604

 [Chapter 162]

[Belonging Nowhere]

At the time of the Player Academy's construction.

The superhumans who had conquered all the dungeons distributed in Seoul and Gyeonggi regions had returned to their daily lives.

The era of warlords, where superhumans who rose up in various regions ruled cities and called themselves lords, was now coming to an end.

The world that had found stability from destruction was preparing to bloom new flowers amidst the ruins.

"Phew..."

<Divine Spear> Nam Gung Seong-un.

He too had returned to his dojo and spent his days honing his spear.

His colleagues, including <Iron Fortress> Moon Jun, were having meetings day after day to establish the framework of the Player Academy.

Whoosh

Shirtless and sweating.

As he endlessly repeated the same motions, he suddenly manifested his internal mana.

The mana that escaped his body instantly became ice particles and fluttered.

Then he tried to perform the motion he had been repeating with his spear imbued with concentrated power.

It was then.

"─<Divine Spear> sir."

Someone knocked on the dojo door.

Nam Gung Seong-un, whose concentration was broken, let out a long sigh.

He withdrew the mana gathered at the spear tip and opened the door.

"..."

"I've come from the Mana Management Bureau."

A man in a black suit.

Nam Gung Seong-un carefully looked at the man who immediately bowed his head towards him.

"Come in."

"Yes, thank you. And I'm terribly sorry for interrupting your training."

The man from the Mana Management Bureau.

Given that he came to meet him, he must be in a high position within the organization.

Nam Gung Seong-un accepted the man's apology and softened his mood.

Soon Nam Gung Seong-un let the man into the dojo and sat down anywhere.

The man sat down opposite him.

"I've come to deliver a message from <Iron Fortress>."

"Hmm..."

Nam Gung Seong-un nodded as if telling him to say more.

The man continued speaking.

"Didn't you previously suggest including a cultural festival in the academy's academic calendar, <Divine Spear> sir?"

"That's right."

"But simply planning a cultural festival to soften the image of superhumans, no, players to the outside is good, but since it's a place that trains players, there was an opinion that it would be good to have a place where their skills can be seen."

"Hmm..."

"So we concluded with the opinion of creating a competition where students' skills can be confirmed along with the cultural festival."

"A competition?"

"Yes, we plan to organize a comprehensive competition based on one-on-one matches regardless of players' specialties."

At the word competition.

Nam Gung Seong-un opened his eyes.

He who raised his thick white eyebrows showed interest.

"So what are you asking of me?"

"Well, <Divine Spear> sir, you're currently known as a revered hero in the country, aren't you?"

"Hmm, hmm..."

Nam Gung Seong-un didn't particularly deny it.

He nodded slightly.

"So we came to ask if we could use a trophy made by <Divine Spear>, known as the strongest in Korea, as the championship trophy for the competition."

"Hmm..."

"Surely the students will be proud of themselves too."

"Hmm hmm..."

The Mana Management Bureau official's proposal.

Nam Gung Seong-un stroked his long beard and fell into thought for a moment.

Soon he raised the corners of his mouth as if an interesting idea had occurred to him.

He broke the silence and opened his mouth.

"─Alright, fine. That trophy, I'll make it."

That was the origin of the comprehensive division competition.

☆

As the comprehensive division competition progresses to the 3rd day, the number of participating students decreases significantly.

So the last match of day 3 ended at a relatively early time.

"Hah... Damn it."

"Papa?"

After meeting Mok Min-ho who was taken to the infirmary.

Eun-ha who got scolded by Cha Eun-woo there sighed as soon as he left the building.

It wasn't because he was scolded by her.

Just thinking about tonight made him sigh right away.

What am I, some product...

Why do I have to go there?

Eun-ha was the final product to decorate Nodongso.

That day was today.

Eun-ha who had just received a message from Kim Min-ji and realized again that he would be going out to Nodongso sighed repeatedly.

Running away...

That won't work, right?

His friends had already all received requests and completed the client's orders.

Eun-ha who had watched his friends being sold off while giggling knew he surely wouldn't be able to avoid it.

Perhaps people like Jin Pa-rang were already guarding the academy surroundings.

Furthermore, perhaps Kim Min-ji had released mice to monitor him in real-time.

To think I'm worrying about being monitored because I carelessly gave her something like that...

The mice summoned by midnight whispers were wrapped in mana that was difficult to detect.

Eun-ha was certain Kim Min-ji was monitoring him.

