novelraw Chapter 176 : Dark Star (2)
Chapter 176 : Dark Star (2)
Dark Star (2)
【Hwang Yeon-ji is on the roster?】
The night before the match against UK.
Thanks to the Korean team's roster, which was announced in Korea where it was still morning, the online community was heating up.
The reason was that Hwang Yeon-ji, who had been on the bench, was included in the starting lineup.
No one had gotten injured, yet suddenly Yeon-ji was among the members for the UK match.
【Isn't Hwang Yeon-ji still only A-rank??? Why not let her play against some other country? Why UK???】
【I know she's talented, but honestly, it's reckless;;; Could this be Park Jung-woo's doing? Since we've never used the Unique members so far, are they trying to squeeze at least Hwang Yeon-ji in?】
【But Lee Soo-ah is also in this match against UK. So far things have been quiet, now they're suddenly pushing Unique kids here???】
Since Hwang Yeon-ji was fairly popular in Korea, this became an even bigger topic.
She was a promising star, doing incredibly well at a young age.
Naturally, there were also plenty who wanted to drag her down—this was a golden opportunity for them.
Thus, it was incomprehensible that Hwang Yeon-ji was included in the UK match.
Why send Yeon-ji, who hadn't even been put out against countries with A-rank hunters, against UK of all teams?
UK was at least one step ahead of even Germany, which was considered a powerhouse for Awakener beings.
It was natural for Korea to throw everything they had at UK.
Kian Rogers, also called the Sun Sword or the Sun King.
Sol Mayer, regarded as the greatest genius in UK's history.
Just these two hunters alone put Korea at an extreme disadvantage.
"So, let's analyze the situation."
Of course, I was aware of all this.
After all, the people in front of me were waiting for my explanation.
"Coach Park, may I ask—was there a specific reason for including Yeon-ji in the UK match?"
Though he wasn't as antagonistic as before, Shin Yu-baek's voice had a sharper edge than usual.
Hong Ji-hak also seemed puzzled and quickly chimed in.
"Miss Hwang Yeon-ji is an A-rank hunter; there's no British hunter she can stand against. Coach Park, why did you include Hwang Yeon-ji as a member?"
As they pressed me, Soo-ah's eyes narrowed sharply as she listened.
"You're quite shameless. Can you really say that after everything the manager—no, the coach—has done until now?"
"... I acknowledge Coach Park is amazing. But this is different from all that and, especially, different from Yeon-ji's participation."
"As Hunter Hong Ji-hak says, if Miss Yeon-ji were an S-rank, it'd be understandable. But she's just seventeen—and only A-rank. She's talented, sure, but not enough to fight S-ranks. Hunter Lee Soo-ah, you know this too, don't you?"
Soo-ah looked conflicted at Hong Ji-hak and Shin Yu-baek's words, unsure of what to say.
Seeing her troubled face, I spoke up first.
If I left it alone, it was obvious there would be trouble—albeit a different kind of trouble than with Shin Ah-yeon.
"I think it'd be better to focus on devising a strategy for the UK match. As for Miss Yeon-ji, I'd like you to trust me just this once."
"Hmmm..."
At my words, Shin Yu-baek and Hong Ji-hak looked troubled but eventually nodded.
They must have thought there was some plan, based on what I'd shown during the Odyssey so far.
"..."
As for Yeon-ji, she simply stayed quietly in her seat rather than saying anything.
Almost as if she were following my words while recalling her own 'leash'.
"For UK's lineup, it's highly likely that Kian Rogers will be the first, followed by Adeline Hurst."
UK's roster hadn't been announced yet.
Usually, teams registered their lineups as late as three hours before the match started, to maximize tactical uncertainty.
Alternatively, like us, they might register early to play psychological games.
"Adeline Hurst? Hasn't she never appeared in the Odyssey this year?"
Adeline Hurst was the only female S-rank in UK's lineup, a textbook hunter who used both sword and shield. Though her skills were sometimes undervalued compared to other S-rank hunters, she was famous for having no particular weaknesses.
"Precisely because she's never appeared, her stamina is at its peak. And her skills let her handle any opponent."
Korea's lineup for this UK match was Lee Soo-ah, Hwang Yeon-ji, and Baek Hojun.
