I generally agreed with the statement that a top athlete cannot become a top leader.
This was proven by the existence of the hero, Klaus Nestroy of Banafport, and I was a professor who deserved to receive an F grade.
So right now, I am retaking the course for the third time.
So, can I at least be a top commentator instead of a top leader?
Even that still feels doubtful.
“Ahhhh, this golden opportunity…! Why aren’t you applying more pressure? What are you going to do if you’re aware of traps here too!”
My upper body, which had been thrust forward, fell backward once again.
I slumped back onto the sofa, letting my body go limp.
Unlike the simple amateur-level Academy Rivalry, the level of play I demanded from the competitors at the national exchange level is quite high.
And this applies to Professor Cheon, who has experienced countless battles on both the front and rear lines during the Fifth Middle Eastern War.
“Maybe because it’s the quarter-finals, but everyone is moving cautiously. Hehe. Of course, in war, being indecisive can lead to losing your head in an instant.”
He revealed his disappointment disguised as praise with a kind smile.
Dueling isn’t just about making the best moves and winning like in Chess with “Yay Mate.”
Rather, sometimes it’s necessary to take risks like in Poker.
Of course, with the law of large numbers, after numerous trial and error, it eventually leads to the better skilled winning…
But if you run the game too passively, you’ll end up like the U.S. defeated by Giselle Fisher.
Lucas Schmid made a mistake in casting magic, but Love Kim didn’t catch it.
In the chat, similar disappointed sounds emerged.
– How did you miss that?
– The opponent is shaky. That’s actually a good thing.
– Love Kim Zebararaaaa!
– Focuseaeaeaeaea!!!
– A national exchange representative makes a mistake in adjusting the coefficient of friction…?
– Honestly, Love Kim might be in a brain freeze too, lol.
– Ugh, that’s such a waste;; the opponent messed up.
“People can make mistakes anytime. Especially since the coefficient of friction adjustment might have been something he rarely used, it might not be second nature yet. If only he had used the Rozeus Panthera from that position, he would have secured the victory… Let’s keep watching for now.”
Schmid, who made a mistake with the most basic magic, began to have subtly slower casting speeds afterward.
Did Love Kim perhaps notice this?
With 26 minutes left in the second half.
From the crossbow fired by Schmid, starlight poured forth.
[Cast: Stars of Lucerne]
It trapped Love Kim in an almost dome-shaped barrier with sharp star fragments growing rapidly.
The arrowhead embedded in the center of the barrier was increasing in number as if it were self-replicating.
Surrounded by thousands of arrowheads, Love Kim.
The stars, weary of granting wishes, fell with fierce momentum.
It was too late to dispel the barrier, but I predicted Love Kim’s victory.
“Just ignore it and charge in! The barrier is strong enough!”
I clenched my fist and shouted.
Miochichi’s words, “Those who enter the national exchange must be true psychopaths,” were certainly not wrong, but there’s no doubt that you need to lose your fear.
[Delayed Cast: Self-Portrait]
Bam bam bam—
Numerous star fragments stuck to Love’s barrier and wouldn’t fall away.
One of them lodged right in front of her right eye. A gap the size of a fingernail.
Naturally, Love Kim charged forward without even blinking.
[Cast: Coefficient of Friction Adjustment]
[Cast: Linear Momentum Adjustment]
Bam-!
She did a headbutt with her body transformed like a hedgehog.
Before Schmid could twist his body and dodge, fearing that all barriers would be blown apart.
[Cast: Rozeus Panthera]
After Love’s fist completed a localized barrier of crimson light.
Swish—
She raised her forepaw like a lion from the Serengeti and slashed Schmid diagonally.
Chachachachang-!
The sound of breaking glass formed a diverse harmony.
The barrier was relentlessly shredded within the swirling localized barrier like our galaxy.
[Cast: Ventus Repulsio]
Bang—
An explosion without flames erupted, sending both of them rebounding to opposite sides like opposite magnetic poles.
