Episode 202

[Congratulations. Yumir is now a D-class.]

“……Sigh.”

Though officially classified as EX, and publicly known as S+ despite the reality, Yumir decided to be content with her grade, not as Solar Platina but simply as Yumir, taking another step forward.

“Congratulations.”

“Aren’t you busy? You should also take it slow…”

“Yeah, I should be heading out soon.”

Yoon Iseon came to congratulate Yumir, but unfortunately, there wasn’t enough time for an extended conversation.

[The next match is the A-class final. ‘Chairman’ Yoon Iseon is…]

“Wow, that’s incredible. So you only have the championship match left?”

“I’d like to win, but the opponent is formidable.”

Yoon Iseon grimaced, offering a bitter smile.

“And winning this doesn’t really change much. After all, the champion, at best, will only be the top among the students here on Sejong Island.”

“But it will still be a plus when applying for the hero license later.”

“It’s a plus, indeed. A plus of being defeated by Hayabusa, who is S-class and younger.”

“…….”

It was a slightly bitter truth, but it was the reality.

Even though the age difference wasn’t significant, there was indeed a 2~3 years gap.

“Hayabusa is strong. Probably among the top in the world among teenagers. It’s hard for students to beat her unless an S-class steps up.”

“But S-class…”

“Baridegi won’t step up. Baridegi herself wouldn’t want to fight, and the country wouldn’t casually ask Baridegi to fight, right? If by any chance she loses…uh.”

Yoon Iseon turned her head towards the VIP spectator seats.

There, including the president, S-class heroes were seated on red chairs, overlooking the stadium.

Hayabusa was not among them.

She had entered the waiting room alone, preparing for the upcoming battle, indifferent to any match taking place in the stadium.

That was definitely not in anticipation of a battle against the A-class champion, but for a potential encounter with the Goblin.

“Yumir. Uh, just in case I’m asking.”

“Yeah.”

“…Do you think the Goblin will appear this time?”

“I think it will. Everyone says so. We talked about it last time too.”

“…I can’t believe it.”

Yoon Iseon clenched and unclenched her fist, smacking her lips.

“If the Goblin really appears, I might fall for it again.”

“…Fall for it?”

“As a fan.”

Yoon Iseon blushed and patted her face with her hand.

“So far, I might have been mistaken about the Goblin. I thought the Goblin was a perfect ‘protector’ that only appears in novels or comics.”

“Uh, you thought it was someone who appears only when villains or demons show up?”

“Yeah. But if it appears this time and fights Hayabusa, then the Goblin is more humane than I thought. Not just a being that ‘appears only when there is evil,’ but someone who responds to the desires of many.”

“…Knows fan service?”

“Nicely put, yes. Hehe… Ah, really, there’s no tsundere like it…!”

“Tsundere…”

It seemed both right and wrong, but Yumir had no intention of speaking carelessly in front of others.

“Well, if the Goblin appears, it will be an issue. The whole world is watching this place, wondering if the Goblin might appear.”

Not only those who came to watch were in the stands.

Scouts from around the world, representatives of the hero association, and journalists sent directly from various countries were broadcasting the Sejong Island sports festival to the world live from the preliminary rounds.

“The high viewership has its reasons. Look at this. The comments being baited. Everyone’s looking for the Goblin.”

“That might be a side effect…?”

“It could be. But it’s strange to have someone declaring themselves the protagonist when the protagonist is already determined. This sports festival might have been prepared from the start to lure in the Goblin.”

Yoon Iseon sighed and looked up at the sky.

“…That’s why I didn’t want the Goblin to appear. It feels like being manipulated by the higher-ups using patriotism. More than anything, if it steps forward, it might reveal being Korean, right?”

“Because it’s a Korea-Japan match?”

“Right. That’s why it’s even more appreciated. Knowing well that the bald old men at the academy are using Hayabusa and the Goblin to cover up issues at the academy, yet stepping forward like this.”

[Chairman Yoon Iseon, please come to the waiting room within 5 minutes. I repeat….]

“…Tch.”

Yoon Iseon clicked her tongue and turned her head.

“I guess I should go. First of all, congratulations on becoming D-class. Let’s go out to eat next time. You’re buying.”

“I’m buying?”

“It’s to celebrate your promotion to D-class. I’ll buy dessert.”

“What if you become the A-class champion?”

“Then… I’ll buy the meal.”

“I’ll look forward to it, Iseon.”

Yumir grabbed Yoon Iseon’s shoulder.

“Fighting!”

“…What did you do?”

