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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Mod7
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Before Lee Seok-hyun made his move.
As the competition began and the cameras focused on each academy, the spectators in the coliseum shared their predictions.
“Mirinae Academy may finish last this year.”
“Not may, they will. They’re stuck with the plains.”
“That’s what I’ve been saying! The moment a commoner became Class S president, their foundation crumbled. According to my intel, any class with a commoner as president is doomed.”
The predictions were overwhelmingly negative, focused primarily on Mirinae Academy’s perceived downfall.
“No academy has ever won the Territory Capture event starting from the plains. It’s never happened in the history of the competition.”
“That’s true. There was one time an academy took second place after starting on the plains, and then used the forest to launch a successful attack on the mountains, but no one has ever won from the plains.”
They based their bets on past records and their own analyses of each academy’s strengths and weaknesses.
While some were motivated by the potential profits from illegal gambling, most were more concerned with impressing the guild representatives present.
Therefore, the man who’d declared Mirinae Academy’s defeat turned towards the guild representatives, raising his voice for emphasis.
“So, according to my analysis, Velutos is the clear winner. They’ll just rain down magic from the mountains and wipe everyone out before they even get close.”
“Everyone’s betting on Velutos for the win anyway. But the real skill is predicting the entire ranking, isn’t it?”
–Nod.
One of the guild representatives nodded in agreement, and the other analysts, eager to join the guilds, quickly chimed in.
Their goal was to showcase their analytical prowess, impress the guilds with their predictions, and secure a coveted position. That’s why they were so eager to share their insights, their voices echoing through the coliseum.
“Fourth place, Mirinae Academy. Third, Ruamos. Second, Tanteroi.”
“Hmm, I disagree. Ruamos has a strong paladin line, supported by their priests. How could they possibly finish third? They’ll definitely take second place.”
“Well, in my opinion…”
While opinions varied on the second and third place rankings, almost everyone agreed on Velutos taking first and Mirinae finishing last.
However, as is often the case, not everyone shared the same perspective.
One man, his hands trembling, nervously presented his prediction to those around him.
“First place, Mirinae Academy! Second, Velutos! Third, Ruamos! Fourth, Tanteroi!”
Dark circles ringed his eyes, a testament to countless sleepless nights spent poring over data. His stomach growled audibly, a sign of neglected meals. His clothes, while seemingly clean, revealed their age upon closer inspection.
“What?!”
“That’s absurd! What basis do you have for such a preposterous prediction?”
As the others dismissed his claims, he stood up, turning towards the guild representatives and shouting.
“Mirinae Academy will win! I guarantee it! Remember my name! Eporommo Totobitch! You can find me at the Three Meals Six Snacks Inn!”
The Three Meals Six Snacks Inn.
This was the inn where Lee Seok-hyun had stayed while preparing for the Mirinae Academy entrance exam.
And Eporommo was one of the few people who knew Lee Seok-hyun before his rise to fame.
‘Any academy with Lee Seok-hyun is guaranteed to win. There’s no question about it.’
He was a man who trusted only what he’d seen with his own eyes. While his past predictions had been less than stellar, this time, he was certain.
From the moment he’d learned Lee Seok-hyun was applying to Mirinae Academy, he’d been eagerly anticipating the exchange competition.
‘That wasn’t the aura of a 17-year-old.’
While most commoner students preparing for the entrance exam were nervous wrecks, Lee Seok-hyun had exuded an air of quiet confidence. He’d been thoroughly prepared, diligently training, his every action reflecting unwavering conviction.
While he’d initially dismissed it as wishful thinking, the news of Lee Seok-hyun becoming Class S president had transformed that doubt into unwavering certainty.
‘No one else sees it.’
The other analysts were blinded by past records, statistical data, and superstitious nonsense.
‘I’m putting all my chips on Lee Seok-hyun.’
Eporommo continued waving his prediction sheet and shouting towards the guild representatives, even as security approached to silence him.
He insisted that he had a unique perspective, that his ability to read people was unmatched.
While they’d initially dismissed him as a lunatic, thirty minutes later,
Everyone in the coliseum, including the guild representatives, would be looking at Eporommo.
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The Guild Representatives’ Box.
“What are your thoughts?”
“Well, we can always approach the winning academy after the competition and offer them contracts.”
“That’s too late. We need to reach out before the competition ends, to show we’re invested, to express our support.”
The various guilds gathered in the box were analyzing the situation, deciding which academy to support.
While the larger guilds could afford to wait and see who won before making their move, the smaller guilds lacked that luxury.
They needed to establish connections early, to make themselves known, to secure their place at the table.
“Should we check what the other guilds are doing?”
“Is there any point? They’re all going to be swarming Velutos, aren’t they?”
“Then we should join them. Or at least find the second most likely winner and…”
“Hold on. Let’s observe for a bit.”
“Huh? Every second counts!”
“Just wait.”
Raymond, the guild leader of Courageous Footsteps, meticulously polished his bald head with a handkerchief as he surveyed the coliseum.
He wasn’t looking at the arena, but at the spectators.
‘This really is a golden generation. So many Knight Order representatives… And most of them are focused on Velutos… If it weren’t for the Death Meteor incident, Mirinae would have been the clear favorite.’
The high-rank demons’ attack on the first-year students, an unprecedented event, had severely damaged Mirinae Academy’s reputation.
The fact that demons had infiltrated the academy suggested a weakness in their defenses, a vulnerability that couldn’t be ignored.
While their past achievements prevented a complete collapse of their reputation, the level of expectation and excitement surrounding Mirinae had undeniably diminished.
