EX-rank’s Replay (61)

Translator: Wan ED/PR: novio

 

18. Children’s Day Jamsil Baseball Stadium’s derby match (4)

The Enemy’s rarity was higher than compared to the one during the entrance exam.

The level gap was obvious.

However, the level gap can be overturned with compatibility and battle strategy.
 

‘It’s fine.’
 

Differently from the entrance exam, I am sufficiently equipped, my understanding of this world has increased and my experience has built up.

In addition, I wasn’t fighting alone now.
 

Pang–!

Swish—!
 

Kuuoooo…!
 

“Oh, it stopped.”

“Done.”

“Skill canceled!”
 

Maeng Hyodon aimed at the Enemy’s right arm and hit it with a fist wrapped in a protector.

Ju Su-hyeok’s sword slash struck the left arm and the skill motion was halted.

The traces of the fist and twin swords remained on the arms of Specter Enemy in the form of a crooked dragon.
 

‘I was confident the two of them would block it.’
 

The physical attacks didn’t work very well on it, and moreover, there was also a level gap.

It was difficult to deal enough damage to cut off a big chunk of HP, but physical attacks could prevent it from using a skill.

So with two people, I assumed they would block it before it reached me.

Though it was probably the result of Maeng Hyodon just moving on instinct and Ju Su-hyeok taking action after making a decision based on thorough calculations.
 

“It seems it’s going to use a skill again. Sihu, ready yet?”

“Preparations done, I’m going!”
 

At Ju Su-hyeok’s question, To Sihu responded straight away.

After the two people in charge of protection responded to those words and stepped back, the Electro Art exploded again.
 

Craack–!
 

Reflecteenvi had less than half HP remaining.

I completed magic casting and raised the rod high.
 

“Uisin completed casting!”
 

After making sure everyone stepped back, I shouted the incantation.
 

“Imbrem Luminis!”
 

The cloud of light formed with the rod in the center.

At my signal, the rain of light poured towards the Specter Enemy.
 

Paaat—!
 

The Darkness attribute Enemy was attacked with opposite Light attribute magic and its remaining HP disappeared in the instant.
 

Kuooo…
 

Reflecteenvi struggled for the last time locked inside of the rain of light and then its movements completely stopped.
 

“Remaining HP is 0. We brought it down!”
 

With Jang Namuk’s voice, I saw PlayerSAT–K sent a notice on my earring device.
 

– Enemy formed outside of the otherworld, Reflecteenvi, has been subjugated.

– PlayerSAT–K successfully gained access to the local area’s recording devices.

– PlayerSAT–K analyzes the context of the subjugation process.

– Major subjugation contributors: To▉▉(Player set their information to private: disclosing information is limited), Unknown Supernova
 

This time the major contributors were both me and To Sihu.

Each of us cut almost half of HP, so it would be like that.

But if we were to pick up one MVP among the two of us, it would be To Sihu as he cut much more HP.
 

“Let’s endure only for a bit longer. Soon the Association or Red Lion will arrive.”

“Okay…!”
 

At my words, Jang Namuk replied with a brighter voice than before.

In my ear, the broadcast continued.
 

[The completion of subjugation messages keep coming. Look at that!]

[The one just now seemed to come from the defense team at the third otherworld, which appeared. Looking at the major contributors, it’s neither Red Lion nor the Yong tribe. Isn’t Unknown Supernova Eungwang School’s student?]

[Yes, isn’t he a Player student who became known as a survivor during the Eungwang School entrance exam demonic beast trespassing incident? I guess he came to the stadium today, so he participates.]

[It’s good luck within bad luck, Jamsil stadium.]

[Yes, then we will continue to show the situation around the stadium as we inform about the action procedures during the otherworld outbreak, made by the Player’s Association.]
 

The voices of the commentator and the news broadcaster were much more relaxed than when the broadcast first started.
 

⟨Warning, Enemy approaching.⟩
 

Mixed with the broadcast, I heard a system message.

It seems it’s too early to relax.
 

“Coming again. Prepare!”
 

We faced an Enemy again.

This time the Enemy was a type against which physical attacks were effective, but its weakness was the Water attribute, so the attacks centered on me, Ju Su-hyeok and Maeng Hyodon.

The broadcast of the stadium situation continued.
 

[We caught a glimpse of the teams of each next family head sitting in the 1st and 3rd base terrace seats. Not even one person left.]

[Yes, it seems they’re being reported on something. I think they have no intention of moving.]
 

“Let’s lure it to the opposite side from Uisin.”

“Okay!”
 

