484

 [Chapter 134]

[Tangled Relationships (6)]

Comprehensive division competition main tournament 4th round finals.

On this day, the spectator seats were completely full. Some people even came to watch standing.

The competition to select the academy's strongest of the year was that much of a spectacle for people.

"I paid good money to come watch, and I have to see sword fights between kids who are only 1st years?"

"This year's competition is a complete failure. How can 1st years make it to the finals? Do they really think that makes sense?"

"They've completely ruined the plausibility. Shouldn't we investigate this? I hear the kids who made it to the finals are from middle school academy. How do we know they didn't pay bribes?"

"Hah... I have no expectations for the 3rd years graduating next year. How on earth could they lose to 1st years who just entered?"

But the students who advanced to the finals were 1st year high school academy students.

Most people who spent large sums to buy finals tickets expressed dissatisfaction as soon as they heard the news.

Mok Min-ho and Choi Eun-hyuk.

Even though the two were known as promising talents, their attitude was indifferent.

The point was that they were still just 1st years no matter what.

"Hah, shit... I wasted my money."

"Who the hell are these guys? I've never heard their names before. Why did they suddenly pop up?"

"Of course we haven't heard their names. How would we normal people who aren't even players know the names of kids who will graduate years from now?"

"You seem to know though?"

"I have my sources. I hear the industry calls the 1st years who entered this year the Golden Class. They say it's the most anticipated class since player Ryu Yeon-hwa's class."

"Golden Class? Sounds familiar... But are those guys really that great?"

"Rumors say they're amazing, but the real reason the Golden Class is getting attention is because there's a student who's certain to surpass <Snow Spear> Ryu Yeon-hwa someday."

"There's someone like that? Who is it?"

"Have you heard of No Eunha?"

"I've heard that name a lot... Ah, isn't that the middle school student who appeared with player Ryu Yeon-hwa on CayouPlay before? The kid people made a fuss about saying he must be on his second life. ...Huh? That's No Eunha?"

"—Second life. The academy's hidden dragon. I hear the promising talents gathered around him, now called <Quick-witted >, are really something."

"Hmm... I know that student too. Was it two years ago? I heard he tied in a duel with player Ryu Yeon-hwa. So you're saying the kids appearing this time are that student's friends?"

"Yeah. Now do you understand why player industry insiders are trying to buy black market tickets at a premium?"

"But just because they're that student's friends..."

"They're not just friends. I hear those two are his right and left arms."

"Ah I see."

Of course, people interested in the player industry had a completely different perspective from them.

They instinctively sensed that 1st year students advancing to the finals would be a catalyst for tectonic shifts in the player industry.

3rd generation players.

The term that had been openly circulating in the media since <Snow Spear> Ryu Yeon-hwa's debut was now frequently mentioned among them as well.

"Somehow... I now understand why people from the 7 S-rank clans have all flocked here."

"Right. It means they're keeping an eye out. Regulus, Tempest, Silla, etc... There's a reason even the clan lords known for being slow to move have come out."

"But why didn't No Eunha come out?"

Among them, the 031&31st class students who are considered to be the main players of the current 3rd generation players.

And <Quick-witted > No Eunha who is becoming their center and the students belonging to his faction.

People exchanged stories about them with information they had picked up from somewhere.

But there was one student who was mentioned over and over among them.

<Quick-witted > No Eunha.

"I actually came to see No Eunha. I heard he has a fiery personality so I thought he'd come out to a place like this."

"I heard he didn't even participate? What's the reason he didn't? Did he back out early thinking he'd lose?"

"That can't be. If so, how did these guys make it to the finals? So here's what I think. That <Quick-witted > guy definitely didn't enter the competition to give the kids under him a chance to grow."

"Hmm... I can't believe that."

"Would a student who fought evenly with player Ryu Yeon-hwa, who won the comprehensive division competition in her 1st year, really chicken out?"

