Episode 475. Im Sol (1)

“Haa….”

After Lucifer disappeared, Scarlet let out a sigh of relief.

A strong taste of blood filled her mouth.

The relief of being alive made her legs feel weak, but first, she had to check on Nam Daeun’s condition.

“Daeun-yang. Are you alright? Open your eyes wide. How many fingers am I holding up?”

“Y-yes. One. I think I’m okay.”

“Hmm, Scarlet. Who is that man? I didn’t hear about anyone that strong coming to the Academy.”

“I don’t know either. He’s definitely an outsider….”

Scarlet subtly checked on Liliana, who had a gloomy expression.

Liliana, lifting her head, was gazing into the distance.

The opponent used the magic of the Underworld and kept calling Liliana’s name.

What could possibly be Liliana’s situation? Scarlet couldn’t know until she told her.

“Liliana. He’s a stranger, right? He seemed to know you.”

“Yeah. I really don’t know him. … Please believe me.”

“Of course, I believe you. Don’t worry.”

Rebecca gently stroked Liliana’s hair.

It was clear he was connected to Liliana, but Liliana was the most confused right now.

As an adult, she needed to show a composed demeanor.

Scarlet felt the same way.

Scarlet continued her conversation with Irene, maintaining a nonchalant expression.

Behind Irene stood numerous Iris Guild members.

“Irene-nim, did you really bring all the guild members from the Korean branch?”

“Yeah. Just in case. I saw the flow of people and thought something unusual was happening.”

“As expected, Team Leader 1’s judgment is incredible. We, along with Liliana-nim, will apologize for the rudeness I committed last time.”

“So it was something that could be apologized for this easily….”

Irene nodded.

It felt good to have done something proper after so long.

“Anyway… let’s hurry back. You guys need to visit the medical team too, right?”

“Right. Liliana, aren’t you hungry?”

“…Yeah, I didn’t even get to eat my chicken skewers. I’m hungry.”

Liliana looked sadly at the chicken skewer she had half-eaten, now lying on the floor. Lucifer had appeared just after a few bites, so naturally, she had to discard it.

Irene nodded at Liliana’s words.

“It makes sense you’re hungry. The afternoon matches have already started.”

“Is it that late already? The baby daddy’s match probably hasn’t started yet, right?”

“Not quite yet… Ah, this is bad!”

“Irene-nim, what’s wrong?”

“It’s Alice’s match time! We don’t have time for this. It must have already started. I need to take pictures. Let’s go back quickly.”

“Alice-yang’s match has started?”

Irene glanced at her smartwatch and rushed off frantically, while Nam Daeun slightly winced. Because Alice’s match was immediately followed by her own.

“Daeun-yang. I think it’s best you head to the medical team first. The match isn’t that important, is it?”

“….”

Nam Daeun looked down at her hands. She had gripped her sword so tightly that red marks remained on her palms.

She slowly clenched and unclenched her fist.

The fatigue she felt… was gone. Instead, her body felt light, and her mind was clear. She felt like she could keep swinging her sword forever without getting tired. She wanted to fight more.

An unknown euphoria filled Nam Daeun’s entire body.

“I think I’ll be fine. I can fight right away.”

“…Daeun-ah. Are you really okay?”

“Yes. I know my condition well. I can fight now.”

Rebecca looked at Nam Daeun with worried eyes.

‘…Runner’s high.’ A state where immense endorphins are released from a body pushed to its limit, causing euphoria instead of pain. Rebecca knew that feeling too. Reaching that state brings a sense of exhilaration and happiness, making you feel like you can do anything. However, it doesn’t change the fact that the body is at its absolute limit. It’s just deceiving oneself; the reality is an excessive output. Maintaining this state for too long could be dangerous.

“…Let’s think about it on the way back.”

If she’s experiencing runner’s high for the first time, she probably won’t listen even if I tell her. Maybe it’s better to let her experience the aftermath once. All I need to do is prevent any dangerous situations.

Rebecca thought this and followed behind Irene.

*

The sparring arena in the main hall.

Inside the arena, surrounded by spectators, intense flames filled the air. The audience, watching the spectacular match, held their breath in concentration. A moment later, a sword reached the neck of the girl standing in the center of the flames.

[Stop! Professor Kim Jin-hyuk is the winner.]

As soon as the referee’s judgment was made, the magic circle surrounding the arena, which had been filled with flames, deactivated.

“Aagh! That’s unfair!”

