Returnee's S-Rank Management Guide

Chapter 175 : Dark Star (1)

Dark Star (1)

The few days during which the Odyssey was underway.

If you had to name the country receiving the most attention, everyone would choose Korea.

Korea, which caused a sensation by defeating Germany in the first match, continued its winning streak and climbed all the way to the semifinals.

What mattered wasn't simply that they won, but that they won the majority of their matches with either the first or second competitor.

They hadn't had to go as far as the third competitor.

Even in the team competition consisting of A-rank parties, Korea's performance stood out.

Team Ghost was a world-renowned A-rank party, but Team Point was a newly formed team without much of a reputation, which made them even more the talk of the town.

Because of this, the ones in the tightest spot were the British, who would be facing Korea in the semifinals.

They had been considered one of the candidates for the championship, but Korea's momentum in recent matches had been unusual.

"Sol Mayer, you've been to Korea, haven't you?"

At the words of Kian Rogers, the leader of the British team, Sol Mayer's eyes flickered.

"Were the Korean Hunters you saw back then at that level?"

"Ha."

At his cautious inquiry, Sol let out a chuckle.

"You used to mock me so much, and now you're finally asking?"

"......"

Sol Mayer had been defeated by an A-rank Hunter in Korea.

He had even tried to meet Shin Ah-yeon, only to be firmly rejected.

Because of that, he had become the subject of ridicule even among the Hunters representing UK.

However, with Korea's recent extraordinary performance, the British Hunters gradually became interested in the information Sol Mayer possessed.

After all, he had the most information on Korean Hunters.

"I didn't think there would be Hunters of that caliber in Korea."

"So you're saying it wasn't your fault because you didn't know?"

"That's..."

"And honestly, I don't think it will matter even if you do find out."

Instead, Sol Mayer ridiculed the other British representatives.

"Do you think it would help to inform people who can't even recognize the difference in skill?"

A genius who became S-rank in his twenties.

For that reason, many among the British team doubted and envied Sol Mayer's abilities.

There were even those who argued he should be removed from the team for his loss in Korea.

But when the Odyssey began, things changed.

Sol Mayer became the center of attention by performing better than anyone else.

"Oh, of course, I wasn't talking to you. I meant the others are like that."

"Sol Mayer."

"If I were to give you advice, I'd say you should find out who the coach is, rather than the players."

Sol Mayer disappeared without even giving Kian a proper glance.

Watching Sol Mayer walk away, Kian frowned.

'He wasn't like that before.'

Lately, Sol Mayer had become especially aggressive.

The Sol Mayer of the past was always composed and would have endured this level of envy nonchalantly.

Of course, that didn't excuse the other British players' behavior.

They had showered Sol Mayer with petty, narrow-minded jealousy.

"Sol Mayer, just what happened to you in Korea?"

Kian Rogers, leader of the British party, known as the 'Sun Sword.'

He found Sol Mayer's changed attitude suspicious.

'And the Korean team's coach...'

The advice Sol Mayer had left.

The young coach of the Korean team, Park Jung-woo—he was the opponent Kian was most interested in recently, even if Sol Mayer hadn't mentioned it.

***

"Don't lose before I get back."

A few days before the semifinals, Shin Ah-yeon had no choice but to leave for Odin's Eye.

If she didn't set off now, she would have trouble arriving at Odin's Eye on time.

"Don't worry, and be careful."

It was hard for Shin Ah-yeon to tear her gaze away from Park Jung-woo, who was sending her off as she boarded the plane.

'Maybe I should have told him lately I've been having more and more strange dreams?'

But Shin Ah-yeon didn't want to add to Park Jung-woo's worries, since he was already so focused on the Odyssey.

She sighed as she looked out the airplane window.

To be honest, she didn't really want to go to Odin's Eye.

The Odyssey itself was already a big deal, and her frequent nightmares were another reason for her reluctance.

'Estella.'

But even after having similar dreams over and over, the story never progressed beyond the point when the demons came looking for Estella.

It was as if all she was allowed to see was the repeated scene of Estella making contact with demons and considering betraying humanity—a reminder not to forget.

'Or else it was always a dream where I was in a dark room.'

In a room barely lit, Estella would absentmindedly scrape the wall with a small stone fragment. In the recurring dark room in her dreams, Estella would always act differently each time.

'The Saintess was abandoned by humanity and imprisoned for a thousand years.'

That was information she had heard from Alencia.

Alencia's mother had been a reincarnator, so Alencia also knew a few things about Estella.

Most of it was like a fairytale, but a good part—like now—was tinged with truth.

'If you were trapped in a place like that for a thousand years, you'd want revenge too.'

She probably would have done the same.

If she'd been locked away by humans for a thousand years, she wouldn't feel inclined to save the world for their sake.

Of course, the people who imprisoned Estella were the ruling powers at the time, but who's to say she could distinguish them from ordinary humans?

It was because she couldn't that Estella acted under the name of saving the world.

At the very end—to achieve revenge by shattering every last hope.

But Estella gave that up in the end.

Why?

'And the bracelet that Jung-woo oppa has.'

Jung-woo never explained Estella's bracelet to her.

Shin Ah-yeon never asked, but it constantly lingered on her mind.

'Maybe me not being able to use Conceptualization Technique is also related to this.'

Currently, Shin Ah-yeon couldn't use the Conceptualization Technique.

The Conceptualization Technique is a unique skill born when an Awakener achieves S-rank and perfects their own concept.

Not being able to use it means there's a problem with the Awakener's mental image.

