<Chapter 52: The God of Martial Arts Who Regressed to Level 2>
* * *
Right after Yoon Seo-a left, Kim Heesu, unable to contain her anger, immediately contacted the security guard upon arriving at the Gift Hall.
"Do you have the CCTV footage from in front of the Gift Hall on the 22nd? Give it to me right now."
"It's not possible."
"I'm asking for it as a victim, rightfully."
"Even so, unless a formal complaint is filed, I can't release it..."
"Hah. Do you really think the Korea Daily is that easy to deal with?"
Kim Heesu's fierce gaze made the security guard flinch.
He had been on duty that night and had witnessed Kim Heesu being assaulted by Seong Jihan with his own eyes.
The hatred and anger he saw in Kim Heesu at that moment were real.
'If I make him angry, I'll be in big trouble...'
He was just an ordinary citizen, not an outstanding player like Seong Jihan, and he had no powerful connections.
He was afraid that if he insisted on following the rules, she might take out her anger on him.
"Ah, I understand."
Unable to resist Kim Heesu's insistence, the security guard played the CCTV footage from that day.
Her cousin was lying on the ground with his leg broken and his eyebrows completely plucked out.
The scene where she herself screamed at the top of her lungs and had her hair and eyebrows pulled out was starkly revealed.
The painful memories of that day came flooding back.
"Ugh..."
Kim Heesu tried hard to suppress the shudder that threatened to overtake her body as she continued to watch the footage.
She and her cousin were seen fleeing hastily.
When the remaining members of Seong Jihan's group started talking, her eyes lit up.
'Yoon Seo-a... that...'
Yoon Seo-a, who usually maintained a bright and cheerful demeanor, appeared in the CCTV footage with a deeply depressed expression.
If the Gift had been good, she would never have made such a face.
"What did these people talk about here?"
"That's..."
"Since you've already shown me the CCTV, what is there to hide?"
With a cold tone, Kim Heesu spoke, and the security guard finally revealed what he had heard that day.
"They said they had to study for the college entrance exam because they failed..."
"What? Failed?"
"Yes. But later, it seemed they regained their composure... I didn't hear the details after that."
"Hah. Haha. Hahaha! Really? Really? Those words?"
"Yes."
"Hahahahaha! Crazy woman. After acting so superior..."
An Academy graduate, dropping out and studying for the college entrance exam!
That was the least desirable path for a current Academy student.
"So it was just show, Yoon Seo-a."
Kim Heesu smiled broadly.
How should she break this news?
Through an article in the Korea Daily?
Or confront her in person?
'Both, of course!'
She looked around the classroom as she returned with a light step.
"Hey. Where's Yoon Seo-a?"
"She submitted her withdrawal form and went home right away."
"What?! Already?"
"Processing a withdrawal is quick after receiving a Gift."
Since many students dropped out of the Academy after receiving a Gift without completing the curriculum, the withdrawal process was simple.
'Tch... She ran away.'
She was disappointed that she couldn't mock Yoon Seo-a in front of her friends.
"But why are you looking for Yoon Seo-a?"
When her friend tilted her head in confusion, Kim Heesu hesitated to reveal what she had just learned.
'Can't break it here without the person involved.'
If she told these loose-lipped people, the news might be published elsewhere before the Korea Daily.
'It has to be our newspaper that breaks it first.'
How could she make Yoon Seo-a's downfall even more sensational?
All sorts of ideas sprang to mind.
Kim Heesu smiled with pleasure.
It was the first time she had smiled with genuine joy since her hair and eyebrows were pulled out.
* * *
[ARABOJA: About Seong Jihan, the Top 100 Participant from Korea After 4 Years]
[There's a Player Who Has Never Lost First Place? (Surprised) - Rekka News]
[Am I the Only One Who's First? Top 100 Odds 2nd? What Are the Chances of Seong Jihan Winning?]
After the news of Seong Jihan's participation in the Top 100 promotion match was announced.
All media in Korea focused on Seong Jihan.
Top 100.
The promotion matches for each league level, held once a month, saw a large number of participants over the course of a year.
For example, in the Bronze League alone, 1,200 players would participate in the Top 100 each year.
But 1,200 players per year from each league.
From the Bronze promotion match to the Platinum promotion match, a total of 4,800 players.
The fact that there had been no Korean player in the Top 100 for four years was the current state of the Korean Battle.net League.
While the league level itself maintained a mid-to-upper level of skill, most promising players were often scouted and signed by various advanced countries for large sums of money.
As a result, the remaining promising players in Korea were those who were not quite good enough to aim for the top.
Amidst this, Seong Jihan suddenly appeared out of nowhere.
He made a shocking debut by breaking the dual swords of the Sword Palace, a symbol of the Sword King, and then dominated the Bronze League for the past month, advancing to the Top 100 stage.
Naturally, as a Korean, it was impossible not to have high hopes for Seong Jihan.
-Please, let's all support Seong Jihan if you're Korean!!!!
-Yeah~ Baron~~~
-If it wasn't for Baron, I would have definitely gone for the patriotic pick.
-Fools, , , Baron shake~~ Only 75% win rate~~ Of course, 100% win rate~~ We should pick Seong Jihan~~
-There are so many Battle.net noobs #^&$;; Don't they know he achieved 75% in New York 1?
-Watch Seong Jihan's videos and come back. This guy is not at the Bronze level. At least Gold level.
-Stop making brainless speculations. If you argue like that, Baron is at the Platinum level.
"Phew, they're still arguing."
As they say, the fighting spirit of keyboard warriors is endless.