<Quick-witted > to industry insiders.

Second life to ordinary people.

People who knew about No Eunha were certain that he, who entered high school academy this year, would advance to the comprehensive division competition finals.

There was almost a bloodbath to buy finals tickets because of that.

But it was revealed that he did not participate in the competition.

People who fell into panic were still spewing various speculations even now.

Then—

"—But I heard he came out for a demonstration match on the first day of the competition?"

""""...What...?""""

A story someone happened to mention ignited the topic about No Eunha.

The spark quickly spread.

When an industry insider nodded, the venue was engulfed in a huge commotion.

"You're saying he didn't enter the competition but came out for a demonstration match?"

"Wow, I should have come on the first day. Why am I so unlucky?"

"I saw it on the first day, and that No Eunha guy was no joke. You know the Eight Hells of Blaze Clan? Two of those people and three clan members, a total of five, challenged No Eunha and got thoroughly beaten."

"Say it right. That No Eunha kid didn't take them down alone. Ryu Yeon-hwa also intruded in the middle and the battle was so thrilling!"

"...Ryu Yeon-hwa intruded too!?"

""""...""""

No Eunha who was the subject of many rumors.

People who were curious about his skills were all dumbfounded as soon as they heard the story.

People who couldn't shake the feeling of loss from coming after paying good money but not being able to see him because he didn't participate in the competition.

They vented their complaints.

"I wanted to see No Eunha too!"

"What? No Eunha appeared!?"

"I even took a day off to come today! Give me back my money!"

"No Eunha! Give us No Eunha!"

"No Eunha come out!"

The complaints became a huge wave.

No Eunha come out.

People now chanted in unison. As if they had completely forgotten about the duel between students known as promising talents of the Golden Class until just moments ago.

""""No Eunha come out—!!!!""""

Even when academy instructors tried to restrain them, the fervor that had been ignited once did not subside.

The finals started in that situation.

And—

""""—Who are these guys...?""""

The audience fell silent as if cold water had been poured on them.

Not long after the duel started, they were captivated by the swordsmanship Mok Min-ho and Choi Eun-hyuk were displaying.

The duel that was hard to believe was between 1st year students made their mouths drop open.

—Blade Sound

Mana Crusher

Not only did sword clash with sword.

People felt a heat invisible to the eye as they watched the two male students clash swords.

Evenly matched.

Sometimes like bulls testing their strength.

Sometimes like wolves in a chase.

The two were clashing with all their might, drawing out everything they had right here and now.

They unconsciously clenched their fists watching the display by the two.

They focused on their duel, not even realizing their hands were sweating.

""""...""""

Silence fell over the spectator seats.

Now there was not a single person expressing complaints anymore.

☆

It's an emotion that can't be expressed in words.

Something knotted in his chest like a lump.

Stuffy, uncomfortable, suffocating.

"...Damn it..."

Eunha muttered while buried in the sofa, holding up his hand to the light.

He blankly stared at the light coming through between his fingers.

Throughout his previous life and this life.

Though his hands were long stained with blood.

Today his hands felt especially dirty.

He frowned at the strong feeling of displeasure that suddenly arose.

...Don't hesitate.

This isn't something you can hesitate over.

No Eunha urged himself.

He decided to consciously suppress the emotions that kept creeping up.

<Floater > Twenty-five only arrived at the viewing room then.

"—Master, what's wrong? Are you hurting somewhere?"

"..."

Twenty-five suddenly entered his field of vision.

Eunha who lowered his hand stayed silent for a while before raising his upper body.

He sighed while running his hand through his hair.

"It's nothing. Ah, get me some water."

"Yes, here you go."

"Thanks. ...So how did it go?"

Eunha then gulped down the water Twenty-five handed him.

After emptying one small plastic bottle, he wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and asked Twenty-five.

Twenty-five who had tied up his long hair soon smiled revealing snow-white teeth.

It meant he succeeded.

