611

 [Chapter 163]

[Demon of Fireworks]

Morning of the 5th day of the cultural festival.

The 5th day of the cultural festival, which only runs in the morning, was essentially a day for students to clean up their booths.

In fact, there weren't many booths operating on this day.

Booths were being dismantled in various places except for those set up around the lake.

Nevertheless─.

"─Did you hear? They say <Yama > came here to give a lecture recently."

"Ah, that makes sense. The academy invites one of the Twelve Zodiac for a lecture every year around this time. But so what?"

"I heard the lecture hall was a mess. Apparently, that <Yama > guy taught magic for fighting without feeling pain even if your arm gets cut off, and methods to never close your eyes in any situation."

"...That's just like <Yama >. He must have gotten cursed out."

"But I heard that while he did get cursed out, it was surprisingly well-received. Grit theory? It seems some people liked <Yama >'s philosophy."

"Ugh... That guy is the source of a plague. He should just make his own clan like that, why is he trying to turn academy students into fools too..."

The number of people didn't decrease much even on the 5th day of the cultural festival.

It was the first time in academy history that so many people gathered on the 5th day of the cultural festival.

"Huh... I guess we can think all the famous people have come here. Why did they come here?"

"It means today's match is receiving a lot of expectations."

Twelve Zodiac <Yama > Kang Hyun-chul.

And <Quick-witted > Noh Eun-ha.

It was a match between a representative of 2nd generation players and a representative of 3rd generation players.

The match between the two was being conducted under the supervision of the Mana Management Organization and the academy.

The largest arena in the academy was filled to capacity with many people.

"How many S-rank players are there..."

"If all the people here joined forces, taking back Uijeongbu wouldn't be just a dream, right?"

"It seems the clan lords of S-rank clans have participated en masse too."

On this day, notable players were appearing one after another in the arena.

People watching the VVIP spectator seats couldn't help but open their mouths seeing the seats being filled as time passed.

"The person sitting over there is Gu Yeon-su, clan lord of Regulus Clan..."

"The person sitting opposite is Kim Yu-jin, clan lord of Silla Clan."

"Tempest Clan came out too."

Exactly at 4 o'clock from where they were sitting.

Regulus Clan Lord Gu Yeon-su was seated along with 3 of the Seven Lions.

And at 8 o'clock, Silla Clan Lord Kim Yu-jin appeared with 4 of the Six Stars.

Also at the same time, at 12 o'clock, Tempest Clan Lord Kang Ye-hee appeared along with 3 of the Five Fierce Birds.

Furthermore─.

"─It's KK Clan's procession."

"Their momentum is amazing. Are they making an entrance while blocking the way?"

2 o'clock direction.

One of KK Clan's sub-lords and 3 of the Seven Great Tigers appeared majestically, receiving people's gazes.

"The clan lord isn't visible there."

"He's one of the Twelve Zodiac. He's probably busy so he didn't come. <Beast Tamer> isn't someone with free time..."

"Then what about the other Twelve Zodiac?"

"What other Twelve Zodiac?"

"Look over there."

The appearance of prestigious players didn't end there.

This was just the beginning.

People widened their eyes seeing a man appearing at the entrance in the 10 o'clock direction.

"─To think <First Sword> himself would come from Zenith Clan..."

The appearance of Zenith Clan Lord and Twelve Zodiac <First Sword> Ji Yong-hyun.

Soon 2 of the Five Swords and several players appeared following him.

And starting with him─.

"─Huh... What is this. What is there to see here that such busy people are all appearing like this?"

3 o'clock direction.

The appearance of <Phantom Vision> Do Wan-jun who serves as Myeongwang Clan Lord while also being one of the Twelve Zodiac, along with 2 of the Five Spirits.

11 o'clock direction.

The appearance of Blaze Clan's sub-lord and administrator along with all eight of the Eight Jades.

Finally─.

"─Even <Holy Mother> has graced us with her presence."

