episode_0096

I was, surprisingly, quite close with Yoo Seonghyeon. I’m talking about the fourth-year Disciplinary Head senior who faced Cheon Woohyuk in the first match.

Perhaps it was because I, like Cheon Soyul, had caused various incidents on multiple occasions.

Anyway, what I want to say is this one thing:

I know how strong Yoo Seonghyeon is.

In terms of his water affinity, he could even be seen as having some common ground with me, an ice mage…

Because I’d experienced it firsthand, I knew all too well how thoroughly his unique, elegant, and gentle techniques could subdue an opponent.

And that senior had been defeated by Cheon Woohyuk.

From having watched the match myself, it seemed neither of them had gone all out…

Still, a loss is a loss. Even if they weren’t particularly serious about the tournament, Cheon Woohyuk was the one who ultimately reached the finals.

The time had come for me, who once couldn’t even dare to imagine defeating Yoo Seonghyeon, to now confidently claim victory against Cheon Woohyuk.

Standing on the stadium floor, I gently stretched my stiff shoulders.

‘Let’s see.’

So, can I do it?

Honestly, I still wasn’t very confident.

I thought I knew enough about lightning magic. But Cheon Soyul’s and Cheon Woohyuk’s heavenly lightning were probably as different as heaven and earth.

If I completely set aside any baseless, empty confidence, the chances of winning were actually quite slim.

Most of the countless spectators gathered in this arena probably didn’t think I would win either.

Until now, my mindset had been ‘just do what I can and then come down’…

“…”

Now, I had to think of it a little differently.

Because it had become a battle I couldn’t afford to lose.

It just… happened. Because I’d unintentionally been dragged into a bet.

“Hah.”

I let out a cheerful, empty laugh and stretched my arms high above my head.

Just then, on the opposite side, Cheon Woohyuk was finishing his preparations and ascending.

And the expression on our Student Council President senior, who was practically a symbol of rationality and coolness—

‘Hmm.’

No need for anything else, just one phrase was enough to explain it.

-I’ve finally got you.

I had to force an awkward smile out of exasperation.

What did I even do wrong to deserve this?

‘He pretended he wasn’t, but he’s truly a doting older brother to his youngest sibling.’

An older brother who dotes on his younger sister was indeed a scary thing. As if he had no intention of exchanging a single word, lightning crackled at Cheon Woohyuk’s fingertips.

*A shrill whistle sounded!*

“—.”

As the whistle signaling the start of the match echoed, I too roused my mana.

I intended to go all out from the very beginning.

Because this was a fight I couldn’t lose.

…Because it was a fight I didn’t want to lose.

*****

‘Annoying guy.’

Cheon Woohyuk didn’t like Lee Hyunjin. He hadn’t from the very beginning. Even before the engagement with his younger sister was set.

His characteristic slippery personality alone was enough. How could he possibly like him?

As the Student Council President, as a senior, and even just as an acquaintance he’d casually gotten to know.

Moreover, do you know what was most unpleasant?

…It was the fact that the guy he disliked so much was now going to become his brother-in-law.

At this point, it wouldn’t be strange at all if his insides burst with fury.

*Boom!*

“…”

Despite all that, his skill was undeniable. He was undoubtedly a brilliant, probably equally talented magical genius as Cheon Soyul.

Cheon Woohyuk frowned.

Whenever he had to prove his abilities, he always produced unexpected results. How could he simply treat him with discomfort and ostracize him?

Though he didn’t like him, Cheon Woohyuk inwardly acknowledged Lee Hyunjin.

*Crackle!*

He extended his hand, forming a spear of lightning. The moment he threw it without hesitation, cold air suddenly swirled forth.

*Crunch!* The spear shattered without a moment’s notice.

‘I recall it wasn’t this strong last time.’

It wasn’t something to be overly flustered by, so he calmly scattered lightning to negate the cold storm… but it was certainly surprising.

He had prided himself on accurately assessing the students’ abilities.

He had always thought he was at a similar level to his younger sister. Or perhaps, with a slight advantage depending on their compatibility…?

But now, it seemed that judgment had been far off.

“Ha.”

Cheon Woohyuk wore a twisted, cold smile as he gathered the ice blades flying towards him and shattered them into hundreds of fragments at once.

He had thought Yoo Seonghyeon was the only one in this school who could contend with him on equal terms.

‘…Not bad.’

He felt a little thrill. The displeasure he’d so clearly felt towards his prospective brother-in-law seemed to have faded a bit.

