Ch.606Chapter 23. Patriotic General Do Ji-hwan (10)

Though Tae Yi-rin’s idea may have originated from a rather unsavory place, it’s a different story if that idea can pave the way for human advancement.

Gamtangoto.

When something bitter enters your mouth, you spit it out and only eat the sweet flesh inside.

It means someone who interprets things to their own advantage, but if the sweet part is more beneficial to life than the bitter part, then naturally you should just consume the sweetness.

So I decided to take only the “sweet parts” from Tae Yi-rin’s proposal.

I chose to forget the unsavory origins of her idea and focus only on the “concept” that emerged from it.

And the result is about to unfold here, on this vast field in Daejeon.

“Quite a crowd has gathered.”

At the World Cup Stadium in Daejeon.

A staggering 10,000 people have taken their seats in the stands to watch a single match, and nationwide, despite it being a live broadcast, one million people are watching.

Why have so many people come to watch?

Why are they sitting in the stands with a cream-filled pastry in one hand and a plastic cup of iced coffee in the other?

-Now!! We will begiiiiin!!! The friendly match between Thunder Empress and Firefox!!

For a friendly match between two S-class heroes.

If you’re wondering why they’re suddenly having a friendly match, there are three reasons.

One. To show the world that although both are retiring due to pregnancy, their abilities remain intact.

Even if Korea happens to lose in the Ability User World Cup later, this provides the excuse of “our pregnant heroes couldn’t participate.”

These powerful individuals aren’t participating simply because they’re pregnant.

After giving birth, if they return, the championship will be Korea’s again.

We decided to show this match to the public as a way to give hope to Koreans who might be shocked by an anticipated defeat.

And another reason.

In this battle, both will demonstrate their tremendous power, just like Baek Seol-hee showed.

Power that people would recognize as S+ class, or generously, SS class.

Even though that SS classification doesn’t really involve ability evaluation so much as it’s just a rank measured by the Hero Association, showing their “awakening skills” as evidence of their SS class status will bring meaningful results.

Although those awakening skills have taken a certain form due to some perverted kid’s meddling and the skill of a kind older brother who accommodates even that, showing them will be enough to convince the world.

That awakening skills aren’t external core mana gold, but rather a phenomenon that manifests only in those who have reached “enlightenment” at SS class.

And the most certain and easiest way to bring about this phenomenon is to use my, Do Ji-hwan’s, awakening skill.

And the third reason.

-Who will prevail in this match prediction? The traditional powerhouse? Or the uprising rookie? The predicted result is… 51:49! Thunder Empress, Kim Yoon-ji!!

Because they want to have one big, legal ability battle.

“Some might ask why heroes are fighting each other, but I understand. Training like this helps improve skills for facing real enemies later.”

Baek Seol-hee pointed at the empty arena with a knowing look.

“Both Yoon Yi-seon and Kim Yoon-ji have opponents they want to surpass. To defeat those opponents, they need to become stronger.”

“Who are you talking about? You?”

“Of course not. I’m talking about ‘Red’ and ‘White’.”

Yoon Hye-ra and Hyun Se-rin.

One was a flame-type ability user whom Yoon Yi-seon had admired as a hero.

The other was a senior who had fought alongside Kim Yoon-ji before she took the title of Thunder Empress.

They’re objects of admiration, but the improvement psychology of ability users doesn’t just leave them as objects of admiration—it makes them want to surpass them.

So they’ve taken this stage to confirm their strengthened powers once more, and to prove that they are stronger.

And if there’s one more reason.

“I wonder how much sweet stuff Do Ji-hwan’s patriots and leeches have consumed to become this strong… This time, we can show the world for certain.”

It’s also a battlefield to prove the class of the Patriotic Master.

How much have the two S-class ability users raised by the Patriotic Master grown compared to before?

The results of that growth will be revealed through the two people’s battle and their “awakening skills.”

“We just need to watch the match from here and eat cream-filled pastries. …But, Seol-hee.”

“What?”

“Besides cream pastries, is there anything special in Daejeon?”

“No.”

Ah, Daejeon.

* * *

When fire and electricity clash, which wins?

-The one with more magical power wins.

Those who answer like this are intermediate-level in ability battles.

