Ch. 37 - Mock Monster Battle (1)

Chapter 37: Mock Monster Battle (1)

Regardless of the things that had happened with the Crown Prince and Flame, Eisel had to join a club. Although club membership was optional, for a student like her who was desperate for points, it was almost a necessity.

‘Hmm, what should I do…?’ she thought.

She put aside those concerns and focused on the upcoming class. It was also the time for the most important performance evaluation.

“Starting today, we’ll proceed with the mock monster battle.”

Eisel had faced level 1-2 monsters before through dungeon practicum, but the goal of the mock battle was to hunt down level 3 intermediate monsters. Those were more difficult to deal with compared to weak monsters.

Normally, it was impossible to deal with alone, so she would have to team up to figure out the monster’s weakness and take it down with her own method.

That was the goal of the training.

“There will be many conditions. You will be allowed to roam this area and choose a mid-sized monster to target. You will also be given enough time to practice fighting it.”

The topography of Stella Dome was changed for the first-year cadets' simulation battle.

To the north was a fiery valley. A sea of ice was to the south, and in the west lay a barren desert, while a grassy swamp encompassed the east.

Therefore, cadets could choose their desired terrain and find an intermediate monster that matched their fighting style.

Of course, very few teams would actually succeed. Not only was it Eisel’s first time actually fighting, but level 3 intermediate monsters were very hard to deal with.

“The performance evaluation is in four days. At that time, all you have to do is show off the battle skills you practiced. Any questions?”

“None!” the students shouted. 

Lee Han-Wol nodded his head. "Good. Form a team of up to six people each, and submit your lists.”

Like before, the training was done in conjunction with Class A. Most students began teaming up with close friends or people with matching attributes.

'Ugh, I really hate team play...'

This performance evaluation was important. If Eisel failed to score well, her scholarship money would be gone. And if she didn’t get a scholarship, she would have to work part-time on weekends and vacations to support herself.

As her study hours decreased, the prospects of a scholarship would get further and further away, and at the same time, her achievement in magic would also decrease, resulting in an increasingly bleak future.

'I have to work hard.'

That was what she promised to herself.

Thud!

"Ugh!"

Several female students passed by, and one of them bumped Eisel on the shoulder, causing the others to burst into laughter.

“Why are you blocking the road?” 

"You’re stinking the whole place up. Why don't you step aside?" 

“Disgusting. It feels like there's blood from a dark mage on my shoulder.”

“You bitch…”

Incensed, Eisel wanted to lash out but quickly suppressed it. Getting into Stella was a miracle. If she got into trouble with the students for no reason and received demerit points, she would not be able to receive the scholarship.

If she didn’t get a scholarship for even one semester, her studies would be in jeopardy.

For the sake of her dreams, she had to endure the humiliation.

At that thought, Eisel subconsciously looked at Hong Bi-Yeon.

As befitting of an Adolevit royal, there were numerous students gathered around her. Hong Bi-Yeon had the luxury of choosing her circle.

In comparison, she was alone.

Nobody even thought of coming near her.

‘I too, originally…’

She shook her head swiftly, fortifying her heart which was getting weaker second by second. 

‘What am I thinking?’

As she trembled in despair, Hong Bi-Yeon’s gaze locked on hers for a fleeting second.

In that brief moment, she couldn’t find a single trace of emotion in Hong Bi-Yeon’s eyes.

She ignored Eisel as if looking at the air.

Noticing the brief interaction, one of the girls with Hong Bi-Yeon whispered with a subtle smile, "Princess, there’s someone alone out there.”

“Oh my, I feel sorry for her. Shall we go ahead and let her join us?”

Hong Bi-Yeon didn't seem to be interested in their chatter and just stared blankly into space, but for some reason, Eisel became even angrier.

She wasn't like that before.

To Hong Bi-Yeon, Eisel was a rival.

She thought, 'It was once like that.'

Back when the Morph family was strong.

At that time, they stood shoulder to shoulder with the Adolevit royal family and conquered the magic world. They even checked and balanced each other.

Even though both sides had almost equal power, the power struggle became stronger and stronger.