Yoon Seo-a watched the heated debate on the Battle.net site with a weary expression.
Not only on Battle.net-related sites, but recently, all Korean communities were flooded with content about Seong Jihan vs. Baron.
"Seo-a. What are you looking at?"
"Ah, Uncle... this."
How could she explain this chaos in words?
Yoon Seo-a showed the screen she had been looking at.
[It's clear. If you don't pick Baron, you're just a fool. (Comments: 5779)]
If there are people who are afraid of losing and are just watching or waiting with cash, I hope they just kill themselves. It's so easy to make money.
Don't understand the situation? People are giving away money. In short, it's like money is being copied.
Mid-level 100% vs. Top-level 75%.
Which one would you bet on?
What are the people who don't pick Baron? Why are they even alive?
Haha, especially those who try to make money by trading stocks in this situation, #$%&^ stop it.
I'm so frustrated I can't even talk, but I'll give one warning.
If you pick Seong Jihan or any other scum, pretending to be patriotic or having good analysis, I'll just tear you apart.
Gang value? Lawyer? Baron will do it.
I am invincible.
Baron is a "god."
Now, look at this.
A screenshot of a 100 million GP bet on Baron.
"Wow. What a good person."
And Seong Jihan genuinely smiled when he saw it.
"Good person? Him?"
"Yeah. This person will give me 10 billion, so I guess that's why my odds went up a bit."
"Went up? Oh... Is it because of the recent Baron highlight video that became a hot topic?"
Baron's highlight video.
The public was thrilled with the compilation of the archmage's dominance in the Bronze League.
While Seong Jihan had also shown overwhelming performances, the public seemed to be more drawn to Baron because the spectacle of a mage was more impressive in video form.
And Seong Jihan was very grateful for that.
"Yeah. Including the multi-kills, it's almost five times higher now."
"Wow... It went up that much?"
Yoon Seo-a looked at Seong Jihan with sparkling eyes.
"Uncle. I also..."
"No. Don't."
"But you said it was certain!!!"
"I'll give you all the money I make, but don't gamble."
Seong Jihan's firm words made Yoon Seo-a pout.
She understood his intention to prevent her from becoming a gambling addict.
But it's five times...
If Seong Jihan is that confident, 50 billion would turn into 250 billion!
Isn't that tempting?
"...Tch. I was just trying to help you, Uncle."
Seong Jihan chuckled and patted Yoon Seo-a's back.
"If you want to help me, don't think about money. Just focus on training."
"Ugh."
"Come on. What do you have to do today?"
"300 push-ups. 300 sit-ups. 300 squats. 30 kilometers on the treadmill... that's it..."
"So, how much have you done?"
"Still... haven't done it..."
"Well, then you should do it now, right?"
Yoon Seo-a sighed deeply and nodded.
The training method Seong Jihan told her to get rare stats was too simple and brutal.
But she had no choice but to follow it.
"I'm going to train. Uncle, turn off the computer."
"Okay."
As Yoon Seo-a left the room,
Seong Jihan went to BattleTube on the computer.
To watch Baron's highlight video that was mentioned earlier.
The video he watched.
[ULTIMATE MAGE, Barron Williams!]
As the title suggests, the highlight video focused on Baron's ruthless power.
However,
Seong Jihan smiled at the sight.
"Of course, he's showing his true potential from the start."
Indeed, the world's top-ranked player from his previous life had not changed.
He boasted impeccable control from the Bronze League.
Barron Williams.
He was... a natural prodigy.
* * *
[The Top 100 Bronze Promotion Match is about to begin.]
The Top 100 promotion match started in sync with the time of the top league in the world, the New York League 1 in the United States.
On August 25th, at 6 PM New York time.
In Korea, which had a 13-hour time difference, it was 7 AM on August 26th.
At the same time, the American Battle.net broadcast began on Channel 0 worldwide.
The New York League, which led the power rankings among the leagues, was given the privilege of broadcasting the matches worldwide.
As a result, the American Battle.net commentators and casters, who were visibly excited, enthusiastically covered the event.
"Here we go. The August Top 100 promotion match! The day has finally arrived! As usual, the Bronze League will kick things off!"
"This time, interest in the Bronze League promotion match has exploded compared to usual! Christopher, why is that?"
"Of course! Because our American rising star, Barron Williams, is participating!"
Baron! Baron! Baron! Baron! Baron!
As soon as Barron Williams' name was mentioned, the fans' frenzied shouting filled the background like a BGM.
The owner of an SSS-grade Gift, player Barron Williams.
He was already a top star in the United States, surpassing even the most popular celebrities.
"But... Barron also has a formidable competitor!"
"Right! A player from South Korea, Seong, who has an even more outstanding league record than Baron! He is a monster player who has never lost first place in a single game!"
"Never lost first place in a single game? Mr. Christopher, is that even possible?"
"I checked the records, and from 2010 to now, not a single player has achieved this! Of course, the level of the South Korean league... is not that high, but it's still an amazing record!"
Roar!
Baron's rival.
As praise for Seong Jihan was mentioned, the booing naturally filled the air.
The commentators were taking full advantage of the United States' advantage as the first broadcaster of the Battle.net Top 100 promotion match.
Their biased commentary, pretending to be neutral, and the direct emotions of American fans were part of that.
"So, the focus of today's Bronze promotion match will be on key player Barron and..."
"Player Seong."
"5 seconds before the match starts! The match is about to begin!"
[5... 4... 3... 2... 1...]
With the final countdown from the system,
The war of the stars, gathering the top 100 Bronze players from around the world, began.