff...! Not yet...!"
But Kim Min-su did not give up.
Even if he had caused a scene in the hallway, skipped the joint training day, and trespassed as a representative for Rubenia.
Kim Min-su was an Indomitable Hero, and he would never give up.
"Go for it! Go for it, Mr. Hero~!"
Unlike Kim Min-su, who was losing miserably.
The Saintess was excitedly waving her camera and cheering him on.
What the...
Well, the atmosphere was good, so was it fine?
Kim Ji-hyuk decided to give up because there were too many things to nitpick.
Everyone was enjoying the match, so that was enough.
Just as he reached that conclusion and was about to pick up the microphone to continue his commentary.
"Huh?"
An intense light began to pour out from beneath Kim Min-su's feet.