"[Victory! Maorun White]"

"[Defeat! Black Circus]"

Cho Yerin slumped to the ground, staring blankly at the holographic scoreboard displaying her team's victory.

“Victory.”

The word, something she should have grown used to as a competitor, felt strangely unfamiliar. Why did it feel so foreign, yet so wonderful?

"Heh… heh-heh…”

They did it. She really pulled it off. Although the opposing team wasn’t particularly strong, like her own, it didn’t matter. What mattered was that, in the final moments, Cho Yerin had taken charge, turned the battle around with her strategy, and led her team to a comeback victory.

If she had followed her teammates’ clumsy plan to the end as usual, they’d surely have lost.

*We won! We actually won!*

Though she wanted to shout and jump for joy, the defeated expressions of the other team made her feel self-conscious, keeping her quiet. Her timid personality restrained her, as always.

“Hey!”

As Cho Yerin quietly celebrated, her teammates stomped over, looking furious.

“What the hell was that? Charging in out of nowhere—you almost made us lose!”

“Where would we be if we hadn’t stepped in?”

“Yeah, if we hadn’t joined when we did, we would’ve lost. It was all thanks to us.”

Even though they won, they blamed her and subtly tried to take credit for the victory.

Feeling a sudden wave of shame for having put up with their bullying, she realized something: Why should she fear getting kicked off this mediocre team? If it came to it, she could simply quit *League of Spirits* and return to her studies rather than put up with their nonsense.

“So, what?”

“…You little…”

“What were you going to do if I hadn’t jumped in? Wait around and lose the Guardian, get swarmed by the buffed enemy team, and get wiped out?”

“What do you mean, waiting? We were timing our move!”

“Sure, you guys were always ‘timing’ it—right up to our defeats. Am I wrong?”

“That crazy b— that’s…”

“But what about me? I timed my entry perfectly and won us the game, didn’t I?”

“Don’t kid yourself! We won because we stepped in to help!”

She couldn’t believe it.

“Isn’t that the point? I set up the field and laid everything out for you, so all you had to do was eat it up, yet you still act clueless.”

“You little…”

Unable to hold back, one of the female teammates grabbed Cho Yerin by the collar, lifting her off the ground. Her small frame was easy to lift, and as she looked into the girl’s fierce eyes up close, she felt a flicker of fear—but she glared right back.

“Then why don’t you go ahead and use those thick skulls of yours to rush in without me next match? I won’t help. Losing here doesn’t bother me—I’ll just go back to the Magic Warrior course, study hard, and make something of myself. But you? Didn’t you come to Stella for *League of Spirits*?”

“You…”

Of course, she wasn’t entirely right. They weren’t playing *League of Spirits* for love of the sport but had been sent by their “Master” to infiltrate Stella.

Even now, dark mages were spreading their roots across the magical world, and these students had been assigned to Stella, aiming to become key figures.

The plan to become representative players in *League of Spirits* had come from Professor Raydin, and that’s why they were hiding their true identities and playing as ordinary students.

But there was one complication.

Their fifth member hadn’t been able to transfer in due to an accident, so they’d been forced to recruit a human magic student as a temporary stand-in…

*Who knew she’d become such a problem…*

Unable to retort, Cho Yerin’s teammates stared at her, their anger silenced. Smirking, she shook off the hand gripping her collar.

She nearly stumbled but managed to keep her balance.

“So, start pulling your weight. If you don’t want to see me throw the game on purpose, you’d better listen to me.”

With that, Cho Yerin turned and walked briskly out of the arena. She headed down an empty hallway, leaned against a pillar, and let out the breath she’d been holding.

“Phew…”

Her heart was pounding as if it would burst.

This moment felt more thrilling, terrifying, and satisfying than even the moment of victory.

The rush was overwhelming.

She clenched her fists, her entire body shaking with excitement. Seeing them stand there, speechless, felt like sweet revenge. After all the humiliation, she’d finally gotten even, and it felt amazing.

All thanks to Baek Yuseol.

*But I can’t be satisfied with just this.*

Though her teammates seemed to want to win, and though she’d said she could go back to the Magic Warrior track, she genuinely wanted to compete in *League of Spirits*. She wasn’t about to settle for losing.

Next match, and the one after that.

She was determined to win them all and make it to the finals.

*Definitely!*

---

While Cho Yerin’s Maorun White team went on a winning streak, just as Baek Yuseol had predicted…

[Upcoming Match: Emerald Stella vs. Pulleim]

The team representing Stella and another filled with the most famous students from the Magic Warrior program were about to clash.

Though this wasn’t the finals, the matchup drew great interest, with professional players and *League of Spirits* association members arriving from far away.

“Ga Yurim, it looks like some people from the Major League Championship (MLCC) are here for this match.”

Ga Yurim scoffed at her coach’s comment.

“Against a team that isn’t even major? How ridiculous.”

“They may not be a major team, but their players have a lot of name recognition.”

The term “named player” wasn’t based solely on skill but also on popularity. To be popular, you needed skills, of course.

However, some players achieved fame outside of *League of Spirits*, like the members of Pulleim’s team, who had made names for themselves in other fields before joining the game.

“There are already a few reporters sneaking around, it seems…”

“How ridiculous. Does Stella not care about security?”

“Well, since it’s not really a secret, it looks like they gave permission on purpose.”

