Transcension Academy

C21: Tournament (3)

Seo-joon, who returned to the waiting room, sat down and checked the progress of the lectures, which rose due to the duel with Jang Deok-cheol.

In terms of efficiency alone, it was not a small increase.

However, this kind of competition was rare, and now the number of duels has decreased due to a lot of people forfeiting.

He didn’t think he could take this opportunity to increase his progress.

In fact, it was quite a disappointing progress for Seo-joon, who expected the progress to increase as much as it did when he fought with the manticore.

‘The free pass period keeps decreasing…’

Seo-joon confirmed the remaining free pass period.

Considering that it lasted 90 days, 38 days have passed.

Considering that it has been a little over a month, it was a huge growth, but at this rate, it was not enough time to complete Shakyamuni lecture as well as the lectures of Chiron and Xiang Yu.

In fact, even if Chiron and Xiang Yu lectures would be completed within the period, the free pass had to be purchased continuously due to Shakyamuni lecture.

‘If I want to buy weapons and repurchase free-pass, I’ll be tight on money.
I should definitely aim for the prize money now.’

Seo-joon calculated and if he won the next duel against Lee Chul-min, he could go to the finals.

Seo-joon was certain to win even if he went to the finals except for one case.

“Hyung….”

At that moment, he heard a young voice calling him from somewhere.
Seo-joon could see that he was Min-ki without having to turn his head.

“Hey, were you such a strong person?”

As expected, Min-ki was looking at Seo-joon with surprised eyes and Seo-joon replied with a shrug.

“Did I ever say I’m weak?”

“Uh…”

Min-ki was momentarily speechless by Seo-joon’s answer.
Then, when he realized that Seo-joon had never done that, he looked awkwardly scratching his hair.

Seo-joon smiled and said at Min-ki’s appearance.

“Next is your game, right? Go and do well.
See you in the final.”

“…Yes.”

Min-ki answered in a crawling voice.
He seemed to hesitate a little, and then slowly opened his mouth.

“Can I do it, too?”

Seo-joon looked at Min-ki for a moment and said,

“Why do you think it won’t work?”

“Lee Jun-hwan is talented and strong, but I’m weak and not talented.
Everyone says I can’t do it.”

Seo-joon listened to Min-ki’s words quietly.

Min-ki was mediocre and his only difference compared to others was that he was a natural awakened but that was it.

Min-ki’s talent was not outstanding, and now everyone is flocking to become a professional hunter.

The word “normal” was a refined expression of the word “untalented” and it wasn’t much different from Seo-joon 38 days ago so Seo-joon asked without realizing it.

“Why do you want to be a professional hunter?”

“What? Me?”

Seo-joon nodded and said,

“You said you are weak and talentless so why do you want to be a professional hunter?”

Min-ki closed his mouth at Seo-joon asked a sudden question.
He couldn’t understand why Seo-joon would ask him such a question.
However, there was no mischief or joke mixed in Seo-joon’s eyes.

“I told you in the maze that I have a sister who is 10 years younger than me, right?”

Seo-joon nodded and Min-ki continued while lowering his eyes slightly.

“In fact, my sister thinks I’m a hunter.
I know that, too since I can’t even reach the tip of that foot but I guess my sister thinks I’m a hunter.
I once saw her brag about it to her friends.
At that time she looked up to me.”

Min-ki continued, bowing his head shyly.

“That’s… That’s just so nice.”

Seo-joon smirked and laughed at Min-ki’s crawling words.

Min-ki hurriedly continued to talk while feeling embarrassed.

“But I think it fits my aptitude and more than anything, I can make a lot of money.
Then my sister can do everything she wants to do.
If I have a hard time…”

It was then.

“Student Lee Min-ki and student Lee Jun-hwan get ready!”

The cries of the competition officials echoed in the waiting room.

Seo-joon nodded and said,

“Do well.”

“…Yes, hyung.”

Min-ki got up from his seat with an unknown expression on his face.

Seo-joon silently looked at Min-ki’s back.
The reasons why people want to be professional hunters are different.

They want to make a lot of money, become famous, and succeed.
However if there are 100 people, there are 100 reasons.

And it’s not limited to being a professional hunter.
If there are 100 jobs, there are 100 reasons for that.

‘That… That’s just so nice.’

In this era, people are judged incompetent if they don’t develop day by day, abandoned if they can’t be used, insulted if they aren’t needed and forced to try and succeed.

Which side was Min-ki closer to and where was Seo-joon himself standing?

‘…’

Seo-joon wanted to watch Min-ki’s fight.

Lee Jun-hwan was quite annoyed now because his opponent was a kid who still hasn’t lost his baby fat.

“Phew… I can do it.
I can do it, too.”

And he’s been muttering something since a while ago, and that was also quite nerve-wracking.

Lee Jun-hwan looked at his opponent with a displeased look on his face.

He knew that he was afraid of him even without fighting on the other hand, he was a predator.

Stepping up and eating others with superior talent, a creature that everyone envies and looks up to.

‘He got here because he was lucky.’

So Lee Jun-hwan was more annoyed.
Originally, the first place should have been his, whether it was the first or the second competition.

