Chapter 28
“So this is the first time we’re meeting face-to-face.”
Jang Geonho smiled casually.
“By the way...”
His eyes narrowed.
“How do you know my name?”
He chuckled.
“I killed everyone who knew me.”
Jang Geonho slowly walked toward Suhyeok.
Leon frowned.
His fur stood on end.
[Ugh. I seriously hate this guy, nya! If only I could hit Players, I’d already...]
Jang Geonho looked directly at Leon.
“That must be frustrating.”
Leon froze.
Geonho smiled.
“You’re an Administrator, so you can’t harm a Player.”
Leon’s eyes widened.
[W-Wait. Did that bastard just answer me, nya?!]
Leon looked between Suhyeok and Jang Geonho in disbelief.
Then he quickly hid behind Suhyeok’s back.
Jang Geonho smiled unpleasantly.
“Hehe.”
He looked at Leon.
“I heard about it, but seeing it in person is interesting.”
His gaze moved toward Suhyeok.
“A Player who travels around with an Administrator...”
In Suhyeok’s previous life, almost nothing had been known about Jang Geonho’s abilities.
But recognizing Leon was a completely different matter.
Even Dolkin, a Climber, had not been able to see Leon.
The Upper Administrator from a week ago...
Suhyeok’s eyes narrowed.
And now this guy.
This doesn’t feel like a coincidence.
Jang Geonho smiled as though he could read Suhyeok’s thoughts.
“Thinking hard?”
He took another step closer.
“You’re wondering how I can see him, aren’t you?”
He reached Suhyeok.
Then he placed one hand on Suhyeok’s shoulder.
With a grin, he whispered,
“Don’t worry.”
His smile widened.
“Everything you’re thinking is correct.”
He looked almost excited to see how Suhyeok would react.
Slash!
“......”
Jang Geonho’s body split apart.
He looked at the wound.
“Oh my.”
Then he smiled.
“That hurts.”
He tilted his head.
“Isn’t it a little rude to attack someone without warning?”
Suhyeok felt something strange the instant his blade cut through him.
The energy was identical to the shadow barrier surrounding the area.
Shadows gathered around Jang Geonho’s wounded body.
The wound began repairing itself.
Suhyeok narrowed his eyes.
“...What an unpleasant ability.”
Jang Geonho chuckled.
“Hehe. You already figured it out?”
The Jang Geonho standing in front of him was not the real body.
It was a clone.
His main body was probably already inside the arena.
That meant Jang Geonho was participating in the duel too.
Suhyeok raised his sword.
“If you’re trying to stall for time...”
“Whoa, whoa.”
Jang Geonho raised both hands.
“Relax.”
He smiled.
“I only came to say hello.”
His tone remained casual.
“There’s no need to be so hostile.”
Then he shrugged.
“Besides, I don’t have time for a long conversation anyway.”
Geonho laughed.
“Our Crown Prince has a terrible personality.”
Leon stepped out from behind Suhyeok.
He puffed out his chest.
“Hah! What an annoying bastard, nya!”
He glared.
“You think we have that much free time, nya?!”
Suhyeok ignored Leon’s bravado.
“Enough.”
His eyes remained on Jang Geonho.
“Get to the point.”
He raised his sword.
“I don’t have time to play with you.”
Leon nodded rapidly.
“That’s right, nya! Hurry up and get to the point, nya!”
At that moment...
The shadow barrier began fading.
Jang Geonho also began disappearing along with it.
“I already told you.”
His body became transparent.
“I only came to say hello.”
He smiled.
“See you in the arena.”
Then he vanished without leaving a trace.
The dark alley returned to normal.
Leon clenched his paws.
[Hmph! What a ridiculous bastard, nya! Seriously, Lee Suhyeok, if you hadn’t stopped me, I would’ve handled him myself. What a shame, nya!]
Apparently, Leon had already forgotten how quickly he had hidden behind Suhyeok when Jang Geonho approached.
Suhyeok replied calmly,
“Right.”
He glanced at Leon.
“Next time, I hope you do.”
Leon puffed out his chest.
[Hah! Just trust me, nya! I may not look like it, but I’m actually quite good at fighting, nya! Ahem!]
By the time Suhyeok arrived at the arena, the match had not started yet.
Fortunately, he had made it in time.
Taesu immediately waved toward him.
“Ah! Sit here, hyung!”
He pointed at the chair beside him.
“I made sure no one took your seat!”
Yumi stared at him.
“What do you mean you saved it?”
She sighed.
“It was assigned from the beginning.”
Taesu coughed.
“A-Ahem.”
He looked embarrassed.
“Why are you being so picky about the details?”
Taesu shook his head.
“It’s the thought that matters.”
He looked at Yumi.
“Miss Yumi has no sense of romance.”
“Yeah, yeah. Whatever you say.”
The two immediately started bickering again.
Taesu eventually sighed in relief.
“Whew.”
He looked at Suhyeok.
“I’m glad you came.”
His expression softened.
“I was worried you might be late.”
Taesu pointed toward Olivia.
“And the Princess over there looked even more worried than I was.”
Suhyeok turned toward Olivia.
She greeted him with a small smile.
Taesu immediately became excited.
“See?”
He grinned.
“I told you.”
Yumi sighed.
“Haah. Think whatever you want, old man.”
She rolled her eyes.
“You’re talking nonsense again.”
Hyuna nodded.
“That’s right.”
She looked at Taesu.
“That’s a huge stretch.”
Before Suhyeok arrived, Taesu had been carefully watching Olivia.
No one else had thought much about it.
It was natural for Olivia to be worried because Suhyeok had not arrived yet.
Everyone understood that.
Everyone except Taesu.
“Ahem!”
Taesu leaned toward Suhyeok.
“Hyung.”
Then he nudged Suhyeok with his elbow.
“You two should do your best.”
He gave a serious thumbs-up.
“I’ll always support you from behind.”
He smiled knowingly.
“If you ever need help, just ask me. Hehehe.”
Suhyeok stared at him.
Taesu rubbed his nose proudly.
It was already too late to correct him.
Yumi and Hyuna had already denied it hundreds of times.
At this point, both had mostly given up.
Leon whispered to Suhyeok.
[Lee Suhyeok, I don’t think that guy is normal either, nya.]
...I know.
A short while later...
A bell rang.
It announced the beginning of the duel.
Everyone stood.
The Emperor rose from his throne and slowly walked forward.
“Thank you all for gathering here.”
His voice spread across the arena through a magical amplification device.
“Today concerns the fate of the Empire.”
He looked over the crowd.
“I ask that everyone treat this matter seriously.”
At the same time...
The massive ceremonial flame in the center of the arena ignited.
The Emperor raised his hand.
“Then let us begin.”
“Waaaaaah!”
The crowd erupted.
The Constellations were also excited.
[Wow. This is actually pretty interesting.]
[The opponents don’t look weak either. They seem fairly skilled.]
[I’m looking forward to this. Hurry up and start.]
[Feels like they’re all just going to get beaten by this guy lol.]
[That’s why I’m watching. Honestly, the others aren’t as interesting.]
[His companions are decent too. I’m looking forward to that huge guy.]
A giant screen appeared above the center of the arena.
It displayed the match order.
Taesu studied it.
“Hyung is last.”
He pointed.
“I’m third.”
Then he moved his finger.
“Hyuna is next after that...”
His eyes widened.
“Oh!”
He looked at Yumi.
“Miss Yumi is first!”
Taesu clenched his fist.
“Do your best!”
Yumi stood with an annoyed expression.
Then she walked lazily toward the arena floor.
Her opponent was already waiting.
A red-haired knight with a somewhat oily-looking face.
