The audience seats of the first arena.
Among them, Artura, sitting in the special seat along with the professors and other officials, stared intently at the hologram that had popped up before her.
▶ Lee Ha-yul: Got it (5 weeks ago)
…
▶ Lee Ha-yul: Yes, I will be back safely (4 weeks ago)
…
▶ Lee Ha-yul: I’ll do well in the finals! (just now)
▶ Lee Ha-yul: (emoji of a puppy standing on two legs saluting) (just now)
The hologram displayed the text history with Lee Ha-yul.
A message that had just arrived moments ago, with past messages scrolling on top of it.
She flicked her finger, skimming through the past texts again, then back to the latest one.
The tone of the messages changed distinctly from top to bottom, a change that felt explicit even in written form.
If she had to evaluate it, the once stiff tone had relaxed and softened.
Artura let out a small snicker. It didn’t feel bad at all. It was, in fact, a delightful change.
Compared to the past, when there had been some distance despite his looks, the current approach of pretending to be cute and spoiled was quite satisfying.
His attitude towards training wasn’t poor either. He was a lovable student who gave his all at every moment, eager to learn and understand more.
Which mentor wouldn’t be pleased with such a student? Probably none, except for those whose brains had completely fried.
Just as she was thinking that and chuckling to herself, someone plopped down beside her.
“Ugh… I’m dying…”
The groggy voice soaked in fatigue made Artura glance over.
Jet-black hair cascading past her waist and green eyes peeking from half-closed eyelids.
She felt an enormous magical presence even without looking closely.
It was Liana Velus.
“Didn’t you say you couldn’t make it because you’re busy?”
She was a figure currently rolling around with mid-term assessments in full swing.
After all, she was the professor teaching the rarely attended spirit arts course.
To think she was also in charge of creating and evaluating the mid-term assessments in the same year she became a professor… no wonder she was drowning in work.
That’s probably why she was whining about not being able to drink alcohol, something she loved so much.
Among those Artura knew, no one could rival Liana in being a heavy drinker. She hadn’t been able to drink for days, or even weeks, so it must be stressing her out tremendously.
“It’s not that—I mean, I wouldn’t be drinking because of that.”
“?”
Liana shook her head.
Artura turned her head to look at Liana.
Her eyes conveyed a question about the texts sent lamenting the lack of alcohol every few days.
Liana interpreted the look and shook her head again.
“It’s not because of the mid-term assessments, but because of Lee Ha-yul.”
Artura paused at the suddenly mentioned name and nodded.
“…why’s that?”
“Why? You saw it then. Just smelling the remnants of that cleaned-up alcohol makes the match start.”
Artura scrunched her face at that.
At that moment, she recalled the day she had been deeply shocked by her past self, who had learned nothing from past disasters…
That made sense.
After that shock, Artura hadn’t touched a single cigarette either.
That had been shocking enough for Artura to maintain a stance of not letting emotions interfere.
If such a thing were to occur now…
If Lee Ha-yul faced Artura and grimaced in disgust…
‘Eew…’
Just imagining it made her head spin. Her heart felt frozen, as if it might shatter into pieces.
This time Artura might actually faint too…
The reason for her temporary abstinence from alcohol… she could understand it.
But there were also parts that felt odd. Perhaps a touch dissatisfied?
Artura, glancing sideways at Liana, who stretched her hand skyward, said:
“…if it’s that stressful, wouldn’t it be better to just drink?”
“If I drink, I’ll just end up being hated by Lee Ha-yul.”
“Just drink and be hated.”
“You make it sound so easy… Ah.”
Tsking, Liana suddenly exclaimed as if struck by a thought.
“After the mid-term assessments, I plan to focus on teaching Lee Ha-yul spirit arts during the break… what do you think about that as his mentor?”
“Spirit arts…”
Artura let out an unusual hum. She had heard ages ago that Lee Ha-yul had spirit affinity.
And not mediocre levels, but rather an abnormal affinity for nearly all attributes.
That was something Liana had asserted, as one of the few who excelled in spirit arts. With that level of talent, it would obviously be good to cultivate it.
