Returnee's S-Rank Management Guide

Chapter 182 : Like a Shining Star (3)

Like a Shining Star (3)

Since when did he know?

Yeon-ji deliberately averted her gaze from Jung-woo, who was looking at her so seriously.

It wasn't something she could use from the beginning.

After she harbored demonic energy in her body, it was true that she couldn't use any of the magic she had known when she was Ji Yeon-hwa.

As she learned dark magic and time went by, she gradually became able to use some magic again.

The decisive turning point was after her return from America, after horns grew from her head.

That was when Yeon-ji realized she had regained her magic.

But really, what did that matter?

"It's meaningless anyway."

No drastic change occurred just because she could use the magic she had learned in the days of Ji Yeon-hwa.

In fact, it was rather her dark magic acquired as Yeon-ji that was several times more effective.

Originally, the magic Ji Yeon-hwa had mastered was simply elemental magic.

Most of it involved unleashing firepower in some form.

"Even if I use it, nothing really changes."

How laughable.

The dark magic Yeon-ji learned over the past year was far stronger than the magic Ji Yeon-hwa spent a lifetime mastering.

It was easy for Jung-woo to guess what Yeon-ji must be feeling.

Without a doubt, what he said was not necessarily wrong.

The magic Ji Yeon-hwa had learned was extremely primitive and simple.

In terms of efficiency, it was obviously better to just wield dark magic.

"You're not refraining from using it for such a simple reason, are you?"

"......"

"You don't want to show traces of Ji Yeon-hwa."

It was only at Jung-woo's resolute words that Yeon-ji looked him in the eyes.

Strong emotion—the rarest of all—appeared in Yeon-ji's eyes.

Rage.

A strong rage could be felt in Yeon-ji's gaze.

But even under her angry glare, Jung-woo continued calmly.

"You're afraid to show that, aren't you?"

"What do you...know."

Her clenched fist trembled with strength.

But no words of rebuttal came to mind.

Because it was undeniably true.

Yeon-ji bit her lower lip hard, then spoke in a small voice.

"... Is it wrong to be afraid?"

She lowered her gaze from him.

She couldn't manage to look at him as she said it.

"It's only natural to be afraid."

In her heart, and in her mana hall, there slept a tremendous magic power that once could swallow a mountain.

Even she could not guess how enormous it was.

"It could happen again!"

She had been lucky.

Baek Hojun was there, Shin Ah-yeon was there.

And so was this man.

What would have happened if they hadn't been there?

Sometimes, she dreamed of those eyes—the eyes of Lord Jujisang who was caught in the shadows.

The eyes of someone, terrified, begging to be spared.

If they hadn't been there, she would undoubtedly have done something she could never undo.

"It's better for such a woman not to exist."

A person who lived solely for her own purpose.

"A witch—that's what I am."

Murmuring the term she so hated during her days as Ji Yeon-hwa, Yeon-ji gave a slight smile.

At that smile, Jung-woo closed his eyes.

He let out a low sigh.

He seemed to be searching for words.

After some thought, he finally spoke up.

"Yeon-hwa-ssi."

Slowly lowering himself to meet her gaze,

He held Yeon-ji's bowed face gently in both hands.

"That's not the only thing you're afraid of, is it?"

"......"

"You're scared of being denied."

Even if, by reclaiming everything as Ji Yeon-hwa and using all that she possessed, if—

"You might still never reach what you want."

The efforts she made as Ji Yeon-hwa, the countless talents obtained as Yeon-ji.

Even if she used all of it and still failed to obtain what she desired—

"A leash."

Afraid that everything about herself would be denied.

"I'll return it to you."

This leash was not a sign of entrusting everything to Jung-woo as Ji Yeon-hwa.

It was merely an excuse.

"So, don't run away."

At those words, Yeon-ji's eyes welled up with tears.

Hidden behind her anger, a glimpse of terror could be seen.

"Don't."

A suppressed sob resonated from her throat.

"You'll make me misunderstand."

How wonderful it would have been if she really were just a child.

If she hadn't known herself, if she'd been a child who dreamed she could do anything.