"There happened to be a tower that seemed to be used as a storage room for supplies in a secluded place. I think we can work in the storage room there?"

"That's good. But don't forget to put up a barrier to repel people."

"Yes sir!"

Eunha turned his gaze to Choi Ga-in collapsed on the cold floor.

Choi Ga-in lying as if dead.

Choi Ga-in who had fallen into a state of suspended animation would not regain consciousness for several hours.

So aiming for that time—

—Now it will finally fall into my hands.

He will separate Moon's Blessing from her.

As far as he vaguely remembered, even before regression, Moon's Blessing was generally separated in a similar way.

So he should be able to separate it.

Meanwhile, Twenty-five was in the process of examining her condition collapsed as if dead.

"Hmm... So I just need to separate this flower?"

"How is it? Do you think you can do it?"

"I won't know unless I try."

"Give it a try."

Twenty-five whined.

Eunha responded indifferently.

Twenty-five who was born in a lab and sometimes helped with experiments would surely find a way.

With Choi Ga-in falling into suspended animation, we've already done more than half the work.

With Twenty-five's skills, he should be able to do it somehow.

Eunha handed the Avengers Cloak to Twenty-five.

He who knew the artifact's function received the cloak without any questions.

Eventually, when he knelt down to lift Choi Ga-in—

"—Oh my? Master, what on earth does this flower do to be like this?"

"..."

The bracelet wrapped around her wrist.

Though the moon hadn't even risen yet.

Moon's Blessing suddenly started emitting a soft light.

Soon the light flickered on and off.

Twenty-five's eyes widened at the sudden situation.

On the other hand, Eunha frowned.

"Master, I have a feeling that flower is trying to detoxify the poison now? What an interesting flower."

"Let's hurry and move her. Just in case, feed her the drug again as soon as we move her."

Eunha did not fully know the effects of Moon's Blessing.

Only that it had the power to copy a person's genetic information and even heal defective parts.

Moon's Blessing was that rare, and could be called an elixir traded very secretly.

"Anyway, contact me when you're done. You'll finish by today, right?"

"Shouldn't I finish before the cultural festival ends today? No matter how difficult, I'll try to finish by then."

"Okay, I'm counting on you. Don't forget to wear the cloak. You know you can't show Choi Ga-in's appearance to others from now on, right?"

Eunha spoke to Twenty-five who lifted Choi Ga-in onto his shoulder.

Twenty-five who put on the cloak in that state nodded.

"But Master, where are you going at this time without coming with me... You're not going on a date, are you?"

"What date."

Eunha also prepared to leave.

In fact, he had been repeatedly checking the time for a while now.

Twenty-five who suddenly noticed his subtle behavior narrowed his eyes.

He rubbed his sharp chin.

"Hmm... It seems like it is a date. Who are you going to meet? It's a woman, right? If you're meeting a woman, it's a date."

"It's just a friend."

"Right. People all say that before they start dating. Even the previous masters who bought me treated me like a slave at first, but later treated me like a lover?"

"I said it's a friend, didn't I?"

"Anyway, it's a woman, right?"

"...So what if it is."

"See. You're insisting it's a friend now because you have something to be nervous about, don't you?"

Twenty-five giggled.

Eunha swallowed his irritation.

He felt like he would get caught up if he got angry here for no reason.

Nevertheless, he continued speaking.

"You usually wear your uniform sloppily, but strangely you're dressed well today?"

"..."

"But why is your hair so messy? Are you going to meet her like that?"

"...Is my hair messy?"

Eunha who had been keeping his mouth shut finally put his hand to his hair at Twenty-five's words.

He had been somewhat conscious of it since running his hand through his hair earlier.

He tried to check his hair using his smartphone as a mirror.

That's when Twenty-five clicked his tongue.

"Come here. I'll fix it for you."

"...Thanks."

"So who are you going to meet? You're not going to answer that you're meeting your sister again, are you?"

