Finally, the midterm exams began.
The first two days were written exams.
During those two days, all subjects are taken in one go.
And just now, I’ve just finished the last exam.
“Ow, my throat hurts.”
I guess staring down at the exam papers for so long did it. My whole body feels stiff.
I cracked my neck a few times to loosen it up, stretched a little, and stepped out of the building.
Gaon is bustling with activity, with both the exams and event preparations.
It was because tomorrow would mark the official start of visits from external guests.
“Where’s the professor?”
“Just give what you’ll give… what kind of hero takes written tests?”
Students, having finished their exams, were walking across the square complaining loudly about the ordeal.
I sat down on a bench amidst the noise and looked up at the massive display screen in the center of the square.
The large monitor floating in mid-air was alternating between names of students who had been called out in real-time.
[Individual Combat Challenge Notify]
[Rank 2 Johan] -> [Unknown Jung Hae-in]
[Individual Combat Challenge Notify]
[Rank 42 Seong Si-woo] -> [Unknown Jung Hae-in]
And there was my name too.
“…What to do.”
Honestly, either one didn’t matter to me.
Well, in the case of Johan, I had sort of expected it yesterday at the café.
Johan, I can see how it’s possible.
But Seong Si-woo…
What’s up with this guy?
He usually acts like I don’t exist, but now suddenly he challenges me to an individual combat?
Was he doing isolated training or something?
‘…Will it work?’
But there was something more important.
I had no intention of participating in all the matches in the first place.
I only planned on attending the first round and then forfeiting the second and third, which would lead to disqualification.
Because that time was when I needed to depart to hold off the Demon’s attack.
There were matters more important than test scores.
So now, I needed to choose.
Who to fight: Seong Si-woo or Johan.
‘Seong Si-woo or Johan?’
The display screen, after a round, showed my name again.
“Tsk.”
I clicked my tongue and took out my watch.
I then used the sole ‘Challenge Rejection Card’ granted to each student.
[Holding the “Rank 42 Seong Si-woo” Rejection Card.]
My honest thoughts are as follows.
I’ve fought Seong Si-woo in an unarmed combat practice before.
Back then, he was weak. After that fight, he didn’t receive any kind of training from me, and not even a month has passed.
It’s hard to think there would be any notable change in such a short period.
In this world, when it comes to talent, getting sudden insights from just a few practice sessions is cruelly improbable.
So, in other words,
You’re still trash.
I didn’t want to waste my one chance of dueling against Seong Si-woo.
It’d probably be boring.
So, my choice in the end.
[Holding the Rejection Card automatically confirms the match against “Rank 2 Johan.”]
It was Johan.
Yesterday, I thought the place was crowded…
I was wrong.
Today’s square belonged to another level altogether. It was the cream of the midterms: individual combat.
Banners and flags were fluttering everywhere, and the murmurs of the crowd grew to a hum, with so many people gathered.
It felt like some kind of festival.
Or maybe not.
Because I have to compete.
I sighed and managed to push through the throng.
There were three arenas in total: A, B, and C.
With matches happening all at once, people scattered to the arenas where their supported students would appear.
I was heading to Arena A.
However…
There were way too many people. Rank 2 Johan and Rank 1 Kang Ah-rin were both fighting in this arena, so that made perfect sense.
I barely managed to push through the crowd and got up to the spectator seats.
“Wowww!”
The cheers of the crowd shook the entire arena, making me flinch.
The combat was already in full swing on the vast arena.
It was Kang Ah-rin versus a female student whose name I didn’t know. She must have challenged Kang Ah-rin unaware of her strength, maybe out of overconfidence.
“Are you really that strong?” — that kind of vibe.
I found an empty seat and sat down to watch the match.
As expected, it was a one-sided fight. Kang Ah-rin was strong.
The archer foolishly allowed the warrior to breach her distance.
Meaning, the battle was already over.
I’ve seen this happen three times already.
However—
—Even when she could have ended the fight earlier, she didn’t.
Her gaze kept shifting towards the audience, as if looking for someone.
Until finally, her eyes found me. Her eyes widened…
And in a moment, she disappeared.
Then…
“Bang!”
Kang Ah-rin’s fist landed squarely on the archer’s stomach.
With one decisive blow, she defeated her opponent.
The female student collapsed without even letting out a scream, holding her stomach while gasping for air.
“The winner is—Kang Ah-rin!!!”
With the referee’s call, the crowd erupted in cheers.
“Wowww!”
Kang Ah-rin, responding to the crowd’s cheers, waved while standing there in the arena.
Yet her eyes remained fixed on me.
“Well done.”
That was my evaluation.
For some reason, if she had truly wanted to end it earlier, she could have done so.
Seemingly, the opponent knew that too, as she was holding her stomach with an expression of frustration.
The screen announced the next rounds of fights.
The next match was mine.
At that moment, I began hearing my name from various places.
“Jung Hae-in…? Who’s Jung Hae-in?”
“Ah, this match will probably be a landslide. We’ll start monitoring Johan from his second match.”
Reactions from various parts of the audience. Most were conversations among the guild assessors.
It makes sense. Guild assessors are people who want to see the true potential of promising individuals shine.
It bothers them when the opponent is too weak, because then there’s little to assess.
I quietly got up from my seat.
‘Time to go.’
There was enough time for the arena to be prepared, so heading there now was perfect.
I left the audience area and headed towards the player entrance tunnel.
As I walked through the tunnel, the cheers faded away, leaving only the low, dull sound of footsteps echoing.
After verifying my identity, I waited in front of the entrance.
“Please wait for 3 minutes, then enter.”
