Chapter 91: The New Kim Ha-joon (1)
Throughout that night, both Ellie and Cassie had one thought in their minds:
Who is Arthur Val Arcain?
They were more than certain that it was their first time meeting him, but the feeling they had at that moment was something you'd feel for a long-lost lover.
But it didn't make sense that they could fall for someone they had never met, right?
Regardless of what logic told them, they were certain that their feelings for him were genuine, and they had no intention of denying it.
Tomorrow, they were planning on confirming that emotion.
But Cassie and Ellie weren't the only ones who had Arthur on their minds.
Arthur Arcain, the son of the last of the three demonic dragon royal sisters, and the only male born into an all-female clan.
He was said to be the disgrace of their race, who, according to rumors, never awakened and, because of that, couldn't attend the academy.
But here he was, in the academy—flesh and blood.
A lot of people concluded that he got in because of his looks, since his face was an ability in its own right.
An ability that could rival that of a Golden Core Mage.
But others thought differently.
No matter how good-looking or charming he was, the academy was all about either brains, strength, or both.
So it was either he was incredibly smart, or unimaginably strong.
That night, only the name Arthur Val Arcain rang through everyone's minds.
The next day was the start of the magic tournament.
And for the first time since they entered the academy, Ha-joon's match wasn't the center of attention.
...
The night went by in a flash, and in that short time, another rumor spread through the school.
"Arthur Arcain has five wives already—just one behind Ha-joon."
Everyone in the school knew. But that didn't stop the girls from trying to get closer to him.
Unbeknownst to Arthur, the males of the academy had already formed a cult dedicated to his downfall.
They couldn't deny his good looks, but at least they prayed he would be weak, so even if girls pampered him, they could push him around all they wanted.
On the other hand, many girls in the academy had joined a fan club made to worship Arthur.
'The bed warmers were creepy enough, now even the students of the academy are like this,' Arthur thought, holding three soda drinks.
After he, Nathira, Amelia, Eira, Sylvia, and Elizabeth arrived in the city, he had bought the largest house he could find and also purchased everything Eira, Elizabeth, and Sylvia needed since they couldn't attend the academy.
Eira and Elizabeth were both twenty-three, and Elizabeth was over a hundred years older than Nathira, though she was only twenty-two in this timeline, so even with a pass, they couldn't be let in—except if they were Nathira, of course.
After they split up, he, Nathira, and Amelia had gone to the academy. And even without factoring in his looks, he ended up getting swarmed by girls upon entering.
He exhaled softly as he made his way into a large building that served as the general training chamber.
In all honesty, Arthur couldn't see much difference between the academy now and the one he knew previously, even Amelia had confirmed that not much had changed in terms of history.
That raised a question in his mind:
Who was in charge of the world?
If it was Tessia, then much would've changed in the timeline, and she would have definitely caught Sylvia trying to retain some power.
On the other hand, if Agrat was in control, as someone new to divinity, and with her naturally being a demon who opposed divinity, it would make sense why there were so many inconsistencies in the world, and why most of history repeated itself.
'But is Ha-joon still the chosen one? It's definitely possible since he exists.' Arthur waved his hand to Nathira and Cassie, who had reserved a seat for him in the descending stairs. 'But something about him feels wrong.'
The stories Arthur had heard about him didn't quite match the Ha-joon he knew.
He still loved women, that couldn't be helped.
However, he no longer seemed so lustful, and he felt colder, more detached.
Honestly, the stories made him sound kind of badass.
Arthur sat between the two girls as the spectator seats slowly filled.
The constant stares were a little annoying, especially with his enhanced senses, but he simply shut his mind off and focused on the area in front of him.
The matches started shortly after.
The first round went by quickly, as a second-year girl defeated her opponent in a matter of seconds.
Then came the second and third.
After much waiting, the most anticipated match, the seventh—got underway.
Arthur leaned forward, his elbows on his thighs and his fingers interlaced like someone deep in thought.
The commentator took a pause and then said:
"Match number seven:..."
The crowd went silent as one voice spoke out:
"He's here."
Everyone gripped whatever they could as the commentator finished:
"...Ha-joon Kim."
From a singular doorway that led from the building to the brown, squeaky wooden platform, a young man appeared.
He was dressed in a simple black shirt and trousers with a metal plate guarding his shoulder, strapped across his chest, and black gloves that revealed the upper part of his fingers, with silver knuckles on them.
Purple eyes that looked like they emerged from the shadows, and raven-black hair that flowed as the wind brushed across his pale, flawless skin.
The rules of the matches were simple:
Challenge any opponent in either first or second year and try your best to win.
Scores would be evaluated based on performance.
Everyone gripped their seats as they waited to see whom Ha-joon would choose.
To them, he was like a miniature god.
He looked down on everyone, and they had grown used to it—because he had the strength to back it up.
He was the strongest in their generation, with a talent rank no one knew.
No one had the right to look him in the eye.
However, Arthur's mind wasn't filled with reverence like the rest. Only one thought echoed in it:
'This isn't the Kim Ha-joon I know.'
Arthur had already suspected it before, but now he was sure—the man in front of him wasn't the Kim Ha-joon he knew. Or rather, he was the real and original Kim Ha-joon, not the reincarnated one.
But Arthur also knew that the Kim Ha-joon he once knew wasn't dead. No, he was still in there, somewhere deep within that body.
Maybe no one else, except perhaps Nathira, could see it, but with the Demonic Dragon God eyes, he could witness the struggle for control happening inside him.
Ha-joon parted his lips and declared:
"I want anyone who feels that I'm not strong enough to lead this generation to step up." He looked up at the spectators, but to them, it still felt like he was looking down on them. "If I lose, everything I own will belong to the winner—even my life."
He tilted his head slightly, subtle mana flaring around him. "Now. Who will step up?"
─── ✦ End of Chapter ✦ ───