315 – Arena Terror (1)
Park Jin-woo shook his head and caught his breath.
Walking with Camilla.
Actually, we had traveled together several times before, but walking together in an unfamiliar land like America felt special.
Furthermore, America is Camilla’s hometown.
Because it was a place Jinwoo Park was unfamiliar with, he had no choice but to put more weight on his shoulders to avoid making mistakes.
“Jinwoo! “Try some of this.”
Camilla, knowing or not knowing Park Jin-woo’s feelings, ordered food from the food truck with an excited expression on her face.
This is already our fourth food truck.
When I first moved, I thought, “As expected, the clan master is hot…” He said something strange like “.”, Then quickly regained his tension and started exploring food.
Hot dogs, waffles, pretzels, sliced pizza….
Even though she skipped lunch, she ate all kinds of food, and as if she never got tired of it, she came to visit a new food truck.
‘Bagel….’
A round bread with an opening in the center, like a donut.
Split in half and filled with cheese.
It was a cream cheese bagel, which is a specialty of food trucks around here.
Although it wasn’t her favorite food, she couldn’t resist having Camilla feed her herself.
Jinwoo Park immediately bit into one side of the bagel.
“Oh no, um… “Is it delicious?”
And while I was trying to use a dedicated exclamation as usual…
She paused for a moment and changed her words.
Queens before Camilla arrived.
Because it reminded her of the special coaching her friend had given her.
-Don’t use that damn word in front of Camilla.
-…… ? Why not?
-Oh. If you don’t want to use it, don’t use it.
-… Okay.
She doesn’t like it, but anyway, her friend is her senior in terms of dating.
There was no harm in taking the advice to heart.
“hahahaha! Jinwoo, is it really delicious?”
However, upon seeing Jinwoo Park deliciously eating a bagel, Camilla bursts out laughing and claps her hands.
A face that seems to have seen something interesting.
Park Jin-woo responded in an awkward mood.
“Oh, it’s delicious? Why?”
“This is so emotional. “Jinwoo, I thought you wouldn’t like it.”
“Ah….”
Actually, what Camilla said was right.
The cream cheese bagel from the food truck was definitely delicious, but it was a bit too chewy and greasy to keep eating.
First of all, this is not Park Jin-woo’s style of food.
Park Jin-woo’s favorite things are generally pork cutlet, stir-fried pork, and bibimbap….
It was a typical man’s diet.
“Thank you, Jinwoo.”
“Huh? What?”
Jinwoo Park asked back at the sudden thank you, but Camilla’s face was more calm than ever.
“Just everything. We also eat foods that don’t suit us, and….”
Camilla, who is awkward at Korean, slowly forms sentences.
“For helping me when I first came to Seoul, for sparring with me, for introducing me to my friends, for asking me to join the clan.”
It was just a sign of goodwill, and it was something my heart told me to do.
But she deeply remembered all those favors.
“For going with me during the strategy, for protecting me during times of crisis, and for always being with me.”
To be precise, Camilla, who mainly uses a shield, was protecting her teammates… That didn’t really matter.
The important thing is Park Jin-woo and Camilla.
The two people were facing each other in the same place.
And in the looking eyes, Camilla smiled brightly and said.
“I like you! “Let’s go out with me, Jinwoo!”
Sangyeo proves it with honesty, not diet.
Jin-Woo Park looked at Camilla’s hot confession as she stood there blankly.
And then I thought slowly.
‘Special coaching… ‘It was useless.’
I made an excuse to call Camilla, created a situation for the two of them, and even planned out the route of how to confess… That didn’t mean anything.
What is important is not the coach, but the player who scores the goal.
Camilla, who confessed before Park Jin-woo, ended the situation by scoring a wonder goal.
The person who would eventually become one was going to become one somehow.
* * *
The course recommended to Camilla was not limited to performances.
New York, along with LA, is the center where the largest number of American holders gather.
For this reason, there were many cultural activities prepared for the convenience and enjoyment of the holders.
“Holder Arena?”
“Yes. “It is one of the most famous sports in America these days, and is especially popular in New York.”
Kim Chae-eun and I came to watch a unique sport called ‘Holder Arena.’
The original four major sports in the United States are baseball, basketball, American football, and ice hockey.
However, with the emergence of holders and monsters in modern times, a new sport has emerged in which holders fight each other under specific rules and decide whether they will win or lose.
Although it is a bit dangerous, it is an attractive sport if you have good safety rules and priests.
From Noble mtl dot com
Has it been said since ancient times that the most enjoyable thing to watch is to watch a fight?
People were enthusiastic about this sport where holders fight each other and achieve victory.
