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 [Chapter 157]

[Noh Eun-ha Squad]

After starting to be wary of <Madam > Bebe.

Eun-ha immediately ordered <Chatterbox > Twenty-five to monitor her.

Since Eun-ha himself volunteered as bait, Twenty-five was able to draw her into a situation favorable to him.

Results came quickly.

[─I think she might be someone with a foot in the darkness. It would be good to keep in mind the possibility of her being a Slayer too.]

"...I see. That could be the case."

Regulus Clan dormitory.

Eun-ha, who had returned to his room after finishing work for the day, received Twenty-five's report over the phone.

Twenty-five told him in detail about what had happened that day.

Eun-ha fell into thought after hearing that <Madam > Bebe was someone active in the shadows.

...Is this really true?

She was someone who became On Tae-yang's wife in the previous regression. Could such a person actually be affiliated with the darkness?

It was hard to believe.

As far as Eun-ha knew, the alias <Madam > was a name she obtained after becoming a player.

To be precise, someone started calling her by that alias at some point.

And she naturally accepted that alias as her own.

If Bebe is from the dark side, why did she become On Tae-yang's wife?

If it wasn't with pure intentions, for what purpose did she approach On Tae-yang?

<Madam > Bebe.

The person who became On Tae-yang's seventh wife in the previous life.

Eun-ha questioned the possibility that the person he knew might have been someone disguised with a false identity.

If she really was a person of darkness, why did she reveal herself to the world and join On Tae-yang's party, he wondered.

[Judging from the situation, it seems she received a commission from someone, or some people? To check whether you would be a threat to them or not.]

Then Twenty-five added to his doubts.

Based on Twenty-five's addition, Eun-ha substituted On Tae-yang for himself in the current situation.

The reason Bebe, who lived in darkness, deliberately transferred to the Player Academy was surely because of him.

In the previous life, it was likely because of On Tae-yang.

In the previous life, Bebe might have received a commission, transferred to the academy, and approached On Tae-yang.

The monitoring eyes that should have gone to On Tae-yang came to me in this life. Then why? For what reason?

What changed the future.

Why is she focusing on him instead of On Tae-yang, unlike in the previous life?

The conclusion after thinking was vague.

It was vague, but there was nothing else.

─Is it because I'm considered a promising talent?

Comparing before and after the regression, it was clear.

The difference between Noh Eun-ha and On Tae-yang was ultimately their position at the academy.

If On Tae-yang was imprinted on people as a promising talent over time in the previous life.

In this life, Eun-ha stood in his place.

In other words, <Madam > Bebe's mission could be said to be monitoring someone expected to have a future as a player.

Then why monitor someone with a promising future?

After somewhat resolving one question.

A new question arose.

But it didn't take long to resolve that question.

If <Madam >'s position in the darkness is quite high....

Of course, the position of those who commissioned <Madam > would obviously be high too. If such people see someone who could one day reach the same position as them, they would clearly─.

─Either make them their ally.

Or try to ostracize someone who might become their enemy.

It was very simple.

Having thought that far, he couldn't help but frown.

Because they were─.

─My enemies.

They would be people he needed to bring down.

Assuming <Madam >'s actions were the same in the previous life.

She was likely a liaison between the people behind her and On Tae-yang who took her in.

It means On Tae-yang wasn't eliminated, and even formed a relationship with her as a mistress, so they must have been in agreement.

Furthermore─.

─It might be my wild speculation.

But it's not impossible.

If we extend the imagination further here.

On Tae-yang had an aversion to the Fairy Government.

Therefore, his achievements would inevitably be a threat to the Fairy Government.

That means the will of the people who agreed with On Tae-yang could be said to be the same as his, couldn't it?

In short, those people might have been the ones who pulled down Fairy Im Ga-eul from her position in the previous life.

"─Please continue monitoring from now on."

[Yes sir. Oh, and Master. There's something else I heard, about <Shadow >....]

