Grand Ranking Tournament
We decided to count the day I confessed beneath the World Tree as Day 1.
I started dating Yeon Haneul.
‘Me? With Haneul?’
To emphasize it twice:
I started dating Yeon Haneul.
It wasn’t a dream, a lie, or a delusion.
It was an undeniable fact.
‘To think Haneul is no longer just a childhood friend... but my girlfriend....’
Ridiculously.
Even though I was the one who confessed first, at first I couldn’t get a grip on the newly established relationship.
It was bewildering, nothing but unfamiliar.
How in the world were couples supposed to behave normally?
How did one date?
The worries never left my mind.
So much so that I was overly conscious of it.
—Hi.... Did... did you sleep well?
—Yeah.... How about you?
—I slept well too, obviously....
—I see....
—....
For a while, I couldn’t help but feel awkward dealing with Yeon Haneul.
I was so shy I couldn’t even make proper eye contact.
And yet, with a tingling heart avoiding her gaze, I chased after her, thinking of her all day long.
Each day was thrilling.
The same was true for her.
Our friends clicked their tongues at us as if sick of us.
—No way, you’re acting like this now? Haha.... This is bewildering.
—I thought I’d gotten somewhat used to you two after knowing you for a year, but it turns out there were mountains beyond mountains. To think there was more.... I’m going to develop an inner demon because of you guys.
—I didn’t want to say this, but really.... This is disgusting.
—Argh! Argh! Argh! My eyes! My eyes! I can’t stand it! Dating Haneul, I’m so jealous I could die! But anyway... how far have you two gone? Did you? Huh? I’m curious! Tell me!
—Yam.... Tastes bad.
—Gyeonu! Gyeonu! Haneul! Haneul! Why are you two being so cautious around each other!? If it’s awkward, since you’re dating now, you should hurry up and make progress! Breed....
—Senior Yuri, you should maintain a certain level of decency in public places. Minju is watching right in front of you too. So how about we save that talk for when we’re drinking? Yes? That would be nice, right? Senior Gyeonu, Senior Haneul. I actually love dirty jokes too, a lot.
Gang Hanbyeol, Yong Haerang, Lisa, Go Eunbi, Cha Eunsol, Nam Yuri, Yu Gaeul, and others.
Our friends, our seniors and juniors, and acquaintances generally reacted that way.
Because of that, rather than congratulations, Yeon Haneul and I heard things like “please stop flaunting your relationship” or “how far have you gone” much more often.
Still, as time passed bit by bit....
The two of us came to accept the new relationship stably.
And I realized.
‘There’s nothing special about dating.’
I don’t know what Yeon Haneul thinks.
By my standards, there wasn’t much difference between before and after we started dating.
Meeting in the morning to greet each other, going to the Academy, eating together when it was time, going on walks, going out to have fun....
Sometimes enjoying physical affection too....
It’s just that the word “childhood” fell away from the term “childhood friend” that defined our relationship, and to me the word “girl” was added, and to her the word “boy.”
Of course, there were parts I could feel realistically now that our relationship had developed into a romantic one.
For example, now we engaged in physical affection without hiding it, proudly.
“Why do you keep looking at me?”
“Because I like watching you chew. Try this too. It’s delicious.”
Or expressing affection like now.
It was lunchtime.
Having claimed the seat next to Yeon Haneul, I watched her warmly, regardless of whether there were friends around.
While brushing her hair back with my hand.
And occasionally, I fed her food she might like.
“Don’t just look at me, you should eat too. You said we have Instructor Suhoguk’s class later, so you need to eat a lot.”
“Just looking at you fills me up. Eat this too. Want some water?”
“You rascal. If you keep this up, I’ll scold you.”
“Then if you really want to see me eat, why don’t you feed me yourself? I’ll keep my mouth open.”
“...So that’s what you were aiming for? You should’ve said so from the beginning. Alright.”
Yeon Haneul picks up a side dish with her chopsticks and puts it into my mouth.
I look at her with my eyes while chewing the side dish with my mouth.
It tasted like Yeon Haneul.
We laughed for no reason.
Then.
“They’re really doing everything. Updating their flaunting levels day by day.”
“Should we eat separately from them from now on? I can’t eat because of them.”
“It annoyed me even when they weren’t dating, but it’s even more annoying now that they are. Ugh.”
The triplets frowned openly and made fake retching sounds.
The other friends seemed to be of similar minds, smiling bitterly.