The match certainly ended, but who won?
“Did she take care of him?”
“Hey, don’t say that! You’re making it jinxed!”
I closely avoided Saetbyeol’s punch by sticking closely to my dad.
The stamina of both players was barely maintained at the 10% mark, and then—
Rustle—
The moment a barrier broke away, the referee blew the whistle to signal the end of the match.
Peeeeeep-!
“Oh, it’s over.”
“Ahh, please please! I can’t watch this!”
[Quarter-finals Match 123]
[Time: 27:10]
[LOSE: Lucas Schmid (Switzerland)] [☠9% (Complete Destruction) / 68%]
[WIN: Love Isabel Kim (South Korea)] [71% / ⚠10% (Unrecoverable)]
9.47% vs. 10.31%.
At the bottom of the broadcast screen, a large message announcing advancement to the semifinals popped up.
<[South Korea Advances to Semifinals]>
I immediately clapped my hands and jumped up.
“Sister won!”
“Did we win? Our country won?”
“Yeah!”
“Yayyy!”
“Wait a minute…! You can’t come over here!”
Saetbyeol jumped up and down.
I barely pushed her back as she tried to jump over to my side.
Interlocking fingers, we spun around in circles, then Saetbyeol rubbed her eyes and stared at the screen again.
“This is amazing… So two Koreans made it to the semifinals?”
“Something like that.”
“Yayyy, amazing! NaeMe is so cool!”
“It’s obvious. Didn’t I say from the moment Schmid cast the barrier that I knew this was a win? I don’t speak wrongly.”
– NaeMe is super hyped, lol.
– To be honest, I doubted it at the end, didn’t you?
– It was really a thin margin to call it a calculated area, lol.
– It was tense until the end, so nobody knew.
– For real, it’s a super fun match.
– Sister’s tension was insane for 30 minutes, lol.
– Sister, please do some acting as our Adella…!
– A familiar scent lingers around the stranger.
“Ugh, this is tiring. I’m thirsty from commentating.”
I fumbled around for the cup of water on the side table.
Professor Cheon’s slap came down on my hand.
“Ouch.”
“No NaeMe! This is alcohol.”
“Ahhhh, I really thought it was water…! Where’s my water cup?”
“Hoho! Today was fun. I need to brush my teeth now.”
Saetbyeol emptied the cup of water and scampered off to the bathroom.
“Hey, stop right there!”
Although she smoothly tried to sneak away, our sisters’ plan was soon uncovered.
Professor Cheon, rolling up his sleeves, dragged us to the living room.
“Hey kids, you have to clean up after eating.”
“Yes.”
“What a shame.”
The table, of course, was covered with the remnants of kimchi water.
The offender was painfully obvious. Still, we all helped clean up.
Saetbyeol knelt down to wipe the floor like Cinderella.
I sat on her back and diligently wiped the table with a wet wipe.
“Ugh. Hey, you’re heavy now! Get down this instant!”
“I’m not heavy at all!”
[NaeMeIsAnAlien donated 10,000 won!]
– If I’m a sister eaten by my younger sibling, please wave your hand.
Saetbyeol’s thumb shot up.
I pressed down on her neck vertebrae as if I had restrained her.
After finishing the recycling, we returned to the broadcast with a calm ambiance.
Chikachika—
While brushing my teeth, I glanced at the chat window.
In the meantime, various slanders were pouring in.
Saetbyeol’s status was quickly degraded to my younger sister, servant, and even pet.
Chikachika—
Saetbyeol lay flat on the bed, toothbrush in mouth.
In the Twish screen, only her lower half wearing dolphin pants was visible.
Her feet squirmed and poked my head repeatedly.
“Everyone, can you see this? Who can’t stretch out at home? My sister is someone who lives solely to make me suffer every day.”
Squeeze—
The pressure pressing on her left cheek.