“Lucy…! You worked hard.”

“If only Lumi were here… ugh.”

“N-no. You were amazing.”

Lucy, embraced by Lumi who had come out from the waiting room, let out a sigh of regret.

The spectators in the stands applauded and discussed the match they had just witnessed.

• Wow… what was that? Fire arrows moving so freely?

• They called it a core technique, right? Her understanding of the magic she uses is incredible.

Lee Hoyeon, sitting in the audience, clenched his fist in disappointment as he watched Lucy descend from the arena.

“Sip… That was a bit disappointing. I figured she might lose, though.”

Originally, Lucy and Lumi are a strong duo when they fight as a team. Lucy handles the offense, and Lumi handles the defense. While her firepower was enough to fill the arena, Lucy alone was insufficient to block Professor Kim Jin-hyuk’s onslaught.

“Still, she performed the best among all the matches so far.”

Although the professors weren’t going all out, Lucy was the first student to push a professor this far. Thanks to the core technique he taught himself, Lucy’s magic had also grown tremendously. With Lumi, they would make a great duo.

“…But where is everyone?”

Lee Hoyeon had spent quality time with Baek Ahyoung until the afternoon matches began. After she headed to the medical team, Lee Hoyeon took his seat in the main hall. He thought someone would be there to watch with him, but why was he watching the match alone? Let’s think. Lucy and Lumi weren’t seen until just before their match, and after a brief greeting right before it started, they went back to the waiting room. Alice stayed in the waiting room, insisting she had to win against the Korean branch manager, and Moon Surin also disappeared around the same time as the twins. Her opponent, Im Sol, still hadn’t shown up. She probably planned to stay locked up in the lab until right before the match.

‘…Am I being excluded?’

He never imagined he’d end up sitting alone in the audience seats. Maybe he should have gone over to Liliana’s group if he’d known this would happen? But he couldn’t see them either. They should be heading to the arena soon.

[The next match is between student Alice and Doctor Kang Hyorin. We will now reveal the skills of student Alice, who has become the official successor of the French Iris Guild!]

Clap clap clap-

Lee Hoyeon turned his head at the announcer’s voice. Alice and Kang Hyorin stepped onto the circular arena.

• …Please take care of me, Doctor Kang Hyorin.

• Yes. It’s an honor to spar with student Alice.

Lee Hoyeon smiled upon seeing Alice’s uncomfortable expression. Watching the situation unfold with the Korean branch manager facing off against her was incredibly amusing. That person has a knack for subtly provoking others.

“I wonder who will win.”

Knowing Alice’s abilities, Lee Hoyeon watched the match with anticipation.

As soon as the starting signal rang, Alice raised her magic power. A firmly constructed defensive barrier. Cold ice crystals covered Alice’s body. Blue crystals froze onto the sword in her right hand. Alice’s magic power, after special training in France, had grown several times over. After her congenital magic disorder was cured, her stagnant growth finally began to explode.

Kang Hyorin dodged Alice’s ice spikes and shouted.

“Alice-ni, no. Student Alice. It’s cold!”

“Doctor Kang Hyorin. Thank you for letting me attack first.”

“No. It wasn’t consideration… Eek!”

The ice lances created by Alice charged destructively. Alice’s sharp sword slipped through the gaps between the flying ice lances. Faced with the terrifying onslaught, Kang Hyorin tried to resist by disrupting her magic, but Alice’s magic was more refined than Kang Hyorin had anticipated. Every time Alice’s sword grazed her, Kang Hyorin retreated further, looking at Alice with disbelief.

“What on earth happened during the past month…?”

“Quite a few things.”

The month spent with Wild Gladiator was a time she didn’t want to remember. Alice moved her fingers, drawing a magic circle. Ice crystals spread around Alice’s feet, filling the arena. Kang Hyorin stomped her foot, breaking the magic, but Alice pressed forward along with the ice.

“Ngh….”

Kang Hyorin frowned, shaking off the persistently clinging ice. She drew defensive magic circles and disrupted her mana, but it was difficult to fend off the closing Alice.

Kwagwagwang!

Eventually, Kang Hyorin’s back was blocked by ice, leaving her with no escape from Alice.

“…I surrender.”

“You worked hard. Kang Hyorin. … Doctor-nim.”

Kang Hyorin raised both hands, seeing the sword stopped just before her throat. She had intended to go easy on Alice, but she never expected to lose.

“Haa…. Unbelievable.”