Cheon Woohyuk clenched his right hand tightly, unleashing a large-scale magic.

*Rumble, rummmble…*

Lightning gathered in the sky above the arena.

In other words, thunderclouds filled the sky.

The clear blue sky darkened in an instant… and as the ominous rumbling of thunder began to fill the entire stadium.

Lee Hyunjin also moved to respond. *Thump!*

“…!”

He stomped his foot, deeply striking the ground. The arena’s solid floor began to freeze from its surface, gradually expanding its reach.

It moved as swiftly as a nimble snake, quickly reaching Cheon Woohyuk’s feet in an instant.

*Crackle! Crackle!*

What immediately shot up from there were frozen tree trunks. Or perhaps roots?

In any case, pale blue-white chains, looking like something from a plant, entangled Cheon Woohyuk’s legs.

‘What is this?’

What was this, which in every way seemed to be mixed with nature-based magic?

Cheon Woohyuk let out an empty laugh, immediately bathing his entire body in golden lightning.

*Intense crackling!*

He succeeded in breaking free from the restraint, albeit in a somewhat forceful manner…

But he was a little late.

Feeling a presence too late, Cheon Woohyuk flinched, his expression hardening.

Striking from the front was a lightning bolt tinged with pale blue-white—

In other words, it was Lee Hyunjin’s unique ‘lightning magic’, a blend of leaked(?) heavenly lightning and ice attributes.

He had already confirmed its power once before.

“Tsk…!”

Cheon Woohyuk’s face twisted as he gathered heavenly lightning in both hands. Not just simple lightning or electrical current, but a power closer to the core of his unique magic.

A pale yet vivid golden lightning engulfed his arms and extended forward.

The clash of pure lightning and lightning mixed with impurities.

Which side truly possessed the greater power?

Less than five minutes had passed since the match began, but perhaps the outcome would be decided swiftly.

Even if not, the side that won this clash would surely gain a significant advantage.

Cheon Woohyuk and Lee Hyunjin, both mages, instinctively sensed this fact. Thus, as if there was no turning back, they infused even more mana boldly…

*Intense crackling!*

It was at that moment, as the two types of lightning were about to dye the entire arena in a terrifying hue.

“…”

“…”

An anomaly.

Occurred.

Lee Hyunjin’s and Cheon Woohyuk’s expressions rapidly stiffened. Both seemed to have felt the same thing, hurriedly looking at each other’s faces.

And they realized. Confirming that the other’s reaction was the same as their own, they knew the ominous sensation they’d just felt wasn’t a mere illusion.

At that moment.

*Whoosh!*

‘Something’ fell from the sky.

Impact.

And explosion.

*CRASH!*

“…Guh…?!”

A momentary feeling of being lifted into the air. The arena floor flipped over, and at the same time, Lee Hyunjin, who had been standing on it, realized he had been launched upwards.

Unable to adapt to the sudden change in circumstances, he still managed to roll his eyes downwards.

‘Th-that’s?’

What he saw was none other than a sword.

A black sword, its keen blade gleaming.

It seemed that was what had fallen from the sky just now and plunged into the arena.

Did it mean such an aftershock was created by that impact alone? Lee Hyunjin gasped.

At that point, a memory suddenly resurfaced. It was a brief conversation Lee Hyunjin had once had with the school’s Headmaster, the Hero.

An attack would occur during the Cheongsong Festival.

Unconditionally, too.

And the existence of an Archmage to assist the instigators of such an attack—

Was inevitable.

“…”

In the time that seemed to calm and slow down, Lee Hyunjin slowly moved his gaze.

Just by sweeping his gaze across the spectator stands, faces came into view.

Seol Hayeon, standing up with an unfamiliar cold expression, and Yeon Seobaek beside her. A little further away, Cheon Sehee and Cheon Hyeon-a, eyes wide.

And, and, and, and.

…And.

A little further away, on the opposite side.

Even Ryu Seeun, her mouth tightly covered.

At that moment, Lee Hyunjin’s expression immediately twisted. Fiercely, menacingly.

The thought that came to mind, the face he recalled, the person he remembered was none other than.

Lee Hyunjin landed in a breakfall stance, fiercely biting his lip. His eyes had long since settled into a chilling gaze.

In his mind, a single name quietly echoed.

So.

So.

So.

‘—Ryu Jinseong?’

Where was the last Archmage now?

What was he doing?