“Kawaii NaeMe cheeks, I’ll kiss your big toe.”
“Are you trying to kill me?”
“Gah! I almost spilled toothpaste on the bed.”
“Don’t spill on my sleeping place and hurry up and go spit it out.”
“Wait? You guys have already been brushing your teeth? I just bought ice cream at the convenience store.”
We shot resentful glances at Professor Cheon, who was a step late.
Especially since it was my favorite Haagen-Dazs.
“Gulp.”
I gently placed the toothbrush on the tissue and swallowed the toothpaste.
“I’ll keep brushing my teeth for a bit, everyone. Give me the ice cream, Dad.”
“Oh, alright…”
– Wow, lol.
– An unexpected development, lol.
– You swallowed that?
– So brushing teeth can be kept? I’m learning something new.
– In the West, they don’t spit it out when they swallow it straight, though, haha.
– How Yang? Totally EU style!
– Ice cream-obsessed NaeMe, whoa.
“Dessert stomach is separate.”
Saetbyeol joined in, holding a spoon.
However, the ice cream was still hard enough that if you plunged a spoon in, it would bend.
We three sat close together and slowly attacked the frozen Haagen-Dazs.
[Nafshan donated 30,000 won!]
– NaeMe, NaeMe. Do you like Dad or Mom more?
I chewed on a scant amount of ice cream and answered immediately.
“Mom.”
“Gasp.”
“Ahem…”
Professor Cheon coughed.
Did I answer too quickly without much thought…?
– Gasp, lol.
– Father looking sulky, haha.
– (Noticing…)
– NaeMe should smartly say Dad in front of him…!
– (Noticing…)
– NaeMe is just a child. NaeMe likes Mom.
“Why are we being childish over this? Dad’s also good. But I’ve lived with Dad for two and a half years, while I’ve lived with Mom for seven years, right? After four and a half years, I’ll definitely say Dad is better.”
There was no response, but Professor Cheon looked happy.
“Wait, seven years? Why seven years?”
2043… 2044… 2045…
0 years, 1 year, 2 years…
Saetbyeol innocently asked while counting the numbers on her fingers.
I stiffened my expression and countered with a question.
“Ah, is the corpse not our mom?”
“N-no…! No no no! NaeMe didn’t mean that! Ugh, I had a moment of confusion!”
“I never looked at you that way. People can be surprisingly sharp.”
“Should I do the Grand Gesture or something?”
“Sure.”
She dashed off faster than light and stood on her hands with her feet against the hallway wall.
“The ice cream just got to the perfect melting point. Here, Dad, take a bite first, ahh.”
“NaeMe, the atmosphere is heavy.”
“Is it? I don’t feel that way.”
The viewers only bombarded the chat with surprised emoticons, without saying anything.
I thought about lobbing insults into the air after a long time, but everyone was surprisingly quick on the uptake.
I didn’t forget to take a scoop of ice cream for Saetbyeol as well.
“Our beloved sister gets a bite too.”
“Ahhh ammm. Blood rushes to my head…”
“Good, you eat well. Just stay like that for five more minutes.”
Today’s broadcast made me the real power in the household.
* * *
After finishing the broadcast, I went outside with Saetbyeol for a walk by the hotel.
The alley connecting to the back gate of the hotel was empty, making it a good place to roam around carelessly.
“Where’s Dad?”
“He went to meet someone briefly.”
“Again? He’s totally a global socialite. By the way, that was really a slip of the tongue earlier, sister. I didn’t mean it.”
“I know. I was just trying to catch a broadcast angle.”
“Phew. I was worried that you might actually be upset.”
As we chatted, several minutes passed.
A flickering streetlight partially shining its light.
“Saetbyeol.”
“I smell it too.”
At the same time, we detected the smell of blood in the shadowy alley where the streetlight’s glow faded.
‘There are three presences.’
From the dead-end alley came a thick aura.
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