novelraw Chapter 80 : Chapter 80
Chapter 80 : Chapter 80
Chapter 80 Life-and-Death Tournament (3)
“Is it really Ice Rakshasa?”
“It’s been a while since I’ve seen her face in person.”
“As the rumors say, is she really in a relationship with that brat?”
When Ice Rakshasa Pan Bing-yeong, with a cold expression, stepped out of the inn, the murmuring crowd slowly took a few steps back and cleared the way.
Having scanned her surroundings once with sharp eyes, Ice Rakshasa began walking toward the Sado Alliance’s Inner Court.
Then, as if escorting us, the warriors surrounded my group and moved slowly toward the Inner Court.
“Brat. Today might be the last day you see the world, so take a good look around as you walk.”
At the shout of someone hiding within the crowd, a burst of laughter erupted.
Ice Rakshasa frowned and looked around, but since so many people were moving together, it was not easy to punish the owner of the voice.
“Miss. Don’t pay them any mind and let’s go.”
At my words, Ice Rakshasa let out a sigh and quickened her pace.
At first, there were only dozens of people, but the number gradually increased as we headed toward the Inner Court, and soon, more than a hundred people were following my group.
Ice Rakshasa, unable to hide her bewildered gaze at a situation she was experiencing for the first time, looked around with a stiff expression.
Even in the midst of that, I showed a relaxed appearance, occasionally responding to the shouts heard here and there or waving my hand.
The people, finding amusement in that, followed my group all the way to the gate of the Sado Alliance’s Outer Court and cheered(?) for my participation in the Life-and-Death Tournament.
“Brat! Let’s meet alive!”
“Yeah. Make sure to survive until the main tournament. If you die easily, I’ll kill you myself.”
As we approached the gate of the Outer Court, the shouts of the people grew louder.
As if responding to them, I waved my hand one last time toward the people gathered in front of the gate, then turned and passed through the gate to enter.
According to the rules, observation by ordinary warriors was only allowed from the main tournament onward.
Thus, as I entered the Outer Court, the gathered crowd dispersed in all directions.
Only then did Ice Rakshasa let out a sigh of relief and wipe the sweat from her forehead.
“That was probably the most clamorous entrance since the Life-and-Death Tournament first began.”
At Ice Rakshasa’s words, I smiled.
“Do you think this enlarged the scale enough?”
“It seemed like there wasn't a single person in Ak-yang who didn't know about Young Master Jaun. The stage has grown as large as it possibly could, so don’t worry.”
“Now all that’s left is to survive until the end.”
Ice Rakshasa, who clenched and unclenched her fists a few times, pulled out a small piece of paper from her bosom and handed it to me.
“There are two matches today. The first one is a person named Illusionary Maze Principle Sword So Yu-ram…… I investigated him, but he’s an opponent with nothing special. He is twenty-six. He works as an Outer Court warrior for the Sado Alliance. His level isn't bad for his age, but he’s no match for Young Master Jaun.”
At Ice Rakshasa’s words, I shrugged.
“Then there won't be any reason for you to come up onto the stage today.”
Ice Rakshasa turned and glared at me once.
“Consider yourself lucky. What would have happened if you met kids like the Five Evils from the start?”
I scratched my head at Ice Rakshasa’s gaze.
“The Alliance Leader will be observing from the first day. Fortunately, the opponents you’ll meet today are only warriors who pose no great threat, so show as much as you can, Young Master Jaun.”
“Why?”
“Because there's no guarantee that your luck with the match-ups will continue to be good. It’s a situation where we don’t know how many opportunities will remain. So, it’s better to show what you can from the start.”
As the group walked through the Outer Court while sharing conversation, the gazes watching us began to increase one by one.
They did not approach closely as they had at the inn, but I could feel the presence of several warriors concentrating on me from not too far away.
The majority of those glares contained hostility rather than goodwill.
Since they were likely warriors participating directly in the Life-and-Death Tournament, it was natural for them to feel wary toward me, who belonged to the Murim Alliance.
I fiddled with the Dark Steel Sword hanging at my waist.
‘It’s better to show something from the start.’
Ice Rakshasa’s words meant I should display overwhelming martial prowess.
However, I did not agree with that. My thought was that overwhelming martial prowess should be shown to an opponent who possessed a corresponding status.