In particular, battles between holders were even more popular because they were something that not only the general public but even the same holders could see.
“After watching this, I will meet Jinwoo again, have dinner, and watch the performance. The time will be perfect.”
“Wow, we’re having a great time right now.”
I spent time shopping in Times Square during the day, and now that it is slightly rainy, I am at Holder Arena.
It was my first day in the United States without any big plans, but thanks to Camilla’s guidance and Kim Chae-eun’s enthusiastic exploration, I was spending the remaining time quite fruitfully.
‘It would be nice if Jinwoo did well….’
We did everything we could.
We called Camilla to Manhattan as an excuse, and after giving her directions, she even gave us time, saying she wanted to be alone.
Before that, he even gave me special coaching on how to win Camilla’s heart.
From here on, it was out of our hands.
‘I’m sure it’s not like I can’t say anything again…’ ?’
I was even more worried because he was my only friend.
It’s already been more than half a year since I got to know Camilla, and I hoped that today I would have created an atmosphere where the two of us could be together and produce some results.
“I want to eat a Shake Shack burger!”
With Kim Chae-eun’s words, we went to Madison Square and purchased a premium burger.
I bought a lot of burgers, shakes, and french fries.
It was a preparation stage to enjoy a new sport called Holder Arena.
“Yes, the ticket has been confirmed. “Just go to premium area A-13 inside and sit down.”
A large stadium located in Manhattan.
I slowly went inside following the staff’s guidance.
Kim Chae-eun, who was crossing her arms with an expectant expression on her face, suddenly asked.
“Jaehyun, didn’t you buy the ticket today?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“But how did you buy a premium seat? “Is there room left?”
Holder Arena is a popular sport.
It is a sport that has not yet arrived in Korea or other countries due to issues with regulations and safety, but at least in the United States, it was a popular sport that sold out every game.
Of course, there were no seats left in today’s game.
The reality is that it is difficult to obtain not only premium seats, but also economy seats.
“The money is good.”
I told Kim Chae-eun with a grin.
In New York State, ticket scalping was legal.
Anyway, we went to the premium seats closest to the stadium and took our seats.
With my hands full of the Shake Shack burger and food I bought earlier.
“I guess this is a magical barrier.”
“Okay. “A lot of magic stones must have been used to make this, right?”
The transparent wall dividing the inside of the stadium and the stands was made of a [Magic barrier].
Because the holders’ abilities could break through an ordinary barrier, a total of four layers of [Magic barrier] Were overlapped.
Considering the size of the stadium and the wide audience seats, this barrier likely used quite a lot of magic stones.
In other words, it means pouring in a huge amount of money.
‘… It’s not for nothing that it can’t be easily imported from other countries.’
This is a sport that requires a huge amount of money just to construct the stadium.
Unless a clear profit structure was established, it would not be easy to bring in money from other countries.
-Welcome to the audience at the Holder Arena in New York!
After waiting for a while while looking around the stadium, the host, who was seated high in the center, picked up the microphone.
-The 121st New York Holder Speculation Competition begins now! You may have already checked and entered, but please carefully check the precautions and lineup once again!
There is no difference in precautions.
Be careful when using weapons and magic appears.
Sometimes blood may splatter or there may be cuts, so be careful.
Most of the precautions were taken in consideration of the general audience.
And the lineup.
“There are five teams?”
“Yes. It was more than I thought. “Maybe it’s because the game ends too quickly?”
A total of five teams were prepared for the game.
If you only look at their series and grade, it is like this.
1. Wizard (B) vs Warrior (C)
2. Wizard(C) vs Wizard(C)
3. Assassin (C) vs Warrior (C)
4. Archer(C) vs Archer(C)
5. Warrior(B) vs Warrior(B)
It was a match comprised mostly of C-level holders, and B-level holders were occasionally mixed in.
The lineup expected to be the highlight is of course the fifth game.
A battle between B-class warriors.
The planning team probably knew that this would be the most interesting, so they placed it as the last game.
-Come on! Now, let me introduce the first match of the 121st New York Holder Speculation Match. A face-off between Caroline, a B-class wizard, and Henry, a C-class warrior! It starts in 30 seconds!
After the host’s remarks, 30 seconds are counted on the electronic display board above the central tower.
The two introduced holders were entering the stadium.
Henry is a C-class warrior with a tall physique and the appearance of a typical American.
And….
‘… What?’
B-class wizard, Caroline.
Although she clearly had the appearance of a Westerner, her body shape, hair color, and subtle features of her face were different from the typical American image.
But it looks somewhat familiar.
That must be….
-The game is about to begin!