Having thought that far, Eun-ha smiled coldly.

Perhaps he could draw out a string of people who could be harmful to the Fairy Government.

Eun-ha gave instructions to Twenty-five.

Twenty-five gladly accepted the instructions and passed on one more piece of information.

Even when he heard that information, Eun-ha couldn't help but doubt his ears.

...Chang-jin hyung is no longer Teacher Baek Seo-jin's <The Seed>?

Why, how come.

At first, questions arose.

Soon, Eun-ha naturally understood.

Unlike in the previous life, Han Chang-jin's personality was starkly different.

In this life, Han Chang-jin was kind and, in a way, weak.

He lacked the qualifications to be someone who controls darkness, succeeding <King of Darkness> Baek Seo-jin.

It wasn't unreasonable for him to be dismissed.

Even so, it was unexpected.

"...I see. Thanks for letting me know."

Who changed Han Chang-jin's future.

Eun-ha thought of his sister and smirked.

However, he couldn't just laugh about it.

Because─.

"─Then who will control the darkness in this life?"

Darkness was a huge force.

Han Chang-jin's dismissal meant the future would change greatly.

On the other hand, Eun-ha couldn't shake off his doubts.

If <Madam > is from the dark side.... Teacher Baek Seo-jin couldn't have not known about <Madam >'s movements.

If the forces backing <Madam > aren't ghostly enough that even Teacher Baek Seo-jin couldn't realize....

Does Baek Seo-jin know about <Madam >'s movements or not?

Or does he know but is just pretending not to know?

Eun-ha couldn't read Baek Seo-jin's intentions.

"...I don't know. Let's just go to sleep."

"Beep beep beep boop boop boop boop boop!"

No conclusion was reached.

And he had to clock in at Regulus Clan from the morning again tomorrow.

Eun-ha, who had been worrying while sprawled on the bed, decided to close his eyes.

By the way─.

"─I wonder how the kids are doing. I hope they're not causing any trouble...."

☆

At first, the Zenith Clan members couldn't hide their disappointment.

That's because <Quick-witted > Noh Eun-ha, whom they so wanted to see, didn't come.

"I heard <Quick-witted > wields two swords so well. It's a shame. I wanted to see that once...."

"Even the instructors concede to <Quick-witted > when it comes to swordsmanship. I heard one instructor even asked him to teach swordsmanship to the kids instead of him?"

"I want to fight him. I want to fight."

"...I think there's a Blaze Clan member mixed in here? I never thought I'd hear something that only crazy people would mutter here...."

<First Sword> Ji Yong-hyun, who was both the Zenith Clan Lord and one of the Twelve Zodiac.

He, who belonged to <Divine Spear> Nam Gung Seong-un's school, was known to be skilled in swordsmanship, true to his alias.

Naturally, the clan members under him also showed talent in swordsmanship, and some even received direct teachings from <Divine Spear> Nam Gung Seong-un.

As such, Zenith Clan was the top clan in Korea confident in swordsmanship.

That's why they had prayed for the day they could see <Quick-witted > Noh Eun-ha's swordsmanship.

"But I heard there are two more people besides <Quick-witted >. Kids who specialized in learning swords."

"Come to think of it, didn't they say <Sword Empress> accepted <Quick-witted >'s friend as <The Seed> before?"

"Is it just that friend? There's another person, Mok Min-ho. The kid who won the comprehensive division competition just last year."

"The kid who won the year before last was named Choi Eun-hyuk? He was probably <Sword Empress>'s <The Seed>."

But Noh Eun-ha didn't come.

The Zenith Clan members' interest quickly shifted to <The Seed> Choi Eun-hyuk and Mok Min-ho.

They often talked about the two after hearing news that they would come for internships.

And finally, the two came for their internships─.

"─Please take care of me for the next month! I may fall short of seniors' expectations in many ways, but I'll work hard to become someone who can properly pull my own weight!"

"I'm Mok Min-ho. Zenith Clan has been a clan I've admired since before entering the academy...."

