Chapter 19
Chapter 19: The Preliminaries Begin
Time flowed on and on until one week before the tournament.
Iron Blood Witch pressed her fingers to her temple and diligently tapped away at her calculator.
"The remaining debt is 547,872,000,000 Won. But since the donations that came in this month total 6,000,000,000 Won, that means……"
A monthly recurring event.
Paying off the debt.
Every time she looked at it, it truly made her head spin from the sheer amount.
Sometimes she even doubted whether it could ever be fully repaid.
'Still, everyone is working hard to support us, so I have to do my best.'
The Sect's population was roughly 5,000 people.
The amount each person contributed varied, but calculating at 1,000,000 Won per head came out to about right.
That way, the amount that came in each month was 5,000,000,000 Won.
It would fluctuate plus or minus depending on circumstances, but never by all that much.
Of course this too was an enormous sum of money, but it still had to be consistently paid off for another ten years.
While holding back everything she wanted to do, everything she wanted to eat.
"Huuu……"
Iron Blood Witch shook her head from side to side at the still distant figure.
Even so, she pressed her fingers to her temple once more and finished drawing up the ledger.
She scanned through the contents one more time, confirmed there were no issues, and scrolled to the very bottom of the spreadsheet.
There was a cell highlighted in yellow to catch the eye immediately.
[First Young Lord: 10,000,000 Won]
Iron Blood Witch smiled faintly.
"What a truly admirable person. Even so, to just give away most of the money he earned from streaming like that."
Honestly, she hadn't even had expectations at first.
She had thought it was already a blessing that he had come out safely despite the world having been turned upside down.
But not only did he attain the Transcendence Realm—he immediately declared he would stream for the sake of the Demonic Heaven Sect.
The last time she had seen him was ten years ago, and seeing him mature not just in body but in spirit like this filled her with genuine pride.
It would not be an exaggeration to call him a blessing to the Demonic Heaven Sect.
"For now, let's set this aside. Repaying it right away won't make much of a dent, and it's the special first money the Young Lord ever earned."
Of course, she had no intention of keeping it untouched forever.
The plan wasn't set in stone yet, but she was thinking it might go toward the Sect's residents.
For example, gifts for children who were orphaned during the Great Unification, or cakes for people celebrating their birthdays.
Events like that.
"I'm sure the Young Lord will be pleased too. Though I'll tell him in advance, of course."
Iron Blood Witch smiled and saved the ledger.
Then she placed a call somewhere to make her report.
After a few rings, the sound of the other party picking up reached her, and she immediately bowed her head.
"Long live the Heavenly Demon, eternal glory to the Ten Thousand Demons. Sect Leader. It is the Head of the Hao Clan."
—Indeed, it has been a while. What is it?
"I am calling to make the regular accounting report. Are you free to speak at the moment?"
—Ah, has it already been that long? Go ahead. There won't be any major changes anyway—just report to me when the leading digit changes.
"……Understood."
A brief silence.
Just as Iron Blood Witch was about to offer a word of greeting, Heavenly Demon Wi Ji-cheon spoke first.
—What has Mu-yeong been up to these days?
"Are you referring to the First Young Lord?"
—I heard he came out of the Closed-Door Training Chamber, yet I haven't been able to see his face even once. I'd at least like to hear news of him often.
"Shall I quietly drop him a hint to do a video call sometime?"
—No, that would be undignified. It's a reunion after ten years—I want to see his face in person.
Iron Blood Witch thought that did seem right.
Even if the world had grown more convenient, ending things with a quick video call felt somehow improper.
"Then I will report as thoroughly as I can."
—It's only been about a week to begin with—what is there to be thorough about? Just tell me what you know.
Iron Blood Witch searched her memory and slowly began to speak.
"On the first day, he went to a Capsule Room and played a game called Castle Defense by himself. And in less than a few hours, he set a world record."
—He adapts remarkably fast. I thought he'd at least spend a few days stumbling around looking dazed.
"From the second day, he began streaming in order to earn money. He received quite a few donations, and on the third day, he cleared Castle Defense completely."
