Chapter 76: Myeong-Myeong and the Familiar League (3)

Among the eight quarterfinalists, there was one with the surname Eom. He had a hefty, muscular physique, easily the largest among the competitors who had made it this far.

But that didn’t mean Eom was weak. The tattoos on his arms and the expensive-looking watch he wore were clear signs that he wasn’t someone to be taken lightly.

Eom’s familiars were a formidable combination: one controlled the wind, another the trees, one wielded fire, and the last was an insect with a rock-hard body. Many had commented that his lineup posed a real threat to Jiseon.

If Eom used his own abilities along with those of his familiars, it would be a fierce fight against Jiseon. And Jiseon was no pushover—he was an esper, someone who could easily crush smaller clans or independent warriors.

In other words, they were on a different level.

Yet, to dismiss someone like him?

Eom let out a laugh upon hearing a certain remark.

It wasn’t a laugh of amusement.

It was a laugh born of anger.

“So, what you’re telling me is... he picked me because he has the privilege of being the first in the preliminaries?”

“Yes, the first-place winner of the preliminaries has chosen you, Mr. Eom.”

Eight familiar handlers had made it to the quarterfinals.

And they saw him as the weakest among them.

“Do I really look like the weakest out of everyone who made it through the round of sixteen?”

Eom, a man who lived and died by his pride, clenched his fist tightly. The chain attached to his hand trembled, causing his familiars to shudder in fear.

And so, the seventh match leading to the quarterfinals began.

On stage stood Yoo Hajin, cradling Myeong-Myeong in his arms, and Eom, who commanded four different elemental chobioms into strict obedience.

Before the match began, Eom smiled and spoke.

“Do I really look like the weakest?”

“Huh?”

Yoo Hajin tilted his head in confusion, further infuriating Eom.

“I’ll make you pay for underestimating me. People might say this is a battle of familiars, but I’ll show you why people leave this arena half-crippled.”

Eom was confident of his victory as he spoke.

Look at that creature in his arms.

It’s nothing but a dog with a trace of yokai blood. Even at its best, it would only be able to use half of its original power—maybe less.

A fire lizard alone should be enough to handle it. But just to completely crush Yoo Hajin, Eom summoned two beasts to fight.

And then the match began.

As soon as it started, Yoo Hajin murmured to himself.

“Myeong-Myeong. What? You’re saying, ‘Go get him, Yoo Hajin’?”

“Myeong-Myeong?”

Eom didn’t bother listening to him. Instead, he gave commands to his fire-wielding lizard and wind-manipulating bird.

“Fire Beast, release your maximum power. Wind Beast, amplify that fire with your wind.”

As the fiery wave surged toward Yoo Hajin, he suddenly shouted.

“Hajin-Hajin!”

He tucked Myeong-Myeong safely into his chest and struck a starting position like a sprinter.

“Body Slam!!!”

And with that, Yoo Hajin charged straight into Eom, ramming his body against him. Eom was sent flying backward and crashed into a nearby concrete wall with his back.

The match ended just like that.

It was such an absurd outcome.

The spectators and commentators were left speechless.

“W-what just happened?”

“He didn’t even use his familiar! Is that allowed?”

“Technically, there’s no problem according to the rules, but... to think someone can achieve that with just their physical body without any psychic powers. He’s like a rumored tiger.”

While the crowd murmured in disbelief, a woman seated in the VIP section, identified by Yoo Hajin as the hairpin woman, quietly muttered to herself. She was the head of the Black Dragon Yi family.

“Impressive. His body is incredibly strong. If we were to take his bloodline, a fine child would surely be born.”

The head of the Black Dragon Yi family, Lee Ryeo, turned to a girl sitting next to her. The girl’s hands were bound in front of her, her feet shackled, and she sat inside an iron cage. Despite this, the girl wore an elegant hanbok that looked expensive, giving her the appearance of a kidnapped princess.

And the girl bore a striking resemblance to Lee Ryeo.

They were mother and daughter.

The family head spoke to her daughter.

“Hwa-ya, what do you think of that man?”

“I do not know, Mother. Isn’t it possible that the yokai he holds is amplifying his power? But if that creature is truly as powerful as it seems...”

The girl smiled as she continued.

“Then, all I wish right now is to face that man in battle. So, Mother, please release me.”

The iron bars holding the daughter, Yi Hwa, rattled as she spoke.

“This time, I won’t kill. I’ll just sever a few limbs. I won’t torment the prey unnecessarily after capturing it. I promise to keep my word this time, Mother. Please.”

Seeing this, Ryeo thought to herself.

‘As expected, my daughter doesn’t respect human laws. The only law she follows is the law of the strong, an instinctual rule recognized by all living beings.’

The family head shook her head.

She understood why her daughter was like this.

The state of her daughter, Yi Hwa, was simple to explain.

Her human heart had been consumed by the blood of the Black Dragon.

And what was the essence of Black Dragon blood?

A psychopathic thirst for killing life and proving strength. That was the nature of the Black Dragon bloodline. As someone who carried that noble blood, Lee Ryeo knew this better than anyone.

“Long ago, the traitor of our family, Yi Jinryong, lost his humanity in the same way.”

Yi Jinryong, the sibling of the family’s ancestor, had once made a notorious name for himself in the spirit realm due to his cruelty. Even the most arrogant noble families, who regarded all other life as insignificant, had criticized his barbarity.

But Yi Jinryong had ignored all their criticisms. If anything, he responded to them by committing even more brutal murders.

And yet now, what of Yi Jinryong? He worked as the head of Cheonji, saving countless lives. He had even betrayed his own family to do so.