[Oh my God! Flare Drive!!]

[Does the attack hit?! Aah, she dodged with Lightning Dash! Now Thunder Empress counterattacks!! This time a wall of fire blocks the attack!!]

Experts in ability battles speak differently.

[It’s about how you break through the opponent’s ability! Those with Pyrokinesis and Electril Master abilities, please watch these two heroes’ battle carefully! This is the textbook approach!]

[Passing flames through the gaps in the electric net! Piercing the flame barrier with electromagnetic waves! Wow, I never expected a battle where they counter each other’s abilities to this extent! This is truly a feast for the eyes!]

The pinnacle of ability battles is how to break through the opponent’s ability.

And how much your attacks resist being broken through.

The conclusion is ultimately “making the opponent’s attacks ineffective while making your attacks effective,” but the process was so spectacular that you couldn’t look away for even a second.

[Yoon Yi-seon summons pillars of fire across the entire battlefield! Is she trying to wipe out the entire field?!]

[Ah! At that moment, Thunder Empress begins running along the wall! Exploding the electricity spreading from her feet, she begins darting across the entire battlefield at lightning speed, avoiding the fire pillars!!]

Yoon Yi-seon with firepower.

Kim Yoon-ji with speed.

Neither is particularly slow or lacks firepower, but they each have their strengths compared to the other.

And watching their battle.

“It’s definitely Yi-seon. That’s how fire should be handled.”

“…But it’s not working against Yoon-ji?”

Two women in the VVIP section, watching from a private room, are bickering.

“That’s fire users for you. All they know how to do is stand still on the battlefield and shoot fire.”

“Oh my. Unnie, there’s no need to move unnecessarily, right? Does all that running around get people’s recognition? Are they trying to win an award for ‘most distance covered’? The striker needs to score goals, what’s the point of running around the court the most?”

“Aren’t fire users the ridiculous ones? Just standing on the mound throwing balls. Acting like kings while standing still, and if they get hit, they just blame the fielders who couldn’t catch it in one go. Not thinking about how to aim better themselves.”

“Exactly. What’s the point of throwing lightning spears trying to land a good attack? If you’re so confident, don’t dodge the fire pillars—charge straight through them.”

The two women’s commentary was getting heated.

The actual heroes were fighting in the arena, but these two were debating fiercely as if the fighters were their own avatars.

“Yi-seon will win. Don’t you know fire is always the protagonist’s skill?”

“What’s the main character’s pocket monster’s main attribute that you like so much?”

“Hmph. Have you ever seen that plumber guy shoot electricity? He eats flowers and shoots fireballs.”

“These fake geeks, I swear…”

A woman in a white gown who had been sleeping quietly on the sofa got up.

“Whether it’s fire or electricity, they’ll both get beaten up by the Goblin’s physical attacks anyway, so why are you two squabbling?”

“…Unnie. You were in America longer than us, aren’t you interested in watching ability users compete?”

“What are you talking about? It’s not like I’m the one fighting.”

The blue-haired woman played with the golden strand in her hair while yawning.

“I came to see that ‘awakening skill’ the Goblin prepared, not to watch your juniors fight by proxy. If you’re that dissatisfied, leave those bodies and go attach yourselves to those two as ghost mana kings or something.”

“…What’s that?”

“Ugh, you fashion otakus. If it were the Goblin, he would have immediately responded with ‘that very magical girl power king.'”

The blue-haired woman turned her eyes forward in disgust.

“The more boring but kind unnie is stuck right next to him, so I can’t even approach. Sigh, should I just go back to America? If it weren’t for business talk, I would just go… Oh.”

The blue-haired woman straightened her posture and turned her eyes to the battlefield.

“Is that the so-called ‘awakening’ or whatever?”

The area around their cradles began to glow with their respective mana colors.

And simultaneously, a tremendous mana storm arose around them, with sparks and electric currents scattering into the air.

“…I told them to just use gloves.”

“It’s not a weapon… sigh.”

Both Red and White sigh as they see the glowing emblems on the lower abdomen of the heroes they’re supporting.

“That’s the ‘power of motherhood.’ Now…”

Snicker.

“Let’s see the ultimate skill. How amazing that power is.”