novelraw Chapter 110 : Challengers (2)
Chapter 110 : Challengers (2)
Challengers (2)
Challengers.
This was a comprehensive sport featuring battles between Awakeners, whose popularity in America was rising day by day.
Originally, it was merely held as an exhibition match, but with enthusiastic public response, it had come to be held regularly in Denver, Colorado.
Boom! Bang!!
Fireworks exploded in succession in the sky, signaling the start of the festival, and the cheers of the crowd echoed far into the distance.
A man watching such a scene from afar, Leon Baldwin, soon let out a sigh.
Alencia must be there by now.
'Park Jung-woo, was it.'
Shortly after meeting Alencia, Leon had skimmed through all of Alencia's broadcasts, which he had been putting off.
It was because he was curious as to why Alencia had sought him out to ask such questions.
"Doctor Baldwin, did something happen?"
As Leon recalled Alencia's broadcast, a man approached, speaking as he walked over.
"It seems Hunter Garland is the escort this time."
"That's how it turned out. Officially, I'm staying at Minerva for the sake of the broadcast's filming... but."
The reason the Korean KDC broadcasting station had been able to secure S-rank Hunter Eugene Garland was that Eugene happened to have business at Minerva.
In this way, he could also keep his 'real' assignment under wraps, so for Eugene, it was the perfect job.
Of course, the KDC broadcasting station was happy, entirely unaware of this, simply delighted to have secured Eugene Garland.
That's also why Eugene wasn't really listening to PD Heo Sung-man.
Broadcasts didn't matter to him in the first place.
"You must be disappointed."
Eugene quietly gazed at a certain 'object' being moved to Minerva.
It was like a gigantic iron heart.
It was not made by modern science alone, but by something alien.
Some magic array engraved on the round metallic sphere was a wonder to Eugene, even as an S-rank Hunter.
"'Prometheus's Heart'... Wasn't this the research of your lifetime?"
"It was a dangerous study from the beginning. And... I still have half left."
At Leon's calm words, Eugene watched him carefully.
For someone who had achieved so much at the Polaris Research Institute, he seemed far too unruffled.
Perhaps sensing Eugene's gaze, Leon slowly continued.
"Actually, I wondered why you were appearing on some Korean broadcast, but it was because of this matter. It would've been nice if you'd given me a heads-up."
"As you know, it's top secret. Just thinking about moving that to the Neorise Research Institute in Los Angeles already makes me tired."
The Neorise Research Institute was a state-of-the-art magic-engineering facility funded in America recently.
Compared to the Polaris Research Institute, which had been around for nearly twenty years, its equipment was much better and its staff at least twice as numerous.
"Hunter Garland, if it's alright, may I ask you a small favor?"
"That's unexpected. I'm afraid there's not much I can do about this current commission. The higher-ups have already made their decision."
"No, it's not related to Prometheus's Heart."
Eugene felt puzzled at Leon's earnest tone.
Not even flinching as he lost the 'Prometheus's Heart' he had devoted his life to, Leon now seemed a little antsy.
"If it's something I can do, of course I will. Opportunities to have Dr. Baldwin owe me a favor are rare."
"Thank you."
Eugene found himself curious about what kind of favor Leon would ask as he paused.
Did he want help leaving the Polaris Research Institute?
Or perhaps wanted to borrow the strength of Eugene Garland personally?
As a leading figure in magic-engineering, especially new energy research, Leon was someone Eugene wanted to be on good terms with.
Even if the Polaris Research Institute were to disappear, his legacy would live on.
But—
"I would like you to help me meet a Korean man named Park Jung-woo."
The request that eventually came from Leon's mouth was something Eugene could never have predicted.
***
Challengers was proof that those called 'Awakeners' had become thoroughly established in modern life.
Most modern sports existed for ordinary people, and in many cases, awakeners could not participate.
But with the advent of events like Challengers' matches between Awakeners, the situation was slowly changing.
'It's almost funny that the reason this league gained momentum was because fewer Awakeners were applying to be Hunters.'
Yeon-ji thought as she yawned.
To be honest, she wasn't particularly interested in this so-called Challengers.
'Even if it's supposed to be for Awakeners, it's basically still just a publicity stunt.'
The fact that the matches were played in different events every time was evidence that it was still highly experimental.
Maybe it was just laying the groundwork for a future sports league for Awakeners.
Sports between Awakeners were far more intense and stimulating than those for ordinary people.
But perhaps that was exactly why there was still no dedicated sports league for Awakeners.
If Awakeners took over even the sports world, the 'non-Awakeners,' in other words, ordinary people's leagues, would all die out.
"... But is it okay? I've never beaten even an ordinary person at sports."
Ten minutes remained until Challengers was to start.
Alencia spoke with a ghastly pale face.
"It's okay."
Yeon-ji replied nonchalantly.
"If there wasn't at least a chance of winning, he wouldn't have sent you in here at all."
"Really?"
Hearing Yeon-ji's words, devoid of any nervousness, Alencia was able to relax.
And it was a bit strange, too.
This girl, Yeon-ji—Whenever she talked to Jung-woo she always looked sulky, but she never refused a request.
"So, how did you get to know Jung-woo, Yeon-ji?"
"... With Jung-woo?"
Sometimes Yeon-ji had trouble adjusting to Alencia's manner of speaking.
Maybe it was because she was a foreigner, but she showed no reluctance in calling people—especially those older than herself—by name.
She considered pointing it out, but since Jung-woo didn't seem to mind and they weren't formally contracted, she decided to leave it alone.
Titles and forms of address were things that could be sorted out gradually.
"I just owe him a debt."
"Really?"
