< Chapter 106: Entangled (1) >
There were no classes that day. To be precise, it was a day reserved for substitute classes.
[Ranking Match 14th Place Kang Seo-yul VS 83rd Place Ki Min-sung]
It was a rare day when I had a ranking match.
“Seo-yul, fight on.”
“Master, take care.”
“I’ll be back soon.”
I had left the waiting room, receiving farewells from Si-yeon and Jia.
It had been a long time since I had been to the Colosseum. Regular ranking matches had been frequently canceled due to various incidents. Unless it was my own ranking match or a significant game, I didn’t even consider coming to watch.
“Hmm.”
As I walked toward the Colosseum, it felt different. Last time, I had been the challenger; now, I was the one being challenged. It felt strange.
I had risen from the 498th rank to the 14th. I felt quite proud.
After passing through the corridor, I stepped into the brightly lit Colosseum interior.
“Wooaaah!”
“Kang Seo-yul is handsome!”
The first thing I heard was the cheer from the audience. Familiar voices were interspersed.
“Check the camera one last time!”
“Don’t get distracted; he’s a top prospect!”
Even voices from industry insiders could be heard.
At first, it had been somewhat burdensome, but now it was a little enjoyable. Some celebrity had once said that attention and popularity were addictive drugs.
“Indeed. Curious.”
I walked slowly toward the center of the Colosseum. My opponent, who had already arrived, was glaring at me with a tense face.
His expression did not reveal a desire for victory, yet there was a determined look.
“Aha.”
Although it would be tough to win, I had to show my best to the stakeholders present. That was the thought.
A rational decision. Ki Min-sung would have a hard time beating me anyway.
He was a C-rank spearman with average skills, no match for me. A single Wind Path would probably finish him off.
“Although it’s a rational thought…”
It was a shallow one. With that mindset, how could one expect a good performance?
“Contestants, please check your equipment one last time.”
The referee, a faculty member, instructed us as we took our positions. We lightly checked our duel equipment.
“System check complete. Contestants, to your positions.”
We moved to our positions after all safety checks in the Colosseum were complete.
“Let the regular ranking match begin!”
With the referee’s cry, a hologram message appeared at the center.
[Regular Ranking Match Start]
[10]
So, shall I wrap this up quickly and go rest?
I drew the dagger hanging from my waist. The scenery around me changed. The Path of Wind unfolded.
In this world sensed by wind rather than sight, I felt Ki Min-sung’s frail fighting spirit. It seemed he had no intention of winning.
[9]
Class for today was over. The afternoon was also full of ranking matches, but attendance was optional.
I should win quickly and learn magic usage from the princess.
I assumed a running stance, lowering my center.
That’s when it happened.
A chill ran down my spine. Goosebumps covered my body; I trembled and cold sweat formed on my forehead.
…What is this?
It felt like the wind was wailing. As if screaming to run away, to not be in this place.
[8, 7]
Something dark was felt from the audience seats. An unknown, tangible terror seemed to envelop me.
I turned my head.
[6]
“…!”
The moment I confirmed that dark something, the color drained from my face.
The wind was screaming. An overwhelming charisma, an oppressive aura that made those who looked at it instinctively want to kneel.
Such things took human form, like a monster.
It was certain. No other being could emit such energy.
…Unknown.
The savior of truth, boss Unknown. He was staring from the opposite end of the audience seats, as if nothing could be more amusing, with a smile.
* * *
“Kang Seo-yul…why are you acting like that…”
“Well…”
Maiden and Yu Hwa, who had postponed their work to watch Kang Seo-yul’s ranked match, had been staring at Kang Seo-yul, who had turned his head away.
From the stands where the two were sitting, they couldn’t see the face of Kang Seo-yul, who had turned his head. This was because he was looking directly at the opposite side of the stands where Yu Hwa and Maiden were standing.
However, they didn’t need to see his face to know. Kang Seo-yul was tense. The usually calm aura around him was completely absent.
“Is there something about the opponent?”
“I’m not sure. As far as I can see, he’s just an ordinary cadet ranked 83rd.”
“That’s what I’m saying.”
To Maiden and Yu Hwa, the 83rd-ranked opponent seemed like an ordinary cadet. That ‘Kang Seo-yul’ would be tense in front of such an opponent? It seemed impossible.
[1]
[Start!]
The ranked match began before that question was resolved.
“His movements are good, aren’t they?”
The agile lunge of the 83rd-ranked opponent, who rushed in as soon as the match started, was effortlessly dodged.
The epitome of simplicity.
It was a beautiful move within a step and a half.
“Wow.”
“Oh.”
Exclamations burst from all sides.
A series of lunges flowed into slashes. Slashes initiated upward strikes.
He evaded all of these as smoothly as flowing water.
The skill gap was overwhelmingly obvious to anyone watching.
“Those are certainly not novice moves.”
“Are we filming this with a special camera? Calculate his speed.”
“We’re continuously filming. Based on maximum speed, it’s roughly D-rank.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes. I’m certain.”
The mouths of the surrounding industry professionals were gradually opening wider.
“That’s unbelievable.”
“Still, there’s a limit to a D-rank. There’s a possibility he won’t grow any further…”
Jealous murmurs could occasionally be heard.
“You fool. Kang Seo-yul’s physical stats were F-rank two months ago. That means he’s jumped two ranks in two months. And you say he’s stopped growing? Speak some sense.”
“Could be that he’s used bonus points in advance to maximize his market value due to the attention he’s getting…”
“Nah. That’s unlikely.”
The man snorted.
“The master of Cadet Kang Seo-yul is Pi Jin Ho.”
