novelraw Chapter 160 : Trace of the Stars (5)
Chapter 160 : Trace of the Stars (5)
Trace of the Stars (5)
"As you know, the number of S-rank awakeners currently existing in Korea is the highest in history."
The Hunter Management Director, Gong Jae-hoon, passionately glanced over the hunters seated at the round table.
Not only were their numbers at a record high, but the quality of these S-rank awakeners far surpassed that of the past.
'Hunter Jung Yoo-shin should have seen this.'
Jung Yoo-shin, the Divine Sword who was more concerned than anyone else about the future of Korean hunters.
Now, his disciple was also present in this place.
As the best swordsman in Korea, no less.
"In that sense, I hope all of you can participate in this Odyssey."
Basically, the Odyssey was structured as a winner-stays-on tournament.
This time, a team battle with participants from A-rank to B-rank had been added, but the essence was still the winner-stays-on format.
The lack of a minimum required number of participants was to allow countries with few S-rank awakeners to take part in the tournament as well.
In a winner-stays-on tournament, there was no minimum number of participants per match, and up to three people could join as a team.
"Of course, it goes without saying, but having a full team is the best. If you have exactly three, the tournament becomes quite exhausting as it progresses."
Listening to Gong Jae-hoon's explanation, Yeon-ji glanced sideways at Jung-woo who was sitting beside her.
She didn't know why Jung-woo was seated at a table reserved for only S-rankers, but she figured he must be participating in some kind of 'manager' role and let it go at that.
'In the end, only S-rankers will join the winner-stays-on tournament, right?'
A-rankers could participate, but most countries would join with S-rank awakeners as the main force.
Even if she participated, could she really do anything?
'It still seems a long way before I can become an S-rank myself.'
She had mostly restored her strength from the Ji Yeon-hwa days.
Although she still couldn't use regular magic, she had mastered enough dark magic to compensate.
In addition, when combined with the overwhelming physical abilities of the demons, one could say she was actually stronger than in the days of Ji Yeon-hwa.
But even so, she was nowhere near the level to be compared with S-rankers.
To reach S-rank, one had to break through a wall that she herself had yet to overcome, beyond the Conceptualization Technique.
"First, Unique plans to enter the tournament with three participants."
Ah-yeon, Soo-ah, and Yeon-ji.
Two S-rank hunters and one A-rank hunter.
At those words, the manager from Grand Nova, Sung Dong-hyun, reacted.
"I was quite surprised to see her here, but are you really planning on putting an A-rank hunter in? Wouldn't it be better to have Hunter Alencia Walker..."
"Hunter Alencia is an American."
"..."
She belonged to Unique, her mother Sarah Walker was Korean, and she spoke Korean so fluently that people often forgot—nonetheless, Alencia was still an American by nationality.
Naturally, given that the Odyssey was essentially an inter-nation competition, she could only compete as a representative of the U. S., not Korea.
"Even so, having an A-rank hunter participate in the Odyssey doesn't look good."
This time, it was Sword King Shin Yu-baek, who had been quietly observing, that opened his mouth instead of the speechless Sung Dong-hyun.
"I understand the idea of giving young seedlings a chance, but such a move would make other managements also try to gather up A-rank hunters. That would undermine the spirit of the Odyssey as a stage for national representatives."
It was a reasonable point.
If it became known that Yeon-ji was participating, various managements would surely force in their talented A-rank hunters, even if it was a stretch, to put them in the Odyssey.
"We feel the same. We are grateful that Unique is having two S-rank hunters participate, and we have high hopes for Ms. Yeon-ji, who became an A-rank at a young age... But the Odyssey is a different matter."
It wasn't just Grand Nova that expressed opposition.
Among the executives from the various management agencies, a few shook their heads as well.
This meeting had been called to select the hunters who would participate in the Odyssey, so executives from various managements were present.
Especially since this year's Odyssey included a team battle for A-rank hunters, more management agencies than usual had entered.
"Frankly, her presence at the S-rankers' table doesn't look good either. Even if she might become S-rank later, right now she is clearly A-rank, isn't she?"
Because of that, other managements' pushback was fierce.
While they couldn't dare compete with Grand Nova, if Unique grew any more here, their own positions would diminish further.
'We must prevent Unique's share from increasing at the Odyssey.'
Unique, whose growth had been constrained by Grand Nova until now, was suddenly accelerating at a frightening pace.
It was now one of only two managements with three S-rank hunters.
Even Grand Nova now had difficulty checking Unique's rise.
And if they performed spectacularly in the upcoming Odyssey?
Unique would undoubtedly surpass the other three major managements.
'It's all because of that man.'
Park Jung-woo.
A name anyone here couldn't possibly not know.
The one who had revived Unique from near-collapse, and the one whom three S-rank hunters obeyed.
If they could scout him, he'd be a valuable asset, but apparently, he had even declined the scouting offer from Tae-yeong Group.
In fact, both Grand Nova and Moon Halo had made outrageous offers several times but had always been refused.
If they couldn't win him over, the only option left was to resist as much as possible.
"I think it's fine."
The only one to cast a vote in favor was Baek Hojun of Moon Halo.
At his words, Shin Yu-baek looked visibly displeased.
"This is the seat your master once took part in. Are you planning to tarnish that authority?"
"Ms. Yeon-ji is fully qualified. I will vouch for her myself."
No one expected Hojun to speak out so firmly, and the other managements frowned.
Thousand Sword, Baek Hojun.
The one currently lauded as Korea's top swordsman.
