NOVEL SIMPLE Chapter 85 - Exchange War (2)
Due to the sudden commotion, Seo-joon's gaze also naturally turned to the place where the commotion was.
And in Seo-joon's field of vision, he saw a woman who was trudging along.
He must have been in his mid to late 20's.
She was the owner of an atmosphere so cold that it felt like cold air was flowing.
The long black hair and white skin amplified the cold atmosphere.
Also, the gaze that descended between the dark eyelashes seemed to ignore everything in the world beyond restrained emotions.
It looked similar to the confidence that was close to arrogance that I had peeked from the Sword Saint the other day.
It wasn't exactly the same, but Seo-joon could feel the atmosphere, albeit vaguely.
It was not difficult for Seo-joon to notice that it was Lee Ha-yoon, whom she had only heard about.
“Is there a special reason why you decided to open some of this exchange match?”
“Are you participating in the exchange exhibition or are you just here to observe?”
Reporters rushing around poured out questions to Lee Ha-yoon.
Officials around Lee Ha-yoon blocked the reporters, and a little scuffle ensued.
“Come this way.”
In the midst of the scuffle, Lee Ha-yoon followed the guide of the person in charge and moved on.
The reporters continued to ask questions as the cameras flashed.
However, Lee Ha-yoon did not express anything, as if such interest was natural.
Right then.
“There is a saying that the reason why I do not participate in other competitions is because of Kim Seo-joon. Is that really true?”
stop.
Lee Ha-yoon's steps stopped abruptly at the sudden question.
Lee Ha-yoon slowly, very slowly, turned his head.
And he looked straight into the face of the reporter who asked the question.
Lee Ha-yoon's expression became even colder to the point of being ruthless.
It was just a look, but it was a gaze that felt the pressure that was pressing on the surroundings.
“I don’t mean that…”
The reporter, who caught Lee Ha-yoon’s gaze, began to backtrack involuntarily.
A heavy silence fell for an instant.
After a while, Lee Ha-yoon spat out his words.
“Who is Seojun Kim?”
Then he turned around and quietly disappeared into the building.
“It must be Lee Ha-yoon of Hunter Mill, whom I only heard about. It's very atmospheric and pretty...”
As soon as Lee Ha-yoon's figure completely disappeared from sight, Min-yul muttered.
Afterwards, Soo-yeon shot at Min-yul with an expression of boredom.
“Why does the word pretty come out there?”
“Because it is pretty. Is it wrong to call pretty people pretty?”
“The situation is not right. You never said I was pretty.”
“You are still in high school.”
Minyul's answer gave Suyeon a blank look.
But that's for a while. Soo-yeon opened her eyes and shouted.
“I am an adult now!! And what does being pretty have to do with high school students!”
And was Suyeon's voice so loud?
The gaze of the reporters who were chasing Lee Ha-yoon quickly turned this way.
“uh...? Isn’t that Kim Seo-jun over there?”
“Kim Seojun? Why is Seojun Kim here?”
“No way! Wasn’t Dream Academy also participating in this exchange match?”
“There was a reason that part of this exchange match was made public!”
chump chump chump!!
Then, along with camera flashes, reporters began pouring in.
“Seojun Kim! Please take a moment to say something!”
“Are you facing Lee Ha-yoon in this exchange match?”
Seeing the reporters like that, Min-yul said to Su-yeon.
“It’s a good thing.”
“It's because of your brother.”
Then, the two start bickering again.
Seo-joon looked at the two and said with a smile.
“Let’s go in too.”
#
Seo-joon and his party, who entered the building to avoid the reporters, were able to head to the waiting room according to the guidance of the officials.
Also, the waiting room was set aside for each academy, so no one else could be seen.
As I was spending time sitting in such a large waiting room, a person who seemed to be involved soon approached me.
“In a little while, the Interchange Tournament is scheduled to start. Before that, I would like to explain the rules and the game method once again for confirmation, would you mind?”
In response to the official's question, Seo-joon nodded slowly.
In this exchange match, the match method and rules were also set by the three major academies as a condition of betting the prize money.
And as I was notified in advance, there were some pretty unusual rules among them.
“First of all, the use of personal equipment is prohibited in this exchange match.”
The first rule was none other than common weapons.
In this exchange match, unlike other competitions, the use of any equipment other than the weapons provided in the exchange match was prohibited
.
“So I prepared the equipment in advance, but Kim Seo-joon is the spear. Park Seo-yoon's sword. Minyul Lee has two daggers and a bow. Is that correct?”