"...I don't know. I should go meet Yeon-hwa noona."

Soon Eun-ha gave up thinking.

He checked the time and decided to go meet Ryu Yeon-hwa soon.

This noona is really strange.

If it were me, I'd just rest at home if I got a vacation, but she's coming to see the cultural festival at the academy...

It was just recently.

He had received a call from Ryu Yeon-hwa.

Then Eun-ha received a message that Ryu Yeon-hwa had gotten vacation and was coming to see the academy cultural festival.

And she sent a message asking to have dinner together if he had time.

Since it happened to be a time when all his friends were working, Eun-ha readily accepted her proposal.

"Noona seems to have a strong sense of professionalism. Coming to see the skills of students participating in the competition..."

"Papa..."

"Why are you hitting me?"

"Pupu."

Buldak hit his head with its wing.

Eun-ha who frowned slightly brushed away the wing that kept hitting his head.

He soon decided to ignore Buldak's complaints and head to the meeting place.

☆

Ryu Yeon-hwa, who was active as <Snow Spear>, had an appearance that easily attracted attention.

So since she became widely known to the world, Eun-ha had to be mindful of people's attention when meeting her.

But Ryu Yeon-hwa said he didn't have to worry about that today.

Where is this noona?

It was a path not far from the building where the comprehensive division competition was held.

Since most of the people visiting the academy came to see Noh Eun-ha.

Noh Eun-ha's face was also well known.

So he had to wear a mask and make his way through the crowd.

"Pipi."

"Stay inside."

"Pupu."

Buldak was also a problem.

Somehow Buldak had become one of Noh Eun-ha's trademarks.

Eun-ha quickly pushed Buldak, who poked its head out of his chest, back in and looked around.

She said she was around here...

It was easy to find Ryu Yeon-hwa's blue hair among the many people.

But Eun-ha couldn't find her no matter how much he looked around.

Just then─.

"─Eun-ha."

"Huh?"

It was a familiar voice.

Eun-ha turned his head in the direction the voice came from.

"...Yeon-hwa noona?"

"Yeah, it's me."

There was a tall woman there.

A woman with long black hair responded while wearing a mask.

Then she gently took off her mask and showed half her face.

It was Ryu Yeon-hwa.

She was smiling shyly.

"I didn't recognize you because your hair changed. What happened?"

"My hair stands out too much... So I temporarily dyed it black with an artifact."

"Ah, I see."

"Yeah."

Eun-ha approached her.

Ryu Yeon-hwa took off her mask.

Ryu Yeon-hwa pointing to the yellow scrunchie on her wrist.

Eun-ha got a completely different impression from her with black-dyed hair.

Then he noticed.

"Your lips are pretty."

"Ah... You can tell I put on lipstick?"

"How could I not notice? It's so noticeable."

Hair like ebony.

Face like white jade.

And bright red lips.

Eun-ha could tell not only that she had changed her hair, but also that she had put on lipstick.

"I bought it with Eun-ah recently, how is it...?"

"How is it? It looks good."

Ryu Yeon-hwa feeling embarrassed.

Eun-ha who hadn't seen her with makeup much spoke honestly.

Then her face brightened.

"Where did the scrunchie come from?"

"Chang-jin got it for me. When I said I was going to have dinner with you, he got it for me."

"Ah, really?"

For the first time, it seems Han Chang-jin did well.

Eun-ha who momentarily recalled Han Chang-jin soon decided to focus on Ryu Yeon-hwa.

"Noona, are you hungry? Shall we go eat? If we look around here, there should be booths selling food too."

"Yeah, let's do that. Is there anything you want to eat?"

"What about you?"

"Let's eat what you want to eat."

"Pipi pipi papa papa pupu pupu!"

"I told you to stay inside..."

☆

After having dinner nearby.

The two decided to stroll around.

"Sorry, I don't think I can stay long because I have to go somewhere later."

"It's okay. I'm satisfied with having dinner. And I have to go to work tomorrow morning, so I need to leave soon too."

Eun-ha was short on time.

He had to participate in Nodongso soon.

Fortunately, Yeon-hwa didn't mind with a generous heart.

"Tomorrow is the last day, right? The competition."

"That's right. Tomorrow's match is the last."

Eun-ha wearing a mask.

Ryu Yeon-hwa taking off her mask.

The two maintained a distance where their arms almost touched as they looked around.

"Who's the opponent?"

"Eun-hyuk."

"...I see."

