RE: Player again

349

[Chapter 105] [Catch Your Player (6)]

Kwak Woohyuk.

The life of a player belonging to the SSS grade according to the Mana Management Organization's rating standards was, in some ways, quite tragic.

If only the Changhae Clan, ranked second in South Korea, hadn't disbanded, he could have easily taken the position of sub-lord, and further, could have become one of the Twelve Seats replacing Shin Seoyoung.

However, his life, which had been on an upward trajectory, had to go downhill when the Changhae Clan disbanded.

He barely managed to participate in the 2nd generation Twelve Seats selection, but the Changhae Clan supporting him disappeared from the world, and the Dangun Clan he newly entered was particularly hostile.

As a result, Kwak Woohyuk couldn't appeal himself as one of the Twelve Seats and ended up losing to Hwang Sanggun of KK Clan.

To make matters worse, he was recruited into Dangun Clan but suffered from the hostility of party members, and received an SAS grade the following year.

He received an SBA grade, a grade that hurt his pride, from Dangun Clan.

Damn bastards...!

Those without real skills...

He who had some acquaintance with Changhae Clan Lord Gil Seongjun was autocratic to people around him, if not to himself.

As time passed and hostility decreased, Dangun Clan people acknowledged his skills but didn't like his autocratic personality.

Kwak Woohyuk wanted to leave the clan in his heart, but other S-grade clans didn't extend recruitment offers, so he had no choice but to remain in Dangun.

Then an event occurred that could turn his life around.

It was Catch Your Player.

Just as the caster who was supposed to appear on the broadcast was hospitalized, he coincidentally got an opportunity to appear.

A variety program informing about rookie players.

However, it wasn't only rookie players who had promotional opportunities.

If he, participating as a panelist, could imprint his skills on the public, surely other S-grade clans would approach with interest.

"Oh? Player Kwak Woohyuk?"

He who strongly insisted to Dangun Clan that he would go out was thus able to participate in filming.

Then he had a reunion after a long time with Shin Seoyoung appearing on the broadcast as an academy instructor.

However, the relationship between the two wasn't very good.

"I thought I might meet you if I came here... It's been a long time. You look quite good teaching kids after retiring."

A seemingly sarcastic tone.

Shin Seoyoung's joy at meeting Kwak Woohyuk was very brief, and she narrowed her eyes and looked him over carefully.

"So the person coming out as a panelist was Player Kwak Woohyuk. You should have said something when you came out."

"What's the use of saying something? Were you going to say let's eat together or something?"

Kwak Woohyuk snorted.

In his opinion, honestly, Shin Seoyoung was at the center of the background that led to the disbandment of Changhae Clan.

Shin Seoyoung, the sub-lord of Changhae Clan who acted arrogantly as if she alone was great.

If it weren't for her, his life might have been on a smooth path.

Thinking that way, Kwak Woohyuk's remarks naturally became rough.

"No. Why would I eat with you? If it was you coming out, I was going to tell the production team I won't appear."

"W-what?"

"Don't get cheeky. Even if we have no relationship now, do I look beneath you?"

"......"

The spirit of she who was a meritorious contributor in raising Changhae Clan to S-grade and occupied one of the Twelve Seats hadn't gone anywhere.

Rather, although her skills as a player may have decreased somewhat, she gained that much pressure from single-handedly blocking monster armies in Uijeongbu.

Kwak Woohyuk flinched for a moment.

Feeling an indescribable spirit in her eyes as she approached making a clicking sound with her heels.

It was like facing a thousand-year-old serpent, or a dragon that could ascend at any moment if it wanted.

"─Please."

It wasn't a request.

It was a warning.

"Let's just quietly finish our filming and then quietly part ways. Seeing your face keeps making me think of that bastard Gil Seongjun's face too."

Although there was some unfairness.

Kwak Woohyuk couldn't make any rebuttal to her who was threatening.

Only after she disappeared did he suddenly come to his senses and belatedly curse her.

Damn, acting like she'd beat me if we fought now...

What are you doing getting scared, you i***t.

He who kicked away a stone on the ground decided to first solve the task given to him.

It was what the production team asked.

To create a mission that would check rookie dealers' skills while also catching viewers' attention.