As Seo-jun, Seo-yoon, and Min-yul nodded their heads, the official turned his gaze to one corner.
Then, at the end of that line of sight, a group of other officials began to approach us.
In their hands, there were items piled up in cloth, but it was sure to be common equipment prepared at the exchange event.
“Check it out and let me know if there are any problems.”
Along with the official's words, Seo-joon checked the window.
The quality of the spear wasn't too bad, as if it seemed that he had put a lot of thought into it for common equipment.
It wasn't too bad, but it wasn't enough to use it in real combat right away.
It was slightly less than the spear Seoyoon had gifted him last time, so tens of thousands of won seemed like an easy asking price.
Of course, it couldn't compare to Longinus' Spear and Gungnir.
“Do you have any other equipment you need?”
Seojun slowly shook his head.
“Then next…”
The official explained in detail the rules of the upcoming exchange tournament.
There were a lot of additional explanations, but there was not much difference from the general tournament method.
“Do you have any further questions?”
When Seo-joon shook his head again, the official continued.
“If you have any other questions or problems, grab someone in the waiting room and talk to them, and we will check and solve them.”
After that explanation, the person in charge immediately left the waiting room.
In terms of procedures and methods, it was as neat as other competitions, and it was indeed the 3 major academies.
“The quality isn’t bad… but the problem is that I’m not used to it.”
When I heard the sudden sound, I turned my head to see Minyul pulling the bowstring.
Then, he swung the dagger around and tilted his head awkwardly.
“Iknow, right. I'm not used to it either.”
And Seoyoon was fiddling with the hilt of her sword as if it were the same.
“A craftsman never blames his tools.”
Only Soo-yeon, who was not using any equipment, was smiling lightly.
Then Min-yul opened his mouth as if to stop talking about things he didn't know.
“That is all deceiving. Have you seen artisans who talk like that use crude tools?”
“Well... that's true...”
“I'm saying that because artisans already use good tools.”
In fact, it is not wrong to say that the Sword Saints have been using the Blue Dragon Sword.
Minyul turned his head and asked Seojun.
“More than that, Captain. Is the captain all right?”
“me? What am I...”
In response to Min-yul’s sudden question, Seo-joon touched the window here and there. Compared to the Spear of Longinus, the spear felt flimsy and crude.
There was definitely no awkward feeling like Minyul said.
“what. Doesn't the captain really care?”
“Seojun oppa doesn’t seem to blame the tool, right?”
“No, I don't mean it that way...”
In fact, Seo-joon was worried about other things than Chang's awkwardness.
‘Um... is this going to be okay?'
Seo-joon looked down at the window once more.
Compared to the spear of Longinus, the quality itself was quite good.
‘Well... it'll be fine.'
Seo-joon quickly brushed away his thoughts.
After some time, the exchange tournament began.
And Seo-jun's first opponent was a student at Gaon Academy named Park Ha-joon.
#
Park Ha-joon was one of Gaon Academy's promising prospects.
To be precise, it could be said that all the students who participated in this exchange were promising prospects.
That would also be the case, because only students who were in the top ranks were given the right to participate in the exchange matches.
And to be a promising player in Korea's three major academies meant that he was a genius.
maybe that's why
‘What the hell is that guy...'
Park Ha-joon couldn't recognize Kim Seo-joon in front of him.
It was because Kim Seo-joon, whom I see now, didn't really seem like much to see.
The appearance and the atmosphere itself were a bit awkward, and it felt like a screw was missing somewhere.
He was the kind of bastard who couldn't understand why he was here if he hadn't heard the rumors.
‘What on earth did he say that Siwoo Jung said...'
Especially what Siwoo Jung said.
Park Ha-joon looked at Kim Seo-joon in front of him and remembered the events of the past.
that was just a few days ago.
It was when I heard the news that Dream Academy would participate in the exchange match.
Hearing the news, Park Ha-joon went straight to Jeong Si-woo.
Jung Si-woo, who was horribly broken by Dream Team in the last raid battle.
I don't know if it's because of that, but after the raid battle, Jeong Si-woo stayed locked up in the training ground and didn't think of coming out.
So Park Ha-joon wanted to let Jung Si-woo know that the opportunity for revenge had arrived.
Park Ha-joon went to see Jeong Si-woo and soon found him training at the training ground.
‘Did you hear the news? The news that Dream Academy will also participate in this exchange match.'
‘heard.'