"I could never be like those girls."

She realized that long ago.

Shin Ah-yeon, Lee Soo-ah, and Alencia.

She could never become like those shining stars.

Because Ji Yeon-hwa did not have that sort of talent.

"But when I hear your words, it feels like maybe I can."

She covered her face with both hands.

She felt her palms growing wet.

She hated it, truly.

She hadn't wanted to show anyone the face of herself crying.

"It makes me really think, maybe I can do it too—even though that's just a delusion."

But she couldn't.

She was just a half-baked person, lacking in talent.

He had told her to remember Ji Yeon-hwa, but what meaning did that have?

Ji Yeon-hwa was already no longer fully hers.

Was it right to seize her desires that way?

Wouldn't she make the same mistake as before?

'He's right.'

The leash was not something she handed over to him in order to atone for her mistake.

She just needed somewhere to run because she was afraid.

With the leash, she could just say she couldn't do it.

"Certainly."

Jung-woo said,

"Maybe things were twisted. To achieve your goal, you clung desperately to anything, not caring for the eyes of others, just trying to do whatever it took."

She denied everything about herself, not just her lack of talent, and even resorted to tricks.

"Brutally, Yeon-hwa-ssi gained strength. Doing the sort of thing anyone would call cowardly."

Was he reproaching her?

Yeon-ji slowly lowered her hands from her face.

She wanted to see what kind of look he had as he said that.

"But even so, you kept making the effort to obtain that power, didn't you?"

When she looked up, there was not a trace of rebuke in his face, in his eyes.

"You lived persistently, never giving up. Even if people pointed fingers, Yeon-hwa-ssi never stopped. Even if you ended up making a mistake in the end. That doesn't mean all that effort disappears."

It was a look she'd seen before.

He often looked at other children that way.

"It's a waste, isn't it?"

A life that never even realized its own talent, lived full of bluster.

Foolish efforts made stubbornly while denying the truth.

Constantly stumbling and failing with inadequate abilities.

Yet never giving up.

"That version of Yeon-hwa-ssi."

Filling his gaze with her, he smiled.

"I hope you can feel a little prouder of yourself."

***

"It looks like the match will begin in about 5 minutes."

"Fortunately, there didn't seem to be any big problems."

At Hwang Sung-yeon's words, Hong Byung-woo nodded.

Since the match hadn't started yet, the cameras were not rolling.

"What do you think?"

"Sorry?"

"About Yeon-ji—frankly, you think it'll be difficult, right?"

At Hwang Sung-yeon's comment, Hong Byung-woo gave a slight nod.

"Yes, I agree. The level gap is just too great. I honestly don't understand why they didn't just decide the match before."

"Well, he didn't land a finishing blow, so I suppose that's why..."

Yeon-ji was certainly a promising rookie.

But her opponent was Sol Mayer, and a mere promising rookie couldn't beat someone of that caliber.

"Do you think Hunter Baek Hojun-nim could defeat Sol Mayer?"

"Honestly, I don't know. Hunter Baek Hojun-nim is somewhat vulnerable against mages..."

No one thought Yeon-ji would win.

It was the same in every commentary around the world, not just Korea.

Some questioned why the match was being dragged out, others wanted to see a proper S-rank fight.

Especially since right before, Kian Rogers and Lee Soo-ah had put on a fierce battle, making the contrast all the sharper.

"Sol Mayer! Sol Mayer!"

Cheering erupted from the audience for Sol Mayer.

Hearing that roar, Sol Mayer entered the arena at a leisurely pace.

'This sound.'

The cries chanting his name sent chills down Sol Mayer's spine.

He couldn't hold back a smile at the electrifying feeling.

'After defeating Hwang Yeon-ji, I'll show my true skills against Baek Hojun.'

Even the strongest A-rank was still just an A-rank.

He'd already paid back his humiliation; he had no more interest.

His only concern was how to defeat Baek Hojun.

He had no notion of defeat.

With the power dwelling in his heart, not even Baek Hojun could stand against him.

'Hmm?'

