International Exchange Tournament(6)

As I open the door and enter the assigned room, a scene of what could truly be called a sanctuary unfolds.

A bed that looks high-quality at a glance, sofas and display cases filled with bottles of alcohol, a window made by completely tearing out one wall for viewing the exchange tournament, and even a basket on the table filled with fresh fruits.

At the sight of this sanctuary, safe from anyone’s interference, I let out a small exclamation of admiration and immediately took off the stuffy mask and cloak I had been wearing.

Thud– Thump–

“Phew… I can finally breathe. I almost got caught up with those annoying Americans twice.”

As soon as I take off the mask, my slightly sweaty face cools refreshingly, and as I remove the cloak, a breeze passes through my whole body that had been stuffy.

If I had given time to that Ancestor of the General Administration Team, I would have felt this sense of liberation hours later, so I shuddered slightly.

And as I feel that sense of liberation and throw my body onto the sofa, the softness of the sheet welcomes me.

Then, as I turn my head slightly, I let out another involuntary exclamation of admiration at the view of the tournament venue that comes into sight at once.

“……”

“Haah… This is really…”

But after feeling that sense of liberation and freedom for a moment, I soon had to sigh at the sight of Yeon-ah behind me, who seemed to be distracted by something.

“It’s really… I should have explained in advance… Such an opportunity…”

Yeon-ah stands blankly, muttering something continuously as if in a daze.

Although she had been fine until just now, I already knew what she was distracted by without her saying it, so I got up from the sofa where I had been lying down.

However, even though I had gotten up and was staring at her, Yeon-ah was still in a daze.

Finally, unable to bear it any longer, I spoke first.

“Yeon-ah, are you that bothered by refusing that offer just now?”

“Eh, yes? Ah, no…! Since it was a decision made by you, Ancestor, I don’t have any such thoughts at all…”

“For someone saying that, you look incredibly regretful.”

It was a lie from the very start, but her trembling voice and uncontrolled expression were telling how much regret she had.

Certainly, if it was a reward that could be received from the General Administration Team, which could be called the head of America, its value would be excellent.

Moreover, if it was Yeon-ah, she could have extracted that reward to the extreme.

So I could understand Yeon-ah having regrets, but I couldn’t leave her blaming herself like this.

No, before that, this was already something Yeon-ah didn’t need to have so much regret about, so I opened my mouth with a bitter laugh.

“Well, I understand it’s disappointing, but don’t have too many regrets. That person will definitely come back with a deal on even better terms than just now.”

“Yes…? What do you mean…?”

“Well, it was obvious at a glance that she didn’t look like she would just back down.”

I can’t say I could tell just by looking… but at least that kind of feeling was sensed from the Ancestor of the General Administration Team.

A sense that she was very obsessed with me and trying to achieve what she wanted somehow.

In addition, the words she had spoken and her final urgency supported this, so I was certain that she would definitely request to meet again, and I said so to remove Yeon-ah’s regrets.

“Even if it hurts her pride, she’ll try to meet me again, so you can extract what you want then, right? Anyway, I wanted to have a conversation with her once too.”

To be honest, it was a lie.

After all, I had no desire to meet someone who looked unpleasant just by looking at them, even using my time.

However, if what Yeon-ah could extract from meeting her was that significant, it was worth the time investment.

‘Honestly, it could be called arrogance, but Yeon-ah being so regretful is clearly for my sake.’

『It’s really a haughty thought, but I can’t deny it.』

Even I thought it was a bit unpleasant, but this was an undeniable fact.

As I’ve seen over the past time, Yeon-ah’s behavior revolves around me and is for my sake.

In other words, the reason Yeon-ah was so regretful about not receiving the compensation from the Ancestor of the General Administration Team was undoubtedly for my sake, so it was no exaggeration to say that this meeting was for me.

If I could gain something worth Yeon-ah being that regretful with just a few hours of investment, wouldn’t the benefit I gain also be enormous?

“As, as expected of you, Ancestor…! Your insight is amazing!”

So I looked at Yeon-ah, who was moved in front of me, thinking that I would close my eyes just this once and go for it.

Yes, there was certainly something for my own benefit, but now that Yeon-ah’s face, which had been full of self-blame, had brightened, it seemed my uncomfortable feeling was finally improving.

The humans under my care should always have comfortable and confident faces anywhere, anytime.

Therefore, as Yeon-ah’s expression brightened, my mood improved along with it.

And feeling that mood, I unnecessarily turned the subject of the long conversation to the idle-looking person standing beside Yeon-ah.