Eisel and Hong Bi-Yeon were born in their respective families.

Grand Duke Morph’s daughter had an ice-attribute child.

While the Adolevit royal family had a fire-attribute one.

Children born in the most prestigious families in the world…

Perhaps by a twist of fate, the daughters of the two families were gifted with heaven-defying talent.

Eisel held an ice spike in her hand as soon as she was born, while Hong Bi-Yeon’s fingertips shone with a spark.

It was not something that could simply be described by talent. Being able to manifest magic at birth without even learning it was a blessing from the world. It could allow them to reach the Heavenly Realm that all mages aspired to ascend.

Everyone in the world focused their attention on Hong Bi-Yeon and Eisel, and they calmly accepted the reality. 

'I must have been chosen.'

Being born in the best magic family and gifted with the best talent, Eisel believed that she would one day become a great mage.

Until the Adolevit royal family completely destroyed her family.

She clenched her fists tightly.

‘There’s no need to be angry right now…’

‘People of the world will say that Grand Duke Morph has fallen.’

‘However, that’s not quite right. Because I am still alive and will continue the Morph bloodline.’

'Because… I will become an archmage and revive Morph again.’

However...

Lately, she had been questioning herself.

'... Can I really do it?'

Hong Bi-Yeon was already far ahead of her. Not only she but also numerous geniuses with the qualities of an archmage were overtaking her.

Would it be possible for her, who grew up in the streets, to catch up with the ones who received a thorough elite education?

She couldn’t find hope.

'I...'

The moment when the seed of anxiety that existed somewhere in her heart was about to sprout.

“Hey, are you alone?”

A familiar voice called out from behind.

It was Baek Yu-Seol.

Eisel sighed as she saw his smiling face.

"What’s going on?"

“Let’s team up. The maximum number of people is fixed, but you know there’s no minimum number, right? The two of us should team up and get extra points.”

"Are you crazy? How will we face a level 3 intermediate monster?"

Although she said that, Eisel was already convinced.

‘For some reason, if it’s Baek Yu-Seol... I really think we can do it.’

“Are you willing to do it?”

“Yes. Not like I have other options.”

“Right. Outcasts like us should stick together.”

“I’m a voluntary outsider, okay? I’m different from you.”

“You’re absolutely right.”

"Ugh."

‘Baek Yu-Seol's way of speaking is… something…’

She felt that he was like an adult dealing with a child.

It seemed that his initial strong approach was to protect her pride, but even then, he was very smooth.

‘He looks younger than me...'

Baek Yu-Seol had a face that looked quite young to the point that if it weren’t for his school uniform, he could be mistaken for a middle school boy. 

His delicate features were curbed by his stiff hair, which was the only reason he looked masculine at all.

“Once you've decided on the cadet and group you like, bring me the list and register it.”

At the instructor's shout, the students hurried to him.

“I’ll be right back,” Baek Yu-Seol said, walking to the instructor to submit a piece of paper.

As he left, Eisel let out a sigh. Again, she was shaken by his pace.

She was standing blankly and shuffling her feet when she suddenly felt a gaze and slowly turned her head.

‘Uh...?'

Far away, Hong Bi-Yeon was staring at her.

It was not an illusion.

Hong Bi-Yeon was definitely looking at her.

'What is it?'

Moments before, she hadn't deigned to pay attention to Eisel, yet she now began to glare at her with a surprising intensity.

Somehow, it was quite burdensome, so Eisel avoided her gaze, but Hong Bi-Yeon began to approach her.

With superhuman patience, she forced her trembling feet to remain steady, then bit her lip tightly and stiffly raised her head.

"You."

"W-What is it?" 

Hong Bi-Yeon closed her mouth without saying anything.

She seemed almost embarrassed by the fact that she had come here.

'Could it be that she’s here to keep me in check?'

The corner of Eisel's mouth rose up.

Concluding she had deduced correctly, Eisel got more confident and raised her voice, “Ha, are you suddenly here to suppress me? Ridiculous. I bet you’re worried that—”

"What nonsense are you on about?" Hong Bi-Yeon’s expression crumpled as if she were genuinely annoyed.