The reason for his change was simple.

Yi Jinryong had been defeated and enslaved by the leader of Cheonji.

Yi Jinryong, who never accepted defeat, especially not in a one-on-one battle, had been humbled. But the leader of Cheonji had overcome all of Yi Jinryong’s conditions and showed him what defeat truly meant.

It was then that Yi Jinryong realized what emotions were. And he discovered them through love.

Perhaps her daughter would experience the same thing.

With that thought, Yi Lee Ryeo sighed deeply.

“I hope this opportunity brings forth the one who will become your husband.”

The family head stared at the girl inside the cage.

In response, the girl flashed a bright smile.

“Hmm.”

The family head felt a shiver of fear from her daughter’s smile.

***

Despite winning the match with a body slam, I couldn’t fully enjoy the victory.

I had just heard something strange.

“They said I should forfeit because ‘that person’ is coming?”

I stroked Myeong-Myeong, deep in thought. Some of the officials from the Sacred Blood Hall had come to me with what was essentially a thinly veiled threat.

The conversation went something like this:

“Mr. Yoo Hajin, it seems you’re not affiliated with any faction or receiving support from any noble family.”

“And?”

“Wouldn’t this be a good time for you to gracefully bow out? You’re the only contestant among the final eight who doesn’t have a powerful backer.”

The official continued.

“The remaining contestants are all formidable. You can’t rely on luck like before. If you forfeit now, we’ll offer you a handsome compensation.”

Though the word “compensation” made my eyes light up, I couldn’t give up on the grand prize—likely referred to as a life-changing amount of money. On top of that, I needed to win the Sacred Blood for Myeong-Myeong.

“I also have a strong need to win, so I’m afraid I’ll have to decline. And if that’s the case, you shouldn’t have let me pass the preliminaries in the first place.”

“That’s because there’s conflict between the powers managing the preliminaries and those involved in the final stages... Ahem. Mr. Yoo Hajin, we understand how you may perceive us. You probably think we’re asking you to bow out so that nobler individuals can advance, and you wouldn’t be wrong. I’m here because those distinguished individuals have requested it.”

The official sighed, as if sympathetic.

“This Sacred Blood Tournament is special. It’s so important that ‘that person’ is ensuring fairness. The one who will sit at the seat of the Sacred Blood Hall. The one hailed as the hope of the noble families is overseeing this event. Naturally, that person will favor the noble participants.”

“That person?”

Who is this person?

What is this, Voldemort?

Why can’t they say the name?

“That person is truly of high standing. I hope you make a wise decision.”

With that, the official withdrew.

Just who is this ‘person’?

I couldn’t help but feel a bit nervous.

To calm myself, I gently petted Myeong-Myeong.

And so, the quarterfinals began.

My opponent was a young noble from a powerful family.

I couldn’t quite remember his name.

“Why didn’t you forfeit?”

“Huh?”

The nobleman pointed at me, sneering.

“Clearly, you don’t understand the fear that ‘that person’ instills. Typical of lowborn blood. Do you even know who’s in charge of this tournament?”

“Hajin Hajin.”

He kept running his mouth, so I just charged at him.

The nobleman, arrogant but not entirely foolish, dodged once. But dodging once didn’t guarantee he’d dodge twice.

“Lightning Strike!”

“Arrrgh!”

The Yoo Hajin special, Lightning Strike.

Also known as a low kick.

“This, this isn’t lightning speed at all!!! What does a low kick have to do with lightning strikes anyway?!”

Huh, true.

But since my low kick is as fast as lightning, it’s valid.

“Why haven’t you forfeited? Are you trying to get hit by my destruction beam?”

“The Sacred Blood Tournament is a battle between chobioms! Where’s the place for such barbaric nonsense?!”

Man, this guy sure has a long tongue.

I raised my fist.

Myeong-Myeong let out a little cry.

“Myeong-Myeong!”

What’s that, Myeong-Myeong? You want me to land the destruction beam right on his face? As expected of my trainer—no mercy. But as a good human-mon, I had no choice but to follow orders.

“Hajin-Hajin!”

“Myeong-Myeong?”

“W-wait!”

I twirled my fist as I approached the fallen nobleman.

“The bond between Myeong-Myeong and me is unbreakable. Take this, destruction bea—”

“That person is coming.”

Suddenly, the fallen nobleman muttered those words. Just moments ago, he had been trembling in fear, but now he was smiling. Who on earth is coming?

I looked around, and everyone was bowing. The arena had fallen silent, with only the nobleman’s murmurs filling the air.

“You have no idea who ‘that person’ is, do you? I happen to be quite close to them. We’ve even had three conversations.”

So who the hell is this person? Is it a Celestial? Or maybe the head of a noble family? Or perhaps a top-secret weapon from a noble faction? What kind of monster is coming?

The nobleman looked almost excited as he spoke.

“Ugh, once they arrive... you’ll see just how close I am to them...”

Close, my ass. You only talked to them three times!

“The lady has arrived.”

Suddenly, the southern gate opened. Men in suits and women in hanboks lined the path in perfect order.

And then ‘that person’ walked through the center of the gate.

I was shocked when I saw who it was.

“So, where’s the issue?” she asked.

“The northwest arena, Miss,” someone responded.

The person in question was a girl with pink hair.

A girl I knew very, very well.

“Who in the world dares to disturb this important tourname... hic?!”

“Oh, for f—”

I let out a sigh, completely deflated.

– – – The End of The Chapter – – –

[TL: You can support the translation and read 5 chapters ahead of the release here on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/Bill94 

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