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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Mod7
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Uwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!!
A deafening roar of cheers erupted the moment he returned to the coliseum, victorious.
The entire audience seemed to have been waiting just for this moment, chanting Mirinae’s name, their voices echoing through the arena.
“Mirinae! Mirinae! Mirinae! Mirinae! Mirinae!”
“Lee Seok-hyun! Lee Seok-hyun! Lee Seok-hyun! Lee Seok-hyun! Lee Seok-hyun!”
His own name mingled with the chants, a pleasant sound that brought a smile to his face.
However, his outward expression remained carefully neutral.
‘What is this?’
His reaction wasn’t due to the overwhelming cheers, but rather to a message that had appeared before him the moment the Territory Capture event ended.
Title [Snake – First Slough] Acquired.
The snake has long held symbolic meaning throughout history.
In ancient myths, it deceived humanity, ushering in a new era. In other tales, it is said to have consumed the world.
The snake, a predator that beguiles its prey, coiling around its victim, consuming it when its guard is down.
A hunter that lurks in the shadows, patiently waiting for the opportune moment to strike.
You have been granted the title [Snake].
Your reasoning abilities are enhanced.
Your words carry a subtle, persuasive power.
You can now manifest your killing intent.
The Snake title’s abilities will evolve as you grow.
We look forward to your next slough.
The mark of the [Snake] will now be engraved upon your body.
A title reward.
As he’d noted before, titles were among the most valuable hidden pieces in Final Destiny.
He hadn’t expected to acquire another title so soon after obtaining the Spider title.
‘This is problematic.’
While the reward itself was incredible, the timing couldn’t have been worse. He was surrounded by thousands of people.
And judging by the message, there was only one place the Snake’s mark could be engraved.
‘My tongue.’
–Tsssssss.
A searing pain, far more intense than any burn he’d ever experienced, shot through his tongue.
It felt as though his tongue was being branded with a hot iron, each line of the inscription etched in fire.
‘I can’t react. Not here.’
To cry out in pain, to show any sign of discomfort while basking in the cheers of the crowd? That was unacceptable.
He clenched his jaw, biting back a scream, forcing a smile as he walked.
Maintaining a calm facade while his tongue felt like it was being flayed and regenerated in real-time… It was an excruciating ordeal.
‘I need to get somewhere private.’
Focused solely on hiding his pain, he walked blindly, oblivious to his surroundings. He couldn’t see, couldn’t hear—his entire being focused on reaching a safe place.
After what felt like an eternity, the engraving process finally ended, and he found himself in the Mirinae Academy lounge.
“Whew… I almost lost it.”
Relieved, he gulped down water, desperately trying to cool his burning tongue. As he calmed down, his surroundings slowly came into focus.
Strangely, the lounge was empty.
‘What… and why are my clothes so torn? Did someone attack me?’
He’d faced far worse in battle, yet his clothes were ripped and tattered.
It was a series of inexplicable events, but he decided not to dwell on it.
He had more pressing matters to attend to.
‘They all remember their bets, don’t they?’
While he hadn’t been able to participate in the betting himself, forbidden for competitors, he had orchestrated an upset of epic proportions. And the true reward wasn’t the official prize, but the wagers he’d secured from the other academy representatives. There was nothing sweeter than legally collecting on a debt.
Humming cheerfully, he headed towards the back of the cafeteria.
It was time to collect.
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“…Did you… see that?”
“Of course. We were standing right there.”
After the competition ended and the Mirinae Academy students returned to the coliseum, a massive crowd surrounded them.
Their target: Lee Seok-hyun.
Making contact was the primary objective, but the ultimate goal was recruitment.
Securing a rising star before their value skyrocketed—that was the essence of good scouting.
Guilds, knight orders, and independent sponsors alike flocked to Mirinae Academy, their eyes fixed on Lee Seok-hyun.
“He didn’t even glance our way.”
“Impossible. How can he ignore us?”
But Lee Seok-hyun walked past them, his gaze fixed straight ahead, acknowledging no one. The smaller guilds were initially offended, believing he was being snobbish. But when even the larger guilds and knight orders were ignored, a wave of disbelief washed over the crowd. Some even tried to grab his clothes, to physically stop him, but even that failed. He moved through the crowd like a phantom, his focus unwavering, his eyes fixed on some distant point.
“I’ve never seen a student ignore the White Blade. Not even royalty.”
“That’s what I’m saying! Everyone else is practically throwing themselves at us, begging for attention.”
Raymond, the guild leader of Courageous Footsteps, who had rushed to Mirinae Academy as soon as they’d attacked Tanteroi, smoothed his bald head in frustration.
“Even the Imperial Prince is socializing, trying to build connections, yet this commoner…”
“Is Lee Seok-hyun really a commoner? Perhaps he has powerful backers, or…”
“Don’t be ridiculous. If he did have powerful connections, he’d be even more eager to please the White Blade.”
“…That’s true.”
