After defeating Oh Dongrok and meeting Moon Sua, the Myth Festival continued.
That was only natural.
I wasn’t the protagonist of the Myth Festival.
I wasn’t the only one working hard to become the star of this tournament.
The Myth Festival went on like that, producing winners and losers.
The training ground was sprinkled with blood, sweat, and tears.
There, the winners raised both hands high in cheers, while the losers shed tears or were carried out on stretchers.
A scene where joy and sorrow constantly diverged.
Someone close to me also participated in the tournament.
It was Cha Jihye, the team leader of my Nova Team.
“Hah!”
Cha Jihye on the training ground charged forward.
An advance scattering the green aura of her swift sword.
Naturally, her opponent also charged with sword in hand.
Boom!
Cha Jihye and her opponent clashed, causing an explosion.
It was the collision of sword energies creating a massive blast.
Team leader…
Watching the spar from below the training ground, I hoped anxiously.
That Cha Jihye had won with that final sword strike.
Whoosh.
When the black smoke cleared like that, the two figures were revealed.
Cha Jihye and her opponent stood with their backs to each other, several meters apart.
They were frozen as if a pause button had been pressed.
Stagger.
At that moment, Cha Jihye let out a low groan and staggered.
Sigh, so she lost after all.
I, along with the Nova Team members, wore regretful expressions.
But…
“Ugh, hack!”
The opponent, who had been standing fine, spat out blood and collapsed with a thud.
On the other hand, Cha Jihye was staggering but holding herself up using her sword as a cane.
Hunter Seong Jungu is incapacitated, so the spar is over! The winner of the first round, match 24, is Hunter Cha Jihye! Congratulations!
With those words, the medical team hurriedly climbed onto the training ground with a stretcher.
It was to provide emergency treatment to her opponent and transport him to the Hunter Hospital.
“Team leader!”
I and the Nova Team members also rushed up to the training ground.
It was to take care of Cha Jihye and congratulate her on the victory.
“Are you okay, team leader?”
I supported Cha Jihye, who was on the verge of collapsing, and said.
Then, Cha Jihye, soaked in blood and sweat, gave a strained smile and said.
“Hunter Seo Juwon, I won, right?”
“Ah, yes. You won, team leader. You were really amazing.”
“Hee, thank you. Honestly, it wasn’t easy, but I pushed through. I wanted to show you a cool side, Hunter Seo Juwon.”
Cha Jihye smiled strainedly again.
It was beautiful, but somehow pitiful.
It was a bit regrettable that she ended up in such a mess after facing a tough opponent from the first round.
“You did great, team leader. I’m looking forward to the second round.”
Even so, I just smiled and said that.
I boldly omitted words that didn’t need to be conveyed.
Such words wouldn’t help in this situation anyway.
What Cha Jihye needed right now was praise and anticipation.
“Thank you, Hunter Seo Juwon. Thank you to the other team members too. Let’s all do our best.”
At Cha Jihye’s words, I and the Nova Team members replied energetically that we would.
Though it was a bit tough, Cha Jihye advanced to the second round just like me.
The Myth Festival progressed quickly.
After the first round ended like that, numerous silver attack squad members were eliminated.
It wasn’t that their skills were lacking.
It was that the winners’ skills were extraordinarily good.
This was because the Myth Guild members had recently achieved tremendous qualitative growth.
The Myth Festival continued with unprecedented intensity, and after going through the second and third rounds, I advanced to the semifinals.
Of course, the process wasn’t easy.
The blue bones showed overwhelming power without breaking even once, but still, the silver attack squad members I faced as opponents were incredibly strong.
Anyway, I advanced to the semifinals.
And unfortunately, team leader Cha Jihye and the Nova Team members all got eliminated.
They fought hard in their own way but couldn’t withstand the fierce competition of the Myth Festival.
Cha Jihye and the team members with regretful expressions.
They headed to the spectator seats or the Hunter Hospital, asking me to do well for their share too.
The backs of the losers looked so lonely.
But if there are losers, there are winners.
Instead of our team members quietly withdrawing, there were winners who received cheers from everyone.
Those who advanced to the semifinals like me.
One of them was named Moon Sua.
The team leader of Mercury, the strongest in the silver attack squad, and the Moon Sua I had encountered in the passageway.
She ultimately advanced to the semifinals.
“Moon Sua, fighting! You’re really amazing!”
“Moon Sua team leader! Let’s go all the way to the championship like this!”
“Hahaha, Moon Sua! Hurry up and come to the gold attack squad! If possible, to our team!”
“Team leader! Our Mercury Team members are cheering for you, so make sure to win!”
“The championship trophy is yours, Moon Sua!”
“Moon Sua! Moon Sua! Moon Sua!”
“Waaaah!”
Passionate cheers poured toward Moon Sua, who advanced to the semifinals.
Seeing that, I too was overwhelmed.
No, even before the cheers, I was greatly surprised watching her battles.
That Moon Sua person is really strong.
Actually, I knew of Moon Sua’s reputation.
She was famously the strongest in the silver attack squad.
But seeing Moon Sua’s battles in person, I was overwhelmed by her immense combat prowess.
Battles that seemed to simply devour her opponents.
It made me think that the title of the silver attack squad’s strongest wasn’t for nothing.
I might end up facing someone like her in the finals.
Perhaps that’s why.
I started worrying even before advancing to the finals.
I was concerned whether I could win against Moon Sua, who was already evaluated at the gold attack squad level.
Get a grip. I promised Eunbyeol.
Even so, I steeled my resolve over and over.
Because at the handmade burger shop, I promised Eunbyeol.