Twelve Zodiac <Holy Mother> Park Hye-rim showed her face accompanied by <Fairy > Noh Eun-ah.

She headed towards the VIP seats rather than the VVIP seats where Regulus Clan members were seated, perhaps having taken a vacation.

"Just how many of the Twelve Zodiac are there..."

Adding Twelve Zodiac <Yama > Kang Hyun-chul who will be participating in today's match.

On this day, 4 of the Twelve Zodiac would be appearing in the arena.

People couldn't help but be excited.

☆

Eun-ah, who took a vacation for this day, turned her head as soon as she sat down.

"Unni, the clan lord is over there, wouldn't it be better to watch from there?"

Eun-ha's match was about to start soon.

The opponent was <Yama >, who was regarded almost like a slayer in the player industry.

So she couldn't help but worry about Eun-ha.

No matter how strong Eun-ha was, <Yama > was an opponent that absolutely shouldn't be messed with.

That's why she wanted to sit in a seat where she could jump into the arena at any time in case Eun-ha got hurt.

Like the VVIP seats of Regulus Clan right below.

But Park Hye-rim said─.

"─Do you want to deal with those high-ranking people for no reason if you sit there?"

"Ah..."

"Look around the clan lord. They're all senior people, do you think you can focus on the match while dealing with them, Eun-ah?"

"I think Hye-rim unni is right. I should cheer for Eun-ha from here."

There was nothing wrong with Park Hye-rim's words.

Noh Eun-ah nodded vigorously. Thinking about it, this seat was also one she could jump down from anytime if a problem occurred.

"And what you're worried about probably won't happen, Eun-ah. I heard the academy has taken various measures for today's match."

"Will it really be like that? If it's like what unni told me before, I thought 'probably' doesn't apply to <Yama > sunbae..."

"If that person has any sense, he'll probably restrain himself? Probably..."

Noh Eun-ah's question.

Park Hye-rim tried to avoid answering while smiling awkwardly.

Actually, she couldn't give a definite answer either.

There was a reason she came here even using her vacation.

Because she desperately hoped nothing would happen.

While also unconsciously recognizing that it was unlikely.

─Something will definitely happen.

With what this guy does, it can't end peacefully.

She couldn't say it to Eun-ah.

But in fact, Park Hye-rim came here to prevent what Kang Hyun-chul might do in advance.

How much is this guy lowering the status of the Twelve Zodiac?

I have to stop it from falling any further somehow.

Even though the match hadn't even started.

Park Hye-rim was already tense.

She sighed secretly from Eun-ah.

It was then.

"─Oh my. Isn't this Eun-ah?"

"...Yes? Oh? Summer unni!"

She was going to quietly wait for the match.

Suddenly someone sat in the seat next to her and spoke to Eun-ah.

Park Hye-rim observed Eun-ah's reaction and turned her head to the woman sitting next to her.

"Unni, it's been so long! Have you been well? You're not sick anymore, right? How long has it been?"

"Yeah, how long has it been? Did you come to watch today's match too?"

"Yes! The person competing in today's match is my younger brother. You know him too, right? Noh Eun-ha."

"Of course I know. That's why I came to see how he fights against one of the Twelve Zodiac."

The woman who introduced herself as Bom-yeoreum.

Park Hye-rim blankly stared at the woman wearing a hat and glasses chattering with Eun-ah.

She seemed familiar...

It was a familiar face.

It didn't take long to realize her identity.

"─Shh."

"...!!"

The woman who met her eyes suddenly put her finger to her lips.

Fairy Lim Ga-eul.

It was something she often did.

Park Hye-rim was so surprised she stood up from her seat for a moment.

"Hye-rim unni? What's wrong?"

"Yeah. Like you saw someone you shouldn't see..."

"Ah, no. I'm sorry."

Noh Eun-ah tilted her head.

Bom-yeoreum's eyes sparkled.

Then she clicked her tongue briefly.

Park Hye-rim finally realized her mistake.