Nobles and guilds alike were bound by the White Blade’s authority. To disregard even them was an act of defiance, a blatant display of independence. While some interpreted it as arrogance, Raymond saw it differently.
“He’s already raising his price. Clever boy.”
“That’s what I’m saying. Did you see how everyone was ignoring him? He’s playing hard to get. That little bastard is already manipulating us.”
“It’s… endearing, isn’t it? And audacious.”
The moment the larger guilds expressed their interest, Raymond had an epiphany.
‘They’re right. We were being foolish, focusing on our own limitations… The larger guilds have a completely different perspective.’
Talented individuals who openly defied authority were a rare commodity in larger guilds and knight orders, which were often steeped in tradition and rigid hierarchies. And they valued such independent spirits.
“He has the skills to back it up. I have to recruit him. I want to call him ‘junior’ already!”
“Hahaha, I hate to disappoint you, but Lee Seok-hyun is destined for our Iron Blood Knight Order.”
“Old man, you’re losing your touch. Lee Seok-hyun, no, our junior, has already been claimed by the Invincible Rod Guild.”
And it wasn’t just the larger guilds and knight orders.
“Unbelievable! He’s refusing even personal sponsorships!”
“Haha, he knows who to target. He can see right through us. The age of sheep wool is over! It’s all about duck down now.”
“If that’s the case, why was your offer refused?”
“…It’s not winter yet. Our Seok-hyun will come crawling to WarmDuckIsGood when the cold sets in.”
Merchants always sought fresh faces, and the rarer the image, the more desirable. In that respect, Lee Seok-hyun was playing the game perfectly.
A blend of raw human emotion in battle and cold, calculating indifference in business. It was a captivating combination, one that even nobles found intriguing.
“Secure the S-Class students. Use them to get to Lee Seok-hyun. No matter the cost.”
“Haha! Look at them! They’re giving up on him and moving on to other academies! Idiots! They don’t understand how this works. You have to ride the wave, not splash around in a puddle!”
Some, discouraged by Lee Seok-hyun’s apparent aloofness, shifted their focus to other academies.
However, most remained fixated on Lee Seok-hyun, diligently building connections with the Mirinae students. While exhausting, the Mirinae instructors didn’t interfere. They knew that these seemingly trivial interactions would eventually blossom into valuable connections once the students graduated. Their responsibility was to guide them now, while they were still under the academy’s protection. The real world, the world outside the academy walls, was a different beast altogether.
“So, what is Lee Seok-hyun doing?”
“That… what was his name again? Woo Do-hyun? He fought alongside Lee Seok-hyun. Do you know where Lee Seok-hyun went?”
“I’m afraid we don’t… The class president keeps his own counsel…”
“Haha… I see.”
Amidst this frenzy of networking and speculation, a single question dominated their thoughts.
‘Where is Lee Seok-hyun, and what is he doing?’
The object of everyone’s attention.
He was currently engaged in a private conversation with Raymay, who had arrived first at the designated meeting spot behind the cafeteria.
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Raymay had arrived early, anticipating the meeting about the wager.
While the others were busy building connections with guilds and sponsors, Ruamos Academy, with its ties to the church, was less concerned with such worldly matters. That’s why she’d arrived first.
And then, unexpectedly, Lee Seok-hyun appeared. He wasted no time on pleasantries, getting straight to the point.
“You really finished in last place, even after resorting to such blatant cheating?”
“Wh-what are you talking about?”
His accusation, delivered without even a cursory greeting, caught her off guard. She instinctively denied any wrongdoing, but Lee Seok-hyun pressed on.
“You exploited a loophole. We blocked mana transfer from outside the arena, so… you used divine power to relay information instead. While you can only transmit basic intel, that small advantage is still significant.”
There were two reasons they hadn’t anticipated this tactic: first, Ruamos was the only academy that actively utilized divine power, and second, they’d naively assumed that those devoted to the divine wouldn’t resort to such underhanded methods. And Ruamos had exploited this blind spot in every previous Territory Capture event.
“This isn’t your first time, is it? Don’t even try to deny it. You saw what I did, right? I’m not afraid to make a scene.”
Think carefully before you speak. Consider the consequences. Every word you utter could come back to haunt you.
Lee Seok-hyun’s words carried a weight that went beyond mere threats. Raymay felt a growing sense of dread, a chilling premonition of what was to come.
She’d hoped to feign ignorance, to deny everything and hope he lacked the evidence to prove his accusations. But his unwavering confidence, his penetrating gaze, stripped away any pretense of innocence. She was trapped.
“Arak and Elua aren’t here yet. This is your chance to make this go away quietly. Think of it as… a discounted settlement.”
“…What… what do you want?”
“That’s more like it. Get straight to the point.
“First, we renegotiate. And then you pay me for my silence.
“I’ll give you a good price. Don’t worry.”
Lee Seok-hyun smiled brightly.
The man they called the Legend of Dongdaemun had arrived.
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