At that moment, he saw Yeon-ji entering from the opposite end of the arena.

Her wounds had been roughly treated, but it was clear she was not completely recovered.

'Did she change somehow?'

Did something happen during the break?

'No need to care.'

It had only been 30 minutes at most.

All she could have done in that time was heal up a little.

"She should've just forfeited."

"......"

Sol Mayer sneered at Yeon-ji as she stepped into the arena.

But she didn't even bother to respond.

If this was before, she would have snapped back, but now she didn't.

'How dull.'

Maybe she had already given up.

Well, she'd know better than anyone.

That fighting further was meaningless.

Maybe she was inwardly blaming her coach for making her continue.

'Park Jung-woo, was it?'

He thought he was rather capable, but perhaps that was an overestimation.

Just the bravado of a head coach not even thirty—nothing more, nothing less.

"Well then."

As the sound signaled the match's start, Sol Mayer raised his hand toward Yeon-ji.

And Yeon-ji returned the gesture, aiming her hand at him.

'About to fire chains? Or black flames?'

He'd seen either one already.

With such distance between them, it didn't matter much.

With mist spreading, she wouldn't be able to find him anyway.

KWA-KWA-KWA-KWANG!!!

At that moment, a burst of red flame shot from Yeon-ji's hand.

It wasn't dark magic, just simple elemental magic.

The unexpected strike made Sol Mayer hide his body within the mist.

'She could use simple elemental magic?'

Why hadn't she used it until now?

He wondered at this, but in Sol Mayer's view, it was actually easier.

Simple elemental magic was easier to counter.

It was also much weaker than the black flames.

Its only advantage was its much faster cast speed.

But it consumed far more magic power, so if she kept firing like that, her magic power was sure to be depleted soon.

Bang bang bang bang!!

He would have thought so, but Yeon-ji's barrage of flames showed no sign of stopping.

Unlike the black flames she previously fired only a few times before pausing, now the fireballs pouring from Yeon-ji's hands were like a Gatling gun.

Up until now, Yeon-ji had fought by moving around, making use of her physical abilities, but now she was completely different.

A fixed turret.

Perhaps the most fitting role for a modern mage.

"What a... brute!"

Sol Mayer, hiding within the mist, hurriedly raised a barrier to block the flames.

It was magic with no sense of finesse—just a wild barrage.

Just how much magic power did she have? Even after all that firing, Yeon-ji didn't look tired at all.

Hiding in the mist was now meaningless.

Far more flames were literally evaporating the mist away.

'Long time, no see.'

While firing a relentless barrage of flames, Yeon-ji kept her eyes on Sol Mayer.

Ji Yeon-hwa's specialty was a barrage of indiscriminate magical bombardment.

She was a mage extremely focused on firepower and consequently weak in other areas.

If she just stayed in place firing spells, someone like Shin Ah-yeon or herself could use the style effectively.

It was one of her few strong points.

It didn't even require any particular talent.

Just a spell she had repeated countless times, fired unconsciously.

'It won't last long.'

That mist was a countermeasure tailored to 'Yeon-ji's' fighting style.

There were many mages who fired magic power indiscriminately like this, so he would soon prepare a counter.

Just build an impenetrable barrier with magic power and fire back with more powerful magic.

'You told me to be proud.'

Yeon-ji had not forgotten this.

This wild barrage of magic was, in a sense, just a warm-up to get her sense back.

It had been so long since she became Ji Yeon-hwa, not Yeon-ji.

'I'll give it a try.'

The jewel embedded in her forehead glowed as gigantic demonic energy connected to her heart.

That demonic energy spread through her body, soon linking all the way to the mana hall.

The demon's heart.

A human heart.

And the mage's heart: the mana hall.

The demonic energy connected to her heart dyed the circular ring of dark magic around it black, then colored the mana hall beneath her solar plexus jet black.

At the moment she closed her eyes to savor the long-missed familiar sensation,

Black magic power streamed out, following the path of Yeon-ji's shadow.

Until it drenched the entire arena in darkness.

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

【ദ്ദി(⩌ᴗ⩌)】