‘I think I can create an impressive situation through a different method as well.’
As I walked while lost in thought, Ice Rakshasa and Ban Cheol-hwi remained silent, giving me time to think.
After traversing the Outer Court quietly like that, the group eventually reached the entrance of the Inner Court.
“It feels a bit chilly.”
At Ban Cheol-hwi’s words, Ice Rakshasa nodded.
“That’s because from here on, only participants and observers can enter. Since everyone you see is an enemy or on an enemy’s side, everyone has no choice but to be on edge.”
A piercing momentum could be felt from all directions.
Even I, who hadn't felt any tension at all, received the feeling of becoming synchronized with the tense atmosphere of the surroundings.
Feeling my heartbeat quicken slightly, I took a deep breath.
‘There are quite a few warriors with decent energy.’
I scanned the Inner Court once and broke into a smirk.
“We’ve arrived a bit early, but let’s head to the platform first. It doesn't seem like there would be anything good about staying here.”
Ice Rakshasa, who was carefully observing the surroundings, guided me and Ban Cheol-hwi into the Inner Court.
When we were about halfway across the Inner Court, I raised my head.
A girl wearing red clothes, who had been half-reclining on a pavilion and chewing on a blade of grass, turned her head and looked down at me.
Our eyes met in mid-air.
“You’ve finally arrived?”
The girl spat out the blade of grass and leaped down from the pavilion roof.
Having confirmed the girl who suddenly blocked our path, Ice Rakshasa took a step forward.
“It is an honor to personally meet one of the Sado Alliance’s hidden balance weights.”
The girl in red bowed politely toward Ice Rakshasa and then looked at me.
“I’ve been waiting.”
At the girl’s words, Ice Rakshasa frowned.
Then, having scanned the girl in red from top to bottom in that state, she spoke.
“Move aside. I don't have time to play with you right now.”
The girl, who once again gave a deep Fist-and-Palm Salute toward Ice Rakshasa, replied.
“I am Yu Ha-rin, known as the Red Flame Flying Sword and a member of the current Five Evils. I understand there is still some time until the Life-and-Death Tournament begins; would it be possible to give me an opportunity to speak with that Young Master for a moment?”
Ice Rakshasa, who was about to refuse as if it were a nuisance, scanned Yu Ha-rin’s body once more and asked as if it were fascinating.
“You, you learned the Fiery Yang Art in a woman’s body?”
“It ended up like that because I was born with a unique constitution.”
Unlike herself, who had learned the Extreme Yin Ice Arts, this was a girl who had secured a place among the Five Evils with the Extreme Yang Fiery Yang Art.
Ice Rakshasa, who scanned Yu Ha-rin’s body once more with curious eyes, licked her lips.
“……It would have been quite good if you had been born just a few years earlier. If you had, you would have become quite an interesting rival.”
“My goal is to stand in the same place as the heroine who is a legend of the Five Evils. I think if you wait just a few more years, I will be able to stand side-by-side with you.”
At the girl’s somewhat provocative answer, Ice Rakshasa burst into a smirk.
“I like that you have spirit. You seem to have skill as well. Fine, try your best to follow. I’ll be watching to see how much you close the gap.”
Yu Ha-rin bowed her waist slightly toward Ice Rakshasa again.
When there was no further restraint from Ice Rakshasa, Yu Ha-rin turned her gaze toward me.
“I heard you learned Demonic Arts?”
I observed Yu Ha-rin, who stood before me, intently.
‘Among those called the Five Evils, her level is the highest.’
Judging by her stable internal energy and her skill in concealing her aura, she was a girl with enough potential to rival Ice Rakshasa.
‘……This, Sword Phoenix and Blade Dragon will have to work a bit harder.’
Right now, this girl named Yu Ha-rin possessed skill about half a step ahead of those two.
While I was comparing Yu Ha-rin with the representative rising stars of the Murim Alliance in that way, I spoke.
“That’s right. I learned Demonic Arts.”
“Unless the Murim Alliance is full of fools, they would have sent someone with that much skill…… but I wonder if the level of Demonic Arts learned at the Murim Alliance Demon Study Hall would be enough to participate in the Life-and-Death Tournament?”
I shrugged my shoulders.
“You'll find out if you wait and see, won't you? I think you should worry about yourself before worrying about me.”