Publicity about star students only benefited Stella.

“How ridiculous…”

Ga Yurim wore an exasperated expression but was smiling inside.

*This might work out perfectly.*

It was frustrating to see these clueless magic warriors treating *League of Spirits* as a joke, but if these famous students created buzz, wouldn’t that only boost her career?

With her opponents being Pulleim, Mayuseong, Haewonryang, and Aizel—all prodigies from prestigious families—their inexperience hardly mattered.

Winning against them would inevitably increase her reputation. Moreover, she’d practiced hard and was now on a winning streak.

Though she’d had a few losses earlier due to poor form, she was ready to give her all in this match.

*It’s my stage, perfectly set for me.*

“Still, don’t get too cocky,” her coach advised. “They may not have formal training, but Stella’s ‘genius’ title is earned. And they’re in Class S…”

“I know that much, coach.”

Without even looking at him, she gazed into the mirror and responded coolly.

“I acknowledge they’re talented.”

“…Alright.”

“I’ve already prepared strategies and countermeasures tailored specifically for them. There won’t be any issues.”

“I trust you.”

Ga Yurim’s skills in battle were one thing, but her strategy-making abilities had already earned her the title of a top rookie.

Her coach was confident, knowing Ga Yurim would handle things well. After all, her opponents were amateurs, while she was close to professional level.

She was unlikely to lose.

---

[Emerald Stella vs. Pulleim]

The match began.

Thousands of spectators had gathered, many of them not ordinary fans but professional players and people from the *League of Spirits* industry. It was remarkable to see such a crowd.

“Oh, did Lauron come as well?”

“Coach Baker, it’s been a while.”

Lauron and Coach Baker were highly respected in the industry. Though neither could fight anymore due to severe injuries, they were still deeply involved in *League of Spirits*.

Unable to stay away, they had traveled here to watch the promising magic warrior students play.

“Looks like a standard start,” Lauron commented, taking his seat next to Baker, who nodded.

“There aren’t many teams that go wild from the beginning.”

Neither Pulleim’s team nor Ga Yurim’s team went for risky strategies from the outset. With two unique teams facing off, an unpredictable opening would have been entertaining, but it seemed both teams were playing it safe.

“That student… was his name Baek Yuseol? His item build is unusual.”

“I heard he can only use *Blink*. It’d be fun to have him as an entertainer, but he’s far from ready for the pros.”

“True. Only being able to use one spell limits his strategies and makes him predictable for opponents.”

“As an amateur, he can get away with it. But he’ll never go pro.”

Even a unique skill set eventually becomes predictable, and Baek Yuseol’s distinct item build could easily be countered once understood.

“Baek Yuseol has encountered Alya from the opposing team on the Ascension Lane.”

Alya, a second-year with five years of *League of Spirits* experience, was Ga Yurim’s trusted fighter for this lane. Baek Yuseol would surely feel some pressure.

Moreover

, lacking effective items in the early game, he’d have no way to resist if Alya decided to start pressing in.

Yet, people watched closely, curious about how Baek Yuseol would handle the challenge.

With only one spell, *Blink*, he had still managed to defeat countless dark mages in real life, earning his place alongside the top prodigies.

“Oh?”

Coach Baker let out an exclamation.

Alya had coordinated her moves to trap Baek Yuseol, using support from her ally in the alley lane to pin him from both sides.

“He’s done.”

Lauron could already see three seconds into the future.

Baek Yuseol would try to *Blink* backward in desperation, but Alya would predict his movement, catch him in the delay, and finish him.

“Huh?”

“What?!”

But the unexpected happened. Instead of retreating, Baek Yuseol didn’t even *Blink*—he charged straight at Alya.

Caught off guard, Alya hurriedly canceled her spell and started retreating, but just as she did, Baek Yuseol *Blinked* beside her, scattering something on the ground and diving away.

Beep-beep-beep—BOOM!

*A sticky grenade!*

Lacking mobility and defense in the early game, Alya was hit head-on by the grenade, launching her backward.

“What the—he used his early resources on a grenade instead of essential items?”

“My word. That means Baek Yuseol isn’t even wearing a robe!”

It finally dawned on Lauron as he checked Baek Yuseol’s items.

“…I take it back. We have a madman on the field.”

Without any defensive equipment, Baek Yuseol was exposed to lethal hits from the simplest of spells.

“Abandoning the protective robe to buy a consumable grenade…”

“But that reckless gamble paid off.”

Caught by the grenade, Alya couldn’t move and died from just a few strikes.

[First Blood!]

The decision to cast her spell, expecting support, had been correct. Against the weaker Baek Yuseol, any professional player would have done the same.

But who could’ve predicted that he would rush in, weaponless and robed in only fragile fabric, wielding a grenade?

“Really, he’s a student who defies all common sense,” Coach Baker muttered, feeling embarrassed about his earlier dismissal. He’d assumed Baek Yuseol’s lack of spells would limit his potential as a professional.

*I was wrong.*

Having only one spell actually made his movements more unpredictable, allowing him to set up bizarre plays that no one could anticipate.

[Second Blood!]

The ally in the alley couldn’t withstand Baek Yuseol’s hit-and-run attacks either. He’d gained immense rewards from his risky gambit and returned to his base unharmed.

Watching, the other players shook their heads, thinking:

*If he goes pro…*

*He’s going to be the most hated player on the field.*