Marveling at strange things.

The two conversed.

Soon she who heard that Eun-ha's final opponent tomorrow would be Choi Eun-hyuk muttered softly.

"Aren't you worried about fighting a friend?"

"I fought Min-ho today who's also a friend?"

"Ah..."

"I'm not worried at all. Rather, I'm curious how much they've grown and want to fight them soon."

Ryu Yeon-hwa's worry.

Eun-ha dispelled her worry and burst out laughing.

Honestly, he was really looking forward to battling Choi Eun-hyuk in tomorrow's match.

Since Hoshimiya Kaede, Jin Pa-rang, and Mok Min-ho had shown admirable growth.

Surely Choi Eun-hyuk would show skills that wouldn't lose to them.

Perhaps she read his smile.

Ryu Yeon-hwa spoke kindly.

"─You're happy. That your friends have grown enough to compete with you."

"Of course. They're the kids I've marked to bring into my party? So they should show this much growth."

"The party... Have you decided which clan to join?"

Ryu Yeon-hwa asking in a caring tone.

She tilted her head sideways.

The black hair flowing down in the booth lights seemed to sparkle.

And her lips drew attention.

Eun-ha who unconsciously looked at her lips stopped walking.

"No... I'm still thinking."

Did she perhaps notice?

Eun-ha who came to his senses averted his gaze and spoke calmly.

Then he muttered as if telling himself he was still thinking.

Then─.

"─Actually, I've gotten a grasp, but... I'm not sure yet because I'm not confident. I want to think about it more carefully."

"Is that so?"

Eun-ha spoke his honest feelings.

He had three paths.

One was to create a party without belonging anywhere.

Another was to create a party while belonging to a clan.

And another was to not belong anywhere─.

─Creating my own clan.

Eun-ha recited in his heart.

Among the three paths, there was one he was leaning towards, no, almost certainly leaning towards.

Nevertheless, he couldn't make a decision because he wasn't confident.

While lost in such thoughts─.

"─What if."

"...Huh?"

Suddenly Ryu Yeon-hwa spoke.

Eun-ha awoke from his thoughts hearing Ryu Yeon-hwa's voice.

She was looking straight at him.

"If you create a clan..."

"..."

"Could I join then?"

Ryu Yeon-hwa's confession.

Eun-ha who heard unexpected words couldn't answer for a moment.

He belatedly found his composure.

"...Can I ask why?"

"If you create a clan, Eun-ah will probably try to join there. Actually, when Eun-ah first joined Regulus Clan, she proposed to Clan Lord Gu Yeon-su not to hold her back if she goes to the clan you create as a condition for joining the clan."

"Noona did?"

"Yeah. And I want to continue being in a party with Eun-ah─."

The secret of Noh Eun-ah he heard through her. The story that because of that, she maintained a 7:3 ratio despite being offered an 8:2 settlement ratio.

Eun-ha clicked his tongue inwardly after hearing that.

He thought she was indeed his sister, but also thought wasn't she too soft.

Meanwhile Ryu Yeon-hwa continued speaking.

"─I want to work together with you. Is that... not okay for a reason?"

"..."

Surely the last words that came out were her true feelings.

So Eun-ha listened carefully, but.

Again when completely unexpected words popped out of Ryu Yeon-hwa's mouth, he ended up laughing.

Why does this noona try to lower herself like this?

She was <Snow Spear>.

She was someone who would become <Divine Spear> in the future.

But from when they first met until now, she kept showing behavior that seemed to lower herself.

In a way it was humility.

In a way it was lack of confidence.

Eun-ha couldn't help but feel curious about Ryu Yeon-hwa's appearance.

Above all─.

─Of course I'd welcome someone who will become <Divine Spear>.

Where in the world would there be someone who would refuse Ryu Yeon-hwa?

Eun-ha answered with a satisfied face.

"─Of course. Rather, if that happens, I'd want to beg you even if I have to prostrate myself?"

"...Really?"

"Don't you know how amazing you are, noona?"

"...?"

Ryu Yeon-hwa tilts her head.

Eun-ha burst out laughing again seeing her face that seemed to know nothing.

Soon as if it didn't matter.

Ryu Yeon-hwa also smiled.

☆

"Come to think of it."

It was time to return to the Nodongso booth.

Eun-ha who had escorted Yeon-hwa to the academy main gate looked at her who suddenly opened her mouth as if she remembered something.

"Master said before."

"<Divine Spear>?"