"...I just have a friend. It's not what you're thinking."

"Sure, sure."

Twenty-five fixing Eunha's hair.

Eunha was about to say something to him who answered flippantly, but stopped.

Because he didn't think he would listen nicely no matter what he said here.

"Forget it, just do your job well. I'm going."

"Okay, have a fun date! Ah... Master!"

"What now."

Twenty-five called from behind.

Eunha who had left the viewing room turned around to look at him gradually becoming transparent.

Only a face that can't be distinguished as male or female floats in the air.

That face smiles gently.

"—I don't know who the other person is, but they're probably waiting for Master to approach."

"..."

"So just pounce on them as your body tells you to."

"Get lost."

He was wrong to try to listen carefully to Twenty-five's words.

Eunha turned his back on Twenty-five who disappeared while snickering.

Now he stretches his body.

"—Ha-yang must be waiting."

Worried she might get upset.

Eunha quickly ran as soon as Twenty-five's presence disappeared.

☆

The comprehensive division competition finals are in full swing.

Yoon I-byeol left her seat while watching Mok Min-ho and Choi Eun-hyuk's clash with her friends.

"...It's not fun."

Whether her friends or the audience.

The people in the spectator seats were absorbed in watching the duel.

But she didn't feel any particular excitement from the two people's clash.

It had been like that for days.

Since rumors spread that Eunha and Choi Ga-in were flirting.

Above all—

'—I'm sorry. I already have someone I'm watching with that day.'

Since hearing those words from Eunha.

Essentially words rejecting her.

Yoon I-byeol clutched her chest tightly as she recalled the words she heard a few days ago.

"..."

Her chest hurt as if it was being torn apart.

She tried hard to hide that emotion, but it wouldn't leave her mind.

As a result, she couldn't focus on anything.

"Let's go get some fresh air for a moment."

It's not fun at all.

It's not joyful at all.

A feeling of being alone and isolated even while among people.

Yoon I-byeol, overcome with loneliness, eventually turned away from the arena.

"Haah..."

She sighs.

Being alone felt comfortable.

At the same time, she felt even lonelier.

She relaxed her face that had been forcing a smile to avoid being noticed by her friends, and headed towards the observation deck.

She thought she would try to compose herself while looking at the academy scenery.

But just then—

"—Isn't that Eunha?"

Yoon I-byeol who had been looking down at the scenery soon found No Eunha among the people.

There was no way she could have seen wrong.

It's No Eunha.

She who had always been looking for him discovered him as if by fate.

Thump thump.

Her heart raced.

But the warmth spreading in her chest quickly faded away.

"...Ha-yang is there too."

Jeong Ha-yang is there too.

Yoon I-byeol's face fell as she witnessed him meeting Jeong Ha-yang after making his way through the crowd.

The two exchange some words.

Judging by his actions, it seemed he was apologizing for being late to their appointment.

And she appeared to be scolding him with her hands on her hips.

If it were me, I'm sure I would have been grateful even if Eunha came late, not angry.

Unconsciously comparing herself to Jeong Ha-yang.

Yoon I-byeol manifested her internal mana and decided to eavesdrop on the conversation of the two people far away.

It's a difficult task.

Not only were they far away, but she had to select their voices among the sounds of all those people talking.

But she managed it easily.

Though it came through intermittently, she succeeded in eavesdropping without the two noticing.

"...Sorry. Are you mad?"

"Yeah, I'm mad."

"What should I do to make it up to you?"

"Hmm... Then... hold my hand."

"That's not hard. Let's go."

She clenches her fists tightly.

Her nails dig into her flesh.

Yoon I-byeol listened to their conversation, unaware of that pain.

Soon the two left after chatting intimately.

"Is there anywhere you want to go?"

"No, I just want to walk like this!"

"Really? Then let's look around once."

"Okay!"

Without realizing it herself.

Yoon I-byeol was now following the two of them.