"Enough, let's see your skills. That way we can judge what tasks to assign you."

""..."

One player with a hasty temperament suddenly challenged them to a duel.

Eun-hyuk and Min-ho, who were frozen stiff while introducing themselves, couldn't answer.

But regardless of whether they were flustered or not.

The Zenith Clan members who wanted to confirm the two's skills created an atmosphere where they couldn't refuse.

10 minutes after coming to the clan for their internship.

The two ended up being 'dragged' to the basement of the Zenith Clan hall.

"Min-ho...."

"...What."

"We didn't mistake this for Blaze Clan, did we?"

"I really hope the clan I admired wasn't Blaze Clan."

At that time, Min-ho and Eun-hyuk wanted to deny the reality they were facing.

But the two had to get on the dueling ground and grip their swords.

And only then did they realize.

The identity of the swordsman who was to be their opponent.

"You can come at me one by one, or attack together. Come on, swing your swords to your heart's content."

""..."

Usually, clans with a solid system classified their members' ranks and conducted marketing activities.

Zenith Clan was no exception.

Just as Regulus Clan had the Seven Lions.

And Blaze Clan had the Eight Jades.

Zenith Clan had the Five Swords.

Their opponent was one of the Five Swords.

"...Min-ho, what should we do?"

"Let's attack together. If our opponent is <Sharp Sword>, one of the Five Swords, we won't be able to handle him alone."

<Sharp Sword> Gong Myung-ho.

The two made stern faces after hearing Gong Myung-ho's alias.

To the people watching from outside the dueling ground, it looked like they were scared.

But contrary to their thoughts─.

"─Are you scared?"

"No? No way. When else would we get to fight one of Zenith Clan's Five Swords? I'm dying to know how far I can go."

"Just don't get excited and become a hindrance to me."

"Look who's talking."

"Are you stronger than back then?"

"You'll probably be surprised when you see."

"Alright, I'll look forward to it."

The two were burning with fighting spirit from the moment they gripped their swords.

What other reason would they have for choosing Zenith Clan?

They wanted to cultivate themselves and learn swordsmanship at Zenith Clan, where there were many people who specialized in swords.

And now <Sharp Sword>, one of the Five Swords, was personally offering to be their opponent.

For the two, it was something to be both nervous and excited about.

So─.

"─I'll yield the first attack, so come on, attack fir...!!"

Thousand Steps

Flow Speed

As soon as the duel started.

The two immediately ran.

Roughly, and smoothly.

Their contrasting footwork was enough to confuse <Sharp Sword>'s eyes.

Their swordsmanship was also different─.

─Crescent Moon Slash

Iron Crusher

Choi Eun-hyuk's blade turned white.

When he drew his sword horizontally from the ground, a dazzling slash burst forth.

A slash large enough to swallow a person flew towards <Sharp Sword>.

Of course, the slash was blocked.

But <Sharp Sword> had to hurriedly block the follow-up attack while blocking the slash.

"Kuk...!"

Nevertheless, <Sharp Sword>'s response was fast.

He hastily coated his blade with mana.

He caught the sword falling from above and sighed.

"...What?"

And he had to doubt his eyes.

At the point of contact with Mok Min-ho's sword, minute cracks appeared on his sword.

Soon, the cracks didn't stop there but spread across the entire blade.

The sword shattered.

""""..."""""

Including <Sharp Sword> who barely dodged just before his sword shattered.

The people gathered at the edge of the dueling ground were at a loss for words.

In just two moves.

The sword had shattered.

"Wh-what just happened?"

"Was it a defective product?"

"It can't be defective. The supplying company is Galaxy Device, how could they make a sword that breaks so easily?"

"Then what on earth..."

"Is it a gift?"

Even if it wasn't <Sharp Sword>'s exclusive device.

The quality of practice swords used in Zenith Clan was top-notch.

The fact that it still shattered left them dumbfounded.

"So-someone bring a sword!"

