"He found it! Truly lucky son of a gun!"
"It's not just luck, he made an effort in his own way."
Calming his heart, Sihyun corrected Jaei's words and lifted the corners of his mouth slightly. On the screen, Gunwoo holding the gem and smiling faintly was zoomed in. While people admired his face, the commentators analyzed the previous match with excitement.
"This is undoubtedly the miraculous victory of Team A in Group A. There were only 2 minutes left until the end of the game, you know? And on top of that, with the participation of Jeong Daun and Lee Jihye, who joined the battle, it was a situation where Ihamin had no choice but to lose, right?"
"Yes! In fact, Ihamin collapsed with only 1 minute left, almost leading to the victory of Team B. But the moment Eunyul reached for the gem, by a hair's breadth, Kang Gunwoo found the gem first!"
"We can't skip the interviews after this Group A match ends, right?"
"The ultimate fortress siege. Although it has produced famous matches every year, today's match was the most tense. Most of the active players were first-year students from Team Blue, right? The level of the freshmen at this year's ultimate fortress was amazing."
"Do the guild leaders need to be nervous?"
As the commentators joked, the TV screen, now darkened, focused on Haehyuk's face in the audience. Haehyuk, noticing himself being shown, displayed a capitalistic smile. The screams from the audience seats were transmitted through the TV.
Sihyun recalled the sight of Gunwoo, who barely found the treasure and won. It felt like a burden and a thrilling catharsis at the same time.
As he took a sip of water and regulated his breathing, the 5-minute break ended, and the second round of Group A began. The screen, illuminating the audience seats, turned off, revealing the fortress of Team B. Their advantage was rocks.
And Team B, they utilized the rock advantage thoroughly.
Eunyul and Yoo Sia stood on the rocks at the entrance of the fortress, attacking and preventing all the incoming members of Team Blue from advancing.
Eunyul pushed people back with her sword, and Yoo Sia restrained those who came too close with her whip. It was a formidable defense, and although only Hamin and one third-year student managed to break through, it was difficult for them to hold off Down, Jihye, and Jaei inside.
Hamin, who he trusted, was blocked by the combined attack of Down and Jaei, and the third-year senior was trapped in Jihye's fire prison, unable to escape easily.
Upon hearing Haein's cry about Joonhyuk being trapped, Sihyun sensed defeat. He checked the situation near the colosseum, but it seemed unlikely to expect the same stroke of luck as before.
Sihyun narrowed his eyes, watching the remaining minute of the game. During the 19 minutes, no one had made any progress to the top or the bottom. This time, Hamin, unable to withstand the consecutive attacks without Haehyun's buff, died with a minute left. He had to wait 30 seconds for revival.
By then, it was already time for the siege to end, so everyone in the waiting room fell silent. One minute passed in the heavy silence. As expected, the second round of the siege ended with Team B's victory. It was somewhat of a disappointing match.
"The game is over! Eunyul and Yoo Sia showed an unprecedented defense! The two students..."
As the commentators once again got excited about Eunyul and Yoo Sia's play, Sihyun glanced around the people in the waiting room with bated breath. The subdued atmosphere was palpable. The expressions of their teammates entering their sight seemed darker than expected, as if they thought they had lost 2:0.
Haein seemed to have sensed it too, as she tapped Ban Dal sitting beside her and said something. Ban Dal, turning his head slowly, looked around before speaking softly.
"It's a tie."
His very low voice caught the attention of Team Blue members. Everyone looked at him, and he slowly scanned his teammates. Those who met his gaze flinched slightly.
"It's a tie, and Group A's game is over. So the outcome of the game depends on what we do."
"..."
"If you know it, be prepared, everyone. We have our game in 15 minutes."
His voice spread throughout the waiting room, weighing heavily on everyone. After his words broke the feeling of defeat and made them realize the reality, people slowly nodded after regaining their composure. Sihyun looked at his senior, who could rally people with just one word, and felt a renewed admiration.
That's what it meant to be a leader.
Thinking that it was inherent in him, he checked the 1:1 score displayed on the TV screen. Regardless of Ban Dal's words, the game was a tie, and Team A had done well enough. Therefore, when Team Blue returned to the waiting room after Group A's match, they were greeted with applause.
"Hey, you did your best, and it's a tie!"
Cheerful as ever, Haehyun scratched her head and exclaimed. Her voice was so bright that you wouldn't think she was someone who lost. Seeing Haehyun, the expressions of the other Team Blue members seemed more relaxed than expected. It was almost embarrassing for them, the Team B, to look more chaotic.
"I told you to go with me during the siege."
"Ah. I thought I wouldn't be much help during the siege. I didn't know Yul and Sia would do that much."
Hamin and Haehyun pointed out each other's shortcomings during the game. Thanks to that, there was no feedback to give, so Ihan, who had nothing to criticize, laughed and praised them. He complimented Haehyun's skillful analysis, and Haehyun's lips curled up at the praise. Sihyun gave appropriate encouragement to his friends who had worked hard.
He praised Gunwoo, telling him that he saw him find the treasure and he was cool, and he said to Hamin, "You did well," and to Haehyun... hesitating for a moment, he whispered, "You did well too," very softly. Hearing his biased praise, Haehyun grumbled and vented her dissatisfaction, and Sihyun plugged his ears as her boasting about her performance with her weapons seemed overwhelming.
