Why did I choose this snake? The reason was obvious.
Because I couldn’t see anything else.
Of course, I couldn’t say that out loud. I couldn’t let them know I couldn’t see the ghosts.
So, I decided to ask the hairpin woman a question in return.
“Is picking this snake such a strange thing to do?”
“Of course it is. You’re unable to use any abilities, and you have to judge the uniqueness of the chobiom with just your naked eyes. What on earth made you choose that ordinary-looking snake?”
I looked at the snake.
The black snake also slithered and stared back at .
No matter how much I looked, it did seem like just an ordinary snake.
But it couldn’t be just a normal snake.
Because I could see it.
If I can see it, it’s got to be sothing amazing.
Or… it’s just a snake.
Probably brought in as food for so chobiom.
So, I decided to keep my words vague.
“To , it doesn’t look ordinary. In fact, in this room, this snake is the most special creature.”
“W-what did you say?”
“Of course, it depends on what your standard for ‘special’ is, but in this room, this snake is definitely the most unique creature.”
If that snake was actually a chobiom that I could see, then I was right.
And if it was just a snake?
Well, in a hallway filled with chobiom, it’s still special because it’s the only ordinary living thing here.
I wasn’t lying.
“Are you sure?”
“I’m sure.”
Activate confident mode!
I imitated Nayu a bit.
Seeing my face full of conviction, the hairpin woman stepped back and smiled.
“Well, if you say so.”
Then, she handed sothing.
It was a golden card-shaped token.
A finely engraved emblem adorned the token.
“Take this and leave. You’ve passed.”
P-passed?
So, that snake really was special, huh.
I just guessed and sohow passed the test.
“Thank you.”
I bowed politely and quickly turned to leave.
****
As soon as the man turned his back, Lee Ryeo, the head of the Black Dragon Clan, began to dance. Her movents were graceful and elegant, so much so that if the man had seen her, he might have involuntarily uttered words of admiration.
The black snake slithered up her arm as she danced. When it reached her arm, she stopped and whispered to the snake.
“At least there’s one useful guy.”
She continued speaking.
“He definitely has good instincts. But what about the other parts?”
She kept talking.
“What do you think, Imoogi? Do you think he could control my daughter? Could that man beco my son-in-law?”
Ssss- Sssssh
The snake made so noise.
Hearing that, the clan leader spoke.
“…As expected, I can’t understand a word this Imoogi says.”
****
And just like that, I got the golden token and walked out of the preliminary test hall.
I wasn’t sure what this golden token ant, but since the woman who looked like a test examiner had given it to and said I passed, it was probably so sort of pass token.
So, I carried the token with . If I held onto this, the staff would probably guide to the finals arena, right?
“Would that make look like too much of a newbie?”
Maybe I should ask directly.
So, I decided to find a staff mber while holding the token.
“Hey, you there.”
But instead of finding a staff mber, a group of suspicious contestants appeared. Judging by the badges hanging around their necks, they were trainers. No, more like handlers for chobiom.
“Let’s battle.”
“Out of nowhere?”
It felt like I suddenly heard a background track going bam-bam-bam in my ears. Damn it. A battle, just like that? Guess these guys aren’t called trainers for no reason.
“If you don’t want to battle, hand over that golden token and leave.”
“What if I refuse?”
“Then you’ll have to fight. In the Sacred Blood Festival, you can’t refuse a challenge.”
Fine. I couldn’t avoid a familiar battle anyway.
For Myeong-Myeong to obtain Sacred Blood, I needed to rank in the finals. And to rank, I had to win quite a few familiar battles.
Judging by the fact they were trying to steal my pass, they were probably eliminated contestants, right? I should take them down and gain so experience in how minion battles work.
“Myeong-Myeong, are you ready— Ah.”
Myeong-Myeong wasn’t by my side.
I had left him behind because we weren’t allowed to use familiar during the preliminaries.
“Hold on, why are we battling now? We can’t bring out our familiar until the preliminaries are over. You guys don’t have your familiar either, do you? We can’t have a familiar battle like this.”
“Does that even matter?”
Of course it matters! In a familiar battle, the familiars are the key! Seeing my confused expression, a group of guys laughed at .
“Seems like you really don’t know anything.”
What the hell are they talking about? What don’t I know?
Another man spoke up.
“The only thing forbidden in the Sacred Blood Festival is spiritual abilities and weapons. Violence isn’t banned. As long as you’re just using fists and no spiritual abilities, it’s perfectly allowed.”
Another guy chid in.
“Why? Do you think it’s strange for handlers to throw punches? This must be your first ti here. Handlers are the ones who need to know how to throw punches better than anyone else. Chobioms can’t be controlled through spiritual powers. They’re living creatures. Do they look like ghosts that tremble before spiritual abilities?”
What are they even talking about? To , they’re all the sa.
None of them are visible to anyway.
