93 – Baek Yurin and the Ranking Match (7)
093.
A fairly noisy spectator area.
The association, clan, and media officials who were watching the intense battle between the young kids bowed their heads in surprise.
The result of Ju Jiyeon vs Jin Soyeon was quite unexpected.
No one had expected that the Forbidden Leaves of the Ohsung Group would lose. It was understandable since Ju Jiyeon was quite strong for a trainee. If we were to think purely from her psychic abilities, she surpassed active heroes.
But Ju Jiyeon lost like this?
To an unknown trainee?
If she had lost to exceptional trainees like Lee Siwoon, Kang Daehan, Baek Yurin, Yoo Seolhyun, Seo Nari, or Yuriya… it would be understandable. But losing to a girl trainee they had never seen before…
Who exactly is this girl named Jin Soyeon?
I heard she’s only in the top 200.
“Oh my, what do we do… Ju Jiyeon didn’t lose her composure, did she?”
Jasegyeong, the head of the Laon Hilljo Clan under the Ohsung Group, looked down at the arena with a worried expression.
Looking at Ju Jiyeon, who had a blank face and was staring into space before letting out a bitter laugh, she seemed so pitiful.
She seemed quite indignant as she clenched her fists tightly, trembling with her shoulders shaking.
As someone who had known that she had put in so much effort for today, Jasegyeong couldn’t hide her feelings of regret.
“To be honest, Ju Jiyeon fought terribly.”
“What did you say?!”
SL Group’s Jeong Haewon absentmindedly muttered to himself. Jasegyeong’s anger flared up like fire with her ears perked up.
How dare you say such nonsense that our Jiyeon can’t fight!
That Jeong Haewon is something else.
He’s talking as if his trainee, Lee Siwoon, achieved a decision victory against Kang Daehan!
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“Mr. Jeong Haewon. Isn’t your remark a bit too much? Saying that Jiyeon can’t fight?”
Jeong Haewon let out a sigh and slowly spoke as if telling her to calm down.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it in a bad way, I’m just disappointed.”
“What’s wrong.”
“No, no, Ju Ji-yeon didn’t need to engage in close combat.”
It would have been better if they fought while maintaining a certain distance.
“When she faced Se Na-ri, I remember her keeping her distance and not allowing any approaches.”
“That’s…”
“If they had responded like they did back then, it wouldn’t have ended so simply. It’s a bit regrettable.”
Ju Ji-yeon’s supernatural abilities were not limited to close range, mid-range, or long range; she was extremely powerful and capable of adapting to all situations.
If she had utilized high-speed travel and flight abilities with gravity direction changes to keep her distance and only carry out long-range attacks, wouldn’t that have been better?
“Well, it’s because that girl Jin So-yeon seemed to have a very weak long-range attack ability.”
When Jin So-yeon first threw her dagger, it was effortlessly blocked by Ju Ji-yeon’s gravity field.
Furthermore, Jin So-yeon consistently tried to approach Ju Ji-yeon, even withstanding gravity.
In other words, it meant that Jin So-yeon had a very lacking long-range attack ability.
If Ju Ji-yeon had focused on evading and restraining without allowing any approach, like she did with Se Na-ri, she may not have been able to defeat Jin So-yeon, but she could have at least achieved a decisive victory.
However, Ju Ji-yeon didn’t pay much attention to Jin So-yeon’s approach.
Because she had enough confidence that she would win even in close combat.
And retreating from an opponent like Jin So-yeon would have surely hurt her pride.
…But in the end, such complacent thinking led to her defeat.
“Isn’t Jin So-yeon in the top 200? Her movements were quite impressive. If she has the ability to neutralize Ju Ji-yeon’s gravity to that extent, it’s quite a powerful supernatural ability. Why wasn’t this publicized?”
Jung Hae-won quietly pondered about Jin So-yeon.
It seemed that she could weaken other people’s supernatural abilities.
Based on the information he just looked up about her, it seemed like her ability could strengthen or weaken objects in physical contact.
Considering that she could weaken Ju Ji-yeon’s powerful gravity ability in an instant, her potential was very promising.
She should probably be included as a target for the MI-NAE Clan’s scouting.
This is why Union is interesting.
Sometimes, these unheard-of individuals unexpectedly show great potential and achievements.
It’s as if this is the cradle of heroes.
“Hmph. Well, she’s just a loser, a weakling, aren’t you, weakling.”
As Jung Hae-won praised Jin So-yeon with an impressed tone, Jae-segyeong grumbled irritably.
Because they lost to an unknown like Jin So-yeon, there was a possibility that their Ju Ji-yeon could hear unpleasant stories.
So, she wasn’t pleased with the situation.
However, setting aside personal emotions, that child named Jin Soyeon seemed quite impressive.
It wasn’t simply because she weakened supernatural powers.
Dodging Ju Jiyeon’s high-speed swordplay effortlessly in the end, and immediately chasing after her when she tried to escape with high-speed movements, her movements were far from ordinary.