“Huh? No, I didn’t do anything?”

“…Cheating is not good. I’ll just take the sentiment. Whatever it is.”

Yoon Iseon tapped Yumir’s hand, and Yumir withdrew her hand with an awkward expression. For a moment, her hand sparkled with golden magic power, but no one saw the color of that magic.

“I’ll be back. I’ve done my best, so I won’t regret it even if I lose.”

“…That’s really cool. But how about this? If you make it to the finals and lose to Hayabusa, then the Goblin will come out to avenge you.”

“…What’s that? Still, it feels good to hear. Alright. I’ll go and defeat Hayabusa too.”

Yoon Iseon clenched her fist tightly and headed to the waiting room. Watching her determined back, Yumir worried if she had inadvertently put pressure on her.

“Did I unnecessarily raise her hopes?”

Yumir was about to infuse her with magic power but stopped at Yoon Iseon’s hint of disapproval. Instead, Yumir filled her with strong willpower.

Here’s hoping that willpower didn’t lead to some strange incident.

Yumir earnestly wished for that.

That Solar Platina would not need to step in.

That the Goblin does not participate in the Korea-Japan match, but comes to deal with a ‘demon’.

“…It’ll be fine.”

Yumir has a good eye for people.

According to her eyes and senses, Yoon Iseon was certainly not someone who would become a demon.

Rather….

“…….”

Yumir turned her eyes to the VIP spectator seats.

There, Hayabusa had already returned to her seat, sitting with a calm face.

“…It’s probably just unnecessary worry.”

Just.

She was hoping it would end safely.

Whoosh!

Pink flames burst into the air.

The intangible flames began to swirl around Yoon Iseon and soon rushed towards her opponent.

“It’s over!”

Boom boom boom!

The soul fire Yoon Iseon summoned flew like a missile.

“Arghh!!”

Yoon Iseon’s final opponent, [Demon Archer] Ray Huang, fired his pistol wildly at the flames, creating distance.

Ratatat!

The pistol was loaded with bullets, and those bullets were not just any bullets but live ammunition.

If someone were hit, they would undoubtedly be in a life-threatening situation, but the live bullets merely crossed through the air or melted away in the magic flames.

“Give up. The outcome is decided.”

“No, it’s not…!”

Ray Huang reloaded his pistol and fired into the sky.

“If there’s anything decided, it’s my victory!”

Ratatat!

The live ammunition exploded in the air.

The casings turned into small pieces of metal, scattering in all directions, and Yoon Iseon leaped back, projecting magic power forward.

Screech!

The tail of flames on Yoon Iseon’s back deflected all the bullets to the side.

The scattered casings merely dispersed to the left and right, and Yoon Iseon easily dodged Ray Huang’s attack.

Whoosh.

The fox tail behind Yoon Iseon still shimmered without losing its light.

The battle had lasted for about 10 minutes, but Ray Huang’s magic power was gradually depleting.

Using live ammunition instead of magic bullets in a gun itself revealed that he had reached his limit.

“Give up.”

“I can’t…! Damn, a girl who’s only remarkable for her ridiculously large mana pool…!”

Was it because he was pushed to his limit?

Ray Huang did not hesitate to hurl insults at Yoon Iseon, even with everyone and the whole world watching.

“So what? What’s wrong with having more mana than you?”

“Being born in Korea means you’re born with much more magical power than others…!”

“Well, that’s a generalization error. I don’t want to argue about that with you. If you want to argue, challenge me during a liberal arts debate class. Now is the time to show our skills.”

“Argh!!”

Ray Huang infused his gun with magical power.

This magical power had a dark aura and seemed to carry emotions, as anger began to boil.

“I’ll kill you!”

“……!!”

“Let me show you! My ‘ultimate move’!!”

The moment Yoon Iseon saw where Ray Huang’s gun, filled with rage, was pointed, her heart sank.

“What-”

“Come forth, Divine Warrior!!”

Ray Huang.

“Manifestation of the Divine!!”

He pressed the gun against his temple and fired a magic bullet.

Soon.

A rumbling sound.

“Could it be…a summon…?”

“It’s not a summon!! It’s a god!!”

Behind him, a massive lump of magical power revealed only its upper body.

The figure of a general with antennae resembling those of a locust on its head made anyone looking at it involuntarily exclaim in awe.

“This is the Divine Spirit! The War Emperor, Divine Warrior Lu Bu!!”

[Wow.]

I thought only Riders were popular.

[I didn’t expect them to copy that as well.]

It seems I’ve inadvertently set another trend in this world.