Among these, the player UK would be most wary of was surely Baek Hojun.
They'd think it'd be easy to beat Soo-ah, who had only recently become S-rank, and as for Yeon-ji, there was nothing to even consider.
So their main concern would be how to weaken Baek Hojun.
"In addition, Adeline is a master of endurance matches. She can even hold off Kian for over two hours in a defensive fight."
If Kian was sent out first, Korea would have no choice but to send Baek Hojun. Then, whether Kian beat Baek Hojun or lost, Adeline Hurst could finish the job. And whoever was left from Korea, Adeline could handle them.
And if by chance Adeline lost, there was always Sol Mayer for the final match.
As long as Baek Hojun was defeated, there would be no real variables left for UK.
At least, that's what the British team would think.
"So, the likely order for UK is Kian, then Adeline, and finally Sol Mayer. Though Kian and Adeline's order might be switched."
I wrote UK's names one by one on the whiteboard and looked around.
The S-rank hunters, as well as association executives and Gong Je-hun, all nodded as if convinced by my analysis.
"Now then, for Korea's order..."
But as I wrote Korea's names next to UK's on the whiteboard—matching up the opponents—their expressions began to shift. Only Yeon-ji and Soo-ah, who had been tipped off in advance, remained unmoved.
"Coach Park, are you serious?"
Even Gong Je-hun, who usually trusted my judgment, said that.
That's how unthinkable my current match plan seemed.
"Yes. Absolutely."
I smiled brightly at him.
"Shouldn't Hunter Baek Hojun get as much rest as possible? He's worked so hard already."
My plan was for Soo-ah to defeat Kian and Adeline, and for Yeon-ji to take down Sol Mayer.
That was my plan.
***
To Hong Ji-hak, Park Jung-woo was a remarkably unusual person.
And at the same time, strangely familiar.
'He reminds me of the President.'
His bold decisiveness and far-reaching vision were exactly like Jin Su-hyuk's.
The only difference was that he showed almost excessive trust in his hunters.
And, he wanted to possess everything.
"What's your take?"
Shin Yu-baek asked, and Hong Ji-hak hesitated before answering.
"I don't believe he put Hwang Yeon-ji in without thinking."
"Of course."
He took care of his own people, but also knew how to separate public and private affairs.
That was something both Hong Ji-hak and Shin Yu-baek had come to know for sure while observing Park Jung-woo.
"You really think he believes A-rank Hwang Yeon-ji can beat an S-rank?"
What on earth had he seen in Hwang Yeon-ji that made him decide this?
"That guy doesn't seem like just some regular civilian in the first place, does he?"
"He does seem like an Awakener... but it's true he never used any magic power when sparring with us."
Just like with Baek Hojun, both Hong Ji-hak and Shin Yu-baek had sparred with Jung-woo beforehand.
Jung-woo would mimic the moves of foreign aces—movements that no normal person could replicate.
He hadn't used any magic power.
Well, he hadn't used 'magic power', at least.
"Does that seem like a normal person to you? I bet he could take on most Awakener even without magic power."
Maybe it was on 'Super Hunter K', there was a scene where he faced a hunter.
Back then, people thought it was just the hunter being caught off guard. But looking at Jung-woo now, even in a head-on confrontation, he would have won.
Jung-woo had that level of skill.
Otherwise, he couldn't have imitated foreign hunters so perfectly.
"President Jin Su-hyuk told us to keep a close eye on Park Jung-woo."
"... The President, he seems to know a lot more than he lets on."
"Right. There are things he hasn't told us."
Shin Yu-baek calmly stroked the sword at his waist as he murmured.
"Soon, he'll tell us what it is. I can probably guess the answer..."
That was why they were told to observe Park Jung-woo.
The strongest threat Jin Su-hyuk envisioned would undoubtedly be Park Jung-woo.
"..."
Hong Ji-hak knew Jin Su-hyuk had been meeting with some unknown individuals recently.
He was certain they were anything but ordinary.
One might call it reckless, but in truth it was a kind of test.
'He's seeing how I'll react behind the scenes, isn't he.'
That's the kind of person Jin Su-hyuk was.
