Chapter 520

The match between the first place in Group J and the second place in Group I was held as a battle among Japanese competitors.

“Kamikita Emika defeats Naita Hiroki, avenging last year’s Emperor’s Cup with a double payback!”

“What an overwhelming match…! She’s truly showcasing the demeanor of last year’s champion! She’s completely awakened today!”

[Round of 32 Match 106]

[Time: 28:16]

[WIN: Kamikita Emika (Japan)] [57% | 95%]

[LOSE: Naita Hiroki (Japan)] [☠9% (complete destruction) | 81%]

Emika’s expression, as she looked back at the loser, showed no sign of wavering.

“Damn…!”

Hiroki clenched his fist and slammed it on the ground, chewing over his feelings of frustration.

Defeat is always bitter.

With a significant goal in life gone, an overwhelming sense of boredom surrounded him.

Hiroki quietly stepped down from the training hall and unwound the bandages wrapped around his arm.

He nervously tore up his notebook and yelled at the empty air.

Mei tried to intervene from the side, but his anger did not easily dissipate.

However, when his mentor entered the locker room, strangely, his anger management issues seemed to resolve.

“Hiroki, why don’t you take a month off? You can watch the remaining matches, or just stay at your accommodation and rest all day. I’ve already gotten permission from the elders.”

“Can I really travel alone?”

“If you’re going, go with Mei.”

“Then I won’t go.”

Returning to the accommodation, Hiroki was careless and took about 30 minutes for his resting procedure, then shut himself in his room.

“Ha… I saw Saetbyeol today…”

He thought of Saetbyeol, who had visited the stadium to cheer for Emika.

The emotions of a pubescent boy are as delicate as glass.

While scrolling through the social media filled with mocking comments, Hiroki fell asleep in resignation.

“If only Saetbyeol would contact me just once…”

And the next morning.

What he had only imagined became a reality.

[Saetbyeol: Hello, I’m Saetbyeol. Is this Naita Hiroki’s phone number? If you have time, would you like to go watch the match with me today?]

“What! Of course, I’ll say okay! But why are you contacting me…?”

The pain from the national exchange match was completely forgotten, leaving only excitement.

* * *

“Are we all here? You, me, Luo’an, and Mei.”

“Hiroki is coming over there.”

“Looks like everyone is here. Shall we go?”

“NaeMe has just trampled on someone’s sincerity.”

“It’s much more fun to watch the matches together.”

Hiroki, who approached with bouncy footsteps, soon joined our group with dead fish-like eyes.

“Oh Saetbyeol, just the two of us going to watch…”

“Ahaha… NaeMe asked me to call you.”

Saetbyeol scratched her head with an awkward smile.

Mei smirked and poked Hiroki, who was soaked in betrayal.

“Hey, hey. You said you were going to rest at the hotel. Yet here you are, sprinting out because Saetbyeol called.”

“Shut up. Did you know? If you knew, why didn’t you tell me in advance?”

“Definitely? I had no idea.”

In front of Stade de France, various experience booths created by companies were set up.

Now I see sponsors of Love Kim, Samsung, and Kia as well.

I led everyone around, looking here and there.

The most popular booth was Brazil’s Brahma, which offered free beer.

It seems Luo’an and the Naita siblings had already introduced themselves.

“By the way, it seems Naita-san is quite shy?”

When Luo’an politely asked, Hiroki’s face showed clear displeasure.

Mei intervened to clear up the misunderstanding.

“He has a bit of a women-phobia. So if he comes off as rude to you, please understand a little. He probably doesn’t even know what he’s saying.”

Then Saetbyeol, with a curious gaze, linked arms with Mei.

“Huh, what does that mean? Didn’t Hiroki like me? I’m a woman too, you know!”

“N-no, that’s not it…!”

“I think he has his own criteria. He seems to be a bit scared of tall, strong women.”

“Oh, that’s interesting. So that’s why he dislikes Love Kim? But today we have to cheer hard for Love’s match, okay? Got it?”

“Y-yes…! If that’s Saetbyeol’s wish. I mean, I misspoke… it’s not a wish, it’s a request.”

“But where did NaeMe go? No, Noname! Kids can’t stand in line like that!”

“Ah, Brahma beer…”

Saetbyeol grabbed my armpit and lifted me out of the crowd.

I thought being short would keep me hidden between people’s legs, but her eyesight was sharp.

Instead, we moved to the Korean booth to get hot ramen in paper cups.

“Wow, Noname, your last match was amazing! What kind of ramen would you like?”

“I’ll take anything, just not spicy. Oh, can you leave out the green onions?”

“You really don’t like vegetables. I’ll do my best to filter them out for you.”

“Yeah, thank you.”

“I’m really embarrassed as a Korean! At that size, just eat it! It doesn’t taste like anything.”

“I remove the flakes when I eat cup ramen.”

Slurp—

The taste of ramen broth eaten in France is heavenly.