Maeng Hyodon dug his foot into the Enemy’s side without hesitation with a straight kick and sent it flying opposite from my side.

Pang–!
 

I’m not sure if it could be called luring.
 

[This is the situation from the player’s seats. Players and coaching staff are making stiff expressions. Players can’t let go of their baseball bats.]

[The doors to the dugout are completely locked from the inside and they’re blocked by the sports drinks refrigerator. All the staff inside the stadium came there. That’s the last line of defense.]

[Huhu, there is a player who took out a practice aluminum bat to practice swings.]

[Even without supernatural powers, other players are filled with fighting spirit. They won’t give up here easily.]

[Still, not even one Enemy got out from the stadium. One more barrier was placed around the stadium. It won’t prevent trespassing, but it will immediately ring an alarm when they enter.]
 

Chiink!
 

“Ah, I want to use Gwangrim.”
 

Ju Su-hyeok grumbled a little, as he swung his favorite swords ‘Two Shining Wings’[1].

With Ju Su-hyeok’s OP Gwangrim, weaknesses didn’t matter so the current situation had to be suffocating for him.
 

“Shut your mouth and move your hand!”

“Hahaha. Okay, take that…!”
 

At Maeng Hyodon’s roar, Ju Su-hyeok laughed once and then attacked the Enemy again with Two Shining Wings.
 

Kuaaa—!
 

With Maeng Hyodon and Ju Su-hyeok continuous co-attacks, the Enemy didn’t have time to use its skill.

Thanks to the two’s efforts, I finished casting without any crisis.

I held the SR rank item ‘Rod which Summons the Currents of Straits’ high.
 

“Step back!”
 

At Jang Namuk’s words, the two people stepped back straight away.

I immediately shouted the incantation.
 

“Vadum Magni!”
 

Shaaa—.
 

The magical wave pounced on the Enemy, and the Enemy’s remaining HP which was already cut down by 2/3, soon turned to 0.

The PlayerSAT–K complete subjugation notice floated again.
 

“Two heads!”

“If it’s this much, I can endure much longer!”
 

When the power of five of us smoothly took down head after head like that…

A fifth and sixth Enemy appeared at the same time.

One was bipedal type Enemy, but the remaining one was the problem.
 

“… appeared at the same time.”

“It seems that both of them are SR rank. That’s serious. Hahaha.”

“What are you laughing at! One is the Flying species!”

“What, let’s use Gwangrims if needed then.”
 

Looking at the situation only, it was a disaster, but besides Jang Namuk, there was not even one discouraged or desperate guy.
 

‘We earned enough time.’
 

Before To Sihu was able to use Electro Art against the Flying Enemy who was about to fly up, a blackish red flame swallowed the Enemy faster than him.
 

Swish!
 

As if the Fire attribute wasn’t a Flying Enemy’s weakness it flapped its wings while struggling, but a few seconds didn’t pass and it was burned to ashes.

The instant the Enemy was exterminated, people in red capes descended from the sky.
 

Paat!
 

The Red Lion’s team members completed landing.

Each of the Red Lion’s members stopped in front of the five of us and looked up and down at us.
 

“Wow, like they said on broadcast, it seems you’re really highschoolers! As expected, the kids from Junyeol’s school are different.”

“It’s not only Eungwang School but also Military Academy, right? You worked hard, guys.”
 

As if they were also people who had listened to the broadcast while fighting, female team members spoke with friendly and bright smiles.

Jang Namuk wobbled for a second as if his legs lost strength.
 

Tak.
 

I heard the sound of finger snapping.

With that sound the black-red flames, which remained burning on the Enemy, disappeared and a middle-age man of sturdy build appeared.

The person who had used the skill, Yeom Bangyeol, spoke towards the Red Lion team members.
 

“I think there won’t be any problems if Yong Jegeon-nim entered, but let’s us also go to shorten the clearing time.”

“Our Yong tribe will go. As it seems that there are guys who still don’t have enough.”
 

At some point, the Yong tribe appeared without a warning.

They already stood before the tower, the otherworldly crack.
 

“Then I’ll leave it to you, Cheongryong-nim.”

“We’ll be back.”
 

After Cheongryong disappeared inside the tower with a few members of the Yong tribe, Yeom Bangyeol looked at us and spoke:
 

“We’ll take charge of this place as a defense team from now. Thank you for your effort.”
 

Hearing that voice, I could confirm it.
 

‘It’s done. I completely blocked one of Dark Mastermind’s moves…!’
 

A few minutes didn’t pass when a notice message about all otherworlds around the Jamsil baseball stadium complete conquest arrived at the device.

