Episode 72

All things ended in the late evening.

I put my hand in my pocket and walked out.

The cold that gradually subsided made me think that spring was not far off.

“Phew…”

It was truly a series of stormy events.
How should I put it?
Should I say the scale got too big?

‘Suddenly a Guild Leader, the <Association>, and <Dragon Sword Mir>… it’s been overwhelming.’

Well, it was natural, if you think about it.
They didn’t find any anomalies or signs on Meowi and me.

After firmly confirming this, it was reported to the Association.

Now, no one would doubt or criticize us.

Additionally, I heard a short piece of news.
The Guild Leader named Noh Kyung-wan was immediately dismissed a few hours later.

‘They said she even went to prison…’

It seemed there were many shady activities she did behind the scenes.

That was simply because everyone kept quiet, hidden under the identity of the Guild Leader.

It was only natural, as no one would leave a fallen and powerless person alone, especially with the surrounding hyenas.

When I came out after another examination, Su Ok-bin, the Guild Leader, was nowhere to be seen.

Instead, there was a message left behind.

―This is my small token of sincerity in this matter. Of course, I don’t intend to cover your mouth with this…

*Please look forward to it~*♡

The small token of sincerity was money.
Exactly one billion won was deposited into my account.

I handed 500 million won to our Meowi, who was determined not to accept it.

‘Anyway, is this the end of it?’

It seemed I could finally focus entirely on my Academy life.

It was only then that such thoughts came to mind.

I am really…

“…powerless.”
“Oh? You were here?”

I was setting the mood, gazing at the night sky.

Ju Na-young, holding a beer can in her hand, approached.

“It’s a bit hot, so I came out for a walk. Where are the other two?”
“Ma Hana fell asleep, murmuring… and Moon Bora… you saw her earlier.”

Now that everything was over, we were gathered for a drinking party.

Drinking after such an occasion was practically a tradition.

Ah, if there was something unexpected, it was Moon Bora.
The Moon Bora I knew had a dog-like appetite and an extremely strong tolerance for alcohol.

But she was the first one to pass out.

―Moon Bora, stop drinking.
―I’m sorry. Mister Yu Seha. I’m a fool. An idiot… Why did I doubt you…? sob… But I-I did my best. This time… I tried to give advice that would help Mister Yu Seha and Miss Ma Hana as much as possible. Professor Peng Jin-ah also… did her best… uuurgh!
―No, it is fine. Stop drinking now…

The next was our Meowi.

―Meow~
―Meowi? You alright?
―Meow, meow, meow~ meow ~
―Yes, yes, you had a hard time. You were quite worried, right? Because things had suddenly turned serious.
―Meeeeooooowww!
―Right, right. There are no more people there to harass us. You just need to focus on your Academy life now.
―Meow~

“Yah, Yu Seha. That was amazing… To me, it was all just the same ‘meow’ but you could interpret what it meant like a skilled man?”

“Well, I guess it’s because we’ve spent so many years together.”

“…A-anyone would think you have been together for several years.”

Several years…
Well, it had definitely been five years for me.

Anyway.
I didn’t intend to, but the timing felt perfect.
It was unexpectedly difficult to be alone like this.

“Ju Na-young.”
“Huh? What? Want a sip of beer–”
“Thank you.”

I bowed my head to her at a 90-degree angle.
Then, Ju Na-young scratched her cheek in embarrassment.

“…Wh-what’s with you all of a sudden?”

“I could never have wrapped this up so well on my own, no matter what.”

I meant it.

With no influence, and no overwhelming power, could I have kept Meowi safe from someone in a high position like Noh Kyung-wan?

‘…Impossible.’

Power and influence…
I was inexperienced in using the forces that flowed in the adult world.

I didn’t even have any such experience to begin with.

Surely, I would have resisted a few times, and then given up, letting it fester inside.

All of this was possible because Ju Na-young and everyone else helped.

“You, a senior clan member, telling Dragon Sword Mir, made it possible to resolve this well.”

“Ehei~ Between friends, it’s nothing… huh? Wait a second, senior… clan member?”

I tilted my head at Ju Na-young’s question.

“Since you’re a senior clan member… you could speak to the ‘Clan Master,’ right?”

Ju Na-young stared blankly at my question.
Then she nodded awkwardly.

“Uh, uh-huh. Y-yeah… you figured it out. Yes, I’m part of Dragon Sword Mir.”
“As expected of Flame Dragon. Being a cadet and a senior, not just a regular member… that’s amazing.”
“D-Don’t mention it, hehe…”

Seeing Ju Na-young smiling bashfully, I smiled bitterly.
And I made a small resolution.

‘…I need to become stronger.’

Not just in terms of physical strength, but in various aspects as well.

Even with my fraudulent talents like [Eyes of Reversed Heaven] and 5★, they were merely potentials.

To deal with organized groups, I need to establish my own group.

I still thought I had a long way to go as an ‘supervisor’, and slowly raised my arm.

Cheok.