Shin Ah-yeon believed Estella was the cause.

More precisely, ever since she first met Park Jung-woo and sealed the gate.

And when she met Ivan Hunt on Jeju Island and lost her memories.

Something had undoubtedly changed from that point on.

'Estella, who are you, really?'

Saintess Estella, the one called the brightest star by all.

But in Shin Ah-yeon's eyes, she was nothing more than an endlessly dark star.

***

"Um, I think I just heard you wrong? Could you say that again?"

Hwang Yeon-ji tugged on Park Jung-woo's collar and spoke with a forceful tone.

Seeing how her eyes and mouth were trembling, she had heard him correctly, but simply couldn't believe it.

She'd even stopped stretching in the training room.

"You're going to compete before the semifinals."

"Oh my, that's certainly shocking, but... why me?"

Hwang Yeon-ji couldn't believe Park Jung-woo's words.

Why on earth—of all matches, why would she have to go up against UK in the semifinals?

"Haven't you all managed fine without me so far?"

"That may be true, but Shin Yu-baek and Hong Ji-hak are far too fatigued."

Park Jung-woo had pushed those two to their limits. As a result, they'd accumulated so much fatigue that he couldn't send them out against British Team.

'Honestly, I wasn't planning to anyway.'

They were skilled, but not enough to face the British Team.

Among the British representatives was Kian Rogers, a legendary swordsman once compared to Owen.

Sun Sword, Sun King. Known as such, he was like UK's guardian god.

There's no way Shin Yu-baek or Hong Ji-hak could go up against someone like that.

"By the way, hunter Baek Hojun can't participate either."

"... Pardon?"

"Apparently he's having pain in his wrist."

Likewise, since they usually left most of the tough matches to Baek Hojun, he had pushed himself a bit too far. With a single match's rest, he would recover quickly, but it was impossible to send him out in the semifinals.

"I need him for the match against the U. S."

"I mean... isn't it a bit too optimistic to look ahead when we might not even make it out of the semifinals?"

"That's not going to happen."

At Park Jung-woo's decisive words, Hwang Yeon-ji narrowed her eyes.

"By any chance, is No Name-ssi going to participate in the UK match?"

Park Jung-woo nodded at her question.

Only then did Hwang Yeon-ji give a sigh of relief.

"Oh, so I'm just there to fill the numbers, then."

"Nope. You'll be going up against Sol Mayer. Lee Soo-ah will face Kian Rogers. Even for Soo-ah, after facing Kian, she probably won't have enough in her to take on Sol Mayer as well."

"What?"

Hwang Yeon-ji, about to relax and return to stretching, looked at Park Jung-woo like he was spouting nonsense.

"You should be the one facing Kian! And as for Sol Mayer, Soo-ah would just win easily."

Soo-ah basically used fire that burned up all magic power.

It made her a natural enemy to mages; even Shin Ah-yeon found it tough to face Soo-ah.

"Because it's about more than just winning."

"......"

There he goes again.

Hwang Yeon-ji started to say something, but just let out a sigh.

She understood Park Jung-woo had been trying to create opportunities for her to compete.

But most of the time, for one reason or another, the others had brought home the wins.

Naturally, she wasn't S-rank.

"I have to win."

"You can do it."

"You think I can beat Sol Mayer?"

"You already did once."

Park Jung-woo said nonchalantly.

Hwang Yeon-ji couldn't figure out his intentions.

To be honest, she had no idea how strong Park Jung-woo really was.

But she somehow had this feeling that even Kian, the 'Sun King', could be defeated by him.

Sol Mayer would never be able to beat Sooa, so that would be the best outcome.

"That was a fake."

"That goes for you as well, doesn't it?"

"......"

Hwang Yeon-ji—the fake. That's what Park Jung-woo called her.

Sol Mayer was a fake back then, but so was Hwang Yeon-ji.

Ji Yeon-hwa, that foolish woman's name—she didn't even want to think about it, but Park Jung-woo always made her confront it.

"Don't you want to become S-rank?"

"Of course I do."

S-rank was always what Hwang Yeon-ji, and Ji Yeon-hwa, had longed for.

Until Shin Ah-yeon appeared and everything was twisted, it had been Ji Yeon-hwa's dream.

"Why did you want to be S-rank?"

"Huh?"

"There must have been a reason why you wanted it so badly."

At his words, Hwang Yeon-ji was at a loss for words.

Why she wanted to be S-rank.

She had completely forgotten.

"I doubt it was just because you were jealous of Ah-yeon."

"Hmph, whatever. That could be it, you know."

A longing for what she couldn't have.

She thought that was all, but now it felt different.

"... But, do you really think I can beat Sol Mayer?"

Britain's greatest genius. Became a great mage and an S-rank Awakener at the young age of twenty-four.

Wherever you looked, he was incomparable to her.

If not for Shin Ah-yeon, he would have been a sensation in the magic community.

"Nope."

"......"

Hwang Yeon-ji's eyes turned sly.

Then why was he sending her to fight Sol Mayer?

"Hwang Yeon-ji would have a hard time winning."

It was a peculiar answer.

If Hwang Yeon-ji would have trouble winning, it implied someone else might not.

"Slippery as an eel, aren't you."

On impulse, she jabbed him in the side with her elbow.

She could see his waist bend from the force—she'd hit a bit harder than usual.

Stop pretending.

She didn't think Park Jung-woo—a normal human—would hurt this much.

"Fine. I'll do it."

His intentions were often hard to grasp.

But she sometimes felt things would work out anyway—just like right now.

-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=

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