Chapter 52 : Chapter 52
Chapter 52: Athletic Meet (2)
The flag capture battle ended, and as it entered the middle stage, special individual matches like ‘Ability Relay’ and ‘Obstacle Destruction Battle’ unfolded.
Unlike the first game, games with a stronger feeling of being an event.
Naturally, the reaction of the spectators watching was bound to become hot.
If the first one felt like watching a soccer match, the following two games were like watching pro wrestling or a circus which were much richer in spectacles.
"Wow!"
"Oh!!"
Exclamations poured out like waves from here and there in the spectator stands.
As expected, a prestigious high school where only the best talents gathered.
Among the chosen ones called Awakened, the shining rough gemstones gathered after being filtered and filtered again.
Rare Unique Skills.
Physical abilities one would not think belong to a human body.
Spectators were experiencing their hearts racing just by seeing with their own eyes whether they were truly human, or chosen talents capable of controlling nature.
That is why the Athletic Meet of Taewoon High became the region's best festival and pride.
In ten years, no, fast as five years, the rough gemstones seen here would become jewels called Pro Hunters and emit brilliant light.
Surely there would be differences even within that group.
It had already been confirmed in the Athletic Meets held several times before that the one who attracts the most attention at the Athletic Meet becomes the most famous and receives the spotlight in the future.......
However.
Even if this huge gymnasium was filled with cheers, and smiles were formed on the faces of the spectators looking at the students.
There was one person who could not enjoy this heat alone.
"It's not enough....... Compared to previous athletic meets, still......."
The corner of the podium installed to invite guests, that is, the VIPs.
Unlike usual, deep worry was stuck on the face of the Principal who was there.
It was understandable.
Since this semester started, dirty colors that had never existed before were painted several times on the name of the prestigious Taewoon High, which had only been painted in gold.
Year 2 Class A Monster Terror Incident.
A teacher related to a pseudo-religion that conducted biological experiments.
The kidnapping of a currently enrolled student.
Besides these, trivial incidents.
(Including his own humiliation.)
Unprecedented things raged like a storm not even in one semester, but in one season, shaking the status of Taewoon High.
But then―.
"......."
Principal Ma Jae-min's eyes, recalling those incidents, turned into a straight line.
I thought about it once last time too.
Except for the matter of Teacher Lee related to the cult, all were matters related to Teacher Yoo jin.
Even Teacher Lee's matter cannot be said to be completely unrelated if viewed from a different angle.
Because the Heavenly Mandate Holy Order and the kidnapping incident of the Class A student are in one category.
The Principal, who hardened his lips into a straight line following his eyes, moved his gaze.
The center of the huge gymnasium.
That is, the main stage.
Yoo jin's face surrounded by children was fully captured in his view.
'I can't say it even if I die.'
No.
"I can't say it because I might die."
What kind of person is Yoo jin?
Although it is clear he is lower in rank.
'He will be there.'
'I ask for a favor, Principal.'
'I think you will understand well even if I say just this much.'
'Hehe.'
His knees felt weak when he pointed his finger at the sky.
When he threatened to hand over the children's data while showing the world's brightest smile, he felt more tension and fear than when he first entered a dungeon.
So he handled the work faster than anyone else like a racehorse.......
Tsk―.
A mouth shut tight while protruding like a duck.
Anyway, he has neither the intention nor the confidence to tell Yoo jin.
Then he must think of a different method.
And that method was unexpectedly simple.
Erase the smear with a larger gold light.
Screech―.
The button hanging on the shirt that looked like it would burst screamed.
Strength went into the muscles all over his body.
Principal Ma Jae-min's eyes sparkled.
An impact large enough to cover everything!
Finish this Athletic Meet, where the attention of the whole nation is focused, successfully to make everyone forget all the trivial incidents of the past days!
Right, there is only this.
But it is still insufficient.
To wash away the disgrace until now, it is still a little.
One point was missing.......
However.
"I still have one shot left!"