I'll show my magic skills.

I'll clearly show viewers my true colors, why I'm called the Snake King.

He had just come from creating a mission for rookie supporters.

Although he lost consciousness for a moment when someone stepped on a snake he released while setting traps along the way.

Because he who could create snakes that seemed alive through mana shared senses with the snakes he summoned.

Shin Seoyoung, that b***h's disciple was Noh Euna, right?

I put a lot of effort into the mission to give your disciple a hard time. Do you think she can do something an academy student can't no matter how great she is?

Kwak Woohyuk snorted.

Anyway, he released snakes created with mana to investigate the surrounding geography.

And shortly after─

"─Cough!"

Kwak Woohyuk knelt down coughing up blood while continuing his casting.

Which bastard...

Someone killed his snake.

And that someone seemed to be the same person who killed his snake just earlier.

Then it surely wasn't a coincidence.

Kwak Woohyuk who put strength into his nails until dirt got under them recalled the image sent by the disconnected snake.

'A snake that's good for the body and tastes good.'

A boy who stepped on the snake while singing with an off-key tune.

He must be crazy.

Because the boy was raising the corners of his mouth while stepping on the snake.

But whether he's crazy or not─

Being at the academy on a day like this means he's a cast member, right?

If he catches my eye, I really won't let him off.

─What more can a snake do but crawl in front of me.

☆

How far did this bastard release snakes?

Kwak Woohyuk's released snakes were even near the training building.

Eunha who personally stepped on and killed the snake was now even humming a song.

With a tune and rhythm that would make Minji cover her ears if she heard.

A song that should feel addictive was newly born as a song that seemed to curse someone.

Of course, he didn't realize it himself.

But why did Yeonhwa noona call?

Eunha who entered the training building found the training room according to the content Yeonhwa sent by talk in advance.

He was about to continue sleeping because he was tired, but Yeonhwa sent a talk asking if he could help for a moment.

Whoosh

Eunha opened the door of the training room where Ryu Yeonhwa was training.

Then a sound of air splitting was heard from inside.

A sound like cracking a whip.

However, she was taking steps holding a spear as tall as herself in the center of the training room.

"......"

No, should it be expressed as dance?

The movements she unfolded holding the spear were merely basic movements. Nevertheless, she was embodying them in her own style by connecting them with discipline.

Her long blue-green hair fluttered following her as she moved in circles.

The spear blade containing sunlight entering through the bars emitted a sharp light and traced trajectories.

The appearance of all her movements being woven like one flow.

It was a scene that captivated even Eunha who uses a sword, not a spear.

...As expected of Ryu Yeonhwa.

Ryu Yeonhwa.

She who was established as the strongest in offense-defense unity was gradually changing into the Sword Saint of before the regression.

In just a few more years.

She would surely be called the strongest in this country even before generational change.

Nevertheless, there was also a difference from before the regression─

"─Ah, Eunha."

Ryu Yeonhwa before the regression didn't show friendliness like this.

She was just a well-honed spear, but in this life she was maintaining the humanity of 'Ryu Yeonhwa' within sharpness.

"Weren't you filming too, noona? Why were you training here?"

"I'm filming now."

"What?"

He who exchanged greetings happily with her soon directed his gaze in the direction she pointed.

Now that he looked, some staff were filming from a corner.

Eunha felt he made a mistake.

"This... Don't you have to film again because of me?"

"...It should be fine? I stopped in the middle anyway. Is that okay?"

Ryu Yeonhwa tilted her head towards the staff.

The staff answered by nodding their heads.

"By the way, how long have you been here? I'm sweating a lot now..."

"This isn't sweat."

"What?"

"It's spray bottle water. Thanks."

Now he was used to it.

He passed her the towel he took out of her bag.

Her face was wet with sweat. Sweat gathered around her eyes sparkled in the sunlight, and sweat drops gathered at the tip of her chin dripped onto the floor.

But she said she didn't sweat.

Well, this noona isn't someone who sweats much.

Eunha quickly agreed.

Ryu Yeonhwa didn't feel heat or cold well due to her Gift "Ice Queen", and didn't sweat much either.

Even if she sweated, she quickly cooled the heat warming her body with "Ice Queen".

