Tap Tap.
Footsteps echoed out over the area.
Baek MyungHo paced, cupping his glass in his handshe had been put in charge of organizing the competition.
"It's here..."
They were surrounded by darkness and silence, but the atmosphere changed completely when the lights turned on at Baek MyungHo's signal.
There was a huge glass display that showed off all sorts of artifacts.
Kang YuChan looked at the displays, a satisfied expression on his face.
"All of the artifacts are very good... Good job."
Korea had prepared the International Academy Competitions reward.
Baek MyungHo bowed toward YuChan and spoke.
"The support from China, Japan, and Southeast Asia was huge! A few guilds even sponsored us with artifacts, so we were able to get so good things this ti."
"Haha! Right? Give the list later; I'll give my thanks to them."
"Yes! Understood!"
Baek MyungHo nodded, and Kang YuChan pointed at one of the artifacts
"Is the Star Coral Stone the first matchs artifact?
"Yes. We plan to reward it as a bracelet or a necklace, depending on the winner's preference."
Star Coral was a mysterious mineral that enhanced elental-type special abilities. Kang YuChan fell into thought.
"The Japanese and Korean teams... Arent they the closest to the stone?"
"Ah... I was short-sighted. We wanted to make things as fair as possible, so we randomly assigned them
Baek MyungHo lowered his head at Kang YuChan's words, but Kang YuChan put his hands on his back and laughed, saying it was okay.
"Haha. I'm not trying to bla you, so don't worry. I ca with a proposal."
Kang YuChan took sothing out of his pocketa beautiful crystal that shone with orange light.
"This...?"
"It's a Thousand-Year Jade. I obtained this artifact when I climbed the Tower with Yu WonHak. Haha! I never revealed this to the world."
Baek MyungHo gulped at Kang YuChan's words. The artifact before him was Fist King Yu WonHak and the Association President Kang YuChans secret.
Baek MyungHo couldn't resist his curiosity.
"A-an artifact from the tower What floor is it from?"
"I'm not sure. Was it about the 50th floor? Anyway, take it."
Baek MyungHo's hands trembled as he took the Thousand-Year Jade.
"An artifact from the 50th floor..."
Although Baek MyungHo was in charge of managing all sorts of artifacts, the Thousand-Year Jade was a treasure that not even he had ever seen before.
It was the best possible reward among all of the artifacts in the tournant.
"U-understood! I'll replace the Star Coral Stone with this as a reward for the first match."
Kang YuChan laughed at Baek MyungHo's loud reply and left. As Baek MyungHo watched him walk away, he thought of a certain rumor he had heard before.
'I heard Shin Yusung is going to be participating under the care of the Association President So I guess it was true.
But still, it wasn't a crazy condition. The Thousand-Year Jade from the 50th floor was much more valuable than the Star Coral Stone, so offering it as a reward wasn't bad at all.
Slide. Tap.
Baek MyungHo fell into thought as he put the Thousand-Year Jade into the glass display.
'If it goes to whoever wins the first match, it will be Korea vs. Japan... I wonder which side will get the Thousand-Year Jade.'
* * *
* * *
Amy turned off her stream and sat on the pronade bench, tired. Her stream ended up lasting longer than expected, and Sumires haunted house had left her particularly exhausted.
"Ugh... I feel like I'm going to be sick tomorrow... Hehe, but still, my subscriber count increased a lot."
It seed like all of her efforts had been rewarded. She felt proud when she looked over all of the subscribers she had gained.
"Hehe. I wonder how much more Ill get if I attend the International Competition."
She was smiling to herself when soone else approached her, towering above her head.
"Hi."
Upon hearing the familiar voice, Amy slowly raised her head.
"Huh? Yes! Hello!"
It was soone she recognized Student Council President Shin HaYoon.
"Fufu. I'm sorry. Was that too sudden?"
Amys nervousness skyrocketed when Shin HaYoon sat next to her.
"There's no need to be nervous... I just approached you because I recognized you. You're a strear, right?"
Amy sighed in relief.
'Aah~ So, shes a fan~?'
Amy looked at Shin HaYoon, a proud smile on her face.