Then, I carefully stroked the crown of Ju Na-young’s head, who had done her best this time.

“…Y-Young-ah?!”
“Ah, sorry. It’s become a habit from doing it to Meowi.”
“I-it’s okay.”

As I hurriedly withdrew my hand, Ju Na-young somehow made a slightly disappointed expression.

“Next week. You know the sparring starts, right?”
“…Yeah.”

I raised my fist toward Ju Na-young.

“See you at the finish line.”
“……”

“See you at the finish line.”

Yu Seha, smiling brightly, extended his fist.

With gratitude and bitterness, he smiled radiantly.

Ju Na-young felt her heart tickle once again as she watched the scene.

However, this time, the tickling sensation was a bit stronger.

‘…Ah, it hurts?’

A feeling that rose like a slight ache.
Ju Na-young pondered deeply and then realized, ‘Ah!’ she exclaimed.

‘This is what friendship is!’

She had read about it in a book.
A feeling like her heart was on fire.
She didn’t quite understand it when she read it…
Experiencing it like this, she definitely felt she understood.

‘I see.’

Only then could Ju Na-young solve all the doubts she had felt about Yu Seha recently.

A unique tickling, bubbling emotion that rises up.

Every time she saw him, heat rose, and an unknown feeling boiled up.

If all of that added up to friendship, she could understand.

“…Yes! Just so you know… I won’t go easy on you.”
“Rather, that is exactly what I was hoping for.”

The two looked at each other and smiled brightly.

They bumped their fists, promising to meet in the finals.

First day of the third week.

All the trainees were grouped into teams of three for the sparring matches.

From the very first day, more than 20 teams would engage in matches to determine the winners.

The winning team would advance by facing other winning teams.

The neatly conducted tournament clearly distinguished the winners from the losers as each day passed.

Three days later.
Another match was taking place today.

“Wh-what is… exactly going on?!”

A woman shouted with a surprised face.

Hong Ju-yeong, the leader of the [Black Tiger] team and undefeated for three days, could not hide her bewilderment.

On the arena.

Beyond her sight, a breathtakingly handsome man was sweeping through the arena with great agility.

His identity was none other than Yu Seha.

Hong Ju-yeong had also heard of him, one of the recent talk-of-the-town figures.

In fact, when Hong Ju-yeong saw him appear in the arena, she didn’t think it would be difficult to win.

No matter how amazing the rumors were, after all, he was just a man.
Given the undeniable difference in the total amount of magic due to gender, she thought she would win unconditionally.

But what is the result now?

Before she knew it, two of her reliable teammates were lying on the ground.

If it had been by [Snow Ice], she could at least save some pride.

However, both were defeated by Yu Seha.

And that too, overwhelmingly, in a straightforward duel without any tricks.

“…!”

Immediately after, at the sight of Yu Seha bending over, Hong Ju-yeong hurriedly lifted her guitar.

Her class was <Minstrel>.
Among them, she had honed the most aggressive [Rock Band] skill.

‘I’ll blow you away with a sonic attack before you come!’

However, Hong Ju-yeong’s thought was an age-old saying.

‘Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face.’ Ultimately, it crumbled in front of her.

Shuk!

“Kyah!”

Without even reacting, Hong Ju-yeong flew out of the arena, struck by the [Flowing Slash].

The guitar she was holding was cut in half, and she fainted.

Peng Jin-ah, who was watching, blew the whistle.

“Match over.”

The winner was Yu Seha’s team.

“Seha~”

As the match ended, Ma Hana ran towards Yu Seha.

Yu Seha, with a deep smile towards her, spread his arms and hugged her.

“We won, we won~”
“Yes, yes. Good job, our Meowi!”
“Mehehehe…”

Clack, clack.
At the sound of approaching footsteps, Yu Seha automatically extended his palm.

“…What is it?”
“What do you think? It’s a high-five.”
“…Do we really have to? We’re going to win anyway.”
“Uh-huh, then you’ll have no friends.”
“……”

Moon Bora, who had been frowning, reluctantly extended her hand.
The sound of a high-five resounded.

“Alright, we’ve worked hard today; let’s go eat.”
“…fried rice?”
“Of course, it has to be fried rice.”
“Let’s go.”
“I like fried rice too!”

Yu Seha smiled bashfully at their words.
For a moment, feeling the intense magic power beyond the arena, he lifted his gaze.

‘…I wonder if she is doing well.’

Ju Na-young.

Meanwhile, at the same time Yu Seha’s team was achieving a great victory.

Another two teams were also engaged in a fierce battle.

No, let’s cancel the word ‘fierce battle’.
It was virtually a one-sided offensive.

Whoosh!

Flames.

Like a raging sea, the blazing fire ascended like an afterimage.

It didn’t set the entire stadium ablaze.

But as if proving each one contained intense firepower, the stadium floor bubbled and boiled.

Flames of pure red with a crimson hue.

At the center was a woman with red hair flowing.

It was Ju Na-young.