And the news of a commoner becoming Class S president, coupled with their choice of the plains, had extinguished any remaining embers of hope.
‘…The White Blade? Why is the White Blade here?’
The White Blade, a prestigious knight order, rarely participated in recruitment events.
Raymond quickly followed their gaze. This was the time for smaller guilds to leverage their greatest strength—adaptability.
‘Mirinae Academy. The White Blade is watching Mirinae Academy.’
The earlier outburst from the spectator named Eporommo, the White Blade’s unwavering focus on Mirinae Academy—something was amiss.
A gut feeling. A high-stakes gamble, betting not on the favorite, but on the underdog.
Raymond sensed a pivotal moment, a turning point, and he acted decisively.
“Approach Mirinae Academy immediately. Use every connection we have. If they want us to kiss their boots, we’ll do it.”
“Now? Just like that?”
“I have a feeling about this. Just do it.”
“…Yes, sir.”
Later, Raymond would hail this decision as the best he’d ever made.
Thirty minutes.
That seemingly short span of time had changed Raymond’s life forever.
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Thirty minutes into the competition.
Every spectator in the coliseum, save for one, and every guild representative except for Raymond, was in a state of shock.
“…Am I seeing things?”
“Someone pinch me.”
–Zoom.
The camera zoomed in on the unbelievable scene.
“It’s… real.”
An unbelievable sight unfolded.
Mirinae Academy, having swiftly regrouped after arriving on the plains, launched an immediate and decisive offensive.
While some had initially criticized their lack of planning, those criticisms were quickly silenced by their subsequent actions.
A lightning-fast assault.
They’d set fire to the forest, driving the panicked Tanteroi students towards the plains, then ambushed them, turning their numerical advantage into a liability.
It wasn’t just a surprise attack; it was a complete and utter rout. They were mercilessly slaughtering the disorganized Tanteroi students.
While the live feed didn’t include audio, the spectators could almost hear Lee Seok-hyun’s commands.
“He’s taunting the enemy commander while leading the attack.”
“Has he actually led an invasion before? He’s a commoner, isn’t he? Did he study military history or something? What is going on?”
“He reminds me of the first king of Mudanad, the one who conquered the plains. He declared that the moment he set foot on enemy territory, it belonged to him.”
A human tank.
Lee Seok-hyun was leaving a trail of destruction in his wake, burning everything in his path, eliminating Tanteroi students left and right.
“Get me everything we have on Lee Seok-hyun, immediately!”
“He’s a commoner? So what? Find out everything! Does he have powerful connections? What are his likes and dislikes? I don’t care how you get the information, just get it!”
How many people could command and control hundreds of soldiers with just a few hand gestures and a handful of words?
This wasn’t a skill you could learn; it was an innate talent.
“It’s just a lucky ambush. Once Tanteroi regroups and counter-attacks, Mirinae won’t stand a chance.”
“Yeah, they just got lucky. They’re making a big deal out of nothing. They’re all blinded by the initial success.”
Those who’d bet against Mirinae Academy dismissed their victory as a fluke. They clung to the hope that Arak’s arrival would change everything.
Lee Seok-hyun was an Other Studies student, not a mage or a martial artist.
For someone like him to challenge a knight? It was preposterous.
“Look! Arak’s here! The tide is turning!”
“And they still have a three-to-one advantage in numbers…”
KWA-KWA-KWA-KWA-BOOM!
Just as they spoke, a series of explosions rocked the arena, shattering their predictions.
A chain of detonations that ripped through the Tanteroi ranks, leaving them disoriented and vulnerable.
And amidst the chaos, Lee Seok-hyun calmly commanded his spirit.
“A spirit? He has a spirit contract?!”
“What kind of spirit is that? I’ve never seen a bomb-shaped spirit before.”
“…Even so… Arak is different…”
They clung to the hope that Arak would turn the tide.
That Arak and his elite guard would emerge from the smoke and restore order.
And as if answering their prayers, Arak and his entourage appeared, seemingly unscathed. Their armor, though slightly damaged, had protected them from the blasts. Their eyes burned with a fierce determination, a promise of retribution.
The crowd roared, chanting Arak’s name, their hopes rekindled.
“Yes, Arak! Go for the one-on-one!”
“Hahaha! See?! That’s what I’m talking about! Typical commoner! So eager to accept a duel when he thinks he has the advantage! That’s why commoners will always be inferior!”
On the screen, Arak charged towards Lee Seok-hyun, accepting the challenge.
A duel between the representative of a renowned knight academy and an Other Studies commoner.
The outcome seemed predetermined. As they clashed, the coliseum fell silent.
“…”
Thump! BAM! Thump! BAM! Thump! BAM!
While the live feed lacked audio, the audience could almost feel the impact of each blow.
A one-sided beatdown. Utter domination.
Lee Seok-hyun’s fists smashed through Arak’s armor as if it were paper. Each strike drew a scream of pain, a testament to his overwhelming power. He was toying with Arak, inflicting just enough damage to keep him in the fight, prolonging his humiliation.
“…Brutal.”
He even grabbed Arak by the hair, pummeling him relentlessly, the scene resembling a thug shaking down a helpless victim.
A textbook example of how to treat a weaker opponent. A display of dominance that silenced the entire coliseum.
The spectators watched in stunned silence, their earlier excitement replaced by a mixture of awe and fear. They desperately wanted to meet Lee Seok-hyun, to forge connections with this rising star.
‘He has to join our guild.’
‘We need him in our Knight Order.’
‘He must…’
The thought “He must be ours” echoed in their minds, taking on different forms, branching out into a thousand different desires.
A new era was dawning.
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