Was Lee Ha-yul some half-hearted talent? He had inherent abilities that allowed him to learn and utilize alongside martial arts and magic as a prodigious student.
Learning was definitely the right choice. Although Artura was not a spirit arts teacher herself, her experiences working alongside spirit mages on the front lines made her understand just how helpful spirit arts could be.
Learning was indeed the way.
Despite knowing all of this…
“…it would be wise to learn.”
Why did she feel a twinge of dissatisfaction in some corner of her mind?
[A short while later, the first match of the tournament’s finals is set to begin.]
[Lee Ha-yul, Baek Ahrin. Both contestants, please take the stage.]
Just as Artura was wearing an enigmatic expression, the announcement echoed once again.
The two adjusted their stances and turned their focus.
Everyone sitting in the special seats did the same. Among those present, there was not a single person who wasn’t excited for this match.
The audience below felt the same way.
Fellow students and their families looked on, eager to witness the potential of the next generation.
Industry officials were present to glimpse the rising stars.
All eyes turned to the central stage. More precisely, to the corridors on both sides of the stage.
*
After a brief waiting period, they walked down the corridor as per the broadcast.
The softly glowing lights on the ceiling contrasted starkly with the dark space leading to the stage.
Stepping over the line between light and darkness.
As soon as she crossed the line drawn on the floor…
– Waaah!
A roar of cheers poured into her ears, a sound she had never experienced before in the preliminaries. Her legs almost froze at the unexpected reaction, but she naturally straightened them out.
Even as she crossed the stage, the noise that vibrated through the building persisted.
There was no need to activate her observation powers. Just using a bit of her senses made it impossible not to feel it.
The multitude of gazes pierced her, palpable as a wind hitting her whole body.
The clamor was loud enough that if she didn’t calibrate her hearing, she might hear ringing in her ears, with the vibrations beneath her feet reminiscent of numerous aftershocks.
All that attention focused on her. Among them were fellow students like her, and upperclassmen she had never even seen before.
She even spotted Aiden and Atilla, who she was somewhat acquainted with… and Elia as well.
Elia was chatting with unfamiliar people on either side…
Perched on Elia’s lap was the sullen little girl she had met in Sifnara.
She had heard that the child was safe, but seeing her healthy without a scratch brought a bit of relief.
The people sitting beside her appeared to be middle-aged men and women, which led Artura to assume they were her family, as Elia had mentioned.
There were also members who looked affiliated with the guild and a scout for a private clan, as well as others with eager faces, determined to capture a few more snippets of information.
Yet all those countless gazes felt more like a burden rather than a source of motivation.
If it had been the beginning of the semester, she might have felt her heart drop to her knees.
Of course, by now, she had adjusted and was free of those thoughts.
The discomfort and tension had merged into a familiar calm, as if anticipating a battle.
Emotions held no benefits in a fight. They might help manifest unique abilities, but they were less useful during the battle itself.
– Thud
While trying to regulate her feelings, she sensed a presence striding purposefully toward the stage.
In one hand, she held a standard spear.
Her long, blue hair tied back and a gentle smile on her face.
The heir of the Changhae Clan, first-year top student Baek Ahrin.
As she stepped onto the stage, cheers erupted once more.
Baek Ahrin didn’t look tense at all; she simply waved to the audience with a cheerful grin.
She stopped in the center of the stage, and I stood facing her with a comfortable distance in between.
[The first match of the tournament finals is starting the countdown.]
[60, 59, 58…]
57─! 56─! 55─!
As the mechanical voice reverberated through magic, the audience began counting down along with it.
“Ha-yul.”
Just when I was doing my final checks, Baek Ahrin, who was also preparing, suddenly spoke up.
“Isn’t it a bit boring to just spar like this?”
“?”
I tilted my head, unsure of her meaning. I wasn’t wearing the charm of confession.
Seeing my reaction, Baek Ahrin smiled brightly and continued.
“I was thinking we could make a simple bet to boost our competitive spirits.”
‘Boost our competitive spirits…’
It wasn’t anything too strange. It was common among friends to place bets on the outcome while sparring.
Baek Ahrin continued smiling sweetly. Her face exuded positivity and gentleness, devoid of any malice.