Strangely, Ju Na-young’s back showed a form that she had never revealed to Yu Seha before.

Both legs and arms.
Back and abdomen.
And red scales covered her from her chin up to her cheeks.

Like real dragon scales, they were densely packed, showing formidable defense.

At that moment.

An elusive presence spread, and someone took position behind Ju Na-young.

The opponent team’s main dealer was a woman from the <Assassin> class.

The twin swords in her hands spun around swiftly.

“N-Na-young, it’s dangerous!”

At that moment, a woman with blue hair shouted.

She was a member of the party formed with Ju Na-young, wielding a barbaric shield and a longsword engraved with mystical drawings.
The one playing the tank role in the party, <Wudang Warrior> Ryu Da-rae.

But Ju Na-young remained motionless.
Soon, the reason for that was revealed.

Thwack!

“Ugh?!”

Something massive and club-like exploded at the side of the <Assassin>.

“A-A tail…?!”

A thick dragon tail, densely covered with red scales.

When it had grown was unclear, but it sprouted around Ju Na-young’s lower back, moving deftly.

Although it didn’t contain any special skills, it became an excellent weapon on its own.

In an instant, Ju Na-young, who had taken down the <Main Dealer>, pulled her leg back and sprinted forward.

“Ju Na-young! It’s dangerous alone!”
“Na-young!”

She paid no heed to the voices of her two teammates.

What Ju Na-young was targeting was the leader, a woman wielding dual axes.

Without hesitation, she swung her fists at the opponent in rapid succession.

A derivative skill of [Combat], [Rapid Strike].

Six split afterimages, perhaps due to her high level, burst towards the axe-wielding woman.

“Ugh, ugh! Y-You monstrous woman!”

The leader, the axe-wielding woman, was on the verge of madness.

In just a few minutes since the match began, their supporter was down, and the main dealer was just eliminated.

And it was all Ju Na-young’s doing.
She had rushed in alone and caused all this.

Now, only she herself remained.
A defeat as clear as day, but she had no intention of retreating.

The axe holding woman who kicked Ju Na-young with her foot raised her weapon upward.

“[Scorching Axe Blade]!”

A special move using all her strength.
[Axe], a derivative skill, exploded with force to split the ground.

Kang!

“……?!”

However, Ju Na-Young blocked the attack by grabbing the axe blade with one hand.

This didn’t mean there was no damage.

The axe blade, which was halfway stuck, went in with the intention of cutting off Ju Na-young’s hand.

The axe woman’s complexion turned pale at that ignorant behaviour.

“Yah, you insane…”
“……”

Anyway, Ju Na-young didn’t miss this chance.

Concentrating magic on both arms.
A red flame began to burn brightly, threatening to turn the opponent into ashes.

Ju Na-young, who had a [Rare] grade [Burning Flame] wrapped around her arms, inflicted indiscriminate violence on the axe woman.

Peobeobeobeok!

“Kuakk!”

In the end, within just a minute, the axe-wielding woman fell, marking the end of the match.

The professor, who was acting as the referee, blew the whistle belatedly.

“Th-The match is over!”
“Whew…”

Next to Ju Na-young, who was catching her breath, Ryu Da-rae ran over and wrapped a bandage around her hand.
Beside her, the last member, Hwang Ki-beum, was also present.

“Na-young! That was too reckless!”

“Yeah, we could’ve taken it slow in a 3-on-3…”

“This is more efficient.”

Ju Na-young turned her head and stared straight ahead.

There wasn’t anyone in particular there.
But her gaze was already reflecting a man.

The man who had extended his fist toward her and said, “See you at the finish line.”

‘…I can’t lose.’

This was her tribute to Yu Seha.

And the spark of rivalry competing for the position of exclusive disciple.

She would do her best.
And she would win.

…Well, she also wanted to hear Yu Seha say, ‘Wow, you’re amazing! I can’t beat <Flame Dragon>.’

Ju Na-young’s mind was filled with this thought alone.

Before she knew it, her goal had expanded from merely taking Peng Jin-ah’s position to also wanting recognition from Yu Seha.

Thus, she didn’t realize.

The flames burning fiercely in her heart were not solely fueled by pure competitiveness.

They were also accompanied by the emotion of ‘greed,’ hidden in the shadow of ‘impatience.’

“……”
“……”

Meanwhile, Ryu Da-rae and Hwang Ki-beum looked at Ju Na-young with worried expressions.

Two days later.
The semifinal match.

“Meeeooow!”
“Uhe~”
“Meeeooow!”
“Uhe~”

Kakak!

Two similarly small statures.
At the same time, they shared the commonality of being tankers who primarily use shields.

Ma Hana, with a silly grin, blocked the attacks, sweating as she looked at her opponent.

‘Meeeoooow..’

Strong.
This woman.
Purely in terms of tanking ability, she was several levels above her.

Jiiiing!

Ma Hana gripped the shield in both hands tightly and shouted towards her opponent as if spitting out the words.

“[Push Shield]!”