HUAAA—!

The crowds shouts echoed inside the arena as Han stood in triumph on the platform.

He looked at his opponent–who was laying on the floor gasping hard for air– one last time, before leaving the platform.

Han’s martial arts were just devastating.

He didn’t have the same power, or speed like his past self, but he was still in a league of his own.

His movements were fluid and he didn’t waste any stamina or power when fighting his opponent.

‘That’s a martial arts practitioner for you.’

I inwardly thought as a smile crept up my face and I looked at Han leaving the platform.

The raging storm of emotions after meeting Han had completely calmed down.

I got up from the chair and exited the small room.

‘What might Jihye be doing?’ I curiously thought as I made my way to the waiting room.

I took my phone out of my pocket and called Jihye.

After a few seconds of ringing, she answered.

[Jiwoo what’s up?] Jihye asked.

“I was wondering if you were hungry? If you are then let’s eat together?”

I asked.

[I am a little hungr—! Miss Jihye look another match is about to start!]

But Jihye was interrupted before she finished her sentence, and I heard a familiar voice.

“Is someone with you?"

I thought who it could be, but that voice was definitely a guy’s.

[I am with Jihoon!]

She replied.

“I see... So? Are you hungry or not?” I asked as I walked through the wide corridors and made my way towards the waiting rooms.

‘So Jihoon was with her.’ I inwardly thought. ‘Better than being with a stranger. Or worse a guy I didn't know about.'

[Yes I am.]

“Good, I’ll bring Jiyoung along, so take Jihoon and wait outside the arena, okay?”

[Understood!]

She said in a formal tone.

Like the way a cadet address his squadron's sergeant.

“What’s with that formal tone of yours?” I asked as my lips curled upwards.

Then afterwards she hung up and I turned right and walked another hundred metres before reaching the waiting room.

Seriously, this place was enormous.

But just as I reached the waiting room, I saw Thomas.

He was walking in the opposite way towards me.

Then both of us stood only a few meters away from each other.

“So... you somehow miraculously won your first match, huh trash?” Thomas barked. “Did you beg your opponent to let you win?”

Seriously, I was getting tired of this little shit.

Thomas moved forward and pinned me against the wall with his forearm as he chocked me.

But I simply glared in his direction, not giving an ounce of struggle.

I coldly glared in his eyes.

Thomas’s face frowned and he took a step back and released his grip over my throat,

But he suddenly propelled his fist towards my face.

But this time I had enough of his bullshit.

I grabbed his fist and twisted it.

“Uek...”

With a painful groan he staggered a few steps. His frown had deepened as he looked at me with a deep hatred in his eyes.

“I’m telling you this now Thomas... there is a limit to my tolerance.” I solemnly exclaimed.

The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

“... Stop being a dick head and grow up.”

Upon hearing my sentence, he gritted his teeth and glared at me.

I could see it in his eyes that the nail had hit hard; in this case my stern and cold remark.

“You dare—!”

“What’s going on over here?” I heard a feminine voice from my right side.

It was Jiyoung’s voice.

Turning my head sideways, I saw Jiyoung approaching in our direction.

“I asked what are you doing?” Jiyoung’s voice was stern.

Her hazel eyes displayed a frightening coldness as she gazed at Thomas.

I could see Thomas’s face take a sharp turn as he looked at her.

But with a glare he turned his head back towards me and whispered something before leaving.

“Just wait, I’ll get back at you.” Was what he said.

Thomas was acting in such a way because, he knew he wouldn’t want to mess with Jiyoung, who was the daughter of Park Yujin.

And his father Johan was lower ranked than Yujin.

So he wouldn’t want to make Yujin form a grudge against his father Johan.

But it was also due to the fact that Jiyoung was higher ranked than him and stronger.

Because Thomas was only ranked among the top forties. So it was a far cry for him to win against someone who was in the top ten.

Jiyoung approached me and crossed her arms.

“I didn’t need your help you know?” I said.

With a tilt of her head she looked at Thomas’s disappearing figure with a nonchalant eye, before speaking.

“I thought you might get beaten up like last time, so I thought I had to interfere.” She sarcastically said.

I cocked my head toward her and with a wry smile I spoke.

“Oh really, since when did you become my knight in bright and shining armour?"

Her face remained expressionless as she stood in front of me.

“Oh yeah...”

Suddenly I remembered why I had come here.

I turned and looked at Jiyoung, who was looking back at me.

“I just called Jihye and we have decided to go and eat together.”

“So... is my knight coming along or not?”

I joked with a raise of a brow.

But her face remained expressionless.

“Where are we going?”

“I shall lead the way my lady.” I said.