—That game, as I understand it, does not allow the use of martial arts at all?
"That is correct."
—With pure swordsmanship alone to reach that level……. He has grown much.
Wi Ji-cheon let out a pleased laugh.
The emotion of his joy came through even over the phone.
Seizing the moment, Iron Blood Witch offered a word of flattery.
"Is it not a record that would be just as easily achievable by you, Sect Leader?"
—What would become of my dignity if I involved myself in something like that? When children are at play, one ought to step back and watch from a distance.
"You are absolutely right."
—More importantly, has there been anyone who recognized Mu-yeong's identity? Rumors had been spreading far and wide that he was dead, given how long he hadn't shown his face.
"Not yet. Since he spent his formative years in the Closed-Door Training Chamber, it seems people simply cannot recognize the Young Lord as an adult."
—Children do grow fast at that age. Even U Ho-beop, who was standing guard out front, was said to have been taken by complete surprise.
Iron Blood Witch nodded in agreement.
In truth, had Mu-yeong not come with Divine Dragon, she herself would have nearly blurted out a "Who are you?"
Even for her, who had watched him since birth—if so for her, then what of others?
She was certain. They would have absolutely no idea.
"And have you perhaps heard of Battle Attack? It is a shooting game in a Battle Royale format, and it is a well-known game with quite a large player base."
—Of course I know it.
"As it happens, the Seoul Server Tournament is being held in a week. And for the past few days, the Young Lord has been practicing intensively because he intends to enter."
—……What?
Even Wi Ji-cheon could not help but be taken aback this time.
Mu-yeong had spent his entire life as a swordsman.
And yet after only a few days, he had learned to fire a gun and now intended to enter a tournament?
He knew Mu-yeong possessed the Heavenly Martial Physique, the supreme body gifted by the heavens, but still he couldn't help feeling doubtful.
—Is Seoul not famous for having a higher concentration of skilled players than any other server? All the more so for a tournament—it will draw a crowd of top players chasing the prize money. Can he survive that?
"Of course, the Young Lord did die quite a lot at first. But now it seems he has gotten the hang of it—he's been winning a fair amount and his improvement is quite palpably visible."
—Is that so?……
Wi Ji-cheon imagined it for a moment.
A Transcendence Realm master whose energy reserves remained completely undiminished, gun in hand, moving like the wind.
He found himself looking forward to what kind of play he would show.
Wi Ji-cheon let out an unwitting chuckle and brought things to a close.
—Understood. Then let us end the regular report here. Well done.
"I will be waiting for the day I see you again. Oh, might I ask when you plan to return to Korea?"
—Did I not strike a moderate hit with that meteorite last time? But this time I have discovered an interesting ruins site, so it seems it will take longer than expected.
"A ruins site……you say?"
—Surely places like this tend to have precious treasures or gemstones that can fetch a high price? It seems not yet excavated, so I intend to take a solid cut for myself.
At the cheerful sound of his voice, Iron Blood Witch quietly smiled.
"I will pray that good fortune comes your way. Long live the Heavenly Demon, eternal glory to the Ten Thousand Demons."
—I'll hang up now. See you next time.
With those words, the call ended.
Iron Blood Witch felt the tension drain from her all at once and moistened her dry lips.
"People say he has mellowed considerably, and yet the nerves never go away."
And it wasn't even a face-to-face meeting.
She set her phone down carefully and reached for her mouse.
After a few clicks, she entered a certain stream being watched by 500 viewers.
There was Mu-yeong, playing around with a grenade like it was a ball.
—Lolololol
—He hit that? lol
—That guy probably doesn't even know why he died lol
—The kill cam is gonna show him just completely dumbfounded lololol
—This is just a natural disaster lol
Iron Blood Witch scratched her head and muttered to herself.
"This was probably something I didn't need to report, wasn't it?"
It seemed quite different from what the Heavenly Demon was expecting.
She was pondering whether to send a text when she squeezed her eyes shut.
'Oh well, it'll work out somehow.'