He would carefully distinguish and test each person to figure out who would truly be loyal to him.
This Odyssey was probably a test for himself and the Sword King Shin Yu-baek.
And at the same time, Jin Su-hyuk was surely preparing something else.
He was lying in wait for the whole world's attention to be focused on the Odyssey.
***
'The whereabouts of Butcher Henate are still unknown.'
I sighed as I reviewed the report Enoch had just delivered.
Given his temperament, he should have revealed himself long ago.
'Which means, he's probably unable to operate properly for now.'
The Gate to the Demon Realm in the Amazon that made use of divine art.
I thought it was just an experiment to summon a high-level demon, but maybe it was even more than that.
'They couldn't have summoned him in perfect form, and even if they did, he couldn't use his full strength.'
Earth wasn't fully demonized yet.
Even if a top-rank demon came over, they couldn't demonstrate their full power, so there was some impatience in their movements.
Even Ardan, who came through a proper gate, couldn't use his full power, after all.
'He's the highest military asset of the Demon Realm—they should be extremely cautious.'
Something felt off.
"Manager."
Just then, there was a knock and Soo-ah called for me.
"Are you busy?"
"No, it's fine."
As Soo-ah slipped into the room, sensing no one else was around, she let out a small sigh of relief.
"I thought you'd be out training."
"I was. But since no one could focus, I told everyone to take a short break."
The training room we were in was littered with traces of magic.
Shadows of the dark magic Yeon-ji used could be seen, though she still couldn't use elemental magic at all.
Soo-ah gazed at those traces, then looked at me with a sulky expression.
"You're so mean."
"Sorry?"
"Everyone's only paying attention to Yeon-ji."
Because all the focus was on Yeon-ji, who now had to fight against S-rank hunters, Soo-ah had been pushed aside. In truth, facing Kian Rogers would have been extremely tough for Soo-ah as well.
"That's true."
I admitted honestly.
It was a fact that I hadn't paid as much attention to Soo-ah as to Yeon-ji lately.
"It's just that, I thought there was nothing for you to worry about."
"But my opponent is Kian Rogers."
Soo-ah, in a rare moment of vulnerability, naturally sat down beside me.
She must have been more upset than usual.
"He's an Awakener who uses fire like me. I hear he's similar to—or maybe even stronger than—Hunter Baek Hojun. If that's true..."
"Kian does create flame with magic power just like you, Soo-ah. That's why they call him Sun Sword, but he's actually a bit different from you."
Kian's flames were just fire, but they couldn't burn magic power.
In that respect, Soo-ah's abilities were the perfect superior version of Kian's.
"Also, I think Kian is the perfect stepping stone for you to advance to the next level."
"Stepping stone? You mean Kian Rogers?"
"Of course,"
When I said that with a light smile, Soo-ah finally looked relieved.
Then, for some reason, she fidgeted, then awkwardly leaned her head my way.
As I tried to figure out what she wanted, she slightly tilted her head and smiled with crescent-shaped eyes.
"You always do it for Ah-yeon unni, but not for me?"
For a moment, I didn't know what she meant—but then realized she was talking about how I would sometimes pat Shin Ah-yeon's head or tap her back when she grumbled.
But I hadn't really done that for Ah-yeon recently, either.
'But that's because...'
Thinking back, it must have come naturally because Shin Ah-yeon's former life was Estella. I hadn't really done it for Soo-ah or anyone else.
Ah, I did do it once for Yeon-ji.
But that was only because Yeon-ji looked like a child.
"... Should I step outside for a moment?"
Just then, Yeon-ji appeared, arms folded, watching us.
She sent Soo-ah a look of pure exasperation, making Soo-ah freeze mid-smile.
"W-well, then, I'll be going!"
She then bolted, vanishing through the door faster than lightning.
As I stared at the place where Soo-ah had disappeared, Yeon-ji trudged over and slammed the training room door shut.
"Seriously."
"I didn't even do anything..."
I said in protest to Yeon-ji, who looked at me with utter contempt.
"I bet you didn't."
At her curt reply, I quietly shut my mouth.
At times like this, it was best to choose my words with care.
-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=
【ദ്ദി(⩌ᴗ⩌)】