Then both of us turned over our heels and walked through the wide corridors.

“Jiyoung...”

I said.

“Mhm...”

I put my hand behind my neck and spoke.

“I am sorry if I was a little rude that day.”

Confusion flashed on Jiyoung’s face. But after realising what I was talking about her face had an understanding look.

“I was quite tired that day and... sorry if I came out a little too indifferent.”

I apologised.

“It’s alright.” She exclaimed.

“Mhm...” I nodded my head and both of us made our way out of the arena.

I really liked this aspect about Jiyoung.

I was really glad to have her as a friend. Jihoon too.

And if you consider Han too. But I had only talked with him once in this life and only for a few minutes at that.

Soon we exited the arena and met with Jihye and Jihoon.

Both of them stood outside just like I had told them too.

“Shall we?”

***

It was now past noon.

All of us entered a café near the arena. We chose the seats at the further edge in the left row.

Sitting down, I saw a waitress approach us.

“What would you like to order?”

The waitress asked.

All of us looked through the menu and I was the first to order.

“I'll have a ham burger steak and an orange juice.”

Soon all of them selected what they wanted to order and the waitress wrote their orders down on the small notepad she held in her hands.

Then the waitress turned around and left.

“Jiyoung and Jiwoo congratulations on winning your matches.”

I heard Jihye’s voice as I turned my head and looked at her.

Her face had a bright smile and she looked like she was really enjoying her self.

“Thanks! But...” I stopped mid-sentence and turned my gaze and looked at Jiyoung. She still held the menu in her hands and was looking through it.

“... Jiyoung’s match was more interesting than mine, right?”

“Yeah, the way she defeated her opponent without giving him any time to fight back. You looked really cool.” Jihye enthusiastically said.

It did the trick and Jiyoung’s ears turned a little reddish, as she tried to hide her face behind the menu in an attempt for us to not look at her flustered face.

“Heh...”

A chuckle escaped me as I gazed at Jiyoung, whose face was expressionless but her cheeks and ears said otherwise.

I guess she was still weak to compliments that came from people she were close to.

After waiting a few more minutes, the waitress brought our food and we all dug in.

***

SIP—!

Taking a sip of my herb tea, I gazed at the blue system interface.

I had finally gained one of my old skills back.

I was so distracted by my meeting with Han, that I had almost forgotten about that the ‘Returnee’s Privilege’ timer had ended.

----

----

NAME: SEO JIWOO (???)

HP: 3110

LEVEL: 31

STRENGTH: 76

STAMINA: 80

AGILITY: 73

VITALITY: 74

INTELLIGENCE: 69

MP: 961

POINTS: 493

_____________

FATIGUE: 3

PERSEVERANCE lv.2

PROFESSION: Swordsmanship (Lv.1)

_____________

{SKILLS}

[{E} Acausality] (Sealed)

This skill allows the user to tamper with the flow of time. Allowing the user to stop time for a brief moment.

Note: An equivalent amount of the host’s Mana will be drained as long as the skill is active.

Cool down: 2 weeks

______________

【Returnee’s Privilege】 [Time: ??? ]

–MIND’S EYE (Sealed) (Unlocked: 20%)

–LEAP (Sealed)

Cool Down: 3 hours

....

----

----

‘So Leap has a three hour cool down.’ I inwardly thought as I looked at the interface which was only visible to my eyes.

But still it was a very useful skill in my arsenal.

Because it was like a teleportation skill.

This skill had helped me a lot in my previous life.

BUZZ—! BUZZ—!

The watch over my wrist vibrated twice and I tapped over the screen.

The screen displayed the information about my next match.

I looked at the screen and saw who my next opponent was and tapped over the watch once again and the screen blanked out.

I finished my herb tea and placed my cup on the table.

“My next match has been decided.” I said.

By now everyone had finished their beverages.

I stood up from my seat and walked up to the cashier. The three of them followed me from behind.

I took my card out of the inventory and handed it to the cashier.

“You don’t have to pay for our meals as well.” Jiyoung said.

I simply ignored Jiyoung and paid for our meals.

“It isn’t a big deal.” I exclaimed.

With a nod Jiyoung stepped back.

Then we stepped out of the café, and walked back to the arena.

“Jiwoo, so who is your opponent?” Jihoon asked from the side.

I turned my head towards him and spoke.

“Thomas Carter.” I nonchalantly said.

I could see Jiyoung looking in my direction but I ignored her and simply stepped forward.

“Be careful okay?” Jihye concernedly said.

“Okay.”

I replied.

I wasn’t even one bit nervous about facing Thomas. But I was rather excited that I would be able to pay him back for the beating I took from him.

‘Just you wait Thomas.’