Soon she hurriedly sat down and apologized to Bom-yeoreum, no, Lim Ga-eul.

Then she whispered to her.

"Fairy, why on earth are you here..."

"I need to rest like this sometimes too."

"Even so, to come without even bringing bodyguards..."

"I don't have bodyguards, but there's someone here who can protect me, right?"

"What?"

Lim Ga-eul's attitude was nonchalant.

On the contrary, Park Hye-rim was restless.

Then, Lim Ga-eul introduced the woman sitting next to her.

"─Hello."

"Eun-ah, say hello. She's a friend who came with me. Her name is... Kim Gyeo-ul. She's the same age as me."

"Hello! Gyeo-ul unni!"

"No way..."

Park Hye-rim's eyes shook greatly.

Regardless, the woman wearing a conical hat reminiscent of a witch smiled brightly.

She flipped her long black hair.

Nevertheless, Park Hye-rim could instantly realize who she was.

Though she dyed her hair black, there was only one woman wearing a conical hat reminiscent of a witch and a black dress revealing her figure.

To think she brought one of the Twelve Zodiac...

Twelve Zodiac <Witch of Time> Priscis Memory.

Park Hye-rim who was dumbfounded looked back and forth between Priscis Memory and Lim Ga-eul.

Then Lim Ga-eul smiled brightly.

"How is it? This should be enough not to worry about bodyguards, right? And coincidentally, you're next to me too?"

"Ah..."

She thought she had deliberately avoided people who were awkward to deal with.

Park Hye-rim who ended up watching the match with the person standing in the highest position in this country couldn't close her mouth.

☆

Finally that day arrived.

Eun-ha who came up to the arena like a pig being dragged to slaughter immediately sighed.

"Hello! Did you warm up a lot? Let's have a fun fight today!"

"Hah..."

"Papa..."

The crazy squid welcoming Eun-ha.

Eun-ha had a headache.

He just wanted to forfeit the match and lie down in a hospital bed.

It's not like that crazy squid guy would let me do that anyway...

He'll probably keep pestering me to fight until we fight.

He knew <Yama >'s personality well.

Once marked by <Yama >, you could never escape his sight until he was satisfied.

That's why Eun-ha ended up coming to the arena with no choice.

But why are there so many people?

On the other hand, Eun-ha couldn't help but exclaim looking around.

Even though it was the last day of the cultural festival, people had gathered enough to fill the arena.

Above all─.

─How many of the Twelve Zodiac are there.

Not only clan lords and executives of S-rank clans, but even the Twelve Zodiac.

Eun-ha clicked his tongue seeing the crowd inevitably parting whenever they appeared.

"Hey, Noh Eun-ha. Where are you looking now? Are you getting distracted during the match?"

"...The match hasn't even started yet."

"Shut up. The moment you stand in the arena, you're on the battlefield. Remember this well. I won't wait until you're ready..."

Kang Hyun-chul's advice.

Eun-ha let it go in one ear and out the other.

To summarize the long story, it meant to focus on him instead of the spectators.

"Hyun-chul, will you shut up?"

It was then.

Along with Eun-ha and Kang Hyun-chul.

<Empress > Shin Seo-young who had come up to the arena as the referee opened her mouth.

Even the crazy squid yielded to Shin Seo-young.

He stopped talking mid-sentence and closed his mouth.

"Then I'll explain the rules for this match now. Everyone look at the ground."

""..."

Monitors were installed in various directions in the arena.

The ground where the two were standing appeared on the monitors.

Eun-ha looked down at the ground.

A red circle appeared on the ground centered on the crazy squid.

The circle that formed centered on Kang Hyun-chul.

The radius of the red-painted circle was about 2-3 steps based on Kang Hyun-chul's stride.

"This is the area you can move in when the match starts. Hyun-chul, if you move your body outside this area, the match will end immediately."

Shin Seo-young started explaining.

Eun-ha and Kang Hyun-chul who had heard a rough explanation in advance nodded.