From the start, the swordsmanship Jin Soyeon used, called Hwaseon Lee, was an unconventional and swift sword that even the members of the Laon Hill Clan admired.
It was by no means a simple attack that any trainee outside the top 10 could easily dodge.
But that little brat Jin Soyeon just casually dodged it, didn’t she?
That sight of her narrowly evading by a difference of one sheet of paper reminded me of an arrogant brat with reddish hair.
A brat like Baek Yurin.
“By the way, it’s almost time now.”
“You mean Baek Yurin’s ranking match?”
Jung Haewon nodded slowly.
“Yes. I’m looking forward to Baek Yurin.”
As it is a widely known secret, those who know are well aware.
Baek Yurin is the most powerful hero trainee among the freshmen.
Honestly, even if you include all the upperclassmen, Baek Yurin is probably unmatched.
Baek Yurin’s abilities surpass the category of a student, that much is clear.
Currently, Ishiun and Kang Daehan have also surpassed the category of a student, but considering the way Baek Yurin demonstrated her skills even before entering Union, I couldn’t help but be afraid of how much of a monster she has become now.
Jung Haewon was shocked when she first saw Baek Yurin.
Although Jung Haewon, who grew up hearing sounds of genius to the point of being accustomed to them, was talented, compared to Baek Yurin, she was like a frog in a well.
“By the way, Baek Yurin personally challenged a fellow student named Lee Jinhyuk to a ranking match, right?”
“Yes. That’s why I was surprised.”
At Jasegyeong’s words, Jung Haewon nodded.
Until now, Baek Yurin seemed to have little interest in academy grades and simply took exams carelessly.
Entrance exams, performance evaluations, midterm exams, etc.
But.
This ranking match was different.
Because Baek Yurin personally selected Lee Jinhyuk, a fellow student, as her ranking match opponent, and she had not left the academy and was devoted to training for a week.
It meant that she didn’t randomly challenge anyone to a ranking match.
Baek Yurin was unusually serious this time.
“But I wonder why she challenged that child Lee Jinhyuk to a ranking match….”
The education student named Lee Jin-hyuk was quite famous.
During the performance evaluations, he received commendations for defeating monsters, supported the Gaon Nuri Clan by rescuing heroes from dungeons, and during the midterms, he gathered students to stand against villains. His achievements were quite remarkable.
However, if asked if he had a worthy opponent to face, he could only shake his head as a weak martial artist.
Because Lee Jin-hyuk was extremely weak.
There were rumors that he barely passed the Union entrance exam at the bottom of the rankings.
In reality, his practical skills scores were quite low after entering the Union.
“As Baek Yuryun has personally requested a ranking match, do you think there is something hidden about this Lee Jin-hyuk kid, like Jin So-yeon?”
“I hope so.”
Jasegyeong shrugged her shoulders and thought of Baek Yuryun’s face as she answered.
“I just want to see that unlucky little genius stammering even once.”
Of course, it was unimaginable for that unsurpassed little genius to even stutter in front of Lee Jin-hyuk.
***
Education student waiting room.
“V! Did you see, did you see? The victory of this body!”
So-yeon, who had finished her match, came running like an arrow, laughing and showering herself with all sorts of self-praise.
The way she boasted was quite overbearing.
With her nose held high and hands on her hips, it reminded me of the confident So-yeon of the past.
Their relationship had become a bit awkward since the confession incident, but now So-yeon seemed to be embarrassed by her confession and not care about it.
… Or maybe she was intentionally acting like she was okay.
I didn’t want to whine for no reason.
“Oh, I’m scared, my talent! My str… What?!”
“Gensaaah! I believed in you! Jin So-yeon, you’re my hero! Ahahahahaha, the underdog triumphs! I made the right bet on you!”
“Oh my, oh my! So-yeon, what’s going on? How did you do it?! Our So-yeon was a hidden powerhouse?!”
“Wow. You defeated Ju Ji-yeon? Jin So-yeon, are you similar to me, or even better?”
The students from the same class who had been watching the match all rushed to So-yeon and cheered for her.
So-yeon was taken aback and let out a surprised “Eek!” sound.
Somehow, they seemed even happier than she did.
So-yeon definitely has a lot of popularity.
“Oh no?!”
Thud!
I hit my head on the ceiling.
Looks like Soyeon raised me too high.
As expected of the hero trainees. Power is everything, after all.
“You, youuu….”
“Ah, hm! Sorry!”
“Hey, hey. I told you to throw gently.”
“Oh my, then I’ll leave now.”
As Soyeon finally settled on the ground, she frowned at the children and they coughed awkwardly before running away like a bolt of lightning.
Soyeon sighed deeply and approached me.
“Ugh, my head….”
“You did well in the duel, Soyeon.”
Though I had some doubts, I could clearly understand through this duel.
That I had the potential I had imagined.
Of course, my skill level and strength seemed a bit lacking, but just by what I showed now, it should be enough to fight against villains.
“I thought you would win.”
