NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 60
“I will host the third Duel Tournament!”
Registration will be open for two days starting tomorrow, and the tournament will take place over the following four days.
Again, I won’t collect any entry fee, so I hope everyone applies generously.
Just like last time, I plan to upload the tournament’s videos to the bulletin board. So please keep that in mind.
The prizes for the tournament are as follows:
- 1st Place: One-month pass to the 3rd floor
- 2nd Place: Two-week pass to the 3rd floor
- 3rd Place: One-week pass to the 3rd floor
- 4th Place: 1,000 points
- 5th Place: 500 points
To register, please visit the Doll placed at the entrance of the Tower to express your intention. I would appreciate it if everyone could join in with a light heart.
┗ Hongryeong: “Then I’ll aim for 1st place again this time.”
┗ Goro: “Haha, can you really do that? I’m going to win this time.”
┗ Hongryeong: “I won’t make the same mistake as last time, Goro.”
┗ Omon: “That was hilarious back then. Who would’ve thought you’d charge in while taking off all your clothes! I wonder if the video is still around.”
┗ Hao: “But why are we even doing this? There’s no entry fee, so I’m just participating casually.”
┗ Yuna: “I don’t know. After you came back from the promotion exam, it suddenly started up.”
┗ Kashian: “I want to participate too.”
I heard voices of the crowd buzzing with anticipation for the upcoming duel. I could feel many eyes on me as I looked around.
It seemed like almost everyone from the Tower had gathered, chatting around the central hall where I stood.
I gave a quick glance at the Mirror Bug. It was about time. I stretched a bit and cleared my throat loudly. The sound reverberated around the area alongside the magic energy.
“Everyone has gathered. You’ve all been waiting for this moment, right? It’s time to find out who is the strongest in this Tower.”
The crowd fell silent, the excitement palpable in their eyes. It was a different level of interest compared to the finals of the last tournament. I guess that just shows how much this duel is anticipated.
“First up is Hongryeong, the winner of the last tournament!”
I snapped my fingers to signal. The large Mirror Bugs flying around began to show the video on their screens.
It displayed scenes from the last duel, showcasing Hongryeong delivering a clean, fatal strike.
Amid the Mirror Bugs, Hongryeong walked out slowly, a relaxed smile on his face. I slightly bowed my head, continuing my words.
“And the opponent is none other than Kashian!”
As I finished speaking, the Mirror Bug captured Kashian’s image on the screen. She was taking down opponents without even drawing her sword from its sheath.
“This is her first tournament, but she has made a strong impression by defeating all her opponents in a single hit.”
She entered the central hall, looking around in wonder, while the Mirror Bug magnified her image for everyone else to see.
“Kill him!”
“Get your revenge!”
The Swordsmen shouted, their emotions thick in the air. I could actually feel the strong desire to kill directed at Hongryeong.
Kashian, unfazed, fiddled with the sword at her waist. Behind her, the Bear Doll gently patted her back.
“Now, both of you are quite powerful. That’s why you both managed to defeat everyone else and make it to the finals. I won’t speak too long. Let’s watch this final battle!”
The two began to channel their magic. I took my Bear Doll and slowly exited the central hall toward the stationed Magical Circle, a multi-layered defense barrier put up to counter the aftermath of this duel.
All the magic activated, and the battle began. The first move was a gentle breeze raised by Hongryeong, surging toward Kashian like a storm.
She deftly twisted her sword and used the sheath to block the wind as she advanced. In the blink of an eye, her body moved nimbly, closing the distance between her and Hongryeong.
The air grew tense, the magics of both engaging in a dance of dominion over one another.
Hongryeong manipulated the wind at his fingertips and conjured another whirlwind, an enormous mass of magic energy compared to the previous one.
Kashian slowly drew her sword before the oncoming wind and swung it lightly. But the magic contained within was dreadfully powerful.
When magic and sword clashed, the air vibrated and a chilling sound echoed forth. Both took a step back from the ricochet, then unleashed their killing intent toward each other once more.
And so the duel continued. Dozens of Mirror Bugs occupied various angles, capturing the bloody battle on screen.