"The radius you can move in will gradually increase at regular intervals. At the end, you'll probably be able to move in about 80% of the arena. Ah, there will be five stages. This is stage 1."

In short, Kang Hyun-chul's movement would be sealed in 5 stages.

Even if the seal was released, Kang Hyun-chul wouldn't be able to move in the entire arena.

"And Hyun-chul, you'll be wearing artifacts that measure damage."

Then Shin Seo-young handed a box to Kang Hyun-chul.

Inside the box were necklaces, bracelets, anklets, belts, etc.

Each accessory had a crystal ball embedded in the center.

"The crystal balls will fill with blue color whenever you take damage. Eun-ha, for you to win this match, you need to either make all the crystal balls glow blue, or make Hyun-chul leave the designated area."

The crystal balls were about the size of a fist.

But Shin Seo-young added that though the crystal balls were small, it was a mistake to think the color would fill quickly because the criteria for measuring damage was strict.

"Since it's a damage measuring device the instructors put their heart and soul into making, you should be able to fight to your heart's content. Probably..."

"This is going to be really fun!"

"This is going to be really not fun."

Why do I have to be the referee?

Shin Seo-young muttered as if complaining while looking at Kang Hyun-chul and Noh Eun-ha.

"And as you've heard several times before, Hyun-chul, the only thing you can use is the device on your shoulder. You absolutely cannot use artifacts or potions."

Shin Seo-young suddenly pointed at the greatsword on Kang Hyun-chul's shoulder.

She repeatedly cautioned him.

Then she said to absolutely not use magic that could kill people.

"But sis, how do you judge the criteria for lethal magic?"

"The criteria are quite vague, but magic that the instructors including myself judge to be too much is considered lethal magic."

"What a standard..."

"And magic that inflicts poison or equivalent damage that can't be treated by the standby supporters' magic is also lethal magic."

Saying she'll leave it to their conscience.

Shin Seo-young clapped her hands.

"So fight without getting hurt. Please, I'm begging you, let's not cause trouble and make things difficult for each other?"

"I'd like that too."

"Haha, sis. You seem to be worrying too much? Is there anything here to burn?"

Shin Seo-young sighed deeply.

Soon she flew up into the sky riding the wind.

Eun-ha and Kang Hyun-chul gripped their swords.

"Eun-ha, I've been waiting for this day."

"I was praying this day wouldn't come."

Kang Hyun-chul smiled.

Eun-ha frowned.

And soon─.

[─Match start.]

The crowd's cheers erupted.

☆

"Come on, bring it!"

Kang Hyun-chul raised the corners of his mouth.

Though the match rules were too complicated, the point was not to leave the red circle.

He was bound by the magic circle that appeared under his feet as soon as the match started.

Nevertheless, he grinned and pointed his sword at Eun-ha.

"I'll let you have the first attack."

"I was going to anyway."

As the senior.

Kang Hyun-chul decided to yield the first attack to Eun-ha.

From the start, he was in a situation where he could only move about 2-3 steps in radius.

It was a situation where Eun-ha had to attack first.

"Then I'll attack first."

"Alright, come on!"

Come if you dare!

I'll block all your attacks, and also dodge while waiting for all the seals to be released.

Kang Hyun-chul bared his fangs.

Then he anticipated Eun-ha's attack.

But Eun-ha was cowardly not approaching him.

Still, it didn't matter.

What does it matter as long as I can fight you? Once the seals are released, I'll be able to fight properly then...

The seals were just entertainment.

Entertainment for him to gauge Eun-ha's growth.

So Kang Hyun-chul wasn't impatient and waited for Eun-ha's attack.

But─.

─Huh...?

Eun-ha gripped his sword with both hands.

His sword emitted a platinum light.

At first Kang Hyun-chul was just watching Eun-ha's magic, but when the magic's momentum grew ominously large, he widened his eyes.

And─.

─Platinum Cross

Victory to the first striker.

A flash of platinum light flickered.