“By the way, how about sending those guys back to their rooms first? Yeon-ah.”

“Yes? Those guys… Ah.”

Yeon-ah, who had turned her head with a puzzled face at my words, let out a short sound as she discovered those standing beside her.

Then Yeon-ah looked at the two with one eyebrow raised.

“Arashi-nim and Team Leader Seo-hyun, why are you two here?”

“Well… Given the situation, we were sticking to Shin-yeon like glue, and before we knew it, we followed her in.”

Arashi answers like that, as if embarrassed, to Yeon-ah’s cold question.

And while Yeon-ah was letting out a small sigh after hearing that answer, I spoke to Arashi on her behalf.

“That person should be gone by now, so hurry back to your room.”

“Ahaha, how cold. Aren’t we friends? Since it’s come to this, why don’t we watch the exchange tournament together?”

“…How troublesome.”

Although it wasn’t an offer from Arashi that I particularly wanted, it certainly wasn’t a troublesome personality to have her beside me, so I answered with a low mutter.

Then, realizing that my answer wasn’t a negative one, Arashi smiled brightly and approached me with small steps.

“Thank you, Shin-yeon. I hope the exchange tournament starts soon!”

“Yeah, yeah. Just don’t be too annoying.”

“Huhut, don’t worry.”

Arashi straightens her shoulders as if telling me to just trust her.

That appearance somehow seemed like a three-year-old child, making me feel uneasy, but soon I too threw my gaze towards the exchange tournament that was about to begin beyond the window.

“The International Exchange Tournament…”

Although I couldn’t participate directly, it was a tournament where promising hunters from each country gather to show off their strength.

My heart started to beat with the desire to see that competition as soon as possible.

Thinking that I would watch comfortably without having to step forward since I came here as an Ancestor this time.

I listened to the muffled roar of the spectators.

---

Unlike the ground where the spectators’ cheers were echoing loudly, quite a heavy silence was swirling in the underground of the tournament venue.

Although most of the hunters participating in the exchange tournament had plenty of experience fighting strong monsters in gates, this was the first time for them to fight other hunters in front of tens of thousands of citizens, dozens of cameras, and numerous Ancestors, so this tension was inevitable.

“Let’s just do as we prepared… Just as we prepared…”

“Don’t be nervous… If we win this time, our ranking will really skyrocket…”

“Don’t tremble… Alright. We can do it.”

Hunters from each country gather in the spacious waiting room, each composing themselves.

Of course, there were many who calmed themselves in individual rooms, but they all came out to this common waiting room like this, taking comfort in the fact that they weren’t the only ones nervous.

Thanks to that, all sorts of languages were flying around in the common waiting room.

Various languages each carrying similar meanings fill the air in the waiting room.

“They’re all chattering noisily…”

“If you’re uncomfortable, just leave on your own? Don’t ruin the atmosphere by saying such things.”

“What did you say, you bastard?”

Of course, with hundreds of hunters whose main job is combat gathered in one waiting room, there were frequent instances of conflicts, but naturally, the organizers couldn’t have failed to anticipate this.

“You two there. If you continue this argument any further, you’ll be immediately disqualified. I advise you to stop now.”

“We’re sorry, we’ll be careful.”

“…Tch, sorry about that.”

The waiting room is under the watchful eyes of pre-hired high-ranking A-class hunters.

In addition, combat personnel from the Five Continents were also in charge of additional surveillance, so when conflicts arose between participants, they stepped in to prevent clashes.

The hunters involved in conflicts also didn’t want to be marked like this, so they usually backed down immediately, and only a few hunters who didn’t became examples by being disqualified.

And so the waiting room was filled with tense sighs exhaled by the participants and heat from friction caused by their fighting spirit.

“Are you ready?”

“Yes, well… I’m ready, but are we really doing this?”

In a corner of the waiting room where the surveillance gaze was sparse, a man and a woman exchanged meaningful questions and answers.

The girl asks the man if they’re really doing it now after looking around the waiting room once.

“Are we doing it fake then? Hurry up and start.”

“Yes, if you say so…”

And at the man’s answer clearly containing the words to start, the girl uttered a drawling reply and took out a bead from her pocket.

A mysterious purple bead that looked as if light had been compressed and gathered.

Eventually, the girl rolled the bead on her hand, slipped it between her fingers, and then crushed the purple bead in her grip.

Crack—!

A clear glass sound echoed for a moment.

Whoosh—–!!!

Immediately after, in the purple smoke that filled the waiting room, the patterns engraved on the man and girl’s forearms emitted light.

The unmistakably clear pattern of the Suppression Team.