Chapter 94

[Translator –  Daniel Shin]

[Proofreader –  ilafy]

Chapter 94

Tap Tap.

Footsteps echoed out over the area.

Baek MyungHo paced, cupping his glass in his hands—he had been put in charge of organizing the competition.

“It’s here…”

They were surrounded by darkness and silence, but the atmosphere changed completely when the lights turned on at Baek MyungHo’s signal. 

There was a huge glass display that showed off all sorts of artifacts.

Kang YuChan looked at the displays, a satisfied expression on his face.

“All of the artifacts are very good… Good job.”

Korea had prepared the International Academy Competition’s reward. 

Baek MyungHo bowed toward YuChan and spoke.

“The support from China, Japan, and Southeast Asia was huge! A few guilds even sponsored us with artifacts, so we were able to get some good things this time.”

“Haha! Right? Give me the list later; I’ll give my thanks to them.”

“Yes! Understood!”

Baek MyungHo nodded, and Kang YuChan pointed at one of the artifacts

“Is the Star Coral Stone the first match’s artifact?”

“Yes. We plan to reward it as a bracelet or a necklace, depending on the winner’s preference.”

Star Coral was a mysterious mineral that enhanced elemental-type special abilities. Kang YuChan fell into thought.

“The Japanese and Korean teams… Aren’t they the closest to the stone?”

“Ah… I was short-sighted. We wanted to make things as fair as possible, so we randomly assigned them…

Baek MyungHo lowered his head at Kang YuChan’s words, but Kang YuChan put his hands on his back and laughed, saying it was okay.

“Haha. I’m not trying to blame you, so don’t worry. I came with a proposal.”

Kang YuChan took something out of his pocket—a beautiful crystal that shone with orange light.

“This…?”

“It’s a Thousand-Year Jade. I obtained this artifact when I climbed the Tower with Yu WonHak. Haha! I never revealed this to the world.”

Baek MyungHo gulped at Kang YuChan’s words. The artifact before him was Fist King Yu WonHak and the Association President Kang YuChan’s secret.

Baek MyungHo couldn’t resist his curiosity.

“A-an artifact from the tower… What floor is it from?”

“I’m not sure. Was it about the 50th floor? Anyway, take it.”

Baek MyungHo’s hands trembled as he took the Thousand-Year Jade.

“An artifact from the 50th floor…”

Although Baek MyungHo was in charge of managing all sorts of artifacts, the Thousand-Year Jade was a treasure that not even he had ever seen before.

It was the best possible reward among all of the artifacts in the tournament.

“U-understood! I’ll replace the Star Coral Stone with this as a reward for the first match.”

Kang YuChan laughed at Baek MyungHo’s loud reply and left. As Baek MyungHo watched him walk away, he thought of a certain rumor he had heard before.

‘I heard Shin Yusung is going to be participating under the care of the Association President… So I guess it was true.’

But still, it wasn’t a crazy condition. The Thousand-Year Jade from the 50th floor was much more valuable than the Star Coral Stone, so offering it as a reward wasn’t bad at all.

Slide. Tap.

Baek MyungHo fell into thought as he put the Thousand-Year Jade into the glass display.

‘If it goes to whoever wins the first match, it will be Korea vs. Japan… I wonder which side will get the Thousand-Year Jade.’

Amy turned off her stream and sat on the promenade bench, tired. Her stream ended up lasting longer than expected, and Sumire’s haunted house had left her particularly exhausted.

“Ugh… I feel like I’m going to be sick tomorrow… Hehe, but still, my subscriber count increased a lot.”

It seemed like all of her efforts had been rewarded. She felt proud when she looked over all of the subscribers she had gained.

“Hehe. I wonder how much more I’ll get if I attend the International Competition.”

She was smiling to herself when someone else approached her, towering above her head.

“Hi.”

Upon hearing the familiar voice, Amy slowly raised her head.

“Huh? Yes! Hello!”

It was someone she recognized… Student Council President Shin HaYoon.

“Fufu. I’m sorry. Was that too sudden?”

Amy’s nervousness skyrocketed when Shin HaYoon sat next to her.

“There’s no need to be nervous… I just approached you because I recognized you. You’re a streamer, right?”

Amy sighed in relief.

‘Aah~ So, she’s a fan~?’