Just as there is no law that a person must die.
There was one last lifeline left for the Principal too.
"Still, one match that is enough to cover everything......."
The main event.
The match to determine the best talent of Taewoon High.
Principal Ma Jae-min's gaze moved.
Pupils rolling quickly like a chameleon.
Those pupils found the target and stopped.
Year 3's best talent.
Student Council President.
And.
Kang Tae-wook, evaluated as having legendary status in Unique Skill alone.
"Hehehe, hehehe......."
A foolish laugh was built on Principal Ma Jae-min's face.
As if the heavens helped there.
On the podium he was stepping on.
There were Vice President Kang Yu, and even S-Rank Hunter Kang Si-wook who took steps he didn't expect.
Beyond just a pumpkin rolling in on the vine, this was like the heavens sending a pumpkin carriage with magic cast on it, saying he had suffered a lot meanwhile.
'I'm lucky.'
Grin.
"Hehehehe! Hahahahaha!"
I believe in you.
Kang Tae-wook.
The main event final match was being drawn in the Principal's head as he pleased.
"Why is he talking to himself like that?"
"I know, right. Uh...... He is even laughing now?"
Cho Sang-geun and Secretary Kim frowned looking at Principal Ma Jae-min in the corner of the podium.
" Is he possessed by a ghost?"
Lee Si-wang, who poked his head out between them, also added a word.
Blink blink.
Cho Sang-geun and Secretary Kim's gazes stayed on Lee Si-wang's face for a long time.
"Why are you all so...... Is there something on my face?"
"What is that?"
"Yes?"
"Exactly, what is it? Vice Guild Master."
"What......."
Even at the cold eyes of Cho Sang-geun and Secretary Kim, Lee Si-wang was making an expression that he knew nothing.
As he was only blinking his eyes with an expression saying I don't know.
"I asked what are the sunglasses."
At Cho Sang-geun's voice who could not endure it, Lee Si-wang understood the two's reaction only then and nodded.
"Ah! This? Teacher Yoo jin tells me not to use them so much these days. Haha."
"......."
"......."
A bright smile filled below the sunglasses.
"Aren't these sunglasses my trademark again?"
Cho Sang-geun's gaze headed to Secretary Kim.
Secretary Kim nodding silently.
Press!
Secretary Kim, whose expression did not change a bit, pushed Lee Si-wang's head back.
"Too mean......."
Lee Si-wang's head, which was protruding face-only like a mole between Secretary Kim and Cho Sang-geun, disappeared.
"Dignity...... No, please have some self-awareness. You are the Ignis Vice Guild Master, and A-Rank No. 1."
A stern expression, Secretary Kim said brushing up her glasses.
"......."
Lee Si-wang could not spit out any words of rebuttal and made a sullen expression.
At that moment.
"Hahaha. Ignis Guild executives seem to have a very good relationship."
A voice cutting in.
When Cho Sang-geun turned his head, the owner of the voice was captured in his view.
An enemy if an enemy.
A foe if a foe.
Wily Raccoon.
Vice President Kang Yu was looking this way and laughing.
He is smiling, but a thoroughly calculated smile.
That is, while wearing a mask.
Cho Sang-geun, who knew that better than anyone, opened his mouth wearing a social life max level smile.
"I apologize if we were noisy."
"No, noisy, not at all. I said it because it was just good to see."
"Still, you must have been watching the students' matches."
"No. I don't have much interest in children's talent shows. The only thing I want to see is the last match."
The eyes hidden by the smiling eyes were revealed.
Kang Yu's cold eyes headed to Cho Sang-geun.
Unchanging eyes.
The same eyes as back then when we roamed the field together.
With infinitely cold eyes, it was exactly that gaze that seemed to look down.
Not avoiding his gaze even for a moment from those encountered eyes, Cho Sang-geun continued his words.
"By the last match...... Are you waiting for your son's match?"
"......."
Silence continued for a moment.
A strange current flowed.