"You were in charge of comnting on the selection matches... right?"
"Ah, yes! That's right! That was quite recent. Did you watch?"
Amy thought that Shin HaYoon was her fan.
"Is it true that youre also a mber of Shin YuSungs party?
"Fufu, yes!"
Amy wiggled her eyebrows in a sly manner.
'Heh~ Does she like so much that she even researched ? The student council president doing stuff like this isn't that an abuse of power?'
Amy didn't seem to dislike Shin HaYoon's attention, but HaYoon wasnt really interested in Amy.
"I see. How is daily life as a mber of the party?"
"Ah, the party? I hehe Streaming has left quite busy, you see... so I can't participate that much."
Amy scratched her cheeks.
"He seems to be a good party leader..." Shin HaYoon said in a soft voice.
"Hehe, yes! Of course! Im not the only one that follows him, though, hes the party leader, after all!
Amy began praising Shin YuSung.
"I see... It seems like he's a really good party leader. Then does he value all of his party mbers?"
Amy nodded at Shin HaYoon's soft question.
"Yes! Of course!"
Amy's innocent eyes shone.
Amy didn't hesitate to say Shin YuSung cared for his party mbers; she didn't suspect anything at all. Shin HaYoon looked at the innocent Shin YuSung, smiled, and got up.
"Today was fun. I hope you keep getting along well with him."
Amy waved to her.
'The student council president looks like a good person... I have an eye for people, after all!'
A field of flowers was spread out in Amys head.
In contrast, Shin HaYoon made a chilling smile.
* * *
One of the auditoriums was decorated in a dieval style, and Shin YuSung and Kim EunAh were sitting at a luxurious table.
"Hehe..."
Kim EunAh was still hugging the killer whale doll without caring about the partys social atmosphere.
"Hey, YuSung Isnt this killer whale doll really well made? It can even open its mouth."
It was weird to see soone as rich as Kim EunAh liking a doll so much.
"It seems like my arm could fit in its mouth."
'It seems like she really likes it...'
Shin YuSung didn't think it was that big of a gift, but he felt a bit proud when he saw how much she liked it.
Slide.
Kim EunAh grabbed the killer whale doll with both hands and placed its mouth over YuSungs arms.
Kim EunAh moved the whales jaws up and down.
"EunAh... What are you doing?" YuSung asked, confused.
"I'm giving food to the orca," Kim EunAh said while making a mischievous smile.
"That's... my arm."
"Hehe. Killer whales are carnivorous creatures, after all."
Shin YuSung smiled slightly, and Kim EunAh let out a mischievous laugh. She looked quite different from the first ti hed seen her.
'It seems like, in reality, shes quite playful.'
It seed like her cold self was just a shell. He thought that what he was seeing was closer to how she really was.
Kim EunAh acting in such a way in front of Shin YuSung ant she had opened her heart to him.
Slide.
After putting the orca in her Pocket, EunAh got up and stretched. Her dress and casual deanor clashed with the balls atmosphere.
"Hey, YuSung"
Kim EunAh extended her hand to Shin YuSung, who was sitting down.
"I changed my mind."
YuSung grabbed her hand, following EunAhs lead and standing up. It was perfect timing because the song had just changed.
"What do you an?" YuSung asked.
EunAh had thought about her feelings during their ti at the hospital and had realized what she really wanted.
"I want to stay in the party even after the International Competition."
Kim EunAh had fun with her party mbers. Even while she was in the hospital, she couldnt help but think about Shin YuSung and the other mbers of the party.
[E-even if it's a small wound, we must disinfect it before bacteria gets into it!]
It was the first ti she had ever seen Sumire get angry.
[Shes upset because you didnt say anything,] Shin YuSung, who understood her reason for hiding it, had said.
'Although it's going to be noisy... there's also Amy.'
Those mories were evidence that Kim EunAh had tried her best not to get hurt, but in the end, she ended up failing.
"That's why I wanted to ask... Can I stay in the party?"
Kim EunAh gently moved her hand over YuSungs, and he nodded.
"Of course..."
They might have seed like they had nothing in common at first, but they were getting closer to each other through their partnership.
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