"Yes."
"For someone who just owes him a debt, you sure seem to follow him well."
Follow well, she said.
Somehow the phrasing seemed odd. Yeon-ji glanced at Alencia for no reason, but of course Alencia didn't notice.
It seemed that spending three weeks together at Minerva had brought them much closer.
"... Because when I do as he says, I feel like I won't fail again."
"Huh? Again?"
It sounded strange, but Yeon-ji didn't bother to explain further.
Yes, Ji Yeon-hwa had failed.
And she had failed spectacularly.
That was why she had willingly placed her leash in his hands.
At least if she did as he instructed, she felt she wouldn't stray off course anymore.
"You're not suited for that."
But when she was going to join Challengers, Jung-woo had said so.
"It's good to reflect on what happened with Ji Yeon-hwa, but you shouldn't deny it."
To be honest, she couldn't agree with him.
For someone to say that after seeing what Ji Yeon-hwa had done with his own eyes...
'What a headache...'
Yeon-ji decided not to think too deeply about his words.
She had finally gotten a new chance—she didn't want to dwell on her foolish past.
That stupid woman deserved to disappear.
Completely.
【Participants in Challengers, please prepare at the designated stage. I repeat—participants in Challengers, please prepare at the designated stage...】
At that moment, an announcement signaling the imminent start of Challengers came over the speakers.
For now, she needed to focus on what she had to do.
Repeating that to herself, Yeon-ji looked at Alencia.
At first she hadn't understood why Jung-woo had brought a girl like this, but recently, she thought she was starting to get it.
Alencia was definitely special.
It was more than just abilities—she had a clear, shining quality about her.
Unlike herself.
***
Challengers was a match where Awakeners were released into changing terrains under new rules every time.
With commercialization in mind, corporations had already started backing their own 'players'.
Awakeners who focused on Challengers rather than being Hunters.
It was the only sport where Awakeners could publicly perform, so competition was fierce.
Unlike Hunters, you didn't have to stake your life, and just by competing, you could make money—it was only natural.
'This round's rules are in our favor.'
With the rules changing each match, luck played a role for participants as well.
Now in his second year as a Challengers player, Jack Nicholson smiled slightly at the presences he sensed nearby.
This time, the rule was the one he was most skilled at.
'Survival.'
Within a designated district of the city-as-arena, you fought other Challengers players indiscriminately. Even if you tried to avoid fights, the available area for activity would shrink over time, so in the end, the most combat-capable would survive.
Simple, and beautiful. This was why "Survival" had become a popular rule in recent Challengers.
'Looks like several of this round's players are former Hunters.'
Jack signaled to an ally hiding nearby.
It meant: as soon as they spring the trap, attack together.
Thud, thud.
Footsteps approached from not far away.
It was possible to distinguish from simple footsteps whether they belonged to a Hunter or a Challengers player.
Those were a Hunter's steps, used to dealing with 'monsters.'
'Hunters tend to trust their senses absolutely. Ordinarily, monsters rarely attack intelligently.'
There were more intelligent monsters in higher-level dungeons.
But the Hunters who entered Challengers were often those who couldn't adapt to dungeons, or weren't that skilled.
They didn't know how to sense with magic power, and even if they did, they never considered that there could be entities who couldn't be detected by magic power.
'That's why they walk around so brazenly.'
For this reason, hunters were the easiest targets.
If it had been a player familiar with Challengers, they'd definitely have brought a teammate for situations like this. And here, with hardly anywhere to hide, it meant no teammate was nearby.
'Failed out of the race, they still looked down on ordinary Awakeners with their Hunter pride.'
Jack Nicholson specialized in hunting those kinds of Hunters.
'Three, two, one...'
Estimating the distance to where he'd set the trap, he hit the button and set off an explosion across the ground.
"You fool!!"
Thinking the target was completely caught, Jack quickly moved in from behind as backup. Dust kicked up from the exploding trap, so visibility was poor, but he saw a small form.
'... A kid?'
Whoosh!!
At that instant, black chains shot out through the dust.
Jack Nicholson's final memory before losing consciousness was that sight.
***
On the night before Challengers, Jung-woo shared some last tips with Alencia.
"Think of your ability as literally the phenomena electricity can create."
At first, she'd thought he was talking nonsense.
It was strange enough to be able to charge magic power with electricity, but he spoke as if there was more to it.
"Isn't that just magic?"
"It's similar, in the sense of realizing your will as a power."
But unlike magic, which manifested miracles through various techniques, Alencia could handle only electricity.
"Then magic is better, isn't it?"
"No, it depends on how you use it."
He said this, now used to holding a spoon.
"For example, detecting metal with electromagnetic waves takes a highly complex technique. In fact, current-day magic can't even do it."
But Alencia's ability was different.
"Without complex techniques, Alencia can simply spread electromagnetic waves and sense locations with intent alone. Magic requires several steps, but you—you just 'think' electricity, and it happens."
Though the way she conveyed her will to electricity was still clumsy and she couldn't judge the necessary amount very well.
"If she overcomes that, electricity will respond to her will."
Alencia just thought he was trying to reassure her.
After all, she'd worked hard for three weeks and hadn't managed it at all.
"For sure."
But now that Challengers had begun—
"... It works."
From where Alencia touched the ground, electromagnetic waves spread in every direction.
For some reason, her back tingled, but it was a pleasant sensation.
Not just releasing electricity, but truly sensing that her power was following her will.
'I can feel it.'
She seemed to see with perfect clarity the movements of Hunters wandering the arena with metal weapons in hand.
So vivid.
-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=
【ദ്ദി(⩌ᴗ⩌)】