‘I should stop around here.’
I can’t be so swept up in romance that I neglect friendship.
To maintain a healthy relationship, it was necessary to strike an appropriate balance.
Yeon Haneul and I were in agreement.
Having exchanged glances, we tactfully reduced our affectionate displays afterward.
Then at that moment.
“I’ll get up first.”
Min Arin, who had been sitting at the edge eating lunch without participating much in the conversation, got up while pulling her chair.
It was nothing but puzzling to me.
“Why? Isn’t there still time left? We could kill time at a cafe until the next class.”
“I’ll go ahead and do some previewing.”
“You could do that at the cafe too....”
“If I’m with you guys, I’ll just chat and play around instead of studying properly.”
“...”
Min Arin replied curtly, as if leaving no room for argument.
She turned her back on us and left the cafeteria.
I watched her leave, tilting my head.
‘What’s with her lately....’
It’s not just my imagination.
Recently, Min Arin had been showing a cold attitude toward us.
No, to be precise, toward me.
‘Did I do something wrong? If so, she could at least tell me....’
It’s Min Arin, who once kept it all inside and nearly caused a ruin ending.
I couldn’t help but worry about her, even though I didn’t know the reason, because she seemed to be harboring some inner turmoil.
‘It’d be better to resolve this before she explodes like last time....’
Should I follow her?
If there’s a misunderstanding, clearing it up cleanly; if I’m at fault, apologizing is the best plan.
Just as I made that judgment and tried to get up from my seat.
Suddenly, Yeon Haneul grabbed my arm.
“Don’t go.”
“...”
“Stay here. If you go, it’ll only make her suffer more needlessly.”
Yeon Haneul spoke in a firm tone.
Led by her hand, I had no choice but to sit back down.
Lisa chimed in as if in agreement.
“That’s right. Gyeonu, just stay still and pretend not to know. Don’t try to pay unnecessary attention to Arin. It’s unfortunate, but this is something Arin has to sort out on her own.”
“...Okay.”
While the atmosphere had quietly become solemn.
Lisa slowly lowered her eyelids.
After gauging the mood of the friends around me, I eventually decided to follow their advice.
Then, Cha Eunsol spoke up.
“I’ll go take care of Arin. I just finished my lunch anyway.”
For once, showing no attachment to the remaining food on her tray.
Cha Eunsol pushed off the table and stood up.
I decided to leave it to her, submerged in questions.
‘Why is she avoiding me....’
Perhaps, maybe.
A thought that I had dismissed as mere self-consciousness until now flashed through my mind.
* * *
A Grand Ranking Tournament held every year for the students of Academy City to compete as Hunters.
After the midterms, the Academy had been selecting students to participate in that tournament.
The selection criterion was to enter within the top 99 of the school rankings within the set period—that is, to reach Double Number.
Among us, I, Yeon Haneul, Gang Hanbyeol, Yong Haerang, Min Arin, and Nam Yuri met the criteria.
‘I struggled to raise my ranking whenever I had free time, determined to intervene in the Grand Ranking Tournament episode somehow.... but it all became pointless after joining hands with the Chairwoman.’
According to the game's progression.
If Gang Hanbyeol achieved Double Number by this time, the Grand Ranking Tournament episode would be unlocked.
Since the tournament was held in the Battle Arena, it was also called the Battle Arena episode.
Anyway, in that episode.
Gang Hanbyeol, filled with motivation at the prospect of fighting other Academy students, participates in the Grand Ranking Tournament.
At this time, the prize given to the winner is....
‘The Egg of Bonds.’
An Egg of Bonds known to react to its owner’s soul and birth the phantom beast most suited to them, though what will hatch cannot be known until it is born.
That egg, so rare they say calling for it is as good as having it, was the core material of this episode.
As befitting the protagonist of the game, Gang Hanbyeol wins the Grand Ranking Tournament and takes the egg...
But the incident that would determine whether the ruin ending occurred happened then.
Right before he obtains the Egg of Bonds, it is snatched away by the Villain Alliance, which had been secretly watching for an opportunity.
Among them were, of all things, two demons belonging to the Demon Society.
‘And not just one, but two.’
The Fiendish Lady, Sim Ji-eun.
The Iron Dragon, Tak Wonho.
The two demons appearing as the bosses of this episode decide to buy time by confronting those present until the warp magic to return to their headquarters activates.