Seeing their own actions, the senior members laughed and enjoyed a brief moment of peaceful rest. When 15 minutes passed, Sihyun followed the teacher's guidance to call Team B and headed to the players' locker room.
"Do well and come back!"
"Do as much as I did."
"Stay strong."
Nodding at the cheers from behind, he closed the door after coming out. When he entered the locker room, it was filled with virtual reality linkage devices, neatly arranged as if it had been half a year since he last saw them.
"Those in charge of defense will start at the fortress, and those in charge of reconnaissance will start at the entrance of the colosseum. The walkie-talkies are attached to your ears, so if you want to use them, just press
once and talk. Your respective weapons will be summoned after you say 'weapon implementation.' Now go and win!"
Listening to the teacher's explanation with clenched fists and cheering, Sihyun finished his deep breath and entered the device.
Wearing the headset, closing his eyes, he felt his vision turning completely black, and when he opened his eyes again, the colossal entrance of the colosseum, which he had only seen on the screen, was right in front of him.
"It's much bigger when you see it in person."
When I lifted my head to see the end of the pillar, I had to crane my neck to the point where it hurt. While admiring its grandeur, Ban Dal appeared beside me, also gazing at the colosseum. Upon seeing the notification that there were 30 seconds left until the start of the match, Sihyun quietly opened his mouth.
"Weapon implementation."
Whispering softly, a familiar pink staff materialized on the palm of my hand. As I turned my gaze, I saw Ban Dal looking at my staff with a curious expression, despite having seen it multiple times during practice. It was always fascinating to him, even though he should be familiar with it by now.
"You should implement yours too, senior."
Feeling burdened by his gaze, Sihyun gripped the staff in his hand and suddenly glanced around. He realized that every scene here was being broadcasted live to the audience seats. That meant, even newcomers who were not part of the top students could see him running around with his staff. It was a poorly designed staff that even children would play with.
"...I really hate this."
"What did you say?"
"...It's nothing."
Even though I only imagined it, it felt like I could hear the laughter of the audience, so I closed my eyes and replied. When I opened my eyes slowly, there was a notification window saying that there were 30 seconds left until the start of the match.
<There are 3 seconds left until the start of the match. 3, 2, 1... The match begins.>
With the announcement in my ear, the giant entrance of the colosseum, which had been closed, opened with a creaking sound. At the same time, I could hear Hamin's sarcastic laughter through the walkie-talkie.
"They're in for a surprise."
"What are you talking about?"
"All the top students are in the attacking team. Looks like you guys need to step up."
During the briefing before the match, Hamin had predicted that the enemy team would likely deploy strong forces for reconnaissance, so he had selected two third-year students as anticipated forces. Sihyun blinked at how wrong Hamin's prediction turned out. That meant there were first-year students in the reconnaissance team of Team B.
"This is getting interesting. I didn't know there was a big strategist in Team B. Quite impressive."
Impressed by Hamin's praise, Sihyun glanced at Ban Dal, feeling a sense of responsibility.
Since they were the reconnaissance team, they couldn't retreat. Ban Dal also knew this fact, so he spoke up while gripping his sword.
"Just do your best. Who's on the attacking team?"
In response to his question, Hamin mentioned the names of the enemy team members in the attacking team. Starting with Yoomartin, among the names of third and second-year students mentioned, Sihyun realized that his earlier prediction was correct. Seowoo and Haru's names were not mentioned.
If they were the reconnaissance team, they couldn't let their guard down if Haru and Seowoo were on the enemy reconnaissance team.
It seemed like they would be quick to find the treasure. Sihyun urged Ban Dal to hurry and go inside. Agreeing with the suggestion to go in quickly, Ban Dal went into one of the many colosseums. It was the moment they entered.
"......"
"Senior?"
Suddenly, Ban Dal stopped walking. As Sihyun gave him a puzzled look, Ban Dal drew his sword from his waist and swung it into the air.
Just as I was wondering what he was doing, there was a sharp friction sound. The sound of the collision was clear.
Ban Dal's eyes narrowed, and the person who failed the surprise attack revealed themselves in the air. Red eyes and black hair. It was Haru.
He landed gracefully on the ground and dashed forward. Ban Dal, whose path was blocked by the seasoned sword, looked around and glanced behind the colosseum wall.
"Come out."
"You have good intuition."
"... Yoo Seowoo?"
Following Haru, Seowoo emerged, and Sihyun widened his eyes in surprise. Seowoo, who smiled lightly at Sihyun's surprise, spoke calmly.
"There's no rule against reconnaissance teams fighting each other, right?"
"I was waiting for you, Hyuna."
The voice was unnaturally soft for the situation, sending shivers down my spine. If you die in the colosseum, you can't resurrect, and Seowoo knew this. He came to eliminate them in advance. To prevent them from finding the jewel. It was to eliminate them beforehand.
Seeing Seowoo, who had been lurking, smiling affectionately, Sihyun clenched his lips.
That fox-like bastard.
Cursing inwardly and rolling his eyes, Sihyun met the gaze of Haru, who couldn't help it, and raised his eyebrows as if to say, "What can we do?" Anyway, it was already after the attack.
In any case, there was no need for a bastard like him.
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