Meanwhile, <Sharp Sword>'s appearance after losing his sword was utterly pathetic.

He shouted at the clan members behind him while distancing himself from Mok Min-ho.

Then someone took out a practice sword and threw it to him.

Just as the duel was about to restart─.

─Sword Spirit, Type 1

At that moment, Eun-hyuk activated magic.

Two swords formed in the air centered around Choi Eun-hyuk.

The blades made of mana flew towards <Sharp Sword> following Choi Eun-hyuk's command.

"Mere swords like this...!"

Adding the sword in Choi Eun-hyuk's hand, it became three.

And with Mok Min-ho's sword joining in, it became four.

<Sharp Sword> had to block four swords moving like a dance.

Not long after─.

"─...!!"

""""..."""""

This time, Choi Eun-hyuk shattered <Sharp Sword>'s sword.

Once could be a coincidence.

But twice couldn't be a coincidence.

So everyone present was struck with astonishment.

"A-are we going to lose?"

"No way...."

""""..."""""

Famous last words.

That day, people clicked their tongues seeing their concerns become reality.

They had no choice but to acknowledge the skills of the Noh Eun-ha squad, which had only been rumored until now.

Moreover, Clan Lord Ji Yong-hyun, who had come to the dueling ground after hearing the news, was also there─.

"─In just a year, they might be able to handle me alone easily."

""""...!!""""

<First Sword> Ji Yong-hyun's blunt evaluation.

That day, the anecdote created by the two spread through the industry in an instant.

☆

Kang Si-hyung.

The reason he deliberately came to Donghae Clan for his internship, despite being sponsored by KK Clan, was purely because of Jin Seo-na.

He felt he would be worked to death for a month if he was in the same clan as Jin Seo-na.

Kaede was also going to KK Clan for her internship, and looking at the people interning at KK Clan....

It was obvious he would be worked to death by Seo-na and the others alone.

When did it start?

Maybe it was from the beginning.

Kang Si-hyung, who was as short as the girls, got along quite well with the female students of the Noh Eun-ha squad.

As a result, when he came to his senses, he was at the bottom of the hierarchy among the girls.

They would often ask favors of Kang Si-hyung alone, not the other kids.

He even ended up participating in a girls' dormitory meeting with Gu-rae last time, not knowing if they were fashionistas or penny-pinchers!

Kang Si-hyung's life was truly pitiful.

Some male students who heard about it envied him greatly.

At that time, Lee Cheon-seo, who took classes with him, envied him with tears in his eyes.

But Kang Si-hyung shed tears at his situation of not being treated as a man, barely being treated as a woman, and essentially being treated as their maid.

So he deliberately chose a clan where other friends weren't interning.

"Well, well.... I never thought Eun-ha's friend would come to our clan for an internship. Well, you're welcome. I'll be your mentor for this month."

"Hello! Please take good care of me!"

Donghae Clan, always an A+ rank that fails to pass the S-rank evaluation.

Thanks to this, his friends showed no interest in Donghae Clan.

Si-hyung was able to come intern at Donghae Clan with people unrelated to his friends.

And he met the Guardian player who said he would be his mentor.

"Then before we go to work, shall we check your skills? A Guardian needs to be strong enough to wrestle and win against an orc, can you do that?"

"I can't beat an orc with strength, but I can make an orc's ears go deaf!"

"Huh? The kid... makes a good joke."

Kang Si-hyung spoke spiritedly.

The Guardian player dismissed Kang Si-hyung's words as a simple joke.

Therefore─.

""""─...!!""""

The players who tried to check Kang Si-hyung's skills without using earplugs felt their ears go numb for a moment.

"Ahaha! He does have a loud voice. It's a shame his physique is small, but he seems to have quite some guts.... Shall we put Eun-ha's friend through the wringer? Eun-ha also asked to work him to death...."

The Guardian player was the same.

<Giant Tree> Seon Gi-jun's eyes sparkled.