Ignoring Saetbyeol’s remarks lightly, I finished the ramen in my paper cup.

We had a simple inspection of our belongings and tickets to enter the stadium.

Entering the air-conditioned stadium felt refreshing.

“Did we arrive too early?”

The audience hadn’t even filled half the seats yet.

Not wanting to just sit, we ordered a set of chicken, burgers, and fries, nibbling on them one by one.

“Did Luo’an think about how to find that person? But in this day and age, you can just search on social media.”

“I don’t know the name, haha… We just called her ‘the elder sister.'”

“Not knowing the name would make it difficult to find her.”

“Actually, with the information network from our sect, we could find her, but my mentor told me not to look for her until I achieved enough results.”

“Why? Ah… Afraid of getting involved incorrectly?”

“Yeah.”

If it’s Luo’an, she likely holds a significant position even among the direct disciples of the sect.

It seemed she was worried that it would be troublesome if it was revealed that her old acquaintances belonged to a delinquent circle.

“I could have confidently approached if I had at least reached the quarter-finals. The round of 32 feels ambiguous.”

“Just being selected for the national team is already a great achievement.”

“I hope so.”

Wiiing—

“Huh?”

Suddenly, a drone flew right in front of us.

“Who are these people! The players who showed a fantastic match the other day have arrived! Please give them a big round of applause!”

The caster’s voice echoed throughout the stadium.

A split-screen image of me and Luo’an appeared on the electronic display.

[“Mimic our actions to win a prize!”]

It was a kung fu pose with one knee raised and both arms spread like a crane.

“Are they asking me to do that?”

“What are you doing, Noname! Get up and do it quickly!”

Saetbyeol stomped on my seat from behind, urging me.

Next to me, Luo’an stood up and struck the pose with ease.

“…?”

“Why? This is a move from our morning exercises. Isn’t it strange?”

“No…”

In fact, it was strange.

‘If you say that, I can’t back out.’

I reluctantly raised my quivering arms, completing the embarrassing posture.

“Kekekekekek!”

From behind, Saetbyeol laughed so hard she could barely breathe.

With a somewhat stunned expression, I sat back down and took a large bite of my chicken leg.

Watching quietly from the side, Hiroki commented.

“By the way, are you not practicing? The competition isn’t over yet.”

“I’m doing it right now. Analyzing the opponent.”

“You can only see these players in the finals!”

Hiroki gave me a look of confusion.

The matches from yesterday and today were all from the opposite side of my bracket.

Which means I wouldn’t be able to meet Emika or Love Kim unless it was the finals.

“Ha… From my experience, if you get a little arrogant, you’ll lose. Don’t think about the finals just yet; prepare well from the round of 16. Who’s your next opponent again? Saudi Arabia?”

“That’s not something I want to hear from someone who fell in the round of 32.”

“What a brat! Even if you give me advice…!”

“Whoa, whoa, Hiroki, calm down! Are you going full power against a 10-year-old?”

“Of course! Look how many people have lost even after giving it their all.”

Luo’an, who was quietly tearing at the chicken wings, flinched.

By the time the plate where our fries were rested was showing the bottom, the players began to enter the stadium one by one.

As Love stepped up to the training hall, we all cheered.

Had it been since last year when I went with Emika that I became part of the audience?

Here, there was no burden.

No matter how loudly I shouted, my voice was drowned by the cheering.

As the two players clashed, the aura rising began to eliminate the shadows cast over the training hall.

The magic circle shattered with a deafening sound, and a gust of magical power rushed in.

In the flash of light, the children dashed forward.

With each barrier breaking down, the audience’s cheers made the chairs vibrate.

Capturing every moment in my mind, I savored the artistry rising from the battle.

“Kill him! Just smash his skull!”

“Please sit still and watch, NaeMe! The people behind you can’t see!”

* * *

In the border region between China and Russia, Beizichun in Mohor, Heilongjiang Province, is famous for its tourism industry.

The owner of a guesthouse called a part-timer who was working late, shining a flashlight while trimming branches.

“Oh my, it’s almost dawn and you’re still working. The sun will rise tomorrow and the day after, what’s the hurry, girl?”

“Haha, I need the money. Working more means earning more, right?”

“Still, it’s better to take a break. If you strain your body while young, you’ll suffer later like an auntie.”

The owner was watching the national exchange competition via hologram.

He was someone who enjoyed the martial arts matches enough to watch games from other countries.

“Oh my, even a disciple of the sect has come out.”

The woman wearing arm warmers lifted her head and turned her gaze toward the hologram.

It showed Luo’an and NaeMe frolicking in the stands.

“Haha, how cute. What a enviable life for them. They’re young and capable, aren’t they?”

“I also went through my prime years. I used to bring kids like Luo’an along.”

“Oh my, everyone says that. Well, let’s leave it at that and take a break. I’ll make sure to pay you well.”

“Yes, ma’am! Please call me again next time!”