Therefore, in the game, Gang Hanbyeol’s party had to achieve victory over them in a battle with a time limit.
If they lost or drew....
‘The Egg of Bonds falls into Tacheon’s hands, and a phantom beast that greatly strengthens his power is born.’
Of course, even if the Grand Ranking Tournament episode is not unlocked, Tacheon still gets his hands on the Egg of Bonds.
But the phantom beast born then and the one born now are different.
The one born then is a monkey, merely enough to strengthen him.
The one born now is a baku (貘), which accelerates his wish and leads the world to ruin.
Humanity falls into an unending nightmare, reduced to a state of supplying mana to Tacheon.
‘For reference, a baku looks like an anteater, a creature of legend, they say. If it were Sagun, he could explain it in detail....’
Conversely, if they win.
Gang Hanbyeol recovers the Egg of Bonds, and the two demons have no choice but to retreat.
As a result, the difficulty of future episodes related to the Demon Society is lowered.
Therefore....
‘I must defend the Egg of Bonds so it won’t be stolen by those guys.’
No, that’s not enough.
If possible, I want to launch a counterattack too.
In that sense.
“Hello, Chairwoman.”
“Welcome, Student Gyeonu.”
I visited the chairwoman’s office to enlist So Hyeyul’s cooperation.
Having been contacted in advance, she welcomed me warmly.
“I heard the news. They say you’re dating these days? And that after pretending not to be while flaunting your relationship, now you’ve raised the bar and do it openly.... I understand you’re excited about finally dating Student Haneul, but please be careful in public places. You can’t tarnish the dignity of Geumgang Academy, can you? Anyway, congratulations on getting together. I hope you two make a lovely couple.”
“Thank you. I’ll take your advice to heart. Which brings me to why I’m here—the weather is perfect for dating these days, so how about we backstab someone while we’re at it?”
“Excuse me? Backstab? What does dating have to do with backstabbing.... Who are you trying to hit this time....”
At my sudden remark.
So Hyeyul, who had been enjoying refreshments on the sofa, tilted her head.
But upon hearing what came next....
“The Villain Alliance. Specifically, two of the Six Demons.”
“...”
“If it goes well, we’ll not only catch big fish but also deal a heavy blow to their forces.”
Her eyes changed.
So Hyeyul let out a short snort, as if intrigued.
She took a sip of coffee, set down her cup, and opened her mouth.
“Shall we hear the story first?”
And so.
So Hyeyul and I devised a scheme.
A wide grin spread across her face.
“Exhilarating. This should be fun.”
“Right?”
* * *
If you ask whether I covet the Egg of Bonds—of course I do.
With all my heart, I want to have it.
But it is unmistakably Gang Hanbyeol’s miracle.
Not wanting to steal my friend’s miracle, I decided not to participate in the Grand Ranking Tournament.
Instead, I set my course to watch alongside friends who likewise wouldn’t be participating.
‘The problem is that the Grand Ranking Tournament is such a popular event that tickets are hard to come by.... especially the finals tickets.’
In truth, it was nothing difficult.
We simply had to secure tickets through our families.
So Hyeyul helped as well.
Thanks to that, we were able to attend the Grand Ranking Tournament every day without missing a single one.
For two whole weeks, with our attendance acknowledged.
‘Isn’t this great? It’s practically a vacation.’
Since the Villain Alliance intervenes only on the last day, until then it’s basically time to play.
I’ll enjoy the Grand Ranking Tournament obediently and cheer for the friends who are participating.
The Battle Arena of Academy City’s District 24, taking the form of a massive dome.
Having entered the stadium, none of us could help but be excited.
“There’s still time before the opening ceremony, shall we look around and see what’s nearby? We can buy snacks on the way back.”
“Yeah, that sounds good.”
“Yum, yum. I’m in favor.”
Gang Hanbyeol, Yong Haerang, Nam Yuri, and Min Arin, who were participating in the Grand Ranking Tournament, had parted ways with us midway due to needing to prepare for the opening ceremony.
I headed out to tour the Battle Arena with the remaining friends.
It was then that I encountered her—the Snow Fairy of the Flying Sword White Clan, Baek Jimin.
“Gyeoonuuuuu....”
“Huh?”
Baek Jimin deliberately drew out my name.
As if she was displeased, one of her eyes twitched.
Immediately after, she spat out,
“Hey, you traitor.”
I had become the childhood friend of the mid-boss.