The Wily Raccoon covered himself with a thicker mask again.
"Well, it is not particularly that. Just, if the matches in front were based on play, the last main event is a match that distinguishes the real protagonist."
"That is true."
Finishing their words, their gazes moved to the center of the gymnasium in unison.
Although it was the same direction, a gaze where no one would know if what the two were containing was also the same.
"My eyes went to the skill of the Student Council President enrolled in Year 3."
"He is also one of only 3 Special Management Students in this school."
"Do you know even all such things? You have a lot of interest in Taewoon High."
"Well, from the guild's position, there is nothing bad about knowing talents with promising futures."
"I see."
"By the way, aren't you the one with too little interest, Vice President? The Vice President's second son is also one of the Special Management Students of which there are only three."
"......."
Head and gaze with no movement.
Although they could not see each other's faces, Cho Sang-geun felt it clearly.
That the Wily Raccoon's mask was cracking.
At their appearance conversing as if they were the only ones in a different world.
"......."
"......."
Secretary Kim and Lee Si-wang were just reading the room with side glances.
After a little time passed like that.
Waaaaaa―.
The sound stretching out from the spectator stands in unison announced the end of the proceeding match.
Even this time, the one smiling the biggest among the participating students in the center of the gymnasium was Year 2 Class A.
It was exactly Yoo jin's class.
As if an invisible wall had disappeared.
Faint smiles were formed on the faces of Cho Sang-geun and Vice President Kang Yu.
They were similar smiles, but what was contained within were emotions that could absolutely not be placed on the same line.
"Teacher Yoo jin's class is the winner this time too."
"Is it Year 2 Class A? There are many good talents."
"Well, I don't know if it's right to compare it to sports, but in my personal opinion, the athlete's ability is important, but I think the ability of the director guiding them is the most important."
At the voice coming out of Kang Yu's mouth, Cho Sang-geun's expression sank.
It had to be so.
Although he was someone who managed his image and lived a social life wearing a mask thoroughly.
Because he was absolutely not a person who praised an opponent with lies.
That could be affirmed because he had seen it since they were active on the firing line before both of their positions became this high.
Therefore, a strong current flowed for the first time in their relationship where they always only played mind games.
"It is the first time, for the Vice President to say such things about someone. Have you perhaps grown fond of Teacher Yoo jin?"
Cho Sang-geun's voice.
At that voice, Kang Yu's fingertip flinched slightly.
However, soon.
"Did it look like that?"
Kang Yu spitting out a calm voice as if there was no reaction.
"Well, it was just my personal feeling. If not, never mi......."
"Rather, isn't the one interested Guild Master, not me?"
Zap.
Electricity flowed through Cho Sang-geun's body.
As if a spear stabbed not the flesh but something inside it.
"......."
Cho Sang-geun could not easily strike back.
Because it couldn't be helped.
Because it was true that he was hiding something.
Teacher Yoo jin's identity.
The fact that he did not report even though a Returnee appeared.
Etc.
Cho Sang-geun's expression hardened.
'It can't be. Still, not yet.'
There was confidence that he wasn't caught.
Although there was anxiety about the Wily Raccoon becoming a little interested in Yoo jin.
Still.
There was confidence that he wouldn't have found out even Teacher Yoo jin's identity yet.
'Is he testing me?'
But why.
The gazes of Cho Sang-geun and Kang Yu, which had not met for a long time, met.
Why he is making such an expression.
Cho Sang-geun did not know.
He didn't know if his tail was stepped on somewhere, or if it was the hunch of that Wily Raccoon who seemed to have lived over a hundred years.
There was only one action he would take.
Cho Sang-geun placed his hand on Lee Si-wang's shoulder and put his arm around him.
"I can't help but be interested. Because my favorite younger brother......."
He smiled.
"Is the first real friend he made."
If Kang Yu was a Wily Raccoon.
Cho Sang-geun was a Nine-tailed Fox with nine tails.