“Don’t be mistaken. Behave yourself.”

"What are you doing…?"

“Do you know the saying, a pearl necklace around the pig’s neck?” 

"Of course..."

"That perfectly describes you. Wearing a pearl necklace beyond your station."

The moment she heard those words, Eisel’s heart sank.

The reason Hong Bi-Yeon was here wasn't because she felt a sense of crisis from Eisel Morph.

It was purely a reaction to having Baek Yu-Seol taken away.

After she realized that fact, Eisel became mad and let out a hollow laugh.

It was just like that.

That woman didn’t care about her at all.

Eisel was always noticing her.

However, she wasn't paying the slightest attention to Eisel’s existence.

‘I see...' Eisel thought.

Hong Bi-Yeon frowned as she saw Eisel getting more and more contemplative.

'What am I saying…?'

She had gotten worked up enough to come here and say something so out of character. They didn’t suit Adolevit’s Princess, and it was completely unlike Hong Bi-Yeon to act petty and jealous.

Nevertheless.

'That felt refreshing.’

Eisel was usually very noticeable. Just as Hong Bi-Yeon was blessed with the fire-attribute, Eisel was born with ice-attribute.

The thought that Eisel would team up with Baek Yu-Seol, possibly the most outstanding knight in the academy, made her insides burn.

Somehow, she felt like she was falling behind.

So she lashed out unconsciously. 

‘Well, I guess she should’ve figured it out by now.’

Leaving Eisel, who had a dark expression, Hong Bi-Yeon returned to her position with an elegant stride.

A slight sense of crisis tinted her mind. A ridiculous thought that Eisel would surpass her at this rate kept running through her mind.

‘I can't stand still.'

By mobilizing her faction, she could easily trample the loser of House Morph.

But, her pride couldn’t tolerate it.

She wanted to win against Eisel Morph on equal terms and with her own skill.

‘A combination of a loser and a commoner.'

She recalled members of her own faction. Clearly, there were many competent knights. They were still waiting to be chosen by Hong Bi-Yeon.

However, it was not enough.

Even knights of that level could not catch up with Baek Yu-Seol, who teamed up with Eisel.

They would need to be at least like Ma Yu-Seong, who was acknowledged as the best.

Only then would the equation be balanced.

As she thought of that, she stopped hesitating. Ignoring all the calls directed at her, Hong Bi-Yeon approached Ma Yu-Seong, who was looking over the map.

“Ma Yu-Seong.”

"Hello, Princess. What's up?"

“Have you formed a team?”

“No. I’m doing it alone.” 

Hong Bi-Yeon was a little surprised by his words, but she calmly asked, "Why don't you join me?"

“Hmm?”

Ma Yu-Seong raised the corner of his mouth slightly. That was an obvious refusal. But if she was going to back down here, she would have never approached him in the first place.

She decided to provoke his competitive spirit.

“You know that Baek Yu-Seol and Eisel formed a group, right? The fewer the number of members in a group, the more points each person gets, right? It seems she intends to target special intermediate monsters rather than normal intermediate monsters. As you know, I have a strong fighting spirit, so I have no intention of losing.”

Ma Yu-Seong might be able to defeat an intermediate monster at level 3 by himself, and he would get a huge bonus for doing it alone.

However, what if Baek Yu-Seol's group handled a special intermediate monster?

Unlike normal monsters, those with special abilities and attributes were called special intermediate monsters.

If a student succeeded in defeating a special intermediate monster, they would get a lot of points.

Even though there were two of them, they would easily outperform Ma Yu-Seong.

Of course, Hong Bi-Yeon did not know whether they would actually target a special intermediate monster or not.

It was just a means to stimulate Ma Yu-Seong's fighting spirit.

It must have been successful as Ma Yu-Seong instantly reacted sensitively.

"That's right..."

Ma Yu-Seong pondered for a moment.

Then he smiled and nodded his head.

“This ought to be fun. I also wanted to compete with Baek Yu-Seol at least once."

Hong Bi-Yeon grinned at him and shouted gleefully in her heart, 'This time, I'll beat you properly.'

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