But that was because, in Super Hunter K, where he had faced off against Lee Soo-ah, he had taken a step further.
Of course, as the long-time apex of Korean swordsmanship, Shin Yu-baek could not be satisfied with Baek Hojun.
"Director Gong."
As the tense atmosphere continued, Jung-woo spoke up.
"Yes, manager Park?"
"If you don't mind, I'd like to make a proposal."
At these words, Yeon-ji was the most anxious.
'What is he up to now?'
Frankly, Yeon-ji wasn't very interested in the Odyssey.
Honor was something she had long since thrown away with Ji Yeon-hwa, and now her only goal was to become an S-rank.
Lately, thanks to various events, she hadn't been able to spend time on personal training, but now she finally had some breathing room. She had hoped to practice her dark magic or learn some demon abilities from Ardan...
"You may have heard, but I will be participating in the Odyssey as a 'coach'."
Because he had secured the right to bring two members as coach, he could have ignored everyone else's opinions, but...
"However, it's not ideal if others are significantly dissatisfied. As you know, since the Odyssey is a national tournament, we should be united as one, don't you think?"
Jung-woo spoke as if he was willing to withdraw Yeon-ji's participation, and the tension softened.
Of course, even he wouldn't ignore the majority opinion here.
That's what everyone assumed.
"After all, in this industry, it's always about skills."
"Excuse me?"
"If there's any A-rank hunter who can defeat Yeon-ji, I am willing to make sure they participate in the Odyssey to the extent of my ability."
At those words, the other managements' eyes sparkled.
They already knew from the association's side that Jung-woo was participating in this year's Odyssey as a coach.
Their intention had been to minimize Unique's influence by cutting even one member if possible, but this changed things.
'The winner-stays-on is the flower of the Odyssey.'
To even have their face appear there would be a huge opportunity for any hunter to gain recognition.
"Well... It's not usually done, but if it's Manager Park's proposal, we can't help it."
Gong Jae-hoon looked troubled, but he agreed, reasoning that Jung-woo would not have made such an offer thoughtlessly.
'And if it leads to the discovery of someone stronger than Hwang Yeon-ji, that's a gain as well.'
Yeon-ji was currently the most widely recognized genius among young hunters.
If someone skilled enough to defeat her participated in the Odyssey, there was no real problem.
'... What about my opinion?'
Yeon-ji's lips quivered as she observed the proceedings.
She wanted to refuse, but with Ah-yeon and Soo-ah nodding as if this was good for her, she couldn't bring herself to voice her objection.
'... Let's think positively.'
Yes, there was no harm in sizing up the S-rank hunters from other countries either.
Yeon-ji tried her best to think that way and let out a heavy sigh.
***
Only after finally wrapping up the Odyssey meeting and returning to the office did Jung-woo find a brief moment to catch his breath. Starting with the Taean incident, there were mountains of tasks to process.
Since he had been out of the office so much, a pile of internal paperwork was waiting for him.
"Manager, are you busy right now?"
As he was dealing with the backlog, Alencia suddenly spoke up—when had she arrived?
She should have been at Ah-yeon's mansion, so Jung-woo couldn't help but look puzzled.
"Ardan asked me to help out with some company work."
"Ahh."
Ardan was currently managing a party made up of A-rank and lower hunters as a manager.
It was originally Director Song's role, but due to his lack of knowledge of modern society, Ardan often struggled.
'But thanks to him, the hunters' skills have been improving rapidly.'
His ability to train soldiers as a grand duke hadn't gone anywhere.
Aware of his shortcomings, he would ask for help—just like today—when busy.
"So, what brings you here? Is it about the Odyssey?"
"Huh? No? The U. S. hasn't contacted me yet—am I supposed to join too?"
"I doubt they'll just leave you out."
She was the only person in the world to have single-handedly defeated an SS-rank monster.
The feat was so ridiculous that, except for the U. S., most countries criticized America for exaggerating Alencia's powers, so there was no way they'd let her go unnoticed in this Odyssey.
"Well, I suppose that Enoch guy will handle it? Anyway, I have something I'm curious about."
"Something you're curious about?"
"That bracelet, what happened to it?"
There was only one bracelet Alencia could be referring to: the Estella's bracelet discovered in Taean.
"I have it. They told me to handle it however I saw fit."
"Handle it?"
"They were probably too afraid to keep it, since this latest incident was caused by that bracelet."
Or maybe they were scared to ask for it back.
Judging by how the Taean association head couldn't even look him in the eye, that seemed plausible.
He probably showed her a video that PD Do had taken.
"So, did you figure out why the bracelet came to this world?"
"I haven't figured that out."
There was a fragment of authority left in the bracelet, but that didn't mean Jung-woo could discern its effects. If he brought it to Ah-yeon, she might be able to figure something out, but he wasn't particularly curious.
"Hm, is that so?"
Muttering so, Alencia looked at Jung-woo with an odd gaze.
"I think I know."
"Sorry?"
When Jung-woo looked at her as if to say, what are you talking about?, Alencia simply smiled ambiguously.
After everything had ended and she had finally observed the bracelet properly, Alencia could distinctly feel the authority lingering there.
Perhaps it was because she was also a Saint, or maybe for some other reason.
Alencia had merely read a little of the authority left in the bracelet.
'It just wanted to meet someone, I guess.'
Why had the rift opened when Benadic used the power in the bracelet?
And why had the rift led Benadic to this world?
There hadn't been any special reason.
A desperate trace of longing to meet someone.
A star that had always granted the wishes of others.
Its only wish, the wish it made for itself.
That was all there was to it.
-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=
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