Amy looked at Shin HaYoon, a proud smile on her face.

“You were in charge of commenting on the selection matches… right?”

“Ah, yes! That’s right! That was quite recent. Did you watch?”

Amy thought that Shin HaYoon was her fan.

“Is it true that you’re also a member of Shin YuSung’s party?”

“Fufu, yes!”

Amy wiggled her eyebrows in a sly manner.

‘Heh~ Does she like me so much that she even researched me? The student council president doing stuff like this… isn’t that an abuse of power?’

Amy didn’t seem to dislike Shin HaYoon’s attention, but HaYoon wasn’t really interested in Amy.

“I see. How is daily life as a member of the party?”

“Ah, the party? I… hehe… Streaming has left me quite busy, you see… so I can’t participate that much.”

Amy scratched her cheeks.

“He seems to be a good party leader…” Shin HaYoon said in a soft voice.

“Hehe, yes! Of course! I’m not the only one that follows him, though, he’s the party leader, after all!”

Amy began praising Shin YuSung.

“I see… It seems like he’s a really good party leader. Then… does he value all of his party members?”

Amy nodded at Shin HaYoon’s soft question.

“Yes! Of course!”

Amy’s innocent eyes shone.

Amy didn’t hesitate to say Shin YuSung cared for his party members; she didn’t suspect anything at all. Shin HaYoon looked at the innocent Shin YuSung, smiled, and got up.

“Today was fun. I hope you keep getting along well with him.”

Amy waved to her.

‘The student council president looks like a good person… I have an eye for people, after all!’

A field of flowers was spread out in Amy’s head.

In contrast, Shin HaYoon made a chilling smile.

One of the auditoriums was decorated in a medieval style, and Shin YuSung and Kim EunAh were sitting at a luxurious table.

“Hehe…”

Kim EunAh was still hugging the killer whale doll without caring about the party’s social atmosphere.

“Hey, YuSung… Isn’t this killer whale doll really well made? It can even open its mouth.”

It was weird to see someone as rich as Kim EunAh liking a doll so much.

“It seems like my arm could fit in its mouth.”

‘It seems like she really likes it…’

Shin YuSung didn’t think it was that big of a gift, but he felt a bit proud when he saw how much she liked it.

Slide.

Kim EunAh grabbed the killer whale doll with both hands and placed its mouth over YuSung’s arms.

Kim EunAh moved the whale’s jaws up and down.

“EunAh… What are you doing?” YuSung asked, confused.

“I’m giving food to the orca,” Kim EunAh said while making a mischievous smile.

“That’s… my arm.”

“Hehe. Killer whales are carnivorous creatures, after all.”

Shin YuSung smiled slightly, and Kim EunAh let out a mischievous laugh. She looked quite different from the first time he’d seen her.

‘It seems like, in reality, she’s quite playful.’

It seemed like her cold self was just a shell. He thought that what he was seeing was closer to how she really was.

Kim EunAh acting in such a way in front of Shin YuSung meant she had opened her heart to him.

Slide.

After putting the orca in her Pocket, EunAh got up and stretched. Her dress and casual demeanor clashed with the ball’s atmosphere.

“Hey, YuSung…”

Kim EunAh extended her hand to Shin YuSung, who was sitting down.

“I changed my mind.”

YuSung grabbed her hand, following EunAh’s lead and standing up. It was perfect timing because the song had just changed. 

“What do you mean?” YuSung asked.

EunAh had thought about her feelings during their time at the hospital and had realized what she really wanted.

“I want to stay in the party… even after the International Competition.”

Kim EunAh had fun with her party members. Even while she was in the hospital, she couldn’t help but think about Shin YuSung and the other members of the party.

[E-even if it’s a small wound, we must disinfect it before bacteria gets into it!]

It was the first time she had ever seen Sumire get angry.

[She’s upset because you didn’t say anything,] Shin YuSung, who understood her reason for hiding it, had said.

‘Although it’s going to be noisy… there’s also Amy.’

Those memories were evidence that Kim EunAh had tried her best not to get hurt, but in the end, she ended up failing.

“That’s why… I wanted to ask… Can I stay in the party?”

Kim EunAh gently moved her hand over YuSung’s, and he nodded.

“Of course…”

They might have seemed like they had nothing in common at first, but they were getting closer to each other through their partnership.