Chapter 16


    ...Someone tampered with the duel matchups.


    What?


    It seems to be your brothers work.


    Yu-Seong started to think quickly. Kim Do-Jin was a man of few words, but Yu-Seong knew exactly what he meant.


    <em>Choi Min-Seok wants me to go against Lee Jin-Wook.</em>


    A chill ran down his spine. Actually, this wasnt something totally unexpected.


    <em>Yep, Choi Min-Seok wouldnt rig something like this just to humiliate me.</em>


    Yu-Seong thought it was too naive to believe that Min-Seok wanted to simply humiliate him because of a grudge he was holding from theirst encounter. Min-Seok wasnt the type of person to just end things at humiliation.


    <em>After all, he tried to murder me.</em>


    There was no reason not to do the same this time. At the very least, Min-Seok would order Jin-Wook to permanently cripple him. Considering how fierce thebat exam was, it waspletely possible for Yu-Seong to be injured. Even though they prepared perfectly, there was still a death or a fatally injured applicant every two to three years.


    At that moment, the monitor attached to the ceiling changed color and revealed the matchups.


    Eighth.


    Choi Yu-Seong, Lee Jin-Wook.


    Yu-Seongs lips twitched as he confirmed his turn. A crisis was also an opportunity. Although a duel with Jin-Wook was dangerous, it would also attract a lot of attention. Yu-Seongs proficiency level for his Star Factor skill could increase or he could even get the attention of a god as he had before.


    <em>High risk, high return. Low risk, low return.</em>


    The majority of things in the world were like this. The question was whether someone had the confidence to follow through.


    <em>I should believe in myself.</em>


    He trusted the time, sweat, and effort he put into this. After all, there wasnt any way to avoid this. Just as a slight smile was appearing on Yu-Seongs face, Do-Jin asked.


    So what are you going to do?


    What?


    Itll be easier for you if you just told the Iron Wall all of this.


    Do-Jins eyes observed Yu-Seong sharply. He was like a snake observing its prey.


    <em>Ah. Now I know for sure.</em>


    Obviously, Do-Jin hadn''te just to help Yu-Seong by telling him the information he had acquired. He had sensed a change in Yu-Seong and hade because he wanted to confirm what had happened to Yu-Seong.


    It was only natural. After all, Yu-Seong was a member of the Choi family. He was the son of the man Do-Jin wanted to murderChoi Woo-Jae.


    <em>They say if you know your enemy and yourself, you can win every battle</em>


    This meant that if someone had a clear understanding of oneself and their enemy, no battle would be dangerous. There was no way Do-Jin wouldnt know General Lee Sun-Shins famous sayings[1]. Although his confidence was borderline arrogant, he didnt fight recklessly. If he was one to fight recklessly, then he would never have used Yu-Seong to get to Woo-Jae.


    Maybe it was Yu-Seong who had lowered his guard. Just because he had beaten Do-Jin before, he had now ended up underestimating Do-Jin.


    <em>What should I do?</em>


    Yu-Seong thought that he should do something to lower Do-Jins guard while also gaining something.


    Seeing him hesitating, Do-Jin snorted, Youve changed a lot, Choi Yu-Seong.


    ...


    Its almost surprising. Did another soul possess your body?


    Yu-Seong almost screamed at Do-Jins words.


    <em>Hes not the main character, hes a psychic!</em>


    It would be fitting if the title of the original novel was The Foreseeing Returner.


    Stop saying such crazy things. I dont have time to get riled up from such little things. Do you think that Im not aware of what hes doing?


    ...


    Regardless of whether someone tampered with the matchups or not, Im not going to do anything about it. Im Choi Yu-Seong. Isnt it clear that there is only so much my hyung-nim can do to me, since were both a part of the Choi family?


    Do-Jin red at him like a ferocious viper. Yu-Seong red right back. Although he was scared of Do-Jins glistening eyes that seemed deep enough to be able to swallow him up, he didnt back off.


    If youre here to pull some stunts, get out. I dont like how youve been acting recently.


    He firmly ordered Do-Jin to back off. Of course, he could feel his heart pounding with fear. There was no Jin Do-Yoon or Jin Yu-Ri here. What if Do-Yoon lost his mind and decided to kill him?


    <em>I dont even want to imagine it.</em>


    He begged inwardly for Do-Jin not to get mad at him. Desperate emotion was visible in his eyes. Silently looking at Yu-Seong, Do-Jins expression changed oddly. It was hard to read; he seemed to be bothughing and frowning.


    Perhaps Yu-Seongs wishes came true? Do-Jin stopped ring daggers at Yu-Seong.


    Interesting. Not bad. After that, Do-Jin turned around. Dont die.


    Hisst words before leaving were very encouraging.


    * * *


    After leaving Yu-Seongs waiting room, Do-Jins eyes became cold and calcting as he walked down the hallway.


