Chapter 18 - Academy Competition (4)
People were allowed to watch the Academy Competition.
Even in the early days, it was their own league, but now they caught it as a culture like a sport.
The competitions of the 1st division, in which prestigious academies participate, are broadcast live not only in Korea but also abroad.
Because of that, the audience was crowded with people, so Seoyoon had to go through quite a hard time finding a quiet seat.
‘Fortunately, there is a suitable seat.'
Seoyoon settled down in such a corner.
I was careful not to stand out because of my outstanding appearance wherever I went, but luckily no one recognized me because I was wearing a hat.
Sitting down, Seoyoon raised her eyes and looked at the various display boards that seemed to be floating in the sky.
The screens showed students competing in a complicated maze.
‘I wonder if he's doing well...'
Seoyoon found the figure of Seojun among them.
However, no matter how much I look for it, I can't find Seo-joon.
‘There's no way...'
Seoyoon slightly shook her head and lowered her gaze.
It is also true that the number of electronic signboards was limited, so it was not possible to show all students.
Of course, the screens of the electronic display board were occupied by the audience, so the students who could see them.
There was no place for Dream Academy and Seojun to enter.
Seoyoon smiled slightly at the bitter reality.
And when I was about to turn my gaze back to the electronic display board.
“Who is that giant with an ax over there?”
Suddenly, a voice came from behind.
When Seoyoon slightly turned her head, two men in suits were talking.
Seoyoon could easily guess that the two were government officials or scouts belonging to a guild.
“If you're talking about a giant with an axe... are you talking about Deokcheol Jang?”
The younger-looking man of the two men pointed to one of the billboards floating in the sky.
Another man nodded, and Seoyoon's gaze naturally turned to the display board.
Then, on one side of the display board, a scene of a shabby man carrying an ax sweeping monsters was reflected.
The two voices came from behind.
“As you can see, I am a student who prefers to fight with supernatural power. In fact, his skills are a waste of talent to participate in this competition.”
“But why did you join the war here?”
“I was told that I could enter a prestigious academy, but I refused. I don't know why, but I think they recruited him on the condition of receiving a scholarship. Well, thanks to Jang Deok-cheol, if I can put my name on the 3rd part without difficulty this year, it is a profitable business for the academy.”
“Right.”
The two continued to talk about a man named Jang Deok-cheol.
After listening closely, it seemed that they belonged to government officials rather than guilds.
Seoyoon didn't pay much attention and closed her ears.
“The kid with the double dagger over there. Don't you think you'll be fine joining our team?”
But this time, a voice came from a different place.
“Hmm, your combat sense is fine. I'm still a student, so I'll have to keep an eye on it... Did you say your name was Lee Cheol-min?”
“I needed close combat personnel, but…”
The style of conversation was like that of the hunter team or guild.
Seoyoon took a look around.
Then, not only them, but most of the people watching the electronic signboard and talking about this and that caught my eyes.
‘More scouts came than I thought...'
That's why Seoyoon couldn't hide her questionable mind.
That would also be the case because this academy competition was a contest in which the academies belonging to the 4th division competed.
Of course, there were nangjungjichu everywhere, but that was it.
The fact that dragons fly from streams has already become a thing of the past.
Therefore, there was no reason for so many scouts to come to the competition, which was only in the 4th division.
“Wow… look at that. Who sees those movements of the students?”
“It’s just that the level itself is different.”
Then I heard the whispers again.
“At that level, it wouldn’t be a problem to act as a professional hunter right away, right?”
“The level of professional hunters these days is much higher than in the past, so there must be a reason for saying that.”
However, they were purely admiring the students, not evaluating them.
Who are you to do that?
Seoyoon followed their gaze and turned her head to the display board.
Then, a sharp-looking man using a sword was seen on the display board, and he was someone Seoyoon knew.
‘Lee Jun-hwan...?'
Seoyoon couldn't hide her embarrassment.
‘Why is that person here?'
It was also because Seoyoon knew best about Lee Junhwan's skills.
To put it simply, Lee Jun-hwan was a strong player who should not be in the 4th division competition.
To be precise, a student who shouldn't be at Hunter Academy in the 4th division competition.
“It seems that the rumor that he tried to bring him while taking advantage of various benefits at the Hunter Mill is just a lie.”