At Park Ha-joon's words, Jung Si-woo answered without even looking at him.
Just keep swinging the sword you wield.
Park Ha-joon shook his head at that terrible appearance and continued.
‘Then doesn't that mean Kim Seo-joon will also participate?'
‘I guess so.'
‘haha. That's why I was training so hard.'
Park Ha-joon only shed a shy smile in his colorless heart.
As expected, it was Jung Si-woo, who was already grinding his teeth with revenge against Kim Seo-joon.
Jung Si-woo, whom Park Ha-joon knew, was such a person.
A person who doesn't get frustrated when faced with a wall, but does whatever he can to overcome it.
There was no way that way was excessive, but Jung Si-woo was that kind of person.
It was the same when everyone was in despair at Lee Ha-yoon's overwhelming appearance in the last exchange match.
Lee Ha-yoon showed Gaon's geniuses what heaven is like, who had never tasted setbacks.
Everyone despaired at the unapproachable sky, but only Jung Si-woo was different.
Jeong Si-woo may have been frustrated and despaired of Lee Ha-yoon, but he did not stop striving to surpass Lee Ha-yoon.
Regardless of whether it was possible or not, Park Ha-joon was also deeply impressed by Jung Si-woo's appearance.
Siwoo Jeong was broken so badly in the raid battle, but sure enough, Siwoo Jeong was Siwoo Jeong.
Park Ha-joon nodded and said.
‘Yeah, that's like you. This time, Kim Seo -jun to press the baby. ‘
however.
‘no.'
Jung Si-woo's answer was far beyond Park Ha-joon's expectations.
‘I'm not going to participate in this exchange match.'
‘......what? why?'
Park Ha-joon asked, but for some reason, Jung Si-woo did not answer.
He just quietly wielded his sword and continued training.
Park Ha-joon blocked Si-woo Jeong and asked.
‘Why?'
Jeong Si-woo stared blankly at Park Ha-joon and spat out words.
‘...Because Kim Seo-joon is participating.'
Park Ha-joon thought for a moment that his ears were wrong.
Seojun Kim is participating and not participating?
At that moment, a thought flashed through Park Ha-joon's head.
And that was a really crazy idea.
But just in case.
It's really unlikely, but thinking about the one-in-a-kind possibility, Park Ha-joon slowly opened his mouth.
‘You can't... Are you afraid of Kim Seo-joon?'
Jeong Si-woo shook his head resolutely.
‘I wasn't afraid of Kim Seo-joon. The person I fear is Lee Ha-yoon. There is only one.'
‘Then why...'
And then, a word from Siwoo Jung.
‘Because Kim Seo-joon... didn't even feel the feeling of fear.'
‘what?'
Park Ha-joon couldn't understand what Jeong Si-woo was saying.
But Jung Si-woo only said this.
‘Now, no matter what I say, you won't understand.'
That's how Jung Si-woo did not break his intention to refuse to participate in the end.
.
.
“......You bastard.”
At the words of Jeong Si-woo, who came to mind again, Park Ha-joon muttered a small voice without even realizing it.
No matter how you look at it, it was because Kim Seo-joon in front of him was not a person that Jung Si-woo could evaluate so much.
“I'm just scared of that guy, so I'm out.”
Of course, there were rumors and results, so I wasn't an ordinary student.
Because there is such a thing, such rumors and results would have come out, but rumors were always exaggerated.
More than anything else, it was enough to step on it and get over it.
This exchange match is a place where those who were called geniuses gather and compete.
Among those who were called geniuses, those who were called geniuses were the ones who competed here.
A place where dragon heads gather, not dragon tails.
How many setbacks have these guys who had been professing to be geniuses tasted in exchange battles?
It was this exchange that such guys were widespread.
“You bastard.”
Park Ha-jun muttered once more to the invisible Jeong Si-woo.
“Are you both ready?”
Park Ha-joon nodded at the referee's words at that moment.
And he checked the sword in his hand once more.
It was a common equipment prepared for the exchange match, just like Seojun.
In fact, exchange wars did not prohibit the use of personal equipment before.
It was because the intention of the exchange war was that the difference in equipment was also the difference between the students.
But for some reason, the rules changed for this exchange match.
In words, the intention was to compete for equal skills among the students, but Park Ha-joon was well aware that it was actually because of Kim Seo-joon.
As for the reason, rumors I heard at first glance said that I couldn't follow the equipment used by Kim Seo-joon
...