    <em>Hes be quite clever.</em>


    Although Do-Jin had just casually slipped a piece of information, it took less than three minutes for Yu-Seong to rationallye to a conclusion. Even though Yu-Seong pretended to be clueless, it was clear that he knew Min-Seok was going after him. Nevertheless, he didnt back off.


    <em>He always had a death wish.</em>


    On the day he promised to be brothers with Do-Jin, he had be very drunk and burst into tears, crying that he wanted to die. He despised the world and he thought that dying would be easier for him. He had also screamed that he hated his family for making him this way.


    Was he still like that? No, there were clear differences.


    <em>Now, he wants to live.</em>


    Yu-Seong was even passionate and energetic now. It was a mysterious phenomenon. Was it possible for a person to change this drastically in a short amount of time? Although it was unbelievable, it sure was interesting.


    <em>Choi Yu-Seong.</em>


    Originally, Yu-Seong was a trump card that he wouldter discard as part of his n. But was it necessary? Do-Jin didnt care if Yu-Seong wanted to live or not, but if he still resented his family, then the fact that he had be more clever wasnt bad for Do-Jin.


    Actually, Yu-Seongs acting was quite good. Him acting arrogantly without knowing his ce was simr to the Yu-Seong that Do-Jin knew of.


    <em>Even his eyes that wished for my attention were exactly the same as before.</em>


    The loneliness hidden inside Yu-Seongs eyes when he ordered him to get out was especially simr. That loneliness was evident even though Yu-Seong was being aggressive. After all, when Yu-Seong first met Do-Jin, Yu-Seong yelled at him but couldntpletely push him away as he prated Yu-Seongs loneliness.


    It wouldnt be bad to make him my subordinate.


    If Yu-Seong had known what Do-Jin was thinking, he would have been frightened.


    * * *


    It took a while for Yu-Seong to catch his breath after Do-Jin left the waiting room. Do-Jin saw through him whenever he let his guard down, so ying mind games with him was stressful.


    <em>Choi Yu-Seong, dont forget that Kim Do-Jin is the main characterthe most dangerous person in this whole world.</em>


    And he was a pitiful viin who would get abandoned by Do-Jin. Based on everything from their rtionship in the original novel, he could never beat Do-Jin.


    Catching his breath, Yu-Seong watched the duel between the applicants going before him. Fortunately, his battle was eighth in line, which provided him with a lot of extra time.


    <em>As expected, I wouldve won easily if my matchup wasnt Lee Jin-Wook.</em>


    He was certain after watching five duels. His ability was so amazing that it was almost a cheat. The saying that Irregrs became powerful as long as they survived wasnt a lie.


    Yu-Seong watched the duels for three hours, but even as he watched the 7th duel taking ce, that thought didnt change. However, there was one yer that he took notice of.


    <em>Was it applicant number 12?</em>


    Considering that applicant number 12 was a psychic type yer that could transform the ground into metal shapes, Yu-Seong thought that he couldve passed the exam if he had used his ability more creatively. Unfortunately, hecked the creativity, and consequently failed.


    Yu-Seongs turn finally came.


    <em>Lets go.</em>


    His mindset was more than ready.


    The moment he stood up, one side of the waiting room wall opened and disyed various weapons as if he was inside a movie. Striding ahead, he firmly grabbed a weapon that he had decided on using before. Although it was just made for practice, the grip wasnt that bad.


    Unconsciously licking his lips with the tip of his tongue, Yu-Seong walked through the automatic door of the waiting room.


    * * *


    Thebat exam site was located at the end of the hallway. Yu-Seong was overwhelmed by the unexpected amount of attention he was receiving as he entered the site that looked simr to the Colosseum in Rome.


    <em>Its totally different from watching it on the monitor.</em>


    As always, knowing and experiencing something were two different things. But since he had mentally prepared before arriving, he soon adapted to it. Entering from the opposite side, Jin-Wook seemed no different from him. The two sized each other up quickly.


    Standing on the edge of the arena, the instructor, Iron Wall Park Cheol-Ho, spoke as he crossed his arms.


    Choi Yu-Seong, Lee Jin-Wook. You both seem ready.


    Although he wasnt speaking loudly, his voice echoed through the entire Colosseum.


    <em>This is an S-rank yer.</em>


    Yu-Seong had felt it when he had met Woo-Jae. It was not exaggerated to think that yers S-rank and above were basically not human.


    Even if this is a practice duel, fight as if your lives are at stake, fight as if youre in actualbat. Monsters do not have mercy. Any questions?


    No.


    No, sir.


    The former was Yu-Seong while thetter was Jin-Wook. Even though Yu-Seong had spoken in a small voice, it seemed that Cheol-Ho had heard it clearly. As proof, one of Cheol-Hos eyebrows twitched as he looked at Yu-Seong.


