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Chapter 147

Title: This Year’s Harmony Highlights.wemp

Author: Academy Love Dog

‘A random screenshot of the entrance ceremony’

Can you see the kids’ faces getting twisted from losing interest? This is me, and this is the academy.

Comments

– Haha, that’s a real hunter for you! What’s the point of dressing up just to look good??

– The highlights are already coming in just one hour after the competition started, lol!

– Aha, the expressions of the kids from other academies are legit funny, haha!

“Alright, the reactions seem pretty good.”

With sunglasses I have no idea where he got, Yeon-woo was mumbling while sitting in the waiting room chair. A few students waiting alongside him approached.

“Really? Are the reactions that good?”

Hearing this, Yeon-woo showed them the community posts as well as some pre-scheduled internet news.

While there were occasionally comments that made one squint in discontent, overall, the public opinion was favorable.

Seeing the relieved sighs of his peers from the initial reactions, other students attempted to check as well, prompting Yeon-woo to tell them to look it up on their smartphones.

‘Not a bad start at all.’

In fact, all media were covering the staging of this competition. Many were deeply impressed by the fact that they prioritized actual battles over formalities.

Of course, there were those worried about revealing their strategies, but it didn’t seem like a big problem.

“Alright, then I’m off first?”

“What? We just started! Where do you think you’re going?”

The friend next to Yeon-woo was surprised and asked when Yeon-woo stood up to leave. Yeon-woo grabbed some snacks laid out in the waiting room for the kids as he answered.

“I don’t have a match until Day 2. If someone gets injured and needs a substitute, contact me then.”

“No way, did you seriously just pull out?”

His friend checking the roster said in disbelief. He wanted Yeon-woo to call it a strategic decision.

“The early matches, I wouldn’t even be of help.”

Saying that, Yeon-woo looked up at the screen in the waiting room.

The first match of the competition, running, was underway. His eyes caught sight of Baek In-hwa standing at the starting line alongside other competitors.

You might think, what kind of competition includes running, but the essence of this competition is fundamentally a sports event.

It consists of minor events like running, jumping, and even some team competitions.

In the early stages of the competition, there are many events that demand these basic abilities. And Yeon-woo decided not to participate since he still didn’t excel beyond ordinary levels in non-combat skills.

‘All I need to worry about is high jump.’

Thinking that, Yeon-woo left the waiting room. It might be good to watch Baek In-hwa’s match. After a moment of consideration, he headed towards the cheering section.

The grand auditorium’s floor had turned into an athletics track. Thanks to the transcendent size of the auditorium’s design, the athletics track was formed several times larger compared to a regular venue.

Of course, this wasn’t a problem for the awakened ones. Physical enhancements through aura, along with the use of air walking, were all allowed as per modern superhuman sports regulations.

Under the Earth Spirit Master’s feet, the ground was wriggling. The Wizard of Wisdom infused magic into his feet, while Changhae and Jiyu assumed a crouching start.

In contrast, Baek In-hwa stood at ease. Other competitors looked at her in annoyance, but Baek In-hwa merely tossed her hair back with an air of indifference.

Their eyes met. The starting point and the harmony cheering section faced each other directly.

Seeing Baek In-hwa look in this direction, she flashed a small smile.

Curious, Yeon-woo waved his hand, just as the starting signal rang out along with the sound of a gunshot.

While other competitors took off, Baek In-hwa stood there, missing her timing. The other contestants sneered at her, thinking that with one competitor gone, it would just be a matter of competing against the rest.

“Oh come on.”

Yeon-woo sighed. Even though they were kids, doesn’t that seem too underestimating of the opponent?

Our Ice Palace’s Little Princess is definitely strong enough to overcome even a few seconds of delay without breaking a sweat.

When he casually looked back at the starting line, the only thing left was Baek In-hwa’s afterimage.

With one arm behind her back and swinging the other, Baek In-hwa’s motion resembled gliding more than running.

Cheers erupted from the audience. The announcer added with enthusiasm:

– Ah! Ice Dance! The Ice Palace’s air walking is unfolding! I’ve only heard of it before, but watching it in person is quite beautiful!!

As she moved, silver ice shards scattered in her wake, glimmering like jewels under the light.

Although she wasn’t heavily utilizing the Ice Wind Technique since she wasn’t covering the ground with ice, her speed was quick enough to catch up to the other competitors seamlessly.

‘Looks like this is a win.’

Betting that there wasn’t a need to stick around to cheer, Yeon-woo left the cheering section. On his way out, he picked up two ion drinks from a vending machine, attached a note to one, and handed it to Jung Yu-jin before exiting the auditorium.

*

“…What’s this?”

Baek In-hwa, returning with a medal symbolizing her first place, looked at the empty cheering section with a pout.

They should have been right here. Where did they all go?

“…Tch.”

Were you not supposed to stay until the end if you came to cheer? Baek In-hwa kicked a nearby rock in frustration.

The expressions of other students watching her were a bit strange, but Baek In-hwa paid no mind.

