As Sejong led the Hanseong students away from Chungsu's gates, a wave of murmurs swept through the crowd that had gathered to watch. Both Hanseong and Chungsu students looked on with expressions ranging from shock to awe, whispers buzzing through the air as Sejong's declaration settled in.
"Did you see the way he faced Baek Jae-sun? No one's dared to stand up to him before…"
"I don't think I've ever seen Baek back down like that," another voice whispered, laced with disbelief.
Sejong's cold gaze lingered on Chungsu Academy as he walked away, his shoulders set and expression unreadable. The entire assembly of Hanseong students marched behind him in silence, a sense of pride and newfound confidence spreading through them.
At the center of King's Court, Sejong's closest allies, Minho and the other senior members, glanced at each other, their expressions conveying a mixture of respect and amazement. Minho finally broke the silence as they rounded a corner and moved out of sight of Chungsu's gates.
"Sejong," Minho began quietly, glancing around to make sure no one else was within earshot. "I don't think I've ever seen anything like that. The entire Iron Talons… they were practically frozen. And Jae-sun—he looked like he'd seen a ghost."
Sejong's eyes flicked toward Minho, a glint of something unreadable flashing across his face. "We can't let them push us around anymore, Minho. They need to know that Hanseong stands strong."
As the Hanseong students walked down the main street, their confidence radiated, growing stronger with each step. Passersby who saw them whispered among themselves, spreading tales of what they had witnessed at Chungsu's gates.
"Did you hear about the fight? A seventh-grader from Hanseong actually went up against Baek Jae-sun. And from what I heard, he won."
"What's his name? Sejong, right?"
"I heard he called himself the king of Hanseong. And you know what? He looked the part. No fear, no hesitation…"
The word spread quickly, and by the time King's Court returned to Hanseong Academy, a small group of students had gathered near the gates, eager to catch a glimpse of Sejong and his followers. As Sejong and his group walked past, some students leaned in close, murmuring in hushed tones.
"Is that really him?"
"He looks so… serious. I don't think he even knows he's become a legend already."
Sejong continued forward, his gaze steady, unaffected by the attention. He finally led the group into a secluded area of the campus where only King's Court members were allowed, and turned to face them, his expression still as focused as before.
"Listen up," he began, his voice steady, though his eyes held a spark of intensity. "Today wasn't about a single fight. This was a message. Every school in the district needs to know that Hanseong isn't weak. If they come after us again, we'll be ready, and we'll show them the same strength we showed Chungsu today."
He paused, allowing his words to sink in, the seriousness of his tone resonating with each member of King's Court.
Minho took a step forward, his gaze admiring. "Sejong, you've set a standard for us. Everyone here knows what we're capable of now, and they're going to respect us for it. We're not just a school club anymore… King's Court is something else entirely."
A ripple of agreement passed through the gathered students. For the first time, Sejong could see the spark of belief in their eyes—the kind of belief that could bind them together in a way no other group in Hanseong Academy had managed before.
One of the ninth-graders, a boy who had been part of King's Court for only a few weeks, raised his hand hesitantly. "Sejong," he started, his voice trembling slightly. "I've always thought of myself as just an average student. But today… when I saw what you did, I felt like we're part of something that matters. I want to do my part to help King's Court become stronger."
Sejong gave the boy a slight nod, his voice softer but no less firm. "Good. That's exactly what we need. Each one of you has a role here, and each of you has something you can bring to the table. This isn't just about me or Minho—it's about what King's Court can be. If we're going to take on other schools, we need to be stronger than them. Smarter than them."
The students listened intently, each one hanging onto his words, fully aware that this was a pivotal moment in their time at Hanseong Academy.
As the meeting dispersed, Sejong and Minho stayed behind, watching the other members leave. The two stood in silence for a moment, the weight of the day settling over them.
"Sejong," Minho began, his tone hesitant, "you know this isn't the end of it, right? Baek Jae-sun won't let this go so easily. He'll come back with twice as many people next time, and he won't be alone."
Sejong nodded, a dark glint in his eyes. "I know. That's why we need to be ready. I don't just want King's Court to be strong enough to face them—I want us to be so powerful that no one even thinks about challenging us again."
Minho nodded, the determination in Sejong's gaze lighting a fire in him as well. "Then we start training. Harder than ever before. We'll make sure the next time they come, we're more than ready."
Sejong turned, his gaze fixed on the far horizon, his expression unreadable. Somewhere in the distance, the sun was setting, casting long shadows over Hanseong Academy. But as far as Sejong was concerned, it was only the beginning.
Across town, at Chungsu Academy, the mood was tense. The members of the Iron Talons gathered around their leader, Baek Jae-sun, who sat nursing a bruise on his cheek—a bruise left by Sejong's final uppercut. The defeat was fresh, the shame even fresher, and the Iron Talons were restless, each one waiting for Jae-sun to speak.
One of the members, a boy named Jin-ho, muttered under his breath. "Can't believe we got shown up by some seventh-grader. This is humiliating."
Another added, "Everyone's talking about it. It's only been an hour, and already every school around here knows that Hanseong beat Chungsu. They're calling Sejong a king."
At that, Jae-sun's eyes flashed with anger, his hands clenching into fists. "Enough," he snapped, his voice cold and furious. "We underestimated him once, and I'll admit that was a mistake. But this isn't over. If Sejong thinks he can humiliate Chungsu and get away with it, he's more naive than I thought."
Jin-ho shifted uncomfortably, eyeing Jae-sun. "So… what do we do? Just wait until he makes another move?"
Jae-sun sneered, his tone filled with disdain. "No. We make our own move. We're going to remind Hanseong who we are, and we're going to do it on our terms. Gather everyone. We're not going to let King's Court get comfortable."
The Iron Talons nodded in grim agreement, determination hardening their expressions. The rivalry had only just begun, and Jae-sun was ready to do whatever it took to reclaim Chungsu's reputation.
Meanwhile, back at Hanseong Academy, whispers and rumors circulated with every passing minute, fueled by the events of the day. Sejong had become a symbol—an unexpected king of the school, willing to stand up to anyone who threatened his people.
In the days to come, Sejong could feel the eyes on him—students who once barely acknowledged him now watched his every move, some with admiration, others with fear, and still others with envy. He didn't acknowledge the attention directly, but each gaze only strengthened his resolve.
With the support of King's Court and his newfound reputation, Sejong knew that the path forward was set. The battle with Chungsu had only been the first step.
But he was prepared. And no matter who stood in his way, Sejong was determined to lead Hanseong to greatness.