〈 Episode 129 〉 Putting Wishes into This Paper and Words.
*
“So, Gongja, what did we decide to name our team?”
“Team name?”
It’s essential to submit a team name to register for the tournament.
It can give your team identity and help claim the psychological edge over opponents.
As I was pondering a team name, Jeong Ahyeon suddenly spoke up as if asking for my thoughts.
“Originally, a martial artist can be seen as a kind of god (？？) who cultivates the mind (？？).”
“Really?”
“And someone skilled in warfare (兵馬) who always hones himself is also referred to as a person (子).”
Jeong Ahyeon was throwing out various ideas with some fancy characters.
After thinking for a while, I announced the ultimate team name.
“How about ‘Insane Martial Artist’ (精神病者)? It encompasses all those meanings.”
“That’s not even the right character!”
“Should I shorten it to ‘Crazy Martial Artist’ (정병)?”
“That’s not the fucking issue here!!”
While Jeong Ahyeon was stamping her feet, I started considering another idea.
Someone who excels in warfare might also be called a god.
The god of war.
That sounds beautiful.
If expressed in two characters…
“How about ‘God of Warfare’ (병신)?”
“God of the whole universe! God of martial arts! God of the duel! And why of all terms choose that one!”
‘Isn’t it a good meaning?’
[Idiot.］
‘Suddenly I feel like shit. Truly a top-tier instructor.’
Then Jeong Ahyeon sighed deeply and unapologetically revealed her desire.
“I expected better from you, Gongja. Just use the word Cheonma.”
“Your level deserves Cheonma?…What a shameless wish.”
“Shut up.”
Jeong Ahyeon briefly averted her gaze.
“Can I just make it up? What if you can’t handle it?”
“Anyway, your mental state cannot be influenced by any mind changes I throw at you.”
This punk?
“Don’t regret it.”
“Hmph. Make sure to use that thick skull of yours.”
You’re dead.
“So I can just quickly jot it down and submit it?”
“Do as you please.”
With that, Jeong Ahyeon took off.
I headed to the reception area temporarily set up for the tournament.
A woman with deep dark circles around her eyes was forcefully fending off the relentless waves of applicants while gulping down energy drinks.
She noticed my approach and raised her head, asking in a soulless voice.
“Are you here to register?”
“Yes.”
“Please write down your team name and the number of participants for me.”
Then the woman handed me a piece of paper.
It was filled with names of numerous participants and various team names.
While casually browsing, I spotted a familiar name.
[Wow, Hyeji and Elcia are on the same team.］
‘We’re screwed, for real. We can’t beat them.’
Despite being in the middle, Hyeji and Elcia’s names stood out significantly.
Particularly, the team name was very impressive.
[…It’s not an empty compliment.］
‘For fuck’s sake, this is terrifying.’
A name of a strong team that only someone backed by Hyeji could use.
I spotted Caressy’s name as well, and it seems she formed a combination with a name I didn’t recognize.
Since the team name was written, it could be she teamed up with a Cat Beastman.
[…That has the same name as that ominous movie.］
‘Don’t say it. I’m about to feel like shit suddenly.’
In an instant, my enlightenment meter began to peak.
I needed to focus hard to quell the rising nightmare.
One lucky Jelly Cat had found the peace of death, but those of us not chosen had to unfortunately keep living.
Before being trapped in that situation, I hurriedly wrote down Jeong Ahyeon and my name and the team name.
As required by Jeong Ahyeon, it was an intense team name containing Cheonma.
After a while, confirming the team name, Jeong Ahyeon grabbing my collar would happen a bit later.
Finally done with my business, just as I was about to leave, a reception staff stopped me.
She suddenly handed me a small piece of paper.
“What’s this?”
“If you read it, you’ll understand.”
The paper was indeed something I had been yearning for.
It was like a ray of light in the darkness.
Without a moment’s hesitation, I began to write down my thoughts like flowing water.
Putting all my wishes into it.
*
In the second year of the academy, unlike the first year, we are given free time in the afternoon to do anything.
Usually for two reasons.
The first is to prepare for the tournament integrated with the final exam and to conduct preliminary rounds.
The second is to find guilds to sponsor us during that free time.
That is the ultimate goal of the second year’s afternoon classes.
So it seems that from the second year onward, students actively seek guild sponsors unlike in the first year.
Of course, it’s not mandatory to get a sponsor.
However, it’s a huge difference between landing a job right after graduation or enduring the hellish job-seeking life.
Moreover, receiving sponsorship from a guild at the academy means one can afford a lavish life at the academy.
That’s why nowadays the meta for students demands to seek guild support as somewhat essential.
In such cases, guilds typically reach out ahead of time to secure promising candidates.
“Damn it, why is it only me that hasn’t been contacted?”
In my case, that didn’t apply.