“The strength of life. You can only make them submit through the violence of the body, without using spiritual powers or weapons.”
A nasty-looking guy smiled as he spoke.
Where have I seen this guy before?
Ah, he’s the one who brought a fairy earlier.
“Unlike spirits or ghosts, they only submit to stronger living beings. Even if you tortured their mother with spiritual abilities, they would get angry but never submit. They’re tough creatures. And we’re the kind born to make them submit. We know how to inflict pain. So, while I’m asking nicely...”
The nasty guy said sothing nacing.
Then the one who seed to be the leader of the group cut him off.
“You received that token without even knowing this? You do know that using spiritual abilities will get you disqualified, right? I trust you’re not dumb enough to believe you can take us all on by yourself.”
‘You can’t handle a group beatdown,’ huh?
It’s sothing I’ve heard often enough in elentary and middle school.
And I’ve never lost to anyone who said that.
I asked them.
“Hey, let ask just one thing.”
“What is it?”
“When familiars fight each other, do they allow handlers to use violence too?”
“You’re stating the obvious. Didn’t I just say the only thing forbidden is spiritual abilities? Though I doubt anyone would be stupid enough to jump into a fight without using their spiritual powers.”
Thanks for the valuable info.
I looked at them with a smile.
“Are you smiling?”
“Yeah, I’m smiling.”
Since you’ve been so kind with the information, I’ll let you off with just a light knockout.
“What are you waiting for? Co at already.”
“Confident, aren’t you? Your soul seems so ordinary, but you’re acting like a skilled psychic. But without spiritual abilities, you’re just a bit stronger than the average person.”
The man muttered sothing, but I didn’t care to listen.
I grinned and said, “I’ll go first. That guy over there definitely isn’t a strong psychic. If he were, he’d be able to intimidate people with just his soul.”
“You’re gonna talk your way out of this? Co at us already.”
“This crazy bastard.”
One of the n threw a punch at . I dodged and countered with an uppercut. His nose exploded in a spray of blood, and he crumpled to the ground, unconscious.
Well, he’s definitely stronger than a regular guy.
If he were just a normal person, his face would’ve been completely destroyed.
Like the Ghost King and Tiger, strong spiritualists also tend to have strong bodies. But honestly, even Joo-cheol, who claid to be the strongest in the world, was physically weaker than Tiger.
If it was a purely physical fight, without any powers, Tiger would’ve beaten Joo-cheol easily. I guess the sa would apply to .
Maybe that’s the difference between a psychic and a sorcerer.
I’m not entirely sure, though.
Why am I this strong, anyway?
While I was contemplating that, the n were whispering to each other.
“A psychic with the spirit of a fighting dog, and he loses?”
“No way, getting taken out in one hit is too much.”
“Don’t be scared! He can’t use spiritual abilities! We can overwhelm him with numbers! Don’t forget what’s at stake in this Sacred Blood Festival! Do you want to miss out on a life-changing opportunity?”
At the shout of the guy who seed to be the leader, the others’ eyes glead with bloodlust. Wow, scary. But more importantly, what’s at stake in this Sacred Blood Festival?
Do you get a ton of money if you win?
Now I’m even more interested.
Originally, I was just aiming for a decent rank, but now I have to win for sure.
A prize big enough to turn your life around? Sign up.
At that mont, the leader spoke again.
“Everyone, rush him all at once.”
So you’re all blinded by money, too.
But the prize money is mine. How dare you aim for my reward?
“How dare you lay a hand on my prize?”
“W-what are you talking about?!”
And just like that, I took them all down.
As the victor, I claid their wallets.
It’s common courtesy among trainers to take a prize after winning a fight, after all. Once the brawl was over, the preliminaries ended as well.
It was ti to go fetch Myeong-Myeong.
****
I picked up Myeong-Myeong.
As soon as Myeong-Myeong saw , his tiny tail wagged enthusiastically.
“As expected, I can’t ask such a cute one to fight. He’s too weak for battle anyway.”
“Myeong-Myeong!”
“What? No? You couldn’t even beat Jamsuni and got completely crushed by Nayu. What are you talking about?”
Just as I was about to leave with Myeong-Myeong, the staff ca up to and bowed at a 90-degree angle.
When I asked why, they said I had placed first in the preliminaries.
“For real?”
“Myeong-Myeong!”
Could it be that no one else picked that black snake? The staff explained that as a first-place privilege, I would automatically advance to the quarterfinals.
To be precise, I would have the right to challenge one of the winners from the round of 16 for a spot in the quarterfinals. Of course, I get to choose my opponent, so it’s definitely an advantage, but...
What if I lose?
I’d be out, just like that.
“This is what they call a privilege? Feels a bit lacking.”
But I didn’t care.
Now I had figured out the foolproof strategy for winning this battle.
“Myeong-Myeong, let’s show them a body slam.”
“Myeong?”
Myeong-Myeong looked flustered.
– – – The End of The Chapter – – –
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