I also saw the attack team which entered the tower safely leave the otherworldly crack.

Ok Toyeon quickly turned her head around, looking for something diligently and then when she saw me, she sighed in relief and relaxed. Then she stared in other direction, pretending not to know anything.
 

‘She is very simple to understand Jin.’
 

I had a feeling that Yong Jegeon saw everything, but he seemed to pretend not to know.

And that me and Ok Toyeon had some kind of relationship.
 

“Hey, then let’s return to our seats!”

“They are still going to play?”

“The game was suspended, not canceled. Maybe because one hour hasn’t passed yet.”
 

At Ju Su-hyeok’s words everyone headed towards the stadium stands again with excited faces.

Yong Jegeon didn’t look tired at all, even after finishing conquest of the otherworld.

With his Space Art and Flight he could return to the baseball stadium stands without walking.

After we grabbed our seats and waited, just like Ju Su-hyeok said, the game resumed.
 

“Ooo, I think they’re really doing it.”

“Our team is home today, and in addition, they received help from the Yong tribe. The Ju-Oh Dragons will win today.”

“Hahaha, you don’t know that yet, the TC Knights don’t have a bad win rate on Children’s Day.”
 

We watched the remaining game with Ju Su-hyeok and To Sihu light war of nerves.

Whenever the broadcast had a chance, they showed the Red Lion team and the Yong tribe.

Of course, the one which appeared on the screen the most was the star Player, Little Red Dragon, Yeom Junyeol.

Quite a few times the holograms were filled with the scene of him smiling between Red Lion team members, looking to be in an unusually good mood.

I guess he was thinking of sitting until the very end, like he promised to Red Wall Thief.
 

‘In the game, the match was suspended, and afterwards I couldn’t learn what this match’s result was.’
 

During today’s match’s 9th inning, the Ju-Oh Dragons, which entered May in slightly a worse condition, ended hitting 1st hitter and it ended in the Ju-Oh Dragons’ victory.

Jang Namuk, who looked weak after finishing the subjugation, suddenly stood up and enthusiastically sang the Ju-Oh Dragons cheering song with a touched face, leaving a deep impression on me.
 

***
 
Before the conquest was completed.
 

[Based on the information registered in the PlayerSAT-K, in the conquest party for the otherworld which appeared the third are highschool students. That’s really suprising.]

[The only ones which have enough battle experience to receive an alias are Eungwang School students: Iron Lock and Unknown Supernova.]

[Eungwang School and Military Academy special highschool. Both of them are said to be the most prestigious highschools in Korea. The future of the Korean Peninsula and our country Player’s world, is bright.]

[Ah, the breaking news came in just now. It’s good news! The Red Lion, Yong tribe and Player’s Association who were in the audience, completed the conquest of otherworlds. We have access to helicopter cameras! Do you see it? The otherworldly cracks are disappearing!]

[One hour didn’t even pass. It’s a conquest of SR++ difficulty. It was an improvised attack[2] without prior preparations… I’m impressed.]

[The maintenance time felt so very long. The game suspension ended.]

[Yes, a notice came up even in the stadium.]
 

—Waaaaa!
 

[I hear the cheers from the audience. Our audience, who maintained calm and order in this difficult situation, is one more hero.]

[The number of injuries until now is 0. I can’t believe it. I think it will remain as a beautiful story both in the baseball world and the Player world.]

[Many great cheering messages are coming on the broadcast feed. The number of end-comments reminds me of the Korea-Japan games. For those viewers and Korean baseball fans who together observed this situation with concern, thank you once again.]

[After advertisements, the game will resume. Jamsil here.]
 

Pachchik! Clang! Wang-bang!
 

Before the advertisement appeared, the screen and device were completely destroyed.
 

“What is the difference when you take out your anger on those things? You will hurt your body. Don’t do that.”
 

Inside the completely destroyed room illuminated with artificial lights.

He heard a sweet voice in the darkness.

Lightly, the owner of this voice walked towards the owner of this room.
 

“What problem with my body!? The fate of my tribe in on the line, but because of this fucking[3] Yong tribe…!”

“Those divine creatures[4] never stay in that place for that long, it’s weird.”

“By chance the first pitcher was those fucking things’ descendant, darn it! ‘Their’ great power and arrangements by coincidence ended in vain here!”
 

She quietly stroked his, who couldn’t suppress his anger, back.

As she soothed him with soft fingers, she was a bit doubtful.
 

‘Was that by mere chance?’
 

Thanks to the darkness, she could hide the rising corners of her smile.