As long as he wins, that's all that matters.
.
.
.
.
Three days before the tournament.
Yu-na, who had been streaming more diligently than usual, received a particular donation.
"Someone posted a list of participants for this tournament on the fan café? For real? Where?"
She already had a rough idea, given her connections, but she didn't know the exact lineup—so she stopped what she was doing and quickly checked it out.
[List of Notable Participants for This Seoul Tournament]
Daehwasan Sect First Disciple No Song-baek — Predator Rank 12.
Ascending Heaven Demon Sword — Predator Rank 31.
Hundred Herbs — Predator Rank 37.
Cheongseong Sect Second Disciple Gwang-baek — Predator Rank 55.
.
.
.
.
"Wow, insane. Where did all these Predators come from? Even so, this is too much."
Predator.
The highest-tier ranking, occupying up to 200th place.
Those who delivered overwhelming performances with transcendent physical ability and game sense.
They had turned out in droves to claim the 100,000,000 Won prize.
"Is something going on? This tournament looks like it's going to be especially brutal."
Yu-na exclaimed in admiration as she kept scrolling.
Alongside Grand Masters ranked up to 700th place, there were also countless Masters in the same tier as herself.
A true battle of stars.
Among them, a few familiar names caught her eye.
"Wait, the Suicide Bomber Choo Geol-gae is in too? Didn't he quit?"
—Probably ran short on cash lol
—He did have some recent game records. Looks like he came back?
—Going with the same concept, you think?
—This tournament is gonna be so entertaining. Big names are turning up in droves lololol
['GoingToWork' has donated 1,000 Won.]
—Oh, Yu-na's name was just up there too.
"Of course I'd be there. It's a bit out of my league, but I'm a Master after all."
Yu-na confirmed the list and read through it once more from top to bottom.
The lineup was spine-chilling, yet she didn't feel particularly nervous.
She was someone hardened by solo queue.
Having survived in Battle Attack—a game that encouraged three-man stacks—meant her actual skill was that much higher by comparison.
The reason lay in the Battle Royale genre itself.
'Queuing with skilled partners you've coordinated with ahead of time versus playing with random teammates—there's no way those are the same.'
Good synergy. Good calls.
That meant being able to win fights no matter when or where an enemy appeared.
Of course individual skill mattered too, but the fact that three-man queuing sharply boosted win rates was undeniable.
So even as a mere Master, she could hold her own against Predators.
After all, this tournament's main concept was solo play.
['SleepsALot' has donated 1,000 Won.]
—Somehow feels like she's gonna get knocked out in the preliminaries? Or maybe not?
"Come on, you really think that would happen? Besides, Predator doesn't mean you win every time. They've got the same health bars and they die to bullets just the same. As long as I keep my rank up just enough, making it to the finals is a given."
—The confidence lol
—Bet everyone else is thinking the same thing lol
—Your head must have gone funny after losing to Mu-yeong.
Yu-na's eyes went wide as she suddenly remembered something she had forgotten.
"Oh, now that I think about it, Mu-yeong's name isn't here? Hey, author, didn't you leave him out?"
['Author' has donated 1,000 Won.]
—As I wrote in the title, I only picked out notable participants. There should only be Masters and above.
—That person was Level 3 last time lol
—Looks like he's been playing every day, but what level is he now?
—Even so, probably around 15?
—You can't queue for ranked until Level 20, so yeah
—What if he enters the tournament unranked? lololol
"There's no tier restriction for the tournament anyway, so it should be fine. He'll climb as long as he's good."
She said it casually, but inwardly she was looking forward to it enormously.
Just how far would Mu-yeong—who had beaten her, a Master, with such ease—grow?
In truth, she sometimes logged off and quietly watched his stream.
But his play was so utterly bizarre it left her speechless every time.
'Right now it's regular matches, so that might be possible…… but could he really do the same against Predators?'
And not just ordinary people—but martial artists who possessed energy.
Yu-na found herself looking forward to the tournament more than ever.
And at last.
The day the preliminaries would begin crept swiftly closer.