Chapter 99: Midterms (2)
How long has it been since she was so passionately engrossed in something?
Jin Dallae was outstanding. Since childhood, she had been planning revenge for many years.
This led to her being somewhat inexperienced in human relationships.
However, her achievements were never tainted.
-Dallae, you need to become busier as time goes on.
For a while, she lived while excluding all pleasures.
There came a time when everything must change, even if it required sacrificing everything.
For her, that time was now.
When she was told to take on the company and the family. When she met him and opened up her heart.
Since then, Jin Dallae was confident she had found her path.
-I have to stand out in this exam. Otherwise, I cant even start Forget about the person Im interested in for now.
-Leading a family isnt an easy task. Shouldnt you be going?
-Forester selection competition.
Just one semester. Just a few fortnights.
For some, it was a stage that could always be redeemed.
But for Jin Dallae, like others, there was something at stake in this competition.
-Ding~
[Unregistered Number]
<010-842x-xxxx>
A call just before the preliminaries.
Jin Dallae sighed and answered it.
Soon, a locked voice came through.
[.]
Why did you call?
[I came to watch today.]
Jin Yeohui, Jin Dallaes mother.
Ever since she was freed from brainwashing, she had been repeatedly apologizing to her daughter.
Without excuses like I had no choice, just repeating Im sorry.
She knew well that she couldnt be forgiven, as her father would never return.
Watch or dont Im hanging up.
Jin Dallae put the phone in the athletes basket.
She tucked a wand into her waistband and took a deep breath.
Once this is over.
After this exam, there would be a bit of a breather.
There was much to do and many stories to share.
Not dark stories this time, but rather bright, pinkish ones
No, it was almost a blitzkrieg of stories.
Jin Dallae remembered the faces of several people in her mind.
-Should I ask Lee Shiheon to meet?
Those who, knowing or not about her prospects, might cling to her for that reason alone.
She had to prevent any weird ones from getting attached.
Of course.
Jin Dallaes thoughts were possible because she didnt know Lee Shiheons identity had been revealed.
I wont be able to meet him for a while if I join the forester selection.
So, she had to charm him honestly before that.
It was a kind of obsession, but she was unaware of it.
Group C. Jin Dallae.
The waiting room door opens. She stepped forward.
The eyes of the students in the audience were on her. Jin Dallae glanced at the audience.
Her mother hidden in a corner Lets not think about it. Jin Dallae turned away from Jin Yeohui and took her stance, gripping her wand.
The match starts in 10 seconds. Please get ready.
Its just a midterm tournament, a kind of test with an eventful nature.
But since it was revealed a few years ago that this competition is considered for selecting forester candidates It has been treated as a contest with significant influence behind the scenes.
This match also caught the eyes of guild managers and World Tree followers who were watching.
This means the performance here could increase the likelihood of being selected for the forester competition.
The essence of the match was one thing.
Not about winning or losing but showing ones full potential.
I wish for a good match.
I wish for a good match.
After exchanging greetings, Jin Dallae looked at her opponent.
Ranked 19th. A magician from Jungjin Class she had met once
She too seemed nervous, having prepared earnestly for this tournament, and was gazing at Jin Dallae.
My rank is 6th.
Winning was expected.
Jin Dallae gestured.
-Start!
As soon as the referee spoke.
Deer Spirit.
A spirit in the shape of a stag, wrapped in light green wind, rose behind her.
Jin Dallae seemed to fully harness the spirits magical power as her own.
Then, she drew a glowing blade from her wand.
One sword move.
-Boom!
With just that, the environment around her was manipulated.
The student casting a spell was flung outside.
-Whistle!
The whistle signifies the end of the match.
Without uttering a word, the defeated student watched as Jin Dallae reattached her wand-sword back to her waist.
-Wow
The students were speechless at the unexpected scene.
Until now, everyone thought of Jin Dallae as a magician who specialized in long-range attacks with no talent in close combat.
Everyone expected she couldnt win in such a match.
But, as always, breaking expectations.
Thats how she earned her reputation as a prodigy at the academy.
Good match.
G-Good match.
After the match.
Jin Dallae, with her wand in hand, quickly moved to another arena.
Court 6, where Group H was competing.
She ended her match quickly to watch Lee Shiheons match.
Meetings like this should happen more often, shouldnt they?
Hiding her cunning intentions, she noticed someone in the audience.
A woman with a wooden sword, seemingly fresh from battle, sat staring blankly at the arena.
Sweat dripped down beneath her bright yellow hair.
Sansuyu?
She wasnt an unfamiliar face.
One of the people who had gathered to rescue Lee Shiheon when he was dragged into a dungeon with space magic.
Sansuyu, blinking her large eyes, was staring at the arena.
Why would the young lady of the Cornus family be here?
Some guild managers seemed to be in the audience as well.
It was instinctive to know whom they were interested in.
A person recently connected with Baekdo, a top-class hunter, involved in various incidents, yet with no information on their skills.
A mysterious figure attending this academy.
Jin Dallae looked at the arena, her face in disbelief.
Her pupils dilated.
-Bang!
A loud gunshot echoed throughout the arena.
The tournament, a culmination of the midterms, was quality entertainment for others.
How could it not be enjoyable to show off the fruits of their labor?
Standing in the vast arena, I chuckled.
So curious about me?
Naturally, being associated with Baekdo and living with her, it was normal to be insanely curious.