“Weaponmaster’s husband, you mean?”
“Yes. There’s no way he’d let him make such a stupid mistake as his master. Besides, he wouldn’t have taken him as a disciple in the first place if Kang Seo-yul had no potential.”
As he watched Kang Seo-yul’s exquisite dagger skills, the man was impressed.
Similar conversations were happening all around them.
“Why is he so tense?”
“He doesn’t have his usual sharpness.”
However, Maiden and Yu Hwa were different. They had been observing Kang Seo-yul’s movements more deeply than anyone else, so they noticed the subtle differences.
“Is he not feeling well?”
“Could he have caught a cold? Or something happened in Gangneung…”
“Could be.”
To Maiden and Yu Hwa, Kang Seo-yul’s condition seemed to be at its worst that day.
“Well, he still seems overwhelmingly likely to win.”
“Yes, the opponent is no match.”
The two carefully observed Kang Seo-yul’s movements.
Although his usual poise and sharpness were missing, his precision was still present. It was as if he was anticipating the opponent’s moves and moving in advance, creating an illusion of graceful movements.
“How much power is that kid hiding?”
The more they watched, the more the disparity between his skill level and stats became evident.
What kind of moves would he show if Kang Seo-yul actually had stats to match the skills he was currently displaying? It was unimaginable.
“Well, he’s good enough to beat an amateur on his own.”
It was at that moment that Yu Hwa mumbled. Kang Seo-yul’s movements changed.
“Oh, his movements are back to normal?”
“Seems so.”
Kang Seo-yul’s poise had returned. His already overwhelming advantage began to tilt even faster in his favor.
About 5 minutes passed in this way.
“He won.”
[WINNER Kang Seo-yul]
There were no surprises.
* * *
“Officer Candidate Kim Min-sung will be dealt with by the disciplinary committee. Officer Candidate Kang Seo-yul can return to the waiting room.”
“Yes.”
I replied appropriately and shifted my gaze back to the audience seats.
Unknown had already disappeared.
After the ranking match began, at some point, the dark aura that had been choking me vanished. Presumably because Unknown had left his seat.
Still, with my heart pounding, I forcibly calmed myself down and took deep breaths.
“Unbelievable.”
Why had Unknown shown up here? And what was that aura? How could he emit such a crazy energy?
Of course, I was well aware of Unknown’s strength.
He was the ultimate powerhouse in Part 1, someone even seven executives of the ‘Saviors of Truth’ wouldn’t dare to challenge together. That was Unknown.
I knew, but…
Reading about it in a novel and facing it directly were two different things. It was shocking.
I didn’t feel I could win, not even by one percent.
Actually, it was obvious.
If I were to objectively evaluate my own strength, it would probably be around B to A rank. And that’s when using ancient artifacts.
If I used top-tier artifacts like Lucifer’s Lance, I could reach a strength comparable to S rank but only for about a minute.
But that was it.
Compared to Unknown’s strength, it was merely a drop in the bucket. One minute was far too short a time.
“No, that’s not what’s important right now.”
I knew from the start that I couldn’t compete with Unknown. The problem was why he appeared here in the first place. At first, I was shocked, thinking he had come for me. But observing the situation, it seemed that was not the case.
“The opposite side of the audience seats.”
Unknown had definitely been looking at the audience seats located directly opposite from where he stood.
Recalling where Unknown had been looking, I gazed at that section of the audience seats.
“Maiden and Yu-hwa were giving me strange looks.”
“No way.”
Hermit’s words came to my mind. He had said that the current target of the ‘Saviors of Truth’ was Yu-hwa.
“Could it be that Unknown moved personally to capture Yu-hwa?”
My eyes trembled wildly.
* * *
I quickly ran out of the waiting room and contacted Maiden.
[You were in the audience seats. Where are you now?]
The reply came instantly.
[I’m at Byul Dabang (Star Cafe). Why?]
Byul Dabang was a cafe near the Colosseum. I kept texting while running.
[I’m coming right now.]
[You’re coming? We’re about to leave though.]
[I just want to see you for a moment.]
Fortunately, it seemed nothing had happened yet. Even if it was Unknown, it looked like he had no intention of making a move in the middle of this busy downtown area.
[Oh my, since when did our little one become so considerate?]
[Hey, aren’t I the icon of consideration?]
[Stop kidding.]
Even as I exchanged playful texts, my face had turned rigid. The mere thought that Unknown was in this space filled me with dread.
My steps quickened.
[Anyway, got it. Also, bring some Melona (ice cream) when you come.]
I was about to reply when,
Thud-
“Ah!”
“Whoa.”
I collided with someone, as I had been too focused on moving quickly to pay attention to what was in front of me.
“I’m sorry.”
First, I bowed my head. A man wearing a hood and hat deeply pulled over his face returned a kind smile. The hat was pulled so far down, I couldn’t see above his nose.
“I should be the one apologizing. Here.”
The man picked up my dropped smartphone and handed it to me.
“Here you go. You dropped this.”
As he looked up, the man stared directly into my eyes and smiled.
“!”
The moment I recognized the man’s face, my body stiffened.
Hidden behind that friendly smile were predatory eyes, black pupils that seemed to scan the depths of my soul.
“Officer Candidate Kang Seo-yul, right? I enjoyed watching your ranking match earlier.”
My heart pounded violently.
“You’re quite skilled, haha.”
Whether he recognized my face was not important.
A man whose menacing aura alone could be considered pure evil, whose identity was confirmed by the power emanating from him.
A man of unfathomable strength.
Unknown was looking at me and smiling.
< Chapter 106: Entangled (1) > End.