At my confident answer, Yu Ha-rin broke into a smirk.
“Heh. How reckless. Your courage is commendable. However, it’s a big mistake if you think the Life-and-Death Tournament is something like a Murim Alliance sparring competition. I don't know what the Alliance Leader was thinking by letting you participate in the Life-and-Death Tournament, but……”
Yu Ha-rin scanned me from top to bottom with her eyes.
“I’m a bit worried that if an arm or a leg falls off you during the Life-and-Death Tournament, an unnecessary conflict might arise with the Murim Alliance. But you see, I don't want there to be any major friction with the Murim Alliance until I enter the Alliance Leader's Palace and secure a position to some extent. So, how about just giving up?”
“What an audacious girl.”
Yu Ha-rin, who heard Ban Cheol-hwi’s muttering, gave him a brief glance and then turned her eyes back to me.
I scratched my head and then spoke.
“Well. Won’t we only know which is longer or shorter after we measure them?”
─ Clang
Having heard my answer, Yu Ha-rin drew the sword from her waist. Having confirmed Ice Rakshasa’s expression, which turned cold in an instant, I raised my hand to restrain her.
Yu Ha-rin winked once and then aimed her sword toward the space to my right.
─ Whoosh
In an instant, the sword that was shot out at an incredible speed brushed past my side.
The wind generated by the sword ruffled my hair here and there.
“At least enough to block this sword. You’ll need to be at that level to survive. How is it? Do you still think the same?”
I pulled out the Dark Steel Sword from my waist and held it up toward Yu Ha-rin.
The sword, which had been remaining still, came down, and my blade drew a round circle in the air at a slow speed.
Having completed one circle in that manner, my sword returned to my waist.
“You……”
Yu Ha-rin, who confirmed the energy shimmering within the circle I had drawn, raised her head with eyes sparkling.
“What…… is this? It’s not a martial art of the Murim Alliance, nor is it a Demonic Art.”
“With a level where you can’t even understand your opponent’s martial art, I wonder if you’ll truly be able to face me?”
Yu Ha-rin, who confirmed the energy gradually dispersing into the air, nodded with a look of amusement.
“I worried for nothing. As expected, the Alliance Leader had a plan for everything.”
Yu Ha-rin, who stared intently at me while licking her lips as if she were expectant, turned her body and gave a deep Fist-and-Palm Salute toward Ice Rakshasa.
“This junior’s thoughts were short, causing an unnecessary disturbance. Thank you for your understanding.”
“It’s good to have overflowing motivation, but if it’s excessive, it won't be looked upon kindly.”
At Ice Rakshasa’s words, Yu Ha-rin bowed deeply.
“I will keep that in mind. Then I will see you at the Life-and-Death Tournament preliminary grounds in a short while.”
Having glanced at me once, Yu Ha-rin turned her body. Yu Ha-rin, who leaped into the air with a swish, stood back upon the roof of the pavilion she had descended from earlier.
Ice Rakshasa, who confirmed Yu Ha-rin sitting heavily on the roof and looking down at the group with curious eyes, let out a small sigh.
“I had asked to participate quietly precisely because I was afraid such an incident would occur.”
“It’s interesting, though. It was also a time when I could grasp the level of the Five Evils to some extent. It seems the Murim Alliance’s rising stars will have to be quite on edge.”
“Well, the Sado Alliance’s momentum has been rising lately. When I checked yesterday, it was said that this current batch of Five Evils kids all possess decent skill.”
“They were certainly not bad.”
“Furthermore, there are many prominent warriors other than the Five Evils this time, so the expectations of the people are high. With Young Master Jaun even stepping into such a situation……. This Life-and-Death Tournament is going to be a bit noisy.”
At Ice Rakshasa’s words, I nodded with an expression full of anticipation.
Watching that, Ice Rakshasa let out a small sigh.
“To be honest, I don't know if this is a good thing. I feel like as much as Young Master Jaun’s name becomes known, there will be those obsessed with fame who will cross the line.”
Ice Rakshasa, who looked at me with worried eyes, turned her body.
“Well, we can’t turn back now, so what can we do? Let’s go for now. Let’s go and at least warm up. We must save time.”
Following Ice Rakshasa’s guidance, Ban Cheol-hwi and I began walking further into the Inner Court.