“They said they came here because it’s probably an academy run by relatives…”
“Anyway, that kind of thing is still prevalent in Korea, so won. In any case, winning this matchup is a bonus.”
Seoyoon could understand why Junhwan Lee was here and why the scouts had attended so far.
‘At a time like this...'
Seoyoon let out a light sigh without even realizing it.
Apparently, it was because Lee Jun-hwan seemed certain to be the first to break through the dungeon.
In fact, if you catch a monster in this intricate maze, you are given a hint about how to escape.
To be precise, fragments of the map of the maze came out, and when they were put together, the map of the maze was completed.
In a word, go through the maze and catch monsters! That was it.
The real purpose of breaking through the dungeon maze is to evaluate the dungeon raid ability, which is the most important quality for a hunter.
In addition, it was also an evaluation factor that students quickly grasped such facts and established a plan accordingly.
In any case, it was not designed to blindly break through the maze, and it was designed to be impossible in the first place.
At this rate, Junhwan Lee was the first to break through the maze...
That was the time.
Parapambampaba!
Suddenly, a fanfare sounded from somewhere.
Then, the screen of the electronic display board changed.
< A breakthrough in the dungeon maze! >
< Breaking time: 27 minutes 12 seconds. >
< The shortest breaking time ever: 1 hour 4 minutes 34 seconds. >
< Record breaking! >
“What? Already have a breakthrough? Time is… only 27 minutes?”
“No way? who? Is this Junhwan Lee?”
“Lee Jun-hwan is fighting right now?”
“what? Is it an error?”
People who are bewildered by sudden situations.
‘Is it really an error?'
Seoyoon quietly raised her eyes and looked at the display board.
Then all the electronic display boards changed to one screen at the same time, and there was a guy who wasn't cool looking at the screen.
But... a familiar face somewhere.
Then, a large electronic signboard rose into the sky, and names began to be written on it.
< 1st place: Seojun Kim >
< 2nd place: Minki Lee >
Stop.
Seoyoon rubbed her eyes.
“who is this?”
“Kim Seojun? Are you a first-time student?”
“What is that crude iron bar you are holding in your hand?”
And the moment Seoyoon opened her eyes again.
< E ~ E ~?!?!?!? >
“Seojun Seo ???!? !!
A duet resounded in the place of competition.
Mingi couldn't understand what was going on right now.
No, I knew what had happened.
Shortly after the competition started, I met Seo-jun.
And from what we saw in the waiting room, Seo-jun, the weakest person like himself.
So I proposed to join them, but it was beautifully turned down.
Even so, they caught up and escaped the maze as they followed without much thought.
A very clear and simple situation.
“What what what what what?!?!”
The problem was that I couldn't understand the simple situation.
“Well, I'm a little... embarrassed by this.”
However, the person in question only had a puzzled look on his face.
It seemed he didn't even know what he was doing.
‘What is this...'
Could it be luck?
Mingi raised his head and looked at the display board floating in the sky.
< Breaking time: 27 minutes 12 seconds. >
< Breaking time in the shortest time: 1 hour 4 minutes 34 seconds. >
< Record breaking! >
Breaking time was 27 minutes.
Compared to the shortest breakthrough time of all time, 1 hour and 4 minutes, it was less than 1/2 of that time.
Considering the size of the maze, this could only be explained by knowing the exit from the beginning.
“Uh... you two? That… let’s go to the waiting room for now.”
The person in charge was also quite embarrassed, so he was very cautious about what he said.
‘Is it possible that the restraint of the Most High? So, did you know the information about the contest in advance?'
Mingi couldn't think of anything else.
Of course, information about the competition was kept private until the start, but how does the world go according to the rules?
Min-gi looked at Seo-jun once again with such doubts, and immediately brushed off those doubts.
That's right, look at that tail!
There is no equipment worn, and the clothes are sloppy, and the one that is carried as a weapon is...
‘Iron bar...?'
Mingi shook his head.
Where on earth do you think that is the self-restraint of a high-ranking person?
Above all, there was no way such a person could participate in a competition that was only in the 4th division.
“Sorry. I was wondering if the progress rate of the lecture would go up even if I fought the augmented reality monster...”