Just as she was about to leave the cheering section, another student stopped her. It was Jung Yu-jin, who was set to participate in the relay.

“Hey, In-hwa, this…”

“……?”

What caught Baek In-hwa’s eye when she turned back was an ion drink with a note stuck to it. She narrowed her eyes at the familiar handwriting.

“Yeon-woo left it for you. He said to give it to you….”

“…Really?”

Seeing Baek In-hwa’s somewhat displeased expression brighten, Jung Yu-jin hurriedly hid her own drink behind her back.

For some reason, it felt like she needed to hide it.

“Thanks, Yu-jin.”

After receiving the drink, Baek In-hwa expressed her gratitude and exited the cheering section, her mood noticeably light.

‘But is it really that exciting…?’

The note only said, “Thanks for the hard work, I think you’ll win anyway, so I’ll head out first,” nothing more.

*

“Teacher, did you find him?”

“No, not yet.”

Yuri was handling tasks in the Department Head’s Office as usual. It’s a great advantage that high-ranking officials often stay in one place rather than roaming about.

What Yeon-woo asked Yuri to do beforehand was related to the Gloomy Monster.

Though he didn’t know much about it, he remembered its appearance.

Faded blonde hair, shabby attire, and an eternally gloomy expression.

The first safety warning before facing the Cult of Despair was indeed about the Gloomy Monster.

If the Gloomy Monster appeared, they needed to quickly relay its location so that it could be killed immediately.

And even so, the fact that the Gloomy Monster hadn’t died until the end hinted at its strength…

On the flip side, though, at this very moment, ten years ago, the man who didn’t yet carry the monster’s name would undoubtedly be much weaker now than he would be a decade later.

If they could kill him now, they would gain a tremendous advantage in the fight against the Demon King Cult. That’s why Yeon-woo had resolved to actively search for him.

With Yuri and Kim Hyun-soo here, the chances of missing him were lower than before the regression. Now, there was no way the current Gloomy Monster could compete with Yuri and Kim Hyun-soo.

“We need to locate him soon…”

“There was a body found in the back alleys of the Dark Guild, so he must have been around there…but it seems he’s not trying to hide at all.”

“Since a lot of people have come in for the competition. Plus, he didn’t enter via the gate, did he?”

“True. I never thought someone would be able to breach through the main gate without any gear.”

Yeon-woo also mentioned that the recent murder case of the patrol was likely the man’s doing. How he secretly watched through Tae-oh’s shadow… well, that had to be said too.

While he could trick Sharl with info regarding monsters, he couldn’t do much about people. When it came to this, Yeon-woo had to ask them to trust him without a plan. Fortunately, due to his usual conduct, he didn’t draw much suspicion.

They might have even given up on doubting him.

“Let me know if you hear anything.”

“Yeah. The kids are off playing with Noel, aren’t you going to go see them?”

“Hmm….”

Yeon-woo glanced at the clock. 12:30. Pretty much lunchtime.

“Have you eaten? With Noel and the kids?”

“Huh? Is it already lunchtime??”

Yuri was startled by Yeon-woo’s question and quickly got up. It seems she had been so focused on work that she lost track of time.

Is she starting to get dementia?

Yeon-woo looked at her pitifully.

“Can’t you clear that blank stare off your face any faster?”

Yeon-woo lowered his eyes while eagerly searching through a delivery app with his hands.

A moment later.

“D Delivery has arrived—”

The delivery person awkwardly knocked on the door of the Department Head’s Office. Handing over the pre-paid pizza to Yeon-woo, the delivery person bolted out of the building. Surely he never thought he’d deliver to an office like this.

“Alright, let’s go, Teacher.”

“It’s the first time I’ve ever had something delivered to the Department Head’s Office since taking this position…”

The awkward food should be eager to leave this office. From now on, this is the battlefield of pizza!

*

“Oh, what’s that?”

“Ah, this is something called pizza.”

A traditional food from Earth… Sorry, Italian folks.

Three large pizzas were spread grandly across the shabby wooden cabin.

One old man, two kids, and two fifteen-year-olds might seem too many, but those two kids’ appetites were no joke.

“Is this your first time trying it?”

“Yeah. It feels like ages since I had a real meal like this.”

“No, Teacher, what kind of care are you giving these kids without feeding them properly?”

“I gave them some porridge during their care, you brat.”

“Porridge is nice. But pizza’s definitely going to be better, Noel. Brace yourself and grab it….”

With a little laugh at the bickering between Yeon-woo and Yuri, Noel awkwardly accepted a slice of pizza handed over by Sharl.

The cheese of the pizza stretched while the vivid red tomato sauce underneath revealed its glamorous color.

The oil on the pepperoni glistened, reflecting light like jewels, and the colorful veggies delighted the eyes.

“Eat, Noel…! Embrace your fate…!!”

The black cup in Yeon-woo’s hand shone ominously.

It was cola.

(To be continued in the next part.)

 

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