“Huh? Really?”
“Well, there was a sports betting site, so I bet on you. The odds were no joke.”
“…Are you sure it’s not illegal?”
“No, it’s legal, recognized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism. It’s legitimate. There was some controversy about using trainee matches for profit, like horse racing or Gangwon Land, but…”
As it was a legal sports betting site, the only downside was that the income I received was a bit disappointing.
“W-What?! Jin Soyeon! How did you do it?!”
At that moment, Seonari intervened.
As if she couldn’t believe Soyeon’s victory, she was pointing her finger at her with wide eyes.
“I supported her? Wasn’t I the one who bet against you?”
“What?! Seonari! I’m disappointed!”
“I told you not to call me by that name?!”
Soyeon and Seonari exchanged their usual banter.
– Please enter from Team G, Groups 11 to 20.
“Ah, is it already my turn?”
My turn was approaching before I knew it.
A showdown with Baek Yoorin.
Honestly, I was a bit nervous.
“What are you thinking, Lee Jinhyuk?”
“What do you mean?”
Yoo Seolhyun, who had been quiet up until now, approached me quietly and asked. What does she mean by “what are you thinking”?
I looked at her with a puzzled expression, but Yoo Seolhyun just stared at me with an unreadable gaze.
I shrugged my shoulders and opened my mouth to speak.
“I’m going to do my best… well, I might not win, but…”
“Hmm? Is that so?”
Yoo Seolhyun made a slightly meaningful expression and then burst into laughter.
“Right, you mean you’re thinking of losing?”
What?
Thinking of doing my best?
In the end, I’ll probably lose.
Honestly, how can I defeat Baek Yoorin?
It’s a worrisome situation where I wonder if I can last even a minute.
But there’s something strange about Yoo Seolhyun’s tone.
It’s like she’s taking it as if I intentionally thought of losing.
Is it my imagination?
“Lee Jinhyuk.”
“Yes.”
Lee Siwoon approached quietly.
The one who had won on a technicality in the ranking match against Kang Daehan.
He must have returned from the infirmary after receiving treatment for his injury.
“Baek Yoorin is strong.”
“Yeah, um, that’s true.”
Lee Siwoon said one word and then fell silent.
As if that was enough.
– Please hurry and take your seats from Group G 11th to 20th.
“I should probably go out now, Jinhyuk.”
“Yeah, okay.”
There doesn’t seem to be any more time to waste.
Upon hearing Soyeon’s words, I quickly moved my steps.
“Jinhyuk, fighting! If you think you might get hurt, don’t hesitate to surrender!”
I entered the battlefield of the stadium, with a bitter smile hidden behind the cheers that were not really cheering but rather dragging me from behind.
I saw a crimson girl walking in the distance.
It was Baek Yurin, wielding two swords.
“…I-Jinhyuk.”
Baek Yurin looked at me with calm eyes.
“…Today won’t be as simple as back then.”
“No, that wasn’t me. It was a case of mistaken identity.”
“…It could be or it couldn’t be. But…”
Baek Yurin slowly placed her hand on the sword handle and spoke in a cold tone with a low voice.
“…You can tell by clashing swords. A sword doesn’t lie.”
“You really don’t listen to what people say.”
“A conversation with swords is enough… Isn’t it?”
“You have a really tiring personality.”
I let out a sigh in my mind.
Anyway, regardless of my expectations for this duel, there was the added difficulty of Baek Yurin’s character, which made the situation complicated.
“Both of you, take your positions.”
According to the referee’s words, Baek Yurin and I distanced ourselves from each other.
A distance of about 60-70 meters.
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Eventually, the two of us faced each other, assuming a combat stance.
– All trainees, take your positions. The G Group match will begin.
“Alright, then… 3, 2, 1.”
As I listened to the referee’s countdown, I thought to myself.
For the past week, I had obtained and analyzed Baek Yurin’s dueling videos one by one.
Her patterns, habits, techniques, weaknesses, flaws, and so on.
I had spent sleepless nights analyzing various materials and memories from my previous life.
As a result, several coping strategies were prepared.
Of course, because it was an old video, there could be some differences from the current Baek Yoorin, but I had experience fighting with Lee Siwoon.
Based on that experience, if I focus only on defense, I might be able to survive a little.
“…Daelim, begin!”
Immediately after the referee’s declaration, I tightly gripped the handle of the sword.
‘Alright, for now, I should focus on observing Baek Yoorin’s initial movements and prioritize evasion and defense…’
“You don’t even blink…?”
In an instant.
“Huh?”
I realized that a blade was being held in front of me.
“…Did you notice that I had no intention to stab?”
Startled, I froze without even blinking properly.
As I subtly moved my gaze, I realized that Baek Yoorin was approaching me and was pressing the sword towards my eyes, slightly bending her body.
No, what the hell?
“Or…”
Baek Yoorin suddenly let go of the sword and leaped backwards, expressing doubt.
“…Is it because there’s no point in stabbing?”