    <em>What? I cant talk down to you, but you can talk down to me?</em>


    Regardless of whether Cheol-Ho was an S-rank or an instructor for the exam, Yu-Seong didnt actually like Cheol-Ho for talking down to him from the start.


    <em>Were all grownups here; its not like were in the army.</em>


    He was the rascal anyway. It was nothing unusual for him to do things the way he liked.


    Hmm


    After briefly snorting, Cheol-Ho nodded.


    Begin.


    As he had been waiting for this moment, Jin-Wook made the first move. He had chosen a sword as his weapon. Since it was made for practice, it wasnt sharp, but it would certainly hurt if it hit Yu-Seong.


    Jin-Wooks deadliest weapon wasnt actually the sword. Although he was far away from Yu-Seong, he kicked off from the ground and used the wind currents to close the distance.


    <em>Hes fast!</em>


    Unconsciously admiring Jin-Wooks skill, Yu-Seong spun and lifted his weapon, a long spear.


    The weapon he had used most during his training with Do-Yoon was a staff. And mastering the staff meant that, to an extent, he had also mastered the spear.


    <em>Block. </em>


    Yu-Seongs smooth, familiar movements flowed like water as they blocked and pushed aside Jin-Wooks sword that crashed down on him. Although Jin-Wooks attacks were heavier than Yu-Seongs defense, Yu-Seong used skills to bnce them off.


    Remaining calm, Jin-Wooknded on the ground and stretched out his hand. A strong wind that could easily knock a grown man down gushed out from his hand. Yu-Seong didnt try to brace himself against the wind but let himself be pushed away, rotated a full circle, and thrust out with his spear.


    The sharp winding from the other side of the field was caught by the tip of his spear, making it wobble. It would be impossible for yers to get rid of this if they werent a strong Physical type yer. Yu-Seong channeled mana into the tip of his spear. Although it was hard to channel ones mana into a weapon, Yu-Seong was able to do it for a short time on a small part of the weapon. The center of the Wind de Jin-Wook produced was eventually ripped apart and crashed in all directions into the arena walls.


    <em>Boom-!</em>


    The wind sted the walls and clouds of dust rose in the air.


    <em>If I were caught in that, my neck would break from the whish.</em>


    Recalling the sharpness of the Wind de that had just passed by him, Yu-Seong gulped. On the other hand, Jin-Wook frowned when saw that things werent going his way.


    Him holding a sword had been a decoy from the start. This was to hide the fact that he was a Psychic, wind-type yer. But, without even looking at him, Yu-Seong had channeled mana into his spear and thrust it at his attack, as if Yu-Seong had already known that he would use the Wind de.


    <em>Hes going to be Storm, the viin.</em>


    If Yu-Seong hadnt been aware of this, it wouldve been quite dangerous. However, despite his anxiety, he smiled and provoked Jin-Wook.


    Min-Seoks going to be disappointed if this is all you got.


    ...!!


    Heated up, Jin-Wook charged toward Yu-Seong. The Wind de had a long cooldown time. He was attacking like this to buy time until he could use it again.


    Yu-Seong smiled as he looked at Jin-Wook. Then, a blue me zed inside his eyes as he activated Insight. As he concentrated Insight forbat, part of Jin-Wooks movements appeared like afterimages in front of him. Hisposure was strengthened while his anxiety was relieved adequately.


    Although he was surprised by Jin-Wooks first strike, there was no reason for him to be surprised the second time. He thrust forward, using the spears long reach to get to Jin-Wook before thetter could get close.


    <em>Grab.</em>


    Jin-Wook spread the wind behind him and easily avoided Yu-Seongs attack like it was a walk in the park. Although his swordsmanship itself was so poor that it was a joke to even call it swordsmanship, the rest of his senses were certainly refined. It seemed that he also had a lot of skills. He was an Irregr for a reason.


    However, Yu-Seongs Insight was reading even those movements. That was why, instead of stopping in surprise, he merely twisted his hips and thrust his spear at Jin-Wook once more, then swiped horizontally.<em></em>The spear shaft bent like a snake, striking Jin-Wooks shoulder.


    <em>Bang-!</em>


    A sound resonated that brought a smile to Yu-Seongs face, while Jin-Wooks body stiffened in pain.


    This attack is going to hurt much more.


    Since it was Jin-Wook that was going to receive this attack, Yu-Seong spoke lightly, without his conscience bothering him, as he activated the skill.


    <em>Spark.</em>


    The electricity produced from his spear handle wracked Jin-Wooks entire body.


    Grrrraaah-!


    His scream echoed throughout the entire duel stadium.


    1. Lee Sun-Shin (Yi Sun-Sin) is arguably one of the most famous generals/admirals in Korean history. However, this quote is from Sun Tzus Art of War.