Min-gi went to the waiting room while listening to Seo-joon's muttering that I couldn't understand.
The waiting room we arrived at.
As expected, there was no one in the waiting room except for Seojun and Mingi.
Mingi sat in the waiting room and thought about Seojun.
What are you doing?
Mingi decided to watch what Seojun was doing, and Seojun's behavior in the waiting room was really strange.
No, to be precise, Seo-joon was just staring blankly at his smartphone.
It's just a black screen!
‘What are you doing...?'
Are you meditating?
However, Seo-joon seldom took his eyes off his smartphone.
Parapampppa!
Until the next fanfare sounded that someone had broken through the maze!
< Breakthrough time: 1 hour 7 minutes. >
< 3rd place: Lee Jun-hwan >
When the notice came, Seo-joon finally turned his gaze away from his smartphone.
jump.
And soon after, someone enters the waiting room.
It was none other than Lee Jun-hwan.
However, Lee Jun-hwan's expression was unusual.
‘Eak!'
Mingi hurriedly lowered his gaze, in case they even met eyes.
Lee Jun-hwan's gaze passed Min-gi and headed for Seo-joon.
Seo-jun also looked at Lee Jun-hwan, and soon the two met eyes.
Silence flowing silently.
Lee Jun-hwan glanced Seo-jun up and down once.
The appearance of Seo-jun holding a crude iron bar in a sloppy outfit.
Lee Jun-hwan burst out laughing.
“What else am I saying?”
Seo-joon also took a look at Lee Jun-hwan.
Sharp impression and atmosphere. I definitely felt something different from other students.
so.
‘How much experience will I get if I fight...'
Seo-joon thought that if he fought Lee Jun-hwan, his experience... no, the progress rate of the lecture would increase a lot.
‘I'll be able to fight soon. Because I have to make sure to upload it when I can. I'll have to listen closely to the lecture.'
Without much thought, Seo-joon turned his gaze away from Lee Jun-hwan and headed back to his smartphone.
But did he think of Seo-jun's actions in a different way?
Lee Jun-hwan laughed and muttered.
“Tsk. You were just a lucky guy.”
It was a muttering voice, but in fact it was loud enough to be heard.
Lee Jun-hwan glanced at Seo-joon a few times, then turned around and disappeared from Seo-joon's field of vision.
Seo-joon didn't care about Lee Jun-hwan.
[The advantage of spears is that they are long. It's also overwhelmingly long. Therefore, it can be said that spearmanship or spearmanship is a way to solve the advantages of length.]
No, I just listened to the lecture.
About 30 minutes after Lee Jun-hwan passed, Lee Cheol-min and Jang Deok-cheol passed through the dungeon almost simultaneously.
After that, passers came out between 3 and 4 hours, and the number of passers was 32 in total.
Therefore, the second competition, the tournament, naturally started from the round of 32.
The first match ended like that.
< 1st place: Kim Seo-jun (27 minutes 12 seconds) >
< 2nd place: Lee Min-ki (27 minutes 16 seconds) >
< 3rd place: Lee Jun-hwan (1 hour 7 minutes) > < 4th place: Lee Chul-min (1 hour 38 minutes) >
< 5 Above: Deokcheol Jang (1 hour 39 minutes) >
.
.
.
‘Let's see if I want to win...'
Seojun calculated the winning scenario.
The reason for participating in this competition was because of the progress of the lecture, but also because the prize money of 100 million won was important.
Fortunately, Seo-jun took first place in the first competition.
‘If we go to the finals in the second round of competition, the championship will be confirmed.'
I didn't have to win the tournament because my score was high.
To be precise, this was the case except for the case where Seojun and Mingi, who came in 12th place in the first competition, went to the finals.
In addition, Seo-joon failed to make it to the finals and the students ranked in the first round of competition.
Lee Min-gi, Lee Jun-hwan, Lee Cheol-min, and Jang Deok-cheol.
If one of these four people won, Seo-joon couldn't win.
‘How will the match come out...'
Right then.
“The next tournament matchup is out! Please check all the students who are participating!”
As if they had been waiting, the official's cry was heard.
Seo-joon checked the bracket displayed on the display board.
[The 2nd competition tournament bracket.]
By the way.
“what?”
The brackets were pretty odd.