It wasn’t a matter of pride, it was just a matter of course.
In the first place, there was a difference in level between him and the other participants.
But because of luck a kid was ahead of him.

‘Especially that punk…’

Lee Jun-hwan recalled the man he saw in the waiting room.

In fact, after the dungeon breakthrough, Lee Jun-hwan thought there were students who were forced to participate in the competition like him.

Lee Jun-hwan was disappointed, and later when he heard that the majority of the students forfeited, he thought he would have also forfeited but the reality was that the kid was playing around in front of his eyes.

When Lee Jun-hwan looked up once again, the kid was posing with his weapon, a sword.

‘Do you think you can win? What the hell?’

Lee Jun-hwan just didn’t like the situation right now.

“Hey, referee.
When the hell does it start?”

“There will be a comment from the host soon.
We will start right after that, so please prepare in advance.”

As soon as the referee’s words were over, the host’s voice was heard.

Lee Jun-hwan did not listen but only heard one word.

Lee Jun-hwan kicked the ground almost at the same time as the host words were over and his body moved forward like an arrow, narrowing the distance with Min-ki in an instant.

Lee Jun-hwan was going to finish quickly without any delay.
Therefore, he attacked first.

“Cough!”

Min-ki, who managed to block it, groaned without realizing it.

After seeing that his hand was almost broken and his body was shaking after blocking one attack Min-ki realized right away that he couldn’t win.

Contrary to expectations that he should endure and respond a little, the fight was one-sided.

“Cough!”

It couldn’t even be called a fight in the first place.

When a lion and a tiger fight, the victory or defeat is decided by various variables such as place, time, and condition, however a deer could only win against them by luck and Min-ki was the deer here while Lee Jun-hwan was a tiger.

Min-ki eventually threw up blood and fell on his knees due to Lee Jun-hwan’s attack, saw Lee Jun-hwan’s feet approaching and the referee’s shaking his head.

‘I can’t do it.’

Min-ki lowered his head and he could see Seo-joon standing at the entrance of the waiting room.

“Seo-joon hyung…”

When Min-ki first saw Seo-joon, he was attracted to him without realizing it.

He didn’t know why but he could feel a sense of familiarity from Seo-joon.
So when Seo-joon beat Jang Deok-cheol, Min-ki was happy as if he had won on the other hand, however, he envied Seo-joon.

‘My brother is a hunter!’

“Hunter?”

‘Of course! My brother is a hero who scolds bad people and bad creatures and protects people!’

‘What am I doing?’

He couldn’t do it and he knew that better than anyone.

‘What makes you think you can’t do it?’

Seo-joon’s words kept ringing in his head and Min-ki got up.

“Student Lee Min-ki, can you continue?”

Min-ki did not answer.

‘Just once.
Just once is fine.
I want to touch that line.’

“Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!”

Min-ki grabbed his sword and rushed at Lee Jun-hwan.
However, the reality was harsh and cruel.

Min-ki eventually collapsed on the spot without being able to block Lee Jun-hwan’s attack.

“Wow! “

“Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!”

“Great job, Lee Jun-hwan!”

“He was no match for him!”

However, Lee Jun-hwan could not hide his embarrassment and raised his hand to smooth his face.

He felt a moist feeling with his fingertips.
There was a little blood where his fingertips touched.

‘You touched me?’

Lee Jun-hwan approached Min-ki, who was lying down, twisting his face.

Seo-joon then silently looked at the whole situation and turned his back.

“How dare you trash…”

Seo-joon’s footsteps stopped at Lee Jun-hwan’s sudden words.

When he turned his back, Lee Jun-hwan was stepping on Min-ki’s face.
Then he said with a look of annoyance.

“You’re making a fuss just because I beat this guy…”

Although buried by the cheers of the audience, Seo-joon could hear it.

“It’s so annoying.
It’s not enough to come up here with luck, but these bugs want to become hunters…”

Seo-joon watched the scene quietly.

“Seeing each and every one of these guys being accepted, it’s no wonder this stupid competition is the fourth division.
Damn it.”

“Student Lee Jun-hwan! What are you doing?”

There was no reason for Seo-joon to come forward.
Even if Seo-joon doesn’t have to step up, officials will take care of it.

Of course, it is true that Lee Jun-hwan’s behavior is annoying.
However, they will meet in the finals anyway.

“I can’t play with you because you’re so low-level.
I don’t think you were going to win anyway… Hey referee, I can’t hang out with you anymore, so I’ll just give up.”

Lee Jun-hwan looked down at Min-ki, who was stepping on with a fishy smile but Min-ki showed no movement because he fainted or had no strength.

“Student Lee Jun-hwan, stop it now! If you keep doing that, we have no choice but to take action!”

“What action? I’m giving up.
Referee, aren’t you annoyed too seeing this little punk acting like a hunter? Climbing up without knowing where they should be.
These guys are just…”

“What is he?”

Seo-joon attacked suddenly but Lee Jun-hwan easily blocked the attack.

“What about you?”

And Lee Jun-hwan, who confirmed Seo-joon’s existence, looked slightly surprised.

“I changed my mind.”

Seo-joon spoke in a cold voice.

“You need to get hit now.”