“Okay.”
Following the usher’s instructions, I waited for a couple more minutes…
Then, I slowly walked into the arena.
“Wowwwww!”
The moment I exited the tunnel, the cheers pierced my ears.
Even more enthusiastic cheers flooded in than before, though most likely they were for Johan standing in front of me.
Johan happily waved to the crowd, as though enjoying his moment in the spotlight.
The two of us faced each other.
“You accepted?”
Johan smiled and spoke.
Here, no matter how loudly we might speak, it won’t reach the audience.
“I thought you’d chickened out and rejected it.”
I didn’t bother answering.
There was no need to say anything.
I simply loosened my wrists, waiting for the countdown.
Johan’s expression faltered slightly for a moment, but then reverted back to his usual warm smile.
“We’ve gone through dungeons together.”
He said.
“I know you’ve been hanging out with the Saint these days.”
He seemed to have done his homework on me and Cheon Yeoul.
I still didn’t respond.
But Johan moved a little closer and tilted his lips upwards.
“There’s just one thing I want to ask.”
His smile deepened.
“About the Saint…”
He took a short breath and then lightly asked,
“ Fucked her?”
“Huh…”
I sighed.
The tepid feelings that had built up since walking through the tunnel disappeared all at once.
As if a sticky fog was clearing, unnecessary emotions dissipated from within me.
This isn’t even funny. My expression hardened coldly.
“You’re more serious than I thought.”
Knight Johan,
If everyone were to see the true nature of this image that’s been packaged as kind and amiable…
“Focus!”
General guilds observe the students’ battles from the audience seats and evaluate them.
It was different here, though.
Gaon’s arenas are divided into three locations named A, B, and C. There’s also a special VIP lounge in the center of it all, which offers a clear view of all arenas.
The members of the so-called “Major” groups can move freely between the arenas from this place.
“Clack.”
The delicate sound of a glass being placed on an elegant wooden table echoed softly.
“Well done observing Miss Ah-rin’s match.”
An officially recognized “Rank 1 of Gaon.”
Her match naturally became the topic of discussion.
The guild master of the Glory Guild under Lord Strong, Kang Yun-hyeok, began to gain attention.
“Guild Master Kang Yun-hyeok. The growth speed of Lady Ah-rin is truly remarkable.”
“It seems that she might reach S-rank right after graduation.”
Kang Yun-hyeok nodded, a confident smile on his face.
This was a response he had anticipated.
Kang Ah-rin,
His niece and the strongest talent cultivated by Glory.
After the death of his heir, Kang Yu-seong, it seemed like trouble had started creeping in—but Glory defiantly revealed its new flower to the world.
His gaze flickered to the screen.
The upcoming match in Arena A was there.
With Johan participating, members of the faculty and principal groups naturally gathered at the viewing area meant for Johan’s matches.
“Ahaha, Bishop. It’s almost time for Sir Johan’s fight. This gentleman is truly exceptional.”
People gathered around the elder in his pristine clerical robes to flatter him.
“That child will become the new light of the church.”
“Ahaha, indeed.”
Anticipation for Johan’s fight was growing.
Many of the important figures in the VIP room also wanted to watch his duel.
The conversation was mostly about Johan.
However, Kang Yun-hyeok had his attention on a different direction.
“Nephew, I’ll take this guy into Glo-ri.”
One day, Kang Ah-rin suddenly recommended someone to join the Vanguard Squad, the elite team of Glory.
It was a recommendation that almost amounted to registration, which he stopped using his authority as the guild master.
“Jung Hae-in.”
It was the first time he’d heard of this name. But upon investigation, it turned out to be a hero who went by the nickname ‘Silent Phantom.’
He had performed commendably at a young age. But…
Glory was not a place for just any ordinary hero.
Therefore, Kang Yun-hyeok wanted to watch Jung Hae-in’s match from his viewing area instead of Johan’s.
Because he wanted to understand why his niece recommended this person.
But when Kang Yun-hyeok moved to Jung Hae-in’s viewing area, he became puzzled.
“What is this?”
Expecting fewer people at Jung Hae-in’s viewing area since he thought they’d all flock to Johan’s side; instead, there was a notable crowd on Jung Hae-in’s side as well.
Arcadia, Lotus, and… Vanguisher.
“Vanguisher…?”
He had been skeptical about them participating in this recruitment since the beginning, and this choice was also unexpected.
Kang Yun-hyeok turned his gaze to a familiar figure from Arcadia and quietly approached them.
“Sir Luke, did you come to see the student Johan?”
To which Luke shook his head.
“No, it was upon the Saint’s recommendation. She strongly requested an audience with Mr. Jung Hae-in.”
“I… as someone who moves according to the Saint’s will, I came here to fulfill her intention.”
Kang Yun-hyeok’s expression stiffened slightly.
“… The Saint too?”
Something was off.
Now looking at it, the spectators observing Jung Hae-in’s match were far from ordinary.
The bodyguards of the Yu family, the Lotus guild, the Arcadia church, and now Vanguisher.
“…And including me?”
Though he initially sat here out of mere curiosity,
Kang Yun-hyeok decided to sit firmly, prepared to watch the match more attentively.
And right at the center of that viewing area.
“Crunch.”
“Hee has quite the fan club, huh~”
There stood a man, casually munching on a snack, speaking without any tension.
Park Kwang-cheol.
He was so at ease that he had comfortably taken up his seat.
“Oh, Hee is mad.”
“Crunch.”
“You’re doomed~”
Taking another bite out of his snack, Park Kwang-cheol started enjoying the game.