‘Manifest, Observation Power.’
I finely tuned my observation power.
Observation (觀測): To observe and measure phenomena, conditions, progress, and changes.
Narrowing the scope, intensifying the information density.
I observed Baek Ahrin, scrutinizing her smiling face.
…Beyond the ‘mask’ covering her face.
I could hardly sense a hint of emotion in her true expression, which was devoid of any emotion.
‘……’
Typically, the expression “wearing a mask” is not used positively.
It often refers to a schemer hiding their true intentions while fabricating falsehoods.
My perception of Baek Ahrin had been one of a schemer.
She had the intellect and wisdom for it. She knew how to trick opponents without much effort and had the ability to assess situations to predict the future.
The way she treated me was akin to actions taken while wearing that mask.
However, there was also a sense of sincerity in her actions.
It felt as though a mixture of falsehood and truth coexisted within her as she tried to befriend and provide me conveniences.
That was what made it truly confusing.
A moment of contemplation. Before long, the countdown dropped below thirty.
– Nod
I nodded my head. At my acknowledgment, Baek Ahrin cheered up even more, her smile brightening.
“What shall we bet on, though? How about a simple wish as the stake?”
– Nod
“Mhm! Sounds great!”
I nodded again. The countdown fell below ten.
9─! 8─!
Phew… Letting out a breath filled with anticipation, I prepared myself.
7─!
Getting ready to act the moment the countdown ended.
6─!
“I’ll tell you my wish ahead of time.”
5─!
‘Suddenly?’
4─!
As she adjusted her stance, Baek Ahrin casually mentioned this.
3─!
“If I win…”
2─!
With a mischievous smile stretching her lips, she continued.
1─!
“I’ll take your whole day, Ha-yul.”
‘?’
[Evaluation begins!]
That significant smile and tone.
The audience’s roars followed the mechanical voice announcing the start.
A fierce current surged just before me.
‘…!’
I turned my head. Crash! A torrent of water suddenly slammed into the area where my face had been just a moment ago, crashing violently against the back wall.
Baek Ahrin waved her hand. The torrent of water, swaying a bit, lashed out wildly like a whip.
As I pressed into the ground, the water narrowly grazed my body, slamming harshly into the floor and walls.
Crash! The walls, coated with water pressure, eroded away. Particles of magic and technique scattered, and marks were etched into the walls.
It was a wall that I thought would be difficult to mark with even considerable force.
“Ha! Since I got a hint… I’m going all out, of course!”
In utter bewilderment, I gathered my magic.
Baek Ahrin, clearly amused by my appearance, raised her spear, gripping it tightly with both hands.
The spear tip aimed downwards naturally pressed into the ground.
Boom! The spear tip sliced through the earth as if cutting through tofu. Part of the spear was buried deep into the ground.
– Drip…
Suddenly, droplets formed at the revealed spear shaft, trickling down the spear tip and seeping into the ground.
And then…
– Splash!
A burst of blue water erupted from where the spear tip had stabbed into the earth. It took mere moments for a puddle to form beneath Baek Ahrin.
A small puddle, yet I could distinctly feel the overt energy dampening my skin.
The blatant release of water energy. Additionally, the rapidly swelling intensity of her unique ability…
‘No.’
That motion was pretty familiar. Thus, I understood exactly what kind of technique it was. It was even more astonishing to realize this.
– ROAR!
The puddle exploded. From the ground where the spear tip had stabbed, a vast amount of water burst forth like a geyser.
Droplets turned back into puddles.
Once again, from those puddles arose a tidal wave, enough to mockingly consume several people.
Her unique ability, Changhae (滄海).
An expanding ability.
‘Tsunami (海溢).’
The ground beneath my feet was engulfed in a dark shadow.
And then, a blue tidal wave surged to devour the shadow.
*
[Player Compensation System: Favorability]
Lee Ha-yul → Baek Ahrin
●●●●●○○○○○ (56▷57/100)
‘Favor’ ‘Suspicion’ ‘Confusion’ ‘Guessing’ ‘Sly’
Support me by donating at least $10, and you'll have the right to request any novel from Novelpia (excluding 19+ content) using a newly developed tool.