The one who shattered an Ent created a legend yet was ironically ranked 152nd.
I wonder if Dallae and Sansuyu are done by now.
Looking up, Sansuyu seemed to have finished her match and was sitting, watching me.
I waved back at her.
!
She noticed my gaze and waved her hands immediately.
The contrast between her expressionless face and the waving hands was striking.
Anyway.
The problem was my opponent.
The arena was quite crowded compared to others.
Of course, it was less compared to where Jung Siwoo was. But the presence of cameramen indicated that officials paying attention to me were present.
Several instructors and guild executives were also there, each assessing me in their own way.
Perhaps among them, someone was selecting candidates for the Forester Selection Competition.
Why do you have to be my opponent?
I checked the state of my wooden farming tool while speaking to my opponent.
Pfhihihi. Somehow, it turned out this way.
A woman with a peculiar laugh and inscrutable inner thoughts.
A magician by record, but she held nothing in her hands.
I thought she might have a small wand, but she seemed unarmed.
Her attire was so casual it made me wonder if she came to fight at all.
Doesnt matter.
Winning the championship was the goal, after all.
-Ready.
The word dropped. I stepped forward, honing my senses without any complacency.
-Start.
Flashes went off. The whistles shrill sound assaulted my ears.
Every sense in my body became sharp as needles.
Shh.
I held my breath.
That ghost-like sensation that always comes with the start of a battle.
Years of effort were now translating into skill.
Before me,
I saw a trajectory piercing through my brows.
-Bang!
The sound of gunpowder exploding jarred my ears.
White smoke rose on the horizon of my vision.
Instinctively turning my head, a sharply crafted bullet whizzed past my cheek.
-Whoosh!
The wind from the aftermath enveloped me.
What the
In disbelief, I asked her, forgetting we were in a match.
Guseul lowered the gun in her hand, smiling chillingly.
Pfhihi. Surprised? You dodged it.
I was shocked.
Of course, firearms were commonly used weapons in this world.
But who would have thought a student, trained since childhood in cold weapons and magic, preparing for the academy, would use such a weapon?
It was ineffective against Ents or magical beasts.
-Click.
At the sound of the hammer being pulled back, I instinctively turned.
Its a registered weapon. It only leaves bruises.
-Bang!
The primer exploded.
A single shot mixed with magic.
The heat rising on my body indicated it wasnt an easy attack to dodge.
Instinctively, I raised my hand, casting magic.
-Flick!
An improvised magic that altered the trajectory by disturbing the surrounding air. A speed of magical deployment beyond the reach of an ordinary student.
I looked at my partially torn student combat uniform, self-mocking.
Wow
Magic had no effect at all.
An attack infused with special properties or the power of an artifact?
Definitely not your average opponent.
Guseuls combat style was quite different from what I had experienced with other students.
My previous opponents mostly engaged in straightforward hit-and-miss fights.
It was rare for a student to specialize in long-range combat.
Of course, those who tried to fight from a distance were usually overpowered by magic and easily subdued.
Why was she hiding her tactics until now?
To test me?
I started thinking it was time to delve deeper into her background.
Still, it doesnt seem like Im going to lose
-Bang! Bang!
After dodging bullets a few times, my body started to heat up.
The bullets were getting faster, but not to the point where I couldnt react.
Youre not coming?
Guseuls taunt. I burst out laughing at the absurdity.
Youre dead today.
-Click.
Reloading time.
I amplified my speed by drawing up magical energy in that brief moment.
I took a step forward, slightly digging into the ground, propelling myself.
Guseul, having reloaded, fired bullets at my soaring body.
-Bang! Bang!
The impact rattled through my body.
Precise hits to my shoulder and various spots caused throbbing pain.
But it was bearable.
-Bang!
Considering her reloading earlier, seven shots.
The last bullet whizzed past my ear, missing miserably.
Closing the distance in an instant.
Guseul stepped back, smiling, her shining gun barrel aimed precisely at my forehead.
Youre fast.
The trigger tightened. The sound of the chamber moving reached from the other side of the barrel.
I thought it was her last shot. Had she tricked me during the initial loading?
Irritated by her overlooking manner, I responded in a twisted tone.
Why so relaxed?
I didnt know how she neutralized magic, but at this close range, I could anticipate any move.
Wind pressure. Gravity manipulation.
Scattering magical power nearby to interfere and prevent easy use of magic. Freeze the firing pin.
The forming ice firmly fixed the barrel and slid, preventing it from moving back.
Forcing a shot now it would be her gun, not my head, that would explode.
I was both a warrior and a magician.
I knew well where to touch a complex and precision-reliant weapon to break it.
Youre dead.
I drew back my fist, infusing it with magic. The air near my fist began to tremble.
Just as I was about to unleash a punch to vent my frustration, regardless of her being a woman
Ah.
Guseul, sensing the change, raised her hand and said.
I lost. I surrender.
An unexpected declaration of surrender.
I stopped my fist in disbelief.
.
Pfhihihi.
-Whistle!
The whistle blew, echoing through the arena. Guseuls smug grin was irritating.
I rolled up my combat uniform sleeve to inspect the gunshot wound.
No bruise, but
A wound to my pride.
Wow, youre really strong. Crazy Ow, why hit me! I surrendered!
Just because youre annoying.
Watching Guseul nursing her head from the knock, I laughed helplessly.
Anyway, it was a win for me.
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