Park Ha-joon honestly couldn't believe the rumor.
Park Ha-joon gripped his sword tightly.
I don't know how far Kim Seo-joon has been in other competitions, but this is an exchange match between the three major academies.
It was intended to show that the dragon's head is different.
“Then… let’s begin!”
The sound of the referee starting the game that follows.
however.
green onion!
“...?”
With the start of the game, Seo-joon's new model suddenly disappeared from Park Ha-joon's field of vision.
‘I missed a move...?'
No, I didn't miss it, I couldn't see it.
Because Park Ha-jun did not even recognize that Kim Seo-joon had moved.
In Park Ha-joon's field of vision, it was just that Seo-joon suddenly disappeared.
“What...”
Park Ha-joon hurriedly turned his head to find Seo-joon.
Whoa!
At that moment, I was able to find Seo-jun's spear coming in from the right.
‘danger!'
Park Ha-joon hurriedly raised his sword and blocked the rushing spear.
And just as he was about to strike back.
Kwa-Ah!
Seo-jun's spear hit Park Ha-jun's sword, and the sound of a bomb exploding was heard.
At the same time, a tremendous shock hit.
“Cool!!”
Park Ha-joon vomited a handful of blood along with pain as if his intestines were twisting.
‘What power...!'
Amidst the dizzying pain, Park Ha-joon lifted his head with difficulty.
However, Seo-joon had already left.
Seo-joon almost scattered the new model with a mysterious movement that could not be understood at the time.
The foot talent that moved the model was also so dazzling that Park Ha-jun could hardly follow it with his eyes.
Whoa!
Then, the window swayed from the outside to the inside.
Park Ha-joon once again managed to raise his sword and block the window.
Kwa-Ah!
Then, without fail, the sound of a bomb exploding was heard, and this time Park Ha-joon's body was pushed back.
“Cuck!”
Park Ha-jun could not come to his senses.
However, I couldn't follow Seo-jun's movements, and above all, it was difficult to block each of these blows.
‘I have to do something...!'
Park Ha-joon bit his teeth and raised his sword.
right at that moment.
I love you so much!!
Looking at the window rushing in like a ray of light, Park Ha-joon let go of his mind.
Only one thought comes to mind.
‘Die!'
Pod!
The stabbing spear stopped right in front of Park Ha-joon.
and.
Woo woo woo woo!!!
Huge wind pressure swept Park Ha-joon's face like a storm.
Clink!
Park Ha-joon dropped the sword he was holding without realizing it as his body stiffened.
“…”
“…”
“…”
A strange silence settled in the hall.
“Gi-gi Kim Seo-joon... Win...”
There was only the referee's declaration of victory.
Paper weave!
There was only the sound of something breaking.
Then Seo-joon let out a small sigh and muttered.
“I knew it would be like this. Somehow I felt uneasy. If I had finished a little later, the window would have been broken.”
Hearing Seo-jun's words, Park Ha-joon gently lowered his eyes and looked at the window in front of him.
In Park Ha-joon's field of vision, there were windows with small incontinence here and there.
Like Seo-jun said, it was in a precarious state as if it would break soon.
“......”
Park Ha-joon was at a loss for words.
Of course, the common equipment prepared for that window exchange war was of high quality.
It was of such quality that professional hunters could use it in real combat right away.
In the first place, there was no way that the equipment used not only by the Dream Academy but also by the students of the 3 major academies was wasted.
Even considering the price, these were equipment worth tens of thousands of won.
However, after Kim Seo-joon swung it three times, it cracked to the point where it could no longer be used.
What should I do to make the window not hold up and crack?
No, if he had been struck by that powerful blow... what would he have become?
“Ha... ha ha...”
The last conversation with Jung Si-woo flashed through Park Ha-joon's mind.
‘As you said, let's say Kim Seo-joon is great. But maybe Lee Ha-yoon will play? No matter how Kim Seo-joon...'
‘So?'
‘......what?'
Jeong Si-woo spat out words as if he was not interested.
‘It would be fun to watch if the S-class Hunter and Cataclysm hero were to compete.'
‘...... What the hell are you talking about?'
Park Ha-joon couldn't understand what Jeong Si-woo was saying at that time.
“hey! Please change this window to something sturdy! I was nervous about breaking the window from earlier, so I couldn’t put my strength into it properly.”
But now.
‘Check it with your own two eyes. Because I don't want to see that sky again.'
Park Ha-joon could feel the meaning of what Jeong Si-woo said at that time.