I observed their fight meticulously. If I were in there, I’d likely be flung back just from the aftermath of their magic.
The sheer force projected was astounding. Yes, this was the type of fight I desired. A wave of satisfaction swelled within me.
People are unreliable.
This thought began to creep into my mind after returning from the promotion exam. It’s already been six months since I reached the 2nd floor. The fifteenth lecture had taken place, and now only five lectures remained.
Honestly, the bitterness I felt in the past had all melted away. After seeing my points, I realized they weren’t as bad as I thought.
In the first month, I only received five hundred points. I didn’t even notice they had entered my account.
But then the next month, I got one thousand points, and the month after that, one thousand five hundred. The amount of points coming in varied.
Now, it’s reached three thousand points. In five years, I’ll be raking in a whopping thirty thousand points a month.
As I thought of the points, my frustration melted away. This wasn’t just a loss for me, so the Professor wouldn’t make a fuss about it either.
So, in a way, it was beneficial. But I needed to reflect on it. This could happen again in the future.
There were two major reasons why this situation occurred. The first was that I had not relied enough on the Professor.
Throughout this time, I had been half-immersed in running the Tower. The feeling of having two hundred Mages moving according to my will. I wanted to throw myself into managing everything.
In the process, people noticed the Professor’s laziness. Given that she hadn’t shown her face even once, it was only natural.
Then I showed up with a tantalizing morsel. How could anyone resist? I would’ve touched it at least once. That’s how this mess unfolded.
So I must cling to the Professor from now on. She’s the only person I can rely on.
It was the same this time. I may have missed the appropriate timing already, but what if right after that incident, I had sought her help?
The Professor would’ve found it bothersome. And she might’ve beaten me half to death. But perhaps she could have stopped this mess.
I was sure she would at least consider my earnest plea. After all, I was providing the utmost convenience for her.
The second issue was my own lack of strength.
I had sworn to myself that I wouldn’t fight. So I reduced my magic and created Dolls. Until now, I thought that approach was credible enough.
Others in the Tower treated me with respect while using my Dolls. But the University outside was far more aligned with the logic of power.
Through this, I’ve learned many lessons again. The reason they targeted me so easily was that I lacked the strength to protect myself.
Of course, I’m weak. No matter what I do, I can’t become as strong as them. But strength isn’t just about personal power.
After the exams, I holed up in the Tower to create many Dolls. All to soothe my troubled mind.
The Mirror Bugs for deliveries were all managed by Unit 0. I just had to plant my tree trunks into the creations it made.
So I neglected food and spent time just fiddling with Dolls. And among all the Dolls I created, I realized something.
People are unreliable. But Dolls can be trusted. They are lives born from my hands and can resonate with me.
Since coming to the University, I’d only created Dolls for others. That suited me best, and it was also the most rewarding.
Thus, there was no reason I couldn’t create Dolls solely for myself. Dolls that would support me fiercely.
That’s why I started holding tournaments.
The reason I hadn’t created attack Dolls before was simply because I lacked talent in offensive magic. But now, a different method had emerged.
The battle between Hongryeong and Kashian was nearing its conclusion. With all the swirling magic, I couldn’t determine the outcome clearly.
As one could tell from their magic, they were exceptionally strong. Their magic was equally formidable. Their fight was being stored and stacked on my Shadow Tree.
As the magic faded, the victor emerged.
Only one person stood in the central hall: Kashian. Despite having her neck half-slashed and bleeding profusely, she stood tall, reining in her magic.
Hongryeong seemed to have already been sent to the Infirmary. Soon Kashian stumbled and was enveloped in light, disappearing.
The spectators who watched the duel clapped, sending them off. What a beautiful battle it was! A bloodbath befitting the finals.
Starting tomorrow, both of them will level up to the 3rd floor to continue training. I’ve pleaded with the Professor so much to prepare rewards that would catch their interest. It was the end result of many attempts, even bearing a few hits along the way.
This tournament was satisfying as well. All of this will nourish my Dolls.
People are unreliable. So I will create Dolls, Dolls just for me. Stealing the talents of other Mages and embedding them within.