That I’d definitely take first place.
I still have weapons left.
Moreover, I had a hidden card.
A weapon I hadn’t revealed to the Myth Guild members, of course, nor to our Nova Team members.
The newly acquired skill, Skeleton Golem.
I decided to trust this skill that I hadn’t summoned even once yet.
Let’s do it. You never know who wins until you fight.
I turned around and headed to the waiting room, saying that to myself.
Leaving behind the enthusiastic cheers pouring toward Moon Sua.
***
The VIP seats located at the highest place.
Applause erupted from there.
“Haha, so the four semifinalists have emerged.”
Shin Daeho said with a satisfied smile.
The vice guild master and the attack squad leaders also clapped.
“Really impressive hunters have advanced. Don’t you think?”
At Shin Daeho’s question, the executives immediately replied.
“Yes. Honestly, it seems like the hunters who were expected to advance did.”
“Especially team leader Moon Sua’s momentum was exceptional.”
“I agree. It seems team leader Moon Sua trained even harder for this Myth Festival. She was strong before, but this time she’s unrecognizably stronger.”
“I noticed team leader Moon Sua too. Truly impressive combat power. She’s skilled enough to join the gold attack squad right away without issue.”
The vice guild master and all the attack squad leaders praised Moon Sua.
All the hunters who advanced to the semifinals were impressive, but they were captivated by Moon Sua, the strongest in the silver attack squad.
“Hmm, is that so. Then what do you think about Hunter Seo Juwon?”
Shin Daeho said to everyone.
Then, the vice guild master and attack squad leaders glanced at each other before speaking.
“Hmm, well, it’s an unexpected result.”
“I agree. Advancing to the semifinals. It’s a bit surprising.”
“I think he was lucky, but I acknowledge it to some extent. Just advancing to the semifinals in the Myth Festival is a big deal.”
“Upset would be the right word. But from now on, it won’t be easy. The top four are all real powerhouses.”
“That’s right. Even if luck followed him so far, it’ll be tough from here.”
The vice guild master and attack squad leaders all showed skeptical views.
It wasn’t because they personally disliked Seo Juwon.
They were just speaking realistically.
Because the other three hunters besides Seo Juwon were all vying for the top 1, 2, 3 spots in the silver attack squad.
“As expected, that’s what you all think.”
Shin Daeho nodded slowly.
“Isn’t that natural? The other hunters are veterans, and Hunter Seo Juwon is close to a rookie.”
“That makes sense. Still, if Hunter Seo Juwon wins the championship, you all have to keep the promise. The promise to acknowledge Hunter Seo Juwon’s promotion to the gold attack squad. Understood?”
“Understood, guild master.”
At Shin Daeho’s words, all the attack squad leaders, including the vice guild master, nodded.
However, none of them genuinely expected Seo Juwon to win.
Because the hunters who advanced with him were insanely strong for Seo Juwon to win.
The kindergarten where Seo Eunbyeol attends.
Song voices were flowing out from here for quite a while.
It was because the children were singing along in chorus to the song the kindergarten teacher played.
Haha, cute. What song should I play this time?
The kindergarten teacher smiled contentedly watching the children singing like baby birds.
And pondered.
What song to play to make the children even more excited.
While flipping through YouTube song videos like that, flipping, and flipping again.
-A♪♪.
An incredibly sweet accompaniment flowed out.
And upon hearing that accompaniment, Seo Eunbyeol shouted.
“Ah! This is Eunbyeol’s song!”
At Seo Eunbyeol’s shout, not only the teacher but also the children all looked at Seo Eunbyeol.
Receiving their gazes, Seo Eunbyeol shouted even louder.
“Teacher! This is Eunbyeol’s song! The song Eunbyeol made!”
“Oh my, that’s right. You said you composed it? Is this the song you made, Eunbyeol?”
“Yes! It’s <Lovebug> sung by the Daisy unnies!”
At Seo Eunbyeol’s words, the children started showing explosive interest.
“Wow! Eunbyeol, is this really the song you made?”
“I know this song! I listen to it every time I take a bath!”
“Eunbyeol is amazing! Isn’t Eunbyeol a genius?”
“Ah! Is this really the song you made, Eunbyeol? This was really high on the Melon chart?”
“I heard this in dad’s car too! It came on the radio?”
“Wow! Really amazing! Eunbyeol must be a composing genius!”
The children praised Seo Eunbyeol with sparkling eyes.
Seo Eunbyeol felt proud from the incredibly hot attention.
It was a different joy from the praise she received from dad or the adults at Daphne Entertainment.
On this path I’ve walked with you.
It’s filled only with happy smiles.
Reflected in your eyes.
All of me is love.
Meanwhile, Seo Eunbyeol’s song <Lovebug> continued to play.
The children wore happy expressions to the song flowing like a gentle spring breeze.
Looking at the children’s expressions, Seo Eunbyeol said.
“Kids! Let’s sing this together!”
“Ah! Good! Let’s sing!”
“Yeah yeah! Kids, sing really loud!”
“Wow! Singing the song Eunbyeol made together!”
At Seo Eunbyeol’s suggestion, the children started singing along to <Lovebug>.
Though they didn’t know the front part accurately and hummed half of it through their noses, the chorus was different.
Because the chorus of <Lovebug> was incredibly easy and addictive.
“You’re my lovebug! You’re my lovebug!”
Seo Eunbyeol and the children sang <Lovebug> together like baby birds.
It was a happy time for Seo Eunbyeol who made the song, the children singing along, and the teacher watching them.
And at the same time.
Hunter Seo Juwon easily won in the semifinals.
And finally advanced to the finals.