Thinking about the day when she will appreciate his destruction, she leaned her face against his shoulders and whispered:
 

“It seems that many unfortunate chances overlap recently. Don’t you think that even ‘They’ aren’t almighty?”

“…a mere minor creature[5] is doubting ‘Them’!”

“Sorry. That’s because I cannot guess yours, the divine creatures’ deep meaning. Please understand.”

“Darn it, damn… I want to be alone, so get out.”
 

Leaving him confused, she stood up without hesitation.

She trusted the darkness and performed with a sorrowful voice, while smiling as before.
 

“Ok, call me whenever you want.”
 

With the end of those words, her presence disappeared in the darkness.

In exchange, one shining scale fell down as one butterfly flew off.
 

*~*~*
 

[1] Ju Su-hyeok grumbled a little, as he swung his favorite swords ‘Two Shining Wings’ – I’m cutting much of this sentence, because it wouldn’t make much sense in English, but the rest of it is roughly like “‘Two Shining Wings’ which stood in Hangul for two shining wings.”

[2] attack – raws used word ‘power’ or ‘energy’ (?).

[3] fucking Yong tribe – ‘ruined’ Yong tribe in raws, ‘ruined’ acts as a curse.

[4] divine creature – divine standing for small god, or mythical being in folklore that is treated as such. Creature can also mean a thing, or matter, basically it’s something that ‘exists’.

[5] minor creature – minor in meaning of small mostly, but it could also mean hidden sometimes? Probably. Creature has the same meaning as the previous one.
 

Translator’s note: If I get a nickel every time Jo Uisin compliments some older man’s physique… I would have quite a handful of nickels. He really likes healthy people, huh?

 

Did you see a mistake? 🐞


11 responses

  1. sandwitch

    “She quietly stroked his, who couldn’t suppress his anger, back”
    stroked “him” right?
    “And that me and Ok Toyeond had some kind of relationship.”
    Ok “Toyeon”
    minor mistakes

    1. The first sentence is just fucked up. She ‘stroked his back’ but there is something which I call ‘descriptive sentence’ which is ‘he who couldn’t suppress his anger’, and no one around has enough of brains to work around it.

      Thank you for the second <3.
      Please use the form at the bottom of the post if you don’t mind.

  2. Thank you for the chapter!

  3. Heretic Tiger Fish

    +1 with the translator, Jo Uisin really likes older men’s physiques lololol

    1. And here I thought I was the only one to notice!

  4. ZionFlaker

    Questions:
    Should “blackish red” be “dark red”? Usually, when describing hue (how much white/black is mixed into a color), we use the terms ‘light’ and ‘dark’.
    Thanks for the chapter! Hmmm? Ju Su-hyeok’s Gwangrim is ‘Two Shining Wings’, and the newest Jin isa butterfly? Or does Korean have different words for different kinds of wings?
    Funny thing, I took 4 years of Latin in high school, and ‘Imbrem Luminis’ didn’t seem right, so I looked it up, and sure enough, ‘lumino’ isn’t conjugated correctly, is spelled wrong, and ‘imbrem’ isn’t a word. I believe if the incantation means “Light up the shadows/dark”, it should be ‘Umbris Lumina!’. Similarly,
    ‘Vadum Magni’ is a complete mess. ‘Vadum’ is singular but ‘Magni’ is plural, and ‘Vadum’ is related to water, but it means a stream or shoal, and a big stream is called a river. It’d be better as ‘Aquae Magnae’, which is ‘large waters’. Doesn’t actually matter in the grand scheme of things, just thought I’d mention it. I think I didn’t notice the previous Latin incantations because they used recognizable words somewhat coherently where I could guess what the spell did, but this time there were nonexistent words or words that didn’t really apply.

    1. The word literally is black-red. It’s not exactly what Korean would call dark red, they have a different word for that. So think really dark red, wine like I think.

      They don’t have a different word. Wings refer to both bird and butterfly wings. Or any other wings. Just wings in general.

      Welp, latin is dead language and I’m not even sure if author wants to it to be latin. As far as I know it may be some completely different language which really resembles latin. It’s never called latin in the novel as far as I remember.

      Thanks for reading.

  5. Before To Sihu was able to use Electro Art against the Flying Enemy who was about to fly up, a blackish red flame swallowed the Enemy faster than him.
    Does To Sihu also have Electro Art like To Wonu or was it actually To Wonu?

    1. To Sihu also has an Electro Art. To Wonu is conquering the otherworld and isn’t with them.

  6. silverback

    “In exchange, one shining scale fell down as one butterfly flew off.”
    Akumatization? Hawk Moth?

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