“I know you went easy on me. Thank you, Kang Hyorin. … Doctor-nim.”

“Yes, yes. You did well, student Alice.”

Perhaps it was fortunate that Alice saved her face somewhat. Kang Hyorin walked dejectedly down from the arena.

Woooosh! A huge roar erupted from the audience seats. It was only natural for such a heated reaction, as a student had overwhelmed a professor for the first time. Lee Hoyeon also applauded, marveling at Alice’s performance.

“She’s gotten really strong.”

Doctor Kang Hyorin, the Korean branch manager, wasn’t weak either, so if Alice could overwhelm her like that, there was no need to say more.

Amidst the cheers of hundreds, the announcer continued.

[The next match is between the rising prospect, student Nam Daeun, and the Academy’s best sword instructor… Just a moment, what? Ah. My apologies. Student Nam Daeun is apparently not ready yet. Please wait a moment….]

“…Where did Daeun go?”

The match was about to start soon, but Nam Daeun still hadn’t arrived at the waiting room. Besides, she was supposed to meet up with Liliana, Scarlet, and Rebecca around this time… where is everyone?

• Sorry! I’m late!

Just then, Nam Daeun sprinted towards the arena. She arrived just in the nick of time. Seeing her hair soaked in sweat, she must have run hard.

‘…But can you get that sweaty just from running? She seems to have sweated profusely.’

As soon as Lee Hoyeon felt this doubt, a familiar voice came from behind him.

“Baby daddy. So you were here?”

“Ah, Rebecca-ssi. … Huh?”

Behind Rebecca stood Liliana and Scarlet. Up to this point, it was as usual, but strangely, Irene was with them too.

…Why are you there?

“Irene-ssi? What? You guys know each other?”

“Mm-hmm. It just happened that way. We’re neighbors, after all.”

“Alice’s match… it’s over then…. I need to go to the waiting room.”

Irene wore a look of desolation, as if she had lost her country. If Irene missed Alice’s match, could something incredibly important have happened? Lee Hoyeon watched Irene’s retreating figure quickly descending the stairs. He was curious about when they had met, but he’d ask about that later. Right now, he was curious about why they were late.

“Where did you guys come from?”

“Well… Mmph. Mmph.”

“It’s nothing. Baby daddy. Something interesting happened. I’ll tell you after the match is over.”

“What is it?”

Rebecca smiled while covering Liliana’s mouth. Could they be planning a surprise? Lee Hoyeon scanned Scarlet and Liliana before turning his head. Not just Nam Daeun, but the other three also looked exhausted. He could have checked their status screens, but he decided not to. If it were something serious, they would have told him first. And right now, he had something to do.

‘Daeun’s vibe seems a bit different.’

Nam Daeun’s match was about to begin. Lee Hoyeon focused his gaze on the arena.

“Please take care. Student Nam Daeun.”

“…Yes. Please take care of me. Professor-nim.”

Nam Daeun stood facing the sword instructor who had been teaching her.

Thump. Thump.

Her heart pounded. Although the professor before her wasn’t an enemy, Nam Daeun couldn’t suppress the rising fighting spirit. She drew up her magic power. Nam Daeun’s mana, which dominated space, enveloped the entire arena.

“Hmm?”

Seo Jeong-won, the Academy’s sword instructor, tilted his head. He knew student Nam Daeun was among the top first-year students, but today, she seemed weaker than usual. Moreover, she appeared to be panting heavily.

“Student Nam Daeun. You don’t look well, are you alright?”

“…I’m fine. I feel great.”

[Alright, once again! The rising prospect, student Nam Daeun, faces off against the Academy’s best sword instructor, Professor Seo Jeong-won!]

Biiiii-!

Professor Seo Jeong-won was concerned about Nam Daeun, but the starting signal had already sounded. He waited for Nam Daeun’s move, sword in hand. Hearing the starting signal, Nam Daeun took deep breaths repeatedly. Professor Seo Jeong-won was thankfully waiting for her to attack first. It must mean he’s giving a student like her a handicap.

“…Hoo.”

Nam Daeun looked down at her sword. Actually, she had never really liked swordsmanship that much. At first, it was to protect her imprisoned younger sibling. Later, she continued training to repay Lee Hoyeon’s kindness. But now…

‘It was this enjoyable.’

Nam Daeun trembled slightly and smiled. She fully enjoyed the refreshing sensation filling her body as she gripped her sword and swung it.