"Yeah."

"What did he say?"

With the threshold between them.

The two met each other's gaze.

She who had now released the magic of the yellow scrunchie had hair reminiscent of blue hydrangeas.

"A very long time ago, someone

"A very long time ago, someone from the Mana Management Bureau came and asked for help in making the championship trophy for the comprehensive division competition."

"Ah, I've heard about that."

Eun-ha responded to her story.

The story of <Divine Spear> Nam Gung Seong-un, a living legend, related to the comprehensive division championship trophy.

It was a story of how students came to take pride in winning the comprehensive division competition.

But there was a hidden story that even Eun-ha didn't know.

"Well... Master said it was boring to just make an ordinary trophy, so he imbued the trophy with magic."

"This is the first I'm hearing of this..."

"As soon as he made it, other people found out and scolded Master. They asked how he could put such magic on a trophy used as a symbol of honor."

"What kind of magic did he imbue it with?"

"It's nothing much..."

Sometimes when listening to Ryu Yeon-hwa's stories.

<Divine Spear>, known as a legendary figure to players, seemed to be a very cheerful person.

Eun-ha smiled bitterly recalling <Divine Spear>'s cheerful image.

Then unable to contain his curiosity, he asked her.

What kind of magic did <Divine Spear> imbue the trophy with that made academy officials keep completely silent about the magic imbued in the championship trophy?

Hearing the story, it wasn't much.

"The trophy is shaped just like a cup, right?"

"Yeah, that's right."

"So if you pour alcohol into the trophy and coat the trophy surface with internal mana, it becomes cool alcohol due to the power of <Ice Flower>."

"Huh?"

"So the winner can drink extremely cool alcohol..."

"Huh..."

"And the trophy is really big, right? The reason Master made it so big was with the meaning that since the competition is over, share it with everyone you fought together with..."

Ryu Yeon-hwa feeling embarrassed.

Eun-ha just listened quietly.

He could understand why academy officials thoroughly hid the story.

"So did you do that, noona?"

"No... How could I do such a thing with the championship trophy."

Shaking her head.

Ryu Yeon-hwa shook her head.

Eun-ha made a face saying "I thought so" and drooped his shoulders.

"But you know... Thinking about it now, it doesn't seem bad to make one last memory like that. So I feel a bit regretful."

Ryu Yeon-hwa's advice.

Eun-ha looked at her who had won the comprehensive division competition all 3 years.

Actually, she didn't have many academy classmates she kept in touch with besides Eun-ah and Chang-jin.

Though she didn't say it.

Eun-ha who knew <Divine Spear> in his previous life knew well.

So he could tell she was giving him honest advice.

"─Thank you. I'll drink with everyone if I get the chance."

"Okay."

To Eun-ha's answer.

Ryu Yeon-hwa responded.

Soon she asked.

"By the way."

"Yeah. What?"

"You haven't told me until now, but what are you going to do when you go back?"

"Ah..."

Ryu Yeon-hwa's question.

Eun-ha groaned briefly.

Actually, she had repeatedly glanced at him and asked what role he played in the cultural festival.

Each time, Eun-ha avoided answering.

And he had added:

'─I'll tell you when you go home, noona.'

Ryu Yeon-hwa seemed to have kept remembering that answer.

Eun-ha smiled bitterly.

"It's nothing much..."

"Okay."

"There's this thing called Nodongso, where the kids planned a request agency where 3rd year students solve requests."

"Nodongso? Request agency?"

"It's where employers hire 3rd year students through an auction, in other words, receive service."

"..."

"Somehow I ended up going out to auction too..."

"...!"

Eun-ha didn't want to say it.

He reluctantly informed her and let out an awkward laugh.

Regardless, Ryu Yeon-hwa─.

"─If you're won at auction, can you do anything?"

"I guess so...? I have to obey the employer's orders unconditionally until dawn. Well, of course weird orders aren't allowed."

"Weird orders..."

As if hit by a hammer.

Ryu Yeon-hwa suddenly muttered.

Soon her face turned red at a rapid pace.

Why does this noona's face keep turning red these days?

What could she be thinking?

Eun-ha felt puzzled watching her who seemed to have fallen into some imagination.

She came to her senses and─.

"─I didn't bring much money..."

As if suddenly realizing something.

She visibly deflated.

"...I'll get going now."

"Okay... Take care."

Eun-ha saw off Ryu Yeon-hwa who muttered in a gloomy tone.