"Then why were you spraying water?"

"That's... They said they're making our promotional video this time... I decided to film myself training."

"Ah, I see."

Eunha nodded. He remembered hearing earlier that Euna was also doing concept filming to make a promotion video.

Of course, he couldn't understand why she called him.

"It's... I keep getting nervous when I try to film alone..."

"...Ah..."

Yeonhwa mumbling while avoiding his gaze.

Only then did Eunha realize that her facial expression stiffens when she stands alone in front of cameras.

Didn't it come out on broadcast too?

The appearance of Yeonhwa awkwardly standing and having difficulty dealing with approaching people as soon as Euna left her side.

Her expression completely disappearing from her face when cameras were pointed for interviews.

Thanks to that, the nickname she gained through the broadcast was Ryu Binghua (Ice Flower Ryu) borrowing her Gift.

Her pet name was Binghua or Glacier.

But her face wasn't a glacier when wielding the spear...

However, she had the concentration to separate herself and her surroundings when wielding the spear.

A part that was hardly understandable.

Because he didn't want to pry into the reason, Eunha decided to just accept it as it was.

"Then I just need to spar as usual, right?"

"Yes."

He didn't bring a device.

Fortunately, the staff had prepared a few devices used for filming.

The device quality wasn't good, but because they were sparring not defeating monsters, Eunha decided not to mind particularly.

He who chose a sword of suitable length for him to wield took note of the staff's cautions.

To try not to make Yeonhwa turn her back to the camera.

"By the way student... What year are you?"

"Why?"

"No, just... You look quite young."

"I'm 2nd year middle school academy."

"2nd year high school academy?"

"2nd year middle school academy."

""""...."""

The staff made expressions of disbelief after checking his personal information.

They seemed unable to believe that the sparring partner of she who was known as the best among students attending the academy was just a 2nd year middle school academy student.

Regardless, he went towards the sparring area leaving the staff behind.

"One round?"

"One round."

A conversation they now habitually exchanged every morning when sparring.

Eunha giggled and pointed his sword.

She also took a stance holding her spear. Dust particles fluttered reflecting light around her receiving sunlight cast in the space.

Just as he suddenly thought she was beautiful─

─Hanmaeryu

Silver Wind

Ryu Yeonhwa was relentless from the start.

The world that seemed to need no lighting was covered in ice particles like a lie, and only the clear sound of spear and sword clashing rang out.

☆

At first, they were dumbfounded.

Because the person Ryu Yeonhwa, who couldn't erase her icy face when looking at cameras, designated as her sparring partner was just a student attending middle school academy.

The PD couldn't stop thinking he was being mocked, wondering if they were playing a joke on the broadcast.

However, the prejudices of the PD and staff were miserably shattered as the two began sparring.

"...Hey, who is that kid."

"I don't know either. If I knew it would be like this, I should have done a preliminary interview..."

"Didn't he say he's attending middle school academy earlier? Quickly send someone to find out what kind of person Noh Eunha attending middle school academy is, right now."

The PD focused on the two's sparring while threatening.

It was quite shocking to see a mere 2nd year middle school academy student competing evenly with Ryu Yeonhwa who the academy and industry pay most attention to.

He was angry at himself for not investigating that such a person was at the academy.

On the other hand, he was fervently thinking about how to edit this scene in his head.

"They say he's Noh Euna's younger brother."

"Euna? Euna had a younger brother?"

Then the PD who heard news that Euna and Eunha had filmed earlier unconsciously clicked his tongue.

Having skills equal to Ryu Yeonhwa, and the position of being Noh Euna's younger brother.

He was a talent sufficient to become a hot topic.

Perhaps having similar thoughts, even the main writer contacted.

Asking if they were just going to film like this and end it.

"...Someone run to the conference room and print out one appearance contract."

One filming wasn't enough.

Even if not, Yeonhwa's expression came out so pretty with Eunha there, so they had to keep him at least for today.

Whether as a guest or panelist.

To propose an appearance to Eunha for whatever reason.

"By the way, isn't the screen killing it? At this rate, an action movie might come out?"

Meanwhile, as the staff kept staring blankly at the two's sparring.

The two were focused on sparring, forgetting even the gazes around them.