Though I didn’t cause any major incidents compared to what would happen, guilds were unusually hesitant to reach out to me.
I think it was mainly due to the violent situation where Hyeji and I slaughtered every monster there was.
But that’s not the whole story.
Because Hyeji received love calls from almost every guild.
“Hyeji! Please hear us out about our guild’s terms!”
“We’ll offer the best conditions ever!”
“We’ll give you two high-grade 풍유환 each month!”
“This is our guild’s self-developed ‘풍유환MK3’! No woman has left without a bigger bust from this!”
“Don’t kid! With those conditions, how can you compete? All the women in our guild are A-cup or smaller!”
“We’ll cover all breast enhancement surgery costs in full!”
So Hyeji received a mountain of business cards and documents.
I approached a few of those guild salespeople who contacted Hyeji.
“Cracked Pistol! Cracked Pistol!!”
“That’s the punk the guild leader talked about! Run!”
“Bad luck just got piled on! Fuck!”
“Ptoo!”
And they all ran away.
I could only stare despondently at that scene.
“Damn it, really.”
Meanwhile, Hyeji was proudly presenting the mountain of business cards and papers piled on her desk.
Trying to appear calm, but she couldn’t help the smile creeping up at the corners of her mouth.
“Ugh, even idiots are reaching out now. I don’t need these~.”
“Stop bragging, you fucking bitch.”
[Ahh…this is what they call ‘envy.’］
‘Shut up, fuck.’
Elcia also received quite a few love calls, not as many as Hyeji but still a significant amount.
Since her ability is inherently utilitarian, it was only natural for various guilds to take interest.
Meanwhile, Jeong Ahyeon was burying her head on the desk, her hair in a mess.
“Yo, Jeong Ahyeon. What’s up with you?”
“It’s fucked… the Martial Artist Guild said they won’t sponsor me.”
From her words, it seemed the last report was so poorly explained that she got scolded a lot and now couldn’t even receive sponsorship.
I patted Jeong Ahyeon on the shoulder to console her.
“You’re unemployed too, right? We’re all comrades here.”
“Shut up!!!”
But I found myself in a hopeless situation with no sponsorship.
In the end, if no one comes to me, I have to go to them.
With a gloomy expression, I began activating the gate at the academy.
When I did, Elcia, who had followed out of curiosity, looked shocked as she stared at me.
“Master! If you go to the guild now, it’ll be a big deal—”
Before Elcia could finish her sentence, I stepped into the gate.
The target location was the largest guild in a symbiotic relationship with the academy.
As I entered the guild, numerous people were seen, but they all avoided my gaze as if they were afraid of someone.
Trying to ignore the unknown sense of unease, I immediately went to a receptionist as soon as I stepped in.
“What brings you here?”
“I’m here regarding sponsorship.”
“Okay, just a moment.”
The receptionist pulled out some documents from below and handed them to me.
“Please fill in the highlighted sections of these documents.”
“Sure, I’ll do it quickly.”
I began filling out the received documents.
Name, gender, age, rank, etc.
It was more information than I expected.
Finally, after writing down my family details including Choco Hyung, I handed the document back to the receptionist.
The receptionist began reading the document but suddenly stopped, her eyes wide.
“Is your name Kim Shinwoo?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“…Please wait a moment.”
The receptionist suddenly adopted a serious expression and started contacting someone.
After a brief phone call, the receptionist spoke to me with a bewildered look.
“The guild leader wants to see you in person.”
“Right now? That sounds good. Where should I go?”
“Go up to the third floor through the staircase at the back.”
‘Finally, someone recognizes my value.’
[Be careful. I have a bad feeling about this.］
As I climbed the stairs to the third floor, I saw a door lavishly decorated with flowers and trees as if it were announced that the guild leader resided there.
When I knocked on the door and heard a female voice inviting me in, I barged in.
Upon entering, the sight before me was a guild leader’s office decorated like a small arboretum.
And sitting at a modern desk by the window was a woman who seemed out of place.
She had long green hair and youthful beauty.
‘Fuck, it’s an Ear Goblin? She’s a High Elf!’
[Isn’t it better to run away now?］
‘Not at all! I have nothing to be afraid of or to feel guilty about.’
Long ears indicated her High Elf status, and earrings signifying that hung from her right ear.
“Please take a seat.”
“Sure.”
I sat in the chair the guild leader pointed to, and the female Elf looked at me and smiled softly.
“Do you know why I called you?”
“You want to have an interview in person?”
“Well, you got half of it right.”
Then the guild leader manipulated something and displayed an image on a screen next to her.
“You know what this is, right?”
“Damn…”
The screen vividly showed my image alongside the brilliantly burning World Tree.
The guild leader erased her gentle smile and suddenly took on a sinister expression as if looking at an enemy.
“Die!!! The enemy of the World Tree!!”
Out of nowhere, she threw a dagger.
*
